Chapter 606 - 599: Celestial Chain
"The Gate of Hell project, of course, is different from the public rumors."
"Back then, the Susa Federation did indeed drill a well in Siberia, but it wasn’t for some strange scientific research. It was simply to explore Siberia’s underground oil and mineral resources."
"However, this simple exploration activity ended up digging up something... unusual."
Gleb said softly.
"Oh? What was it? Some kind of object?"
Zhou Yuanjue’s interest was instantly piqued.
"No, I find it hard to say what it was exactly. Perhaps it was something between ’physical’ and ’ethereal.’ Compared to an object, it was more like some kind of inexplicable ’marvel.’"
"Do you know why we were so certain back then that the Celestial Demons were extraterrestrial visitors? It’s because we had previously encountered a similar, unknown event that very likely originated from an extraterrestrial civilization."
Gleb said in a low voice.
’Extraterrestrial civilization...’
Zhou Yuanjue narrowed his eyes slightly. Ever since learning the origin of the Celestial Demons, he knew that Earth was definitely not the only Life Planet in this starry sky, even if our limited technology still couldn’t detect the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations.
Zhou Yuanjue was very interested in these civilizations and races.
’What are they like? How strong are they? To what extent have they developed their individual abilities?’
However, along with his interest, a question formed in his mind.
’If similar traces and relics really exist on Earth, why wouldn’t that mysterious will, the personification of the world’s consciousness, know about them?’
WHIRRR!!
Just then, the aircraft arrived above its destination. Looking down, he didn’t see any massive pit in the ground, but rather a vast, heavily guarded military base.
"We modified and concealed the surface traces of the original drill site long ago. It was necessary for secrecy."
Gleb seemed to have noticed Zhou Yuanjue’s confusion and explained.
The aircraft then landed inside the military base. Guided by Gleb, Zhou Yuanjue disembarked. After passing through multiple security checks, he was given the green light all the way, thanks to the high-level security clearance of Gleb, the head of the Beisha Security Department. He entered the core of the military base and boarded a transparent underground elevator that resembled a scenic lift.
The elevator descended rapidly. Through the transparent, tempered glass, Zhou Yuanjue finally got a clear view of the mark the massive drill had left on Earth.
The elevator’s speed was immense. Before long, it had reached a depth of several thousand meters. It was then that Zhou Yuanjue finally saw something unusual within the enormous borehole.
It was...
Zhou Yuanjue’s pupils contracted slightly.
He saw it clearly. Bathed in a faint white light, a structure resembling a length of chain with links and clasps appeared abruptly within the borehole. It was as if... it connected the void to reality, extending unexpectedly from nothingness.
From this angle, the white chain stretched down into the earth, its destination unknown.
At that moment, Gleb pressed a button on the controller in his hand, stopping the elevator so Zhou Yuanjue could get a better look at the chain-like object.
"What in the world is that?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked.
"We don’t know either. It looks no different from a real, physical object, right? But in reality, this chain has no physical substance. In other words, it can’t be touched. Most of the time, it just sits there quietly, and despite using every instrument and method at our disposal, we can’t detect even the slightest Energy fluctuation from it."
"It truly exists, yet it cannot be touched or studied. It’s like some kind of supreme Truth, or perhaps a chain extending from the Celestial Kingdom, which humanity is not yet qualified to touch. That’s why, when it was discovered, the top-secret Susa Federation files that recorded it named it the ’Celestial Chain.’"
"You have no idea how shocking a discovery like this was for humanity’s level of technology at the time, especially during an era at the peak of the arms race. After it was reported, the mine was immediately shut down. All personnel involved in the project not only signed extremely strict non-disclosure agreements, but we also brought in the country’s top psychological and consciousness-based Ability Users to have them hypnotize themselves to seal away the information."
"The Beisha Security Department immediately took over all operations. After some discussion, they decided to continue drilling deeper to trace the chain to its end and see what was there."
"As for the outside world, some rumors about such a massive project inevitably leaked. But it was all under control. A fantastical rumor like the ’Gate of Hell’ covered up everything. Who would have guessed that what was dug up from this deep borehole wasn’t the Gate of Hell, but the Celestial Chain?"
Gleb said with a slight smile.
’Untouchable... unsearchable... a supreme "Truth" that seems beyond humanity’s grasp...’
These words linked together, giving Zhou Yuanjue a familiar feeling.
The mysterious power that the Celestial Demon Ancestral Princess had once used seemed to possess the same properties.
The only difference was that back then, he hadn’t sensed any actual physical form, whereas this chain had a seemingly real appearance.
"Can I observe the structure of this chain up close?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked Gleb.
"Don’t be impatient. You’ll have your chance. Aren’t you curious about what this chain is connected to at its end?"
Gleb said with a smile.
"You dug all the way to the end?"
Zhou Yuanjue asked.
"That was just in the last twenty years. At fifteen thousand meters underground—the deepest humanity has ever dug—we finally saw what the Celestial Chain is connected to."
Gleb gave a mysterious smile, then pressed the button on the remote Device in his hand again.
WHIRRR!!
The underground elevator they were in descended rapidly. Through the glass, Zhou Yuanjue could see the white chain extending endlessly downward.
After a slow descent of more than ten minutes, the two of them finally approached the bottom of the borehole.
Rows of modern machinery appeared underground, and workers in thick protective suits moved about, busy with their tasks. It was a large-scale subterranean research facility.
And at this moment, Zhou Yuanjue finally saw clearly what lay at the end of that long, white chain.