CHAPTER 1299: CHAPTER 206: THE STAR GOD IS DEAD (12,000 WORDS, MAJOR CHAPTER!)

They hold their breath; they are solemn; they cautiously hide within the Domain of Void, unaffected by the material universe, observing quietly through the wall of reality and illusion to avoid their observation manifesting the quantum observer effect, altering everything happening.

Indeed, the Star Gods can subjectively sever their quantum observer effect, participating in the evolution of the universe with absolute objectivity, witnessing the truest and most unvarnished cosmic truth.

They are a race that can perceive truth.

Yet such a race, cheers for the birth of other lifeforms.

As time flows over the ages, the entire universe is filled with various forms of life, some different, some similar, but all possessing self-awareness.

Some self-annihilate, causing the Star Gods to sigh; some transcend eras, stepping into the next phase of civilization, causing all Star Gods to cheer with joy.

Some choose the path of mutual slaughter; some choose the path of mutual assistance; some form unified hives, others are independent beings whose thoughts cannot be sensed by one another.

Yet the similarity is that the Star Gods love them. Whether mundane or transcendent, cruel or kind. As long as it is the path they themselves choose, they are acknowledged.

Embracing all futures, all possibilities, all outcomes, the Star Gods quietly observe.

[The Star Gods do not credit themselves with the creation, but credit it to the stars]

[They praise this light, for it is this light that nurtured them and birthed all beings. It is their radiance that allowed all things to be born, all life to exist]

[Thus...]

"All things are brothers and sisters..."

Ian murmured, "All beings, from one source, are offspring of the sun."

"Whether plant or animal, Magical Beast or Alien Form, even us humans, all need to bask in the sun’s radiance, hence all living things are brothers and sisters."

"Is this... solar worship?"

[Indeed, it is surprising that you descendants know of our Terra civilization’s ancient mythology] Echo seemed astonished, not expecting Ian to know this; [It seems the most primitive things are the hardest to forget... The Star Gods also believe themselves to be offspring of the sun, hence humbly refraining from calling themselves creators, but rather considering all beings as blood-connected kin]

"Heavenly Father... in legend..." At this point, Ian thought of a term, and Echo promptly replied: [That indeed is a Star God]

[Prevented the first Calamity of Heavenly Fall, guided our Terra human civilization’s Great Father—though leaving no name, that Star God undoubtedly is the father and protector of all Terra civilization]

[Stopped the havoc of the Thousand-Star Beast, repaired the planet’s damage, and before departing, informed us of the Seven-layered Heavenly Ladder, the truth which led to our civilization’s technological advancement, spurring the creation of the Ascender System by one of our predecessors!]

At this moment, Ian fell into deep thought, while Echo sensed the teenager’s turmoil and complex emotions, therefore laughed heartily and pursued: [These are merely information related to the birth of Star Gods and us beings...]

[And next, I shall reveal why the Calamity of Heavenly Fall came into being and its source!]

[Paradise Holy War, Thousand-Star Beast... The Abyss of Demise, Demon of the Abyss... where to start?]

[Indeed, it’s best to start from the beginning]

Thus the Echoes’ voice calmed: [Ten million years ago, amidst prosperous development of numerous civilizations throughout the universe, under the Guidance of the Star Gods, when the splendid civilization light was being conceived, True Ether was also being formed]

[Star Gods unified the functionality of ’Origin Quality’ and ’Spirit Energy’, these useful tools, integrating them into the primal super-space net route, shaping it into a superstructure ’Great Ether Circulation’ that could transcend space-time... They created True Ether and generic control program ’True Inscriptions’ by adding new feedback mechanisms and codes at the cosmic base layer]

[Since then, the boundaries of space-time further blurred: even civilizations newly stepping into the interstellar can gain access to the ultimate creation of the Star Gods, ’Great Ether Stream’, through the rune technology, a foolproof control program, creating various unimaginable phenomena]

[Even due to the generosity of the Star Gods, ordinary non-intelligent lifeforms possess various supernatural powers]

[Super-space transportation, access to Domain of Void, Spirit Energy Technique, Predictive Interface... even the earliest Prophets began to appear, humans finally discovering that the Star Gods are a race that can foresee part of the future, no wonder they despair upon seeing a dark future, and no wonder they remain steadfast believing in assured success after overcoming darkness, knowing how to create life]

[They are the earliest Prophets, also Prophets who can freely filter the future! Through countless calculations, simulations, and foresight of the future, they ’selected’ the present universe where all beings are born!]

Hearing this, Ian’s heart began to race uncontrollably.

—Origin Quality, Spirit Energy, Ether... Great Ether Circulation and ’True Inscriptions’!

How similar is the Star Gods’ rewriting of the cosmic base layer to Ian’s vision of rewriting the Domain of Void through artificial intelligence?

No, it shouldn’t be put that way... it should be how similar Ian’s ideas are to the ideas of the Star Gods!

To prevent anyone from monopolizing the core of ’Arcane Pathway’, Ian intended to hide perpetual artificial intelligence within the Domain of Void, using directive programs triggered by successors, as a ’truth’ of power and cultivation system...

While Star Gods, to share their created grand creation, placed the super-space Great Ether Circulation at the cosmic base layer or even exterior, creating the control program ’True Inscriptions’ for simpler, manipulable ’truth’ allowing all beings to communicate, use conveniently...

At this point, truth was already an irrelevant matter. Because Star Gods can add new truths anytime, these truths, compared to primitive ones like the four fundamental forces, are deeper, more rational, useful, more straightforward and comprehensible!

By researching inscriptions and ether, all civilizations gradually understand all Star Gods’ technology, until mastering both inscriptions and True Ether, reaching the technological level allowing Star Gods direct entry into the cosmic base layer!

Compared to the grand plan of the Star Gods, Ian’s actions seem so simple. Simply a photocopy, the simplest imitation.

But...

"This must have caused something!"

Ian nearly impatiently exclaimed, "Now, everything in the universe is lost, the inscription research starts from primitive, progressing bit by bit through empiricism—this certainly wasn’t the original intention of the Star Gods!"

[Indeed]

Sensing Ian’s internal wavering, Echo intended to laugh but sighed upon realizing the aftermath: [A new cosmic sphere birthed in the True Ether environment begins taking shape, everything flourished, reaching its zenith]

[But it was also then, the True Ether transcending space-time led to the emergence of the greatest disaster and demon in this universe]

[The True Ether transcending space-time pierced the Star of the End, namely the Event Horizon of Black Holes... a realm further studied in that book by Star Gods, however, something bizarre climbed out along the ether]

[Its name is Demon of the Abyss. A twisted gravitational lifeform born in the Event Horizon of Black Holes]