I Don't Agree to the Terms

Rein had noticed the problem quite early but had not informed Gu Shanhai because he was seeking a solution himself.

Unfortunately, up to now, the problem had not been solved, even as the population increased, technology developed, and productivity improved, none of these could break the limitation.

Therefore, everyone was still wearing animal skins, and the entire mindset of civilization was developing towards an original feudal society, even with corresponding enlightenments and compulsory education in place, there would be limitations.

"If it can't be solved, then there's no need to solve it—as long as there is development, that's enough," Gu Shanhai said calmly, "Even if you march into the stellar seas with a spear in hand and animal hides on your body, as long as you possess enough civilized strength to outclass and colonize other civilizations, you can still become a higher civilization."

Just like Wakanda, which, despite its advancement, still engaged in close combat with spears, that did not affect their advanced status. Therefore, as long as one is strong enough, anything goes.

Development had not stagnated; everything else was irrelevant.

"It's just... never mind, Teacher, you make sense. But why did you call for me, Teacher?" Rein was about to explain the drawbacks, but in the end, he didn't speak because even if he did, Gu Shanhai wouldn't have a solution. If there were a solution, Gu Shanhai would certainly suggest one.

"Have you felt that there is something wrong with the sun?" Gu Shanhai asked directly.

"The sun? What could be wrong with it?" Rein was puzzled, then got up to check.

After staring intently for three minutes, he could not discern anything unusual.

"The sun does seem a bit intense today, but it doesn't appear to be much different than usual," Rein didn't see any problem.

"Did you see the nine horizontal lines emanating from the sunlight?" Gu Shanhai asked.

Rein looked carefully but ultimately shook his head and said, "I didn't see them."

Gu Shanhai too looked again, and the nine horizontal lines that were originally within the brilliance had vanished as if they had never appeared.

The sun at this moment was just the sun, no longer a scorching pupil, which made Gu Shanhai even more certain that there was a problem.

With Gu Shanhai's strength, there was no chance for illusions or seeing things incorrectly. If the sun hadn't hidden the nine horizontal lines within its glow, Gu Shanhai might think it was a problem on his part, but when they simply disappeared, it undoubtedly gave Gu Shanhai a definite answer.

"I saw them when I arrived; they were even moving. Now neither you nor I can see them, what does this indicate, you should also understand," Gu Shanhai said seriously.

As for Rein to come up with excuses about hallucinations or seeing things wrong? That was simply impossible. Rein knew Gu Shanhai's strength—such mistakes or illusions would be even more serious issues because it would mean an entity stronger than Gu Shanhai and adept at Illusion Technique had emerged.

Of course, if given the choice, one would certainly opt for hallucinations or misperceptions, as if the sun truly had an issue, that would be more troublesome than some entity more powerful than Gu Shanhai using Illusion Techniques manifesting.

Rein could suppress those kinds of anomalies, but what about the sun?

Everything depended on the sun's existence. If the sun disappeared, their entire civilization might survive in darkness, or perhaps perish alongside all living things.

The disappearance of the sun would mean the collapse of the ecosystem. Whether the ecosystem could evolve back over time was unknown to Rein, but humanity might not survive long enough to see that day.

"Even if there's a problem with the sun, we can't investigate it; the sun is too far away from us," Rein said helplessly.

The sun was in the sky, and he could fly there, but what then?

With the high temperatures of the sun, it wouldn't be easy to approach, let alone the implication by Gu Shanhai that it might have become an anomaly; getting close would likely mean certain death.

"I've also considered this problem, and it truly cannot be solved, but you might as well try to leave it in the hands of an automatic system," Gu Shanhai suggested.

Seeking Rein's help, Gu Shanhai did not expect him to come up with any solution but rather to have him rely on the automatic system, as the matter had exceeded Gu Shanhai's capability to handle.

After all, it wouldn't be appropriate to blow up the sun.

Rein shook his head, "Ineffective. I suspect that the anomaly hasn't fully emerged yet, so the automatic system can't identify it. Even if it did, I might not be able to resolve it."

"Is that so," Gu Shanhai also fell into deep thought, realizing that this time he really had to step in and assist.

When Gu Shanhai looked up again, he saw the nine horizontal lines within the sunlight appear once more. Only this time, it seemed as if they noticed Gu Shanhai's gaze and coyly hid behind the sun again.

"Nine of them?" Gu Shanhai muttered softly to himself.

"What nine?" Rein asked curiously.

"Nothing. I was wondering if we could artificially create an anomaly that could solve this issue, something akin to the Human Dao," Gu Shanhai said abruptly.

In this world, only anomalies could counter other anomalies. Human civilization was actually an anomaly itself, a special sort born from Rein and the will of Human Dao, which enabled these humans to contend with some anomalies.

"But anomalies can't be killed," Rein didn't oppose Gu Shanhai's idea of creating an anomaly, but was concerned about how to resolve it.

"It's not about wiping out this solar-related anomaly but making it shift or directly unable to exert its power," Gu Shanhai stated calmly.

"Can that... work?" Rein felt uncertain.

Of course, he knew the origins of the Human Dao will, but it wasn't as if one could just find a Saint to act as the needed raw material.

Using anomalies was even less reliable—every anomaly was problematic in its own way.

"It should work. You don't have a better idea, so we might as well try it my way," Gu Shanhai indicated that if Rein had another solution, that would obviously be ideal, but unfortunately, no one did.

"What do you need me to do?" Rein asked directly.

"I'm not too clear myself. I need some time," Gu Shanhai said. Right now, he only had an idea, but to implement it, he needed data from various aspects.

This time, Gu Shanhai wasn't eager to get to work. If the sun were to encounter problems, he couldn't escape either, as he still had to spend another eighty years in this world.

If the sun disappeared, the danger would be secondary—the main issue would be the subsequent resource cut-off. The entire civilization would barely survive, leaving nothing for him.

Then the remaining eighty years would be no different from imprisonment, because with the servers sealed off, he wouldn't be able to return, which would be a huge misfortune.

'It's also time to start seizing some opportunities, otherwise, I'd be wasting a great chance,' Gu Shanhai thought as he watched the sun.

The opportunity he referred to was the sun, or the anomalies that might emerge from it.

These anomalies were valuable. Even if Gu Shanhai didn't use them, he could employ them as raw materials.

At worst, he could cultivate them into Spirit Plants to augment his strength.

'If it's the sun, it must be pure Yang.'

Gu Shanhai considered that if he managed to pick up even a small amount, he might have the materials for Child Skill or Martial Arts Divine Power, especially with nine of them, potentially achieving a form of 'Nine Yang.'

However, that presupposed Gu Shanhai could resolve the anomaly issue. Otherwise, these ideas would remain mere speculation.

"Let's leave it at that for now. I still need to prepare," Gu Shanhai said, seeing Rein about to say something but not planning to listen. Rein was likely intending to offer manpower to Gu Shanhai, who didn't need it anyway, so he preempted the offer.

Seeing this, Rein understood Gu Shanhai's intent and could only give a wry smile, "Then, Teacher, take care."

He knew that Gu Shanhai wasn't being polite. If Gu Shanhai needed anything, he would not hesitate to ask directly, and if necessary, even take action himself.