Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

"At least, at your depth, there shouldn't be any reefs or anything like that..."

Lü Yongchang added again.

But clearly, no one present paid attention to that statement.

Especially when I saw that huge gray shadow begin to slowly circle around Poseidon.

"Professor...you mean, this thing is alive?!" Hope's expression changed drastically, and he asked breathlessly.

"Based on the current situation, it should be so." Lu Yongchang swallowed and looked at the slowly moving gray shadow in the sonic diagram. He explained in a hurried tone, "According to our research, the turbid objects in seawater should be organic matter similar to polypeptides and amino acids."

"This creature... let's just consider it a living being for now. If it's made up of these polypeptide and amino acid-like substances, then..."

"It should belong to amino organisms."

As they spoke, the gray figure seemed to be stimulated by something, and its movement speed began to slowly increase.

In the sonar diagram, the distance between the unidentified creature and the Poseidon exploration vessel fluctuates.

The camera also captured the flickering orange-red light.

However, unlike Hope's report, the orange-red light was flashing more frequently at this time, flashing about once every 8 seconds.

"Is it curious?"

Mao Zhengzhi's questioning voice came from the side, "Or rather... are you testing me?"

Lu Yongchang's expression hardened slightly.

Indeed, as Mao Zhengzhi said, the actions of this deep-sea behemoth at this moment revealed a hint of probing.

"Professor, what should we do now?!" Faced with the probing of the unknown giant creature, Hope felt a chill run down his spine. "Surface?"

"Don't move!"

Before Lü Yongchang could speak, Mao Zhengzhi shouted loudly, "Don't move! Keep hovering!"

"Turn off the sonar equipment first."

"If I'm not mistaken, it was attracted by the sonar equipment that was activated during the descent!"

Hope and Hansent exchanged a glance and, without any hesitation, shut down the sonar device that was in operation.

As Mao Zhengzhi stated, the active sonar equipment was continuously working during the dive until the exploration vessel hovered in place to perform seawater sampling, at which point the sonar detection device was turned off.

It was at this moment that this unidentified creature emerged from the deeper part of the ocean.

With its sonar equipment switched off, Poseidon became completely blind in this vast ocean of liquid ammonia.

But the next moment, a 3D simulation image appeared in front of everyone.

In the simulation, the central area is the Poseidon exploration vessel, which is less than 100 meters in diameter. Next to the exploration vessel, a huge creature with a streamlined body and a length of more than 200 meters is swimming around rapidly.

"This is..." Hope paused for a moment, then asked instinctively.

"Based on the sonar data we just gathered, Zero created this simulation image using the orange-red light captured by the camera," Lu Yongchang explained simply. "The observation data is still insufficient, so the simulated image may differ somewhat from the actual situation."

Hope and Hansent looked slightly more relaxed.

Although it can't compare to a sonar, having analog images is better than having nothing at all.

"It slowed down."

Mao Zhengzhi's voice suddenly rang out.

Upon hearing this, Hope quickly turned his gaze to the simulated images provided by Zero.

"As expected..." Mao Zhengzhi stared intently at the holographic projection, muttering to himself, "Living in such a deep sea, these liquid ammonia creatures must have evolved a way of sensing that matches them."

"You mean... ultrasound?" Lu Yongchang frowned and asked softly.

Mao Zhengzhi nodded slightly.

"In the pitch-black ocean of ice giants, vision is probably the least needed function for them to grow in such a perpetually dark environment."

"But perceiving the external world is an essential ability for living organisms."

"It's not difficult to draw this conclusion by thinking about creatures like bats."

Lu Yongchang did not speak immediately, but silently watched the huge creature slowly circling the Poseidon exploration ship in the simulation image.

Suddenly, he spoke up and asked.

"And what about the orange-red light?"

"How do you explain that thing?"

Mao Zhengzhi was slightly taken aback, then frowned.

He understood what Lü Yongchang meant.

Naturally evolved organisms generally do not possess useless functions.

Like the deep-sea anglerfish of Earth's time, it has a fleshy protrusion on the top of its head that resembles a small lantern.

Under the action of luciferase, this fleshy protrusion, which resembles a small lantern, emits a faint light.

Most fish living in the deep sea exhibit phototaxis.

Therefore, this glowing "little lantern" has become a powerful tool for anglerfish to hunt.

The problem arises when comparing it to this deep-sea behemoth that lives in an ocean of liquid ammonia.

If these amino organisms do not have vision, or phototaxis, then what is the purpose of the shimmering light they emit?

You can't just evolve a shiny, sparkly decoration on your body just for looks, can you?

"hiss……"

Mao Zhengzhi reached out and rested his chin on his hand, lost in thought.

"Professor..."

"Could we perhaps refrain from discussing such profound issues for now?"

"Let's think about what we should do first!!"

Hansent's slightly trembling shout came from the loudspeaker, interrupting Lü Yongchang and Mao Zhengzhi's thoughts.

Faced with this unknown deep-sea behemoth, the fear ingrained in human DNA erupts completely.

Especially when they saw the orange-red lights that occasionally drifted past the porthole, and then thought about the terrifying environment outside and the deep-sea behemoth that was over two hundred meters long, a deep fear suddenly arose in their hearts!

Even though Hope and Hansent were starship pilots who had undergone all kinds of training, at this moment, they were on the verge of collapse.

"cough……"

Lü Yongchang coughed somewhat awkwardly.

Faced with amino-based organisms they had never seen before, he and Mao Zhengzhi momentarily forgot their current situation.

"How about we try surfacing?"

Lu Yongchang looked at Mao Zhengzhi and made a suggestion: "See its reaction without turning on the sonar."

Mao Zhengzhi pondered for a moment, then nodded hesitantly.

"Okay, but... the ascent speed should be as slow as possible."

"We currently know too little about it, and we cannot rule out the possibility that it has a strong desire to attack."

Lü Yongchang understood: "You heard everything, right?"

"Try to surface first, but try to slow down the ascent as possible."

"...Try...try?" Hansent's voice even trembled with a hint of a sob. "Professor, are you sure it won't attack us?"

"……uncertain."

As an honest man, Lü Yongchang naturally answered honestly.