Chapter 504: Humanity's Turning Point_1

Per Jiang Yu's request, the staff installed a simple electronic signal transmitter for him.

This transmitter could only send out basic messages indicating "yes" or "no". If he managed to hold off the opposition, Jiang Yu would send a "yes" signal; if it proved ineffective, he would send a "no" signal.

When the emergency team received the "yes" signal, they were to immediately organize others to get in contact with Ji Kang.

Thus with a suicidal tactic, they would buy additional time for those trying to escape.

If they received a "no" signal, or if no signal was sent at all, it meant that the plan had failed, and there would be no need to send more people to their deaths.

When Jiang Yu left the meeting room, he said to everyone, "It was a pleasure to work with all of you. You are all outstanding!"

"I ask you all to hold out until the last moment, because nobody knows if the next second might bring a turn of events."

Everyone clapped to see Jiang Yu off, many wiping away tears silently as they applauded.

Jiang Yu went to his office and had the staff show him how to use the electronic signal transmitter.

After all the operatives had left, Jiang Yu zoned out for two or three seconds, then said to Galaxy III, "Connect me with Ji Kang from the science exploration team."

"Certainly!" Galaxy III replied, "Using gravitational waves..."

With the real-time communication disrupted, Galaxy III's quantum computer was also affected, its response noticeably slow.

Jiang Yu interrupted Galaxy III, "Just use the real-time communication system."

"Sorry, I've just been informed that the real-time communication system is paralyzed for unknown reasons."

"You need to make contact with whom I tell you," Jiang Yu instructed, "Do as I say."

After two or three seconds, Galaxy III expressed surprise, "As you wish, we really have made the connection!"

Immediately, the screen in front of Jiang Yu lit up, displaying Ji Kang's image.

He smiled and said, "What's the matter? Have you given up resisting? Or are you naively hoping to negotiate with me?"

Jiang Yu leisurely lit a cigarette, "If I said I wanted to negotiate with you, would you talk to me?"

Shrugging, Ji Kang replied, "Then I would have to inform you that if all of humanity just took a look at Paradise, we could talk."

With that, he laughed a few hearty laughs, "Alright, enough joking. You've already mostly figured out the Dark Forest Law, you should know negotiations are impossible."

"I also know there's no possibility for negotiations!" Jiang Yu took a drag from his cigarette, "Let me guess, is your next move to increase the output of Paradise so that everyone within a certain radius can see it?"

Ji Kang nodded, "Something like that."

"Lucky you, having so many means at your disposal, while we no longer even have a way to resist," Jiang Yu said laughingly, self-mockingly.

He then asked, "You must be quite busy, right? After all, the universe is vast, and surely many civilizations fall into your traps."

"It's just a job," Ji Kang appeared quite conversational, "like your society's teachers, doctors, engineers. Can't say too busy, for we have all the time in the world."

"So, you view the destruction of civilizations as a job?"

Ji Kang said with a smile, "No need to be so agitated. Many civilizations in the universe have devoted Cleaners, scouring the cosmos for traces of intelligent life.

"But really, they are like janitors, without any professional spirit, lacking sufficient respect for civilizations. In such a state, they are doomed to not go far.

"We, on the other hand, create archives for each civilization we destroy, to prove that they once existed."

Jiang Yu took a moment to ask, "Don't you find it cumbersome?"

Ji Kang repeated, "We have all the time. Besides, work is mundane, you always have to find some fun for yourself."

Jiang Yu seemed to understand, "Even time is at your disposal?"

"No, no, no, we've just found some loopholes in time, like your world's Thirty-Six put forward in the 'Time Chaos Theory'", Ji Kang explained:

"I'm surprised that such a backward civilization as yours actually has such advanced theories.

"It's quite impressive, truly. I've destroyed so many civilizations, and you're the only one that has uncovered this theory!

"And there are many unexpected things about you, like the first psychologist who communicated with me. He was very perceptive and gave you timely warnings, which made my job harder.

"There was also a soldier, very resolute, which required me to put in extra effort.

"But now it's different. With the further accumulation of energy in Paradise itself, it will soon reach its peak state. Believe me, not a single human will escape this calamity.

"Whether it's human worlds dozens of light-years away, Earth in space, or ships traveling at the speed of light."

Jiang Yu lit another cigarette, possibly the last one of his life, "May I ask, is our consciousness annihilated by you? Or do you collect it for other purposes?"

"You don't have a lot of time left," Ji Kang said with a laugh. "But of course, I can answer you."

He continued, "You've already discovered that gravity is a force that transcends dimensions. What you don't know is that consciousness and emotions can also overcome the limits of dimensions.

"Because the dimension where consciousness exists is very high, it can easily influence lower ones.

"Life in the Three-dimensional World is the vessel through which consciousness exerts its influence and also serves as a coordinate and guarantee for consciousness.

"Most importantly, consciousness is an energy form, and as long as there is an interaction of feelings between consciousnesses, it generates an abstract power that transcends dimensions, but which you could perceive.

"However, your technology is too backward to understand the method, hence you don't know how to harness the power of consciousness.

"We generally use the consciousness of other intelligent beings to augment and strengthen our own consciousness."

So eloquently put, but isn't that just devouring the consciousness of others like consuming a meal!

Then Jiang Yu was taken aback for he thought of his own "Wallfacer's Shop" and the need to exchange Deception Points for goods. Collecting Deception Points, could that be the process of gathering energy?

He then asked, "So, are you a cross-dimensional civilization?"

This was also a concept once proposed by Thirty-Six.

"Yes," Ji Kang answered. "Your wise men are correct, a civilization must transcend dimensions to be called a God-level Civilization."

Suddenly, Ji Kang realized that up to this moment, Jiang Yu showed no signs of being infected.

He looked closely, "Do you have a protective layer on your consciousness? Or a protective layer from a higher dimension? Wait, the strings on you are strange."

His face showed surprise, "You, you've been transplanted into this universe?"