Chapter 151: Star of Dark Evil 150 – 6K Subscription Plea

When the document was released, the room fell silent at once. Neither of them spoke again, and they stared at each other for a full two minutes.

Finally, perhaps Bai could no longer bear the other's gaze, or perhaps for some other reason, he was the first to speak and break the silence:

"You know, Xu, this kind of thing is beyond our control. We are merely a group of researchers; as long as we do our job properly, then…"

"Are you referring to turning this research vessel into an arsenal, with an entire fleet trailing behind us?" Xu's gaze at Bai was filled with disappointment and disbelief:

"Why? Why have you become like this now?"

"Didn't we come bearing peace? Didn't we carry all humanity's finest blessings for our alien friends?"

"Are you suggesting that we brought all this weaponry because we intend to do arms trade with the aliens?"

"Enough!" Bai growled low, slamming the table hard to cut Xu off: "You need to understand that the intelligent life living there are not our compatriots!! They don't even possess any intelligence! Haven't you ever seen it!?"

"That civilization is already dead!! All that remains here are its wreckage!!!"

Bai roared, conjuring holographic projections in the air, each showing images sent back over the past millennium by probes the March Civilization launched into Wang Wu's star system.

Except for the planet Wang Wu's crew inhabits, the footage from the other worlds was crystal clear. Some probes even flew to the surfaces, meticulously photographing city ruins abandoned for tens of thousands of years.

Of course, that also included the debris floating in orbit: massive flying vessels, awe‑inspiring megastructures, and countless surveillance devices.

When a transcendent world's civilization reaches a certain stage, its development converges with that of a technological society in many ways.

In nature there is a term called 'convergent evolution', referring to organisms from different ancestors changing their overall or partial morphology in the same direction due to similar lifestyles.

The same applies to the development of civilizations.

From satellites to starships, then space stations, and the first off‑world city. All development follows a trajectory.

However, due to the peculiarity of transcendent civilizations, the locals may have had naked 'savages' using flatulence propulsion to hop onto the moon and back before anyone even pointed out steam engine technology.

That's perfectly normal.

Great Summer is perhaps the most productivity‑focused human civilization in this region's history, and in the tens of thousands of years that followed, neither Great Shang nor Great Zhou achieved any qualitative leap in productivity.

Many of the technologies they used were still ancient relics from tens of thousands of years ago.

Of course, this also relates to a technological bottleneck. Although the Xia Dynasty fell, the Summer Nation, as its successor, has survived to the present; today the Summer Nation still upholds the same philosophy as ancient Great Summer—seeking the proper Dao of heaven and earth, the truth of all things.

But in terms of technology, it truly has been stuck at a bottleneck for ten thousand years now.

That is perfectly normal; a species' continuation must endure many hardships, and a single misstep can lead to total extinction, erasing it from the river of history.

The continuation of a civilization is no different.

Sixty thousand years flew by; the local civilization began to stagnate, while emerging civilizations caught up and even surpassed it in some aspects.

Moreover, because its transcendent power system is relatively complete and strong, this region's human civilization, while extremely advanced, still retains some brutally savage elements.

Or rather, it is highly distinctive.

It boasts space warships, stellar megastructures, off‑world colonies, as well as live sacrifices, slavery, and worship of ghosts and deities.

One photo after another, one 3D projection after another, clearly displayed to Xu the world that lay less than half a month's journey away.

Watching the architecture that once symbolized a civilization's glorious past, and the terrifying creatures roaming the ruined cities, her body began to tremble and tears welled up.

"If there were no army, if there were no weapons, tell me, how could our research proceed?"

After finishing the display, Bai let out a soft sigh, pulled Xu into his arms, and whispered:

"We didn't come bearing war, because in that place there will be no civilization any longer."

"We only came to protect ourselves, to enable our research to progress more smoothly."

Cradled in her lover's arms and hearing his words, Xu's nose twitched with sourness; she couldn't hold back her emotions and buried her head in his chest, sobbing softly.

Feeling the sorrow of the one in his arms, Bai, with a hint of tender pity, loosened his hold, lifted Xu's chin.

"Xu…"

"Bai, I…"

Soon, the room filled with a series of gentle, low hums.

Eastern Horizon Star Outpost.

Staring at the panels for a while, Wang Wu suddenly thought: it seems that all the aliens he's encountered so far have been human‑shaped?

The aliens on the planet previously protected by the divine general were like that, and the March people he now meets are the same.

There's nothing to compare; Wang Wu hasn't even seen a 'Western face' from his hometown.

This world seems to have only Eastern faces, though people from different regions still have some variations in facial features.

At least on the planets Wang Wu visited before, the humans there had facial styles markedly different from those here.

"Wu Lang, have you discovered anything?"

"I've noticed a little, but nothing special," Wang Wu said, his gaze still on the panels.

Yao Qing was clearly not a born researcher; she stared at the panels with Wang Wu for ages yet saw nothing.

At least Wang Wu could still glean some information from the panels, because after reaching the Middle Third Rank, further advancement requires studying cultural subjects.

Otherwise, if you don't even know the principle of a three‑phase bomb, how can you even hand‑craft one?

Even if you don't know, it won't affect your ability to make that thing much.

Because at that level, some things need not be 'learned'; you can see them directly and experience them.

Humanity, through generations of accumulation, first speculated, then after technological progress uncovered the mysteries within atoms, learned about electron counts and certain regularities.

But warriors can't use these, because for them such things can be clearly 'sensed'.

Personal experience is always the best way to verify anything.

"Oh? Young hero actually noticed something? I wonder what it is?"

Their words were heard by Tai Bu and the lead scholar of the base; the two became curious, turned to Wang Wu, and asked.

"Umm, nothing much." Wang Wu stroked his chin, then pointed to the pattern on the first panel, "You see the thing in the upper left corner, you should know what that is, right?"

"Micro Star Spin, which should represent the spin of Taiwei Star," the scholar said. "This likely combines with the numerals on their human figures, indicating the height of that man and woman."

"That's what I mean," Wang Wu nodded, then pointed to the star chart on the right side of the male and female figures. "This should be a star map; using those lines we can pinpoint the location of their world's center."

"Yes, we thought the same." The scholar continued to nod.

"Below is the arrangement of the stars in their heaven and earth." Wang Wu pointed to the bottom, "This thing was emitted from the fourth star."

"Do you have any other discoveries?" the scholar asked.

"Nothing else." Wang Wu shook his head.

The scholar was visibly disappointed, but said nothing.

"I don't think there's anything valuable up here, right?" Wang Wu asked, "Instead of worrying about this, wouldn't it be better to decode the signals you've captured from over there these years? Maybe we could decipher something."

"But that takes time," the scholar said, glancing at Da Zhou Tai Bu, "yet some people are too impatient."

Tai Bu did not rebut, merely watching the other with a calm expression.

"Anyway, those people's ships are almost here; when we seize them, won't we know everything?"

A commander from the State of Chu clearly had no interest in these chaotic trinkets; he impatiently joined the conversation:

"You all spend the whole day researching this and that, and I haven't figured out anything either. Just take all their stuff, capture the people, and won't we understand everything?"

"Tai Bu, we're not here to help those Xia people explore the truth of heaven and earth, are we?"

"Uhm, yes." Ji Dong chuckled lightly, "Then let's follow the plan we agreed on earlier, everyone."

"If there's nothing else, please refrain from coming here often," the scholar then ordered everyone to leave.

"This is fucking boring," several Chu soldiers said, glancing at the Xia scholars, one of them muttering under his breath.

"Snap!"

Then he was slapped hard.

"Shut up!"

Although Wang Wu and Yao Qing were "uninvited guests," the two blended perfectly into the team, and no one noticed anything amiss.

When they discovered a ship from outside the Solar System heading this way, the nations that usually tangled with each other suddenly became quite united.

Those who could help did so, those with strength contributed. After a discussion, a fleet set out from their homeland toward the edge of the Solar System.

An elite fleet dispatched to probe conditions at the Solar System's edge contained many of the era's top experts.

This operation also saw considerable contribution from the demon race; the advance fleet alone had over thirty demon experts, including Wang Wu's direct subordinate, the former city lord of Heavenly Python City, Tian Ling.

The danger level was actually quite high, since no one knew the other side's attitude or strength.

Yet the nations held nothing back; the quality of the personnel they sent was also high.

Fifteen cultivators of the Heavenly Communication Realm, thirty of the Desolate Realm, and sixty of the World‑shaking Realm formed a rather valuable lineup.

Among them were sixteen space vessels, two Wang vessels, and many modern warships.

According to the Explorer Mirror's detection, the ship's trajectory was heading toward East Tianya Star. Initially, the commanders planned to block the opponent at the far edge of the system, i. e., within the Oort Cloud.

Later, after further discussion, they decided to let the opponent in, as interception was not very realistic.

The Oort Cloud is a massive nebula enveloping the entire Solar System; from outside, the Solar System looks like a cloud of stars rather than a star system.

However, the cover it provides is rather limited; once technology reaches a certain level, the difficulty here is not high, only whether you care about it.

After all, the universe is vast; even the Heavenly Court that spans the galaxy is still tiny compared to the cosmos.

The ship's speed far exceeded everyone's expectations; although it didn't surpass light speed, it would vanish in space for intervals and reappear nearly a light‑year away.

This was clearly some kind of "jump" technology, something humanity in the Solar System has studied for years without mastering.

Undoubtedly, the alien ship's technology has already attracted human covetousness worldwide.

Though they don't know what to do with the technology, they'll take it first and worry later.

If friendly contact is possible, obtain it through diplomatic means; if not, a little force is understandable.

A week passed quickly; thereafter Wang Wu came here daily, but this time alone, without any female companions.

Because he also wanted to see the aliens and be the first to make contact.

Mainly, based on the information gathered, these aliens seem to be following the path of their own homeworld.

Yet this is a fantasy world, so even a technology‑driven civilization still wields some extraordinary powers.

And these things were already marked on the golden tablet the March people sent.

"Fellow citizens of New Cloud Star!! In half an hour, we will together witness this historic moment!!!"

Inside the massive ship, an attractive female host excitedly displayed the starry sky on the forward screen to everyone of the March civilization.

It was a huge nebula, countless celestial bodies drifting within it; for a vessel of that size, traversing a nebula a full light‑year in diameter was clearly a challenge.

However, as times progressed, people no longer needed to force their way through like that.

Within the March civilization, billions of people now stared at the same channel, listening to the host's excited voice, equally thrilled.

"Now! Initiate hyper‑space jump!!! We are about to enter another civilization's domain!!!!"

As the words ended, the cosmic view on the screen behind the host was stretched into countless thin strands.

It was the hyper‑space technology mastered by the March people two hundred years ago, and two hundred years ago marked the seventh technological revolution in March human history.

After that, humanity officially possessed the means to venture into the galaxy and explore the universe, signifying that human civilization had entered the next stage.

"Huh? It's coming in?" In the pitch‑black void, atop a Kuiper Belt object, Wang Wu lifted his head and stared sharply at the distant stars.

It's not that his naked eye is that powerful; that's an ability only a second‑rank warrior possesses. Mainly, he placed a detector he bought a few days ago outside the Solar System to monitor exoplanetary conditions.

"Hmm, Fifth Brother, fine, give me everything, don't… don't stay outside…"

"Uhm, I didn't mean that, hiss…!"

The opposing ship had again activated a jump, apparently a kind of curvature technology; based on the detector's measured spatial folding, its destination seemed to be the Quarrel Star on the Solar System's tenth orbit.

However, Wang Wu didn't pay much attention, focusing on the immediate situation instead.

Still, he called Tian Ling; since she was his subordinate, she naturally had a way to stay in contact with Wang Wu at any time.

"Hello, heavens? That space vessel has entered, destination is Quarrel Star; get the fleet over there quickly."

"Huh? Okay, I'll inform them right away."

One hour later, after finishing his tasks, Wang Wu straightened his clothes. Because he had work later, he also didn't completely destroy the opponent.

Ren Qian, Yanju City Lord, is one of the Demon Kings of the Heavenly Communication Realm among this human vanguard fleet.

After Xie Yuzhi, Wang Wu finally met a stronger opponent who might even surpass him: Ren Qian, whose true form is a blade beast that looks like a tiger but actually isn't.

Primordial demonic beasts are basically fantasy‑style creatures from the old home, so one can only say this thing looks like something.

The two demons quickly put on their clothes, then Wang Wu opened Mirror Flower Water Moon and sent Ren Qian back.

Ren Qian reluctantly said farewell to Wang Wu before the Mirror Flower Water Moon, then smashed into it headfirst.

After the portal vanished, Wang Wu did not pause; he immediately opened another Mirror Flower Water Moon.

This place is also Wang Wu's hometown; as the man who commands the strongest power in this star system, protecting his native land is, of course, his duty.

Thus Wang Wu took the first step toward Xi Ying Xing.

Xi Ying Xing is not the farthest planet from the sun in this solar system; this system has twelve orbital tracks.

However, Xi Ying Xing has a very thick atmosphere, and its internal environment is relatively the most "suitable" for human habitation.

The Xia Dynasty spent two thousand years terraforming this planet; although the results were modest, its development level is still the highest among planets on the eighth to twelfth orbits.

Among all the outer planets of the solar system, Xi Ying Xing's development ranks second.

At its peak, seventy‑million people lived here; Xi Ying Xing is rich in minerals and was a crucial resource planet during the Xia and Shang periods.

The pitch‑black void of space twisted, and immediately a massive warship appeared in orbit around Xi Ying Xing.

"Everyone!!!"

The screen behind the host already displayed the scene in space: in the planet's asteroid belt floated countless wreckage.

Broken warships, collapsed megastructures, and a great number of defunct satellites.

"We've arrived!!!"

The host turned, tears welling in her eyes. While looking at the bridge's huge screen, she spoke to the camera:

"Look, dear viewers, how awe‑inspiring, how magnificent this civilization is…"

"See those megastructures in the starry sky, see the splendor they once created…"

"But now, everything has perished. Everything has turned into dust in the universe."

"Let us pay tribute to these pioneers of the cosmos."

Having finished, the host lowered her head and closed her eyes. Her words were not meant to stir the audience, but truly came from the heart.

The ancients of this world indeed forged an unparalleled, radiant civilization, and many of their technologies remain unattainable even to the March Civilization today.

Every civilization has its own focus; within the March Civilization's solar system, such colossal artificial celestial bodies cannot be seen.

The Yin‑Shang people communicated with higher civilizations through sacrificial rites, linking to the Heavenly Court, and possessed many spirit treasures. Yet in technological development they lag behind their predecessors, the Great Xia.

The Great Xia, high above the heavens, created a "Heavenly Palace" belonging to humanity.

Great Xia was the first civilization to unify all humanity, creating an incomparable glorious history.

After it, the Great Shang was the second, powerful beyond compare, its might shaking all directions.

But compared to Great Xia, the Yin‑Shang cared not for the so‑called "Heaven‑Earth Truth"; their goal was never to reach the cosmos.

Killing and sacrifice permeated the entire Yin‑Shang lifeline.

After all, as offspring of a higher civilization, there was no need to study those things; just take ready‑made products from the big brother, right?

If they truly needed technology, couldn't the big brother also provide it?

"Luo, Sister Luo?!"

After a ten‑second moment of silence for the "civilization" she mentioned, a trembling voice from the photographer suddenly sounded in Luo's headset.

"Were you shocked?"

Luo opened her eyes, gave a gentle smile to the camera—both to the audience and to her boyfriend.

But the next moment, she saw the terror on her boyfriend's face.

His pupils dilated, his face stiff, his open mouth trembled continuously.

Luo instinctively turned back, looking at the bridge's main screen that had turned her boyfriend into this state.

When her eyes met those on the screen, she herself became just like her boyfriend.

Dull, rigid.

And not only her; at that moment, most people on the bridge were in the same condition.

The same applied to countless ordinary people of the March Civilization.

One face, two faces, countless faces, representing countless "people".

Those are countless "people" floating in space, already dead.

(End of chapter)