152: Energy depletion and a glimmer of hope

The success of "severing the tail" to survive brought little joy, instead making the atmosphere inside the Shelter even heavier.

The cost was heavy. The outer shield was damaged, nearly half of the important "Spirit Disturbance Array" was destroyed, and most critically, the star core's energy reserves had hit rock bottom, barely able to maintain the Shelter's basic structural stability and internal ecological cycle. The brilliant starlight had become incredibly dim, like a candle in the wind.

The speed of the "ark" had to be reduced, like a severely wounded traveler trudging with difficulty through violent turbulence of rules. Having lost most of its interference and defensive measures, even a small energy turbulence now could become the straw that broke the camel's back.

Behind them, that area of chaotic rules that had been detonated was slowly calming down. Although they had temporarily shaken off the "Scavenger," everyone knew those cold hunters would never give up. They were like a sword hanging over their heads, not knowing when it would strike again.

"We must find an energy supplement as soon as possible..." Wen Youyi's voice was hoarse. His face was pale; forcing the star core and detonating the Formation just now had drained him greatly. He stroked the complete star core in his arms, which emitted a weak light, trying to squeeze out the last trace of power from it, but with little success.

The return flow of the "star chain" was still ongoing, but the support from his companions in the distance was like a trickle of water; for the "ark," whose energy was nearly exhausted at this moment, it was truly a drop in the bucket.

Senior Brother Zhang attempted to guide the gentle energy converted by the internal "star moss" into the altar, but the "star moss" yield was limited; this bit of energy was no different from a stone sinking into the sea when it came to driving the "ark."

An atmosphere of despair, like cold mist, began to spread quietly.

Was the "ark," which had finally set sail after untold hardships, destined to be annihilated silently in this graveyard of rules because its energy was exhausted?

Just as a shadow fell over everyone's hearts, Ying, who had been responsible for monitoring external environmental fluctuations, suddenly made a sound of surprise.

"Wait... the energy turbulence ahead... it seems something is wrong?"

Everyone's spirits lifted, and they "looked" in the direction she indicated.

They saw that in the direction the "ark" was struggling to move, about a thousand miles away, the originally violent and disorderly turbulence of rules seemed to have produced a relatively "calm" area. Even more peculiarly, at the center of that area, a faint, extremely weak, yet exceptionally pure and stable light was flickering.

That light... carried an aura that was of the same origin as the star core, yet even older and deeper!

"What... is that?" Wang Wu murmured.

Wen Youyi concentrated his remaining Mental Energy to perceive it carefully. Although that point of light was weak, it was like a lighthouse in the darkness, carrying an indescribable attraction. The turbulence of rules around it seemed to have been smoothed out by an invisible force, forming a short, safe passage.

"It's an opportunity! But it could also be a trap..." Wen Youyi struggled internally. In the "ark's" current state, any accident could lead to destruction. But the pure energy contained within that light was undoubtedly a sweet spring in the desert for them.

"We have no choice," Zhao Iron Pillar said in a muffled voice. "Staying here is waiting for death; charging over might still give us a path to live!"

Senior Brother Zhang also adjusted his glasses and analyzed, "Judging from the energy characteristics, that light does not seem to be man-made; it is more like some kind of... naturally formed singularity of rules or an ancient relic? Risk and opportunity coexist."

Wen Youyi looked at the increasingly dim star core in his arms, then at the flames in his companions' eyes that refused to be extinguished, and finally made up his mind.

"Adjust course and head toward that light! Everyone, be prepared to deal with any situation that may arise!"

This was a gamble, a high-stakes gamble with all their lives on the line.

The "ark," dragging its broken body, carefully changed its course, like a moth flying into a flame, slowly sailing toward the only glimmer in the distant darkness.

Hope, like that point of light, was weak, yet it shone stubbornly.