Do Gods Really Exist?

Time flowed swiftly, and the evolution of Pangu Continent was like a vast sea of change.

War and wailing, pain and hardship, laughter and tears—one cliché story after another played out repeatedly upon this ancient land.

Yet subtle changes appeared in the Ninth Era. Far more civilizations left their Safe Zones ahead of schedule than before, and wars broke out less frequently.

The first technology to spread was "Field Industrialization."

This Idealistic Technology spread to every corner of the world over several centuries, multiplying without end like a virus!

After being refined by countless civilizations, the concept of "fields" had become vastly cheaper and easier to forge, practically becoming a compulsory subject for every civilization!

It increased the production rate of extraordinary resources while further improving the prosperity of major civilizations. With resources no longer so urgently scarce, a reduction in warfare naturally followed.

The next thing to spread was "Mythical Industrialization."

The name was simply too eye-catching. After careful consideration, the name circulated among the various civilizations became "Bloodline Enhancement Technology," an utterly ordinary name.

The technology that spread was merely the simplest Today Mirror, yet it still drew the attention of countless civilizations and spread rapidly!

Pangu Continent changed slowly, in units of a hundred years.

"The Western Continent remains barren to this day, with scarcely any inhabitants."

On this day, the Turtle Civilization's Second Elder stood atop a towering mountain, overlooking the boundless land.

They had arrived on the Western Continent.

Because the soil contained abundant iron, the mountains, deserts, and earth were all rust-red.

The climate here was erratic. Sometimes temperatures rose to fifty degrees Celsius, only to suddenly plunge to minus sixty degrees Celsius some time later.

Under such chaotic conditions, deserts lay everywhere, making life difficult to sustain.

The Western Continent was where the Sixth Era's Peak Civilization, the Hou Tu Civilization, had risen. Brutal wars had once erupted here, and a large amount of Idealistic Radiation still remained.

The resonance of this Idealistic Radiation disrupted the Willpower Rules, which in turn affected the climate.

Of course, fortune and misfortune went hand in hand. The Western Continent's idealistic mineral deposits were also richer than those in other regions.

Just then, a young turtlefolk scientist's expression changed. "Report, Elder! We've detected regular Electromagnetic Waves. They may have been sent by some civilization... Mm, it's the signal source of a civilization Trading Market!"

He looked somewhat nervous, because this was the first civilization they had discovered on the Western Continent.

Kapu Civilization Trading Market invites you to visit!

"Since we're here, we might as well settle in. Let's head in that direction and take a look." The Second Elder was named Gui Zhe, and he was proficient in divination.

Their group traveled aboard an old-fashioned Flying Fortress made of reinforced concrete. The entire vessel carried only a little over two thousand people.

In this strange place, the more rundown the ship, the safer it was.

If they displayed too high a level of civilization, they would instead face enormous risks.

The Flying Fortress advanced slowly at eighty kilometers per hour.

After flying for two days, they finally reached their destination. Gui Zhe widened his eyes and stepped forward. At the border between the withered yellow continent and the red ocean stood a hazy city.

A fairly decent civilization seemed to live here. Every now and then, spacecraft rose into the sky and headed into the distance.

Clouds and mist swirled across the ground, making it impossible to see what lay within.

Unknown civilization, ahead lies the Kapu Civilization Trading Market! State your purpose. Guests are welcomed with fine wine; enemies are greeted with cannon shells!

Your civilization's vessel must remain in the designated location! Warfare is forbidden in this vicinity, or it will be regarded as a hostile act!

That sounded fairly normal.

The Flying Fortress slowly landed, and the technicians sent out Electromagnetic Waves to establish contact.

The other side quickly responded.

Gui Zhe took a deep breath. "Everyone, even if there are mountains of blades and seas of fire ahead, we must go forward and investigate. You few will accompany me. I will maintain telepathic contact at all times."

"Awaken Old Master. We need powerful reinforcements."

Under the control of several anomaly demons, a strange creature emerged from a sealed room.

It looked like a turtle, entirely black, with two heads.

One head had neither mouth nor nose, only a bloodshot eyeball. A bizarre and ominous aura spread through the air.

The young turtlefolk nearby could not help holding their breaths and lowering their heads, not daring to look directly at it.

"Old Master" came from the Second Era, an obscure demon.

He had possessed a Gui!

The Gui was named Gui Xie Wang Zhi Ming. Even in the First Era, he had been a notorious, terrifying fiend.

The Turtle Civilization possessed the Ink Sect's inheritance, with deep foundations and technological strength hundreds or thousands of times greater than the Red Bull Alliance's. By using demonic possession, they could unleash high-level combat power in a short time.

But controlling Gui Xie Wang Zhi Ming also required paying a tremendous price.

Old Master could endure for only a single day at most, after which he would have to enter a long hibernation. He was effectively one-use combat power.

This bizarre being, its eyeball covered in blood vessels, existed in a wave-particle duality between reality and illusion. Like a virtual image, it could cast a shadow under light and interfere with reality.

The shadow behind him resembled a writhing mass of mosaic pixels, capable of erupting at any moment.

What is it... that you were so eager to awaken me? Gui's voice was hoarse and impatient. Brats, do you not know that my waking time is limited?

"Old Master, the Ninth Era differs greatly from the past. It is an era filled with hope."

"No matter the cost, we must buy ourselves some time. This time, we divined certain abnormal phenomena and need you to act." Gui Zhe spoke with utmost respect, then offered up a small bottle.

Acquired Mythical bloodline? You people managed to create this? Gui Xie Wang Zhi Ming's voice remained indifferent. Sigh, it is not particularly meaningful. In the First Era, Acquired Mythicals were everywhere. Why take such a roundabout path?

Gui Zhe quietly explained more information.

This Acquired Mythical was not quite the same as those of the past. Even the Turtle Civilization had benefited from the era's opportunities. He himself had already become an Acquired Mythical!

I see... Making Acquired Mythicals farm? Interesting...

Gui fell silent for a moment before speaking coldly again. Fine. I have sensed the enemy's presence. It is active on this continent. If necessary, I will act.

But do not go too far, or die!

The turtlefolk trembled. They understood deeply that certain things could not be known.

Once they knew them, this ultimate foundation-level war weapon before them might slaughter them all with a casual turn of his hand!

Yet they still had to investigate. They had to dance upon the blade's edge.

"Old Master, please enter this mirror."

This was an improved version of the Today Mirror. Not only could it enhance Bloodline Power, it could also be used as a spatial item. The mirror occupied only one square meter and could be installed on Powered Armor.

The pitch-black Gui sank into the Today Mirror...

With their trump card prepared, the Turtle Civilization's team marched out of the spacecraft in grand formation.

The two teams met.

"We are an expedition team from the Eastern Turtle Civilization, having just left the Safe Zone. We happened to receive the electromagnetic signal sent by your civilization, so we came here to investigate." Gui Zhe performed a friendly gesture and used the translation God's Skill.

"Just left the Safe Zone? A little late, though not the latest, because you encountered us." The Kapu Civilization's diplomats also wore Powered Armor, their voices inexplicably pleasant. "Our Trading Market buys everything and sells everything. We even have the latest knowledge of Field Industrialization!"

"What... Field Industrialization?" Gui Zhe hurriedly asked.

"Heh, young civilization, you are fortunate to have encountered us." The other party smiled smugly. "It is a popular technology of the Ninth Era. Who knows which civilization developed it, but it can greatly increase productivity. If you wish to purchase it, we can sell you the complete set of technology at a low price!"

All bustle under heaven was for profit. So long as two civilizations did not go to war after meeting, trade was the best choice.

The Turtle Civilization's turtlefolk team pretended to be interested, probing indirectly and obtaining quite a bit of information.

So Field Industrialization had reached this place a hundred years ago. That was absurd.

"Besides that, we also have Bloodline Enhancement Technology! However, that is comparatively difficult and requires highly capable artisans. You need at least an Artisan Master. Does your civilization possess such strength?"

These fellows spoke fluently as they pressed a button and removed their helmets, revealing their true appearances—somewhat human-like, with a single horn on their heads and faint blue skin.

An inexplicable charm rushed toward them!

Upon seeing their faces, these well-traveled turtlefolk inexplicably felt a trace of goodwill rise within their hearts, as though these Kapu people were the greatest benefactors of their lives! Even though they were different species, they found them endlessly likable.

Gui Zhe, the Second Turtlefolk Elder at the head of the group, narrowed his eyes and quietly notified his companions through telepathy. "We should remove our helmets too. Everyone, act normally. Do not resist this goodwill."

In truth, there was no need for deliberate instruction. The young turtlefolk's gazes gradually became unfocused, their blood and vitality surging as they found the others more and more dazzlingly charming—fortunately, the Turtle Civilization was an egg-laying race, and mating brought no pleasure, so they could barely resist.

"Unfortunately, honorable Kapu Civilization, we... do not have an Artisan Master."

"Then that is truly unfortunate."

After seeing the Turtle Civilization's appearance, the Kapu diplomat smiled. "However, our city has some servants similar to your race. They already possess ancient bloodlines that we carefully modified. If your civilization is willing to purchase them, perhaps their descendants will also possess a trace of bloodline potential."

"Then we shall gladly accept your kindness. Please lead the way and let us witness a truly powerful civilization." Gui Zhe showed an interested expression, but his heart had sunk to the bottom of the sea.

The Kapu Civilization resembled the Eighth Era's Beautiful Civilization, carrying out the same business—scattering its own population among other civilizations.

It was merely that in the Ninth Era, due to the emergence of Mythical Industrialization, ancient bloodlines had suddenly become commonplace. The Beautiful Civilization's bloodline-enhancing methods had instantly lost their appeal.

As they walked onward, the magnificent architectural art was intoxicating.

It was practically comparable to the work of a Great Grandmaster.

"The Beautiful Civilization has come back to life on the Western Continent."

Suddenly, Gui Zhe's heart lurched.

He saw a crystal sculpture standing at the center of a plaza, pierced by a beam of light from an unknown source.

The light shattered, refracted, and was reborn within the sculpture, piercing the surrounding darkness with countless tiny holes and casting ever-changing shadows across the walls, as though innumerable invisible spirits were dancing there.

At the sight of the sculpture, even Gui Zhe felt an indescribable urge to sink into it. It was as if a stream of light had enveloped his heart and pinned down his thoughts. He clearly knew this strange sensation was poisonous, yet he could not stop himself.

Then the Tomorrow Mirror within his Powered Armor let out a soft crack, streaking through his mind like lightning.

It was Old Master's warning.

Cold sweat broke out across Gui Zhe's body.

When he looked again at the crystal sculpture, he raised his vigilance to the utmost.

Every person's eyes reflected a different shape, seeing entirely different things: storms, silence, birth, extinction...

Yet it remained silent, merely receiving light, breaking down light, and recreating light—as though the universe's most secret law had been frozen within this transparent substance. Its beauty inspired awe, and fear.

"What is this..." he pretended to ask blankly.

"This is... a god!" the Kapu people introduced proudly. "Everything we currently possess comes from the guidance of the gods."

"Do gods truly exist?"

"Of course!! Only by throwing ourselves into the embrace of the gods can we escape the Era Disaster and enter that eternal realm."

"If such gods exist, why develop technology or pursue Field Industrialization?" Gui Zhe suppressed the terror in his heart and asked softly. "Could we not simply enter the eternal realm?"

The Kapu diplomat glanced at the old turtlefolk and said speechlessly, "Gods cannot fulfill our wishes without limit. Most matters must still be completed by ourselves."

"Besides, even to become servants of the gods, we must first render achievements."

"How can one render achievements?"

Suddenly, the mirror behind him made another sound. This question might have touched upon the boundary of cognition.

Fortunately, the Kapu Civilization did not answer. Perhaps they themselves could not answer it either. "All right, follow behind me. I will now introduce the Kapu Trading Market's best-selling goods, as well as several civilizations that have joined us."

As they continued onward, the turtlefolk grew increasingly alarmed.

They saw many strange statues, more than one. Some radiated a bloody aura, while others resembled crystal, shining brilliantly beneath the sunlight.

When they looked at the statues, the statues seemed to smile back at them...

Those pairs of eyes watched them... like countless densely packed eyes staring at them!

The Turtle Civilization ultimately chose not to start a war...

It was not merely due to the disparity in combat power. They also feared that immediately launching an extermination campaign would trigger certain special mechanisms—Concept Abilities were too unusual. The Turtle Civilization was not the era's protagonist. They had already suffered defeat far too many times, and even Old Master had lost far too many times.

Therefore, the decision not to start a war had been made personally by Old Master.

After leaving the Trading Market, everyone erased their own memories, including Gui Zhe, the highest-ranking Second Turtlefolk Elder.

Only a letter personally written by Gui Zhe remained stored in a computer.

"They may not have fully awakened... Old Master estimates that even if every civilization on the Western Continent were ****, it would still not be enough to awaken them, because the Western Continent's civilizations are too weak and their Idealistic Power is limited."

"And the emergence of Mythical Industrialization has unexpectedly delayed this spread, as though everything is developing according to a predetermined course."

"But they do not wish to hasten the arrival of the Era Disaster... Before civilizations develop to a certain degree, they are content to let it happen..."

"We will remain here and investigate the rate of spread over the long term. This is dangerous, but it is also our duty."

(The turtle had surgery. The cost could have bought dozens of new turtles, but there was nothing to be done. A few hundred yuan is still manageable. I hope it recovers quickly and eats heartily.)

(I hurriedly wrote some words, so this came out a little late. Please forgive me.)