32: The Star Shepherd Project! The journey to the deep blue stars!

The automatic door of the Deep Blue's medical bay slid open silently, and Lin Feng stepped over the threshold of dim light.

The air was filled with the cold, sweet, metallic scent of regeneration fluid and the low hum of instruments.

On the central treatment platform, Lin Yue lay quietly, half his face hidden in the shadow of the life support helmet.

His exposed chest was crisscrossed with charred energy burns and wounds not yet fully healed, while beneath his skin, streams of dark blue and golden energy still pulsed slowly, like a hibernating beast.

His eyes were tightly shut, but beneath his eyelids, his eyeballs trembled violently, as if struggling futilely in an endless nightmare.

Lin Feng stopped a step away.

The blood stained on his particle oscillation blade from outside the ship had long since been evaporated by the armor's self-cleaning system, but the lingering sensation on his fingertips remained clear—the tremor of the blade cutting through the cold armor of a corrupted mech, and even more so, the startling pulsation of abnormal energy surging beneath his brother's skin when his throat was pressed against his own blade.

He clenched his fist, his knuckles white.

"Physiological signs are initially stable, and most of the Pioneer energy contamination has been suppressed by your key, but..." The medical officer's voice was very low, filled with unconcealed worry, "The conscious level is extremely chaotic.

His brain seems to have been forcibly stuffed with something that doesn't belong to him, and now those fragments are tearing at each other.

Also..." He brought up a complex brainwave map on the holographic screen, where an area was marked with a glaring red highlight, like a tumor embedded in the nerves, "There's a high-intensity 'outer source' psychic imprint remaining here, with very low activity, but... it's like a ticking time bomb."

Lin Feng's gaze swept over the sinister red area, finally settling on Lin Yue's tightly furrowed brow and painfully twitching lips.

That was no pretense.

It was his brother Lin Yue's soul, letting out a silent scream from within the cage of some cold, alien entity.

He reached out, his fingertips hovering over the cold surface of the life support shield, almost able to feel the chaotic and scorching mental turbulence emanating from within.

"Brother..." His hoarse voice was almost inaudible in the silent bay, "I found you.

This time, it's my turn to pull you back."

Just as his fingertips touched the life support shield—

"Uh—ah!!!"

Lin Yue's body suddenly arched upwards!

His eyes inside the life support helmet snapped open!

In the depths of those pupils, there was no longer the familiar warmth Lin Feng knew, but a chaotic dark red that erupted instantly, purely inhuman, devouring all light!

A cold, viscous psychic shock, filled with endless greed and a desire for destruction, struck Lin Feng's consciousness like an invisible sledgehammer!

Buzz!

Lin Feng grunted, staggering back half a step!

The scene before him instantly distorted; the cold walls of the medical bay seemed to turn into writhing flesh, and the piercing, incomprehensible wails of billions of living beings poured directly into his mind!

The dormant golden imprint on his left palm erupted with a burning sting in response!

"Suppress!" Lin Feng roared, forcibly gathering his will, his consciousness like a reef in a raging sea, firmly resisting the overwhelming tide of corruption!

At the same time, several dark blue energy force field bands instantly lit up around the treatment platform, coiling around Lin Yue's violently struggling body like living snakes!

High-frequency neural inhibitory pulses were injected silently!

"Hoo... hoo..." Lin Yue's throat emitted a gurgling sound like a dying beast.

The terrifying dark red flickered violently in his pupils, bright and dim, finally dimming unwillingly like a candle extinguished by a strong wind.

His body went limp, falling heavily back onto the platform, once again sinking into a coma.

Only the dark blue and golden energy streams beneath his skin continued to pulse restlessly.

The medical officer's face was pale, his fingers rapidly manipulating the control panel: "Inhibitory field peak output! Psychic contamination shock temporarily suppressed! But... Commander, that thing is still in his head! It's just dormant!"

Lin Feng gasped, wiping away the cold sweat that instantly beaded on his forehead.

That brief contact was like glimpsing a corner of the abyss's deepest layer.

It wasn't simple madness or control; it was more like a cold, massive fragment of will from the darkest reaches of the universe, forcibly parasitizing his brother's soul.

It didn't want Lin Yue's body; it wanted the entire planet, the entire material universe's... "purification."

"Analyze... just now... that thing..." Lin Feng's voice held a trace of imperceptible hoarseness.

The Deep Blue's main control computer's indicator lights flashed wildly, and the holographic screen was instantly filled with a waterfall of data streams and incomprehensible, twisted, writhing symbols.

A few seconds later, a conclusion box marked with layers of red lines popped up:

[Psychic Imprint Feature Analysis:]

[Energy Spectrum: Beyond known dimensional models, unresolvable.]

[Consciousness Structure: Non-carbon/silicon-based life pattern, possessing hyper-dimensional information aggregate characteristics.]

[Behavioral Logic Core: Detected 'reset', 'devour', 'reorganize' and other destructive underlying instruction sets.]

(Correlation: Highly consistent with 'Great Filter' warning information detected in 'Pioneer' civilization ruins (confidence 99.7%).]

[Threat Level: ███ (Exceeds evaluation upper limit)] *

[Provisional Name: 'outer source' (Extra-dimensional Source).]

"'outer source'... 'Great Filter'..." Lin Feng chewed on these two cold words, a chill spreading down his spine.

The warning left by the Pioneer civilization, the vague source of fear in Su Yuanshan's journal, had apparently been parasitizing his brother's body all along!

Through Lin Yue's "Observer," it had twisted the Purge Fleet, and its true purpose was to open some kind of portal, allowing its main body to... descend?

"Deep Blue calling Commander! Urgent communication!" Chen Hai's voice rang out urgently through the encrypted channel, interrupting Lin Feng's thoughts.

"Speak."

"Representatives from the seven major global survivor bases are requesting to establish a highest-level communication link through the encrypted channel we previously opened!

They... they saw the battle in the Arctic!

They also saw that fleet turn its cannons around!

They want to know... what happened?

Who is that fleet listening to now?

And... where is the 'Observer'?" Chen Hai's tone was filled with unbelievable shock, "Also, we just completed preliminary scans and... link attempts on those twelve purified Pioneer warships.

They... they seem to be responding to your presence, Commander!

Their main control cores are sending... some kind of identification code to the Deep Blue!"

Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.

The world's gaze was focused here; that power, capable of changing the global landscape, awaited its allegiance.

And deeper still, was the seed of world destruction dormant within his brother, the 'outer source' sword hanging over humanity's head.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the churning coldness and heaviness in his heart.

"Connect to the global communication channel.

Gather all Deep Blue senior officers and chief scientists; ten minutes from now, assemble in the Central Command Hall."

His voice regained its usual composure, carrying an undeniable power, "Additionally, send a unified identification command to those twelve Pioneer warships—'Deep Blue Watcher'.

Tell them to stand by."

"Yes, Commander!"

---

Ten minutes later.

In the Deep Blue's Central Command Hall, the massive circular dome now served as a backdrop of the boundless deep space.

The hall was brightly lit, yet the air pressure was so low it felt as if water could be wrung out of it.

Chen Hai, Lei Lie, Old Zhao, Su Jin (who had safely returned from the Antarctic outpost), the Chief Intelligence Officer, Commanders of various combat sequences... all core personnel of the Deep Blue stood on either side.

In the center of the hall was a giant holographic projection sandbox covering the entire globe, which now clearly marked the locations of the seven major survivor bases and flashing light points representing communication links.

Lin Feng stood before the main console, his posture as straight as a spear.

Behind him, on the massive main screen, were real-time images of the leaders or representatives of the seven major bases—there were weathered and resolute soldiers, scholars with wise eyes, and representatives of the remaining Ark high-level forces with complex expressions.

Without exception, their faces were etched with shock, confusion, and a hint of deep-seated fear.

"Gentlemen," Lin Feng's voice, amplified, clearly echoed through the hall and also transmitted to every corner of the globe via encrypted channels, "You have partially witnessed everything that happened beneath the Arctic ice cap.

Now, I will tell you the complete truth."

He concealed nothing.

From the "Observer's" betrayal and contaminated key, to the awakening of the Purge Fleet's "Arbitrators" and their world-ending directives, then to his own key gene and purification process, and the terrifying existence named "outer source" within his brother Lin Yue... the cold facts swept through everyone's hearts like a deep-space blizzard.

When they heard about the "Great Filter" and the incomprehensible destructive nature of the "outer source," the images of several base representatives shook violently, and gasps of cold air were clearly audible in the dead silent communication channel.

"...Therefore," Lin Feng's voice was like tempered steel, resolute and decisive, "The 'Observer's' core power has been dismantled, and its leader Lin Yue is under our control.

The twelve purified Pioneer warships have been named 'Deep Blue Watcher' by me; they will be the first line of defense to protect Earth and resist the 'outer source'."

Dead silence.

Then, an irrepressible uproar and murmuring erupted within the seven major bases.

"Watchers? Commander Lin, who can guarantee they won't lose control again?" A white-haired scholar representative's voice trembled as he questioned.

"Just this." Lin Feng raised his left hand, palm up.

No golden light erupted, but everyone present could feel an invisible, vast, and majestic fluctuation, like the heartbeat of the universe's beginning, instantly sweeping through the entire hall, even causing a pang in the hearts of base representatives thousands of miles away via the communication channel!

On the main screen, the dark blue patterns on the hulls of the twelve massive Deep Blue Watcher ships hovering over the Arctic simultaneously lit up, as if the stars were responding to the king's call!

"The key is within me; the fleet is an extension of my will." Lin Feng's voice was undeniable, "Their cannons will always only point at enemies that threaten human survival."

Absolute authority, accompanied by a display of absolute power.

The voices of doubt were instantly suppressed, leaving only heavy breathing and complex gazes.

"But this is just defense!" Su Jin stepped forward, her clear voice breaking the silence, her gaze sharply fixed on Lin Feng, "The 'outer source's' main body is somewhere in deep space!

What's in Lin Yue is just a fragment!

Are we to passively defend, waiting for its next resurgence?

Next time, who will it parasitize?

From where will it descend?

Can we afford to gamble?" Her words were like cold needles, piercing the atmosphere that had just eased slightly due to the fleet's allegiance, once again brutally laying out the unresolved, suffocating ultimate question.

Everyone's gaze once again focused on Lin Feng, with deeper apprehension and bewilderment.

Yes, that thing... in the depths of the universe!

Was Earth just one of countless "purification targets" it had set its sights on?

Lin Feng was silent for a few seconds.

The air in the hall seemed to solidify.

He slowly turned, his gaze sweeping over familiar, solemn faces, finally looking towards the profound star map on the dome.

Then, he pressed a button on the main console.

Buzz—

The global sandbox in the center of the hall instantly vanished.

In its place was a vast, incredibly intricate starship design blueprint that made one's scalp tingle!

It was not the familiar streamlined shape of the Deep Blue, but a more angular, powerful form of an interstellar fortress!

Key parts of the hull were clearly marked with shield runes from the Antarctic Ruins, the engine matrix structure of the Arctic flagship, and... surrounding the main cannon at the bow, were layers upon layers of extremely complex golden energy circuits—the core structure of these circuits subtly echoed the spiral pattern imprinted on Lin Feng's left hand!

On one side of the blueprint, a line of large, glowing blue and golden text slowly appeared:

[Shepherd Star Plan]

[Deep Blue Expedition Flagship: "Glory of Origin" Class]

"Passive defense, waiting for destruction to descend?" Lin Feng's voice finally sounded, not loud, but with a firmness and resolve that could pierce through stars, "No."

He suddenly raised his hand, pointing into the depths of the vast star map, his gaze like a burning star, penetrating the dome of the command hall and piercing into the cold deep space that humanity had never truly set foot in:

"We will take the initiative!"

"We will find the 'outer source's' nest!"

"We will end this nightmare that spans the galaxy!"

"The Deep Blue's journey begins beneath our feet, pointing to—the other side of deep space!"

His words were like a giant rock thrown into still water, instantly stirring up monstrous waves!

Amazement, fanaticism, disbelief, fear, and hope intertwined, flashing wildly in everyone's eyes!

Taking the initiative?

Expedition to deep space?

Finding and destroying that world-ending seed from a higher dimension?

The very idea carried a soul-shaking madness and grandeur!

"But... Commander!" Old Zhao's voice was filled with excitement and worry, "Our current technology... the maximum speed of starship engines... the energy consumption of interstellar travel... the unknown threats of deep space... we..."

"We have Xing Chen (Stardust)." Lin Feng interrupted him, pointing to the magnified, simulated small-scale fusion core running at the energy core position on the blueprint, "We have purified Pioneer technology." He pointed to the engine and weapon modules, "We also have..." He paused, his gaze turning towards the medical bay, with a complex mix of sorrow and determination, "We also have Lin Yue.

Deep in his mind, there remains the imprint of the 'outer source'.

That is a tumor, but also... the only beacon."

He surveyed the entire hall, his voice like a proclamation:

"The 'Shepherd Star Plan' is launched immediately.

The 'Glory of Origin' will use the Deep Blue as its mother ship, integrating all Pioneer technology, and its main construction will be completed within three months!

The Deep Blue Watcher fleet will serve as escort.

To all global survivor factions, I need your top scientists, engineers, and warriors!

We need to concentrate the entire human civilization's spark to ignite this Ark sailing into the darkness!"

He paused, his gaze sharp, looking at the holographic images of representatives from various global bases:

"This is not a request; this is a horn of survival.

Will we cling to the cradle and await destruction, or will we gamble everything for a future of stars and seas for our civilization?

The choice is in your hands."

The communication channel was utterly silent.

The holographic images of the seven major bases' representatives were frozen, their faces etched with the struggle and fear under the immense weight of humanity's fate, as well as a faint but incredibly fervent spark of hope ignited by that insane starship blueprint.

Just as this silence, which would determine humanity's fate, was about to be broken—

"Cough cough..."

A faint, dry cough suddenly echoed through the silent command hall, audible through Lin Feng's unclosed medical bay monitoring channel.

Everyone's gaze was instantly drawn!

In the medical bay footage, split into a corner of the main screen, Lin Yue on the treatment platform had, at some point, opened his eyes again.

This time, those eyes were no longer chaotic dark red, but Lin Yue's own, familiar, filled with endless exhaustion and pain... and consciousness.

He struggled to move his eyeballs, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of obstruction, landing precisely on Lin Feng in the command hall.

His lips moved, emitting a faint but clear gasp:

"Star... star map... coordinates... in my... blood and bones..." He gasped violently, each breath tugging at the pulsing energy streams beneath his skin, bringing immense pain, yet his eyes were exceptionally clear, fixed on Lin Feng's direction, as if using his last ounce of strength, he uttered a word:

"Ark... ship..."