wavenovel Chapter 12 Recording
Chapter 12 Recording
Cheng Xu was placed in a guest room in the west wing of Qingyun Lane. Editor-in-Chief Qin treated the wound on his head with a special ointment that glowed with a faint green light and emitted a strange scent that was a mixture of herbs and sandalwood.
"The backlash from the silencing spell is more troublesome than the external injury." Editor-in-Chief Qin examined the black lines that had appeared on Cheng Xu's neck. "You cannot utter any information about the attacker for three days, otherwise the spell will completely destroy your vocal cords."
Cheng Xu smiled wryly and gestured that he understood. He took the paper and pen and began to write down the information he hadn't finished saying the night before.
Li Shancheng inserted the USB drive into Editor-in-Chief Qin's laptop. The screen lit up, displaying three encrypted folders. The first folder contained data records of the energy siphon, showing the precise time and intensity of the diversion of energy at the array's core in a visual chart; the second folder contained partial design drawings of the "Nirvana Project," including a structural analysis of the cylindrical culture dish; and the third folder contained an intercepted encrypted communication recording.
"Play the recording," said Editor-in-Chief Qin.
Cheng Xu quickly wrote on the paper: "Only 30% deciphered, keywords marked."
The recording begins playing, with a slight static noise in the background. A processed, gender-neutral voice is speaking:
"...The second phase is progressing smoothly, with energy absorption reaching expectations. However, the stability of the Wen Shu array eye is decreasing, 17% faster than the model predicted. The siphon frequency needs to be adjusted to avoid premature collapse... The activation window for the ancient relic is next month's full moon, and the 'carrier' cultivation must be completed before then... Monitoring data from other array eyes shows abnormal fluctuations in the seismic and displacement positions, which may resonate with the changes in the Wen Shu... It is recommended to accelerate the preparations for the 'restart protocol'..."
The recording was interrupted here.
"Ancient relics...carrier...reboot protocol..." Editor-in-Chief Qin repeated these words, his expression growing increasingly grave. "This isn't a simple energy theft; they're planning something much bigger."
Cheng Xu wrote on the paper again: "I also found some geographical coordinates in their system, which are not within Kyoto City. There is also a list of supplies, including rare metals, spiritual herbs, and... samples of living monster organizations."
"What exactly do they want?" Xu Qingqing's voice trembled slightly.
Editor-in-Chief Qin stood up and paced in the courtyard. Morning light filtered through the branches and leaves of the purple dragonwood, casting dappled shadows on him. A two-headed blue phoenix flew down from the tree and landed on the stone table, both heads turned towards Editor-in-Chief Qin, seemingly awaiting instructions.
"Ancient relics...if you mean that legend..." Editor-in-Chief Qin stopped and looked at Li Shancheng. "Shancheng, did the murals you saw in the secret vault depict anything special? Like an object, or some kind of ritual?"
Li Shancheng closed his eyes, trying hard to recall those images: "There was a mural... on the east wall of the secret vault, depicting a luminous object, irregularly shaped, suspended above the altar. Seven people were kneeling around it, and stars in the sky were arranged in a special pattern."
"Seven people... seven guardians," Editor-in-Chief Qin murmured. "That should be the 'Seven Star Spirit-Guiding Array,' used to activate or seal powerful magical artifacts. If Cold Mountain Technology is searching for ancient relics and needs the array's core energy to nurture a 'carrier'... they might be trying to recreate that ritual."
"But the ritual requires seven guardians to cast the spell simultaneously," Xu Qingqing questioned. "Where did Hanshan Technology get seven high-level cultivators?"
"That's what I can't understand either," said Editor-in-Chief Qin. "Unless... they've found an alternative method, or the purpose of cultivating the 'vessel' is to replace the Guardians."
The phone on the table suddenly vibrated. Editor-in-Chief Qin glanced at the caller ID, his expression changing slightly. He answered the phone, walked aside, and whispered a few words. After hanging up, his face grew even more grim.
"This is a message from a friend in the municipal government," said Editor-in-Chief Qin. "Hanshan Technology's proposal has entered the fast-track approval process and will be discussed at the meeting in three days. It has many supporters, including several influential experts and scholars."
"How could they be so fast?" Li Shancheng asked, puzzled.
"Hanshan Technology has invested heavily in political and business relations over the years, and their proposals seem perfectly reasonable on the surface—using the latest technology to protect ancient books and alleviate the government's financial burden." Editor-in-Chief Qin sneered, "Moreover, if the energy of the array core continues to be extracted, the ancient books in the library will indeed age faster, which gives them even more justification."
"Then what should we do? Just release the evidence directly?" Xu Qingqing asked.
"The evidence isn't strong enough," Editor-in-Chief Qin shook his head. "The data on energy siphoning can be explained as equipment malfunction; the petri dish design can be considered biological experimental research; and that recording is even more unclear. We need more direct evidence, such as what exactly the 'carrier' in the petri dish is, or their clear illegal use of the array's energy."
Cheng Xu wrote on the paper: "I can try to completely crack the recording, but it will take time and may trigger an alarm."
"It's too dangerous. They're definitely on high alert right now." Editor-in-Chief Qin rejected the suggestion. "We need another way... to break through from within."
"Inside?" Li Shancheng and Xu Qingqing looked at him at the same time.
Editor-in-Chief Qin walked back to the stone table and unfolded a map of Kyoto City: "Hanshan Technology is an organization, and every organization has gaps between its members. We need to find an insider, someone who might be willing to cooperate, or at least someone who can be persuaded to provide information."
"How do we find it?" Xu Qingqing asked.
"Let's start with background checks on the employees," said Editor-in-Chief Qin. "Hanshan Technology has over two hundred employees, and it's impossible for everyone to know the company's secrets. But the core team involved in the 'Nirvana Project' won't be too large; these people are either cultivators or top scientists. We need to find those among them who might have a conscience, or those with something to hide."
Cheng Xu wrote, "I can access the human resources database, but I need the employee list."
"I'll figure that out," said Editor-in-Chief Qin. "But before that, we have another matter to deal with—stabilizing the core of the Wen Shu formation."
He looked at Li Shancheng: "Shancheng, your connection with the array's core is getting stronger and stronger. This may mean that you can help stabilize it, or at least slow down the rate of energy loss."
"What should I do?" Li Shancheng asked.
"Try to establish a deeper communication with the array's core," said Editor-in-Chief Qin. "Not through the secret vault, but through a direct connection at the energy level. But there are risks involved; if Cold Mountain Technology is monitoring the array's core, they might detect your presence."
"They already know me." Li Shancheng recalled the garage attack and the pursuit last night. "One more time wouldn't make much difference."
Editor-in-Chief Qin nodded approvingly: "Courageous. Xu Qingqing, you're the protector of Shancheng. Cheng Xu, continue analyzing the existing data and see if you can find more clues. I need to go out and contact some old friends—if Hanshan Technology's plan really involves ancient relics, then we might need more help."
At ten o'clock in the morning, Li Shancheng sat cross-legged under the purple dragon wood. Bishop Qin drew a protective magic circle around him with a special powder and placed four jade talismans in the four directions.
"Close your eyes and clear your mind," Xu Qingqing instructed. "Don't try to think about anything; let your consciousness flow naturally. Try to feel the pulse of energy around you—the life force of the Purple Dragon Wood, the underground water veins, and the spiritual energy in the air."
Li Shancheng did as instructed. At first, he could only feel his own breathing and heartbeat. But gradually, a subtle vibration came from the ground, like a distant heartbeat. The vibration became clearer and clearer, with a stable and powerful frequency, perfectly synchronized with the energy fluctuations of the Wen Shu array eye.
He tried to extend his consciousness, like reaching out an invisible hand to touch the source of the vibration. Suddenly, images appeared in his vision—not with his eyes, but directly in his mind.
He saw the Library again, but this time from a different perspective. He wasn't standing in the hall, but floating in the air, overlooking the entire space. The Book of Light lay quietly on the stone platform, but the light on its pages was noticeably dimmer than before.
Seven beams of light extended from the book, connecting to seven rune nodes on the wall. Three of these beams were bright and stable, but the other four—including the one leading towards the library—were noticeably dim and flickered intermittently, as if they might break at any moment.
Even more seriously, cracks have appeared in the energy field of the entire secret vault. Several gems in the dome have gone out, and the murals on the walls have begun to fade. An intrusive, dark red energy stream, like a parasite, coils around the energy network at the core of the array, constantly draining its life force.
That is Hanshan Technology's siphon system.
Li Shancheng felt a surge of anger, not his own emotion, but rather a emanation from the array's core—a mournful cry of being violated and harmed. He instinctively wanted to sever the dark red energy flow, but his consciousness was merely an observer, unable to directly intervene.
Just then, the Book of Light suddenly lit up. A stream of information flooded into his consciousness:
"Guardian candidate... Energy node repair... Requires... Balance..."
Along with the information, the specific locations and functions of the seven rune nodes clearly appeared in his mind. Li Shancheng understood that the array's core was teaching him how to perform basic maintenance—not to resist the siphon effect, but to strengthen himself and enhance his resistance.
"What should I do?" he asked in his mind.