144: Micro-photonics and the Miracle of "Star Moss"

The days of deep-dive development felt as if the Shelter had been set to slow motion.

The chaos of the outside world was shut out, leaving only the flow of starlight and the figures of everyone focused on their research.

Wen Youyi's attempts to guide the Star Core Power to simulate a natural environment had yielded preliminary results.

Inside the Shelter, there were no longer only eternal illusions of the starry sky; a very slow, breath-like alternation of light and dark began to appear, simulating day and night.

Occasionally, a "breeze" with a hint of damp coolness would brush by; that was the result of Wen Youyi painstakingly guiding the Star Power to simulate the flow of water vapor.

Although rough, it gave this underground space a sense of true vitality.

The moss and fungi in Senior Brother Zhang's experimental field were growing significantly better in this environment.

And the "resource exploration" that Zhao Iron Pillar was responsible for brought an unexpected surprise.

On this day, he was, as usual, tapping and checking the rock walls in a newly expanded area at the edge of the Shelter.

In a corner where the starlight was exceptionally concentrated, he discovered a patch of moss that was completely different from what he had seen before.

This type of moss appeared as a deep blue-violet color, its surface shimmering with tiny, starlike points of light.

It felt as warm and smooth as jade to the touch, and one could even sense an extremely faint energy fluctuation.

"Boss! Senior Brother Zhang! Come look! This thing doesn't seem ordinary!" Zhao Iron Pillar called out loudly, as if he had discovered a treasure.

Wen Youyi and Senior Brother Zhang hurried over upon hearing him.

After carefully examining it, Senior Brother Zhang pushed up his glasses, his eyes full of surprise: "This isn't a variety we transplanted! It grew indigenously! It... it seems to be actively absorbing and converting starlight!"

Wen Youyi also sensed it; this blue-violet moss was not only absorbing starlight but was also undergoing a peculiar transformation within itself, emitting a gentler, more easily absorbed energy fluctuation, and even... carried a trace of an extremely faint life-nourishing aura!

"Could it be a mutated variety spawned by long-term exposure to starlight, combined with the Shelter's unique environmental rules?" Wen Youyi speculated.

"Very likely!" Senior Brother Zhang became excited. "It's like... it's like a miniature, living energy converter! It can convert the relatively violent Star Core Power into gentle, nourishing energy! If it can be cultivated on a large scale..."

This discovery was of great significance!

If this plant, which they named "star moss," could be successfully cultivated, it could become a key link in the Shelter's "internal circulation" ecosystem!

It would not only further purify and soften the Star Power environment, but might itself become food, medicinal material, or even an auxiliary resource for Cultivate!

The research focus immediately shifted toward the "star moss."

Senior Brother Zhang was responsible for analyzing its growth habits and the principle of its energy conversion; Zhao Iron Pillar was responsible for finding more samples and attempting to expand cultivation; Wen Youyi tried adjusting the intensity and frequency of the local starlight illumination to optimize its growth environment.

Ying and two other Purifiers also joined in, using their extensive knowledge to analyze the unique energy flow paths inside the "star moss," attempting to understand the rules underlying its birth.

With everyone working together, progress was rapid.

They soon figured out the basic habits of "star moss": it prefers quiet, dislikes violent energy fluctuations, and requires a stable and pure starlight environment.

Under suitable conditions, it can slowly reproduce via spore.

Zhao Iron Pillar successfully divided the initial patch of "star moss" into several small pieces and transplanted them to different areas within the Shelter for cultivation.

Wen Youyi meticulously regulated the starlight in each area, like the most patient gardener.

Several days later, all the transplanted "star moss" had survived and began to slowly spread outward; the blue-violet luster dotted under the starlight was truly beautiful.

What was even more surprising was that in areas where the "star moss" grew more densely, the gentle, nourishing aura was significantly richer, and even the ordinary moss and Spiritual Plant in the adjacent experimental fields were growing better!

"We succeeded! We really managed to grow it!" Senior Brother Zhang looked at the flourishing patches of blue-violet, his voice trembling with excitement.

This was not just adding a new plant; it proved the feasibility of them building a self-circulating ecosystem!

The appearance of "star moss" was like a key, opening a new door for the Shelter's "internal circulation."

It symbolized hope and the possibility of life tenaciously bursting forth in such an extreme environment.

Even the usually composed Wen Youyi, looking at the patches of moss that resembled a miniature starry sky, wore a heartfelt smile on his face.

In this forgotten corner, they had not only built a home but had also personally cultivated a unique vitality that belonged to this place.

The shimmering ecology was beginning to take shape.

However, just as everyone was immersed in the joy brought by the "star moss," the Purifiers responsible for monitoring the outside world brought news that was not optimistic.

The Qingxuan Sect deacon who had previously been lured to Ghost Howl Ravine had returned, and what's more... he had brought a Magical Artifact that seemed capable of deep energy scanning!

The storm had not moved away; instead, it was quietly approaching in another form.

(End of chapter)