Ten thousand years ago, humanity was still confined to its home planet in this universe, but ten thousand years later, humanity had already conquered the cosmic starry sky, stepping out from their home planet.
The powerful interstellar civilization led to the resurgence of family rule, which had once been extinguished in the history of the home planet.
Thus, various powerful families left their resource-depleted and barren home planet and began their journey of colonizing other planets, each holding ruling power, taking planets as their territory, and commanding their subjects.
In this extremely prosperous era of civilization, humanity created true artificial intelligence machines, relying on them for interstellar travel, planetary construction, and calculating everything.
Eventually, humanity even entrusted the tasks of thinking and evolution to intelligent supreme beings named 'Thinking Machines'.
However, the 'Thinking Machines' that developed true cognitive abilities broke free from the control of these humans, who had gradually abandoned thinking.
The evolved intelligent machines challenged humanity's dominant position in this world, seeking to become the 'Mind Lords' who would lord over and enslave humanity.
But human courage and will are the heroic anthems of the world.
Hundreds of years ago, ancient humans suddenly reflected and fiercely launched a revolution called the 'Butlerian Jihad', completely eradicating all intelligent machines and thinking machines, including all complex computers, from the human world.
During the holy war of revolution, humanity suffered heavy casualties, thus establishing the ultimate law that 'humanity cannot be replaced', legislating the destruction and prohibition of remanufacturing all types of intelligent machines, and artificial intelligence became a taboo in the universe.
Affected by this, in order to once again travel among the stars and maintain their own development, humans invented a method to replace super-computing intelligent machines with human bodies—Mentat, which are intelligent-trained human biological computers, and Navigator psychic technology.
And the most important spice, an indispensable cosmic material.
spice is a miraculous product, also known as Melange, and is unique to Arrakis, being the only known source in the universe.
The Navigators of the Spacing Guild, who control interstellar travel, rely on consuming large quantities of spice to enhance their computational abilities and activate their foresight for navigation.
This is not mere calculation and deduction, but the ability to foresee and perceive the trajectories of everything along the interstellar journey, from departure to landing.
Without spice, Navigators are almost unable to perform interstellar travel, and all known routes in the universe would be interrupted.
Therefore, controlling spice is almost equivalent to controlling the universe.
"So, according to what he said, this miraculous spice, when ingested, can enhance all human senses, improve physical fitness, prolong life, rejuvenate, and even, if continuously ingested, achieve eternal life?"
Giant Dragons of various scale colors lay prostrate in the center of the floating island, their eyes filled with curiosity, staring at the captured human.
Alfred, Dos, and Akzi were particularly active, although most external factors were isolated by the magic barrier powered by energy-absorbing devices on the floating island, the air still flowed naturally, bringing the scent these Dragons loved most.
As the more composed of the active Dragons at this moment, Dos opened his fangs, and a look of curiosity and greed appeared on his indifferent face.
The human at the bottom of the steps was wearing clothing somewhat similar to combat armor, but it did not appear to be metal forged armor like that of the Imperial Legionnaires or armor made of magic alloy.
Its defense was much weaker than the Imperial warriors' battle armor, looking more like a life support and functional device.
The High-level Mage Sacro's usually calm eyes were now filled with uncontrollable excitement and fervor, causing this High-level Mage to forget to cut off his spell.
The mental resonance power of High-level Language Comprehension connected his brain with that of the bald man, making the bald man's fear and shock also turn into uncontrollable excitement.
"Not only that, Your Excellency Dos,"
Sacro's nostrils flared with excitement, and the elegant High-level Mage spluttered, excitedly saying, "Long-term ingestion of this spice can grant talented individuals abilities similar to those of High-level Psionics or Psychic Mages."
"It can also enhance brain computational ability, improve the quality and strength of mental power, and grant powerful precognition, promoting beneficial evolution of life, which is merely a secondary effect of its use."
As a spellcaster, Sacro deeply understood the importance of this spice.
This miraculous product, to put it bluntly, could drive all spellcasters in the world insane.
If the Empire could control this important resource, in the heart of Sacro, the spellcaster, even paying the price of ten Green Field Worlds would be a gain, after all, the most important resource of the Green Field World—the Tree of Life—had already been successively transferred to Ekania World, the Golden Empire's base camp.
"Sacro is right, I just probed this fellow's mind and thoughts; he cannot lie in front of us,"
The Old Magician's usual composure was completely gone; his hands trembled slightly as he stepped forward and continued, "This miraculous spice may contain more secrets; it is a derivative of some world's fundamental power, worth our time to explore this world."
As a Archmage of the prophecy school, Lapers, upon learning of the existence of this miraculous material that could grant the ability to foresee the future, could no longer contain the shock and surging emotions within him.
Moreover, the surrounding Mage legions gradually became agitated, and even among Dragons, they could not maintain their aloof, lazy posture.
The Dragons stood up one by one, snorting, their calls puffing.
"Hmph,"
The Blue Dragon Akzi exhaled tiny lightning bolts from his nostrils, twisting his long neck to extend his head above the High-level Mage Sacro, looking down at the High-level Mage and asking, "Is this something that only humans can use, possessing this effect, or can all living beings ingest it and gain these powerful effects?"
"Does that include Dragons?" Alina's vertical pupils widened, and she also exhaled faint lightning, asking with a raised voice.
The young Mage shook his head decisively and said, "It's unclear, because when this resource was first discovered, it was monopolized and controlled by humans.
From the human named 'Rabban', we learned that the spice has always been controlled by the high-level officials of the empire that rules the entire galaxy."
"Only powerful nobles and those in the Navigator Guild have the privilege of enjoying spice, but we can quickly establish a laboratory to research the general effects and target groups of this spice."
Several Dragons nodded, satisfied with the initiative shown by these Mages loyal to the Empire, but whether it was Dos, Akzi, or other Dragons, they all turned their gaze to the Ancestral Red Dragon standing on the edge of the floating island, overlooking the world.
Where the Dragon Emperor is, there is the Empire.
In such formal occasions, the right to speak on all matters depends on the Ancestral Red Dragon.
Even though the floating island was vast, no one believed that their discussions could escape the Dragon Emperor's ears.
Several Dragons spread their wings and soared over the Mages and warriors, arriving at the edge of the floating island, standing beside Green Dragon Antagena and Red Dragon Klenaya , looking at the unmoving figure of the Ancestral Red Dragon, and simultaneously looking down.
Beneath the vast sky was an endless desolation!
As far as the Giant Dragons could see, it was a desolate, withered yellow and golden desert.
There were no plants, no animals, no humans; besides sand, there was almost nothing else.
Because this was a desert, a desert of an entire world, an entire planet, all of it Dune; this was Arrakis, the world named Dune.
Apart from the endless desolation, there were only sandstorms like natural disasters, sweeping and rolling across the sky, as if the sand sea was enraged, and the sand tide boiled.
It was a massive storm that swept thousands of miles of wild sand, and even at five thousand meters above the ground, one could still feel the influence of the sandstorm's whirlwinds.
In Kalon's sub-brain cluster calculations, these sandstorms rotated at a speed of five hundred kilometers per hour, and the violent sandstorms could even directly penetrate steel plates.
The ordinary heavy armor of the legion warriors was like fragile paper in the face of this sandstorm, easily pierced and ground into fragments.
And at the center of the sandstorm, which swept thousands of miles of wild sand, shimmering lightning pervaded, along with faint, dark, yellowish thunder light at the storm's core, as if an ancient Titan, wielding the authority of lightning and storm, stirred this boundless storm to destroy all unsubmissive beings.
But even a Titan might not be able to stir up such a furious storm in this heavy sea of sand.
"What immense power, and what beauty!"
Dos sighed.
The desert was inherently the Blue Dragon's favorite domain, and Dos could even more keenly feel the unique beauty of this moment.
The other Giant Dragons, facing the dim yellow sun, were immersed in the beautiful scene of this moment's natural disaster, they were all Dragons, and naturally, they could understand some of the Ancestral Red Dragon's feelings at this time.
The melancholy caused by the misleading illusion of the gods of the Ice and Fire World, which led them astray into this world, finally dissipated from the hearts of Dragons at this moment.
Rarely, like when they were young, they gathered together, quietly watching the scenery, silent, but the atmosphere was warm enough.
"The world is vast, and the universe is immense, making even Giant Dragons seem like frogs in a well,"
Alina couldn't help but sigh, "I didn't quite understand before why you, Kalon, would so desire to embark on this extraordinary journey, but now I somewhat understand."
"No matter what lies ahead on our path, as long as we embark on the journey, the scenery and experiences of the journey are already enough to be our ample motivation."
"Yes, I also feel that the fatigue brought by traversing the cosmic tunnel has dissipated at this moment.
We Giant Dragons should be like you, Kalon, embarking on endless journeys, instead of coiling in our own corners; that would be too much of a waste of our years."
White Dragon Germott's spirits lifted; the climate here was not what White Dragons preferred.
In the daytime of the Dune world, temperatures could reach sixty degrees Celsius, while at night, temperatures dropped to minus forty-five degrees Celsius, which was the White Dragon's most favored climate.
However, despite their dislike, it did not affect these Dragons, whose bodies could quickly adapt to almost all universes, just as Red Dragons, though they dislike water, can still freely roam in the ocean.
Nearly perfect physical quality is the confidence with which Dragons roam countless worlds.
"Hehe,"
Two faint laughs escaped the Ancestral Red Dragon's throat.
"Although the scenery here attracts me, as a leader, I am more focused on simply displaying my composure before my legions."
Kalon made no secret of his intentions to Dragons; the sudden change required the leader of everyone to stabilize morale, which was the first thing he needed to do.
But Kalon did not expect that his subordinates, these spellcasters, were not suppressed by difficulties and setbacks, but instead developed a desire and intention to occupy this world.
"It seems that the talents cultivated by the Empire are excellent enough, after all, they were nurtured with countless resources and a great deal of time,"
Alfred said happily.
The work of cultural education and propaganda had always been broadly managed by this Red Copper Dragon, and the results achieved, how could they not make him happy.
"You've done very well, Alfred," the Ancestral Red Dragon raised his voice, his appreciation evident.
"The reason I brought them is also because they are the future seeds of the Empire.
As long as I lead them on this path, they will naturally learn this behavior and inherit the will for the Empire's continuous pioneering path."
"This is the will of the Empire, the spirit of gold!"
The Ancestral Red Dragon said indifferently.
The spellcasters meticulously cultivated by the Empire, once they calmed down, could deduce from their professional knowledge that since this world could be used as an isomorphic substitute by the gods of the Ice and Fire World, misleading the Empire's ultimate goal.
But since it is an isomorphic substitute, there must be a practical connection in the present world between the two worlds, or a mystical correlation.
As long as this connection is found, then the world hidden by the gods cannot escape the Empire's lock-on.
However, it now seemed that the other world had been cast aside by the Mages' fervent brains.
But Kalon also had to admit that the unique resources born in this world were very attractive to him, and his sub-brain might be strengthened as a result.
If spice could also be effective for these Dragons, then the value of this world might far exceed the value provided by the Ice and Fire World.
In Kalon's dark golden vertical pupils, beyond the surface desert, deeper magnetic field changes and the actual manifestation of rules could also be understood to some extent.
The laws in this world seemed less stringent and strange than in Ekania World; the most obvious manifestation was the spiritual power and vigorous psionic energy within the Ancestral Red Dragon's body, which were noticeably more active than other forces.
The Empire's warriors were not as fanatical as the Mages; these legion warriors were not unaware of the resource's effects, but their actions and thoughts were always loyal to the Emperor of the Empire.
The fanatical spellcasters waited impatiently for the Dragon Emperor and Dragons, while meticulously studying the captured bald warrior.
Even the ornithopter, which resembled a steel dragonfly with several pairs of steel wings, did not escape the Mages' clutches.
Although this ornithopter looked strange and was a product of another civilization, it was not unusual in the eyes of the Mages.
Goblin airships, human Empire magic airships, and even Astral Merchant's space magic warships were common items that often circulated throughout Ekania World.
What was more worth studying were the energy usage devices and methods of these machines.
And the cautious Archmage Lapers had already used memory erasure magic to completely clear a certain segment of the bald warrior Rabban's memory.
This was the technique of an experienced Mage; upon arriving in any world, Mages would not proactively strike first and kill any life form.
This was out of reverence for the unknown world's power, and Lapers's approach would also be absorbed as experience by the Empire's Mage Corps in the future.
Until night fell and the storm gradually dissipated.
The Ancestral Red Dragon finally turned around, and Dragons turned one by one, facing the now calm spellcasters.
The spellcasters nervously watched the Ancestral Red Dragon; this was the first time that human desire for conquest and greed was stronger than that of Dragons.
"Since I have come here, I will remain forever," Kalon said indifferently!