The plunder of the heavens begins with the Spirit Cage.

The conductive array formed by the growth of mycelium on the circuit board has unique advantages for brain-computer interfaces.

It has wide applications in areas such as storage of consciousness fragments, multi-person neural synchronization, and projection of shallow mental scenes.

My family's virtual game company used this technology back then.

Based on the examples of mana ecology and fungal computers, Bai Yuekui developed a preconceived notion of being wary of Eva.

At the same time, it is also about retaining a bit of rationality in one's own scientific knowledge.

Let's set aside the question of where the energy to sustain a parallel universe comes from.

The idea of ​​a planet possessing consciousness is even more absurd than the existence of a time portal.

It's more likely that He is a planetary-level living biological computer that evolved naturally from Pandora.

Unless one day the other party can manipulate the planet's gravity and demonstrate it to her, she will never admit that the other party is a planetary consciousness.

Lu Qianwei could not refute this point; in the story, Eva did indeed relay and store signals through mycelium.

Whether he has other abilities is hard to say.

As for why we need to discuss whether the other party is right or wrong...

Lu Qianwei wanted to conduct an experiment based on His lawful, kind, and loving aspects.

An experiment of Pandora's ecosystem versus Mana's ecosystem.

If it is a planetary consciousness, even if a time portal is opened wide, it is difficult for the other party's consciousness to escape and travel to another world.

If it's a symbiotic network formed by fungi and plants, they could easily transplant it by harvesting the sacred tree from Avatar.

Each sacred tree is a server, so there's no fear of internet outages.

After listening to Lu Qianwei's idea, Dong Mingxi suggested that he make contact with Eva and send friendly signals.

Although Bai Yuekui felt repulsed, the intractable spore virus showed signs of revival under the management of Mana Ecology.

At this point, it becomes necessary to involve a doctor who has conducted in-depth research on ecology over millions of years.

"So, who would be the most suitable person to contact Eva?" Hao Xiaoxi asked, looking at the three of them.

"I'll go!" Bai Yuekui, who offered a different perspective, was the first to raise his hand.

"Whether it is planetary consciousness or consciousness integrated into an ecological network, it cannot escape another evolution of its personality."

In the Ling Cage world, the essence of human life is manifest, and Bai Yuekui doesn't believe that the other party wouldn't be curious about them.

"How about bringing the craniotomy kit? I think the success rate would be higher," Lu Qianwei said.

Bai Yuekui shook his head. "Not now. Although I believe your assessment of Eva."

But if I bring the skull over, I can't guarantee how well their massive database will be able to analyze it.

At the genetic and biological level, while the other party may not be a planetary consciousness, it is more like one.

If cranial life forms are truly linked, Smurfs, and even the next generation of other species, will definitely produce superhumans.

“If we get their help, this is inevitable,” Bai Yuekui said, expressing his concern. “But we must not reveal our hand on the first contact.”

Cranial regeneration is key to combating the Mana ecosystem, and Bai Yuekui naturally doesn't want the other party to take risks, especially since he's still a child.

…………

"Bang bang... bang bang bang!"

Sharp gunshots rang out in rapid succession. As Valang watched the Wind Merchants fall in droves, an extremely excited smile appeared on his face.

She wouldn't have dared to make a move against such a massive fleet of dozens of ships before, but now she has the 'Ash Spear' to assist her.

The archers of the merchant ships were no match for them in terms of either range or accuracy.

Even though the merchant ship's guards were all elites, they charged forward fearlessly on their Icarus birds.

But when faced with the Ash Clan's long-range kite-like maneuvers and dense barrage of bullets, all their bravery became futile.

As expected, the Ash Clan quickly broke the momentum of the guards' charge after suffering only minor casualties.

In a short time, the once formidable guard suffered heavy casualties, with only a handful of men still putting up a stubborn resistance.

Seeing that the time was ripe, Valang ordered a charge, and an Ashbringer immediately let out a wild horn.

Within minutes, the Ashbringers who stormed the merchant ship used the bayonets on their bolt-action rifles to eliminate the last remaining enemies who put up a fight.

Dozens of relatively intact merchant ships, and hundreds of prisoners...

No, it was the mining slaves who all fell into the hands of the Ash Clan.

Since all the leaders, big and small, were released back to the Ash Tribe, Valang led his people in a mining life that lasted for more than two months, with the loan equipment provided by the Sky People.

They were inflated with ego the moment they acquired firearms through ore trading.

In order to stop the arduous task of mining, the Ash Clan mobilized almost their entire force.

They launched a massive slave-hunting campaign against passing merchants and forest tribes.

The previous policy of killing and looting has begun to change as the coalition forces have provided better supplies and improved the quality of life.

Thus, the first and largest mining slave owners were born on Pandora!

Chapter 100 Taking a Day Off

If I don't have anything to do tomorrow...

Time to get to the grind! (￣ェ￣;)

Chapter 101 Mine Slaves

For the multi-party alliance, the most valuable things on Pandora are 'Eva' and superconducting ore.

Leaving aside the former, the latter's astonishing superconducting properties make it an important material for manufacturing high-efficiency energy transmission, ultra-powerful electromagnetic devices, and advanced weapon systems.

Humans do possess superconducting materials, but the manufacturing process is far more complex. To reach a certain required level, the cost and budget are astronomical.

The superconducting mineral veins on Pandora, once fused and refined, meet and are comparable to interstellar standards.

The three groups of people in the consortium all have extensive experience and personnel in earth exploration.

After more than a month of exploration, the 'Ash Zone' has been found to contain three superconducting ore veins and countless other mineral resources.

The Ash Clan couldn't understand why the Sky People were so interested in these worthless stones.

But it was enough to know that these silvery-gray stones could be exchanged for a weapon as destructive as the Ash Spear.

Surrounding these riches buried deep beneath volcanic ash and scorching rocks, massive open-pit mines spread like ugly scars across the once desolate landscape.

Ever since the leader of the Sky People showed Varang the magnificent blueprint for 'Ash City' and the concept of a city-state.

Her ambitions have expanded beyond mere robbery; she wants people, weapons, ammunition, and territory.

In order to achieve this goal, the deal with the Sky People cannot be stopped.

Faced with the ever-increasing volume of transactions, the most valuable and massive mines have become home to a large number of slaves from the surrounding forests of the Ash Zone.

They were once hunters, weavers, riders, and even leaders or elders of small tribes, but now they all have only one unified name—miner slaves.

After more than a month of mining, the Avatars' braids here no longer flutter freely, but are covered in dirt and sweat, haphazardly tied behind their heads or simply left loose.

Some avatars who resisted or tried to escape even had their braids cut off.

Without the nerve endings that connect them to life, these people lose all their will to live.

Cutting off one's braid means losing the right to make a pilgrimage to Eva, which is a punishment more terrible than death for every Na'vi.

"Clap! Clap! Clap!"

The rough leather whip lashed hard across Hoff's bare back, leaving burning red welts.

He groaned, his body tensing from the pain and humiliation, but he dared not pause for a moment, gritting his teeth as he carried the overturned ore back into the cart.

Sweat mixed with blood streaks on his back dripped onto the scalding, pebbly ground beneath his feet.

"Hurry up, you skinny monkey!"

"What are you dawdling for! If we don't meet today's quota, nobody's going to eat!" roared a burly overseer with chalky white markings on his face, typical of the Ash Clan.

Spit almost landed on Hoff's face. The whip in his hand was like the forked tongue of a viper; he would lash out at anyone who walked slowly from behind.

Because the mining area is relatively flat, Skyman provided them with a lot of convenient mining equipment, tracks, and carts.

But in his view, these were all shameful wastes!

If they hadn't changed these, their tribe would have already switched to brand new and comfortable tents, instead of sleeping in tattered cloth like these mining slaves.

"Snapped!!"

"Damn it! Hurry up, all of you!"

This No. 3 mining area is much better than the previous two; we're giving you such valuable tools to use.

"By the end of the month, if you don't have the sum of the first two, none of you can sleep..." The foreman's spittle flew everywhere.

Hofd glared at him with resentment.

This is the group of people who killed his father and stole their merchant ships and all their supplies.

Disregarding the long spear hanging on the other person's back, his fierce gaze turned to fear, and he silently lowered his head, pushing the cart forward.

During the two months he was captured and taken to the mining area, he did consider resisting. His former guards and some forest tribes came to him.

But looking at the dozen or so dying people hanging on the cross, he repeatedly considered giving up.

As it turned out, he was right to do so, ever since he witnessed the power of firearms.

He showed disdain for their escape and resistance.

Full of anger but without any plan, acting blindly and impulsively without any cooperation, this escape was a joke from beginning to end.

Moreover, the outside world is all open wilderness, which can be seen by riding a bird.

He suppressed the hatred in his eyes and silently pushed the cart—to take revenge, he could only endure and wait for the right opportunity.

The pungent smell of sulfur and the thick dust, along with the countless Na'vi people scorched by the sun, made them look like walking corpses.

Under the urging and shouts of the overseers, they worked, dug, and carried heavy ore to several ore crushers provided by the consortium not far away.