Lin Xiaohe quietly listened as the researchers summarized their findings.
“Based on the information they provided, we can basically conclude that they all came from outside our domain and are from the same universe.”
“Second, their reasons for coming to our star domain are as follows:
They came searching for the Divine Kingdom.
They heard that there is a Godhead here. Apparently, a Supreme Domain Venerable once fell here.
They came seeking the ultimate secrets of the universe.
They came to track the movements of the Zerg.
They were simply unlucky and were pulled here by a black hole.”
The extraterrestrial civilizations captured this time varied greatly in technological level. The more advanced civilizations knew about the Godhead, while the less advanced ones, like the Shadow People, were confused and ignorant, almost like newborn children.
Lin Xiaohe stared at the countdown on the Sacred Stele:
[Collapse: 50%]
A sense of urgency welled up inside her.
There was no predictable pattern to the speed at which the universe was collapsing.
Sometimes it remained completely still. At other times, it would suddenly jump by three or four percentage points.
Lin Xiaohe had returned to the Fourth Dimension several times, hoping to make a deal with Chang Qing and find out what exactly the “path” he had mentioned was.
Unfortunately, ever since Lin Xiaohe had broken free from the system’s restraints, Chang Qing had never appeared again.
Lin Xiaohe came back to herself and asked, “How did they get to the Black Domain?”
Researcher: “Based on the black boxes retrieved from their ships and the pilots’ accounts, they should have come through the Domain River.”
“Impossible!” Lin Xiaohe immediately rejected the idea. “I’ve been to the Domain River. I don’t believe they have the ability to cross it.”
The pressure and devouring force of the Domain River were ten times, a hundred times, even a thousand times greater than the disturbance caused when the Giant Tomb Lord Zhou shattered space.
Neither the Sui Star Envoys nor Lin Xiaohe herself could guarantee that they would make it safely across the Domain River.
A trace of hesitation crossed the researcher’s face.
“But they all said the same thing. Could the collapse of the universe have affected the Domain River?”
Lin Xiaohe’s expression became solemn as she fell into thought once again.
It was possible.
Behind her, Melina and Wesley exchanged a glance.
Melina spoke gently, reassuring the uneasy researchers.
“Did they say what we look like when viewed from outside the domain?”
This was a much lighter topic.
The researchers immediately became enthusiastic.
“It was fascinating. The black holes they see are different from the black holes within our star domain.”
“As everyone knows, a black hole isn’t simply a giant empty void. It is a deadly celestial object with an extremely strong gravitational field. At its core is a singularity of theoretically infinite density, surrounded by an event horizon.”
“From outside the domain, we look like an asymmetrical silhouette outlined by a bright accretion disk. The material within the disk produces intense heat and light because of violent friction. From X-rays to visible light, it forms a dazzling halo around the black hole’s dark outline. At times, high-energy particle jets traveling at nearly the speed of light are also ejected from both sides of the accretion disk.”
Their black holes rotated, and their direction of rotation was consistent with the direction in which their galaxies rotated. This was also one of the arguments supporting their theory of the Big Bang.
However, on the Federation’s side, the rotational directions of galaxies and the counter-rotational directions of celestial bodies were relatively random, with no discernible pattern.
Put simply, the outside of the domain was like a world that had exploded and was continuously expanding outward.
The inside of the domain, meanwhile, was more like a lake, where the laws governing motion and fundamental forces were far less complicated.
Taking into account all the bizarre reasons these extraterrestrial civilizations had for entering the domain, many scientists’ imaginations began to run wild.
They proposed a startling possibility:
“Could we humans be bait in a trap set by some advanced civilization?”
But that raised another question.
Why would an advanced civilization attract so many extraterrestrial civilizations here?
If there really was a civilization capable of manipulating the technological level of civilizations at the singularity of a black hole, wouldn’t it be incredibly easy for them to control those extraterrestrial civilizations?
A flicker passed through Lin Xiaohe’s eyes.
She suddenly thought of the black shadow that had descended upon the Fallen Land, as well as the Domain Venerables who had been thoroughly tricked.
A rather unreasonable hypothesis formed in her mind.
Perhaps humanity—or rather, the original civilization—was the true hunter.
The greatest hunters often appear in the form of prey.
Unfortunately, after humanity’s decline during the Seventh Era, the hunter who had once disguised itself as prey had itself been reduced to prey.
After compiling all the information they had obtained, the researchers looked at Lin Xiaohe with eager anticipation, like nestlings waiting to be fed, waiting for their next instructions.
Lin Xiaohe said, “You’ve all done very well. Go back and rest for a day before returning to work.”
“Yes! Thank you, Lord!”
The researchers’ faces flushed with excitement at her praise. They were brimming with energy as though they had just been injected with adrenaline.
Rest?
That was impossible.
They could stay up all night again!
Only Lin Xiaohe, Melina, and Wesley remained in the room.
The other members of the Lin family were all busy with their own affairs, and it had been a long time since everyone had gathered together.
Lin Xiaohe put aside her longing for them and focused on the present.
She needed to seriously consider whether she should make a trip to the Domain River while there was still time.
Until now, the Judgment Ark’s destination had always been the Sacred Gate.
Both the Sui Star Civilization and the Zerg had entered through the Sacred Gate. Since they could get in, they should certainly be able to get out.
But the 50% collapse progress and the Judgment Ark’s relatively slow travel speed were both obstacles along this route.
If things continued like this, there was a very real possibility that the Judgment Ark would be unable to reach the Sacred Gate in time.
So, should they take the risk and attempt to cross the Domain River?
It was an extremely difficult decision.
Lin Xiaohe let out a long breath and called out to Melina and Wesley.
“Let’s take a walk.”
The interior of the Judgment Ark had undergone earth-shaking changes from what it had originally been.
In the Ark’s original design, the interior was almost like a huge city, with numerous residential and commercial districts and a strong sense of everyday life.
“It’s all gone?”
Lin Xiaohe realized that there was practically nowhere left for her to wander around.
Every inch of the Judgment Ark was being utilized to its fullest.
A recreational area?
None.
Green spaces?
None.
Schools?
Aside from Jiuzhou Star University, nothing.
Ordinary humans either chose to enter hibernation or lived a monotonous routine of factory to residence and residence to factory.
Such a high-pressure and monotonous lifestyle naturally placed considerable psychological strain on ordinary humans.
And when the pressure became too great, arguments and conflicts were bound to arise.
Along the way alone, Lin Xiaohe had already witnessed fourteen physical altercations. Fortunately, the patrol soldiers and the Security Department quickly arrived and took the people involved away.
“The Security Department under Brother Thunderclap is pretty efficient.”
A strange look crossed Melina’s face.
She opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but when she saw that Lin Xiaohe’s brows had remained tightly furrowed the entire time, she swallowed the words.
The Security Department led by Thunderclap had become increasingly aggressive in its methods.
It was no longer merely maintaining order inside the Ark. There were faint signs that it intended to extend its influence toward the various races as well.
Melina swallowed her sigh.
The burden on Lin Xiaohe’s shoulders was already far too heavy. There was no need to trouble her with such a minor matter.
As long as Melina kept an eye on things, she couldn’t allow Thunderclap to disrupt the balance that currently existed aboard the Judgment Ark.
After walking around for a while, Lin Xiaohe lost interest.
“Melina, the principles of the Xinghe Party have never changed.”
“I know.”
“Once we leave the star domain, it will be time to settle the matter of the Judgment Ark.”
“Understood. Everything will be as you wish.”
