Chapter 88
In late autumn, the surface of Taoyuan's Mirror Sea resembles a vast sapphire, reflecting the drifting clouds in the sky. Flowers of hope bloom in clusters along the shore, their colorful petals shimmering dreamily in the sunlight.
Today will be a day that goes down in history.
In the interrogation room deep within the Jinghai base, Qu Beichen sat in a specially designed consciousness-isolating chair. Over a year of captivity had left him considerably thinner, and his once eagle-like eyes were now a weary, grayish hue.
Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen walked side by side into the interrogation room and sat down across from Qu Beichen. Wen Ling wore a simple white uniform, which accentuated his slightly slender figure. His deep green eyes appeared exceptionally clear and resolute under the cold white light of the interrogation room. Miao Weizhen wore his usual black uniform, his dark brown eyes calm and composed, though the fine lines at the corners betrayed the toil of the past year.
"Mr. President," Wen Ling said calmly, "today is your judgment day."
Qu Beichen sneered: "The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit, why bother to say more?"
"We're not here today to judge your crimes," Miao Weizhen said, pushing a document in front of him. "We're here to give you a choice."
The document records in detail the results of the transformation of the "Heart Abyss" system - the people who were once controlled are recovering, and the Federation's technology is being used for construction rather than destruction.
"Your ambition nearly destroyed an entire civilization," Wen Ling's voice was soft, yet filled with undeniable power. "But now, we're giving you a chance to atone for your sins."
Qu Beichen's pupils shrank slightly: "What opportunity?"
"Assist us in improving the reality stabilization field," Miao Weizhen said. "Your understanding of consciousness technology and research on ancient civilizations can help the Alliance better deal with the 'Void Tide'."
After a long silence, Qu Beichen suddenly laughed: "Aren't you afraid that I will betray you again?"
"We are no longer the same as we were before." Wen Ling stood up, "And you are no longer the same as you were before."
Ultimately, Qu Beichen chose to participate in the research on the stabilization field under strict supervision. This decision caused considerable controversy within the alliance, but Wen Ling overruled the opposition: "Hatred only breeds new hatred. We must take a different path."
Meanwhile, the construction of the reality stabilization field entered its final stages. Deep within the Mirror Sea, the ancient ruins had been transformed into a vast energy hub. As the core of consciousness, Wen Ling conducted deep connections here daily.
That morning, Wen Ling stood before the control console in the center of the ruins, feeling the energy pulsating from deep within the Earth's core. After a year of practice, he had achieved perfect resonance with the core of the Mirror Sea.
"Are you ready?" Xinglan's voice came from the communicator. She stood in the control room, her silver hair neatly tied back, monitoring the data intently.
Wen Ling took a deep breath and placed his hands on the console. In an instant, his consciousness was like a stone dropped into a lake, causing ripples in the ocean of energy.
Unlike usual, this time he felt not only the power of the Mirror Sea, but also the fluctuations of consciousness from hundreds of millions of people in the Alliance. Their hopes, expectations, and beliefs converged into a warm and powerful torrent.
"The resonance intensity has broken through the threshold!" Anthony's voice was filled with excitement. "The stabilization field is activating!"
A soft light began to emanate from the seabed, filtering through the surface, dyeing the entire Mirror Sea a brilliant golden color. In the distance, the peach trees moved without a breeze, petals falling like rain.
In the command center, everyone watched the monitoring data with bated breath. Han Zhong gripped the railing, his knuckles white. Luo Yan stood in a corner, his eyes focused. Susie and Lao Lin nervously adjusted parameters at the engineering console. A Yuan and Keith stood by at the medical station, ready to respond to any emergency.
The range of the stable field is expanding at an alarming rate, and soon covers the entire Mirror Sea star region.
"Incredible..." Xing Lan murmured, "Brother Wen Ling is guiding the consciousness energy of the entire alliance..."
At this moment, Wen Ling felt not only strength but also a sense of responsibility. He saw the refugees who had lost their homes in the war, the workers who toiled in the reconstruction, and the children who studied diligently in school. These images flowed through his mind, eventually converging into a firm belief:
This hard-won peace must be protected.
Three months later, Jinghai ushered in a historic moment.
Representatives from nine nations and tens of thousands of citizens gathered at the newly constructed Dawn Square on the shores of Jinghai. In the center of the square, a simple yet solemn white stone platform gleamed in the sunlight. Han Zhong's fleet lined up in the open sea, its flags fluttering in the wind. Luo Yan's special forces maintained order around the square, their postures erect. Susie and Lao Lin conducted final checks in the technical support area. The flowers of hope cultivated by Ayuan adorned the square. The medical team, led by Keith, stood ready at all times.
Wen Ling, dressed in a plain white dress, walked slowly onto the stage.
The sunlight shone on his slightly thin figure, and his deep green eyes were filled with determination and gentleness.
He did not wear a complicated crown, only a circlet woven from star tear orchids on his forehead.
This was specially prepared by Ayuan for today.
Miao Weizhen followed closely behind, his black uniform making him look tall and straight. His dark brown eyes swept across the entire room, finally landing on Wen Ling with a deep gaze.
"Today, we are not crowning an emperor," Wen Ling's voice spread across the square through the PA system, "but witnessing a promise."
He turned to Miao Weizhen and extended his hand.
The two men's hands were tightly clasped, one slender and fair, the other with distinct joints, forming a sharp contrast in the sunlight.
"I, Wen Ling, hereby swear," his voice was clear and firm, "to stand shoulder to shoulder with Miao Weizhen to safeguard the peace and prosperity of the Alliance. No matter what lies ahead, this will remain true for the rest of my life."
Miao Weizhen looked deeply into his eyes, his voice steady and powerful: "I, Miao Weizhen, hereby swear: I will stand with Wen Ling to defend the ideals and future of the alliance. No matter how difficult or dangerous it may be, I will never let you down."
At this moment, no further words were needed. The trust and bond between them had long since transcended worldly definitions.
Xing Lan quietly wiped away the tears from her eyes in the viewing booth. Dr. Anthony nodded with satisfaction. Susie and Lao Lin smiled at each other, and A Yuan happily hugged the bouquet tightly in her arms. Han Zhong saluted solemnly toward the base from the bridge, and Luo Yan's special forces stood at attention in unison.
At this moment, a strange light suddenly shone on the sea. The energy of the stabilizing field resonated with the two's vows, casting a brilliant aurora across the sky.
Xing Lan quickly stepped onto the platform, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "The stabilization field has achieved final synchronization with the consciousness network of the entire star field! Monitoring data shows that the energy fluctuations of the 'Void Tide' are changing!"
Everyone held their breath.
On the holographic screen, the originally violent energy flow of the "Tide of the Void" began to slowly change its trajectory like a tamed beast, and eventually formed a stable energy circulation outside the stable field.
"This isn't resistance..." Dr. Anthony suddenly understood. "This is resonance! The stabilization field isn't fighting the Void Tide, but rather achieving a balance with it!"
Wen Ling closed her eyes and felt this unprecedented energy resonance.
Deep in his consciousness, the "Void Tide" was no longer a disaster to be resisted, but a cosmic phenomenon to be understood. Through the guidance of the stabilizing field, the violent energy was transformed into the vitality that nourished the entire star field.
The aurora danced across the night sky, shrouding the entire Mirror Sea in a dreamy halo. The Flower of Hope, resonating with energy, emitted a soft glow, radiating against the starry sky.
The crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. At this moment, they witnessed not only the birth of a new regime, but also the miracle of a civilization achieving harmony with the universe.
Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen smiled at each other. They knew this was just the beginning. The alliance would face countless challenges in the future, but as long as faith remained, hope would always exist.
As night fell, the celebration continued. In the control room at the bottom of the Mirror Sea, Qu Beichen watched all this unfold through the monitors and slowly closed his eyes. Perhaps this was the best possible ending.
At Dawn Square, Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen stood side by side, gazing at the starry sky. The aurora danced across the sky, a hymn to civilization.
Wen Ling looked up at the sky, feeling the warmth in her palm, and said softly, "We've been through so much along the way."
Miao Weizhen's fingertips tightened slightly, and his dark brown eyes reflected the starry sky: "But in the end, we found a third way."
His voice was soft, yet it carried a tremendous weight. These simple words narrated everything from the confrontation at Huangquan Rust Port to their mutual understanding on the Wasted Ghost Machine Star, from the test of Luofeng Canxiang to the oath sworn by the Mirror Sea. All that blood and tears, betrayal and loyalty, despair and hope, ultimately transformed into these clasped hands and the starry sky they shared.
Under the starlight, two figures leaned against each other quietly. Their story was about to become a legend, while new stories were being written under this starry sky.
Volume 4: "Mirror Sea of Peach Garden", finished.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
