Chapter 00047: The Conflict of Two Civilizations
# The Conflict of Two Civilizations
Chapter 47
Novel: Abandon The Universe
Chapter 47: The Conflict of Two Civilizations
Securing the survival pod, Lan Xiaobu began to observe the flying saucer. The ancient path had either eaten too much or was simply exhausted, already fast asleep on the side.
The interior of the flying saucer was quite spacious, with sleeping areas and a stargazing observation window. In one corner of the saucer, Lan Xiaobu found an exceptionally sharp long knife. The moment he held the knife in his hand, he knew it was forged from a rare material. This kind of material did not exist on Earth and must be an extraterrestrial product.
After making a round in the flying saucer, Lan Xiaobu returned to the cockpit, "According to Kunlun's speed, it will take several years to leave the Milky Way. Compared to this, light speed and Kunlun's speed are simply not on the same level. In fact, Lan Xiaobu understood very well that this is not merely a matter of speed, but of spatial trajectories.
When speed exceeds that of light, space can be folded. The greater the excess, the more severe the folding. If one could fold space over a distance of one light-year, one could traverse it in mere days or even hours at light speed. Of course, this is a paradox. According to the knowledge Lan Xiaobu had acquired, theoretically, below light speed, spatial trajectories could not be folded. Without the ability to fold space, a distance of one light year cannot possibly be traversed in just a few days at light speed.
The concept of spatial folding is extremely profound; once spatial folding occurs, your position may differ immensely from the pre-determined one.
Bored and restless, Lan Xiaobu casually asked, “Kunlun, if we continue this way, it will take too long to leave the Milky Way. Can you quicken our departure using spatial folding?”
Kunlun immediately replied, "Yes, but as a product of a Level-5 technological civilization, Kunlun’s calculations for spatial trajectories are not perfect. If we travel using spatial folding, we may well become lost in the vast universe or even be torn apart by misaligned spaces.”
After hesitating for just a moment, Lan Xiaobu stated, “Kunlun, regardless of its perfection, let’s leave the Milky Way using spatial folding right now.”
According to Kunlun’s current speed and methods, it would take at least seven to eight years to leave the Milky Way, and in a slower scenario, it could take several decades. It was quite likely that it was due to the prolonged journey that A had ultimately perished aboard the flying saucer. Although his soul lived on, what meaning did that kind of living hold...
As for being torn into fragments, that could only be said to be bad luck.
No, wait?
Lan Xiaobu suddenly sensed something was amiss; he hadn’t had the chance to figure out what was wrong when Kunlun stated, “Initiating the spatial folding passage, altering trajectory...”
Kunlun trembled slightly, but Lan Xiaobu was entirely unbothered. At that moment, a chill ran down his back, and his scalp tingled.
He recalled a terrifying fact: he had killed Lian's soul and devoured all of Lian's memories. But why couldn’t he employ the means to stab through souls?
Earlier, when Lian's soul tried to take over his body, it had managed to knock him unconscious using a soul-stabbing technique. When he had awakened, he had endured a second soul stabbing.
By all reasoning, he had absorbed Lian's memories; he should have gained that technique as well. Even if the absorption process had some missing pieces, there would still be sporadic fragments. Yet in reality, he had not the slightest impression of it. This reminded Lan Xiaobu of a previous matter: Lian had been searching for the Earth Star, which was Earth. But what was Lian’s purpose in searching for the Earth Star? He had no recollection of that either.
If Lian did not even know what he was looking for the Earth Star for, then why had he come?
With two crucial memories absent, there were only two possibilities: First, during his struggle with Lian's soul, he lost some memories. Second, Lian was still alive, and the reason he had not obtained this information was that it was too vital, and Lian had forcibly sealed that memory away.
The first possibility did not hold; he was certain he had consumed all memories. While he had indeed lost some during the acquisition of Lian’s memories, it was improbable that precisely two vital matters would be entirely missing without a fragment remaining. Thus, the second possibility had to exist, meaning Lian was still alive.
At this moment, Lan Xiaobu didn’t care whether the flying saucer would be torn apart by spatial folding. He was feeling greatly anxious. If he could not find a trace of Lian’s soul, the Earth was still in grave danger.
But he could not search within his own Purple Palace; he could only rely on his feelings.
No, he had another method: to tear apart his own soul. This was a technique he had learned when Lian attempted to possess him. Although he could not find where Lian's soul was hiding, he could tear apart his own soul. As Lian was an existing soul, even if he hadn’t fully died, he was still present within Lan Xiaobu's own soul.
Lan Xiaobu was unforgiving to himself. He first grabbed several bottles of Vital Core Element Potions and placed them beside him, then without hesitation began to tear at his own soul.
The searing pain that penetrated to the core made Lan Xiaobu let out a piercing scream; his whole body trembled, and his muscles contorted.
“Master, do you need Kunlun’s assistance?” The flying saucer, Kunlun, caught the sound of Lan Xiaobu’s cries and asked immediately.
Lan Xiaobu, voice trembling, replied, “Accelerate away from the Milky Way, don’t worry about me; just get as far away as possible. If I lose my life, you must enter the spatial overlap and destroy everything automatically…”
“Understood.” Kunlun replied and then fell silent. Lan Xiaobu tore at his own soul once more; the terror of pain rendered him incapable of fainting. When it comes to soul torment, one absolutely cannot faint unless one dies.
“Once, twice…”
Lan Xiaobu's complexion had turned pale as paper, his eyes bloodshot, and his whole being rolled on the flying saucer. The ancient path, awakened from slumber, stared blankly at Lan Xiaobu.
After an unknown number of soul tearings, Lan Xiaobu finally discovered something amiss. There was a point deep within his consciousness that was unattainable; the continuous tearing of his soul had exposed that point.
Tear it apart for me…
Lan Xiaobu hesitated not at all. Having endured such fearsome pain, upon discovering something wrong, how could he let it go?
“Ah…” A shrill scream echoed deep in Lan Xiaobu's mind, and this time he felt a bit lighter, prompting him to frantically tear at the unreachable point within his consciousness.
“Stop… if you kill me, you cannot live either…” Lian's voice emerged.
Lan Xiaobu instead let out a breath of relief, continuing to tear and then devour.
A trickle of memories surged forth; even though his head hurt as if it would burst, Lan Xiaobu felt an overall sense of ease. This ease was not physical but rather spiritual.
A day later, Lan Xiaobu sat up, grabbed a bottle of Vital Core Element Potion to drink, then closed his eyes to begin absorbing the newly acquired fragments of memory.
In the universe, there were two competing ideologies: one focused on the development of technological civilization, the other on the cultivation civilization.
As technological civilization continuously enhanced human lifespan, the cultivation civilization stagnated, leading many humans in various galactic systems to believe that the cultivation civilization had entered the End of Dharma Era, positing that only advancements in technology would allow humanity to venture further.
Lian had come from a Level-5 technological civilization planet, the Red Thunder Star. In planets of technological civilization, pursuing cultivation was discouraged, as it was generally considered a blemish.
However, Lian’s father was the emperor of the Iron Bow Empire, the foremost empire on Red Thunder Star. Naturally, no one would dare to speak against the son of such a powerful figure. Moreover, even Lian did not pursue cultivation in an upright manner. He built his foundation upon martial cultivation, seeking the wisdom of the cultivation civilization.
After reaching the Dan Formation Realm in martial cultivation, Lian learned a tremendous secret: the birthplace of cultivation civilization was on Earth. Countless legendary figures had once emerged from Earth, including saints. However, following the Cosmic Deity War, these immensely powerful beings vanished utterly, becoming mere legends. Consequently, the cultivation civilization was also severed, with only fragmented knowledge of cultivation having been passed down in the universe.
To cultivate to a higher realm or to find authentic cultivation techniques, one had to go to Earth. Only by finding the inheritance of cultivation civilization on Earth could one qualify to ascend to a higher tier.
Lian had journeyed to Earth in search of the true heritage of cultivation civilization. What he had not anticipated, however, was that when he arrived on Earth, the bodies had turned cold, and only a trace of soul remained. Thus, when his soul attempted to possess Lan Xiaobu, it was completely extinguished by Lan Xiaobu.
Lan Xiaobu let out a breath of relief. Not only had he uncovered Lian’s secret regarding Earth, but he had also found the means to practice soul stabbing. To be precise, this was not soul stabbing; it was Soul Refining Technique.
The Soul Refining Technique is a means to temper the strength of one’s soul. Upon refinement to the second stage, one can condense spiritual power into needles to attack opponents. This technique is also known as Soul Thorn.
Lian had reached the second stage, but flipping through Lian's memories, it was difficult to cultivate the Soul Refining Technique to the second stage. Lian was able to reach the second stage because he continually grew his soul by devouring the souls of others. The herb gatherer within the flying saucer had perished because his soul was consumed by Lian’s soul.
This was also the reason why Lian's life span had ended; his physical form had died, yet his soul remained alive. Once the Soul Severing Technique reaches the second stage, it can exist for one hundred fifty to one hundred eighty years without decay. Furthermore, after cultivating the Soul Refining Technique, both memory and comprehension are enhanced exponentially. It was due to this that the memory fragments left by Lian could almost destroy Lan Xiaobu.
Thinking of this, Lan Xiaobu felt a deep-seated fear. It was indeed his will that had grown exceedingly strong, while Lian had been far too weak. Otherwise, he feared he would not have been able to withstand Lian's attempt to take over.
(Today's update ends here, good night, friends!)
(End of this chapter)