Li Aozi and Disweil discussed for a long ti, but limited by the insufficient information, they did not co to any useful conclusions.
"The 5th narrative ’Eternal Corridor’ is the limit we can reach in the Layer Abyss. The previous four narratives are beyond our reach. To them, we are too weak. Even if we receive circulating ssages, we will imdiately perish and dissipate into the cosmic river."
Disweil pondered for a mont and said,
"I dare not say whether English is related to this... ingenious language, but their structures look very similar. If it’s not representing a common lineage, then there’s another possibility."
"Convergent evolution."
Li Aozi said,
"In the biological realm, even organisms from different ancestors may change their overall or partial forms and structures in the sa direction due to occupying the sa ecological niche or having similar lifestyles."
"Termites are more closely related to cockroaches in terms of kinship, but their appearance and habits are more like ants. Whales, though mammals, look like fish with fins and the na ’whale.’ Both magic and technological civilizations, despite appearing diatrically opposed, require calculus, materialism, and physics..."
"No matter what planet it is, if a civilization is to be born, it cannot be separated from fire. Even underwater civilizations, for various reasons, will eventually co into contact with fire. The result is that most races that step into the cosmic realm are generally humanoid."
"If the environnts of Starry Abyss and Earth are similar, even their structures being fairly close, then cultural convergence is not improbable, giving rise to similar alphabets."
Li Aozi gave an example,
"My na is Leoz Dominet. This ’first na, then surna’ structure is used by the majority of civilized races. This structure has appeared and been promoted in many different civilizations, which can be seen as a similar cultural convergence situation in so sense."
"That’s very possible, and we can only say, very possible."
Disweil did not co to a conclusion. As a ticulous scholar, he would not make hasty judgnts without sufficient information for reference,
"If this theory holds, it could support why the Gaia of the Secret Society, or as the society born from Earth’s civilization, is so keen on invading our Starry Abyss—for it, the civilizational structure of the Starry Abyss and the Earth that birthed it are incredibly similar, possibly perfecting her strength."
"Is there such a theory?" Li Aozi heard of it for the first ti.
Disweil explained,
"Many societies, after their birth, are eager to devour civilizations similar to themselves. Initially, the bodies of the societies are very weak and may even fail to coalesce due to the civilization before transformation being too small."
Disweil moved to a pile of books nearby, quickly flipping through them, while continuing to communicate with Li Aozi,
"At this ti, what’s needed is ’cultural coalescence.’ You should know, societies are also lifeforms. Although they do not have lifespans, they can fail to grow due to a lack of cultural diversity, naturally becoming weak without a core culture."
As he spoke, he took a book from the bottom and handed it to Li Aozi,
"For example: just as humans may get rickets from a lack of vitamin D, societies also need certain ’elents’ to maintain their pri state."
Li Aozi took the book, with the cover reading *Physiological Needs of Beast Herds—Anatomy of Societies.*
Publisher: Life Commune—Ald dcag Liue.
"It turns out to be a book by Mr. Liue..."
Li Aozi, surprised, briefly flipped through it.
"No one should forget the contribution of the Commune. They dared to risk corruption and bravely studied and dissected the remains of societies, with countless researchers sacrificing their lives."
Disweil said solemnly,
"This book was gained at the cost of the lives of three researchers—one of whom was a pregnant mother. Her unborn child was corrupted in the womb, and unable to kill the child, she chose to die with it."
"Technological progress always requires sacrifices. Even if one day it’s my turn, I will accept it calmly."
Li Aozi said lightly,
"I have roughly flipped through the book’s contents. Theoretically speaking, societies are just a form of living civilizations. Once they lose certain vital... for lack of a better term, ’vitamins,’ they may beco ill, and their internal civilizations might split, flee, or even disintegrate."
"Exactly, there’s even a possibility that if societies lose too many ’vitamins,’ they might regress into civilization..."
Disweil glanced at Li Aozi,
"This is only theoretically possible, but for a living person to abandon language and regress to a primitive state would take several years. Societies, no matter how fragile, are stronger than humans. According to the calculations provided by the Commune, this cycle would be no less than 225 million years—forgive , but in such a long ti, even dinosaurs could evolve into a proper, good-looking little lady like you."
"Thanks for the complint—but if that’s the case, why doesn’t Gaia turn around and attack Earth?"
Li Aozi frowned and said,
"Earth is its cultural root. Once it devours Earth, it might not need to replenish elents for quadrillions of years. If I were a secret, I’d start by gnawing at Earth, no more nonsense. Just eat, eat, eat until done!"
"I don’t know."
Disweil smiled wryly,
"This is due to insufficient information. Maybe it doesn’t prioritize efficiency like you do, or perhaps it has concerns. It might even be more humane than we imagine..."
"Am I really that focused on efficiency? Uh, am I?"
"Even among hunters, you have the highest communication efficiency."
Disweil teased,
"If you weren’t standing here alive, I’d think I was talking to an artificial intelligence!"
"Haha, not that exaggerated... uh, wait... artificial intelligence?"
Li Aozi laughed at first, then suddenly realized sothing and his expression froze.
He scanned the reception room and asked,
"Is there a mirror?"
"There’s one right here." Disweil turned on the front cara of his terminal, pointing it at Li Aozi, "Tis have changed. You should learn to use a phone."
Li Aozi gazed down at the cara. The image showed his handso face, delicate and flawless features, and sharp angles. If soone’s gaze landed on him, it would imdiately fall into a whirlpool, never able to look away.
But that wasn’t important; appearance was just a shell, obtainable in abundance.
"Eyes..."
Li Aozi muttered.
In the cara, his eyes no longer appeared as clear and bright as before, not the zircon-like gray.
Instead, they were now cold and deep, as vast as the starry sky, a profound blue.
He had seen soone with this color before. Not long ago, he donned such a colored armor to battle against Nephis.
--------------------
"I have never reincarnated."
Leoz’s words echoed in his ears:
"Gio Zieou’s status led to conclude: I am different from them. I am not shielded, but further severed."
"Li Aozi, you are no one else but . I am you. We have only one identity—the God of Reality, Leoz."
"Our statuses have always been shielded and segnted. By taking Charlgarnia’s ’Truth Drug,’ you further shielded our fusion process."
--------------------
Has the fusion already begun?
He had been taking the truth drug on ti, his thoughts no longer interfered with by Leoz.
In exchange, his body and Leoz gradually beca compatible; character, behavior, and habits—all controlled by physiology.
However, even if Li Aozi wasn’t affected by Leoz, he would gradually beco another Leoz.
They shared the sa hatred for secrets, the sa dominance over others, and the sa pathway philosophy.
In a sense, this too could be seen as a form of convergent evolution.
"Ingenious, secret, Earth—things are getting more complicated."
Li Aozi adjusted his collar, muttering to himself,
"What do you think... Leoz?"
Reviews
All reviews (0)