202: Chapter 201 Hotpot Diplomacy, Resonance Trap, and the Uninvited Gardener
The technical demonstration preparation area was brightly lit. A small emotional resonance chamber, originally used for basic experiments, had been pieced together with an independent patch of green soil test field. It was surrounded by a dense network of pipes, sensors, and temporary energy buffer devices. It looked... a bit like a "Frankenstein" contraption cobbled together from laboratory scraps and leftover engineering supplies.
Great Strength paced around the device, holding a spectrometer, muttering to himself, "Emotional resonance requires an 'atmosphere'; hardware alone isn't enough... We need to add some 'primers' to trigger empathy." He turned and took several small jars from the insulated box he had brought. "Modified green soil peppermint extract, combined with edible light sources of different wavelengths, can slightly affect the limbic system, helping to create 'quiet sorrow' or 'restrained joy'—these are the two benchmark emotions we need for the demonstration."
β-2 controlled the robotic arm to perform the final circuit calibration: "Based on the knowledge fragments of the Tranquil Garden provided by Zhou Zhe, the 'affinity fluctuation' output curve of the green soil grafting node has been optimized. It is expected to increase the symbiotic efficiency of the demonstration device by 8% to 15%, which just covers the safety redundancy zone for the 30% output target of the benchmark value. However, this is conditional on a stable core emotional supply."
Zhou Zhe sat on a nearby chair, his face still somewhat pale. The Poem Markings around his eyes had stabilized into an interwoven state of pale gold and tender green, though occasionally, a string of extremely tiny runes, resembling plant veins, would flash uncontrollably. "The information hasn't been fully digested yet," he said, rubbing his temples. "It feels like there's a garden automatically sowing seeds in my brain... Sometimes, plant consciousness association formulas I've never learned just pop up. β-2, did you record the 'emotional spectrum fractal decay model' I said unconsciously just now?"
"It has been recorded and integrated into the main control algorithm," β-2 replied. "Theoretically, this model can further increase adaptability to the chaotic dream environment by 5%. However, it has not been tested and carries risks."
"There's no time to test it," Lin Shen said, checking the overall progress. "The observation point coordinates requested by the abacus have arrived; they are at the seventh observation platform on the outer edge of the Cradle, in the neutral zone. Disassembling, transporting, and reassembling the device will take time. The demonstration must begin in six hours."
Just then, Lin Shen's encrypted channel received an emergency communication from Zhao Yan, with intense energy fluctuations and alarm sounds in the background:
"Lin Shen! We've navigated to the vicinity of coordinate point 3 provided by GW-002 and confirmed the existence of a 'ember extraction and preliminary molding station' that was just completed! It's not a finished bomb, it's more like... a rough processing workshop. But the defensive force is beyond expectations—there are not only automated units from the Pruning Faction, but also... physical projections of the Dream-Devouring Shadow! They are purifying the collected raw 'ember'!"
Ashes' hoarse voice cut in: "They've discovered us. We are engaging them. These 'Dream-Devouring Shadow' projections... aren't very strong, but they are very troublesome; they specifically target consciousness links and exoskeleton sensors to create fearful hallucinations. There is a high-intensity energy reaction inside the 'workshop'... they might be preparing to transport the purified 'ember' to the final assembly point."
"Can you destroy it or obtain the core data?" Lin Shen asked immediately.
"We are trying to break through, but it will take time, and the risk is extremely high." Zhao Yan's voice was accompanied by the sound of explosions. "The enemy seems to be deliberately stalling us; it doesn't look like simple defense... it looks more like... containment?"
Containment? Lin Shen's mind raced. Containing the reconnaissance force, in order to...
"Ensuring your own safety is the priority! After obtaining as much information as possible, decide whether to destroy it based on the situation! Retreat immediately if necessary!" Lin Shen ordered. He felt a vague sense of unease. The cooperation between the Pruning Faction and the Dream-Devouring Shadow, the crude collection, the rapidly established processing workshop, the targeted containment of the reconnaissance force... All of this seemed to point to a conspiracy that was accelerating and likely had multiple objectives.
Under pressure, Lin Shen suddenly remembered GW-002's hint about "the fuse requiring shared emotional resonance." He immediately connected to the internal monitoring network: "β-2, retrieve the analysis report of all emotional convergence exceeding thresholds from all monitorable nodes within the Cradle over the past 24 hours, especially non-individual, collective emotional fluctuations."
"Analyzing... Three significant peaks detected," β-2 replied quickly. "The first, 12 hours ago, was the 'collective anxiety and focus mixed band' generated when the technical assault team worked overnight; the second, 6 hours ago, was the 'periodic relaxation and slight sense of victory' that appeared in some areas when the Potato Guild reached an agreement with the logistics department; the third... is a persistent, basal, and widely distributed weak band, labeled as 'vigilant expectation for the unknown future,' which aligns with the overall atmosphere after the Cradle passed certification. Its convergence nodes... seem to have a weak correlation with the distribution of the main energy loop, especially the green soil network and the Poetics of Emotion power generation array."
Shared emotions... related to energy facilities? Lin Shen was thoughtful.
At this moment, the Potato Guild's "atypical photosynthetic hot pot" tasting event was taking place under a small ecological dome in the residential area. In the center of several tables was not a traditional hot pot, but a miniature light source array emitting a soft spectrum suitable for photosynthesis. Around it were various processed, light-absorbing nutrient dipping sauces (urgently prepared by Great Strength), as well as a small amount of symbolic, edible glowing algae balls.
The Potato Chief and several Potato Guild representatives (placed on special light-sensitive seats) sat together with several invited researchers and logistics personnel. The atmosphere was somewhat subtle; it was neither a serious negotiation nor a relaxed dinner party.
"So," a young researcher asked curiously, "can you really 'taste' the flavor of different light waves?"
"It's closer to 'perceiving the difference in pleasure level that promotes the efficiency of specific metabolic pathways,'" a Potato representative corrected rigorously. "For example, blue light around 450 nanometers has a positive effect on early starch synthesis, and its 'flavor' in our perception leans towards 'refreshing and invigorating'; while far-red light above 680 nanometers, although low in energy efficiency, can induce the secretion of certain relaxation hormones, making it feel more 'mellow and lingering' in perception."
Great Strength scratched his head while listening from the side and whispered to his assistant, "We need to organize these 'flavor descriptions' into a database later; maybe we can develop 'functional light meals' tailored to different work states..."
This seemingly bizarre "hot pot diplomacy" was invisibly bridging the cognitive gaps between different ecological nodes, emitting a slowly growing, faint emotional fluctuation named "understanding" and "attempt at coexistence." This fluctuation also quietly flowed into the emotional background sea of the Cradle.
There were only three hours left until the demonstration began. The device was about to be packaged for transport.
Suddenly, an abnormal energy reading came from the meditation room in the green soil experimental area (the place Zhou Zhe occasionally used to stabilize the state of his Poem Markings). It was not violent, but rather an extremely dense and pure life energy, carrying the rhythm of an ancient order.
Lin Shen and Zhou Zhe rushed over immediately. In the meditation room, in a green soil experimental pot that had been ordinary, a "moonlight orchid" that had originally been just an experimental specimen was growing and blooming at a visible speed. The flowers were like condensed essence of a pale moon, emitting a soft silver glow. In the center of the flower, a point of tender green light condensed, gradually forming a very tiny, yet intricately structured three-dimensional rune, rotating slowly.
Stardust's light cluster appeared instantly, its tone carrying a rare solemnity: "This is... a 'visitor mark' from the Tranquil Garden. That 'Gardener' has descended a trace of an extremely weak consciousness projection. It... is coming for young Zhou Zhe, but following ancient etiquette, it left a 'doorbell' first."
Zhou Zhe looked at the rune, and the Poem Markings in his eyes resonated with it; the tender green parts were exceptionally bright. "I... feel a kind of... peaceful but persistent 'invitation.' It wants me to use this mark to have a brief, consciousness-level 'face-to-face' communication. About... the 'abnormal proliferation' problem I encountered when digesting that knowledge."
"Now? The demonstration is about to start!" Lin Shen frowned.
"It seems... to know our schedule," Zhou Zhe said with a wry smile. "The information conveyed by the mark indicates that the communication can be accelerated in the subjective consciousness time layer, and the external time consumed may only be a few minutes. Furthermore... it implies that the content of the communication might help me stabilize my state, and even... have reference value for dealing with the conceptual pollution like 'ember'."
Involving an Ancient Sages, involving potential knowledge assistance, and also involving external threats... risks and opportunities were intertwined once again.
Lin Shen weighed the options quickly: Zhou Zhe's state was related to the core of the demonstration; the Ancient Sages's hint might be crucial; a few minutes of external time could be spared.
"β-2, take over the final debugging part of Zhou Zhe in the demonstration device, and proceed according to the plan you have worked out before," Lin Shen ordered. "Zhou Zhe, make contact, but set strict time limits and consciousness firewalls. Senior Stardust, please monitor from the side."
"Understood." Stardust's light cluster approached the moonlight orchid mark.
Zhou Zhe took a deep breath and gently touched the tender green rune with his finger. Instantly, his body trembled slightly, his eyes lost focus, and his consciousness had already followed the guidance of the mark, falling into an accelerated temporary space constructed by the ancient consciousness of the Tranquil Garden.
Outside, the device began to be disassembled for transport. Great Strength checked his "atmosphere" jars. β-2 simulated the demonstration process.
On Zhao Yan's side, the battle was still continuing. They had successfully infiltrated the peripheral network of the "workshop," downloaded some data transmission logs, and were trying to parse the transport destination of the purified "ember."
On the Cradle's energy loop, the shared emotional fluctuation of "vigilant expectation" seemed to be strengthening slightly, unbeknownst to anyone, as the demonstration approached, external threats drew near, and this unexpected contact with an Ancient Sages occurred internally, like a string plucked by an invisible hand.
And the abacus, on the seventh observation platform, had already set up its audit sensor array in advance. On its log, it quietly recorded: [Signs of undeclared high-order consciousness interaction have appeared inside the observation target 'Cradle', and the energy signature matches the 'Tranquil Garden'. According to the protocol, direct interaction with an Ancient Sages enjoys high autonomy and will not be intervened. Record for reference.]
[Potted plant (temporarily placed on the seventh platform) growth status: good. Environmental parameters: stable.]
Everything was moving towards an unknown critical point.