Chapter 2490: Let’s Complete a Minor Goal First…

　　Li Yao was talking about Wei Qingqing.

　　The little green bird that seemed weak but was in fact proud and stubborn had been launched out through a special starship with part of the spectral Cultivators, or “Spiriters”, in the “Tinder Plan”.

　　The way they explored the universe was similar to that of the “Blood Stripe Virus”. Their speed might not be high, and the technologies applied might not be too advanced, but the attrition and consumption on themselves were the lowest. They were likely to breach the black wall in the end!

　　Although Wei Qingqing’s starship was only powered by spiritual energy and was pushing forward through consecutive space jumps regularly, there was still a good chance that they could surpass the black wall with enough time.

　　Should Wei Qingqing and the other Spiriters unfortunately encountered the Flood after they crossed the black wall, the odds would be quite high that the Flood would figure out the coordinates of the Pangu universe and the existence of the civilization of mankind through them.

　　Then, it would not matter whether or not Li Yao and the rest of them marched out.

　　Or rather, it was not important whether or not the Tinder Plan led by Wei Qingqing was reckless. Human beings were a species full of curiosity and desire for explorations after all. Since the civilization of mankind had picked up the tenebrum energy and the artificial intelligence after a hundred thousand years of development, it wouldn’t be long before they grasped the abilities to march to the extraterrestrial lands.

　　The efforts of Li Yao and the rest of them were merely accelerating the arrival of the event.

　　Once the abilities to march to the extraterrestrial lands were grasped, with the natural instincts of human beings, there would certainly be ambitious, audacious guys who would march out without caring about anything. Even if there were not Wei Qingqing, Li Yao, or Boss Bai, other people would still embark on the quest!

　　It was impossible to prevent human beings from marching out of the Pangu universe, unless the curiosity, interest, feelings, and free will of all the individuals were erased like what the Pangu civilization did in the past.

　　The lowest requirement was to establish a country where every individual was closely monitored and all the civil, spontaneous exploration of the universe was banned so that the roads to space could be completely blocked.

　　Was it possible?

　　“Look, as a matter of fact, we only have one choice, which is to push forward bravely, to explore, to conquer, and to contact all the civilizations that are threatened, destroyed, and swallowed by the Flood!”

　　Li Yao concluded the discussion just now and then changed the topic. “On the other hand, marching to the extraterrestrial lands, exploring the Flood, and searching for Earth—those are our distant, ultimate goals. Before we realize our ultimate goals, there is still an easy, short-term minor goal that we need to accomplish, which is to settle the Imperium and Blackstar the Great.

　　“To be more precise, we have to modify the Imperium of True Human Beings into what we would like it to be and to introduce the Star Glory Federation to the center of the cosmos. In the meantime, we have to resist the attack of the Alliance of the Holy Covenant, thereby achieving a steady, triangular balance of the Imperium, the federation, and the Covenant Alliance.

　　“This is exactly where my belief lies. While the vast universe is splendid enough, I am a human being after all. If my human patriots in the Pangu universe live in misery every second, will the vast, splendid, and mysterious universe outside be related to them at all? Wouldn’t it be too hypocritical and hilarious if I were to watch the ordinary people be brutally exploited by the Immortal Cultivators and do nothing while I preach about how to prevent the civilization of mankind from being destroyed by the Flood?

　　“Boss Bai, stop glaring just yet. Even if you do not care if the ordinary people are exploited by the Immortal Cultivators, you will need a powerful fleet in order to march to the extraterrestrial lands. Where exactly are you going to find such a fleet without a steady rear?

　　“You are not really thinking that it is possible to establish a fleet capable of crossing the black wall and reaching the extraterrestrial lands through the clandestine and stealthy methods, are you?”

　　Lost for words, Boss Bai was deep in thought.

　　The Fist King said in a dull voice, “Li Yao does have a point. Now that I think of it, the starships have to be navigated by some sort of super artificial intelligence in order to cross the black wall and march to the extraterrestrial lands. Also, they need to be upgraded into a certain new structure to be powered by the tenebrum energy. It is a massive project that requires breakthroughs in thousands of technological frontiers before it can be implemented. The fleet is certainly not something that we can build by robbing a few random fleets.

　　“Resources. We need astronomical resources, which can only be provided by a powerful and steady country from the back.

　　“I don’t know how powerful your Star Glory Federation is, but since it lies at the border of the Pangu universe, it can’t be enough to support the construction of such an ‘extraterrestrial expedition army’ in terms of scale. Only a country the size of the Imperium or the Covenant Alliance can facilitate the birth of such a fleet.

　　“Naturally, it’s impossible for the Covenant Alliance to work with us, which makes the Imperium of True Human Beings the only option.”

　　“Apart from resources, there’s also intelligence.”

　　Long Yangjun said coldly, “If the Pangu civilization was truly and indirectly destroyed by the Flood, tremendous intelligence regarding the Flood must’ve been left behind. Who knows whether or not such intelligence was passed on to the hands of the human experts during the rise of mankind?

　　“Is it possible that the conflicts among human experts were actually about certain secrets beyond the Pangu universe, like the Flood?

　　“For example, the Alliance of the Holy Covenant.

　　“What is the significance of the Covenant Alliance? Is it really so simple as to erase everybody’s feelings and self-will so that they will be the Pangu Clan’s obedient tools? If it is really as simple as that, how could the people of the Covenant Alliance never doubt or resist in the past thousand years?

　　“Is it possible that the Covenant Alliance has actually learned something about the Flood and that they are merely carrying on the last will of the Pangu civilization by continuing to seal themselves, in order to… protect the Pangu universe in such an extreme way?

　　“Also, there’s the rebirth of Blackstar the Great and the secret he is digging below the capital in the Empyreal Terminus Sector. What is it exactly? Why does he think that he will be able to defeat the four Kurfürst families and even the Covenant Alliance as soon as the item is found?

　　“Furthermore, was the war between the Supreme Emperor, the strongest human being, and the Blood God, his strongest clone, ten thousand years ago really a simple struggle for power? Of course I do not have any evidence, but wouldn’t it have been too lowly for people as strong as the Supreme Emperor or the Blood God to fight only for power?

　　“It must’ve been a competition of beliefs between the Supreme Emperor and the Blood God. Then, what exactly were the ‘beliefs’ that they had different opinions on? What complicated contradictions could’ve possibly turned the Supreme Emperor and his clone against each other?

　　“Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, what is the ‘Book of Revelation’ that the Pangu civilization left, and for what reason was it left? The historians in the future generations all believed that it was a seed of their civilization when the Pangu civilization realized their inevitable failure at the last years of the primeval war, but I have a different theory. Was it possible that the Pangu civilization compiled the eight volumes of the Book of Revelation when they realized the threat of the Flood as a preparation to revive themselves after the Flood ebbed?

　　“If that is the case, the Book of Revelation will be very important for our exploration in the extraterrestrial lands and our understanding of the Flood. Gathering all eight volumes may be too difficult, but it will be safer to launch the expedition after we find at least one or two volumes of it, won’t it?”

　　Long Yangjun’s words were reasonable and convincing.

　　They were also endorsed by the pieces of her memories and were, therefore, closer to the fact than the groundless speculations of the historians.

　　What exactly was Blackstar the Great up to? What kind of secrets were buried in the mausoleum of the Supreme Emperor? Where was the mysterious Book of Revelation? Was it possible that the ways to cross the black wall and explore the extraterrestrial lands had been engraved on it?

　　“It seems that—”

　　Boss Bai chuckled and said, “In order to realize our ultimate gold, we will have to accomplish the minor goal of ‘blowing up Blackstar the Great’ first.”

　　“Exactly.”

　　Li Yao nodded his head. “Wuying Qi is not blind. It’s not like he will watch us establish an enormous expedition fleet without doing anything. We cannot begin the explorations of the next stop without fixing the Imperium and the Covenant Alliance.”

　　“Alright. Then, let’s use Wuying Qi’s head as a lantern to illuminate the journey to the extraterrestrial lands!’

　　Boss Bai waved his hands and said, “We were planning to participate in the battle of Seven Seas after all and work on another major heist! As long as we benefit from the battle of Seven Seas and expand a couple of times, we will be one of the major forces at the edge of the Imperium. Who will be able to do anything about us?”

　　“Exactly. The battle of Seven Seas will be the first major space campaign for the reformists and the four families. Neither party can afford failure. So, there will be a great chance for us to take advantage of the chaos.”

　　With his eyes glowing, Li Yao put on a cunning smile. “However, taking advantage of the chaos is not enough. Since so many top-tier eccentrics of the Pangu universe have been gathered here, I think that we can work on something greater!”

　　Boss Bai narrowed his eyes. “Li Yao, I knew that you would be up to no good. Tell me about it. What do you want?”

　　Pondering for a moment, Li Yao said, “I want to make the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors side with us!”

　　“Have you lost your mind?”

　　Boss Bai remarked, “The Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is the greatest endorser behind the reformists and has been supporting them vehemently for decades! An important reason for the reformists’ unstoppable rise is the incessant investment from the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors!

　　“Right now, the reformists are about to succeed, and the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors is going to reap the fruits of victory. Do you think that they will be out of their mind and begin to support you and me instead of the reformists?”

　　“Just be patient and hear me out.”

　　Crossing his fingers and covering his nose, Li Yao put on a mysterious smile and said calmly, “Of course, the Business Alliance of Ten Thousand Sectors will continue supporting the reformists without caring about the cost. The two parties are indispensable in the first place.

　　“But is supporting the reformists the same as supporting Blackstar the Great?

　　“I hope my fellow Cultivators can reflect on the difference and answer one question for me. Why hasn’t Wuying Qi revealed his identity as ‘Blackstar the Great’ yet? What are his concerns… or fears