Chapter 384: Questioning and Confusion

Urban Fiction

The concept of "vacuum" simply didn't exist in the technological civilization of the Yixudal people.

"Vacuum is a world without air," Xu Zhi calmly replied.

"What?!"

Caroline was greatly astonished. She couldn't help but exclaim, pacing nervously in the elegant and secluded virtual mecha hall. Her expression was unusually grave, and such uncharacteristic behavior made the surrounding staff members turn their heads to look at her from time to time.

Caroline's voice trembled, "Great Ancient God, what is a world without air like!?"

"In a vacuum environment without air, immense pressure forms. Humans and flesh-and-blood creatures would be squeezed to death; blood vessels, skin, and tissues would rapidly burst." Xu Zhi leisurely operated the joystick, looking at the screen in front of him, virtually controlling the mecha. He continued, answering with a common truth known to everyone on Earth, "The water in all the tissues would turn into steam, entering a state of bodily fluid boiling. You would hear a continuous popping sound in your ears."

"Vacuum? Low boiling point? How can it be a low boiling point?" Caroline finally couldn't help but exclaim. She tried to imagine such a scene but found it utterly inconceivable.

"Please, no loud noises!" "This is Caroline Mechanical Company!" A beautiful woman in a full blue uniform came over to warn her.

"Sorry! So sorry!" Caroline pulled down the brim of her hat, hiding her face, took a deep breath, and calmed her inner excitement.

"It's alright, please be mindful of public etiquette," the smiling and polite female attendant nodded and turned to leave.

Xu Zhi simply watched her silently.

But Caroline stood rooted to the spot, racking her brain, yet still found it almost impossible to imagine. She was like a fish that had lived in the deep sea for years; no matter how intelligent, she couldn't envision what life on land was like. The technological path of the Yixudal people was completely different; they researched mechanical mechas and had never delved into life sciences.

Caroline was only now beginning to venture into this field. As she studied life forms, she was naturally incredibly curious about such a situation. She couldn't help but repeat in surprise again, "Great Ancient God! Would we humans truly be squeezed to death there? Can we humans really not survive in a vacuum environment?"

Xu Zhi looked at her silently.

Caroline quickly calmed her internal excitement and panic, deliberated for a few seconds, and finally, with trembling lips, asked, "Is that another world? Have your tendrils already extended into another world?"

The concept of "vacuum" did not exist in this world's scientific understanding. It could only mean another world. She was also a person whose intelligence had been awakened, and in an instant, she connected the dots.

Xu Zhi neither confirmed nor denied it. Because Caroline was now very intelligent, it was difficult to hide things from her.

Caroline's breathing suddenly became rapid, her voice hoarse with a faint hint of exhaustion and fear. "So, that other world... is that why the previous super ancient human civilization was destroyed? Did humanity's super ancient civilization encounter another world and race!?" "Could it be that the Great Ancient God is still resisting that civilization, hoping for us Yixudal people—the new hope for this world's humanity?"

Xu Zhi: ???

He looked at Caroline, who was extremely tense, full of concern, and worried, and he instantly lost his composure. How could she escalate things so much? Xu Zhi had never imagined that, like Levi, people who were too intelligent tended to constantly ponder and speculate. He had just prevented those 'silly' netizens from overthinking and nipped it in the bud, but he never expected that the natives, on their end, would also start wildly overthinking things. "This is too difficult for me! You'll scare me to death eventually."

Xu Zhi merely smiled, offering no reply, standing there silently, mysterious and unfathomable.

"So, that's why you originally wanted to guide us onto the path of ancient civilization... and when we saw that image of human origin, with the Great Ancient God continuing humanity's new origin, what exactly did that sentence mean?" Her mind reeled, and she could no longer suppress her shock.

The last time, following the memories of human history, she had traced the origin of humanity, witnessing that terrifying sacred brilliant scene and hearing that sentence. It had lingered in her mind for a long time, becoming a persistent haunting shadow for a scientist's life, just as it had for Levi. At this moment, she could no longer hold back her excitement and blurted out, "What exactly did that sentence mean? I've searched for the most brilliant linguists, spent countless years trying to decipher it, but still can't find the answer!"

"Does that sentence translate to: 'I bestow upon you the most devout blessings for the origin of new human life'?" Caroline looked at Xu Zhi with almost pleading, pitiable eyes. "Or: 'I hope you do not follow the path of our past destruction'?" "Or perhaps: 'I hope you can resist future hardships and defeat the one who once destroyed our ancient civilization for us!?'"

Xu Zhi looked at this leading human scientist, whose voice was hoarse and whose eyes were full of longing for truth. He felt a bit awkward inside, thinking, "I just wanted to play a couple of rounds of Hearthstone..."

Xu Zhi still couldn't help but say, "Don't be so suspicious."

"Don't be suspicious? Right! Don't be suspicious! This isn't something we Yixudal people should be thinking about right now."

Caroline quickly changed the subject, calming her turbulent emotions, and her expression became serious. "Vacuum, you say? I will establish a related investigation team to simulate a vacuum environment for data collection and experiments. However, it might not be very quick, as our war is about to break out."

"Furthermore, I hope that after the war ends, if you permit, you could take me to the 'vacuum' world. After all, virtual environments are difficult to perfect, and firsthand experience and direct on-site data measurement are necessary to create the most suitable mechanical magic armor with optimal performance," she pleaded.

"Take you to the vacuum? You want to bring a research team of your subordinates for an on-site inspection?"

Xu Zhi came back to his senses and pondered for a moment. It wasn't impossible; after all, as Caroline said, personally mapping the cosmic vacuum environment would be the best. He had entered the lava world through a teleportation array, and the other end of the array had always been in the orchard. It could briefly send them into the vacuum environment outside Earth's atmosphere. Then teleport them into the vacuum. However, if Caroline brought a survey team and saw the vacuum, they might be incredibly shocked, and then start imagining things...

Xu Zhi fell into deep thought. But this question didn't need to be considered right now, as it certainly wouldn't happen immediately.

"At that time, please, you must take me to the vacuum environment to see that great and mysterious world," Caroline said immediately. "This is a scientist's wish, and I am willing to pay any price! Anything at all..." She quickly came over and hugged Xu Zhi's arm.

Xu Zhi smiled and stepped back two paces. "Don't try that with me. I know exactly what kind of person you are; your personality isn't suited for acting cute or clingy. As for visiting the vacuum, we'll talk about it in the future. First, handle your war."

"Okay!" Caroline's tears turned to a smile as she nodded. She then hesitated, unable to help but speak, her expression becoming solemn, revealing her usual serious demeanor. "Ancient God, do you think I am... dirty? I even used despicable means to provoke our enemies into attacking us, thus rising to the pinnacle of society. Compared to Mr. Levi's pure scientific spirit, I am more like an unscrupulous schemer."

Caroline's expression was somewhat lost.

"I don't think so. Everyone has their own pursuits," Xu Zhi thought for a moment and continued to control the mecha.

Caroline smiled with a hint of emotion, stating wistfully, "Sometimes, I feel that fate is quite unfair. The gap between people is too vast. I am very intelligent; I've been different from others since childhood. They admire my intelligence, thinking I'm an unparalleled genius. But what about me? I envy geniuses who are even more capable than me! I researched beast-taming technology my whole life, only achieving results just before I grew old and received your recognition. If it were Mr. Levi's wisdom, he might have achieved my results in less than half a year. When my intelligence was awakened, I truly understood how big the gap was before, and my thought process became incredibly fast. But I also clearly understand that I still can't compare to Levi back then; my thinking is two to three times slower than his. In the eyes of outsiders, I now seem like Mr. Levi from back then, guiding and advancing civilization, with major technological breakthroughs appearing periodically. But only I know how much effort and hardship I've secretly put in to maintain that regrettable glory."

This was to be expected. Levi was a natural sage, like a complete, original, authentic CPU. But one part of her circuitry was flawed. Xu Zhi corrected her only then, seemingly just one spot, but because the circuitry was inherently incomplete, it led to a significant disparity, like a pirated CPU with replaced parts and re-soldered connections. Furthermore, this also related to a person's inherent intelligence. Becoming a silicon-based brain only speeds up your computational ability; it doesn't grant you wisdom and talent. For an untalented mediocrity, no matter how fast their thinking speed, without creativity and innovative thought, they cannot forge a civilization. Caroline was already considered among the top human intelligences, but her talent still wasn't comparable to Levi's back then.

"You bear Levi's glory and have realized a dream; it's only natural that you don't want to fail. Your efforts are perfectly normal," Xu Zhi answered indifferently. "You must know that most people are not born sages; geniuses are a minority."

Caroline was immediately encouraged and comforted, and she couldn't help but ask, "Is that true for you too? Did you achieve what you have today through hard work and effort?"

Xu Zhi replied, "No, that's not the case for me."

Caroline: "..."

Caroline's expression changed, yet she was once again encouraged. "This is the power of super ancient civilization! Every one of their citizens possesses incredibly formidable strength. In the future, I want every Yixudal person to possess near-divine wisdom and perfect, powerful strength—just like you!"

Xu Zhi waved his hand and turned to leave. "Don't be too crazy. Remember to rest occasionally when you're researching. I feel like your hairline has thinned out quite a bit again."

Caroline froze, then watched his retreating back and broke into a tearful smile.