Cosmic Demon

Chapter 311 A Year of Shining Stars, The Fate of Humanity
It was a face that was both dignified and gentle, and the emotions contained in those eyes were intense and sincere, like the sun spreading its radiance and benefiting all living beings.

"Study hard, the new Dongxia needs young people like you."

A broad, calloused hand pressed down on his shoulder, and Qin Shi finally snapped out of his daze.

Just as he was about to say something, all the scenes seemed to dissipate like clouds and mist.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared on the battlefield, becoming a member of the rapid marching force, a long, winding line, silently heading towards their destination.

The ice and snow, along with the howling storm, made the journey difficult for everyone.

As he stepped into the muddy water, Qin Shi silently observed the youthful faces of the children, who seemed to be quite young.

They mentioned that the newly reborn Dongxia was full of pride and confidence, believing that it would surely regain its former glory and stand tall among the races of the universe.

"The Great Expedition?"

Qin Shi never imagined that he would one day be able to "witness" the great expedition launched by the newly established Eastern Xia.

He had only read about it in textbooks.

"We must embrace civilization."

Inside the tent, Qin Shuai, wearing a military overcoat, sat there.

The leader of the newly established Dongxia was surrounded by several other supreme meritorious officials in a circle, with a tea stove boiling water in the center.

"The individual potential of humans is far less than that of other powerful races, yet the Eastern Xia has lasted for nine hundred millennia."

What is the most fundamental difference between us and those powerful races?

Qin Shuai lowered his head, as if he was thinking.

"As the empire ages and decays, some advocate learning from the Holy Blood Clan or the Dragonborn to bring about change."

But as it turns out, those paths didn't work and only resulted in chaos.

The Holy Blood Clan maintains its nobility and rule by using 'pure bloodline', and they consider themselves lions leading sheep.

The Dragonborn are even more extreme…

The figure sitting next to Qin Shuai was blurry, but one could vaguely make out that he was wearing glasses and had a refined and scholarly demeanor.

"As the years go by, the rule of an empire will only cause the flame of civilization to dim and die out. This is because the old system loses its vitality, the whole becomes rigid, civilization stagnates, and naturally it dims."

Qin Shuai nodded in agreement:
"Old Xiao is right. The newly born Dongxia must keep striving and never stop. This is the right way to embrace civilization and make it shine forever."

Leaning towards Qin Shuai, the figure in the seat to his right posed a question:

"No system is perfect. At its most glorious, the empire illuminated the entire galaxy."

How can we ensure that when our generation passes away, the newly reborn Dongxia will continue to forge ahead?

Is this Ying Shuai?

Qin Shi made this deduction.

the reason is simple.

Ying Shuai is a tall and handsome man, and is relatively easy to recognize.

"Isn't this where we're stuck!"

Then another deep voice entered the conversation.

“A de facto ruler stands here, continuing to maintain the name of ‘Eastern Xia.’ We have abolished the reality of the ‘Emperor,’ but we cannot avoid retaining the title.”

Although we've hidden the position of 'figurehead ruler,' what about the next millennium? As long as the figurehead ruler exists, it will become the catalyst for a restoration!
The emperor of Dongxia represents the authority of the Milky Way and the decree of the four pillars!
This temptation is too great!

The atmosphere inside the tent changed, and it fell silent all at once, with only the tea stove bubbling away.

The "Humble Ruler" is a contract established between Dongxia and the Four Pillars.

That position not only contains the supreme power to overlook the galaxy, but also grants the "immortal quality" bestowed by the four pillars.

"The original intention of the Four Pillars was not to create an immortal emperor for Dongxia, but to create a 'poisoned apple' that everyone wanted."

The figure sitting opposite Qin Shuai broke the silence, lighting a cigarette and holding it between his fingers:
"This is why I approve of Lao Qin and why the newly established Dongxia must do its utmost to get rid of the four pillars."

They may manifest as devastating cosmic catastrophes or as supreme deities protecting civilizations.

It is not based on simple 'love and hate' or 'gift and punishment'.

They are not the 'gods' imagined by ordinary people, who need believers and worship.

Qin Shuai nodded:

"Old Yang is right. Dongxia is a ripe fruit among the four pillars."

Or perhaps, all civilizations in the universe are the same.

This has already been proven by the 'Gear Emperor' created by Dongxia himself. At this point, Commander Qin showed obvious regret.

That great rebellion that swept across the galaxy was the only time in nine hundred millennia that the Eastern Xia, under the shadow of the four pillars, deviated from the path set by them.

“I have been to the top of the stars and obtained some ‘truths’ from there.”

The ultimate question facing all civilizations is, in fact, a 'test' from the vast universe.

Ying Shuai hesitated and said:
Does the extraordinary winter known as the 'Great Annihilation' truly exist?

Yang Shuai replied:
"It should be true. According to the Gear Emperor's own account, the Star Gods were the 'remnants' of the previous great universe before its destruction, and they obtained some of the immortal qualities from it."

The twelve pillars that form the foundation of the universe... they are beings who have passed the 'test,' having survived the harsh winter that annihilated countless civilizations, and ascended to supreme existence.

Although Yang Shuai did not reach the pinnacle of the stars, he studied the Gear Emperor's Notes brought out by Qin Shuai.

The above records various speculations and inferences about the "Star God" and the "Pillar".

Looking back from the perspective of later generations, most of what was said is correct.

"Since they are already supreme beings, why do they still need to harvest civilizations?"

Ying Shuai seemed unwilling to accept this statement, because it represented a deep sense of despair.

If the most powerful pillars of the universe harbor malice towards Dongxia.

So, how should I, as one of the billions of beings in this civilization, face this?

“Using ‘harvest’ is actually inappropriate, or rather, too cold.”

Qin Shuai responded:

"Imagine the universe as farmland, and the pillar deities as farmers who walk among it, silently cultivating the land."

So what was their purpose in planting crops? It was primarily to fill their stomachs, and then to store up surplus food to get through the winter and welcome the coming spring.

From the information given in the Emperor's Handbook, we can learn that the Great Annihilation is utter destruction, like the arrival of winter when no crops can survive.

Will farmers develop an emotional attachment to rice through their diligent planting, and then carefully nurture it to help it survive the harsh winter?
Old Ying, the pillar, harvests the fruits of civilization, survives the Great Desolation, and heads to the next great universe where everything begins anew.

This is a natural law, devoid of any malice or goodwill.

Ying Shuai's tone was somewhat bitter:

"What does it matter to us if they destroy us? How arrogant!"

As Qin Shi listened to the conversation among the most outstanding heroes of the newly established Eastern Xia, he realized that the deputy commander was merely an observer at this moment.

Because it is not strong enough, it cannot participate in deciding whether the new Dongxia will take the left or the right path.

"The Holy Blood Clan, the Dragon Descendants, have proposed a solution: to devote all their efforts to creating a powerful artifact of civilization."

Yang Shuai continued:
"The Holy Blood Clan used six hundred millennia to create the 'Pool of Hidden Shadows,' while the Dragonborn used seven hundred millennia to complete the prototype of the 'True Dragon City.'"

The empire created the 'Gear Emperor' for this very purpose.

By cultivating an artificial star god, incubating it, and allowing it to grow continuously, it becomes the guardian of Dongxia.

Unfortunately, this idea failed.

"Therefore, we don't have much time left."

Qin Shuai took over the conversation.

On the macroscopic scale of the universe, even the glorious life of a martial god is but a fleeting moment.

What may seem like a long millennium is, in the eyes of civilization, merely a brief afternoon nap.

This fireside chat was about the fate of humanity.

Qin Shi gazed at the blurry figures, as if weathered and mottled by the passage of time.

Without a doubt, the early years of the newly established Eastern Xia can be called a "year of shining stars".

"What was Qin Shuai and his team's final decision?"

A question arose in Qin Shi’s mind: from the perspective of later generations, the newly established Eastern Xia had not completely abandoned the four pillars.

If a harsh winter were to strike the universe, what would be the most important artifacts of the Eastern Xia civilization?
If being protected by the four pillars and peacefully accepting decades of peace is a step to the right, then...

Therefore, creating a magnificent artifact of civilization belonging to the newly born Dongxia and keeping the flame of civilization burning brightly forever is the way to the left.

"Qin Shuai clearly favors the left, but..."

Qin Shi's gaze swept over Commander Ying and the other high-ranking officials who remained silent.

(End of this chapter)