The stars, but they become the gray wind

"Yes! Sister Kellyas." The red-haired cat girl nodded to the pink-haired elf girl.

.........

In this huge fleet cluster jump, although the mothership Fantasy Light is inconspicuous, it is one of the most core spacecraft in the entire fleet. On the bridge, Calisi looked thoughtfully at several relatively small asteroids that had been almost eaten by von Neumann's self-replicating machine in less than an hour.

"As expected, any form of von Neumann self-replicator is a versatile factory with a complete industrial system... It can be built from scratch, drawing resources from wherever it's needed. At this rate, even if all six planets in this galaxy were demolished, it wouldn't take more than a few thousand years, right? Compared to the astronomical lifespan of celestial bodies, that's negligible."

"The reason why the self-replication speed is so fast this time is not entirely due to the exponentially high replication efficiency of the nanomachines themselves... It is more because the initial total amount of the first batch of nanomachines deployed on the asteroid is much higher than normal. This time, on average, at least 10,000 airborne cargo pods filled with von Neumann self-replicators were deployed on each asteroid." Beside Carlisle, Elena's figure was floating in the air in the form of a holographic projection.

"Because our stargate construction model this time pursues high efficiency, if we simply dropped a single drop pod equipped with a von Neumann self-replicator onto the asteroid's surface like we did in the Kylias star system and other star systems within the Sky Star Territory, it would take at least a week to dismantle an asteroid of this size and mass. This time, we're winning by quantity. The initial total number of von Neumann self-replicators deployed is over 10,000 times greater than normal, which is why we've been able to shorten the construction period so much."

"The same is true for planetary surfaces. As long as the initial amount of nanomachines deployed is high enough, the resources of the entire planet can be dismantled and utilized at a faster rate in the early stages."

"I know you guys like efficiency even as a nearly immortal species, but under normal circumstances, you wouldn't be in such a rush, right?"

"After all, the distance covered by this high-dimensional space jump engine is unprecedented, and the number and scale of the single ship jumps are enormous. So, to be on the safe side, we should have the fleet stop at the midpoint of the entire jump process for a few hours. During these hours, we will leave a stargate and a supporting anchoring wormhole in this transit system. Meanwhile, we will deploy nanomachines on the planet's surface as a preliminary project for the subsequent construction of a large-scale stellar-class celestial megastructure in this area."

"And most importantly... this is a springboard and transit point for a portion of the fleet heading towards the central black hole of the Milky Way."

"The fleet will be divided into three parts here: the unmanned automated engineering fleet that will remain here to monitor the progress of infrastructure construction within the galaxy; the main scientific research and exploration fleet that will use this place as a springboard to directly reach the Silver Star Black Hole; and the diplomatic team that will serve as the core of the entire fleet, including us, heading to the central galaxy of the Glass Eel civilization."

"Our next jump will be significantly smaller. Only the core diplomatic fleet, numbering several hundred ships, will sail directly to the Glass Eel civilization's home system. The remaining ships will either remain here to build infrastructure or head directly to the center of the Milky Way to survey the central black hole."

"As for this place, it will probably become an important wormhole hub area leading to the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way in the future."

"I see..." Carlisle nodded thoughtfully.

…………

"The red dwarf star activity here seems to be more intense than I imagined."

Inside the Salem, Kylias, an astronomical observation enthusiast, was observing and analyzing local stars with great interest.

"Because of the intense stellar activity of the infrared star itself and the tidal locking of the six planets... this system is exactly as we expected. There is no life, not even microbial life on the surface. The surface temperatures of four of the six planets closest to the star are so high that water can instantly vaporize. It's a true hell for life."

"As for the neutron star in the central region of the Milky Way, it is indeed a little brighter from here than on the sky, but I did find something interesting." Kellyas threw a chewy candy into his mouth and reached out to magnify the observation image of the neutron star.

"Oh... what is Dongyang Lin Xiwu Lin Jiuxi?"

"The magnetic field strength and rotation speed of this neutron star are higher than I imagined. As for the stellar structure that obscures the neutron star's light, it can indeed be seen a little more clearly from here."

"Unfortunately, what we see are still the debris and remains of an unfinished celestial project on this neutron star from 15000 years ago. If the information we have is correct, these are the remains of the original neutron star structure that the glass eels used as a foundation for the [Sun Hunter Star Network], which should have been completed within the last 1000 years. It will take at least 10,000 years for the light from this neutron star to reach here."

"Is everything within the cone of light fate?" sighed the red-haired catgirl who served as the ship's artificial intelligence.

"It looks like time is almost up. Get ready for the next jump. We're about to start the next jump. This time we'll go directly to the neutron star Xiangque Galaxy where the Glass Eel Civilization is!"

Kylias checked the time; an hour had flown by in a flash. The several hundred spaceships that formed the core of the entire fleet were a very small number of manned spaceships carrying the people of Sky Star among the more than 100,000 spaceships. Most of the spaceships and fleets currently used by the Sky Star civilization to maintain its own operations were actually completely unmanned automatic fleets. Considering the importance of this contact, they had rarely dispatched more than a hundred manned spaceships carrying a total of tens of thousands of people. The Salem was one of these spaceships, and it was also the one with the largest number of personnel.

Tens of thousands of Sky Star individuals are assigned to hundreds of spaceships. On average, there are only a few hundred people on each spaceship. The more than 600 passengers on the Aselum are the most crewed of these hundreds of manned spaceships, while other spaceships with relatively small numbers of people, such as the Fantasy Light, which is over 20 kilometers long and has a city-like hull with only single-digit crew and passengers. The highly automated, unmanned and autonomous fleet means that the entire Sky Star civilization does not need to rely on anyone in the process of interstellar expansion. The automated von Neumann self-replicator can perfectly complete all tasks.

…………

As the second jump command was issued, the fleet divided into three parts also began their respective tasks. The first to set off were the hundreds of manned spaceships that served as the core of the fleet. A high-dimensional mirror space bubble with a diameter of only 1/10 the size of the previous warp space of tens of thousands of kilometers enveloped the entire core fleet and disappeared into the three-dimensional universe.

A few seconds after the core fleet set off, a huge warp bubble with a diameter of tens of thousands of kilometers appeared again at the L1 Lagrange point of Planet No. 1, and followed the huge galactic center black hole exploration fleet into high-dimensional space, heading towards the Sagittarius A supermassive black hole in the center of the Milky Way.

Chi Chengsan lay leisurely on the ice surface of Tangyuan Star, which was thousands of meters thick, enjoying the sunbath brought by the neutron star. While looking up at the neutron star Xiangque in the sky, whose light was partially blocked by the Sun Hunter Net, he used one of his tentacles to take out the thermal container he carried with him, opened the lid of the thermal container, rolled up the food in the container with his tentacles, and tasted it carefully.

Just as it was leisurely enjoying its food, a series of "beep" notification sounds were heard. It used its other tentacle to pick up the communicator placed beside it and connected the call. A familiar figure appeared on the holographic image in front of it.

"Zao Chiqi? It's been a while since we last met... Are you... Zenglan?" Listening to the whistling sound of the wind and the familiar background coming from the communication, Chi Chengsan greeted his old friend.

"Yeah... The sport my fellow Qimans enjoy, surfing on the surface of gas giants, is truly fascinating. I've been practicing it aboard Zenglan lately. Would you like to try it out too?"

"Forget it. I'm not like you. I can't stand these overly stimulating sports. You should also be careful when playing. I remember that when you first experienced this kind of sport, you almost lost yourself in joy."

"Ah...you mean the time when you scolded me because I was too proud of myself?" Zao Chiqi on the screen touched his head with one of his tentacle embarrassedly.

"Don't worry... I know what's going on. Besides, I was so happy that I lost myself in it, and that was the first time I really saw the true form of Master Yanzhe!"

"Isn't it what I wished for?" Zao Chiqi in the picture seemed very happy when recalling this memory.

"You... were so careless in front of Lord Yanzhe, which made me a little embarrassed at the time." Chi Chengsan shook his head helplessly, knowing that his old friend and subordinate Zao Chiqi was the most loyal follower and fan of Yanzhe.

"Speaking of this... I miss Lady Yanzhe a little. Calculating the time, Lady Yanzhe has been gone for hundreds of years. I wonder what she would think of the Glass Eel Civilization today?"

Zao Chiqi, who was on the communication line, sighed.

"Or maybe I won't feel anything at all? Master Yanzhe comes from a civilization far more advanced than ours. What we've accomplished over the past few hundred years might just be a tiny, insignificant step for Master Yanzhe, right?"

"That's right... Didn't Master Yanzhe leave behind a communication device capable of faster-than-light communication with stars before he left? It seems we haven't received a single message in all these years..."

"Before Master Yanzhe left, in addition to the communication device, he also left me a message..." Chi Chengsan asked his old friend to reveal a piece of information that he had never told the outside world before.

"What information?" Zao Chiqi's curiosity was also piqued.

"Master Yanzhe said: This is not a farewell. We will meet again in the Milky Way one day. Perhaps you will encounter other civilizations in the Milky Way that have some connection or connection with me. I wish you and them to coexist peacefully forever."

"These are the words that Lord Yanzhe left for me alone at that time." Chi Chengsan repeated to his friend Zao Chiqi.

"But... Lord Yanzhe didn't say we would meet again... How long exactly? It's been hundreds of years. There hasn't been any news from either Lord Yanzhe or the superluminal communicator he left in our civilization, the principle of which remains unknown to this day." Chi Chengsan looked at Xiangque Star in the sky, then sighed helplessly at his old friend on the communication screen.

"I was thinking... maybe... is it possible? To the Master of the Burning... over 500 glass eel years isn't even a moment?"

"After all, for a being of Lord Yanzhe's level, even hundreds of millions of years is just a moment in life, right? Even the passage of time in the universe may not be important to Yanzhe at all?"

"Just like Zhang Wuke, the glass eel who cured you of Type 0997 Nano-element-induced cancer and helped you transform into a mortal hundreds of years ago, as a glass eel that has survived from the end of the Old Glass Eel Calendar to the present day, let alone a few hundred years, thousands or even tens of thousands of years are only a small part of its long life."

"Perhaps from Lord Yanzhe's perspective on time, a mere hundred years may not even be a moment..." said Zao Chiqi on the communication screen.

"Perhaps the timeframe for our reunion, Master Yanzhe, is far beyond our imagination."

"Strange... back when Lady Yanzhe was still around, weren't you the one who admired her the most? Every time I went to see Lady Yanzhe to report on my work, you had to follow me, eager to seize every opportunity to see Lady Yanzhe."

"The past is the past. According to Lord Yanzhe's concept of time, we may not be able to meet again until thousands or tens of thousands of years... Even if I want to see him, I can't. It's better to wait calmly. When the time comes, I will naturally have more opportunities to see Lord Yanzhe." Zao Chiqi said, shaking his head.

After a remote communication with Zao Chiqi, his old friend and subordinate, Chi Chengsan turned off the communication and continued to lie on the ice of Tangyuan, basking in the neutron star sunbath and enjoying the delicious food. While looking up at the sky, Chi Chengsan couldn't help but recall the time hundreds of years ago.

At that time, the glass eel civilization had not yet returned to the stars, and the stellar civilization that was once capable of constructing celestial engineering projects could only linger in the ocean under the ice layer of Tangyuan Star.

Just when the entire glass eel civilization was trapped under the ice and stagnant, "He" arrived. Chi Chengsan and the other glass eels initially called Him "The Immortal". This name was given to those digital mechanical ascenders in the old calendar era of the glass eel civilization who had achieved 100% complete integration with the nanomachines in their bodies and whose life forms were completely sublimated. Initially, Chi Chengsan and the glass eels thought that "He" was an ascender who survived from the old calendar era, just like the glass eel Zhang Wuke who treated them that year, who had survived tens of thousands of years through special means.

After the glass eel civilization returned to the stars, Chi Chengsan and other individuals in the glass eel civilization gradually realized that perhaps "He" was not a survivor of the great disaster in the old times, but a real alien, and very likely came from a society with a technological level far superior to that of the glass eels.

Although the glass eels had realized at that time that this [琞者] was actually an unidentified alien, they did not care about this fact, because this alien had indeed helped the glass eels to get rid of the decline and stagnation since the old calendar era, return to the stars, and rebuild the entire Xiangque galaxy that had been reduced to ruins in the catastrophe, develop productivity and new technologies, and guide the glass eels to become an interstellar civilization again.

Finally, with the help of this alien visitor, the glass eels built the [Sun Hunter Star Network] that now covers the entire neutron star based on the remains of the neutron star celestial engineering project left over from the old calendar.

At this point, the glass eel civilization has truly surpassed the peak of the old era and completed the feat of revival. With the almost endless energy and materials provided by the [Hunting Sun Star Network] and four other planetary-level celestial projects in the galaxy, the glass eel society has truly become a utopia with a highly abundant material supply.

As the glass eels returned to the stars and entered interstellar civilization, the ASI (super artificial intelligence) created based on the actual needs of the new era and with the help and technical guidance provided by the [琞者] gradually took over all industries such as medical care, transportation, energy, communications, and scientific research. The general strong artificial intelligence was stronger than the individual glass eels in any field, and around the time when the glass eels became interstellar civilization again, ASI took over everything needed for the operation and development of the glass eel society in a relatively short period of time.

The Grand Unified Theory circumstellar particle accelerator verification machine, large-scale antimatter production, terminal illness treatment, 100% success rate of ascension to the Jade Emperor... With the help of the Jade Emperor and the super artificial intelligence (ASI) developed and promoted by themselves, any achievement made by the glass eels during this period is a miracle when taken alone. The entire glass eel civilization also entered a new era of technological singularity after the astronomical project [Hunting Sun Star Network] was completely completed.

In addition to spreading its footprints across every corner of the Xiangque Galaxy, the glass eels have also explored and developed galaxies within dozens of light-years of the surrounding area. Now, two other star-scale astronomical projects located in neighboring star systems have also sprung up. The natural lifespan limit of the glass eels has also been broken after the promotion of stable transformation technology. Words such as aging, disease, and death have completely become history for the glass eels today.

Chapter 159 Four Stars Ringing the Sun

More than 500 years ago, in the Xiangque Galaxy, Tangyuan Star was on the orbital ring [Repulsive Energy Grid].

"What? You said you are leaving?!" Chi Chengsan asked in astonishment at the prismatic object floating in the air in front of him, which was made of a fully reflective material with a glass-like texture.

"Everything I had to do in your civilization is over...your civilization no longer needs me."

"But... Master Yanzhe... you are our..."

"I know what you're going to say... I saved you, freed your civilization from stagnation and decline, and allowed the glass eels to return to the stars. Your civilization has matured, and you no longer need my constant assistance."

"Besides... you should also realize that since the super artificial intelligence (ASI) gradually took over everything in glass eel civilization, you and the other individuals in glass eel society have had to participate in and handle less and less work. In fact, in recent decades, over 98.94% of the individuals in your entire civilization have actually not participated in any work. The extremely abundant material productivity brought by the super artificial intelligence allows glass eels to live a prosperous life with all their spiritual and material needs met even without participating in any work or labor. The remaining glass eels only participate in work because of the spiritual pursuit of labor and symbolic dedication to society as a whole."

"Even you, as the leader of the entire civilization... in these decades... have gradually become a position and title with only spiritual symbolism, right?" The prismatic cube in front of Chi Chengsan said to Chi Chengsan in a calm female voice.

"After the stellar project was completed... the entire glass eel society entered a virtual utopia. The ASI super artificial intelligence took over everything. Thanks to the safe and stable Ascension technology developed and promoted by the AS, the glass eels were completely freed from death. You should be familiar with the population changes of the glass eel civilization over the past few decades, right?"

"Well... in the past 50 years... the death rate of more than 200 billion glass eels in the entire galaxy is... zero, and the population growth rate is... 0.0000035." Chi Chengsan answered honestly.

"Today's glass eel civilization, whether it's social operation, further development, or interstellar expansion, actually doesn't need any eel participation. The super artificial intelligence will perfectly plan and complete everything. The glass eels only need to make requests and issue instructions. As I said, your future development no longer requires my help and guidance."

"Even without me... you, having become a true interstellar civilization, can survive and develop in this universe for a long time. You can walk your own path from now on..."

"Of course... this isn't a farewell. We may have the chance to meet again in the future, but that may have to wait a long time. Chi Chengsan... You are undoubtedly an excellent leader. You have made an invaluable contribution to the glass eel civilization's return to the stars and its development to its current scale and status."

"No, Master, I just..."

"According to my requirements and instructions, right?" The prismatic cube in front of him did not give Chi Chengsan a chance to finish his words.

"The help and guidance I provide are certainly important, but the efforts and actions you and other glass eels have taken during this process are the most important."

"Chi Chengsan, remember... the development of civilization is a process from the realm of necessity to the realm of freedom. I hope that you and the Glass Eel Civilization can bring changes to this desolate galaxy and universe in the future."

"Well then... I've said everything I need to say. See you later... Chi Chengsan."

…………

Chi Chengsan's thoughts drifted away from his memories. That was his last conversation with the [琞者]. After that, he and the glass eels never saw the mysterious [琞者] again.

For today's glass eel civilization, the word "琞者" usually refers to two things. One is that every glass eel is now accustomed to completely integrating with the nanomachines in the body to sublimate its own life form and become a kind of immortal digital mechanical life. After completing the琞者 transformation, glass eels can even survive in the cold vacuum environment of space, deadly radiation, and even in high temperature and high pressure gas giants. After the body suffers fatal injuries, the nanomachines in the body can also quickly and completely repair the damaged body, or the nanomachines can upload their own consciousness completely to the cloned spare body or bionic mechanical body.

It can be said that since the mature and stable immortalization technology applicable to the entire population was promoted more than 500 years ago, no glass eel has died from aging, disease, or other accidental reasons. Glass eels have become literally immortal and indestructible creatures.

In addition to referring to this immortality technology, "琞者" also means the mysterious alien who saved the entire glass eel civilization from disaster. This alien provided countless help to the glass eels during the decades of the revival of the glass eel civilization. Almost all glass eels sincerely thank and respect this friendly and great alien. In the eyes of the glass eels, all aliens are worthy of the unique title of "琞者".

Shortly after the Glass Eel Civilization completed its interstellar project and was about to march towards other galaxies, this alien suddenly chose to bid farewell to Chi Chengsan, who served as the agent and leader of the entire society during the Glass Eel Civilization's return to the stars. He left after leaving behind a superluminal communication device whose specific principle has not yet been understood.

At that time, after more than 50 years of development, the super artificial intelligence of the glass eel society had used the huge energy provided by the [Hunting Sun Star Network] to build a giant circumstellar particle accelerator "Grand Unified Theory Verification Machine" with a circumference of dozens of astronomical units at the outermost edge of the galaxy. Through this huge particle accelerator orbiting the star, it produced and stored large quantities of antimatter to prepare for the expansion of the glass eels' star system. During this period, the glass eels' hybrid propulsion spacecraft powered by laser sails and antimatter could reach 0.86 times the speed of light, and had already possessed preliminary interstellar expansion capabilities. After becoming a mature interstellar civilization, the glass eels spent several years sailing and arriving at the nearby star system, and began a series of large-scale infrastructure construction, including dismantling asteroids and planets in the galaxy for the production of Dyson clouds and obtaining energy from red dwarf stars in the nearby galaxy. In this process, the super artificial intelligence of the glass eel civilization also deployed a large number of von Neumann self-replicators. After more than 500 years, 4 of the 11 planets in the nearby red dwarf galaxy had been self-replicated by von Neumann machines.

The machine was completely disassembled, and the resources obtained from it became part of the Dyson Cloud Project.

The same thing happened in more than a dozen other star systems that the Glass Eels' colonial fleets and spacecraft arrived at during the past 500 years. In addition to the [Hunting Sun Star Network] in the Xiangque Galaxy and the Dyson Cloud based on four planets in the nearby red dwarf galaxy, the third star-level celestial project [Hunting Sun Star Network 02] built by the Glass Eels on another neutron star 5 light-years away was the most complete. These three celestial projects are also the main energy sources of the Glass Eel civilization at this stage.

.........

"Chi Chengsan, are you here to enjoy the scenery too?" Just as Chi Chengsan was looking at the planetary ring of Tangyuan Star [Repulsive Energy Grid] and the [Lieyang Star Net] that blocked the direction of the neutron star in the sky, a very familiar voice suddenly sounded from behind Chi Chengsan.

Chi Chengsan turned around and saw that the person greeting him was a former colleague and a good friend who had undergone the transformation into a Zerg at the same time as him.

"Hongmu Qi, why are you here?"

"Just like you, I have nothing to do. Ever since we started applying super artificial intelligence on a large scale, the work we need to do has become less and less. Finally, even leaders like us have entered a semi-retired state. Since we don't need to participate in any work anymore, in order to find something to do, we have to develop a hobby, right?"

"Just like you... often like to come to the cold surface to look at the star rings, and just like your former guard and subordinate Zao Chiqi, after entering this semi-retirement state, he really likes to go to the upper atmosphere of the gas giants Min Chuan and Zeng Lan to surf in a manual aircraft. I have also developed some hobbies."

"What's your hobby?" Chi Chengsan asked curiously.

"Travel around the Que system." The glass eel named Hongmu Qi replied.

"I just completed a trip around the entire Xiangque Galaxy a day ago and returned to Tangyuan Star. During this trip, I visited almost every historical node in the past that was most important to the Glass Eel civilization... and by the way, I also made a summary of the important history of those places in the form of text, images, etc."

"You want to be a historian?"

"Not really... After all, when it comes to summarizing the history of the glass eel civilization's development to date, the super artificial intelligence responsible for running the entire civilization has done a far better job than I have. I'm just writing a travelogue at best."

"By the way... I have also signed up for the interstellar colonization fleet to go to the galaxy where Lieyang Star Network No. 2 is located. It will depart in about half a year. Are you interested in coming with me?" Hongmu Qi asked his old friend Chi Chengsan with anticipation.

"This... I think I'll just forget it."

"Unlike you and Zao Chiqi, I'm not an eel who likes to seek excitement."

"My little heart can't handle the extreme sports that Zao Chiqi likes." Chi Chengsan shook his head and politely declined his friend.

"Okay... When I come back, I'll bring you some souvenirs from the local galaxy, but I guess it'll be more than ten years before I can come back."

"Unfortunately... although interstellar colonization is possible, our speed is still limited to below the speed of light. It would be great if we had superluminal technology like in various science fiction novels."

"This way, you won't have to wait more than ten years to get the souvenirs I bring back."

"Speaking of superluminal speed...I remembered something..." Chi Chengsan muttered thoughtfully.

"whats the matter?"

"Do you still remember... when Xiangquexing's [Sun Hunter Star Network] was completed, that [Yanzhe] added a component to the stellar-level celestial engineering project after it was completed?"

"You mean... that strange component called the 'Star Control Body'?"

"It's really strange. We still don't understand the function or principle of that component. At that time, the [琞者] didn't explain the specific use of that component to us."

"Based on subsequent long-term research, the Star Control Component is most likely some kind of catapult device based on the principle of gravity control. However, even after studying that thing for over 500 years, we still have only a limited understanding of its function and principles."

"Our super AI didn't explain this in detail. We and our super AI designed and built the Sun Hunter Star Network with the help of that master. Although no glass eels actually participated in its construction, and the von Neumann self-replicators were responsible for most of the work and ultimately built the entire stellar-level celestial project, we still know every detail of the project, except for... the star control component."

"It was installed by that gentleman when the entire project was nearly completed... For a long time, we were completely unable to understand or decipher its specific structure and usage."

"It wasn't until recently that we finally understood its specific function—the star control component is likely a superluminal ejection device based on the principle of gravity manipulation."

"Perhaps... for that lord... the speed of light in a vacuum isn't an insurmountable threshold. The additional star control component added to our stellar astronomical project is the best proof of this."

"I've read the research report on that thing, but even if we knew its general principles and functions, we wouldn't be able to use this component, right?"