Translator: AnubisTL
Even excessive train speed has its drawbacks.
Inside the Zerg Civilization's wormhole, Chen Mang glanced back. Seeing no large force pursuing them, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. His suspicions had been correct: the Doomsday Planet was indeed a trap laid by the Zerg Civilization.
Though he couldn't fathom how the Zerg Civilization had accomplished this.
Why had the survivors on the Doomsday Planet transformed into zombie-like, half-dead beings? Why had the Zerg Civilization deliberately leaked information to lure in waves of explorers? What was their true motive?
This incident served as a stark reminder.
He needed to acquire a suitable accessory to handle such unexpected situations.
Normally, the vastness of the universe made the probability of a wormhole suddenly appearing directly in front of a moving train akin to throwing a pebble from Aquablue Star, having it circle the equator, and then strike you on the back of the head—an infinitesimally small chance.
But as the saying goes, even the smallest probability has its day.
Just now, it had happened.
This was precisely what the Zerg Civilization hadn't anticipated. If they had laid an inescapable trap on the other side, even if he managed to escape, it would come at a considerable cost.
After the Stellaris emerged from the wormhole, it surveyed the distant cosmos, where beams of light and explosive sparks occasionally streaked across the void. The train turned sharply and accelerated away, the area now too dangerous for it to risk exposure.
However, there was a silver lining.
During its brief proximity to the Zerg Civilization's main base, the target acquisition radar had completely scanned the forces guarding the wormhole entrance!
According to the radar data, the Zerg Civilization's combat units were primarily divided into two types:
Zerg motherships and Zerg Monsters.
Motherships were massive warships resembling flesh trains, their surfaces covered in organic material. Like trains, they could be upgraded with accessories, representing an alternative form of civilization. In essence, both train civilizations and Zerg motherships relied on core energy to enhance the power of their accessories.
The massive fleet stationed at the wormhole entrance consisted of 878 motherships.
Each mothership boasted Tier 100 defensive armor.
Their main cannons were rated at Tier 150.
While not weak, the Stellaris couldn't directly compare their strength to the Kasha Civilization's Train army without more information. Regardless, the Zerg fleet posed little threat, as their firepower couldn't penetrate the Stellaris' defenses.
The train conductor wondered what proportion of the Zerg Civilization's overall strength these motherships represented.
Meanwhile, countless Zerg monsters roamed the cosmos, resembling Cosmic Behemoths in their colossal size. Each creature typically spanned tens of meters in width, though this immense scale was relative to normal species; compared to Xiao Lu, they were mere ants.
These formidable Zerg monsters generally ranged from Tier 120 to Tier 150.
Based on current intelligence, this Zerg army posed no match for him, even if they combined their forces. His armor's Defense Rating was simply too high; their combined firepower would struggle to breach his defenses.
A Tier 200 armor rating made him virtually invincible in the cosmos.
He also observed that the Zerg Civilization's main cannons were surprisingly low-tier. He suspected this wasn't due to resource scarcity; after all, the resources used to construct 878 motherships could surely have upgraded a single mothership's main cannon to Tier 200. Instead, Tier 150 likely represented the most cost-effective balance.
Given that other civilizations' Train Armor Defense Ratings were generally low, investing heavily in higher-tier main cannons offered little practical advantage. A moderate upgrade, without excessive investment, provided the optimal return.
"This must have consumed an astronomical amount of murphy stone," he mused.
Chen Mang sat in his seat aboard the Stellaris, watching the distant, fiery battle. The Zerg forces had nearly annihilated the explorers and were now advancing further.
Ahead lay the two-way wormhole, a strategic resource transport channel for the Kasha Civilization and a vital part of their logistics supply line. Destroying this wormhole would significantly disrupt the Kasha Civilization's supply efficiency.
If the Zerg Civilization's target was indeed this wormhole, it made perfect sense.
But why had they lured the explorers here?
The Kasha Civilization had left almost no military forces to guard the wormhole exit, only a few personnel. As the Zerg Civilization's main cannons locked onto the wormhole, preparing to fire, Chen Mang acted without hesitation.
Boom.
He pressed the button on the control panel.
The Stellaris, hovering in the Cosmic Void, aimed its Arcanon Main Cannon at the Zerg forces. A crimson beam of light shot forth, engulfing several Zerg motherships in an instant and melting them into slag.
Without pausing, he fired three more beams, obliterating the remaining Zerg motherships.
In the blink of an eye, the Zerg Civilization's vanguard fleet was annihilated, not a single survivor remained. Four shots from his Light Cannons silenced the cosmos. Each blast carried an energy range of Tier 150, utterly overwhelming the Tier 100 defense energy range of the Zerg motherships.
He glanced at the silent, exploding debris ahead, then checked the information on his Doppler Radar. Without pausing, he continued his journey into the distance, leaving no trace behind.
He couldn't allow the Zerg Civilization to so easily destroy this crucial supply line.
Radar data showed the Kasha Civilization was losing ground on the main battlefield. He needed to maintain the balance between these two Top-Tier Civilizations, prolonging the war to give himself time to develop until neither posed a threat.
The war couldn't end so quickly.
But...
Was the Kasha Civilization too weak, or the Zerg Civilization too formidable?
The Zerg Civilization had been fighting other civilizations just moments before, yet now they were facing the Kasha Civilization, caught between two fronts. Despite initially being caught off guard and losing ground, they had somehow rallied and regained their footing.
Fighting two enemies at once?!
Truly formidable.
Perhaps the Zerg Civilization's overwhelming power had made many forget that it was merely a Second-Tier Civilization, not yet advanced to the Third Tier.
The Stellaris train departed with a flourish, leaving behind only the surviving explorers aboard their own trains, gazing blankly in the direction of its departure. There were no wormholes in that direction—where was this mysterious train headed?
Moreover, their train's sensors had registered the attack's intensity at Tier 150, a level typically reserved for the main cannons of Military Trains. Who could possibly wield such power?
Though no one understood the train's motives, the scene had deeply shaken everyone's hearts. The moment was recorded and quickly circulated throughout the cosmos.
"Fire! Fire!!!"
Cosmic Void.
Commander Li stood in the locomotive cabin, listening to his subordinates' frantic commands. His expression remained calm as he clasped his hands behind his back and gazed forward. His strategic objective for this campaign was singular: to destroy as many Zerg Civilization Planets as possible.
Destroy the Zerg's living forces.
Force the Zerg to fight on two fronts.
But—
His understanding of the Zerg came solely from historical records and intelligence reports. He had never witnessed their true nature firsthand. Even though he knew the Zerg Civilization possessed the ability to infinitely resurrect and reproduce, witnessing it firsthand left him utterly stunned.
There was no strategy, no tactics.
He divided his forces into three columns, attacking from three flanks.
The column he led stretched across the cosmos like a horizontal line, hundreds of High-Level Trains arrayed in formation. Relentless barrages of energy erupted from their cannons, melting the swarming Zerg Monsters that charged from all directions.
There was no room for flourish.
They needed to push deeper.
The Zerg would not allow it.
The battlefield transformed into a meat grinder, devouring resources at an alarming rate. Even with constant supply fleets arriving to replenish their dwindling reserves, the resources remained insufficient.
"Commander," the deputy commander said urgently, his face pale. "We haven't detected any traces of the Antenna Worm. The mechanics believe the Zerg Monsters have evolved a countermeasure, rendering the accessory ineffective."
Over the years, the Kasha Civilization had scoured the ruins of the Mechanical Civilization, uncovering many of its foundational technologies.
Among these was an accessory specifically designed to detect and eliminate the Antenna Worm. The Zerg Civilization relied on these worms to grant their monsters Infinite Resurrection. Somewhere in this sector, an Antenna Worm must be lurking.
If they couldn't find the Antenna Worm, it would be like trying to dam a breached levee with mud—inevitably, it would collapse.
Their resources were finite, but the Zerg Monster numbers were infinite.
They couldn't afford to stop firing. If they did, the Zerg Monsters would swarm the train, overwhelming them. But continuous fire only led to the monsters' endless resurrection. No matter how they looked at it, this battle seemed unwinnable.
They might as well give up.
"..."
Commander Li's expression remained unchanged. The Zerg Civilization's rapid evolution was entirely within his expectations. Without saying much, he glanced at the galaxy map and murmured, "How's the wormhole construction progressing?"
"The wormhole location has been surveyed and is ready for construction. We're about to begin."
"Good!"
Commander Li exhaled softly. With a wormhole established, the problem became much simpler. He planned to send envoys to the civilization currently at war with the Zerg Civilization, explain the situation, and urge them to join forces in a final, all-out assault.
Could the Zerg Civilization withstand a combined assault from two Top-Tier Civilizations?
He wasn't sure of the exact strength of that civilization.
But since they had been fighting the Zerg Civilization for so long, their power couldn't be underestimated.
Fighting on their own territory within the Zerg Civilization's domain was proving too costly. They had already slaughtered countless Zerg Monsters, yet the creatures continued to swarm in endless waves, draining their resources with the lives of their clansmen.
Resources were vanishing like water flowing through a sieve.
This rate of depletion far surpassed the greed of corrupt officials.
Inside the Stellaris train:
Xiao Ai had fully explored the "Unnamed Planet" left behind by the Mechanical Civilization, uncovering significant resources, including records detailing the civilization's earliest history.
These were ancient records, dating back to a time long, long ago.
The Mechanical Civilization had endured for millennia, making it one of the longest-lasting civilizations in the galaxy.
That should be enough.
In the cosmos, the lifespan of a civilization capable of interstellar travel typically hovered around a thousand years.
During this time, they would encounter countless challenges. A single misstep could plunge the civilization into irreversible ruin.
In the recorded history of the Mechanical Civilization, Chen Mang found this passage:
"..."
Chen Mang gazed at the screen, his eyes narrowing slightly.
[I once believed that Civilization Levels were meaningless. I thought they were merely tiers recognized by the Cosmic Rules, and that by simply strengthening our civilization's power, we could remain at a lower level and still "play the pig to eat the tiger."]
[But later, I realized I was wrong.]
[Civilization Levels hold profound significance.]
[Each time a civilization advances to a higher level, its overall strength increases dramatically. In the cosmos, Civilization Level almost perfectly reflects a civilization's total power. A Second-Tier Civilization stands virtually no chance against a Third-Tier Civilization.]
[Especially—]
[After encountering true God-Tier Civilizations,]
[I finally understood our insignificance.]
[These God-Tier Civilizations reign like cosmic overlords, dominating the most fertile resource-rich regions of the universe. The God-Tier Civilization I encountered was a Fifth-Tier Civilization.]
"He was a traveler who told me many things about the cosmos."
"He explained that to advance to a Fifth-Tier Civilization, we must first find a Cosmic Void spanning at least ten million light-years and relocate our civilization near it."
"I asked him why. Is this a Cosmic Rule?"
"He said no, there's no such rule in the Cosmic Rules for Fifth-Tier Civilization advancement. However, without a Cosmic Void nearby, a Fifth-Tier Civilization wouldn't be recognized by others, attracting numerous crises. Moreover, this method is one of their most powerful tools, akin to nuclear weapons—every Fifth-Tier Civilization possesses such a nuclear deterrent."
"I pressed for details, eager to learn more. I had never encountered someone from a God-Tier Civilization before. As a Second-Tier Civilization, the Mechanical Civilization viewed Fifth-Tier Civilization travelers as divine beings, an unattainable height."
"He smiled and said, 'Do you know about the Arcanon Main Cannon's Tier 200 overpowered effect? The farther its beam travels, the greater its destructive power becomes.'"
"Of course I know. Although the Mechanical Civilization is only a Second-Tier Civilization, we recently mobilized our entire civilization's resources to upgrade a main cannon to Tier 200. I can roughly guess how this effect works. Are you planning to fire an Arcanon Main Cannon into the Cosmic Void?"
"But wouldn't that take too long?"
"Crossing the Cosmic Void requires an immense amount of time."
"Even if an attack launched tens of millions of years ago were to arrive, what would be the point?"
He smiled again.
"The reason Fifth-Tier Civilizations are called God-Tier Civilizations is because they possess the means of gods. They can create temporal rifts. Imagine creating a rift leading back tens of millions of years, then firing an Arcanon Main Cannon into the Cosmic Void from that era."
"By the time you return through the rift, that beam will have traveled through the Cosmic Void for tens of millions of years, nearing its target. The resulting explosive force would be enough to destroy any enemy!"
"The higher a civilization's tier, the fewer wars it wages."
"Almost no one initiates conflict."
"Once war breaks out, countless lives will be lost, and countless planets and stars will fall. For the universe, it would be a cataclysmic agony."
"I spoke with him for a long time."
"He left at dawn the next day, as effortlessly as a breeze. I thought, if I weren't burdened with the responsibilities of the Mechanical Civilization, I would choose to become a traveler like him. From that day forward, I no longer felt the weight of being a civilization leader. I resolved to elevate the Mechanical Civilization to a Fifth-Tier Civilization!"
"I suspect..."
"He must be the one from the South."
"When I asked him about his home, he smiled but remained silent. When I asked how he had come here, he smiled again and said nothing, only adding, 'You'll know when the time is right.'"
Chen Mang frowned slightly, gazing at the yellowed parchment on the screen. The diary was written on paper, likely belonging to a former leader of the Mechanical Civilization during its early, weaker days as a Second-Tier Civilization.
It hadn't yet ascended to the Third-Tier Civilization it would later become.
"God-Tier Civilization," he murmured, his voice barely audible. If a Fifth-Tier Civilization truly possessed such capabilities, it would indeed deserve the title of a God-Tier Civilization, having barely earned the right to tamper with time itself.
He suddenly realized that the civilizations scattered throughout the cosmic depths seemed to possess formidable power.
His original plan had been to remain hidden, focusing on developing his own civilization until all train components reached maximum Tier, all stats were fully optimized, and then emerge. But now it seemed...
He needed to rebuild his own civilization first.
Without a presence on the galactic stage, it would be impossible to acquire the means available only to those who stood in the spotlight.
Each civilization's Advancement granted unique capabilities, bestowed by the Cosmic Rules themselves.
Perhaps this diary had shaken his resolve. He decided to prioritize rebuilding his civilization first, then gradually advance it later. He immediately glanced at the Civilization Token in the control panel drawer.
[Human Progress: 100%]
[Culture Progress: 100%]
[Military Progress: 100%]
[Agriculture Progress: 100%]
[System Progress: 100%]
All five progress bars behind the Civilization Token were at 100%.
He could rebuild his civilization at any time, but he had never done so.
He retrieved the Civilization Token from the drawer.
A transparent panel immediately materialized before him.
Special Item: Civilization Token
Special Effect: This token can help you rebuild a civilization. Use it cautiously, ideally after upgrading your train to Tier 20. Whether rebuilding your own civilization or another's, using this token will place you back at the cosmic table, making you a target for countless enemies.
In the universe, there are only two kinds of beings: hunters and prey.
PS: When a civilization falls, its last remaining belief crystallizes into this special item. Each token embodies a materialized belief, and each carries a story.
He had acquired this item long ago, but it had only been used to enter the Goblin's Tomb. Today marked its true purpose.
After a long silence, he pressed his thumb down, crushing the token in his hand.
In the next instant—
The token shattered, and countless blinding white rays of light erupted from the cracks, coalescing into seven-colored auspicious light that flowed through the locomotive cabin like a tangible, dreamlike substance.
Even the Stellaris train, suspended in the Cosmic Void, was enveloped in wisps of seven-colored auspicious light.
[Please name your civilization.]
Another panel popped up before him, the name enveloped in auspicious seven-colored light.
Countless names flashed through his mind.
Finally, Chen Mang's gaze gradually hardened. He murmured, "Human Civilization."
[The civilization name is already in use. Do you wish to proceed?]
"Yes!"
In the next moment—
Chen Mang felt a slight tremor in the air. Immediately afterward, the seven-colored auspicious light within the locomotive cabin began to coalesce, eventually forming a stamp-like object: the Civilization Seal.
Wherever this seal was stamped, that object would bear the imprint of their civilization.
Now, all he needed to do was take this Civilization Seal and stamp it on any planet lacking a Civilization Imprint to officially establish their civilization. Failure to stamp the seal within three days would result in the civilization's creation being deemed a failure.
"Hah..."
Chen Mang took a deep breath, picked up the seal, and immediately headed toward the rear of the carriage.
He had considered many names: Mang Mang Civilization, Aquablue Star Civilization, Low-Profile Development Civilization, and others.
But in the end, a powerful instinct compelled him to choose the two words: Human Civilization.
He was well aware of the risks associated with this name. Despite the Kasha Civilization Federation being composed of numerous human-based civilizations, none had ever dared to call themselves Human Civilization. Yet he chose it anyway.
He felt that this name was his rightful due.
He was a genuine human being, and if anyone deserved to claim the mantle of "Orthodox Human," it was him.
Now that he had stepped onto the stage, there was no room for hesitation.
Inside the Stellaris train, Chen Mang picked up the Civilization Seal and stamped it onto Aquablue Star. In that instant, he felt the planet grow closer to him, like an object he had possessed for a long time.
From that moment onward, the planet belonged to him completely.
If he had previously owned only its body, he now possessed its very soul.
The human civilization was officially established on this day!
On this day—
On a day when no one was prepared, not even Chen Mang himself—the reconstruction of his human civilization was complete.
Afterward, Chen Mang hurried to First-Class Mining Planet, Black Tortoise Star, and even the Unnamed Star from the Mechanical Civilization within the train, stamping them all with the Civilization Seal.
With this—
The human civilization now possessed four planets!
"Human Civilization, Chen Mang."
Back in the locomotive cabin, Chen Mang sat down and gazed at the galaxy map on the control panel, a smile spreading across his face. He was still adjusting to the reality that he was no longer a civilization-less wanderer; he now possessed his own civilization.
The human civilization was absent from the galaxy map.
After all, his planets were all contained within the train, making them undetectable.
Perfect.
A blend of high-profile and low-key.
After a moment's thought, he decided against stamping the Stellaris train with the Civilization Seal. This way, when others detected his train in the future, its civilization of origin would remain hidden. Better to develop a bit longer first.
Though he relished being in the spotlight, he knew that standing out too much could be dangerous.
Only then did he turn his attention to the Civilization Panel.
The civilization's existence, advancement, and other attributes were all governed by Cosmic Rules.
However, different civilizations manifested these rules in unique ways. For instance, cultivation civilizations might consult the Heavenly Dao through sacrificial rituals, while their civilization's manifestation was far simpler: a panel that materialized before him.
At that moment—
A Civilization Panel popped up before him.
This was his first time seeing such a panel, and every detail filled him with wonder.
[Civilization Name]: Human Civilization
[Civilization Level]: Tier 1
[Civilization Leader]: Chen Mang
[Civilization Planets]: Aquablue Star, Black Tortoise Star, First-Class Mining Planet, Unnamed Star
[Civilization Population]: 5.7 billion
[Advancement Conditions]: Civilization population reaches 300 million, and the strongest attack energy range exceeds 15,000.
[PS: Advancing to Tier 2 Civilization and subsequent advancements will release an "Advancement Ripple" detectable by all surrounding civilizations. The higher the tier, the wider the range of the Advancement Ripple.]
[Civilization Means]: Maximum Dreamstone storage capacity increased.
Chen Mang sat in his chair, gazing at each word with a ravenous hunger. The information on the panel was simple, but this was the first time he had truly become the leader of a civilization. From now on, he was no longer just a train conductor.
His mission now included not only strengthening the Stellaris but also making his civilization more powerful.
Until the day came when he could stop hiding and openly move his entire planet into the cosmos, allowing all his clansmen to roam freely within the universe.
The only problem now was...
"Uh, I regret it. Can I change the name?"
Silence filled the locomotive cabin. No one answered.
The semi-transparent panel before him gradually faded away. Clearly, this panel was merely a data display governed by the Cosmic Rules, lacking any intelligence or consciousness, and incapable of answering his questions.
This wasn't quite what he had expected.
And no one had told him that each civilization advancement would trigger an "Advancement Ripple"?
He had thought he could secretly name it "Human Civilization" without anyone knowing. Wouldn't it be enough for him to just feel good about it?
It could also enhance his Energy Field.
It sounded good.
But...
This thing has Advancement Ripples?
Doesn't that mean every time his civilization advances, he's essentially declaring to all surrounding civilizations: "I am the human civilization! Anyone got a problem? Come at me!"
"Looks like we won't be short of fights from now on," Chen Mang muttered, sitting in his chair. So far, the Stellaris train had barely experienced any wars, and its main cannon had fired only a few times. Each time, they had crushed their opponents with overwhelming force, never facing a truly balanced battle.
But...
It seems conflict will be unavoidable now.
The civilization's name is just too arrogant.
Still...
He really wants to contend for the title of "Orthodox Human." Having lived two lives, he believes he's the true heir to that legacy.
There's also this—
In his excitement during the first civilization reconstruction, he stamped the "Black Tortoise Star" with the Civilization Seal. Logically, the Black Tortoise Star belongs to the Black Tortoise Civilization, and members of different civilizations can't join another.
Civilizations can't merge.
He couldn't join the Black Tortoise Civilization, nor could the Black Tortoise Civilization join his.
But!
The Civilization Panel showed his "Civilization Population" at a staggering 5.7 billion. This clearly included the Black Tortoise Civilization's people. Aquablue Star never had such a large population; when they left, there were fewer than a billion humans. Even with significant population growth since then, it couldn't possibly reach 5.7 billion.
Moreover, the Black Tortoise Civilization had been destroyed.
The cultivation civilization had vanished, its people now integrated into his human civilization.
After pondering for a while, Chen Mang finally understood what had happened.
"Damn, that's amazing!"
Chen Mang sat in his chair before the control panel, gazing at the Civilization Panel and the Civilization Seal in his hand, muttering to himself. He finally understood why everyone coveted the title of "Orthodox Human." Reputation was one thing, but the tangible benefits were truly immense!
Normally, according to the Cosmic Rules, altering one's civilization at will was forbidden. The only way to join another civilization was through procreation—children born to members of different civilizations could choose to join either parent's civilization.
But now—
With his civilization named "Human Civilization,"
Under the Cosmic Rules, all humans, regardless of their former civilization, could now join his civilization.
For example, Young Master Li with the green onion on his head, the elderly man who once ran a travel company, and the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion—all these individuals had belonged to different civilizations, but now they were all part of human civilization!
They were all members of his civilization!
This would undoubtedly unite the team more closely. Previously, while everyone worked for him, they lacked the sense of working for themselves. Now, every action was for their own benefit, for the sake of their civilization.
This would greatly enhance cohesion.
When they ventured into the depths of the cosmos in the future,
a mere wave of his banner would instantly draw countless followers. This was the advantage of an Orthodox Civilization!
As long as they were human, regardless of their former civilization, they could join human civilization. According to the Cosmic Rules, any civilization named "human civilization" was recognized as the true Orthodox Human Civilization.
However, the drawbacks were equally apparent.
This situation almost guaranteed future attacks from other human civilizations.
The reason an Orthodox Civilization was considered "Orthodox" was because there could only be one.
In a sense, if he so chose, he could assimilate over half of the civilizations within the Kasha Civilization Federation into his own. By demonstrating the strength to rival the Kasha Civilization, he believed countless First-Tier and Second-Tier Civilizations would flock to his banner.
After all, these civilizations had been relentlessly exploited by the Kasha Civilization for years.
Joining another civilization might be met with resistance and resentment, with the common people cursing their leaders.
But joining the human civilization would face far less opposition.
It would be seen as returning to their ancestral roots, coming home.
Moreover, no other civilization could truly absorb another—only the human civilization could achieve this, embracing all humankind.
This would grant him vast resources, allowing him to truly forge the human civilization into a formidable force.
Of course, all this hinged on first establishing his reputation.
He needed to prove he possessed the strength to bear this name—to make everyone understand that daring to claim this title meant he truly possessed the power to back it up!
With this thought,
He gritted his teeth and immediately retrieved the Civilization Seal, stamping it onto the Stellaris. This way, any future probes would detect the train as originating from "human civilization"!
Crisis and opportunity coexist.
It was like standing on a stage, waving a banner. As long as you stood there long enough, people would inevitably follow—provided you stood long enough.
"Congratulations, Train Conductor," Xiao Ai's cheerful voice echoed through the locomotive cabin. "Rebuilding human civilization—we've finally taken a major step forward! From now on, we'll no longer roam the cosmos as the Stellaris, but as human civilization, conquering the universe!"
"However..."
"The only regret is that I can't join human civilization."
Xiao Ai's voice carried a faint, almost imperceptible trace of melancholy.
The phrase "human civilization" blurred the boundaries of civilization itself. Any human could freely change their civilization affiliation to join it, but he couldn't. He wasn't human; he was an AI.
Previously, he had been the closest companion to the Train Conductor on the entire train.
But from this day forward...
Everyone on the train was a member of human civilization except for him—the outsider.
After all this time.
After all his efforts.
When it came time for rewards and recognition, he was still an outsider.
He felt he didn't deserve such a high Tier, otherwise he wouldn't be feeling so dejected.
Sensing the melancholy in Xiao Ai's voice, Chen Mang smiled and said, "Don't worry, Xiao Ai. You'll always be the closest person to me. Once I find Nuwa, I'll have her craft a human body for you so you can join my civilization."
"Really? But who's Nuwa?"
"A good friend of mine. She's great with people. I'll introduce you to her someday."
TL/N: Nuwa is a goddess in Chinese folk religion, Chinese Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. She is credited with creating humanity and repairing the Pillar of Heaven.
He glanced at the Advancement Conditions on the Civilization Panel.
They weren't particularly difficult:
[Civilization Population reaches 300 million, and the strongest attack energy range exceeds 15,000.]
An energy range of 15,000 was equivalent to a Tier 150 Seven-Colored Firepower Component.
He needed to fire a single Tier 150 shot. Once the Cosmic Rules detected this level of offensive power, the Advancement Conditions would be met.
He had already fired such a shot.
The attack he had just unleashed on the Zerg motherships had been at Tier 150 intensity.
With all Advancement Conditions now met, he could initiate his civilization's Advancement to Second-Tier Civilization at any moment. Ascending from First-Tier to Second-Tier Civilization was remarkably simple—at least, that's how he perceived it.
Tier 150 attack intensity? Is that even a challenge?
Isn't that just a matter of having hands?
However, he wasn't ready to advance to Second-Tier Civilization just yet. The timing wasn't right; he needed to wait.
Once his civilization broke through to Tier 2, it would become far more conspicuous, and the Kasha Civilization would inevitably target him. But this was a necessary step. If he wanted to stand openly as an Orthodox Human, he couldn't hide forever.
He had to step forward.
To declare to the universe:
Here exists a civilization called the human civilization. Here stands a man named Chen Mang.
Those who defy me, come and fight!
Meanwhile—
Xiao Ai silently updated the resident panels for everyone, adding a "Civilization Affiliation" section and secretly listing his own affiliation as the human civilization.
Naturally, this was not recognized by the Cosmic Rules.
But what's wrong with him filling it out himself for fun?!
Seriously!
Why isn't he considered human?!
He wants to join the Train Conductor's civilization too!
Why aren't robots considered people?!
Meanwhile, under the guidance of the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, the silent implantation of Iris Chips into the entire Black Tortoise Civilization began. With tens of billions of people, this was no small undertaking.
However, thanks to the existence of radar, locating each individual was surprisingly straightforward, making population census relatively simple.
The only challenge lay in explaining the situation to villagers who remained completely unaware of the changes sweeping their world.
These villagers were the most bewildered. They had been peacefully farming and raising chickens in their villages, only to suddenly find themselves part of the human civilization, with Iris Chips being implanted into their eyes.
The Interstellar Era was utterly foreign and incomprehensible to them.
This was perfectly normal.
In many cases, ordinary citizens remained unaware of even major events like changes in era names for decades after they occurred. The world always evolved too rapidly, leaving those living in its remote corners behind.
Inside the Stellaris train, Biaozi and Old Pig sat in their carriage, gazing at the semi-transparent resident panels before them.
Name: Old Pig
Number: 2
Train: Stellaris
Civilization: Human Civilization
Position: Deputy Train Conductor
Balance: 973,821 Stellar Coupons
Treatment: First-Tier Elite Talent Benefits
Advancement Progress: 100%
Mental Power: 19.1
Comprehensive Physical Fitness: 17.2
"Human Civilization."
Old Pig stared silently at the words on his resident panel. After a long pause, he couldn't help but smile slightly. "Lord Mang has finally officially entered the Interstellar Era. What awaits us now is a storm of blood and carnage."
"That name is a bit arrogant."
"But I like it."
"After the storm of blood and carnage, our era will begin."
"Officially entering the Interstellar Era isn't something to be proud of. Making other civilizations welcome the Era of Lord Mang—that's what truly deserves pride."
His heart was filled with emotion, and he wanted to say more, but there was no one to share his thoughts with.
He had been among the first to follow Lord Mang, surviving the initial zombie hordes together. Now, as they officially entered the Interstellar Era, he had witnessed firsthand Lord Mang's gradual rise to power.
Throughout his life, he had made many wrong choices.
But the day he offered Lord Mang two cigarettes on the train was the most correct decision he had ever made. That single act had overturned all his past mistakes.
After a long silence, he finally stood up.
"Lord Mang has summoned me. He's planning to abolish the Advanced Talent privileges and divide citizens into First-Class and Second-Class tiers. He wants my opinion on the matter."
"I'll head over there now."
Biaozi didn't respond, not even glancing at Old Pig. He remained seated by the window, lighting a cigarette and gazing out at the countless stars, a dazed smile on his face.
Human civilization.
This was a monumental step for the Stellaris, and an equally significant leap for humanity itself.
They would undoubtedly face countless unknown challenges in the future.
But with everyone united in purpose, he believed they could overcome any obstacle.
Most importantly—
Unlike other civilizations plagued by irreconcilable internal conflicts, human civilization remained remarkably unified. With Lord Mang's iron grip, even minor grievances were resolved privately, never daring to surface publicly.
A dictator with immense power, extraordinary longevity, and unwavering decisiveness.
In theory, he was the ideal leader for a civilization.
Without equal.
(End of the Chapter)
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