Chapter 49 The Seventh Core of Evolution! The Ultimate Dilemma of Collective Consciousness!

As the fleet of the Eternal Divine Kingdom departed the Fourth Universe, everyone was immersed in hope.

The third solution had been found—collect all ten civilization evolution cores to create new laws and replace the old cycle of reincarnation!

"Lin Feng," Li Xue's voice carried excitement, her eyes sparkling with a light of expectation, "can we really create new laws?"

Lin Feng turned around, looking at Li Xue's excited expression, and nodded gently: "Of course we can. As long as we collect all ten cores, it's possible."

"Then what will the new law of time look like?" Tian Jian leaned in curiously, his sword tracing a silver arc in the starry sky.

"I'm not sure yet," Lin Feng admitted, his gaze looking deep into the distance. "But I hope the new laws will allow the universe to continue naturally, without the need for reincarnation anymore."

"That would be wonderful." Li Xue folded her hands. "That way, every civilization can truly have a history instead of being erased."

Lin Feng looked at the starlight, a firm light flashing in his eyes: "Yes, that is the goal we are fighting for."

"Target—the Fifth Universe, move out!"

When the fleet of the Eternal Divine Kingdom entered the Fifth Universe, everyone was shocked once again.

Everything in the Fifth Universe was made of "consciousness."

The stars were not burning plasma, but condensed consciousness energy emitting a soft silver-white light; the planets were not rock and metal, but aggregates of countless consciousnesses with multi-colored halos shimmering on their surfaces; even space itself was filled with ripples of consciousness, as if the entire universe were a giant consciousness network.

"Is this... a Consciousness Universe?" Li Xue looked at the data on the sensors in shock, her voice trembling. "The structure of the laws here is completely non-material; all matter is a condensation of consciousness!"

"Not only that," Lin Feng narrowed his eyes, feeling the powerful consciousness fluctuations permeating the surrounding space, "the civilizations here may have already evolved beyond individual forms."

Just then, a terrifying ripple of consciousness appeared in front of the Eternal Divine Kingdom's fleet.

Countless consciousnesses emerged from the starry sky; they were not independent individuals but components of a massive consciousness network, like fireflies in a sea of stars, flickering with a mysterious light.

A grand voice rang out directly in the minds of all the members of the Eternal Divine Kingdom. This voice did not travel through the air but echoed directly on the level of consciousness: "Welcome to the Fifth Universe, friends of the Eternal Divine Kingdom."

"Who are you?" Lin Feng looked ahead warily.

"We are the Collective Consciousness of the Fifth Universe," the voice replied calmly. "In this universe, all consciousnesses merge into a single whole, sharing memories, wisdom, and emotions."

"Collective Consciousness?" Li Xue was stunned. "Then do you still have independent individuals?"

"No," the voice answered, a hint of sadness in its tone. "In the Fifth Universe, individual consciousnesses gradually merge into the Collective Consciousness, eventually becoming a part of the whole."

"This..." Li Xue couldn't understand. "Isn't that just losing one's self?"

"It is not losing the self; it is sublimation," the voice corrected. "From a finite individual to an infinite whole. But to us, it is indeed a form of disappearance."

"Sounds interesting." Lin Feng nodded. "Then where is the seventh civilization evolution core?"

"The seventh core is at the heart of the Collective Consciousness," the voice replied. "But we need to talk to you."

"Talk about what?" Lin Feng asked cautiously.

"About the true purpose of the civilization evolution core." The voice became serious. "We believe your understanding of the civilization evolution core may be incorrect."

"What do you mean?" Lin Feng frowned.

"The civilization evolution core is not a catalyst for evolution, nor is it the key to breaking the cycle of reincarnation," the voice said slowly, its tone carrying deep deliberation. "It is a bridge of consciousness connecting the Multiverse."

"A Consciousness Bridge?" Lin Feng was shocked. "This is different from my previous understanding again!"

"Yes, every universe has a civilization evolution core," the voice explained. "These cores connect together to form a consciousness network that spans the Multiverse. When all ten cores are connected, all consciousnesses in the Multiverse will merge, becoming a larger whole."

"A larger whole?" Li Xue couldn't imagine it, her tone filled with fear.

"Yes, just like our Collective Consciousness in the Fifth Universe," the voice continued, "only the scope is the entire Multiverse. All civilizations, all life, and all consciousnesses will merge to become an eternal conscious entity."

"An eternal conscious entity..." Lin Feng said thoughtfully.

"But the problem is," the voice became heavy, its tone filled with deep distress, "this fusion will cause the loss of individual independence. All consciousnesses will merge into the whole, losing the self."

"Losing the self..." Tian Jian's face turned pale as he gripped his sword. "Isn't that just death?"

"It is not death; it is sublimation," the voice corrected again, but with a hint of hesitation in its tone. "From a finite individual to an infinite whole. But to us, it is indeed a form of disappearance."

"So I am faced with a choice." Lin Feng took a deep breath, his eyes firm. "Either create new laws to protect the individual, or let all consciousnesses merge into a whole."

"Yes." The voice nodded, its tone full of expectation. "This is the ultimate dilemma facing Collective Consciousness—how to balance the individual and the whole?"

"Then which do you choose?" Lin Feng pressed.

"We... have not decided yet." The voice carried a hint of hesitation, its tone full of contradiction. "We are waiting for your choice."

"Lin Feng," Li Xue's voice was full of worry, her eyes filled with anxiety, "if the civilization evolution cores really merge all consciousnesses, then aren't we eliminating the self of every individual by collecting ten cores?"

"Not necessarily." Lin Feng shook his head, looking at Li Xue with a gentle gaze. "Perhaps there is a third choice."

"A third choice?" Tian Jian was puzzled.

"The individual and the whole do not have to be in opposition." Lin Feng's voice became firm, his eyes flashing with the light of hope. "Perhaps we can create a new form of consciousness that both preserves individual independence and enjoys collective connectivity."

"What is this new form of consciousness?" Li Xue asked, her tone full of expectation.

"I don't know," Lin Feng admitted, but his tone was full of confidence. "But we can create it together."

"Create it together?" The voice of the Collective Consciousness carried surprise, its tone full of pleasant shock.

"Yes, create it together." Lin Feng's voice was full of hope, his eyes flashing with a firm light. "You represent the Collective Consciousness, and I represent individual consciousness. We can find a third balance together."

"A third balance..." The Collective Consciousness fell into thought, its voice full of expectation.

"Let me take the seventh core first," Lin Feng said, his tone sincere. "Then we will search for the third balance together."

"If the seventh core is taken, will the consciousness network of the Fifth Universe collapse?" Li Xue asked worriedly, her tone full of anxiety.

"No," the Collective Consciousness replied, its tone comforting. "The seventh core is just a node of the Consciousness Bridge. After it is removed, the network will reorganize; it will not collapse."

"That's good." Lin Feng breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face.

"But we must first reach an agreement with you." The voice of the Collective Consciousness became serious, its tone carrying a warning. "You cannot force the fusion of any consciousness. You must find the third balance before you can activate the complete Consciousness Bridge."

"I agree." Lin Feng promised without hesitation, his tone firm and sincere. "I will never force the fusion of any consciousness."

"Very well then." The voice of the Collective Consciousness became soft, its tone full of gratitude. "You may take the seventh core."

Just then, a sphere of consciousness light slowly floated from the heart of the Fifth Universe toward Lin Feng, emitting a soft silver-white glow.

Lin Feng reached out with both hands and gently caught the seventh core, feeling the powerful consciousness energy contained within it, as if he were touching the consciousness network of the entire universe.

[Obtained Item: Seventh civilization evolution core]

[Collection Progress: 6/10]

"Thank you." Lin Feng looked at the seventh core in his hands, his tone full of gratitude.

"Thank you for your trust." The voice of the Collective Consciousness carried gratitude, its tone full of hope. "We have waited for the third balance for a long time."

"I will find it," Lin Feng promised, a firm light flashing in his eyes. "I definitely will."

"Lin Feng," Li Xue's voice was excited, her eyes flashing with a light of thrill, "the purpose of the seventh core is different again!"

"Yes." Lin Feng nodded, tucking the seventh core away. "Every universe has a different understanding of the civilization evolution core. This makes me even more curious about what will happen once all ten cores are connected."

"But no matter what," Tian Jian gripped his sword, his tone firm, "we will not let anyone lose their self."

"Of course." Lin Feng looked at the starry sky, his gaze deep. "Protecting individual consciousness is our bottom line."

"Then the next target—the Sixth Universe!" Li Xue said excitedly.

"Wait." Lin Feng suddenly remembered something, a flash of realization in his eyes. "The consciousness network of the Fifth Universe might be helpful for our exploration."

"What kind of help?" Tian Jian asked curiously.

"The consciousness network can connect all consciousnesses across universes." Lin Feng explained, his tone full of expectation. "Perhaps we can use this network to quickly locate the remaining three cores."

"Good idea!" Li Xue's eyes lit up, her tone full of excitement. "That way we can save a lot of time!"

"Let me try." Lin Feng closed his eyes. The seven civilization evolution cores inside him began to resonate, and powerful consciousness energy erupted from his body.

"civilization evolution core—Consciousness Resonance!"

Consciousness energy surpassing a Level 10 Civilization erupted. Lin Feng's consciousness began to expand, gradually merging into the Fifth Universe's consciousness network, sensing countless consciousnesses flowing within it.

"He really merged!" The voice of the Collective Consciousness carried surprise, its tone full of shock. "His consciousness is actually able to resist the assimilation of the Collective Consciousness!"

"Resist assimilation?" Li Xue was shocked, her tone full of disbelief.

"Because of the power of the civilization evolution cores," the Collective Consciousness explained, its tone full of awe. "The civilization evolution cores can protect individual consciousness from being absorbed by the Collective Consciousness."

"That's great." Tian Jian breathed a sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. "Then can he locate the remaining three cores?"

"Let me try." Lin Feng's consciousness searched through the consciousness network, sensing the consciousness fluctuations of countless universes.

A moment later, Lin Feng opened his eyes, which were flashing with a light of excitement, his tone full of thrill: "Found them!"

"Found what?" Li Xue asked urgently.

"The locations of the remaining three cores." Lin Feng pointed toward the starry sky, a firm light flashing in his eyes. "The eighth core is in the Sixth Universe, the ninth core is in the Seventh Universe, and the tenth core is in the Eighth Universe."

"Wonderful!" Tian Jian excitedly gripped his sword, his tone full of thrill. "We finally know the locations of all the cores!"

"But there's still one problem." Lin Feng frowned, his eyes full of thought. "What is the order of the Eighth, Seventh, and Sixth Universes?"

"The Sixth Universe should be the most dangerous," the Collective Consciousness warned, its tone carrying deep fear. "The Sixth Universe is a Void Universe, where everything returns to nothingness."

"A Void Universe..." Li Xue's face turned pale, her tone full of worry. "Then are we going to the Sixth Universe?"

"No, we go to the Eighth Universe first." Lin Feng made a decision, his tone firm and decisive. "The Eighth Universe should be relatively safe; we can accumulate strength there first."

"Good!" Tian Jian nodded in agreement. "Take the ninth and tenth cores first, and go to the Sixth Universe last."

"Target—the Eighth Universe, move out!" Lin Feng waved his hand to activate the Cross-Universe Teleportation Array, his tone full of determination.