Chapter 328: Malfunction

A smile returned to Li Qingsong’s voice. “Why is it that we can all sit here together peacefully? Why can we pool our wisdom and work as one to contribute to our civilization? With new perspectives from different races and cultural backgrounds, won’t our Human Civilization, as a whole, develop faster? If we humans hadn’t held on to this warmth, would everyone… truly be able to contribute to the civilization? Even if humanity resorted to coercion, the results would inevitably be far worse. There shouldn’t be only one path through this Cosmos. There must be other ways…”

Haimo Lan sat in a daze, a storm brewing in his mind.

‘There shouldn’t be only one path. There are other ways… Are there really other ways?’

In that moment, it felt as if his entire worldview had been overturned. A path he had never seen, never even perceived, now lay before him.

‘That’s right… If humanity didn’t hold fast to its goodwill, if they could be so heartless as to deceive the completely harmless Gravity Creatures and kill them all for the sake of their own development… then as a vassal race, what would we be in their eyes?

Could we… truly feel secure? Could we wholeheartedly embrace humanity’s ideals, willingly integrate into Human Civilization, see ourselves as human, and contribute to its cause?

Wouldn’t we live in fear of the day we lose our value and are mercilessly cast aside by humanity?

Why was I able to think from a purely human perspective, to see myself as human and calculate how to maximize our gain, leading me to believe we should capture the Gravity Life?

Isn’t it precisely because humanity has always clung to that goodwill? But if that’s the case, how could they possibly bring themselves to harm the harmless Gravity Creatures?’

In that instant, Haimo Lan got it. He finally, completely, understood.

He realized that while he had always prided himself on his outstanding strategic vision, he was still a long, long way off.

At that moment, Haimo Lan was utterly convinced. From the depths of his soul, he fully accepted his identity as a human.

He stood and bowed deeply toward Li Qingsong’s projection. “Supreme Leader, I understand now.”

Molomans smiled. “Deputy Chieftain Haimo Lan, I told you long ago. To truly integrate into Human Civilization, you must first discard the bad habits and mindsets of your original civilization. It’s just a shame you wouldn’t listen back then.”

Haimo Lan replied with sincerity, “You’re right. You are a true human, and that is why you were able to make the correct judgment. I, on the other hand, still have some way to go. I will continue to work hard in the future.”

Molomans burst out laughing. “We welcome you.”

“Very well. Meeting adjourned. It is time to prepare for our next departure.”

“Yes.”

Several years passed in a blur. Li Qingsong swiftly completed the resource gathering, and soon it was time to depart once more.

Of course, Li Qingsong didn’t let this time go to waste. Seizing the unprecedented opportunity of being near a White Dwarf Star, he conducted extensive research. He obtained a wealth of new data, deepening his understanding of the star’s internal convection, radiation, and Type Ia Supernova Explosion patterns.

Aside from the matter with the Gravity Creatures, the stop had been well worth the time.

Bright, searing flames once again erupted from the thrusters of countless vessels, propelling the massive fleet forward. It slowly set off, embarking on another journey into the endless void of space.

As time slowly passed, Li Qingsong once again buried himself in his scientific research.

It wasn’t just Li Qingsong. Every scholar from every race under Human Civilization was thrown into a flurry of activity.

Some engaged in nonstop study, accumulating knowledge to catch up to humanity’s current level of technology. Others bustled about in laboratories and research institutes, each contributing their own small, yet vital, part to the civilization’s overall scientific advancement.

This was the new reality, as the civilization pivoted from applied physics to fundamental physics.

The era of rapid, breakthrough development was long gone. In its place was slow, incremental progress, achieved only through gradual, daily accumulation, like water dripping through stone.

Even Li Qingsong could only accelerate this process, not escape it entirely.

Several hundred years drifted by, and Li Qingsong’s fleet traveled hundreds of light-years further.

Throughout the voyage, Li Qingsong never ceased his search, continuously scanning every Interstellar System within a 100-light-year radius. But just as before, he could find no trace of the Purple Moon Civilization’s next destination.

This only deepened Li Qingsong’s confusion.

‘What is the Purple Moon Civilization up to? Why are they in such a hurry? They’ve been flying nonstop for so long. Where could they possibly be going?

They’re just a Strong Core Level civilization. What could possibly be so urgent as to make them travel so frantically, at any cost? It can’t be because they know I’m chasing them, can it? Are they running from me?

Their technology is more advanced than mine. I’m barely at the Peak of Strong Core now, but the Purple Moon Civilization reached that level at least two thousand years ago… Besides, there’s no way they could know I’m pursuing them.’

With these questions weighing on him, Li Qingsong continued the pursuit, all while carrying on with his scientific research.

Even with three trump cards up his sleeve—the Stellar Cannon, the Variable Energy Shield, and the Unified Force Field—Li Qingsong dared not let his guard down. He was facing the Purple Moon Civilization, a powerful civilization that had reached the Peak of Strong Core two thousand years ago.

Heaven only knew what unique technologies, weapons, or attack patterns a more advanced Strong Core Civilization might have developed.

Li Qingsong wasn’t completely confident he could defeat them.

In fact, if the Purple Moon Civilization had managed to break through the Strong Core level and advance to the Gravity Stage, he might even be the one to be defeated.

But first, he had to find them. He needed to find a way to ascertain their current technological level before deciding on his next move.

Across the vast expanse of space, Li Qingsong’s fleet continued its high-speed advance.

Then one day, Li Qingsong suddenly received an anomaly alert.

Among the escort fleet of warships arrayed neatly around the main fleet, one of the smallest vessels, a Mercury-class Warship, suddenly activated its Thrust Device and began to stray from the fleet’s course.

‘What’s happening? A malfunction?’

Li Qingsong immediately had one of his Clones attempt to connect to the warship via remote control, intending to check its systems and AI status and guide it back into formation.

But a moment later, Li Qingsong froze.

The remote control system showed that the Mercury-class Warship had disconnected from the command base.