The scene before him was gorgeous yet tinged with a trace of eeriness.

In the pitch-black cosmos, a bridge composed purely of light emitted a soft, faint glow. It was nearly two hundred meters wide and eighty kilometers long, extending to a point twenty kilometers ahead of the Nation-Class ship Xiao Yu had dispatched. On this bridge, dozens of objects resembling automobiles from Earth’s era were arrayed in neat ranks, speeding forward.

In fact, in Xiao Yu’s view, this technology that condensed light into a solid form was not the most frightening part. Within this Bridge of Light there was another, far more terrifying technology. Namely, the intangible light had not only condensed into matter, it had also acquired certain material properties.

Xiao Yu could clearly perceive that those car-like objects traveling on the Bridge of Light were under an obvious gravitational influence. He could even see that at the points where those car-like objects contacted the bridge, their tire-like components appeared slightly flattened under the weight of the vehicles.

One had to remember that this was empty space. There were no celestial bodies within several tens of billions of kilometers nearby. So where did this strange gravity come from?

With no other celestial bodies and nothing else to provide gravity, only one possibility remained, this gravity was generated by the intangible light itself.

As the master of a Level 5 Civilization, a being who understood all the technological knowledge within his civilization, when Xiao Yu encountered something he could not comprehend, his first thoughts were how to explain it with existing theory or determine its internal operating mechanism by other means, rather than, like a lower civilization, attributing it to miracles or similar notions. Now, it was obvious that Xiao Yu was already pondering what exactly this Bridge of Light implied.

“I wonder whether this method of controlling light has any theoretical connection to the light computers used by the Level 6 Civilization I once encountered?” At this moment, Xiao Yu thought of something.

He knew that Level 6 Technological Civilizations used light computers. Light computers had no physical body, relying purely on the interweaving of light to accomplish data transmission, computation, storage, and other functions. This implied supreme mastery in the use of light. Xiao Yu had previously speculated that such light computers could likely only be realized with the support of space science.

Now, Xiao Yu discovered another possibility. This technology of the Pegasus Civilization, which used no physical substance, condensed light into a bridge, and endowed that light with certain gravitational properties, clearly shared some commonality with light computers, while it was unlikely that the Pegasus Civilization had mastered space technology.

“Obviously, if one can attach gravity to light, then one can attach other information to light. If light can be manipulably endowed with other information and given material characteristics, then the light computer is not far away. I just do not know whether the light computer arises from the convergence of this technology and space technology, or if this technology alone can produce it. Did the Pegasus Civilization obtain this technology by fortuitous chance from a Level 6 Civilization, or did they develop it themselves? If it was developed independently, that would mean the Pegasus Civilization possesses the detailed technological tree related to this technology. For me, this is a fatal temptation. No matter the cost, I must obtain this technology.” Xiao Yu quickly reached a decision. In fact, at this instant, he even had the impulse to seize this red reception City-Class ship outright.

But Xiao Yu suppressed this thought. At this time, proactively provoking a conflict would be irrational. He did not know whether the Pegasus Civilization possessed other unique technologies of great significance to him. Abandoning other potentially more numerous technologies for the sake of this single one would be unwise.

Having suppressed the impulse, Xiao Yu regained his calm.

Setting aside the shock brought on by this peculiar technology, Xiao Yu keenly thought of another point.

“So, you deliberately displayed this technology before me to impose a certain deterrence and demonstrate your strength? It is obvious that if I cannot produce technology sufficient to stun you, I will be at a great disadvantage in future contacts and negotiations. In this galaxy, only the strong are respected.” Xiao Yu mused.

From this moment, two peak Level 5 Civilizations had already begun a covert contest. In this contest, both sides competed in momentum. The victor would enjoy many advantages in future dealings.

Such a contest was also proof of one’s strength and value. After all, as peak Level 5 Civilizations, neither Xiao Yu nor the Pegasus Civilization had much interest in entangling endlessly with a weak civilization. Only by displaying one’s strength and value could one earn the other’s respect.

“Very well. Since that is the case, I will use authentic Level 6 Civilization technology, a space weapon, to give you a bit of shock.” Xiao Yu thought to himself, and he replied to the earlier message sent by the Pegasus Civilization.

“We are honored by your warm hospitality. We will remember your graciousness.”

After a brief exchange of courtesies, Xiao Yu also dispatched several robots to leave the Nation-Class ship and enter the cosmic void.

Different civilized lifeforms have different requirements for gravity, ecological environments, and even indices such as light intensity, color, and temperature. Unless there has been a certain period of adjustment, as with the different intelligent species within the Divine Ark Civilization, it is unrealistic for both parties to send intelligent beings to meet during exchanges. After all, a place that is paradise to one species may be a torturous hell to another.

Dispatching robots rather than intelligent beings for contact was something both parties had agreed upon in their prior communications. Still, these robots represented Xiao Yu and served as envoys of the entire Divine Ark Civilization. The Pegasus Civilization indeed ought to show them sufficient respect.

By this time, the car-like objects traveling on the Bridge of Light had completed the eighty-kilometer journey, arriving at the bridge’s far end from the port of the red reception City-Class ship, and they stopped there.

Xiao Yu’s robots had already reached the cosmic void. They simply hovered there quietly, without any movement and with no intention of advancing.

“Honored guests, please have your civilization’s envoys step onto the Bridge of Light.” the Pegasus Civilization sent a message.

“Alright, we will arrive immediately.” Xiao Yu replied. At this moment, the space weapon mounted on this Nation-Class ship was fully prepared and ready to fire.

Naturally, Xiao Yu did not intend to use the space weapon to launch a spatial rift or similar effect to attack the fleet ahead. This was the stage of demonstrating strength, not the stage of war. Xiao Yu intended to use this space weapon, an authentic creation of a Level 6 Civilization, to give the Pegasus Civilization a surprise and make them understand his strength and value.

The space weapon activated. The beings of the Pegasus Civilization then beheld a scene that shocked them beyond measure.

One moment, these robots were still at the port of the Nation-Class ship, twenty kilometers from the near end of the Bridge of Light. The next moment, in the void between the robots and the far end of the bridge, a black band suddenly appeared. This band was pitch black, emitting no light whatsoever, yet it possessed a property like the ability to devour all things, tangible and intangible, including light itself.

As soon as this black band appeared, it immediately began to contract under the influence of some unknown force and vanished after a short while. With the disappearance of this black band, the robots inexplicably crossed the distance of twenty kilometers and arrived at the front of the Bridge of Light.

In fact, the Pegasus Civilization had also been awaiting Xiao Yu’s display of strength. They were eager to see his performance. With that mindset, from the moment the robots appeared, countless observation instruments were trained on the scene, ready to detect their every move and carry out detailed analysis.

Yet even with so many observation instruments, they still failed to detect how these robots had actually moved. They did not know what the black band was, nor what it signified.

“What, what is going on?” At that moment, countless intelligent beings were watching. Among them were the leaders, scientists, and psychologists of the Pegasus Civilization. The scene left everyone deeply shaken. Exclamations burst forth from innumerable throats.

Xiao Yu’s signal receivers even picked up a string of strange syllables of unknown meaning. These sounds were clearly uttered unconsciously out of excessive shock. After translation revealed their meaning, Xiao Yu could not help but feel a bit amused.

The meaning of those syllables was roughly equivalent to the phrase ‘My God’ in Earth’s era.

“Your Bridge of Light is merely suspected Level 6 Civilization technology, whereas my space weapon is an authentic creation of a Level 6 Civilization. I know you are currently gathering unique technologies and striving to break through to a Level 6 Civilization, so it is impossible that you have no understanding whatsoever of space weapons.”

“Given that I possess a space weapon, I wonder whether you are willing to proceed with peaceful trade.”

Xiao Yu pondered slowly.