Planetary Natives Cling to Being Right

On the outskirts of the Bogu Grand Nebula, within a star system centered around a K-type main-sequence star, there was a solid planet with a complex ecosystem.

The planet was seven times the size of Earth, though somewhat smaller than Earth, and its atmosphere was primarily composed of ammonia.

Across the planet's boundless dark green plains stood sprawling clusters of pyramids of all sizes.

The largest pyramid among them was still unfinished, only halfway built.

Countless intelligent lifeforms moved across the dark green plains, chanting slogans. They looked like clumps of seaweed, yet could move freely like animals. With great difficulty, they dragged massive stones far larger than themselves toward the base of the giant pyramid.

The stones were then slowly transported up earthen ramps piled against the giant pyramid.

At an inconspicuous corner atop the largest pyramid, two seaweed-clump-like creatures were fiddling with a large wooden instrument.

Its purpose was obvious from its construction.

It was an astronomical observation device mounted on a wooden wheeled chassis. At that moment, beneath the blazing sun, the device was pointed directly toward the sun's path.

"How is it, Kaor? Can you see clearly?"

The seaweed-clump-like creature beside him asked his companion operating the device.

Soon, the creature called Kaor climbed down from the device and said, "No. My eyes can't take it anymore. Everbright's radiance is still too dazzling. It's seriously damaging my vision."

Kaor then asked his companion, "Bofulian, can you lower the brightness a little more?"

Astronomical telescopes worked by using the light-gathering properties of convex and concave crystals to focus more light into one spot, making it easier to observe celestial information.

Yet there was one kind of celestial body that primitive astronomical telescopes could not observe directly.

That was a star. A star's radiance was far too intense. If an astronomical telescope concentrated that light, the observer's eyes would suffer tremendous damage.

Fortunately, it was not humans recklessly attempting this. If it had been humans, their retinas would have been ruined beyond saving.

Hearing Kaor's question, Bofulian replied, "Maybe we could coat the lens with bile grub juice. But if we do that, this observation device definitely won't be able to see those points of light in the heavens at night anymore."

As he spoke, Bofulian had already removed the observation device's convex lens.

Kaor said, "Those points of light have existed since time immemorial and have never changed. We have plenty of time to polish a new lens."

"But this change in Everbright has never appeared in our people's recorded history. Perhaps it is an opportunity for us to further understand the mysteries of the world. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years chance..."

Just as Kaor was speaking with Bofulian, an angry voice interrupted them.

"Hey! Why are you two messing around with this piece of junk again?"

At some point, another seaweed-clump-like creature had climbed onto the platform atop the pyramid.

However, this newcomer seemed to hold a special status. Unlike Kaor and Bofulian, one of his tentacles gripped a cold weapon resembling a trident.

His words were also filled with lofty arrogance.

"This isn't junk. It's called an observation device, an instrument that helps us see things farther away," Kaor said unhappily.

"Playing with toys and neglecting your duties! Not tending to proper work!" the seaweed-clump creature gripping the trident rebuked him.

"What use is seeing farther away? Can it conjure food for you?"

"Farming, construction, assisting the Sage King—those are the proper paths we citizens of the Great Wilderness Kingdom should follow! It's far more meaningful than wasting your time here staring at the heavens!"

Kaor and Bofulian both fell silent. They knew arguing was useless, and angering him would do them no good. He was the enforcer in charge of this work zone.

Seeing that they did not retort, the enforcer took it as proof that they had recognized their mistakes.

The enforcer turned and left, but not before grumbling out a warning to Kaor and Bofulian.

"Construction Zone 0443 is short on hands. Get over there immediately! If I come back later and see this thing again, I'll smash it!"

Watching the enforcer leave, Kaor helplessly climbed down from the wooden observation device.

"...Let's go. I don't want to be punished."

"I don't understand why they insist on building these palaces. No matter how many they build, we can't live in them," Bofulian complained bitterly as he dismantled the wooden observation device.

Beyond Kaor and Bofulian's homeworld, along the orbit of that K-type star, large numbers of planetary lifeforms were scattered throughout space.

These new generation Level Twelve psionic planetary lifeforms were extracting stellar matter.

Pillars of fire formed from enormous quantities of stellar matter surged from the star's surface, like towering, dazzling trees. Together, they formed a vast glowing forest, and Earth within it was like an insect standing in a dense jungle.

The extracted stellar matter gathered under the guidance of psionic power and gravity, forming plasma planets. Then, through the time acceleration effect caused by spacetime expansion, the plasma planets' temperatures rapidly dropped. After that, large numbers of the Swarm landed on the planets and hatched into planetary lifeforms.

Once hatched, those planetary lifeforms immediately joined the ranks of producing more of their kind.

Because of their primitive observation equipment, Bofulian and Kaor on the planet could not see the planetary lifeforms. But the enormous pillars of fire rising into the sky were phenomena they could observe.

"There's no mistake. A lot of long things have grown out of Everbright," Kaor said with certainty.

"What could they be? Are they alive?" Bofulian asked.

They had discovered the star's anomaly some time ago. At first, they had thought there was a problem with their equipment, but now they had completely confirmed that the anomaly existed. They were curious about what had caused all these changes.

Kaor said, "I don't know. But Everbright's brightness is decreasing. That is a fact. If our Everbright-Centered Theory is correct, then such changes in Everbright, the source of light and heat, may mean that a cold winter is approaching."

"We need to prepare as soon as possible. Once the heavens grow bright, we'll set out to meet the Sage King," Kaor said seriously.

Bofulian fell silent for a moment before asking hesitantly, "What about the construction zone? Leaving our posts without permission is a grave crime."

Kaor also fell silent. After an internal struggle, he answered, "...Whoever wants to build the Sage Palace can go build it. If winter comes, who knows whether the Great Wilderness Kingdom will even survive?"

Near the equator of the Great Wilderness Kingdom stood the grandest pyramid in the nation aside from those still under construction. However, the people of the Great Wilderness Kingdom collectively called these pyramids the Sage Palace.

Walking through the aerial gardens of the Sage Palace, the Sage King of the Great Wilderness Kingdom pulled his clothing tighter around himself and sighed.

"The weather has grown colder recently."

"Rest assured, Sage King. Earth Mother's pulse is perfectly normal. Before long, the weather will improve," the Great Wilderness Kingdom citizen beside him answered sincerely.

"Director of Celestial Affairs, lately I've felt a faint unease. Have I done something that violates the conduct expected of a sage?" the Sage King could not help asking.

The Director of Celestial Affairs beside him replied respectfully, "Sage King, you worry too much. You are the most outstanding Sage King in all history. It is precisely because of your diligent governance and active coordination of labor that the vast Earth Mother now possesses so many towering palaces and so many fertile fields."

"Your achievements have long left those sage rulers of the past far behind. You stand unmatched in this age! With such accomplishments, how could Earth Mother not bless you?"

"That's true."

Hearing the Director of Celestial Affairs' praise, the Sage King's faint unease dissipated.

This was not arrogance. He dared say that he was absolutely the wisest Sage King in the history of the Great Wilderness Kingdom. Under his diligent rule, the kingdom's citizens had never again suffered large-scale famines, while food production had increased fourteenfold over the past!

It was because of these magnificent achievements that he wanted the citizens of the Great Wilderness Kingdom to construct so many Sage Palaces, so that future citizens could continue to admire the civilization's great accomplishments he had created during his era!

With such great achievements, even Earth Mother would surely protect and bless him!