JFWCM Chapter 78

The North Pole of the Original Star

Jiang Wan’yuan stood in front of the porthole of the shuttle, looking at the gradually clearer surface of the planet, her heart filled with mixed emotions. This was still the planet she knew so well, yet it was so strange. She had come to the planet’s northernmost point, an area that no one had ever deeply explored.

The shuttle slowly landed, the hatch opened, and a biting cold wind rushed in, hitting Jiang Wan’yuan’s protective mask with ice pellets. The far north was covered with endless ice and snow, and as far as the eye could see, it was a silvery white expanse. In the sky, the aurora danced like a dream, with green, purple, and pink intertwined light curtains constantly changing shape, as if performing the ancient legends of the planet. However, behind this beauty was an extremely harsh environment.

Jiang Wan’yuan stepped out of the shuttle, and the ice layer under her feet was thick and hard, making a dull sound. The moment her boots touched the ice, she could feel a bone-chilling cold trying to penetrate the protective layer. In the distance, icebergs like hideous beasts towered into the clouds, their sharp ice peaks piercing the sky. These icebergs were not static, and the occasional dull rumble indicated the surging of powerful energy within them. Occasionally, huge blocks of ice collapsed and slid from the icebergs, falling into the icy sea and splashing up ice waves tens of meters high.

The icy sea was not far away, and the surface of the sea was not completely frozen, but flowed with a strange blue liquid, emitting a dim and cold light. Jiang Wan’yuan approached the icy sea, squatted down, and carefully touched the blue liquid. As soon as she made contact, she felt a powerful electric current transmitted along her fingertips, but fortunately, the protective gloves insulated the current in time. This blue liquid contained extremely high energy and had a complex composition, completely different from the substances in other parts of the planet.

Walking along the icy sea, Jiang Wan’yuan discovered some strange ice caves. These ice caves seemed to have been hollowed out from the inside by some huge force, and the openings were irregularly round, with the surrounding ice walls as smooth as a mirror. Jiang Wan’yuan turned on the lighting equipment and walked into one of the ice caves. The interior of the ice cave was spacious, and the cave walls shimmered with colorful light, like a fantastic crystal palace. However, when she went deeper into the ice cave, she found some creepy traces.

On the floor of the ice cave, there were huge claw prints, deeply embedded in the ice layer, each claw print the size of a person. These claw prints looked fresh, not like they had been left a long time ago. Jiang Wan’yuan became vigilant and tightened her grip on the detection gun in her hand. Continuing deeper, she also found some strange crystals, these crystals were black, with strange patterns on the surface, as if they were some ancient text. Jiang Wan’yuan took out a sample, ready to study it carefully later.

At the end of the ice cave, Jiang Wan’yuan saw a huge ice sculpture. The shape of the ice sculpture was blurred, like some kind of huge creature, but due to its age, part of it had melted and deformed. Just as she was carefully examining the ice sculpture, she suddenly heard a low roar coming from the depths of the ice cave. The sound echoed in the ice cave, causing ice chips to fall. Jiang Wan’yuan realized that danger was coming and immediately turned around and ran out of the ice cave.

As soon as she left the ice cave, she saw a huge ice beast rushing out of the ice mountains in the distance. This ice beast was shaped like a polar bear, but it was dozens of stories high, its entire body covered with ice armor that shimmered with cold light, and its eyes were like two balls of burning blue flame. The ice beast spotted Jiang Wan’yuan, opened its bloody mouth, let out a roar, and charged towards her. Jiang Wan’yuan quickly activated the shuttle’s defense system and looked for an opportunity to fly the shuttle away.

The ice beast was extremely fast and arrived in front of the shuttle in an instant. It swung its huge claws and slapped the shuttle hard. Jiang Wan’yuan hurriedly maneuvered the shuttle to dodge to the side, and the claws brushed against the outer shell of the shuttle, leaving several deep scratches. Jiang Wan’yuan knew that she could not confront the ice beast head-on, she aimed at the gap in the ice beast’s attack, maneuvered the shuttle into the air, and flew away into the distance.

After getting rid of the ice beast, Jiang Wan’yuan was still in shock. She knew that the northernmost part of this planet hid too many secrets and dangers. But she had no intention of retreating, but was even more determined to explore further, because she vaguely felt that everything here might be inextricably linked to the predicament she and her father were facing.

Jiang Wan’yuan piloted the shuttle, circling in the sky above the northernmost part of the planet, looking back with lingering fear at the gradually receding figure of the ice beast. She knew that this seemingly dead ice and snow world was actually full of undercurrents, and every corner might be hiding unknown dangers, but she was even more convinced that this was where the key clues to solving the mystery were hidden.

The shuttle flew along the edge of the icy sea, and Jiang Wan’yuan carefully observed the terrain below through the porthole. At a junction between the icy sea and the land, she discovered a strange cluster of buildings. These buildings were half-covered in ice and snow, with only some spires and domes exposed, exuding a mysterious atmosphere. Jiang Wan’yuan decided to land again and explore this cluster of buildings.

As she approached the buildings, she discovered that the materials of these buildings were not ordinary ice or rock, but a translucent substance that emitted a faint light, which was hard and elastic. Jiang Wan’yuan gently touched the surface of the building, and a strange sensation was transmitted from her fingertips, as if these buildings were alive. She followed the outline of the building and found a tightly closed door, which was covered with complex runes and patterns, which were very similar to the patterns on the black crystals she had found in the ice cave.

Jiang Wan’yuan tried various methods to open this door. She first used her familiar cracking skills, but the runes did not respond. Then, she took out the black crystal she had collected in the ice cave and tried to match it with the patterns on the door. The moment the crystal approached the door, the runes suddenly flashed with light, and the door slowly opened, and an old and mysterious aura rushed in.

Behind the door was a long corridor, and the walls were inlaid with glowing spheres, illuminating the entire passage. Jiang Wan’yuan walked along the corridor, and some reliefs began to appear on the surrounding walls, depicting ancient sacrificial rituals, strange creatures, and some incomprehensible scenes. These reliefs seemed to be telling a long-ago story, and Jiang Wan’yuan walked and watched, trying to piece together useful information from them.

At the end of the corridor was a huge circular hall. In the center of the hall was a huge stone platform, and on the stone platform was placed a book that emitted a soft light. Jiang Wan’yuan approached the stone platform and carefully picked up the book, and found that the material of the book was not paper, but a crystal-like substance, and the text on the pages was like flowing liquid, constantly changing shape.

Jiang Wan’yuan concentrated and tried to decipher the text. After some effort, she gradually understood the content recorded in the book. It turned out that the northernmost part of the planet was once a holy place of a highly developed civilization. This civilization mastered a powerful energy technology that could control the energy inside the planet. However, a sudden disaster broke the tranquility here. A powerful force invaded, leading to the demise of the civilization. The survivors sealed this evil force in the depths of the northernmost part of the planet in order to seal it, and left these buildings and books as a warning.

Just as Jiang Wan’yuan was immersed in the information in the book, suddenly, the lights in the hall began to flicker, and a low rumble came from underground. Jiang Wan’yuan realized that the situation was not good, quickly put away the book, and prepared to leave. However, the door of the hall suddenly closed, and some black cracks appeared on the surrounding walls, from which a black mist gushed out, and faint, hideous faces floated in the mist.

Jiang Wan’yuan quickly took out her weapon and looked around vigilantly. The black mist gradually condensed into several demon-like creatures, and they pounced on Jiang Wan’yuan with their claws and teeth. Jiang Wan’yuan dodged to the side and shot energy beams at these demons at the same time. The demons were agile and easily avoided the attacks, and quickly counterattacked. In the battle with the demons, Jiang Wan’yuan gradually discovered that they seemed to be more sensitive to energy of a certain frequency.

She quickly adjusted the frequency of the weapon and launched another attack. This time, the energy beam accurately hit a demon, and the demon let out a scream and dissipated into a wisp of black smoke. Seeing this, the other demons pounced on Jiang Wan’yuan even more frantically. Jiang Wan’yuan calmly responded, using the terrain of the hall to maneuver with the demons, constantly looking for opportunities to launch attacks.

In the fierce battle, Jiang Wan’yuan was accidentally scratched by a demon’s claw, and blood dripped on the ground. However, something strange happened. The moment the blood touched the ground, the runes on the ground lit up, and a powerful energy surged from the ground, instantly destroying all the demons. Jiang Wan’yuan looked at her bleeding arm, her heart filled with doubt. She guessed that her blood might have some special connection with the seal here.

While the hall was temporarily restored to calm, Jiang Wan’yuan quickly looked for a way to leave. She found a hidden passage on one side of the hall, which extended downward, seemingly leading to a deeper place. Jiang Wan’yuan knew that going deeper might face greater danger, but she also understood that perhaps the truth was at the end of this passage.

She took a deep breath and slowly walked down the passage. The passage was filled with a pungent smell, and the further down she went, the higher the temperature, which was in stark contrast to the icy and snowy world outside. At the end of the passage, Jiang Wan’yuan saw a huge stone gate, which was covered with runes and patterns. These runes flickered with strange light, as if to prevent anyone from approaching.

Jiang Wan’yuan carefully observed the stone gate and found a depression on the stone gate, the shape of which exactly matched the black crystal in her hand. She hesitated for a moment, but finally put the crystal into the depression. In an instant, the stone gate emitted a violent tremor and slowly opened. Behind the door was a huge space, filled with powerful energy fluctuations. In the center of the space, there was a huge energy core, emitting a strong light.

Jiang Wan’yuan approached the energy core and felt a powerful force rushing towards her. She discovered that this energy core was the source of the abnormal phenomena in the entire northernmost part of the planet, and also the key to the disaster that had occurred. Just then, the energy core suddenly emitted a strong light, and a vague figure appeared in the light.

The figure gradually became clear, and it was an old man in a robe. The old man looked at Jiang Wan’yuan, his eyes revealing complex emotions, including relief and worry. “Child, you have finally come here.” The old man’s voice was low and hoarse, as if it had traveled through endless years.

Jiang Wan’yuan looked at the old man warily and asked, “Who are you? What exactly is going on?”

The old man slowly said, “I am the last guardian of this civilization. Many years ago, an evil force tried to devour the entire planet, and we did our best to seal it here. However, the power of the seal is gradually weakening, and this evil force is about to awaken again. Your appearance may be an arrangement of fate. Only you can stop all this.”

Jiang Wan’yuan’s heart tightened, and she realized that she was shouldering a major mission. “What should I do?” she asked firmly.

The old man looked at Jiang Wan’yuan and said, “The book in your hand records the method of sealing, but this requires great courage and strength. You must go deep into the energy core and use your own power to reinforce the seal. But this process is full of danger, and if you are not careful, you will be lost here forever.”

Jiang Wan’yuan did not hesitate at all. She took a deep breath and said, “I am willing to try.”

The old man nodded, his figure gradually disappeared, leaving only a sentence echoing in the space: “Child, everything depends on you…”

Jiang Wan’yuan looked at the energy core in front of her, her heart filled with determination. She knew that the road ahead was full of difficulties and dangers, but in order to save the planet and to find her father, she had to bravely take this step…