first player

Chapter 1615 Final Chapter: Guarding the Coastline: "OE: Die from the Ocean (21)"

"Is Noel gone...?"

Given Noel's persistence, if he had found Su Ming'an's trail, he would have definitely followed him, but Noel did not appear.

After confirming that no one was around, Su Ming'an focused on his investigation.

Traces of civilization on this planet stretch from Sky Island to the ocean floor, but due to the passage of time, most of the buildings have weathered away and disappeared. At the base of the overhanging mountains, the once-glorious architectural complexes are now just skeletons, like gnawed remains.

Su Ming'an and Su Lin soared through the sky, their divine senses sweeping across every corner. The towering mountains and the boundless sea offered a wide and refreshing view.

Su Lin commented, "This is an extremely advanced civilization. For some reason, all the inhabitants have disappeared, as if they vanished in an instant." He pondered, "Were they wiped out? Or were they attacked by a higher dimension... I wonder if the higher dimension that destroyed this place will return."

“There’s no need to worry about that,” Su Ming’an said. “After the twin stars merge, they will build a barrier by combining the goodwill and malice I’ve absorbed over the past hundred years. Then, I will go to the depths of the universe and light a fire as bait to attract higher dimensions to me. This place will then become a tough persimmon that’s more harmful than beneficial to chew on, and we’ll have ten thousand years to recuperate… By the way, if you’re not afraid of being pursued by higher dimensions, you can travel with me and look for Praya along the way. However, I would suggest you go alone; it’s too dangerous to travel with me.”

"Heh." Su Lin crossed her arms and glanced sideways, saying, "You promised to take me home, but in the end you still made me search alone."

He paused. "Is it feasible? Your lifespan... is enough to support you drawing away the higher dimensions for a considerable period?"

“It’s feasible,” Su Ming’an said. “I can operate with minimal losses and sustain it. Besides, Siber and the others can help me cover for me.”

"Where is the World Tree?" Su Lin frowned, unable to tell if he was lying.

“After the twin stars merge, I might be able to find an opportunity to break free from my identity as the World Tree and survive as a pure spirit,” Su Ming’an said.

"You said you'd take me home, but did that mean you wanted me to follow you around hiding?"

“You can stay on Earth and wait for me. I’ll bring you the news once I find it.” Su Ming’an shook his head: “You don’t need to come with me.”

“…We’ll talk about it later.” Su Lin quickly changed the subject.

At that moment, Su Lin suddenly sensed something.

They discovered a pristine white beach lying beneath the Sea of ​​Stars, resembling crushed bone meal, shimmering with beautiful fluorescence.

“This is the most concentrated area of ​​energy on this planet… but there is still no sign of life,” Su Lin said.

Most of the buildings on this planet have weathered away, but the area near the beach is filled with magnificent castles, towering clock towers, and layers of ochre-colored buildings, their colors flamboyant and boldly contrasting, like something out of a fairy tale.

"Who are you?"

Suddenly, a figure appeared on the white sand; it was only a shadow, without a physical form.

Once one reaches the level of a deity, the meaning is directly conveyed through divine thought, and there is no language barrier between the two parties.

Su Ming'an immediately raised his sword, and Su Lin instantly flashed away.

"...He didn't attack, don't dodge." Su Ming'an covered half of his eyes.

Su Lin stopped the light pollution and squinted at the shadow: "If I'm not mistaken, you are the 'guardian' of this civilization, connected to the fate of the planet. Even if all life is gone, you must stay here."

"Who are you?" the shadow asked, still wary.

“We are from another civilization and want to integrate here…” Su Ming’an briefly explained his thoughts and prepared to persuade them.

Shadow nodded directly: "I agree."

Su Ming'an looked at him with surprise.

The shadow spoke haltingly: "I've been here... trapped for too long, with no one around... Since you have no home, come in, rest a while... you can stay anytime."

Su Ming'an asked, "What have you been through in the past?"

The shadow shook its head: "It's been too long... I've forgotten... even forgotten... how to speak. It seems... one day... everyone was gone..."

In truth, Su Ming'an didn't need to be so polite to the shadow; it was merely a prisoner trapped here, having lost even its memories and language. But Su Ming'an remained friendly, after all, the shadow was the only living being here.

As they were leaving, Shadow tugged at Su Ming'an's sleeve:

Will you come back? Will you come back to play with me?

"Yes, I will." Su Ming'an extended his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hmm." The shadow clenched its hand: "Friend..."

……

In the spring of 2047, the World Central Hub passed a resolution to launch the most ambitious project of the Fire Age of human civilization—the "New Home" project, also known as "Operation Lost Pearl Star".

Humans named this half of the planet "Lost Pearl Star," meaning a pearl lost in the ocean.

The first to land were tens of thousands of machines, which were deployed to the plains under the precise control of the "Ming'an System".

The primary task of each machine is to establish a base for humans to settle, as well as life support systems, ecological agriculture experimental chambers, and quantum communication stations. Following this, a large-scale geological exploration and resource mapping were carried out, and the data transmitted back was exciting: high-purity metal veins, huge amounts of silicate minerals, and well-preserved layers of liquid water ice deep underground.

In the winter of 2047, the real challenge begins—to bring life to this barren planet.

Hundreds of thousands of human elites, including geologists, atmospheric physicists, ecological engineers, quantum communication experts, and artificial intelligence coordinators, boarded the Ark ship "Genesis" and its escort ships, like a migrating swarm of silver bees, heading towards the planet codenamed "Lost Pearl Star".

Inside the Ark, on a massive holographic projection, the planet Relic slowly rotates. Every crater, every dried-up ancient riverbed, and every weathered remnant is gradually given precise coordinates and geological parameters.

Inside the World Hub Tower, Yu Zhu reported to Su Ming'an: "World Lord, when hundreds of thousands of human elites entered the Lost Pearl Star, they sensed an obstacle. There is a barrier on the surface of the Lost Pearl Star that can only accommodate a few people... It should be a barrier left behind by the civilization of the Lost Pearl Star."

“Hmm.” Su Ming’an was not surprised. After all, such advanced civilizations must have a civilization barrier: “The higher dimension destroyed all life on this planet back then, but did not break the civilization barrier? Was it a kind of infiltration-style spiritual destruction...? This is a bit troublesome. We do not have the ability to break this civilization barrier.”

“That’s right. This barrier of civilization is like a balloon, which can only hold a few hundred thousand people at most… Any more than that, and they will be firmly blocked outside by the balloon.” Yu Zhu said, “If we can’t find a way to break through the barrier, we can’t get in.”

“I will find a way,” Su Ming’an said. “I already know that we will not be able to find another planet within the next fifty years, and we must overcome this challenge no matter how difficult it may be.”

They were incredibly lucky to have found this desolate star; who knows if they could find even one like it in thousands of years?

“Understood.” Yu Zhu said, “I will inform the United Government to continue exploring the plan… Also,” he coughed, “I’ve learned how to brew flower tea, would you like to try some?”

Su Ming'an suddenly remembered that Yu Zhu was also one of the "Saints." But Yu Zhu was far more restrained than Su Ming'an, never revealing her emotions or uttering anything that would affect Su Ming'an. Only now did she dare to confide a little.

However, Su Ming'an could only refuse: "I'm very busy right now, maybe later."

Upon hearing this, Yu Zhu nodded and turned to leave.

In the summer of 2048, all of humanity's elite evacuated, and Su Ming'an left behind the "Seed of the World" on the planet Yizhu. He returned the World Tree Seed to Rovasha before leaving; this seed originated on Earth, and he scattered it on Yizhu to accelerate its recovery.

The shadow played in the sand while curiously watching Su Ming'an.

"Friends, when are you coming?" it asked, resting its chin on its hand.

“Once a tree grows here, once this place becomes habitable,” Su Ming’an pointed to the spot where the seed was planted, “I will then break down the barrier of civilization.”

He had suspected that this place might be a trap, but after he and Su Lin investigated repeatedly, they found that there was no problem.

"Oh." The shadow looked up: "Where have all the adults who built the houses gone?"

"Because we're about to begin the formal evolution of this place. Restoring it would consume too many resources, so it's better to let it evolve on its own," Su Ming'an said. "From now on, there will be four people playing with you."

The shadow was very happy.

Su Ming'an plans to use the authority of time, reincarnation, and faith to envelop this place, allowing the Lost Pearl Star to undergo another evolutionary process as a small world, progressing from the ancient era to the habitable era. In this way, humanity will not need to expend enormous resources to repair this place, nor will it need to wait thousands or tens of thousands of years for the Lost Pearl Star to be rebuilt.

It will evolve and recover on its own. After all, the power of nature is the strongest. In just a few decades, the Lost Pearl will be habitable, at which point it will merge and solve everything.

Su Ming'an picked up the quill pen and began to write.

—A leader girl with black hair and black eyes.

—A young man with white hair and green eyes, skilled in martial arts.

—A quiet girl with black hair and black eyes.

—A person with white hair and white eyes, devoid of sexuality.

This was the initial four-person group in the small world. Because the small world was very successful, Su Ming'an planned to directly replicate the experience and walk the path to success again. However, considering that Su Mianbao and the others were also independent beings, Su Ming'an did not give them the same names, but instead gave them new names.

“Your name will be…” Su Ming’an looked at the girl who was in charge: “Su Toast”.

The young girl, who was the leader, embraced him affectionately, as her creator.

"Your name is Mu Zhu." Su Ming'an named them in turn: "Your name is Ling Yue. Your name is Li Li."

He clapped his hands and said, "These are only temporary names. When you have higher intelligence, you can give yourselves new names."

...Although he knew that the group of four would most likely not change their names, as they quite liked the names given by their father.

After coming up with the name, he suddenly regretted it. He shouldn't have named her "Su Tusi"; he should have chosen a more elegant name. So he said, "Let's not call her Su Tusi anymore. How about Su Qiqing?"

However, Sutsu shook his head violently, expressing strong aversion.

"You like these cute food names... Okay." Su Ming'an smiled. "Then you can change the names yourself when you grow up."

He looked at his shadow and suddenly noticed that it was writing something on the stone. The shadow, bored for so long, had learned to doodle in the sand, but this time it seemed to be writing, not doodling…

"What are you writing?" Su Ming'an peeked out and saw a line of numbers: "114..."

“I have been asleep for a long time and have lost my memory. But after I woke up… to mark the years, I would carve a mark on the stone every year…” The shadow pointed to the stone and laughed, “This year is the 114th year… I want to… record this important event and remind myself not to forget it.”

Su Ming'an looked up and saw a line of words carved on the stone—

……

[In 114 years, a friend abandoned the seeds of the world.]

……

Su Ming'an's pupils contracted, and he frowned in confusion, vaguely sensing a strange sense of déjà vu.

……

In the spring of 2048, the "World Lord Council" convened.

The only attendees were the current members of the "Peak Alliance": Lü Shu, Yi Song, Mo Yan, Bei Wang, Lin Jiang, Lin Yin, Zhao Yuan, Violet, Meyani, Joey, Ward, and Anthony. Due to confidentiality, members of the United Government were not invited.

Among them, Zhao Yuan is the reincarnation of Su Ming'an. She had taken the wrong path, and Su Ming'an erased that part of her memory. Yamada Machiichi was also reincarnated, but he fell into a long depression due to the Aini incident and has been unable to get out of the shadows. He has been staying at home and has not touched politics or painting.

Looking around at everyone, Su Ming'an suddenly realized that, apart from Lu Shu who had become a god and Bei Wang who was of unknown origin, the appearances of the others had changed significantly... even aged.

Twenty-two years have passed. Most of their peers are now over forty, and Mo Yan has become a mature and dashing professor. Lin Jiang has maintained her appearance well since becoming a star, but the signs of time are still visible. Violet was already quite old, and now she exudes even more mature charm. Even the youngest, Meyani, is now a composed woman in her thirties.

Top-ranked players may have longer lifespans, but without becoming gods, their lifespans are ultimately limited.

Only the Realm Lord with his long, colorful hair, Lü Shu, and Bei Wang, who looked like three tender young people, were sandwiched among the crowd.

“Our Lord of the Realm is such a busy man, it’s been so long since we last met,” Violet teased, her voice as mature and elegant as a pearl.

"It's like a class reunion, where classmates who haven't seen each other for years gather together and find that everyone has changed a lot..." Hua De said.

“Yes, my daughter keeps pestering me for a picture of the Realm Lord… This isn’t something you can just ask for. I let her see it on TV, but she still isn’t satisfied…” Anthony said with a chuckle.

……daughter.

Su Ming'an was jolted awake by this word, and saw that Anthony was no longer the blond, dashing young man, but a mature man with a beard and wrinkles around his eyes. He then realized that most of the people he knew were over forty years old, and many were married with children.

He always thought everyone was still young, still children, but now, upon hearing this, he realized that "twenty-two years" was such a massive number. When he became a god, when his perception of time shrank infinitely... only now did he realize how incredibly long that period of time was for humanity.

The time it takes for a newborn baby to become a college graduate, the time it takes for a college graduate to reach middle age, and the time it takes for a middle-aged person to grow old.

But it was him... in the blink of an eye.