397: Chapter 397 The Land Where Civilizations Are Born

Xiao Weiqing began to observe his five opponents.

Five figures stood there, from left to right.

The first was a young man who looked largely similar to a Blue Star human, though his features seemed somewhat mixed, and he was taller, standing nearly two meters tall.

Xiao Weiqing was very familiar with the second one; it was a member of the Yao Race, a type of lizard with a beastly face and a human body, standing over three meters tall.

The third figure was a Mechanical Lifeform. Its entire body had a high-tech feel, taking the form of a beast—a winged... pig?

The fourth and fifth were both in human form, yet they differed slightly from the first young man.

Xiao Weiqing did not rush to make a choice.

"Senior, can you introduce this place?"

The old man said, "I can."

"We belong to one of the subordinate civilizations of the Mingling Civilization—the Kuhn Civilization."

"A subordinate of the Mingling Civilization, the Kuhn Civilization?"

The old man explained, "The Mingling Civilization is a Level 4 civilization, while our Kuhn Civilization is a Level 2 civilization."

"The Kuhn Civilization was destroyed a million years ago. Portions of our Trial Grounds were placed into this world. This place is called the Yin and Yang Twin Peaks Mountain. There is a Divine Fire within the mountain, as you already know."

"If you pass the three stages of the trial, you will have the chance to obtain the Divine Fire."

Xiao Weiqing asked, "Senior, I heard that our world is the Incubation Ground of the Fifth Universe Civilization. What does that mean?"

"Oh?"

The old man was somewhat curious. "Who did you hear that from?"

"A maid from the Aona Family said it."

"The Aona Family?"

The old man shook his head slightly. "Based on a Family name alone, it's impossible to determine which Universe civilization they belong to."

"However, you are correct. Your world does indeed belong to the Incubation Ground of the Fifth Universe Civilization."

Xiao Weiqing asked again, "Senior, what kind of civilization is the Fifth Universe Civilization? Are there also first and second Universe civilizations?"

"Also, what is a Incubation Ground?"

The old man explained, "The Fifth Universe Civilization is a collective term, not a single civilization. Since there is a Fifth Universe Civilization, there are naturally first and second ones as well."

"As for the Incubation Ground, simply put, it is a civilization cultivation base."

"You must understand that the Universe is vast and boundless with countless planets, yet the probability of life emerging is still extremely, extremely small."

"For a life-bearing planet to develop into a Level 1 civilization and join the great Family of Universe civilizations is even more difficult."

Xiao Weiqing nodded in agreement. At least in the Old Era, Blue Star had never discovered other civilizations. Looking at it now, it wasn't just because it was a Incubation Ground, but also because Blue Star was pathetically weak in both technology and transcendent cultivation.

They simply couldn't make contact with other civilizations.

Technology was somewhat better; various probes had at least left Blue Star, barely counting as being in the infancy stage.

However, in terms of cultivation, they weren't even considered embryos yet.

The old man continued, "For the development of Universe civilizations, the high-level authorities of the Fifth Universe Civilization decided to intervene in the development of life-bearing planets to promote the formation of civilizations."

"Your Blue Star is one of them."

"One of them?"

"So you're saying there are many civilizations like ours?"

"Of course, a great many. Tens of thousands, so many they are impossible to count. The exact number is likely only known to the high-level authorities of the Fifth Civilization."

"After our Kuhn Civilization was defeated and destroyed, the Fifth Universe Civilization high-level, following the principle of recycling waste, placed some Trial Grounds containing treasures into these Incubation Grounds to accelerate the development of civilizations like yours."

Xiao Weiqing listened quietly.

For some reason, hearing this made him feel a sudden sense of loss. It turned out that everything on Blue Star was indeed orchestrated.

Blue Star was like a lost land. Humans thought they had conquered Blue Star and had been tirelessly searching for other civilizations, even once believing that Blue Star was the only planet in the Universe with life.

Little did they know...

It was simply that Blue Star had never been connected to the network.

"Then Senior, what counts as a successful cultivation for our Blue Star?"

The old man replied, "Successfully birthing a Star-grade Being."

"A Star Lord?"

"Mhm, correct."

Xiao Weiqing shook his head. "That's too difficult."

Breaking through to the Star Lord Realm was easier said than done. The transcendent cultivators of Blue Star couldn't even see the path to becoming a Star Lord. Although Xiao Weiqing believed he might reach the Star Lord Realm in the future, he had no idea how long it would take.

Perhaps one day the Yao Race would invade Blue Star, and before he could Cultivate to the Star Lord Realm, he would be slain by a Yao Race Demigod.

The old man frowned and said, "You Blue Star people are indeed not very capable. In all these years, including you, only two people have come here."

"Normally, in a Incubation Ground, a lifeform would surely Cultivate to the Star-grade within a hundred thousand years. Yet for you, it has been a million years, and only the second person has entered this place. Seventy years have passed, and that girl hasn't returned; she likely hasn't broken through to the Star-grade either."

"Sigh, our Kuhn Civilization being bound to you is truly bad luck."

Xiao Weiqing was not convinced and retorted, "Senior, saying that is a bit biased. Our Blue Star humans have only five thousand years of history, and we only began cultivating a hundred years ago. Coupled with internal troubles and external threats, it's already a blessing that we haven't been wiped out."

He even thought that in a few years, or perhaps a few decades, the Blue Star Civilization might be gone. But Xiao Weiqing swallowed those words; he was afraid the No. 9 Civilization Ruins would leave.

Since it was a binding, perhaps it could also be unbound.

"What do you mean?"

"Five thousand years of history? Cultivating for a hundred years?"

Xiao Weiqing nodded with certainty. "Yes. Only a hundred years ago did our Blue Star gain Spiritual Qi, and only then did we begin to Cultivate and step into the transcendent realm."

"Impossible!"

The old man said sternly.

"Everything in a Incubation Ground is planned. It's impossible to be delayed for so long. Something must have gone wrong, otherwise transcendent cultivation couldn't have started only a hundred years ago."

Xiao Weiqing said, "But that is the reality."

The old man was silent for a moment before saying, "This is something you'll have to explore for yourselves; I cannot help you."

"Choose your opponent."

"An outsider already participated in the trial yesterday. If he succeeds, your chances of seizing the Divine Fire will be very slim."

Xiao Weiqing got a bit anxious upon hearing this. "Wait, isn't this our Blue Star's Incubation Ground?"

"This trial belongs to us, so why would you let an outsider in, Senior?"

The old man said, "There is no rule stating that outsiders cannot participate in the trials. Whether human or alien race, at most the Human Race is prioritized and given some preferential treatment. For example, when you ask me things, I will tell you whatever I can."

"Hurry up. That person passed the first trial long ago and is currently stuck on the second, but he could pass it at any time."

Xiao Weiqing's heart tightened. The person the old man mentioned should be Aonaya Fang.

"Make your choice. I can see that you are very strong, much stronger than that girl from seventy years ago. Passing the assessment shouldn't be difficult. I hope you can pass the trial before that person next door."

As the guardian of this Kuhn Civilization ruin, he preferred Xiao Weiqing to obtain the Divine Fire and break through to the Star Lord Realm. That way, their Kuhn Civilization could be credited with a merit, making a future restoration of their civilization possible.

After thinking for a moment.

Xiao Weiqing no longer hesitated and pointed at the Yao Race figure. "Senior, I choose it as my opponent."

"Good."