"It looks like we passed the test." Asteria breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Void Ark has recognized our qualifications." Lin Ye nodded. "We can proceed to the Core Consciousness now."
Pushing open the Concept Gate, the three entered an even more complex space. Every inch of this place was saturated with intense conceptual conflict, and it seemed as though they could hear countless thoughts colliding in the air.
"The conceptual density here is too high." Lin Ye felt as if his head were splitting apart. The multiple Constellation Marks within him began to resonate violently. "I can feel the thought patterns of thousands of civilizations assaulting my consciousness at once."
As they ventured deeper, the Fusion Consciousness originally established through the Concept Throne began to undergo subtle changes.
Leo walked at the front. The golden glow of his Leo Mark had grown stronger than before, but also more domineering. "Lin Ye, you're moving too slowly. In an environment this dangerous, what we need is quick decisions, not your cautious analysis."
"We need to observe our surroundings and understand—" Lin Ye tried to explain.
"Understand what?" Leo cut him off, turning to face Lin Ye with impatience flashing in his eyes. "The enemy is right ahead. Every minute we waste means another minute the civilizations outside suffer Concept Pollution."
"Leo is born with leadership abilities. This is authority bestowed by the laws of the universe. At a critical moment like this, I should be leading our actions."
Asteria stopped walking, her Libra Mark giving off an unstable violet glow. "Wait, should we really continue?"
"What do you mean?" Lin Ye looked at her in confusion.
"I'm thinking about something." Asteria frowned. "If the Void Ark truly is the universe's immune system, then what exactly are we doing right now?"
She