Chapter 1 The Frightening Truth

The probe sent back images revealing the terrifying and chilling truth hidden deep beneath the planet's surface.

Little remained of the original rock; the planet's structure had almost completely disintegrated. After barely surviving for ten thousand years, the celestial body could hardly be called a "celestial body" anymore. It was now essentially a massive organism, as evidenced by the enormous, horrifying dark tentacles and vast caverns that dominated the images. The probe sped through the depths, finding almost no trace of rock or soil.

On the screen, tendrils like a thorny jungle whipped past the lens. The dark red vista was dominated by the Changzi's (Firstborn's) tissue structure. A faint, pervasive light illuminated the depths, emanating from the Changzi's nerve clusters and pumping organs. In the dim light, a thin, ubiquitous mist could be seen – microorganisms released by the Changzi's tendrils, essentially the same as the microbial community in the planet's cloud canopy. Occasionally, black, metallic-textured deposits could be seen among the tentacles: the remnants of the completely eroded and transformed crust and mantle – the only surviving primordial parts of the planet.

The probe navigated an endless maze of tunnels, finding only deep, dark red-lit passageways and underground caverns in every direction. Data showed that the surrounding temperature was rising, indicating that the probe was approaching the Changzi's core organs, but even there, no large-scale geological strata could be found. The data terminal activated the probe's sound sensors, and a strange sound echoed in everyone's ears.

The sound was a mix of deep wind and heavy reverberations like a heartbeat – deep, slow, the life rhythm of the planet.

"This unit estimates that eighty percent of the planet has been digested to build a more efficient energy cycle system," the data terminal analyzed based on the available information. "The Changzi is the only 'system' capable of extending the lifespan of an ecosystem without a sun. Its energy conversion efficiency is high, so it swallowed the entire planet to plan all the cyclical processes. The probe has found the 'factories' that manufacture the microbial community – those spore-like structures. These structures are connected to vast pipe systems, and the ends of those systems are the Sky Pillar Trees – the cloud canopy must be manufactured from here."

The Changzi's transformation of the planet and its control over energy were reminiscent of one phrase: planned economy – the most effective solution when resources are scarce.

Hao Ren frowned, trying to figure out how this incredible biological system worked. "Looks like they've… shut down?"

The data terminal hummed in agreement. "Yes, because the cloud canopy is functioning normally, so this manufacturing organ has entered a dormant state. But it hasn't been broken down, so this unit speculates that the cloud canopy must undergo periodic maintenance. When the atmosphere is damaged to a certain extent, these organs will wake up, remanufacture a large amount of cloud canopy, and release it to the outside through some specially made Sky Pillar Trees."

Something suddenly occurred to Hao Ren. "Will this process also affect the 'ecological compartment' between the two crustal layers?"

"Possibly," the terminal answered. "The microbial community needs to be updated, and there is communication between them. When these production factories resume operation… in any case, it will inevitably affect all the luminous cloud masses."

Hao Ren and Vivian exchanged a look. "The legendary 'light burial' phenomenon."

"What's the Changzi's activity level?" Vivian asked with some concern. "Does it appear to be functioning normally?"

"This is the most unusual thing. It's different from any Changzi we've ever seen," the terminal immediately opened a large number of holographic images, showing the Changzi's structures that had been detected so far. Many of the tentacles were marked as inactive in gray-white. "These gray-white areas are the neural tissues that control thought and movement. They're all offline. You could say the Changzi is running in its sleep. Its primary consciousness isn't active. The planet's transformation and the series of production cycles are all being done by reflex. And the place where we are standing is pressing on its most important nerve line. This bundle of nerve tissue seems to have grown specifically to accept control."

"Did you detect where the end of this nerve bundle leads?" Hao Ren asked, looking up.

"It leads to a layered connective tissue, which should be the location of the brain nucleus. But the probe hasn't found the entrance yet. If we really have to, we can drill a small hole in – it shouldn't cause too much stimulation."

Hao Ren made a sound of acknowledgement, considering whether to further stimulate the sleeping behemoth. But as he was pondering, a buzzing sound with a strange echo suddenly came from nearby. "The remnants of the Goddess sleep there."

"Who?!" Hao Ren immediately looked around, stunned to see a semi-transparent phantom had appeared behind them.

It was a blurry human figure, only the outline of a hunched old man could be made out. He was wearing an unfamiliar robe, standing with his hands clasped behind his back a dozen meters away. His figure was pale blue, flickering like a candle flame, constantly swaying, which could only be described as one thing: a ghost.

"I am Gragon, monarch of the Solar Dynasty – but that name has probably been forgotten," the old ghost said, slowly approaching Vivian and bowing respectfully. "My Lord, as you commanded, the lullaby has never stopped. Now you may take what is stored here."

Vivian had gotten used to playing the Goddess in front of Gezer and his people these past two days, but hearing an ancient soul address her this way still made her pause. She frowned slightly. "Are you sure I am your Goddess? You should know what's hidden in the depths."

"We know, we know everything," the ancient soul who claimed to be the monarch of the Solar Dynasty said slowly, his tone carrying a singing rhythm. "You cannot be judged by ordinary standards. Your existence itself is a miracle. Whenever, wherever, and however you descend here, you are the benefactor of this world…"

As Gragon's tone rose and fell, layers of mysterious light appeared on the huge pillars that were surrounded by bright electricity, and figure after figure emerged from the electricity. They wore the clothing of the Solar Dynasty from ten thousand years ago, and like Gragon, they had nearly transparent soul forms. The faces of each soul were already blurred, but the calm and peaceful atmosphere surrounding them was undeniable. After these ancient souls emerged from the air, they quietly gathered in front of Vivian, row after row, line after line. They formed a formation like pilgrims, until everyone's eyes were filled with these heroic spirits.

The heroic souls did not make a sound, they simply gathered quietly around Vivian.

Nangong Wuyue shuddered at the sight, quickly curling into a ball behind everyone, even Hesperides couldn't help but take two steps back: this sudden change had caught her off guard. However, Bernia, the youngest person present, stood fearlessly beside Vivian. She even smiled and reached out to the souls, happily greeting her ancestors, "Hello, I'm Bernia!"

This little girl, only ten years old, didn't know what fear was. She sensed the goodwill and kindness of these souls, and naturally regarded them as companions.

Hao Ren noticed that Vivian's expression had been serious since a moment ago. He knew that she had obtained a lot of information from the blood crystal stone, perhaps including these undead, "Do you know what's going on?"

"I only know that they are the builders of this ancient city," Vivian said in a low voice. "It seems that for the past ten thousand years, these souls have been using some kind of ritual to maintain the Changzi's 'false death' state. But I don't know the specific details – the memories remaining in the blood crystal stone are limited. I came here to find the missing part."

Hao Ren couldn't help but look up at the huge pillars that emitted electricity. The pillars were still discharging, and the suppression of the Changzi's tentacles had not stopped, but after these souls appeared, the electricity had clearly weakened.

The heroic spirits of the descendants of the Solar Dynasty who built this city had never dissipated. They had turned their lives into a part of the city, driving the continuous operation of a lullaby for thousands of years. They were the "code" stored in the pillars, this complex system operated with human souls as software.

However, there was still a question: Even if these ancients made such an effort, they still couldn't control the Changzi with their power alone. There must be a more powerful force assisting them in building this facility, completing the initial ritual, and forcing the Changzi to submit, allowing the behemoth to accept the initial control.

This transcendent force was about to emerge.

Hao Ren looked at Vivian, "What exactly is at the deepest part?"

"Another me," Vivian said with a smile.