Star Republic

Chapter I The origin of lake country

In a world within the cosmos, there exists a planet unlike any other, with a voluminous presence that outlasts its celestial counterparts. Enveloped by a thick layer of atmosphere, this planet is named Water Star for its vast expanses of freshwater covering its surface. Beneath this aqueous layer lies fertile soil, akin to a planet-sized sphere wrapped in a reservoir of freshwater resources, with air above the water surface and an atmosphere beyond.

The underwater realm of this planet was once shrouded in darkness, devoid of light. From the depths emerged microorganisms, eventually giving rise to the first form of life on Water Star: a vine. Initially just as small as a beanstalk, this vine gradually grew longer and thicker, extending its tendrils in all directions, covering more ground. After reaching a certain extent, segments of the vine began to bifurcate, branching out and proliferating further.

These divergent branches of the vine exhibited distinct biological characteristics, marking the onset of primitive biodiversity. As this process continued, even the vast expanse of the water bottom became entirely enveloped. Eventually, the vine encased the entire planet, transforming it into a verdant world teeming with life.

The ancient vine grew thick and robust, brimming with vitality and vigor. Some parts arched like the roots of ancient trees, creating peculiar corridors beneath them. These arched structures provided ample space for certain life forms to thrive, fostering greater diversity in reproduction and growth. Thus, the earliest ecosystems on Water Star flourished, thanks to the venerable vine.

The surface of the ancient vineradishted myriad peculiar leaves, each vine bearing its own unique foliage. Due to the divergence of the vine, even the leaves exhibited distinct personalities. Some resembled human palms, capable of movement; some resembled ladles, with fuzzy surfaces adept at absorbing stains; some hung like willow branches, forming natural curtains concealing mysteries behind them. Some bloomed flowers, yet never bore fruit, akin to trumpets conveying cryptic messages. Some flowers were exquisitely beautiful but preferred to remain hidden, evading discovery. Some flowers bloomed and bore fruit, but their seeds never propagated; instead, they merged with the soil, seemingly fulfilling the needs of microscopic organisms within. In various shapes and colors, they exhibited different intentions and life goals. Here, among the plant blossoms, there was no competition, fostering peace in the darkness of the underwater world.

Amidst the darkness of the water bottom, a fruit sprouted from the ancient vine. As it split open, a fish emerged. Indeed, it was a fish, with a fish's tail and yet possessing hands—its beauty beyond compare. Pausing intermittently, it surveyed its surroundings, acquainting itself with the environment. Unknown to extraterrestrial life, this fish possessed remarkable intelligence, destined to alter the course of the world in the days to come. Though still young, its streamlined form moved gracefully, effortlessly weaving through the vines.

Before its birth, while still in the womb of the ancient vine, the fish already knew the basic conditions of the outside world, including its darkness. The ancient vine imparted to it a mission: to cleanse the leaves on its body. Endowed with robust health by the ancient vine, the fish required no sustenance, as its energy for activity was fully replenished at birth. Thus, upon emerging into the external world, it not only possessed knowledge of its surroundings but also enjoyed physical strength, an advantage bestowed upon it by the ancient vine.

The fish began its task of cleaning the leaves of the ancient vine, a task made smooth by the flow of water and the movements of microorganisms. Despite the absence of light, the fish's prior understanding, coupled with its own exploration, ensured the smooth progress of its work.

Recalling a conversation with the ancient vine during its time in the womb, the fish remembered being told, "Cleanse the leaves on my body, and you need not worry about anything else for the time being. Soon, you will behold beautiful sights before you, and you will reap plentiful rewards, making your life worthwhile!" With these words ingrained in its heart, the fish diligently fulfilled its task, working industriously.

Gradually, all the leaves on the ancient vine were cleansed by the fish. During leisure moments, the fish meandered around, confident it would not lose its way amidst the unknown. It settled on a vine and drifted into slumber.

After a long while, it sensed light filtering through its eyelids and gently opened its eyes to behold a dazzling sight. The illumination, though subtle, illuminated the surrounding darkness, revealing the breathtaking beauty of the underwater world. As it scrutinized the lights, blinking intermittently, it realized they were eyes!

"Ha-ha!" The fish laughed aloud. These eyes, brimming with curiosity like itself, were not fearful but rather captivating. Upon closer inspection, it realized these eyes were none other than the leaves it had been cleaning daily. Oval-shaped and previously appearing robust, they now revealed themselves as eyes, their pupils deep and enigmatic, their movements animated and profound. Emitting a faint glow, the multitude of eyes, interspersed at intervals, presented a mesmerizing spectacle. With illumination, the fish could now venture further, exploring more of the world.

"Ha-ha!" The fish laughed again. Many years later, it found itself diminished in size, its body lighter. Yet, its life experiences and knowledge had enriched it. "Ah, it's time for me to return," the fish thought, contemplating reuniting with the ancient vine.

Completing its life journey, the fish affixed its body to the stem of the ancient vine, seamlessly merging with it. Soon afterward, its fleshy body turned woody, shedding scales to provide nourishment for other life forms. Thus, the exchange of wisdom between the fish and the ancient vine continued, accumulating over time.

The fish did not view the end of its life as a cessation but rather as a transformation. Life did not terminate but rather perpetually transformed, with only the physical form and shape changing, in an infinite cycle of renewal.

Through this method, the ancient vine strengthened its original intent and enriched its knowledge base. This wondrous symbiosis between animal and plant allowed for mutual enhancement and endless advancement. This ongoing process of wisdom accumulation fostered the emergence of more powerful life forms to explore and pioneer. It constituted a benign cycle of unimpeded progress.

With the advent of light underwater, more diverse species began to emerge and proliferate. Initially, numerous small organisms such as insects and mollusks, including snails and shells, thrived in the absence of predators, free from fear. Their imaginative nature flourished! The reproduction of these creatures harmonized with the surrounding environment, thanks to the careful planning of the ancient vine.

Since their arrival in the world, life forms on this planet neither reproduced excessively nor harbored fears of becoming prey to other creatures. The dominant entities were not carnivores but rather the fish. Without predatory pressure, myriad life forms on this planet thrived, secure in their environment. Many of these creatures obtained sustenance from the ancient vine, while others, rebellious in nature, preferred to eat mud or retain their autonomy and unique personalities.

A snail is eating the leaves on the vine, which are abundant on the ancient vine. If the leaves do not wish to be consumed, they will taste bitter. However, the ancient vine is now willing to provide food for the snails, so the leaves taste delicious to them! However, there's a catch: if a snail eats the leaves, its spiritual consciousness and thought processes are likely to be influenced by the nutrients provided by the ancient vine.

The ancient vine is highly skilled, and each cell of the leaves is an independent spiritual entity. After being ingested, these leaves will enter the snail's body or brain, thinking what the snail thinks, and possibly even commanding its actions! However, if the leaves favor the snail, it may experience unexpected miraculous effects.

This snail refuses to be ordinary and harbors long-term plans unlike other small creatures. It aims to transform itself and undergo a test or bring about a miraculous change. Crawling onto a leaf, it takes a lick — it's sweet! This indicates the leaf's willingness to be eaten, prompting the snail to consume it.

This snail is now transformed, and its offspring inherit the advantages passed down to them. They are no longer ordinary crawling animals but mollusks capable of manual labor. Their small snail homes are sturdy, and their diligent minds accumulate knowledge. Their two antennae protruding from their heads resemble television antennas and can actually receive signals. They can be called intelligent snails. Their slow movement is a drawback, so sometimes they need to collaborate with other life forms to complete tasks. Despite their slow movement, they require less energy for physical activity and therefore do not need to eat as much. However, their highly developed brains and "antennae" make their internal processes highly active, so they still require essential nutrients.

When these snails grow tired, they crawl into the branches of the ancient vine, retracting their bodies into their sturdy shells for a peaceful sleep. If an old snail needs to record its thoughts, it can choose underwater inscription or attach itself to a plant it favors, just like the fish do. Alternatively, it can be "eaten." If the plant is willing to accept it, the snail will become a part of that plant. In its next life, it may transform into another form of flora or fauna. If life is attached to the ancient vine, there's a chance it may become a fish person.

After individual life forms pass away, they entrust their spiritual consciousness or wisdom achievements to new life forms, thus completing the accumulation of wisdom. In this world, plants are the dominant entities, holding sway. Animals shoulder missions and carry out tasks. Plants are the custodians of wisdom and the bearers of new life, while animals are active individuals. The transmission of wisdom between plants and animals and their intimate cooperation represent an undying will.

Thus, on this planet, a rare form of will transmission emerges. Born from plants, animals pass on their wisdom and memories to the plants they favored during their lifetime, then willingly return to those plants upon death, embracing their end in peace. Though their bodies decompose, their spiritual consciousness continues within the plant's body, capable of thought, as if they have become part of the plant. Eventually, they will become new life, shouldering new missions in new life forms.

The ancient vine's self-improvement has given rise to more advanced fish people. These advanced fish people engage in beneficial activities underwater, providing better survival and development opportunities for other life forms. Fish people are the most proactive in returning to the ancient vine after death, thus continuously enriching its life experience and theoretical knowledge, strengthening its wisdom, and enhancing its life attributes. The ancient vine itself evolves according to its developmental needs, primarily internally. It accepts the return of other life forms and provides for the needs of young life forms.

Underwater, various types of plants have emerged, directly or indirectly descended from the ancient vine. Through evolution, they have developed distinct styles. For example, some plants resemble kelp or tufts of grass; others have grown to resemble houses, attracting small animals to play inside! Different types of houses attract different creatures, fulfilling their needs. Gradually, the underwater world is illuminated by glowing fish, corals, and more. The underwater world has become colorful and vibrant! Between plants, between plants and animals, and between animals, there is harmony and unity.

The emergence of new species on this planet is largely dependent on the development of plants, akin to the backstage fruits needed by plants. It is accurate to say that plants dominate the continuation and development of the ecosystem here.