"We have received a message from the Red Dragon spacecraft. Star City has been destroyed, and no life has survived."
Ella conveyed the message to Yan Xia, who had been conducting some biological experiments. Yan Xia's actions paused, and for a moment, she was speechless.
After a while, Yan Xia spoke up, "Chu made the final effort; otherwise, the Olive Branch Civilization would not have destroyed Star City."
"We need to prepare for the disappearance of the Canopus Star Region. The attack from the Olive Branch Civilization won't end so easily."
"Let's move the battleship away from that area to avoid being affected. Also, relocate the new industrial chain to the unmanned deep space, and let the machines handle everything."
Yan Xia had no illusions.
If it were her, would she not destroy the threat of the Civilization Federation?
Impossible.
The battleships of the Olive Branch Civilization had not yet arrived, and Yan Xia guessed that they considered long-distance combat too risky. Unless they could overwhelm with absolute power, they would be drawn into a protracted war, giving the Federation more time.
However, the battleships of the Olive Branch Civilization would still come, but they would arrive at the final battlefield to clean up the aftermath.
This was a super-distance war, a pinnacle confrontation of technology.
Before Ella could send the information, she received the second message.
"The Independent Glory still exists. From the message, it seems that Chu has given up and wants our help."
Yan Xia's expression became grave.
Having witnessed the disappearance of the Silk Road, she couldn't fully trust the Independent Glory. If the Independent Glory itself was an unknown weapon, then contacting it would be a huge risk.
Most importantly, Yan Xia didn't believe Chu would do such a thing.
The divide between civilizations was too great. Chu had previously refused to let the Federation join the war, precisely because he didn't want the war to involve everyone.
He wanted to preserve the purity of civilization and the simplicity of the revolution.
Therefore, the existence of the Independent Glory went against Chu's wishes.
"Ella, what do you think?"
"Highly unlikely!"
Ella almost instantly replied with her conclusion.
"Let's put this matter aside for now and ensure that those who have contacted the Independent Glory do not return."
At that moment, Ella received another file.
"There's also a conjecture from An Li that came with it."
This was not a physical file. After receiving it, Yan Xia began to read.
"To the Federation, to whoever this may concern, this may seem like a crazy letter, but please read it through."
"At the moment I made contact with the Independent Glory, I obtained something. According to a comment within the Independent Glory, it is a treasure, but it's not as divine as it sounds. It is a language, the language of the Olive Branch Civilization."
"When I obtained it, I suddenly understood why it is a treasure, or perhaps why the Federation exists, and why Star City gradually drew closer to us."
"Although I have read many books, I couldn't finish reading all the works. I don't know if anyone has studied language, civilization, or the relationship between the two."
"Why can't ordinary animals develop a civilization?"
"Intelligence? We know that some animals' intelligence is not as low as we think. For example, some individuals from the same species as us, intelligent life, also possess considerable intelligence. But they are unable to develop a civilization."
"Is it fire or tools? But in nature, it's not just intelligent life that can use tools. As mentioned earlier, some species from the same species as intelligent life can also use tools. With instruction, they can even perform relatively complex operations and learn the technique of fire-making."
"So, what is it?"
Yan Xia looked at the laboratory, where Ella was sitting on a sofa. Yan Xia made a cup of tea for Ella and continued reading.
"I believe it's language."
"Some may think that animals also have their own language, but they don't. Animal sounds merely convey emotions, nothing more."
"The language of intelligent life is more complex and unique to them. Here, I thought of the chicken and egg problem. Which came first, language or civilization? My answer is probably the former."
"Language is the carrier of civilization, not the other way around."
"When a life form possesses language, it is endowed with the ability to pass on knowledge. Through language, a life form can inherit the knowledge of its ancestors and progress."
"Think about it, can ordinary animals do the same?"
"Animals learn skills from their parents from birth and continue to repeat this process as they grow up. Their skills cannot become more efficient through the accumulation of experience, or such changes would be incredibly slow, taking millions of years to calculate. Yet, not many species can live for a million years."
"However, language can effortlessly allow a later generation to master the knowledge of their ancestors. What an ancestor spent a lifetime exploring may become a single sentence or even an idiom in the future. When we use an idiom, we may not realize that it carries the peak of knowledge acquired by a past life."
"With the advent of language, civilization progressed rapidly, and later, writing emerged to summarize and preserve all that had come before. But ultimately, writing is dependent on language, which is the carrier of everything."
"I believe the reason why so many civilizations in the Federation can coexist is due to the human culture, history, and way of thinking carried within the language. Star City, in its later stages, was also influenced by this and gradually drew closer to the Federation."
"Every civilization has its unique perspective. I have studied many languages, and each time I learn a new language, my perspective broadens to that of the race it belongs to. Through deep reflection, I also discovered that most radical racists come from lives that do not understand the language of their own race. In contrast, those who learn the language of their race are rejected by the group. Is this a coincidence?"
"If we can learn the language of a civilization, can we also understand its technology?"
"Of course, all my thoughts may be false, imposed on me by the Independent Glory. The attachment contains the language of the Olive Branch Civilization, so be cautious."
After reading the email, Yan Xia also gained some inspiration.
She had never thought about this aspect before because it was a matter of perspective. When you can see things from another's perspective or even view yourself from their perspective, you become aware of the existence of such things.
In the past, she had forcefully annexed her own race, suppressing these thoughts with military might. Now, facing a more powerful civilization, she has become the weaker side, both in terms of military and culture. This issue will become necessary.
Although An Li's perspective is not applicable to all situations, most of it is correct.
You can't expect one thing to explain everything, but if it proves itself in most events and lives, it justifies its existence.
"Language?"
Yan Xia looked at the attachment, feeling it was time to understand the Federation from a different perspective.