185: Chapter 185 Testing the Law with Oneself, A First Glimpse into Heavenly Secrets

Consciousness, like sinking into the deepest abyss of the ocean, converged toward that faint yet constant "Eternal Star"—the "Ancient Ring" mark—deep within the Soul.

The mark's light floated silently in the void of the Sea of Consciousness, emitting a constant, cold, and ancient rhythmic dignity.

Ling Ye's consciousness, like the gentlest of tentacles, cautiously "touched" this mark, attempting to establish a deeper connection and awaken the power of the "Star Gate" and "Order" contained within.

At the same time, in his mind, the trajectory of the dual rings entwined on the ancient star map, as well as the spectral characteristics of the "dual rings resonance" recorded in Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe's notes, appeared as clearly as a holographic image.

"The Ancient Ring governs birth and destruction, guarding the gate; the bone ring governs balance, combing through the undercurrents..."

"dual rings resonance... frequency... records..."

He attempted to take the wave rhythm naturally emitted by the "Ancient Ring" mark, which carried the implications of "guarding" and "Star Gate," and perform an extremely subtle, imaginative "superposition" and "simulation" with the rhythm representing the "bone ring" in the star map trajectory (inferred from its description) and the "harmonization" and "balance" characteristics in the spectral records.

This was not a true "dual rings resonance," because there was no physical "xuanyuan ring."

This was merely a bold, purely mental "imitation" and "deduction" he conducted based on his perception of the "Ancient Ring" mark, his understanding of the star map, and his analysis of the spectral records.

Like a musician who had only seen sheet music and heard fragments of a melody, trying to play in his heart a complete, ancient musical piece he had never heard before, which required two instruments to perform together.

The process was extremely difficult and filled with unpredictable risks.

His mind was highly focused, fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead, and his body trembled slightly.

The icy erosion at the wound on his left arm seemed to sense the activity of the "Ancient Ring" mark, becoming restless and sending waves of stinging pain.

But he did not stop.

His consciousness, like the most precise instrument, adjusted the frequency, intensity, and even the "information characteristics" contained within the "Ancient Ring" fluctuations bit by bit, attempting to converge toward the "harmonizing signal" in the spectral records.

Time passed in silence.

He did not know how long it had been—perhaps only a few minutes, or perhaps longer.

Just when Ling Ye felt his Mental Energy rapidly depleting, his consciousness beginning to blur, and was almost about to give up—

"Hum..."

An extremely faint tremor, as if coming from the deepest part of his Soul, and yet as if from the infinitely distant starry sky, suddenly rang out in his Sea of Consciousness!

It was not the humming of the "Ancient Ring" mark itself, but a brand new, more harmonious, stable composite rhythm that seemed capable of soothing all restlessness.

It was born, albeit extremely faintly and fleetingly, at the core of his consciousness where he was forcibly "simulating" and "superimposing"!

Although it was only for a brief moment, the feeling brought by that rhythm was incomparably clear—cold and heat intertwined, "Order" and chaos coexisted, as if two extremely opposing force fields had reached a perfect dynamic balance under some higher rule!

Meanwhile, the icy, persistent sense of erosion at the wound on his left arm, at the moment this faint "balance rhythm" swept past, actually loosened and weakened significantly!

Although it was not completely dispelled, the infiltrating sensation and stinging pain, which had been like a maggot on a tarsal bone, were greatly reduced!

Success!

Even if it was just the most superficial, briefest simulation, it had truly triggered a trace of "balance rhythm" similar to "dual rings resonance" and had a suppressive effect on the "abyssal eye" erosion!

Ling Ye opened his eyes abruptly, a sharp light flashing in them, carrying unbelievable surprise and a trace of deep exhaustion.

He had succeeded!

Although it was only a glimpse, he had truly touched that higher-level power rhythm!

This proved that his direction was correct!

The resonance between the "Ancient Ring" and the "bone ring" indeed possessed the possibility of countering or even balancing the power of the "abyssal eye"!

Moreover, through this attempt, he felt his sensing of the "Ancient Ring" mark became clearer, and his guidance of its power became slightly smoother.

More importantly, he had captured a trace of the characteristics of that "balance rhythm."

Although he could not maintain it for long, he might be able to attempt to trigger it again at a critical moment for self-preservation or to break an enemy.

He checked the wound on his left arm again.

The icy sensation still existed, but its activity had decreased, forming a more stable balance with the suppression from "Star Visualization" and his own "Qi."

It should not worsen in the short term.

This brief attempt consumed a large amount of his Mental Energy, but the gains were huge.

He adjusted his breathing slightly, recovering some of his spirit.

Then, he carefully packed away the ancient star map, Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe's notes, and the newly acquired research materials and data blocks, hiding them close to his body.

Now, it was time to head to the final battlefield.

He stood up and stretched his muscles.

His state was much better than before.

Although the wounds and fatigue remained, his will was like iron, and cold "Battle Intent" burned in his eyes.

He checked his equipment one last time: crowbar, pipe wrench, multi-function knife, the remaining medical supplies, nutrient solution, and water.

Then, he walked to the cabin exit and listened.

The roaring of the equipment layer outside continued, but the sounds of the previous battle and the monsters' hissing had long since subsided.

Temporarily safe.

He took a deep breath, pushed the door open, and returned to the equipment layer filled with faint steam and chemical odors.

The corpse of that elite derivative still lay where it was, its dark blue blood already congealed.

He bypassed the corpse and the chaotic area, and according to his memory and the map, crept toward the entrance leading to the lower level of the B7 Main Hall.

According to Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe's manuscript, the "xuanyuan ring" was hidden in the emergency maintenance passage under the base of the central isolation cabin.

To enter there, he first needed to return to the B7 Main Hall and find the entrance to the lower level of the base.

That entrance was likely near the area where the "breathing" tumor had previously been, but it was more concealed.

He had to face those "eyes" in the hall again, face the potentially more active main body of the "abyssal eye," and... the "most loyal Gatekeeper" mentioned by Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe.

The journey was uneventful.

Relying on his memory and the early warning of his "Spiritual Sense," he avoided several areas where derivatives might be wandering, and returned to the vicinity of the ventilation duct entrance leading to the B7 Main Hall without incident.

He did not enter the ventilation duct immediately.

It might have already been marked or monitored.

He observed his surroundings.

Diagonally opposite the ventilation duct entrance, under the wall, there was an inconspicuous metal maintenance cover plate half-hidden by pipes and debris.

There was blurry writing on the cover plate: "To Lower Maintenance Passage."

Was it here?

The map did not explicitly mark it, but the location fit.

He carefully moved the debris aside and pried open the maintenance cover plate with his crowbar.

Below was a narrow metal ladder leading vertically downward, bottomless, with cold air carrying the heavy aura of the "abyssal eye" surging up from below.

This must be it!

The passage leading to the lower level of the central isolation cabin base!

Without hesitation, he squeezed in sideways, gently pulled the cover plate shut behind him, and began to climb down the cold ladder.

The ladder seemed endless, extending downward for dozens of meters.

The further down he went, the stronger the sweet, decaying odor became, and the "sense of disharmony" and cold pressure permeating the air grew stronger.

It was pitch black all around, with only an extremely faint, dark blue light flickering in the depths far below.

Finally, his feet touched solid ground.

This was a narrower, lower metal passage.

The walls and ceiling of the passage were covered with thick pipelines and flickering indicator lights (most of which were damaged).

At the front of the passage, the dark blue light source came from there.

He lowered his body and moved forward silently.

The end of the passage connected to a relatively open circular platform.

The platform surrounded a huge, upward-extending metal cylindrical base—that was the base of the central isolation cabin!

The surface of the base was covered with complex pipelines, interfaces, and glowing runes (somewhat similar to those on the "Ancient Ring," but more twisted).

And at the connection between the base and the platform, there was an open, pitch-black maintenance passage entrance, with warning lights slowly flashing red at the edge of the entrance.

Inside the entrance, the dark blue light was emanating from within.

The "xuanyuan ring" was in there!

However, just as Ling Ye was about to approach the entrance—

His "Spiritual Sense" sent an unprecedented, extremely sharp warning of danger!

It was not coming from inside the entrance, nor from the hall above.

It was coming from... the passage behind him, and from the shadows around the platform!

"Click... click... click..."

Rigid and rhythmic footsteps, as if from metal rubbing or bones shifting, slowly came from the darkness of the passage behind him.

At the same time, in the shadows around the platform, four scarlet lights lit up—they were eyes!

But not the pale, white eyes like the fungal mat on the wall, but eyes belonging to some humanoid existence, filled with cold murderous intent and crazy obsession!

Four tall "people," wearing tattered, high-Advanced protective suits similar to those of "Deep Space Frontier Capital," but whose bodies had clearly undergone eerie twisting and hyperplasia (some arms had mutated into bone blades, others had twisted tentacles extending from their backs), slowly walked out of the shadows, blocking Ling Ye's retreat and approaching him in a semi-enclosure formation.

Their movements were stiff, but their steps were steady, carrying a kind of well-trained coordination.

Their eyes were scarlet, devoid of any reason, containing only crazy murderous intent and hatred for "living beings."

And in the passage behind Ling Ye, the owner of those footsteps finally revealed its form—

It was a "person" with a hunched figure, wearing a long-tattered White Coat stained with dark blue filth.

On its face, a layer of wriggling, translucent dark blue fungal membrane covered it, beneath which a pale, twisted face full of pain was vaguely visible.

Its eyes were cloudy, grayish-white, with blue mucus constantly flowing from them, exactly the same as the eyes of the Chen Yan "Information Ghost" he had seen on the Old Lift Shaft platform!

But the difference was that this "White Coat" radiated a far stronger, colder, and more chaotic "presence" than Chen Yan, as well as a kind of twisted "authority" that seemed to be deeply fused with the surrounding "abyssal eye" environment.

It had no weapon in its hands.

But its withered, fungal-covered hand was slowly raising, pointing at Ling Ye.

An invisible, cold mental pressure surged toward Ling Ye like a tide, attempting to invade his consciousness and freeze his thoughts.

The "most loyal Gatekeeper" mentioned in Senior Researcher Chen Qinghe's manuscript!

And those... former "Deep Space Frontier Capital" security personnel or researchers who mutated during the accident, but were twisted and controlled by the power of the "abyssal eye," becoming its guards!

Wolves in front, tigers behind.

And the "xuanyuan ring" was inside the entrance ahead, emitting an alluring light.

Ling Ye turned slowly, his back against the cold metal wall, his cold gaze sweeping over the four approaching mutated guards, and finally fixing on the "White Coat" radiating terrifying mental pressure.

He gripped the crowbar in his hand tightly.

The "Ancient Ring" mark deep in his Soul, due to the external pressure and the stimulation of being surrounded by the power of the "abyssal eye," spontaneously began to emit a clearer, shimmering light with a sense of resistance.

A cold, almost crazy arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems... to get the ring, I have to get past you first."

Before the words faded, he moved!

Not retreating, not defending.

But—launching a desperate charge at the "White Coat" first!

Because he knew that this mental-type monster was the biggest threat!

He had to eliminate it before being surrounded by the four mutated guards and controlled by its mental power, or... create an opportunity to get the ring!

The crowbar broke through the air, carrying the shimmer of the "Ancient Ring" mark and the prototype of the "balance rhythm" he had just comprehended, smashing fiercely toward the twisted head of the "White Coat"!

"Roar——!!!"

The four mutated guards let out inhuman roars and lunged from both sides!

In the grayish-white eyes of the "White Coat," blue mucus surged crazily, and an even stronger mental impact, like an invisible heavy hammer, smashed into Ling Ye's consciousness!

The final battle erupted with a bang at the bottom of this abyss!