Chapter 130: A Person

Words : 1537 Updated : Sep 21st, 2025

After a day of work, the fragment of the white dwarf Alien Beast’s body had been fitted with tens of thousands of engines. To install these engines, Xiao Yu created a 3D model of the object, analyzing every potential stress point. The engines were strategically positioned at these points to ensure stability. By now, the fleet responsible for capturing the object had distanced itself from Xiao Yu’s main fleet by nearly 60 billion kilometers. Communication between the two fleets was maintained by tens of thousands of relay satellites. Over the remaining 30 years of their journey, this distance would gradually decrease, and eventually, the two fleets would arrive together at the Aquila Three system. In the vastness of space, a massive fleet of 30,000 spacecraft was escorting a central cylindrical object as they advanced rapidly. The cylinder’s tens of thousands of engines emitted blue flames, propelling it alongside the main fleet. Accompanying it were dozens of County-Class and Town-Class spacecraft, constantly refueling the engines. Robots equipped with miniature thrusters shuttled tirelessly between the ships and the object. Meanwhile, aboard the Shijiazhuang, Xiao Yu stared at the strange cone-shaped ship they had extracted from the fragment, lost in thought. Xiao Yu couldn’t determine the material composition of this peculiar vessel, but he knew that its material was exceptionally strong—comparable, if not superior, to the material of the Droplet he had encountered previously. Unlike the Droplet’s strong-force material, this ship’s construction followed an entirely different principle. The technology was beyond Xiao Yu’s comprehension or replication. Only through analysis with a laser spectrometer did Xiao Yu gather some basic insights into its composition. The material appeared to be derived from hydrogen. Hydrogen, the most fundamental and abundant element in the universe, was the progenitor of all other elements through nuclear fusion. However, the hydrogen in this material was not in its usual state; it existed in a peculiar, solidified condition. This state of matter bore a slight resemblance to neutron star material but was unlike anything else Xiao Yu had encountered. The material was impervious to scanning and indestructible, leaving Xiao Yu unable to ascertain what was inside the ship. “This ship... doesn’t seem to have accidentally collided with the Alien Beast’s finger. Its material strength is sufficient to resist the immense gravitational pull of the white dwarf. It’s very likely that this ship has been with the white dwarf Alien Beast all along. But where did it come from? And how did the Alien Beast acquire it?” Xiao Yu’s mind swirled with questions, but he had no way to pry open the mystery. He decided to set it aside for future research. The journey continued. Amid the monotony of the voyage, Xiao Yu’s thoughts drifted to the Arrow Beasts who had fought alongside him. “Arrow Beasts have a lifespan of 30,000 years. Their abilities gradually increase with age, making them competent warriors by 8,000 years and reaching peak combat strength at 20,000 years. Afterward, they begin to decline. In about 500 years, their home planet will have new warriors, and they will regain their ability to protect themselves. Very well, I’ll guard them for 500 years. During this time, I can focus on advancing my technology.” Xiao Yu reflected on his knowledge of Alien Beasts, organizing and analyzing the information. According to Luka Two, all Alien Beast Civilizations shared a common trait: extremely long individual lifespans but very low population numbers. For example, the Arrow Beast Civilization had individuals living up to 30,000 years, yet their entire population consisted of only 30,000 beings. The white dwarf Alien Beast, on the other hand, was a singular entity—its entire species was just one individual. Their low population inherently limited their technological progress. Xiao Yu understood that after reaching Level 3 Civilization, scientific advancements could no longer be driven by a single genius. In the past, individuals like Newton, Einstein, Heisenberg, and Oppenheimer could propel an entire civilization’s technology forward. Such phenomena no longer occurred at Level 3. At this stage, scientific development became highly specialized. Each major discipline branched into countless sub-disciplines, and the knowledge within a single sub-discipline was enough to occupy a researcher’s lifetime. Progress relied on the collective efforts of countless scientists working together. Thus, Alien Beast Civilizations were unlikely to achieve significant technological advancements. The relationship between population size and technological progress prompted Xiao Yu to think deeply. Even with his vast computational power allowing him to single-handedly tackle all disciplines, Xiao Yu realized that his technological development had recently hit a bottleneck. Currently, Xiao Yu’s technological capabilities were on par with those of the Luka Civilization. As a result, the Luka scientists had no better suggestions to offer. “Perhaps after reaching a Level 3 Civilization, technological advancements can no longer be driven by a single species. Progress might depend on interacting with other civilizations,” Xiao Yu thought to himself. “Fine, I’ll stay in the Aquila Three system for 500 years. If my technology still can’t break through, I’ll consider venturing out to actively engage with other civilizations.” As these thoughts occupied his mind, Xiao Yu commanded his robots to begin analyzing the sample taken from the white dwarf Alien Beast’s severed finger. Under a high-powered microscope, Xiao Yu observed its microscopic structure for the first time. The research revealed that the white dwarf Alien Beast still consisted of cellular structures, but oddly, these cells didn’t seem to possess strength superior to that of the Arrow Beasts. This finding puzzled Xiao Yu. He was certain that if the cells of the white dwarf Alien Beast were only this strong, it wouldn’t have been able to withstand the immense gravitational pull of the white dwarf. “There must be something here that I haven’t discovered yet,” Xiao Yu mused, placing the sample into a strong electric field to proceed with the next stage of the experiment. Unexpectedly, the sample exhibited a reaction that caught Xiao Yu off guard. As the electric field intensified, it seemed to generate energy from within the sample, causing the previously shriveled cellular structures to rapidly fill and expand. “Energy replenishment?” Xiao Yu grew intrigued and increased the electric field’s intensity while accelerating the movement of the sample through the field. After expending the equivalent of the energy produced by a kilogram of fusion fuel, the sample underwent a strange transformation. A deep green glow began emanating from the tissue, and its strength increased to an astonishing level. “This mechanism... it’s somewhat similar to an energy shield,” Xiao Yu speculated. “Both rely on energy to sustain their properties. Without energy, the shield would dissipate, and this tissue would lose its strength, becoming ordinary.” Just as Xiao Yu was preparing for the next stage of his research, a sound nearby drew his attention. Through his omnipresent surveillance system, Xiao Yu witnessed an astonishing scene. In the storage bay where the unknown conical spacecraft was kept, a door at the base of the ship was slowly opening. “What’s going on?” Xiao Yu thought, his mind filled with uncertainty. “Could there still be a living being inside this ship?” The technology embedded in this spacecraft far surpassed Xiao Yu’s own, much like the Droplet he had encountered before. If the ship became active and attacked, Xiao Yu doubted his ability to resist. Even with his 30,000 ships, including three City-Class vessels equipped with protective shields, Xiao Yu knew that if this ship charged at them, it could decimate his fleet. Neither energy shields nor cannons would make a difference. At this moment, faced with the unknown, Xiao Yu’s nerves were stretched taut. The strange spacecraft continued its movements. The door expanded its gap with each passing second until it fully retracted into the hull, revealing a two-meter-wide, three-meter-high entrance. From within, a faint, multicolored light shimmered. Xiao Yu remained motionless, carefully observing and waiting for the ship’s next move. However, after the door opened, the spacecraft made no further motions. Deep in thought, Xiao Yu analyzed the situation. “It... seems like it’s inviting me inside? I can’t tell if this is being controlled by a lifeform or a program. Well, I’ll find out soon enough.” Resolving himself, Xiao Yu piloted a small robot to approach the door. The multicolored light continued to flicker within the doorway, appearing dazzling and serene. Framed by this radiance, the door seemed imbued with an air of sanctity. The robot moved toward the entrance like a pilgrim approaching the gates of paradise. Before long, the robot reached the doorway. Through the robot’s onboard cameras, Xiao Yu monitored every detail of the scene. Then something bizarre occurred. Despite being just one step away from the entrance, the robot’s cameras could not capture anything inside. “If it’s a blessing, I’ll accept it; if it’s a curse, I can’t escape it. Very well, let’s go in and see,” Xiao Yu muttered, gritting his teeth as he commanded the robot to take a step forward. The moment it entered, the multicolored glow vanished, and Xiao Yu found himself staring at a shocking sight. Inside the spacecraft, there was a coffin. Inside the coffin lay a person.

Chapter 130: A Person

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