31: Chapter 3 The Data Abyss

The cold air in the underground space seemed to have frozen, leaving only the low, continuous hum of the server clusters, like the heartbeat of some massive machine, pounding against everyone's nerves.

The Engineer's holographic projection maintained that scholar-like calm posture, waiting for their response. The medical pod emitted an alluring, soft white light, forming a sharp contrast with the potentially lethal threat from Director Walker outside the door.

Ling Yue's fingertips unconsciously rubbed against the trigger guard of her energy pistol. The Data Stream in her electronic eyes surged like a storm, conducting intense risk assessment and logical deduction. Lin Feng could feel her body tense up; it was the final hesitation of a cheetah before pouncing.

Lei Kun leaned against the cold alloy wall to the side. Nanobots were working at full capacity within his body to stabilize his injuries, but the weakness caused by the intense consumption remained. He glanced at Xiao Qi, who was still unconscious and frowning in his arms, then looked at the medical pod emitting the light of hope. Finally, those weather-beaten eyes slowly closed, and he let out a sigh that was almost inaudible.

"...Save her first." His voice was dry and weary, but carried a sense of finality. For him, Xiao Qi's safety was always the priority, even if there might be another trap ahead.

Ling Yue took a deep breath, seemingly having made up her mind. She put away the energy pistol, though her vigilant posture did not fully relax. "Lead the way," she said coldly to The Engineer's projection.

"A wise choice." The Engineer's projection nodded slightly, showing no emotional fluctuation. It operated something, and the wall on one side of the hall slid open silently, revealing a cleaner compartment filled with various precision medical equipment. In the center was an immersive medical pod with a strong sense of technology.

Ling Yue and Lin Feng helped Lei Kun, carefully placing Xiao Qi into the medical pod. The pod cover closed slowly, and a pale blue scanning beam began to move up and down, with various vital sign data jumping rapidly on the screen beside it.

Seeing Xiao Qi's neural activity gradually suppressed by some kind of force field and stabilizing, Lei Kun's tense body finally relaxed. He was about to collapse, but was timely supported by Lin Feng and placed on the medical chair nearby.

"Then," The Engineer's projection spoke again, drawing everyone's attention back, "during our limited rest time, perhaps we can use this time more efficiently. For example, deepening our understanding and establishing preliminary trust."

Its gaze turned to Lin Feng: "Lin Feng, your understanding and application of the "Source" System are still at a very elementary stage. It is far more than just optimizing algorithms and jamming devices. It is The Key that can open the door to the deeper layers of the data world."

Following its words, a complex interface device rose from the center of the circular workbench, covered with various types of physical ports and energy sensing zones.

"This is the interface directly connected to the Observation Point core server. It stores data I have collected over the years regarding the underlying architecture of the Sky Curtain, backdoors of The Consortium, and the original design blueprints of the Genesis project," The Engineer explained. "Try connecting to it with your "Source" System. You don't need to do anything, just feel it, and understand the flow and structure of the data. This is crucial for mastering your own power."

Lin Feng looked at the interface, his heart filled with vigilance and curiosity. The "Source" System also seemed to have a faint resonance and longing for that interface. But he had not forgotten Razor's warning and Ling Yue's doubts.

"Is this safe?" He looked at Ling Yue.

Ling Yue's mechanical eyes scanned the interface device carefully. "Structurally, I can't see any traps. The encryption method is unknown and very advanced." She looked at The Engineer. "Can you guarantee his safety?"

"I guarantee it." The Engineer's projection replied calmly. "Any improper operation will trigger the safety protocol to disconnect, resulting in at most a slight mental shock. But the benefits are huge; he can grow into the help we need faster, rather than being a burden."

The last sentence carried a hint of unquestionable realistic consideration.

Lin Feng gritted his teeth. He truly longed to understand the "Source" more, longed to become stronger instead of always being the one protected. "I'll try."

He stepped forward and, following the simple steps indicated by The Engineer through the projection, pressed his hands lightly onto the energy sensing area of the interface.

"Relax, follow the guidance, do not resist." The Engineer's voice seemed to carry a hypnotic magic.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and concentrated.

Instantly!

A massive, indescribable torrent of data, like a galaxy pouring down, slammed into his consciousness! This was no longer the orderly or chaotic information flow from previous tasks, but a nearly primitive, vast, and boundless **Data Ocean**! Countless flashing codes, distorted images, fragmented notes, incomprehensible concepts... frantically assaulted his perception!

Lin Feng groaned, feeling as if his brain was about to explode! He instinctively wanted to struggle, wanted to disconnect!

"Steady! Guide it! Do not resist! Imagine it is water and you are a boat!" The Engineer's voice rang out in time, calm and penetrating.

Lin Feng forced himself to suppress the panic, trying to recall the feeling of the "Source" System optimizing data, attempting to stop "understanding" those complex pieces of information and instead "feel" their overall flow and rhythm.

A wonderful thing happened.

When he gave up resistance and tried to "go with the flow," the "Source" System seemed to have activated a deeper mode. The blue characters flashing crazily in his field of vision were no longer just prompts, but began to interact, integrate, and reshape with the incoming Data Stream!

He "saw" those broken codes start to combine automatically, forming more complex structures; distorted images were straightened and repaired, revealing blurred outlines; incomprehensible concepts were disassembled, translated, and turned into understandable fragments...

He seemed to have dived into a deep sea made of pure information, and the "Source" System was his only submarine and translator.

Vast knowledge and information rushed in like a tide. Although still incomplete, it allowed him to glimpse a cold truth hidden beneath the reality—a truth composed of code, power, and secrets!

He saw that the Sky Curtain was not monolithic; its interior was full of cracks and backdoors left by the games of The Consortium.

He saw that the Genesis project was far crazier than imagined; those blueprints foretold a terrifying possibility of uploading human consciousness directly to the network.

He saw how the four major Consortiums used the Sky Curtain to monitor all living beings, plunder resources, and suppress dissidents...

The impact of this information was far more intuitive and shocking than Razor's few accusations!

Just as he was immersed in this Data Ocean, a log fragment, heavily encrypted and seemingly deliberately hidden, caught the special attention of the "Source" System and forcibly attempted to crack it.

The log was forcibly opened a corner!

What appeared was not technical drawings or monitoring logs, but a... private record?

**[...The 47th consciousness upload experiment failed... The carrier could not withstand the integrity of the "Source" protocol... Collapsed again...]**

**[...Must find a more stable carrier... or... perform 'dimensional reduction' adaptation on the "Source" protocol itself...]**

**[...The 'Lighthouse' project was rejected by the board of directors... They are afraid... A bunch of cowards!]**

**[...It doesn't matter... I still have project legacy... and time... Must rush before the 'Entropy Increase Threshold'...]**

**[...New candidate screening has begun... This time... must succeed...]**

The record stopped abruptly, but its content made Lin Feng feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave!

Consciousness upload experiment?! "Source" protocol?! Carrier?! Entropy Increase Threshold?!

Combining these terms pointed to a chilling possibility—The Engineer was conducting some kind of forbidden consciousness upload research! And the "Source" System was very likely a key part of this research! It was looking for a "carrier"?!

The data packet was damaged and the absolute source could not be traced, but there was a very high probability that it came from this facility!

Lin Feng tried to disconnect, but the torrent of data seemed to sense his fear and discovery, and instead entangled him even more violently, trying to drag him back into the deeper Data Abyss!

At the same time, he felt a cold, consciousness flow that did not belong to the "Source" System, carrying a clear **intent of scrutiny and inquiry**, silently reaching deep into his brain along the data connection! As if it wanted to pry into everything he had just discovered!

It was The Engineer! It had been monitoring the whole process! It might have even actively released that log to test Lin Feng's reaction!

"Ugh!" Lin Feng let out a painful groan, struggling desperately, but felt his consciousness bound by countless data chains, difficult to break free!

"Lin Feng! Disconnect!" Ling Yue noticed his abnormality, immediately warned him loudly, and aimed her gun at the interface device!

"It is just a normal data assimilation process; some discomfort is unavoidable." The Engineer's projection explained calmly, but those holographic eyes seemed to have become deeper, locking onto Lin Feng firmly.

Just at this critical moment—

Hum—!!!

The entire underground space suddenly shook violently! The lights flashed crazily! The humming of the server clusters suddenly became sharp and piercing!

External attack! The upper structure suffered a high-energy impact! The integrity of the blast door was damaged!

"They are here! Faster than expected!" The Engineer's projection showed a clear emotional fluctuation for the first time—a trace of annoyance at being disturbed and coldness. "Activate defense protocols! Transfer all non-essential system power to the internal barrier!"

The violent shaking and alarm sounds were like heavy hammers, smashing down on the Data Stream's shackles on Lin Feng's consciousness! That cold, probing consciousness flow also withdrew instantly, seemingly interrupted by the sudden crisis!

Lin Feng took this opportunity to use all his willpower to abruptly cut off the connection with the interface!

Thump!

He fell backward to the ground, sweating profusely, his face pale as paper, blood spilling from his nostrils and the corners of his mouth, his brain in excruciating pain as if it had been ground by a meat grinder, but his eyes were filled with huge horror and lingering fear!

"What did you see?!" Ling Yue rushed forward to support him and asked urgently.

"...Carrier... consciousness upload... It... it is looking for..." Lin Feng was incoherent, his huge fear making it difficult for him to organize his language.

But Ling Yue had already understood most of it from his reactions and snippets. Her face instantly became extremely ugly, and she suddenly looked up at The Engineer's projection, raised her energy pistol again, and said with a voice as cold as ice: "You really were lying!"

The Engineer's projection appeared somewhat flickering under the flashing alarm lights. It was silent for a second, seemingly quickly assessing the situation, and then its tone returned to that absolute calmness, even with a hint of regret:

"It seems that the establishment of initial trust has failed. It is... a pity."

"However, the external threat is real. Director Walker's lackeys have arrived at the door. Now, we have two choices—"

Before its words fell!

Boom!!!

A louder explosion came from above their heads! The entire underground space swayed violently, the metal plates on the ceiling twisted and deformed, and dust and debris fell like a rainstorm! A server even sparked and was completely paralyzed!

The sharp alarm sound turned into a shrill, highest-level intrusion warning!

The blast door was breached! The enemy had entered the upper level! It was the elite of The Cleaners! Carrying heavy weapons!

The last refuge had already fallen!

The Engineer's projection did not seem surprised, just finished the second half of the sentence lightly:

"—Put aside infighting and cooperate to resist the foreign enemy."

"Or,"

"Die here together."