Chapter 16

This made Bronya even doubt whether everything she had just seen was merely an illusion.

"Time, gravity, and space are the fundamental components constituting reality."

"If you can learn to manipulate them, you can decrypt, master, and redraw all things."

Zhou Xuan set down the teacup in his hand and said:

"All things must bow before us; reality is no exception."

Bronya could only nod with a half-understanding expression,

She did not comprehend the profundity of the technology, but she understood that Belobog's resources and techniques were negligible to the Calamity Empire.

Bronya truly could not think of what she could bring to the negotiating table with the Calamity Empire,

Perhaps this was never a negotiation to begin with...

"We hope that we can at least... maintain our independence..." Bronya said with a bitter tone.

"Pfft..." Xiao Hui, standing beside Zhou Xuan, could not help but laugh: "Do you think you can become a vassal of the Empire?"

"Are you the Human Federation, the Poison Saint Knight Corps? Or perhaps the Interastral Mega-Corp? The Celestial Dragon Herd? The Legion of the Dead?"

"Only those who make great contributions to the Empire and remain eternally loyal to it can serve as vassals, sharing the path of Ascension with the Empire and reaching the higher layers."

"For former faster-than-light civilizations, the Empire generally establishes only an observation station."

"Your Majesty Zhou Xuan would not even deign to pay attention to such matters."

Bronya was momentarily speechless.

Only Zhou Xuan calmly extended a hand, signaling Xiao Hui to say no more.

"My Sociological Array is slightly interested in your civilization's form; They always manage to research valuable things from the strangest places."

"Within the next few days, They will establish an observation station above your planet; there may even be one on the surface."

"If you wish to secure some benefits for your civilization, you can go and discuss it with Them."

Saying this, Zhou Xuan stood up and walked out of the lounge together with Xiao Hui.

Only Bronya remained standing there in a daze, unable to speak for a moment,

A thick curiosity also surged in Bronya's mind: how exactly does a civilization wielding such terrifying technology conduct its scientific research...

Just then, the light screen in the corner of Bronya's eye suddenly lit up,

A line of text appeared on the light screen:

【Purification Method for the Untouchables: Synaptic Servitude.....】.

23. 【They are permitted to settle within the Synaptic Condenser】

Asdana Galaxy, Dreamscape's Penacony, Moment of Dew,

In the deepest part of the Dewlight Pavilion, Sunday, the head of the Oak Family, was enjoying a classic Dreamscape breakfast,

Three spoons of Carefree Ease in the coffee, a few chunks of Shattered Dreams of Happiness sandwiched in the bread, and a sprinkle of Momentary Freedom on the fried egg,

This was the most popular breakfast in the Dreamscape,

Sunday leaned back in his chair, eating the fried egg while reading the information in the newspaper,

"Famous songstress Robin visits the war-torn planet of Canaan, strongly condemning the Hebrews' massacre of the Ishmaelites, and expressing hope that her singing can alleviate the pain of war, spreading the glow of Harmony over the battlefield...."

"The Interastral Peace Corporation recently issued a statement: claiming the Calamity Empire is not worth worrying about; the Corporation will defend interstellar peace beneath the firm walls of the Amber Lord, firmly believing that all crises will eventually turn into ash under the Amber Lord's great hammer."

"The Boshixue Society issued a statement: After joint research by many famous scholars of the Boshixue Society, it has been confirmed that the recent stellar extinguishment events are natural phenomena; residents across the universe are requested to remain shocked and must not believe rumors."

"Dr. Ratio, a famous professor from the First University of Truth and a physician of Truth, stated: 'More foolish than fools are those whose eyes are blinded by fear.' Professor Ratio currently refuses to provide an explanation for his remarks."

"Stellar extinguishment, the Calamity Empire..."

Sunday gently set down the newspaper in his hand,

News from recent days always made one feel as though a storm was brewing,

Just then, a Nocturnal Owl flew in through the window, circled once in the air, and landed on the table,

The Oak Family member nearby, however, turned a blind eye to this and did not drive it away.

"Child," the Nocturnal Owl spoke to Sunday.

"Mr. Gopher Wood, what urgent matter brings you visiting so early in the morning?"

Sunday lifted his coffee, took a sip, and said.

"You have always been a smart child; you should be able to sense the existence of a crisis," the Nocturnal Owl said, looking at Sunday.

"The Corporation does not agree with this," Sunday said, pushing the newspaper in his hand toward the Nocturnal Owl.

"They claim the Calamity Empire is not worth worrying about, that the Corporation will defend interstellar peace, and that the Amber Lord's great hammer will turn all threats into ash."

"Hehehe, both you and I know the history of that dead god we revere."

"Even Aeons fell during the Swarm Disaster of the past; although the Solitary Worms were not as powerful as the Propagation at its peak..."

"... yet the fact that the Calamity Empire could eliminate them all with just one person is sufficient to show exactly what tremendous power the Calamity Empire has mastered."

The Nocturnal Owl lowered its voice and said:

"Even if we ultimately withstand the Calamity Empire, it will only be after paying a huge price in sacrifice and casualties, and only through the joint efforts of multiple Aeons, that we can survive the crisis."

"Reality has become unsafe; our great undertaking must prepare even faster to timely recreate the Dream of the One on earth."

"Only by connecting the wills of all people in Penacony into one can we shape a nation of paradise amidst the coming crisis."

"Let your sister return as soon as possible; do not hesitate any longer."

"I have never hesitated," Sunday said, shaking his head gently: "But can the Dream of the One truly create a paradise in the face of the Calamity Empire?"

"Of course."

The Nocturnal Owl said with certainty:

"No matter how terrifying the crisis in reality may be, the Dream of the One, linked by the wills of all within the dreamscape, will remain safe and sound....."

"No matter how powerful the Calamity Empire is in reality, the domain of will is ultimately unique; moreover, how much more so is the Dream of the One, which contains the power of an Aeon?"

Sunday nodded slightly and was about to continue speaking when he saw the light screen at the corner of his eye flare up.

A line of text appeared upon the light screen,

【Purification Method for the Untouchables: Synaptic Enslavement】

【This species will be transferred into the Synaptic Condenser; the consciousness and thoughts of its population will be linked together to form a network providing computational power, burning themselves for the Disaster Empire's calculation and storage.】

【"The mission calls! And the brave and wise shall respond!"】

【"Turn your thoughts into a torch and drive away the darkness of ignorance and superstition!"】

【"O brave ones, press forward and let your light bloom."】

Gazing at the flickering characters on the light screen, Sunday suddenly froze in shock,

"Linking consciousness and thoughts together... providing computational power, burning for the Disaster Empire's calculation and storage..."

A faint, ominous premonition suddenly surged in Sunday's mind...

"Synaptic Condenser?" The Hidden Night Thrush standing on Sunday's desk suddenly froze: "What is that thing?"

Just as the Dreammaster felt confused, the scene on the light screen shifted again, settling upon a colossal mechanical structure,

This megastructure was as vast as a gas giant, standing tall in the void of space,

It was composed of steel-built strip-like blocks, layered and stacked like a mechanically forged brain,

Thick cables extended out from the steel blocks resembling a cerebral cortex,

Like densely packed neural synapses, they connected to a central, brainstem-like cubic core.

【"A small squadron of civilian ships from the Starfish Federation has arrived at our borders!"】

【"They are filled with Starfish refugees, who have been permitted to settle within the Synaptic Condenser."】

24. 【Burn Your Value for the Empire!】

"Synaptic Condenser?"

Gazing at the colossal brain forged from steel upon the light screen, constantly releasing arcs of electricity, a trace of surprise inevitably flashed in Lord Fu Xuan's eyes.

Leaving aside the purpose of this megastructure named the Synaptic Condenser, its volume alone was astonishing enough,

Not far from this Synaptic Condenser lay a gas giant with swirling clouds, and the Synaptic Condenser was nearly as massive as it.

Planetary-scale megastructures were not unheard of in the universe,

This Luofu Luofu Xianzhou beneath Lord Fu Xuan's feet was one such example,

Yet there were differences among planetary megastructures; gas giants were often a thousand times larger than terrestrial planets,

While planetary megastructures across the universe were, at most, the size of habitable terrestrial planets,

Rare indeed were those like the Synaptic Condenser in the light screen, a megastructure equal in size to a gas giant.