392: Yizhi Home

Robert naturally took a vacant seat as per Director Shajin's instructions.

Director Shajin still maintained his composed demeanor, gesturing to the researcher, "This is Dr. Ets, you should be quite familiar with him."

Robert nodded to Dr. Ets, who also pushed up his glasses and nodded back in return.

Director Shajin's hand then pointed to the slightly transparent projection: "And this, is our 'special' participant today, the current representative of the Nova People. You can call him 'Starlight'."

"Nova People?!" Robert abruptly stood up from his chair, the movement causing the chair to slide back with a screeching sound.

He stared intently at the projection called "Starlight," his face filled with shock and disbelief, "Director Shajin! This... this can't be! The Nova People... aren't the Nova People supposed to have already... Tai Yi he..."

He could barely speak coherently, the images he had seen earlier uncontrollably flashing in his mind—the Hellish scene of a planet shattering and disintegrating like a fragile porcelain plate.

Under such a natural disaster and Divine Power, any flesh and blood, any civilization built on the physical plane, seemed so insignificant, and should have turned into cosmic dust.

Survival? This was beyond the scope of his comprehension.

The Nova People on that half-planet, theoretically, had no chance of survival.

Director Shajin seemed to have anticipated his reaction, smiling and waving his hand, signaling him to sit down: "Relax, Mr. Robert. I know this is surprising, but please sit down first and let Dr. Ets and Starlight explain the situation briefly."

Robert took several deep breaths before he managed to calm the turbulent waves in his heart, sitting back down, but his gaze remained fixed on the projection of starlight.

Dr. Ets, sitting beside him, pushed up his glasses on his nose and cleared his throat, "Robert, first, one thing needs to be clear: physiologically speaking, all the Nova People who remained on that half-planet are indeed dead."

This statement slightly cooled Robert's agitated emotions, but his confusion deepened.

What did he mean, physiologically speaking, they were all dead?

Dr. Ets continued to explain: "At the moment of the planet's disintegration, extreme fear, intense will to survive, and the collective resonance that erupted in the face of destruction... these extreme Mental Energy activities, under the unique racial consciousness talent of the Nova People, produced a peculiar 'anchoring' effect."

"Although they no longer have the ability of thought-sharing, that is only due to the new body."

"While their physical bodies perished, their highly condensed consciousness entities, or in the terminology we are currently researching, 'mementor bodies,' did not immediately dissipate. Instead, under a mechanism we do not yet fully understand, they were born and persisted for a very short time after their annihilation on the physical plane."

"Of course, under those conditions, the duration of their persistence was very short."

"You can understand it as, at the moment of their 'death,' they left behind an extremely strong 'consciousness echo,' which was particularly resilient due to their racial characteristics."

At this moment, the projection named "Starlight" fluctuated slightly, and a calm voice with a certain inhuman, ethereal quality directly sounded in the consciousness of everyone in the conference room.

"Yes, Mr. Robert. At that time, we felt like embers in the wind, about to be completely extinguished. Our perceptions were blurred, our sense of time was chaotic, and only the faint remaining connections between us reminded us that we once existed as members of a civilization."

"But very quickly, we felt an irresistible pull. All the remaining Nova People consciousnesses, like a hundred rivers flowing into the sea, were irreversibly drawn into that black hole. We originally thought that would be the final destination, the complete dissolution and end of consciousness."

"But the outcome was beyond everyone's expectations." Dr. Ets excitedly interjected, "The interior of the 'mementor black hole' is not pure Chaos or destruction. It is more like an incredibly vast, primitive, and untainted 'mementor' ocean, a consciousness Foundation harboring infinite possibilities."

"Its characteristics allow it to carry, stabilize, and even amplify consciousness activities, presenting them in a form similar to a 'dream' but far more real and stable than a dream!"

"These consciousness entities of the Nova People, after falling into this 'mementor ocean,' not only did not dissipate but, driven by their survival instincts and racial talents, spontaneously began to utilize the characteristics of this environment. They 'imagined' a space where they could persist."

Director Shajin, following Dr. Ets's words, pointed his finger towards the faintly visible, slowly rotating blue-black liquid celestial body, the "mementor black hole," against the backdrop of the starry sky outside the porthole.

Starlight's telepathic message confirmed this: "That was our only way out in despair. We concentrated all our remaining Mental Energy, relying on memories of our homeland cities, and our attachment to sunlight, air, and soil, to jointly 'construct' a temporary sanctuary."

"A consciousness space that, though illusory, allows us to perceive each other and maintain a sense of 'existence'."

Dr. Ets added: "Just as they had initially stabilized, they attempted to use the 'mementor black hole's' subtle connections with the outside world to send out distress signals."

"Fortunately, Honeycomb Experimental City was at the time fully researching the 'mementors' that burst out of Tai Yi's Divine Body after the two Aeons' great war, and our receiving equipment captured these extremely special and faint consciousness fluctuations."

"It was Dr. Xia Er who first identified and deciphered these signals, confirming their identity and status."

"There's a lot that happened next, so I'll keep it simple."

"In short, we provided the necessary technical support and theoretical guidance to help them understand and better utilize the environment of the 'mementor black hole.' And the advice given by Dr. Xia Er was for them to, within this consciousness space, simulate and restore their former real life as much as possible, up to one hundred percent."

"This is based on psychology and our research on consciousness entities. Too abrupt a change in life form can easily lead to the collapse of self-cognition, consciousness distortion, or even dissipation. This highly realistic 'life' can provide them with stable psychological anchors, maximize the integrity of their 'self,' and help them adapt to this purely conscious form of existence."

"Simply put, it's to make them feel like they are still 'alive' and 'at home'."

Starlight's telepathic message carried deep gratitude: "Yes, the Corporation's help was crucial. Without your technical guidance and psychological counseling, we might have lost ourselves in that empty 'ocean' and eventually turned into unconscious matter."

"Now, we have rebuilt our city there. It may not have a physical form, but it holds our memories, our emotions, our civilization. It is our new home, the spark for the continuation of our race."

He paused, his voice becoming particularly solemn: "And so, on behalf of our people, I have officially requested the Interstellar Peace Corporation to help us monitor and safeguard the stability of the 'mementor black hole' long-term. It is our last home, the Foundation of our existence, and its safety concerns the survival of our entire race."

Director Shajin nodded slightly, the frivolousness on his face receding somewhat, "That is natural; the Corporation already had this intention."

"The reason I gathered you and Robert here is to consult your opinions on something. Of course, it's primarily your opinion, Robert."

"The Corporation has decided to entrust the Penacony entertainment planet project, based on the 'mementor black hole' and 'Spirit Realm' technology, to your management."

His gaze first went to Dr. Ets: "For the Technology Research and Development Department, the team led by Dr. Ets, who voluntarily stayed on Three-Body Star to participate in the reconstruction, you will be responsible for all technical issues."

Next, he looked at Starlight's projection: "Nova People, you could be considered the native inhabitants of the 'mementor' world. As remuneration for the Corporation monitoring and maintaining the mementor black hole, the 'mementor' world will become Penacony's most core entertainment project. Of course, I imagine you would also be very willing to help maintain safety and stability within the 'mementor' world."

"That is natural."

Finally, his gaze settled on Robert, with scrutiny and anticipation: "And the Sterling Family, represented by you, Robert, the personnel who chose to take root here. You have experienced despair and Rebirth. While not an inevitable event, at least you understand the hard-won nature of current life more than most people, and you better fit the Corporation's positioning and requirements for managers."

"Therefore, the Corporation has decided to entrust the construction, operation, and management rights of the future Penacony core 'Spirit Realm' entertainment world to a committee jointly formed by your three parties."

Dr. Ets and Starlight had already known about the Corporation's general arrangements, so they naturally agreed. The main reason for saying so much earlier was to allow their future colleagues to understand the background and context.

As for the possibility of Robert disagreeing, they had not considered it at all, because he had no reason to refuse.

In the conference room, Robert could hear his own slightly rapid heartbeat.

He looked at Dr. Ets, who nodded slightly to him. He then looked at Starlight's projection; the blurry light and shadow floated quietly, conveying a serene and firm will.

He recalled his Family's past sins, the confusion of being a "volunteer" in the Honeycomb, the helplessness he felt witnessing the planet's disintegration, and even more, he recalled Pexito, no, the Harmony Aeon's departing back.

He made his decision.

Robert took a deep breath, straightened his spine, and the remaining hesitation and shock on his face completely faded, replaced by a settled determination.

He met Director Shajin's gaze, "Director Shajin, Dr. Ets, Starlight. It is my honor to participate, and an opportunity for the Sterling Family's atonement and Rebirth. I, and the Family members who chose to stay, have no objection."

"We are willing to join."

A genuine smile, tinged with satisfaction, appeared on Director Shajin's face. He picked up the chip he had placed on the table and skillfully flipped it between his fingers.

"Very good," he said. "Then, I announce that the 'Penacony Management Committee' is officially established today."