JFWCM Chapter 77

Interstellar Key Search

Interstellar Key Search

Yi Shang, Jichuan, and Zhang Yao, carrying the first key obtained from the “Moonlight Forest,” continued their search journey with hope. According to the clues obtained on the abandoned planet, they learned that the second key might be hidden in a place called “Shattered Star Abyss.” It was a dangerous area on the edge of an interstellar spatial rift, filled with unstable energy currents and fragments of shattered planets. A slight carelessness could lead to being sucked into the endless void.

As the spaceship approached “Shattered Star Abyss,” it felt a strong pulling force, as if an invisible giant hand wanted to drag them into the abyss. Yi Shang focused all her attention on controlling the spaceship, trying to find a safe path in the chaotic energy field. Her eyes were firm and stern, but her forehead was slightly beaded with sweat, a subtle sign she showed when facing great pressure.

“Everyone, get ready, the situation here is worse than we imagined,” Yi Shang said in a low voice. Although her voice was steady, Jichuan and Zhang Yao could feel the solemnity in it.

Zhang Yao nervously stared at various monitoring instruments, constantly reporting energy data around the spaceship to Yi Shang: “The energy fluctuations are too intense, the load on the shields is constantly rising, it won’t last long like this.”

Jichuan tightly gripped the weapon in his hand, constantly vigilant for possible dangers: “I wonder what kind of monsters we will encounter in this environment.”

Just as they were struggling to move forward, a group of alien creatures shaped like sharp crystals rushed towards the spaceship at high speed. These creatures moved freely in the energy currents, their bodies flashing with strange light. They quickly arrived near the spaceship and began to strike the shields with their sharp bodies.

“Where did these guys come from!” Jichuan shouted, while activating the spaceship’s weapon system and firing at the alien creatures.

Yi Shang dodged the attacks of the alien creatures while searching for their weaknesses. She discovered that these creatures seemed to react strongly to a specific frequency of energy, so she quickly adjusted the spaceship’s weapon frequency and launched another attack.

However, the number of alien creatures was large, and they surged in wave after wave. Despite their desperate resistance, the spaceship’s shield energy was constantly decreasing. In the fierce battle, a powerful energy stream suddenly erupted from the interstellar rift, hitting one side of the spaceship. The spaceship shook violently, and various instruments emitted ear-piercing alarms.

“Not good, the spaceship’s engine is damaged!” Zhang Yao shouted anxiously.

Yi Shang gritted her teeth and said, “First get rid of these alien creatures, then find a way to repair the engine.” She increased the spaceship’s power, trying to break through the encirclement of the alien creatures.

After a bitter battle, they finally managed to repel the alien creatures. But at this time, the spaceship’s condition was already very critical, the engine was constantly flashing sparks, and it could be completely scrapped at any time. Yi Shang controlled the spaceship, struggling to land on a relatively stable planet fragment.

The three quickly exited the spaceship and began to check the damage. Yi Shang opened the engine compartment, looked at the chaotic wiring and damaged parts inside, and frowned tightly. “The situation is very tricky, we lack some key parts, we can’t repair it here.”

Jichuan and Zhang Yao’s faces also became very unsightly. They knew that the longer they stayed in this dangerous area, the greater the danger would be.

“Maybe we can look around to see if we can find usable materials for temporary repairs,” Jichuan suggested.

Yi Shang nodded, so the three began to search for usable parts on the planet fragment. The surface of this planet fragment was covered with various strange ores and discarded mechanical parts, but finding parts suitable for repairing the spaceship’s engine was easier said than done.

They searched hard in the wreckage, time passed minute by minute, but they still couldn’t find suitable parts. Just when they were feeling desperate, Zhang Yao suddenly discovered a device similar to an engine core component in a hidden corner.

“Look, can this be used?” Zhang Yao shouted excitedly.

Yi Shang and Jichuan rushed over and carefully checked the device. After some analysis, they found that although this device did not completely match the spaceship’s engine, it might be possible to temporarily repair the engine after some modifications.

The three immediately started working, using the tools carried on the spaceship to modify the device. Yi Shang, relying on her superb skills in scientific research, led the modification work. Jichuan and Zhang Yao assisted from the side, passing tools and helping to fix the parts.

However, just as they were about to complete the modification, a strong energy fluctuation struck, and the entire planet fragment began to vibrate violently. It turned out that the energy burst in the interstellar rift triggered a chain reaction, and the surrounding planet fragments all began to become unstable.

“Not good, we have to finish it quickly!” Yi Shang shouted, and the movements on her hands became faster.

But things didn’t go as planned. Before they had time to install the modified device on the spaceship engine, the planet fragment suddenly collapsed. Huge stones smashed towards them, and Yi Shang, Jichuan, and Zhang Yao could only desperately dodge.

When everything settled down, the modified device had been buried under the ruins and could not be recovered. Yi Shang looked at the mess in front of her, her heart filled with frustration. She clenched her fists tightly, her fingernails almost embedded in her palms.

“Don’t be discouraged, Yi Shang, let’s think of another way,” Jichuan comforted, but his own voice was also full of helplessness.

Zhang Yao silently picked up a stone and threw it out hard, venting the anger in her heart: “Why are we so unlucky every time!”

Yi Shang took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. “We can’t give up, there must be other ways.” She looked around again, trying to find a new solution.

Suddenly, Yi Shang noticed a huge metal building in the distance, which seemed out of place in this planet fragment. “Look, what is that? Maybe there’s something we need there.”

Jichuan and Zhang Yao looked in the direction Yi Shang pointed, and hope rekindled in their eyes. The three walked towards the metal building, carefully avoiding various dangers along the way.

When they approached the metal building, they found that the building’s gate was tightly closed, surrounded by a circle of mysterious energy fields. Yi Shang stepped forward, trying to find a way to enter the building. She carefully studied the rules of the energy field and found that she could match it by adjusting her own energy shield frequency, so as to pass through the energy field.

Under Yi Shang’s leadership, the three successfully entered the metal building. The interior of the building was dark and damp, filled with a pungent odor. They turned on the lighting equipment and slowly explored forward.

The building was filled with various strange instruments and equipment, and the walls were covered with incomprehensible symbols and patterns. Yi Shang guessed that this might be the ruins of an ancient civilization, and maybe they could find clues to repair the spaceship and find the second key.

They searched everywhere in the building, and finally found an ancient book in a room. The material of the book was very special, shimmering in the light. Yi Shang carefully opened the book and found that it contained some information about “Shattered Star Abyss” and the whereabouts of the second key.

It turned out that the second key was sealed in the basement of the building, guarded by a powerful energy. To obtain the key, one must solve a series of complex puzzles, otherwise it would trigger the defense mechanism and suffer fatal attacks.

Yi Shang translated the contents of the book to Jichuan and Zhang Yao, and the three decided to accept the challenge. They came to the basement and saw a huge crystal platform. In the center of the crystal platform was a key emitting a faint blue light, which was the second key they were looking for.

However, surrounding the crystal platform was a circle of complex energy runes, constantly flickering and emitting powerful energy fluctuations. Yi Shang carefully observed the arrangement and changing rules of the runes, trying to find a way to solve the puzzle.

Time passed minute by minute, and Yi Shang fell into deep thought. She constantly deduced various possible solutions in her mind, but still couldn’t find a clue. Jichuan and Zhang Yao waited anxiously on the side. They knew that time was running out for them. The energy fluctuations in the interstellar rift were becoming stronger and stronger, which might trigger a greater disaster at any time.

Just when Yi Shang felt desperate, she suddenly remembered an ancient interstellar mathematical model she had learned at Xingyao Academy. She tried to apply this model to the rune puzzle in front of her. Sure enough, the runes began to change according to her expectations.

But things didn’t go so smoothly. After Yi Shang solved a part of the puzzle, a new problem suddenly appeared. A huge energy barrier appeared between them and the key. A complex interstellar physics problem was displayed on the barrier. Yi Shang tried to use her knowledge to solve it, but the field involved in this problem was too complicated, and she had no clue for a while.

Jichuan and Zhang Yao looked at Yi Shang, their eyes filled with expectation and worry. “Yi Shang, you can do it, we believe in you,” Jichuan said.

Yi Shang gritted her teeth and continued to think. She constantly recalled the knowledge she had learned, trying to solve the problem from different angles. However, time passed in tense thinking, and in the end, they still failed to solve the problem within the specified time.

With a burst of strong energy fluctuations, the defense mechanism was triggered. Energy beams shot towards them, and Yi Shang, Jichuan, and Zhang Yao could only desperately dodge. In the chaos, they were forced to flee the basement.

When they returned to the ground, they found that the energy field of the entire “Shattered Star Abyss” had become more unstable, and the energy spewing out from the interstellar rift was becoming more and more powerful. The spaceship could no longer stay in such an environment, and they could only helplessly board the spaceship and temporarily leave this place.

The spaceship slowly took off, and Yi Shang looked at the “Shattered Star Abyss” gradually moving away outside the window, her heart filled with unwillingness. “We will be back, we will definitely find the second key,” she said in a low voice, her eyes revealing a firm determination.

Jichuan and Zhang Yao looked at Yi Shang and nodded. They knew that this failure was only temporary. As long as they didn’t give up, they would eventually find all the keys and solve the mystery of Jiang Wan’yuan’s disappearance.

In the days that followed, Yi Shang, Jichuan, and Zhang Yao, while looking for ways to repair the spaceship, re-sorted out the clues about the second key. They traveled through the stars, visiting many interstellar scholars and wise men, hoping to gain some inspiration from them.

Yi Shang became more taciturn, devoting herself wholeheartedly to research and searching. Her eyes revealed a kind of persistence and tenacity, as if no matter how many difficulties she encountered, she could not shake her determination to find Jiang Wan’yuan.

Jichuan and Zhang Yao did not slack off in the slightest. They used their contacts and resources to make various preparations for finding the second key. Although the road ahead was full of unknowns and challenges, the three of them always stayed closely united, facing everything in the future together.

They knew that Jiang Wan’yuan was still waiting for them somewhere, and they would continue to pursue her until the day they reunited with her.