199: Chapter 199: Merit Returns, New Crisis

Jiang Ning chose the quietest valley behind the Qingyun Sect as her place for seclusion.

She had set up layers of arrays here to isolate all outside interference.

In the center of the valley, she sat cross-legged, her spiritual sense completely immersed in the jade slip recording the history of the Mechanical Cult.

A vast torrent of information flowed through her mind.

She saw a mechanical civilization that was vastly different from the cultivation civilization, one that was brilliant to the extreme.

They did not believe in gods or Buddhas, nor did they revere the Heavenly Dao; they only believed in cold logic and calculable truths.

They viewed the universe as a giant computer and regarded the laws of all things as code that could be cracked and rewritten.

They built "computing hubs" that spanned galaxies, using the energy of entire stars to deduce the ultimate mysteries of the universe.

They created "formatting" fleets, decomposing civilizations that did not conform to their "optimal solution" logic—along with their host galaxies—into the most basic atoms.

Their ultimate goal was to bring the entire universe under the order of their "absolute rationality," establishing an eternal, stable "Mechanical Heaven" free from any randomness or errors.

The power and madness of this civilization made even Jiang Ning feel fearful.

It was no wonder they had invited the siege of all realms and were ultimately annihilated.

Because their existence itself was a negation of all other civilizations and all "possibilities."

"However, their technology does indeed have its merits."

Jiang Ning withdrew from the information, her eyes flickering with thoughtful light.

For example, that "inter-dimensional strike platform," its core concept—the "logical paradox" strike—gave her great inspiration.

This method of attack bypassed traditional energy confrontation and acted directly on the target's "basis of existence," which could be called unsolvable.

"If this technology could be miniaturized and standardized..."

Jiang Ning's mind became active.

Just as she was deep in thought, the long-lost system notification sound in her mind suddenly rang out wildly.

[Ding! Detected that the host successfully resisted the invasion of a high-dimensional world, maintained the independence and dignity of this world, and world stability has been significantly improved!]

[Ding! Detected that the host signed an 'Interstellar Diplomatic Treaty' with a high-dimensional world, secured huge benefits for this world, and opened a new chapter in cross-civilization exchange!]

[Comprehensive evaluation: The host has completed the hidden epic achievement: "Counterattack of the Lower Realm"!]

[Reward: 5,000,000 merit points!]

[Host's current total merit points: 5,560,000!]

"Five... five million?!"

Jiang Ning was stunned by this huge number.

She had originally thought that since she had spent three million merit points this time, it would take a long time to earn them back.

She didn't expect the system to give her a "super multiplier" directly!

This wave was a huge profit!

Before she could recover from her ecstasy, the system's notification sound rang out again.

[Ding! Because the host's merit points have exceeded the five million mark and you have mastered 'planetary-level' Infrastructure Construction capabilities, the Merit Mall has been officially upgraded to the 'Interstellar Infrastructure 2.0' version!]

[Unlocked brand new product categories: "Interstellar Navigation Technology Tree," "Dyson Sphere Construction Guide," "Inter-galactic Transport Network Planning Map"...]

Rows of products shimmering with golden light, whose names alone were enough to make one's blood boil, appeared on the mall panel.

Especially that "Dyson Sphere Construction Guide."

A Dyson Sphere!

That was the mark of whether a civilization had stepped into a Level II cosmic civilization!

Once built, it meant one could utilize the entire energy of a whole star!

By that time, let alone the Great Immortal World, even if a higher-level civilization came, Jiang Ning would have the confidence to go toe-to-toe with them.

"Calm down, calm down..."

Jiang Ning forced herself to calm down.

A Dyson Sphere was a good thing, but it was also a super project that couldn't be built overnight.

The most urgent task at the moment was to improve her own hard strength and solve the social problems that might arise after the arrival of the "Universal Cultivation" era.

She was just calculating whether to exchange these five million-plus merit points for a cultivation technique for the post-Nascent Soul Stage, or to exchange for a "Sociological Modeling and Deduction System" to deal with the impending social change.

Suddenly, a blood-red alarm, urgent to the extreme, flashed wildly on her system interface without any warning!

The priority of that alarm even exceeded the highest alarm when the Inspector descended earlier!

[Warning! Warning! Detected a highest-priority emergency communication request from Earth!]

[Warning! Violent spatial fluctuations have appeared in the coordinates of the Solar System, and a super-giant, non-naturally formed 'spatial wormhole' is unfolding!]

[Warning! According to preliminary analysis of scanning data, the other side of the wormhole is a high-density biological cluster, with a 99.8% similarity in species characteristics to the 'Void Zerg'!]

[Warning! The Zerg fleet has exited the wormhole, target: the third planet of the Solar System—Earth!]

A series of warnings pierced Jiang Ning's heart like countless cold needles.

The Void Zerg!

That was a type of cosmic locust she had just seen in the data of the "Mechanical Cult"!

They had no intelligence, no civilization, only the most primitive and pure instinct for devouring and reproduction.

They were like a plague sweeping through the universe; wherever they went, all planets containing energy would be gnawed clean, not even leaving a rock behind.

According to the records of the Mechanical Cult, they had spent over ten thousand years and mobilized three "formatting" fleets to completely "clean up" a star field polluted by the Zerg.

And now, this group of cosmic disasters had actually appeared in the Solar System?

Appeared at Earth's doorstep?!

Jiang Ning's blood turned cold instantly.

She could not care about the survival of the Immortal-Mortal Realm, and she could play along with the Great Immortal World.

But Earth was her home! It was her roots!

There were her relatives, her comrades, and everything she had fought for!

That was her bottom line!

"Ommm—"

A terrifying, extreme killing intent erupted from Jiang Ning's body.

In the entire valley behind the mountain, all the flowers, plants, and trees withered instantly under this killing intent, turning into dust.

The meditation room for seclusion collapsed with a bang.

Jiang Ning's figure shot into the sky like lightning, appearing instantly on the main peak of the Qingyun Sect.

Her expression was so gloomy it could drip water.

"What happened?!"

"What terrifying killing intent!"

Special Envoy Wang, Boss Wan, and the others were scared out of their wits by this sudden killing intent and rushed out one after another.

When they saw Jiang Ning floating in mid-air, emitting a cold aura, they were all stunned.

They had never seen Jiang Ning like this before.

It was the kind of madness and anger, willing to destroy everything, that only appears after one's homeland is destroyed and loved ones are slaughtered.

"Consultant... Consultant Jiang, what happened?" Special Envoy Wang asked with a trembling voice.

Jiang Ning did not answer him, but directly connected to Earth's supreme Command Center through the cross-realm teleportation gate.

A holographic projection appeared in front of everyone.

In the image was the supreme commander of the Earth United Government, an Old General with graying hair. His face was full of gravity and determination.

"Consultant Jiang." The Old General saluted immediately upon seeing Jiang Ning. "You have... already received the news, right."

"Received it." Jiang Ning's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion. "How bad... is the situation?"

A hint of bitterness appeared on the Old General's face.

The holographic screen behind him switched, and a deep starry sky appeared before everyone.

They saw that near Jupiter's orbit, a black wormhole, so huge it blotted out the sky like a scar on the universe, was slowly rotating.

Endless, bizarre-looking creatures were swarming out of the wormhole like a tide.

Some looked like ferocious beetles, some like twisted giant pythons, and others like floating masses of flesh and tissue.

They converged into a black torrent that obscured the starlight, charging clearly towards that azure planet.

And in front of them, the United Fleet composed of all Earth's warships had already set up formation.

But that fleet, in front of the endless Zerg tide, was as insignificant as a few ants trying to stop a chariot.

"According to our calculations, at the opponent's speed, there are... three hours left before they make contact with our first line of defense."

"We... might not be able to hold them off."

The Old General's voice trembled slightly, but his eyes remained firm.

"However, please rest assured, you and all the people of the country."

"The United Fleet will fight until the last warship, the last person!"

"For... Earth!"