I believed that even a hundred million years later, the human race would never forget this day.
This magnificent wonder would also become the human race's spiritual pillar, until humanity stood at the pinnacle of the universe.
The mighty Great Wall would still stand upon the continent, weathering wind and rain and the rise and fall of dynasties, as majestic as ever.
Yes, this wonder's name was:
[Cosmic Wonder-Defensive-Great Wall ★★] [Effects: This wonder never deteriorates and is immune to magical and physical attacks. Human Race morale within its defensive perimeter +50%. (Star Gates cannot form within the Great Wall's perimeter.)] [Description: Guided by the Star Lord's consciousness, this wonder invoked an indescribable power of causality from the unseen depths, gaining accompanying special effects. This wonder is unique.]
Holy shit, that was incredible-a unique cosmic wonder!
Guided by Zhang Yang's will, the Great Wall slowly began to take shape from east to west.
The Great Wall stood 141 meters tall and 69 meters wide, with watchtowers, gate fortresses, bastions, garrison compounds, guard posts, fortified towns, beacon towers, and many other defensive works.
The Primordial Continent faced the sea on two sides and the Firmament Continent on the other two, making the Firmament Continent its primary defensive front.
The Great Wall slowly formed along the terrain, with every stronghold positioned where it was easy to defend and difficult to attack.
The spectacle sparked heated discussion among the Human Race, who flocked to the newly formed Great Wall to take pictures and check in. Father God's heaven-reaching might truly took their breath away.
The Qin Kingdom immediately convened a meeting and began adjusting the locations of military camps nationwide.
This would determine the direction of their defenses in future wars, making it the Human Race's highest priority.
Eventually, the entire Great Wall formed a ring, its two ends joining together. It had only four gates, named Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise, positioned in the four directions of the Primordial Continent.
Divine might descended like a prison, and a majestic voice reached every member of the Human Race's mind.
"This wonder is called the Great Wall. It never deteriorates, is indestructible, and is immune to physical and magical damage. It also boosts Human Race morale within its defensive perimeter."
"Star Gates cannot form within the Great Wall's perimeter. The Primordial Continent shall become the Human Race's eternal sacred land."
"In the years ahead, Star Wars will become commonplace. We cannot remain on the defensive forever. The Human Race will follow me to the pinnacle of the universe and stand above all races."
Looking at the majestic Great Wall, every member of the Human Race felt their hearts swell with heroic pride. They were proud of their Human Race identity.
In the days that followed, the Qin Kingdom sprang into action, dividing the country into five military regions.
The Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise Military Regions were established according to the gates' positions, while the Guanzhong Corps held the center of the Qin Kingdom.
The Azure Dragon and White Tiger Corps guarded the fronts facing the Firmament Continent.
The Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise Corps guarded the seas, but the Human Race had built very few weapons for naval warfare. Developing a navy would be one of their next major priorities.
Watching the Human Race move swiftly into action, Zhang Yang nodded in satisfaction.
By then, Zhang Yang had only 850 energy points left.
Constructing the Great Wall had cost 4,000 energy points, just enough to encircle the entire Primordial Continent, so Zhang Yang had built no more.
Time slipped away, the years flying like a shuttle through a loom.
Qin Era, year 26.
Over five years, the Human Race had completed a major internal strategic reorganization.
The four corps each guarded a section of the Great Wall. Fully armed soldiers patrolled its length, and war machines covered its ramparts.
Commander of the Azure Dragon Corps: Bai Qi.
Commander of the White Tiger Corps: Meng Tian.
Commander of the Vermilion Bird Legion: Li Mu.
Commander of the Black Tortoise Legion: Le Yi.
Commander of the Guanzhong Corps: Wang Jian.
The five military regions and their five corps commanders took their positions, guarding the entire Primordial Continent.
During those five years, large numbers of people moved to the Firmament Continent and settled there.
Many even migrated to the Heavenly Mystery and Sea-Listening Continents.
Apart from those who had made exceptional contributions, all members of the Dwarf Race would be relocated to the Firmament Continent.
The Qin Kingdom also issued a law: effective immediately, the Primordial Continent was the Human Race's foundation, and no other race would be permitted to settle there.
Anyone passing through the Great Wall had to undergo an identity check and could stay for no more than thirty days.
When war against outsiders broke out, no member of another race would be allowed to enter the Primordial Continent.
This policy provoked fierce resentment among the Dwarf Race. They protested, unwilling to leave their homes and live on a new continent.
＞_＜!
Looking at the sparsely populated continents, Zhang Yang decided to purchase more slaves of other races.
When other civilizations advanced to the second tier, they also chose to develop with multiple subordinate races.
For example, the God Race had a small population. Their entire continent could not possibly contain only members of the God Race; many subordinate races lived there too.
Those subordinate races developed their technology and civilizations alongside them, but did not receive preferential policies from the Star Lord.
After all, every planet had a core race, while all the others were subordinate races.
When war came, they served as both cannon fodder and fighting forces.
Only after the subordinate races had been wiped out might the God Race take the field themselves.
That was cosmic warfare.
The Human Race was no exception. They needed subordinate races of their own.
Looking at the Dwarf Race that had lived on Blue Star for a hundred years, Zhang Yang thought they were a suitable choice.
Blue Star currently had 5.7 million dwarves, of whom only around one million were female.
He could purchase another four million female dwarves, keeping the race's total population at around ten million.
They would form the Human Race's first defensive line, after which he could introduce other races.
Zhang Yang's goal was to have multiple races coexist with the Human Race at the core, helping the Human Race develop.
The Human Race itself already reproduced rapidly. The other races only needed to add flowers to the brocade.
He acted at once, appearing on the Starry Sky Virtual Platform and heading toward the Slave Trading Zone.
After bargaining until spit flew from his mouth, he finally returned with a full haul.
He had spent 200 energy points to purchase four million female dwarves.
That was because they were female members of the Dwarf Race. If they had been males, 100 points would have been enough, with another million thrown in for free.
There was no helping it. The Dwarf Race's racial traits made females scarce, and scarcity drove up the price.
He would hold off on purchasing other races. Once war began, lives would be the cheapest commodity of all.
Looking at the 650 energy points still in his pocket, Zhang Yang felt an itch all over. He wanted to spend them!
He wandered around the trading zone, listening here and asking questions there.
In the end, he bought a complete compendium of Second-Level Civilization technology for the Dwarf Race.
A Star Lord had compiled the Dwarf Race's second-tier technology into an encyclopedia.
It cost 500 points a copy, and Zhang Yang bought it without hesitation.
In truth, information like this was not worth much. Defeat your opponent in a Star War, and all their technology would be yours.
Once compiled into a book, this information could be sold endlessly. The same applied to other races.
The second tier would unlock more of the Dwarf Race's Technology Tree, improve steam power, and upgrade their technology across the board.
For example, Smoothbore Cannons could be upgraded to Cannons, and muskets to Precision Muskets.
Members of the Dwarf Race at the Second-Level Civilization stage could master more profound knowledge, and even had special potions that enhanced their combat strength.
The second tier offered two potions: the Berserk Potion and the Resentment Potion.
One increased the Dwarf Race's combat strength, while the other effectively enchanted weapons.
For example, Catapults could be upgraded to Resentment Catapults, dealing greater damage, including magical damage, and even inflicting a special effect that made the wounded unable to distinguish friend from foe.
As far as Zhang Yang was concerned, it was enough that the purchase was worth its price.
Then another thought struck him. Blue Star's Dwarf Race was at the First-Level Civilization stage and had never used Second-Tier Civilization technology. Having them slowly figure everything out themselves would take far too long!
He turned around and spent another 100 energy points on five million male Dwarf Race slaves. Seeing how generous Zhang Yang was, the seller threw in another 500,000 female dwarves.
With only fifty energy points left in his pocket, he stopped showing off and went home.
Following the usual procedure, he sent Ying Zheng a message, telling him that he had purchased ten million Dwarf Race slaves off-world and asking him to make suitable arrangements to receive them.
Ying Zheng was delighted. He had been struggling with the Dwarf Race's refusal to leave; after all, they had helped the Human Race for several hundred years.
Everyone was happy. An announcement followed: members of the Dwarf Race who migrated to the Firmament Continent could receive a mate for free!
Father God had captured ten million members of the Dwarf Race and would soon escort them back to Blue Star.
Interested male dwarves could register locally, but they needed to build plenty of housing and facilities. After all, no camp could accommodate so many dwarves.
One Human Race citizen exclaimed, "Those little short legs sure can run!"
Some even came to blows over registration. They had gone mad with eagerness!
Such a good deal actually existed? They were giving away wives?
Father God said it, so of course we believed it!
Watching the vast procession of the Dwarf Race leaving the city, Zhang Yang curled his lips. There were indeed 4.5 million female dwarves, but there were also five million males. Whether they could beat the competition would depend on their abilities...
Another five years passed like that. The Dwarf Race waited until their eyes nearly wore out. When were they coming? We had already built a city that could hold fifty million people...
Wait, why were so many humans moving into our dwarven city?
They did not dare stop them. They were living under someone else's roof!
Keep working, then! We could build more, all right? The Human Race supplied the materials anyway, and even gave us liquor. Just get it done.
Another five years passed.
Five more enormous cities, each capable of housing ten million people, rose from the ground. Zhang Yang exclaimed, "The power of love truly is magnificent!"
Enough. If he kept the dwarves waiting any longer, they would go mad. He should stop bullying these honest folk.
A Star Gate slowly appeared in a Dwarf Race city. Female dwarves stepped out, their eyes bewildered and somewhat numb. Human Race officials then began registering and assigning them.
The male dwarves grinned like fools, their mouths stretched wide as they led their mates toward their homes.
A little later, some dwarves stared in despair at the male dwarves streaming out, nearly bursting into tears.
That was not how the script was supposed to go...
And so, the Dwarf Race rejoiced whenever a female dwarf emerged from the Star Gate, but seethed with indignation whenever a male appeared. They wanted so badly to smack him.
The transfer took a full six months, ending when the last dwarf stepped through the Star Gate.
Many media outlets broadcast the population transfer live throughout the Human Race.
Some found it funny, and some thought the dwarves were foolish, but more people of the Human Race felt that they had to devote everything to development.
Otherwise, the Dwarf Race's present would be the Human Race's future.
For a time, the Human Race's cohesion strengthened once more. Everyone twisted together into a single rope, striving toward better technology.
Researchers worked with greater dedication, soldiers trained harder, and everyone gave their all for the Human Race's future.
Ten years passed like that.
Over nearly twenty years, the Human Race's population grew from 490 million to 680 million.
For various reasons, many members of the Human Race began migrating to other continents. Gradually, members of the Human Race could be found on all four continents.
The Dwarf Race was the same. With the addition of so many females, their population surged from fifteen million to twenty million in just ten years.
During that decade, the Dwarf Race formed an independent society and gained a new king, Sevi.
He was a leader selected by the Qin Kingdom from among the Dwarf Race, and he ruled over them.
He also led the Dwarf Race in swearing allegiance to the Qin Kingdom, becoming a subordinate race of the Human Race. They would fight for the Human Race! They would fight for Father God!
With help from large numbers of second-tier captives, dwarven technology progressed at astonishing speed. One dwarven weapon after another was developed, then mass-produced.
They were a subordinate race. When war came again, they would serve as the vanguard, fighting for the Human Race to prove their worth.
They incorporated features of Human Race weapons, improving and developing them to create military technology unique to the Dwarf Race.
Improved rifles, Cannons, Resentment Catapults, Demolition Trucks, Madman Potions, and Resentment Potions.
The Qin Kingdom had conducted tests. The Human Race truly could not use Madman Potions; their bodies would burst, killing them.
The Human Race could use Resentment Potions, however, and they did indeed have harmful effects. This was a poison.
Experiments on animals showed that anything injured by a Resentment Potion would lose its reason and attack everything around it until it died.
Experiments on death-row prisoners produced the same results.
The Dwarf Race were ordered to mass-produce Resentment Potions and deliver 100,000 doses to the Qin Kingdom as tribute every month.
The Dwarf Race had a clear division of labor and had already formed a complete, independent social system.
This was the Human Race's first subordinate corps.
The Human Race's technology had reached a bottleneck, with no major breakthroughs for a long time.
Military technology had also stalled at its current level, with little progress. The navy, however, developed rapidly, launching one heavy-tonnage warship after another.
Qin Era, year 46.
Seeing the slow progress of the Human Race's technology, Zhang Yang knew they had reached a bottleneck.
Forty-six years had passed since they advanced to a Second-Level Civilization, and the Qin Kingdom's senior leaders were no longer young.
Lü Wei, for instance, had died in year 43 of the Qin Era. Without the extra twenty-five years of life Zhang Yang had bestowed on him, he might have died long before.
Ying Zheng and the others were no longer young either. Ying Zheng, who had originally been eighty-three and had received fifty additional years of life, had now reached middle age again.
Bai Qi, Wang Jian, and the others had already reached middle or old age. They were young no longer.
The years drove people toward old age. The Human Race's lifespan was a problem; compared with other races, the Human Race truly had no advantage.
But the Human Race reproduced rapidly, and that was an advantage too. If he could increase the Human Race's lifespan, Blue Star's overall strength would surely rise again.
How could he increase the Human Race's lifespan?
Before you continue