With the desperate roars, a golden path seemed to have really appeared under Li Yao's feet. The path that extended to the infinite distance was also like a coldly shining saber that slashed at the hearts of the female captain and all the ghosts of the Primitive Race.
The female captain and the ghosts of the Primeval Tribe were all awed by Li Yao's determination. They were like smoke under the scorching sun, blurred and shaking under the illumination of the sunlight.
"I did not expect that a brand-new civilization of mankind would emerge after billions of years, and that someone like you would exist in this civilization of mankind."
The female captain smiled in the most lonely and regretful way. She seemed to be talking to herself as well as to all the ghosts of her compatriots. "If only … If only there were someone like you at the end of the Earth era. If 'Wanzanghai', the leader of the civilization of Earth at that time, had someone like you around and reached a balance between good and evil, light and darkness with him, perhaps our civilization would have developed in a completely different direction. Perhaps the Flood would not have been born. Perhaps the entire Cosmic Ocean would have been more prosperous, lively, and beautiful than it is today … ten thousand times better."
"That is just that, and today is the past. But there are still billions of possibilities waiting for us to create in the future, including the possibility of 'ten thousand times better'."
Li Yao clenched his fists and raised them high. "We will certainly create our own future!"
"You're right."
The female captain smiled and looked back at her compatriots.
All the ghosts of the Primeval Race laughed as if they had been relieved of a heavy burden. Faint golden mist spread out from their bodies, as if they had finally found relief after billions of years of torment and waiting. They couldn't wait to enter the eternal sleep.
"Your performance is better than all the possibilities preset by the program."
The phantom of the female captain gradually became thinner and thinner, like ice melting in warm water. But the smile on her face was more and more intense. "In the preset 'clearance conditions' of the program, we mainly test three points. First of all, whether or not the tester has absolute freedom and the most tenacious will to stick to their own ideas to the end is the tester.
"You're right. The concepts of good and evil, good and evil, light and darkness are not things that we care about. Who says that evil and darkness in the conventional sense are definitely not the way out? The key is balance and persistence.
"If the tester is inclined towards light and kindness, then we will give him the option of darkness and evil. If the tester is from the Asura World where the strong preys on the weak, then we will give him the option of light and kindness. It doesn't matter what you choose, the key is to insist on yourself and not be influenced by us, or anyone else.
"Secondly, on the basis of persistence, the testers must also have the spirit of sacrifice. They are sacrificing for their compatriots, home, and civilization, as well as for their own ideals. The guys who commit all kinds of crimes for their own selfish desires cannot lead a civilization to glory. Only the real martyrs, even if they are evil and dark martyrs, can become the leaders of a powerful civilization.
"Thirdly, and most importantly, they must have an absolutely clear head and know how to choose and endure. Even the temptation of the heritage of a god-level civilization cannot shake their belief. Only then will it be possible to avoid the problems caused by the sudden expansion of the civilization on the road of development, avoid the tragedy of 'rising and dying', and even resist the scourge of the Flood.
"Originally, according to the evaluation standards of the program, as long as one had the courage to reject the 'golden key' of the Primitive Civilization, it would be considered a success. However, when we designed the ultimate test, we did not expect that there would be something like 'the corpses of a hundred pioneer civilizations'. Our original plan was that as long as the tester rejected the 'golden key', their civilization would be preserved, and we would teach them everything about the Primitive Civilization bit by bit through the 'Tower of Babel'. Of course, we would not do something as stupid as overloading them with a huge amount of technology and training systems.
"However, on second thought, our design was still too hasty. It would only raise another weakened and degraded version of the tiny Primitive Civilization instead of a new future. Your idea does make sense.
"Then, tester Li Yao, I hope that the new-generation civilization of mankind can absorb the essence of the hundred pioneer civilizations as you said, carry on the will of the 'brothers and sisters', and march forward bravely in the boundless sea of stars in your own way without looking back!
"After billions of years of waiting, we are too tired. We can finally have a good rest. I hope that when we wake up, the entire Universe Ocean will be ten thousand times better than tomorrow, and you will have found a solution to the Flood.
"On behalf of the last will of the Primitive Civilization, I sincerely wish you success. Oh … civilization of mankind …"
The female captain and all the ghosts of the Primeval Clan bowed to Li Yao with a smile. It was both a heartfelt wish and an expression of gratitude to him for bringing them a better answer and freeing them from eternal suffering.
"Wait!"
Li Yao felt that the female captain was implying something, but he was sweating hard in his spiritual world. "Don't be in such a hurry to leave. I still have a lot of questions that I haven't answered yet!
"You said just now that the ultimate test will show different scenes according to the nature and morals of the testers. Then, I'd like to know what the history of the conquest of the Primitive Civilization that the dark and evil testers saw. What was the tragedy at the end of the Earth Epoch, the 'Apocalypse Order', and the 'Solar Defense Plan'? Did such things happen in real history? Which of the words of the voice was true and which were false? What was the real history like?
"Also, were the civilizations of a hundred Forerunners really destroyed by you? Or is there something else going on?
"Also, how are my wife and the rest of them? Are they alright? Now that I've passed the test, you can release them now, right?
"Also, the tide of ferocious beasts. What about the tide of ferocious beasts that are attacking the Tower of Babel? I feel that the tide of ferocious beasts is too uncanny. Is it possible that the tentacles of the Flood have extended to the Pangu universe? "
"History is created by people, and it is also embellished, smeared, and altered by people. Even the history of only a hundred years ago is full of different opinions. Who can comment on what is right and what is wrong?"
The female captain had turned into a cluster of golden light whose face could not be seen clearly. A casual voice came from the cluster of light. "Even for us billions of years ago, the Earth Epoch, the Apocalypse Order, and the Solar Defense Plan were all in the category of 'ancient history'. Who knows the truth?
"Also, as you said, the past is the past, and the past is the past. What matters is today and the future. Everybody is the combination of the past, the present, and the future. What you are today is what history and the future will be like. There's no need to dwell on it.
"We have already told you how the civilization of the hundred generations of pioneers was destroyed. Of course, there are countless details, twists, and turns. Hehe. The interesting information is all recorded in their remains. If you want to know, why don't you explore it yourself?
"As for the ultimate test that is still in progress …
"Since you have successfully passed the test, there is naturally no need to continue. However, I still hope that all of the human testers can persevere to the end, persevere until the moment they either succeed or fail. However, even if they fail, they will not receive any punishment — other than a mental interrogation, I feel that this will leave a deeper impression on them, and let them understand the principle that 'every power has a price'. In the end, you will personally reveal the truth to them. This is the best arrangement."
"Are you suggesting that …"
Li Yao thought for a long time. "For example, let's say that a tester successfully passes all the previous tests and comes to the 'golden key' section. Seeing so many destructive magical equipment, marvelous techniques, and unimaginable technologies, he is naturally overjoyed. He grabs the golden key, only to discover that he has been dreaming. Then, I appear before him and tell him with a smile that everything is fake and that there are no primordial heritages. The heritages have been rejected by me. Is that it?"
"Yes."
The female captain said, "What do you think?"
"I think —"
Li Yao said, "I will be killed by them."
Soft chuckles echoed from the cluster of golden light.
"What about the beast tides?"
Li Yao asked in a hurry. "Do you not feel that the beast tides outside are too weird?"
"We are just a tiny program, the last words that have been corrupted after billions of years," the female captain said.
"We don't know what a beast tide is. Even if it is really the vanguard of the Flood Legion, there is nothing we can do about it. If it is within our capabilities, we can destroy the towers and the primordial relics instantly, including all the carbon-based lives and energy lives that are lingering here. They will all be swept into the abyss of time and space turbulence and reduced to nothingness forever.
"But I believe that it is not the solution that you want, is it?
"After billions of years, it will not be strange even if the Flood does come here. We have done our best. It will be up to you now. Go, successor Li Yao, and prove that you are not bluffing and boasting. Fight in your own way!"
"Are you really just a program?"
Li Yao asked and then offered the answer himself. "I don't believe it. How can a program be so vivid and fluent? You can even answer questions that are beyond the settings? Even regular artificial intelligence can't do that!
"Even the Pangu civilization could evolve into a super artificial intelligence such as' Fuxi '. There is no reason that the primitive civilizations billions of years ago couldn't have done it. What are you exactly? Are you some kind of super artificial intelligence similar to Fuxi, or … or are you a literal' ghost of the primitive civilization '? What did you mean when you said that you would 'wake up again someday'? Hey, hey, hey. Don't play tricks with me. You can't have any more tricks up your sleeves. This is a trap within a trap. All my reactions are actually within your expectations. What you said right now is only partly true. A long, long time later, we will have a battle of wits and courage with you again, won't we? "
Laughter could be heard coming from the merged golden light waves, as if there were countless men, women, old, and young laughing at the same time.
Before the golden waves completely dispersed, the laughter of the ghosts congregated into two words.
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