Chapter 361: Four Civilizations Talks

The Mountain Civilization replied to Humanity's message without delay, and their response was almost a verbatim copy of Humanity's message.

This was not merely imitation or perfunctory; it was instead because these were their true feelings, and what they had always pursued as their ideal.

They had also always eagerly awaited Humanity's initiative in making contact. Understanding all this, Lin Sen replied again:

"Our ideals are aligned; the Dark Forest is not in the universe, but in our hearts.

Since we both wish to climb the mountain of the Dark Forest that lies within our hearts, let us call you 'Mountain'.

We look forward to joining hands with you to form a new Civilization Alliance."

When the Trisolarans and the Mountain Civilization faced such a message, for a moment, it was as if they were suffocated by the profoundness of the universe, left speechless. This feeling, as if Humanity knew everything about the Mountain Civilization, was absurd yet shocking, but how could this be possible?

To say this was a conjecture? For a lower civilization to name a higher civilization was itself an act akin to a child trying to name the stars—unbelievable and impudently impolite. No rational civilization would ever make such a rash move lightly.

Unless, they had some nearly certain proof that the unknown civilization was indeed the Mountain Civilization.

This action displayed a depth like an abyss on one hand, making the opponent hesitate to act rashly out of fear of the unknown; on the other hand, it cleverly planted the seed of a shared dream within the opponent's mind.

Although the official structure of the four-civilization alliance had not yet been established, amid this mix of silence and shock, and unnoticed by all, something substantial had quietly taken shape.

Now, perhaps it was time to vie for the right to speak within the alliance, as shock tactics and demonstrable power in silence became critical.

This was also Lin Sen's prophetic advantage; while others were still testing out contacts, he had already planned for the most favorable outcome.

The response of the Mountain Civilization crossed the vast interstellar gap, echoing like the timeless mountains—both firm and powerful:

"Our civilization indeed calls itself 'Mountain,' and climbing is our eternal mission.

In the vastness of the universe, we have always been committed to establishing a civilization alliance that spans the stars. In this vision, we, you, the Trisolaran Civilization, and the Dinosaur Civilization will all be members of this body.

We once again sincerely invite the Human Civilization, the Trisolaran Civilization, and the Dinosaur Civilization to send representatives to the Mountain Civilization's council hall.

This will be a historic first four-civilization conference in our civilization's history, to be conducted via remote virtual visual communication.

We look forward to overcoming the barriers of time and space with you, creating a society that embodies our shared ideals."

Sophon could manipulate quantum computers, naturally setting up bridges for remote virtual visual communications as well.

The Human and Dinosaur civilizations, after close communication with the Solar System Alliance, resolutely accepted the Mountain Civilization's invitation.

Regardless of whether this invitation masked some scheme by the Mountain Civilization, Humanity had nothing to fear. The Humanity of today dared to face all the challenges of the universe, to step into the unknown abyss.

This was a cosmic game of strategy and intellect; Humanity had never backed down and had never feared any opponent.

...

Crisis Era Year 497, Mountain Civilization Mothership.

The grand hall of the summit was ablaze with lights, and an interstellar, interspecies conference was about to commence.

Human Civilization, Dinosaur Civilization, and Trisolaran Civilization—these three distinct forms of intelligent life had converged here, despite the light years between them, through remote virtual imaging technology. It was an unprecedented inter-civilizational event, the decisions of which were substantial enough to profoundly shake the future trajectories of the four civilizations.

Representing Human Civilization, Commander Ye Chen and Lin Sen stood side by side. Behind them stood their chief staff, whose eyes flickered with a longing for the unknown and a yearning for peace.

Representing Dinosaur Civilization, the majestic King and the wise Grand Secretary led their various elders, who, though large in stature, exuded an eager anticipation for the exchange of wisdom.

Representing Trisolaran Civilization, The Head, with the Military Governor, and numerous Governors stood by, their expressions cool and profound, as if they had already foreseen how this conference would influence the future path of Trisolaran Civilization.

The conference was convened by the leaders of the Mountain Civilization along with various controlling officials. They sat opposite the humans, their gaze intense, seemingly able to pierce through the mists of time and space and glimpse the interconnected fate of the four civilizations.

The head of the Mountain Civilization slowly stood up, his voice carrying through the translator like a gentle spring breeze, touching the hearts of all attendees:

"The vast universe, like a tumultuous ocean, where each civilization is a lone boat afloat, small yet resilient.

"Each civilization is a unique star emitting its own distinct light, bearing the luminescence of its world's civilization—brilliant and mysterious.

"The birth and development of every civilization represent a long, arduous struggle. They race against the merciless sands of time, compete for limited living space, and struggle in this endless darkness, striving hard for survival.

"What is more challenging is that in this vast universe, each civilization must walk its path alone. Darkness and the unknown always lurk nearby, like a colossal beast lurking in the deep sea, ever ready to unleash its enormous jaws and devour everything.

"We meet unexpectedly and plunge into wars just as suddenly. In this brutal competition, we hardly find time to ponder why we need war, and war never leaves time for reflection.

"It is as if a sudden storm engulfs us, throwing us into chaos and destruction.

"However, in this vast universe, the very fact that we can come together is a miracle. It's like the brightest star in the night sky, lighting our path forward, showing us hope and possibility.

"We should be grateful that in the Dark Forest, we still have the opportunity to gather, and we have the chance to contemplate our future together."

The opening speech by the leader of the Mountain Civilization was simple, yet its intent was clear: our coming together is a rare fortune bestowed by the universe; our future will be collectively shaped by this very gathering.

Before the conference, the Mountain Civilization had shared their simple chronological history with humanity, revealing that they belonged to a Silicon-based Civilization, distinct from Earth's life forms.

The emotions of the Mountain Civilization might seem detached, but that did not mean their thoughts lacked depth or philosophical insight.

Their brain structure was unique, divided into two cores: an external and an internal core. The external core was a sophisticated ternary computer, handling vast amounts of information and intricate manipulations.

The internal core, however, was where the soul of the Mountain Civilization truly resided, full of their spirit and wisdom, nurturing endless creativity. Here, emotion and reason intertwined, forming the unique thinking patterns and philosophical systems of the Mountain Civilization.

In the presence of such a civilization, humanity felt an unprecedented shock and enlightenment, realizing that although life forms in the universe vary immensely, the spirit of wisdom and exploration is universal.