Chapter 206: The Light of Xu Kequan and the Dormant Gardener

The pulsing crystal’s blinding light receded like a tide, and the hall returned to its previous rhythmic alternation of light and shadow, but the impact of that brief, brilliant radiance had not faded.

Hundreds of crystal clusters remained frozen in place, their halos flickering at unprecedented frequencies, emitting a dense, chaotic “tick-tick-tick” as if countless ancient computers were simultaneously performing high-speed calculations, trying to comprehend what had just occurred. Their faceless visages—if those halos could be called faces—turned uniformly toward Lin Mo, more precisely toward the still-unsettled, pure and warm starlight radiating from his body. That light seemed to possess a natural, instinctive attraction to them, even… a hint of reverence? They no longer displayed aggression, only restless clicking in place, like a swarm of lost bees.

“They… seem paralyzed by Brother Lin Mo’s power?” Xiang Lingna stared in astonishment at this bizarre scene, unconsciously drawing closer to Lin Mo. The emerald veins within the crystal on her right arm still burned hot, pointing unwaveringly toward the diamond-shaped depression in the wall at the hall’s depths.

Zero’s console rapidly captured the energy fluctuations and pheromone-release patterns of these silicon-based lifeforms: “Target biological emotion analysis: Hostility index down 87%, confusion index peaked, weak submission and supplication waves detected. Hypothesis: Lin Mo Lord’s emitted starlight energy possesses purity and rank far exceeding the central damaged crystal, exerting a superior-level suppression and attraction upon them.”

Lin Mo himself sensed this subtle shift. The energy field radiating from the surrounding crystal clusters no longer brimmed with rejection; instead, it resembled a group of lost young beasts, disoriented and dependent after sensing the scent of their mother. He attempted to slowly retract the energy used for intimidation, retaining only the bare minimum for illumination.

Indeed, as his power receded, the clusters’ agitation slightly subsided, yet they still clustered around him, neither dispersing nor advancing—only those hundreds of flickering halos locked onto him, as if waiting, observing.

“They appear to regard you as… some higher-order entity, or perhaps the true master of this ark,” Zero concluded. “This may grant us time to explore, but uncertainty remains.”

Opportunity was fleeting. Lin Mo’s gaze swept past the agitated clusters toward the wall at the hall’s depths, inscribed with ancient elfic script and runes, and the crucial diamond-shaped depression. “Zero, analyze that wall and the symbol. Lingna, how do you feel?” He noticed her arm’s anomaly.

“That pattern… it’s calling to my arm…” Lingna lifted her cracked, crystal right arm, its internal emerald glow flowing uncontrollably. “It’s an intense sensation… and I think I hear that voice again… It says, ‘Welcome home,’ ‘Guardian’…”

“Permission verification?” Lin Mo seized the key point. “Zero, scan the depression structure—is the energy circuit intact?”

A pale blue scanning beam focused on the diamond-shaped depression. “Structural integrity intact. Internal energy circuit in extreme low-power sleep state, no physical damage detected. Energy signature… exhibits high resonance with Lingna’s arm crystal material and its contained specific life energy (remnant of World Tree sapling). Hypothesis: This facility requires simultaneous authentication via a specific key and specific energy characteristics to activate.”

The key was Lingna’s right arm crystal. The energy characteristic… Lin Mo looked at the warm, luminous starlight in his palm. He was the sole, high-quality energy source available.

“Try it,” Lin Mo nodded to Lingna, his gaze encouraging yet wary. “Zero and I will monitor the entire process. Stop immediately if anything abnormal occurs.”

Lingna took a deep breath, suppressing her nervousness and the searing heat in her arm, and nodded firmly. Under Ai Li’s watchful gaze and Lin Mo’s escort, she stepped slowly toward the wall. The clustered crystals emitted a denser chorus of ticking, automatically parting to form a corridor, their halos following Lingna… or rather, following the strange energy radiating from her right arm.

The closer she approached, the stronger the resonance in her arm became, even beginning to tremble slightly. The sprout carving at the center of the depression on the wall also seemed to sense something, emitting a faint, responsive emerald glow.

Finally, Lingna stood before the wall. She raised her dark purple, cracked, yet emerald-veined crystal right hand, aligning it precisely with the depression’s shape, and slowly, carefully pressed it against the surface.

Perfect fit!

The instant her palm made full contact with the depression—

Hummm!!!

No earth-shattering roar—only a deep, powerful sound, like the heart of an ancient beast, long dormant, beating once more! The emerald veins within Lingna’s arm crystal blazed to maximum intensity, spreading like living tendrils along the cracks, merging completely with the green light radiating from the sprout carving!

Simultaneously, Lin Mo unhesitatingly pressed his palm against Lingna’s shoulder, his pure, warm starlight energy surging forth like a dam broken—gentle yet immense—flowing into her body! He carefully controlled the flow, avoiding her injured meridians and the unstable right arm, primarily supporting her body and using her as a conduit to channel the starlight into the wall!

Milky-white starlight merged perfectly with emerald natural life energy through Lingna’s body, flooding into the ancient device!

The ancient elfic script and runes on the wall ignited one by one! Like a chain of awakened stars, they spread rapidly across the entire hall’s walls and even the dome! The central damaged crystal, now infused with renewed vitality, glowed steadily and continuously, no longer flickering, illuminating the entire hall as bright as daylight!

Click… clack-clack…

The dull rumble of machinery activated from within the wall. The massive wall, centered on the diamond-shaped depression, slowly sank inward, then silently slid aside, revealing a descending metal corridor beyond—neater, bathed in soft white light. The air inside was fresh, carrying a faint, plant-like fragrance, utterly distinct from the polluted air outside!

A richer, purer wave of life energy, mixed with stable fluctuations, surged toward them from the corridor’s depths!

【Permission verified. Life support system: ‘New Oasis’ Ecological Unit B-7 Sector, activated. Energy level: 3.7%. Welcome, High-Level Guardian.】 The cold electronic voice echoed clearly in everyone’s mind—not just Lingna’s this time!

Success! They had truly activated a hidden facility!

Lingna collapsed backward, caught in time by Lin Mo. Her arm’s glow dimmed; the cracks showed no worsening, but the sensation of being drained was overwhelming. Most of the starlight energy Lin Mo had transferred had been absorbed by the door.

“Lingna!” Ai Li hurried forward, carrying Li Yana, her eyes filled with concern.

“I’m fine… just tired…” Lingna gasped, pale-faced but her eyes gleaming with excitement. She had done it! Her arm, this dangerous “key,” had finally opened a door of hope!

Zero’s console immediately flew into the newly opened corridor for scanning: “Corridor secure. No lethal threats detected. Stable environmental control systems, low-power lighting, and… powerful life energy source detected. Recommend immediate entry—internal environment better suited for injured recovery.”

As they prepared to enter the new corridor, the crystal clusters near the central, now-stable crystal stirred again. Their halos turned uniformly toward the closing metal door (the wall), their ticking growing rapid and sharp, even tinged with… agitation and supplication? A few bolder clusters attempted to rush toward the corridor entrance but halted fearfully at the edge of the light, tapping the ground with their short forelimbs.

“They… want to come in?” Lingna was surprised.

Zero scanned their behavior: “Energy analysis indicates extreme desire for the purer, more stable life energy and environment leaking from the corridor. Hypothesis: This ecological unit was once one of their habitats or energy sources. Permit entry?”

Lin Mo watched the agitated clusters—pitiful creatures locked outside—and paused. Though they had attacked, it was mostly out of territorial instinct. Now they showed submission—perhaps… they could be utilized? These native beings surely understood the ark far better than they did.

“Allow limited entry for observation. Zero, monitor all their behavior.” Lin Mo made his decision. Risk and opportunity coexisted.

The energy barrier at the corridor entrance flickered slightly. The nearest clusters immediately extended their forelimbs to touch the barrier; finding no resistance, they emitted cheerful clicks and darted inside—five or six in total. Once inside, they fell silent, their halos softening, greedily absorbing the pure energy in the air, even cautiously approaching the walls, rubbing their forelimbs against the softly glowing panels, emitting contented hums. The rest remained outside, pacing anxiously.

Lin Mo and the others no longer delayed, swiftly entering the corridor. The metal door closed soundlessly behind them, sealing off the ruined hall and most of the crystal clusters.

The corridor’s interior was clean and orderly, its walls made of warm white material emitting soft light and comfortable warmth. The air was fresh, humid, rich in oxygen, invigorating the spirit. After only a few dozen meters, a larger space appeared ahead.

It was a circular ecological dome hall! Though many areas were dilapidated—withered planting troughs, broken dome supports, a fractured energy-simulated sky revealing cold metal walls beneath—it still bore traces of former glory. At the center stood a dry pool, surrounded by the withered remains of unfamiliar plants. Tiny, faintly glowing mosses clung stubbornly to corners, offering a trace of life.

Most striking was a massive screen embedded in one wall, composed of countless tiny hexagonal crystals. Most of the screen was dark; only a small central area glowed faintly, displaying rolling, incomprehensible elfic script and energy waveforms.

Below the screen, connected to a partially sunken, oddly shaped platform, lay a thick layer of dust. Faint carvings and interfaces were still visible. At the platform’s center rested a single crystal, roughly fist-sized, entirely emerald-green, shaped like a seed. The rich life energy and stable fluctuations emanated from it!

“Life energy source located: central crystal on platform. Energy property: highly pure natural life energy, same origin as Li Yana and Lingna’s arm energy, but older and more immense,” Zero analyzed swiftly. “Platform linked to entire ecological unit control system. Attempting connection…”

Zero’s console extended a slender data probe into an inconspicuous interface on the platform.

Instantly, the massive crystal screen blazed to life! After a flash of garbled code and static, an extremely weak, intermittent, nearly extinguished ancient electronic voice echoed throughout the hall:

【Sys…tem self-check… energy critically low… ecological maintenance… minimal power…】

【Detected… external access… permission verified… World Tree seed energy… and… Star Guardian power…】

【I am… the ‘Gardener’… Ark Ecological Unit… management AI…】

【Guardian… you have… finally… returned…】

【‘New Oasis’… needs… your… light…】

The voice ended abruptly. The screen darkened again, leaving only a faint, stubborn glow at its center—like a candle flickering in the wind.

The emerald seed crystal, after the voice vanished, emitted a slightly dimmer radiance.

The hope they had just glimpsed now seemed distant again. The AI named “Gardener” was feeble; the ecological unit teetered on collapse. They had found a sanctuary—but one requiring immense energy to revive… a heavy burden.

Lin Mo’s gaze settled on the emerald seed crystal, then on the weak, unconscious Li Yana and his battered companions.

Energy… they needed vast amounts of energy.