306: Deep Space Glimpses and the Glimmer of "Return to the Ruins"

Inside the bridge of the hope, nerves that had just relaxed tightened once again.

On the light screen, those hideous giant shadows "crawling" out from the dark golden vortex brought a heavy sense of oppression, even across the vast distance.

Unlike the "Hive", which carried a mechanical feel of some automated facility, they were more like... interstellar warships born specifically for destruction.

"Can you analyze their energy Rank and possible targets?" Wen Youyi asked in a deep voice, staring at the giant shadows slowly adjusting their posture.

[Energy readings far exceed the 'Hive'; it is speculated that they possess powerful long-range strike and spatial combat capabilities.] The hope's ship spirit analyzed the weak signals coming from the distant end.

[Target movements are not yet clear. Currently, no direct lock-on signals targeting us have been detected. However, based on their appearance location and the behavioral patterns of the 'Hive', it is inferred that their primary mission is likely to stabilize the 'Anvil' area and deal with the awakening of the underground facilities, followed by... hunting down the 'Star People' related targets (which is us) that escaped.]

"In other words, they might not be able to attend to us for the time being, but once they free up their hands, or if we enter their 'alert range', we will be in big trouble." Senior Brother Li's expression was grave.

"We cannot gamble on this 'possibility'." Wen Youyi said decisively, "hope, maintain current course and speed, but activate all passive detection arrays and strengthen monitoring of the rear and flank wide-area space. What about 'Hidden Dragon'?"

['Hidden Dragon' is flying in formation and on alert 36,000 li behind us. It has observed new threat units and suggests maintaining maximum stealth distance.] The ship spirit relayed the message from 'Hidden Dragon' on its behalf.

"Notify 'Hidden Dragon' to continue flying in hidden formation. Unless absolutely necessary, do not approach those newly appeared units, and do not return in the direction of the 'Anvil'." Wen Youyi ordered, "Our target remains unchanged; full speed ahead to 'Return to Ruins'. As long as we put enough distance between us, it won't be so easy for them to pursue."

During the next few days of travel, the hope glided at high speed through the relatively empty Star Domain like a vigilant silver giant bird.

The atmosphere inside the ship remained tense, but daily operations had basically returned to normal.

The rotation System was strictly enforced to ensure personnel readiness.

In addition to monitoring the rear, the technical team began analyzing data from the "Debris Belt" interception battle to optimize tactics.

The most pleasantly surprising change occurred inside the hope.

Under the self-regulation of the neural network and the meticulous care of Mu Wanqing's team, the ecological dome entered a quasi-operational state ahead of schedule.

Simulated "sunlight" (pure starlight of a specific frequency) shone on the experimental fields, and the first batch of "star rice" seedlings had broken through the soil, stretching out their tender green, shimmering leaves.

"fluorescent algae" formed a stable community in the circulating water tanks, emitting a soft, pale blue light that not only purified the water but also provided basic lighting.

Several pairs of "Moonlight Rabbit" and a small group of "Star-Spotted Fish" had also adapted to the new environment and were moving leisurely in the designated areas.

Although the scale was very small, far from enough to support the long-term consumption of all personnel on the ship, this touch of vibrant green and the aura of active life were undoubtedly excellent spiritual comfort for the crew who had just experienced life-and-death battles.

During breaks, there were always people willing to stay by the ecological dome for a while to look at the growing seedlings and swimming fish, and their tense faces would also reveal a hint of a smile.

"Is this considered... running away with a small field and a fish pond?" Zhao Iron Pillar squatted by the ridge of the field, carefully touching a leaf of "star rice," and chuckled, "Even if we drift in the Star Domain for a hundred or eighty years in the future, we won't starve to death, and we can even improve our meals!"

This remark drew a burst of good-natured laughter from those around, and also strengthened everyone's sense of belonging to their new home, the hope.

On the other hand, the growth speed of the hope's ship spirit was also surprising.

It began to exhibit some "personality" and "learning ability" that transcended its preset programs.

For example, it would actively fine-tune the energy supply priority of different "districts" in the neural network based on the activity frequency and energy consumption patterns of the crew in various areas.

For example, in a simulated combat drill, it even "proposed" a small suggestion to optimize firepower distribution; although it was slightly immature, the train of thought made Senior Brother Li and Brother Zhang's eyes light up.

Another example, it showed a clear "preference" for the scent (actually specific energy fluctuations) of the Medicinal Pill refined by Mu Wanqing, which was used to soothe Mental Energy and promote the recovery of "Flowing Silver."

Every time Mu Wanqing opened the furnace in a specific area of the ship, the neural network light paths in that area would be brighter and flow more cheerfully than usual, which Xiao Wu jokingly called "the baby ship spirit coming to sponge a meal upon smelling the fragrance."

This spiritual growth made everyone feel that when interacting with this giant ship, they were not controlling a machine, but rather accompanying a rapidly growing, intelligent, and slightly curious child.

On the seventh day of the voyage, those few newly appeared dark golden giant shadows in the direction of the "Anvil" remained in place, seemingly carrying out some deployment or establishing connections with the "Hive" and the underground facilities, showing no intention of pursuing.

This allowed everyone on the hope to breathe a sigh of relief, but their vigilance never relaxed.

It was also on this day that Wen Youyi, who had been continuously sensing the direction of "Return to Ruins" through the key, received clear information about a jump node.

It was not a vague direction, but a specific, relatively stable spatial coordinate point, about fifteen days of conventional travel away from their current position.

The information indicated that it was the entrance to a "shortcut" to the Star Domain where "Return to Ruins" was located, a natural, relatively safe "Star Gate" or the starting point of a "gravitational corridor."

"Finally, there is a clearer signpost!" Wen Youyi was invigorated and entered the coordinates into the hope's navigation System.

[Coordinates confirmed. Route re-planned. Expected to arrive at the jump node area in twelve days.] The ship spirit responded quickly.

However, shortly after the route was updated, the hope's long-range detection array captured several unusual residual energy signals on the route to the jump node.

These signals were very weak and intermittent, but their characteristics were obvious: they were not natural phenomena, nor were they the cold "Reapers" style of the "Hive."

They were more like traces left by a... hasty, intense battle, and the residual energy attributes were complex, seemingly involving multiple different power Systems.

"A battle happened here? Just a short while ago?" Wang Wu analyzed the data, "The two sides that fought... don't seem to be from the 'Reapers' side? At least the energy of one side feels very... 'mixed', a bit like some chaotic Spell residues we have seen in the Immortal Realm before, but it's not quite the same."

"Are there other forces active in this Star Domain? Also fighting?" Zhao Iron Pillar became interested, "Could it be that they were sent from 'Return to Ruins' to meet us, and got into a fight with something?"

"There are many possibilities." Wen Youyi pondered, "Perhaps it is another survivor civilization that escaped from the 'Ranch' world, perhaps it is an indigenous force in the starry sky, or even... other branches or adversaries of the 'Star People'."

He looked out the porthole at the deep, boundless starry sky dotted with the scars of battle.

It seemed that the road to "Return to Ruins" was not only full of the shadows of the "Reapers" but might also be riddled with mysteries and dangers intertwined with other unknown forces.

"No matter what it is, stay vigilant." Wen Youyi ordered, "hope, maintain course, but strengthen forward detection. 'Hidden Dragon', expand the reconnaissance range, and focus on the direction of the jump node and abnormal areas along the way."

The silver ark continued to move forward, the threat behind it temporarily dormant, but the road ahead seemed even more elusive and confusing.

But the glimmer of "Return to Ruins" attracted them like a magnet.

Home is ahead, and no matter how many difficulties and dangers there are, we must move forward without hesitation.

(End of Chapter)