Monsters Are Coming

Xie Yu looked carefully.

The curve in the image resembled a sleeping giant dragon beginning to slightly raise its head.

He was familiar with the spiritual energy data from the monitoring stations.

Before retiring, he worked at the Antarctic station, responsible for maintenance.

During that time, he would also check various local data, the core of which was spatial fluctuation information used to determine whether there was a crisis of descent.

This included the spiritual energy content data in the air.

Back then, he speculated that the trend of environmental change on Earth was heading towards deathly silence.

This was also why he believed Earth’s civilization would head towards the Virtual World in the future.

Duan Hong continued at this point:

"It’s not just the oceans and atmosphere."

The screen switched, showing sample analysis from various monitoring stations, including the Antarctic deep strata exploration report:

"We have detected signs of extremely weak energy activity recovery in Antarctica’s permanent ice layers and ancient rock strata, and this active substance bears astonishing similarity to certain energy characteristics in Monster World."

After speaking, Duan Hong displayed a set of satellite-shot close-up photos of the ocean.

In the image, the purified sea area had a kind of spiral-shaped seaweed emitting a faint blue glow quietly growing underwater, never recorded before.

"We have temporarily named it Purification Dust Seaweed. They are unlike any known Earth species, their photosynthesis efficiency is hundreds of times beyond that of ordinary algae, and they can actively adsorb and decompose residual trace pollutants in water. Preliminary analysis shows they also have the function of optimizing air quality, and Earth’s recent slight increase in spiritual energy content might have a certain relation to such plants."

"It is clear that extraterrestrial plants can proliferate extensively in Earth’s oceans, undoubtedly under the Star Network’s monitoring. Their very existence suggests it’s highly likely to be one of Star Network’s test projects leading the transformation of the Earth’s environment."

"Combining the slow recovery of spiritual energy concentration, we made a bold speculation that Star Network is attempting to bring Earth into the Spiritual Energy Revival Era."

He waved his hand to display a global map marked with several flashing, undisclosed coordinates.

"Purification Dust Seaweed might just be the tip of the iceberg in Star Network’s ’Earth Transformation Plan.’ We have reason to believe that in deep sea trenches unvisited by any race, or rarely visited polar ice field depths, perhaps even in the mantle beneath us, there are more unknown environmental transformation projects deployed by Star Network operating quietly."

"The ultimate goal of these projects is to reshape Earth’s foundation, transforming this depleted Mire World into a new world capable of carrying higher energy and more suitable for life evolution."

This speculation made Xie Yu feel a tingling in his scalp.

If there was still doubt before, now the confusion in his heart was completely resolved.

It seems Star Network’s scheme is far more complex than merely saving the Earth from imminent deathly silence.

It is attempting to push the world heading to its end onto a path of evolution towards the vast Star Sea anew.

"Returning now to the original question, you mentioned earlier, why hasn’t much of the technology in Monster World been applied in reality?"

"My answer is, Star Network’s choice is most likely to simulate and optimize purification technology countless times in Monster World’s illusory environment. After confirming its effectiveness, it launches these massive purification projects in reality."

"Thus, Monster World is not only a playground in the eyes of players, but also the ultimate test ground for Star Network to verify cross-dimensional application technology. Those civilization rise and fall stories we view as background might well be virtual models set up for simulation testing, preserved and integrated into Monster World’s background stories after the simulation ends, rather than deleted."

Duan Hong waved his hand, switching the image.

Seeing the pale green figure in the holographic image, Xie Yu curiously asked:

"Is this the Green Origin Clan? The Senluo Forest Realm’s background civilization... back then, the real Green Wood Clan even protested this, claiming the Moon Eclipse Clan had distorted their historical culture."

Duan Hong tapped his fingertip, an intricate energy flow chart appeared beside the Green Origin Clan image:

"Indeed, we were curious too why the Moon Eclipse Clan would construct a virtual civilization in the game highly similar to a real race."

"You mean... the Green Origin Clan is a technical simulation experiment Star Network conducted using the Green Wood Clan as a blueprint in the Virtual World? When the test is complete, these data are directly solidified in the form of game content?"

Duan Hong nodded:

"We speculate the entire Senluo Forest Region is a sandbox Star Network built to study the evolution path of plant type civilizations. The Moon Eclipse Clan’s modified setting seen as cultural desecration by the Green Wood Clan might very well be Star Network deducing the optimal development form of the Green Wood Clan under specific conditions. Evidence shows the Green Origin Clan’s life structure is far superior to the Green Wood Clan."

The projection on the wall switched again, showing a player-shot overlook map of the Pale Continent with countless civilization light points flickering in the darkness.

"Think now, how many civilization templates in Monster World are masked real projections."

"Players, unwittingly, may have also participated in this grand simulation test. Our gaming behavior and interactions with various environments might very well provide a vast amount of interaction data for the ultimate perfection of these technologies."

Upon hearing this, the lingering doubts in Xie Yu’s heart finally dissipated.

Despite all this being conjecture,

the interconnected logical chain had already painted an incredibly reasonable truth for him.

At this moment, Duan Hong’s expression suddenly turned serious, his tone shifted:

"Mr. Xie Yu, based on the above understanding, we must suggest you immediately stop your current Body Refining method."

Xie Yu was taken aback by the words.

Duan Hong’s tone was warning:

"Since this technology has been shelved by Star Network without any form of proactive promotion in reality, there must be a reason; it might well possess potential risks or major flaws yet to be discovered."

"Your courageous attempt has provided us valuable firsthand data, but it’s merely a proof of concept. Continuing Cultivation without comprehensive evaluation and safety review is akin to walking in a minefield. For your safety, we suggest you pause Cultivation."

Upon hearing, Xie Yu nodded immediately.

In the previous conversation, he understood that only matured technology in Star Network’s eyes would be used in reality.

"I understand, Director Duan."

"Wish you an enjoyable retirement." Duan Hong nodded solemnly upon hearing, then his projected figure slowly dissipated, and the projection light on the ceiling went out with it.

Ending the conversation, Xie Yu let out a long breath.

It felt like finally having a clear wind blow away the mist after groping around for a long time, revealing the road ahead.

The feeling of having the problem solved... is exhilarating!