Everything was ready. The Lost Empire's technology and the Empire's formidable logistics complemented each other. Given time, the Empire's national strength would rise another notch.
Comprehensive construction had already begun across countless colonies, replacing inefficient, outdated districts and buildings with new Lost Empire structures that defied common sense and delivered far greater output.
Nanotech ascension had also succeeded.
Through the Synaptic Lathe's research into the L-Cluster's technology, scientists had successfully transformed crude mechanical bodies into swarms of countless nanites. People once again looked as they had when they possessed flesh-and-blood bodies, but that flesh was entirely simulated by nanomachines.
Their appearance remained unchanged, preserving the most basic tenets of human culture, while their essence changed to accommodate ever-expanding productivity. The material and the spiritual now complemented each other.
Ailiveer had also regained her original petite, girlish figure. Under the nanites' simulation, her appearance was even more perfect than before. Apparently, this was another major achievement of nanotech ascension.
The nanites had reconstructed their bodies. The next step was to have the nanites simulate living metal, effectively adding another stage to the process: "nanites-human body" would become "nanites-living metal-human body."
This, too, could free up enormous productive capacity.
In the future, consciousness could also be virtualized, allowing mind and body to operate separately. With that, Xi Yan would have gone through every form of ascension. It was no small achievement.
And now, it was time to turn their gaze toward the wider Sea of Stars.
After the Time Worm revealed the truth of everything to Xi Yan, a great mission had taken root in his heart.
Humans were born to rule the entire Sea of Stars.
They would assimilate every alien species into humanity's great family and bring the entire Sea of Stars under human civilization's rule.
This universe was the