Bei Ming Imperial Calendar Year 1896, July 19th, 9:00 AM.
The Grand Chancellor and the Cosmic Exploration Department jointly released a new message on the Celestial Network, which quickly became a trending topic within five minutes.
#Cosmic Exploration Ship Successfully Forged!#
"After three hundred years of refinement by the Cosmic Exploration Research Branch, the Minor Universe Pearl, left behind by the Northern Underworld Creation Empress, has been successfully transformed into a new type of cosmic exploration vessel capable of spacetime wormhole jumps. It possesses a complete internal micro-universe ecosystem, inhabited planets, and a perfect energy supply. Theoretically, it can achieve cross-galaxy exploration.
In the near future, we will undoubtedly acquire more cosmic resources and usher in a new era of cultivation prosperity."
[???]
[If I recall correctly, didn't the Minor Universe Pearl left by the Northern Underworld Creation Empress already contain a complete micro-universe ecosystem and inhabited planets? The Creation Green Lotus, evolved from the Empress's Dao Fruit, could also autonomously absorb external cosmic energy.
This guaranteed the Minor Universe Pearl would never lack energy.
It was a perfect energy source.
So, what exactly did the Cosmic Exploration Research Department do for three hundred years? They just researched how to install spacetime wormhole travel technology, which was already achieved, onto the Minor Universe Pearl?
Please have some dignity.
Do you think the Northern Underworld Creation Empress has no jurisdiction over you after her ascension, or do you think everyone has forgotten history.
Weren't we told years ago that the national treasures would not be touched?
Why are they being used now!]
[Isn't the Minor Universe Pearl the last resort left by the Northern Underworld Creation Empress? I remember the Empress's decree clearly stated that the Minor Universe Pearl could only be used for mass migration and finding a new habitable planet if the home planet encountered an unexpected disaster, making survival impossible or facing extinction.
So, what is happening now? I wasn't aware of any issues with our planet. If we lack the capability for galaxy exploration, then don't explore. Using our ultimate survival means, what will we do if an accident occurs later?
Such a significant matter was not even announced in advance.
Nor was the public opinion solicited.
This is simply disrespectful.]
[Protest! Protest!]
[Who agreed to this? They must be impeached by the entire populace. How did the Imperial Family's Liu clan preserve the Minor Universe Pearl? Wasn't this treasure always kept by the Imperial Family?]
[You're too naive, upstairs. The Imperial Family lost all real power over a thousand years ago. While the Minor Universe Pearl was nominally managed by the Imperial Family, the Cabinet, nine hundred years ago, used the excuse that the Imperial Family's only Nascent Soul cultivator had fallen, leaving them potentially unable to guarantee its safety.
They then transferred the Minor Universe Pearl to the Cabinet for safekeeping.
The Cabinet was established within the Imperial Palace, meaning the Minor Universe Pearl was still technically kept within the palace and indirectly considered under the Liu family's care. However, in reality, it was merely a façade.]
[I really can't understand why the Northern Underworld Creation Empress would cede all power to the Cabinet before her ascension. With a treasure like the Minor Universe Pearl, comparable to an immortal artifact, even if the Liu family lacked Tribulation Transcenders, they should have been able to maintain control.
They wouldn't have become mere puppets.
Only suitable to be mascots.]
[The Minor Universe Pearl is, after all, not a treasure for combat. It's merely an auxiliary spatial artifact with relatively weak offensive and defensive capabilities. Furthermore, the descendants of the Liu family at that time did not produce any exceptional talents, only managing to produce one Nascent Soul ancestor.
It's likely the Empress nurtured him herself.
At that time, there were over seven hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, nurtured by the Empress, who were not of the Liu surname. Even if power wasn't handed over, those seven hundred Nascent Soul ancestors would likely have recognized the Liu family's rule out of respect for the Empress.
It might have been fine for a century or two, or even three to five hundred years, but who can guarantee anything after a thousand or eight hundred years? No favor can last for thousands or tens of thousands of years.
Therefore, I believe the Empress's decision was correct.
Although the current Liu family lacks power, they are at least recognized as the imperial family by all citizens. They also don't need to worry about being overthrown, as everyone is now vying for the position of Grand Chancellor.
No one is contesting the throne anymore.
Otherwise, it's questionable whether the Liu family would even still exist. How could they live such a comfortable life now, with their entire family lacking even one Nascent Soul cultivator, yet enjoying a better life than families with dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators?]
[I can only say the Empress ascended too quickly. If she had reigned for another three to five thousand years, the Liu family would likely have had Tribulation Transcenders. Even if not, there would still be dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators, enough to wield power.]
[In my opinion, the main reason is that the Empress had no direct descendants. If I had no heirs, I wouldn't bother worrying too much about my family. Offering some assistance would be more than enough; I wouldn't expect myself to go to great lengths to help. If they had talent, perhaps I would consider helping.
But without talent, I'd honestly be too lazy to bother.
The treatment the Empress gave to the Liu family members back then far surpassed that of ordinary disciples. Yet, among those scattered disciples, so many Nascent Soul ancestors emerged, while the Liu family, despite all their efforts, only produced one Nascent Soul ancestor.
If I were the Empress, I'd have given up on them too.
To avoid the frustration!]
[You're all making a fuss over nothing. What's the use of keeping some things idle? Isn't it a waste? Things only have value when they are used. Besides, if we don't use them now and explore how to best utilize the Minor Universe Pearl, how will we know how to use it if something happens in the future?
And you all know that the resources in nearby star systems are depleted, and the Exploration Department hasn't found any other planets with rich spiritual energy. If we don't find a solution soon, future generations won't be able to cultivate.]
[It's all the fault of those few Tribulation Transcender Supremes.
Before the Empress ascended, she specifically instructed all Tribulation Transcenders to notify in advance and close the Grand Star Array when undergoing tribulation. However, those few, fearing their tribulation would fail, not only failed to notify in advance but also stole part of the Grand Star Array's control.
They successfully ascended, but their tribulation lightning damaged the Grand Star Array.
Consequently, the Celestial Network was also damaged.
It lost its ability to regulate Nascent Soul cultivators.
From then on, no one could check the Nascent Soul cultivators, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth began to decrease due to the damaged Grand Star Array. If not for a decree issued by the Cabinet hundreds of years ago prohibiting all cultivators at or above the Nascent Soul stage from cultivating on the home planet and requiring them to cultivate in space,
The home planet would likely have entered the Age of Dharma's End.]
[It's better to proactively search for habitable planets than to migrate to the Minor Universe Pearl and wander through the cosmos after the home planet becomes completely uninhabitable. Alas, it's truly a shame. If only the Liu family Nascent Soul ancestor, the only one who knew about the Grand Star Array, hadn't been ambushed and assassinated, we wouldn't be in this situation now, unable to repair the Grand Star Array and on the verge of entering the Age of Dharma's End.
Those Nascent Soul cultivators who participated in the assassination back then...
Their entire clans deserve to be exterminated and it still wouldn't be enough!]
[Although it's difficult to accept the Cabinet using the national treasure as an exploration vessel, it's likely a last resort. I can only hope the Exploration Department uses it wisely and honors the Empress's treasure.]
[It's happened now, and there's no point in disagreeing. My main concern now is whether the Minor Universe Pearl will be safe after leaving the home planet. Will it be embezzled? After all, it's a treasure comparable to an immortal artifact, and the Creation Green Lotus inside is said to have petals that can extend life by ten thousand years, and a lotus seed by one hundred thousand years.
Entrusting such a treasure to the Exploration Department for use truly makes one worry about its safety.]
[Forget it, a bunch of beginners who just started cultivating are worrying about everything, and are about to micromanage the world!]
[Alas, to be honest, watching the Empress's legacy being depleted one by one, truly gives one a sense of decline compared to the past, and a feeling that the Empress's presence is gradually fading.
Today I asked my grandson, and he now only knows of the Celestial Network and not the Grand Star Array. He doesn't realize that the incomplete Grand Star Array is the foundation of the Celestial Network. If the Grand Star Array collapses completely one day, the Celestial Network will cease to exist.
Then we'll have to resort to the internet!]
[This is indeed the case. I, an elder, always thought that even with the Empress's exceptional talent, we descendants would surely be able to further advance the prosperous era and surpass her. But who knew that the three hundred years of her reign were the peak of prosperity? Anything after that would be at best maintaining the status quo.
In the past few hundred years, we've been on a downward trajectory.]
[I can hardly imagine what the world will be like after all the Empress's remaining foundations are completely depleted. Even poor families can no longer cultivate, and even middle-class families can only afford to support one or two cultivators. The world is becoming increasingly worse!
If this continues, it's likely that within a short time, the world will revert to the old system of aristocratic families and sects.]
[It's a shame I wasn't born in the Empress's era.]
[Looking at everyone's comments, I went back and checked some information, and only then did I realize the depth of the Empress's legacy.
The Grand Star Array, the Celestial Network, the Minor Universe Pearl, the virtual network free scripture repository, the automatic alchemy and artifact forging systems, the Nine Heavens Logistics shuttle, the Tribulation Platform, and the space cultivation stations – all these were founded and constructed by the Northern Underworld Creation Empress herself.
Even the Yin-Yang Creation Technique.
Was specifically compiled by the Empress for female cultivators.
Only today did I learn that over a thousand years ago, female cultivators' cultivation would decline when they gave birth. I truly can't imagine how harsh the cultivation environment was for female cultivators back then. Fortunately, during pregnancy now, we have the Yin-Yang Creation Technique to cultivate. Not only does cultivation no longer decline due to childbirth, but we can also use the infant's innate Qi to enhance our life essence.
I originally thought the current situation where female cultivators far outnumber male cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage was due to female superiority. I never realized these were benefits secured for us by the Northern Underworld Creation Empress.
She remained unmarried her entire life and had no need for this technique.
Yet, she still painstakingly compiled it for us.
Truly a sage...]
[Quietly speaking, it is said that before creating the Yin-Yang Creation Technique, the Northern Underworld Creation Empress also created several other cultivation techniques. Some techniques required male and female co-cultivation, where the male cultivator continuously provided spiritual energy to offset the consumption experienced by the female cultivator during pregnancy.
However, these were rejected because some male cultivators were irresponsible or unwilling to sacrifice their own cultivation.
Later, the Northern Underworld Creation Empress also created a Yin-Yang Reversal Art, which could temporarily reverse Yin and Yang, allowing males to become pregnant. This was also rejected because males were unwilling, and some even aborted after becoming pregnant, or even resorted to fighting.
Thus, it had to be rejected again.
In the end, the Empress, adhering to the principle that self-reliance is the most reliable, created the Yin-Yang Creation Technique.]
[I know about the Yin-Yang Reversal Art. Although this technique was not widely promoted at the time, it has always been preserved in the Celestial Network's free library and is accessible to everyone for free.
It is said that some male cultivators now, in order to cultivate the Yin-Yang Creation Technique, which is only for female cultivators, first use this art to temporarily transform into women, find men to get them pregnant, and then cultivate the Yin-Yang Creation Technique to enhance their life essence and improve their aptitude.
This is to increase their chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.
It seems someone has actually succeeded...]
[Some male cultivators are truly pure utilitarian beings. When there's no benefit, they avoid it like the plague. But when there's a benefit, they have no qualms whatsoever.]
[Will the child born be called "Dad" or "Mom"?]
[Does the Yin-Yang Reversal Art have any side effects?]
[I suggest that some male cultivators who are considering this should exercise some restraint. Although the Yin-Yang Reversal Art has no physical side effects and one can revert to their original gender after解除, the psychological impact is extremely difficult to recover from.
We at the Medical Saint Valley have already treated dozens of patients who, after giving birth and reverting to men, found their mental state couldn't adjust immediately, their personalities became quite peculiar, and some even changed their sexual orientation. If one's psychological fortitude and willpower are insufficient, it's best not to attempt it.]
[Truly, I've seen it all...]
[This cultivation technique is too heaven-defying! This is equivalent to genetic modification. It's too bizarre, almost like dark magic!]
[Does anyone still remember what we were discussing earlier? Those who oppose taking the modified Minor Universe Pearl away from the home planet for exploration in other galaxies, quickly join me to vote. Otherwise, if they take it and it never returns, it will be a loss for all the people.]
[Looking at it this way, I feel like we're not even the same species as the Northern Underworld Creation Empress. The difference between us is too vast! Greater than the difference between heaven and earth!]
[Vote, vote, let's vote!]
[Oh right, everyone, let's vote quickly. I remember that if more than half of the Celestial Network users vote against it, even policies issued by the Cabinet can be directly vetoed.]
[I'm truly conflicted. On one hand, I hope the Exploration Department can find a few life-bearing planets with rich spiritual energy. On the other hand, I don't want the Minor Universe Pearl to leave the home planet.
Why can't there be a perfect solution in this world!]
...
After much debate, the Cabinet and the Cosmic Exploration Department eventually compromised. They decided to extract only the Solar Pearl from the Minor Universe Pearl, which could directly absorb stellar energy.
This Solar Pearl was then used to forge the new exploration vessel.
And so began the grand voyage of galactic exploration.