109: Chapter 108 The Prelude to Cold Fang and Talos's Gift

The 9th day after the verdict was issued, in northern Siberia, on the surface above the coordinate point.

The roar of the helicopter rotor blades tore through the eternal silence of the tundra.

Zhao Yan looked down through the porthole; the earth was a monotonous, undulating expanse of white, with only the occasional exposed black rock ridge piercing the snow layer like the bones of a giant beast.

The thermometer indicated an outside temperature of minus forty-two degrees Celsius.

"This is the place."

Elena pointed to the screen of the detector in her hand, where the Gaia Network resonance waveform was jumping violently; the frequency pattern was strikingly similar to the "spasms" of the green soil in the Taihang Mountains, but the intensity was several times higher, and it carried a sharp, ominous harmonic.

"The energy reading reaches its peak at three hundred meters underground, and the structural scan shows... an irregular, egg-shaped cavity, about two hundred meters in diameter.

The shell material is unknown; it is not a standard Sower Civilization architectural type."

"The Hibernator 'cold fang'."

Zhao Yan repeated the name from the "watch spirit" information, "Feeding on fear and doubt.

This description is very literary; what is the actual threat form?

Psychic attack? Energy absorption? Or a physical entity?"

"There is no detailed record in the database."

Elena shook her head, "The information from the 'watch spirit' is also fragmented.

But combined with the experience of the green soil, it can be inferred: these Hibernators were likely 'special existences' captured, modified, and forcibly put into hibernation by the Order Reconstruction Faction after the Sower Civilization civil war.

They may have originally been some kind of natural phenomenon, experimental organism, or even... a failed sowing project.

The Order Reconstruction Faction gave them new 'uses' and trigger conditions."

The helicopter landed, snow dust flying.

In addition to the tactical team led by Zhao Yan, Elena, and two decoding experts, Listening Wind, whose light mist was slightly dim, was also hovering to the side.

Since the consciousness connection in the Taihang Mountains, she had not fully recovered, but she insisted on coming.

"The 'echoes' here are very noisy."

Listening Wind's voice echoed directly in everyone's minds, carrying a trace of imperceptible tension, "It is not the pure pain like that of the green soil.

It is... the whimpering of hunger.

And there are many... fragmented sounds, like many people whispering at the same time; the content cannot be heard clearly, but the emotions are all negative."

The team began to set up a temporary camp and deploy drilling and sonar equipment.

Deep space scans showed no artificial structures or abnormal heat sources in the area, but the geomagnetic readings were as chaotic as stirred soup.

"Direct drilling is too risky."

Zhao Yan examined the preliminary scan map, "If we disturb it or trigger its defense mechanism, we will have nowhere to retreat in the three-hundred-meter-deep ice layer.

Elena, is it possible to perform a remote consciousness contact to assess the state first, like Listening Wind did in the Taihang Mountains?"

"The risk is even higher."

Elena pulled up the data analysis, "The core of the green soil is a relatively orderly facility consciousness.

But here... the waveform shows that its consciousness structure is extremely chaotic, fragmented, and full of sharp 'edges'.

A forced contact might lead to being cut or even infected by those negative emotion fragments."

She paused and looked at Listening Wind: "And I don't recommend that you perform another deep connection.

You haven't recovered yet."

Listening Wind's light mist undulated softly: "Thank you for your concern.

But this is my duty.

Besides... I can feel that this existence is not completely chaotic.

Deep within those hungry whimpers, there is a very faint, yet extremely ancient 'sorrow'.

Unlike the sorrow of the green soil, that sorrow... is more primitive, more like the lament of something being forcibly twisted into a shape that does not belong to it."

Just then, the team member responsible for monitoring the global information flow suddenly reported: "General, we have received an emergency synchronization message from Bedrock Base.

It is the preliminary analysis report on the 'mind acceleration' experiment accident on the moon, and... the latest developments in social public opinion."

The content of the report made everyone's expressions grave.

The consciousness synchronization and "dreaming" phenomena of the three volunteers have not yet been resolved; they have been diagnosed with a "deep consciousness chimeric state," with stable vital signs but unable to be awakened.

Zhou Zhe's team preliminarily believes that it was the "overflow" of the Gaia Network's shallow consciousness that contaminated the information flow of the acceleration protocol.

As for social public opinion, Liaison Coordinator's observations seem to be just the tip of the iceberg.

On a global scale, as the expectation of the gradual release of "legacy technology" becomes increasingly clear, a division is intensifying: optimists have formed the "Ascension Faction," fanatically embracing all new technologies, with some radical groups even demanding the immediate disclosure of all legacy data; pessimists have formed the "Anchoring Faction," calling for slowing down, warning against technological loss of control, and some extreme groups have begun to boycott products and jobs related to the legacy; more are the bewildered "silent majority," feeling increasingly anxious and powerless amidst the flood of information and the uncertainty of the future.

More alarmingly, the abnormal emotional fluctuation index in some regions—including sudden mass panic events, senseless violent crimes, and the spread of extreme speech—has shown a statistically significant increase in the past forty-eight hours.

The distribution is irregular, but the upward trend has a suspicious correlation with the "breathing" intensity curve of the Gaia Network.

"Feeding on fear and doubt..."

Elena murmured, a terrifying conjecture forming in her mind, "What if the 'food' of 'cold fang' is not a metaphor, but some kind of real, cross-dimensional energy or information collection mechanism?

What if it is unconsciously and passively absorbing the negative emotions breeding within human civilization and using them as 'nourishment' to awaken itself?"

Zhao Yan immediately understood what she meant: "Then, the more divided, fearful, and suspicious our society is, the faster it will wake up?"

"It might even be... that it was designed to operate exactly this way."

Elena's voice was dry, "The Order Reconstruction Faction buried these 'Hibernators' five hundred thousand years ago, perhaps not just to seal off facilities.

They may have foreseen that when the Inheritor civilization came into contact with the legacy and faced a leap, it would inevitably generate huge internal pressure and cognitive tearing.

And an existence like 'cold fang' is a... time bomb that uses this tearing as energy for awakening."

The scene fell into dead silence, with only the cold wind howling.

"So, the key to dealing with 'cold fang' may not be underground drilling or force."

Listening Wind said slowly, "But the... human heart on the surface."

This conclusion was almost absurd, yet coldly logical.

What weapon can you use to fight an existence that feeds on emotions?

Missiles? Energy shields? Or... shared understanding and hope?"

"But we don't have time to slowly bridge the differences of billions of people globally."

Zhao Yan clenched his fists, "The Pruning Faction fleet is approaching, the review is counting down, and technology integration cannot stop.

The growing pains of society are almost inevitable."

"Then, perhaps we need an 'emotional stability anchor'."

Elena said suddenly, her gaze turning to Listening Wind, "Or, a more powerful, positive 'resonance source' to offset or interfere with the gathering of negative emotions."

She pulled up the withered memory fern stem that had been taken from the core of the green soil.

"Talos said in the letter that information needs to be excited using 'ecological resonance frequency'.

We previously only focused on the information content, but could that 'resonance frequency' itself... be a powerful, positive consciousness waveform belonging to the sower's 'cultivation' philosophy?"

She looked at Listening Wind: "Can you analyze or simulate that frequency?

Not the information content, just... that 'feeling'."

Listening Wind's light mist floated near the isolation box, the mist filaments gently touching the withered stem remnants.

After a long while, she said: "The residue is very faint, but I can perceive some 'outlines'... warmth, growth, patience, connection...

Yes, this is a very stable, broad, and vibrant consciousness tone.

It is completely opposite to the sharp, hungry, and fragmented fluctuations emitted by 'cold fang'."

"If we can amplify this frequency," hope ignited in Elena's eyes, "and broadcast it like a signal, releasing it to the world, or at least to key areas, could it act like 'noise interference' to weaken 'cold fang's' ability to absorb negative emotions, or even delay its awakening?"

The theory is feasible, but the practice is a fantasy.

What kind of equipment is needed to amplify and broadcast a specific consciousness frequency?

How to ensure it is not misunderstood as mind control?

Where does the energy come from?

"Use the green soil itself."

The decoding expert Chen Yu, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.

He was a thin young man, usually not talkative, but always able to grasp the key point.

"Although the core crystal of the green soil has accelerated decay, its main structure is still there, and the basic environmental parameters of the ecosystem are still there.

Aren't those parameters the physical basis for maintaining the 'ecological resonance frequency'?

What if we don't dismantle it completely, but instead retain the core structure and modify it into a... large 'consciousness frequency generator'?"

"But the green soil is expected to shut down completely in less than ten hours."

Elena said, "Energy is about to run out."

"Energy..."

Zhao Yan remembered something, "When we transferred sample 89 from the ice abyss, we consumed 17% of the green soil's energy reserves.

But according to the data, that energy was originally in a locked state.

Now that the forced hibernation lock has collapsed due to Listening Wind's intervention, is it possible for the green soil's own energy circulation system to partially recover?

Even if only temporarily?"

"Need to calculate."

Elena immediately pulled up the structural diagram and data of the green soil, "If we transport the emergency energy from the Cradle base through the Qingtian Passage to it, while utilizing its own ecological cycle as a resonance amplifier...

theoretically, there is a 5% to 10% probability that it can be converted into a low-power but continuous consciousness frequency broadcast source.

But the output range is limited, and it may only cover the East Asian region."

"Then start from East Asia."

Zhao Yan said decisively, "It's better than doing nothing.

Elena, you immediately take Chen Yu back to the Taihang Mountains and try this plan.

Just ask for whatever support you need."

"And what about here?"

Elena looked at the frozen earth under her feet.

Zhao Yan's gaze was sharp as a knife: "We will continue to monitor.

If the 'emotional stability anchor' plan is effective, the readings here should change.

If it's ineffective..."

He did not continue.

Just then, the ground began to shake without warning.

It was not from deep underground, but from under their feet.

The ice layer made a teeth-gritting cracking sound, rapidly cracking into spiderweb-like fissures.

From the cracks, no lava or water flowed out, but rather a viscous, dark purple... fog?

No, it was not fog.

The detector emitted a sharp alarm: "High-concentration negative emotional energy agglomerate detected!

Physical form unstable!

Possesses characteristics of psychic contamination!"

"Retreat! Everyone retreat to the helicopter!"

Zhao Yan roared.

The dark purple viscous substance poured out from the cracks, as if possessing life, beginning to squirm and converge in the air.

They had no fixed shape, sometimes resembling twisted human figures, sometimes roaring beast heads, and sometimes just rolling, malicious masses.

A sweet, putrid smell permeated the air, making one feel inexplicably depressed and palpitating after inhaling it.

"It's the residue of the 'food'..."

Listening Wind's light mist instantly became bright, forming a barrier between the team and the purple substance, "The negative emotions it absorbs are 'digested' and 'purified' inside it, and then these unabsorbable, most filthy 'residues' are expelled...

Now because of its activity, these residues have seeped to the surface!"

The purple masses discovered them and lunged with a silent shriek.

The shriek directly impacted their consciousness; several team members immediately clutched their heads, expressions of pain and fear appearing on their faces—the most unsettling memories deep in their hearts were forcibly evoked.

"Don't be controlled by fear!"

Zhao Yan endured the turbulent shadows of the battlefield in his mind and raised the weapon in his hand—not a live-ammunition firearm, but a "directional phase disruptor" aimed at energy bodies.

The energy beam shot into the purple mass, causing it to twist violently, but it soon condensed again.

"Physical and energy attacks have limited effect!"

The team member shouted.

Listening Wind's light mist began to rotate, emitting a pure silvery-white radiance.

The radiance shone on the purple mass, making a "hissing" sound, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

The masses retreated, but more poured out from the cracks.

"There are too many of them! I can't purify them all!"

Listening Wind's voice carried strain.

Just at the critical moment, everyone—including those purple masses—felt a strange "fluctuation."

The fluctuation came from the south, gentle, warm, and firm, like a spring breeze blowing over frozen soil, like a seed breaking through a hard shell.

It was not strong, but it could not be ignored.

It brushed over everyone's consciousness, and those evoked feelings of fear and depression were miraculously alleviated a little.

The movements of the purple masses were visibly sluggish; they rolled, as if "listening" to this strange fluctuation, appearing somewhat confused, and even... a trace of imperceptible "fear"?

"It's the green soil..."

Elena shouted excitedly on the communication channel, "We succeeded! The temporary frequency generator has started! Although the power is very low and the range is not large, it is working!"

On the Siberian tundra, the dark purple negative residues were still seeping out, but their aggressiveness had weakened.

They wandered and dissipated in place more, rather than actively attacking.

Zhao Yan seized the opportunity: "Everyone retreat to the helicopter! Don't get bogged down in the fight!"

The team quickly boarded the helicopter, which took off with difficulty amidst the purple residue drifting across the sky and the warm fluctuation coming from the south.

Looking down, the cracks on that ice field were still expanding, and more dark purple substance was pouring out, but the speed seemed to have slowed down a little.

Inside the cabin, the shaken team members were panting.

Zhao Yan looked at the southern sky outside the porthole, although he couldn't see anything, he knew that in the depths of the Taihang Mountains, an ancient existence about to die was using its last strength to play a requiem for those who would come after, which was also an overture.

"What is the awakening progress of 'cold fang'?"

He asked.

Elena looked at the detector, the data was updating.

"The previous disturbance caused the progress to jump to 23%.

But... it has stabilized now, and there is even a faint 0.1% drop.

The 'song' of the green soil, although weak, is indeed interfering with it."

The cost was that the final shutdown time of the green soil, due to this overload operation, was shortened from ten hours to... two hours.

"Tell Dr. Lin and Consultant Chu,"

Zhao Yan's voice was low, "We have found a way to counter the Hibernators, but the cost is high.

And this method treats the symptoms but not the root cause.

As long as the cracks and fear within human society continue to be produced, 'cold fang' will eventually wake up."

He paused.

"The real battlefield has never been just the starry sky, nor just the underground."

The helicopter turned, heading south, flying towards that ancient oasis that was singing with its last life.

And under their feet, deep in the ice, in that egg-shaped cavity entangled by dark purple substance, something, under the interference of the warm fluctuation, irritably... turned over.

The hunger that had slept for five hundred thousand years was just slightly delayed.

It was still waiting, waiting for a feast of fear, sufficiently abundant.