Translator: AnubisTL
Chen Mang narrowed his eyes, standing silently in place. Though he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, he was now certain that the miner before him was likely connected to that mysterious 9th-tier mine.
Perhaps he was an illegitimate son.
Or perhaps there was another explanation.
It was impossible to say for sure.
The universe was vast, and anything could happen.
A single 9th-tier iron ore contained 100 million units of iron ore. A 9th-tier mine, then, must hold at least tens of trillions of units. He had never encountered 9th-tier iron ore before and had no precise understanding of its reserves.
But he knew this:
A 6th-tier iron ore contained 1 billion units, and a 7th-tier iron ore contained 10 billion units.
Extrapolating from this pattern:
An 8th-tier iron ore would contain 100 billion units, and a 9th-tier iron ore would contain 1 trillion units.
One trillion.
This resource quantity rivaled the total reserves of an entire civilization. Yet in the miner's civilization, it was merely a private contract held by a private trainmaster. This implied that the civilization's level was at least Fifth-Level, possibly even Sixth-Tier.
A single leaf heralds autumn; from the small, one can glimpse the vast.
An advanced civilization.
This would be his first encounter with a living advanced civilization. The Niya Civilization, the highest-tier civilization he had ever encountered, had long since vanished into the River of Time.
He desperately wanted to extract truths about the universe from this being: information about civilizations, resource zones, cosmic rules, and more.
Within an advanced civilization, even a train conductor managing a contracted mine likely possessed more knowledge than he did. Moreover, in any civilization, someone capable of securing a mine contract could hardly be considered an ordinary person.
Yet...
The risks were immense. As someone born into humble origins with no experience living in an advanced civilization, he feared exposing his Low-Tier Civilization origins and worried the other party might somehow discover his cosmic coordinates.
The potential rewards and risks were equally vast!
Theoretically, even if they knew his coordinates, it was unlikely they would come after him. The resources required would far outweigh any potential gains, making it a completely unprofitable endeavor. But in matters like these, nothing could be said for certain.
It was like humans' penchant for blowing up outhouses with cannons.
Would it bring any benefit?
No.
Would it cost money?
Yes.
Then why do it?
Because they wanted to.
In the logic of action, beyond the principle of profit, there were many other factors. One unpredictable factor was sheer whim. What if they simply wanted to attack him for amusement? Who could he appeal to then?
"..."
After a long silence, Chen Mang turned to Xiao Ai. "Take him down to rest. Old Pig, come with me."
Fifteen minutes later, Chen Mang used the refrigerator to travel to the Starfire Civilization, a Third-Tier Civilization residing on the back of the Giant Turtle. This was the highest-Tier Civilization with friendly relations to human civilization. Perhaps he could glean some insights into the operational principles of advanced civilizations from them.
This civilization had already left the Niya Star System through a wormhole and was now in an unknown location.
"Look," the Leader of the Starfire Civilization murmured, his voice distant and dreamy as he pointed toward the star-studded sky. The elderly man, his face etched with age, stood outside the wooden hut nestled in the fields.
Across the horizon, countless twinkling stars were draped in shimmering halos of vibrant colors, like newlywed brides adorned in radiant veils. The sky glowed with ethereal green and crimson light.
Closer, a colossal planet dominated half the sky, its icy rings arcing across the heavens like a silver arc, refracting diamond-like seven-colored light. Beside the planet, a diamond waterfall hundreds of kilometers long cascaded through the cosmos like a falling Milky Way.
The scene was breathtakingly surreal, beyond words. Most people would never witness such a sight in their lifetime. Chen Mang's lips parted slightly, the words he had prepared dissolving into silence as he turned to quietly admire the spectacle.
It was beautiful.
In dramas, meteor showers often symbolize romance.
Watching a meteor shower with a loved one had become the epitome of romance.
But in reality,
Meteor showers were merely one of the most mundane phenomena in the universe. Countless cosmic landscapes far surpassed their dreamlike beauty, and countless events far surpassed their romantic allure. It was like when Chen Mang had named his train Stellaris, believing it to be a dignified name.
Yet upon venturing into the cosmos, he discovered that so-called "stars" were as insignificant as dust, ubiquitous and unremarkable. Even a small zone of space contained billions of them.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?"
The Leader of the Starfire Civilization gazed at the spectacle with a hint of intoxication before turning to Chen Mang with a smile. "Chen Mang, though I don't know why you've come to me, I suspect it has something to do with civilization advancement."
"You're a remarkably dedicated Civilization Leader, but I've encountered many like you. Their stories rarely end well."
"In the universe,"
"The more ambitious a Civilization Leader is, the more catastrophic their actions become for their civilization."
"You're advancing too quickly. The universe is a dangerous place. You never know when you might be wiped out by an unknown catastrophe—or even if that catastrophe is man-made."
"Sometimes, being a low-tier civilization isn't so bad. We stay within our own zone, enjoying the cosmic landscapes every day. Isn't that enough to be happy?"
"..."
Chen Mang turned his gaze from the distant scenery to the Leader of the Starfire Civilization, who spoke calmly. "Only by becoming truly powerful can we truly appreciate this beauty. Otherwise, we're just fleeting sparks, vanishing in an instant."
"Civilizations may perish during their development, facing crises that lead to their destruction."
"But if they refuse to develop, they are doomed to extinction."
"Your so-called peace is nothing more than escapism. You can evade danger for a while, but can you evade it forever?"
"What will you do when you encounter a crisis you can't escape?"
The Leader of the Starfire Civilization shook his head, making no attempt to persuade Chen Mang. He gestured for Chen Mang to sit, then sat down himself. "We'll have no choice but to wait for death. Which civilization in the universe can truly endure forever?"
"Everyone dies eventually."
"It's just a matter of dying sooner or later."
"Even God-Tier Civilizations—do they dare claim they can endure forever?"
Though the old man was merely the leader of a Third-Tier Civilization, he had witnessed much and interacted with numerous advanced civilizations. As a result, his knowledge far exceeded that of typical Third-Tier Civilization leaders.
This was precisely why Chen Mang had come here.
"Two matters," Chen Mang said, waving his hand. Beside him, Xiao Ai held up a tablet, playing a video. It showed the 2.5-light-year-long Cosmic Behemoth hurtling through space, its terrifying gravity tearing apart nearby stars and planets, drawing them into a horrifying ring of rocky debris around itself.
"I encountered this creature."
"Its power is terrifying."
"I want to know: is it a naturally occurring Cosmic Behemoth, or was it artificially modified?"
The Cosmic Behemoth had left a profound impression on him.
Especially its seventy percent resemblance to Xiao Lu, both being Star-Devouring Beasts. Recalling how Xiao Lu had recently been perched on the locomotive cabin, seemingly lost in thought, Chen Mang couldn't shake the feeling that the two must be connected.
The Leader of the Starfire Civilization, who had initially maintained a detached demeanor, gradually grew somber and grim after repeatedly reviewing the video. His voice, slightly hoarse, carried a hint of bitterness as he said, "This is precisely why I cherish peace."
"You have no choice but to cherish it."
"Is that Cosmic Behemoth pursuing you?"
"Yes."
"Did it only start pursuing you after you detected it?"
"That's exactly right."
The Leader of the Starfire Civilization sighed deeply, a flicker of fear flashing through his murky pupils. "This is a 'Cosmic Landmine' from an advanced civilization. If this thing has appeared in your galaxy, my advice is to flee—flee as far as possible."
"Perhaps it's still tens of thousands of light-years away, and you think you have a year or two before it catches up, so you're not too worried."
"But the moment it catches up, it will be the day your civilization meets its end."
"Once your civilization is locked onto by such a 'Cosmic Landmine,' you can declare its complete annihilation."
"Unless..."
The old man hesitated before rasping, "You can use the refrigerator to transfer all your civilization's people here within the next year. However, we can't accommodate you permanently; our territory isn't large enough."
"I can help you find a low-resource zone, an area without any powerful civilizations, where your civilization can continue to survive."
"When we signed the Civilization Mutual Assistance Agreement, I secretly fantasized that, despite my disapproval of your expansionist methods, your civilization's potential was truly remarkable. If you ever achieved God-Tier status, I might have been able to find a territory under your protection to settle and develop, instead of continuing this endless flight."
"But now it seems..."
"Your luck wasn't good. You encountered a 'Cosmic Landmine' just as you began expanding."
"Cosmic Landmine?" Chen Mang pondered the implications of the term before replying, "Don't worry, that Cosmic Behemoth didn't appear in our galaxy. It was in another galaxy I stumbled upon while wandering around for fun."
"There used to be a Third-Tier Civilization in that galaxy."
"But when I arrived, I discovered that the Cosmic Behemoth had already destroyed it."
"Wandering around for fun? You go to other galaxies just to wander around for fun? Isn't that just another way of starting a war?"
"Just wandering around, starting wars for fun."
"So you're saying you don't face any threats now?"
"None."
"And there's no need for migration?"
"No need."
"Everything's normal?"
"Better than ever."
"Good."
The Civilization Leader nodded, his aged hands retrieving a leaf from his robe. He then took out something resembling tobacco, wrapped it in the leaf, and tucked the bundle deep between his upper teeth and lip. After a long exhale, he spoke slowly.
"The story is long. I'll have to tell it gradually."
Chen Mang sat down on a nearby chair, gesturing for Old Pig and the others to find seats as well. He lit a cigarette and brought it to his lips, gazing at the elder through the swirling smoke. "Take your time," he murmured.
A moment later, the elder's slightly raspy voice echoed through the fields, mingling with the chirping of insects, carrying a hint of bygone eras.
"I don't know when it started, and no one deliberately promoted it, but the Train Civilization gradually became the dominant form of civilization throughout the cosmos."
"It has many advantages."
"But its greatest strength is singular."
"Speed!"
"With sufficient resources, a First-Tier Civilization could explosively advance to a Fourth or Fifth-Tier Civilization in less than a century. This is an astonishingly short timeframe, virtually impossible for other forms of civilization."
"Take cultivation civilizations as an example. To reach the Fourth or Fifth-Tier, they would need tens of thousands of years, at the very least."
"But in the vastness of the cosmos—"
"Space is so immense, and distances so vast, that communication between civilizations often occurs in units of years or even decades."
"Moreover, the universe is full of anomalies. A resource-poor zone might suddenly discover a planet teeming with resources, or a civilization in such a zone might unexpectedly uncover vast reserves through some means, triggering an explosive surge in their power and Tier."
"Such events are universally known as 'Civilization Big Bangs.'"
"For advanced civilizations, there are many terrifying cosmic phenomena, but the most dreaded is the 'Civilization Big Bang.' It often signals the potential annihilation of their own civilization."
"Those advanced civilizations..."
"Their territories can span tens of millions, even hundreds of millions of light-years. Some advanced civilizations control entire galaxies with diameters reaching hundreds of millions of light-years. Not every galaxy is as small as yours."
"Such vast territories inevitably mean they harbor countless civilizations within their borders—hundreds of millions, even billions."
"These advanced civilizations cannot possibly eradicate all the weaker civilizations within their domains. It's simply impractical and impossible. Every large civilization's territory must contain countless smaller civilizations. While the advanced civilization claims ownership of the high-grade resource mines in the region, some remote corners, like a mining star with tens of trillions of units of iron ore, might be completely overlooked."
"These resource-poor zones become sustenance for the smaller civilizations."
"Vast territories also mean extremely slow communication. Moreover, due to their immense size, these civilizations often have bloated internal structures. Even with wormholes and other advanced technologies, it can take decades for a message from the frontier to reach the Civilization's Political Homeworld."
"Decades..."
"This means that by the time the Civilization's Political Homeworld learned of the catastrophic 'Civilization Big Bang' erupting within its territory, decades had already passed. By the time they dispatched military forces to suppress it, another decade or more would have elapsed."
"If the initial suppression succeeded, all would be well. But if it failed, by the time news reached the homeworld and reinforcements were sent, several more decades would have passed."
"This cycle could repeat multiple times."
"Within the territory of a Sixth-Tier Civilization, if a civilization undergoing a Civilization Big Bang suddenly advances to the Sixth-Tier Civilization level, a full-scale war becomes inevitable."
"The larger the territory,"
"the greater the likelihood of a Civilization Big Bang occurring within it."
"Once such an event occurs, even if the civilization isn't destroyed outright, its very foundations will be shaken, causing significant losses."
"Thus—"
"The 'Cosmic Landmine' was born."
"Its manifestation might be a modified Cosmic Behemoth like the one you encountered, or something else entirely. But all share a common trait: they remain dormant until their presence is detected, at which point they will attack the target at any cost!"
"Advanced civilizations deploy these Cosmic Landmines throughout their territories, including border regions, to maintain dominance and prevent Civilization Big Bang events within their domains."
"Generally speaking,"
"Any civilization capable of detecting the Cosmic Behemoth typically possesses Tier 200 Doppler Radar, which happens to be the maximum capability achievable with Third-Tier Civilization resources."
"Lower-grade radar has a detection range of only 0.1 light-years. Even Tier 100 Doppler Radar can only detect targets within 100 light-years."
"In other words,"
"All advanced civilizations tacitly agree that any civilization within their domain that advances to Tier 3 must be destroyed immediately to prevent future threats. The Cosmic Landmines serve precisely this purpose."
"If you don't detect it, nothing happens."
"But the moment you see it, your civilization faces its apocalypse."
"Those advanced civilizations will never allow others the right to gaze upon the stars."
"The moment you gazed up at the starry sky, the depths of the cosmos issued a death warrant against you."
The old man finished speaking, his explanation clear and concise. Though merely the leader of a Third-Tier Civilization, he possessed far more knowledge than other leaders of similar-level civilizations.
Chen Mang sat silently in his chair. After a long pause, he murmured, "What if this advanced civilization happened to deploy a 'Cosmic Landmine' just a few light-years beyond my radar's range? My radar is only Tier 100, with a detection range of 100 light-years, yet it still detected the mine. Upon sensing my probe, the 'Cosmic Landmine' moves to destroy my civilization. Would that be considered a bug?"
"I don't have Tier 200 radar; the deployment location was simply closer to me."
"Not a bug. Just your bad luck," the old man said somberly. "See that black hole in the Cosmic Behemoth's mouth? It sustains the creature's immense energy consumption. Even for an advanced civilization, maintaining such a black hole represents a significant drain and a considerable waste."
Chen Mang turned back to the screen. After a brief pause, he spoke: "So, the 'Cosmic Landmines' deployed by advanced civilizations are specifically targeting Third-Tier Civilizations?"
"But—"
"Isn't using this thing to destroy a Third-Tier Civilization like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut?"
"This might not be enough to destroy a Fourth-Tier Civilization, but it's more than sufficient to cripple one."
"You seem to underestimate Third-Tier Civilizations."
The elder shook his head, a hint of melancholy in his voice. "Even among Third-Tier Civilizations, the ones in your galaxy are considered weak by cosmic standards. In reality, any properly developed Third-Tier Civilization, regardless of its location, is a force to be reckoned with."
"In their own regions, they reign as supreme overlords."
"But I don't blame you. Your region is desperately resource-poor, leaving little room for growth."
"Still, this 'Cosmic Landmine' is indeed overkill. That's precisely the design philosophy behind all Cosmic Landmines: absolute crushing power, even if it means wasting resources."
"Remember what I said earlier?"
"If the initial crushing strike fails, by the time news reaches them and reinforcements arrive, decades will have passed. This gives the target civilization precious decades to develop, something advanced civilizations cannot tolerate."
"Therefore—"
"Even if it means wasting resources, we must ensure our first strike is absolutely crushing, leaving no room for the enemy to breathe."
"In the cosmos, countless civilizations have perished due to the 'Civilization Big Bang'."
"Like yours, for example."
"I've always believed your civilization is in a state of extreme Civilization Big Bang. I'm not even sure if your galaxy falls within the territory of any other civilization."
"It shouldn't. The Niya Star System where I'm from is too barren."
"That's not necessarily true."
The Leader of the Starfire Civilization spoke with a slightly peculiar expression. "You still don't fully grasp the scale of the cosmos. I mentioned earlier that advanced civilizations control territories spanning tens of millions, even hundreds of millions or billions of light-years, right?"
"But—"
"Even billions of light-years are merely a larger grain of dust in the cosmic expanse."
"The territories of God-Tier Civilizations are likely far greater, unimaginably vast. The advanced civilizations I mentioned earlier also fall within the domain of these God-Tier Civilizations. These God-Tier Civilizations have also deployed 'Cosmic Landmines' across their territories, though the trigger conditions are far more stringent."
"These advanced civilizations haven't triggered them yet."
"So, these advanced civilizations cautiously develop, terrified of triggering the High-Dimensional Civilization's 'Cosmic Landmines,' while simultaneously planting their own 'Cosmic Landmines' to prevent civilizations behind them from catching up."
"This is why I despise the current cosmic environment."
"Every civilization is walking a tightrope, fearing disaster at any moment, yet willing to destroy others at any cost to protect their own status. Once you reach this point, there's no turning back."
"Your ecological niche in the universe dictates that you must constantly climb higher. You can't afford to relax until you reach the summit."
"But how many civilizations can actually reach the summit in this vast cosmos?"
"The vast majority will perish in the River of Time. Even advanced civilizations can't imagine the methods of God-Tier Civilizations, let alone what form their 'Cosmic Landmines' might take or what triggers them. It's like exploring the universe in shackles."
"The path of the Civilizational War has only two possible outcomes."
"Ascension or annihilation."
"Do you truly believe you'll be the one civilization among billions to reach the summit?"
"..."
The silence stretched longer this time before Chen Mang suddenly chuckled. "So, you're saying we're likely within the territory of a God-Tier Civilization right now?"
"Highly probable."
The elderly Leader of the Starfire Civilization smiled wryly. "And there's a significant chance that a 'Cosmic Landmine' laid by a God-Tier Civilization lies just ahead. We wouldn't even qualify to trigger it."
"Even if we passed right by it, the landmine wouldn't react."
"It's like a person walking over an anti-tank mine without setting it off."
"We've survived not because of our strength, but because of our weakness."
"If we grow too powerful, we won't gain a grander future, but invite greater disaster. In the cosmos, remaining weak isn't shameful; it's often the key to survival."
"After all..."
"Survival is paramount, isn't it?"
"After a civilization advances to Tier 3, its lifespan typically lasts only one or two thousand years."
"What does that mean?"
"Many insignificant civilizations, lacking even the means to reach the nearest planet, can endure for tens or even hundreds of thousands of years."
"Do these civilizations live longer because they're stronger?"
"No."
"It's because they're weak."
"They're so weak that no one in the cosmos even notices them, allowing them to survive. Isn't that a kind of happiness?"
"When they gaze at the sky, they simply marvel at the beauty of the stars, never imagining that in the depths of the universe they're observing, countless civilizations are locked in a frenzied, endless war, where billions perish and countless stars explode."
"Human regrets often stem from knowing too much. If we knew nothing, we could peacefully contemplate the beauty of the starry sky."
Chen Mang nodded, smiling as he took up the thread. "But we have to try, don't we? Maybe we'll reach the summit."
His confidence stemmed from having a fallback plan.
His civilization's territory had no fixed boundaries; every planet was part of the train. Even if they encountered an insurmountable crisis, they could simply flee with the entire train.
"It's quite strange," the old man mused with a sigh. "Almost all civilization leaders have never won the lottery in their lives, yet they firmly believe they can successfully ascend to the top amidst the slaughter of billions of civilizations."
"It's truly baffling."
"I wonder where they get such confidence and conviction."
"Oh, right!" The old man suddenly slapped his forehead. "I forgot to mention that most civilizations are completely unaware of these matters. During their development, they never imagined the existence of 'Cosmic Landmines' in the universe, let alone that they might be within another civilization's territory."
"Even as the crisis descends, they remain clueless about what's happening."
"No one tells them these things."
"And the advanced civilizations certainly aren't going to go door-to-door warning them, 'Don't you dare attempt Civilization Advancement! If you do, we'll crush you!'"
"I've made my point very clear today, yet you remain steadfast in your determination to advance. This has piqued my curiosity about the source of your confidence. Rest assured, I won't pry—I have enough common sense for that."
"I simply want to offer a reminder."
"In the cosmos—"
"Any strength you pride yourself on, other civilizations likely possess as well."
"Any secret you believe must remain hidden is probably common knowledge."
"Any tactic you believe is unique to your civilization is likely universally known."
"Nothing is truly unique."
"In the cosmos, nothing is truly unique."
"Don't rely too heavily on any particular advantage. If you truly intend to embark on the Path to Ascension, what you'll need is..."
"Absolute rational clarity."
"A completely crushed conscience."
"Unquenchable ambition."
"A gambler's madness."
"And—"
"Vast quantities of luck."
"The former accounts for 1%, the latter for 99%."
Chen Mang couldn't help but chuckle. "It sounds like the first four are completely useless. All you need is luck."
"Because that's just how it is," the old man said, spreading his hands helplessly. "The Path to Ascension is the most brutal and deadly path in the entire universe. I personally admire any Civilization Leader who knowingly chooses to walk it."
"But I must also admit that, in my eyes, these leaders are nothing more than gamblers with bloodshot eyes."
"Even if they fail, they deserve no pity."
"You'll need to personally stain your hands with the blood of countless beings. A single civilization can contain tens or even hundreds of billions of sentient lives. To become an advanced civilization, you must slaughter at least thousands of such civilizations with your own hands."
"You'll lose your humanity."
"Gradually embrace Divinity."
"Until you become a demon."
"Not a god?"
"The Divine do not welcome those who have slaughtered so many."
"Then we'll slaughter the Divine too."
"Ah, that's exactly what I mean. You people are far too bloodthirsty. You can never become a Deity Civilization. You can hardly believe in any god, your minds are too full of thoughts like, 'What if the god's health bar is showing? Should we try firing a cannon at it?'"
Chen Mang didn't reply, simply lighting another cigarette before leaning back in his chair and murmuring, "I can sense you're advising me against this path, yet you also seem to hope I won't give up."
"Humans are always contradictory. It's perfectly normal," the old man said, taking a cigarette from Chen Mang's hand. After examining it curiously, he lit it and tentatively brought it to his lips. "Your civilization was the first to sign a Civilization Mutual Assistance Agreement with the Starfire Civilization. As a friend, I want you to be safe."
"But from another perspective..."
"Your civilization has the fastest development rate and the most explosive Civilization Big Bang I've ever witnessed. No one dislikes witnessing miracles, even if they have no personal connection to them."
"If you truly ascend to the top, I too will be a witness to that miracle."
"However..."
"I'm deeply concerned because your civilization's name is far too arrogant."
"Human Civilization."
"Let me be blunt: there's already a God-Tier Civilization with the exact same name. You two are destined to clash someday. Prepare yourself mentally."
"Your Path to Ascension will be far more arduous than others'."
"But—"
"Here's a little gossip: the current God-Tier Human Civilization didn't use that name during its ascent. They only adopted it after reaching the top, using some method to change their civilization's name to 'Human Civilization.' That's hardly the righteous path."
"If you can reach the summit under the name 'Human Civilization,' you will become the true Orthodox Human Civilization. Over half of the Human Clan civilizations in the universe will recognize you, and they will regard your civilization as the Holy Land of humanity. The prestige and resources you will possess after ascending will far surpass those of the current God-Tier Human Civilization."
"Your path is the true Path of Kings."
"It's more challenging than anyone else's Path to Ascension, but once you reach the summit, the rewards will be greater than anything ever seen before—a truly unprecedented achievement."
"After you..."
"Every civilization that adopts the name 'Human Civilization' will automatically face attacks from other civilizations. Any civilization that ascends under that name will be besieged without you even needing to intervene. No one will ever recognize a second Human Civilization; you will remain the eternal and sole true Orthodox Human Civilization."
"Where did you hear all this gossip today?"
"Joke's on you! The Starfire Civilization actually participated in the Ascension War once, you know. We just nearly got wiped out, which is why we became peace-loving Nomadic Civilization."
"Why do you always insist on adding 'peace-loving' before 'Nomadic Civilization'?"
"Without it, wouldn't we just sound like stray dogs?"
"Does adding it really make a difference?"
"Adding it makes it seem like we started wandering out of a love for peace."
"True."
Chen Mang nodded, leaned back in his chair, and quietly savored the moment of tranquility. "So, by 'ascension' you mean becoming a God-Tier Civilization?"
"Naturally."
"But there's more than one God-Tier Civilization, right?"
The old man's lips twitched slightly as he turned to look at Chen Mang. "What are you getting at?"
"I mean, if it's truly ascension, shouldn't it mean crushing all other God-Tier Civilizations beneath your feet? Becoming just another God-Tier Civilization alongside the others—what kind of ascension is that?"
"The summit should only have room for one."
"If there are too many, it's no longer the summit."
"..."
The old man's eyelids fluttered. He slowly closed his eyes, let out a long sigh, and said wearily, "I deeply regret signing the Civilization Mutual Assistance Agreement with you. When you face crises in the future, I beg you, please don't mention my civilization's name."
"Crushing all other God-Tier Civilizations beneath your feet..."
"If you could actually achieve that..."
"You'd be the number one person in the universe. You could even unify the entire cosmos and permanently end this war for ascension. You'd need to redefine civilization levels, creating a new tier above God-Tier."
"What do you think of Imperial-Tier Civilizations?"
"They're almost there, but not quite."
"Then I'll keep thinking about it these next few days. When you reach the summit, see if you want to adopt my ideas."
"Alright, I'll leave it to you. Think hard."
"No problem."
The old man sighed helplessly, dismissing Chen Mang's words as casual banter. This is getting ridiculous, he thought. In this atmosphere, it's hard to have a serious conversation.
"There's a second matter," Chen Mang continued with a smile. He didn't know how far he could go, but since he'd already embarked on this path, he naturally hoped for the best. He didn't care about power.
He just wanted to sleep peacefully.
But someone always disturbed his sleep.
They always managed to uncover crises that kept him awake at night.
Once he reached the summit, he could finally rest easy.
"I've made contact with an advanced civilization. I don't know its exact tier, but I know someone within that civilization has a private contract for a 9th-tier mine. I approached them using special methods, and the Mine Owner doesn't know much about me yet. I want to extract information from them about advanced civilizations or the deeper Cosmic Rules."
"But I'm not familiar with the etiquette of interacting with people from advanced civilizations."
"Are you worried about revealing your Low-Tier Civilization origins, or about your cosmic coordinates being leaked?"
"Do you have any good suggestions?"
"A 9th-tier mine."
The old man nodded thoughtfully. "Only advanced civilizations can afford to privately contract such mines—at least Fifth-Tier Civilizations. Fourth-Tier Civilizations certainly don't have enough resources to lease a mine containing approximately one trillion units of iron ore to a private contractor."
"My advice for dealing with civilizations of this level is to minimize contact."
"I've never interacted with them myself. They might possess unfathomable methods for obtaining all your information, including your cosmic coordinates. However, a mine contractor probably lacks such capabilities. As long as you speak Cosmic Language fluently and don't show any signs of fear, you should be fine."
"How about this?"
The old man paused before continuing. "Generally speaking, the more powerful a civilization, the more ancient their Cosmic Language sounds, giving them an air of prestige. I happen to know some Ancient Cosmic Language, though only a few basic words."
"For example, 'yes,' 'no,' 'hello,' and so on."
"I'll teach you these fundamental Ancient Cosmic Language phrases. When you speak, it will make you sound highly prestigious, as if you come from some ancient, advanced civilization."
"In the cosmos, ancient often equates to power."
With that, the old man cleared his throat and, with a solemn expression, rasped, "Aba aba!"
Chen Mang's lips moved slightly, but he struggled to mimic the guttural sounds. The syllables were incredibly awkward, yet this was the peculiar nature of Cosmic Language. Though he couldn't understand the meaning of the sounds, he could sense the weight and gravity behind them.
"Never mind," Chen Mang said. "I won't bother learning it. I'll bring someone over later. Could you teach him, old man? I plan to send him to communicate with the Mine Owner."
"Very well," the old man replied. "But remember: remote communication is fine, but never enter their civilization's domain. Advanced civilizations can usually detect a person's civilization imprint, revealing their civilization's name and tier. That would expose you immediately."
"That shouldn't be a problem," Chen Mang said, though he hesitated slightly. He wasn't yet sure what form communication took in the Dream Realm, nor how the Mine Owner perceived his existence as a miner.
A ghost?
After all, he was repeatedly killed by armed robots, only to reappear the next day. He hardly seemed like a normal person.
The last time, the armed robot hadn't even fired; it simply delivered a note, clearly having lost its patience.
(End of the Chapter)
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