Chapter 364: Shuguang City and the Phoenix Assembly (9k Combined)

September 9, D103, 3: 5 AM

At the edge of Luling Forest, under a starry night, a massive mobile mechanical city rested, its mountain-like ground tracks crushing the withered black forest into two deep trenches several meters wide; multiple deck layers of the vessel bristled with radar and self-defense weapons on 24-hour alert, patrolled by countless electro-optical targeting systems and drones, while countless base weapons, high-voltage defensive electric grids, plasma cutting lines to prevent climbing, and four massive orbital Star-Shatter cannons in low-frequency sleep mode lined the edge decks, joined by countless sentinels, surveillance personnel, and armed combatants, forming a wall of bronze and iron.

Lin Xian brought Kiki and Chen Sixuan to the upper deck, standing beside a steel watchtower atop the high wind ridge, already hundreds of meters above ground; the wind howled past their ears, and their gaze stretched across one side to the vast, dark plain, and on the other, the storm-like edge of Star Abyss 5 split the horizon, appearing eerie and unfathomable.

"Ten thousand meters up, there's a celestial curtain, but it seems invisible to the naked eye."

Kiki looked up at the sky and said: "I heard Shuguang City periodically launches ascenders to try breaking through, but they all fail."

"At first, we all assumed communication breakdowns were caused by the Star Abyss and Dark Invasion…" Chen Sixuan said gravely: "Back in Yubei, I remember Wei Ke Xue saying aerial travel was more dangerous than ground movement—I thought it was just because the sky held more terrifying monsters…"

"Under total unknown conditions, flight risk is extreme," Lin Xian said, gripping the cold railing as he gazed down at the massive vessel and the dark forest swept by searchlights: "Even for large aerial vessels like Jingjing City or Fenghuang City. But the biggest problem is: where would you fly to?"

There is no absolutely safe place on Earth. Since there is no destination, everyone is essentially fleeing the expansion of the Eternal Night; flying faster, higher, or hovering in the air is far less safe than hiding in a basement—this is why Jingjing City, despite its aerial capability, mostly chooses ground movement.

Of course, apart from Jingjing City, no other land vehicle on Earth is this large—not even the massive base vehicles of Dawn Center.

"Hey, Lin, there you are!"

A familiar voice came; Lin Xian turned and saw Shi Di, Xiang Ningjing, Qian Dele, and Mo Nika—they had all been invited by Yueyue Zhenji to meet at the Cloud District's Central Tower to discuss matters and share intelligence.

"What a huge city—living, industrial, agricultural, medical, and weapon systems nearly achieve self-circulating production. This is a true doomsday fortress."

"I walked around the city too—it's really good, clean and tidy, convenient transportation. A great place. Looks like more people really do mean better," Qian Dele said, dressed in casual business attire; clearly, since escaping the Star Abyss, he had relaxed considerably, reverting to his flamboyant style of polished shoes and black sunglasses.

"It's not that simple," Ningjing said with a sigh: "Do you know how much material one hundred thousand people consume daily? And maintaining total darkness silence for a city this massive isn't easy."

Shi Di laughed heartily: "Exactly. You hand all your convoy chores to Xiao Meng—would you really want to manage a city this big?"

Qian Dele frowned without hesitation: "Nah, forget it…"

Shi Di then took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping over the various floating vessels on the lower deck as he told Lin Xian: "I heard they have dozens of fleets, specifically entering cities and outposts already swallowed by Eternal Night to retrieve Federation stockpiles, including freight transshipment hubs and ports for material resupply—only then do they secure enough raw materials and basic supplies. Feeding so many people isn't easy—I've had headaches managing just a thousand-plus people on Longshan No. 1."

"So there are advantages to having many people, and advantages to having few," Mo Nika said, dressed simply, having shed her powered armor, now wearing a sleek emerald-green silk dress that hugged her curves, with a luxurious mink-lined coat draped over her shoulders; her aura was powerful as she looked at Lin Xian and spoke:

"We've been out so long, and I haven't properly thanked our great hero yet—Captain Lin, you pulled off train leaps, spatial transfers—can you get any more miraculous?"

Lin Xian smiled wryly: "When pushed to the brink, people come up with strange ideas. The Colossus that dragged us in also spat us out—come to think of it, we owe this to the Crimson World."

"Pfft, those bastards only do disgusting things—if we ever run into them, they won't get a good outcome," Kiki said dismissively, then turned to Mo Nika: "By the way, that Zhou Lei you locked up—how's he doing?"

Mo Nika shrugged, her expression calm: "He cried and wailed when he first got out, but after realizing he wasn't dead, he perked right up—gives him anything, he eats it."

"Didn't he say he'd die once he left the Star Abyss?" Chen Sixuan frowned: "Or was that just a lie to trick us into letting him out?"

"The presence of a taboo object on him is real," Ningjing said, looking at Lin Xian: "Bai said he sensed the same aura on him as on you, Captain Lin—that's probably correct. But this guy's cunning; how much of his words you can trust is another matter."

Lin Xian's eyes flickered: "Black Candle… if it truly exists, either Sacred Revelation lied to him, or the candle wasn't extinguished, letting this guy survive."

"Speaking of that…" Mo Nika's gaze settled on Lin Xian, her tone cool: "How long do you plan to keep him?"

"Forget him for now," Lin Xian said, gazing at the distant Cloud Tower: "Let's go. Yueyue Zhenji is waiting. I've never attended a top billionaire's banquet."

"Right, let's handle the main business first. This guy survives on scraps of intel—maybe Yueyue Zhenji finds his intel even more interesting than we do," Shi Di said.

Lin Xian nodded. Though it was a banquet, the core purpose was for leaders of several key teams to discuss next steps, so Lin Xian brought only Kiki and Chen Sixuan; everyone else had gone to relax inside Jingjing City, while Grace, Dancer No. 1, and several PX-05 maintenance robots remained aboard the Infinite to perform basic upkeep.

At that moment, a reception robot approached to guide them toward the tower. As Lin Xian took a few steps, he heard a subtle whisper from Mo Nika, as if only he could hear:

"Nihon cuisine is bland and plain—high-end banquets don't make the cut. Top billionaire banquets only serve Dragon cuisine or French. If you really want, I'll treat you to authentic Dragon cuisine someday."

Lin Xian frowned slightly, turning to look at her; Mo Nika's gaze was fixed ahead, so he asked:

"It's the end of the world—what's left to taste?"

Mo Nika's lips curled slightly; she stepped forward swiftly, leaving behind a cryptic remark:

"On my car."

Lin Xian froze, wondering if this woman had secretly stored top-tier ingredients even in the apocalypse.

But he'd only spoken casually—he didn't care much about food. He'd rather devour Mo Queen's ship than eat gourmet meals; maybe that could push him straight to Lv. and complete his mechanical awakening!

That was what mattered most. Lin Xian thought. Now that he was inside Jingjing City, he needed to use this opportunity to enrich his meager mechanical theories and blueprints, and strengthen his ability.

Following a lead robot, the seven of them took an elevator to the upper deck of the Cloud District, located at the rear top of the floating city. This entire deck was designed as a secluded private space, like a floating Zen paradise suspended among the clouds.

As the mechanical door opened, beneath a retractable steel canopy lay a vast neon-style courtyard. At its center was a clear pool, its bottom paved with luminous white jade sandstone, reflecting the bamboo fences and stone lanterns around it. Several Jing Stone sculptures, shaped like distant mountains, embodied the essence of "Zhu Shan Ting" garden design. In the water, a bamboo "shishi" device slowly tilted, its bamboo tube tapping against blue stone, producing a clear, resonant sound that rippled through the tranquil courtyard.

Further inside, the ceiling projected holographic blue skies and white clouds, simulating the changing seasons of Nihon: cherry blossoms drifted in spring, fireflies glowed in summer, maple leaves blazed crimson in autumn, and silent snow blanketed the courtyard in winter. Light and shadow fell upon moss and sand patterns, blurring reality and illusion, making one feel as if they stood not in a mechanical floating city, but in a luxurious villa nestled in a serene countryside.

The soundproofing here was unparalleled. When the canopy fully closed, the mechanical roar outside vanished entirely, leaving only the rustle of bamboo leaves and the drip of water. The group felt as if they weren't inside a mechanical floating city at all, but in a luxurious estate nestled in a scenic countryside.

At the end of the corridor, a familiar figure stood smiling, as if waiting for them.

Chiyo Jun.

"You look well-rested," Chiyo Jun said to Lin Xian with a smile.

"You're recovering well too."

Chiyo Jun, like Lin Xian, had endured the terrifying encounter with the Observational Fish-Tailed Colossus for minutes. Though Jingjing City's Blood Orchid and Shizhi had intervened, this man now appeared calm and composed—clearly, his mental strength was extraordinary.

He turned and gestured as the door behind him slowly opened: "Please."

Inside was a vast Japanese-style hall, laid with pale straw-colored tatami mats. At its center stood a five-tatami-long zelkova boat-shaped dining table, its natural wood grain preserved. On either side, rows of purple sandalwood seating were arranged, each with Rokkashu lacquerware and Bizen sake vessels. At the far end of the table, Yueyue Zhenji stood quietly in a plain robe.

Artificial night wind brushed past, and cherry petals drifted into the tianmu tea bowls on the table. At that moment, the clamor of the mechanical floating city seemed entirely sealed away beyond this wabi-sabi universe.

"Don't be formal. Please sit," Yueyue Zhenji said, as calm as ever. Seeing their curiosity about the setting, he glanced out a window and said: "Don't misunderstand—I have no preference for environment. I built this space solely as a residence for an old friend."

Everyone followed his gaze and saw, beside the clear pool outside, a thin, white-haired old man holding a simple bamboo fishing rod. The old man hunched over, motionless as if asleep; the fish float on the water rippled gently.

Lin Xian stared at the old man's back, then at Yueyue Zhenji, his eyes narrowing. After a long pause, he spoke:

"Is he you?"

At Lin Xian's words, the others' expressions changed.

Yueyue Zhenji smiled faintly: "No, he is he, I am I—we are separate individuals. Strictly speaking, before the Digital Life Act passed, I could not inherit his identity. But now, our relationship is that of teacher and student."

Hearing this, Chen Sixuan, Kiki, and the others realized—the old man by the pool was none other than Yueyue Zhenji himself!

"I always thought Yueyue Zhenji was fifty or sixty," Kiki said. "So your current body is your younger self?"

Yueyue Zhenji nodded: "Correct."

He gestured to the group: "Please sit. He's old now—he prefers peace. Let us handle the troubling matters."

Lin Xian and Chen Sixuan exchanged glances. For some reason, Yueyue Zhenji's words stirred an indescribable emotion in them—like witnessing someone bidding farewell to their own life. Looking at the frail, elderly fisherman, then at the serene, world-embracing Yueyue Zhenji before them, Lin Xian's heart grew complex.

"No wonder the Digital Life Act was never passed," Chen Sixuan said slowly after sitting: "In peacetime, such an existence is hard to accept."

Yueyue Zhenji smiled: "You must have heard of the Ship of Theseus paradox in your university philosophy class—it describes a ship whose parts gradually decay during a long voyage, replaced one by one with new ones until every original part is gone. The question is: is it still the same Ship of Theseus? If yes, why? If no, when did it stop being?"

Chen Sixuan nodded: "I remember—it's about philosophical self-identity."

"Yes. Human lifespan is tied to cell division and renewal. There was a similar question: human cells renew every seven years. But that's a misconception…" Yueyue Zhenji shrugged: "Different cells renew at vastly different rates. But… whatever. Assume the seven-year claim. Then: are you the same person you were seven years ago?"

"Of course I'm still me!" Shi Di said bluntly, frowning: "At least my brain and body hardware are still mine…"

Pah~

Yueyue Zhenji snapped his fingers, glancing at Shi Di with meaning: "Correct. If a person is likened to a machine, all organs are its hardware—and hardware must be replaced. Whether through cell turnover or irreversible damage—like losing limbs and installing prosthetics, blindness and installing ocular implants, replacing heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys—if all are replaced, is he still himself?"

"But the brain is different!" Kiki countered: "The brain is the center of thought and self-awareness!"

"Bingo!"

"So the real issue lies here," Yueyue Zhenji said, smiling, folding his hands into his sleeves and sitting back: "Are you you because of your memories, or because of your thinking?"

"Of course it's…" Kiki hesitated, realizing she couldn't answer.

Yueyue Zhenji continued: "When the brain deteriorates, thinking declines—Parkinson's, amnesia. If likened to a machine, the core processor fails. If we preserve the original memories and replace the core processor, the difference between human brain and quantum computer is merely computational logic and efficiency. Does that mean he's no longer himself?"

Lin Xian nodded, exhaling slowly: "I know you're right—but I can't grasp it yet."

Yueyue Zhenji cut straight to the point, looking at Lin Xian with deep meaning:

"Because you know the version of you after uploading your consciousness has nothing to do with you."

"But here's something fascinating," he said, standing and spreading his arms; instantly, the room filled with dazzling holograms depicting humanity's glorious evolution from tribal agrarian society to today: "Human history is a process of constant trial and error, dynasties collapsing and rebuilding. Each era sees scientific breakthroughs—but a civilization's limit is precisely the lifespan and knowledge capacity of its individuals. Simple example: a top scientist must be 35–40 to join frontier research—that means two-thirds of his life is spent relearning existing knowledge, starting from 1+1, endlessly repeating. As technology grows more complex, one person cannot master all knowledge, so disciplines must be endlessly subdivided—like multi-threaded processing—creating thousands, tens of thousands of fields!"

"But the human brain's peak processing power is at 15–20. This contradiction arises: the great scientist's brain dies and can no longer think; the newborn brain must rebuild its worldview… yet society, politics, family, environment, disasters, networks, religion—all make this iterative process riskier and more unpredictable. Thus, civilization's progress is inevitably limited by lifespan and knowledge capacity. Have you ever considered: processors evolved from light bulbs to vacuum tubes to semiconductors to quantum systems—why not the human brain?"

"Once humanity transitions from biological thought to digital consciousness, lifespan and cognitive boundaries gain infinite potential—that's the key to civilization's leap!"

Silence fell. Mo Nika, intrigued, leaned her chin on her hand: "I've heard a theory too: humans are a form of machine. All organic phenomena can be explained mechanically. The only issue is societal acceptance and the pace of civilizational iteration."

She pointed to the old fisherman outside: "Like this situation."

Lin Xian chuckled: "The genius scientist Yueyue Zhenji can't live forever, but you, who inherited his knowledge, can iterate infinitely."

"Clever."

Yueyue Zhenji smiled, then gazed at the aging figure outside and said softly:

"He and I are not the same individual. But I am me, and he is my teacher, because I need the 'human-in-the-loop' learning process to refine my emotional errors."

"Enough talk. Let's begin the banquet."

Yueyue Zhenji tapped his finger; the holograms vanished. The door opened, and servant robots entered in perfect unison, serving exquisite dishes. Everyone stared—the food was all fresh vegetables and meats; the green vegetables radiated freshness. Lin Xian wasn't surprised that Jingjing City had a plant cultivation base—but the meats shocked him.

Besides chicken and beef, there was even fresh sushi made from sea fish!

This implied Jingjing City had massive aquaculture ponds—utterly extravagant.

"Aren't water bodies heavily polluted by the Dark Invasion? How can you raise fish?" Qian Dele asked, placing a piece of sea-fish sushi in his mouth.

"Do you need water to raise fish?"

Chiyo Jun smiled: "Just like your plant growth chambers—growing vegetables doesn't require soil. Water, oxygen, energy—oxygenated gel suffices. Not difficult at all."

Lin Xian looked at the two: "Have all Jingjing City residents uploaded their digital consciousness?"

"Most have," Chiyo Jun shrugged: "Memory storage is a strategic asset—we must screen and evaluate. Also, due to computational limits, only the Cloud Network of Jingjing City can currently store them. Individual freedom requires massive industrial capacity—still in progress."

"Lin."

Yueyue Zhenji looked at him: "If you wish, you can export a backup of your own consciousness. You might need it someday."

"Myself?" Lin Xian blinked.

Yueyue Zhenji smiled: "To you, it seems strange. But to those around you, you're still you. Do you understand what I mean?"

At this, Chen Sixuan, Kiki, Qian Dele, Shi Di, and others turned to Lin Xian, their gazes subtly altered.

"Heh, consider it. It's entirely your choice."

"Now let's get to the matter at hand." Wangyue Zhenji saw Lin Xian's silence and smiled slightly, then addressed the group: "Thank you all for cooperating with Silent City through this crisis. I invited you here partly to express my gratitude—should you need anything from Silent City, whether supplies, ammunition, or weapons, I can provide them. Another reason is to synchronize intelligence and outline Silent City's upcoming… well, some directions and plans. You might find them interesting."

"I know you're probably planning to head north toward Dawn Center or take the orbital ring's Pacific segment to leave. If you wish to depart, Silent City will escort you to the nearest orbital line. Of course, if you're willing to join Silent City, I welcome you wholeheartedly."

"That's good," Shi Di said, downing a cup of clear wine in one gulp, half-joking: "Everywhere's full of danger now—who wouldn't want to lean on a big tree?"

Xiang Ningjing asked seriously: "What's Silent City's plan?"

"I've already said this before," Wangyue Zhenji said calmly. "It's not just us—Dawn City and the Phoenix Society are the same. Our ultimate goal is to escape Blue Planet."

Chen Sixuan frowned: "The Phoenix Society wants to run too?"

"What else would they do?"

Wangyue Zhenji smiled. "The difference between the Phoenix Society and Dawn City is merely ideological—how they handle the global crisis. The Federation was elitist. When the Day of Revelation came, it was despair for everyone. Did you think the underground city project was the original plan? No… it was a desperate survival strategy, adopted only after the Star Abyss swallowed all satellites, space-based systems, South Heaven Gate, and the Wangyue Planetary Ring. In that despair, fear, and confusion, the Federation fractured into two factions: the old Federation—oh, that's the group led by Chairman Chu Zhao nan, representing the rich and elite, now Dawn City."

"They want to rapidly consolidate the world's last remaining resources and elite population for self-rescue, using the slogan of preserving humanity's final spark of civilization. Logically, their thinking aligns perfectly with a dehumanized society. But the problem is, they can't achieve it. Our current societal development hasn't reached that stage, so it's become a game of territorial survival among self-interested parties."

"What about the Phoenix Society? They're pragmatic, republican, humanist. Their original goal was to save first—rescue all survivors, pool resources, build temporary safe cities, then gradually relocate, making a final stand in the polar regions. That's far more humanistic, so it's gained near-universal approval from survivors—even many in Dawn City acknowledge the Phoenix Society. But in the end, everyone just wants to survive. Any way to live is still living."

"But the underground city plan clearly just means waiting to die?" Kiki crossed her arms. "Based on Dawn City's location, it'll be swallowed by Star Abyss #5 and #8 in one or two months at most. What's the point of reinforcing walls or digging underground in this situation?"

Wangyue Zhenji looked at Kiki and spoke.

"Do you think the Phoenix Society has a solution?"

He shook his head calmly. "No. They have no answer to the darkness either. They're merely surviving in the cracks and gaps not yet swallowed by the Star Abyss, while leading the world's last two or thirty million people in resistance against the final encroaching abyss. That's why I say—both the Phoenix Society and Dawn City ultimately share the same direction in solving the apocalypse."

"Dawn City launches a probe every two or three days from its starport. All have crashed. To avoid alarming the terrifying atmospheric creatures above the Celestial Veil, they must launch far away. The Phoenix Society's goal in building Kunlun Star Nexus in the polar regions is the same—only they want to save as many people as possible and build more vessels before the polar night arrives."

"So do we really have nothing left but to flee?" Xiang Ningjing's face darkened. "Humanity has already defeated S-Class threats. In the process…"

"From a humanist standpoint, I fully agree with you, Miss Ningjing," Wangyue Zhenji said with a faint smile, cutting her off. "But currently, humanity has no chance at all. To defeat those endless monsters in one year? You've seen the mother nest. Not just humans—the Guiyiti 's numbers and strength grow daily. And what about the thirteen Star Abysses we haven't even seen the centers of?"

"So the reason the Phoenix Society is currently the world's official authority is simply because the darkness is unsolvable. Without the Celestial Veil, the Federation wouldn't have fractured. The 'seed' of human civilization would've already left the solar system. What you all can do now isn't to flee east…"

Wangyue Zhenji's gaze swept over them, his tone heavy. "But to seize every remaining vessel…"

At these words, the room fell silent. Everyone's expression shifted. Wangyue Zhenji's words had suddenly revealed a core truth.

Mo Nika nodded, fully agreeing: "That's true. Only the unsolvable unites people. It's precisely because it's unsolvable that the Phoenix Society exists."

"Even if we flee, the Phoenix Society's plan—pooling global resources to build more vessels and save more people—wins hearts, because everyone can hold onto hope," Chen Sixuan added.

"But building a starship capable of carrying tens of millions in just one year? That's impossible," Qian Dele shook his head.

Lin Xian looked at him. "First, this is definitely the Phoenix Society's last resort. As Chen Laoshi said, hope fuels determination—it's what unites all survivors. That's crucial. Second, if escape is all we have, tens of millions aren't beyond reach."

He turned to Wangyue Zhenji, his voice sharp: "Because we still have the Wangyue Planetary Ring, right?"

Wangyue Zhenji smiled, eyes narrowing. "Lin, you're incredibly sharp."

"Correct. Though the Wangyue Planetary Ring is only 85% complete, as humanity's largest artificial space structure, it was designed to hold fifteen million people. Combined with the joint starships, it's feasible."

Kiki's brow furrowed instantly. "Then Dawn City's constant starship launches must be for the same purpose!"

"Yes."

Wangyue Zhenji said coolly: "The Day of Revelation was long ago. They've long known the underground plan won't work. So Dawn City is racing to seize the advantage."

"And what about Silent City?" Lin Xian now asked the key question.

"Unlike them, I don't need the Wangyue Planetary Ring. But to embark on a distant star journey, Silent City requires major upgrades. So next, Silent City will detour from Jinhai, bypassing Dawn City, heading for Yongcheng Port. That's one of the largest starship ports ever built by Wangyue Tech and Kehua Heavy Industry. Silent City's main city was constructed there."

"So Silent City won't go to the poles?"

Wangyue Zhenji replied directly: "Haven't you noticed? All thirteen Star Abysses cluster over the continents. Humanity is being steadily pushed away from land. Only oceans, South America, and the poles remain. Everyone is being forced eastward. For us, the greatest problem is the Celestial Veil—so where we go doesn't matter, does it?"

"Lin."

Wangyue Zhenji looked at Lin Xian and smiled. "Right now, outside the Phoenix Society, the largest alliances are Dawn City, Reykjavik (European Storm Alliance), and the North American United Front. Except for Dawn City, all are large alliances cooperating with the Phoenix Society—including Silent City. But only the Phoenix Society and Silent City possess floating city capabilities. So we can collaborate: build a super-large mechanical starship. With your mechanical ability, you can use humanity's most advanced tech to create the strongest weapons and save more lives. Are you interested?"

All eyes turned to Lin Xian. Not just Chen Sixuan and Kiki—even Shi Di, Xiang Ningjing from Longshan No. 1, Qian Dele, and Mo Nika were all swayed by Wangyue Zhenji's offer.

Ultimately, everyone's train plan was about survival. If humanity couldn't defeat the darkness before the global polar night, their final goal was still to board a starship and flee Blue Planet. If that's the endgame, joining Silent City now—this super floating city—is just getting an early ticket. Besides, living inside this massive mechanical city would drastically increase survival odds. Why not?

This even made Shi Di begin to waver on his original plan to march east and rendezvous with Dawn Center.

Lin Xian fell silent for a moment, as if thinking, as if hesitating. Then he suddenly looked at Wangyue Zhenji, his expression serious.

"Uh… do you think the South Heaven Gate and the Wangyue Planetary Ring… have any potential?"

Pfft!

At these words, Qian Dele spat out the wine he'd just swallowed.

(End of Chapter)