Chapter 980: Planning

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Emperor Tier glanced at the special clock that recorded time, and it was only then that he fully grasped the utter strangeness of the situation.

"Can we, can we reach the ninth order?" Emperor Tier couldn't help but ask. "Can you teach us...?"

"No."

The deep blue figure merely smiled. "It is possible for you to reach the ninth order... However, you will suffer immensely, perhaps even losing all hope for the future. You would gradually degenerate, becoming like most fallen ninth-order civilizations, consumed by slaughter, destruction, and war..."

Emperor Tier still didn't understand and wanted to ask more questions.

But the figure across from him had no desire to continue the conversation or answer more questions, choosing instead to leave the planet immediately.

This visitation lasted only ten seconds, like a surreal dream. It was so fantastical that for the brief instant they conversed, time itself seemed to freeze.

Afterward, Emperor Tier secretly sent people to track...

It was as if the other party hadn't even seen him.

Xu Zhi's memory of this concluded there.

"It appeared to be a very ordinary, brief exchange, yet it was quite bizarre..."

Xu Zhi pondered, a faint smile playing on his lips. "This civilization seems benevolent and offered amiable answers, but are they truly benevolent? Their claim of helping lower civilizations by 'dealing with' higher, fallen enlightened civilizations... that's certainly questionable."

To believe one-sided statements would be too foolish. You can't just believe everything people say.

However, from the information revealed, Xu Zhi seemed to discern a key phrase:

Fallen enlightened civilizations.

Moreover, this term appeared relatively frequently. It appears to be a very common concept among enlightened civilizations, something constantly on their minds and even on their lips.

As for 'fallen ninth-order beings'? Perhaps it truly is so! Most ninth-order beings, once they achieve their breakthrough, find themselves unable to advance further... Despairing of their path, unable to foresee what the long hundred thousand years ahead might bring, what would become of them?

Perhaps they would all descend into madness, indulging in pleasures, seeking various thrills, even finding joy in slaughter and destroying lower civilizations for their own amusement.

"This truly is a nightmarish curse." Xu Zhi shook his head, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Those who can break through to the ninth order? Aren't they all incredibly pure and noble seekers of the Dao? Peerless geniuses, one in a billion? They disregarded worldly affairs, engaged in ascetic cultivation, abandoned all earthly desires and pleasures—devout followers of the Great Dao...

"Yet, such pure enlightened beings, after achieving enlightenment, gradually degenerate... unable to pursue new realms, gaining nothing more from secluded cultivation... With nothing left to do, they are left to wander for a hundred thousand years, seeking new 'amusements' to fill the remainder of their lives."

Based on the information revealed by this mysterious weak tenth-order civilization, and Xu Zhi's own deductions, the landscape of enlightened beings throughout the universe must be a bloody ocean of slaughter. Countless enlightened beings descend into depravity, hunting and pursuing other civilizations everywhere.

"So, civilizations similar to the 'cleaners' they just encountered emerged? Actively 'cleaning,' maintaining cosmic order, and protecting lower civilizations..."

"They might not be so charitable; perhaps they were forced into becoming super-civilizations that 'cleanse' the cosmos. This could be because the fallen ninth-order beings, upon seeing those who can still achieve breakthroughs and possess four perfect Dao foundations, find them an extreme eyesore and specifically hunt them down."

This world certainly doesn't lack jealous individuals.

Xu Zhi felt that perhaps after reaching the ninth order, beings might split into two factions: fallen enlightened civilizations and non-fallen enlightened civilizations. Beings with one or two perfected systems indeed cannot defeat those with four perfected gene systems.

But what if such fallen enlightened beings were to gather in large numbers and encircle them...?

One must know that 99.9% of ninth-order beings cannot break through further; the numerical disparity is immense. And how vast is the universe? Even the Milky Way is but a grain of sand in a vast desert; globally, ninth-order civilizations would not be scarce.

"It seems we're also in some danger if we encounter those 'mad dogs'... but it's nothing to fear. We've long been accustomed to internal strife and combat, so we're not easily intimidated."

Xu Zhi frowned. "And it's no wonder the universe is so desolate, resembling a dark forest everywhere... It's likely not just about guarding against invasions from other civilizations, but also against being targeted by those ninth-order fallen enlightened civilizations."

He continued to organize his thoughts. "When you think about it, all beings seem to share a similar vice... With nothing left to do, well-fed, and unable to cultivate further, they resort to squishing little ants everywhere, simply to find amusement."

At this moment, Caroline also returned.

Xu Zhi's brows slightly twitched.

The Super Ancient God appeared beside her.

"That civilization might be quite formidable," Caroline said with a tense expression.

"Don't worry," the Super Ancient God smiled. "While that aura is similar, it's not truly tenth-order; it's a weak tenth-order."

"Weak tenth-order?"

"A ninth-order being who has embarked on the path to the tenth order?"

No wonder there was a trace of a fifth gene. So they've already begun to condense a fifth gene, converging towards the ultimate Great Dao... If that's the case, then there's no need to be too alarmed.

Caroline, for her part, breathed a sigh of relief. After all, in her view, even perfected four-gene beings could differ vastly. Most beings in the universe, even those with four perfected genes, likely have four systems that were haphazardly combined, meaning their four genes aren't truly powerful...

The Super Ancient God, on the other hand, is probably a weak tenth-order being whose four genes are all exceptionally powerful—one who truly has the potential to complete this path. Like them, even if their four gene systems aren't all supremely extraordinary, they are definitely superior to most! As for ordinary four-gene beings of comparable level? Four perfect Dao foundations? They could be instantly annihilated! How can flame genes or various ordinary genes compare to them?

And they, too, are now demonstrating the fruits of their long accumulation, having transitioned from low-level ninth-order to mid-level ninth-order. As they approach high-level ninth-order, they will also begin to ponder the path of the weak tenth-order... But is it fast? No, it's not fast. The path of the weak tenth-order is only the true beginning; one might die of old age before reaching 100% completion.

"No need to worry." The Super Ancient God's figure gradually faded, saying, "However, it is still best to be cautious. Do not expose your coordinates, do not truly descend, and use quantum battle bodies for exploration. Then there is nothing to fear..."

Caroline nodded, stating earnestly, "Indeed, with quantum battle bodies, even if detected, the other party might not be able to track our true selves!"

"Just proceed according to the normal plan... but don't get involved personally," Xu Zhi said. "Let them explore this civilization first. If I'm not mistaken, the laws this civilization controls are related to 'time.'"

"Time?" Caroline's expression subtly changed.

The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique is 'space.' Remainsca's law is 'force fields.' But time is the most enigmatic, the most inconceivable, the most elusive...

Caroline took a deep breath. However, the Super Ancient God said no more and simply left the area.

***

On the other side, in front of the television, sitting on the sofa, Medusa and Shi Ji were exploring and discussing.

Xu Zhi returned to his senses and murmured, "Ultimately, contact is inevitable. Weak tenth-order civilizations represent the true upper echelons of cosmic society; they are the ones who have truly crossed that threshold... And from this civilization, we might be able to gather some information... expanding our knowledge."

"Father, I'm going to integrate all tribal genes!" Shi Ji declared, having finalized her decision.

"Work hard," Xu Zhi smiled, looking at the TV. "It looks like this Tower TV civilization will soon encounter a rather mysterious civilized race?"

"Word has it you already have some inside information? Are they as powerful as us?" Medusa chuckled, knowing that Remainsca, after all, was a legendary weak tenth-order being.

"Naturally, they're not as strong as us, but they're probably not far off, because their civilization also possesses legendary weak tenth-order beings."

"Weak tenth-order?" Medusa's eyes sparkled as she looked at the TV, then at the Tower World outside. "Then we must watch closely... to see how the two sides make contact and what their civilization is like."

Suddenly, Shi Ji also grew very excited about the upcoming TV program.