Chapter 792: A Conversation with the Sage (2)

The Sage's "gaze," composed of data, focused once again on Yingzhou.

"War between Star Alliances is an inevitability and a conflict of civilizational contact. When different Star Alliances come into contact due to expansion, resources, or simple existential perception, conflict is bound to arise.

The point of contact will become a micro-battlefield, and the intensity of the conflict will far exceed normal logical deduction, until one side is thoroughly defeated—that is, total extinction in both physical and civilizational terms."

Yingzhou remained in Silence for a few seconds before speaking.

"So, is this the reason why the Humans on this planet are suffering?"

Yingzhou recalled the cities on Xiuluo Holy Star destroyed by the Alien Race, the compatriots who died in despair, and the miserable state of the survivors.

"Is this the reason for your invasion, for conducting this invasion? Because the 'game' has begun?"

"The logic chain is clear."

The Sage confirmed,

"When the Feng Qi Xing Alliance exploration fleet confirmed the existence of traces of the Xiuluo Holy civilization, the 'game' protocol was activated.

Based on the estimation of the Xiuluo Holy civilization, the indigenous people of this planet had no exploitable potential; after the powerful Xiuluo Saint were taken away, this place became a game venue for the Feng Qi Xing Alliance.

This behavior conforms to the internal conflict logic of the 'game'."

The Sage's words pierced through Yingzhou's perception.

Was all his effort up to this point just a game?

This truth made him feel a wave of dizziness.

Was he not a savior? Was he perhaps just a pawn under some greater conspiracy or rule?

Those summoned Primarchs, Legions... did they know?

A massive sense of emptiness washed over him.

He had fought his way here; could the meaning of all this ultimately be just to verify a cold "game" rule? Could the sacrifices and suffering of those departed compatriots, those living beings still struggling in pain, all be just a part of the "game"?

Yingzhou felt as if he were standing on the edge of a dark Shenyuan, the ground beneath his feet cold.

Just then, a distant and warm voice sounded in his ear.

"Little comrade, keep moving forward, do not look back; the path is right beneath your feet."

The voice was calm and firm, carrying a faith that had weathered the vicissitudes of life yet never faded.

It instantly dispersed Yingzhou's chaotic thoughts.

A blurry yet kind figure appeared before Yingzhou's eyes again, and his nose instantly felt sore.

The path is right beneath your feet!

These five words exploded in his chaotic mind!

Yes! The path! His path!

Yingzhou squeezed his eyes shut tightly, and when he opened them again, the brief confusion and sense of emptiness had vanished, replaced by an even firmer radiance.

What he carried on his shoulders had never been just the fate of himself alone!

He was Yingzhou.

He was the Yingzhou who stood up from the blood and fire of this land.

He was the hope of those in despair, the banner of the rebels.

Where his power came from might be a mystery, but what of it?

The path beneath his feet was real! The blood and tears of his compatriots were real! The responsibility of protection was real!

They would never understand the Indomitable Will and the emotional bonds of mutual support that erupt from Humans in desperate straits!

This was the true source of his power!

This was the path he had to walk!

Although it was only for a brief moment, Yingzhou immediately steadied his thoughts.

"Conforms?"

The spiritual golden light on Yingzhou's body surged, impacting the surrounding space Barrier.

"Using the demise of billions of lives to satisfy your damn game? Why are you telling me this?"

Facing Yingzhou's questioning, the Sage continued.

"Although the strength of the Feng Qi Xing Alliance has increased, its relationship with two nearby Star Alliances has become very poor, and war may break out at any time. If you are willing to tell me the source of your power, I can help you preserve Xiuluo Holy Star."

"Sounds tempting..."

Yingzhou struck a contemplative pose, then changed the subject.

"But I refuse! I will not cooperate with a civilization that harms my compatriots!"

"Emotion interferes with judgment. Survival is the primary logic."

The Sage's voice was without a ripple.

"The Xiuluo Holy Indigenous civilization was judged as 'low threat' in my contact assessment. Elimination is the most efficient solution. Until... your appearance."

The Sage's data stream fluctuated violently again, pointing toward Yingzhou.

"You constitute the greatest logical paradox and 'game' variable.

Your power source, summoning ability, technological level... none of these conform to the development trajectory of the Xiuluo Holy civilization.

Your very existence, and the power you have displayed—sufficient to 'filter out' the First Defense Zone—have instantly raised the threat level of Xiuluo Holy to 'unpredictable'."

This is no longer a simple civilizational conflict, but a possibility that touches upon deeper rules within the 'game'—the subversion of civilizational hierarchy by an individual variable."

It drifted closer, the ghostly blue data light almost touching the spiritual energy surrounding Yingzhou.

"The core question remains unchanged: the source of your power? Are you some kind of... 'accidental product' of the 'game'?

Or... a pawn placed into this match by some higher-level 'player'?

Are you participating in this 'game' actively, or passively?

Answering these questions is crucial to the ultimate fate of the Xiuluo Holy civilization."

"I do not know where this power comes from, nor do I know the rules of any 'game'."

"I only know that I am standing here, and my compatriots are dying! They are being treated as objects by the Aliens outside the planet!"

He raised his head, looking straight at the soulless 'face' of the Sage, his psionic energy condensing once more, filled with determination.

"No matter what kind of bullshit playground this universe is, no matter who is pulling the strings behind it, I have changed my mind!"

"Before, I thought about protecting my world, and driving you Aliens who bring destruction... out! Or, destroying you completely!"

"But now, I have changed my mind!"

"Since the Humans of Xiuluo have suffered such misery, there must be more such planets in the outside world. I will not only liberate Xiuluo Holy Star, but also liberate more planets, unite them, and let them stand up again!"

The Sage remained in Silence for several seconds, the data streams within the space falling into some kind of complex calculation.

Finally, its voice sounded again, no longer a pure statement, but more like a proclamation.

"Individual 'Human Leader', your answer... did not provide valid data, but revealed a new behavioral pattern variable: 'irrational' resistance will driven by emotion and belonging."

"The intensity of this will... exceeds the upper limit of the estimation model."

"So, you trapped me here just to study me? To figure out what kind of 'thing' I am?"

Yingzhou's psionic energy began to stir, golden light flowing around his body, resisting the oppressive feeling of this space.

"Objective clear: analyze the anomalous variable, acquire its core power data, and upload it to the home planet 'Source Point'."

The Sage admitted it frankly, "Data interrupted at 21%, but the core sample was successfully captured, which is of higher value. This space is an absolute isolation layer, severing your connection with the outside army and blocking your spatial summoning ability."