Chapter 97: The Warship of Civilization (Part 3)

Seeing the young woman before him, who appeared to be around fifteen or sixteen, Sun Meng was momentarily stunned.

"Are you... Yueying?!" He looked at her with confusion. It was no wonder he was surprised—just over a year ago, Yueying had been a little girl of not even five years old. How had she grown to fifteen or sixteen in such a short time? Could the flow of time be different here?

Yueying replied, "I am indeed Yueying. My lord, over the past year, I have devoted myself to cultivation. Not only have I awakened the Moon Goddess Physique, but I have also managed to organize several techniques and mechanical arts through analogy." As she spoke, she produced a jade slip.

When the jade slip landed in Sun Meng's hand, the system appraised its value as late second tier.

Sun Meng looked at Yueying with renewed astonishment. In just over a year, she had achieved such strength—was her talent truly so extraordinary, or was his own talent simply lacking?

"My lord, the reason for my rapid progress is not only abundant resources, but also the Moon Goddess Physique. However, after breaking through to the third tier, my advancement will return to a normal pace," Yueying explained, easily discerning Sun Meng's thoughts.

Sun Meng gave an awkward laugh. "Oh, I see. How is your world developing now? With such a drastic change in your appearance, hasn't it caused any anomalies?"

"My lord, rest assured," Yueying replied gently. "Though my current power matches that of my counterpart in the original world, I have sealed away the associated memories and strength to allow for natural growth. At present, the Yellow Turban Rebellion in the Han Dynasty is gradually being quelled, though many rebels continue to emerge throughout the land. From the perspective of fate, the Han is now in a precarious state. However, new stars are rising, and together, they may bring about a new resurgence for the Han."

Watching the ever-gentle and courteous Yueying, Sun Meng couldn't help but feel that he preferred the innocence of the younger Yueying. But he also understood she had changed herself so quickly only to aid him sooner.

"Alright, since there are no major events this month, I plan to visit your world," Sun Meng announced. Unlike the others, who could only venture within the main city and the surrounding safe zones, his contract with Yueying allowed him to use her as an anchor and temporarily visit her Three Kingdoms world—though he couldn't trigger any quests there.

In other words, the quest reward system had shifted into a developmental, agrarian mode. He recalled that the spiritual energy in that world was quite adequate; perhaps he could use it as a cultivation base. Moreover, the world's native martial arts, military tactics, and spiritual training methods were not without potential. With the right resources, he might be able to reform it into a world with a cultivation system akin to Earth's.

At this thought, Sun Meng felt his mind open up. He contacted Yi Gang: "How is construction progressing on your end? Can you finish within a month?" While he had successfully broken through to the third tier, the construction of the civilization warship remained a bottleneck for Earth's civilization. Without completing the warship, there would be no further breakthroughs.

Yi Gang replied, "The Academy of Sciences is working to digest the technology you provided, but the original plan has been scrapped again. One month may be a bit rushed!" He was anxious as well, knowing that the civilization warship was critical for their advancement. Now was not the time to pursue the highest-level warship.

Just look at the design! Building a warship based on the entire Eurasian continent—did they really think Earth's resources were limitless? The flagship's potential was directly linked to the civilization's evaluation, so they couldn't be careless, making it a truly vexing dilemma.

"Keep at it, then! I'll be heading to the Three Kingdoms world. Send me some seeds and books—I want to try transforming it into another Earth," Sun Meng instructed. Though the month was supposed to be a period of rest, he couldn't afford to be idle.

Activating the contract's power, Sun Meng instantly arrived at the Huang family estate, where the young Yueying was tinkering with mechanical beasts. Though many memories and techniques had been sealed, her talent and intuition remained, and she had memorized much of the incomplete Taiping Manual. Since her father forbade her from cultivating Daoist arts, she channeled her energy into craftsmanship.

A silver light flickered in Yueying’s eyes, and a silver crescent mark appeared on her forehead.

"Yueying pays respects to my lord." The young Yueying floated up and bowed to Sun Meng.

Sun Meng hurried over and scooped her into his arms. "No need for such formality! By the way, where are we?"

"My lord, we are currently in Jing Province, within the Deer Gate Mountain, at the Shuijing Villa. My father is conversing with Master Shui Jing and Lord Pang," Yueying replied.

"So this is the Shuijing Villa! No wonder the ambient spiritual energy here is so dense," Sun Meng remarked. Though the environment had reached the late second tier, it was still uncomfortable for him, having attained third-tier strength.

Carrying Yueying, Sun Meng flew to another courtyard, where three men immediately rose and fixed their gaze upon him.

"It's you!" Huang Chengyan's expression was one of surprise upon seeing Sun Meng and Yueying together.

"Master Huang, I've come to see you three for a reason. I hope you can help me spread the word: I intend to transform this world, from its environment to its cultivation system." Sun Meng landed, releasing his internal energy, which radiated outward in an oppressive wave.

Though it lasted only a few seconds, the three felt Sun Meng’s strength, far beyond any example known to their world.

"Your power is indeed unmatched, but such talk of transforming the world is not something to be uttered lightly," Master Shui Jing said with a gentle smile. "Why not share your cultivation methods, so we may engage in a discussion and learn from one another? That way, we can better understand your true capabilities." As he spoke, he formed several hand seals, and the estate's formation began to shift.

Sun Meng smiled. "It seems you misunderstand my intentions. I am not here to negotiate, but to inform you." He glanced at Shui Jing. "Besides, knowing the gap between our strengths, such petty tricks are best left aside." He spread out his divine sense, shattering the formation's nodes.

Feeling the formation break, Shui Jing's expression shifted. He had not even detected the means by which Sun Meng did it—proving the man’s strength was truly beyond this world.

"Since you require our assistance, we are willing to serve. May I ask your esteemed name, and what it is you wish us to do?" Huang Chengyan asked. With Yueying in Sun Meng’s arms, he dared not risk his daughter’s safety.

The other two, seeing Huang Chengyan yield, followed suit.

Sun Meng smiled and produced Earth’s foundational cultivation methods, complete from the beginning to late second tier, detailing everything from physical training to spiritual development, as well as spells and formations.

The three received the jade slips and were soon lost in study. They were already at the forefront of cultivation in Han, forced to forge their own paths. Now, having obtained Earth’s system, it was as if wanderers in a desert had found water.

"So physical cultivation and spiritual refinement aren’t mutually exclusive!" Shui Jing exclaimed in awe.

"Formations can be applied to architecture and weaponry as well!" Huang Chengyan’s eyes shone with excitement.

"Spiritual spells can be executed with such precision!" Lord Pang was already experimenting. A tiny firebird whirled joyfully around him, then split into two, then four, then eight.

"Go!" Lord Pang pointed, and eight firebirds soared into the sky, merging into a single, massive fireball.

Sun Meng gently squeezed his hand, and the fireball vanished. "Well? Do these techniques meet your expectations?"

"Are you truly intending to spread these cultivation methods throughout the world?" Shui Jing suddenly asked.