Year 17 of the Cretaceous Era.
Zhizi Two successfully arrived in the Trisolaran system, 3.7 light-years away, and completed information transmission through quantum entanglement.
Following Tai Hao’s orders, Zhizi awakened Tai Hao from his hibernation.
In the void, darker than darkness itself, Tai Hao’s consciousness gradually reawakened.
Darkness appeared, for before, there wasn't even the color of darkness, only nothingness.
Nothingness was true emptiness, devoid of light, devoid of perception, like the feeling of closing one eye.
Slowly, disturbances arose within the darkness, like a breeze piercing through everything, a sensation of time flowing.
The previous nothingness had no time, no meaning.
Now, time appeared, like a melting glacier becoming flowing water.
Light emerged much later, initially a shapeless bright spot, and after a long, long wait, the shape of the world became visible.
Newly awakened from hibernation, Tai Hao was disoriented, his memories scrambled, confused like a newborn infant discerning his surroundings.
It took a while, but finally, consciousness, memory, thought, logic, perception, these abstract things returned.
Tai Hao fully recovered from death, awoke from his hibernation.
With Zhizi's assistance, Tai Hao’s awakening went smoothly. However, it would take another three days to fully recover.
In the empty, silent hibernation base.
Within a sealed metal room, a violent coughing sound erupted.
After awakening Tai Hao, Zhizi controlled the intelligent machinery to transfer him to this awakening chamber.
Awakening from hibernation was not a pleasant experience, the brain was muddled, memories were chaotic, there was nausea, weakness, and a frail body.
It wasn’t until three days later that Tai Hao finally recovered.
“Your Majesty, congratulations on waking up from hibernation. It is now Year 17 of the Cretaceous Era. You have spent 2 years, 4 months, 21 hours, 15 minutes, and 37 seconds in hibernation.”
Zhizi unfolded in 3D in front of Tai Hao, reporting the current time.
Tai Hao lay in the hospital bed, looking somewhat dazed. Two years had passed, meaning his actual age was now thirty-two.
However, body functions were almost completely stopped during hibernation, so it didn’t count towards age.
In other words, he was still a young man under thirty!
But now was not the time to care about age.
He wondered if the Empire’s basic power infrastructure had been completed after two years.
Tai Hao poked Zhizi’s 3D projection with his finger and said, “Zhizi, give me a report on the Empire’s current situation.”
The air vibrated, and Zhizi’s voice echoed in the awakening chamber.
“During your slumber, the Empire experienced three large-scale riots.”
“The first riot occurred because you were absent from public view for an extended time. Some took advantage of the situation, instigating rumors that you were imprisoned or even murdered by the Empire’s six leading officials. They raised banners of ‘clearing the court’ and seized the opportunity to rebel. The leader was King Su, Di Hong Su.”
Tai Hao raised an eyebrow, never expecting it to be his third uncle.
Tai Hao asked with interest, “So, what was the outcome?”
“The rebels had just assembled when the Natural Selection Cannon fired a gamma ray laser, vaporizing everyone.”
Tai Hao’s lips curled upwards: “That’s such a pity. I lost a close relative.”
Zhizi ignored the insincere Tai Hao and continued reporting.
“The second riot erupted a year ago. Exiles on the Northern Continent conspired to divide the Empire’s territory and allied with the Northern Continent’s governor, Xi Men Guang, to rebel and establish an independent country. They were ultimately quelled by General Nangong Lie. Over one hundred thousand rebels were buried alive.”
Nangong Lie!
His childhood companion, the little book boy.
He had been cunning and ruthless from a young age.
But he was also exceptionally talented in military affairs, a rare talent.
After launching the unification war, Nangong Lie had remained on the battlefield of the Northern Continent. He had achieved brilliant military accomplishments, demonstrating both intelligence and bravery, commanding one-third of the Northern Continent’s army.
“Tsk ~ My buddy’s so ruthless. But he did a good job. Deserving of praise.”
Tai Hao didn't think there was anything wrong with burying 100,000 people alive. After all, they had been stripped of their citizenship and were no longer subjects of the Empire.
Dead is dead.
“The third riot broke out five months ago. The Southern Continent discovered the Empire’s human extermination plan. Within a few days, millions of resisters gathered. Ultimately, they were all killed by infrasound hydrogen bombs.”
Infrasound hydrogen bombs! Their killing mechanism was resonant reaction, it must have been a horrible death!
But he didn’t expect it to be the Southern Continent, the most backward of all civilizations, that first discovered the Empire’s human extermination plan.
But it didn’t matter. Except for the Empire, the other four continents were still in the Iron Age, incapable of resisting the Empire, which had entered the Electrical Age.
“But we need to accelerate the process. It’s been so many years and it’s still not finished. What a low efficiency.”
“Alright, after reporting on matters within our sphere, we should talk about what’s happening outside the sphere.”
Upon hearing this, Zhizi immediately reported intelligence from the Trisolaran system to Tai Hao.
“Zhizi Two has arrived at the Trisolaran system and transmitted information.”
“On the third planet of the Trisolaran system, Zhizi Two discovered an extraterrestrial civilization.”
“The dominant species of this civilization is the Shenhe body. Their civilization has reached the pre-nuclear civilization level. They have mastered atomic energy, entered the information age, and possess the ability to enter space.”
Tai Hao was shocked!
The worst-case scenario had occurred!
There was a civilization more advanced than the Empire right on their doorstep. This was truly devastating news.
Without hesitation, Tai Hao made a decision.
“This civilization’s development must be suppressed! We cannot allow them to evolve into a space-faring civilization!”
Tai Hao gritted his teeth and said in a harsh voice, word for word, “Have Zhizi Two take action. Seal off their particle accelerators, disrupt their physical experiments, create miracles and spread propaganda, and destroy their scientific system!”
From the moment Tai Hao made up his mind, the civilization 3.7 light-years away had no future.
Soon, unimaginable disasters would befall that civilization.
Tai Hao left the awakening chamber and boarded the elevator to the fifth floor.
Tai Hao wanted to see the situation of that civilization with his own eyes.