Chapter 1137 - 730: Art Is Priceless_4
Chickpea moved quickly, opening all the metal cabinets in the first storeroom.
Inside each cabinet was an artistic picture depicting the life forms and landscapes of alien species on their planets.
Upon checking the adjacent treasury, it was the same.
"All just art pieces?"
Ink Orchid asked, "Dragon Cypress, are they worth anything?"
Dragon Cypress: "..."
Dragon Cypress: "Art is priceless."
"Priceless? Does that mean they’re very valuable?"
"For those insects who don’t understand art, even a Primordial Crystal isn’t worth it. But for insects who do understand art..."
"Do you understand art?"
"A bit?"
"Tell me?"
"Humans’ inherited memories divide the structure of civilization into three main pillars: politics, technology, and culture. Politics represents the order of a civilization’s operations; technology speaks for itself; culture is a key indicator that distinguishes one civilization from another."
"Different groups, when sharing the same cultural heritage, can become the same civilization. Conversely, the same race with different cultures may not be considered a civilization, at least not a harmonious and stable one."
"Among these, art is the most significant component of culture. Art is divided into many kinds, with painting being one of the oldest and most important forms of expression in the art category. Through patterns, it visually records and describes various things, conveying emotions."
Ink Orchid: "Can’t understand."
Suddenly inspired, Ink Orchid’s forehead flashed with the Shanglu Divine Pattern, and a circular ring appeared in the claw, placed on the tip of a toe, infused with Origin Force, as vibrant and beautiful rose patterns spread, covering the entire body.
Ink Orchid: "Dragon Cypress, does this count as art?"
——Rose Ring.
——Still clinging onto this junk?
Dragon Cypress asked, "Ink Orchid, the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot, do you still have it?"
"Got it!"
Ink Orchid took out the Ice-Fire Water-Making Pot, boiled a kettle of water, and handed it over, "Want a sip?"
Dragon Cypress hesitated for two seconds before saying, "Inherited memory shows this is human ’costume’, can be considered an art piece too."
Dragon Cypress: "To explain more plainly, intelligent life naturally yearns for beautiful things; anything that makes insects feel beautiful and pleasing can be called art."
"Intelligent life not only has survival and evolutionary needs but also spiritual aspects. Art serves to satisfy and enrich the spiritual life of intelligent beings."
"Creating and showcasing beauty is art. Revealing ugliness, critiquing darkness, that’s art too."
"Anything that resonates with other intelligent beings, regardless of form, can be called art."
Ink Orchid: "..."
Ink Orchid: "We’ve known each other for over ten thousand years, and I never realized you were an art-savvy ant."
Listening had made Ink Orchid dizzy, returning to the topic, asked again, "Are they worth anything?"
Dragon Cypress sighed, "In the Insect Clan Civilization, most are like you, what do you think?"
"What about me?"
Ink Orchid suddenly realized, grumbled, "I don’t understand art, most don’t either, so these things aren’t worth even a single Primordial Crystal?"
Dragon Cypress: "Correct answer!"
Dragon Cypress promptly added, "Ink Orchid, actually, in your subconscious, you have artistic inclinations, you just haven’t realized it. You love orchids and consciously cultivate beautiful orchids. Collect brightly colored natural materials to decorate and embellish your living nest, this is indeed a yearning for beauty, the most original art creation by intelligent life."
"Art creation?"
Ink Orchid grasped the keyword, suddenly understanding, cheerfully said, "I don’t understand art, but I understand art creation, right? I didn’t even know it myself."
Dragon Cypress: "..."
Spider: "..."
In the midst of conversation,
five old spiders consecutively opened more than a dozen treasuries.
All were art pieces, mostly paintings.
At the entrance, there was a transport platform that likely led to the upper levels, already ruined.
Chickpea roughly made a hole in the top.
"You two artists, do you still want to get rich?"
"Don’t you both have metal abilities? The defense strength of these metal cabinets isn’t high, help out!"
"Come! Let’s check the upper levels."
Upright Lotus called.
All together, they went up to the second level to check.
Still paintings.
On to the third level to check, there were various wooden and ceramic art pieces.
The fourth level was the same...
In the fifth level were all sorts of artifacts, suspected to be old, everyday items.
The sixth level held peculiarly shaped cold weapons...
The Treasury stretched over three kilometers long,
with the first treasury being at least eleven hundred meters long, divided into ten layers, preserving the cultural art heritage of a civilization.
Returning to the first layer,
they walked forward along the main passage, randomly opening a few storerooms to casually check.
Containing mostly art pieces not worth a single Primordial Crystal.
Dragon Cypress learned about ’art’ from humans’ inherited memories but felt indifferent towards this business.
The five old spiders were even less interested and directly gave up checking other storerooms.
At the front was another heavy door.
Kansui and Giant Taro escorted Dragon Cypress, while Ink Orchid retreated ten kilometers away.
Chickpea opened the door.
Upright Lotus and Purple Cicada guarded on both sides.