"The universe is a dark forest. Every civilization is a hunter with a gun, prowling through the trees like a ghost."
"Gently pushing aside branches that block his path, he strives not to let his footsteps make the slightest sound. Even his breathing must be cautious."
"He must be careful, because the forest is full of hunters prowling just as he is. If he discovers another life-form, there is only one thing he can do."
"Open fire and eliminate it."
"In this forest, others are hell itself, an eternal threat!"
"Any life that exposes its existence will soon be destroyed!"
The dark forest law flashed through Liu Yu's mind.
Even in a world of cultivation, this rule held true in many respects.
The higher one climbed along the path of cultivation, the scarcer precious, high-grade resources became. Every cultivator at the same level was a competitor.
At any time, in any place, they could pose a grave threat to someone else.
Even if you harbored no ill intent, how could you know that others did not?
Even if the other person harbored no ill intent, he could hardly know whether you did. What if he mistakenly believed you meant him harm and struck first?
Even if he knew you harbored no ill intent, how could you know that he did not?
He knew he harbored no ill intent, but he did not know whether you knew that. What if he suspected you would strike first, and therefore chose to strike even sooner?
Carried on indefinitely, this would become an endless chain of suspicion.
Even if both sides harbored no ill intent now and could treat each other honestly, what about tomorrow? Several years later? Several decades later?
People's hearts could change!
Besides, there were far more than two competitors in