Tianqu Civilization-Zero Research Base

"Is this the area where that ancient distress signal came from?" Qingyang compared the star map, his tone filled with doubt.

There was nothing before them except a dazzling ocean of energy, with nothing remotely special about it. There was not even a single planet or celestial body within several light-years.

The Eternal Fleet had originally planned to head to the second Moro Metal production zone first. Unexpectedly, not long after they approached, thousands of Mecha warships surged out from within.

The powerful concentrated barrage completely suppressed the Eternal Fleet!

Besides medium Mecha ships, there were also quite a few high-level Mecha ships and even War Fortresses.

They were enemies far beyond what the T8 Fleet could confront.

Seeing this, Qingyang decisively chose discretion over valor. He immediately warped away through a Dark Space route, then followed the coordinates on the star map Wang Lian had provided to search for the source of the ancient distress signal.

In the end, they locked onto this region.

It was incomparably empty.

It did not look like there could be an ancient ruin here at all.

Qingyang frowned. He entered the coordinate data again, then looked at the detailed regional coordinates, which were no different from before, and could not help glancing at Guxing.

His tone was fairly certain. "The data says it's nearby. I'm guessing the ancient ruin has some special concealment method. Brother Guxing, how about you casually point in a direction?"

Guxing sighed helplessly, then directly tossed out a pen and followed the direction of its tip. "How about there?"

Qingyang immediately looked over, his brows rising.

They were going deeper into the core region of this energy ocean that stretched across several light-days?

Although these energy oceans flowed slowly and steadily most of the time, Qingyang dared guarantee that the slightest significant energy fluctuation would immediately send them into an uproar!

After hesitating for a moment, Qingyang still said, "Then we'll proceed. Maintain a route at 80% light speed, and activate Stealth Mode as much as possible."

Since he had chosen to trust Guxing's Fortune, he had to trust it all the way.

"Yes!"

Everyone immediately answered.

The hulls of the Eternal Fleet gradually turned transparent, then swiftly sailed into the depths of the energy ocean.

The liquid-like flow of Energy Particles was pushed aside by the shields, its brilliant radiance completely enveloping every warship in the Eternal Fleet.

Yet faced with such a dreamlike sight, Qingyang and the others were exceedingly solemn. If those beautiful Energy Particle currents erupted, their destructive power would be enough to drain the shields of the entire Eternal Fleet in a short time!

"Be careful. Do not accelerate suddenly, do not use Subspace Warp, and proceed at our current speed!" Qingyang warned.

"Understood."

Changxi's figure appeared, and she nodded lightly.

Several hours passed in a flash.

The surrounding particle currents flowed on as always. If not for the records kept by their equipment, nobody would even have known how far they had penetrated or how much time had passed.

Changxi suddenly furrowed her delicate brows and turned her gaze to Qingyang. "Based on the elapsed time and the distance we've traveled, we should already be nearing the core region of this energy mass.

Logically, the density of the surrounding Energy Particles should be higher. Instead, it's decreasing."

"Are you sure we haven't deviated from our course?" Qingyang immediately asked.

Changxi answered with certainty, "Our course is normal, Commander.

Based on our travel speed and the rate at which the energy density is falling, the Energy Particles are expected to disappear completely in thirty minutes."

Disappear completely?

Qingyang's eyes lit up. "The core of this energy mass contains a blank region without any Energy Particles?"

There was no need to say more. Something had definitely caused this phenomenon.

It was most likely the mysterious ruin they were searching for!

An ancient civilization relic left behind from before the Great Universe's regressions!

However, he did not know which regression it had existed before. After all, the Fifth Era only meant that the Star Sea Human Alliance had survived five regressions.

Long before the Star Sea Human Alliance, the Great Universe had already undergone many Great Regressions.

The Eternal Fleet continued onward, while the surrounding Energy Particles visibly grew thinner.

Finally, after breaking through a special energy membrane, the Eternal Fleet appeared in an extraordinarily vast empty region, surrounded on all sides by magnificent torrents of Energy Particles!

Whether the Energy Particle currents were calm or violent, they could not breach that special membrane.

Qingyang's gaze immediately fixed on the center of this region, which spanned hundreds of millions of kilometers—a special complex stretching tens of millions of kilometers, composed of hundreds of silver prismatic structures.

The passages linking these structures were solid energy conduits streaked with flowing light. At the center of the prismatic structures stood a pyramid-shaped megastructure comparable to a small star!

All of the silver prismatic megastructures had suffered severe damage. Only the occasional flicker of weak energy fluctuations showed that a very small amount of equipment was still operating within them.

About one-third of the core pyramid megastructure remained intact. Dim energy circuits intermittently coursed with light, and quite a few regions within it emitted exceptionally strong energy-level fluctuations.

"This pyramid megastructure still has many important functions running. But it's strange—there are no energy frequencies associated with weaponry. It appears to be a completely unguarded research facility?"

Changxi analyzed rapidly.

A research facility?

No weapon-related energy frequencies?

Qingyang was immediately exhilarated. The value of research ruins was second only to ruins like strategic warehouses.

They carefully approached the pyramid megastructure.

The fleet then stopped about five hundred thousand kilometers from the pyramid megastructure. A large number of scouting drones swept out of the warships and sped toward it.

Even after entering through damaged sections, the probes encountered neither attacks nor warnings.

After repeatedly confirming that it was safe, the Eternal Fleet immediately sailed toward the pyramid megastructure. By pure coincidence, there was an open Starport structure in an intact section of the pyramid.

As the fleet drew close, Qingyang looked at the winding architectural structure ahead and frowned.

The interior of the structure, spanning over a million kilometers, clearly could not accommodate warships. Forcing their way through would inevitably damage the ruin, potentially destroying high-value items inside or even triggering hidden defensive mechanisms.

"Valen and Mia, guard the fleet. If anything abnormal happens, open fire immediately.

Changxi, Guxing's Transcendent squad, and the Shadow Edge Mechs, prepare to enter this ruin. I'll go with you."

Qingyang's personal shield and the shields of the entire Eternal Fleet came from the same source. As long as he stayed with Guxing and the others, they would constantly have defenses on the level of the fleet's Joint Shield!

Their safety increased enormously.

Everyone swiftly assembled. Two Shadow Edge Mechs shifted into Armor Mode and covered Qingyang and Guxue.

After all, only the two of them severely lacked offensive means. One could only provide pure defense, while the other was a purely support-oriented Transcendent.

More than thirty Transcendents and eight Shadow Edge Mechs were forcibly sent into the pyramid's passageways by the Assault Unit. Qingyang swept his gaze across the passage that still glimmered faintly, then spread both hands.

Dark Gold Particles appeared out of thin air. A Dark Gold Light Screen then enveloped everyone, intricate energy patterns endlessly circulating across its surface.

Guxing, Guxue, and the others watched as the light screen around them gradually faded from sight, and an inexplicable sense of security rose in their hearts.

This was a personal shield capable of resisting fleet firepower!

Before long, the shuttle from Taiyi was also transported inside, and everyone filed into it.

Changxi, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly spoke.

"I have already infiltrated the superficial control data. The location of the control room has been confirmed, and the building's basic information has been recorded.

Tianqu Civilization—Zero Research Base.

Detailed information is unknown. We need to reach the control room and further infiltrate this base's intelligent control system."

Ah, I drank yesterday and got a headache. I really don't like drinking.

I just sobered up.

Thanks to Star Sea Grand Commander for the 10,000-point tip!