CHAPTER 244: CHAPTER 162: THE SHOCK OF FUTURE NO. 1_2

"Understood, I’ll prepare immediately!" Peggy promptly replied.

Due to communication challenges caused by distance, offline information databases are common trade commodities, and all databases undergo a convergence when arriving at the Solar System.

What Shen Shi wanted was naturally the comprehensive information database within the Solar System.

Therefore, if Peggy wasn’t in the Solar System, the only way to get the latest information would be through trading with others.

However, she went offline directly.

Just from this action, Shen Shi could confirm that Peggy was indeed within the Solar System.

This also meant that he might be able to obtain an instantly updated database through her.

On this point alone, hiring this employee was definitely worth it.

After adding Boss Zhou as a friend, Shen Shi also went offline.

His consciousness returned to the modern society. When he opened his eyes and looked at the villa before him, he couldn’t help but exhale slowly.

His eyes held a faint excitement.

He truly hadn’t expected the second future line’s opening to bring such significant change!

One can imagine the immense damage caused by Blue Star’s downfall and the destruction of its culture.

Fortunately, this future had already been altered by him!

Shen Shi was even somewhat eager to find out what had transpired in this part of future history, and whether there were any ways to improve and achieve an even more brilliant and glorious future.

It might take some time for Peggy to obtain the backup of the information database.

Shen Shi thought for a moment and closed his eyes again.

This time, he headed towards the first future line.

For some people in the first future line, Shen Shi probably hadn’t left for long, so when he arrived at the Collector’s shop, the Collector appeared somewhat surprised.

"Clan Leader, is there anything else you need?" His attitude was still respectful.

Looking at the Collector’s appearance resembling White Jade, Shen Shi held back the urge to jest, considering the good-looking and suave form of the Collector from the second future line.

Yet, he managed to hold himself back.

Since the solidification of the first future line, strictly speaking, the two Collectors had essentially become two individuals that didn’t affect each other.

Or rather, they were identical entities within parallel cosmoses.

Nonetheless, Shen Shi couldn’t help but ask, "Gong Mo, have you considered changing your personal equipment?"

"I really like this set, but you’re right, Clan Leader. I do need to choose a more suitable set of equipment, as this is a symbol of identity and status in Gus Land." The Collector laughed.

"That’s the right idea." Shen Shi nodded and glanced around the shop, "Has everyone else already left?"

"Yes." The Collector sensed something and reopened a door to a room, asking, "Clan Leader, is there anything you’d like to command?"

"Indeed there is." Shen Shi smiled, "But let’s wait for Gong Chu to arrive before discussing it."

After entering, he had already notified Gong Chu, while simultaneously pondering his words for the upcoming discussion.

Gong Chu didn’t keep them waiting long.

He appeared in the Collector’s shop merely seconds later.

Observing Gong Chu’s partially revealed delicate face, Shen Shi noted the resemblance to the Collector from the second future line.

Could these two be twins?

Wondering what Gong Chu in the second future line might look like.

However, he reckoned meeting that Gong Chu wouldn’t be so easy, especially with the existence of the Dongfeng Corps suggesting that Gong Chu from the second future line is likely a prominent figure without an intense need for antiques.

Putting aside these thoughts, Shen Shi proceeded towards the secret room entrance opened by the Collector, addressing Gong Chu directly.

"Come in and talk."

This caused both men to pause, their demeanors becoming more serious, but they followed him inside without hesitation.

"Collector, you mentioned before providing Gong Chu with a more advanced Primordial Energy Device. Have you acquired one?" Shen Shi asked directly.

"Primordial Energy Device..." The Collector’s mood dampened slightly upon hearing this, shaking his head, "A Primordial Energy Device capable of serving an entire civilization is prohibitively expensive. Even with all resources pooled, we might only be able to trade for a C2 Level device, lacking significant improvement over the device we secretly built for hundreds of years, so we ultimately decided to allocate these resources for trading additional weapons..."

This was indeed a more rational course of action.

Currently, humanity’s greatest asset is Gong Chu, the Master of Primordial Energy, but with limited resources, they must utilize them most efficiently.

Probably, procuring "Iwen" consumed substantial resources.

After all, it’s a C9 Level warship.

"It seems you all only offer good news and shield me from the bad." Shen Shi remarked.

"Clan Leader, there’s no need for excessive concern." Gong Chu suddenly spoke, "The resurgence of cultural heritage has intensified the fighting spirit of the entire human civilization. Primordial Energy is more vibrant, even using our self-constructed device, we still have a chance to overcome current challenges."

"I’m not completely oblivious; I know the C1 Level device is divided into two parts. The part you completed is likely just the main body, while end units for widespread distribution require more time than we have." Shen Shi shook his head, but felt a sense of relief.

Previously, he only saw the human civilization’s indomitable momentum, witnessing hope and opportunities unfold repeatedly.

However, he hadn’t considered if these hopes were faint.

Or rather, he subconsciously chose to trust Gong Chu and others because disbelief left him without options.

It’s possible that some in this future line harbor discontent towards his personal consumption of civilization’s resources during such times.

Even though Iwen’s existence was a pivotal factor in creating the second future line, this rationale couldn’t possibly be explained to others.

Fortunately, this circumstance has already changed.

With rising confidence, Shen Shi straightened his back.

Indeed, he may not be the sole person striving hard to save human civilization, but his role is crucial for maximizing impact.

"I’ve also been concerned recently, pondering any possible solutions." Shen Shi stated slowly.

Gong Chu and the Collector remained silent.

What solution could the Clan Leader have?

While the Shen Clan preserved cultural heritage, it lay hidden for millennia, thus its power is quite limited. Otherwise, they wouldn’t even rely on ancient warships from the Dongfeng Corps. Hence, they deliberately refrained from informing the Clan Leader about certain difficulties and crises to avoid needless worry.

Even... if human civilization ultimately fails to persist, the Clan Leader would still remain as the fire of human civilization.

This is why the highest conference of the Human Federation finally consented to allocate resources for the Collector to trade a warship to Shen Shi.

This decision ultimately revolved around the symbolic status of the Shen Clan, gratitude for Shen Shi’s retrieval of heritage, and the influences of Gong Chu and the Collector, but the genuinely important reason was this.

"Fortunately, this challenge has indeed been solved by me." Shen Shi suddenly broke into a smile.

"..."

The initially gloomy mood and lack of words for comfort led to silence from the pair.

Soon, they both turned sharply towards Shen Shi!

Solving this challenge?

Which challenge?

Could it be the challenge of creating a civilization-wide Primordial Energy Device for Master of Primordial Energy?

Even someone as accomplished as Gong Chu, Master of Primordial Energy, couldn’t help but question if he’d misunderstood.

Could the Clan Leader solve this challenge? How? Is it possible to resolve it solely through cultural heritage?

"Clan Leader." He couldn’t help but ask, "Do you mean to say..."

"Check the following." Within Shen Shi’s anonymizing aura, he could no longer suppress his smile.

When he extended his hand, a miniature projection of a Crystal Tree appeared before the pair.

Simultaneously, a manual was also presented to them.

In the next instant, Shen Shi even witnessed Gong Chu’s slightly parted lips and the Collector’s uncontrollable radiance of Primordial Energy!