MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 243
Chapter 243: The Door to the Unknown
All spatial technologies were intricately linked to the power of space.
And Lu Ming's Void Realm was a fusion of spatial and temporal energies.
He had focused the power of the Void Realm into his eyes, creating the so-called Void Eye.
With this newfound ability, Lu Ming easily saw through the illusion before them.
"It's just a ruin within a ruin," he murmured, his voice low.
The Flame Clan Ruin was attached to the Black Mist Zone, and this alternate space was, in turn, attached to the Flame Clan Ruin.
It was like a large circle encompassing a smaller one.
"As for how to open it," Lu Ming continued, "it's quite simple..."
He turned to Ivy. "Step back a bit."
Ivy obeyed, watching as Lu Ming's eyes turned pitch black.
Even though this alternate space was small, it had been created by an Ancient Realm expert.
Lu Ming didn't possess the full power of such an expert.
But simply opening the door to this ruin was relatively easy with his Intermediate-level Void Domain. It was like using a key to unlock a door, without needing to understand the intricacies of building a house.
Black light emanated from Lu Ming's eyes, flowing into his hands. He reached out, grasping the air before him with a firm grip.
A subtle friction sound filled the air.
Lu Ming seemed to be wrestling with an invisible door, slowly pulling a shimmering white portal from the fabric of space.
"You go in first!" he instructed Ivy.
Lu Ming's command echoed through the chamber, and Ivy, without hesitation, stepped through the shimmering portal. Lu Ming followed close behind.
The world around them warped and twisted, the familiar surroundings of the ancestral hall replaced by a sleek, futuristic corridor.
Up ahead, Ivy, Zhuang Zun, and the other two Skywalkers lay sprawled on the ground, their bodies limp and unresponsive.
Faint snores escaped their lips, and their brows were furrowed, as if trapped in the throes of a nightmare.
Lu Ming's gaze lingered on Ivy. She had entered the portal mere seconds before him, yet she was already fast asleep.
What's going on here? he wondered, a sense of unease creeping into his mind.
Suddenly, a strange energy rippled through the air, invading his consciousness.
A wave of overwhelming drowsiness washed over him.
But the intrusion of this foreign energy triggered an instinctive response within Lu Ming. Origin Power surged from his cells, battling against the encroaching lethargy. At the same time, the power of the Void Realm flickered, as if reacting to the presence of this alien force.
With the combined strength of his Origin Power and Void Domain, Lu Ming shook off the drowsiness and regained his clarity.
His eyes narrowed as he assessed the situation.
"Let's see who's behind this," he muttered, a steely determination in his voice.
Deep within the research institute, within Laboratory No. 1...
The Dream Source(Lord Yanxin) and the Crimson Queen observed the scene unfolding through the monitors.
When they saw Lu Ming quickly dispel the nightmare's invasion, a flicker of surprise crossed the Dream Source's massive eye.
"This guy has some strength," it remarked, its voice a low rumble.
The nightmare attack it had unleashed was on par with a Spirit Realm Level Eight's power.
Anyone below that level would be helplessly dragged into the nightmare, becoming a plaything for the Dream Source.
Yet, not only had this human torn open the door to the research institute, but he had also resisted the nightmare's influence. And all this despite his seemingly weak aura.
"But it doesn't matter," the Dream Source muttered, its voice filled with a chilling confidence.
It observed Lu Ming's futile attempts to awaken Zhuang Zun and the others before reluctantly moving deeper into the institute.
It also saw the grotesque, distorted monsters lying in wait between Lu Ming and itself.
And it perceived the Dream Plague, released earlier, spreading like wildfire through the Flame Clan Ruin and even beyond, carried by the wind to the outside world.
Countless creatures were being infected, becoming incubators for the Dream Clan.
"My mission is complete," the Dream Source declared, a note of triumph in its voice.
"No," it corrected itself, "there's one last step..."
Its single eye fixed on Lu Ming's approaching figure, a flicker of anticipation passing through it.
"Crimson."
"Yes, sir. I'm here," the AI responded promptly.
"Do you think he can do it?" the Dream Source inquired, its voice a low rumble echoing in the lab.
It didn't specify what "it" entailed, but the Crimson Queen understood perfectly.
After a moment of silence, the AI's mechanical voice responded, "No, not at all."
"His strength is insufficient to meet your requirements, sir."
"Furthermore, he may not even be able to break through the experimental subject's barriers and reach you."
The Dream Source blinked its massive eye, a flicker of disappointment crossing its gaze.
"I see... Then forget it," it muttered, its voice laced with a hint of regret. "It's a shame. I really didn't want to experience the taste of failure from the Aeonians again."
The laboratory, filled with Dream Virus, is the Dream Source's domain. With just a thought, it appeared at the pass-out intruders.
It gently patted the cheeks of the unconscious Zhuang Zun, Ivy, and the others, their faces puffing up slightly with each strike. But there was no sign of them waking up.
"There's nothing we can do," it concluded, a note of finality in its voice.
It couldn't resort to more drastic measures to rouse them.
Shaking its head, the Dream Source turned its attention back to the monitors, its gaze following Lu Ming's progress.
Lu Ming, leaving the slumbering Skywalkers behind, ventured deeper into the research institute.
The corridor he walked through was long and narrow, its futuristic design hinting at the advanced technology the Flame Clan had once possessed. The walls were pristine, the lighting bright and clear.
After a few hundred meters, he reached a fork in the path.
The decision of which way to go was an easy one.
A faint sound emanated from the corridor to the right, while the left remained silent.
"I need to find someone I can communicate with and get a sense of the situation," Lu Ming decided, decisively turning right at the fork.
After walking for about 500 meters, he abruptly stopped.
A door on his left stood wide open, and a faint voice echoed from within.
Above the door, in the universal language of the Black Mist Zone, Lu Ming read the inscription:
[Laboratory No. 5]
He cleared his throat and approached the open doorway, knocking politely on the frame.
"Is anyone there?" he called out. "I need to ask for directions."
A pleasant female voice responded from within the room, its source unseen. "Someone's here. Please come in."
"Then I'll enter," Lu Ming replied.
"Please do," the voice welcomed him.
Lu Ming stepped into the laboratory.
Meanwhile, in Laboratory No. 1...
The Crimson Queen was in front of a set of imaging equipment.
The device, positioned before the Dream Source, displayed a live feed of Lu Ming.
As she watched him enter Laboratory Five, the Crimson Queen spoke in her usual monotone.
"His life ends here."
The Flame Clan Royal Research Institute was a hub of high-risk projects, numbering in the hundreds. The lower the laboratory number, the more dangerous the project within.
Laboratory No. 5 was among the first few, indicating the terrifying nature of its experiments.
"Green Ivy," the Crimson Queen continued. "The name of Project No. 5 is Green Ivy."
End of Chapter 243