[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d":3,"chapter-lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-207":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of All Heavens: From a Wasteland Farm to a Divine Court of Myriad Worlds",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2344400,4582,"Chapter 207: The Gardener","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-207",207,"\u003Cp>The AI “Gardener”’s fragmented message, like a stone cast into a dead pond, sent ripples through each heart before fading with the dimming screen into silence. The only thing remaining in the hall was the emerald seed crystal, emitting a faint yet tenacious glow of life—a final star in the darkness, reminding them they had not imagined it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Energy severely insufficient…” Lin Mo repeated the most critical piece of information, his gaze sweeping across the spacious but visibly decaying ecological dome hall. Withered planting troughs, broken supports, damaged energy-simulated skylights, and air circulation systems that, though fresh, clearly lacked sustaining power—all confirmed the ancient AI’s weakened state. The door of hope had opened, but beyond it lay not a smooth path, but a dying one, requiring immense energy to reignite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Zero, can you estimate the energy threshold required to activate and maintain the basic functions of this ecological unit?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero’s console hovered beside the half-buried platform, its data probes still connected to the interface, its pale blue light continuously flowing. “Attempting to parse the facility’s energy network architecture… Structure is complex with multiple fractures and damages. Preliminary estimate: to activate only the basic life-support systems—including air circulation, temperature regulation, minimal lighting—and to prevent the ‘Gardener’ AI core from entering permanent dormancy, at least 15% to 20% of the total energy contained in the star-dust crystal you previously absorbed is required.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>15% to 20%! Lin Mo’s heart sank slightly. The energy in that crystal had been immense—even one-fifth of it was an astonishing amount. Though the power fused within him was potent, it was more a qualitative transformation; his total reserves were far from sufficient for reckless expenditure, serving instead as a key to unlock his own strength and draw upon external energy. Moreover, Ai Li and Ling Na’s injuries, and the possible threat of enemies, demanded he conserve sufficient power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As for fully restoring the ecological dome, activating all planting units, and attempting to link to other potentially intact sections of the Ark…” Zero’s electronic voice paused, then delivered an even more despairing figure, “the energy required would be astronomical, and the main power lines must be located and repaired.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Full restoration was a fantasy for now. The immediate priority was securing this outpost and restoring the ‘Gardener’ to basic functionality—it must hold invaluable information about this Ark wreck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is there… any other energy source nearby, similar to that pulse crystal we found before?” Ling Na asked weakly, leaning against the edge of the platform, her face still pale. The cracks on her right arm, under the seed crystal’s life-glow, seemed to emit a faint sense of relief, the burning pain lessening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Scanning range is limited by facility shielding and my own energy levels,” Zero replied. “However, analysis of detected energy flow traces indicates this ecological unit originally had a main power line connected to the Ark’s deeper ‘geopulse energy well,’ but the line is severed. Several secondary branches, supplying power to specific zones, also exist—most are damaged. The only detected, relatively active weak energy source is in the hall we just passed—the pulse crystal. But its energy leaks severely and is unstable; direct extraction may cause total collapse.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That crystal was clearly insufficient to meet the needs here. The atmosphere grew heavy once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the few crystal clusters permitted into the ecological hall emitted faint “clicks.” They had adapted to the environment, no longer agitated. One slightly larger cluster, with a brighter aura, cautiously approached the seed crystal on the platform—not to touch it, but to circle it, then turned toward Ling Na, raised its short forelimbs, and pointed toward a sealed passage on the opposite side of the hall. Its aura began pulsing rhythmically, emitting clicks of varying lengths.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Its actions drew everyone’s attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It… what is it trying to say?” Ling Na looked curiously at the small creature.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zero’s console adjusted its scanning direction. “The target organism’s pheromone pattern has shifted, mixing ambiguous meanings of ‘guidance,’ ‘direction,’ and ‘energy.’ Combined with its pointing behavior, it is inferred to be indicating a location where an energy source or related facility may exist.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These native creatures truly understood this place better! Though communication was difficult, this was undeniably a clue!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How reliable is this?” Lin Mo asked. Cooperation with unknown lifeforms required caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Cannot be quantified. But its behavior pattern stems from a craving for pure energy; guiding us toward energy-rich zones aligns with its logical needs. Risk lies in the possibility that the area is occupied by dangerous lifeforms or contains other unknown traps,” Zero analyzed objectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Risky—but worth trying. Better than staying here and waiting to die.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ai Li, you stay behind to protect Li Ya Na and guard this place. Zero, maintain connection and continue mining the ‘Gardener’’s database for any additional information—even fragments. Ling Na, come with me. Your arm… may sense more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ai Li nodded silently, placing Li Ya Na in a relatively comfortable corner beside the platform, then positioning herself where she could see both the entrance and Li Ya Na, standing like a statue in vigil. The shadow Qinshi  beneath her ribs kept her brows slightly furrowed, but her eyes remained sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Na took a deep breath and struggled to stand. Her weakness and arm pain remained, but the life-giving aura of the seed crystal granted her renewed strength. She looked at the crystal cluster still diligently pointing, and nodded. “I’m ready, Lin Mo brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crystal cluster seemed to understand their intent, emitting a short, cheerful click, then turned and hopped toward the sealed passage it had indicated. The other clusters immediately followed, like tiny guides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo and Ling Na followed close behind. The passage entrance had been sealed by an energy barrier, but perhaps due to the ‘Gardener’’s brief activation—or Lin Mo’s star-dust authorization—the barrier vanished as they approached. Behind it lay a downward spiral ramp, also constructed of softly glowing white metal, but far narrower than the previous corridors, barely wide enough for two to walk side by side. The walls bore more traces of withered vines and faint, now-dimmed directional glyphs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The lead crystal cluster knew this place intimately. Without hesitation, at an unremarkable corner, it tapped a slightly protruding brick with its forelimb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft click. One side of the wall slid open silently, revealing a hidden, even narrower maintenance passage! A stale breeze gushed out, carrying a faint, peculiar odor—like sulfur mixed with ozone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hidden passage… they understand this place better than we thought,” Lin Mo murmured, his gaze sharpening with increased caution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The maintenance passage was extremely dark, lit only by the flickering auras of the crystal clusters. Thick dust covered the floor; on either side lay massive, long-dead energy pipes and cable bundles, many encrusted with thick, gray-white, spiderweb-like substances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling Na’s right-arm crystal reacted again here—not with strong resonance, but with a subtle, directional thrum, as if guiding her. Simultaneously, that cold electronic voice in her mind tried to speak again, but only fragmented static emerged, like a corrupted signal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【…backup…maintenance…path…energy…leak…danger…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice was intermittent, impossible to decipher fully.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They navigated the labyrinthine maintenance passage for about ten minutes when the lead crystal cluster suddenly halted, emitting a rapid, alert series of clicks. It pointed toward a corner ahead, where a faint, orange-red glow—different from the clusters’ auras—flickered, accompanied by the clear, rhythmic drip of liquid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo signaled Ling Na to stop. He crept forward cautiously, pressing against the cold metal wall, then slowly peered around the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind the corner was a larger junction chamber. In the center, a massive main energy pipe had ruptured, spilling a thick, viscous, orange-red liquid—hot and reeking of sulfur—drop by drop into a below-ground inspection pit, where it pooled, radiating dangerous light and heat. At the rupture, several fist-sized, translucent crystals had formed, glowing a magnificent orange-red, their interiors swirling like molten lava. They greedily absorbed the leaking liquid, emitting a stable, stronger energy fluctuation than the pulse crystal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“High-purity solid energy deposits!” Lin Mo whispered, a flicker of delight in his eyes. These crystals contained considerable energy—and appeared stable!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the next instant, his gaze froze. Beside the pooled energy liquid, three creatures far larger than the crystal clusters crouched. Resembling scaled-up pangolins, they were armored in dark, cooled-lava-like plates, with several clusters of flickering, flame-like orange-red crystals growing along their backs, and heavy, hammer-like bony tips on their thick tails. They lay there lazily, absorbing the heat and radiation from the leaking liquid, clearly claiming this as their nest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Energy predators… looks like we weren’t the only ones who found this place,” Lin Mo slowly withdrew, his expression grim. These creatures looked formidable—and they blocked the only path to the energy crystals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he pondered how to respond, a muffled gasp came from behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo whirled around to see Ling Na, pale as death, staring into the darkness at the other end of the passage. Her right-arm crystal trembled slightly, its emerald veins flashing rapidly—not guiding, but emitting a strong sense of… warning and revulsion!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What is it?” Lin Mo asked immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Over there… something…” Ling Na’s voice trembled as she pointed into the dark. “It’s cold… hungry… similar to the Doctor’s power… but not the same… it’s eating… eating the energy here…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lin Mo followed her gaze. Zero’s console instantly directed its scanning beam into the darkness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the beam’s end, thick, tar-like substances—black as crude oil—were slowly, silently spreading along the walls and pipes. Where they passed, metal darkened and rotted; even the faint energy flows in the air were devoured. A chilling, lifeless, ravenous hunger radiated from the black ooze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was that… the corruption trace of the Devourer’s Throat?! Though extremely faint—only a remnant—it was real, and still actively consuming all energy!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wolves ahead, tigers behind. The energy crystals lay within reach—yet blocked by two dangers.\u003C\u002Fp>",1643,"2026-06-21T00:09:54.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","2359803083a48a55d9c93a1f90887e4565527acc0a7abe3f994db05784ccdcd8","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-208","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-206",247,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-cover.jpg"]