CHAPTER 406: CHAPTER 243: CRISIS IN THE FUTURE TIMELINE_2

Simultaneous advancement of soft power and hard power; this is the dual path emphasized by Shen Shi.

Soft power is hard to gauge.

But the effects on hard power are still quite evident, which is also Shen Shi’s greatest confidence.

Imagine if human civilization could reach the B-level in major technological domains without relying on the Es civilization’s support. If that were the case, would the gratitude, obedience, and sense of identification humans have towards the Es civilization be as strong?

The answer is clear.

Strength in oneself inevitably brings stronger cultural confidence!

At this moment, Shen Shi holds more than two thousand key technologies of B-level advancement!

"In the direction of hard power, we don’t need to be impatient. We should continue strengthening the route of scientific and technological research. By leveraging the various technologies provided by Councillor Shen, we should be able to make rapid advancements. But in the direction of soft power, we can start making some changes..." Shen Shi continued.

Previous words had all stressed the necessity of enhancing power, further applying pressure on everyone. Now, it was time to start making preventive decisions about future matters.

Three hundred years of growth not only made Shen Shi mature but also made him powerful.

The Shen Shi of this moment wasn’t the initial young man with only a golden finger and little ability; the knowledge and abilities he now possesses exceed those of all humans in society. Combined with the experience of Sage Saint Shen Shi for over three millennia, Shen Shi could be considered a legendary leader, truly qualified to lead a civilization forward continuously, and qualified to create an immensely powerful civilization!

After Shen Shi completed some preliminary preparations, he took the time while others absorbed and executed the plans to check the future world once again.

The result brought him slight joy.

Human strength had once again slightly increased.

Moreover, unlike the strength enhanced with the support of the Es civilization, this time, the increased strength came from human civilization’s own efforts.

That’s right, if the breakthrough of B-level technology serves as an evaluation standard, in the past, 99% of B-level technology came from the support of the Es civilization, with only 1% coming from human civilization’s own efforts. But now, this number has risen to about 5%.

Although it’s still very small in comparison, the impact is by no means insignificant.

The most crucial impact lies in the propaganda.

With this 5% "self-produced technology," Sage Saint Shen Shi dares to declare, "Even without the support of the Es civilization, human civilization would eventually become a B-level civilization."

This is indeed a powerful way to resist cultural warfare!

Shen Shi’s joy doesn’t stem from this mere 4% victory, but rather from finding the direction to win this war!

If there’s 4%, there can be more!

Needless to say, if he releases the Fire plan from the pinnacle number two future line at the right time, it would undoubtedly push this percentage to skyrocket.

Although those technologies were developed under the support of the Es civilization, once they pass through Shen Shi’s hands, they become Shen Shi’s support!

In this way, human civilization advances in a slow yet determined manner.

In the thirty-second year after Shen Shi returned to human civilization, the Star System Fortress entered the next phase of reform and began gradually phasing out the Cosmic People civilization. After all, the technical level of the Cosmic People is no longer suitable for the new generation of Star System Fortresses and new types of technology, and these human yet-to-get technologies couldn’t simply be handed over to the Cosmic People.

This already represented a trend.

A trend of human civilization beginning to surpass the Cosmic People entirely.

At this moment, the actual level of human civilization, whether in scientific and technological research, social production structure, or population size, was already reaching the peak of D-level, drawing closer to the real C-level.

This was less than four hundred years since the Starry Era opened!

To reach C-level from the weakest G-level in less than four hundred years is unprecedented in the entire Mude System. Although this feat has Shen Shi’s participation, Shen Shi is also human, which is enough to elevate human confidence and development passion to a certain degree.

It did indeed achieve that.

Under Shen Shi’s core ideology, human civilization began an invisible promotion of development ambition, gradually integrating it into the culture of human civilization.

Start emphasizing development, begin fostering strong confidence, and let human civilization become accustomed to the current speed of development.

All these changes and actions eventually manifest on the number two future line!

The appearance time of the Es civilization hasn’t changed much, yet the human civilization on the number two future line continues to grow stronger, and human efforts account for an increasing proportion of this strength!

The change in the future isn’t just sourced from past changes.

The future is also developing!

At this time, Shen Shi had already started shifting his focus to the number two future line.

After all, he only needed to strengthen control in contemporary society. The development of contemporary society is a high-speed yet slow process, presenting significant challenges but not solely his responsibility. However, as the future line continuously changes, the crises of the future line are also starting to emerge.

"The Es civilization isn’t satisfied with the current level and wants to strengthen their ’friendly’ relationship with us?" At this moment, Shen Shi was listening to the investigation results from Yulan.

Not contemporary Yulan but Yulan from three thousand years in the future.

Yes, Yulan from three thousand years later had also become one of Shen Shi’s confidants, second only to Gong Chu in the "Shen System."

She, too, was aware of Shen Shi’s vigilance against the Es civilization.

The news brought by her wasn’t that good.

Clearly, after multiple changes in the future line, the Es civilization began to focus more attention on human civilization, probably realizing the potential power humans have to break free from the "trap."

And the Es civilization’s response was to increase investment!

Shen Shi was quite clear that the Es civilization was definitely not just a newly entered B-level civilization.

All existing B-level civilizations in the Mude System became B-level civilizations at the latest tens of thousands of years ago and have accumulated terrifying power through devouring countless powerful civilizations over these millennia.

It’s important to know the Es civilization shares the Milky Way Galaxy with another civilization!

This is the true Galactic Overlord!

A civilization like this, even if it reveals just a little bit, is enough to provide human civilization with unparalleled shock in prosperity and strength. What they previously gave was just a minor show of force. In Shen Shi’s view, their current attitude shows they are starting to get serious!

"Should we refuse?" Yulan asked, "The tone of the Es civilization is polite, not denying us the opportunity to choose."

"Of course, they are polite." Shen Shi said calmly, "After all, their goal isn’t to destroy us, nor to conquer us, but to annex and assimilate us. If we refuse, that means tens of trillions of humans refuse huge benefits. How long do you think it can last?"

Yulan remained silent.

Prestige comes from benefits, and can also be lost from benefits.

While an individual might resist a sweet temptation with strong willpower, a civilization can’t always refuse it.

"Symbolically refuse a few times, and then agree." Shen Shi finally instructed.

He knows very well that the human civilization on the number two future line doesn’t have the right to refuse. The title of Sage Saint, in the face of such massive benefits, is worthless.