Astral Pet Store - Chapter 1538: Lives (1)

Sorcerer Ancestor Ti Tuo sneered and said, “My method is indeed rather barbaric, but it’s the most effective and efficient. Are you hoping to train them all together? They are from millions of different species with different personalities and interests; some even think that war is sinful.

“There are ways to subdue and unite them; however, the efficiency is too low and it’s unnecessary. After all, we can still make the best use of them my way!”

Su Ping said, “If you can give me ten thousand years to cultivate, you can also adjust time and give them a million years to cultivate and cooperate.”

“A million years is unnecessary if you simply want them to cooperate as a team. I can easily do that, but it’s pointless.”

Sorcerer Ancestor Ti Tuo continued, “People like you rule over the bottom level of society through morals, law, doctrines and religion, just to turn them all into handy blades that won’t hurt you.

“When commanders plan to attack, they calculate the army needed and study the terrain; lives are just simple numbers.

“In a similar way, when kings consider whether or not to develop a region, they would also consider economical and environmental factors.

“In any case, when a decision-maker does something, the ‘efficiency’ of the lives at his disposal is his primary concern. They’re just ‘fuel’, like you said. Whether or not they can succeed, how far they can go, and how they can make the best use of them are what rulers think about.”

He looked at Su Ping with a cold smile. “If I want to, I can directly modify their memories, to have them see each other as blood relatives! It’s like the changes caused by religion or morals. You people are too weak and can only resort to external factors; however, I can do that with a single thought.

“But that would be pointless.”

He continued, “It’s no different from directly throwing them into my universe and using them as fuel. If the Ancestral Land of Chaos is destroyed, they will die. If we lose the war, they die. Anyway, they will die in the end. So, their short lives are meaningless.

“They are like bugs in the world of chaos. Ten thousand years is a long time for them, but it’s just a nap for us.”

He paused to chuckle. “I’ve studied humans before. I know all of your culture and teachings. Do you think that ants’ lives have any meaning?

“Have you ever thought that an ant has led a meaningful life?

“If you do think that was the case, do you think the invisible germs on your hand live a special life? Would you cherish, respect and care about them?”

Su Ping fell silent after the ancestor’s barrage of questions.

Indeed. In a sense, he couldn’t retort.

That was the most ironic thing about life.

Those who advocated love and equality were always the weak.

The rich would never be willing to share their money with the weak. They only wanted to earn more money.

When someone reached a certain height, they would ignore those beneath them.

Lives were indeed priceless.

However, every life had a price in other people’s hearts.

Just like Sorcerer Ancestor Ti Tuo. All lives were fuel in his eyes; they were just energy with the ability to move!

“All species and creatures are the same. You’re right…” Su Ping heaved a soft sigh.

“Naturally.” Sorcerer Ancestor Ti Tuo laughed, knowing he was right. He didn’t need Su Ping to compliment him. In fact, he even thought that praising a Sorcerer Ancestor was hilarious.

“However…”

Su Ping gazed at him and said, “You may despise and scorn others since you have such a high status, but that’s just you! The meaning of life is not given by anyone else, but by oneself!

“If you think you’re living a meaningful life, it is meaningful. Nobody else can judge you!

“Some people are worthless in the eyes of others, but they themselves think they live terrific lives and they are happy. That is enough.

“You can’t define the meaning found by others. You can only define their meaning in your perspective!”

“Maybe those lives can’t change the world of chaos and they will eventually disappear. They’re like the billions of stars and the dust in the sky; you wouldn’t care about them, but they live a great life. That’s good enough.”

Sorcerer Ancestor Ti Tuo dropped his smile and snorted. “Nonsense! You don’t understand at all!”

“I don’t need to understand,” Su Ping said, “All I know is that they should know what they’ll be facing, as they will take part in the war. I believe that many of them are here hoping to avenge their families. They truly want to contribute to this war; they are not simple fuel!

“I believe that they are racking their brains about how to get stronger and how to fight better in the war, and they will work hard until the last moment before the fight starts!

“Maybe not all species would act like this, but there are definitely some among them!

“So, I cannot ignore their determination, and I won’t!

“Maybe we’ll lose this war. Maybe we’ll disappear. Maybe the Ancestral Land of Chaos will be destroyed and chaos will be restarted… But at least we were here. We fought while we were still alive. We felt joy and grief. We loved and we hated. Even if we can only end as ashes, we will still think that our lives are meaningful!”