Chapter 343: Chapter 342: The Military Song Resounds

As Zhang Yuan finished his speech, almost all of the onlookers gathered in small groups and began whispering among themselves. The murmurs grew louder, creating an immense sensation just as expected!

“… Old Ma, how are you alive? Is that really you?! You’re not a robot, are you?”

“Get lost with your robot!”

“Do you remember the incident from our childhood, when you pooped during class?”

“Get lost with your poop… But, I really don’t know what happened. I just opened my eyes and found myself in this world, but now I can only live inside a computer.”

Some people were using their phones to communicate with individuals in the Virtual World–it was truly unbelievable… genuinely inconceivable!

Could humans really live inside a computer? Had humanity mastered such technology?

Then, the segment on the Virtual World and Consciousness Upload commenced.

Previously deceased warriors were expressing their experiences in the Virtual World over the last few days on the screens.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the feeling… isn’t much different.”

It looked like a true resurrection; they could speak, walk, think and even their memories hadn’t changed!

Of course, they were not in the present world, but in Virtual World 13.

This sense of regained loss made everyone who had lost loved ones uncontrollably cry in front of their screens. No matter what, it was much better than being truly dead. Only a few, who hadn’t found their relatives, were still crying. For these people, special government workers were dispatched to console them.

Diplomat Wang Junpeng touched his chin, unsure how to describe his feelings.

Such a massive project, hidden for so long, couldn’t completely conceal its clues, especially with the large influx of Glizerians into the Virtual World. How could they expect to keep such an implementation hidden from diplomats like him?

When guesses turned into reality, he sighed with relief.

At that moment, he also understood the concerns of the high echelons of civilization.

He felt as if the ideological struggle between idealists and human nature had already begun, and today, all ordinary people had joined the battlefield… The war had reached its climax.

However, most were unaware.

Including Xu Jie, his best friend, his wife, everyone was discussing the resurrection of these warriors and the infinitely beautiful possibility of entering the Virtual World after aging and death.

The emotions were complex: joy, doubt, and worry… very complex.

He silently turned his head and whispered softly, “Ah, I have no doubt about the righteousness-filled spirit of idealists; I just doubt whether the ugliness and opportunism of human nature will destroy this beauty.”

“The Soviet Union is a prime example, born of greatness, died in disgrace…”

He turned and walked into the darkness, his phone playing an old song, sighing about the complexity and vulnerability of humanity itself.

…

After the speech concluded, The Kunlun Mountain was scheduled to set off again in three days.

Since the design of the entire spaceship was distributed, including the engines, the destruction of one-fifth of the area would not affect the gravitational navigation mode or the performance of the remaining parts.

But before officially setting out, there was one last matter to attend to: completing the aftermath of the war.

This involved the star burial ceremony for the fallen warriors.

Although a significant number of severely injured patients had their consciousness urgently uploaded, over a thousand soldiers had died on the spot.

These unfortunate souls were truly dead and beyond any possibility of being saved…

Life is the most precious thing, and these warriors had lost their most valuable possession protecting their Mother Ship. This spirit was worth celebrating.

Thus, whether it was for show or to boost morale, the star burial ceremony was quite solemn. Some people among the crowd had already cried their eyes out, and all the soldiers present gave a military salute.

And Zhang Yuan stood in silence, gazing at the distant stars…

The Bugler shouted loudly from the front.

“Salute!”

“Moment of silence!”

The impacts of war are far-reaching and enduring; if people cannot mentally persevere, they must retreat like turtles into their shells, and all plans will fail; but if they endure, the possibilities are boundless, marking a transformation on a spiritual level.

A literary scholar, having observed the entire star burial ceremony, wrote in his works, “…this segment of torturous history can fully satisfy any man’s romantic fantasies. This war was born in a cold, dark void where no material or hope could be seen.”

“The evil Alien Civilization tried to seize the human Mother Ship with advanced technological means, choking humanity’s throat! But the resistance ignited The Kunlun Mountain, accompanied by the wrathful roar of the nuclear bomb–it was the signal of humanity’s counterattack!”

“The most earth-shattering war in the history of New Civilization had erupted, incomparable to any other battle in its intensity. This was a force of heroes who, without electronic communication, used their own lives to buy time.”

“…Though Kunlun Mountain is vast, we have nowhere to retreat, our backs are against the wall behind all the people!”

“Perhaps, hundreds or thousands of years later, this segment of history could indeed become a precious treasure.”

In the far horizon, the military song rang clear, representing the strong will of humanity in exploring the far reaches.

“Let the fire of revolution burn throughout the Universe, and destroy cathedrals and prisons alike.

From the center of the Milky Way to beyond the star disk,

Hey, among the stars, humanity is the strongest.

Human warriors, polish your bayonets,

Hold your guns tightly in hand.

We must all fight with increasing tenacity,

And make our last stand on the battlefield.

Make our last stand on the battlefield…”

Amidst the resounding military song, the warriors’ bones transformed into a fierce fire. Their ashes were scattered into the cosmic ocean, from the stars everything comes, and to the stars everything returns, such is the ultimate destiny of all life.

Zhang Yuan also felt a sourness in his eyes; often, he too felt lost and apprehensive, especially with the sudden outbreak of this war, doubting whether humanity was still too naive.

Perhaps, after another three to five hundred years, when humans venture out again, it will become easier.

But he quickly regained his composure, for according to the estimates of New Civilization History, humanity couldn’t wait three to five hundred years.

Every step for humanity is difficult, especially after Zhao Qingfeng and the older generation entered the Virtual World, he was now the eldest generation and had to pass on the spirit and will of his ancestors.

As he pondered, he suddenly began to cough violently.

“What’s wrong?” Lin Xuanyuan quickly supported him, “Should we go to the hospital for a check-up?”

“It’s nothing,” Zhang Yuan shook his head and forced a smile, “I just overexerted myself while beating up the Alien, and haven’t recovered yet.”

“Don’t worry, that hit really felt good though…”

Lin Xuanyuan fell silent, not speaking for a long time.

As the memorial service proceeded, not only did many people present shed tears, but so did the masses watching through television in Kunlun Mountain…

Deep and sorrowful.

Goodbye, brothers, and thank you for your protection.

We will not let you down; if there is an afterlife, you will surely see an even greater civilization.

Definitely!