The Star Core's Pulse, the Fracture in the Web of Balance, and the Guardian's Choice
On the return Star Orbit of the "Messenger," an unusual energy fluctuation suddenly swept across the entire warship.
The alarm on the control panel was shrill and piercing. On the screen of the Stardust Navigator, a black rift suddenly appeared between the points of light representing the Dark Matter Nebula and the continent. An energy that was neither chaotic nor orderly flowed within the rift. Like an invisible net, it was slowly Entanglement the Star Orbit, attempting to sever the energy connection between the two galaxies.
"It's a ' Star Core Pulse '!" Blue Crystal's blue pupils were fixed on the crack, his metal hands rapidly manipulating the control panel, attempting to analyze the energy's properties. "This phenomenon is mentioned in the ancient texts of the Crystal Galaxy —when two vastly different balanced systems forcibly establish a connection, the stellar core will produce repulsive pulsations, which, in severe cases, can trigger a galactic collision!"
Tang San's Purple Demon Eye pierced through the rift, revealing countless tiny energy threads weaving into a net deep within it. Half of these energy threads were the unified energy of the Dark Matter Nebula, and the other half were the Fusion Energy of chaos and order from the continent. The conflict between the two caused the energy threads to vibrate continuously, and each vibration widened the rift.
"It's not natural repulsion." Tang San's voice was solemn. When the Chaos Energy he condensed at his fingertips came into contact with the rift, the energy threads actually contracted on their own, revealing the silver runes hidden deep within—a mutated form of the Order Seed. This time, however, it could not only mimic balanced energy but also amplify the differences between different systems. "Someone has implanted ' Catalytic Rune ' into the Star Orbit, deliberately amplifying the Star Core Pulse, trying to completely isolate the two star systems!"
Dai Mubai's Netherworld Thrust tore open a spatial rift, attempting to sever the connection of the energy threads, only to discover that these energy threads seemed to possess a memory, immediately healing themselves after being severed. "The energy flow of the runes and the Star Orbit is bound together; unless the Star Orbit itself is destroyed, it is impossible to remove them!"
Xiao Wu stared anxiously at the widening crack on the screen. "The inhabitants of the Dark Matter Nebula are still learning the Way of Balance. If we sever the connection now, they might revert to their old path of absolute unity, and all our previous efforts will be in vain!"
Tang San took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. The method of Catalytic Rune was both familiar and unfamiliar—familiar because of the core of the Order Seed, unfamiliar because of its precise control over the energy of the star core, something that neither Mo Chen nor ordinary Mechanic Race could achieve. He suddenly recalled the words of the figure in the long robe, "The Web of Balance, a single hair can affect the whole body; if one place is out of balance, Myriad Domains are in danger."
"Someone must enter the rift and manually remove the Catalytic Rune." Tang San made the decision, his gaze sweeping over his companions. "The energy conflicts within the rift will tear apart Soul Power. Only those who can simultaneously control the Order Energy will have a chance to survive."
"I'll go!" Blue Crystal immediately stepped forward, patting the balance badge on his chest with his metal hand. "My core energy is compatible with both attributes, and the Mechanic Race's body is more resistant to energy conflicts."
"No," Tang San shook his head. "The core of the Catalytic Rune is hidden in the Star Orbit node, where the energy density is a hundred times that of the outside. Even the Mechanic Race's body couldn't withstand it. Only the Chaos Azure Lotus can neutralize this conflict. I must go."
"Tang San!" Xiao Wu grabbed his arm, her eyes filled with worry, "It's too dangerous! The rift could collapse at any moment!"
"There's no time to hesitate." Tang San gently grasped her hand, his eyes unusually resolute. "The Web of Balance must not break, and the inhabitants of the Dark Matter Nebula must not lose hope. Believe me, the Chaos Azure Lotus will protect me."
Dai Mubai stopped objecting and turned to bring up the 3D model of the Star Orbit node. "I'll use spatial power to open a passage for you, which can only last for a quarter of an hour at most. Remember, the core of the Catalytic Rune is at the hub connecting the Star Orbit and the Dark Matter Nebula. There's a silver energy stream there; you must inject Chaos Energy at the moment it contracts to completely disintegrate the rune."
Tang San nodded, took a deep breath, and raised the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus to its peak. Blue Crystal opened the energy cabin of the warship, and a bridge made of Fusion Energy extended from the hatch to the rift. Blue Order Energy surrounded the bridge, protecting it from the erosion of the rift.
The moment he stepped into the rift, a violent energy surged forth like a tsunami. Tang San's Chaos Azure Lotus automatically deployed its defenses, forming a transparent shield of seven-colored light that isolated the two conflicting energies. He moved forward along the energy flow, each step extremely difficult, the surrounding space constantly distorting in the energy clash, as if it would tear him apart at any moment.
"Three minutes left!" Dai Mubai's voice came through the energy communication, laced with strong interference, "The silver energy flow at the hub is beginning to contract!"
Tang San gritted his teeth and pushed his Soul Power to its limit. The light of the Chaos Azure Lotus surged, forcefully carving out a path in the distorted space. Finally, he saw the hub that Dai Mubai had mentioned—a node woven from silver and colorful energy. At the center of the node, a silver energy stream was slowly contracting, and the core of the Catalytic Rune was hidden deep within the energy stream.
"Now!"
Tang San seized the moment when the energy flow contracted, condensed the Chaos Energy into a needle, and stabbed it hard into the center of the node. The silver energy flow trembled violently, the core of the Catalytic Rune burst out with a blinding light, and countless fragments of the Order Seed surged out from the node, attempting to backfire.
"Break!"
Tang San roared, unleashing the full power of the Chaos Azure Lotus. Seven-colored light flooded the node like a tidal wave. The fragments of the Order Seed crumbled inch by inch in the Chaos Energy. The silver energy stream and the colorful energy stream began to merge, forming a stable energy flow, and the previous conflict gradually subsided.
"Success!" Blue Crystal's voice was filled with joy, "The crack has begun to close!"
Tang San breathed a sigh of relief and turned to return, but suddenly found that the space behind him was rapidly collapsing—the aftershocks of the energy conflict had caused localized spatial annihilation, and his escape route had been completely cut off.
"Tang San!" Xiao Wu's cries came through the communicator.
Tang San looked at the collapsing space, a calm smile on his face. He knew he had completed his mission; the Web of Balance was preserved, and the hope for the Dark Matter Nebula would not be extinguished. He glanced one last time in the direction of the continent, where the points of light remained bright, just like the belief in his heart.
"Tell everyone, I'm alright." Tang San's voice carried a hint of relief as it traveled through the energy flow. "The Chaos Azure Lotus will find a new balance, just like we've always done."
He ceased resistance, allowing the power of the Chaos Azure Lotus to merge with the surrounding energy. In the instant the space completely collapsed, a seven-colored light burst forth from the crack, shooting towards the Dark Matter Nebula like a meteor, ultimately merging into the core of the mother star that was regaining its vitality.
The rift slowly closed, and the energy flow along the Star Orbit stabilized again. However, at the junction connecting the continent and the Dark Matter Nebula, a faint seven-colored light appeared, like an eternal mark.
On the Messenger, everyone was silent. Xiao Wu clutched the Proof of Balance left by Tang San, tears silently streaming down her face. Blue Crystal gazed at the seven-colored light at the hub, a flash of understanding appearing in her blue pupils. "He hasn't disappeared. The Chaos Azure Lotus has merged with the core of the mother star. Now, he has become part of the Star Orbit, forever guarding the balance of the two star systems."
Dai Mubai stepped forward and gently patted Xiao Wu's shoulder. "He made his choice, just like we always do to maintain balance. All we can do is carry on with his beliefs and continue on this path."
Upon returning to the mainland, the council erected a statue of Tang San in the square of Heaven Dou City. The base of the statue was Wheel of Balance made of colorful vines and metal fragments. The main body of the statue depicted Tang San extending his hand and handing a colorful seed to a Mechanic Race larva and a human child, symbolizing the inheritance of balance.
The inhabitants of the Dark Matter Nebula sent a message through the Star Orbit: their home planet's core, nourished by the Chaos Azure Lotus, has been revitalized, with colorful vines spreading across the planet and vibrant flowers blooming among the silver buildings. They say that in the night sky, a seven-colored light can always be seen twinkling along the Star Orbit —the gaze of the guardians, forever watching over them.
Ten years later, at the Cross-Race Academy in Heaven Dou City, a Mechanic Race boy with blue eyes and a human girl who can manipulate Chaos Energy are studying star charts. Their teachers are Blue Crystal and Xiao Wu, whose temples are now gray.
"Teacher, is the seven-colored light on the Star Orbit really Senior Tang San?" the human girl asked curiously.
Xiao Wu smiled and nodded, her eyes sparkling with tenderness. "He never left, he just protected us in a different way. The true meaning of balance is not about being together forever, but about shining brightly for the same belief, even when separated by thousands of miles."
Blue Crystal pointed to the Dark Matter Nebula on the star map. "Every year, the residents there send seeds of colorful vines through Star Orbit. They say these seeds emit a seven-colored light at night, just like Senior Tang San's Chaos Azure Lotus."
The Mechanic Race youth gazed at the seven-colored light along the Star Orbit, a determined glint in his eyes. "When I grow up, I want to be like Senior Tang San, a messenger of balance, carrying the seeds of the colorful vines to more star systems."
Xiao Wu and Blue Crystal exchanged a smile, their eyes filled with relief.
The afterglow of the setting sun spilled across the academy's plaza, casting long shadows of the statues that intertwined with the colorful vines of the distant symbiotic area, creating a harmonious scene. In the starry sky, the seven-colored light still twinkled along the Star Orbit, like an eternal promise, telling a story of protection, inheritance, and balance.
This story has no end, because the exploration of balance is a never-ending journey, and the guardians' beliefs, like seeds of colorful vines, will take root and sprout in every corner of the Sea of Stars, blooming with their own light.