Forty Millenniums of Cultivation

The previous four scenes were already splendid enough, but they were not as awe-inspiring as the fifth scene, even combined.

The fifth scene was ‘Our Quest!’

If the previous four scenes highlighted the magnificence, development, and harmony of the Star Glory Federation, then the last scene went in the exact opposite direction, focusing on the insignificance of the Star Glory Federation and even the civilization of mankind on a universal scale.

In the vast and boundless Grand Illusionary Land, the Star Glory Federation was merely a dim spot of light at the edge of the picture, and the Ancient Sages Sector could not be found on the picture at all.

The dense stars at the center of the picture congregated into two surging rivers. On the two sides of the river were two divine countries that were ten times more powerful—the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance!

The Star Glory Federation did not disguise the magnificence of the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance at all, nor did it veil its hostility against the two of them.

In the meantime, the civilization of mankind—a combination of the federation, the Imperium, and the Covenant Alliance—was only a lone boat in the vast sea of stars. In the land unvisited by the ancient people in the past billions of years, countless alien species, ghost civilizations, and unparalleled beings must have left brilliant and mysterious marks behind!

That was exactly what they were going to explore. Their destiny was the endless quest of human beings itself!

The picture zoomed in, and the previously small Star Glory Federation gradually grew huge.

‘Green Willow’ Fang Chengzhi saw countless space fleets, each of which had hundreds of carriers, immigration starships, and warships that were as tall as mountains.

Setting off from the cozy and comfortable homes, they sailed into the dark, unknown world determinedly, pushing forward to the edge and the limits of the universe!

He even saw that one of the fleets had ‘Ancient Sages’ painted in enormous letters on the head of all the starships. Every starship had been engraved with the sigils, symbols and marks of the Great Qian Dynasty, the Cloud Qin, the six major sects, and the thousands of middle and small sects!

“Is this… our fleet?

“One day, the natives of the Ancient Sages Sector will embark on a journey from a corner of the universe on the enormous divine boats like real deities to the other shore of the sea of stars and discover land that has never been visited before?”

Although he knew that it was just propaganda and a farfetched vision, Fang Chengzhi could not help but blush in excitement with the urge to cry out.

He finally understood what the Ancient Sages Shipping Group was.

If what was depicted became reality, and hundreds of starships as enormous as cities rushed in the sea of stars day and night, not just discovering new worlds that were even more prosperous, the profits from the businesses among the existent worlds of the Star Glory Federation right now were already too abundant to be estimated!

After he left the gallery, Fang Chengzhi could not calm down.

“Are those illusions real?”

Of course, that was the question most of the Cultivators of the Ancient Sages Sector had.

The question could be barely proved true or false, but Leader Fang simply smiled. “If the things described in the picture did not exist, could you have imagined them based on nothing?”

Fang Chengzhi was slightly dazed and nodded quickly. It was quite true. However bold and imaginative he might be, he could not have come up with such bizarre and ridiculous designs.

“Besides,” Leader Fang remarked, “if the information was false and only meant to awe the locals of our world, there would’ve been no need for them to tell us about the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance. It was unnecessary to highlight the tense situation that the federation is in, too.

“Since they have decided to inform us of the existence of the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance honestly, their intentions are obvious. Firstly, everything they say is true. Secondly, they are confident that most people will join the federation after we are told all the truth, and the Ancient Sages Sector will be digested by the federation smoothly. Thirdly, if some of us are too obstinate to change and decide to go against them, those people will certainly be destroyed easily and mercilessly!”

Fang Chengzhi was dazed for a long time. Taking a long breath, he smiled bitterly. “It never occurred to me that the deities’ realm actually existed and that the countries in the deities realm are so powerful. I wonder, where did they find such magnificent power? Are there really divine arts and techniques?”

“There probably aren’t. But they have indeed grasped a strength that we have never heard or even thought of. Such strength is not on the same level as the strengths that we relied on in the past at all,” Leader Fang said solemnly. “This time, it is not a simple change of dynasties but a real ‘revolution’, the likes of which the Ancient Sages Sector has not witnessed in the past hundred thousand years. The obsolete systems and rules will be smashed. The traditional sects and Cultivators will prove to be huge burdens rather than aids in the new regime. If they fail to follow the trend and reform themselves actively, they will be erased without mercy!

“The newcomers have never disguised this fact at all since the day of their arrival. They spoke to the elders and leaders frankly that the Star Glory Federation adores the system of general equality for both ordinary people and Cultivators, which is the highest rule that is beyond any negotiation. The lives of the Cultivators matter, but the lives of the common folk, whom there are hundreds of times more of, also matter. The purpose of their visit is to find a way to save as many lives as possible.

“The Ancient Sages Sector is now mired in war and famine for mainly two reasons. Firstly, the population of the Cultivators is excessive, and they do not work but focus all their attention on fighting and exploiting people. Secondly, the land and resources are highly concentrated on thousands of sects and unaffiliated Cultivators who operate on their own and spare no effort hamstringing each other. They cannot bring out the potential of the resources in such a disorganized way.

“The people of the federation have come after a long journey through wormholes. The cost for a single grain of rice is appallingly high. It is impossible to ship food and relief from the homeland of the federation incessantly. To feed the billions of locals of this world, the Ancient Sages Sector can only count on itself.

“More specifically speaking, there are two approaches. Firstly, migrate the Cultivators of the Ancient Sages Sector who are superfluous in terms of absolute number to the less populated places where Cultivators are more needed. It will reduce the pressure on the spiritual energy and crystals in our place, and it will allow the Cultivators to play a role that is more befitting for a Cultivator.

“Secondly, the resources including the land, forests, and mines will be concentrated under the national government, which will then plan to develop modern industry, agriculture, and mining. During the process, the unenlightened common folk will be involved and educated for them to become real modern people!

“As for exactly how to ‘convince’ the Cultivators of the Ancient Sages Sector to leave their home and seek a career in outer space, and how to combine the land, mines, and different trades that previously belonged to different owners in order to ‘concentrate the resources’ and develop modern industries, they have already drafted plans. But they are keeping that a secret and asking us to think for ourselves.

“Hehe. I thought about the issue for three days and three nights without going to sleep. By joining Elder Scorching Sun’s cause, we already committed the crime of high treason. Even if our lives were saved in the end, we would’ve lived a dull life in the new regime. So, we might as well take a wild gamble. This is exactly what I get in the end!”

Leader Fang pointed at the A. C. on his left arm.

Fang Chengzhi was dazed for a long time. He could not help but shake his head. “Those people are really… unreasonable.”

“You’re quite right. Vulture Li Yao told me blatantly that thousands of people die of coldness and hunger in the mess of the Ancient Sages Sector right now, and a hundred times more are struggling in war and famine, living lives that are no more comfortable than death. In order to stop the suffering as soon as possible, he couldn’t care less about how the Cultivators of the Ancient Sages Sector curse him behind his back, nor does he give a damn about the laws, rules, and reasons that have been practiced in our world for a hundred thousand years and have proved an utter failure!”

Leader Fang paused for a moment. With the deepest fear beaming out of his eyes, he said, his voice shivering, “Do you know? I have a feeling that Vulture Li Yao and the entire Star Glory Federation is like an overwhelming iron wheel that is rolling close unstoppably. It will never lower its speed or deviate from its course. Unless it crashes itself into pieces, it will crush everything that stands in its way!

“Faced with such a rolling wheel, it is useless to hate or curse it. And you want to reason with it? The wheel has its own logic, except that we do not understand it yet.”

Fang Chengzhi blushed in embarrassment at what his father said. He lowered his head.

“The trend of the universe is unstoppable. Those who follow it thrive; those who go against it die.”

Patting his son’s shoulder, Leader Fang said solemnly and thoughtfully, “I know that a lot of Cultivators are very dissatisfied with the Star Glory Federation’s approaches. Some are holding grudges, some are openly mocking them, some are pretending to cooperate, and some are even contacting each other, hoping to start a rebellion. However, after witnessing the exhibition of the hundred-year glory, you should at least realize now that such a strength is not something that we are capable of resisting. Or rather, it is the most advanced ‘trend of the universe’ that we have seen. Why do we have to compete with it instead of finding a way to join it so that we can figure out their ‘reasons’ and their ‘source of strength’ for ourselves?

“After a hundred thousand years, the world of the Ancient Sages Sector finally changed. The world is changing, and we must change, too. Whoever changes faster than others will gain new opportunities, new techniques, and new blessings in the new world!

“I am already too old now. It is already my limit to have brought our sect to what it is right now. As for exactly where the Green Cloud Sword Sect can reach in the Star Glory Federation and the boundless universe, it will depend on the younger generation like you!”

Fang Chengzhi listened absent-mindedly, not exactly getting what his father meant, because a magic declaration that he saw at the end of the exhibition was still echoing inside his head.

“Our quest is… the sea of stars!”