Chapter 549: Chapter 551: Failed Experiment

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“As expected from a major power; although bloated, it’s still extremely formidable in this aspect.”

“The first generation was too reckless; failure was only a matter of time.”

“At present, parasitism in the mind and thought is indeed too conspicuous, prone to accidents, not to mention the colossal impact it entails.”

“For now, we need to find a civilization that hasn’t left the surface yet for the next step of the experiment.”

“If all goes well, we can achieve our goal in one step.”

“The data for mind parasites is barely sufficient; second-generation parasites relying on spirituality and thought are no longer up to par.”

“Therefore, we must move to a higher tier of experimentation.”

“I need new test subjects,” Qin Muye thought continuously. The feedback from the mind parasite experiments had been promising, and it could have been excellent if not for fatal mistakes that led to progress failure.

“Now, it all comes down to the speed of evolution.”

“The Star Map left by the GROX Empire is almost complete; soon I’ll be able to check out the situation in that unknown star domain.”

After all, a Star God is a planet, not a traditional life form. If a comparison had to be made, it should be with naturally powerful life forms like the Titan Divine Race.

Don’t ask how Qin Muye knew; the Star Cluster Empire shared it with him.

However, they hadn’t shared any research results, just some scientific reports.

It’s probably about the new experiment formed by the combination of the Child of World from the Secret Martial World with mind parasites.

But this also proves another thing: the disaster of the Star Gods is drawing nearer. Once the episode of the spiritual energy entities invading the sub-dimension is over, the Star Gods will truly awaken.

Of course, such aid is of the lowest level. The real high-level cultural invasion is like that of the Star Cluster Empire. Just like how everyone from the lower to the upper classes of the Blue Song Civilization sees the Star Cluster Empire as a holy land and wishes to live there.

Qin Muye merely observed this coldly. The test subjects only have value if successful; otherwise, they are always just test subjects. The same goes for the mind parasites; although they face a force on par with Qin Muye, they are valuable for this reason. Otherwise, what’s the point if they’re to be cast aside at the first sign of trouble?

Qin Muye wasn’t surprised by the failure of the mind parasites. If they had succeeded, that would have been problematic.

The countermeasures of the major powers were indeed beyond what the mind parasites could contend with, but that doesn’t mean the experiment failed.

According to Qin Muye’s investigation clues, it implies that Star Gods are likely being born or coming to their known star domain through some sort of colossal device used by the GROX Empire.

Compared to these, the slave trade on the abandoned planet S2971 is trivial.

In the future, there might even be a new kind of spiritual vaccine developed and universally distributed to grant immunity to mind parasite infection and colonization.

This matter has already been reported throughout the Shining Universe, and all major powers have started large-scale clearance work.

Qin Muye has discarded his mind parasites and is thus moving on to a higher level of experimentation.

Qin Muye began selecting civilizations that met his criteria. Such civilizations are quite rare because this involves the colonial behaviors of various interstellar species.

Qin Muye narrowed his eyes, contemplating.

Qin Muye hadn’t planned on keeping it hidden for long; it wasn’t like he had an overwhelming advantage. It’s perfectly normal for the major powers to discover the situation with the mind parasites.

Qin Muye knew that the mere extent of mind parasites was definitely not enough to counter the Cosmic Will born from the disaster of the Star Gods.

Then there was no “then.” If the mind parasites couldn’t secure a foothold during this period, their extinction was certain.

It’s all too late now; one shouldn’t dream of rapid development but only act low-key.

Being annihilated was one thing, but if they became a part of his strength, it would be an entirely different scenario.

Even if evolution isn’t fast enough, extinction may well be the outcome.

Billions of life forms may seem numerous, but compared with the entire cosmos, they are but a drop in the ocean, hardly worth mentioning–a single, larger administrative planet might add several zeros to that number.

The matter of thought parasites was quickly noticed by the major forces, who carried out further investigations and consequently turned their attention to the abandoned planet S2971.

The thought parasites have always been evolving, but alas, the pace is too slow. Had they evolved a Gestalt Consciousness and Mind Network before the major interstellar civilizations caught on, their subsequent development could have truly resulted in a new species.

Although the major forces live at a leisurely pace, they are definitely very quick to react to such significant matters.

While they can’t directly impose violent colonization on civilizations that have not yet entered the cosmic stage, they can wield indirect control through trade, technology, and other means–for example, by controlling all things, whether economy or resources, higher civilizations can easily claim to offer assistance.

Therefore, Qin Muye naturally had to initiate the second generation of experiments, after all, with the failure of the first, the second was surely to continue.

His experiment with the thought parasites wasn’t to wreak havoc on the Shining Universe, but to target the ongoing development of the Star God calamity.

Why provide a safety net for an experimental subject that hasn’t shown its value? Such a thing could be easily replaced if it were lost.

The Experiment of the Children of Civilization.

The relationship between the Endless Abyss and the Star Cluster Empire is still in a honeymoon phase, particularly because the trade between them serves mutual interests, making it a relationship that is outwardly harmonious but inwardly disconnected.

The invasion incidents of spiritual entities into the sub-dimension have gradually declined, proving that the Star Map is nearly complete. Qin Muye wouldn’t dare venture there with an incomplete map; after all, who knows what problems might arise.

The thought parasites are now what should be worried about, as the abandoned planet S2971 has been sealed off. The three major forces have stationed there to conduct experiments, and, well, the thought parasites are not at all their match; a preliminary version of a specific antidote has already appeared.

It is beyond doubt that the Star Gods possess civilization; otherwise, would it not be a tremendous waste to exterminate them entirely?

Or do you really think they are just for show?

Once successful, when the Star God calamity arrives, Qin Muye can directly implant the Children of Civilization into the civilization of the Star Gods, gaining complete control in one fell swoop, as if replacing their nests with his own.

As such, planets and civilizations that meet Qin Muye’s conditions are extremely rare.

Hence, Qin Muye harbored this speculation that the Star Gods, the GROX Empire, and that Unknown Star Domain had an extremely tight connection.

Moreover, he wasn’t necessarily capable of defeating them. If they are as powerful as Wang Wei’s memories suggest, a confrontation would surely not be an easy fight.

No matter how strong you are, you can’t withstand an emperor’s rebellion.

In this aspect, the efficiency of the major forces remains high, as the spread of the thought parasites is swift. If response isn’t quick, real problems can arise.

For all interstellar civilizations, this is undoubtedly a plague, but this plague is not lethal. With preemptive measures, further development of measures and antidotes naturally follows.

This is still over a relatively short time span. Given more time, even more could be achieved.

These thought parasites infect and parasitize various interstellar species, vying for their nests–a true conflict of interest.

This violates the taboos of all interstellar civilizations, so it’s only natural that the thought parasites haven’t spread too quickly.

If the thought parasites had succeeded, all civilizations would have become mere shells and slaves to the parasites. If it were Qin Muye in that situation, he couldn’t tolerate it and would definitely make the other party understand the consequences of a casserole-sized fist.

The universe is indeed a Dark Forest, but this forest is veiled with something known as order. Moreover, by acting in such a way, Qin Muye has indeed affected the interests of too many forces, hence the fierce backlash.

But it’s likely that the former peak state won’t be restored anytime soon. The golden age of the thought parasites saw them filling the entire abandoned planet S2971 and spreading escapees numbering in the billions.

As for the actual situation, it’s six of one, half a dozen of the other: internal control has been established, from the upper echelons to public opinion–all by the Star Cluster Empire. How could they fight?

However, it’s not as if there are no gains. The current status is that the spread has been contained, though not completely eradicated, as the thought parasites are still evolving, with some having already escaped to remote planets to develop anew.

About the discrepancy between the Star God calamity and Wang Wei’s past life memories, Qin Muye did entertain some conspiracy theories. But conspiracy or not, he must first resolve the Star God calamity.

There will always be some who are lucky enough to escape a catastrophe, currently waiting to rise again.