Chapter 269: Civilization Leap, System Upgrade

Inside the black hole's event horizon, the concepts of time and space became blurred.

Qin Hao has been charging here for twelve years.

These twelve years were a long span for the outside world, but to him they felt like only a brief secluded cultivation.

Under the invisible hammering of the ultra‑strong gravitational field, his consciousness was repeatedly compressed, torn apart, and reassembled.

The system's protection mechanism isolated physical destruction, but could not completely shield against the mental shock caused by spacetime distortion.

This process was painful yet mysterious. Qin Hao's mental power, in this unique cultivation, was forged through countless trials,

becoming more condensed and pure than ever before. His perception of space,

no longer remained at the application level, but faintly touched upon a deeper essence.

It seemed that if he wished, he could merge his consciousness into this space, becoming part of spacetime itself.

Meanwhile, as Qin Hao underwent his transformation, the Yanhuang Civilization was also experiencing a historic leap.

Time arrived at the thirteenth year, after Mao Xinyang successfully resolved the ideological crisis, the nationwide "Longevity Gene" popularization plan officially kicked off.

Medical ships equipped with "Life Cradle" devices set sail toward every life-bearing planet in Yanhuang Civilization's territory.

The plan was divided into hundreds of batches, starting with the military and scientific personnel, then gradually covering every ordinary citizen.

This was an immensely colossal project.

Countless citizens entered the sci‑fi‑feeling treatment chambers with feelings of apprehension, curiosity, and even awe.

Under the wrap of a gentle energy field, each of their cells began a new transformation.

Gene chains were optimized, telomeres lengthened, and aging organs regained vitality.

The average lifespan of Yanhuang Civilization's population began to steadily rise at a visibly observable rate.

Time arrived at the eighteenth year.

This day was destined to be recorded in the annals of Yanhuang Civilization.

On the population data monitoring screen at the highest command center of the Solar System's Blue Star, everyone's gaze focused on the constantly jumping number.

【Current civilization individual average lifespan: year.】

As the citizens of the final batch of remote planets completed their gene optimization, the data was uploaded to the central database.

The number gave a light jump.

Years!

A perfect integer.

A milestone representing the civilization's level leap!

Meanwhile, the total population of Yanhuang Civilization also, due to the great extension of lifespan and a new wave of population boom,

formally broke through an astonishing figure—230 billion!

Of these, the population absorbed from the former Star Sea Divine Church Civilization accounted for over ninety percent.

This once theocratic civilization has now become completely an inseparable part of Yanhuang Civilization,

injecting a huge population base into this newborn massive collective.

At this moment, inside the command center, a thunder‑like cheer erupted.

Luo Lao, Zhang Yunfeng… these people who had devoted their lives to the civilization, looking at that iconic number on the screen, had their eye sockets a little moist.

They did it!

Leading their civilization, they broke free from the shackles of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and collectively stepped into the ranks of third‑level civilizations!

But just as the Yanhuang Civilization celebrated nationwide, Qin Hao, far over a hundred light‑years away, suddenly opened his eyes.

A cold yet familiar mechanical alert tone exploded in his mind like thunder, a sound to him akin to heavenly music.

【Beep! All system upgrade conditions have been met!】

【1. Civilization territory: controlled range exceeds one thousand light‑years. (Achieved)】

【2. Civilization average lifespan: reached twenty thousand years. (Achieved)】

【3. Technological level achieved】

【All conditions confirmed, beginning the fourth‑level system upgrade…… Estimated upgrade time: thirty Earth days.】

"Finally…… it's here!"

Qin Hao suppressed his inner joy and immediately issued a command to the system.

"Stop energy absorption!"

Hum—!

The incessant surge of massive energy flowing into his body was instantly cut off.

He glanced at his energy reserve—remaining 726 million energy units.

Without hesitation, Qin Hao immediately returned to his ship, activated the space‑jump engine, and fled this deadly place at top speed.

He knew clearly that whether the protection mechanism would remain effective during the system upgrade was still unknown.

Without the system's protection, his spacecraft before the black hole was not even worth a speck of dust.

……

The return journey was long and filled with boredom.

The system upgrade process lasted a full month.

Finally, on the thirtieth day, when his ship had passed more than halfway through the journey, that familiar yet unfamiliar alert tone sounded again.

【System upgrade complete.】

【Welcome host to use the All‑Things Replication System V4.0 Ultimate Edition.】

Qin Hao immediately focused all his attention on the newly unfolded system panel before him.

The panel's design became more concise.

【All Things Replication System】

【Current Level: Level 4 (Highest Level)】

Seeing the three characters 'Highest Level', Qin Hao's heart skipped a beat. This meant that the system's upgrade had reached its end.

He couldn't wait to look at the core ability description.

【Core Ability: Concept Replication Creation】

【Ability Description: The host can consume energy to copy (create) anything imagined in consciousness—all things, rules, even abstract concepts—into real existence. This includes, but is not limited to: unknown substances, imagined technology, intangible energy fields, causality, time… even existences similar to the system.】

【Note: As long as there is enough energy, everything can be copied and created. However, it is impossible to create existences that surpass the system's own cognition and energy level limit.】

Boom!

Qin Hao's brain felt as if it had been directly hit by a supernova, instantly going blank.

Concept Replication Creation!

Turn imagination into reality!

He was completely shocked by this brand-new ability!

Strictly speaking, this is no longer 'replication' but creation! It is an ability possessed only by mythological figures! And it is even more terrifying than theirs!

Previous systems, no matter how powerful, still followed a basic logic——

It could only copy things that already existed or had been detailed in sci-fi works.

And now, this limitation has been completely broken.

He no longer needs blueprints, no longer needs templates; he only needs to 'think'!

Theory, fantasy, mythology……

As long as his imagination is rich enough and his energy reserves are vast enough, he can turn all of this into reality!

Qin Hao forcibly suppressed his tumultuous emotions and continued reading.

The system's charging method also underwent a huge change.

【Energy Absorption Mode】

【1. Regular Absorption: Same as the old version.】

【2. Targeted Absorption (New Feature): The host can designate any target (planet, star, black hole, nebula, galaxy, or even an entire universe) for directed energy absorption. The system will automatically calculate the required absorption time based on the target's energy level.】

【Note: Under this absorption mode, the host will not receive the system's protection mechanism; be sure to conduct it in an absolutely safe environment. Additionally, it can only be activated within one light-year of the designated target.】