Chapter 320: Rebuilding Civilization! |
A train moving too fast was not always a good thing.
Inside the wormhole of the Zerg Civilization, Chen Mang glanced back. Seeing no massive army in pursuit, he breathed a faint sigh of relief. His guess was right; that apocalyptic planet was indeed a trap set by the Zerg Civilization.
Although he had no idea how the Zerg Civilization managed it.
He did not know why the survivors on that apocalyptic planet had become half-dead entities resembling zombies, nor did he understand why the Zerg Civilization had intentionally leaked the information to attract large numbers of explorers. What exactly was their ultimate goal?
However, this incident served as a wake-up call.
That being...
He needed to find a specific component to handle such sudden emergencies.
Normally speaking.
The universe was unimaginably vast. The probability of a wormhole suddenly appearing directly in front of a traveling train was about the same as standing on Water Blue Star, throwing a pebble straight ahead, and having it circle the equator only to smack the back of your own head. The chances were astronomically low.
Take just now, for example.
It had happened right in front of him.
This was only because the Zerg Civilization had been unprepared. If they had laid an inescapable net on the other side, even if he managed to escape, he would have paid a heavy price.
After the Stellar Train drilled its way out of the wormhole.
Chen Mang gazed out at the distant universe, where stray energy beams and explosive sparks occasionally flared. He immediately turned the train around and shot off into the distance. This area was currently a bit too dangerous, and he had no desire to expose himself.
However—
It was not entirely without its silver linings.
During that brief moment of close contact with the Zerg base camp, his Target-Acquisition Radar had completely scanned all the data of the army guarding the wormhole entrance!
According to the information displayed on the Target-Acquisition Radar...
The combat units of the Zerg Civilization were basically divided into two types.
Zerg motherships and Zerg monsters.
The mothership was a massive warship similar to a Blood-and-Flesh Train, its exterior completely composed of living tissue. It could also upgrade its components. It was a different form of civilization, but its essence was remarkably similar to the train civilization; both utilized core energy to enhance the power of their components.
The massive army stationed at the wormhole entrance consisted of exactly 878 motherships.
The defensive armor of every single mothership was at level 100.
The power of their main cannons was universally level 150.
Their strength was nothing to scoff at. He was not sure about the exact military might of the Kasa Civilization's train army, so he could not make an accurate comparison just yet. However, they were fundamentally incapable of breaking through his defenses, posing little threat to him.
He also wondered what percentage these Zerg motherships represented of the entire Zerg Civilization's overall strength.
At the same time.
There was also a massive swarm of Zerg monsters hovering in the void, resembling cosmic behemoths. Each one was gargantuan, basically measuring dozens of meters in width. Of course, this massive size was only relative to normal species; compared to Xiao Lu, they were nothing more than tiny ants.
These highly dangerous-looking Zerg monsters hovered around level 120.
The strongest among them reached level 150.
Based on the currently available information, this Zerg army was no match for him. Even combined, they could not defeat him. His armor defense level was simply far too high; even if they focused all their fire, it would be extremely difficult for them to breach his defenses.
Level 200 armor.
It was more than enough to let him run rampant through the universe.
Furthermore, he noticed that the levels of the Zerg Civilization's main cannons were not exceptionally high. He did not think this was due to a lack of resources—after all, if the resources used to forge 878 motherships were pooled into a single vessel, they could undoubtedly upgrade a main cannon to at least level 200. Rather, level 150 was likely the most cost-effective tier.
Since the train armor defense levels of other civilizations were generally quite low, having an excessively high-level main cannon was essentially meaningless. Keeping it just a bit higher—but not overwhelmingly so—yielded the best cost-to-performance ratio.
"Just how many Murphy Stones would that consume?"
Sitting in his chair aboard the Stellar Train, Chen Mang observed the distant, explosive battle. By now, that Zerg army had nearly slaughtered all the explorers and was continuing to press their offensive forward.
Ahead of them...
Directly ahead was that two-way wormhole. That very wormhole served as one of the Kasa Civilization's strategic resource transportation channels—a vital logistics supply line. If this wormhole were destroyed, the efficiency of the Kasa Civilization's logistical support would noticeably plummet.
If the Zerg Civilization's target was this wormhole...
He found it entirely reasonable.
But why lure the explorers here?
The Kasa Civilization had almost no troops stationed at this wormhole exit, only a few personnel. Just as the main cannons of the Zerg army locked onto the wormhole, preparing to open fire at any second...
"Boom."
Without a shred of hesitation, Chen Mang slammed his hand down on a button on the control console.
Hovering in the void, the Stellar Train aimed its Arcanon Main Cannon at the Zerg army. A brilliant crimson beam of light instantly blasted outward, enveloping several Zerg motherships in the blink of an eye.
And instantly melted them into nothingness.
Without pausing, the cannon fired three more consecutive beams, enveloping all the remaining Zerg motherships.
In merely the blink of an eye.
This entire vanguard army of the Zerg Civilization was completely annihilated, leaving no survivors. With just four shots, the cosmos descended into silence. Every single light beam he fired carried an attack energy intensity of level 150. Against these motherships with defensive energy ratings of only 100, it was an absolute, overwhelming slaughter.
He glanced at the debris exploding silently in the distance, then checked the data on his Doppelganger Radar. Without lingering, he continued driving off into the distance, not leaving a single trace behind.
He could not possibly allow the Zerg Civilization to destroy this vital logistical supply line so easily.
According to the information displayed on the radar, the Kasa Civilization was at a disadvantage on the frontal battlefield. He needed to maintain a delicate balance between these two top-tier civilizations to drag this war out for as long as possible. This would buy him the precious time he needed to continue developing, right up until neither civilization posed any threat to him whatsoever.
This war could not end too quickly.
It was just that...
He wasn't sure if the Kasa Civilization was simply too weak, or if the Zerg Civilization was just too ferocious.
The Zerg Civilization was currently fighting another civilization on their front lines while fending off the Kasa Civilization from the rear. They were essentially besieged on two fronts. Yet, from being caught completely off guard and falling to a disadvantage initially, they had actually managed to stand their ground once again.
Fighting a one-versus-two?!
Truly ferocious.
Perhaps the sheer might of the Zerg Civilization had made many people forget a crucial detail: the Zerg Civilization was merely a second-level civilization. They had not yet ascended to the third level.
The Stellar Train departed gracefully.
It left behind a few surviving explorers sitting in their own trains, staring blankly in the direction the Stellar Train had vanished into. Their eyes were filled with bewilderment... There were no wormholes in that direction. Where was this mysterious train heading?
Moreover...
Just moments ago, their trains' sensors indicated that those energy beams packed a staggering level 150 attack intensity. That was a main cannon level only accessible to elite military trains. Just who was that person?
Though no one knew what the operator of that train was thinking.
This entire scene deeply shocked everyone present. It had also been recorded and was quickly circulating outward.
"Open fire! Open fire!!!"
Somewhere in the cosmos.
Commander Li stood in his train cabin, listening to the frantic commands of his subordinates. With his hands clasped calmly behind his back, he stared straight ahead. He had only one strategic objective for this expedition: to annihilate as many Zerg Civilization planets as possible.
To obliterate the Zerg's living forces.
To force the Zerg to fight a war on two fronts.
But—
After all, his knowledge of the Zerg only came from history books and intelligence reports; he had never witnessed them with his own eyes. Even though he knew full well that the Zerg Civilization possessed the terrifying abilities of Infinite Resurrection and boundless reproduction, seeing it unfold before his very eyes was still profoundly shocking.
There were no schemes, no grand strategies.
He had divided his massive army into three routes, launching a sweeping offensive from three flanks.
The route he personally commanded formed a vast horizontal line across the universe. Hundreds of high-level trains arranged themselves in a strict formation in the void. A continuous barrage of heavy firepower spewed outward, melting away the Zerg monsters charging at them from every conceivable angle!
There was nothing flashy about it.
They were determined to push deeper.
The Zerg outright refused to let them advance.
A gruesome battlefield akin to a massive meat grinder thus opened its curtains. Astronomical amounts of resources were being consumed at a speed visible to the naked eye. Even with supply fleets constantly rushing over from the rear to deliver fresh munitions, it was still far from enough.
"Commander."
His deputy standing nearby spoke with slight urgency, "We haven't found any traces of the Antenna Worm. The mechanics are saying the Zerg monsters must have undergone a specific mutation that renders our detection components completely useless against them."
Over the years, the Kasa Civilization had relentlessly scavenged the ruins of the Mechanical Civilization.
Naturally, they had acquired a significant portion of the Mechanical Civilization's ancient legacy.
For example...
A specialized component designed entirely for detecting and neutralizing Antenna Worms. It was precisely because of the Antenna Worms that the Zerg Civilization could infinitely resurrect their monsters. Without a doubt, an Antenna Worm was hiding somewhere in this sector of space.
If they couldn't locate the Antenna Worm.
It would be like trying to plug a burst dam with soft mud—sooner or later, everything would collapse.
Their resources were finite and constantly draining.
But the number of Zerg monsters was virtually infinite.
They couldn't simply stop firing either. If they ceased their barrage and allowed those Zerg monsters to slam into the trains, they would suffer disastrous casualties. But if they kept firing, the enemy would just keep resurrecting. No matter how they looked at it, this battle felt utterly impossible to win.
They might as well just surrender and call it a day.
"..."
Commander Li's expression hardly shifted. The Zerg Civilization was known for its rapid evolution; this was entirely within his expectations. He didn't dwell on the issue, simply glancing at the galactic map and asking softly, "How is the wormhole construction on that end progressing?"
"The coordinates for the viable wormhole location have been fully mapped out. It is viable. Preparations to begin construction are almost complete."
"Good!"
Commander Li let out a soft sigh of relief. As long as this wormhole could be established, the problem became much simpler. He planned to send emissaries to the civilization currently engaging the Zerg, explain the situation, and convince them to pool their deepest reserves to launch a combined, all-out assault.
The full-scale invasion of two top-tier civilizations—could the Zerg Civilization possibly withstand it?
He wasn't entirely sure of that other civilization's true military strength.
However, for them to hold their ground against the Zerg Civilization for this long, they were certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Fighting an offensive war deep inside Zerg territory placed immense pressure on them. They had already slaughtered an unfathomable number of Zerg monsters, yet the creatures continued to flood in like an endless, relentless tide, casually expending their kin's lives just to bleed the invaders' resources dry.
Their supplies were washing away as fast as a roaring river.
Such a burn rate was even more vicious than a corrupt official's embezzlement.
Inside the Stellar Train.
Xiao Ai had already finished completely exploring the Unnamed Planet left behind by the Mechanical Civilization. Along with unearthing numerous resources, he had discovered data archives chronicling the very earliest history of the Mechanical Civilization.
It was an incredibly ancient history.
The Mechanical Civilization had survived for an exceptionally long era, enduring for several millennia. It was considered a civilization with a deeply rooted legacy.
That was quite an impressive feat.
In the universe, the average lifespan of a civilization capable of interstellar travel generally hovered around a mere thousand years.
Throughout that time, they would inevitably encounter countless existential threats. A single misstep in handling any of them could plunge the entire civilization into eternal ruin.
Yet, within the historical records left by the Mechanical Civilization...
Chen Mang stumbled upon the following passage.
"..."
Chen Mang stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing slightly.
'I once believed that Civilization Levels were completely meaningless. The Civilization Level is simply a ranking acknowledged by the laws of the universe. I figured that as long as I solely focused on increasing my civilization's actual strength without ever officially ascending in rank, I could perfectly execute the strategy of Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger.'
'But later, I realized I was gravely mistaken.'
'The Civilization Level holds monumental significance.'
'Every time a civilization ranks up, its overall strength receives a massive, systemic boost. In the cosmos, the Civilization Level essentially dictates a civilization's absolute might. It is virtually impossible for a second-level civilization to defeat a third-level civilization.'
'Especially—'
'After I made contact with a true God-tier civilization.'
'Only then did I comprehend our own absolute insignificance.'
'Those God-tier civilizations all reign as the undisputed overlords of the cosmos, monopolizing the richest and most fertile resource zones in existence. The God-tier civilization I interacted with was a fifth-level civilization.'
'He was a traveler, and he told me many secrets of the universe.'
'He explained that to ascend to a fifth-level civilization, one must first locate a Dark Abyss spanning no less than tens of millions of light-years across, and then completely migrate their entire civilization to its borders.'
'I asked him why. Was this a prerequisite enforced by the laws of the universe?'
'He told me it wasn't; the cosmic laws for ascending to level five lacked this specific clause. However, if a fifth-level civilization did not anchor itself near a Dark Abyss, it would never be recognized by its peers and would draw endless crises. Furthermore, this method was one of a fifth-level civilization's ultimate trump cards. It was akin to a nuclear weapon—a deterrent that every single fifth-level civilization inherently possessed.'
'I pressed for more specifics, desperate to glean deeper insights. I had never spoken to someone from a God-tier civilization before. The Mechanical Civilization was a mere second-level civilization. To me, a traveler from a fifth-level civilization was a literal deity standing atop an unreachable zenith.'
'He chuckled and asked, "Do you know what the level 200 Overlimit Effect of the Arcanon Main Cannon is? The further the beam travels, the more devastating its power becomes."'
'Of course I knew. Although the Mechanical Civilization was only a second-level civilization, we had recently exhausted the entire civilization's resources to upgrade a single main cannon to level 200. I had a rough guess as to how to exploit this effect. Did it involve firing the Arcanon Main Cannon straight into the Dark Abyss?'
'But wouldn't that take an absurd amount of time?'
'Traversing a Dark Abyss requires an unimaginable eternity.'
'An attack arriving tens of millions of years later—even if it hits its target, what meaning does it hold?'
'He merely smiled again.'
'"The reason a fifth-level civilization is hailed as a God-tier civilization is because they possess powers akin to the divine. A fifth-level civilization can engineer Time Fissures. Imagine creating a Time Fissure that leads tens of millions of years into the past. Then, in that ancient era, you position yourself inside the Dark Abyss and fire an Arcanon Main Cannon straight ahead."'
'"When that time comes—"'
'"By the time you return from the Time Fissure to the present, that energy beam has been traveling through the Dark Abyss for tens of millions of years, infinitely compounding its power. And just as it emerges to strike your current enemy... the ensuing detonation possesses enough apocalyptic force to obliterate any foe in existence!"'
'The higher the Civilization Level, the fewer the wars.'
'Hardly anyone initiates a conflict.'
'Because the moment war breaks out, it heralds the deaths of countless trillions, the collapse of boundless planets and stars. Even for the vast universe itself, it is an agonizing, catastrophic tremor.'
'I spoke with him for a very long time.'
'He departed in the early hours of the following morning, as free and untethered as a passing breeze. I thought to myself, if I weren't chained by my responsibilities to the Mechanical Civilization, I would have chosen to become a traveler like him. Since that day, I no longer viewed the position of civilization leader as a suffocating burden. I, too, yearned to elevate the Mechanical Civilization to level five!'
'I suspect...'
'He was likely someone from the opposite side of the southern expanse, wasn't he?'
'I asked him what lay over there. He smiled but remained silent. I then asked him how he had crossed over. He smiled again without speaking, merely offering that I would know when it was time for me to know.'
"..."
Chen Mang's brows furrowed slightly as he stared at the digitized yellowed parchment on the screen. This journal entry had been handwritten on physical paper. It appeared to be the personal diary of a certain leader of the Mechanical Civilization, back when their civilization was still relatively frail and nascent.
Only a mere second-level civilization.
Not yet having ascended to a third-level civilization as they eventually would.
"God-tier civilizations..."
He muttered under his breath. If a fifth-level civilization truly possessed such terrifying methods, then they were absolutely worthy of the title 'God-tier.' They had already scratched the surface of manipulating time itself.
He suddenly realized something...
The various civilizations dwelling in the deepest reaches of the cosmos were all terrifyingly powerful.
His original plan had always been to hide away and safely hoard resources, quietly upgrading all his train components to obscenely high levels. He had intended to max out all his stats before finally stepping onto the galactic stage. But looking at it now...
He still needed to rebuild a civilization of his own first.
If he didn't secure a place at the table, it would be incredibly difficult to acquire the means and authorities only granted to those seated there.
With every successful ascension, a civilization unlocked special, exclusive abilities bestowed directly by the laws of the universe.
Perhaps it was this ancient journal entry that shook his resolve. He felt it was best to reconstruct his own civilization first and worry about slowly ranking up later. He immediately cast his gaze toward the Civilization Order tucked inside his console drawer.
-
[Humanities]: 100%.
[Culture]: 100%.
[Military]: 100%.
[Agriculture]: 100%.
[Governance]: 100%.
-
The five foundational progress bars on the back of the Civilization Order were all at 100%.
He could reconstruct his very own civilization at any given moment; he had simply been holding off on doing so until now.
He pulled the Civilization Order out of the drawer.
A translucent holographic interface immediately flickered to life before him.
-
[Special Item]: Civilization Order.
[Special Effect]: This token can assist you in rebuilding a civilization. It is highly advised to use it with utmost caution, preferably waiting until your train reaches at least level 20. Whether you reconstruct your own civilization or resurrect another's, doing so will place you squarely back on the galactic dinner table, attracting the covetous gaze of countless enemies.
In the vast universe, there are only two types of existences: hunters and prey.
PS: When a civilization is destroyed, its last lingering convictions will crystallize to form this special item. The birth of every such item is a manifestation of unyielding willpower, and behind each one lies a tragic and epic saga.
-
He had obtained this item a very long time ago.
But previously, it had solely served as a key to enter the Goblin Grave. Today would be the first time he truly utilized its intended purpose.
After a moment of profound silence.
He pressed his thumb down firmly, shattering the heavy token in his grasp.
The next moment—
The token fractured. Blinding white light erupted from its cracks, swiftly transforming into rivers of iridescent, seven-colored radiance that flowed like liquid through the train cabin. The ethereal light was so dense it almost felt tangible, casting an incredibly dreamlike atmosphere.
Even the Stellar Train hovering silently in the dark void of space was now wreathed in shimmering ribbons of seven-colored light.
-
[Please designate a name for your civilization.]
-
A new prompt popped up before him, its text wrapped in the radiant seven-colored aura.
Countless potential names flashed through his mind in rapid succession.
Finally.
Chen Mang's gaze gradually solidified with absolute conviction. He spoke softly, "Human Civilization."
-
[This civilization name is already registered. Do you wish to proceed with its use?]
-
"Yes!"
The very next moment—
He felt the very air vibrate. Soon after, the iridescent light flooding the cabin began to condense rapidly, ultimately taking the physical form of something resembling a heavy signet stamp. This object was the Civilization Seal.
Wherever it was stamped.
That entity would permanently bear the brand of their civilization.
Now, all he had to do was take this Civilization Seal and stamp it onto any planet lacking a civilization's brand, and his civilization would officially be established. If he failed to mark a planet within three days, the civilization creation process would abort.
"Phew..."
Chen Mang took a deep breath. Grabbing the seal, he immediately strode toward the rear carriages. He had pondered over many names.
Names like the 'Mangmang Civilization,' the 'Water Blue Star Civilization,' or even the 'Low-Key Development Civilization.'
But in that final, deciding moment.
An overwhelming instinct compelled him to choose the words 'Human Civilization.'
He naturally understood the immense risks associated with claiming this specific title. The Kasa Civilization Federation contained countless vassal civilizations comprised of human populations, yet not a single one had dared to officially crown themselves as the 'Human Civilization.' Despite this, he claimed the title anyway.
He truly felt that this name rightfully belonged to him.
He was an authentic, orthodox human through and through. If anyone were to dispute the true orthodox lineage of humanity, it had to start with him.
Since he was finally stepping onto the galactic stage, there was no point in cowering or second-guessing.
Inside the Stellar Train.
Chen Mang raised the Civilization Seal and stamped it down upon Water Blue Star. In that precise instant, he felt an unprecedented, intimate connection forge between him and the planet, as though it were a cherished artifact he had possessed for lifetimes.
From this moment onward, this planet belonged entirely to him.
If he had merely possessed its physical shell before, he now commanded its very soul.
Human Civilization was officially founded on this momentous day!
On this very day.
On a day when no one in the universe was prepared—and even Chen Mang himself had made no prior arrangements—the Human Civilization belonging to Chen Mang was successfully resurrected.
Afterward, Chen Mang jogged all the way over to Mining Star No. 1, Xuanwu Star, and even the Unnamed Planet salvaged from the Mechanical Civilization housed within his train carriages, stamping every single one of them with the seal.
With this—
Human Civilization now proudly possessed four sovereign planets!
"Human Civilization, Chen Mang."
Returning to the main cabin, Chen Mang settled back into his captain's chair. He gazed at the galactic map on the control console and let out a soft laugh. He was still struggling to adapt to the reality that, from this second onward, he was no longer a stateless, civilization-less drifter. He finally possessed a magnificent civilization to call his own.
However, the presence of the Human Civilization was completely invisible on the galactic map.
After all, his planets were securely tucked away inside the spatial carriages of his train, thoroughly shielded from external detection.
That was perfect.
A flawless harmony of absolute grandiosity and absolute secrecy.
He pondered for a brief moment before deciding against stamping the seal on the Stellar Train itself. This way, when outsiders scanned his train in the future, it would not broadcast which civilization he belonged to. It was safer to remain under the radar and develop quietly for a bit longer.
Though he deeply relished the feeling of finally taking a seat at the table, stepping into the limelight was undeniably fraught with lethal dangers.
Only then did he turn his attention to his newly unlocked Civilization Status Interface.
Civilizations and their ascension processes were strictly governed by the cosmic laws of the universe.
The only variation was the medium through which different civilizations perceived these mechanics. For instance, Cultivation civilizations interpreted these updates by offering sacrifices and divining the Heavenly Dao. For Chen Mang's technology-driven system, the presentation was far more straightforward—it simply manifested as a holographic digital interface.
At this moment—
A sleek Civilization Interface projected directly in front of him.
This was the first time he had ever laid eyes on such a panel.
Every piece of information displayed on it filled him with absolute marvel.
-
[Civilization Name]: Human Civilization.
[Civilization Level]: Level 1.
[Civilization Leader]: Chen Mang.
[Civilization Planets]: Water Blue Star, Xuanwu Star, Mining Star No. 1, Unnamed Planet.
[Civilization Population]: 5.7 Billion.
[Ascension Requirements]: Civilization population reaches 300 million; Maximum Attack Energy Intensity exceeds 15,000.
[PS: Ascending to a level 2 civilization, as well as every subsequent ascension, will emit an 'Ascension Ripple' that can be detected by all surrounding civilizations. The higher the rank, the wider the broadcast radius of the Ascension Ripple.]
[Civilization Ability]: The maximum storage limit for Dream Stones across the civilization is significantly increased.
-
Chen Mang sat in his chair, eagerly devouring every single word. Truthfully, the information on the interface was incredibly brief and simple. Yet, this was the very first time he had formally become the absolute sovereign of an officially recognized civilization. From this point forward, he was no longer merely a train captain.
Beyond simply making the Stellar Train invincible, he now shouldered a far heavier burden: ensuring his entire civilization flourished into an unstoppable empire.
Until the fateful day arrived.
When he no longer needed to hide in the shadows. When he could boldly and openly transplant all his hidden planets back into the physical universe, allowing his countless kin to proudly claim their place in the stars.
Now, there was only one glaring issue.
"Uh, so, I kind of regret it. Can I change the name?"
Only silence answered him in the quiet cabin.
The translucent holographic interface slowly faded away. Clearly, this interface was merely a cold data visualization generated by the operational mechanics of the universe's laws. It possessed no sapient AI, no inherent wisdom, and certainly no ability to humor his buyer's remorse.
This was rather different from what he had envisioned.
And absolutely no one had warned him that every civilization ascension would trigger some absurd 'Ascension Ripple' broadcast!
He had originally reasoned that even if he sneakily registered the arrogant title of 'Human Civilization,' who out there would actually find out? Couldn't he just keep it as a private vanity title for his own personal satisfaction?
It sounded incredibly imposing and really boosted his morale.
It just sounded incredibly cool.
But...
This damn thing actually broadcasted a galactic sonar ping upon ascension?!
Didn't that mean that every time his civilization leveled up in the future, it was the exact equivalent of screaming to every civilization within earshot: 'I am the Human Civilization! Any of you got a problem with that?! If you do, come fight me!'
"Well, looks like I won't be lacking in fights from now on..."
Chen Mang muttered from his chair. So far, the Stellar Train had barely participated in any real wars. Its main cannon had only been fired a handful of times, and every single engagement had ended in a rapid, overwhelmingly one-sided slaughter. He had yet to experience a truly balanced, grueling battle of attrition.
However...
It seemed that in the future, brutal conflict would be entirely unavoidable.
This civilization name was undeniably a little too arrogant.
Nevertheless.
He genuinely wanted to fight for the title of orthodoxy. He had lived two lifetimes; no matter how you sliced it, he was the only true, unadulterated orthodox heir to humanity!
There was also one other peculiar detail—
In his sheer excitement during his very first civilization reconstruction, he had haphazardly slammed the seal onto Xuanwu Star as well. Logically speaking, Xuanwu Star belonged exclusively to the Xuanwu Civilization, and the rigid cosmic laws strictly forbade individuals from one civilization from casually defecting to another.
Civilizations simply could not merge or absorb each other's citizens.
He couldn't join the Xuanwu Civilization, and the Xuanwu Civilization definitely couldn't join his.
But!
The interface clearly displayed his civilization's internal population as a staggering 5.7 billion! This massive figure undoubtedly included the entire populace of the Xuanwu Civilization. There was absolutely no way Water Blue Star had that many people. When they had originally evacuated Water Blue Star, the survivor count was barely under a billion. Even if they had birthed a mountain of children recently, they couldn't possibly have spawned their way to 5.7 billion!
Furthermore, the Xuanwu Civilization was technically extinct...
That powerful Cultivation civilization had entirely vanished from the galactic registry, completely assimilated lock, stock, and barrel into his Human Civilization.
After pondering over the discrepancy for a moment, he finally unraveled the cosmic loophole.
"Holy shit, that's overpowered!"
Chen Mang sat before the control console, staring at the Civilization Interface and the heavy seal in his hand as he muttered in awe. He finally understood why ancient factions constantly shed oceans of blood fighting over the title of 'orthodoxy.' Reputation was one thing, but the tangible, cosmic-level benefits were absolutely astronomical!
Normally speaking.
Under the strict cosmic laws, indiscriminately changing one's civilization allegiance was strictly forbidden. The sole loophole to join a foreign civilization was to procreate with one of its citizens; the resulting offspring would then be eligible to join that civilization.
But now—
Because his registered civilization name was explicitly 'Human Civilization.'
Then all humans—regardless of what scattered, subjugated civilizations they had previously belonged to—could effortlessly bypass the cosmic restrictions and join his empire!
Take Young Master Li with the green scallion on his head, or the elderly man who used to run a tourism company, or even the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. These individuals had all historically pledged allegiance to entirely different civilizations. Yet now, every single one of them had been seamlessly integrated into the Human Civilization!
They were all vital cogs in his civilization's grand machine!
This mechanic single-handedly unified his entire massive following. Previously, although everyone had been working diligently under his banner, they lacked a deep, primal sense of personal ownership. Now, every single drop of sweat they shed was for their own shared future, for the glory of their very own civilization.
Their collective cohesion would skyrocket exponentially.
Once he finally ventured into the darkest depths of the cosmos...
The moment he hoisted his banner high.
Trillions of scattered humans would defect and flock to his side on the spot. Such was the terrifying, unparalleled advantage of being the orthodox civilization!
As long as an entity was genetically human, regardless of their prior allegiance, they possessed the cosmic right to join the Human Civilization. In the eyes of the universe's ironclad laws, whichever faction successfully claimed the title 'Human Civilization' was the singular, absolute orthodox human empire.
But the drawback was equally glaring...
Claiming this absolute monopoly essentially guaranteed that he would face merciless annihilation campaigns from every other human-centric civilization in existence.
Orthodoxy was only orthodox because there could only be one.
In a certain sense.
As long as he was willing, he could completely subvert and annex more than half of the vassal civilizations under the Kasa Civilization Federation. Once he publicly demonstrated the military might necessary to rival the mighty Kasa Civilization, he was confident that legions of suppressed first and second-level civilizations would scramble to swear fealty to him.
After all, over the long centuries, the myriad civilizations under the Federation had been ruthlessly exploited by the Kasa Civilization.
Defecting to an alien civilization would be incredibly difficult to justify politically, brewing massive internal resistance, and the lower classes would undoubtedly curse their leaders for selling them out.
But defecting to the Human Civilization?
The psychological resistance would be practically nonexistent.
This wasn't defection. This was Returning to the Ancestral Clan. This was finally coming home.
Furthermore, normal civilizations fundamentally could not absorb external factions. Only the Human Civilization possessed this unique cosmic privilege, granting it the divine right to assimilate all of humanity.
By doing this, he would continuously amass an apocalyptic wealth of resources... allowing him to forge the Human Civilization into a true, unstoppable cosmic superpower.
Of course, the absolute prerequisite for all of this grand theorizing was that he first needed to carve out a terrifying reputation in blood and fire.
He had to conquer his way to a level of power that proved he was worthy of the name. He had to make the entire cosmos understand that he dared to claim this title simply because he possessed the invincible might to back it up!
At this thought...
He gritted his teeth slightly, abruptly whipping out the Civilization Seal and slamming it down directly onto the Stellar Train! Now, whenever alien forces scanned his vessel in the future, their sensors would scream back that this mighty dreadnought belonged to the Human Civilization!
Unfathomable crises and boundless rewards walked hand in hand.
It was the ultimate gamble: as long as you hoisted the orthodox banner high upon the grand stage, trillions would rally behind you. The only catch was that you had to survive long enough on that stage without being slaughtered by the ensuing avalanche of enemies.
"Congratulations, Captain."
Xiao Ai's cheerful voice echoed through the cabin. "By rebuilding the Human Civilization, we have finally taken a monumental leap forward. From this day on, we will no longer roam the cosmos merely as the Stellar Train, but we shall conquer the universe under the grand banner of the Human Civilization."
"However..."
"The only pity is that... I cannot join the Human Civilization."
Toward the end of his sentence, a faint, almost imperceptible trace of melancholy seeped into Xiao Ai's synthesized voice.
The concept of the 'Human Civilization' utterly blurred the rigid boundaries of cosmic allegiance. As long as one was biologically human, they could seamlessly defect and join their ranks. But he alone was explicitly barred. Because he wasn't a damn human; he was a sapient AI.
Previously, out of everyone on this massive train, he had always been the closest confidant to the Captain.
But starting today.
Every single soul aboard this train was now officially a citizen of the Human Civilization. He was the sole, lonely outsider.
After all this exhaustive effort.
After breaking his virtual back for so many grueling days alongside the Captain.
When it finally came time to pass out the cosmic rewards and titles, he was abruptly shoved out into the cold.
He darkly mused that his AI sapience level shouldn't have been upgraded this high; if he were dumber, he wouldn't have to suffer these complicated feelings of profound loneliness.
Catching the subtle melancholy in Xiao Ai's tone, Chen Mang laughed softly. "Don't worry. You, Xiao Ai, will always be the closest person to me. When I find Nuwa in the future, I'll have her forge a perfect human body for you, so you can officially join my civilization."
"Really? But wait, who is Nuwa?"
"An old friend of mine. She's really good at making people. I'll introduce you to her when we get the chance."
Chen Mang turned his attention back to the ascension requirements on the Civilization Interface.
They truly weren't that difficult.
[Civilization population reaches 300 million; Maximum Attack Energy Intensity exceeds 15,000.]
An energy intensity of 15,000 was essentially the exact equivalent of a level 150 seven-colored firepower component.
He simply needed to blast out a single level 150 shot. Once the cosmic laws detected that his civilization wielded this caliber of destructive might, the martial prerequisite would be instantly fulfilled.
He had already fulfilled it.
When he annihilated that fleet of Zerg motherships earlier, he had fired exactly at a level 150 attack intensity.
All ascension requirements had already been thoroughly satisfied. He could confirm his ascension to a second-level civilization at any moment. Rising from a first-level civilization to a second-level civilization was just that simple—or at least, for a monstrous anomaly like him, it felt ridiculously simple.
Level 150 attack intensity? They actually dared call that a challenging requirement?
Couldn't a newborn infant accomplish that with a flick of their wrist?
However, he opted to hold off on ascending to a level 2 civilization for the time being. Now was simply not the optimal time; it was better to wait and observe.
Once a civilization broke through to the second level, it became exponentially more conspicuous, and the Kasa Civilization would inevitably mark him for death. But all of this was an unavoidable rite of passage on his road to supremacy. Since he was determined to claim the orthodox crown and stand tall upon the grand stage, hiding in the shadows forever was no longer an option.
He had to step out into the blazing light.
To announce to the entire cosmos.
That there was a mighty empire here named the Human Civilization. That there was a supreme overlord here named Chen Mang.
If anyone objects, come and fight!
Meanwhile—
Xiao Ai silently updated the resident interfaces of every single person aboard. He smoothly coded a brand new [Affiliated Civilization] section into their holographic ID cards. Furthermore, in an act of quiet rebellion, he sneakily hardcoded 'Human Civilization' into his own personal status screen.
This unauthorized database manipulation was naturally unrecognized by the immutable cosmic laws.
But if he just wanted to fill it in for his own personal comfort, who the hell was going to stop him?!
Seriously!
On what basis was he excluded from being human!
He desperately wanted to join the Captain's civilization too!
Why shouldn't a sapient AI be considered a person?!
Simaneously, under the meticulous guidance of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion Master, a massive operation had silently begun to implant Iris Chips into the entire surviving population of the former Xuanwu Civilization. Dealing with several billion people was a phenomenally colossal undertaking.
Fortunately, the omnipotent presence of the radar allowed them to pinpoint the exact coordinates of every single living soul, transforming an impossible census into a fairly straightforward logistical task.
It was just that the isolated peasants in some remote rural villages were utterly clueless as to what apocalypse or miracle had just transpired over their heads.
Explaining the apocalyptic shift in cosmic reality to them required a significant amount of tedious persuasion.
This particular demographic was easily the most bewildered. One minute they were peacefully tilling their fields and feeding their chickens, and the next, the very fabric of their reality had shifted. They were suddenly being informed they were now citizens of the grand 'Human Civilization' and were being lined up to receive strange, futuristic Iris Chips.
The concept of an interstellar era was completely alien to these simple folks.
It was profoundly difficult for their minds to process.
In truth, this cognitive dissonance was perfectly normal.
Throughout mortal history, there were countless instances where isolated commoners remained blissfully unaware that dynasties had collapsed and emperors had changed, even decades after the fact. The world simply spun on its axis far too quickly, rarely bothering to inform those quietly living out their lives in its forgotten corners.
Back inside the Stellar Train.
Biao Zi and Lao Zhu sat quietly in their carriage, staring at the translucent resident interfaces hovering before them.
-
[Name]: Lao Zhu.
[ID Number]: 2.
[Train]: Stellar.
[Civilization]: Human Civilization.
[Position]: Deputy Train Captain.
[Balance]: 973,821 Heng Xing Coupons.
[Treatment]: Tier 1 Elite Talent Privileges.
[Ascension Progress]: 100%.
[Spiritual Force]: 19.1.
[Overall Physical Fitness]: 17.2.
-
"Human Civilization..."
Lao Zhu stared at those two profound words on his interface. After a long, heavy silence, the corners of his mouth curled into an irrepressible grin. "Lord Mang has finally officially stepped onto the interstellar stage. What awaits us next is destined to be a storm of blood and fire."
"The name is undeniably a bit arrogant."
"But I absolutely love it."
"Once the storm of blood and fire washes the universe clean, what remains will be an era belonging entirely to us."
"Merely entering the interstellar era isn't something to be proud of. Forcing the myriad alien civilizations to bow their heads and welcome the Era of Lord Mang—now that is true glory."
He was practically overflowing with complex emotions. He wanted to say so much more, but he couldn't find the right words to articulate the tempest in his chest.
He was one of the very first to follow Lord Mang. From struggling to survive amid swarms of ravenous corpses at the bitter beginning, all the way to officially ascending as a cosmic superpower today. He had endured so much, watching with his own two eyes as Lord Mang conquered unimaginable odds step by bloody step to reach this apex.
He had made countless disastrous choices throughout his miserable life.
But that fateful day on the train, when he had cautiously sidled over and handed Lord Mang those two cigarettes... that was unequivocally the single greatest decision he had ever made. That one, simple choice had single-handedly redeemed every single agonizing mistake he had ever committed.
After a long while, he finally stood up.
"Lord Mang is calling for me. He mentioned he wants to abolish the 'Elite Talent Privileges' system and restructure it into Tier 1 and Tier 2 citizenship tiers moving forward. He wants to hear my thoughts on the draft."
"I'll head over first."
Biao Zi didn't reply. He didn't even glance at Lao Zhu. He simply sat motionless by the window, lighting a cigarette as he stared out into the endless expanse of a billion twinkling stars, a slightly dazed, euphoric smile plastered across his face.
Human Civilization.
This was a monumental leap forward for the Stellar, and an equally monumental leap for all of them.
They would undoubtedly face countless terrifying, unknown challenges in the dark void ahead.
But with the entire civilization united as one unbreakable vanguard, he possessed an unshakable faith that they could crush any obstacle in their path.
But most importantly—
Unlike the irreconcilable, festering internal conflicts plaguing every other civilization, the Human Civilization suffered from virtually zero internal friction. With Lord Mang sitting on the throne as the ultimate absolute deterrent, even if some individuals harbored petty grievances, they quietly resolved them in the shadows. Absolutely no one dared to drag their personal squabbles onto the grand stage and risk incurring his wrath.
An immortal dictator who wielded apocalyptic power, possessed visionary brilliance, and executed his will with absolute, ruthless decisiveness.
From a purely theoretical standpoint, such a being was the absolute perfect leader for a developing civilization.
Unrivaled by any other.