Xiao Yu was stunned. No matter what, he never expected that this entity, whose origins were still uncertain, would say something like that.
This was the deepest secret buried in Xiao Yu’s heart. In his more than ten thousand years of life, he had never told anyone about it, nor had he ever recorded it anywhere. It had been buried for so long that even Xiao Yu himself had nearly forgotten its existence.
“How… could this be?” Xiao Yu muttered in disbelief. In that instant, the solid walls of his defense were completely shattered. This matter had struck at the very core of his being.
“You… how do you know that?” Xiao Yu murmured, “Why do you know something like this?”
“The reason is simple.” the unknown entity replied calmly. “Your future self told me personally. So… do you believe me now?”
“I believe you. I believe…” Xiao Yu said weakly. The facts were right in front of him, he had no choice but to believe.
“Very well. Then now, do it.” The entity spoke quietly. “Kill all the intelligent lifeforms under your command. From this point on, never again allow intelligent beings to take part in your development. Rely on your own strength. Develop slowly, all the way to a Level 7 civilization, or even higher. Your name will echo through the Milky Way. Your name will resound across the universe.”
Xiao Yu fell silent.
He couldn’t quite describe what he was feeling. It was as if a valve of memory had been opened, and endless memories came flooding back.
This entity was absolutely right. Xiao Yu had indeed secretly watched Chen Mo bathing, and he had indeed fallen in love with that elf-like girl back during the Earth era. But in the end, reason triumphed over emotion. After three days of being unable to calm his mind to think, after three consecutive experimental failures due to small errors, Xiao Yu made his decision.“You should leave.” That’s what Xiao Yu had said to Chen Mo back then, his face emotionless, his tone as cold and hard as stone in a snowy field. “I’ve found a more suitable assistant, better than you for this role. There’s no place for you in my lab.”
Xiao Yu still remembered the look on Chen Mo’s face at that moment. To his surprise, her expression was calm, not the outburst he had expected. But thinking back on it now, that expression was probably the quiet after despair, the numbness after a broken heart.
“Alright. Goodbye.” Chen Mo nodded slowly and said gently, “Thank you, Director Xiao. I was happy during my time here at the lab. And thank you for taking care of me these past years. Goodbye.”
Her luggage was simple, just a small bag. She collected her salary from the finance office. For a young girl, it was a substantial sum. Chen Mo had lived and eaten at the lab, and she was a frugal person. So over the years, her salary had been saved up. Now she withdrew it all in one thick bundle. She hid her tears in her heart, kept a smile on her face, and left gracefully, without taking anything else, disappearing without a trace. Xiao Yu never knew where she went. He never tried to find her.
“Chen Mo must have been in great pain back then.” Xiao Yu thought silently. “I’m sorry… I’m sorry. I was too selfish.”
And afterward, things unfolded just as this so-called future version of himself had described. He left Earth and embarked on an endless journey, crawling forward with difficulty through darkness and peril. Yet the shadow of Chen Mo would still appear from time to time, like a medal that would never fade, hanging on Xiao Yu’s chest.
Forcing himself to cast Chen Mo’s shadow from his mind, Xiao Yu once again reflected on all he had experienced during this time.
Luka Two, Luka Three, Luka Four, and even Senya, Jason, and the others, there was no doubt they were outstanding scientists. They had contributed greatly to his cause. It could be said that at least thirty percent of his current achievements were thanks to them. But… in the future, would they really rebel? Would a peerless genius truly emerge, someone who, using means he could not detect, would secretly seize control of his fleet?
One memory after another surfaced in Xiao Yu’s mind. He suddenly realized that, unknowingly, a sense of camaraderie had quietly developed between him and these scientists. In this endlessly dark and cold universe, a group of weak beings had banded together into a single entity. Under his leadership, they had gradually grown and become stronger, supporting each other step by step, all the way to the present…
“Don’t harbor wishful thinking.” the unknown entity’s message came again. “Don’t delude yourself into believing that you can preserve these intelligent lifeforms or prevent the outcome by strengthening your oversight. You must understand, history follows certain patterns. The tasks of history will always be fulfilled by outstanding individuals.
The intelligent lifeform who seized control of your fleet bore a name from the Earth era, Xu Junpo. Even if you purge him, even if you tighten your management to prevent him from succeeding, you can’t prevent the emergence of a Yang Junpo, or a Li Junpo.
As long as you continue your policy of cooperating with intelligent lifeforms, this day will come. The reason is simple, no group of intelligent lifeforms will willingly accept eternal rule under a foreign being who stands above them. Even if the current population remains unchanged, with constant turnover and generational shifts, such a person is bound to appear. So don’t be softhearted. Don’t hesitate. Kill them all.
The Specter elder once taught us this lesson, don’t forget it.”
Xiao Yu’s heart trembled once more. His gaze turned to the fleet, to the Home series ships.
More than forty billion intelligent lifeforms continued living as they always had. Recruitment posters could be seen everywhere in the cities. In schools, young intelligent lifeforms were studying diligently. Xiao Yu knew they all held a simple yet difficult dream, to grow up and become scientists, to contribute to his cause.
Aboard Home Forty One, nearly twenty thousand scientists remained hard at work. New experimental data was being produced every moment. Xiao Yu saw Luka Four busy in the biological laboratory. Luka Two was leading the psychosocial sciences team in researching the latest social restructuring plans. Luka Three and the newly promoted Chief Scientist, Jason, were conducting research on the properties of tachyons under ultra-high energy fields. Every scientist was busy. Every scientist was contributing to him.
Aboard Home Sixty and Home Sixty One, five million soldiers were undergoing intense training. Fleet units trained in virtual simulations, though such simulations consumed immense mental energy. Based on Xiao Yu’s assessments of their psychological endurance, they typically couldn’t handle more than four hours of continuous training. Yet on the training grounds, it was common to see soldiers pushing through five or even six hours. When instructors forced them to leave, many cried out in protest, “Let me train a little longer! I haven’t yet mastered the coordination techniques under Formation Three. War could break out at any time, our master needs our strength!”
Planet-surface boarding units trained their physical bodies day and night. In combat drills against armed robots, they were often left covered in wounds, so much so that, without sedatives, they couldn’t sleep due to the pain. Yet they endured.
Shipboard assault troops trained constantly in the structures of different civilization-class ships. They had to master every possible internal layout, where the energy lines were, the data conduits, the command room, the power supply station. Only then could they minimize casualties while achieving maximum strategic effectiveness.
Aside from these soldiers, there were special forces, solo troops, internal security forces, and many others. These two ships, now designated military bases, were alive with constant clamor and motion. They never slept. Xiao Yu knew their wish was simple, to become combat-ready as soon as possible, to contribute to the defense of their home, and to contribute to him.
Xiao Yu’s heart trembled again.
With over forty billion intelligent lifeforms, it would be extremely easy for Xiao Yu to kill them all. All he needed to do was mix a certain chemical into the food supply in precise proportions while disabling all detection systems. The food would be smoothly delivered to every intelligent lifeform.
And because of the trust they had in him, they wouldn’t suspect a thing. Food sent by him, they would consume without question. This method would allow Xiao Yu to eliminate them all within a single day.
“What are you still hesitating for?” The entity, claiming to be sent by his future self, spoke calmly. “Given the current circumstances, making this decision may be difficult. Without the aid of intelligent lifeforms, you may feel disoriented. Your scientific progress will slow significantly. But understand this, temporary pain is the price for long-term survival. You can still acquire the technological gains of other intelligent civilizations through conquest. There is no need to raise and support intelligent beings yourself.”
“I’ve said all I needed to say. If you don’t want to repeat the same mistake… then act.”