Chapter 243: Core Periphery and Cold Sacrifice

Beneath the ventilation grid was a space vast beyond imagination.

This was no longer the ancient, decaying "heritage" zone, but one of the cold, technological heartlands under the Doctor's control—countless thick energy conduits coiled like giant serpents along ceiling and walls, flashing with colored indicator lights; massive mechanical arms and automated platforms glided silently along complex tracks, performing precise operations; holographic screens streamed cascades of complex data; staff in pale uniforms scurried below like worker ants.

At the center of the space stood a massive cylindrical device, tightly shielded by multiple layers of energy barriers and physical armor, emitting terrifying energy fluctuations—the secondary interface hub of the Ark's primary energy core, the "Heart"!

Though merely a node extending from the "Heart," its scale was staggering; immense energy surged within it like a breathing rhythm, emitting a low, thunderous rumble.

They had actually reached the edge of the core zone!

Yet incongruous with this bustling scene was a temporarily cleared area on one side of the space—security tape stretched across it, several technicians in heavy protective suits, their masks bearing the Doctor's insignia, nervously operating some extraction device; the device's other end connected to several large, transparent containers.

Inside the containers were imprisoned dozens of huddled, expressionless elves and humans—their clothes tattered, bodies emaciated, energy conduits linked to their skin, glowing faintly as they continuously siphoned out pale-white energy streams brimming with faint life and emotional fluctuations!

This extracted energy flowed through complex piping systems toward another direction—a region sealed by a heavy metal door covered in runes and cooling pipes; above the door glowed a red label: 【Laboratory-Project 7-Top Clearance】.

The Doctor wasn't just harnessing the Ark's energy—he was directly siphoning life and emotional energy from living beings! For his mad "Project 7"?

Xiang Lingna felt icy dread crawl through her body, her stomach churning; anger and revulsion made her nearly vomit. Ya's fists clenched so tightly his nails dug into his palms, his emerald eyes burning with suppressed rage and deep pain—some of those drained people might have been his former kin.

"Monster…" he hissed through gritted teeth.

At that moment, commotion rose below—a squad of armed Cleanser soldiers escorted a new "energy source" forward: a middle-aged human male in a tattered researcher's uniform, wearing glasses, his face vaguely familiar—he was filled with terror and despair, struggling uselessly.

It was the Doctor's researcher who had coldly recited Ai Li's "value" in the detention cell!

"... No! Let me go! I've served the Doctor! I gave everything to the 'Ascension' project! You can't do this to me!" he screamed in panic, utterly unlike his former cold demeanor.

A Cleanser commander replied coldly: "The Doctor's order. Your emotional fluctuation levels have severely exceeded thresholds—filled with useless fear and regret, impairing research efficiency. But as 'feedstock,' your purity remains acceptable. Make your final contribution to 'Ascension.'"

Without heeding the researcher's cries and pleas, the soldiers forcibly shoved him into an empty container and connected the energy conduits.

The conduits lit up—the researcher let out a piercing scream, his body convulsing violently, his eyes rapidly dimming into the same numb, hollow emptiness as the others.

Cold, efficient, utterly inhuman. This was the Doctor's rule.

Xiang Lingna felt a chill in her bones—even his own subordinates, once useless, were discarded without hesitation, turned into "feedstock."

"We have to do something!" Xiang Lingna whispered urgently, glancing at Ya.

Ya's face was grim beyond measure—he longed to rush down and smash those damned machines—but he drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm: "Storming in is suicide. Our goal is to find a gap into the laboratory or control center, create chaos, and if the chance arises… try cutting this energy supply."

He pulled out a scanner, attempting to locate weak points in the structure below or trace the ventilation ducts.

Yet the scanner's screen was flooded with overwhelming interference, nearly impossible to render an image.

"The interference is too strong… caused by the energy core and the extraction devices…" Ya muttered in frustration.

Just as they were at a loss, the heavy metal door of the laboratory below suddenly shifted from red to green, emitting a hiss of airlock release.

The door slowly opened.

A slender figure in a white research robe, hair meticulously combed, emerged from within, flanked by senior researchers.

It was the Doctor.

He looked somewhat weary, but his eyes behind rimless glasses glowed with intense excitement and fanaticism—as if he had just achieved a major breakthrough. In his hand he held a data board, rapidly issuing orders to the researchers beside him.

"... The catalyst's activity has finally stabilized… though only preliminary fusion, the direction is correct… Prepare immediately for the next phase. I need more 'feedstock'—emotional spectra must cover anger, fear, despair… especially extreme 'desire'…"

His voice drifted faintly through the ventilation grid—cold and clear.

Xiang Lingna and Ya held their breath, pressing themselves lower, hearts pounding.

The Doctor seemed in good spirits—he paused, his gaze sweeping over the energy extraction containers like a collector admiring his treasures, finally settling on the newly inserted former researcher.

"Oh? Isn't this our excellent energy manager, Josh?" The Doctor's lips curled into a cold smile. "It seems he's finally found his ideal place—providing foundational nourishment for great evolution. Excellent."

His words drew suppressed, approving laughter from the surrounding researchers.

The Doctor stepped forward, preparing to leave—but as he passed directly beneath the ventilation shaft, his steps paused slightly.

He seemed to sense something—he snapped his head up, his cold eyes sharp as blades, as if piercing through the ventilation grid to strike directly at Xiang Lingna and Ya hidden above!

Both froze—blood seemed to turn to ice in their veins!

Found?

The Doctor's gaze lingered on the ventilation shaft for two or three seconds, his brow slightly furrowed, as if sensing and confirming something.

The entire core zone fell silent, save the low thunder of the energy core.

Xiang Lingna clamped a hand over her mouth, stopped breathing entirely, sweat instantly soaking her back. Ya's hand was already on his pulse pistol, body taut like a hunting leopard, ready to fight to the death.

Yet unexpectedly, the Doctor did not order an immediate search. His confusion faded, replaced by a deeper, knowing, almost amused expression.

He adjusted his glasses, the cold smile on his lips deepening, speaking in a tone neither loud nor soft—yet perfectly audible to those above—as if to himself:

"... Little mice… finally crawled into the core? Faster than expected… impressive."

He paused, his gaze seemingly idly sweeping over a certain interface of the energy core, then added, voice laced with mockery:

"... It seems the 'Cleansers' of the 'Heritage Corridor' and the 'Echoes of Old Days' failed to stop you… and even inadvertently 'purified' some unnecessary impurities? How… interesting a variable."

Xiang Lingna and Ya were stunned—the Doctor not only knew they were here, but seemed to know every detail of their journey?! How was this possible?!

The Doctor turned away from the ventilation shaft, as if losing interest, and continued walking, leaving only one final, weightless remark that struck them like a hammer:

"... Enjoy this final 'freedom' of exploration… after all, you… especially the 'Key'… are my ultimate experiment's most perfect… 'core vessel'…"

With those words, he vanished into a corridor on the other side, escorted by Cleanser soldiers.

Core vessel?!

The Doctor's words exploded like thunder in Xiang Lingna's mind—she wasn't just a "Key" or a "vessel"—the Doctor's ultimate goal was to make her the very "core" of some horrific experiment?!

An endless chill crawled up her spine.

Below, the core zone resumed its prior bustle, as if nothing had happened.

Above the ventilation shaft, Xiang Lingna and Ya remained silent for a long while, stunned by the Doctor's casual yet devastating words.

Was he bluffing? Or did he truly control everything?

At that moment, Ya's scanner emitted a new, faint beeping—different from before. Amid the interference snow on the screen, a faint, intermittent energy flow pattern emerged—a path bypassing the main current, connecting to an extremely hidden backup interface of the energy core… and a maintenance access tunnel outside the laboratory!

Was this the Doctor's seemingly casual glance a hint? Or a blatant trap laid to lure them in?

Ya's expression shifted, then hardened into resolve.

"... No matter what... this is the only chance." He looked toward Xiang Lingna, a gleam of all-or-nothing resolve flashing in his eyes. "Dare to take the gamble?"

Xiang Lingna looked down at those numb "energy sources," recalled the Doctor's icy smile and the words "core vessel," and nodded firmly.

Fear still lingered, but some things simply had to be done.

The two of them crawled carefully along the ventilation shaft, following the faint energy pathway indicated on the scanner.

What awaited them ahead — the crack leading to the edge of the laboratory, or the killing trap the Doctor had carefully laid?

The answer lay at the cold end of the shaft.