280: Lu Chen's decision: I will go there myself!

Light.

Endless light.

After stepping through the gate of light, Lu Chen did not immediately arrive at the so-called "core," but instead fell into a white ocean composed of pure data streams.

There was no up, down, left, or right here, no passage of time, and not even the concept of "self."

Even with the protection of the "Kindling" system, Lu Chen still felt an indescribable, immense pressure. It was not a physical weight, but a frantic scouring from information of Higher Dimensions! Every second, an amount of data equivalent to an entire year of the Earth's internet slammed violently against his consciousness barrier!

"Warning! Warning!"

heavenly craft's voice rang out urgently in Lu Chen's mind, sounding exceptionally anxious with noticeable electrical static.

[Master! Ahead, we have encountered a 'logic firewall'! The intensity is incalculable!]

[This is a low-level defense mechanism left behind by the Six-Dimensional Civilization! It has identified us as a 'virus'! It is currently conducting an all-out scan and purge!]

"Scan and purge?"

Lu Chen steadied his mind, his gaze piercing through the vast white fog of data to see what lay ahead, spanning across the heavens and the earth—a golden high wall!

It was a Wall of Sighs, composed entirely of complex Causality formulas and logical chains. It not only blocked Lu Chen's path, but also acted like a precision meat grinder, frantically shredding any alien code that attempted to approach!

The various detection waves Lu Chen had just released to probe the area were instantly erased the moment they touched the wall, leaving nothing behind!

[Master, it's too dangerous!]

heavenly craft's voice trembled.

[My computing power has been overclocked to 300%, yet I still cannot analyze the composition of this wall! Even if I utilize the 'causality interference device', I can only create a gap in the wall that lasts for 0.001 seconds!]

[Furthermore, inside that gap, it is filled with chaotic 'thought storms'! Any non-native data consciousness that enters will be instantly assimilated and formatted!]

[If you continue to force a breakthrough, your consciousness will disintegrate!]

heavenly craft's assessment was accurate.

It was like a mortal trying to force their way into a god's library. Even if the door opened, the vast, boundless knowledge within would instantly cause a mortal's head to explode!

"Disintegrate."

Lu Chen floated in the ocean of data, staring at the towering golden high wall with his brows tightly furrowed.

He could feel that behind this wall lay the true core of the "genesis engine," the location of that contaminated "lesion."

If he didn't cross it, all his previous efforts would be in vain.

That out-of-control engine could restart at any moment, dragging the Milky Way Galaxy back into the abyss of destruction.

"heavenly craft, is there no other way?"

[There is one plan.]

heavenly craft hesitated for a moment before gritting her teeth and saying:

[I can attempt to burn all my core data to construct a 'logic bomb' to forcibly blast open this wall!]

[But if I do that, I might go into permanent hibernation, or even cease to exist.]

[Furthermore, even if it is blasted open, I cannot guarantee you will be able to pass through that thought storm safely.]

"No."

Lu Chen refused without a second thought.

"I created you, not to use you as a bomb."

"But—"

"No buts."

Lu Chen took a deep breath. The confusion in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by an unprecedented determination and madness.

He slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the golden mark on his forehead.

"Since machines cannot do it, then let a human do it."

"Since data cannot pass through, then we shall fill it with a soul!"

"heavenly craft, deactivate all defensive shields."

[Master?! What are you doing?!]

"I am going to—"

Lu Chen looked at the golden high wall, a wild and arrogant smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Launch a raid with my own body!"

"I will go myself!"

"No!!!"

This time, the voice of opposition did not come only from heavenly craft.

Su Qingying, who had been staring fixedly at the surveillance screen on the bridge through the quantum entanglement soul link, let out a heart-wrenching scream!

"Lu Chen! You can't go! You will die!"

"That is a pure consciousness storm! Your brain cannot withstand that kind of impact! You will become a vegetable! Your soul will be scattered!"

Su Qingying cried out. If she hadn't been held back tightly by "Zhan Lang," she probably would have already rushed into the teleportation beam.

"Commander Lu! Please reconsider!"

The iron-blooded man "Zhan Lang" also had red-rimmed eyes, his voice hoarse, "We can think of another way! There's no need to risk your life!"

Listening to the calls by his ears, a hint of tenderness appeared on Lu Chen's face.

"Qingying, Zhan Lang, and everyone else."

"Do you still not understand?"

"This isn't risking my life; this is destiny."

Lu Chen reached out his hand, as if caressing Su Qingying's cheek in the void.

"This wall can block data, block energy, and even block Causality."

"But it cannot block one thing."

"And that is—'humanity'."

"When that 'Six-Dimensional Civilization' created this engine, it was to search for 'perfect life.' They set up this wall not to deny access, but to filter!"

"They are waiting for a true life form that possesses the 'Kindling,' possesses a 'self,' and dares to face death head-on!"

Lu Chen's eyes shone brighter and brighter, like two burning stars!

"heavenly craft is an AI; she is a product of pure rationality, so she cannot enter."

"And me—"

"I am human."

"I have greed, I have fear, I have love, and I have hate!"

"I am the only key!"

After finishing, Lu Chen did not hesitate any longer.

He abruptly cut off all communication with the outside world!

"heavenly craft, you fall back too! Guard the perimeter and don't let anyone disturb me!"

[Master.]

heavenly craft's virtual figure trembled. She wanted to disobey the order, but the "absolute obedience" in her core code rendered her unable to move. She could only watch helplessly as Lu Chen walked step by step toward that golden high wall exuding an aura of destruction.

"Hoo."

Lu Chen stood beneath the wall, as small as a speck of dust.

But his aura, at this moment, climbed to its peak!

The fragment of the "causality interference device" was gripped tightly in his hand, transforming into a ball of purple flame that enveloped his entire body.

"Come on!"

"Let me see what kind of problems you so-called 'gods' have left for me!"

Lu Chen roared, without any flashy moves or unnecessary defenses.

Just like that, relying on his mortal body and his unyielding soul, he slammed violently into the golden high wall!

"Boom—!!!"

There was no sound, yet it felt as if a thunderclap had exploded in the depths of everyone's souls!

Golden light instantly swallowed Lu Chen's figure.

That wall of sighs, which even the impact of a neutron star could not shake, rippled like water the moment it touched Lu Chen!

It did not block him!

It accepted him!

"He—he got in?!"

On the bridge, "Zhan Lang" widened his eyes, his face full of disbelief.

Su Qingying had already collapsed onto the floor, tears streaming down her face, her hands clasped together in an action she had never done in her life—praying.

In that bizarre and colorful passage, Lu Chen did not feel the tearing sensation he had imagined.

On the contrary, he felt as if he had returned to the womb, returned to the source of life.

Countless warm, ancient, and wisdom-filled thoughts surged into his mind like a tide.

[Detected 'Kindling' essence.]

[Detected independent 'humanity'.]

[Verification passed.]

[Welcome back, successor.]

As this gentle voice faded, the golden light before his eyes dispersed.

Lu Chen found himself standing in a huge, pure white space.

And in the center of the space floated a dilapidated ball of light, entangled by countless black chains.

Although the ball of light was dim and broken, it still exuded a sacred aura that made one want to prostrate and worship.

That was the true core of the "genesis engine"!

And on the surface of the ball of light, those black chains were writhing like poisonous snakes, constantly gnawing away at the light of the ball.

That was the virus code left behind by "Zero," the curse of the Star Devourer civilization!

"Finally, I've found you."

Lu Chen looked at the ball of light, a tired but relieved smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

He walked forward slowly, extended his palm, and the purple light in his hand flared brilliantly!

"Bear with it, it might hurt a little."

"The doctor is here to pull out the thorns for you!"