Chapter 202

However, after hearing Ai Yue's words, both Vill-V and Ai Yi laughed at the same time.

"Of course not. If it were something like this, how could we call it a surprise?"

As she spoke, Vill-V snapped her fingers, "Now, the moment of witnessing a miracle has arrived—"

With a snap of her fingers, all the lights around her suddenly went out in an instant. A moment later, the projection system hidden in the corner was activated, projecting a special scene around Ai Yue.

It was a vast grassland—although only a small part of it could be seen, the vastness of the space was still evident. On the grassland, two or three virtual Honkai Beasts were wandering around, as if they lived on this land.

The surrounding virtual Honkai Beast had obviously noticed their kind as well. They rushed over excitedly, seemingly wanting to say hello, but they passed right through the projected virtual Honkai Beast. The beasts were left frozen in place, clearly unable to comprehend projections given their current level of intelligence.

No, it doesn't seem that way.

Although the virtual Honkai Beast have developed self-awareness, they are still essentially electronic life forms. Electronic life forms do not need to learn and understand the world little by little like humans do. As long as they are loaded with relevant data, they can grow rapidly.

As a technology that allows virtual Honkai Beast to appear in reality, there's no reason why they wouldn't understand projection. Their reaction just now was less about not knowing that the other party was a projection and more about thinking that they had returned to this space.

"Is this the virtual space you created?"

Ai Yue quickly realized something, "But what does this have to do with what we're talking about?"

Even so, the scene still made him think of things—electronic life forms living in the virtual world with the ability to evolve on their own, which were becoming more and more familiar.

"Of course there is a connection, because our research has found that the spirituality of the virtual Honkai Beast has a certain infectious property."

Viayi said, "This may be some kind of trace left by the power of the Herrscher of Aberration, but it has given us the opportunity to raise virtual Honkai Beast race."

"You mean, by creating a virtual space for them to live in, the virtual Honkai Beast that already possess sentience can inspire other virtual Honkai Beast to develop self-awareness?"

Ai Yue was genuinely surprised this time. "You can play it like this?"

"You didn't expect that, did you? I didn't expect it either. It was Ai who discovered it."

"However, there are still drawbacks to using this method to cultivate virtual Honkai Beast," said Vill-V.

"Let me guess, it will slow down their self-optimization speed, right?"

Ai Yue raised an eyebrow. "Imitating the environment in which real animals live will gradually allow them to shed their original role as weapons of war and become a kind of virtual life, right?"

"You really can't hide anything from me."

Vill-V nodded. "However, we have already begun adding Honkai Beast data entities as enemies to this world. With the pressure of survival, they should become active again."

"Be careful to control the intensity. If the enemy's threat is too great, it may cause the Honkai Beast to evolve towards passive defense."

Ai Yue offered his suggestion, "Also, how is the data recycling system designed in this world?"

If you deploy them to the enemy, there will inevitably be casualties. Although the virtual Honkai Beast do not die in the true sense, their data is scattered. If a corresponding recycling and conversion system is not implemented, the scattered data cannot be actively recovered.

Previously, within the black box, the virtual Honkai Beast were able to maintain their offensive relentlessly because Ai Yue designed a data recycling system that ensured that every virtual Honkai Beast that was defeated could quickly return to the battlefield, thus slowing down the Herrscher of Herrscher of Aberration.

However, since the goal is to design a world for virtual Honkai Beast to live in, the recycling system doesn't need to be so profit-driven.

"It's not even finished yet; it's only a rough prototype."

As she spoke, Vill-V revealed her familiar expression, "Isn't this just to set an example for you so we can apply for research funding, right?"

"Research funding?"

Ai Yue looked at the other person with a subtle expression. "Why do I feel like you didn't contribute much to this project at all? Even the design of this virtual space was handled by Ai Yi, right? So who should get the funding?"

That's not how you say it!

Hearing Ai Yue's words, Vill-V immediately showed a determined look in her eyes, "I've also worked very hard! Besides, Ai Yi is still young, do you think she understands how to spend so much money? In the end, didn't I have to rely on my rich experience to solve them?"

"You bastard,"

Ai Yue shook his head, already used to Vill-V's attitude, so he simply waved his hand, restoring the surrounding environment to normal. "Never mind that for now, let me see the code for this virtual space."

After obtaining the rough underlying code of this world, Ai Yue began to redesign it. In order to enrich the variety of virtual Honkai Beast and allow them to evolve in different directions, Ai Yue referenced the real world and brought all the terrains into the virtual space.

In addition, he added oceans and skies, and even a part of the cosmic environment, to see if he could use this to catalyze the creation of Honkai Beast that could move in space.

As for the virtual Honkai Beast's data recycling system, he designed an island in the center of the entire world as an absolutely safe zone. There would be no enemies or threats on this island, only a paradise that would continuously inject data into the world.

Virtual Honkai Beast die anywhere in the world will be reborn here in the form of eggs, retaining their original consciousness and memories, and choosing their own evolutionary path anew.

To ensure that the evolutionary stages and paths of the virtual Honkai Beast are clear enough, Ai Yue also specifically divided the virtual Honkai Beast into levels based on the amount of data. Referring to the power classification of Honkai Beast in reality, they are divided into "Proto-class", "Vanguard-class", "Chariot-class", "Emperor-class" and the highest "Judgment-class".

"That way, we've copied almost everything."

Looking at the world that he was rapidly perfecting in his hands, Ai Yue nodded in satisfaction. "Speaking of which, does this world have a name?"

Is Number 042 considered a name?

"You actually came up with this name?" Vill-V said casually, and when she saw Ai Yue's look of "You actually came up with this name", she shrugged. "Don't look at me, Ai Yi came up with it. I usually call it Virtual Nation."

"Then let's have Virtual Nation,"

Ai Yue, who is even worse at naming things than Ai Yi, had no objections. "I've done everything I could. The rest is up to you."

Vill-V immediately flashed a fawning smile, "Then, about the funding?"

"Next time for sure, next time for sure."

Chapter 81 You have unleashed a terrifying beast!

Vill-V was quite dissatisfied with Ai Yue's perfunctory attitude.

But Ai Yue also had something to say about this: You said that you didn't help much. Now that I have built the basic framework of the Virtual Nation, all that is left is data accumulation and evolution route registration, which do not require much creativity. Ai Yi can do these tasks himself, so why should I give you funding?

Of course, considering that if this girl wasn't fed money, Vill-V would definitely try every means to trick others into investing (like Eden), so in order to keep her in line, Ai Yue still had to find her a job.

"You should know that Ai has always wanted a human body, right?"

Ai Yue took out a portable storage device from his pocket and placed it on the table next to him. "I've finished the design draft, including all the parts drawings and assembly instructions. The rest is up to you. All expenses incurred during the process will be reimbursed. How about it?"

"That's more like it,"

Vill-V grabbed the memory device and chained it directly to her portable workshop, then began flipping through it on the spot. "But you've been so busy lately, you don't even have this much time?"

"You're also another creator of Ai, so I'm just giving you a sense of participation,"

Ai Yue shrugged. "If I did everything, wouldn't that be like isolating you?"

Vill-V stared at Ai Yue with a subtle look before looking away after a moment. "Fine, whatever you want."

At this moment, she noticed something else and looked up again. "Wait, where's the power source? You're hiding something from us, aren't you?"

"It's not that I'm hiding something, it's just that even if I gave it to you, you wouldn't be able to handle it."

Ai Yue smiled slightly, "I plan to prepare a special heart for Ai Yi, which requires the power of the Third Herrscher and the power of restraint. Can you do it?"

"I don't care, if I can't do it, I can at least learn, right?"

Without any hesitation, Vill-V stretched out her hand to Ai Yue, "Hand over the blueprints!"

Ai Yue knew without a doubt that she planned to figure it out herself and then make a degraded version for other uses, but she didn't intend to expose her. She just waved her hand and said, "I'll have Ai Yi send it to you later."

After saying that, he took the Sixth Divine Key and headed towards the Teleportation Gate, afraid that if he was too slow, he would be taken advantage of by Vill-V again.

Meanwhile, Vill-V watched quietly as Ai Yue's figure disappeared into the Teleportation Gate. Only then did she speak again, "This guy has never seemed so rushed before."

In her memory, Ai Yue always seemed to be in complete control, as if he was always far ahead of others, so it didn't matter if he was a little slower or even stopped to rest.

It was only when faced with the mess of the Aberration Event that Ai Yue showed his urgency. But at that time, his urgency was more like the feeling of realizing that the people behind him had caught up, so he had to run a few steps to widen the distance again.

But now, Ai Yue gives Vill-V the feeling that he is trying his best to catch up with someone.

This feeling is not unusual for others. After all, even a top scholar as strong as Mobius had to chase after Ai Yue was almost invisible, until he was nearly out of breath.

But Ai Yue was the ultimate pioneer who was countless years ahead of the entire human civilization. He was the guide who almost single-handedly dragged the entire civilization forward. What kind of existence was he that made him chase after him so relentlessly?

In addition, there were rumors circulating on the internal network that Elysia had suddenly switched places with the young couple stationed in Australia...

Vill-V narrowed her eyes.

She didn't ask Ai Yi anything, because Ai Yi would definitely keep Ai Yue's secret. After all, although the other party was nominally created by her and Ai Yue, in reality, her status with Ai Yi was far inferior to that of Ai Yue.

Of course, even if the two hold equal weight in Ai Yi's heart, Ai Yi would definitely lean more towards Ai Yue now.

That guy probably doesn't realize that what Ai's so-called rebellious phase is actually...

Thinking of this, Vill-V couldn't help but smile subtly, "Ai, you're about to have your own body, are you happy?"

"I'm very happy."

Although Ai's tone remained calm, a smile played on her lips. "So, Mama Vill-V, shall we get started now?"

"Sigh, in the end, I'm the one who does the hard labor."

With a snap of Vill-V fingers, the mental sensing system received the "start work" signal, and the entire workshop came to life in that instant. "Alright, leave the rest to me, you can go about your business."

Ai nodded, and then her figure turned into countless points of light and disappeared into the air, re-entering the online world.

The underlying framework of the Virtual Nation has indeed been completed, but many details still need to be improved.

Moreover, the growth of the virtual Honkai Beast also requires guidance from someone.

After Ai left, Vill-V also went to a secluded and quiet hut without any electronic devices—she didn't need to handle the initial production of basic materials yet, as the machines in the workshop could handle it themselves.

She wanted to use this time to respond to an invitation that had been put on hold for a long time.

Vill-V quickly found what she was looking for in the room—a small, handcrafted wooden sculpture. The maker had skillfully carved a winged, hooded praying angel, and even the face, no bigger than a thumb joint, was depicted with a lifelike expression of compassion, giving it a somewhat divine appearance.

The identity of the person who created this thing is self-evident.

Vill-V held the statue and began to silently recite Aponia's name in her heart.

In this way, she was able to bypass most of the world's surveillance and tracking methods to complete an ultra-long-distance communication.

"Aponia,"

After sensing that another consciousness had established a connection with her, Vill-V asked in her mind, "Regarding the meeting you mentioned last time, how many people have attended so far?"

Ai Yue was unaware of the connection between Vill-V and Aponia, since they had met at that small party, by which time Ai Yue had already been plied with alcohol and was unconscious.

Right now, all he wants is to repair the Sixth Divine Key as soon as possible and then complete his experiment.

Fortunately, the problem with the Sixth Divine Key was not serious. It was just that most of it was burned out due to the long-term heavy load. Ai Yue was going to modify the Sixth Divine Key anyway, so after a brief inspection of the Divine Keys, he decisively dismantled it and kept only the most basic Herrscher Core.

After all, combining repair and improvement work is far less efficient than simply rebuilding a new one.

The next day, Elysia, having received the message, appeared in the lab as promised, "More progress? That's fast."

"Of course, don't you know who I am?"

Ai Yue proudly raised his chin, then handed the improved Divine Keys to Elysia, "Alright, let's do a simple test first, and then we'll go somewhere else."

"Change locations?"

Elysia paused for a moment, then smiled slightly. "It seems today's test isn't just a simple power test."

As she spoke, dazzling arcs of electricity lit up the surface of the Third Divine Key. Guided by Elysia, they began to converge and then shot forward, blasting the target robot used to test its power to smithereens.

"OK, power is fine, Third Herrscher authority are normal."

Ai Yue looked at the monitoring data displayed on the screen and nodded. "Next."

The drone quickly delivered a small cactus, while Elysia grabbed the Sixth Divine Key, which had been modified into a talisman. Her body emitted intense energy fluctuations, and under the radiation of this energy, the cactus quickly expanded, growing into a behemoth over two meters tall in the blink of an eye, and even bearing fruit that looked like dragon fruit.

Ai Yue picked one and took a bite, only to find it wasn't very tasty.

"You really dare to eat that?"

Seeing Ai Yue's actions, Elysia instinctively wanted to stop him, "This is a fruit that grew after being influenced by the Herrscher authority. What if there's a problem?"

"Don't worry, even if it's genetically modified, it won't kill you. Besides, the Sixth Herrscher's powers only affect the growth rate, and there's no issue of mutation."

Ai Yue waved his hand and pointed to the huge cactus in front of him. "Alright, get rid of it. We're going to move to another place."

Elysia quickly used the Divine Keys to restore the cactus to the size of a fist, while at the same time, Ai Yue summoned the Wuji Armor and armed himself.

"Where are we going to conduct the follow-up experiments?"

Elysia watched Ai Yue's actions and quickly realized something. "It doesn't look like we're inside the Star of Light."

"Well, to avoid making too much noise, it would be better to change to a more open space."

Ai Yue nodded. "Come with me."

The two quickly left the Star of Light and arrived at a wasteland in the heart of Australia. This place used to be a training ground prepared by Ai Yue for the Fused Warrior such as Cosmo stationed in Australia, but now it was no longer used and was perfect for use as an experimental site.

Moreover, Ai Yue also deployed many drones in the vicinity, creating the appearance of martial law.

"So, what exactly is the purpose of today's experiment?"