Chapter 248: Master, please take us along!

The battle footage of the virtual joint exercise was quickly transmitted back to the mother star of the Star Sea Divine Church.

Inside the Supreme Holy Hall, the Church Leader alone in the vast chamber repeatedly watched the footage that made his soul tremble.

Over and over, he watched how those ten thousand black Divine Might Warships, like ghosts, toyed with his proud hundred thousand Holy Temple Warriors.

He watched the astonishing "Space Displacement," the precise and lethal "Singularity Gravity," and the highly technological "Quantum Entanglement Bomb."

Each viewing dealt a violent shock to his divine heart, composed of pure energy.

He originally thought that after twenty-five years of study, the gap between them and the Instructor Civilization should have been continually narrowing.

They diligently studied ideas, diligently practiced theory, and diligently pursued the Instructor's pace in their own way.

They even thought that, in conventional military strength, these battle-hardened veterans of theirs might still be somewhat stronger than the Instructor's raw recruits.

Yet this exercise was like the loudest slap, fiercely striking his face.

The gap, far from shrinking,

but was instead stretched to a desperate extent.

Their proud Holy Temple Fleet, before the Federal's new ace,

was like a tribe of spear-wielding primitives challenging a modern army equipped with stealth bombers and electromagnetic cannons.

This is not an exercise.

This is a dimensional descent teaching from a higher-dimensional civilization.

"We... we are like frogs at the bottom of a well..."

The Church Leader muttered to himself, his voice filled with bitterness.

He finally understood.

The Instructor Civilization, for why it was willing to let them join the defense, why it was willing to accept their tuition, and why it showed them comradely friendship,

was not because they truly needed the Divine Church's protection.

but rather a genuine superior's tolerance and support for an inferior.

Like a university professor patiently guiding an elementary school student who has just learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.

His willingness to communicate with you is not because of your high level, but because he truly wants to teach you something.

Upon realizing this, the Church Leader's heart felt no jealousy or resentment; instead, a previously unseen, even more fervent reverence welled up.

"So... this is the true Instructor..."

"They have never regarded us as equal allies, but truly see us as students in need of guidance and education!"

"They are leading us forward with a height we cannot comprehend!"

The Church Leader's eyes blazed with light.

He realized that the Star Sea Divine Church Civilization stood at a crucial crossroads.

Should we continue as we are, following behind the Instructor Civilization as allies or students, learning step by step?

No.

Not enough!

Far from enough!

The Instructor Civilization's advance is too fast! Even if they exert all their strength, they can only see the opponent's receding back growing ever more distant.

If this continues, they will eventually be left behind.

And once left behind, they will lose the qualification to follow the truth!

A subversive, even crazy, idea suddenly formed in the Church Leader's mind!

He abruptly rose to his feet and convened the highest-level emergency meeting in the history of the Divine Church Civilization.

All Grand Archbishops, Holy Word Masters, and Fleet Commanders stationed abroad, no matter where they are, must join the meeting via holographic projection within half an hour.

When the images of all the Divine Church high-ranking officials appeared in the Supreme Holy Hall, they sensed from the Church Leader's unprecedented solemn yet fervent expression a feeling that a storm was approaching.

"Comrades,"

The Church Leader's voice echoed through every corner of the holy hall, grand and solemn: "Just now I have figured out a problem."

"What, then, is the meaning of existence for our Star Sea Divine Church?"

This question left everyone stunned.

"We were born in the dark universe, and for hundreds of thousands of years we have regarded ourselves as spreaders of universal truth, lofty above, guiding countless lowly civilizations."

"Later, we encountered the Instructor Civilization, recognized our mistake, abandoned empty theology, and turned to believe in the great truth derived from practice."

"We thought we had found a new direction: to overthrow the Silicon-based Union, and under the Instructor's guidance, build a brand-new, harmonious Milky Way Galaxy."

The Church Leader paused, his gaze sweeping over each person.

"But, comrades, we are wrong again!"

"We have once again committed the error of egoism!"

"We have taken defeating the Silicon-based and liberating the Milky Way as our goal."

"How narrow-minded! How short-sighted!"

"Don't you see? The Instructor Civilization's vision has long surpassed the Milky Way! Their campaign is the stars and the sea! It is the entire universe!"

"Their ultimate goal is not to topple a Silicon-based Union, but to spread that great, universe-liberating radiant thought across every corner of this cold cosmos!"

The Church Leader's words awakened everyone's hearts.

"We can no longer, as followers, complacently enjoy the Instructor's guidance!"

"We must make a change!"

"We must fully immerse ourselves in that great, universe-sweeping revolutionary torrent!"

He took a deep breath and finally spoke that crazy decision capable of overturning the Divine Church's hundreds of thousands of years of history.

"I have decided!"

In the name of the current Church Leader of the Star Sea Divine Church Civilization, we formally request of the Human Federal, our great Guide Civilization!

The request is to merge the entirety of the Star Sea Divine Church Civilization into the Human Federal!

We are no longer an independent civilization! We will come under the Human Federal,

a glorious force fighting for the liberation of the entire universe—the Interstellar Liberation Vanguard Army!

Boom!

The entire Supreme Holy Hall was completely blown up.

All the high-ranking officials were stunned into speechlessness by the Church Leader's crazy decision, their minds going blank.

To merge a three‑level civilization that has existed for hundreds of thousands of years into a newly emerged civilization that has only just been born a few thousand years ago?

This… this has never happened in the entire history of the Milky Way Galaxy!

This is no longer surrender, nor vassalage.

This is… a thorough self‑assimilation at the root of civilization!

"Church Leader! This… this is absolutely impossible!"

An elderly Grand Archbishop was the first to stand up, voice trembling in opposition: "Our Divine Church has its own history, its own heritage……"

"The old history has been proven wrong! The old heritage will only become a shackle holding us back!"

The Church Leader mercilessly interrupted him: "Our only heritage is to follow the truth! And the truth lies with the Guide Civilization!"

"But can our followers and our vassal civilizations accept this?"

"Then educate them! Guide them! Tell them this is not destruction, but rebirth! It is merging into a greater collective!"

The Church Leader's tone brooked no doubt.

"Our ultimate goal is no longer merely the continuation and preservation of ourselves.

but to follow the steps of the Human Federal, spreading the glorious ideas of the great ones throughout the entire universe!

to build a universe without oppression or exploitation, where all civilizations can coexist in harmony—a truly harmonious universe!"

"For this great goal, our Star Sea Divine Church Civilization must give everything!"

After everyone had quieted down, the Church Leader then expressed another viewpoint.

"You all surely know that our civilization's technology has seen no breakthrough for a long time, and our entire research system has become a stagnant pool.

while the Human Federal? You have also seen their development speed—it is truly too fast,

this is a civilization with limitless potential; after merging with them, we will surely be led to break through to the fourth level, and even the legendary fifth level."

The Church Leader's words made everyone think. Eventually they all agreed with this proposal.

…

Three days later.

The Church Leader personally descended upon the Solar System.

He did not board any warship; alone, he turned into a golden stream of light, traversing the endless void, and appeared directly outside the door of the Federal Supreme Command Center.

In the presence of Luo Lao, Qin Hao, Zhang Yunfeng, and the entire Federal high command.

He slowly knelt on one knee.

He raised his head and, with a tone of utmost reverence and solemnity, spoke the words that would freeze the entire history of the Human Federal.

"Esteemed Guide Civilization."

"Disciple, Star Sea Divine Church Civilization, requests to merge into you."

"Please, take us with you, and together let us liberate the entire universe!"