Chapter 955 (2/2)

“You will be disappointed.” Vivian said.

The old man’s reply was simple. “I am dying.”

Hao Ren nodded. He produced a life-support collar from his dimensional pocket and passed it to the old man. “Put it on. We’ll be passing regions with high radiation. This will keep you safe.”

The old man stepped out of the room for the first time in 900 years. The moment he stepped out the room, his body shook visibly, but he declined Nangong Wuyue’s offer of support. He muttered almost stubbornly, “I want to see them myself.”

In front of the Furnace of the Ancestors, more and more people were gathering.

The Blood Wardens had sounded the alarm throughout the kingdom. Strange rumours such as the legend of the “Witches of Fire and Ice” began to spread in the military and amongst the civilians. The royals and nobles panicked. Scholars roamed the libraries and the ancient altar in search for answers. Large groups of people came from the kingdom and gathered at the empty space in front of the Furnace of the Ancestors.

The marks left on the ground by freezing air and plasma flares commanded deep respect from this ignorant and superstitious community. The strange noises coming from the Furnace of the Ancestors troubled them to no end.

When Hao Ren led the old man out of another control station high above the ground, the latter saw a sea of people before him. The people in the sanctuary formed a dense crowd in the clearing down below. They argued, worshipped, and prayed, like believers waiting for a sign from their Gods.

The huge power generator inside the Furnace of the Ancestors was fixed. The autonomous bots waited for their next instructions. Hao Ren sent a signal towards the power station. Immediately, they heard a low rumbling sound from the Furnace.

The rumbling grew louder and louder, until it finally stabilized. The people gathering at the clearing were alarmed by the sudden noise and broke into a commotion. Suddenly, the dim lights around them turned bright again. The enclosed space was illuminated. The two huge iron wheels far in the kingdom gradually started spinning. The people realized what was happening – the heart of their world had started beating again.

All of them fell to their knees, including the generals and ministers. Everyone kneeled down earnestly at the Furnace of the Ancestors, praising the arrival of light and warmth.

Beside Hao Ren, the old man watched in stupefaction. “What … What are they doing?”

“Praising the heart of their world for beating once again, praising the Gods for their gifts.” Hao Ren sighed quietly. “Vivian said that you would be disappointed – these people no longer know about the ark. Their entire world is this 100-kilometer expanse. They lived here for many, many generations, and had reverted to more primitive ways of life. The society is split into four kingdoms that are constantly in dispute. The people believed that their world is created by God, that beyond the ark is the sea. They even believed that their world was built on top of a huge tortoise …”

“Tortoise … Back in the days, in order to soothe the children, we used to tell them that the ark is like a tortoiseshell, keeping us safe.” The old man spoke softly. “At least they still remembered that.”

Hao Ran was quiet for a few seconds, but he could not help offering his opinion as an Inspector, “It is regretful, but your civilization is gone.”

The old man did not reply. He watched quietly at the people below, turning his head to the side to listen closer at the voices of these savages in ragged clothing. Suddenly, he smiled, happy as a child. “They’re still speaking in the language of their ancestors, aren’t they?”