Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 830: Chapter 829: Mine, Mine, All Mine!

The crowd silently watched as the massive warship slowly flew overhead, struggling desperately like someone about to drown, and then...

It plunged headlong.

”......”

Seeing the thick black smoke rising in the distance, Fang Zheng silently glanced at the Chief Officer, then took Iona two steps back. He was increasingly convinced that this protagonist might be fated to have ships crash around him. See, the ship had just arrived, merely faced the Chief Officer, and then went down.

”......”

The Chief Officer, unsure if he understood the look in Fang Zheng’s eyes, simply coughed once and spoke as if nothing had happened before.

”Cortana, confirm Infinity’s location.”

”Understood, Chief Officer, Infinity has crashed 77 miles away from us.”

”Well, let’s leave it at that.”

Upon hearing this, Fang Zheng hurriedly interjected.

”Since your reinforcements have arrived, we’ll take our leave. I still need to take the young girls sightseeing and exploring here. Let’s keep in touch if anything comes up. I wish you a smooth journey.”

Saying this, Fang Zheng waved at the Chief Officer and then quickly initiated teleportation to make a swift escape... The Chief Officer’s ”anti-ship ability” was too powerful. He dared not let Iona stay in front of him again, or who knows what might happen.

”......”

Watching Fang Zheng and the others disappear instantly, the Chief Officer paused in silence, then picked up his weapon and headed towards the spot where Infinity crashed. At the same time, Cortana’s voice echoed once more in his ears.

”Is it really okay to let them leave?”

”They’re not our enemies.”

The Chief Officer confidently replied.

”Our enemy is the Forerunners.”

After saying this, the Chief Officer reversed the question.

”Are you really okay with this?”

”Eh?”

Upon hearing the Chief Officer’s inquiry, Cortana was taken aback.

”Chief Officer, what are you talking about......”

”Your lifespan.”

The Chief Officer spoke again. During a break in the fight earlier, he learned that Cortana had already served for eight years, exceeding the typical lifespan of artificial intelligence, which is seven years. In fact, Cortana was now serving ”beyond her years,” which had already resulted in malfunctions. If not repaired, she would eventually fail.

Originally, the Chief Officer planned to take Cortana back to her creator, Dr. Halsey, for repair. But now, seeing Fang Zheng’s group, while of unknown origin, possessed undeniably formidable strength. Moreover, even Cortana mentioned their ability to effortlessly bypass her defenses, suggesting that they might genuinely be capable of repairing her.

”.........”

This time, Cortana remained silent, clearly indecisive. After all, she understood herself best. Cortana, having been created by Dr. Halsey, knew full well what Dr. Halsey was capable of. Although the Chief Officer said she could be repaired upon returning to Dr. Halsey, Cortana understood that it was almost impossible.

But these suddenly appeared, mysterious folks......

”...Sorry, let me think about it.”

In the end, Cortana gave this thoughtful response.

Fang Zheng had no idea about the melodrama playing out among the protagonists over there. By now, he had already brought Iona and the Little Fire Dragon back to Nymph’s side. At this moment, Little Angel was busy collecting and downloading all of the Forerunners’ technological data through their terminal and analyzing it.

Based on the data gathered by Little Angel, the Forerunners exhibited impressive strength across various levels, including space, energy, information manipulation, and biological genetics. They possessed advanced fringe-space construction technology and could perfectly replicate life through genetic coding. Additionally, these Forerunners could create artificial intelligence known as ”Intelligent Servants” to serve them.

Indeed, the Forerunners’ power was formidable, even among the worlds Fang Zheng had experienced. Fang Zheng roughly calculated that if he intended to battle the Forerunners, unless he transformed into the Star Forging Dragon King, relying solely on the Warship of Sea Mist would at best result in a stalemate... Of course, this was the optimistic scenario.

Beyond this, Nymph discovered the Forerunners’ civilization technology classification system within their database.

The Forerunners assigned civilizations in the universe into eight levels, with the lowest, the Seventh-level Civilization, characterized as agrarian. These civilizations comprised small, intelligent biological groups relying on hunting, herding, and farming for food. Their technological threats were minimal, and all weapons and tools were handmade.

The Sixth Rank indicated the entry into an industrial age, characterized by extensive mechanization, akin to the first Industrial Revolution. At this stage, a civilization undergoes significant development.

Utilizing nuclear power marks the Fifth-level Civilization... In fact, according to the Forerunners’ classification, Earth’s civilization before Fang Zheng’s time travel was considered Fifth-level.

The Fourth-level Civilization breached their planet’s gravitational confinement, able to establish colonies on other planets. Any civilization capable of interstellar travel within a star system qualifies for this level.

A jump engine capable of interstellar traversal signifies the Third-level Civilization. Civilizations at this stage have the power to conduct wars equating to ”Star Wars,” unbound by their initial star system, capable of intergalactic travel and combat — this interstellar characteristic defines the Third-level Civilization.

At the Second-level Civilization, precise spatial jumps and instantaneous interstellar communication are possible, alongside tremendous individual firepower --- Fang Zheng calculated that along the Forerunners’ classification, his warships, before merging with the Core of Sea Mist, fell within the Third-level; post-merger, they achieved Second-level Civilization status.

The First-level Civilization efficiently manipulates Gravity Technique, produces completely perceptive AI, creates ultra-dense materials, and even fashions new life forms or entire worlds and planets --- the Forerunners themselves belong to this classification.

Above these stands the ultimate Zero Rank Civilization, but detailed information on this level’s technology was lacking in Fang Zheng’s findings. The Forerunner’s database contained a simple note declaring that the Pioneer epitomized the highest civilization level, leaving Fang Zheng unable to comprehend the Pioneer race’s strength.

However, Fang Zheng realized that the Forerunners’ classification wasn’t entirely accurate. Applying their system to the Main World resulted in confusion.

On one hand, numerous regions of the Main World remained stuck at the lowest Seventh-level — or barely entering the Sixth Rank’s Magitech Industrial Revolution phase.

On the other hand, the Main World’s strongest forces could freely command space, time, and even the existence or absence of energy... feats beyond the Forerunners’ capability, or possibly even beyond the Pioneer’s reach, Fang Zheng humbly presumed.

At least for now, the Forerunners’ might, no matter how awesome, couldn’t withstand the Time Dragon’s Breath of Banishment and the Primordial Fire. If not for the Source of the World’s instinctive protection, Fang Zheng would have long since devoured the Forerunners’ stake, eight parts cooked, and dipped in sauce.

Nevertheless, the Forerunners’ technology still made Fang Zheng drool with envy, from their interstellar-space construction techniques to the ”Hard Light” skills, even their advanced warships and weapons all captivated Fang Zheng.

Mine! Mine! All of this is mine!!

If Fang Zheng weren’t rational enough, knowing that with the current technological level of the Heavenly Dao Palace, they couldn’t entirely conquer and digest the Forerunners’ vast knowledge, he might have been rolling over these Forerunner ruins already.

Thinking about it, the Forerunners’ impressive technology was merely an extracted minuscule portion from the Pioneer’s ruins and remnants. So what monstrous power did the Pioneers themselves possess, those at the ultimate civilization level?

At that thought, Fang Zheng gleamed with excitement.

This world... was indeed not visited in vain!!