The shuttle sped through the enormous passageway.
Along the way, they encountered no lifeforms or intelligent machines—not even any obstruction from the base's defensive systems.
According to the information Changxi had found in the basic database, the base supposedly contained quite a few defensive mechanisms that normally remained on standby.
Moreover, they were currently in an intact section of the research base. The defensive mechanisms should not have been damaged.
Qingyang did not let down his guard.
The Starship Commander's immense psychic power continuously covered an area thousands of kilometers around them, remaining vigilant against dangers that might appear at any moment.
Hmm?
Suddenly, a large number of anomalous objects appeared within Qingyang's psychic detection range.
Faint energy signatures emanated from those objects. Had they not been so densely clustered, Qingyang would not have noticed them at all.
"Those are... bronze gears?"
Qingyang was somewhat stunned. Components such as those bronze gears and bronze bearings were antique-grade mechanical parts even on Earth in his previous life.
How could they possibly appear in a high-tech research relic of a lost civilization?
As the shuttle continued forward, more and more bronze gear components appeared throughout the passageway. They were not limited to the passageway either; large quantities of bronze mechanical components could also be found in many warehouses and rooms.
These bronze objects, covered in aged and mottled marks, looked utterly out of place amid the silvery-white research base.
Even when examined with the Star of Truth, they were merely identified as ancient, mysterious bronze constructs.
Qingyang's psychic senses swept over those objects. Their faint energy fluctuations seemed to be caused only by their prolonged exposure to particle radiation within the research base.
The shuttle continued flying at full speed and soon arrived at the control room.
It was a massive spherical space, with a white sphere of light formed from countless nanomachines floating at its center.
There was no other equipment around it.
"This sphere of light possesses all control permissions for the research base. It is an integrated central core."
Changxi flew out of the shuttle and hovered in the air.
Endless streams of data surged through her pale golden eyes. The central sphere of light abruptly contracted, but it had been disconnected from the civilization's servers for too long.
In addition, a large amount of auxiliary equipment had been damaged.
Faced with the all-out assault of Changxi, a High-dimensional Data Life, the core sphere's data firewall rapidly collapsed. In the end, Changxi successfully obtained access permissions to the intelligent control system.
That was right, only access permissions.
After all, this was an important research base of a lost civilization. Even after losing its network connection, ninety percent of its auxiliary equipment, and 95% of its Computing Power,
its core control permissions were still protected by layer upon layer of exceedingly complex data defense modules. If Taiyi reached T6 Fleet level, Changxi might have a chance of seizing control authority.
For now, obtaining access permissions was the most she could do.
Changxi returned to the shuttle. "Commander, access permissions have been obtained. The local database only contains research logs and information on the origins of the research projects. There is no detailed technological data."
Qingyang's heart skipped a beat.
Without technical documentation and research data, the value of the research relic would be greatly reduced.
"Forget it. Display the information."
Changxi smiled. "Understood."
However, just as Changxi was about to deploy a screen and display the information, the Star Network panel suddenly unfolded.
[Star Commander, as you are about to come into contact with dangerous data containing meme contamination, confirming whether you currently possess independent consciousness] [Independent consciousness confirmed intact] [It is recommended that Star Commander view this data through the Star Network. The Star Network will block data containing meme contamination and high-dimensional contamination]
Qingyang and the others' expressions changed drastically.
High-dimensional contamination, meme contamination?!
Although they did not know exactly how dangerous it was, its danger ranking within the Alliance even surpassed that of most Cosmic Disasters!
Not to mention people like them—even a T6 Fleet commander would be in extreme danger upon encountering it.
Unless one possessed the life rank of a high-dimensional being.
Otherwise, resisting such contamination would be difficult.
However, as long as one was within Alliance Territory, even if one was unfortunately contaminated, the Star Network could directly remove it.
Yet such powerful removal methods had a chance of affecting one's mind, and there was no doubt that the effects would be negative.
Qingyang and the others could not help but feel shocked by the base's research project. Merely recorded data carried a risk of meme contamination.
Just how terrifying must the actual research project have been?
Because the Star Network would block it, Qingyang could not suppress his curiosity and decisively chose to view it.
[Project Origin--] [Time ■■. The conflict between ■■■ had grown increasingly severe and had already spread across the entire Galactic River cluster. Due to the struggle between ■■ and ■■, the Empire Territory faced a crisis of extinction. Large numbers of ■■■ spread throughout the Empire, contaminating countless imperial citizens. In the end, to ensure the survival of this race that had undergone two Cosmic Regressions, the Empire initiated Project Zero. The ultimate goal of the project was—Divine Descent! To communicate with the power of ■■■ connected to the Empire and resist the threat of those terrifying entities.]
Qingyang's gaze sharpened, and excitement inexplicably began to rise within him. This unclear information was dangerous data.
Just knowing it would result in contamination!
How fascinating. One day, he would learn what those pieces of information represented!
[Experiment Log--] [Time ■■■. Initial research has begun to show some progress, but quite a few researchers have suffered inexplicable contamination and turned into ■■■. All of this is worthwhile. For the survival of the Empire and even our species, even if all of us die, as long as results can be achieved, as long as the Divine Descent Body can be successfully developed.] [Time ■■■. The recent anomalies have grown increasingly severe. As a precaution, we have activated an artificial space storm to conceal this research base and prevent ■■■ from leaking outside. A quarter of the base's personnel and machines have already ■■■. I can feel it—we are getting closer and closer to success.] [Time ■■■. The anomaly has been completely brought under control, and the first batch of experimental subjects has taken shape. Yet something still feels wrong. The core controller's data has begun to experience disorder. It is becoming more and more wrong. But we will definitely save this Empire.] [Time ■■■. All members of the first batch of experimental subjects except the first have died, but we have already achieved significant progress with the first one. The second batch of experimental subjects has taken shape.] [Time ■■■. That anomaly has erupted again. This time, the danger level was beyond all expectation. Nearly half the personnel have ■■■. The second batch of experimental subjects went berserk and damaged 15% of the base. The Empire has not contacted the research base for a long time. It is probably because the outer Particle Storm has a signal-blocking effect. This is normal. Empire. Empire. What was the Empire's full name again?] [Time ■■■. The fifth batch of experimental subjects went berserk again. We fought desperately and wiped them out. Eighty percent of the research base has been damaged. The experiments cannot continue. We must shut down the Particle Storm and leave this place. Return to... return to where?] [Time ■■■. The research base changed drastically overnight. The equipment has returned to normal. What a miracle. We must continue the experiments. We will definitely complete Divine Descent. For... for what? In any case, we must complete the Divine Descent Body. We must complete it. The original body from the first batch, that stored specimen—the original body is the true breakthrough!] [Who am I? I am an imperial citizen. Empire? What is the Empire? Who exactly am I? Ah, I remember. I am ■■. I am ■■.] [Finally... the experiment has finally succeeded.] [God! It is God! God has descended!]
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