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 vanished.

Hundreds of crystal clusters remained frozen in place, their halos above flickering at unprecedented frequencies, emitting dense, chaotic "tick-tick-tick" sounds, 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 stellar dust glow emanating 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, clacking agitation, 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 in her right arm still burned hot, pointing unwaveringly toward the rhombus-shaped recess 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: The stellar dust energy emitted by Lord Lin Mo possesses purity and rank far exceeding the central damaged crystal, exerting an 'upper-tier' suppression and attraction upon them."

Lin Mo himself sensed this subtle shift. The energy fields radiating from the surrounding crystal clusters no longer brimmed with rejection; instead, they 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 rhombus-shaped recess. "Zero, analyze that wall and the symbol. Lingna, how do you feel?" He noticed the anomaly in her right arm.

"That pattern… it's calling to my arm…" Lingna lifted her cracked, crystalline right arm, the emerald glow within surging uncontrollably. "It's an intense sensation… and I think I hear that voice again… it says, 'Welcome back,' 'Guardian'…"

"Xu Kequan verification?" Lin Mo seized the key point. "Zero, scan the recess structure—is the energy circuit intact?"

A pale blue scanning beam focused on the rhombus-shaped recess. "Structural integrity intact. Internal energy circuit in extreme low-power sleep state, no physical damage detected. Energy signature… shows high resonance with the crystalline material of Lingna's arm and the specific life energy contained within (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 stellar dust 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. If anything unusual occurs, stop immediately."

Lingna took a deep breath, suppressing her nervousness and the searing heat in her arm, and nodded firmly. Under Sister Ai Li's vigilant watch and Lin Mo's escort, she stepped forward toward the wall. The clustered crystals around her emitted a denser "tick-tick-tick," 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 recess 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 internally glowing with emerald threads, crystalline right hand, aligning it precisely with the recess's shape, and slowly, carefully pressed it against the surface.

The dimensions matched perfectly!

The instant her palm made full contact with the recess—

Hummm!!!

No earth-shattering roar—only a deep, powerful sound, like the heart of an ancient beast, slumbering for ten thousand years, beating anew! The emerald veins within Lingna's arm crystal blazed to their maximum intensity, spreading like living things along the cracks, merging completely with the green light radiating from the sprout carving in the recess!

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

Milky-white stellar dust light and emerald natural life energy merged perfectly 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 lit stars, they rapidly spread across the entire hall's walls and even the dome! The central damaged crystal, now pulsing steadily, also seemed infused with renewed vitality—its glow stabilized, no longer flickering, illuminating the entire hall as bright as daylight!

Click… clack-clack…

The dull rumble of mechanical activation echoed from within the wall. The massive wall, centered on the rhombus recess, slowly sank inward, then silently slid aside, revealing a descending, more orderly metal corridor emitting a soft white glow! The air within 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!

【Xu Kequan verified. Life support system: 'Xinluzhou' Ecological Unit B-7 Sector, activated. Energy level: 3.7%. Welcome, High-Rank Guardian.】That cold, synthesized voice echoed clearly in everyone's mind—not just Lingna's anymore!

Success! They had truly activated a hidden facility!

Lingna collapsed backward, caught promptly by Lin Mo. The glow in her right arm dimmed; the cracks showed no worsening, but the sensation of being drained was overwhelming. Most of the stellar dust energy Lin Mo had transferred had been absorbed by the door.

"Lingna!" Sister Ai Li hurried forward, carrying Priestess Liyana, her eyes filled with concern.

"I'm fine… just tired…" Lingna gasped, pale-faced but her eyes alight with excitement. She had done it! Her arm, that 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 system, low-power lighting, and… powerful life energy source detected. Recommend immediate entry—internal environment better suited for injured personnel recovery."

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

"They… want to come in?" Lingna was surprised.

Zero scanned their behavior: "Energy analysis indicates extreme craving 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 gazed at the agitated clusters, like pitiful creatures locked outside, and paused. Though they had attacked them, 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 decided. Risk and opportunity coexisted.

The energy barrier at the corridor entrance flickered faintly, as if receiving a command. The nearest clusters immediately extended their forelimbs to touch the barrier; finding no resistance, they emitted cheerful "clack-clack" sounds and darted inside—five or six in total. Once inside, they instantly quieted, their halos softening, greedily absorbing the pure energy in the air, even cautiously approaching the walls, gently rubbing their forelimbs against the softly glowing panels, emitting contented hums. The remaining clusters were barred 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 walking merely dozens of meters, a larger space appeared ahead.

This was a circular ecological dome hall! Though many areas were decayed—planting troughs withered, some dome supports broken, the energy-simulated sky ceiling damaged, revealing cold metal bulkheads behind—it still bore traces of former glory. At the center stood a dried-up pool, surrounded by the remains of unknown, withered plants. Tiny, faintly glowing mosses clung stubbornly to corners, offering a trace of life.

Most striking was a massive screen on 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 embedded, oddly shaped platform, lay a thick layer of dust. Faint carvings and interfaces could still be discerned. 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 precisely from this!

"Life energy source located: central crystal on platform. Energy property: highly pure natural life energy, identical in origin to Priestess Liyana's and Lingna's arm energy, but older and more potent," Zero analyzed swiftly. "Platform linked to entire ecological unit control system. Attempting connection…"

Zero's console extended a slender data probe, connecting to 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 synthesized voice echoed throughout the hall:

【Sys… system self-check… energy critically low… ecological maintenance… minimum 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…】

【'Xinluzhou'… needs… your… light…】

The voice ended abruptly. The screen darkened again, leaving only that single faint point of light flickering stubbornly, like a candle in the wind.

And the emerald seed crystal, after the voice vanished, emitted a slightly dimmer glow.

The light of hope they had just glimpsed now seemed to fade 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 Priestess Liyana and his battered companions.

Energy… they needed vast amounts of energy.