The holographic image projected by the console floated silently in the air, its featureless face "watching" Ming Xin and Ying Sha as it waited for a response.
The mechanical synthesized voice echoed through the empty circular hall, carrying a loneliness that had endured across endless time.
Ming Xin and Ying Sha swiftly exchanged a glance. Ying Sha gave a slight nod, indicating that the six motionless mechanical bodies around them showed no signs of hostility.
Their energy fluctuations were stable and weak. They seemed to be nothing more than ceremonial guards or basic service units.
Ming Xin stepped forward and faced the holographic image, using his divine sense to carry his will.
Responding in a manner the other party could understand—he directly transformed his thoughts into an information structure in their language:
"We came from the Seventh Observation Node, the Chamber of Contemplation.
"The core of the Observer Civilization has been corrupted by the Guixu Source Countercurrent. Before its final consciousness dissipated, it guided us here.
"Our purpose is to investigate the truth behind the Great Silence Event, examine the current state of the Eye of Guixu and the Gate of Finality, and find a way to prevent the premature arrival of the end."
The blue bands of light within the holographic image flickered several times, as though it were rapidly processing the information.
A moment later, the synthesized voice sounded again, speaking slightly faster:
"Keywords received: Seventh Observation Node, Chamber of Contemplation, Observer Civilization, Guixu Source Countercurrent, Great Silence Event, Eye of Guixu, Gate of Finality.
"Performing database comparison and protocol verification..."
A brief silence fell over the hall. Only the steady, rhythmic pulses emitted by the console's crystal pillar remained.
After roughly three breaths, the holographic image brightened by another degree, and the synthesized voice seemed to gain