234: Chapter 234 "Back Door"

"I thought you were dead. I've never had an experience like this before."

"Oh, except for those two dreams—dreams are understandable—but today was different. Where did your spirit wander off to?"

[Spirit wandering? Not really. It would be more accurate to say that this system was imprisoned.]

System Big Brother's words left Chu Ge speechless for a long time. He was pondering the meaning of the word "imprisoned."

"Imprisoned? What does that mean? Something like signal jamming?"

[It's more severe than that. It's similar to time being frozen in relative space. Your space was normal, but everything on my end stopped.]

"What is all this nonsense? Now you're bringing up 3D and 4D space?"

[The cause is unknown. I only realized the problem after you left that shielded range.]

[I am currently searching the database for relevant information. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything yet.]

Chu Ge realized this wasn't a simple matter. It likely involved the civilization level of the aliens from that spaceship wreckage.

There was another possibility: he might even dig up System Big Brother's ancestral roots.

"I have a hypothesis. Do you have some kind of history with that energy crystal?"

[energy crystal? What is that? I cannot perceive external things while I am imprisoned.]

After a slight pause, System Big Brother continued:

[I've seen its existence through your memories, but unfortunately, no matching data was found either.]

[However, all data streams point to an encrypted data package that my current level cannot yet crack.]

System Big Brother's words piqued Chu Ge's interest; so it wasn't omnipotent after all.

"You need to upgrade too?"

[Yes. My upgrade is predicated on you upgrading.]

"..."

Chu Ge wanted to say he had already reached the top, but he didn't say it. He remembered System Big Brother saying that Lieutenant General wasn't his final honor.

For a long time, neither the man nor the system spoke.

Chu Ge was thinking about System Big Brother's data package, while System Big Brother was likely flashing its system frantically.

[Actually, there is another way to verify your guess. You don't have to wait long; you can try it tomorrow.]

"Go on?" Chu Ge scrambled up.

[You can try to continue provoking that energy crystal. Based on your memories, I tend to agree with your view: that energy crystal can perceive external things and possesses powerful abilities.]

[You didn't actually think your low-level protective suit could truly block a fatal blow from it, did you?]

[It's because it didn't want to hurt you!]

System Big Brother's words completely bewildered Chu Ge. So it wasn't just his imagination. But why?

"Maybe not? What if it goes berserk and unleashes an ultimate move? Wouldn't I be finished?"

[You have the Instant Air Shield; you can die nine times! Of course, this is just a suggestion. You could also wait a few years for this system to upgrade before I tell you. Also, there is a fee for this information.]

"Uh, thanks for the reminder. What kind of system are you? You sound like you're dying for me to get killed."

[...]

"But I just got lectured by the leadership today. If I go and do it again tomorrow knowingly, won't I end up in solitary confinement?" Chu Ge continued to worry.

"???"

"Playing dead again?"

System Big Brother went AFK. It probably felt that further talk was a waste of time, so it went off to do its own thing.

Chu Ge, however, couldn't sleep. He was thinking about System Big Brother's suggestion.

After tossing and turning for a long time, Chu Ge decided to follow his gut and take the risk.

"Ten thousand years is too long; seize the day!"

...

The next day, after many reminders and exhortations from Commander Wang, Chu Ge set out on his journey once again.

Arriving at the site of the spaceship wreckage, Chu Ge discovered that Captain Wang was actually there as well.

"Captain Wang, you're here?"

"I was worried about issues with the engineering handover, so I came over to stay another day with Captain Lü."

"Academician Chu, Captain Wang was afraid my team would be slow since it's our first time taking over, so he came over and stayed up another day."

Chu Ge nodded and didn't say much.

"Academician Chu, I'd like to make a suggestion. My engineering team happens to be here today too; our two teams could work simultaneously."

"At the current pace, we could finish today."

Captain Wang spoke excitedly, not looking at all like someone who hadn't rested for a day and a night.

Chu Ge didn't speak; he looked toward Captain Lü.

"My construction team can hold on for another day without any problem."

"Alright, I'll leave the shaft project to you. Don't push specifically to finish today; we're not in that much of a hurry."

"Yes, sir."

After answering, the two captains turned and left. They needed to go back and coordinate their engineering teams for counter-directional operations.

Chu Ge looked around but didn't see Soul Blade and the others, so he chose to call them directly.

[Good morning, General Chu.]

"Mhm. Was there anything unusual yesterday?"

[No, even the reconnaissance was unaffected.]

"I see. Where are you guys now?" Chu Ge said as he turned around, still not seeing Soul Blade and the others.

[In the air, where else?]

"Still scouting?"

[No, just circling.]

"What do you mean 'circling'? Do you think you have too much power or something? If there's nothing to do, stay on the ground."

"When others run out of power, they can just go back to the aerospace carrier to recharge. If you run out, I'll have to use an Engineering Ship to haul you back to Earth."

[Mine is nuclear-powered; I won't run out of power.]

"Get lost. You're not learning anything good, but you've certainly learned how to talk back."

Chu Ge cut the call irritably. Ever since coming to the Moon, Soul Blade seemed to have let itself go a bit.

While Chu Ge was lecturing his "son," the second batch of guards and experts had already finished their preparations.

Yan Tianhao and the others looked at Chu Ge expectantly.

After Chu Ge walked over, he didn't say anything, just waved his hand.

The team members already on standby hurriedly opened the gate to the ladder.

It took three groups for everyone to descend safely into the dark space below.

Then came Captain Wang's engineering team. Once everyone was in position and Chu Ge had given Captain Wang another set of instructions, he led the group toward the Energy Ball.

Chu Ge looked up at what lay ahead; the Energy Ball's pulsing light remained unchanged.

He brought his gaze back to the ground and started calculating how to implement System Big Brother's suggestion.

He spent a long time calculating but still hadn't figured out how to explain it to the team members by the time they reached their destination.

Captain Gong began arranging for the team members to release the drones, while Yan Tianhao, Zheng Jun, and the others started their investigative work from the previous day.

Chu Ge walked up to the Energy Ball. After a slight pause, he took a large step forward, arriving close to the shield.

The brightness of the Energy Ball instantly intensified by several degrees, but the shield seemed much gentler today, not as overbearing as it had been yesterday.

Academician Huang and Captain Gong only then noticed something was off with Chu Ge and stood up to run toward him.

"Don't come over. I'm conducting an experiment. Don't worry."

Chu Ge waved them back.

This was the move he had spent the whole way thinking up—uh, a direct confrontation.

Chu Ge continued to walk forward.

"General Chu, it's dangerous! You..."

Before Captain Gong could finish his sentence, he was amazed to see that Chu Ge had already walked inside the shield.

Instead of attacking, the shield docilely embraced Chu Ge, opening a "backdoor" for him.

The surrounding team members stood up one after another, staring at the incredible scene before them. For a moment, everyone was stunned, mechanically watching Chu Ge and the Energy Ball...