Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

by <unknown>

  "No, no, no. I am not implying that everything we saw today is fake. In fact, I'm certain that it is absolutely real. It is impossible to fake such things on such a large scale.

  "However, what we saw today must be what they wanted us to see. It is the best side of the Star Glory Federation. The Cultivators we have got in touch with today are also certainly the purest Cultivators, too.

  "But as we all know, nothing is 'flawless'. Perfect countries do not exist, either. Cultivators who have absolute faith in their belief and always help other people selflessly are few, too. Hehe. I would even say that they are actually too rare for us to meet.

  "As our inspection grows deeper, I believe that the imperfect side of the Star Glory Federation will soon be exposed. Therefore, I'm only reminding you not to raise your expectations to a very high level in case your final judgement is affected by your disappointment by then. We must know that…"

  There was a fruit tray on the table in the middle of everyone. Long Yangjun curled her fingers and pulled two apples out of the tray. Holding one of them in each of her hands, she smiled and said, "Choosing between the Imperium of True Human Beings and the Star Glory Federation is like choosing between one of the two apples here. You will be wrong if you are hoping to pick the better of them.

  "Perhaps we will have to choose 'the less rotten' of the two apples."

  Crack!

  Long Yangjun picked up a random apple and bit it hard. The juice was flying everywhere.

  Everybody looked at each other in bewilderment. They were going to pursue further when she stood up and threw the other apple to Li Yao. Yawning, she said, "The night is dark. We will have to continue our visit tomorrow. It's time to take a rest, fellow Cultivators!"

  …

  The establishment of a joint headquarters and also the in-depths military cooperation between the government-in-exile and the Star Glory Federation could never be completed overnight. In the upcoming ten days or so, the experts of the Ancient Sages Sector would stay in the Uranian Ring Sector to inspect more fields.

  After getting in touch with 'Civilization', and especially after watching the debate between Professor Mo Xuan and Professor Xie Wufeng, Li Yao suddenly felt that he would like to talk with Long Yangjun.

  After all, Long Yangjun was different from the other experts of the Ancient Sages Sector. Like Li Yao, she was sort of a 'player' who was of a higher level and beyond the chess game.

  However, everybody's itinerary had been fully occupied, and they were protected and monitored by the agents of the Secret Sword Bureau anywhere they went. Also, Long Yangjun intentionally selected a few programs that required her to march deep into the surface and even the underground holes of the Uranian Ring Sector by herself without joining the others.

  It was not until twelve days later that Long Yangjun returned to the hotel and they checked in again. Li Yao finally got the opportunity.

  This time, it was in Long Yangjun's room.

  Long Yangjun was playing 'Civilization'.

  Her interest did not seem to be on the game itself but 'Xiao Ming' and 'Wen Wen', the two game assistants. She was tickling the two cute kids, making them laugh hard and hide behind Li Yao.

  "Very interesting."

  Long Yangjun turned off the mini crystal processor, and the two little guys immediately vanished into nothingness. Looking at Li Yao, she somehow picked up two apples out of nowhere again and threw one of them to Li Yao. She asked with a smile, "Anything you want to say to me?"

  "Yes. Have you seen the video that I sent you? What's your take on Professor Mo Xuan's theories on parent and child civilizations and the succession of civilizations?

  "In the past, I have always been completely hostile to the Pangu Civilization. I didn't even like the Nuwa Civilization, either. How should I put it? Scared, wary, and a sense of insecurity. That's how I felt.

  "After all, Gui Suishou, an old senior of the demon race, left an impressive warning for me, which is that a son will be dead for sure if his father wants him dead!

  "However, after hearing Professor Mo Xuan's brand-new theories, I think that I've slightly altered my opinions.

  "I would like to know more about the 'parent civilizations' of mankind. Is it really as simple as what I've seen on Kunlun? What exactly is the relationship between Pangu and Nuwa? Were we really simple tools or some sort of 'child' to some extent? Did either we or the Pangu Civilization have to die?

  "No one else can possibly give me an answer except for you. You even experienced the war in person. Can you tell me more about how Pangu established the universe, Nuwa created human beings, and the things that happened in the primeval war?"

  Chapter 1674: Sibling Civilization? |

  Long Yangjun seemed to have foreseen that Li Yao would ask the question. Sitting on the bed cross-legged, she finished the apple one bite after another unhurriedly. "I don't know any more about the question than you do. In fact, you should even be more knowledgeable than me.

  "You were born in a modern Cultivation civilization after all, and you have been to Kunlun, where you studied the war between Pangu and Nuwa profoundly.

  "But until I went into the depths of the Nuwa warship, I had always been a common… ancient Cultivator and a cursed eunuch who caused trouble in the court.

  "It was not until I stood in front of the mainframe crystal processor of the Nuwa warship, and even not until you said something to me, that the dream that lingered in my head became more real. It was almost like… almost like I was only born as 'Long Yangjun' at that moment.

  "One might even say that I am just a one-year-old infant at this moment in my new life. Perhaps, in the near future, I will remember a lot more things, and I may recollect my real identity and my destiny. But right now, I really don't know the first thing about it.

  "Perhaps, that is exactly the purpose for which I have followed you to the Star Glory Federation. I'm here to get in touch with the world, to observe civilization, and to recall more things."

  Long Yangjun looked at Li Yao honestly, her eyes glittering.

  Li Yao wiped the apple that Long Yangjun had thrown at him with his clothes. He knew that Long Yangjun's words could be half true and half false, but she was certainly not going to tell him anything more. Thinking for a moment, he changed a different angle. "Alright, let's leave 'parent civilizations' aside and talk about 'child civilizations'. What's your opinions on the succession of civilization, virtual life, rebellious mischievous child, and all the relevant theories? Do you think that the Spiritual Nexus can really grow independent and govern human beings instead?"

  After finishing the apple, Long Yangjun manipulated the core of the apple to swirl slowly above her palm. "To age and die is a law of nature. Viewed from the scale of billions of years or even longer, every civilization is bound to decline. Even the universe itself will perish and be reborn. Since the civilization of mankind is but a grain of dust in the universe, of course it will die, and it is certainly a possibility that it will die because of its child civilization.

  "But the conclusion is as meaningless as stating that 'every person passes away eventually'. Nobody will stop working hard for a better life just because they are destined to die one day, right?

  "Therefore, the more meaningful topic at hand is whether or not your Spiritual Nexus can grow independent and develop a virtual, intelligent life form that is entirely beyond mankind and yet hostile to mankind, in a time scale imaginable for human beings, say, the next millennium or the next ten millenniums. That is what you are concerned about, right? Assuming that the Spiritual Nexus does not grow independent for a hundred thousand years, it will not be a problem that we should be worried at all. Our offspring will have their own solutions, and it is impossible for us to take care of the issues that will only happen in a hundred thousand years, right?"

  Li Yao pondered for a moment and nodded heavily. "Yes. Let the people in a hundred thousand years worry about what will happen in a hundred thousand years. We are not capable
enough to see that what will happen so far in the future is taken care of properly. Only a psycho would think that he is such a god. I am referring to the short term—the next decades or hundreds of years."

  Long Yangjun smiled and said, "Then, my answer is the same as Professor Mo Xuan's after the collapse of the Virtual Spirits Sector. It's impossible. Absolutely impossible!"

  Li Yao's eyes were glowing. "Do you have any basis?"

  "Of course," Long Yangjun said unhurriedly. "Professor Mo Xuan himself is a star spirit, a marvelous life form that is between a real entity and a virtual life form. Speaking of which, wasn't it you who came up with the name together with him? His studies on virtual life must be among the best in the federation.

  "Even he asserted that real virtual life with independent will cannot be born in the next five hundred years without the interference from a higher level after the collapse of the Virtual Spirits Sector. He was even so frustrated that he devoted himself to other research projects…"

  Li Yao frowned. "But if it is only because of Professor Mo Xuan's judgement—"

  "No. What I really want to say has nothing to do with Professor Mo Xuan." Long Yangjun laughed. "I never thought that you would fret to such an extent. This must be why they say spectators see more than players. In my opinion, the problem that worries you does not exist at all, at least not for the next thousand years. The reason is simple—the Pangu Clan and the Nuwa Clan had crystal processors, too."

  Li Yao was slightly dazed. "So what?"

  "Their crystal processors were much more advanced than yours," Long Yangjun said. "You saw the effect after the arrayed pillar crystal processors in the Nuwa warship were activated with your own eyes. You have to admit that their computational ability must be higher than any existing super crystal processor in the federation, right? There are also the Colossi. Every Colossus contains the tactical crystal processors passed on from the primeval era, and you are not even able to duplicate them right now. As a result, the federation, the Imperium, and the Covenant Alliance can only assemble and modify the Colossi but cannot craft new Colossi from scratch, right?"

  Li Yao furrowed his brows hard but had to admit that Long Yangjun did have a point.

  "Therefore," Long Yangjun said slowly, "if the Pangu Clan and the Nuwa Clan, with their profound expertise in crystal processors, failed to create brand-new, virtual intelligent life, what makes you so arrogant that you think mankind will be able create an unbelievable 'mischievous child' in the next thousand years?

  "Besides, the birth and evolution of life are terribly long. The carbon-based life such as Pangu, Nuwa, or human beings all took billions of years before they arrived at the peak of evolution. The birth and evolution of the virtual, intelligent life may be fast, but how much faster can they possibly be? It won't be too late to worry about it when the most primitive virtual life is detected!"

  "What you said does make sense. Why did I fail to think of it earlier? Yes. The technology of the Pangu Clan and the Nuwa Clan on crystal processors far exceeded the technology of mankind. If even they did not create virtual intelligent life, it seems unnecessary for us to worry about the problem, at least for the next ten thousand years…" Li Yao felt that he was greatly enlightened, but on second thought, he raised another question. "But wait, there is another possibility. What if the Pangu Clan or the Nuwa Clan created a virtual intelligent life a long time ago, but we haven't learned anything about it? It means—it means that we are not talking about our 'child civilization' but a 'sibling civilization' that is parallel with mankind!"

  Long Yangjun rolled her eyes and remarked, "Oh? Then, where is this virtual intelligent life and mankind's 'sibling civilization', created by the Pangu Clan or the Nuwa Clan? Why has it never been seen or heard in the past hundred thousand years?"

  "Well, it must be hiding and accumulating its strength in the darkness. When the time is appropriate, it will jump out and conquer the three thousand Sectors."

  "Fair enough," Long Yangjun said. "As expected of the dominator of three Sectors. Your imagination is truly marvelous! Even such a great scheme of the virtual intelligent life and our 'sibling civilization' has been seen through by you. You are so awesome! So, what are you planning to do now that you've seen through the plot?"

  "…There doesn't seem to be anything I can do."

  "Don't underestimate yourself," Long Yangjun said. "I have every faith in you. With the identity and position of Monster Li today, as soon as you reveal who you are and make a public speech to dissuade all the people of the Star Glory Federation from using crystal processors and the Spiritual Nexus with the unparalleled prestige of the 'dominator of three Sectors', is it going to be a big deal at all? Rest assured. I'm definitely on your side. After all, people from the Ancient Sages Sector don't use crystal processors or surf on the Spiritual Nexus."

  "I'm sorry. I was wrong. Please show some respect for the dominator of three Sectors and forget my poppycock just now."

  "That's right. Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator or not, we are still adults. Adults should talk about more practical, constructive, and realistic questions. Such mystical questions of the middle school level should be left for middle school students to consider, which I believe there are plenty of in the federation! The situation is so tense right now, and our eyebrows are about to be burnt. Yet, you are considering things that will happen in tens of thousands of years. That's really—"

  "Our eyebrows are about to be burnt?" Li Yao narrowed his eyes. "What have you figured out?"

  "Nothing in particular." Long Yangjun jumped up from her bed and opened the window, letting some fresh air into the room. Squinting, she sniffed hard. "I merely have smelled the scent."

  Li Yao's eyes were glittering. "What scent?"

  Without turning back, Long Yangjun said, "The scent of an upcoming storm. The Black Wind Fleet is about to show up."

  "How so?"

  "Two reasons." Long Yangjun extended two long, narrow fingers. "Firstly, the Star Glory Federation is having the fiercest election for the Supreme Speaker in decades. The two candidates as well as their supporters are at loggerheads. The situation is rather intense.

  "According to the confession of Ding Zhengyang and other Immortal Cultivators, the Black Wind Fleet has sent a lot of spies into the federation, which means that the Black Wind Fleet certainly has up-to-date intelligence and knows that this is the most unstable moment of the federation.

  "After everything is settled and the new Supreme Speaker is elected, either Ding Lingdang's prestige or Jin Xinyue's cunningness will be enough for one of them to completely stabilize the situation in only a couple of months, allowing the federation to be united and enter the highest warring state. The military power of the country will greatly soar!

  "Come on, Monster Li. If you were commander-in-chief of the Black Wind Fleet, and you were well aware of the situation, when would you launch the attack?"

  Li Yao narrowed his eyes, cold brilliance shooting out of his dark eyes. "Right now. Even if my fleet was not entirely prepared yet, I would not allow the new Speaker of the Federation to get used to her chair, and I would not allow the federation to enter the highest warring state comfortably!

  "Now is the best opportunity. If we miss out, the capabilities of the federation and the prestige of its leader will rise in the years to come, and the war will become more and more difficult for us!

  "My fleet has drifted in the sea of stars for a hundred years. The resources on the starships are running low. The magical equipment on-board is greatly worn. The warriors are all simmering with impatience and anxiety. In the middle of nowhere, we cannot get too many supplies. I cannot dawdle anymore, and I cannot wait another decade. I must finish the war quickly!"

  Chapter 1675: Nefarious Scandal! |

  "Yes." Long Yangjun turned back and said, "On the other hand, the federation must be aware of the Black Wind Fleet's possible infiltration, too. Therefore, it is not hard for the federation to infer that the Black Wind Fleet will
launch an assault very soon. But the federation cannot withhold the election forever just because of the temporary unsteadiness that it may bring, right?

  "Besides, if the enemy's move is predicted in advance, it will probably be a great opportunity to crush the main force of the Black Wind Fleet!

  "Otherwise, why do you think the insurgency of the Immortal Cultivators on Firefly took place at such a moment?"

  Thinking quickly, Li Yao blurted out, "You don't think that it was an independent event?"

  Long Yangjun smiled. "I have checked a lot of major cases in the past hundred years in the branch of the Secret Sword Bureau in the Uranian Ring Sector today, especially the cases where the 'CFIA' and their president 'Lu Qingchen' are involved. I don't find Lu Qingchen to be a reckless and inconsiderate man, and I don't believe that he would instigate Ding Zhengyang and Cheng Xuansu into starting an insurgency that was bound to fail if he did not have any follow-up plans at all.

  "If he was really planning an insurgency, wouldn't it have been much better if the insurgency took place when the Black Wind Fleet invaded the federation on a large scale so that the federation would be caught unprepared and unable to deal with both sides simultaneously?

  "No matter what the relationship between the CFIA and the Dim Moon Fund is, whether or not Lu Qingchen works for Jin Xinyue, and whether or not the insurgency was a trick to draw out the rebels, it is certainly not as simple as it appears. It is probably one of the procedures in an enormous plan, and the very first 'move' that the federation, or at least Jin Xinyue, has played against the Black Wind Fleet.

  "Therefore, I believe that the Black Wind Fleet and the federation will both take action before long. Both parties will make their moves. Right now, the election has entered the most heated phase. There's only one month to go before the vote begins. It is impossible for the Black Wind Fleet to not react until then. So, in short, not only are our eyebrows about to be burnt, the most sordid venomous fire is also about to consume our eyeballs!"