The unexpected arrival was so sudden, without any warning.
However, anyone with a bit of sense could smell something different from the actions of Civilization A.
Instead of finding Earth directly, they detonated a star again. Wasn't that a clear sign of goodwill?
From that day on, all those in the know eagerly awaited the day Civilization A would appear in the solar system.
But they waited and waited, and there was no movement, as if Civilization A had never appeared.
This was truly perplexing. Given such obvious goodwill, why wouldn't they contact humanity?
Ou Zhanpeng found an opportunity to ask about it, and Gong Yiding immediately showed a surprised expression, "Why should Civilization A necessarily contact humans?"
"Shouldn't they?" Ou Zhanpeng retorted, unwilling to accept it.
Gong Yiding sighed, "You're about to set off a firecracker, the fuse is lit, and you're waiting for it to explode. Then, a swarm of ants crawls out from underground and snips the fuse, making you feel quite touched. You decide not to destroy the ant nest and choose another spot. Would you then find time to have a chat with the ants?"
The analogy was convoluted, but the reasoning was simple. Ou Zhanpeng understood, yet felt deeply disheartened.
So, all their efforts and development over the years, their perceived strength, was merely a tiny ant nest in the eyes of a truly powerful civilization, not even worth wasting time to notice?
The struggles of an ant nest might elicit a sympathetic glance from Civilization A, which was already an unforeseen surprise, a blessing beyond expectation. To expect such a powerful civilization to proactively contact humans?
Did they intend to be ruled by Civilization A, or did they expect Civilization A to extend a helping hand to humanity?
Why would Civilization A even look at humanity with high regard? Just because humans destroyed the supernova cannon?
The fact that the other party didn't demand compensation was already an act of mercy. If humanity, in its overconfidence, were to actively seek trouble with Civilization A, they likely wouldn't mind crushing a nascent interstellar civilization, just as humans crush an ant crawling on them.
This psychological blow was immense, like a runaway airplane plummeting from the sky, crashing into the ocean, and sinking to the deepest seabed, with no glimmer of hope in sight.
Ou Zhanpeng, from the bottom of his heart, refused to believe this reality, yet had to admit that Gong Yiding's analysis was sound.
Deep down, he had always hoped Gong Yiding was mistaken, but the facts proved that there was no room for wishful thinking; Civilization A simply had no intention of contacting humans.
Reality was indeed that cruel.
Regardless, the supernova crisis had been averted, although the process was rather unspeakable.
While some were lost in thought, unable to comprehend, others were open-minded and unburdened.
As a great nation of China, though temporarily inferior to Civilization A, there was no need to lament and bemoan like smaller, more isolated countries.
With that time, it was better to strive for progress and catch up.
At first glance, these words sounded like empty platitudes, but upon careful consideration, they held true.
Take their eastern neighbor, for instance. They would claim this is theirs, and that is also theirs, but in reality, nothing belonged to them.
This mindset was indeed characteristic of a nation with deep-seated inferiority complex, constantly seeking ways to highlight its uniqueness and attempting to force recognition of its extraordinary nature from other inhabitants of Blue Star through various means.
However, those who are truly recognized have no need for so many external adornments to embellish themselves.
To put it bluntly, ever since they single-handedly defeated seventeen major factions, no one dared to look down upon the awakened Eastern Dragon.
Adornment?
A little external stuff, completely unnecessary... Alright, more than a little, but even the most ornate exterior couldn't buy even a sliver of true strength. What was the use?
Therefore, there was no need to overthink Civilization A's indifference. One's own strength was true strength!
With this clarity, the restless thoughts of Ou Zhanpeng and others finally calmed down.
Other people's possessions, no matter how good, were still theirs. Their own doghouse, no matter how shabby, was still their own.
It is better to build a net than to envy fish in a pond. Humanity had only achieved minor successes and was not yet at a stage to be complacent. There was still a long road ahead.
From then on, humanity's key efforts were divided into three major areas.
First, the development of humanity itself, with no slackening in either technology or culture.
Second, the pace of interstellar colonization. The existing colonies were still too few, and efforts had to be intensified to send more colonial fleets into the deeper, more distant space.
Although humanity had only recently ventured beyond the solar system, as the old saying goes, "The wider the mind, the larger the world!"
Newly started humanity was merely a minor force in the Orion Arm, yet the military's ambition could no longer be contained.
Or rather, the small pond of the Orion Arm could no longer contain humanity. The short-term immigration plan was to fly out of the Orion Arm, first cross the inter-arm space to the Sagittarius Arm, then traverse the Orion Arm, and finally reach the Perseus Arm.
Did you think that was all?
This was merely the beginning!
The further plans had two directions: one was to advance towards the galactic center, and the other was to move towards the galactic edge, ultimately heading proudly into the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, planting the banner of humanity throughout the galaxy.
By then, depending on the level of technology, they would decide to colonize the Andromeda galaxy.
Of course, this was just a very rough long-term plan, with no possibility of realization in the foreseeable future. It might take several generations, even a dozen or tens or hundreds of generations, to finally reach this point.
For this day, not only were countless people working hard for it, but countless others would also sacrifice their lives in the process.
Some of these events would be spectacular, but more would be silent and unnoticed.
This was the pain of an era, unmovable by human will, nor changeable by any individual's thoughts.
Just like humanity at this moment, at first glance everything seemed fine, but in reality, it was fraught with danger at every step. No one knew what the peace of today would become tomorrow.
The reason was simple: no one knew how many unexpected events awaited humanity in this universe. Any irresistible external factor could lead to the eternal damnation of all humanity—even if humanity were to dominate the entire galaxy, it would only be king of this small patch of territory. Who knew how many more powerful super-civilizations existed in the extragalactic regions.
In short, the world was vast, and humanity was small. The pace of progress could never stop!
Perhaps in the near future, humanity might become an imperceptible ripple in the long river of history due to some irresistible factors, but for humanity, that insignificant change would be an achievement they accomplished with their entire lives.
Mighty, but never humble.
End of book.