Chapter 18: Chapter 16 Second-Class Citizens, The Elite Class

“Goddess of Wisdom?”

Song Wuyang’s expression grew grave.

As one of the three ultimate intelligence goddesses, the authority of the Goddess of Wisdom was not only the highest in the nearby star domains.

Even against the backdrop of the entire Cosmic Human civilization, the Goddess of Wisdom was one of those with the highest authority.

“What does the Goddess of Wisdom want with me this late?”

Song Wuyang speculated in his mind.

Every action of the Goddess of Wisdom was the result of countless computations by the intelligence network.

It would never be without meaning.

“Could it be that those extraterrestrial species have made their move?”

Song Wuyang’s eyebrows furrowed tightly.

Several months ago, the Alliance detected traces of extraterrestrial species in a nearby star domain.

That was why a conscription effort was launched, in hopes of dealing with the extraterrestrial species as soon as possible.

“Connect.”

Amidst fluctuating thoughts, Song Wuyang chose to connect.

In fact, with the authority held by the Goddess of Wisdom, even if he refused to connect,

it would be meaningless, as the Goddess of Wisdom could forcibly establish communication.

The so-called ‘right to connect’ was a right fiercely argued for by some star lord to protect citizen privacy, proposed at the once-in-a-century Constitution convention tens of thousands of years ago, and it was a power that had been requested from the three goddesses.

Even though this power was virtually useless,

and choosing not to connect didn’t actually mean one could avoid connection,

it at least served as a fig leaf, to ensure that one was not suddenly hearing the voices of the three goddesses while engaged in private matters.

The moment Song Wuyang chose to ‘connect’ the call,

with a ‘ding’ sound,

“The Goddess of Wisdom is now connected…”

Song Wuyang steadied his spirit and arranged his posture, then cautiously asked, “It’s quite late, may I know why the Goddess has sought me out?”

The three ultimate intelligence goddesses of Cosmic Human civilization were the Goddess of Freedom, Goddess of Justice, and Goddess of Wisdom.

These three goddesses, each in charge of different aspects—Goddess of Freedom overseeing aggression and expansion, Goddess of Justice managing legal decision-making, and Goddess of Wisdom responsible for public welfare and logistics.

The three goddesses each performed their duties, supporting the dazzling brilliance of the current Cosmic Human civilization.

“According to Article 16 of the Constitution, when a new evolutionary path with potential reaching the third tier or above is discovered, the decision should be deliberated jointly by the Goddess of Wisdom and the highest authority figure in the vicinity,” the solemn and dignified voice of the Goddess of Wisdom came through.

Song Wuyang’s pupils shrank slightly, and he immediately asked, “Do you mean, a brand-new evolution path has been discovered that has the potential to reach the third tier?”

As a governing official like Song Wuyang, he would encounter new evolution paths every day that needed his review and authorization.

However, nearly all evolutionary paths had low potential, with most not even achieving a tier, and coming across a first-tier evolution path was already considered extremely fortunate.

No wonder the Goddess of Wisdom is being so cautious by contacting me outside of working hours… Song Wuyang mused thoughtfully.

If it had been a common evolutionary path, the Goddess of Wisdom would have already made her own determination and then just waited until Song Wuyang was working the next day to grant authorization.

But potential reaching the third tier…

‘Potential’ does not refer to the current upper limit of this evolutionary path,

but rather the future upper limit simulated by the Goddess of Wisdom using her massive computing power.

Any evolution path with potential reaching the third tier or above is the future and wealth of the entire human civilization, with the possibility of giving birth to third-tier evolvers through this path.

“Correct.”

The Goddess of Wisdom answered, “Please look, Officer Song Wuyang.”

Immediately, screen after screen flashed before Song Wuyang’s eyes.

It was the ‘Martial Canon’ Innate Chapter and Grandmaster Chapter submitted by Lin Yuan.

“This?” Song Wuyang’s eyebrows scrunched up.

Being a powerful evolver himself, he immediately realized the terrifying aspect of the Martial Tao evolutionary path represented by the Martial Canon.

It required few external resources, and it was not demanding in terms of ‘innate talent.’

Even if one did not become an evolver through this path, one could still use it to strengthen and improve health.

It was highly adaptable with few restrictions and had no significant weaknesses.

Unlike certain extreme evolutionary paths that were too ‘specialized’ and, if targeted, could be rendered completely powerless.

“The Grand Master Realm of this evolutionary path should already meet the standards of a tiered evolver,” Song Wuyang judged.

Regardless of which evolutionary path one took, evolvers were divided into tiered and non-tiered evolvers.

Non-tiered evolvers, though also possessing power beyond the limits of ordinary people, were far inferior in strength to those who reached a tier.

“This evolutionary path should be eligible to enter our Canglan Star’s Evolution Ranking, right?” Song Wuyang tentatively asked.

The Canglan Evolution Ranking recorded all the evolutionary paths that had emerged on Canglan Star since it became habitable, spanning a period of 820,000 years.

“According to the highest intelligence calculations, the Martial Tao evolutionary path can be ranked at number ninety-three on the Canglan Evolution Ranking…” the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom conveyed.

“It really made it onto the Evolution Ranking?”

Song Wuyang’s expression was slightly complex.

The Canglan Evolution Ranking recorded the hundred strongest evolution pathways in the history of Canglan Star.

These hundred evolution pathways had withstood the test of long ages and seldom changed.

At least since Song Wuyang had been an official, the Canglan Evolution Ranking had not altered.

“According to Article 86 of the Charter, concerning the support policy for developing new evolution pathways, this evolution pathway will grant the developer a reward of two thousand merit points.”

“Does Official Song Wuyang agree?”

The voice of the Goddess of Wisdom was somber and dignified.

“Two thousand merit points?”

Song Wuyang fell into deep thought.

Merit points were the most valuable ‘currency’ of the Cosmic Human Alliance, directly issued by the three goddesses.

In human civilization, merit points could almost do anything, such as upgrading a citizen’s level. With enough merit points, one could even command the three goddesses.

Of course, the issuance of merit points depended entirely on one’s contribution to human civilization.

The more merit points one had, the greater their contribution to human civilization, and naturally, the more corresponding privileges one could enjoy.

The decision of the Goddess of Wisdom to award two thousand merit points to the developer of the Martial Tao evolutionary pathway made Song Wuyang realize that he had still underestimated this evolution pathway.

You should know that an evolution pathway with a normal potential reaching the third rank would only be rewarded with eight hundred to one thousand merit points.

It’s rare to exceed one thousand merit points.

Let alone a direct two thousand merit points.

“I agree.”

Song Wuyang nodded.

The Goddess of Wisdom would not be partial; since she deemed it worth two thousand merit points, then it certainly was worth that much.

…

Inside the room.

Lin Yuan was still sitting cross-legged on the bed.

“Still a bit hungry…”

After finishing the snacks in the room, Lin Yuan slightly frowned.

Just then, a solemn and dignified voice came.

“Respected Citizen Lin Yuan, the Martial Tao evolution pathway you submitted has been fully evaluated.”

“Oh?” Lin Yuan immediately perked up.

The Martial Tao evolution pathway was the culmination of twenty years of effort and understanding in the Martial World, his final ‘achievement’ in that realm.

Lin Yuan also wanted to know the value of this evolution pathway in the Cosmic Human Alliance.

“Citizen Lin Yuan, according to the judgment, the Martial Tao evolution pathway has a potential of rank three, with extremely widespread applicability, valued at two thousand merit points. Would you like them to be issued now?”

“Two thousand merit points?” Lin Yuan’s eyes lit up.

He was well aware of the value of merit points.

They were personally bestowed by the three goddesses of human civilization and represented the highest honor, capable of being used to raise one’s citizen level.

The fact that it was worth two thousand merit points was also a great surprise to Lin Yuan.

You should know that merit points could buy almost any restricted resource.

In the underground black market, a single merit point could sell for tens of millions at exorbitant prices.

And two thousand merit points… even if sold cheaply on the black market, amounted to several billion.

“Merit points have been issued.”

After the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom rang out,

Lin Yuan immediately found that in the merit point column of his account, which was previously invisible, the words ‘two thousand’ now appeared.

“Upgrade citizen level.”

Lin Yuan began to operate.

Although the value of merit points was high, their most important purpose was still to upgrade the citizen level.

Using merit points as currency to buy items or converting merit points into cash through the underground black market…

That was entirely a short-sighted action.

Once the citizen level increased, would one still worry about not having money?

At least Lin Yuan knew that citizens above level two could loan millions interest-free annually from the Central Bank.

Moreover, many places simply required high-level citizens to lend their names, providing incomes of tens or even hundreds of millions a year.

As Lin Yuan began to upgrade his citizen level, the voice of the Goddess of Wisdom came again.

“Universe Level One Citizen Lin Yuan, using one thousand merit points, has been upgraded to a Level Two citizen…”

Upon hearing this, a smile appeared on Lin Yuan’s face.

It took one thousand merit points to go from a Level One citizen to a Level Two citizen.

It would take five thousand merit points to go from Level Two to Level Three citizen.

Although he did not rise to a Level Three citizen, Lin Yuan was already very content.

Level Two Citizen… already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the citizens. Normally, out of tens or even hundreds of thousands of Level One citizens, there would emerge only one Level Two citizen.

It was a rare elite class among hundreds of thousands.