Strange Paths to Immortality

Wu Laogou's memory fragment glowed in Chen Jiuzhang's palm, projecting a star map onto the purple - tinged sky. The constellations shifted to form a spiral galaxy with a glowing core, and a trail of silver light led to a blue - green planet orbiting a yellow star.

"那是... 地球?" Su Nian gasped, pointing to a familiar - looking continent on the projection. "But the architects were from another dimension, right?"

Lyra adjusted her glasses, which now displayed runic translations. "The memory fragment says: 'The seed world, where entropy's cure took root.' Earth was the architects' first experiment in balancing chaos and order."

Zhang Chengying kicked at the crystalline ground, still shimmering from the Weave Breaker's attack. "So we're supposed to go to Earth? But how? The Gui Xu Secret Realm is a pocket dimension."

As if in answer, the five activated obelisks began to hum in unison. A silver portal materialized above the Harmony Pool, its surface rippling with the same Primordial Weave energy. Chen Jiuzhang's key pulsed in response, and he felt a strange pull toward the portal.

"Wait," Luna said, starlight dimming around her. "I'm detecting a massive energy signature on the other side—not the architects, but... something that fears them."

Just then, the sky above the portal turned pitch black, and a dozen silver - eyed drones materialized. Each drone was shaped like an inverted pyramid, emitting a frequency that made Chen Jiuzhang's key throb painfully.

"The Dimension Observers," Wu Laogou's voice echoed in Chen Jiuzhang's mind, a final memory fragment. "They judge civilizations that manipulate the Primordial Weave."

One drone projected a beam of light, forming a message in universal symbols: "The entropy converter is an abomination. Destroy the flawed experiment."

Su Nian swung her chains at the nearest drone, but they passed through its energy form. "Flawed experiment? They're talking about us!"

Lyra frantically typed on a floating interface. "The drones are scanning the realm's entropy levels. If they detect instability, they'll initiate a reality purge."

Chen Jiuzhang stepped between the drones and his friends, balancing light and dark energy in his palms. "We're not an experiment. We're the ones who keep the balance."

As he spoke, the key merged with the obelisks' energy, creating a shield around the group. The drones hesitated, their silver eyes flickering. For a moment, it seemed like a standoff—until the memory fragment in Chen Jiuzhang's hand flared, projecting a final image: the architects' homeworld, burning.

"The Observers destroyed them," Zhang Chengying realized. "They're afraid the entropy converter could threaten their order."

The lead drone emitted a piercing shriek, and the portal began to collapse. "We have to go now!" Luna shouted, grabbing Su Nian's hand.

The group dove through the shrinking portal, just as the drones unleashed their reality purge. Chen Jiuzhang was the last to enter, turning to see the Gui Xu Secret Realm vanish in a storm of silver energy.

When they landed, they found themselves in a lush forest, but the air smelled of ozone and the trees glowed with bioluminescence. In the distance, a city of floating crystals hovered above a massive crater.

"Welcome to the architects' homeworld," Lyra said, pointing to a ruined obelisk at their feet. "But it looks like the Observers got here first."

Chen Jiuzhang touched the key, now a deep purple. He could feel the entropy converter's energy within him, but also a new presence—something watching from beyond the stars. The battle for balance had moved to a cosmic scale, and they were the only ones who could stop the Observers from erasing all life as an experiment gone wrong.