Chapter 21: Shen Xing’s Prophecy
Celestial Vault Star, Central Temple
Tens of thousands of citizens and those gathered behind them focused their gaze on a single point.
“Remember this moment, remember the power of the Star Father.”
Shen Xing, the Supreme Priest of the Celestial Vault Sect, descended slowly from the sky, like a deity coming down to earth.
As his feet touched the ground, the air in the plaza seemed to freeze; every gaze brimmed with reverence and anticipation.
“In the future, Celestial Vault Star will face unprecedented challenges.”
“The danger does not lie in distant stars, but in those alien beings who, like us, possess intelligence.”
“The survival of humanity will be written by your own hands.”
Shen Xing turned and walked into the depths of the temple, leaving behind a profound silence.
The senators and scientists exchanged uncertain glances, their hearts filled with confusion and unease.
“What do the Priest’s words truly mean?” one senator broke the silence, his voice trembling faintly. He had some suspicions, but nothing concrete.
“The Supreme Priest refers to those alien intelligences who may have appeared in the universe before us,” Wen Jing spoke gravely after a moment of thought.
“Their existence could be the greatest threat to our future.”
His words rippled through the crowd like a stone cast into a thousand waves, stirring limitless speculation in every heart.
The boundless universe was created by the Star Father.
On other planets, alien intelligences may have been brought into existence even earlier than humankind.
Any alien species capable of reaching Celestial Vault Star must possess powerful civilizations and advanced technology.
Humanity is not the sole favorite of the Star Father.
The Star Father’s affection is not reserved for humankind alone.
These words struck everyone with an unprecedented sense of crisis and, at the same time, a profound feeling of loss and uncertainty.
They realized that Celestial Vault Star was not the only intelligent life in the universe, and that the Star Father’s radiance was not confined to the humans of their world.
“If aliens come to Celestial Vault Star, how should we treat them? Will they coexist peacefully with us?” Gordon, the senator from the western district, asked in a deep voice. Once again, silence reigned, for no one could answer.
Perhaps, as the Supreme Priest said, humanity must rely on itself alone.
After returning to the temple, Shen Xing manipulated the shattered fragments of planets, sending them sweeping past Celestial Vault Star.
On the far side of Celestial Vault Star, where there had been no continents, new land was formed. Then, using gravitational acceleration, he pushed Abyss Star away, allowing it to continue wandering in the Celestial Vault system, devouring other planets.
This self-orchestrated apocalypse, from the human perspective, was now completely resolved.
Shen Xing’s purpose had been achieved.
He had not only demonstrated his power to destroy worlds, but also planted deep anxiety about the future in the hearts of humankind.
He had delivered an early warning.
Faced with the potential threat of alien civilizations, humanity could rely only on its own strength.
As the crisis passed, representatives from each district returned to their nations to announce the truth of the apocalypse to their people.
They spoke of how Shen Xing, with divine arts, destroyed a super-planet and saved all of humanity.
Upon learning the truth, the people devoutly recited:
“Thank you, Priest Shen.”
“Thank you, Star Father, for your protection.”
…
Time flew by, and after the apocalypse, human civilization once again surged forward on the fast track of progress.
Since the Abyss Star incident, the news that humanity was not the sole intelligence and that alien civilizations existed in the universe spread far and wide.
The populace was filled with panic, but also curiosity.
They yearned to know which among the myriad stars possessed civilizations like that of Celestial Vault Star.
Human ambition reached its peak, and everyone strove to advance the technology of Celestial Vault civilization, hoping to stand out among the Star Father’s children.
In the year 5599 of the Celestial Vault calendar, Wen Jing and several top scientists seemed to have grasped the thread of the information age and successfully invented the computer.
It heralded a new chapter for human civilization, enabling humanity to weave infinite possibilities with logic and numbers.
Upon hearing of the invention, Tian Miao, the representative from the central district, rushed to request an audience with the Supreme Priest.
With sincere devotion to the Celestial Vault Sect and pride in the new technology, he sought Shen Xing’s approval to bring this light of science into the Central Temple.
Shen Xing neither coldly refused nor simply accepted Tian Miao’s request, but instead offered verbal praise.
In Shen Xing’s eyes, every scientific advancement was worthy of encouragement.
He ordered the establishment of the Nova Prize in the name of the Celestial Vault Sect, to honor those with outstanding achievements in scientific research.
This award, akin to the Nobel Prize of Celestial Vault Star, was the highest tribute to knowledge and wisdom.
The news shook the entire Celestial Vault Star.
At this moment, Shen Xing’s prestige among humanity was unmatched; their worship of him was second only to the Star Father.
In the hearts of the people, Shen Xing was not only the Star Father’s representative on Celestial Vault Star, but a sacred being with the power to reshape the world.
Though they did not know that the Star Father and the Supreme Priest were actually one and the same.
Inspired by Shen Xing, scientists and scholars devoted themselves tirelessly to research, eager for his recognition.
Senators from all regions responded enthusiastically, increasing encouragement and investment in science, and the public’s respect and admiration for scientists reached unprecedented heights.
In the year 5602 of the Celestial Vault calendar, the birth of the Internet brought another technological revolution to Celestial Vault Star.
By Shen Xing’s personal instruction, a network was laid from the Central Temple, connecting all regions and temples, allowing human thought and information to spread instantly across the world.
At the Celestial Festival in 5603, Shen Xing warmly received the inventors of the computer and the Internet in the Central Temple.
He highly praised their achievements and encouraged them to continue contributing to the progress of humanity.
He then personally awarded them the specially crafted Nova Medal, the highest recognition of their wisdom.
The two scientists were so moved in Shen Xing’s presence that they were speechless, their hearts overflowing with boundless admiration.
After the ceremony, they remained immersed in that honor and excitement, unable to recover.
“Priest Shen received me and gave me a medal. Am I dreaming?”
“I want to ask, too… Could I still be asleep at home?”
The two laureates questioned each other, their voices trembling with uncertainty.
Upon receiving confirmation from others, the pair seemed to lose their usual sharpness; their eyes glazed over and their mouths twisted in silly grins.
Their appearance was not mocked by others, but instead inspired deep envy.
“If I received Priest Shen’s praise, I’d probably be even more beside myself than they are.”
Everyone’s hearts were full of longing and admiration for Shen Xing’s recognition.
Those scientists who had not won the Nova Prize were as anxious as ants on a hot pan, switching from astronomy to other fields in hopes of earning Shen Xing’s reward elsewhere.
From this moment on, the technological tree of Celestial Vault Star began to unfurl, and inventions of every kind emerged.
In Shen Xing’s eyes, the civilization of Celestial Vault Star was becoming more and more like Earth once was.
“Let it flourish and grow,”
Standing atop the deserted temple, Shen Xing looked around at the increasingly familiar scene and murmured to himself.