178: Out-of-control passageway and "star debris"

The unexpected discovery at the bottom of Falling Star Lake made Wen Youyi feel as if his heart was being clawed by a cat. An unstable spatial passage? This thing was like finding an unlocked, mysterious door in one's own backyard that led to an unknown destination; not going in to take a look would be simply unbearable.

However, the "Scavenger" patrols were a huge problem. Wen Youyi dared not easily use consciousness projection to investigate again; that would be akin to dancing under a searchlight.

He needed a safer, more covert way to investigate.

"Senior Brother Zhang, Ying," Wen Youyi contacted the Shelter again via the "Star Network". "I need you both to help analyze all the data transmitted back from the Falling Star Lake node, especially the data regarding that energy vortex and spatial anomaly. See if you can build a mathematical model to estimate the general environment on the other side of the passage, or find a way to stabilize it."

"Understood!" Senior Brother Zhang's voice carried the excitement peculiar to a research fanatic. "A spatial passage! This is a major subject! Ying and I will analyze it with all our might!"

Over the next few days, Wen Youyi closely monitored the Sect's movements while waiting for the analysis results from Senior Brother Zhang and the others.

Those three "Scavengers" had indeed increased the frequency of their patrols in the Falling Star Lake area; evidently, the previous scan had made them aware of something unusual. Elder Black Fiend had even sent his trusted Disciples to guard the lakeside day and night, keeping a tight watch.

However, some changes could not be blocked.

On the third night, Ying, who was responsible for monitoring the "Fallen Star Lake Node Two", suddenly sent an emergency communication:

[Youyi! The node is transmitting abnormal data! The stability of the energy vortex is dropping rapidly! The spatial fluctuation index is skyrocketing! That passage... it seems to be going out of control!]

Wen Youyi's heart skipped a beat: "What's going on?"

[According to the mathematical model, it's possible the energy absorbed by the vortex has exceeded a certain critical point, or perhaps the spatial environment on the other side of the passage has undergone drastic changes, creating a powerful gravitational pull! Following this trend, in at most one or two hours, the passage will either completely collapse or... open up briefly and completely, forming an unstable spatial breach!]

Open up completely? Wen Youyi's pupils contracted. An uncontrolled spatial breach appearing at the bottom of Falling Star Lake? Heaven knows what might crawl out, or what might get sucked in! If it connected to some forbidden zone or attracted an even more terrifying existence, the entire Qingxuan Sect could suffer!

"Can it be stopped?" Wen Youyi asked urgently.

[It's too late! The energy is already out of control; forced intervention might trigger an even more violent explosion!] Senior Brother Zhang's voice also carried anxiety. [The best method now is to take advantage of the window when the passage opens briefly and stably to send a reconnaissance unit over. Only by figuring out what the situation is on the other side can we decide on our next move!]

Send a reconnaissance unit? Wen Youyi immediately thought of the few remaining "little broom" Puppets. They had a simple structure, low cost, and he wouldn't feel bad if they were lost.

"Alright! Use 'little broom' Number Six! Senior Brother Zhang, you control it remotely and prepare for the deployment! I will use my consciousness to guide it as much as possible to ensure it gets sucked into the passage!" Wen Youyi made a prompt decision.

Time was tight. Wen Youyi sat cross-legged again to perform consciousness projection. This time, he was even more careful, sneaking into the underwater cave like a ghost.

The scene before him made even his consciousness tremble.

The energy vortex had expanded several times over, rotating as fast as a spinning top. The space in the center area was twisted into a visible eye of the vortex that constantly shifted with eerie colors! A powerful suction force emanated from it, swallowing the surrounding water, debris, and even light! The entire cave was humming, as if it could collapse at any moment.

The second-generation repeater was flickering crazily in the center of the vortex, seemingly trying to maintain some sort of balance, but it was clearly already struggling.

Wen Youyi's consciousness dared not approach and could only barely stabilize itself from afar.

[Now is the time! The passage stability has reached the critical point! Prepare for deployment!] Senior Brother Zhang's voice came through.

Far away in the Shelter, Senior Brother Zhang controlled "little broom" Number Six, using the energy link of the "Star Network" to briefly "project" its existence near the Falling Star Lake node.

"Now!" Wen Youyi's consciousness gathered all its strength and emitted a strong guiding fluctuation marked with the star core towards the out-of-control eye of the vortex!

As if it felt the call of a homologous power, or perhaps by coincidence, the eye of the vortex suddenly expanded!

Swoosh!

"little broom" Number Six, which was hovering next to the node, was caught by an invisible giant hand and instantly pulled into the bizarre eye of the vortex, disappearing without a trace!

The moment before it was sucked in, Wen Youyi managed to capture an extremely brief and blurry image through the crude sensors it carried—

It was a... boundless darkness and broken stars.

There was no earth, no sky, only countless huge, mountain-like metal remains and shattered rocks floating quietly in the void. In the distance, there were a few broken remnants of planets emitting a deathly light. A bone-chilling cold and a dense, decaying aura of Star Power permeated every inch of space.

Then, the signal was cut off!

"little broom" Number Six was clearly destroyed the moment it entered by the harsh environment or the spatial turbulence.

But this fleeting glimpse was enough!

Wen Youyi's consciousness quickly returned, and he opened his eyes abruptly, his face full of shock.

"How is it? What did you see?" Zhao Iron Pillar and Wang Wu asked hurriedly.

Wen Youyi took a deep breath and said slowly: "The other side of that passage... is a piece of Starry Sky Debris, a dead, shattered... plane fragment!"

He described the scene he had seen.

Everyone was stunned.

An independent, shattered Small World? Or rather, a corner remaining after some great world had crumbled?

"In the ancient starship database, there are records about this kind of 'plane fragment' or 'space graveyard'!" Senior Brother Zhang's voice came through with excitement. "They are usually the products of world collisions, battles between powerful beings, or cosmic disasters, floating in the cracks of rules. They may contain huge dangers, but they may also preserve the relics and resources of lost civilizations!"

Wen Youyi calmed his mood, his eyes shining with light.

Danger and opportunity coexist!

This accidentally opened passage, although unstable and dangerous, connected to an independent, shattered space not controlled by the "Creation Heavenly Court"!

It might become their new hiding place, a resource collection site, or even... a perfect "secret base" to set up higher-power "Star Network" nodes or conduct various dangerous experiments!

"We must control this passage!" Wen Youyi clenched his fists. "Before we have enough strength, that place might become our most important 'back garden'!"

(End of Chapter)