Three-body: The Most Competent Wallfacer in History

First, Jiang Yu concluded, "Interests have an innate appeal to all intelligent beings."

Then, Jiang Yu realized that the principle of interests was subtly connected to the existing Dark Forest Law, such as the second rule of the "Classic Dark Forest Law": Civilizations keep growing and expanding, but the total amount of matter in the universe remains constant.

Previously, almost no one associated this law with interests.

Although the total amount of matter in the universe is constant, the universe is so vast that most people believe the prevalent Dark Forest Strikes are due to the chain of suspicion and the crises of survival caused by technological explosions, which is the driving force behind the strikes implemented by advanced civilizations.

Now, Jiang Yu recognized that there was an element of competing for interests within the Dark Forest Strikes.

With every opponent destroyed, one has the opportunity to gain more benefits.

And the more advanced a civilization is, the more it values interests in the universe because, relative to them, the universe is becoming smaller, and their interests are becoming relatively scarcer.

Previously, humanity was so weak that it only focused on the crisis of survival; only when encountering the Paradise civilization did it start to consider the crisis of interests.

So, Jiang Yu summarized again, "Interests have an innate appeal to all intelligent beings, and only after surviving does a civilization consider its interests."

Therefore, the trap of Paradise was set for relatively advanced civilizations.

Furthermore, a Dark Forest Strike stemming from interests is more thorough; even advanced civilizations may not withstand such an attack.

Jiang Yu sighed, and finally said, "We must guard against Dark Forest Strikes from the angle of interests."

The path of civilization is indeed increasingly perilous; the economic Dark Forest Strikes one initially encounters are only appetizers in the ruthless cosmos.

Only then did Jiang Yu realize he was tired from standing, and he sat down in the living room.

In his heart, he was already shouting: Humanity, surpass the Trisolarans! Surpass Singer! Only by becoming strong enough will the perils of the Dark Forest circumvent humanity!

He knew that, given the current speed and momentum of human development, this day would inevitably come.

He longed for time to pass even faster, to hasten the arrival of that day.

...

In the Year 286 of the Galactic Era December[1], within the galaxy Yun Tianming had gifted Cheng Xin, the phantom of a small spacecraft suddenly appeared in space.

Then, this phantom quickly materialized into a spacecraft bearing the Solar System State hull number.

This was precisely the ship that had exiled Cheng Xin; three centuries had passed in the grand universe, and two centuries had passed since Jiang Yu drew the connection between "interests and the Dark Forest Law."

But for Cheng Xin, the entire journey had lasted only a few days.

Her state of mind was still fixed on the last year of the Shelter Era; first, she felt great sorrow that humanity's home, the Solar System, had been destroyed.

At the same time, she felt somewhat relieved that the Solar System State had managed to send most of humanity out of the Solar System, avoiding a catastrophic strike.

Then she felt some confusion; Galaxy III said that three centuries had passed outside, what was the state of humanity now?

Having traveled over two hundred light-years to this place, would she meet Yun Tianming here?

Cheng Xin let out a soft sigh, when suddenly she thought of something: "There, when does the fall into Two-Dimensional Space stop?"

This question also left Ai AA stunned for a good while.

Yes, when does it stop?

Was there a command set within that initial tiny Two-Dimensional Space to stop at a certain time?

Or, would the fall never cease?

With that thought, both of their hearts sank to the depths of the sea.

The wisest thing to do about this matter was to stop thinking about it.

Star DX3906, which is the galaxy Yun Tianming gifted to Cheng Xin, has two planets, both solid planets; the one farther from the star is comparable in size to Mars but lacks an atmosphere, and its surface is very desolate.

Since it appeared grey, Cheng Xin and Ai AA named it Grey Star.

A smaller star with an orbital radius similar to Earth's volume and surface features also closely resembled Earth, complete with an oxygen-containing atmosphere and clear signs of life.

It exhibited a blue hue like Earth, so they called it Blue Planet.

Next, the spaceship began to approach the Blue Planet. After eight days, the spaceship finally neared the Blue Planet.

It wasn't until they were close that Cheng Xin and Ai AA realized the planet's blue color wasn't from its oceans but from the vegetation on its land.

The oceans of the Blue Planet were pale yellow and covered only one-fifth of the planet's surface area.

The Blue Planet was a cold world; aside from about a third of its land showing blue areas, most were covered in white snow, with the majority of its oceans frozen over, only a small region near the equator was in a melted state.

The spaceship docked in the orbit of the Blue Planet and began to descend gradually.

That was when the intelligence system suddenly made an important discovery, "A smart electromagnetic signal from the planet's surface has been received; it is a landing navigation signal, the format from the early period of the Deterrence Era. Do you accept this landing guidance?"

Cheng Xin and Ai AA exchanged excited glances, and Cheng Xin said, "Accept! Follow its guidance to land."

Had Yun Tianming already arrived to keep the appointment ahead of time?

Soon, amidst violent tremors, the spaceship entered the Blue Planet's atmosphere.

After more than twenty minutes, the spaceship landed on the land near the equator.

Cheng Xin and Ai AA didn't scrutinize the environment of the Blue Planet, as their attention was caught by a flyer parked near the spaceship.

It was a small flying craft, about four to five meters tall, with a dark grey surface and streamlined shape.

Next to the flyer, a man lay, wearing a white jacket and dark pants.

"Is it him?" Ai AA asked anxiously.

Cheng Xin shook her head quietly; from a distance, she could tell it wasn't Yun Tianming.

"He's quite handsome," Ai AA remarked.

The man appeared to be around forty years old with Eastern features, and indeed he was more handsome than Yun Tianming.

Ai AA asked, "What is the creature standing near the spaceship?"

"A normal human." Galaxy III responded tersely.

Cheng Xin and Ai AA got up to exit the spaceship. They were still not quite used to gravity, and their gait was a little unsteady.

The man had already reached the bottom of the gangway: "Wait, the ladder is too steep, let me help you down."

He climbed the gangway nimbly: "You should have rested a bit more before coming out."

Cheng Xin heard that he had a clear accent from the Deterrence Era.

The man asked, "Are you Cheng Xin and Ai AA from the Solar System?"

Cheng Xin was somewhat surprised, "Yes, how do you know us?"

"My name is Guan Yifan," the man said. "I've truly waited for you here."

Ai AA sat down at the top of the gangway: "Did you know we were coming?"

Guan Yifan spread his hands: "Cheng Xin's exile wasn't a secret."

Upon hearing the word "exile," Cheng Xin's expression faded.

Guan Yifan continued to help Ai AA down, and Ai AA said, "Although we come from the Solar System, the Solar System is no more."

Yet Guan Yifan laughed, "The Solar System State is rebuilding the Solar System!"