A Special Nurturing Space

The fall of the Yatke Blue Group definitively cemented Lister's Hegemon in the Babylon Galaxy.

The remaining forces of the Blue Cluster Galaxy were completely wiped out by the Mechanical Alliance.

The other forces in the Babylon Galaxy, who had originally intended to test the waters and waver between the two sides, no longer harbored any disloyalty and submitted one after another.

A very small number of forces have completely given up hope and have secretly begun to withdraw.

The newly formed mechanical alliance would naturally not let this opportunity pass.

If you had left before the mopping-up operation was completed, Lister wouldn't have cared much.

But now that they've left, their influence will inevitably lead to the complete plundering of the entire star system's resources.

This touched upon the interests of Lister and the Church of Mechanical Truth, and the crackdown was unprecedented.

Within half a month, the remaining Babylon Galaxy was completely wiped out.

Kavin's Church of Mechanical Truth officially took over the core region of the galaxy and began a large-scale transformation of planetary structures, imprinting metallic runes into the core of the stars, gradually transforming the entire galaxy into an ideal nation of Mechanical Civilization.

Meanwhile, in the BN-7 Star Region of the Star Matrix Civilization.

Lister, Kavin, and Hoffman gathered here.

When are they planning to attack from the Blue Cluster Galaxy?

Hoffman is using Ailan's body today. The soul of this former first Quasi-Hegemon of the Galactic Federation has been completely erased, with only his body remaining intact, becoming one of Hoffman's many puppets.

I haven't decided whether to occupy it yet.

"We must make a decision soon. Now that the Hegemon of the Blue Skirt Galaxy has fallen, it's the perfect time to attack the leader."

"Its galaxy has more than three times the fixed resources of the Babylon Galaxy."

"If no action is taken in the near future, other Hegemon powers may take action, rather than turning this into a public star system."

We have a relatively better and more detailed understanding of whether Hoffman left any puppets in the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

The resource density of the Blue Cluster Galaxy, even though it has already been largely depleted by Yatke, is still much greater than that of the Babylon Galaxy.

The Blue Cluster Galaxy's popularity is destined to remain high, making it unlikely that it will revert to being a public galaxy.

However, for Lister, the Babylon Galaxy was for the development of Mechanical Civilization by Kavin.

Occupying the Blue Cluster Galaxy would be of little significance and would only make it more vulnerable to covetousness.

Even though he wasn't worried about his own strength, he didn't want to spend most of his time guarding the Blue Cluster Galaxy.

Furthermore, there are numerous public galaxies in the universe, and even countless undiscovered galaxies.

For Hegemon power, there are actually more options.

"I do think it's worth considering occupying it, since you've already wiped out a portion of the Blue Cluster Galaxy's main force."

"Under these circumstances, the remaining members of its galaxy will not require much time or effort to submit."

"As the new Hegemon, everyone will know that you destroyed Yatke, and you will also establish your reputation in the vast universe."

"Furthermore, the Babylon Galaxy is adjacent to the Blue Cluster Galaxies, and their mutual support makes their overall defensive position even better."

"This will give us more support when we attack the Galactic Federation in the future."

Under Hoffman's persuasion, Lister nodded repeatedly, his mind beginning to lean inward.

"It's just... I don't have much energy to manage galaxies."

"Aside from recently, I will return to the Milky Way Galaxy later."

You don't know how poor it is outside until you go out.

Frankly speaking, in terms of resources in the Babylon Galaxy, apart from that special space, the Galactic Federation is hundreds or even thousands of times better than him.

It's no wonder; in a typical public galaxy, it's difficult for a Hegemon to emerge.

The Galactic Federation, however, is home to numerous civilizations and races, with Hegemon powers clustered together.

"I intend to attempt to establish a puppet civilization in the Blue Skirt Galaxy."

"That's fine then. Once the tests here are complete, have Kavin arrange for the mechanical alliance to attack."

Upon hearing that Hoffman had the idea himself, Lister stopped thinking about it.

Hoffman's help to him was merely the resources of a single galaxy.

If he could return to SS-rank, he would eventually have a chance to break through to the Hegemon, which would be a great help to him and Kavin in overthrowing the Galactic Federation in the future.

All that Lister needs to do now is issue a few statements.

A crimson nebula slowly swirled in the void, and a transparent crystal wrapped in mechanical tentacles floated in front of the three.

This is the core that the Star Matrix Civilization has guarded for ten thousand years—a rhomboid space with a diameter of less than 100 meters that constantly collapses and expands in a vacuum, with a silvery-blue substance flowing on its surface, somewhere between liquid and gas.

It's smaller than I expected.

Hoffman's mechanical fingers pierced through the outer wall of space, creating ripple-like waves.

"But its purity is sufficient, at least enough to support the nurturing of Overlord Tier soul."

Kavin manipulates the data stream to weave runes onto the crystal surface.

"I have already analyzed the cultivation methods of the top psionicists of the Star Matrix Civilization."

"It's an extreme method of enhancing strength through mental self-harm repair. The principle is to actively tear apart one's own soul and then rapidly repair it through the soul's cloud space, as if tempering and improving oneself."

"This cultivation method has a fatal flaw—the cycle of soul tearing and repair leads to irreversible changes in brain structure."

No wonder the life forms of the Star Matrix Civilization are so ugly.

The top-heavy appearance was actually a result of the race's overall mutation after rapidly improving using this space; it could also be called evolution.

Lister stepped in, his Killing Intent Wave across the core of the space, and the Saber Soul suddenly trembled deep within his soul.

The specks of gray, misty matter within the space suddenly revealed their true form upon closer inspection; they were indeed soul energy.

Unfortunately, it was far inferior to the Soul Barrier of the Galactic Federation, and the purity of its soul power was not high, containing a lot of silver-blue impurities.

Compared to his current sources of Soul Crystals, he really didn't care about the situation in this space.

Try to condense a wisp of Saber Soul energy at your fingertips, and the matter in the space immediately surges forth as if it were alive.

"This thing really can directly repair soul damage."

After fiddling with it for a while, Kavin disconnected the data link.

Hoffman had already taken up residence in this space.

Compared to Lister's recent probing with his Saber Soul energy, the soul energy in the space is now continuously surging into Hoffman's body in large quantities.

It felt like a genuine soul-soothing process.

Lister silently speculated about this.

The death of the doll may not have been without consequences.

Especially since Hoffman's master puppet was destroyed by Vidal during the last conscription, the trauma had already taken hold.

"Let's begin."

Without disturbing Hoffman's recovery, Lister spoke softly to Kavin.

Immediately afterwards, more than a dozen mechanical lifeforms entered.

An attempt to sit cross-legged here to study and train.

This is also the most important purpose for the three of them to gather today.

I want to know exactly what nurturing effects this space has.

Although it was of little significance to Lister.

But for Mechanical Civilization, this space is just right.

According to Kavin, the mechanical lifeforms, since they were born with life consciousness in the AI factory, have had a lower soul strength than most lifeforms.

Except for a small number of mechanical life forms, most mechanical life forms will inevitably lack some aspect of logic and emotion.

Initially, Kavin believed it was due to the diversity of mechanical life forms.

It wasn't until the Church of Mechanical Truth truly established itself in the Babylon Galaxy that in-depth research revealed that this wasn't due to diversity, but simply a lack of innate talent.

Thirteen mechanical lifeforms are temporarily residing here.

Feeling the soul energy constantly seeping into myself.

Most of the mechanical lifeforms looked and felt comfortable, as if the wounds to their souls from the past were being repaired.

But no further changes occurred, which left Lister and Kavin somewhat disappointed.

"Um...?"

Two hours later, the strongest mechanical guard in the mechanical declaration suddenly acted strangely.

The previously calm "silver-blue impurities" suddenly boiled, churning violently like a deep-sea monster awakened.

The mechanical guard's metal shell was covered with ice crystal-like patterns at a visible speed, and the energy core in its chest cavity began to rotate uncontrollably in reverse.

Warning: An abnormal Soul Resonance has been detected!

Although the mechanical guards are mechanical life forms, they were created by Kavin after all.

At this moment, countless data points on his body are connected to Kavin and can be monitored at any time, including the most important "soul power".

Due to his own reasons, Kavin's expression remained calm.

But the data stream in front of him suddenly froze into a red alert in the air, while he explained to Lister.

"His mechanical consciousness is being reconstructed?"

Upon hearing this, Lister's Killing Intent Wave suddenly tightened, locking onto the mechanical guard.

Suddenly, the flesh and blood tissue covering the mechanical guard's head tore apart, revealing a metal shell and the rapidly flashing nerve circuits beneath it.

Surprisingly, fine, dark red tissue is now growing on those normally cold, metallic nerve cords!

Unlike simple biological tissue, it exhibits synchronous metal construction.

"It's not just a reconstruction of consciousness."

Hoffman was suddenly jolted awake from his recovery state, and the pupils of Ailan's body shrank to pinpoints.

"It's the soul matter that's reversing his mechanical form!"

As if to confirm his words, the mechanical guard's hand suddenly convulsed.

When he looked up again, the optical lens in his pupils had transformed into two full, silver-blue moons.

He murmured unconsciously.

"Galactic Federation, chaotic information, Merrick Civilization..."

"He's accessing spatial memory!"

The data projection in front of Kavin instantly displayed an analysis module.

"These silver-blue substances are fragments of memories from generations of psionicists who have cultivated here!"

The entire space has now transformed into a raging ocean, with more and more mechanical lifeforms being swept up in this bizarre evolution.

Unconscious tremors appeared on their metal bodies, and a few even began to unconsciously form the spiritual hand seals unique to the Star Matrix Civilization.

"Let's stop the experiment!"

Lister's Shadowless Blade was suddenly drawn, and a crimson killing intent transformed into a crimson barrier that enveloped the out-of-control area.

If the memories of these mechanical lifeforms are altered or additionally combined, can they still be considered the same entity?

He expressed skepticism, feeling that this space was not a good place for mechanical life.

But the next second, his Killing Intent Wave suddenly detected an even more astonishing change.

The soul strength of those mutated mechanical life forms is increasing at an unimaginable speed!

The ascent didn't stop until ten minutes later.

Kavin's data projection also revealed dazzling golden text.

[Soul strength increase estimate: 100% → 129%]

A 30% improvement isn't a significant number.

But one thing is certain: the defects in the souls of these mechanical life forms, which originally had inherent flaws, have been truly repaired.

"Let's wait and see. Perhaps this isn't pollution... but a gift!"

Hoffman stood up and observed the mechanical lifeforms with equal curiosity.

As if confirming this crazy conjecture, the mechanical guard who was the first to mutate suddenly calmed down.

He stood up and saluted Kavin and the other two.

"Grown ups."

How are you feeling?

"I feel that my strength and other qualities have improved, and I have more insights into the knowledge I learned in the past."

This mechanical bodyguard was originally in human form, and his facial expressions were much more natural and expressive than Kavin's.

Lister ignored what he said and instead started scanning with the system.

[Target: Dinar (Kavin's personal guard unit)]

[Occupation: Alchemy Master (Mechanical Engineering)]

[Level: LV180]

[Attributes: Strength: 180, Stamina: 180, Intelligence: 360, Agility: 180]

[Skill: Alchemy Furnace (SS Rank)...,

Mechanical Detonation (Class S)

...]

[Overall Rating: S]

The data shows that all thinking attributes have reached their extreme values at this moment.

Even the passive aspect of intelligence is maximized at this moment.

The damage data for skills of the same level has also been improved to varying degrees.

If he had previously barely reached the level of Quasi-Hegemon, his current strength has taken a big step forward, and his foundation has become completely solid.

"Those memories? How do you feel about them?"

Kavin, still unconvinced, continued to inquire.

"Fragmented memories are primarily filled with negative emotions."

"It makes no difference to me."

Upon hearing this, everyone quietly relaxed.

Hoffman, in particular, has done considerable research on this.

"It shouldn't be memory alteration or memory weaving; those two processes couldn't have taken that long."

"And this space is not capable of having its own independent consciousness."

"It's just using the magazines from the Star Matrix Civilization's cultivation process to supplement their ordinary emotional logic."

With that thought in mind, Lister lightly tapped his fingertip and sent a signal into the distance.

Before long, Jiji flew into the area and landed on his shoulder.

As the mother of the Evil Shadow Mechanical Bird, it had been mostly lingering near the breeding grounds for some time.

Now that we've arrived at this brand new place, we can feel Jiji's excitement through the Symbiosis Contract.

Try this.

Compared to the mechanical life forms that Kavin created, Jiji is even more different from ordinary life forms.

This region represents a fusion of Mechanical Civilization and Zerg civilizations; perhaps unexpected surprises await.

Sure enough, Jiji quickly shrank back into a silver metallic ball.

The soul power of this space began to flow in, and at the same time, the silver-blue substance was also gradually injected.

Just like a mechanical life form, the Jiji silver metal sphere began to tremble unconsciously, revealing a tremendous change within.

Notice: The souls of symbiotes are being eroded by unknown energy...

The next instant, Jiji's body unfolded again.

The eerie green eyes, originally constructed from the Evil Shadow Civilization's Resentful Evil Eye, turned silver-blue at this moment, and the unique spiritual patterns of the Star Matrix Civilization grew from the edges of the wing blades.

Fine runes appeared on the smooth metallic surface of his abdomen, and his aura began to surge.