Chapter 1 Inescapable

The feeling of the High-Dimensional Heavenly启 Teleporter was similar to the Emperor's Teleportation. My vision blurred, my body lightened, and I arrived at my destination. The three major civilizations' fleets disappeared, replaced by an empty expanse of space.

"This is the territory of the World Tree Civilization… First, I need to determine my location."

Han Xiao quickly activated various detection devices to observe the surrounding environment. It was indeed a no-man's land.

The explorations of the three major civilizations were not entirely useless. At least, he had stolen a star chart of the World Tree territory from the network, which greatly facilitated his infiltration.

However, because it was inconvenient for him to connect to the World Tree Civilization's network, he couldn't enjoy network navigation and positioning. He needed to find a planet as a coordinate point to confirm his specific location. Then, he would let the backup independent artificial intelligence synchronize the star chart model, using space ranging technology and the calculation formula of star distance and field of vision to create a self-use navigator that didn't require a network connection. Although there would be some errors, it would be basically enough.

Alone in the territory of the World Tree Civilization, it was inconvenient to contact the explored universe, so he couldn't get remote assistance for the time being and could only improvise.

Han Xiao entered the quantum network vision, not intruding into the nodes, but using this method to view densely populated areas to determine where there were signs of civilization and avoid them.

"I wonder what the World Tree Civilization's detection methods are…"

Han Xiao's eyes flickered. Ever since he arrived in the World Tree Civilization's territory, a faint sense of crisis had lingered in his mind. It seemed that just being in the World Tree Civilization's territory was a dangerous thing.

Feeling this intuition, Han Xiao had some guesses about the reason for the three major civilizations' exposure.

"Just being here gives a feeling of incompatibility, as if being watched. And the World Tree has powerful information-state abilities. Perhaps it's a detection method specifically targeting foreign information states?"

Han Xiao thought to himself.

Logically speaking, the three major civilizations had never encountered any life from the World Tree Civilization. The areas they had explored before were also no-man's lands. They had taken good measures to shield themselves, so they shouldn't have been detected. But if the World Tree Civilization had deployed an unknown foreign information-state monitoring network throughout its territory, the situation would be difficult to say.

According to Han Xiao's understanding, the three major civilizations' research in the field of information states had been progressing slowly, and such technology did not exist. If the roles were reversed and the World Tree Civilization used the same method to spy on the explored universe, the three major civilizations probably wouldn't be able to detect it.

"I hope the Mark of the Chosen One can play some role."

Han Xiao glanced at the mark on his hand.

The Chosen One was also an expert in the field of information states, possessing the unobservability of high-dimensional information states. This temporary mark could activate the relevant shielding function, achieving a "information closure" similar to Lodi, preventing observation by ordinary people, and perhaps to some extent concealing it from the World Tree Civilization's unknown monitoring methods.

However, the three major civilizations had already alerted the snake, causing the World Tree to notice the existence of outsiders. His concealment was mainly to facilitate the execution of his mission. As long as he didn't reveal information about the explored universe, it wouldn't be a big deal if he was discovered. He just needed to be able to run away in time.

"First, I need to stake my claim."

Han Xiao steadied his mind, activated various shielding devices, and flew in a selected direction.

After sailing in the direction of the quantum nodes for a while, a loess-colored planet finally appeared in the observation instrument. It seemed to be a colony star, with several space fissures opened in the outer space, from which extended blue-green translucent roots, inserted into the planet, constantly expanding and contracting, with a frequency like breathing.

"The roots of the World Tree…"

Han Xiao stopped and calibrated his position in the star chart through this planet, finally establishing a navigation module.

He only took a distant glance and didn't get close.

If he could start with the roots and follow the vine to find the location of the World Tree's main body, that would be great… Unfortunately, the previous life had already proven that this method wouldn't work, so he had to make a long-term plan.

Han Xiao glanced at the loess-colored planet again and nodded secretly.

"This should be a transformed planet."

Everything swallowed by the World Tree was converted into information-state storage after digestion, which could be converted back into physical form. A planet being swallowed didn't mean it disappeared, it just existed in another form. The World Tree could create it again, it only needed to consume a certain amount of energy and resources.

However, the resources needed for solidification didn't require matching materials. The World Tree had an inseparable relationship with psionic energy. Psionic energy could reverse decompose into multiple forms of energy and was often regarded as "universal energy." The World Tree also had a similar function, involving material changes.

For example, to create steel through the World Tree, the materials consumed could be wood, seawater, or various messy things, supplemented by sufficient energy, and a series of unknown principle conversions would take place inside the World Tree, eventually turning into solid steel, like an unfathomable alchemic product that no one could understand. Turning stone into gold was just basic operation, like some kind of synthesizer.

Although the World Tree possessed will, it was also a cosmic wonder with tool attributes, used by civilizations. After years of experimentation, countless synthesis tables of objects had been statistically derived.

It was by virtue of this characteristic that the World Tree Civilization's war strength was extremely powerful, almost invincible, and the army was endless.

And many resources came from planets. The World Tree Civilization would transform valuable planets in its base camp and let them continue to evolve, giving birth to various substances, thereby accumulating more resources. Swallowing a planet in one gulp was like a one-time transaction, while transforming it would result in long-term harvests and a positive cycle.

Now was not the time to make trouble. After activating the navigation star chart, Han Xiao immediately left this place, and his figure quickly disappeared.

After a while, the roots inserted into the loess-colored planet suddenly rippled, and a virtual fleet sailed out, quickly turning into a physical entity.

In the command room, Babani curiously glanced at the loess-colored planet.

"Is it near here that suspected anomalies have appeared? Could it be that the outsiders are not satisfied with exploring everywhere this time, but want to spy on our planet?"

"I'm not sure. This time, the information-state alert network's response was very weak. I don't know if it's a false alarm." The captain shook his head.

"First, use the information-state imager to take a look." Babani waved his hand.

Soon, the fleet activated this device, and a light green light curtain quickly scanned the surrounding area. The results showed that everything was as usual. There was no situation like the three major civilizations clearing all traces, and Han Xiao's traces were not displayed either.

The captain glanced at the results and nodded. "The information-state traces are intact, and there are no abnormal clues. Based on the situation of the last batch of outsiders clearing all traces, this time it's either a false alarm, or this time the outsiders have a higher level of information-state technology."

"Could it be new prey?!" Babani became excited again.

"Well, we don't rule out this possibility. The information-state technology level of the newcomer is significantly higher than the last outsiders who cleared all traces. Perhaps they are two different groups of people… However, the World Tree roots are next to it. If the outsiders clear traces here like last time, they will be discovered immediately. I'm more inclined to a false alarm."

The captain analyzed for a while and then said:

"As a precaution, since the imager is ineffective, the other party may have used high-dimensional information-state means, and the Holy Tree Envoy needs to personally detect it."

Hearing this, Babani nodded, turned and flew out of the cabin, his flesh entering the space.

Immediately afterwards, streams of blue-green light emerged from his body, concentrated in the visual organs, emitting a hazy green light. He patrolled the area while scanning his surroundings.

Suddenly, Babani stopped and stared fixedly in one direction, precisely the area where Han Xiao had previously stayed.

The green light in his eyes gradually intensified. At this moment, within the range of the light, a blurry shadow like a ripple suddenly appeared, like a cluster of luminous particles, very sparse.

"I see it, it really is a high-dimensional information-state afterimage."

Babani's spirit perked up.

High-dimensional information states have unobservability, and the related technology is very advanced. Even if they stand in front of you, ordinary people cannot find the other party, and the information-state imager cannot detect it either. The disguise provided by the Mark of the Chosen One is a high-dimensional information state.

But Babani, as a Holy Tree Envoy, could borrow the World Tree's high-dimensional information vision to counteract the "information closure." Others could not see the high-dimensional information state, but he could, which is why he discovered the trace.

However, simply borrowing the high-dimensional information vision cannot completely trace the situation like an imager, and no specific information can be obtained, only certain traces of action can be detected.

"The number of outsiders is unknown, it shouldn't be many. They lingered in this area for a few seconds… Huh, this outsider seems to still be here?"

Babani suddenly let out a surprised sound, his tone becoming excited again.

In his vision, the trace of the luminous particles extended in two directions, one being the way he came, and the other naturally being the way he left, pointing in the direction the outsider left, representing that the outsider did not teleport away, but was still staying in their civilization's territory.

"Holy Tree Envoy, what should we do next?" The captain asked in the channel.

"Hmph, you guys stand by in the tree. I'll chase after him and see if I can capture this outsider alive."

Babani couldn't wait to move, transforming into a blue-green beam of light and shooting out, chasing after Han Xiao in the direction he left.

…

On the other side, Han Xiao was speeding through space, looking for a suitable starting point to stake his claim according to the star chart.

Just as he was concentrating on his journey, the panel suddenly moved.

[You have triggered the emergency mission [Nowhere to Hide]!]

[Mission Introduction: In the territory of the World Tree Civilization, it is almost impossible for outsiders to hide. Your whereabouts have been discovered, and someone is chasing after you along the clues you left behind.]

[Mission Requirements: Deal with the pursuers]

[Reward: Unknown]

"I have been activating the shielding device and turned on the high-dimensional information-state disguise of the Mark of the Chosen One, but I was still discovered so quickly. Is the World Tree's monitoring method so sharp?"

Han Xiao frowned, his mind racing.