Chapter 42: Virtual Reality, the Interstellar Explorers' Association

The Hundred Eyes Race had arrived, a momentous occasion for the Kaitian Civilization.

They were the first intelligent civilization the Kaitian Civilization had encountered since joining the Federation of Civilizations, and according to the Federation's envoy, this civilization had been very close to them since its birth, just a few light-years away.

The Kaitians were eagerly awaiting the neural connection information, hoping to be the first to see the appearance of this alien race on the information network.

A silver-white, dart-like spacecraft broke through the sky and entered the civilization's special zone.

The Hundred Eyes Race was equally amazed.

They had been connected to the "Divine Revelation" for nearly 2000 years, and this scenery was all too familiar.

Beautiful!

Vast!

It was a sight that soothed the souls of living beings.

Could there be a more magnificent world than this green ocean in the entire universe?

The spacecraft landed on a giant floating platform over 100 meters in diameter and 5 kilometers in radius. The Hundred Eyes Race emerged from their ship.

They were greeted by two dignitaries of the Kaitian Civilization, who were no longer the familiar Annie and Frank, as they had long since turned to dust.

By the new Kaitian leaders' side was the cloned Yan Xia.

Although the Kaitians had a lifespan of only 70 years, Ella could replace the clones, so when one clone aged, it would be replaced by a fresh, newly cultivated one.

Therefore, the cloned Yan Xia still looked as young and unchanged as he had many years ago.

"Welcome, envoy of the Chasing Light Civilization."

The Kaitian leaders were taken aback when they saw the blobs, but they quickly welcomed them warmly.

They had previously imagined that the appearance of an alien civilization might be very different from their own, but they never expected it to be this similar.

When they extended their hands, the Kaitians were embarrassed to find that the Hundred Eyes Race seemed to have eyes but no hands.

At this moment, the robot Ella stepped forward to act as a translator.

"Your Excellency, there's no need to be so formal."

"We have come on behalf of the Chasing Light Civilization to establish bilateral cooperation under the witness of the Federation of Civilizations."

"Under the leadership of the Federation, we will unite and become stronger."

"Of course, our civilization is still far from reaching your level, and we have come with sincerity."

"..."

Speaking, the two parties boarded a 30-meter-long flying platform and descended to the ground.

As they were in an environment adapted for humans, both civilizations wore adaptive devices, small as a cellphone, that used electromagnetic methods to decompose the surrounding gases, maintaining their familiar environment.

Inside the civilization's conference room on the ground, the two parties began in-depth discussions to understand each other.

The Hundred Eyes Race explained that they were born in the dark depths of space, surviving on geothermal energy, and that their planet was on its way to the Proxima Centauri system.

This revelation astonished the Kaitian leaders, who had assumed that civilizations could only arise within star systems.

Having freed themselves from the Dark Forest mindset, the Kaitian Civilization readily accepted this new neighbor, not only for their own civilization's interests but also to negotiate fees and non-interference agreements when the Hundred Eyes Star arrived nearby.

As the weaker party, the Hundred Eyes Race showed great respect and made significant concessions to the Kaitian Civilization, agreeing to almost all their demands.

When the weaker party compromised, the stronger party naturally wouldn't get angry.

In the end, the negotiations proceeded smoothly under the witness of the cloned Yan Xia.

But at the end of the talks, the Hundred Eyes Race finally revealed their true intentions.

"To strengthen our cooperation, we hope to introduce a technology from our civilization into yours."

The Kaitian leaders asked, "What technology?"

"This technology is called virtual reality!"

"It can directly connect to the nervous system, allowing a living being's consciousness to enter a created virtual world."

"This world is vast, with rules similar to the real world, and can serve as entertainment and leisure during rest."

As he spoke, the Hundred Eyes Race transmitted a piece of information that, after conversion, appeared in the minds of the Kaitian leaders.

The Kaitian leaders were shocked.

This was something the Kaitian Civilization had never imagined.

They quickly grasped the potential of this technology and its significant impact on the lower-level lifeforms.

"Impossible!"

They immediately rejected the technology.

If this technology were allowed, wouldn't the Hundred Eyes Race be able to control the Kaitian Civilization in a subtle way?

If the Hundred Eyes Race used the virtual world to instill false ideas in the Kaitian population, the entire Kaitian Civilization might collapse.

But all of this was according to plan.

"We understand your civilization's concerns."

"So, we will open up the virtual world's permissions and let you build your own root servers."

"You can handle all information, maintenance, and other matters, but we won't let our efforts go to waste. We will take 50% of the server's revenue."

The small eyes of the Kaitian leaders lit up.

But they quickly responded firmly, "Impossible! 50%? You might as well just give us the money directly!"

"The maximum is 5%."

"5%? That's like asking for a tiger's skin without killing the tiger!"

"The minimum is 49%!"

After much back and forth, they finally settled on 22.375%, accurate to three decimal places.

In the end, both parties were delighted with the result.

This was, of course, all part of Ella's plan. The Hundred Eyes Race had come to reassure the Kaitian Civilization, to let them know that the Federation of Civilizations truly existed and that there were many civilizations within it.

Once this effect was achieved, no sacrifice was too great.

Moreover, Ella could still control the virtual world.

"Since both parties have concluded their discussions, allow me, on behalf of the Federation of Civilizations, to join the Chasing Light Civilization, the Kaitian Civilization, and the Federation of Civilizations in establishing a rule."

The cloned Yan Xia spoke, and his words calmed both parties, who turned their attention to him.

"The universe is vast and boundless, and we have been confined to our own star systems."

"For higher civilizations, this confinement is a shackle, and a narrow vision will hinder technological development."

As he spoke, both parties agreed with his statement.

"Therefore, I intend to establish the Interstellar Explorers' Association in the territories of both civilizations, in the name of the Federation of Civilizations!"

"This association will allow military forces, organizations, and individuals from both civilizations to participate in exploring the universe together."

"The Federation of Civilizations will provide spaceship technology and energy support. Information obtained by the explorers can be submitted to the Federation, which will reward individuals generously, including but not limited to genetic modifications, physical rewards, and territorial recognition..."

"At the same time, when the explorers' submitted information and items have value, we will also accumulate the contributions to the explorers' respective civilizations. The civilizations will receive matching civilization contributions, which can be used for internal transactions within the Federation."

This was a grand plan.

Not only would it enable the Kaitian Civilization and the Chasing Light Civilization to explore the stars, but it also signaled the first step of the Federation of Civilizations, under Yan Xia's rule, in expanding into the vast universe!