[{"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-242":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},2344435,4582,"Chapter 242: Elegy of Sorrow and Whispering Residual Shadows","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-242",242,"\u003Cp>Time seemed to freeze at that moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep in the hall, the soft warm white light, like a spotlight on stage, enveloped that slender figure. The music grew clearer—ethereal and melodic, yet saturated with an unresolvable sorrow, each note striking the deepest recesses of the soul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The figure turned its head slowly and gracefully, bearing an inhuman, ancient divinity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna’s heart pounded wildly—fear and an inexplicable anticipation clawing at her chest. Her eyes locked onto the figure within the light, forgetting to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, just as the figure was about to turn fully, its face about to be revealed—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Like a corrupted hologram, the entire figure, along with the warm white light and the sorrowful music, flickered violently and twisted! The next instant, it vanished like smoke, gone without a trace!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The strange music also ceased abruptly, as if it had never existed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire hall plunged back into silence and darkness, leaving only the half-open, strangely shaped massive gateway, like the mouth of a silent beast, swallowing all light and sound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sudden change left Lingna frozen in place, a profound sense of loss and confusion surging within her—as if she had missed something of utmost importance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was a residual shadow…” Xiang Lingna’s low voice broke the silence. He had stopped walking, his sharp gaze fixed on the empty hall, his face grave, with a hint of… understanding? “Some kind of… intense spiritual imprint or informational echo left by the Forerunners, activated and manifested under specific energy conditions. They have no physical form—only ghosts of the past.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Spiritual imprint? Ghosts of the past? Lingna snapped back to herself, a chill of dread rising—but that powerful sense of being called still lingered. “It… it seemed to be calling me…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Lingna gave her a long look, his gaze sweeping over the thorn mark on her left arm and her right leg: “Perhaps it’s tied to the unique power within you. Many things in the ‘Legacy’ operate beyond our comprehension. But remember—don’t be deceived by them. Often, they’re traps.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He paused, then added: “Elaana’s notes mentioned that some powerful ‘residual shadows’ can even influence reality, creating illusions, stealing minds. That one… felt different. We should stay away from it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna nodded, suppressing the tremor in her chest, forcing herself not to look back at the dark entrance of the hall. Xiang Lingna was right—this wasn’t the time for curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two continued forward along the main corridor indicated by the scanner. After this incident, the atmosphere within the corridor grew heavier, more eerie. Lingna felt as if countless eyes watched her from the darkness, the melody of the sorrowful music still faintly echoing in her ears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The floor beneath them began to slope upward, and the walls gradually changed. The geometric patterns of Forerunner design faded, replaced by crude, later-added metal supports and Elven warning signs—【HIGH HAZARD ZONE】、【UNAUTHORIZED ENTRY PROHIBITED】、【ENERGY LEAK】.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were now moving from the pure ‘Legacy’ zone toward the later-built, equally abandoned, dangerous sectors of the Ark.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air grew fouler, thick with the stench of ozone and burnt circuitry, mixed with a faint, cloying, nauseating odor—the unmistakable scent of the crimson ‘Hunger’ contamination! Though faint, it instantly put Lingna and Xiang Lingna on high alert.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Be careful—we may be nearing a quarantined contaminated zone,” Xiang Lingna whispered, gripping his pulse pistol and slowing his steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, the corridor opened into the shattered remains of a massive, violently breached isolation gate. The gate was twisted and deformed, its edges still bearing traces of high-temperature melting and enormous claw marks. Clearly, something terrible had broken through here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the gate wreckage, the sight made both of them gasp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was the ruins of a vast circular hall, comparable in scale to the previous Resonance Hall, but filled with signs of destruction and battle. The walls were scarred with blackened explosion marks and deep gouges; the floor littered with shattered instrument parts and rusted weapon fragments. Thick, withered, blackened plant roots pierced through holes in ceiling and walls like monstrous tentacles, adding to the ruin’s gloom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the center of the hall stood a massive, dried-up pool, its bottom congealed with a dark red, tar-like viscous substance, emitting that cloying, rotting odor. Around the pool lay dozens of partially fossilized remains of Elves and large constructs, half-covered in crimson moss. They remained in combat stances—as if guarding the pool, only to be utterly annihilated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A horrific battle had clearly taken place here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Purification Hall…” Xiang Lingna’s voice trembled with sorrow—he recognized the place. “Elaana’s records mentioned this… one of the earliest facilities attempting to purge the ‘Hunger’ contamination… It seems… they failed…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost of failure was this carnage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna stared at the remains frozen in combat, feeling their final despair and defiance, her heart weighed down beyond measure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two carefully avoided the ominous pool at the center, preparing to hurry through the ruins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as they neared the exit on the far side of the hall, Lingna’s gaze caught something in the corner.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a relatively intact Elven remains, slumped against the wall, its armor heavily damaged and mostly covered in crimson moss. Yet in one hand, it clutched a palm-sized, disc-shaped object made of white jade, inlaid with golden patterns. The object seemed to possess some power—preventing the crimson moss from fully consuming it, leaving a small patch of relative purity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the wall beside the remains, sharp tools had carved a dense, chaotic array of Elven script—scratched in desperation, as if written in the final moments of life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna moved toward it, as if drawn by unseen force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t touch anything!” Xiang Lingna warned in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna did not touch the remains, but carefully studied the inscriptions. Most were obscured by moss or faded, but a few passages remained legible:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【…Seventh Purification Experiment… Failed… ‘It’ is mimicking… learning… The more we try to purify, the stronger it becomes…】【…Energy… it needs energy… life energy… emotional energy… especially… negative emotions… that is its food…】【…Elaana was right… the source isn’t here… we must find… the origin of ‘sorrow’…】【…They’re coming… hold the hall… don’t let… the Mother… escape…】【…You who come after… remember… light… needs… shadow… balance… pure light… only draws… deeper… darkness…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The inscriptions ended abruptly, the final characters nearly illegible, steeped in boundless despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna’s heartbeat quickened again. The fragmented messages revealed crucial clues! The ‘Hunger’ fed on negative emotions? Pure purification light might summon deeper darkness? Balance of light and shadow was needed?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This echoed her own experiences. Her own contradictory state—marked by both Order and Chaos (now purified)—might not be a curse, but a… necessary balance?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiang Lingna! Look at this!” she whispered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Lingna approached cautiously, scanning the inscriptions. His expression grew graver. “…Feeds on negative emotions… mimics and learns… That explains why the Doctor’s forced control was so terrifying—he’s been supplying it with ‘nourishment’…” He glanced at the dried pool in the center, a spark of realization in his eyes. “…And this failed purification… might have birthed an even stronger… ‘Mother’?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mother? The source of those crimson aggregates?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xiang Lingna’s scanner emitted a frantic, rapid beeping!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No! High-energy signature approaching fast! From that direction!” Xiang Lingna pointed sharply to another corridor entrance—obscured by more withered roots and debris, unnoticed until now!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Almost as he spoke—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>BOOM!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The debris in that direction exploded outward! A colossal, crimson-covered root, thick as a serpent, smashed through the obstruction and surged into the hall! At its tip, instead of a spike, formed a blurred, writhing human face, emitting a silent, soul-shattering roar of ravenous hunger!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A spiritual pressure far greater, denser, and filled with endless hunger and malice than any previous aggregate instantly engulfed the entire hall!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s a part of the ‘Mother’! Run!” Xiang Lingna’s face paled. He grabbed Lingna’s arm and bolted toward the original exit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson root, sensing them as “fresh energy sources,” let out an ecstatic psychic shriek and surged after them! Wherever it passed, debris and remains were instantly absorbed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It moved too fast—closing in fast!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that critical moment, Lingna turned back and saw the Elven remains clutching the white jade disc.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A mad idea flashed through her mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wrenched free from Xiang Lingna’s grip and dashed toward the remains. In the instant the root was about to strike her, she seized the white jade disc!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment her fingers touched the disc—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>WHIRR!!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white jade disc erupted in a brilliant, yet gentle, radiant white light! A complex, luminous Elven rune shield instantly unfolded, enveloping her!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The crimson root slammed into the light shield, letting out a piercing psychic scream, recoiling as if burned by a branding iron. The twisted human face at its tip blurred and writhed in agony and fury!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shield flickered violently—it could not hold against the monstrous ‘Mother’ root for long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it bought Lingna and Xiang Lingna precious time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Go!” Xiang Lingna grabbed her again, and they sprinted through the hall’s exit!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them, the ‘Mother’ root slammed against the shield, its furious psychic roars echoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They ran without looking back down the new corridor until the terrifying sounds were utterly left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Safe once more, they leaned against the wall, gasping, hearts still pounding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lingna stared at the white jade disc in her hand—now calm, yet still warm—feeling within it a gentle but unwavering protective power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were reckless!” Xiang Lingna panted, voice scolding but laced with relief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…But it saved us,” Lingna said, gripping the disc, sensing its power—similar yet distinct from the ‘tears’ fragment. “And… I think… it might help us find… balance within the shadow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Lingna stared at the disc, silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: “Perhaps. Elaana mentioned that the original Guardian technologies drew upon the ‘Legacy’s’ balance principles.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He lifted his head, gazing ahead. The scanner’s indicators grew clearer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We’re closer to the core. I can feel… the energy flows are more active… and more… chaotic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ahead, new sounds emerged—not silence, not monster roars, but the deep, rumbling hum of massive machinery… and faint human voices?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two exchanged a glance, their vigilance rising.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiang Lingna signaled silence. They crept forward, soundless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The corridor ended in a large ventilation grille. Bright light and loud mechanical noise poured through.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They crept close, peering down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sight below stole their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>",1720,"2026-06-21T00:09:54.226Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","125b8580a3d267813c92def04d7044ffae03f8978d79bcbbdf85a33c02106374","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-243","lord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-chapter-241",247,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-all-heavens-from-a-wasteland-farm-to-a-d-cover.jpg"]