City of Phantoms

Day 30 of the New Era · Western Plains

The Eighth Satellite City loomed indistinctly through the morning mist. Standing a hundred meters from the City Wall, Ning Xiaochuan discovered that this miracle known as Phantom City defied conventional definition—it was solid as obsidian one moment and transparent as morning dew the next, while what flowed through its streets was not wind, but some kind of liquid light. Most unsettling of all, the entire city was "breathing" at irregular intervals, releasing tiny Star Map-shaped particles of light with every "exhale."

"The energy readings are off the scale." The Star Dome Pattern detector in Su Linger's hand flashed warnings without pause. "These substances possess both physical and phantom states at once."

Little Star Dome leaped down from Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, and the Star Dome Dragon in Milk Dragon Form cautiously approached the City Wall. When its Inverse Scale touched the wall, the obsidian-like surface suddenly rippled, revealing a vision of the Energy Ocean of the 10th World. Even stranger, the Milk Dragon's claws passed directly through the physical wall, yet encountered obvious resistance when it was in its phantom state.

"Goo Chu?" Little Dragon tilted his head in confusion, the Star Map in his Third Eye rapidly rearranging itself.

The nine layers of patterns behind Bai Ling's neck unfolded automatically. The Maiden lightly touched the City Wall, and her fingertips turned translucent the instant they made contact. "This isn't a simple phase shift..." Her voice carried nine overlapping echoes. "This city is simulating the laws of an Unborn World."

Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint suddenly throbbed with pain. Gold, Silver, and Black Energy flowed uncontrollably toward the City Wall, etching a complex Primal Language Equation across its surface. As the final character was completed, the entire wall abruptly became transparent, exposing the Suffocating Scene within—

Two miniature celestial bodies floated above the city's Central Plaza: one was a model of the 10th World composed of pure energy, while the other was an 11th World singularity that warped spacetime. Surrounding them were the quintessential structures of the Seven Fallen Worlds, nested within one another in defiance of physical laws to form some kind of hyperdimensional structure.

"A Cognitive Incubator." Su Linger's voice tightened. "This city is nurturing the embryo of a Newborn World!"

Just as the three of them stood stunned, Phantom City's streets suddenly began to flow. The liquid light converged into a guiding path that pointed straight toward the Central Plaza. Little Star Dome's Inverse Scale automatically projected markers for a safe route, yet the Milk Dragon raised every scale on its body in tension, its Third Eye constantly scanning for invisible threats.

"Something is watching us." Bai Ling suddenly turned toward an empty Clock Tower on the left. The patterns behind the Maiden's neck shifted into receiver mode. "It isn't a Lifeform... it's the consciousness of the city itself!"

As if in response to her discovery, the gears atop the Clock Tower began turning on their own. The metal hands broke apart and reassembled, spelling out the Primal Language word for "Welcome." Immediately afterward, flowing text appeared across the surfaces of every building in the city, forming an invitation that spanned dimensions:

"Cognitive Alliance requests access to a vessel."

Before Ning Xiaochuan could respond, Bai Ling's body suddenly crystallized. The patterns behind the Maiden's neck detached from her skin and unfolded into a Nine-Point Star Array in midair. Each point fired a beam of light, connecting to representative buildings from different worlds—the Tower of Reason of the 3rd World, the Flesh Temple of the 6th World... Most astonishing were the ninth and eleventh points, which pierced reality itself and linked to Unborn Worlds within the void!

"Bai Ling!" Ning Xiaochuan tried to grab his daughter, only to find his hand passing through her crystallized body. Worse still, the Holy Source Imprint's energy was being drawn into the Nine-Point Star Array and converted into fuel to maintain the cross-dimensional connection.

Su Linger immediately activated the Seed of Life's emergency protocol. Its obsidian-like core cracked open, releasing primal Star Dome Power that formed a Protective Shield. But the moment the shield touched the Nine-Point Star Array, it mutated—the Star Dome Power transformed into the energy form of the 10th World, accelerating the connection instead!

Little Star Dome released a Dragon Roar that tore through dimensions. The Milk Dragon unfolded into its Complete Form, and the nine circular markings on its Inverse Scale detached from its body, forming a restraining force field in the air. This risky move finally stabilized the Nine-Point Star Array for the moment, but golden blood seeped from Little Star Dome's Third Eye.

"It's asking me to become a relay station..." Bai Ling's crystal body gradually became transparent, revealing miniature scenes of nine worlds within. "But I need..."

Before she could finish, Phantom City suddenly shook violently! The two miniature celestial bodies in the Central Plaza began spinning out of control, and the energy ripples they released tore the surrounding buildings into fragments. Those fragments did not fall. Instead, they floated in the air and reassembled into some kind of Cognitive Weapon—shaped like the Inverse Scale of a Star Dome Dragon, but covered in destructive runes Ning Xiaochuan had never seen before.

"A Reverse Cognitive Bomb!" Su Linger's Star Dome Pattern alarm blared frantically. "The city is preparing to eliminate the intruders!"

At that critical moment, Ning Xiaochuan made the most dangerous decision of his life. He pressed the Holy Source Imprint directly against the center of the Nine-Point Star Array and released all his energy with everything he had. This was not resistance, but the deepest form of trust—he converted his memories, emotions, and even the essence of his existence into an open Data Stream, allowing the array to read them freely.

A miracle happened. Phantom City's attack sequence suddenly halted, and the Cognitive Weapons disintegrated into harmless particles of light. The Primal Language on the city's buildings updated to read:

"Verification passed · Highest authority granted."

Bai Ling's crystallization reversed instantly. The Maiden fell into her father's arms, and the Nine-Point Star Array merged back into the patterns behind her neck. But the change had already occurred—tiny symbols of the 10th and 11th Worlds had appeared at the center of the patterns, and her pupils could now reflect real-time scenes from all nine worlds at once.

"Daddy... I saw it..." Bai Ling's voice was weak but clear. "Phantom City isn't a building... it's the fetus of the 11th World!"

As if confirming her words, the entire city suddenly contracted and transformed. All its buildings folded and reassembled, ultimately condensing into a Crystal Prism floating above the plaza. Within the prism, the two miniature celestial bodies had established stable orbits, and the energy they released formed the spacetime folds unique to the 11th World along its surface.

Little Star Dome suddenly flew toward the prism. The Milk Dragon's Inverse Scale automatically adhered to its surface, while a beam from its Third Eye formed a navigational path within the prism. Shockingly, that path directly pierced the Dimensional Barrier and connected to the Energy Ocean of the 10th World!

"A Two-way Channel!" Su Linger detected terrifying energy readings. "It connects to..."

Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint suddenly received an Information Stream crossing dimensions. Within the flood of data, he saw that the 10th World was a civilization of energy Lifeforms composed of pure consciousness, while the 11th World was even stranger—its physical laws allowed matter to exist simultaneously at every point in time. Most shocking of all, both Unborn Worlds contained ancient memories of the "Star Dome Dragon," as though that race had once existed there.

"They aren't future worlds..." Ning Xiaochuan helped Bai Ling to her feet. "They exist in parallel..."

"Lost branches." Bai Ling finished her father's thought. The Maiden pointed at the floating prism. "When the First World chose to fuse the Inverse Scale with the Seed of Life, the 10th World chose complete energy conversion, while the 11th World..."

The prism suddenly projected a Holographic Projection: an ancient existence sharing the same origin as the Primal Dragon split into nine evolutionary paths at the source of spacetime. The First through Eighth Worlds were visible branches, while the 10th and 11th Worlds, being too extreme, had become "theoretical possibilities" sealed at the edge of cognition.

"Phantom City is a crack in the seal." Su Linger suddenly understood. "It gives theoretical possibilities the chance to..."

"Become reality." The patterns behind Bai Ling's neck flashed, and the prism flew into her hand on its own. The Maiden suddenly revealed a pained expression, because the patterns were absorbing the prism into her body! Even more terrifying, as the fusion proceeded, her body began displaying the dual characteristics of energy conversion and spacetime folding.

Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint operated beyond its limits. He tried to halt the fusion, only to discover that his energy was instead becoming a catalyst. In that critical moment, Little Star Dome made an Astonishing Move—the Milk Dragon bit through its own Inverse Scale and scattered golden blood containing the memories of nine worlds over the prism.

The instant the blood touched the prism, spacetime suddenly froze. Ning Xiaochuan saw that every drop of blood contained the complete history of a world. Those memories formed a balancing force field within the prism, establishing a Protective Barrier for Bai Ling's body.

The fusion abruptly slowed. Bai Ling's body stabilized at 75% physicalization, while the remaining portion retained a mixed state of energy and spacetime folds. The Maiden stared in astonishment at her translucent hands. "I've become... a living harmonizer?"

The prism finally merged completely into her patterns. The mark behind Bai Ling's neck now contained the complete World Symbols of all eleven worlds, forming a dynamic equilibrium system that slowly revolved across her skin. Most astonishingly, the Maiden could now switch any part of her body between physical, energy, and spacetime states at will!

Only a glittering stretch of sand remained where Phantom City had stood. Little Star Dome landed wearily on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, the Milk Dragon's Inverse Scale temporarily dulled. Yet the Seed of Life detector in Su Linger's hand suddenly pointed toward Bai Ling, displaying readings that exceeded all limits—the Maiden now contained the embryonic laws of Two Unborn Worlds!

"We need to establish a permanent research station." Ning Xiaochuan swept his gaze across the traces of Primal Language remaining on the sand. "This place may be..."

The ground suddenly split open. Countless Black Crystals burst from the earth, reassembling in the blink of an eye into a minimalist research institute. Its architectural style fused the essence of the Seven Fallen Worlds, yet possessed the distinct beauty of a Newborn World. Primal Language automatically appeared above the entrance, naming it:

"Possibility Observatory"

Bai Ling suddenly pressed a hand to her chest. The energy-converted portions of the Maiden's body flickered violently as she looked northwest. "Someone is trying to force open a channel to the 10th World!"

Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint immediately traced the anomaly. The data showed that Star Radiance's laboratory in the northwest corner of the Sacred Source Cradle was emitting energy signatures similar to those of the 10th World. More unsettlingly, Old Scholar's life readings were fluctuating abnormally—his body was being assimilated by energy!

"What is Star Radiance doing?!" Su Linger activated an emergency teleportation rune array. "He can't possibly possess that kind of technology..."

"Unless..." Ning Xiaochuan recalled the scenes he had seen in the Memory Corridor. "He came into contact with a contaminated imitation Inverse Scale!"

By the time the three of them and the dragon reached the laboratory, the sight before them was horrifying. Star Radiance's body had already become 50% energy-converted, and he was operating a machine modified from an Imitation Crown. Suspended in the machine's core was the imitation Black Inverse Scale that had once been embedded in the crown, but it had now become a pure Energy Vortex that was tearing open a rift in reality!

"Your Highness!" Star Radiance's voice carried an electronic reverberation. "I found a way to connect to Parallel Worlds..."

The Old Scholar's words were cut off by a piercing energy shriek. The machine went berserk out of control, and the Black Vortex expanded into an opening that devoured everything. What extended from within was not matter from another world, but something even more terrifying—tentacles made of pure cognition, each flickering with the energy patterns unique to the 10th World!

"Cognitive Entities!" Bai Ling rushed forward, the patterns behind her neck unfolding into a Defense Matrix. "It will reconstruct the memories of anyone it touches!"

Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint output at full power, and Gold, Silver, and Black Energy formed an interception net. But the tentacles pierced straight through the defenses and stabbed toward Xing Hui's chest! At the critical moment, Little Star Dome erupted into its Complete Form, and Milk Dragon blocked the tentacles with its Inverse Scales. The resulting shockwave overturned the entire laboratory, and the Black Vortex temporarily contracted.

"Grandpa Xing Hui!" Bai Ling supported the half-energy-transformed Old Scholar. "Why did you..."

"The Ninth Moon... wasn't the last one..." Xing Hui's Mechanical Arm had already become completely energy-transformed. "The Thirteenth Moon... is..."

His warning was swallowed by the suddenly expanding vortex. The black opening swelled tenfold, and even more Cognitive Tentacles surged out like a tidal wave! These tentacles no longer attacked humans. Instead, they began restructuring the surrounding reality—the laboratory walls were rewritten into the energy structures of the 10th World, while Thought Clouds unique to conscious Lifeforms floated through the air.

Most terrifyingly, every rewritten area began to "infect" the surrounding space. At this rate, the entire Sacred Source Cradle would be transformed into a colony of energy Lifeforms within half an hour!

Bai Ling suddenly walked toward the vortex. The girl's body began transforming into energy in sync with it, and the pattern behind her neck operated at full force. "I'll establish a dialogue."

Ning Xiaochuan wanted to stop her, but Su Linger held him back. The female Sacred Lord pointed at Bai Ling's back—the girl's energy-transformed form resonated with the tentacles, and when the two types of energy came into contact, they formed a data-exchange interface. Even more remarkably, the 10th World mark behind Bai Ling's neck was glowing, providing a translation protocol for both sides.

"They aren't invaders..." Bai Ling's voice became Energy Fluctuation. "They were exiled..."

The vortex suddenly shook violently. All the tentacles withdrew into the opening, replaced by a projection that spanned dimensions: an energy Lifeform sharing the same origin as the Primal Dragon was being besieged by the native inhabitants of the 10th World. Forced to split its core, it fired the fragments into different dimensions. One of those fragments was...

"The First World's original Seed of Life?!" Ning Xiaochuan's Holy Source Imprint suddenly unlocked a sealed memory. "So the Seed of Life had, from the very beginning..."

The projection shifted to an even more shocking scene: the First Generation Lord of Sacred Source had not been kneeling before the Purple Neural Network, but before a corrupted fragment of the 10th World! This fragment longed to return home, yet the difference in cognition had turned it into poison to all worlds.

"They want to go home." Bai Ling's energy transformation had reached 90%. "But they need..."

Little Star Dome suddenly leaped toward the vortex. All eleven circles on Milk Dragon's Inverse Scales lit up, forming a Filtering Matrix before the black hole. This action triggered a chain reaction—the pattern behind Bai Ling's neck projected the prism of Phantom City, which joined the matrix to form a Conversion Channel.

An astonishing purification began. The Cognitive Tentacles pouring out passed through the filter, shedding their aggression and becoming gentle Energy Flows. These Energy Flows condensed into pure crystals at the center of the laboratory, each one containing a friendly message from the 10th World.

The vortex gradually shrank, finally becoming a Miniature Black Hole in Bai Ling's palm. The girl's energy-transformed body returned to normal, but the visual mode of energy Lifeforms remained permanently in the depths of her pupils. She looked at the still-shaken Xing Hui. "Grandpa, where did you get this technology?"

The Old Scholar raised his fully energy-transformed Mechanical Arm. A line of tiny Primal Language was engraved along its inner side:

"The Gift of the Thirteenth Moon"

Ning Xiaochuan and Su Linger exchanged a look, each seeing the chill in the other's eyes. If the Twelfth World was the "Imperfect Paradise," then what the Thirteenth Moon represented was...

"The ultimate test." Bai Ling lightly touched the Miniature Black Hole. It immediately merged into the pattern behind her neck, becoming the twelfth rotating mark. "When all Twelve Worlds awaken..."

The laboratory suddenly shook violently! It was not an aftershock from the 10th World, but an impact coming from directly beneath the Sacred Source Cradle. The detectors showed that a massive energy reaction was awakening thirty thousand meters underground—its fluctuation signature was completely identical to that of the 11th World!

Little Star Dome's Third Eye suddenly began to bleed. The marks on Milk Dragon's Inverse Scales reassembled into a warning symbol:

"Spacetime Singularity imminent"