Omniscient Vision

"But... it doesn't necessarily have to come at such a heavy price to take this risk!" Zijin insisted.

"Individuals can choose to live in seclusion," Su Ming's gaze deepened, "But civilizations that choose stagnation are doomed to perish. Imagine if one day a more advanced civilization descends—like Eden, looking down upon the ant-like Rift Tribe. At that time, will Taya and Earth have to offer each other flowers and beg for love and peace?"

Power is the only language that determines survival; it is a universal vocabulary that needs no translation in the universe.

Otherwise, were the Armenians wrong? Were the Native Americans wrong? Who ever gave these civilizations, crushed in the long course of historical conflict, the opportunity to speak eloquently?

Only by understanding history can we avoid being blinded by illusory "ideals" and ignoring the fact that every life that exists today and every civilization that continues is merely a survivor in a long and brutal history of struggle, having ruthlessly eliminated all its opponents.

The cold truths are etched by countless bones and mottled bloodstains. They are merely forgotten, but their essence has never changed.

"The Bridge of Planes, in the end, is just a door," Su Ming concluded. "The fact that we don't open it now doesn't mean that Earth, Taya, Eden, and other worlds will disappear. Nor does it mean that at some point in the future, no one else will... find the key and push it open!"

****

Zijin suddenly hugged her arms tightly, her slender body trembling slightly. This caused Su Ming to feel a strong sense of surprise—he had never seen the scholar in such a fragile state before.

So what exactly happened? Was it really just because of this discussion? A question arose in his mind.

"I'm sorry, opportunities to discuss these things in depth with others are indeed rare, and I couldn't control my enthusiasm for the conversation." Su Ming explained in a softer tone. Although his views on civilization were not earth-shattering, they were by no means mainstream, and the Zijin had clearly ignited his desire to express himself.

Come to think of it, after wandering in this other world for so long, how long has it been since he had such a carefree and unrestrained "political chat" and boasting session with someone, just like he did on Earth?

"Actually, Jin Rongjia asked me a similar question yesterday," Su Ming continued, deciding to be honest. "And my real decision is—I won't open that door."

"Why?" Zijin asked, confused. "Wasn't what you just told me your own thoughts?"

"Holding a certain viewpoint doesn't mean you have to do it." Su Ming chuckled. "Is it strange that your words and actions don't match?"

Zijin suddenly raised her head, her gaze piercing through the darkness and locking onto Su Ming, yet also seeming to drift towards some other being.

"No, you will." Her voice held a strange certainty. "You will do it eventually!"

Su Ming was completely confused. "Why do you say that...? And, who do you mean by 'you'?"

"Do you remember?" Zijin didn't answer directly, but instead posed another question, "Those special powers you used, those originating from your hometown...?"

"Which time?" Su Ming didn't react for a moment; he had used Earth's technology to summon too many devices.

"During the Battle of Agate Sea, when we attacked the ' Fusang '; and when we encountered Yexiya, the sniper spirit you summoned," Zijin continued, reminding us.

Su Ming suddenly realized, "Um, what happened to those?"

Zijin raised her hand, palm facing him, and initiated Mind Synchronization: [Come on, the time is almost right. You should see it for yourself.]

Su Ming took the outstretched hand as instructed. The girl's spiritual energy exuded an unprecedented gentleness, just like the touch of her slender palm. Although the room was well-heated, her thin clothing seemed to make her fingertips feel slightly cool.

Su Ming casually grabbed a blanket from the side and covered Zijin with it. Then, he calmed his mind and tried to follow her guidance, extending his senses outward.

"[Not enough.]" Zijin casually pulled the blanket over herself, then urged immediately, "[Please go deeper, and then... try to completely forget your own existence.]"

This seems to be the opposite of the last time when Zijin entered his sea of consciousness and shared his "Silent Vision," now Zijin wants to share something with him.

The problem is, if Zijin could force her way into his mental realm, what right did he have to do the same to her?

[You make it sound so easy.] Su Ming complained helplessly in the consciousness connection, [Besides, this kind of operation—it doesn't look like a simple task at all!]

He was terrified of being "tricked" by the scholar lady. Zijin would always drag him to do things in that matter-of-fact, nonchalant, calm tone, only to realize afterward that they were difficult or even dangerous tasks.

Teaching him to use the Thorn Long Whip is like this, casting spells without incantations is like this, and arbitrarily altering the core structure of a magic formula is also like this.

"Yes!" Zijin's thoughts were so frank, almost self-assured, without the slightest concealment. "But, please do this!"

****

Under normal circumstances, all living beings possess a defensive instinct within their mental realm.

Given Zijin's overwhelming mental strength, under normal circumstances, Su Ming's consciousness would be instantly repelled upon the slightest contact, with absolutely no possibility of penetrating deeper. However, at this moment, the scholar was clearly in a peculiar and abnormal state.

She forcefully suppressed the instinctive rejection that originated from the depths of her soul, allowing, and even guiding, Su Ming's spiritual power toward the core area of her spiritual sea.

Su Ming held his breath and focused his mind. Zijin's spiritual power appeared gentle and warm, enveloping him like a gentle current. This tranquility instantly amplified the fatigue caused by overexertion, and a deep sleepiness, like a gentle tide, once again overwhelmed him. Unconsciously, his thoughts began to scatter, and his consciousness swayed gently on the edge of wakefulness and drowsiness.

Just as his consciousness was about to sink, an invisible barrier silently melted away. Su Ming's thoughts were instantly drawn by an irresistible force into a vast and boundless dimension of perception! The feeling was like being forcibly awakened from a deep sleep and thrown into a world with extremely high information density.

Su Ming's "vision" was forcibly elevated to a height that overlooked the whole situation. A massive amount of information rushed in like a flood breaking through a dam. In an instant, the details of the entire "Pansy were laid out clearly before his "eyes"!

The precise meshing inside the bustling equipment, the focused silhouette of the trainee on duty in the cockpit, the stacked skeletons of the dormant undead creatures in the crowded cabin... all these scenes are simultaneously "perceived" and revealed in minute detail.

Su Ming even "caught" some uninvited guests—rats—who had sneaked in from the captured supply ships of the Light Fleet. They were starving and futilely gnawing at the hard bone hull in the dark corners, making a faint but clear "crunching" sound.