Chapter 62: The Choice of the Star Gate

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At the top of the Storm Tower, within the massive circular chamber, an unprecedented silence enveloped everything.
At the center, the star-gate device—refined through countless iterations, the final form of the "Cocoon"—stood in quiet dignity.
It was no longer the crude prototype of the beginning, nor the upgraded experimental machine, but a nearly flawless creation.
The streamlined silver-white alloy framework embraced the deep energy focuser at its center. Inscribed upon it were composite guide channels that fused the geometric aesthetics of the Ram system with the natural textures of Earth. Subtle sparks of energy pulsed and flowed among the framework like breathing, emitting an almost imperceptible low-frequency hum.
Xu Yan stood at the main control console, flanked by Ouyang Nan, Duan Peng, Wu Mingjie, and Ji Yu, who manifested in the form of a holographic projection.
Jing Zhimin and several core technical personnel were in the observation area a short distance away, each of their faces bearing an expression of utmost solemnity.
The air was so tense it felt as though it could be wrung out like water. This was the final test before the launch of the Star-Gate Project, and the ultimate trial that would determine whether the minds of two civilizations could truly coordinate to pilot this creation that transcended their era.
"All systems final check completed, energy reserve at 100%, spatial coordinates anchored... Preset safe coordinates on the periphery of the 'Echo Valley - Silent Colossus' ruins," Wu Mingjie reported, his voice slightly raspy with tension.
"External defense matrix activated to full capacity; not even a space mosquito will fly in to disturb us," Duan Peng grinned, attempting to shatter the oppression with his habitual ruggedness, yet the veins on the back of his hand gripping the joystick protruded slightly.
Ouyang Nan took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping across all monitoring data: "Environmental constant field stable, biological signal monitoring system ready."
Xu Yan closed his eyes, his consciousness sinking into the depths.
"Initiating the final fusion protocol." Ji Yu's analysis was unprecedentedly clear, even carrying an imperceptible hint of... solemnity.
"The core energy flow of the star-gate must achieve absolute synchronization with the operator's conscious wave. Theoretically, we must find and lock onto the sole common 'conscious resonance frequency' within our biological information waves. This frequency must transcend individual memories and emotional preferences, touching upon the most fundamental logic of life's existence."
This was the ultimate solution proposed by Ji Yu based on the highest-order conscious technology of Ram, cold and precise, like a scalpel.
Xu Yan did not respond immediately. He recalled the moonlit night at the teahouse, remembered the sentiment of "once-in-a-lifetime encounters," and thought of those concepts in his notes that seemed crude yet mysteriously aligned with the Dao of nature.
"Absolute synchronization is not about forcibly unifying into a single frequency," Xu Yan replied in his mind.
"Perhaps... it is more akin to the ancient Earth philosophy of 'spiritual communion between heaven and humanity.' We do not pursue absolute control, but rather seek a harmony and resonance with the rhythm of all things and the beat of the cosmos. Allowing our consciousnesses, like different musical instruments, to follow the meter of the same cosmic movement, we will naturally produce harmonious sounds."
Combining this realization with the massive computational models provided by Ji Yu, he redirected it to the core of the conscious connection.
He no longer attempted to suppress or alter his own emotional fluctuations, nor did he demand that Ji Yu fully comprehend human "inefficiency." Instead, he guided their consciousnesses to seek that deeper resonance beat belonging to life itself.
The core of the star-gate device began to illuminate, the energy surging like a tide, faster and faster, stronger and stronger.
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The massive circular structure emitted an increasingly brilliant light, and the energy focal point at the center gradually formed a twisting vortex of light.
Just as the energy climbed to the critical point and the star-gate was on the verge of opening—
The intense energy resonance acted like the most precise key, violently prying open the deepest, most tightly sealed memory banks in the consciousnesses of both Xu Yan and Ji Yu!
Before Xu Yan's eyes, the cold control console vanished.
It was as though he were simultaneously situated in two worlds:
On one side, beneath the crimson sky of the Ram world, a city as cold and precise as the interior of a clockwork mechanism.
A young sentient being, newly awakened in consciousness, imbued with education modules of absolute rationality.
For the first time, perceiving the mathematical beauty of flowing energy—that "pleasure," cold yet shocking, brought by pure logic;
On the other side, the courtyard of his old home on a summer night on Earth, carrying the sweet fragrance of the hot osmanthus cake handed to him by his grandmother.
The fear and freedom felt when first jumping into the ocean and feeling the embrace of the water, the warmth of his father's rough palm resting on the top of his head...
And Ji Yu, that mind of absolute rationality from Ram, was at this moment washed by the torrential flood of Earth's memories—
He "felt" the sweet and glutinous texture of the osmanthus cake melting on the tip of his tongue, felt the coolness and pressure of seawater soaking through his body, felt the warmth and security of being cherished by loved ones... These unprecedented, intense, and vivid sensory experiences slammed like a violent torrent against his inherent cognitive system.
Two completely different childhoods, the initial imprints forged by two distinct civilizations, at this very moment—catalyzed by the energy of the star-gate—intermingled, collided, and superimposed without reservation!
The violent conflict nearly tore apart their fusing consciousnesses.
Yet at the very edge of this collapse, amidst that ultimate pain and chaos, a strange resonance was born—
That was the original curiosity toward the "world"!
That was the awe toward "existence" itself!
That was the most primitive, most shared impulse to explore... when life confronts the vast universe!
Regardless of rationality or sensibility, regardless of Ram or Earth, this was a common language carved into the bedrock code of life.
"Now!" The consciousnesses of Xu Yan and Ji Yu issued a fully synchronized command at this instant, no longer separated as two.
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Hum—!!!
The vortex of light at the center of the star-gate suddenly stabilized, transforming into a deep, serene passage emanating a soft blue-white halo!
At the other end of the passage, distorted starlight and strange light and shadow were faintly visible—that was precisely the preset scene of the "Echo Valley" coordinates!
Success!
The star-gate opened steadily!
The energy field stabilized, and the soft halo enveloped the entire top-floor space, banishing the previous tension and oppression.
Duan Peng collapsed onto the ground, taking heavy breaths, before bursting into a hearty, uninhibited laugh.
Ouyang Nan leaned against the control console, a look of profound relief blossoming across her face.
Wu Mingjie silently recorded this historic moment, his single arm executing a vigorous punch through the air.
Jing Zhimin stepped forward, his eyes filled with gratification and excitement.
Under the gaze of everyone, Xu Yan gently wound and braided the red cord and quantum threads. Though their traits were vastly different, under the illumination of the star-gate's light, they miraculously blended together to form a knot that was both rustic and brimming with futuristic flair—the Star-Fate Knot.
He gently placed this small knot on the corner of the star-gate console.
The halo of the star-gate was soft and steady, as though silently witnessing all of this.
Yet, right at this heartwarming moment, within the data stream of the star-gate's stable operation, an extremely faint, unpre-set abnormal fluctuation parameter flashed and vanished, so quickly it almost felt like an illusion.
It did not affect the stability of the star-gate, but like a pebble cast into a calm lake, it portended the undercurrents swirling beneath the depths.
The star-gate was opened, the path ahead had emerged, but what this gate connected behind it might not be as simple as the preset coordinates alone.
New ripples were already brewing in silence.
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