Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

When Lin Chen arrived at the location Commander Peng had indicated, Commander Peng and Staff Officer Chen were already waiting there.

"Commander Peng, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting." Lin Chen stepped forward quickly.

"Not at all, we just arrived too," Commander Peng said with a smile.

Lin Chen looked around, scanning his surroundings with some surprise.

This is just an ordinary hilltop, covered by thick ice and snow, with no trace of any man-made structures.

Where is the refuge of the flame?

Commander Peng smiled slightly and led him to the edge of the cliff.

Beneath a giant rock half-buried in ice and snow, close to the rock face, lies a button shaped like a rock.

The button blends almost seamlessly into the surrounding stone wall, making it virtually invisible unless you look closely.

Commander Peng pressed down, and the rock wall slowly rose, revealing a wide passage that could accommodate two vehicles side by side.

Lin Chen was slightly taken aback. He hadn't noticed anything amiss from the outside.

Commander Peng walked ahead, and Lin Chen quickly followed.

The passage was spacious, with the rough shapes of the original caves preserved on both sides. Frost clung to the uneven stone walls, clearly a deliberate act to mislead outsiders.

After walking about 500 meters, a huge metal door blocked the passage completely.

Commander Peng stopped and knocked on the door. His voice was muffled and barely responded.

"This is the only way. The shelter is behind this alloy door. We can't get in by conventional means; we'll have to use your spatial abilities to get in."

He sighed, his gaze falling on the cold metal door, a hint of worry in his voice, "I wonder how the people inside are doing."

Lin Chen nodded, put his hands on Commander Peng and Staff Officer Chen's shoulders, and with a thought, the three of them passed through the giant door and appeared in the world behind it.

Commander Peng felt a flash before his eyes, and he was already standing inside the shelter.

Under the bright lights, children ran and played in the passageway, their laughter ringing out; soldiers patrolled in formation, their steps neat and orderly; and many more people were busy at their posts, moving supplies, inspecting equipment, recording data... everything was in perfect order.

The sudden appearance of the three people startled the patrolling soldiers, but when they saw who they were, their faces lit up with joy.

"commander!"

The soldier stepped forward quickly and saluted, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Commander Peng nodded, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings. Seeing that everything was in order and everyone was doing their job, he finally felt a little relieved.

"Take me to see Professor Tang."

"yes!"

The soldier turned and led the way through several corridors. Along the way, people kept looking up, and when they saw Commander Peng, they were first stunned, then showed excited expressions.

Someone whispered, "The commander is here," and the news spread quietly like ripples on water.

Soon, the three arrived at the door of a laboratory.

Through the glass window, you can see a thin figure hunched over the workbench, motionless, as if his whole body is embedded in the instruments and test tubes.

Pushing open the door, the person slowly raised their head.

Lin Chen's heart sank when he saw that face clearly.

His eyes were deeply sunken, his cheekbones were high and prominent, and most of his hair was gray, sticking out in a messy, unruly manner.

Commander Peng stood there, his lips moved but he didn't say anything. In just a few months, Professor Tang looked like he had aged more than ten years.

The soldier who had followed him lowered his voice: "Professor Tang often works overtime to develop vaccines and serums as soon as possible. He only sleeps four or five hours a day..."

Before he could finish speaking, Professor Tang had already stood up, supporting himself on the worktable. His hands were trembling, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light.

Professor Tang's eyes lit up when he saw Commander Peng, and he jumped up from his desk, his voice trembling: "Commander Peng? How did you get in?"

Commander Peng opened his mouth, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something. After a few seconds, he managed to squeeze out a sentence, his voice somewhat hoarse: "We came in using our superpowers."

Professor Tang was stunned.

He looked at Commander Peng, then at Lin Chen and Staff Officer Chen, his gaze sweeping over their faces, his expression full of disbelief.

"What's going on outside? Is the disaster over? Are superpowers this strong now?"

He asked questions rapidly, his voice both urgent and hoarse.

They retreated too early, so early that they hadn't even had a chance to truly witness the power of superpowers.

This door was designed to be impenetrable even by a nuclear bomb. What kind of superpower allows someone to pass through silently, without even sounding the alarm?

Commander Peng paused for a moment, then slowly shook his head.

"The disaster is still ongoing."

The light on Professor Tang's face instantly dimmed.

He lowered his head, looking at his rough hands, his shoulders slumped as if someone had removed his bones.

"I've let down the country, I've let down the people..." His voice trailed off, until it was almost inaudible. "We still haven't developed a serum or a vaccine..."

Tears rolled down his sunken eyes, running down his gaunt cheeks and dripping onto the cold medical instruments.

Commander Peng stepped forward, grabbed his hand, and held it tightly.

"Professor Tang, this isn't your problem." His voice wasn't loud, but every word was firm and resolute. "This matter is far more complex than we imagined. It's beyond the capabilities of our current civilization and technology."

Professor Tang suddenly raised his head, looking at him through teary eyes.

"You mean, the cause of the apocalypse... has been found?"

Commander Peng nodded, his gaze heavy and resolute: "It's almost certainly true."

After saying that, he turned to Lin Chen and said, "Lin, take Professor Tang inside to have a look. I'll notify the others to prepare."

Lin Chen nodded and walked up to Professor Tang.

"Professor Tang, I'll take you somewhere. Once we get there, you'll understand what's going on."

He paused, then softened his tone, "By the way, your daughter is there too."

Professor Tang suddenly raised his head, as if to ask something, but his throat felt like it was blocked by something.

Lin Chen didn't say much, but gently held Professor Tang's shoulder to calm him down. With a thought, he made a move.

The world before their eyes suddenly changed, and the two were now standing on Creation Island.

The sunlight poured down, warmly bathing him. Professor Tang squinted, seemingly bewildered by the dazzling light.

In the distance, the colossal tree of primordial creation, its entire body glowing purple, spreads its enormous canopy. The wind blows from the sea, carrying the fresh scent of earth and grass.

Lin Chen asked Zi Ling to call Tang Xiao Ran.

During the wait, Professor Tang stared blankly at the blue sky and grass.

Just then, a figure ran over from a distance. Tang Xiaoran saw her thin, gray-haired father, her steps suddenly stopped, and then she ran even faster, stumbling as she ran.

"dad!"

Professor Tang turned around.

His daughter threw herself into his arms, hugged his neck, and cried so hard she couldn't speak.

He reached out and gently patted her back, one pat at a time, just like he used to when she was a child.

His own tears fell, dripping onto his daughter's hair.

Lin Chen stood a few steps away and waited a while before speaking:

"Xiao Ran, tell your father what happened. I'll come in later."

Tang Xiaoran lifted her head from her father's arms and nodded to him through her teary eyes.

Lin Chenchong and the others smiled, then turned and disappeared into the sunlight.