147: Section 147

Pipi Xi actually took it quite well.

"Silly child, what's so strange about that... The Known Universe is full of all sorts of bizarre life forms!"

"Triangles? Or Beast Body?"

Su Ming really hadn't looked into the relevant theories; he hadn't even finished studying the cutting-edge ones yet!

She let out a soft sigh, a lament for someone's lack of learning.

That single sigh made Su Ming lose his confidence.

But...

That's not right!

In the original story, there were only three major camps: the Shenhe Body, the Triangles, and the minor Beast Body!

With his current legendary intelligence of 25, could he really have remembered it wrong?

Pipi Xi said helplessly:

"You should at least learn a bit about the history of the Known Universe. The universe is so vast and has existed for such a long time; an anime is bound to be very one-sided..."

"You don't naively think that the so-called Shape War was just an internal conflict among carbon-based life forms, do you?"

Chapter 167: The Shape War! The Backlash Against the Angels

In Su Ming's memory, the Shape War was indeed a racial war between the Triangles, the Beast Body, and the Shenhe Body, launched under the pretext of dominating the development of the universe!

However...

Hearing Pipi Xi's words, the truth seemed to be far more than that.

"Of course it's more than that!" Pipi Xi rolled her eyes and said as she walked, "The Shape War you're talking about strictly happened in the latter part of the Second Shape War."

"I know about the First Shape War; it started when the Shenhe Civilization was still around. But the original anime was vague about it, only saying it was related to the Triangles. From what you're saying... the Second Shape War was a continuation of the first?"

"Yes. Strictly speaking, the so-called Shape War had only one purpose: the struggle for living space!"

After a pause, Pipi Xi instead brought up another matter: "Let me test the limits of your imagination. Besides carbon-based life, how many other life forms exist in the Known Universe?"

"Carbon-based? No way, are there silicon-based or boron-based life forms in the Known Universe?"

"There are, child, there are!"

Pipi Xi couldn't stop smirking; she finally got to see a look of shock on Su Ming's face.

After having her worldview constantly overturned by Su Ming, she finally reclaimed some interest—Happy.JPG!

"Boron-based and silicon-based are nothing. There used to be quite a few ammonia-based lives. Oh right, there were also many sulfur-based and plasma-based lives!"

No wonder!

He had wondered why in such a massive universe, it always came down to the three major God-making Civilizations: Angels, Demons, and Lieyang.

It turns out they were all wiped out by the Shape War!

Speaking of this, Pipi Xi couldn't help but sigh and said:

"Now you know where the term 'Shenhe Body' life comes from, right? There's only one reason: during the First Shape War, the Shenhe Civilization established the fact that the Known Universe would be dominated by carbon-based life!"

"I see, I see. The Shenhe Civilization truly performed a great merit. But I don't understand; the nurturing of life wouldn't be completely interrupted just because of a single war's purge, would it?"

Pipi Xi's expression became serious, and her words inevitably carried a hint of respect:

"It wouldn't, at least not at first... until later, when the Shenhe Civilization built the most advanced celestial supercomputer—the great clock!"

"Then, the Shenhe Civilization performed a great feat that affected the entire universe, even to this day, benefiting all Shenhe Body lives!"

"They used the great clock to artificially block the possibility of the natural birth of all non-carbon-based life!"

"The methods were varied, from inducing malignant genes to fine-tuning environmental parameters, and then to total war coverage... Their original intention was simply to block the continued development of hostile forces, causing a population gap, which would then lead to the gradual decline of the hostile civilization due to population issues."

"Until one day, it seemed to cross a certain threshold."

"The Known Universe lost the possibility of nurturing most non-carbon-based life forms!"

Su Ming couldn't sit still.

The design and construction of the great clock were originally intended to help civilizations win wars; that was only natural.

Heimerdinger and Space Kieran used the great clock to embark on the path of genetic ascension and eventually tinkered out the Divine Body technology system... that was an accident!

Using the great clock to reduce the potential of hostile civilizations like a dimensional reduction strike was also perfectly logical.

But Su Ming couldn't understand how such a thing could have such a profound impact!

He hurriedly interrupted:

"Wait! Loss of possibility? You mean after one war, the entire version of the universe was updated?"

"That's pretty much what it means!"

Su Ming fell silent.

After pulling off such a big stunt, the downfall of the Shenhe Civilization... could it have been the backlash caused by this act against the heavens?

From this.

Su Ming thought of even more.

"Let me ask a question. The Second Shape War led by the Angels, could it be..."

"That's exactly right!" Pipi Xi was very candid. "Given the aesthetic preferences of us Angels, it's hard to tolerate those messy carbon-based lives sharing the same universe with us!"

"On the other hand, even though the Shenhe Civilization had long since perished, the war back then truly terrified many non-Shenhe Body civilizations."

"Once the chain of suspicion starts, both sides instinctively reject communication and refuse to coexist peacefully."

"And so, the Second Shape War broke out!"

Understood.

The First Shape War established carbon-based life as the 'favored child' of the version.

The Second Shape War further established the version advantage of Shenhe Body life!

But what was the result?

The Shenhe Civilization got a Game Over!

In the original story, the Angel Civilization inexplicably became the target of everyone...

Seeing Su Ming's enlightened face followed by a [You Angels are so pitiful] expression, Pipi Xi said helplessly:

"It looks like you've guessed it... That's right. Combining the information you spoiled, my original body and Queen Kaisha came to a hypothesis from the two Shape Wars..."

"...There is a price to be paid for pushing a version update of the universe!"

"Otherwise, in the plot you know, it would be impossible for us, who possess two top-tier celestial supercomputers, to constantly make such stupid moves!"

No, no, no!

Don't doubt it; that's exactly how it is!

Under the Great Tribulation, the Heavenly Dao reduces intelligence... he was all too familiar with such settings.

This could also explain things.

Why the Angels' research project on leaving the Known Universe to find another home was constantly ramping up... the Angels couldn't afford to gamble!

Being targeted by an entire universe is indeed terrifying!

Besides.

This was also the fundamental reason why Su Ming, as a single individual, always held the upper hand in his cooperation with the Angels.

Looking back.

The way the Angels treated him... could almost be described as obedient!

As for why Pipi Xi suddenly exposed the Angels' dire situation?

It was easy to understand.

Once Su Ming revealed his identity as a Comprehensive Network player.

The 0.7 Pipi Xi subjectively judged.

Su Ming truly possessed the capital to protect the Angels, so she chose to tell him everything.

To be more blunt, this could even be seen as a pledge of loyalty voluntarily offered by the Angels!

It might sound a bit counter-intuitive.

The ability to travel through the heavens is clearly a feature that comes with the Comprehensive Network.

After learning this, Su Ming's value should have plummeted.

But the reality was exactly the opposite.

The existence of the Comprehensive Network was equivalent to Su Ming having an extra, sturdy backer that spanned the heavens!

Although this backer would never give players too much preferential treatment, the mountain was right there, beneath the feet of all players. Players only needed to climb the steps to reach the peak!

Because of this.

Pipi Xi's underlying protocols were activated; she didn't need to ask the two Queens!

Going all-in with such confidence!

Chapter 168: The Grand Stage of the Comprehensive Network! If You Have a Cheat, Come On Down

Their seemingly long conversation had actually finished in the span of a few breaths in reality.

The result was.

Pipi Xi, representing the Angels, fully defected to Su Ming's camp.

And Su Ming also proved with practical actions that he had the potential to protect the entire Angel Civilization.

Although such an agreement was not explicitly stated, nor was there a contract as a guarantee.

But both knew that this tacit understanding would be more reliable than any contract!

This could be slightly proven by Pipi Xi taking Su Ming's arm of her own accord, and Su Ming accepting it as a matter of course!

He was a man.

Between him and the all-female Angel Civilization.

The most reliable bond certainly couldn't be a so-called contract.

Rather... it was the intimate relationship of the protector and the protected!

Su Ming understood Pipi Xi's subtext.

Naturally, he couldn't refuse the closeness of Clone Hexi, because the current Pipi Xi truly represented the will of the original Hexi!

"What a pity..."

"Are you getting all sentimental now?"

Su Ming said with no small amount of regret:

"What a pity, I'll have to wait until I return to the main universe to hear Sister Hexi's Guardian Oath."

Pipi Xi's face darkened, and she unceremoniously gave Su Ming an elbow strike:

"Is your skin itching for a beating!"

Rubbing his chest, Su Ming chuckled:

"Not really. Let's make a deal, why don't we just swap this scratchy armor of yours for casual clothes? With Ms. Granger here, we won't need to fight."

"Hmph! Not even letting a clone off, you really are improper..."

Even so.

As ripples rolled over her body, she shed her military attire, and Pipi Xi made a grand appearance in a moon-white formal dress.

Her silver hair cascaded down.

A natural, tranquil fragrance lingered around his nose.

An intellectual and approachable aura soaked into his mind and body, and Su Ming smiled with satisfaction.

His arm felt a deep, warm sensation, as smooth as jade.