Chapter 525: The Final Move

“I assume you’ve already learned something about the Celestial Empire’s lunar base before this.” The projection gazed at Harry and spoke slowly, “So let me first explain what ‘Ascension’ truly means—perhaps I can make it easier for you to understand by using another term: I call it ‘Cosmic Genesis.’”

“This is a concept I’ve been researching for a long time, but only after completing the Dao of Heaven did I realize it had become feasible. I then moved swiftly to prepare and complete it—this summarizes all events since the beginning of this year.”

“Now, let me elaborate on the concept of [Cosmic Genesis]: essentially, it is about entering and creating a new, parallel world, one in an unstable state, allowing us to freely alter objective laws and shape the entire world exactly as we desire.”

This was insane. Harry was too stunned to speak, staring blankly at Ge Xuan’s projection, which continued calmly detailing its actions.

“A simpler example: the Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration you know well—Transfiguration cannot create food, or rather, it cannot sustain secondary transformation. But in a newly created universe, we could entirely adjust this rule, making transfigured food perfectly edible. Of course, to avoid unpredictable anomalies, we limit it strictly to [food], and its purpose solely to [supplementing human energy needs]. This was the first thing I did upon reaching the new world—it directly solves everyone’s basic survival problem.”

“Rules must be changed or established with deep deliberation, but overall, this is done to create a better ideal society—since objective laws make utopia impossible, I altered the objective laws themselves. This is a truly grand undertaking.”

A look of satisfaction appeared on the projection’s face; it was pleased to have accomplished this astonishing feat. Harry, too, was stunned by this line of thought, momentarily speechless.

After a brief silence, the projection continued: “I imagine you’re curious about where this place is. Let me tell you—it is the Celestial Empire’s Seed Project. After all native residents completed Ascension, the lunar base may, at its discretion, attempt to reboot our civilization. Within this vast circular corridor you see, all of the Celestial Empire’s culture, technology, history, magical arts, and more—up to the moment of Ascension—are preserved. It is an extraordinarily detailed grand library.”

“If you’re also interested in the concept of Cosmic Genesis, you might try gradually uncovering and restoring our technologies here. Generally speaking, I believe Zhang Qiu, as a newly appointed lord, is the most likely candidate to undertake this task...”

“Absolutely not!” Zhang Qiu stormed up to him, interrupting the conversation. “You made me feel abandoned. This is ridiculous. I think you’ve oversimplified the remaining tasks.”

“These people on the lunar base are already steeped in this ‘abandoned’ despair—they can’t form any effective or positive organization, let alone restore Celestial Empire civilization.” Zhang Qiu’s tone carried heavy pessimism. “You can’t just dump this on me... I just got married today...”

Harry wrapped his arm around her shoulders, offering support, but the projection delivered an even harsher blow: “Correct. To be frank, I did abandon you along with these people.”

“Qiu, calm down and think: life is never perfect. If you want to be with Harry, you can’t join our plan; and Harry has his friends and family—he could never join this Ascension. Leaving our technologies here for you and Harry to access and use is the best arrangement I can offer you.” The projection’s tone softened gradually. “If you wish for a quiet life, you may let everything remain as it is. If you seek a broader future, this can become a direction and a help—what’s wrong with that? Perhaps my greatest mistake was leaving without warning—but it was unavoidable. If I spoiled the suddenness of this news, I would have deviated from the destiny’s node, and we could never have left.”

That made sense. Harry silently nodded in agreement, secretly pleased that Ge Xuan had chosen to leave Zhang Qiu behind.

“Moreover, the people on the lunar base weren’t abandoned—they merely experienced a setback.” The projection began explaining the situation here, while the official who had brought them up stood silently farther away. “After our first attempt at magic-assisted spaceflight, there was indeed a brief, uncontrollable surge of enthusiasm. People built the lunar base in record time, convinced the next step was Mars—or even Centaurus. But discerning minds all noticed that magic’s intervention severely damaged the development of our conventional science. We couldn’t continue like this.”

“So the court halted further space programs, yet didn’t dismantle or neglect this base, built with magic as a cheat. We simply refined it and began the Seed Project. But for those who had fantasized about betting their entire future on this new frontier, this was a crushing blow. They struggled to accept their shift from pioneers to mere office workers. Complaints echoed endlessly—this is normal. I see no injustice.” The projection’s tone grew slightly cold as he spoke of this. “When managing the base, you may reflect on this past and show some consideration for their emotions. Or perhaps the deeper meaning of this history is to warn every authority figure skirting the edge of secrecy laws... but it’s useless. People only learn from their own mistakes.”

Harry easily recalled Gennady Ivanovich Yanayev. He sensed that Ge Xuan held no deep enmity toward Yanayev—only contempt.

"Perhaps this is the future's landscape: the Red Empire will enjoy dominance for a long time, but it can never maintain it forever." The projection spoke with deep implication. "And among English-speaking nations, who holds more discourse power will be another fascinating topic—perhaps you haven't yet realized just how fascinating it is, ha!"

“Ah, by the way!” Harry couldn’t help asking, “May I ask—did you build the Red Shore Base merely to play a prank on Donald Fontroy, or was there a deeper intention?”

“There was some intention.” The projection was happy to answer. “Don’t you think a wealthy man who does nothing but obsess over romantic affairs is not only foolish and useless to society, but sometimes even harmful?”

Harry nodded in deep agreement.

“So I wanted to give him something to do. Fabricating an alien threat was an undeniably effective tactic. To combat this imagined alien menace, he was forced to invest time and resources into technological research—and it also consumed his excess energy.” The projection’s gaze drifted slightly. “I tricked him with a future story—a clever deception. Perhaps one day he’ll realize the reference answers he was given are right beside him. Or perhaps he never will. Heh... I have so few true confidants in this world... though he’s foolish, after our parting, I still miss him a little.”

“So... there are no actual aliens?” Harry asked hesitantly.

“Ah, I understand your fear of this unknown threat. But frankly, while I didn’t deliberately summon or manifest aliens, neither do I have proof they don’t exist.” The projection smiled faintly. “So staying vigilant is wise.”

Harry suspected he said this to give himself something to do—just as he had given Donald Fontroy something to do.

Another silence followed. Then the projection smiled, relieved, and said finally: “It seems you have no more questions, no more confusion. Beyond this explosive revelation, you’ll notice that the Celestial Empire’s departure won’t greatly affect this world—we were always isolated, and nothing in this world will ever affect the Celestial Empire again. For me, at least—I am merely a thought left behind by my original self, bound to this magic artifact for existence, and sometimes I feel lonely. Just remember to visit occasionally.”

After the projection fell silent, Harry spent a long while processing the overwhelming information. Zhang Qiu still leaned against him, seemingly unwilling to move. Farther away, the Celestial Empire official seemed eager to invite them to explore other parts of the base.

Harry squinted, scanning the deep, endless corridor below. It stretched downward endlessly, its end still glowing with a faint blue light. He couldn’t see its bottom, so he raised his gaze again, passing the platform before him, looking up at the dark night sky and the scattered stars. What was Ge Xuan concerned about? Harry wondered naturally. Did he hope Zhang Qiu would rebuild Celestial Empire civilization here? Or did he hope, someday, that we would continue leading humanity into the unknown depths of space?

But this wasn’t merely a question of understanding or determination. Harry also clearly felt that, whether the legacy of the ancient empire or the journey to the stars and seas, these things were far removed from him—after all, they never belonged to him.

“We should prepare to return,” he said softly.

“Yes, our newly decorated bridal chamber hasn’t even been slept in yet,” the woman in his arms replied just as softly.