"Hadn't the Planetary Barrier already been opened? Where did these three Spiritual Practitioners come from?"
Wang Jixuan found it hard not to suspect that He Ruli had deceived them.
"Um..."
Peony was not sure either. Her little face was thoughtful as she muttered:
"Don't they have the final say in explaining this? Us tiny little civilizations... once our eyes go dark and our Two Legs kick out, that's it."
Wang Jixuan lightly patted the back of his neck and pondered carefully.
Before he could make any wild guesses, several rays of light flickered nearby, and He Ruli's projection appeared.
She gave Wang Jixuan a slight bow as a sign of respect and said directly:
"The Planetary Barrier has indeed been activated. I swear upon the glory of civilization."
Wang Jixuan gave an awkward laugh.
A civilization that had been reduced to nothing but ruins and relics.
"Come over and talk."
A trace of cold severity hid beneath Wang Jixuan's smile.
"Why didn't you open fire then?
"When I was suppressing them, one volley from the cannons on the city walls would have forced them to leave behind one or two of their number.
"What, is the guardian still dreaming of betting on both sides?"
He Ruli did not avoid the matter. "Our positions differ slightly, Great Pioneer."
"They differ?"
"Yes," He Ruli said. "My goal is Civilization Revival. Your goal is your own ascension, as well as the survival, development, and growth of Surface Humans civilization. This misalignment of objectives means we can only share interests on certain matters."
Wang Jixuan rather liked her straightforwardness.
Daoist Wang nodded with a smile. "If you place half the hope of Civilization Revival on these Spiritual Practitioners, would the revived civilization still be Ina?"
"It is not that I hope they will inherit