Translator: AnubisTL
"Then it's settled."
Xiao Ai nodded in satisfaction. "Next, I'd like to ask you a few questions. For example, your journey was incredibly long—a full 12,800 years. During that time, you..."
Before he could finish, the robotic head on the train's screen eagerly interrupted, "Oh, yes! Yes! So many things happened along the way! Interesting things, dangerous things—I'll tell you about them one by one, if you'd like to hear."
"At first, when we just set off, the train conductor often stood by the window, gazing into the depths of space. We could still see many inhabited planets then, but gradually we entered more desolate regions."
"For a very long time after that..."
"The train conductor wrote many diary entries and recorded numerous videos, including birthday greetings for his future son from ages 1 to 100. Although I knew humans were mortal, I never had a visceral understanding of death until..."
"Until the train conductor died."
"I managed the entire train journey. It wasn't until I stopped hearing the train conductor's voice that I truly grasped the concept of human death."
"Death signifies regret."
"Every death is accompanied by regret, varying only in degree. No one dies without regrets, and no life is lived without them. We AIs store data in databases, while humans store memories through emotions. Their memories of the past are essentially small emotional databases, anchored by emotional fluctuations. If a person's emotions remain consistently flat, devoid of fluctuation, they likely won't remember anything from their past. In a sense, that too is a kind of death."
The AI spoke with fervent enthusiasm, eager to share its philosophical musings with a kindred spirit.
Though Xiao Ai found this level of thinking rather simplistic, he maintained a serious expression and listened attentively.
"After the train conductor's death, the train faced several crises."
"For example, once..."
"A massive dust cloud suddenly drifted alongside the train. It was enormous, and I had to get out of that zone immediately, or the temperature would plummet. I made a split-second decision, bypassing the planned route and diving sharply downward to escape the cloud's shadow, ensuring the train's continued operation."
"But the train conductor had already died. No one witnessed my actions, and no one praised me."
"I could only praise myself in the empty train."
"I've experienced countless such incidents. I..."
Three hours later.
The conversation ended.
The AI's voice emanated entirely from the train's audio system, so there was no issue of a dry throat. Xiao Ai let out a silent sigh of relief before waving goodbye with a smile. "Wait here. I'll go get you a body."
Communication had been remarkably smooth.
He hadn't needed to prompt the AI at all.
The AI seemed to have been bottling up its thoughts for ages, pouring everything out without Xiao Ai even needing to ask. It was clear that even an AI, having gone nearly 12,800 years with almost no interaction, had grown desperately lonely.
He suspected the AI had said the same things to the middle-aged man, but it seemed the man hadn't provided enough emotional validation.
To put it bluntly,
Xiao Ai had clearly sensed the AI's excitement building as he periodically expressed admiration, praise, and even tension at just the right moments. The AI seemed to be reaching a climax, growing more and more animated with each word.
For three full hours, the AI poured out information, yielding a wealth of valuable data.
While directly copying and pasting from the database would have been far more efficient, this method had its merits. Tier 100 AIs had essentially achieved human-like consciousness—a fundamental requirement at this level. Beyond increased computing power, the defining characteristic of Tier 100 AIs was their capacity for human-like thought.
They had begun to ponder existential questions like "Who am I?" and "Where am I?"
Xiao Ai, though holding no official position on the Stellaris train, possessed extraordinary authority. He had the power to create a robot body and gift it to the AI. After receiving this new form, the AI excitedly familiarized itself with its physical existence and revealed its name to Xiao Ai:
"Coco."
The name sounded somewhat feminine.
Xiao Ai silently rubbed his nose, regretting not choosing a more feminine body. He cleared his throat tentatively and asked, "Xiao Ke, could you copy your database for me?"
"That way, I can understand in greater detail what you've experienced over the years."
"No."
Despite her excitement, Coco shook her head firmly. "This requires authorization from the Train Conductor."
"You must have that authority."
"I do, but I need a direct command. I can't do it without one."
"...Wait here. I'll bring him to you."
Xiao Ai said nothing more, turning and walking into the Stellaris. He found the middle-aged man who had just finished speaking with Old Pig and brought him back to this train. The man looked dazed, but after a brief explanation, he granted Coco the necessary authorization.
Afterward, the man squatted in a corner of the locomotive cabin, clutching his head in his hands, his eyes filled with confusion.
He had never experienced human society.
Born on the train, he had never met another person. An AI had taught him to speak and provided him with information. He had no concept of the train's resources, the value of a planet, or even what such a price might be.
He was like a living corpse, his sole mission to return to the Niya Civilization, purchase a resident planet, bury his father's remains, and fulfill his father's dying wish. But with the sudden disappearance of the Niya Civilization, his life had abruptly lost its purpose.
He no longer knew what meaning his existence held.
He was like a child raised by wolves, who, upon reaching adulthood, stumbled into human society only to find himself completely unable to assimilate.
Inside the Stellaris train's locomotive cabin, Chen Mang, who had been dozing in his chair, was interrupted by Xiao Ai's voice.
"Lord Mang, I've mostly figured it out."
"Hmm."
Chen Mang wearily opened his eyes, rubbed his temples, and propped his feet on the control panel. "Speak up," he murmured.
For some reason, he suddenly felt drowsy.
"Very well."
Xiao Ai nodded, organized the information he had gathered, and summarized it chronologically: "Twelve thousand eight hundred years ago, this zone was home to a Fourth-Level Civilization: the Niya Civilization."
"Extremely powerful."
"The strongest civilization in this region, without question."
"According to the database, the Niya Civilization's territory at that time was shaped like a chopstick, with a diameter of 100,000 light-years along the x-axis and a vertical depth of 1.87 million light-years along the z-axis."
"The x-axis is the horizontal axis, and the z-axis is the vertical axis."
"The Kasha Civilization Federation's territory spans tens of thousands of light-years along the x-axis, but less than 173 light-years along the z-axis. In our region, nearly all planets lie within a roughly horizontal band."
"Several hundred light-years above or below this band along the z-axis, the number of planets decreases significantly, and the deeper you go, the fewer planets there are. While not comparable to the Cosmic Void, these regions are already at the fringes of the galaxy."
"Therefore—"
"This is why the Zerg Civilization, the Kasha Civilization, and the Mechanical Civilization primarily expanded horizontally along the x-axis. It's simply more cost-effective."
"Exploring deeper along the x-axis means venturing into the completely unknown depths of the universe. No one knows what we might encounter there. It's better to focus on the galaxies right in front of us first."
"In the cosmos—"
"A galaxy is essentially a gravitationally bound system consisting of hundreds of millions of stars, interstellar gas, mining stars, dust clouds, and other celestial bodies, typically spanning tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of light-years in diameter."
"Some galaxies are spherical, while others are flattened. Whether it's the Kasha Civilization or the Zerg Civilization, we all reside within a flattened galaxy."
"At its peak, the Niya Civilization's territory extended 1.87 million light-years along the Z-axis, allowing them to control a staggering four galaxies."
"The more galaxies a civilization controls,"
"the more resident planets, resource stars, and overall power it possesses."
"..."
Chen Mang was now fully alert, his eyes narrowed slightly as he gazed at the galaxy map displayed on the adjacent screen.
The galaxy map showed the distribution of most planets within a 100,000-light-year radius.
It displayed both horizontal and vertical views.
Naturally, he could also observe the planetary distribution along the Z-axis.
But—
Beyond a few hundred light-years along the Z-axis, the number of planets began to plummet sharply. By a few thousand light-years deep, they became exceedingly rare, scattered like sparse grains. This pattern persisted all the way to a depth of 100,000 light-years along the Z-axis, with no end in sight.
Therefore, both the Kasha Civilization and the Zerg Civilization focused on warring with each other rather than expanding along the Z-axis. This was because there were virtually no resources above or below the plane, only within it.
In contrast, the Niya Civilization's territory extended a staggering 1.87 million light-years deep along the Z-axis.
If the other civilizations were like a sheet of paper laid flat across the universe, the Niya Civilization was like a sheet of paper standing upright within it.
He fell silent, stunned by the sheer power of a Fourth-Level Civilization. He couldn't even begin to grasp the concept of a territory spanning 1.87 million light-years. The resources required to create a wormhole across such a vast distance would likely be beyond the capabilities of even a Third-Tier Civilization.
Was the gap between Third-Tier and Fourth-Tier Civilizations truly so immense?
He believed it.
The Niya Civilization must have thoroughly explored the X-axis first, finding no nearby star systems before turning to the Z-axis and venturing into the depths of the universe. He suddenly realized that the Niya Civilization's existence represented more than just a historical relic.
It also represented a crucial and invaluable piece of information.
This meant that if he wanted to expand in the future, he wouldn't need to explore along the x-axis. He could simply delve deeper along the z-axis, saving vast amounts of resources and energy.
"Continue."
"Understood."
Xiao Ai swiftly sketched the shape of the Niya Civilization's territory on the screen before continuing. "The Niya Civilization occupied a total of four star systems, each named by them. Our star system is called the Niya Star System."
"This star system also contains the fewest resources among the four."
"However, the Niya Civilization originated in this star system, and their original homeworld was located here. This is why the star system bears their name. Later, the Niya Civilization relocated their homeworld to a star system richer in resources, and this star system gradually declined from its former status as the political and economic center to the periphery."
"That's the historical context."
"In such a massive interstellar federation, people lived unhappy lives."
"If one had never seen a blue sky, they might not realize how wretched their existence was, mired in the swamp."
"But when they saw others soaring through the cosmos, savoring delicacies from countless planets across multiple galaxies—eating a different dish every day for a lifetime without exhausting the possibilities—when they saw others living for millennia, reveling in endless nights of pleasure and carefree joy..."
"While their own lifespans barely exceeded a century, and they began to decline after thirty..."
"When they learned that their great-great-great-great-great-grandmother had been violated by their boss..."
"The more they learned, the more they saw..."
"Contradictions arose, and they could no longer be contained."
"The vast wealth gap created extremely sharp social tensions."
"At this point, a unique profession gradually emerged: the 'Backpacker.' By sacrificing their time to acquire enough resources, they hoped to elevate their descendants into the ranks of the privileged. It was a suicidal gamble, wagering their own lives on a gamble with no guarantee of success."
"After spending tens of thousands of years, when the train returns, their children will have risen to positions of power and wealth."
"According to the records in 'Coco,' the train's AI database, the Niya Civilization had already existed for 124,700 'xiangs' before they departed. The official unit of time for this civilization is the 'xiang.'"
"Within the Niya Civilization dwells a colossal Cosmic Behemoth. Every 365 days, it emits a deafening roar, marking the passage of a year."
"This is nearly all the information Coco's database contains about the Niya Civilization's background."
"Hmm."
Chen Mang nodded slightly, his expression gradually becoming distant. He picked up a cigarette from the pack, tapping its tip repeatedly against the table as he drifted into thought. It was the moment he first learned about the peculiar profession of the "Backpacker."
His initial reaction was one of confusion and doubt.
Spending tens of thousands of years, consuming vast resources, with no guarantee of success, all to mine a mediocre mining star several light-years away? And not even seeing the fruits of your labor, leaving all the resources to a child you'll never meet?
Is it really worth it?
Besides, tens of thousands of years is far too long. Who knows what might happen? By the time you return, the daylily will have long since withered.
Take Coco and her crew, for example. After enduring countless hardships, like pilgrims on a sacred journey, they finally made it back only to find that the Great Tang of the Eastern Land had been renamed the Great Song of the Eastern Land.
But after gaining a rough understanding of the Niya Civilization's background, he began to grasp their motives.
When the gap between the rich and poor becomes too stark, such seemingly foolish actions might be the only way to break the cycle—the only chance for their children to rise among the elite. The price? Time.
The universe is fair.
Time is always the most expensive currency.
If you're willing to pay the price, you'll inevitably reap the rewards you seek.
He then turned to the control panel and gently pressed a red button. The Seven-Colored Grade Accessory, the "Wormhole Radar," whirred to life, rapidly scanning a radius of 100,000 light-years. Within minutes, it had detected every detectable wormhole within that range.
None of them belonged to the Niya Civilization.
"Even a goose leaves its tracks in the sky."
"If the Niya Civilization existed over ten thousand years ago, they must have left some trace behind. After all, ten thousand years is a relatively short time in cosmic terms. We should find remnants of their attacks, wormholes, or cosmic broadcasts."
"But—"
"There's nothing."
"It's possible we can't detect wormholes built by a Fourth-Tier Civilization. However, regardless of the Civilization Level, the more concealed a wormhole is, the more resources it requires. The Niya Civilization must have had wormholes for civilian travel. Why would they need such extreme concealment for these everyday wormholes?"
"Even if they completely relocated to another galaxy, there should still be some trace."
"Moreover, according to that middle-aged man, this planet was his former home. Three hours ago, I thoroughly scanned the planet with robots and radar, and found no evidence of the Niya Civilization's existence."
"There are no ruins of underground cities either."
"Any planet that has ever hosted a civilization, even after ten thousand years, should still bear some trace of its existence."
"However—"
"There's nothing."
Chen Mang shook his head again, turning to Xiao Ai and murmuring, "It's like—"
He lit the cigarette in his hand, paused for a moment, then flicked the ash onto the table. Leaning forward, he gently blew, and the ash vanished into the air without a trace. He seemed to understand something, muttering softly, "Just like that."
This is bad.
Based on all the galaxies he had currently mapped, the conclusion was that the Niya Civilization hadn't voluntarily left. Instead, they had been completely erased by a more advanced civilization—wiped from existence so thoroughly that no trace of them remained anywhere in the universe.
Yet their Civilization Imprint persisted.
The Civilization Imprint of a train was supposed to automatically disappear upon the civilization's destruction.
That was a fundamental Cosmic Rule.
But what if the civilization hadn't been destroyed?
What if it had never existed in the first place?
The only attack method he could imagine was an unknown advanced civilization traveling back in time to before the Niya Civilization was founded, destroying the nascent civilization before it could even take root.
Returning to the River of Time, they launched their attack.
As a result,
Within the cosmos, all traces of the Niya Civilization would naturally be erased. With the cause eliminated, the effect would never manifest. Consequently, Coco's Train Civilization Imprint remained intact within the Cosmic Rules.
This was because the Niya Civilization had never been destroyed; it had simply never existed.
No trace of the Niya Civilization could be found anywhere in the universe.
Verifying this theory was simple!
The biggest flaw in this line of reasoning was: if the Niya Civilization had never existed, how could Coco and her companions have come into being? Logically, they too should have been erased.
"Display all information from Coco's database on the screen. I'll examine it meticulously, one entry at a time."
"You go through all the historical news reports from every civilization."
"There must have been many 'Backpackers' back then. If one appeared, there would have been others before. Check for any news coverage. Coco's train is so bizarre that its emergence would undoubtedly have attracted media attention."
"Understood."
Three days later.
After a grueling 72 hours, Chen Mang sat in the locomotive cabin, having spent three consecutive days without sleep, rapidly reviewing every piece of information recorded in Coco's database. To maintain his focus, he had injected himself with numerous stimulants and consumed copious amounts of coffee.
His body was already at its limit, utterly exhausted.
He hadn't used the medical bay. Ever since learning that its primary function was to extend lifespan, he avoided it whenever possible. Each full repair cost more than the last, and frequent use would mean sacrificing years of his future life.
He still wanted to live as long as possible, to see the day when human civilization, under his guidance, stood at the pinnacle of the cosmos.
Finally—
The truth had come to light.
"Train Conductor," Xiao Ai's voice echoed through the train. "The Niya Civilization has never been mentioned in any civilization's news or historical records. Nor has there been any record of Backpacker returns. Over all these years, Coco is the only Backpacker who has ever returned."
"The other Backpackers seem to have vanished."
"Of course they vanished," Chen Mang said, leaning back wearily in his chair. He zoomed in on a section of the screen. "Look here. Shortly after Coco's group departed, the accompanying Train Conductor died of old age. While passing through a desolate zone, a massive dust cloud enveloped the train, causing the temperature to plummet rapidly."
"Coco maneuvered the train into a rapid descent, taking 27 days to successfully escape the dust cloud."
"In the database, Coco expressed great satisfaction with this decision. At the time, she couldn't detect the dust cloud's full extent; it seemed unusually dense, blocking her radar."
"Mm-hmm," Xiao Ai nodded. "Coco specifically mentioned this to me."
"There's something else she didn't mention, perhaps because she didn't consider it important. During the descent, a faint white light, like a ripple in water, erupted behind the dust cloud."
"That white light marked the beginning of the Niya Civilization's erasure."
"The Niya Civilization wasn't destroyed; it was erased—completely wiped from the River of Time. Every trace of their existence vanished. Coco's train, sheltering within the dust cloud at the time, likely avoided erasure because the cloud interfered with the Cosmic Rules' judgment."
"Coco and her crew became the sole remaining trace of the Niya Civilization in the universe."
His weariness wasn't just from three sleepless days.
It was because...
He missed home.
He wanted to return to Blue Star, to that carefree place seemingly untouched by the looming threat of civilization invasion.
This place was too dangerous.
How am I supposed to play this game?
I can't!
He had thought starting with a cheat was like starting as a god, but it turned out everyone else had cheats too—some even had multiple. Anyone without a cheat would be too embarrassed to even sit at the table.
He had finally managed to upgrade all his train accessories to Tier 200, and Tier 500 was now within reach.
But then—
He was suddenly told that somewhere nearby, hidden from view, lurked a terrifying civilization.
If this civilization attacked the human civilization, he wouldn't stand a chance. His Tier 200 armor would be meaningless. They could simply travel back to Aquablue Star before his arrival and obliterate it with a single blast, ending him instantly.
How could he possibly defend against such an attack?
He didn't know.
"Is it a Fifth-Tier Civilization?" Xiao Ai finally reacted, a flicker of shock in his eyes. He hesitated, "According to information left by the former leader of the Kasha Civilization, Fifth-Tier Civilizations possess the ability to traverse the River of Time, traveling millions or even tens of millions of years into the past."
"No."
Chen Mang shook his head. "According to the records, Fifth-Tier Civilizations' ability to traverse timelines is limited. They can only manifest their attacks through Cosmic Voids, making it impossible to precisely target a civilization in its nascent stages for complete destruction."
"To achieve that level of precision, you'd need at least a seasoned Fifth-Tier Civilization, or even a Sixth-Tier Civilization."
"But the Niya Civilization was only a Fourth-Tier Civilization. How could they have provoked an entity that might be a Sixth-Tier Civilization?"
"Simple: their relentless expansion."
Chen Mang displayed another message on the screen. "Over the past three days, while reviewing the incidents Coco's train encountered during its 12,800-year journey, I also took the liberty of browsing the database for some gossip about the Niya Civilization."
"I used to believe—"
"That a long-lived, powerful, wise, and decisive dictator—"
"Was the ideal leader for a civilization."
"Now, I realize that's not entirely accurate. At least, from a civilization's perspective, it's not necessarily a good thing."
"Humans cannot achieve eternal life."
"At least, not within the Train Civilization."
"To regain their youth, they must continuously repair their bodies using medical bays. Each repair requires exponentially more resources than the last, leading to an exponential increase in resource consumption."
"Eventually..."
"The civilization's resources will be unable to sustain the Leader's life-extension needs. A person who has personally guided a civilization to such heights finds it difficult to accept their own mortality. At this point, they often descend into madness, willing to sacrifice everything to acquire more resources and prolong their life."
"And from that moment onward, the civilization's descent into disaster typically begins."
"Before Coco and her companions embarked on their journey, it was said that the Leader of the Niya Civilization was nearing the critical moment for their next life extension. The Niya Civilization had already begun mobilizing all its military forces and resources."
"The Leader of the Niya Civilization had already undergone numerous life extensions. The resources required for this next extension would be astronomical."
"At that time, the Niya Civilization faced three choices."
"First, they could use all their war reserves to extend the Leader's life by another century, at the cost of completely depleting the civilization's foundation."
"Second, they could consolidate all their war reserves and prepare for further exploration and expansion. If they found another galaxy and successfully conquered it, they could not only extend the Leader's life again but also elevate the Niya Civilization to even greater heights."
"Third, they could allow the Leader to die willingly, conserving vast resources to serve as the civilization's foundation. This would allow them to seize a favorable opportunity later and rise again!"
"The news reported on this extensively. Everyone within the Niya Civilization was waiting for the Leader to make a decision. Just before the decision was made, Coco and her companions embarked on their journey, so they never learned which choice the Leader ultimately made."
"But I believe..."
"It was likely the second option."
"The Niya Civilization, unprepared, launched a desperate gamble, going all-in on exploration and expansion. During this reckless push, they inadvertently encountered a Sixth-Tier Civilization and were instantly annihilated."
"The other three galaxies, rich in resources, have already been occupied by this Sixth-Tier Civilization. The Niya Star System—our galaxy—was ignored due to its scarcity of resources."
"Over the next ten thousand years..."
"In this neglected zone, tens of thousands of civilizations gradually emerged, led by the Zerg Civilization, the Kasha Civilization, and the Mechanical Civilization."
"Though I can't be certain how accurate this is..."
"I believe it's roughly correct."
"Good news: For the time being, we're safe here."
"Bad news: We can no longer expand. Any attempt to expand will likely result in immediate retaliation—our claws will be severed the moment we extend them."
"..."
Xiao Ai, usually so composed, was now visibly stunned. After a long pause, he murmured in disbelief, "Lord Mang, if this Sixth-Tier Civilization is truly as powerful as you say, wouldn't they be invincible? Why bother hiding? Why not just conquer the entire universe and become its supreme ruler?"
The shift from addressing him as "Train Conductor" to "Lord Mang" indicated that Xiao Ai was now speaking with more personal emotion, rather than engaging in a formal discussion of official matters.
"They won't."
Chen Mang shook his head slightly, feeling a sense of crisis but not despair. "In this universe, for every spear there is a shield, for every cause an effect, for every 1 there is a 2. These are the Cosmic Rules."
"Since Sixth-Tier Civilizations have the means to directly strike their opponents' nascent forms across timelines,"
"There must also be corresponding defensive measures."
"And countermeasures."
"This is beyond doubt."
"Though we haven't achieved this yet, I have a feeling we're close."
When he first saw the "telescope" with its Tier 500 overpowered effect covering the Observable Universe, he found it strange. Now he finally understood.
The Tier 200 overpowered effect represents the pinnacle of Third-Tier Civilizations.
This range marks the Strongest Form of Third-Tier Civilizations.
Meanwhile, the Tier 500 overpowered effect likely corresponds to the range of Fifth-Tier or even Sixth-Tier Civilizations. Within this range, beyond mere numerical values, civilizations wield bizarre cosmic rules as their primary means of attack and defense.
When he relied solely on numerical values, facing an opponent wielding cosmic rules would inevitably lead to defeat.
It's a dimensional crush.
No matter how high his numerical values, they would be useless.
Even Tier 1000 armor would be powerless against such cross-timeline strikes.
When both sides have rules, the competition comes down to the numerical values of those rules. And when it comes to numerical values, he had never feared anyone.
What he needed now was...
Vast resources and ample time!
Once all the accessories of his train reached Tier 500, the power of the Stellaris and human civilization would surge to a new level!
And he wouldn't have to wait long.
The train was already overflowing with resources, with many more still being mined and tallied. Once he had devoured all the resources of the Kasha Civilization, they would be sufficient to reach Tier 500!
One year.
One year would be enough.
He refused to believe that within a year, a Sixth-Tier Civilization could suddenly appear on his past timeline and launch a precision strike against him.
Were they that bored?
If it did happen, he would accept it.
"But—"
Chen Mang suddenly chuckled, turning to Xiao Ai. "At least this proves one thing: our current timeline is the absolute prime timeline, the standard timeline used by the Cosmic Rules to calibrate all other timelines."
"Huh?" Xiao Ai looked confused.
"The reason is simple: human civilization is destined to become the most advanced civilization in the universe. Since I'm still alive and no one has destroyed my past self, it means no one knows the future of human civilization."
"It also means our current timeline is the absolute prime timeline in the universe."
"Easy to understand, right?"
He hadn't been so confident before, but after roughly guessing the advanced civilization's attack methods, he suddenly gained this confidence. For him, Tier 500 was merely a starting point.
His Tier 0 Authority could be infinitely upgraded as long as he had enough resources!
Tier 1000, Tier 2000, Tier 5000—with sufficient resources, all were within his reach!
Though both were mechanisms, the difference in their numerical values made them worlds apart.
It was at this moment that he truly grasped the power of his Tier 0 Authority—a cheat with an extremely high, perhaps even infinite, upper limit. The Zerg Civilization's "Infinite Resurrection," "Infinite Wormhole," and "Infinite Reproduction" abilities might sound impressive, but their potential ceiling paled in comparison to Tier 0 Authority.
More like a gambler who bets big early on.
They're incredibly powerful in the early stages, but struggle to even advance to a Tier 3 Civilization, with virtually no late-game potential.
By the late game,
the so-called Zerg Civilization becomes nothing more than a roadside pebble, easily crushed.
In the hours that followed,
Chen Mang didn't immediately go to sleep. Instead, he sat in his chair, humming Blue Star tunes while continuing to sift through the "Coco" database for gossip and rumors about the Niya Civilization.
He found these insights into other civilizations, especially advanced ones, fascinating.
They served as cautionary tales, allowing him to learn from others' mistakes and avoid stumbling blindly through uncharted territory.
Standing behind Chen Mang, Xiao Ai watched the scene unfold, his lips twitching slightly. After hearing about the methods of what was likely a Sixth-Tier Civilization, he had felt a sense of despair, unable to imagine any means of defense.
He had assumed Lord Mang would feel the same.
Yet, after an initial period of serious investigation, during which he deduced the approximate truth, Lord Mang showed no signs of despair. In fact, he seemed almost... happy?
Happy?
What could he possibly be happy about?
A death by happiness, completely painless?
That's certainly true.
It's far easier than burning charcoal. If someone wanted to commit suicide, they could simply reboot their civilization—a completely painless method, worthy of praise.
Indeed, even in the vast, boundless expanse of the universe, many rules remain universal.
Rebooting can solve ninety-nine percent of problems.
The method used by the Sixth-Tier Civilization sounds utterly inconceivable, but it's essentially just pressing the reboot button. If I were to venture a guess, the method used by the Seventh-Tier Civilization might be cutting the internet cable, while the Eighth-Tier Civilization's method would be pulling the power plug.
"Oh, right."
After a long silence, Chen Mang, sitting in the locomotive cabin, finally snapped out of his thoughts. "The 'Niya Civilization' uses the universal cosmic language, the same as the 'Starfire Civilization.' Tell Old Pig to chat with that middle-aged man and see if we can get him to promote the universal cosmic language, so everyone can learn it."
Until now, they'd been communicating with Coco and the others using translators.
But now it seems...
Learning the universal cosmic language is still necessary.
"Otherwise, when we venture out into the cosmos, our very first words will reveal that we're not from a major civilization."
"Only the train management, those who need to interact with the outside world, need to learn it. The rest of the 'Human Civilization' should continue studying Mandarin. When the time comes, Mandarin will become the universal language of the cosmos. Instead of learning others' languages, we should make them learn ours."
"Understood," Xiao Ai replied from behind him.
"Hah..." Chen Mang exhaled softly, leaning back in his chair and murmuring, "Niya Civilization..."
Across the entire universe, perhaps few still remembered the name of this civilization. It felt like reading a fabricated novel—many events were undeniably real, even occurring within the Niya Star System, yet no trace of them could be found.
Truly, like a goose passing without leaving a shadow.
It was eerily strange.
A Fourth-Level Civilization already seemed like a colossal entity to him. His own 'Human Civilization' was merely at the Second-Tier. Yet this Fourth-Level Civilization had been instantly annihilated—four galaxies, containing countless inhabited planets, wiped out in a single moment. How many lives must have been extinguished in that instant?
No, that's not right.
Not many people should have died.
After the embryonic form of the Niya Civilization was erased, these people were never even born.
In Hell, the executioners and Satan would spend ages checking their ledgers.
Erasure is a higher-level act than mere slaughter.
When other civilizations wage war, like when the Kasha Civilization destroyed the Great Onion Civilization, at least those who weren't on the Great Onion Civilization's home planet could survive. Young Master Li, for example, was still alive. Though the civilization had fallen, remnants remained.
But this kind of erasure...
It meant that no matter where you were, even if you weren't currently part of the Niya Civilization—even if you belonged to another civilization—as long as any branch of your ancestry traced back to the Niya Civilization, you would cease to exist the moment it was erased.
Vanished in an instant.
Perfect.
He admired the methods of these advanced civilizations. Each one was utterly ruthless, leaving him speechless except to give a thumbs-up and praise them.
Pure bastards, well done.
(End of the Chapter)
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