The decision to join the " Council of Stars " opened a door for the Straw Hat Pirates to a wider Xinghai. After accepting basic membership privileges, they accessed the " Star Sea Echo " network, a non-real-time information platform that combined a message board and a database, for the first time through an encrypted channel provided by the council.
The information flow on the internet is vast and boundless, using a translated universal language (basic version). Countless users, identified by code names or abbreviations of their civilizations, communicate, seek help, and trade information within it.
Robin devoured historical records and public databases, while Franky studied the council's communication technology and energy applications. Several pieces of information caught their attention:
• [Warning from the ' Crystal Cluster Collective ']: Frequent activity of the ' World Devourers ' vanguard group has been detected in the ' K-77 Star Sector ', characterized by an abnormally high rate of energy consumption. The path points towards the ' Twilight Galaxy '. Civilizations passing through this area should prepare for avoidance or defense. (Attached: Energy Characteristic Map)
• [' Floating Spirit Tribe ' Traveler's Log (excerpt)]: A new 'Law Reef' has been discovered on the edge of the ' Sea of Ether,' bearing strong imprints of the ' Mechanical Gospel ' (i. e., Star Forgers ) civilization, suggesting undiscovered legacies. Coordinates (encrypted). Seeking cooperative exploration. (Warning: ' Dark Star ' raiders are active nearby.)
• [Anonymous Request for Assistance]: Our home planet has been infected with an unknown form of mental pollution, manifesting as cognitive confusion and memory reconstruction. Conventional pathogens have been ruled out, and interference from higher-dimensional consciousness is suspected. Seeking assistance from experts in related fields or allies with powerful mental purification abilities. (Reward: Mining rights to a ' Psionic Energy Crystal' vein)
• [Historical Archives (Access Unlocked)]: Speculations on the origin of the ' Temporal Overseer ' (unverified). Hypothesis 1: An ultimate mechanism created by an ancient civilization to maintain the purity of a single universe's timeline, which later went out of control or began operating autonomously due to the civilization's demise. Hypothesis 2: A natural manifestation of a higher-order cosmic law (such as causality) as a defense mechanism, eliminating 'anomalies' that could trigger large-scale paradoxes. Its ' Stasis Unit ' are highly resistant to conventional time interference; its weakness lies in its reliance on precise laws, making it less resistant to ' Chaos,' 'disorder,' or forces Transcendence its computational framework. (See: "An Introduction to the Theory of Law Counteraction")
This information gave everyone a more intuitive understanding of the complexity and danger of the Xinghai. The World Devourers were like periodic natural disasters, the Temporal Overseer were the cold embodiment of rules, and various unknown threats and opportunities were scattered throughout.
"It seems our ' Will Lighthouse ' and ' World Seed ' projects are on the right track," Sabo analyzed. "Many civilizations in the council are seeking various ways to strengthen themselves or provide early warnings of danger."
Just then, Robin decoded a high-priority encrypted message sent directly to them. The sender, codenamed [ Stargazing Tower Remnant ], was a descendant or kin of the one who provided the fragment of the " World Seed "!
The information includes a more detailed supplement to the star chart and a research note:
• Star map supplement: Several other extreme star regions that may give birth to " Origin Matter " or similar stable laws-based creations are marked. One area, known as the " Slumbering Corridor," is highlighted with the note. "Suspected to be related to the full activation of the ' World Seed.'"
• Research Notes (Summary): "... The ' World Seed ' is the embryo of the Law. Its full activation and growth depend not only on the infusion of energy, but also on 'resonance' and ' Definition '... Deep within the ' Slumbering Corridor ' lies an ancient ' Sound of Law,' which may guide the ' Seed ' to recognize its own 'form,' completing the transformation from 'embryo' to 'stable foundation'... However, an indescribable ancient consciousness also slumbers deep within the corridor; disturbing it will bring unpredictable consequences..."
This information is crucial! It points to the next key step for the " World Seed " to truly take effect—traveling to the " Slumbering Corridor " and using the " Sound of Law " there to guide the Seed to maturity!
" The Slumbering Corridor..." Nami entered the coordinates into the navigation system, her brow furrowing slightly. "The distance is extremely far, and according to the council's publicly available star map, that area is marked as 'high-risk unknown,' with almost no regular Sea Route."
"No matter how dangerous it is, we have to go." Allen clenched his fist, and the ball of pure white light seemed to faintly resonate with the term " Slumbering Corridor." "This is the key to bringing lasting peace to our world."
A new objective was thus established. After gaining initial familiarity with the " Council of Stars " platform and obtaining key information, the Thousand Sunny was once again ready to set sail.
This time, their destination is the more distant and mysterious " Slumbering Corridor." For the future of their homeland, they must confront the "unspeakable ancient consciousness" that may be awakened and guide the seeds of hope to maturity.
The path of the Star Sea Alliance has begun, and their adventures and responsibilities are becoming ever more profound.