Chapter 164 Energy Reactor

Behind the door is a huge circular space, more than fifty meters in diameter.

The dome is very high, and in the center stands a huge, complex cylindrical structure.

The device is composed of countless metal pipes and transparent transistor channels, with a pale blue, liquid-like substance flowing inside.

These substances circulate and pulse within the pipes according to a certain pattern, emitting a low hum.

The bottom of the device is connected to a large number of thick cables that extend to the surrounding walls and disappear into the ground.

The entire space was spotless, a stark contrast to the dilapidated state of the outside passageway. The air was icy cold, and the energy concentration was astonishingly high.

“Energy reactor…” Shen Yan stared at the wildly fluctuating numbers on the detector, his voice hoarse, “This thing is still running! It’s been running for at least several decades!”

Zhou Min's face turned pale: "If the energy inside gets out of control..."

Ruan Ning didn't listen to them. Her entire attention was drawn to the pendant around her neck. The pendant was burning hot, vibrating violently, and even seemed to float on its own, the chain taut.

Buzz—

The central device seemed to sense something, and the internal blue light flow suddenly accelerated, with the pulse frequency increasing! A soft but clear blue beam of light shot out from the top of the device, shining directly on the pendant on Ruan Ning's chest!

Suddenly, intricate golden patterns lit up inside the jade pendant! These patterns, intertwined with the blue light beams, seemed to be conveying some kind of message.

"Ruan Ning!" Lin Yan exclaimed.

Ruan Ning felt a vast and ancient flow of information rushing into her mind through the connection between the pendant and the pillar of light! It wasn't language, but rather direct images, sensations, and fragmented memories—

In the endless desert, a huge circular building complex.

People in uniform walked hurriedly.

In a laboratory, several jade pendants of different shapes float in an energy field.

A violent explosion engulfed everything in flames.

The cold, impersonal command: "...'Origin' protocol activated, all carriers enter forced hibernation... awaiting the restart key..."

Finally, it settles on a rotating, complex three-dimensional symbol, the core of which is an abstract variation of the teardrop shape of her pendant.

The information flow came to an abrupt halt.

The blue beam of light disappeared. The device returned to its original pulse frequency. The pendant's light dimmed, its temperature rapidly decreased, and it fell back onto her chest.

Ruan Ning staggered a step, but was supported by Shen Yan.

"What did you see?" Shen Yan asked urgently.

Ruan Ning's face was pale, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead: "This device and the necklace are from the same source. It is one of the energy cores of the 'Origin' project. Or rather, an early prototype."

“The energy station of the ‘Origin’ project?” Zhou Min asked incredulously, “Hidden here?”

“It’s not just the energy station.” Ruan Ning looked at the huge device. “It’s still recording, or waiting. Waiting for the ‘key’ to restart, or to read the data stored inside.”

"Is the key a necklace?" Lin Yan asked.

“It might be one of them.” Ruan Ning walked to the device and reached out to touch the cold metal casing. She tried to penetrate with her mental energy, but encountered an extremely strong barrier. “My permissions aren’t sufficient, or other conditions are required.”

Shen Yan walked around the device once: "Look here."

He found a control panel embedded in the wall on the back of the device. The screen was dark, but there were several physical interfaces below it. The shape of one of the interfaces was somewhat similar to the teardrop outline of Ruan Ning's pendant.

"Give it a try?" Shen Yan looked at Ruan Ning.

Ruan Ning took off the necklace, hesitated for a moment, and aligned the pendant with the connector.

Perfectly fitted.

She pressed it gently.

Clatter.

The console screen suddenly lit up! Countless rapidly scrolling lines of code and unfamiliar symbols flashed across the dark blue background. A few seconds later, the code stopped, and a clear line of text appeared in the center of the screen:

[Authentication: Carrier 07. Access Level: Temporary Visitor. Data Access Request: Pending Authorization.]

Two options appeared below: [Request Synchronization] and [Read Logs Only].

"What is synchronization? And what is reading logs?" Zhou Min leaned closer to look.

“Synchronization may be risky, involving unknown data exchange,” Shen Yan said cautiously. “Let’s read the logs first and see what exactly was recorded.”

Ruan Ning selected "Read logs only".

The screen flickers as loading begins. The progress bar moves slowly.

1%……5%……10%……

The log content gradually appears, showing intermittent records:

[Date: ███-██-██ Location: Energy Station in District 7]

"The first-generation reactor test was successful. The energy output is stable, reaching 87% of the theoretical value."

[Date: ███-██-██ Location: ██ Laboratory]

"The carrier adaptation experiment is progressing smoothly. Carrier No. 07 has the highest resonance rate with the energy station, reaching 92%."

[Date: ███-██-██ Location: Central Control Center]

"External observation data is abnormal. The 'Kuroshio' phenomenon is accelerating. The central command has ordered all 'Origin' related facilities to enter a state of silence, and non-core personnel to evacuate."

[Date: ███-██-██ Location: Energy Station in District 7]

"The last group of researchers has evacuated. Automatic maintenance protocol activated. Power station enters low-power sleep mode. Awaiting restart command."

"May those who come after make good use of the power of the 'Original Source'."

Recording ends here.

"The Black Tide..." Lin Yan murmured the word, "Does it refer to the end of the world?"

“The timing matches up.” Shen Yan’s expression was solemn. “The ‘Origin’ project existed before the apocalypse and seems to have foreseen something. They evacuated in advance and sealed off these facilities.”

Ruan Ning stared at "Carrier No. 07" on the screen.

The necklace is "Carrier 07". This energy station resonates with the necklace.

“There’s more than one vessel,” she said slowly. “The ‘Origin’ project created multiple ‘vessels,’ perhaps to accommodate different abilities or for different purposes. My necklace is number 07. So, where are numbers 01 through 06? And what about numbers 08 and beyond?”

"The research institute wants your data..." Zhou Min gasped. "Do they know the whereabouts of the other carriers? Or do they already have them?"

“Possibly.” Ruan Ning pulled out the pendant, and the screen immediately went dark.

"The information here is important, but incomplete. We need to find more 'primordial' facilities, or find people who knew about them back then."

Shen Yan checked the console: "Data cannot be downloaded directly; there is physical isolation. Unless you have higher privileges, or dismantle this thing—but the risk is too great."

“Remember this place.” Ruan Ning looked around the circular hall. “It’s well-hidden here, and the energy is stable. We might need it someday.”

The group took one last look at the energy reactor with its eerie blue pulse, then left the circular hall and retraced their steps.

As we emerged from the valley entrance, dusk was approaching.

Ruan Ning looked back at the entrance that was once again hidden by vines, and the pendant around her neck regained its usual coolness.

"Back to base," she said. "There are some things I need to discuss with Qin Li and General Luo again."

“The ‘Origin’ project may be larger and more dangerous than we imagine.” Shen Yan started the modified off-road vehicle. “The Shen family, the research institute, and even other forces may all be eyeing this lucrative opportunity.”