Chapter 308: This Is Not Enough

For millennia, in the rare moments of leisure between his busy affairs, Li Qingsong had always been troubled by a single question.

‘Who am I?’

The question might have seemed overly philosophical, but for Li Qingsong, it was a tangible one, a question of unsurpassed importance.

‘Am I Li Qingsong? Am I human?’

‘But there has clearly never been a Human Civilization on Earth.’

‘If I’m not Li Qingsong, not human, then who am I?’

‘Where do I come from, and where am I supposed to go?’

His human identity, his experiences as a human on Earth, the memories, the beautiful moments—father, mother, friends, teachers, colleagues… all of it—these memories and experiences were the fundamental elements that made Li Qingsong a person.

If everything in his memory was false, if none of it had ever existed but was merely forcibly implanted into his mind by some super-civilization for reasons he could not yet fathom, his entire psyche would shatter.

For millennia, Li Qingsong hadn’t dared to dwell on this question.

But now, the data from the mysterious and unfathomable super-civilization, the Recorder Civilization, gave Li Qingsong a crucial anchor.

‘Human Civilization really existed! And it really was annihilated for some reason. The version of Earth with no trace of civilization was just a facade. I, Li Qingsong, am not some other entity—I am a human! A genuine human!’

In that instant, the great stone that had weighed on Li Qingsong’s mind for millennia suddenly vanished.

In that instant, even his breathing felt lighter than ever before.

In that instant, Li Qingsong’s mind became perfectly clear, his heart free from all hesitation and doubt.

Now that he knew where he came from, Li Qingsong was also certain of what to do next and where he needed to go.

‘Investigate the truth behind the fall of Human Civilization! Avenge Human Civilization!’

‘If there are any fellow humans who survived, then no matter the cost, I must save them from their suffering. In the future, I will rebuild Human Civilization!’

While continuing to interrogate Haimo Lan and the other Viller People to gather all potentially valuable intelligence, Li Qingsong began to consider another matter.

‘What the Recorder Civilization’s identity is, what its purpose is, how it managed to gather so much information about the Milky Way Galaxy—none of that is important.’

‘What’s important is their system.’

‘They almost certainly know the truth behind the fall of Human Civilization.’

‘In that case… could I perhaps trade some information with them?’

The “List of Extinct Civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy” from the Recorder Civilization was updated regularly. Every so often, they would broadcast it, announcing to all which civilizations had perished in the interim.

After reviewing the list, Li Qingsong saw no record of the Black Mountain Civilization’s or the Harville Civilization’s demise.

‘Then… perhaps that could be considered a piece of intelligence.’

Having confirmed this, Li Qingsong began to ponder the next question.

‘What identity should I use to contact the Recorder Civilization?’

‘I obviously can’t use the name of Human Civilization. Even if the information itself is highly valuable, the lesson learned from the Harville Civilization taught me that abruptly revealing my identity could lead to trouble.’

‘That leaves only one option.’

‘The Blutuk Civilization.’

‘I’ll contact the Recorder Civilization as the Blutuk Civilization!’

His own mastery of quantum mathematics hadn’t yet reached the required level to communicate directly with the Recorder Civilization. But that didn’t matter. The Long-range Communication Equipment confiscated from the Harville Civilization could handle the task.

After a thorough inspection, the chief of the Blutuk Race, Molomans, entered the heavily monitored communications room.

Molomans was already several thousand years old. Over the years, he had diligently managed all the affairs of the Blutuk Race, earning Li Qingsong’s trust.

For this reason, Li Qingsong had spared no expense, continuously optimizing Molomans’s genes and extending his lifespan through biological means.

At their current level of biotechnology, it would be no problem for Li Qingsong to have him live for another ten thousand years if he so wished. And after ten thousand years, who knew what heights his own biotechnology would have reached? Perhaps new methods of life extension would have emerged by then.

Facing the Long-range Communication Equipment from the Harville Civilization, Molomans’s expression was grave.

“Honorable Recorder Civilization, I am Molomans, Supreme Leader of the Blutuk Civilization. Our civilization has some intelligence we wish to provide to you.”

A moment later, a message was transmitted to the Long-range Communication Equipment via a method whose principles Li Qingsong did not yet understand.

“Greetings, esteemed Supreme Leader. The Recorder Civilization welcomes any power, any entity, to provide us with information. We are dedicated to recording everything that occurs within the scope of the Milky Way Galaxy. Please present your information.”

“Our Blutuk Civilization was promoted to a Strong Core Civilization several thousand years ago. Sometime after, we chanced upon the Harville Civilization, another Strong Core Civilization, and the Strong Core Level Intelligent Mechanical Calamity, the Black Mountain Civilization. After a bitter struggle, we defeated and exterminated both civilizations. These two civilizations have been erased from the Milky Way Galaxy. Here is the proof.”

A collection of carefully edited data was sent, designed to reveal none of Li Qingsong’s secrets while still offering definitive proof that the alliance of the two civilizations had been defeated and annihilated by his forces.

“We will verify this information in due course. If it is found to be fabricated, your civilization will face certain penalties. However, we of the Recorder Civilization trust in the sincerity of all civilizations. We will record this information for now. Now, what do you and your civilization wish to receive in exchange?”

Li Qingsong’s eyes narrowed slightly.

‘Verification?’

‘I don’t know what method the Recorder Civilization will use to verify this. However, judging from the Harville Civilization’s previous interactions with them, this kind of verification most likely won’t affect the information provider at all.’

‘Otherwise, what civilization would voluntarily provide them with information?’

‘The risk should be manageable.’

After receiving Li Qingsong’s approval, Molomans continued in a solemn tone, “In the List of Extinct Civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy you provided, civilization number 11,544, Human Civilization, is listed as extinct. We wish to trade for information concerning the truth behind the fall of Human Civilization.”

After an anxious wait, the Recorder Civilization’s reply finally came.

“This is… insufficient.”

As planned, Molomans immediately responded, “Then, we will take whatever it is worth.”

“Given the discrepancy in value between the two pieces of information, the only thing we can tell you is this… Three thousand years ago, a group of survivors from Human Civilization appeared within the Purple Moon Civilization. Their circumstances did not appear to be good. Within the Purple Moon Civilization, their status was akin to that of pets and exotic curiosities.”