They say I'm a world-destroying anomaly.

Chapter 105 Long-Awaited Contact

For Cheng Xu, the most important thing right now is to complete the containment of the Youyan.

Over the course of more than two thousand years within this confined space, the ship became abnormal due to its obsession, acquiring a variety of bizarre characteristics.

It can switch between "ancient and damaged ships" and "nests of mutated flesh and blood," the latter being far more dangerous than the former.

The core essence of the Youyan has mutated into something akin to a pseudo-evil god, possessing the ability to distort reality.

It can, to some extent, materialize the content stored in its database into a weakened form of reality.

For example, the shadow slugs woven from holographic images also possess corrosive properties similar to dark matter, but this property only exhibits about 20% of the effectiveness of a real shadow slug.

In normal ship mode, it possesses the same thinking ability and logical level as the main control intelligence of ordinary ships, and can communicate normally with intelligent beings.

Once it enters the more fundamental "flesh and blood nest" state, its intelligence will be greatly reduced, and it will exhibit pure hostility and aggression towards any living being.

Under such circumstances, its ability to distort reality will be dramatically amplified.

Cheng Xu still remembers the giant barnacles, eerie jellyfish, and other things that were having a wild time outside the spaceship. Judging by the naked eye alone, these terrifying creatures were enough to cause destructive damage to the planet's surface.

In terms of sheer destructiveness, it's almost certain to be rated at the alert level (C level), and with full force, it might even teeter on the edge of the critical level (B level).

Currently, the specific mechanism of the Youyan satellite's state switching is still a question that requires further research.

Just now, when the Youyan revealed its fangs, Cheng Xu used the blood of Omar, Congret, and others to reawaken the main control AI's consciousness.

However, he could not say for sure whether the Youyan could maintain a stable state indefinitely.

If the completely distorted Youyan were to escape from the crevice and arrive on the surface of the sand planet, it would be an absolutely terrifying natural disaster for that planet.

The two closest tribes will be the first to suffer, and the personnel and weapons deployed by the Interstellar Court and various conglomerates are insufficient to deal with the threat it poses.

Therefore, quickly transferring and containing the Youyan, and having it taken over and controlled by the Anomaly Management Bureau, has become the highest priority at this moment.

At least in the short term, the Youyan's condition should remain relatively stable. If it can be contained as soon as possible, there should be no major unforeseen circumstances.

Alert-level anomalies that are willing to cooperate with containment can also save the Administration a lot of energy and resources.

After a brief conversation with the main control AI in the command center, Cheng Xu decided to leave the ship and the confined space.

Contact the Administration Bureau.

The good news is that the Youyan's database still contains information on how to enter and exit narrow spaces, as well as methods to solve the problem of stacked spaces in the external Gobi Desert.

Under the control of the main intelligent system, an autonomous machine used to identify and record spatial features accompanied the group as they left the ship.

The primary function of this type of autonomous machine is to assist in the correction and recording of processes such as interstellar jumps of the spacecraft. According to the main control AI, this small autonomous machine can help them find a path out.

The moment they stepped off the Youyan, everyone except Cheng Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

The terrifying moment they just experienced on the ship will inevitably leave a deep mark on their memories.

This bizarre experience was unlike anything they had ever had since birth; it was like the legends and stories they had heard from their ancestors, full of fantastical elements.

"Brother! Are we going back now?"

It must be said that Emily has an incredibly resilient heart.

The little girl, who had just been quite frightened, was now holding Congrett's hand and skipping forward, curiously looking around and touching things here and there.

Knowing that all the dangers in the crevice came from the Wild Goose behind him, Congritte did not stop his sister's actions.

He held Emily's hand, and she led him to the front of the group, her face full of doting smiles.

"Yes, prepare to go back."

The initial despair upon learning of his sister's disappearance flashed through his mind, but looking at his sister's bright smile, Congrit's taut nerves finally began to relax.

Although the process was full of twists and turns, the result was still good.

He found his sister and his only family.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but turn around and look at Cheng Xu and Fields with grateful eyes.

If it weren't for these two benefactors from beyond the heavens, he might have long been buried in the Flowing Sound Sands. Without their help, he would never have had the chance to find his sister.

Similarly, if Cheng Xu and Fields hadn't offered their help, Emily and the rest of the Sigu tribe would have been trapped in the Gobi Desert until they died.

Fields noticed Congrett's gaze and smiled and nodded in response.

Beside Fields, Cheng Xu held the autonomous machine he had brought from the Youyan, studying how to use it to find an exit.

It can only be said that, although it is a product of more than three thousand years ago, in terms of ease of operation and usability, autonomous machinery is still...

It has been properly designed.

Soon, Cheng Xu displayed an image on the screen on the back of the autonomous machine. From the image, he could easily see the spatial distribution within a radius of one kilometer.

The space in the crevice is mostly evenly distributed, but there is a very obvious crack-like pattern about 600 to 700 meters to the southwest of the group.

Needless to say, these are the coordinates of the space connecting the narrow gap to the outside world.

This time, the lazy lynx at their feet didn't play a role. When the group arrived at the specific location corresponding to the connection point, the scene before them began to change naturally.

The scorching starlight fell from overhead again, and several members of the Bone Clan hurriedly put on protective masks to prevent being burned by the high heat and radiation.

Surrounded by a desolate Gobi Desert, the air distorted by the intense heat. They left the crevice and returned to the wilderness where they had originally been.

Immediately afterwards, Cheng Xu followed suit, using autonomous machinery to lead the group to an unremarkable open space in the Gobi Desert.

If you rely solely on luck, you might wander around the Gobi Desert for a hundred years and still not find the exit of the overlapping space.

But with the help of the methods and machinery from the Youyan ship, and with an indescribable distorted light and shadow flashing before their eyes, they successfully walked out of the Gobi Desert that had trapped them for so long.

After confirming the location of the exit, Cheng Xu returned to the Gobi Desert and retrieved the rented aircraft.

Only then could they truly be said to have escaped danger.

The intense sunlight shone on their bodies, and everyone felt as if they were in another world. A knowing smile unconsciously appeared on their faces behind the protective masks.

They stood still, their gazes fixed on Cheng Xu in the very center.

In the process of searching for a way out, Cheng Xu communicated with Congrett, Omar, and others. Because of their direct contact with the anomaly, they could not return to their tribe immediately.

According to the regulations of the Bureau, they need to undergo review and inspection by the Bureau of Abnormalities before they can return to their original lives.

Everyone expressed their understanding, but Emily, after hearing the news that they couldn't go home for the time being, stared at Cheng Xu with her big, watery eyes for a few moments.

However, the little girl's initial frustration quickly dissipated. After all, in her view, going home didn't mean returning to the tribe; home was only where her brother was.

Since she was spending the whole time with her brother, Emily naturally had no objections.

After settling them in, Cheng Xu turned on his communication device, which had been malfunctioning in the Gobi Desert.

back to normal.

He thought about it for a moment, and finally dialed the number he knew best.

"The above is a report on matters concerning Chengming Star and Yuanguang Star."

In the empty virtual room, Hu Zhou sat obediently and properly in the chair, his back straight, his eyes looking straight ahead, without moving.

A few drops of sweat seeped from his forehead and slowly trickled down his face, but he didn't dare to wipe them away, or even breathe.

There is no other reason.

The person he was reporting to was none other than Luo Zhi, the head of the Anomaly Management Bureau and the director of the General Bureau.

After Cheng Xu set off on his journey, Hu Zhou and the staff of Chengming Star Branch spent a lot of time cleaning up various issues.

These matters are wide-ranging, including the various arrangements and handling by the Chengming Star Branch around the planet, the records and archives after the battle with the Arbiter and Bai Ji, and the communication and consultation with the Yuanguang Star Branch on a series of matters that had occurred before.

Whether it was Branch Director Ke Bo, or Hu Zhou, Fu Chen, Xue Zijing, and others, they all worked diligently for a considerable period of time before finally getting everything sorted out.

But soon, a completely new problem arose.

After discovering Cheng Xu's existence, the Anomaly Management Bureau deployed a large number of lethal weapons to guard against this "final anomaly".

But now, the final anomaly has shown them ample goodwill and has offered to leave Chengming Star for headquarters. What should be done with the arrangements left in Chengming Star and Chengyu Galaxy?

After reporting this situation to the General Administration, the Chengmingxing Branch quickly received a reply: to review and summarize the operations and tasks of the past six months and report to the General Administration.

As the person closest to Cheng Xu and also the one most deeply involved in this series of actions, Hu Zhou was naturally chosen as the reporter.

However, he never expected that when he arrived at the remote virtual conference room, it would be Director Luo Zhi from the General Administration who came.

There wasn't even anyone else present; it was a one-on-one, single-point report.

This immediately put immense pressure on Hu Zhou, almost to the point of bursting. Luo Zhi had been in charge of the Anomaly Management Bureau for over a century, and the power he had accumulated was something even a veteran like Hu Zhou couldn't easily withstand.

Or rather, compared to Luo Zhi, he was actually a complete novice.

Hu Zhou completed the report with trepidation, and waited anxiously for his superiors' instructions.

"You did a great job."

In the virtual room, Luo Zhi's image is a wisp of drifting smoke.

Her voice came from the smoke, and her first words made Hu Zhou breathe a sigh of relief.

At least regarding the issue of Cheng Xu, the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television is satisfied with and approves of the performance of these individuals. This means that there should be no direct criticism during subsequent reports.

Once this fundamental premise was established, Hu Zhou's tension immediately eased.

"Thanks to the support of the General Administration."

For the first time, a smile appeared on Hu Zhou's face.

"He might return to Chengming Star later, but that will probably be a long time from now."

Luo Zhi's voice was faint, like clear water, revealing little emotion.

"In that case, let's withdraw the Worker Bee Team from Chengming Star. Hmm, we can also withdraw some of the high-lethality weapons at the same time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Zhou was taken aback, but then he felt that Director Luo's instructions were reasonable.

The Worker Bee Action Team has always been active on the front line of combating and containing anomalies. However, the relatively comfortable and peaceful "daily work" of the past six months has almost made Hu Zhou think that he is just an ordinary branch director.

With the target having left Chengming Star and it foreseeable that he is unlikely to return for a considerable period of time, their mission of "playing the role of an ordinary employee" has naturally come to an end.

"I will contact Kober, and you should prepare for the handover."

"yes!"

The brief instructions received a brief reply from Hu Zhou. This worker bee action captain, who had grown up in blood and fire, quickly adjusted his mindset and was ready to rush to the next mission location at any time.

"Return to headquarters and await further instructions."

"yes?"

Hu Zhou was taken aback again.

He thought the director would send him and his team to other places, but instead he was sent directly back to headquarters to wait for orders.

However, he soon realized Luo Zhi's intention.

Cheng Xu will most likely be active at the Anomaly Management Bureau headquarters in the future, after all, it is a terrifying anomaly suspected to be at the final level, and the Bureau remains vigilant.

At times like this, if these "acquaintances" meet with him at headquarters, it can reduce communication barriers and help Cheng Xu stabilize his "anchor" of humanity.

This is the true intention behind the General Administration's relocation of these people back.

In the foreseeable future, he and his worker bee action team will meet again at headquarters.

"Then what about that last big meal I treated everyone to—"

Realizing this, Hu Zhou murmured.

"What?" Luo Zhi seemed a little confused.

Hu Zhou quickly waved his hand: "It's nothing, it's nothing—Director, I'll immediately notify the worker bee team members to get ready, please rest assured."

Luo Zhi gave Hu Zhou a few more instructions, telling him that someone would be in charge of the follow-up, and then prepared to end the meeting.

As the head of the Bureau of Anomalies, she is extremely busy with countless affairs and has little time for idle chatter.

But just before she was about to leave the temporary meeting room, Hu Zhou suddenly felt a jolt.

"etc!"

Luo Zhi's drifting smoke froze: "What's wrong?"

"He's contacting me!"