The Age of Exploration
Su Luo glanced at the list again.
The ranking of the Suguang Civilization has dropped significantly, falling to outside the top 400.
Other civilizations on the same battlefield fared even worse, almost falling out of the top 1,000, with Han Song barely making it into the top 1,000.
After all, this was an apocalyptic crisis that everyone actively chose. Each special event was different, and I personally preferred the increased difficulty in Battlefield 114514.
But once the Mana was acquired, it was equivalent to moving from a civilization focused solely on Technology Side to a hybrid civilization where Technology Side and Mana Side were developing together.
The pace of development will only continue to explode.
Su Luo's gaze moved upwards and landed on the top of the list.
"Goddess of Luck..."
Su Luo saw that Jiang Mengrui's civilization had reached the [Early Information Age], putting her ahead of everyone else.
It is currently the only one to have reached the next era after the [Electronic Age] – the [Information Age].
It's roughly at the same stage of civilization as my hometown; this rate of development is a bit strange.
"Could it be that they've never encountered any apocalyptic crises, or perhaps some extraordinary events that have drastically accelerated their civilization's technology?"
Recalling the terrifying dominance of Goddess of Luck over the cards in the last District War, Su Luo hesitated.
Battlefield 114514 has already experienced two world-ending crises. If I'm not mistaken, other high-end battlefields are in similar situations, constantly tormented by special events sent by the system.
"But it doesn't matter, I've already guessed the next apocalyptic crisis..."
Su Luo's gaze fell upon the civilization stage of the Suguang Civilization— [Late Steam Age].
In fact, most technologies have already reached the Electronic Age. Internal combustion engines, electric motors, telegraphs... these are technologies that the Suguang Civilization already possessed.
But the reason for being stuck at a certain level this time is the same as last time.
The Electronic Age requires at least three million people, yet the Suguang Civilization remains firmly constrained by the population red line.
At this point, twenty hours had passed since the event ended, and nearly fourteen years had passed since the Origin Star Wars.
The population of the Suguang Civilization has barely reached one million, which is already the result of the rapid operation of relevant domestic policies and agencies.
Encouraging childbirth, promoting eugenics, reducing infant mortality... everything that can be done has been done, and the streets are full of young people and children.
Although the total population is not large, at least the quality of life has improved, and even things like telegraph machines have become common.
From Changhe City to Magic Spring Ore, from the west coast to the east border, telegraph lines stretched densely in the air, their ticking sounds never ceasing day and night.
Steam trains became widespread, railway tracks were laid for thousands of miles, and trains rumbled along, transporting people and goods from one end to the other.
Even electric lights began to appear; cheap Mana was converted into electricity, illuminating city after city.
Thanks to various bonuses and the Mu Ri, the Suguang Civilization managed to push its technological level to near the mid -Electronic Age despite lacking a large population.
Using this as a springboard, they occupied 75 percent of the "Cracks" in the Cangyuan Continent.
It's now called "Magic Spring Ore".
Those fissures that once spewed forth magical beasts now flow with Mana. One Magic Spring Ore is worth a hundred coal mines. The Suguang Civilization has made a fortune from these mines, leaving other civilizations far behind.
But the Mu Ri is not satisfactory.
His gaze once again turned to other continents.
The true Age of Exploration arrived after various civilizations had resolved the aftermath of Warcraft.
The one with strong ships and powerful cannons will win.
The 49th year of the Civilization Calendar.
The docks of Changhe Port were packed with people. Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds and sprinkled on the surging waves, breaking into golden spots.
The sounds of steam whistles, cheers, and the roar of Steam mingled together, making one's ears ring.
The first true ocean-going fleet in the history of the Suguang Civilization is about to set sail.
At the very front of the dock, Mu Ri stood on a temporary elevated platform.
He wore a dark gray uniform, with the Authority Sword hanging at his waist, and held a silver-white book in his hands. The wind blew his clothes, making them flutter.
Below the stage, fifteen Warships were neatly lined up outside the harbor. In the sunlight, those steel behemoths gleamed with a cold light, their cannons densely packed together.
The three Capital Ships are one kilometer long. They are forged entirely from high-quality steel, and their decks are equipped with hundreds of cannons and Spell turrets.
That is the culmination of the industrial accumulation of the Suguang Civilization; each ship took three full years of work and the efforts of tens of thousands of people.
The twelve escort ships were slightly smaller, but faster, with streamlined hulls that seemed designed for pursuit.
Behind the fleet followed several supply ships, fully loaded with coal, Mana supplies, ammunition, and food.
Unlike before the advent of the Mana Age, humans and vehicles now naturally possess the ability to travel for extended periods.
The scarce Mana in the environment is the best energy source. When an internal combustion engine runs out of coal, it can be replaced with Mana; when people are tired, they can use Mana to restore their strength; when a ship is damaged, a mage can use Spell to repair it.
Mu Ri slowly raised his Authority Sword.
The audience fell silent instantly.
"Go." His voice wasn't loud, but amplified by Mana, it carried clearly throughout the entire port. "Let the world know that the Tracing Light has arrived."
The fleet sets sail.
Origin Star. Endless Ocean.
The fleet is forging ahead, cutting through the waves.
At this moment, the decks of the fleet were filled with people. Sailors were busy adjusting sails, checking machinery, and moving supplies.
The soldiers cleaned their weapons, checked their ammunition, and made final preparations before the landing.
The accompanying mages sat cross-legged in the cabin, Meditation with their eyes closed, honing their skills. The concentration of Mana in the cabin was astonishingly high, and even the air seemed to glow slightly.
In the captain's cabin, the captain stood by the porthole, looking out at the boundless sea.
The waves lapped against the hull, causing the massive Warship to rock slightly. But he stood there, motionless, as if he were an extension of the deck.
Beside him, the first mate walked over with a nautical chart.
"Captain, the eastern coast of the Yunmeng Continent is just ahead." He pointed to a location on the sea chart. "According to intelligence, the nearest civilization to us is the Ximo Civilization, with a population of about 600,000, in the Early Steam Age. They have a main port right here—"
His finger landed on the nautical chart and tapped it.
"The port has fortifications and about twenty cannons. With our firepower, we can easily Suppression."
The captain nodded.
What lies behind the Ximo Civilization?
The first mate flipped through another document.
"According to reports from the reconnaissance ships, there are two main human civilizations on the Yunmeng Continent: the Ximo Civilization, with the largest population, which has already developed electricity and Mana industries; Linyuan Civilization, with a population of about 500,000, whose technology is similar to that of Western Ink, and which is said to have begun researching ocean-going fleets; further south, there is a Dwarf Civilization, whose population is unknown, but whose mechanical arts are very advanced, and which has trade relations with Western Ink and Near the Abyss."
We know that there are still occasional sea routes between the two continents.
The first mate paused, then added, "In addition, the Yunmeng Continent also has Magic Spring Ore, but the quantity is not as large as that of the Cangyuan Continent, and they are all occupied by three civilizations."
The captain narrowed his eyes.
Dwarf.
Non-human.