Chapter 1245
Chapter 1245 - 1231: A Small Ambition
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Mentor Theory had spread widely in this world, so Lu Ping’an wasn’t particularly surprised when he saw this fisherman village boy producing a hand-copied abridged book.
But he didn’t think this would change anything in the short term.
"...The Extraordinary World is even more despairing than the Dark Age of the Eastern Country; the weaker are destined to remain weak."
What could those who are "Awakened" change? Even if they longed to change things, it would probably be hard to change anything.
This isn’t related to personal enlightenment or level of knowledge; it simply boils down to a fundamental difference in "power."
A single Lu Ping’an could wipe out more than a hundred Professional Warriors in a squad, and a Professional Warrior alone could decimate a city... When the disparity between individual strengths is that vast, what so-called "human enlightenment" might as well mean a clearer and more stifling death.
However, it was indeed changing many things.
More Warriors and Strongmen were emerging from the new generation of the Long Hand Clan and the Free Fish People, drawing spiritual nourishment from the books, choosing their own stance.
"But it’s too slow..."
Lu Ping’an sighed helplessly, even as the world sped everything up, allowing the young fish to rapidly grow into big fish, their rate of maturation already reversing the binds of time, it was still too slow.
Ten years? Thirty? A hundred? Heaven knows what might happen in a hundred years, or if this world will even exist then.
"Professionals"... the extraordinary power of the Extraordinary led to human resistance, which easily could be like a sand castle facing an incoming wave; it might look like a grand civilization, but the ruthless wave could wipe it out with a single push.
To change all this? Actually, the answer was known by everyone, including Lu Ping’an.
"Mass screening, conscription for all."
"Selection," becoming a precondition for being a professional, involved the transformation from mortal to non-human, from normal life forms to contaminated beings.
Even without following the path of a professional, other transformative routes to extraordinary evolution essentially faced similar choices.
Each life form, depending on its Pollution Resistance, had different survival rates; about fifty percent for humans (actually more like 45% based on big data), which was highly regarded by many powerful ethnic groups in the Foreign Domain.
How much for the Long Hand Clan, Lu Ping’an didn’t know, but it was probably much lower than that of humans, while the Fishman did not exceed twenty percent, yet that was already considered quite good.
Once mass screening began, it meant killing at least half of one’s own people first.
This might be a solution, but it probably wasn’t something that could be done in a normal environment by ordinary leaders.
Lu Ping’an also knew that this "backup plan" had already been reserved at the Bureau of Anomaly Management; as soon as the order was issued, within three weeks they could complete the transformation of the Ancient City’s citizens into all professionals... Everyone knew that if the Nirvana Plan wasn’t initiated, as the situation worsened, the "decree" was bound to be issued eventually.
But the premise still rested on ethnic groups having enough "Pollution Resistance"... If the success rate was extremely low with no further growth path, then it would only count as a desperate struggle.
"Eighty percent... based on individual conditions, most people are between 65% to 80%, the success rate is over half."
Clearly, this wasn’t normal, far from normal.
"How many for the Fishman?"
The Free Fish People had long since blended with the Long Hand Clan, becoming native inhabitants of this world, all pitiable refugees who had even lost their cultural heritage; without reproductive isolation, there might even be quite a few hybrids.
"About forty percent... this isn’t normal, the Fishman shouldn’t be this high."
"And what about us humans? Uh, it seems like we’re all professionals now, can’t find any test subjects... Never mind."
Such data was clearly abnormal.
Perhaps, this was the world’s "self-rescue."
Whether it was a change in the World Rules, the naturally increased strength of children born these years, or something valuable being added to the soil and water... The cause didn’t really matter, the outcomes and reality were what mattered.
"Ask them if they’re willing to undergo screening..."
The "disciples" previously taught by Lu Ping’an were all fortunate survivors of the screening, but now, perhaps such strict criteria were no longer necessary.
The more Lu Ping’an attempted to understand, the more he discovered there were still many problems.
"’Knowledge’ is in a monopoly stage..." Lu Ping’an said.
Unlike Earth, where if you are willing to learn, you can get to Zero-order basic Extraordinary Knowledge, this world without even a written script makes it too unrealistic to expect the "Profession path" heritage everywhere.
In fact, this "Knowledge Desert" has become a monopoly of certain Churches and powers, especially the excessive actions of Lin Nu’s Church... It seems reasonable, after all, if you come here, it is for greater benefits, "selling knowledge" not only gains resources but also loyalty.
"But in the bigger picture, it seems too shortsighted..."
Lu Ping’an stroked his slightly stubbly chin, planning to make adjustments as soon as he turned around, if other forces of Lin Nu wouldn’t act, he would have long started selling low-level knowledge at rock bottom prices.
Not much is needed, just Zero-order, first-tier will do, as long as they have the basic strength, they will naturally pursue paths... and in this world, the existence of True Gods should intervene.
Lu Ping’an thought for a moment, fearing that the "high level" of various Churches has been forced to leave over the years, making significant decisions such as "publishing Taboo knowledge" impossible for those who remain.
"It seems, universal selection isn’t far off."
Lu Ping’an made a judgment, because, practically speaking, it is an inevitable event.
Those who were in charge before are gone, and now those returning Quasi-Gods and eighth-tiers... they need troops, and the residents of this world also need "the right to survive."
From what Lu Ping’an saw, let alone a success rate of seventy or eighty percent, even just thirty or forty percent, countless of the Long Hand Clan would take the gamble.
Fears are that even if some cities really implement a universal selection, there won’t be much resistance... Rather than being carried away into the night by a passing beast, it’s better to die a clear death.
But if those Churches still control "High-level knowledge"...
"My courtyard can provide high-level knowledge, it’s a pity, the scope for trading is too narrow..."
After thinking for a while, Lu Ping’an felt somewhat helpless.
"It might be possible to do extremely long-distance trading."
But at this time, Big Cat proposed a completely different opinion.
"How could that be possible, that’s not a deity... oh."
Lu Ping’an might not be a deity, far from it in every aspect, but his courtyard is indeed of Divine Foundation.
"Can it really be done?"
"It can be done, as long as you have the authority of this world... Isn’t the answer right in front of you? The courtyard, after consuming enough fragments, really worse than those second-rate Evil Gods? If they can do it, why can’t you?"
Big Cat’s statement was exaggerated, but if he really had the "Authority" of this world, it seems not entirely impossible for the courtyard to act like a True God.
"What fragments are needed?"
"The most basic are three, ’Wisdom,’ ’Life,’ ’Space,’ if there’s ’Beast’... anyway, the more the better."
Big Cat dug out the bait that was tempting, but listening to the menu-like dozen fragments, it was mostly not likely to succeed.
"Take it one step at a time, let’s see how far I can go."
Lu Ping’an didn’t directly agree, because he also knew it was too difficult.
"If you really do it, what would you do?" Big Cat was a bit curious to know the answer.
The young man sighed, pondered for a while, and finally spoke the "mad words."
"For all who seek, there is hope; for all who despair, there is a way forward."
"If the path ahead is unlit, I will be the firefly by the roadside."
"If life is as bitter as the sea, I wish to exchange it for a moment’s fireworks."
"If hope lives in the heart, I will grant hope, even if the path ahead is endless, at least the journey will be without regrets..."
— End of Chapter 1245 —