Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Han Zu observed that the faceless creatures with sensory tentacles were sent into the trenches on the left, which led to different "work areas," such as the transport area, maintenance area, and reconnaissance area. Each work area had a dedicated receiving device at the end of its corresponding trench, guiding the faceless creatures to their designated positions. Tool-like structures, such as bone beetles, entered the trenches on the right, which led to maintenance stations on various production lines. Once the bone beetles arrived, they immediately began maintenance work. As for the flesh chunks and bone plates used as repair materials, they were sent to the widest trench in the middle, which led to a huge material warehouse where basic materials were stored and awaited deployment.

At the edge of the sorting area, Han Zu also discovered an "anomaly processing station," which specifically handles products that exhibit abnormalities during the sorting process, such as creations lacking sufficient energy or deformed servants. Abnormal products are transported to the processing station by specialized grasping tentacles, where detection nodes examine them. If the energy deficiency is minor, the product is sent to an "energy replenishment chamber" for a brief recharge before re-entering the sorting process. Products with deformed shapes or damaged functions are directly sent to the "recycling channel" to be decomposed in a furnace and transformed back into raw materials.

Han Zu noticed that the entire sorting area operated with extremely high efficiency, with hundreds of products being sorted and transported every minute, yet without any congestion or errors. The coordination between the guide tentacles, diversion valves, sensor network, and control center was seamless, demonstrating the powerful coordination capabilities of the bio-engine. A little mouse perched on Han Zu's shoulder, watching the products moving continuously in the trench. Its little head followed the movement of the products, and when it saw a bone beetle roll over in the trench and be righted by the liquid, it couldn't help but squeak and laugh, patting Han Zu's shoulder with its little paw, as if sharing its discovery.

He didn't choose to proceed along the trenches, as those led to various functional areas, not the engine's core. Han Zu's gaze quickly swept across the sorting area, soon spotting a relatively narrow passage at its edge. This passage was hidden between two giant fleshy supports, easily overlooked without careful observation. At the entrance of the passage was a semi-transparent membrane of flesh, covered with fine patterns similar to those seen on the statues in the corridor, likely a kind of identification device.

Holding the little mouse, Han Zu slowly approached the entrance to the passage. When he was about half a meter away from the membrane, the patterns on the membrane suddenly emitted a silvery-white light, forming a complex pattern on its surface, seemingly scanning Han Zu. Startled by the sudden light, the little mouse quickly shrank back into Han Zu's arms, only its eyes peeking nervously at the membrane. A few seconds later, the light disappeared, and the membrane automatically parted to reveal the entrance to the passage. Han Zu didn't enter immediately but first observed the surrounding environment. He noticed many sensor nodes installed on the fleshy supports on both sides of the passage, presumably for monitoring the passage's security. After confirming there was no danger, he then carried the little mouse into the passage.

The passage was approximately two meters wide and three meters high, its walls covered with a thin, silvery-white membrane remarkably similar to the one at the tower's entrance. Beneath the membrane emanated faint energy fluctuations, forming an energy barrier that isolated external interference and prevented energy leakage from within the passage. Han Zu gently touched the membrane, feeling a warm sensation at his fingertips. He could clearly sense the stable energy contained within, an energy shared with the energy fluctuations of the bio-engine's core. This further confirmed his belief that the passage led to the engine's core.

The passageway floor was composed of smooth, skeletal-like tissue, with fine, non-slip grooves etched into its surface, making walking on it completely silent. Every ten meters along both sides of the passageway was a small, luminous node emitting a soft, silvery-white light that illuminated the path ahead and released a special energy field that purified the air inside, making it fresher than the outside air and free of the strong, rusty smell. On the passageway walls, Han Zu also discovered some engravings. These engravings were not naturally formed but man-made, their shapes similar to the evolutionary patterns he had seen on the statues in the corridor, seemingly recording the construction process of the bio-engine.

The passageway was several hundred meters long. In the middle, there was a small "transfer station" with a spherical structure made of nerve fibers at its center. This structure was likely used to regulate the energy flow within the passageway. When Han Zu passed the transfer station, the spherical structure emitted a slight hum, after which the energy fluctuations within the passageway became more stable. After continuing for about two hundred meters, the end of the passageway appeared before them: a door made of cartilage, covered with intricate patterns. These patterns had a subtle connection to those seen on the statues in the corridor and the membrane at the passageway entrance, and were likely the core patterns of the entire bio-engine.

Han Zu didn't hesitate and immediately pushed open the door. The scene behind it made his pupils contract again—it was a circular platform. Although the platform wasn't large, only about a hundred meters in diameter, the energy it contained far exceeded that of the surrounding area. The air was filled with rich life energy, and with each breath, one could feel the energy entering their body through their respiratory tract, invigorating their spirit. A ring of glowing flesh surrounded the platform's edge. This ring, about five meters wide, was composed of multiple layers of muscle tissue and nerve fibers, and its surface was covered with energy nodes the size of bowls. These nodes, like dazzling stars, emitted a silvery-white light.

Evenly distributed across the flesh ring are twelve gigantic energy interfaces, each connected to a giant flesh pillar leading to a distant point. Energy flows from the pillars to the interfaces, then through the flesh ring to various areas of the platform. Clearly, this is the energy hub of the entire bio-engine. Han Zu could see that as energy flowed within the flesh ring, it formed streaks of silvery-white light, constantly traversing the ring's surface like luminous snakes. Inside the flesh ring, a semi-transparent energy barrier grew, preventing energy leakage from the platform and blocking external interference.

The little mouse peeked out from Han Zu's arms, curiously observing the platform's environment. When it saw the shimmering energy nodes on the flesh ring, its eyes immediately lit up. It pointed at the nodes with its little paws, making soft "squeak" sounds, seemingly marveling at the beautiful sight. The platform's floor was a smooth, skeletal-like tissue, its surface engraved with intricate array patterns. These patterns were similar to those on the control center in the sorting area, but even more complex and precise.

The array pattern is divided into inner and outer layers. The outer layer consists of ring-shaped energy guiding patterns, responsible for guiding the energy in the flesh ring to the center of the platform. The inner layer consists of circular energy circulation patterns, responsible for feeding back the energy from the central core to the flesh ring, forming a complete energy cycle. Dark red energy flows slowly within the pattern, its trajectory echoing the energy flow trajectory of the flesh ring. Each flow causes energy fluctuations throughout the platform. Around the platform are twelve small "control consoles," each composed of brain tissue and nerve fibers, its surface covered with flashing dots. These consoles correspond one-to-one with the energy interfaces on the flesh ring, presumably used to regulate the energy intensity delivered by each flesh pillar. Han Zu walked to one of the consoles and observed it carefully. He discovered that the flashing frequency of the dots on the console matched the pulsating frequency of the flesh pillar. When he gently touched a dot with his finger, the energy fluctuation at the corresponding energy interface immediately changed subtly, proving that these consoles could indeed regulate energy delivery.

Beside the control panel, Han Zu also discovered several skeletal chairs covered with a layer of soft muscle tissue, which would have been very comfortable to sit on. These chairs were clearly intended for the creature controlling the control panel. The platform lacked a solid ceiling, instead connecting to the dark red mist above. Below the mist, however, floated a transparent dome made of energy. This dome filtered impurities from the mist and reflected energy back from the platform, minimizing energy loss. At the center of the dome hung a small crystal sphere, emitting a soft glow that illuminated every corner of the platform. This glow, combined with the light from the flesh ring, made the entire platform appear both mysterious and solemn.

Han Zu stood at the edge of the platform, his gaze sweeping across the entire platform. The civilization that built this bio-engine had reached an unimaginable level of understanding of energy and biological structure.

At the center of the platform stands a colossal flesh and blood core, the "heart" of the entire bio-engine and the source of its energy. Like a giant heart suspended in mid-air, the core is ten meters in diameter, hovering three meters above the ground without any support, relying entirely on its own energy to maintain its levitation. The core's surface is covered with crystalline protrusions, each about half a meter in size and multifaceted, as clear as diamonds. Intricate energy patterns are etched on its surface, and a silvery-white light emanates from these protrusions, illuminating the entire platform.

The core is composed of thick, deep red muscle tissue covered with a dense network of blood vessels that crisscross like rivers. Dark red energy liquid flows and surges within these vessels, making a gurgling sound. Each pulsation of the core is very slow, occurring approximately once every ten seconds, but each pulsation drives energy fluctuations throughout the entire platform and even the entire bio-engine, much like a heart pumping blood into the body, delivering energy to every corner of the engine.

When the core contracts, all the crystalline protrusions emit a strong silvery-white light, and the energy liquid rapidly surges into the core through the blood vessels. When the core expands, the light dims slightly, and the energy liquid, carrying even greater energy, is transported out of the core, through the flesh ring and the giant flesh pillar to various production lines. Han Zu could clearly sense that the energy contained within the core was so vast and pure, more powerful than any energy source he had ever seen, and extremely stable, without the slightest hint of violence. He carefully observed the core's operation and discovered that its pulsation frequency was perfectly synchronized with the energy flow frequency of the flesh ring, forming a perfect energy cycle. This cycle maximized energy utilization efficiency and minimized energy waste.

At the bottom of the core, there is a small energy vortex. The center of the vortex rotates continuously, absorbing the energy flowing from the array pattern on the platform's surface into the core, while simultaneously expelling waste energy generated by the core. This waste energy is then transmitted through the array pattern to the "energy purification zone" below the platform, where it is purified and transformed back into usable energy. Han Zu also noticed that new crystalline protrusions would grow on the surface of the core from time to time. When a new protrusion matured, it would automatically detach and fall into the array pattern on the platform's surface, where it would be absorbed. At the same time, a new protrusion would regenerate on the core's surface. This metabolism kept the core in its optimal operating state at all times.

The little mouse jumped out of Han Zu's arms and perched on his shoulder, its bright black eyes fixed on the flesh-and-blood core floating in the air. Its small body trembled slightly with excitement. It stretched out its tiny paws, trying to touch the glowing core, but it was too far away and could only wave its paws in frustration. Han Zu did not stop the little mouse's actions. His attention was completely focused on the flesh-and-blood core, constantly analyzing its operating principles in his mind. He could sense that the structure of this core contained extremely profound bio-energy. If he could absorb this enormous "heart"—provided he could—then without a doubt, it would greatly help improve his own strength.

Behind and to the side of the flesh and blood core, Han Zu saw something that might not have been produced by the creation engine. It seemed to be a half-hidden figure obscured by the flesh and blood core, some distance from his own position. As Han Zu observed the other party, he suddenly noticed its long, pointed ears, resembling those of an elf.

In just a moment, Han Zu's memory surged like an electric current, and he immediately thought of something he had almost forgotten—the only intelligent being he could be sure of at the moment, the strange creature he had seen when he entered other creation engines before.

Although he wasn't sure if the other person was the one he had met before, Han Zu also connected the dots and realized that the voice he had heard near the Blood and Flesh Maze was very likely from that person.