Chapter 1224: Chapter 189 The True Institute of Exotic Species Research (1/2)
"Miracle."
Elg shook his head slightly. The scholar with the pleasing face couldnât help but cast his gaze onto the tome in his hand, and he sighed deeply: "The fact that the Terra civilization has endured to this day is a massive miracle."
"Look, An."
The tome in his hand fluttered on its own, and Elg pointed his finger at a page within it.
On it were words engraved with ancient inscriptions, where one word contained as much information as an entire page of todayâs common language. This page alone held an epic tale, and Elg slowly narrated: "Your âmother,â descended tens of thousands of years ago, when humans from the pre-epoch civilization were still in the Stone Age. The murals indicate that her arrival was accompanied by a grand meteor shower that filled the entire sky."
"That meteor shower lasted for decades, and among them were quite a few âstars fallingâ... The term âHeavenfallâ within our civilization originated from this spectacular sight, as if all the stars in the firmament fell."
"The catastrophe that ended the pre-epoch civilization was merely a reapplication of this term."
Thus speaking, the scholarâs expression turned somewhat somber: "Itâs too regrettable that even though our City of Knowledge is situated above the information repository of the pre-epoch civilization, being the most well-preserved All-encompassing Library, weâve still lost so much information... Even today, we still donât know why your mother arrived on Terra, or why she manifested in her current state."
[I told you]
An followed Elgâs finger to read the tome and said softly: [Mother was sealed by âGod.â âGodâ is the creator of the âTrue Dragonâ you mention... Mother is the fire seed of an ancient super civilization, immensely powerful, far surpassing 99% of the fire seeds on Terra, but because of being too powerful and exclusive, âGodâ did not favor her]
[I am unclear about this part of the memory, cannot understand why âGodâ only imprisoned Mother on Terra instead of eliminating her completely... Could it be that âGodâ even cares for beings like Mother, or is the civilization behind Mother special to âGodâ, warranting special attention?]
Shaking her head, the black-haired girlâs expression turned complex: [Thereâs no need to continue with the story, I know it all. During the Calamity of Heavenly Fall, motherâs seal wavered and started to become active, many of my brothers and sisters emerged, causing numerous disasters... But Embrace Light, True Dragon, the Master Throne of humans, and several other powerful alien fire seeds joined forces to suppress us and Mother]
[As Mother gradually fell asleep, only then could we offspring have our own wills, in turn helping you seal Mother... Itâs so ironic; we originate from Mother, yet are the ones who least wish for her awakening]
"Indeed."
Elg and An were of one mind and heart, understanding each other through soul synchronization, allowing them to clearly comprehend each otherâs subtle thoughts, including guilt mingled with relief and bewilderment mixed with loneliness.
He spoke softly: "Thatâs why we must come here."
"The Exotic Species Research Institute... The most extensive and comprehensive biological research center from the pre-epoch civilization. Here, there is primitive data from studying the âThousand-Star Beastâ, possibly even recovery data from the Lost Epoch when the Thousand-Star Beast briefly awakened!"
And An seamlessly continued: [Also... potentially existent... the method obtained from âGodâ by the pre-epoch civilization for once again completely imprisoning Mother]
"Only this way can we leverage Motherâs (Thousand-Star Beast) strength... so that everyone can be as synchronized and united as us, leading the Terra civilization into a New Era!]
"This is the path we chose!]
[Letâs go]
Once again confirming their synchronization rate through âwordsâ and âheartsâ, the black-haired girl smilingly dispersed into black mist, merging into Elgâs body: [My avatar has already entered the Subspace Labyrinth ahead of Ian Silverpeak and the Ashlightâs Exploration Team]
[If our hypothesis is correct, the interior of the Subspace Labyrinth is actually where the True Institute of Exotic Species Research from after the Lost Epoch is preserved!]
Meanwhile.
Crimson Court, Central Abyss.
Ian stood before this abyss pit seemingly reaching the Earthâs Core, gazing downward.
"Itâs so deep, you canât see the bottom... or rather, starting from the middle, itâs the Gate of the Subspace Labyrinth. This abyss is essentially an âendless deep seaâ straight into the Domain of Void and subspace fragments, a material representation of the Sea of Meditation Mind, no wonder itâs so deep."
With a single glance, he saw through the true essence of this abyss and smiled: "Previously, that Thousand-Star Beast only sent an avatar here while its true body ran elsewhere... Iâm not sure if itâs misleading my actions or if there is an organization behind it... No matter, though I do not vie for the title of âfirst to enter the True Institute of Exotic Species Research,â I shouldnât be too slow either."
Itâs time to set off.
The Blood River Armament gently activated its thrust function, part of the Entangling Void Armorâs power structure, which proved exceptionally useful, letting Ian descend into the abyss at a balanced speed in a standing position.
After returning from repairing Viscount Grantâs Aether Armament, Ian spent time with Adalbert modifying the Blood River Armament.
As an Aetheric Ether Armament of Spirits, Blood River Armament boasts an excellent frame, numerous armor and function group interfaces, allowing effortless modification of thruster nozzles to provide accelerated flight capacity or utilization of Ianâs Earth Origin Quality to craft semi-material strong shields.
The only downside is its requirement for abundant soul energy, which is not particularly user-friendly, yet fortunately Ian possesses Aether Crystal to resolve the power supply issue.
The sole problem lies in that, no matter how transformed and full-featured, the Blood River Armament is essentially a spirit-type biological implant made with âdemonâ material... Beyond energy demands, it needs âSpirit Substanceâ for maintenance and wear.
In other words, if Ian doesnât use other peopleâs life and souls to nourish it, the armament will continuously absorb Ianâs Origin Quality and soul.
Luckily, in the Exotic Species Research Institute, Ian likely wonât lack enemies or souls. As for Origin Quality, he truly has an excess to sell.
Soon enough, Ian arrived at the âSubspace Entrance.â
It was an illusory cave entrance, with pitch black behind it, faintly flashing dark red light towards the deepest reaches.
Unlike the Avak Laboratory, probably due to the long absence of visitors, there werenât any souls wanting to converse with Ian here, only profound silence... akin to the long-gone pre-epoch civilization.
Watching the entrance, Ian laughed,
He stepped forth, entering the subspace.
In an instant, the world dispersed, transforming into countless scattered fragments.
Afterwards, infinite fragments reshaped, the Domain of Void and reality interlaced and merged here.
With one step, Ian transitioned from the pitch-black abyss cave to arrive at a broad, illuminated courtyard hall.
Endless experimental park areas extended to the farthest sight, with an enormous dragon skeleton lying in the center of the park, encircled by a dozen towers arranged methodically, mysterious surges emanating from them.
Contrary to the Avak Laboratory, it wasnât dark, silent, like a labyrinth banishing ill omensâbut a bright civilized world, an experimental park established within subspace!
Ancient, majestic, splendid, yet brimming with vigor, devoid of phantoms and monstrosities.
This was the pre-epoch civilizationâs fragment of the Domain of Void, the Subspace Labyrinth.
A corner of their creation in bygone days.
"...Truly magnificent."
Crossing two realms in one step, Ian beheld such an expansive vista instantaneously, marveling: "Itâs truly hard to imagine how far the pre-epoch civilization had advanced... Seems, compared to their biological technology, these ones who invented the Voidrealm Machine God were even more versed in Spirit Energy."
At this moment, Ianâs soul vaguely emitted a bluish glow, stemming from the brilliance of âIan.â
Noticing this, âMahdiâ shook his head slightly and closed his eyes in meditation.
Then, pure icy silver light flickered from seams within the Blood River Armament.
Resolving the final flaw within himself.
Hiliardâs disciple, the last Unyielding Fortress, Knight Mahdi of the Secluded Valley then continued his stride.
However, just as Ian intended to approach the majestic courtyard hall before him, he suddenly heard a sound.
"What?"
Furrowed brown, Ian felt it wasnât a mere auditory hallucination, for the sound was extraordinarily rhythmic, seemingly calling for something of crucial importance.
He listened intently.
Then, Ian heard it.
[Entrance prohibited for tourist permissions in the area ahead]
[Visitor, please present a âwork permit,â âDragon Soul,â or âDragon Blood Certificationâ]