Cheng Xin Caught

The Droplet Probe and the Light Particle Weapon.

After a brief understanding of their principles, the Emperor set them aside.

His attention was fully focused on the technical knowledge related to the Micro-Universe.

The theories involved in this technology were extremely profound.

The universe was a bubble isolated from nothingness by a super-membrane (the cosmic wall).

Micro-Universe technology could create universes with small spatial scales.

This meant opening up a small bubble on the surface of the larger bubble.

A Micro-Universe possessed independent time and space.

Even if the great universe were destroyed, the Micro-Universe would not be affected.

The only drawback was that a Micro-Universe had rules but no resources.

Resources had to be brought in from the great universe.

This technology posed a certain danger to the great universe.

Every universe had a critical point for material loss.

Once too much matter was lost, the universe would lose its ability to cycle and would head towards deathly stillness in eternal expansion.

If this technology were completely mastered and researched to its extreme, humanity would wield the authority of a creator.

Footsteps sounded.

Waldo entered from outside the laboratory and bowed to the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, Wallbreaker Luo Ji wishes to see you. He says he has very important matters to report to you personally."

"Wallbreaker?"

The Emperor had learned about the Wallbreaker plan.

Previously, the technological gap between Earth and the Trisolarans was too vast.

They were also monitored by Sophons 24 hours a day, leaving no room for secrets.

To counter the Trisolaran civilization, Earth had launched the Wallbreaker plan.

They were not accountable to anyone, nor did they need to explain themselves to anyone. They could mobilize vast resources from human society to formulate strategic plans and fight the Trisolaran civilization.

"Does he really need to see me?"

Waldo nodded. "Yes, he insists on seeing you and claims that what he has to say concerns the survival of both civilizations."

"It seems the big guy has become part of the plan," Raven said.

The Emperor pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Let him come."

Luo Ji was escorted into the laboratory by guards.

The laboratory was very large and the security was extremely strict.

After more than a dozen security checks, confirming there were no threats, Luo Ji was allowed to enter the room where the ruler of the empire resided.

As soon as he crossed the threshold, a sacred radiance filled his eyes.

A man, enveloped in radiance and possessing a perfect image, was waiting for his arrival.

"Your Majesty."

Luo Ji had been a staunch atheist.

The moment he saw the Emperor, he wavered.

Perhaps there truly were gods in this universe.

He instinctively wanted to kneel on one knee and offer eternal loyalty.

"Do not kneel."

With a wave of his hand, the Emperor unleashed psionic energy, preventing Luo Ji from kneeling.

The change in the destiny node had reached 15%, and the restrictions imposed by the great universe's will on the Emperor had been significantly loosened.

This allowed him to utilize some psionic energy.

Luo Ji showed a look of shock.

The imperial ruler before him seemed to possess powers that science could not explain.

"What is it that you must see me for? Have I also become part of your plan?"

Hearing this, Luo Ji showed shame and shook his head repeatedly.

When he had first become a Wallbreaker, he had been indulging in feasting and entertainment.

Whenever he wanted to do something absurd, he would use this phrase to brush off those who questioned him.

"Please forgive my past foolishness. I have come to see Your Majesty this time for truly important matters."

"Ye Wenjie, the first person to contact the Trisolarans, once told me two theorems of civilization, which I used to establish cosmic sociology."

At this moment, an experimental device began to hum.

The Emperor picked up a data tablet, checked the feedback data from the instrument, and nodded.

"Quite interesting, continue."

Luo Ji could tell that the Emperor was very busy and that this meeting was a time he had squeezed out between experiments.

He got straight to the point without any preamble.

"A civilization's primary need is survival, followed by growth and expansion, and the total amount of matter in the universe remains constant."

"Due to the limitations of physical laws and differences between species, a suspicion chain that is difficult to break exists between different civilizations."

"Furthermore, each civilization harbors the possibility of technological explosion within itself, which makes it difficult for different civilizations to establish a peaceful coexistence when they discover each other. The ultimate choice will inevitably be mutual destruction."

"The universe is a dark forest, and every civilization is a hunter with a gun. They hide cautiously in the darkness, and as soon as they detect any movement, they will shoot without hesitation."

"Ooh, big guy, a villager named Luo Ji has shared the truth of the universe with you - the Dark Forest theory." Raven flapped its wings.

The Emperor stopped what he was doing, turned his head to look at Luo Ji, and asked a question that made him freeze.

"The theory is quite good, but why should different races coexist peacefully?"

Luo Ji: "."

Good heavens.

Good heavens.

Good heavens.

At this moment, Luo Ji finally understood why the vast universe had become a dark forest.

"It seems I was worrying unnecessarily, and I've made you laugh," Luo Ji said.

"Don't underestimate yourself, what you've said is very valuable," the Emperor put down the data tablet in his hand. "It has complemented some of my conjectures."

After saying what he wanted to say, Luo Ji took his leave.

He no longer wanted to be involved in anything related to saving humanity, only wanting his wife, children, and a warm home.

After Luo Ji left, the Emperor fell into thought.

"What are you thinking about, big guy?" Raven asked.

The Emperor looked at Raven and said, "I'm wondering if the Dark Forest is a consequence of this universe suppressing the subspace too much?"

"Do the evil gods wandering outside the universe and in the subspace play another role in the food chain, which is to eliminate civilizations and promote the cycle of life."

"There is a balance between the subspace and the material universe. This universe suppresses the subspace too harshly, leaving only pure physical laws."

"If there were no evil gods to tempt those civilizations into self-destruction, these civilizations would continue to exist for a much longer time."

"And since they have no way to go to other universes, they can only continuously wage war within their own universe, snatching resources and eliminating dissenters."

Raven easily understood what the Emperor was trying to express.

"It's like the relationship between wolves and sheep, isn't it? If there are no wolves in this universe, the sheep will overpopulate, leading to the collapse of the ecological environment. What an interesting theory. Perhaps when we travel through enough universes, we can uncover the answer."

Cheng Xin joined the ETO organization, codenamed Maria.

She used her identity to rally support for the resistance.

Her special status as the "girl who got the stars" gave her immense appeal among the populace.

Many people joined the resistance because of her, making the movement gain considerable momentum.

They shouted slogans calling for freedom, democracy, and against dictatorship and tyranny, inciting people to resist the empire.

Many families or regional powers unwilling to be ruled by the empire responded.

Fires of war erupted everywhere, and conflicts broke out on all sides.

Videos and artistic works promoting the Trisolaran civilization and reflecting on humanity also circulated widely in human society.

"The Trisolarans just want a piece of land to call home, they don't want war."

"After more than two hundred cycles of reincarnation, just for survival, such a tenacious race deserves human respect."

"Peace, not war."

"The Trisolarans never said they wanted to go to war; it was all deception by the human elite for the sake of consolidating power."

"..."

As the resistance movement was in full swing, Vand located a stronghold where many ETO high-ranking officials were hiding.

He led the imperial army in a surprise attack. After a fierce battle, they killed a group of resistance members and captured the stronghold.

The surviving ETO high-ranking officials were arrested, including Cheng Xin.