The Return of Stars to the Jianghu

Chapter 222 The Abyss Submarine Enters the Ice Lake for Rescue

“The Moon Palace base is located on the edge of an island in this ‘underground ocean,’ where the rivers eventually flow into the sea. The entire ocean exists as a vast expanse of solid ice. Our exploration focuses primarily on two directions: the depths of the island and the depths of the ocean,” Lina explained.

"It's hard to imagine that the site selection for the Guanghan Palace base was actually completed in the first place," Ren Changxi remarked.

“The initial site selection and exploration were indeed challenging,” Lina said, her gaze fixed on the ground, seemingly piercing through the thick foundation to gaze upon the frozen ancient ocean. “The ‘island’ beneath our feet is no geological coincidence, but a basalt dome sculpted by early magmatic activity, like a solid foundation supporting this region. As for this ‘ocean’…” Her fingertip lightly touched the air, and a miniature holographic image unfolded above the dining table, clearly showing the three-dimensional structure of the island where the Moon Palace base was located and the vast solid ice layer below. The ice layer was not homogeneous; its internal colors varied, marking the temperature, density, and estimated formation age of different areas. “…It holds the secrets of the early evolution of the moon, and its water content far exceeds the total freshwater content of all Earth, making it the lifeline for the base’s development over the next thousand years.”

Ren Changxi stared at the complex transition zone where the island met the ice layer in the hologram, and asked sharply, "How is the geological stability of the interface between the edge of the dome and the ice layer guaranteed? Especially when large-scale ice mining and marine exploration are carried out?" Her fingertips unconsciously tapped a certain rhythm on the edge of the table, as if recording key information in sync.

“A dynamic geological anchoring system,” Lina quickly pulled up another data stream, showcasing a dense network of sensors and adaptive stress adjustment devices embedded at the interface between the rock and ice layers. “It’s monitored and fine-tuned in real time by ‘Little Star’ to ensure that the structural stress is always within a safe threshold. Every drilling or opening of a new passage is like adjusting the sleeping giant’s position.” She paused, her tone carrying the rigor of a researcher. “Of course, every drilling deep into the ice layer is itself a challenge to the unknown. Our current activities only touch the shallow ice crust at the edge of the island. The true ‘ocean’ depths, pressure, composition, and potential geological activity… are still mysteries to be solved.”

Ye Xuehan put down her water glass and turned her gaze from the hologram to Lina: "The water extracted from the ice layer, besides supporting the ecological dome, also seems to rely on the cooling cycle in the helium-3 refining process? The conversion efficiency of this energy closed loop..."

“Very perceptive, Engineer Ye,” Lina nodded approvingly. The image then shifted, revealing a complex network of pipes and energy flow markers connecting the ice water treatment plant, the energy core, and the ecological zone. “After multiple purification processes, part of the ice water is used directly for life support and agriculture, while another part enters the cooling system of the helium-3 fusion reactor. The high-temperature steam generated by fusion drives turbines to generate electricity, and the waste heat is recovered to maintain temperature stability at ice extraction sites, prevent boreholes from freezing, and even provide heating for some living areas. Every drop of water plays multiple roles in this cycle.” In the image, lines representing energy and matter intertwine and flow, forming a precisely operating organic whole.

Qiao Lu's fingertips lightly brushed across the table, feeling the pleasant temperature and humidity in the restaurant. Her focus shifted to a more fundamental level of life: "Deep in the ice... have you found any clues to any signs of primitive life? Even just some abnormal chemical signals?" Her voice carried a hint of barely perceptible expectation.

Lena's eyes deepened: "We haven't captured any definitive biosignals yet. But in some deep ice core samples, we've detected exceptionally complex organic molecular chains, whose structure and abundance far exceed theoretical model predictions. They're like frozen time capsules, lying quietly in the icy darkness." Her tone was filled with awe. "'Little Star' is conducting cross-dimensional simulations of these molecules, attempting to analyze their formation and evolution under extreme environments. Every drilling and sampling is like touching the moon's oldest dream."

Just then, the micro-terminal on Lina's wristband emitted a very faint, unusual buzz, and a faint blue glow, the edge of the screen, flashed with the encrypted communication indicator. Lina's expression froze instantly; the composure of a guide was replaced by a cold, sharp edge, so quick it was almost an illusion. She swiftly deactivated the holographic projection, her movements fluid yet carrying an undeniable sense of closure. "Excuse me," her voice remained steady, but her pace quickened slightly, "the base's main control center has a priority communication request that requires my immediate attention. Detailed information about the underground ocean and island geology will be synchronized to your personal terminals later." She stood up, her gaze sweeping over the three of them. "Please feel free to explore the living quarters after dinner. We'll continue tomorrow."

......

In the security department's conference room, Jingyun met with the commander-in-chief of the lunar base.

"You saw the briefing? The Africa project team has lost contact," the commander-in-chief said bluntly.

Jingyun nodded.

"The tunnel boring machine broke through the ice in the predetermined direction and discovered an area of ​​liquid water about one kilometer in diameter. They pumped out some of the water, and the lake beneath the ice was exposed. They reported before entering the lake, and then lost contact. Only the tunnel boring machine operator did not go into the water and has returned to base," the commander-in-chief stated the details.

Jingyun's fingers tapped unconsciously on the metal edge of the conference table, the cold touch seeping through his gloves. "Losing contact immediately after pumping water? This doesn't fit any known geological activity model. Have the lake water samples been analyzed?" His voice was low, with a barely perceptible tension.

The commander-in-chief pulled up the data stream on the floating screen, the pale blue light illuminating his serious face. "The initial samples brought back by the pilot show anomalies: the concentration of dissolved organic carbon in the water is three orders of magnitude higher than expected, and it is also mixed with unidentified nanoscale structures. 'Little Star's' real-time simulation points to a possibility—the lake is not simply groundwater, but some kind of 'living interface'." He paused, his fingertip tracing across the screen. "Even more troublesome is that the last images transmitted back by the tunnel boring machine captured several flashes of bioluminescence beneath the surface, their shapes resembling... twisted deep-sea worms, but their trajectories completely defy fluid dynamics."

“A living interface?” Jing Yun’s eyes sharpened. “You mean, the pumping activity may have disturbed a closed ecosystem? The African project team was equipped with standard deep-sea suits before going into the water, which are theoretically capable of withstanding extreme environments.”

“Theoretically,” the commander-in-chief said, his lips tightening, “but the vital signs data before the signal loss showed an adrenaline spike in everyone, followed by a collective disruption of their neural pathways. 'Little Star' determined that they encountered some kind of psychological interference, rendering physical protection ineffective. The pilots were spared because they stayed at the control panel and were far enough away.” He shut down the floating screen, and the conference room fell into a brief silence, with only the low rumble of the circulatory system echoing through the room. “Now the pressure comes from two sides: the Xinghai Group's top management is demanding a news blackout to avoid panic; but the Science Department insists on a thorough investigation, especially regarding the potential connection between that lake and the Guanghan Palace ice layer—our underground ocean may not be an isolated case.”

Jing Yun rose and walked towards the porthole, the shuttle's light flashing past like a ghost. "Lina's emergency communication was about this? She has high authority, but directly intervening in security matters..." Before she could finish speaking, the conference room door slid open, and Lina stood in the doorway, the Starry Sea insignia on her uniform epaulets gleaming coldly silver in the dim light. Her gaze swept over Jing Yun and landed on the commander-in-chief: "'Little Star' has just completed reverse engineering. The organic molecular chains of the African lake water are homologous to the anomalous signal in the ice core sample of Guanghan Palace B7 area, with a matching degree of 99.7%. This is not a coincidence—they share an evolutionary path." She stepped into the room, her wristband projecting a holographic comparison image of a double helix structure, the two data streams intertwining and colliding in the void, "More importantly, the water disturbance pattern before the loss of contact is completely consistent with the energy pulse frequency observed by Ye Xuehan next to the Helium-3 pipeline this morning. Someone or 'something' is transmitting information through the ice layer."

"Jingyun, you and Lina will take a team and go down the Abyss submarine." The commander paused and continued, "By the way, choose one of the three new recruits who came with you this time to take with you."

Jingyun looked at the commander-in-chief, his eyes full of doubt.

Jing Yun's gaze was sharp as a blade, piercing the commander-in-chief: "Take the new recruits down? The situation beneath the ice in Sector B7 is unknown, and the risk level is unclear. The Abyss is not a training ground." His voice was deep, each word like ice crystals slamming onto a metal tabletop.

The commander-in-chief met his gaze, his expression unwavering. “It is precisely because of the unknown that we need different perspectives.” He projected three files, hovering them in the center of the conference table. “Qiao Lu, the precise calibration of the ‘Kua Fu’ probe is a core technology of the Phoenix Group; she has a unique intuition for precision sensing in extreme environments. Ren Changxi, she was the lead author of the preliminary geological assessment report for the Xinghai Africa project; her ability to identify anomalous geological structures is top-notch. Ye Xuehan—” He paused, the projection focusing on Ye Xuehan’s file, which bore several highly encrypted markers, “her keenness in energy closed-loop systems and anomalous energy pulse analysis has been confirmed by Lina’s report just now. The Abyss needs not only security, but also eyes and brains capable of interpreting anomalies beneath the ice layer immediately.”

Lina added from the side, her tone calm and unwavering: "'Little Star's' real-time monitoring and the Abyss's life support system will provide the highest level of physical protection. But in the face of potential non-material interference from the 'Living Interface,' we need their professional intuition as a redundant judgment layer. This is an order, Jingyun."

Jing Yun remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the three files before finally settling on Ye Xuehan's encrypted file. His jawline tightened, as if he were resisting some invisible pressure. After a few seconds, he slowly exhaled, the confusion in his eyes not completely gone, but now covered by a layer of professional coldness. "The candidate?"

“Ye Xuehan,” the commander-in-chief replied decisively, “her discovery of the correlation between the energy pulses is the most direct clue at present. The Abyss’s detection array needs her interpretation capabilities. Lina will coordinate for her to assemble in the lower dock within ten minutes. You are responsible for command and security.”

Jing Yun said nothing more, only giving the commander-in-chief and Lina a deep look before turning and striding towards the conference room door. The pressure door slid open silently, the cold white light of the corridor outside elongating his tall figure. He didn't turn around, his voice carrying clearly: "Abyss, departing in thirty minutes. Have Engineer Ye put on his pressure suit. See you at the dock."

At the end of the passage, Ye Xuehan, seemingly already notified, waited quietly. She had changed out of her civilian clothes, and a dark gray, specially made pressure-resistant combat suit outlined her clean lines. There were no insignia on her shoulders, only an encrypted communication armband for a temporary operations team on her left arm. Her face was expressionless, only slightly bowed; her goggles reflected the cold light of the passage, obscuring her eyes. As Jing Yun brushed past her, he sensed a calm, focused intensity, like a sharp blade sheathed. He didn't stop, heading straight for the elevator leading to the deep dock.

Ye Xuehan followed silently half a step behind him. Their footsteps echoed in the empty metal passage, like the drumbeats of a countdown, as they sank towards the abyssal behemoth hidden in the deepest part of the Guanghan Palace base, about to pierce the ancient frozen sea.

Three hours later, Jingyun led a hastily assembled rescue team to the underground ice lake.

The massive black hull of the Abyss hovered at the dark boundary between ice and water, its searchlights' thick beams piercing the ancient darkness and illuminating the breathtaking scene ahead. The jagged, massive glacial cliffs gleamed with an eerie blue-green fluorescence under the intense light, their fractured surfaces revealing layers of sedimentary patterns, like the frozen skeletons of ancient behemoths. The murky water was not entirely liquid; countless tiny ice crystals and flocculent suspended matter slowly rose and swirled within the beams of light, forming a chaotic mist. In the distance, faint, irregularly shaped bioluminescence flickered like will-o'-the-wisps deep within the ice crevices, each flash accompanied by a soft hum from the submarine's external sensor array.

Inside the submarine, the main control room lights were dimmed to their lowest setting, with only the instrument panel and floating screen emitting a faint, cold glow that illuminated several solemn and focused faces. Jing Yun stood before the central command console, his hands resting on the edge of the control panel, his gaze sweeping across every fluctuating data stream and external real-time image like that of a hawk. His shoulders were straight, and the deep black of his pressure suit blended him into the oppressive gloom, with only the subtle indicator lights on his communication armband flashing green rhythmically.

"Depth stabilized at the predetermined coordinates, hovering 150 meters from the lakebed contact surface." The driver's voice came through the communication channel, his deliberately lowered tone unable to conceal a hint of tension.

"External environment scanning continues, 'Little Star,' focus on analyzing water sample composition and abnormal energy readings." Jing Yun's voice came through the internal communication, deep and clear, penetrating the low, cyclical background noise of the life support system.

"Received. Real-time water sample analysis shows that the organic carbon concentration continues to rise, reaching three times the peak level of African samples. A large number of unknown nanoscale structures have been detected, with enhanced activity... We are attempting to model and analyze their movement patterns." Lina's voice came through the communication channel. She remained at the base's main control center to provide remote support, her calm voice serving as an anchor in the chaotic data.

Ye Xuehan sat at the analysis table on the right, her eyes behind her goggles fixed on the complex energy spectrum displayed before her. Her fingers flew across the virtual keyboard, rapidly comparing the faint pulse signals captured by the Abyss's external array with data from the ice core sample in the B7 area of ​​the Moon Palace. On the screen, the lines representing energy fluctuations undulated and intertwined violently, forming incomprehensible patterns.

“Energy pulse…” Ye Xuehan suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, but instantly drawing everyone’s attention. She tilted her head slightly, seemingly listening intently to some silent melody, “The frequency… is synchronizing. It closely matches the pulse recorded near the Helium-3 pipeline… and the disturbance pattern before the loss of contact in Africa… This isn’t background noise; it’s repeating, it’s amplifying…” Her fingertips hovered over several violently pulsating peaks on the energy spectrum, resonating with some incomprehensible pattern.

Jingyun's gaze immediately locked onto the abnormal signal on Ye Xuehan's screen: "Source location?"

“Tracking… Signal source is deeply obscured, but direction…” Ye Xuehan’s finger traced across the floating screen, pointing to a deep icy crevice shrouded in the shadow of a giant icicle in the external image, “…approximately originating from below that area. Energy transfer medium…”

Okay, this is the revised text:

It seemed to be the mixture of ice and water itself, or rather, the suspended organic structures within it acting as a carrier…” Before she could finish speaking, the massive hull of the Abyss shuddered violently!

Woo——!

A piercing metallic creak, accompanied by a dull thud, came from the bottom of the vessel, like being struck by an invisible giant hammer. The lights in the main control room flashed wildly, and the red alarm light instantly engulfed all the screens! The suspended images shook violently, and the icy mist was stirred up by an invisible force, forming a turbulent vortex.

"Report! Unidentified impact at the bottom! Not a physical collision! The energy shield is instantly overloaded by 12%!" The driver's voice was filled with horror.

"Maintain composure! Switch all non-essential systems to backup power! 'Xiao Xing,' analyze the source of the impact!" Jing Yun's voice suddenly rose, carrying an unquestionable command. His body instinctively leaned forward, his hand already on the emergency brake valve. His sharp gaze swept across the external images, trying to find traces of the attacker in the turbulent chaos.

In the chaos, Ye Xuehan abruptly looked up, her gaze piercing through the violently shaking images, fixed on the shadowy depths of the ice crevice. Her goggles reflected the blinding red alarm light, but her eyes behind the lenses were exceptionally sharp, filled with an almost penetrating focus.

“Wait! Something…is moving!” Her voice carried an unprecedented sense of urgency as she pointed to the center of the churning eddy of ice water. “Not a eddy! It’s a shape! Right at the edge of the shadows, below the ice wall…it’s ‘swimming’! A snake, a giant snake.”

The next second, everything fell into dead silence.

The Abyss submarine and the entire rescue team vanished into thin air from this underground icy lake.