Above The Sky
Chapter 1088: 147 You Can Call Me [Pioneer] (8500)_5

Chapter 1088: Chapter 147 You Can Call Me [Pioneer] (8500)_5

“Perhaps.” Master Gravie was noncommittal about Ian’s idea: “Just Ian, you might have imagined civilization too uniformly.”

Having said that, the elder raised his hand and pointed: “We humans use the decimal system because we have ten fingers. This assumption might not be correct, but let’s leave it at that.”

“Then, civilizations with different numbers of fingers would use other numeral systems… Moreover, beings without fingers, who only exist in the Domain of Void, might not even need mathematics to understand many truths of the world, build civilizations, and achieve consensus.”

“Such a civilization would be fundamentally unable to communicate with us… Even mathematics and various constants would fail to bridge our communication, because their cosmological observation systems are entirely different from ours—humans, who use material bodies, optical sensory systems to observe the world, and flesh and blood with electrical signals to sense the world.”

“Think about it, civilizations are diverse, and the possibilities for life are infinite—our human knowledge and common sense are merely a drop in the Vast Sea. Expecting us to understand every civilization, or expecting all civilizations to understand us, is indeed a bit arrogant.”

“That’s the reality.”

Master Gravie sighed: “Even between people, as long as their beliefs differ or their knowledge levels vary, mutual understanding is difficult. You are concerned about the future of your country a hundred years later, thinking about its path in a century, while ordinary people are simply worrying about how to buy more goods for survival tomorrow… Civilization is similar; everything we humans take for granted might seem completely different, incomprehensible, or even evil to another civilization.”

“To those outer gods, our Terra might just be a pus-filled broken rock, inhabited by many repulsive little bugs, dangerous maneating beasts, a host of Magical Beasts with powerful unknown forces… To survive, they might have to annihilate us.”

“Indeed, they might be utterly unable to perceive our existence. Take, for instance, a mayfly; it can only live for a day or two. How can it possibly comprehend the lifespan of humans, or the cycles of spring, summer, autumn, and winter? Our seasonal changes might be unimaginable epochs to the mayfly’s clan.”

“So true.”

Upon hearing this, Ian also understood somewhat, and sighed: “Indeed. Expecting the entire universe to speak a common language is impossible, nor can all aliens be humanoid life forms with similar social structures… Communication is indeed a laborious task.”

“Yes.”

Master Gravie shrugged, having once been troubled by this issue himself, being someone who has been through it, he naturally felt closer to Ian, who held the same perplexity: “Ian, you don’t need to comprehend or ponder these outer gods, unless they can understand us. We only need their power.”

“This is both arrogance and humility. They exist as one.”

Indeed. Ian nodded slowly, thinking it would be wonderful if the Terra People could mutually understand extraterrestrial lives.

Before long, he continued speaking.

“Master Gravie, I think I understand the true purpose of your research.”

Putting aside the files he had read, Ian sat on the chair, his legs crossed, holding the Silent Silver Box containing the Life Tree manuscript.

He stroked the smooth surface of the silver box, calmly saying: “You stole the fragments of the Life Tree from the Spirit Wisdom Institute not to provide them to Canaan Moore, so that Canaan Moore could obtain related research materials and make progress in biology… Nor do you intend to prolong your life through the Familiarization of the Divine Tree.”

“What you truly want to study is actually a transformation.”

“A modification and empowerment of a strong life form to weaker life forms, which is Familiarization.”

“This process requires only Origin Quality, no need for Magic Potion, no need for hunting Magical Beasts, no need for Alchemists… Just a god.”

“This is a method capable of enabling the mass transformation of an entire nation into extraordinary beings.”

Having said that, Ian smiled at Master Gravie, whose complexion had changed slightly: “Sounds like it could cause endless trouble—turning oneself into a follower is indeed equivalent to handing one’s life and soul to other outer gods… But if the god perishes?”

“As long as the god is killed, use the shards of the god’s corpse following the god’s demise as material for transcending and converting followers… Simply convert the god into an uncontrollable ‘God Pillar,’ making it a power controllable by us humans, a natural phenomenon.”

“Then the so-called followers can attain freedom, transcend the notion of followers, metamorphose into a more superior existence.”

“Become a higher form of life.”

“A new type of Sublimator.”

At this point, Ian couldn’t help but recall the conversation he had with Adalbert in Xiawei Territory.

As long as AI capable of aggregating computing power and creating Origin Structure is concealed within the Domain of Void, future humans would perceive it merely as a natural phenomenon, and by meditating, praying, and contracting, they could acquire power.

Given this, perhaps there’s no essential difference between AI granting Origin Structure and dead gods converting followers.

Indeed… Providing humanity with new possibilities, transitioning from the ‘wartime path’ of Sublimation Path, once again obtaining more choices and possibilities…

Even though it may not be correct, may cause more disasters, may lead astray… But this heart, this heart that wishes to venture afar, is definitely not erroneous!

Master Gravie is his fellow traveler.

Indeed, though not entirely comprehensive, and fraught with many repercussions, nonetheless… Master Gravie, like the Great Prince, indeed possesses an ‘Arcane Pathway’ akin yet distinct to that of Ian!

“Incredible…”

At this moment, Master Gravie’s expression changed drastically, finding it unimaginable that Ian could actually discern his purpose—the elder’s emotions were extremely complex as he gazed at Ian with fear, as if staring at someone who fully saw through him, and yet experiencing the wild joy of a lonely one finally meeting a kindred spirit.

“Who are you?!” The elven master couldn’t help but ask: “A typical alchemy prodigy simply can’t discern this far! Who’s behind you, who’s disciple are you?!”

“Their names cannot be told to you; it’s a temporary secret.”

Sitting in the chair, Ian calmly responded: “As for me… you may regard me as ‘Pioneer’… no.”

He changed his answer, pondered, then softly spoke: “You may call me…”

“[Precursor].”