Regula the Magos, his contemplation interrupted, dedicated a part of his mind.
He activated the sensors for external communication. Two different perspectives simultaneously appeared in Regula the Magos' mind.
His brain seemed to split, processing vast amounts of completely different data at the same time.
On one side was a boundless sea of data, and on the other, the scenery of the real world.
Regula the Magos interacted with the real world through the sensors.
As a lengthy data stream returned from the sensors, external sounds and light also entered Regula's mind.
His exceptional intellectual core processed the data in an orderly fashion, categorizing it into different storage and thought areas.
Regula simultaneously observed the three thousand targets he had chosen, using the 'cheats' in their eyes to manipulate them like puppets, making these xenos act according to their pre-determined destinies. They were oblivious to the origin of their 'cheats,' still excitedly anticipating the future.
Completely unaware that Regula had already twisted their genetic sequences.
At a necessary moment, a single command could erase their existence.
On the other side, he could clearly see that he was still in the central area of the hidden laboratory.
Countless cables connected his massive, bloated mechanical body. The laboratory was immense, with numerous cables connected to arc-emitting generators.
Around the generators, ether antennae were laid out, along with cable coils pulsating with energy and a multitude of strange mechanical devices.
Only followers of the Omnissiah, who mastered the path of truth, could comprehend the mysteries of these enigmatic machines and understand their operation.
Lumen lamps installed above the laboratory emitted bright light, illuminating rooms and corridors.
Mechanicus priests and servitors in black and red uniforms busied themselves around him, moving among steam-emitting, arc-sparking coil devices. They were focused on their tasks, not distracted in the slightest by external disturbances. The Mechanicus priest, hunched over, his red-glowing bionic eye fixed on the data window before him.
Regula the Magos was very satisfied with this.
For the great work of the Omnissiah, everyone should be diligent and responsible.
He directed a bionic eye towards the communicator, Auxerre, who had spoken. The latter had not undergone sacred conversion; the mechanical parts on his body were very few.
Only his arms and eyes had undergone mechanical modification; other parts still retained flesh and blood.
Regula's assessment of him was simple.
A frail mortal serving the Holy Emperor.
"What message did Calgar send?" Regula the Magos switched to a mode of communication understandable by ordinary people. This dialogue mode exchanged very little information.
Regula disliked using this mode.
But for many Imperial servants, they didn't need very detailed data. Therefore, this dialogue mode could satisfy their needs.
"Lord Calgar is accelerating the conquest of Universe 04. He has discovered a supercluster-level civilization, most likely indigenous life. According to data model estimations, they are likely to be the greatest threat to the Imperial conquest of Universe 04."
Regula the Magos opened the data transfer interface and queried the ark Mechanicus' data.
He found that reports from Calgar's fleet had indeed been received. They had discovered an unprecedented civilization. The enemies encountered before were like fireflies in the night. That civilization was like the scorching sun. There was simply no comparison between the two.
"From the data currently obtained, that faction is composed of many races. We have also found traces of humans within this faction. According to the reconnaissance team's detection report, the genetic sequences of those humans show no significant difference from ours, and there is no reproductive isolation."
Auxerre briefly introduced the hostile faction's situation.
Regula the Magos obtained detailed data descriptions from that data packet. Those races should be remnants of an ancient civilization that once existed in this universe.
Universe 04 once belonged to an exceptionally powerful, yet ultimately fallen, civilization.
From investigations into the cosmic background, the dominant life form in this universe should have been humans.
But the survivors of that ancient civilization were mainly xenos, which was strange.
Regula the Magos carefully examined the information obtained so far. The enemy's controlled territory was vast, a supercluster.
Its diameter reached 150 million light-years.
Strangely, these enemies seemed to be isolated.
Within nearly a billion light-years of their vicinity, there were no galaxies or star systems.
It was desolate. That region seemed to have been cut off and left there in isolation.
Perhaps it was precisely because of their vast distance from other galaxies that they managed to survive. They were not destroyed like those other regions, reduced to ruins, losing their former glory. The supercluster had a diameter of 150 million light-years, possessing approximately ten thousand galaxy clusters.
Eighty thousand large nebulae and over six hundred thousand dwarf nebulae. The number of inhabitants it could support would undoubtedly be countless. This was a true tough nut to crack.
It would take an unknown amount of time to conquer. The time unit would definitely be measured in centuries. The Imperium would surely conduct a large-scale reinforcement.
Calgar's side would also have to accelerate the production of various military equipment, transforming the occupied territories into resource zones to continuously supply this war.
If it were the Imperium of Man of old, let alone cracking such a tough nut, they might even have been annihilated by them!
Fortunately, today's Imperium was not the Imperium of old. They were the ones who controlled advanced productivity.
Although the enemy was powerful, they still followed an extraordinary path and had not unleashed the industrial strength of their vast population.
According to information sent back by some infiltrating spies. That supercluster was divided into regions such as the Great Yin Realm, the Great Yang Realm, the daemon Realm, the Ghost Realm, and the Monster Realm.
Each realm occupied a vast area and was separated by special realm barriers similar to the Origin Wall of Universe 02. The core region was the Immortal Realm. The entire supercluster had been fashioned into a perfect cyclical system.
From the intelligence sent back by spies, the veil between reality and illusion within the entire supercluster had been strengthened.
Weaker beings couldn't even sense the existence of the Warp. They could only use the purified spiritual energy to cast their spells.
Only those powerful cultivators who had attained the Dao could freely draw energy from the Warp.
It was somewhat similar to the medieval world designated as Universe 08. There, the Old Ones created warp gates, using them to convert Warp energy.
After the warp gates were destroyed, the Old Ones' creations then created the Great Vortex to absorb the Warp energy of the entire world and convert it into Winds of Magic.
The core of each realm had been transformed into a conversion system similar to the Great Vortex in the medieval world, capable of converting violent Warp energy into spiritual energy or daemonic energy for their cultivation.
If the enemy could be defeated, it might be possible to uncover the reason for the decline of that super-civilization in this universe.
"This information is very interesting." Regula the Magos showed great interest in it.
It was necessary to hold a remote meeting with Calgar to decide how to deal with that civilization.
He gave orders to the surrounding Mechanicus priests, telling them to remove his connecting tubes. The value of this information was enough to move Regula the Magos. That super-civilization was not as simple as imagined.
Unveiling its secrets could allow the Imperium to take a huge step forward in its understanding of the multiverse. The priests offered no resistance. They felt honored to serve a Magos who could traverse the Sea of Truth.
They carefully detached the data conduits and connected them to the Cogitator interface, allowing the Cogitator to take over Regula the Magos' role in guiding the fate of the chosen xenos.
With a click, Regula's spine connected to his lower mechanical limbs. The four metal limbs of the power support frame were awakened, and the piston devices were activated by electronic signals. They were exceptionally agile, with response times typically in nanoseconds.
Regula's mechanical pelvis and interface were interlocked, his lower and upper body securely fastened.
With a clatter, the activated mechanical limbs supported his heavy body. The Mechanicus priests draped him in a specially made robe.
Although Regula the Magos' body retained its basic human form, it had been completely mechanized. The weak flesh and blood parts had all been replaced with sacred steel.
Regula only retained his head, for the purpose of Imperial scrutiny. To protect himself, Regula had comprehensively enhanced his flesh and blood brain.
After the emergence of Heart of the Imperium technology, he had unhesitatingly applied those technologies to himself, developing his brain in all aspects.
He had also installed a sub-brain and a logic engine in his brain, both of which greatly enhanced his computational abilities. The Mechanicus priests completed their work and stepped back.
Regula the Magos descended from the main console.
He and Auxerre exited the laboratory and entered a spacious hall. The red light cast by the high stained-glass windows intertwined with the gold on the pillars, forming an artistic tableau.
Every few hundred meters, embedded mechanical devices and shrines could be seen. They were usually placed together.
Faith and technology were strangely harmonized and intertwined. Tech-priests and Servitor-skulls occasionally appeared before Regula the Magos. They inspect and maintain these devices, praying to the Emperor with devout hearts, offering prayers and gratitude for the boundless power He has displayed.
At the end of the grand hall stood a sculpture of the Emperor.
Flanking it were two statues of servants, cloaked and holding braziers. The names of the deceased were carved into the marble base. These were all bureaucrats who had dedicated their lives to the Emperor.
In recognition of their achievements and contributions during their lives, they were allowed to stand beside the Emperor. The crackling flames provided dim illumination for the dark hall.
Magos Regula felt no discomfort in the darkness.
His bionic eyes could easily see in such faint light.
In front of the Emperor's sculpture was a colossal holographic communication console.
Numerous mechanical devices were embedded beneath the marble, with various switches on the smooth stone surface.
It operated at low power.
Regula's sensitive mechanical senses could detect the whispers of the machinery. This was a device capable of faster-than-light communication.
Even in the current Imperium, such a machine capable of instantaneous communication over super long distances was extremely precious.
Imagine two people maintaining a conversation across hundreds of thousands of light-years, with different time flows and spatial curvatures. This was already a mythical technological product.
Magos Regula opened the switches in sequence according to standard procedure. The mechanical equipment emitted a violent hum. The heavy psyker pressure made Auxerre feel stressed.
Crackling arcs of electricity danced on the circular antenna heads on the walls, echoing each other.
Static-like light emerged in the darkness, as if an invisible artist were painting.
It outlined the figure of Calgar, draped in azure armor, on the dim holographic console.
"Magos Regula."
Calgar's voice was deep, low, and possessed absolute authority. Through the wisdom of the Omnissiah's creation, his gaze spanned tens of thousands of light-years, fixed on his advisor.
"Lord Calgar." Regula bowed slightly, a gesture of respect to the commander.
"You must have received the data packet regarding the enemy. I need your help," Calgar stated directly. "They value extraordinary power, and your research can greatly weaken them."
"I'm conducting an interesting experiment, my lord. If it goes smoothly, it could indeed help you conquer this universe," Regula said softly. "You will achieve a perfect victory."
"How long will your experiment take?" Calgar asked. "We have heavy responsibilities and cannot waste time."
"This experiment won't take long; twenty to thirty years should be enough to get the results I want," Regula replied.
"That's an acceptable timeframe," Calgar said. "But I hope for it to be faster. We need to conquer this universe for the Emperor as soon as possible. If we wait for your experiment to finish before dealing with them, we'll have to wait a hundred years."
"Both things can proceed simultaneously. You can have them build the End-of-Magic devices first, to create a Geller Resonance, strengthening the veil between reality and the void. That way, they can be slowly weakened."
"But I suggest keeping the distance as far as possible, dealing with enemies elsewhere first, and leaving them for last. Otherwise, it will surely arouse their concern and fear, causing them to unite against the Imperium."
The realm where the enemies lived transformed chaotic Aetheric energy through a core to obtain the daemonic qi, monstrous qi, spiritual qi, yang qi, yin qi, and so on, needed for cultivation.
Essentially, it still required the Warp.
Upon reaching a certain realm, possessing the power to contend with the Warp, or the so-called inner daemons, they would reach the so-called Dao-entry realm.
Strong individuals in these realms no longer needed to rely on transformed spiritual energy, thus directly using the power of the Warp.
Overall, there were a few more cumbersome, protective measures.
But the essence remained unchanged.
Any extraordinary power needed to be built upon the Warp. The End-of-Magic devices could strengthen the veil between reality and the Warp, and the first to be weakened would be those strong individuals who had crossed the Dao-entry realm.
When the time was ripe, and a large number of End-of-Magic devices were built, they could slowly weaken the realm's core by guiding the Aetheric currents.
By then, even cultivators who had not crossed the Dao-entry realm would be weakened.
Stripped of their extraordinary power and lacking a systematic industry, those individuals would be nothing more than fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of the Imperium.
"They will be no match for us; the Imperial army can easily crush them," Calgar said.
"But that's unnecessary. What we want is victory, to efficiently advance the Emperor's great cause. This universe has many places that require Primaris Astartes; let them deal with the scattered enemies.
When the opportunity is right, then eliminate that faction. The Geller Resonance will gradually reinforce the veil between reality and illusion, like boiling a frog in warm water. By the time they realize the crisis, everything will already be predetermined."
One of Regula's mechanical arms operated on a pop-up information window.
"Please detect the scope and size of this faction as much as possible, and arrange for some spies to infiltrate it. We need more information, Lord Calgar. Once we have enough information, I will draft a blueprint for you, which can be used to target them and slowly weaken their strength."
"We can even destroy their transformation core, rendering their cultivation system unsustainable, and then completely destroy their civilization, plunging them into despair and wailing, ultimately leading to their demise."
Calgar fell silent.
After a moment, he nodded.
"Your suggestion is excellent, Regula. I will gather enough intelligence for you as soon as possible and provide a feasible plan to me quickly; we need to act fast."
"Rest assured, my lord, as long as my experiment is a great success, we will deliver a surprise to the Emperor. We will conquer the entire universe at a speed that many of the Imperium's competitors cannot imagine," Regula said confidently.
End-of-Magic devices, fate regulation, and specially designed viruses. The enemy was like a soft, powerless young girl, only to be wantonly ravaged by the Imperium, a barbaric, powerful, and terrifying strongman.
Do not look at the enemy's current territory, which is more vast than the Imperium's.
But as long as a small opening can be pried open,
The other side will collapse like building blocks with their core removed. Their destruction was already predetermined.
Calgar nodded, ending the communication.
A rare smile appeared on Magos Regula's mechanical face.
He turned and walked out, returning to his laboratory. Those three thousand targets must be closely monitored. To ensure foolproof success and collect enough data samples. Then, in actual combat, it would directly cause the enemy to disintegrate from within.
What could other schools use to contend with him?
All kneel down and show submission to the Archmagos Regula.
A bunch of pathetic weaklings.
Regula felt that he would then be able to pound the table at the Martian Mechanicum leadership meeting, point a mechanical finger at Belisarius Cawl's nose and say, "I'm not saying you're trash." Then point to all the other school leaders and add, "I'm saying everyone here is trash."
******
Maplefire City. The top academy for cultivators - Maplefire Academy.
A fair-skinned female Amonra glared at Peng Ye, gnashing her teeth. The female Amonra had crystalline skin, and her black hair was like steel needles, thick and strong.
Her eyes shone like black gemstones, and her eyebrows were curved, exuding a myriad of charms even when angry.
Her clothes fluttered, and her long skirt danced, outlining the proud, robust curves of her body.
Graceful and alluring, she captivated countless prodigies.
"Shameless rogue!" the female Amonra cursed. "Lewd scoundrel! Who tears someone's clothes during a fight?"
Peng Ye, however, had a playful expression, taking a piece of fragrant thin gauze and sniffing it, laughing.
"A faint fragrance, truly intoxicating for an Amonra!"
Hearing this, the female Amonra's round face flushed even redder with anger.
Hahaha!
Peng Ye burst into laughter.
After leaving Contan City, he obtained a system, activated the Solar Life Soul, completed several tasks, and even used points to draw several prizes.
His opportunities were quite good.
He drew a copy of the "Chaos Desolation Art," which allowed him to cultivate Chaos Qi, a rare and peerless cultivation technique.
Returning to the Venerable realm was only a matter of time.
Give him some time, and entering the King realm would be no problem.
Having regained his strength, Peng Ye also became more confident. The female Amonra he was teasing was precisely the most beautiful Amonra in Maplefire Academy.
His purpose for this trip was also simple.
With power, naturally, he would watch the world's tides with a smile, drink the strongest wine, and ride the most beautiful Amonra. The system also issued him a task.
**Conquer the most beautiful Amonra of Maplefire Academy. Upon completion of the task, you will receive 500 mission points.**
It was truly a pillow delivered when one was sleepy.
Even without the mission, Peng Ye had this intention.
Moreover, there was a mission. This girl had to be his.