Ssssh! Get Out!

Guiding the shuttle, Tang Chuan took a thorough aerial survey of this civilization from within the main city of Heka Star 18.

This was exactly the future world most humans envisioned in Azure Star's films and shows, packed with every conceptual sci-fi product imaginable.

Only those who delved deeper could realize that the sci-fi world wasn't as infinitely prosperous as it seemed. The Sea of Stars, even within a high-level Level 9 Civilization, remained an exploration frontier for only a minority.

Like the strict aerial lane traffic controls, the Heckarian civilization's system was filled with all kinds of tight regulations.

For instance, certain sci-fi products could only be purchased after reaching adulthood, and those purchases came with unalterable foundational settings in the backend master permissions, much like the "Three Laws of Robotics."

Similarly, a shuttle's flight altitude could be set within a predetermined range, but you couldn't exceed that upper or lower limit to recklessly enter another aerial lane.

Even in manual driving mode, you couldn't fly into no-fly zones. Approaching one would automatically slow the shuttle down for landing.

Tampering with these backend permissions was not only extremely difficult but also illegal if accomplished.

As the saying goes, nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards. The more advanced a civilization's system, the deeper its understanding of this principle seemed to be.

This was what a truly orderly, prosperous sci-fi civilization—where technology and culture developed together—should actually look like.

Tang Chuan also landed the shuttle several times, walking through the streets and alleys of this sci-fi civilization.

He personally experienced many entertainment facilities unique to this civilization, even trying out a full-immersion virtual reality game.

And honestly? It was thrilling. Even the pain was fully simulated, which made it really intense.

As for his shared shuttle, it would automatically take off and return to the nearest Shared Shuttle Pad after he landed and confirmed his departure.

Whenever Tang Chuan needed to use it again, he could simply go to a nearby Shared Shuttle Pad, swipe his card to rent another, or pay to become a VIP Client...

In that case, as long as he submitted a request on the Heka Star network, a nearby shared shuttle would descend before him within a minute.

How to put it.

It was indeed sci-fi. It was indeed intense.

But money was needed everywhere.

No matter where he went, a rotten, money-grubbing aura hit him square in the face.

Especially when merchants saw Tang Chuan's face—not a native Heckarian—their eyes practically gleamed green, as if they wanted to strip him bare before letting him leave.

Of course, as a high-level Level 9 Civilization, Heka Star still had many interstellar immigrants of other appearances on its streets. Tang Chuan wasn't the only exception.

But wherever he went, he had this curious look about him, mixed with an air of a naive rich guy. Who else would the locals rip off if not him?

After half a day of sightseeing, Tang Chuan smoothly spent nearly ten thousand units of information currency.

It was pretty scammy, but since the money came easily, he didn't hold back. He played however he wanted, even stopping by the Heka Star Red Light District for a look. Some of the bizarre aesthetics there made his kidneys ache, so he left quickly.

Dusk was about to fall.

Tang Chuan ended his day of fun and found a high-end hotel themed "Retro." He swiped his card, declined the hotel's VIP Client invitation, and checked in empty-handed.

The room was spacious, filled with many decorations from Heka Star's ancient civilization. There was even a large ornament beside the living room, resembling a Mammoth Tusk—or some unknown ancient creature's horn—polished by craftsmanship.

The paintings hanging on the wall, the odd structure of the windows, the engraved coffee table, the jarringly styled wardrobe—all of it exuded a retro atmosphere.

But no matter how retro it was, the room's underlying technological products had already left Azure Star's top hotels ten streets behind.

Whether boiling water, cooking, or watching films, as long as Tang Chuan commanded the hidden Artificial Intelligence in one of the hundreds of Universal Languages stored in his database, it could do it instantly.

And this was what a high-level Level 9 Civilization considered retro. Automatic water boiling, automatic cooking, automatic movie playback—wasn't that retro enough?

Did they really have to be like primitive humans with barely any records, lighting fires themselves, wielding knives themselves, with no movies to watch, for it to count as retro?

No, that was called suffering.

They were spending a fortune just to experience a retro vibe, not to become refugees.

Tang Chuan flopped backward onto the integrated soft, thick bed. It was so comfortable.

No bedboard, no mattress—just a bed-shaped thing with the right firmness. Lying on it automatically relaxed his nerves, making his body extremely comfortable. He had no idea what material it was made of.

In the room, only Tang Chuan was present.

Quintessa didn't disturb her master's rest. Chliu had also vanished without a trace.

That guy, after being scolded a few times by Tang Chuan, had simply run off to play somewhere.

At first, Tang Chuan was startled. He hoped the little meatball hadn't lost the Communicator.

But later, he discovered that as soon as he shouted, "Chliu! Get out here!"

Then, turning his head, the guy would abruptly appear in some corner within sight, wriggling toward him.

This relieved Tang Chuan but also left him speechless.

As expected of a Main God's Communicator—it could find its own home. Called out with one shout, it was more obedient than obedient.

Though he didn't know how it did it, once he realized he wouldn't lose it—and couldn't even if he tried—Tang Chuan stopped worrying.

Let it go play.

Just then, the Metal Watch on his wrist vibrated, and Quintessa's voice came through: "Master, don't sleep yet. On Cangmang Star, intelligent life has emerged and formed a group."

Hearing this, Tang Chuan immediately sat up.