Cataclysm: Undead Dragons and Zero Empire

Lin Zimo transformed his psionic energy into pure energy. The energy system built by the empire could certainly accept psionic energy, since psionic energy was already a type of energy that the empire had fully developed.

Like a trickle, the dark red psionic energy flowed along the lost path, awakening structures that had slumbered for billions of years. A faint light began to appear, just like the hope rising in Lin Ziming's heart.

As energy continued to flow in, the interior of the building opened up to Lin Ziming, and the spiritual energy became his eyes, allowing him to see the secrets within.

Even though it had been completely reduced to ruins, Lin Ziming could still discern its original scale. He didn't understand imperial technology, and to him, those devices were just empty spheres. The purpose of its construction was still unknown.

The psionic energy continued to explore deeper into the building, eventually arriving at a huge circular hall. The dome had not collapsed and was engraved with the imperial emblem. In the center of the hall stood a door made of a completely different material from the surrounding ones. Lin Ziming could only tell that it was an unknown metal material, with lines and runes covering its surface in a complex array.

As the psionic energy cautiously touched the door, Lin Ziming felt a chill, a pain that seemed to penetrate deep into his skull.

He discovered a connection between the door and the Warp. As soon as his psionic energy approached, he sensed the chaotic fluctuations unique to the Warp, forming faint ripples.

This connection method was not the style Lin Ziming was familiar with in his lifetime. It was completely different from the warp channel used by the Empire in the past, revealing an unstable aura that was inconsistent with the Empire's mature technology in utilizing warp.

Lin Zimo channeled his spiritual energy to power the door, pouring it into the array of doors like a tidal wave in a way he was familiar with.

The flood seemed endless. The spiritual energy Lin Ziming poured in was enough to destroy the planet. The illusory flame eyes flickered, and massive amounts of spiritual energy were drawn from the subspace, swallowed by the door like an inverted celestial river.

As time passed, before Lin Ziming suspected that the facility had completely deteriorated with the passage of time, he finally activated the long-dormant door.

The array on the door began to flash rapidly, the entire hall trembled slightly, and the surrounding seawater still formed whirlpools under enormous pressure.

The door became as bright as a mirror, like a crescent moon rising from the seabed, carrying a wintery gentleness and tranquility.

As his psionic energy penetrated deeper, Lin Ziming's will gradually pierced through the giant door and reached the area behind it. Only then did he realize that this door was less of a passage and more of an observation window embedded in a closed barrier. As soon as his psionic energy entered, it collided with a certain area in the subspace.

It was an endless expanse of darkness, devoid of any light, enveloping the central area so that no line of sight could penetrate it.

This is an unprecedented situation. Subspace should be a secondary space rich in undeveloped cosmic matter that is attached to the universe. However, Lin Zimo found a place of order in this chaotic region, which is incompatible with the rest of the subspace and cannot be reached by normal means.

Lin Ziming sensed a familiar energy fluctuation in the darkness, proving that this enclosed area was still functioning, rather than being completely silent.

That was the mark of the imperial family, symbolizing the emperor's will and authority. Fragments of broken information flooded into Lin Ziming's consciousness like a tide, carrying a hint of coldness.

"...Project codename 'Virtual Realm'...Top-level lockdown..."

"...Opening without the Emperor's decree is strictly prohibited...Those who violate this rule will be punished as traitors..."

These scattered pieces of information that have survived to this day have helped Lin Ziming piece together a bit of the truth of the past: the closed area behind this door is a secret project called "Virtual Realm".

Lin Ziming vaguely sensed that this project did not happen during his lifetime. He had never heard of the term "Virtual Realm." There must be secrets belonging to the Empire here, carrying important significance that would affect the future of civilization.

The message contained no specific details about the "Virtual Realm" project, no experimental purpose, no research subjects, only a strict blockade order.

Why would the Empire build such a base on such a remote planet? What exactly is the "Virtual Realm"? Is it a weapon? A testing ground? Some kind of unknown space technology?

The most crucial question remains shrouded in mystery: what exactly happened to the empire back then?

If the "Virtual Realm" project is so important, why did this base gradually wither away over time after countless ages? Did the Empire achieve its goal and abandon this star field, or did it perish in the endless expanse of time?

He tried to use his psychic powers to obtain more information. As a "Celestial Dragon" who had once served the Empire, he should have been marked as a friend. However, the cold and resolute will rejected him without any room for negotiation, proving that the space was still functioning properly and could identify objects.

Unable to break through this ancient and strict restriction, Lin Ziming withdrew his spiritual energy. At that critical moment, a very faint disturbance came from within.

It was neither an energy fluctuation nor a material movement, but an indescribable reaction, as if something that had been dormant for billions of years had been briefly awakened, and then fell silent again, carrying an ancient and mysterious quality that transcended time.

He slowly stepped out of the door, withdrawing the energy he had injected into the array. As the psionic energy receded, the door gradually dimmed, sealing its secrets once more.

Lin Ziming's consciousness returned to the planetary orbit, his fiery eyes flashing with complex light. His doubts were not resolved; instead, they only brought more doubts.

His psychic energy spread out again, covering the entire underwater ruins. He wanted to record all the information, leave the coordinates of the place, and seal it. It could not be opened in a short time unless his energy output level was exceeded.

This ruin is key to solving the mystery of that time, but Lin Ziming can no longer obtain more information here. Before he finds more clues, the danger within this ruin needs to be protected, even though life has been born on this planet over countless years.

Lin Ziming took one last look at the planet covered in ice. The black and red flames of death blazed up in the starry sky once more. He continued on his journey into the endless sea of ​​stars to uncover the truth of the past.

This desolate star system, unrecorded in any star map, this frozen underwater ruin, this mysterious gateway—today's interstellar society is unaware of the history that once existed within its star field; everything has long been lost in the torrent of time.

The vastness of the starry sky is full of mysteries, but Lin Ziming already has a direction in his heart. The empire must not have been destroyed in the insectoid war. He wants to find more traces of the empire.

The core consciousness of that swarm of killing bees was already his prey. Now that it has been proven that they originated from the imperial ruins, this civilization is also one of the clues.

If there are still no results, Lin Zimo can also directly approach the current powerful civilization to see if they have preserved any records of the past history, even if they are just some legends.

After the departure of its sole visitor throughout the ages, the icy planet fell silent once more, with its underwater ruins standing quietly, awaiting the next return of its visitor.