High Above

——Become human.

Ian was a little confused at first, but soon he keenly grasped the meaning behind the words of the Twin Popes.

Becoming human and becoming human are different words in Terra.

There are too many alien beings in this world, and 'human' is what all intelligent beings call themselves for their own race, and human beings are how they classify their own races - in a sense, all intelligent beings are human beings. They are the 'primates' of their ecology.

But in Terra, simple humans refer to ‘Terran humans’.

Huaiguang has shown too many inhuman features and peculiar colors in the past. If it were them, even if the Twin Popes told Ian the next moment, they were not actually human beings, but some kind of highly intelligent AI, Star Gods. The remaining asylum machines are powerful virtual machine gods, and are the lost maintenance systems of civilizations in the previous era... Even if it is a little outrageous, Ian will not be surprised.

Why would such a being want to become a human being? This is obviously not normal. Although Ian himself has developed an arcane path to cultivate immortality, Terra is not a world of immortals, and there is no need for aliens to transform into humans.

Therefore, the ‘people’ mentioned by the Twin Popes must have a deeper meaning.

"The person you are talking about is some kind of 'spirit' or 'idea'?"

After a moment of silence, Ian thought of a possibility, so he whispered: "The reason why humans are humans is not the nature of beasts?"

Humans are the shells that most of the people of Terra now have. They are a kind of advanced animal. Even though they have undergone various transformations, they are still pure beasts if they completely follow their instinctive desires.

But ‘people’ are different.

Pure man is a noble thought that transcends animal nature and sublimates from animal nature.

It is the essence of all order ethics and morals created by human beings in order to restrain their own animal nature. It is the will and determination of self-restraint. It is an illusory but tangible spirit and will created by human beings to transcend their original instincts. .

A pure spirit, a transcendent will.

That is the true essence of why human civilization can continue to this day. The reason why the upright apes on the planet Terra can be called the foundation of mankind.

It is by relying on this self-transcendent nature of beasts that humans break away from animals and step towards true humans, the primates of all things.

In this world, there are so many aliens, and everyone is human.

However, because of the disaster of falling from the sky and the disaster of the end, more people have reverted to beasts for various reasons. Even the people of Terra have reverted. Terra's social morals and many ethical standards have all been destroyed. Reduced to a rather primitive state.

There is only one difference - whether without the help of alien friends or the help of real dragons, the Terran people are likely to lose civilization and wisdom like other alien life forms, and once again start from apes and lose "humanity" name.

Ian believes that this is essentially what Huaiguang means when he talks about becoming a ‘human being’.

The reason why they created a paradise around the Holy Mountain Plain, a safe haven for all those who prayed for peace, was to try to gradually convert these human beings whose civilization had retreated into "human beings".

However, in Ian's view, Huaiguang's attempts may indeed cultivate a group of clergy with high morals, but they are just clergy - their nobility and selflessness come from the surroundings of the Holy Mountain. The small society is not because of the improvement of the atmosphere of the whole big world.

And because of the special nature of Huaiguang, everyone thinks that the loftiness of Huaiguang priests is normal, and few people will be influenced by them.

Therefore, he wanted to create tools other than morality, country, ethics, law and other tools... Virtual Realm AI, Heart of Terra.

In this way, human desires are used to popularize the arcane path, and the entire world is subtly changed from the fundamental path of sublimation.

【You understand what we mean】

At this moment, the voices of the Twin Popes were even more pleased, and their tone was filled with pure audacity and joy: [We are pleasantly surprised, Ian. We are very surprised for you】

[Originally, we were already very surprised because of what Yingguang and Huijian witnessed about the Silver Peak Leader, but it is even more so now]

[If you can become the same kind as us, you will definitely lead the sublimation of Huaiguang]

"I must make a statement in advance."

Hearing this, Ian warned: "I am a noble, and my goal is to unify Terra and rule the world - I do not aspire to it at all, nor do I endorse anarchism."

"In fact, I have no intention of building a democratic society, at least not in the next hundred years. I want to monopolize power and will not allow others to give me 'opinions'."

Even if you have light, it's the same.

In Ian's eyes, everything about Terra's social system and order was terrible, but there was only one thing that was better than that on Earth.

That is, the real rulers and superiors are at least 'strong', possessing not only absolute violence, but also extraordinary knowledge and determination.

Sounds a little strange? This authoritarian system is not a good one no matter how you look at it.

But in fact, this social system has solved one problem, which is ordinary people's doubts about the rulers.

In Ian's previous life, before the earth was unified into the Earth Federation, there were many leaders of small countries who came to power just because they were lucky, and some even because of their family lineage. Even not just small countries, but also some big countries, their leaders may not be the smartest, wisest or even the most suitable of all people.

This system cannot be said to be bad, but it will definitely lead to many problems. These powerful people will be assassinated, their policies will be distorted, and their will cannot be implemented - even the greatest leaders cannot do this, and the entire society There are too many forces in the order that can be violated openly and secretly, and can be distorted and exaggerated, and those in power can only compromise.

The earth is a world of compromise, full of the flavor of coordination and compromise. That’s why some people are unwilling and questioning. They would rather leave everyone alone and let everyone take care of themselves. This is the source of anarchism.

But Terra was different.

This is a place where only the best people can rise to the top—maybe not the best, but definitely the most powerful.

And if they want to implement their own will, even if they still violate it, most of the time it is others who compromise with them, not the other way around.

And the people will not doubt the decisions of these powerful people... Even if they are blood nobles, they can reach the fifth level with absolute will. The feeling of burning their own lives is something that Ian has experienced. , basically putting people’s souls and internal organs into the sun to slowly boil them, and experience the horror of being constantly worn down.

Without a steely will, even the use of force is impossible.

Therefore, when Ian showed his strength, he said what he said in Nanling. No one would question, ask, or even violate it... because powerful people like Terra who have the power to judge by law will really do it themselves. kill.

There is no need for oversight and no one will question the individual with the highest level of force.

It's that simple, and the operation of society suddenly became flat and smooth.

Therefore, when faced with Huaiguang's 'invitation', Ian was very vigilant... The other party was one of the Four Orthodox Churches and was very friendly to him. He was not able to refuse it directly, so he could only state his position in advance: "Although my arcane path looks very similar to what you want, it is just a tool for me to achieve my goal."

"I don't think about grand narratives like 'What will humans do in the future?' Whether humans will die or not is a matter for future humans. I only grasp the present moment!"

【you misunderstood】

Ian's reaction was a bit too intense, but the Twin Popes were not surprised. They just said seriously: [We do not intend to let you become Huaiguang - you still have unlimited possibilities, and we will never do this]

[Just if, a possibility. After all, we can also imagine]

"So what do you plan to get from me?"

Ian frowned and said: "You have talked to me so much. If Huaiguang also wants the technology of the arcane path, I can teach you some more in-depth techniques, but I will not trade the core advantages."

[No, we don’t have this desire]

The Twin Popes calmly refused: [Actually, Ian, we are not asking for it from you, but giving it to you]

[Without you, the demons will invade Terra, take advantage of the world war to take root in the hearts of all living beings, catalyze the emergence of the 'Demon King of War' at the peak of the future war, and completely lead Terra into the most terrifying chaos. Corizion will commit an unforgivable sin, and even parallel time and space will be turbulent because of him]

[But because of you, this apocalyptic disaster disappeared quietly, even without you noticing it. Dragon Island and the Void Realm Machine God only needed to eradicate some small-scale demon clusters, and the three abyss lords because You will die]

[This is a great achievement in itself, and it is precisely because of this that we are willing to protect you. We invite you here just to give you the reward you deserve]

[But now, you gave us another unexpected surprise, so we changed our mind]

"is that so?"

Ian was a little surprised. From his own perspective, he just killed the three abyss lords who blocked the way - but thinking about it carefully, it is true that he closed the Gate of Silver Sky and made the Capital of Knowledge attractive to demons. It was greatly reduced and the leading demon was killed, making it impossible for the demon to expand the teleportation point on a large scale.

In this way, an extremely terrifying crisis was eliminated. Only Huaiguang, a great prophet who had already foreseen the terrible disaster, could know about Ian's contribution.

As the saying goes, no good doctor has a brilliant reputation, and this is probably the case.

So Ian said without hesitation: "You'd better not change it and just pay me."

Of course, the reward should not be in vain. Although what Ian prevented was a disaster that had not yet happened, Huaiguang was also a prophet. This was his reasonable reward!

What surprised him was that Huaiguang actually had no desires or desires.

This is really incredible...the possibility of becoming stronger, the desire to extend life, and gaining greater and more stable power...these are the things that people in the world of Terra long for.

That's why Ian spread the arcane path, because he knows that no one in this world can resist this temptation.

But Huaiguang can.

This is so strange.

[Gifts of encouragement will of course be given] The Twin Popes said softly: [It’s just that you still don’t understand us, but it’s not your fault]

As if they could see Ian's doubts, the twin popes' voices became more ethereal, as if they were coming from an extremely distant and vast place, with a deep echo: [Because we have always been tight-lipped, only a few people. Have the right to know the nature of our light]

[So, do you want to come and witness? 】

They sent out an invitation, and the twin popes of light sent a sincere invitation to the white-haired prophet: "Do you want to come and witness the truth?" 】

Ian thought for a moment, then nodded slightly frankly: "I am indeed very curious about Huaiguang."

"Please tell me."

【Then, we will show】

The words just fell.

Suddenly, everyone present felt it.

"Ian?!" Isengard opened his eyes wide, and he looked around blankly: "The Void Realm—an extremely huge signal came from the Void Realm!?"

[Isn’t it? ! 】Teacher Dongyu also said in shock: 【Did you just communicate with the Twin Popes? They, they... decided to tell you the truth? ! 】

"Ian Yinfeng is indeed qualified to make Huaiguang show his true face..." Even the remnant soul of the road builder showed a look of astonishment: "But this reaction... This is not right. This is different from what I saw back then. no the same……"

This is just the aftermath.

Because, in Ian's eyes, what he saw was a group of extremely bright golden mist suddenly rising from the earth, the sky, and the virtual realm. The golden mist in the foreseeing horizon rose as if it were alive, and then from They gathered from all directions, from every corner of the Holy Mountain, from every part of the Holy Land of Huaiguang, and headed towards the top of the Holy Mountain in the distance.

A bright light lit up, and at this moment, everyone in the Holy Land saw it, whether it was the ascetics deep in the mountains, the children playing in the village, or the farmers cultivating and harvesting in the fields... they all I saw it, the blazing spiritual flames lit up at the top of the holy mountain, and then slowly sank into the heart of the mountain.

Ian suddenly trembled.

"What the hell..."

He murmured to himself: "No way...is this...Huaiguang?"

Precognitive vision, in the gift of the Star God, a huge existence that appeared in both the material world and the virtual world appeared in front of Ian's eyes. The golden light mist constructed an extremely huge and towering form, and its essence came from the holy mountain. The top continues to Ian's feet.

【You have stepped on us】

The soft Gemini voice sounded, but Ian's eyes were full of data.

【Huaiguang Group (Cluster Life)】

[Fifth energy level·Super material entity·Leap species·Twilight species]

[The parasitic fungus was born on the body of a dying child. After many sublimations, mutations and evolutions, it finally evolved into a super-entity cluster life. Its form is similar to that of a swarm of insects, the collective consciousness of plants and the Gestalt thinking of AI, but there are differences. The parasitized life has all its own memories, and can also gain the power of a large swarm, which is equivalent to getting a second life]

[The composition of this large group is extremely complex. Each host will provide it with the sublimation of life essence and soul, changing part of the large group. Therefore, each recipient is a unique individual in the large group. The Huaiguang Group’s will is a collective subconscious mind sea composed of many individuals, and the person with the highest authority is the ‘prophet’ who has the ability to perceive the transcendent ether]

[The Huaiguang swarm does not have all the characteristics of ordinary creatures, but also possesses the essence of all life. It is a unique life form in the universe. It is not an exaggeration to call it a miracle]

【The Huaiguang crowd is watching you】