95: Chapter 94 The Gates of the Temple
East Sea Peak Countdown: 9 days, 17 hours.
Execution window for Project "Key Insertion": Moon reaches the predetermined phase, Earth's psionic background field interference is at its minimum. Duration: 4 hours.
All preparations have entered the final verification stage.
The Moon, the core control area of the "Cradle."
Lin Shen, Sarah (connected via the "heart crystal" entity), and Elena Costa are in position. They are wearing specialized light protective suits with built-in enhancement modules linked to the "Cradle" and each other's consciousness. Inside the control center, Dr. Zhou Zhe is responsible for energy monitoring, Zhao Yan handles external defense alerts, Medical Officer Lu Yunshan monitors the physiological data of the three, while Max and Kevin Li stand by the "heart crystal" as Sarah's direct support.
On Earth, at the Ling Shu Base and various sub-centers, Minister Li Weimin, Academician Chen Qiming, Professor Chu Yunshen, and others are following the entire process via encrypted channels.
The light and shadow projections of Gardener Representatives "Qi" and "Cheng" hover in a corner of the control center, providing real-time consultation at the protocol level.
"Final confirmation," Lin Shen's voice rang through the internal channel, his calm tone reflecting a will of steel.
"Current operating power of the 'Sanctuary Protocol': 1.71%, status stable."
"Energy reserves: Tide array output at peak, Helium-3 experimental reactor preheating complete; can support a power increase to 2.8% for 400 seconds."
"'anchor point one' engineering prototype Type B (improved heat dissipation) is in place, covering the core control area."
"External monitoring: 'Scavenger' network performing full-spectrum scanning, 'Kunlun' station defense raised to Level 2, 'Star Ring' consciousness network in standby interference mode."
"'East Sea Peak Buffer Array' deployment complete, entering standby."
Every item was confirmed without error.
"Dr. Sarah, Dr. Elena, are you ready?" Lin Shen looked at his two teammates.
Sarah's light projection flickered steadily within the crystal: "Ready. I will guide the energy flow and attempt to resonate with the deep control nodes of the 'Sanctuary Protocol'."
Elena took a deep breath and nodded, her gaze sharp and clear: "Decoding protocols loaded, consciousness harmonic synchronization complete. Ready to record and analyze any abnormal feedback."
"Starting countdown. 10, 9, 8..."
The countdown hit zero.
"Initiate energy bridging. Gradually increase 'Sanctuary Protocol' power to 2.0%," Lin Shen ordered.
Deep within the lunar crust, the massive energy network connected to the "Cradle" emitted a low hum. On the control center's main screen, the values representing the protocol's power began to climb slowly: 1.75%, 1.80%, 1.85%...
Outside, the pale gold "Sanctuary" light shield enveloping the Moon became more solid, its brightness increasing slightly. This change was extremely subtle, impossible to observe with the naked eye from Earth tens of millions of kilometers away, but to certain entities, it was no different from a lighthouse suddenly brightening in the dark.
"Power 2.0% achieved. System stable."
"No external interference detected."
"Continue increasing, target 2.5%. Dr. Sarah, begin the resonance guidance attempt."
Sarah's consciousness sank into the "heart crystal." Through its deep connection with the "Cradle" and the "Sanctuary Protocol," she acted like a master luthier, beginning to "pluck" specific harmonic strings within the protocol's energy flow related to "authority," "inheritance," and the "Sanctuary."
The power continued to climb: 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%...
The intensity of the psionic background radiation around the Moon rose significantly. The "Scavenger" satellites in Earth's orbit and the gardener probes far away at the Lagrange point all recorded this clear energy signature change.
"Detected directional scanning beams from the outer Solar System! Sources: at least three different directions!" The monitor screen in front of Elena suddenly lit up with alarms. "Signature analysis... one is homologous with the 'Pruning Faction' infiltration unit signals but with higher intensity; one partially matches the residual spectrum of the 'unknown jumper' beacon; and another... a brand new, high-penetration quantum coherent scan, originating from the expected forward path of the Galactic Council liaison!"
As expected, all the observers had been alerted!
"Ignore them, stay focused," Lin Shen's voice remained unchanged. "Power 2.5% achieved. Sarah, report on the resonance."
"Deep control nodes are responding!" Sarah's voice carried a hint of tense excitement. "Detected internal protocol authority verification process activated! Sending 'Candidate Identification'... Identification passed! The protocol is retrieving associated constructs... Found it! The 'Sanctuary of Choice' entry protocol has been located!"
On the central holographic projection of the control center, a complex perspective view of the "Cradle's" internal structure appeared. Deeper than the knowledge cube halls of the "Chamber of Inheritance," a previously undetected, enclosed spherical space was highlighted, its surface flowing with the same pale gold coding as the "Sanctuary Protocol."
"The entry protocol is requesting energy infusion and tripartite consciousness synchronization confirmation!" Sarah quickly interpreted the feedback. "We need to stabilize the protocol power at 2.5% for at least 180 seconds. Meanwhile, Lin Shen, Elena, and I must mix our consciousness harmonics in a specific ratio and inject them into the designated reception point of the entry protocol!"
"Understood. Maintain power. Prepare for consciousness synchronization." Lin Shen closed his eyes, adjusting his consciousness to a state of deep connection with the technology tree system, while simultaneously opening guidance permissions for the consciousness link to Sarah and Elena.
Acting as the hub, Sarah guided Lin Shen's consciousness stream—filled with rational structure and a desire for exploration—and Elena's perception stream—sharp, balanced, and adept at decoding—to merge with her own warm, resilient, and connection-filled consciousness imprint. Three distinct yet complementary consciousness harmonics, tempered by the "heart crystal," began to weave into a complex joint consciousness pulse containing a specific information structure.
"Pulse construction complete... Injecting!"
The joint consciousness pulse shot toward the entry coordinates marked on the hologram.
Like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, ripples spread across the surface of the enclosed spherical space. The pale gold coding seemed to come alive, rapidly flowing and reorganizing. A vortex-like portal composed of pure energy, rotating slowly, manifested on the "surface" of the spherical space.
"Entrance open!" Sarah shouted.
"120 seconds of power stabilization remaining!" Zhou Zhe reported.
"External scanning intensity is increasing sharply! The scans from the 'Pruning Faction' direction show obvious hostile analysis characteristics!" Zhao Yan warned.
"Hyperspace jump preheating fluctuations detected from the direction of the unknown jumper! It might be trying to close the distance!" Elena added.
"Scans from the Galactic Council have switched to a continuous lock-on state; no other actions for now."
Time was of the essence!
"Zhao Yan, activate 'Star Ring' interference, target the 'Pruning Faction' and unknown jumper scanning sources with psionic noise coverage! Zhou Zhe, prepare 'anchor point one', activate it to protect the 'Cradle' entrance area if necessary!" Lin Shen spoke rapidly. "Medical Officer Lu, after we enter, the entrance might become unstable; be ready for support. Max, Kevin, Sarah's physical crystal is in your hands!"
"Understood!" everyone responded in unison.
"Lin Shen, Elena, let's go!" Sarah's voice carried a sense of determination.
The three no longer hesitated. Their consciousnesses condensed, and they simultaneously "stepped" toward the rotating energy vortex in the holographic projection.
Instantly, their senses were stripped away and then thrust into a strange space that defied description.
There was no up, down, left, or right here, and no physical substance. There was only an endless flow of "landscapes" composed of information, light and shadow, abstract concepts, and constantly shifting geometric structures. Some "structures" looked like magnified DNA double helices but were composed of flickering star maps; some "light and shadows" were like rushing rivers, but what flowed were condensed images of the rise and fall of civilizations. In the distance, there seemed to be countless giant "mirrors" reflecting fragments of Earth, the Moon, the Solar System, and even the galaxy, but the perspectives and time flows were eerily displaced.
Was this the "Sanctuary of Choice"? It was more like an "abstract realm" established on the levels of information and consciousness, transcending conventional space-time.
[Welcome, Candidates.] A voice rang directly in their consciousness, neither male nor female, neither old nor young, devoid of emotion yet carrying an unspeakable "weight." This voice was homologous with the neutral prompts of the "Cradle" but was more... "complete," as if it were an overlay of countless voices. [Based on preliminary authority verification and the current assessment of civilizational crisis, Phase Three Trial: 'Civilizational Choice', has been initiated ahead of schedule. Trial format: Immersive civilizational development simulation and deduction.]
Before the voice had even finished, the surrounding "landscape" changed abruptly. They "stood" in a void, and before them appeared three massive, slowly rotating "light orbs," far more complex and grander than those encountered in the "Hall of Choice," seemingly containing infinite possibilities within.
[Please select an initial civilizational development orientation template. This choice will determine the starting point and core contradictions of the simulation deduction.]
The light orbs projected information:
A: Technical Rationality and Efficiency Priority. Emphasizes logic, planning, and maximization of collective interests; may sacrifice individual diversity and certain emotional values; develops rapidly but carries a risk of stagnation.
B: Individual Freedom and Consciousness Sublimation. Emphasizes the tapping of individual potential, expansion of consciousness, and coexistence of diversity; social structure is loose but vibrant; may lack overall cohesion and the ability to handle extreme crises.
C: Ecological Symbiosis and Dynamic Balance. Emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of civilization with the planetary environment, other life forms, and even the cosmic background; development speed may be slower, but pursues sustainability and adaptability.
This was not just a preference for a type of civilization, but a fundamental question: "What is an ideal civilization?"
"Time is limited; we must decide quickly." Lin Shen looked at Sarah and Elena. "The simulation deduction will inevitably unfold subsequent trials based on our choice. We need to choose a template that can maximize the display of human civilization's complexity and potential, and is most likely to help us deal with the current real-world crisis."
"Template A is too similar to the 'absolute order' advocated by the 'Pruning Faction'; it might lead to a poor assessment," Sarah analyzed.
"Template B might be fragile due to internal coordination issues when facing external high pressure like the 'Pruning Faction'," Elena added. "Template C... is closer to the 'genesis' anchor and some of the builders' philosophies, but is it too idealized in the face of an imminent war for survival?"
"Perhaps..." Lin Shen mused, "we don't need to choose a 'pure' template. Human civilization itself is a mixture of A, B, and C. Could the trial of the 'Sanctuary of Choice' be to see if we can balance these seemingly contradictory tendencies in the simulation and carve out a path of our own?"
His thoughts resonated with Sarah's and Elena's consciousnesses.
"We choose..." Almost simultaneously, the three directed their collective will toward the chaotic, undefined area between the three light orbs, "Based on current cognition and crisis, to explore the path of 'dynamic integration and contextual choice'. We will not preset an absolute orientation, but will attempt to find the optimal balance point for the specific time and place according to the situations that arise in the simulation deduction."
This was undoubtedly a bolder and more difficult choice. There was no preset roadmap; everything depended on their real-time judgment within the simulation.
The Sanctuary seemed to fall "silent" for a moment, as if assessing this unexpected answer.
Then, the three light orbs lit up simultaneously, their light intertwining and completely engulfing them.
[Choice accepted. Simulation deduction beginning. Scenario loading: 'A nascent interstellar civilization where resource scarcity and external threats coexist'. Time flow ratio: 1 year in simulation / 1 second externally. Please prepare.]