The Only Player in ‘Child of Stardust’
Chapter 281 - 196 Deep Space

Chapter 281: Chapter 196 Deep Space

"Now, just ascend and fly up, and we’ll find concrete evidence."

Zhou Yuan commanded the male fire dragon to take off, continuously increasing altitude.

meters, 200 meters... 500 meters... 1000 meters... 2000 meters...

As the altitude steadily climbed, the Wasteland World below gradually shrank into a sand table model. Beyond the city, continuous mountain ranges and rivers stretched out, and beyond the distant mountains and plains lay another previously undiscovered wasteland city.

When his vision pierced through the darkness and extended further, he could see more relics of the old world. Some wasteland cities even sparkled with brilliant lights...

On the vast land, giant craters and cracks were scattered like stars. Over time, those pits transformed into basins, and the fissures became deep canyons, together outlining a unique wasteland landscape.

The enormity of this artificial ecosystem was astonishing. Even at such a height, he couldn’t take everything in. The areas explored by those hunters in the Wasteland Alliance were merely the tip of the iceberg in this vast ecosystem.

The higher they flew, the deeper the darkness above became, without a trace of light, only the despairing silence.

Finally, Zhou Yuan approached a barrier.

He reached out and tapped the protective shield, which felt like transparent glass. There was no sound; it was harder than any material he had ever seen.

[Stellar-Class Artificial Ecosystem Protective Shield. If you could pry off even a small piece and bring it back, you could become a saint in the field of materials science.]

"I would love to pry off a piece, but even Guangxi couldn’t do it with this hardness. Besides, if we puncture a hole in this thing, we’ll be in big trouble..."

Muttering to himself, Zhou Yuan looked around, trying to figure out where exactly this ecosystem was located. Unfortunately, he couldn’t see anything, only the void of space.

...

Back at the ground’s entrance, Zhou Yuan pulled out the Disguise Talisman, transforming himself into one of the astronauts in the photo.

A beam of light scanned him.

"Authentication passed. Colonel Phillips Doer, long time no see. How can I assist you?" The cold mechanical voice inquired after the scan.

Zhou Yuan couldn’t speak since the system undoubtedly had voice recognition, and speaking would expose him. So, he used sign language, signaling the system to open the door.

"Sorry, Colonel Phillips Doer, your vocal functions are detected to be operational. The sign language recognition function cannot be activated. Please use voice to make a request."

Damn, it’s that smart.

Zhou Yuan fell silent, considering other ways to break the door.

Using brute force was definitely not an option, as the metal was incredibly hard. He could break his hand without getting through.

The Ghost Walker could probably pass through walls, but he wasn’t sure how thick the door was. If he couldn’t get through within the effective period of the Ghost Walker, he might get stuck inside the door. The metal’s density was higher than his body, and the result would be instant death.

Shadow Escape also seemed unviable. He couldn’t sense any dark matter within the door or walls, suggesting there might be no gaps at all, completely sealed off.

After thinking it over, it seemed the only way was to get the system to open the door.

So Zhou Yuan had to step back, use the Disguise Talisman to change his disguise again, then use force to damage his own vocal cords, disabling his voice system.

He approached the door again for a scan and signed.

"Colonel Li Qing, long time no see. Your vocal organs are detected to be damaged. The sign language recognition function is now enabled.

Emergency lockdown procedure activated. Your clearance level is: Level 7.

You are requesting to open the ecosystem door. Please input the emergency lockdown procedure release password..."

A device popped out of the metal door for input.

The Eyes of Identification conveniently provided a note:

[The password is 0000000. Such simplicity can’t stump me.]

Why is it seven zeros? This password is way too easy...

Zhou Yuan mumbled as he entered the password.

"Validation successful, emergency lockdown procedure lifted. The ecosystem door will now open."

Rumble rumble rumble...

Amidst a thunderous noise, dust fell, and the door sealed for a century slowly creaked open.

As the gap appeared, a cold, eerie void gushed out like a tidal wave, spreading wildly around.

Spectral being!

And it was a supermassive spectral being!

The spectral being radiated extreme excitement. For centuries, it had been blocked by the emergency lockdown procedure, unable to access the thriving life within the ecosystem.

This feeling was like having a feast laid out before you, only to find an invisible barrier in the way, forcing you to look at the delicious food longingly but in vain.

But now, that barrier suddenly disappeared!

The spectral being was ecstatic. It couldn’t wait to rush in and relish the abundant life force here.

However, what it encountered was a dazzling, blinding conflagration!

Zhou Yuan had prepared in advance. As soon as the door opened, he drew out the Daybreak Shield. Sensing the sinister aura behind the door, he immediately unleashed the Radiant Sky Light.

There was no surprise. Under the Radiant Sky Light, the spectral being quickly disintegrated into ashes.

The eerie presence behind the door swiftly vanished, as if only that one spectral being had been lurking there.

A few minutes later, the door fully opened, revealing a vast, narrow passage illuminated with bright lights.

"Spectral beings can affect light sources but can’t completely destroy circuits. Once they die, the power restores... This trait resembles ghosts." Zhou Yuan muttered.