amaotonovel Chapter 1418 Landing on the Island!
Chapter 1418 Landing on the Island!
Since the prince said there is an island here and that we should go there, then this island must have its own reason for existing, and it must be the key to this trip.
"Yes!" the crew responded in unison, their voices booming, their previous confusion vanished, leaving only their determination to carry out orders.
Wang Huzi stopped dwelling on the island's origins and immediately reverted to his old sea wolf-like competence. He straightened his back, his eyes gleaming, and issued a series of clear and forceful commands to the helmsman and sailors:
"Hard to port! Point the bow toward the shallows at the southeast corner of the island! Maintain a distance of one mile, and drop anchor!"
"Launch the small boat! Check the equipment! Prepare to land on the island!"
"Pay close attention to the currents and reefs! Lookouts, be extra vigilant, and report any unusual activity immediately!"
"Your Highness, the landing craft is ready and can depart at any time!" Wang Huzi turned around, respectfully clasped his hands in a fist salute to Xiao Ce, his eyes filled with respect and inquiry.
The sampan sliced through the azure waves, heading towards the island that had appeared out of nowhere...
The salty sea breeze, carrying the unique, crisp scent of unfamiliar plants from the island, and the dampness of the earth after the rain, rushed towards us!
As they drew closer, the confusion of Wang Huzi and the other veteran sailors did not dissipate; instead, it deepened under the impact of the details.
"This is...this is so strange..."
Wang Hu Zi murmured, his rough fingers gripping the gunwale tightly, his knuckles white. He stared intently at the approaching coastline, his voice low and incredulous.
"Your Highness, look at that beach... it's as white as crushed jade powder, and the grains are all the same size! And those trees..." He pointed to the dense jungle on the shore!
"It looks like coconut trees or palm trees, but the leaves... are too bright green, and the veins are too neat. Where can you find a forest without a single blemish or diseased leaf? This... this doesn't look like something that God grew!"
Night Cat gripped the hilt of his sword, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, seizing every subtle anomaly: "The water flow is wrong. Your Highness, look at the water flowing around the island; its edges are too clear and smooth, almost devoid of the scattered feeling of waves lapping against the shore. It's as if it's been regulated by an invisible wall. And..."
As he spoke, he listened intently, his brow furrowing slightly. “It’s too quiet! There are no seabirds calling, no insects chirping, only the sound of wind and water, like…like a framed, lifeless painting.”
After listening to their words, Xiao Ce...
He gazed at the vibrant island before him, yet one that bore the marks of human intervention, and the knowing smile on his lips deepened.
He remained silent about the crew's astonishment and doubt, merely nodding slightly as his gaze pierced through the layers of breathtakingly perfect greenery, reaching deep into the island.
He thought to himself that this island was a man-made creation...
Isn't it strange?
"Dock."
His calm voice cut through the howling sea breeze.
The sampan gently came aground on that unreal white sand beach.
As everyone stepped onto solid ground, the sensation under their feet confirmed Wang Huzi's astonishment. The gravel was so fine and even, as if it had been carefully sifted, that there was no feeling of sinking underfoot, only a strange, slightly elastic firmness.
The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and trees, so pure that it was devoid of any trace of human activity, yet it lacked the complex aroma of humus and wildflowers that a forest should have, making it almost hollow in its cleanness.
The night owl was the first to step onto the beach, its figure like the most vigilant raccoon, instantly disappearing into the edge of the seemingly natural, but actually overly "reasonably" laid out jungle on the shore.
He quickly returned and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, the initial exploration of the forest paths reveals that the ground is unusually flat, with almost no naturally formed undulations or exposed roots obstructing the way, as if... a carefully laid foundation had been laid. The vegetation distribution is also too regular and orderly, as if... some force had planned its growth space."
Xiao Ce's gaze had already passed over the beach beneath his feet and the dense forest before him, locking onto the center of the island. There, an extremely abrupt "mountain" rose from the ground, piercing the clear blue sky.
Those mountains could not have been formed by nature.
It has the steep outline of a mountain range, and its base is even covered by layers of lush vines and a strange tree with broad leaves that shimmer with a metallic sheen, making it look like a green, solitary peak from a distance.
However, at the top third, the camouflage vegetation abruptly stops, as if sliced off by an invisible blade. Exposed to the scorching sunlight is a pure, cold, grayish-white metallic, absolutely vertical tower-like structure!
It was not made of rock; its surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting a cold and sharp light under the intense sunlight.
The tower's lines are cold and simple, without any superfluous decorations or joints. Only some extremely subtle, imperceptible light blue geometric patterns, seemingly composed of flowing energy, are faintly visible on the smooth surface!
Like a living thing, it slowly changes and flows, revealing a sense of technology and power that transcends time and is breathtaking.
Although this was his second time here, the scene before him still felt very unfamiliar to Xiao Ce...
Yin Pan'er stood beside him, her beautiful eyes filled with curiosity and inquiry!
She tugged at Xiao Ce's sleeve and asked softly, "Your Highness, this...this is the Star Network Hub? How...how did it become like this? Was it originally an island, or..."
Xiao Ce turned his head to look at Yin Pan'er, his eyes gentle.
Now that things have come to this, there is no need to hide any details about this ultimate creation from her anymore.
"Yes, Pan'er."
Xiao Ce's voice was calm and resolute, carrying a clear understanding of the essence of things. He then said, "The entire island is the core of the Star Network."
“Every inch of land we see, every blade of grass and tree, and even the shape of the water flowing around it, is part of its enormous body, and is the highest form of its self-disguise and self-protection.”
"The previous metal ruins were merely the outward appearance of its 'corpse' when it was silent, closed off, and its energy depleted."
"Now that it has been shut down, it has been reactivated by the core's faint energy, initiating the most perfect environmental mimicry program and completely integrating itself into the planet's ecosystem."
"It's mainly to cover our tracks. This Star Network Hub was previously known as the Lost Island in the West, and it possesses very powerful functions..."
A look of realization flashed across Yin Pan'er's eyes, followed by a deep shock.
She gazed at the vibrant yet unnaturally harmonious island before her, nodded, and said with admiration, "I... guessed a bit. Such a vast and intricate structure, such a complete transformation of form... nothing but the Star Network Hub itself could accomplish this."
"Even seeing it with my own eyes still feels...unbelievable. It's like a sleeping steel behemoth, draped in the most magnificent forest coat."
"exactly."
Xiao Ce gave his beloved wife an approving look; her intelligence always allowed her to understand his thoughts.
"I only found out later. This outer layer is both a disguise and a protective shell that allows it to maintain a minimum level of operation and draw energy from the earth's veins. Now that we've landed on the island, our goal is the island's center! The true 'heart' and 'mouthpiece' of the Star Network Hub."
After exchanging a few words with Yin Pan'er, Xiao Ce continued, "Wang Hu Zi, take some men and stay behind on the Broken Waves to maintain vigilance. No one is allowed to approach the island without my order. Ye Mao, take some capable men and come with me and the Queen to the island."
"Yes, Your Highness!" Wang Huzi and the others responded in unison.
Night Owl subtly shifted his body, like a cheetah poised to pounce, and immediately began selecting his accompanying guards.
Before long, a sturdy small boat was lowered!
Xiao Ce, Yin Pan'er, Night Cat, and four fully armed Dragon Fang elites clad in lightweight exoskeletons boarded a small boat and set off towards the interior of the island...
The air here is filled with a rich, singular fragrance of grass and trees, so pure that it is isolated from the salty smell of the ocean and the complex life force that a forest should have.
Like a ghost, the night owl was the first to dart into the edge of the jungle on the shore, disappearing in a flash.
A moment later he returned silently and whispered, "Your Highness, Your Highness, the initial exploration of the forest is complete. The ground is unusually flat, with almost no natural undulations or exposed large tree roots to obstruct the way. The paths... seem to have been meticulously designed."
"The vegetation is distributed too systematically; every plant seems to grow in a pre-planned grid, making perfect use of space...unnatural."
His report sent a chill down the spines of the four elite soldiers, who gripped their weapons tighter.
Xiao Ce remained expressionless, his gaze sharp as he pierced through the layers of lush green camouflage and looked toward the center of the island.
Yin Pan'er followed his gaze, her beautiful eyes reflecting the geographical center of the island.
It was an extremely abrupt mountain peak.
Actually, I saw it from a distance before, but now I can see it a little more clearly...
The tower rises so high it pierces the clouds, its top completely hidden in the thin wisps of clouds, leaving only a colossal silhouette that inspires awe and wonder, as if it were about to pierce the heavens...
What's even more unsettling is that on the smooth metal tower, some extremely subtle and barely perceptible pale blue geometric patterns flow, change, and flicker slowly like living things!
It wasn't carving or inlaying; it was more like a dynamic path of energy forming inside or on the surface of the metal, radiating a faint yet incredibly pure energy fluctuation.
This flowing blue light is like the blood slowly awakening within a colossal beast that has slumbered for millennia, or like the silent heartbeat of this massive machine!
All of this seemed to be gaining momentum with Xiao Ce's arrival.
A cold and overwhelming pressure, originating from a higher level of technological creation, silently spread out from the solitary tower, enveloping the entire seemingly ordinary island.
It forms the sharpest and most soul-stirring conflict with the meticulously designed, vibrant yet artificial natural environment beneath its feet!
The ultimate collision of technology and nature, a naked display of power and disguise.
Yin Pan'er held her breath. Even though she was mentally prepared, witnessing this colossal tower that pierced through the disguise still gave her a sense of awe and insignificance that came from the depths of her soul.
She subconsciously moved closer to Xiao Ce.
"What is this?" The scene before her made her voice tremble slightly, almost imperceptibly.
"It is the mouthpiece of the Star Network Mechanism...and also its sharpest arrow..."
Xiao Ce's voice was deep and firm, his gaze fixed intently on the flowing blue light, before he began to explain!
"This is the signal cable, used to send signals into deep space and receive responses. When necessary, it can also transform into the ultimate force of protection or destruction. Let's go, the control room is at the base of the tower."
Without any verbal guidance, Xiao Ce clearly recalled the core coordinates and path information that Ling Xu had left him!
That is the core of the Star Network Mechanism.
He took Yin Pan'er's hand and walked steadily toward the giant tower.
The night owl followed closely behind, its wary gaze constantly scanning the overly perfect surroundings!
Four elite warriors spread out in a fan shape, protecting Xiao Ce and Yin Pan'er in the center.
They walked along the naturally formed forest trails, and the path was indeed incredibly flat, just as Night Owl had said.
The surrounding plants exuded an overwhelming vitality, yet it was so quiet that there wasn't a single insect chirping or bird call. The only sounds were the slight rustling of their footsteps on the strange ground and the whistling of the wind through the leaves.
Soon, they reached the bottom of the giant tower.
Looking up at it up close, the oppressive feeling of the tower increases exponentially. The flowing blue energy patterns become clearly visible, like living veins pulsating within its cold metal shell.
Vines and metallic-looking trees grow more densely here, almost completely enveloping the base of the tower, forming a natural barrier.
Except for the location of the Star Network Hub, which is the same as before, everything else is completely different.
After arriving here as Lingxu instructed, I looked around but couldn't find the entrance...
"What about the entrance to Lingxu?"
Lingxu quickly replied to Xiao Ce: "Your Highness, we are currently working on opening the entrance..."
Just then, a cold voice seemed to echo across the entire island.
"Verification in progress!"
The sudden sound startled everyone present.
Suddenly, a beam of blue light shot out from somewhere.
After the blue light appeared, it enveloped Xiao Ce completely...
Then that cold, mechanical voice rang out once again!
"Identity confirmed: Highest authority holder: Xiao Ce."
"Soul wavelength matching rate 99.999%".
"Welcome back, Master! Star Network Hub Main Control Unit, deactivate environmental camouflage defense mode and open core channel."
Upon hearing the voice, Xiao Ce instinctively asked Ling Xu, "Ling Xu, is that you?"
Lingxu said to Xiao Ce, "Reporting to Master, no, this is an independent system of the Star Network Hub. We are separate. Although I can control it, my control is merely manipulating the system..."
"However, I can't bypass the system's limitations; our permissions are at the same level..."
Just then, a deep and loud mechanical sound came from deep underground.
The ground beneath Xiao Ce and the others trembled slightly.
Immediately afterwards, in front of Xiao Ce, the base of the tower, covered with vines and metallic-looking trees, silently caved inward.