Beacon Lighthouse

"The database cannot be started..."

"The central server cannot be started..."

"The Mind Dome cannot be started..."

"The Beacon Lighthouse is continuing its search..."

"Magic-energy particle levels are below standard. Energy is severely insufficient. All modules cannot be used normally. Unable to determine whether they are damaged."

"Activating minimum-standard functional modules. Equipping the Auxiliary Calculation Module and Local Data Analysis System."

"System startup successful. Functional module debugging complete. Awaiting the inheritor's return online."

After being forced to rest for an entire night, Victor finally gradually regained consciousness.

He opened his eyes. At first, he was somewhat confused, but then he remembered what had happened the previous night.

"Right, my Golden Finger. My Golden Finger is here. Let me think, what was it called again? Beacon... right, Beacon Lighthouse." Victor muttered while lying in bed.

The moment he spoke the words "Beacon Lighthouse," his consciousness was instantly transported into a space.

Compared to the pitch-black state from the previous night, it had changed completely. The world was white and boundless, with mist emitting golden light drifting all around him. It looked both fantastical and sacred.

Victor secretly gave a thumbs-up. This scene alone looked badass. He could not help humming to himself. I've got a cheat too. I'm going to fight as well.

At that moment, the voice from last night sounded again.

"Hello, inheritor. This is Beacon Lighthouse Guide Number 1. Due to insufficient energy, only the lowest-level auxiliary functional modules can currently be provided to the inheritor. Would you like the introduction to begin?"

Victor hurriedly replied.

"Sure, but can I ask a few questions first?"

"Of course. Your will shall be followed."

"What is the Beacon Lighthouse? Where did it come from? What is an inheritor? Why did I become one? What am I supposed to do? What is energy, and how do I replenish it? What is Soul Matter? And why did I suddenly pass out last night?" Victor fired off a whole string of questions. Although he was thrilled to have obtained a Golden Finger, he would not feel at ease until he understood these things.

"Understood. Guide Number 1 will now answer your questions."

"The Beacon Lighthouse is a special construct created by the Moonlit Prophet. Before the Magic Tide receded, it was intended to preserve the knowledge and records of an entire civilization for the inheritor civilization. It is both a legacy and a tombstone, a lighthouse symbolizing hope, and a spark through which civilization may flourish."

"Moonlit Prophet is the name by which our civilization was known externally. We inherited the civilization records left behind by the Knowledge Keepers, as well as their dreams and pursuits. In this boundless void, we explored the true nature of the Magic Tide and safeguarded civilization's legacy."

"Before the previous Magic Tide receded, we decided to leave our homeworld and pursue the Magic Tide, traveling in the direction in which it withdrew. The road ahead was uncertain. In order to preserve the knowledge and will inherited from our predecessors, we created multiple Beacon Lighthouses along the way. The sparks preserve knowledge, and the lighthouses point the way forward. We hoped that later civilizations would continue the pursuit of truth. If this path led nowhere, the lighthouses would go dark. If it led somewhere, there would naturally be civilizations to follow."

"When the Magic Tide ebbed, it would eventually flow again. However, with the limited data available, we could not predict when it would rise. We left behind the Beacon Lighthouses so that, when the tide rose, they could seek out nearby civilizations with a desire to explore and learn, selecting individuals with relatively large amounts of Soul Matter as inheritors. Such inheritors could possess all Beacon Lighthouse permissions and use all of its functions without restriction."

"Inheritors have no specific assigned tasks. The Moonlit Prophet imposed no restrictions."

"The Beacon Lighthouse, as well as every creation of the Moonlit Prophet civilization, was powered by magic energy. Within the Magic Tide, magic energy was everywhere and inexhaustible. The only difference was that some was active while some was inert."

"However, the current world contains an extremely low concentration of magic energy. According to rough calculations, the initial arrival of the Magic Tide is still fifty years away."

"Due to insufficient energy, the entire Beacon Lighthouse can currently activate only the most basic analysis and calculation functions. It must also occupy the inheritor's Soul Matter as computational units. Using Soul Matter for calculations will not affect the inheritor's life or health, and absorbing and converting magic energy will also help strengthen Soul Matter."

"Soul Matter is the foundation of all sentient life. Only those with Soul Matter can sense and use magic energy. Therefore, both the Knowledge Keepers and the Moonlit Prophet believed that any being possessing Soul Matter could be considered sentient, capable of perceiving the world and forming civilization. There are also special individuals within civilizations who are born with powerful Soul Matter. They can use Soul Matter as a lever to move greater amounts of magic energy, or as a magnifying glass to discover the laws hidden within magic energy. Such Soul Matter anomalies can become civilization's high ground, guiding its progress and growth."

Guide Number 1 swiftly answered all of Victor's questions, explaining them in a way he could understand.

"So the Beacon Lighthouse can't properly start up right now. As the inheritor, I can't use its abilities or access all that knowledge. I have to wait another fifty years before I can use it. Then what's the point of this Golden Finger?" Victor's face darkened. He had looked forward to this for so many years, and this was all he got.

"The inheritor may currently use the Auxiliary Calculation Module and Local Data Analysis System. Guide Number 1 hopes the inheritor will be satisfied."

"Fine. Then what can these two functions do? Can they let me use magic? Can they help me live longer? Can they keep me alive until fifty years from now?"

"According to analysis, the magic referred to by the inheritor should be a technique through which individuals directly use magic energy. The current concentration of magic energy in this world is too low for that to be possible. If sufficient magic energy were available, strengthening the inheritor's Soul Matter and modifying bodily functions could allow the inheritor to gain immortality. In addition, the inheritor is in good health. Combined with local intelligent species data obtained from the inheritor, it is determined that the inheritor can easily live beyond seventy years and will certainly survive another fifty years."

Guide Number 1 continued answering Victor's questions.

"Wait. You said you obtained local data from me. What does that mean? Did you look through my memories?"

"After the Beacon Lighthouse activates, it automatically collects data for analysis. Inheritor, please do not worry. This is merely a normal work procedure and carries no malicious intent."

Victor said helplessly.

"Fine, forget it. I'll just accept it."

"Your medical examination function is pretty good, but you can't expect me to become a doctor. Just use the data you got from me and calculate what you can do for me."

"Understood. An operational model will now be created for the inheritor. The inheritor's future actions and expected goals will be calculated, and a work plan and process schedule will be formulated. This is expected to occupy half of the inheritor's Soul Matter and require six hundred local hours. The inheritor is advised to ensure sufficient rest and nutritional intake during this period. Please provide confirmation."

"Stop. I don't agree. First tell me what effect using half my Soul Matter will have on me. And instead of telling me six hundred hours, you might as well just say twenty-five days."

"As the existential foundation and consciousness core of sentient life, Soul Matter possesses the marvelous power to move magic energy. Individuals of the same species generally possess a fixed amount of Soul Matter. Although using and studying magic energy and mastering its laws can indeed increase one's Soul Matter level, it is extremely difficult to multiply it. Innate differences are difficult to overcome. In order to increase Soul Matter levels, the Moonlit Prophet investigated the essence of Soul Matter and created the Magic-Energy Computer. From this, a theory emerged that Soul Matter itself possesses the ability to compute and evolve. Thus, after the Magic Tide receded, and in combination with this unique low-magic environment, we finally discovered a computer module that could rely on the nature of Soul Matter to reduce magic-energy consumption to the minimum, helping individuals carry out large-scale calculations in low-magic or even magicless conditions."

"This Calculation Module requires Soul Matter as its basis and extremely small amounts of magic energy as its power source, fulfilling the capability for exploration. The more Soul Matter one possesses, the greater the computational scale. Occupying half the Soul Matter of an ordinary individual will at most reduce their sensitivity to magic energy, along with side effects such as fatigue."

"However, the inheritor possesses Soul Matter far beyond that of an ordinary individual—three or even four times as much—and can bear higher-level computational demands. Therefore, based on the inheritor's special circumstances, occupying half will have the least impact while providing the greatest increase in computational ability."

Victor was left speechless. This guide was incredibly rigid. It truly was not the artificial intelligence model he had previously guessed it might be.

"Then how about this? Create a new task for me. Based on the natural conditions here, design the most suitable plowing tool for this place, using oxen or horses as draft animals. Don't use half my Soul Matter. At most, use a quarter."

Guide Number 1 indicated that it accepted.

"Please confirm that the inheritor agrees to begin calculations. This calculation is expected to take six hours and occupy one-quarter of the inheritor's Soul Matter. You require eight hours. Calculations will begin shortly."

Victor felt his consciousness blur slightly, but it quickly returned to normal.

He carefully checked himself. His body felt no discomfort, so it seemed there really was no problem.

"Even though I have a Golden Finger now, and it sounds impressive, I can't really use it. It looks like I still need to figure out the right way to use this Golden Finger."

Victor got up and thought for a moment.

"Maybe I can use this module to create a medieval planned economy. If I do, the territory's work efficiency will improve enormously."

"But even if I create a suitable mathematical model, I don't have a management team capable of carrying it out."

"Looks like I can only use it as AI to solve specific problems. Thinking about it, it actually has quite a few uses. At the very least, I won't have to write plans myself in the future."

After figuring out how to use it, Victor began arranging his current work by priority, planning to rank them according to importance and difficulty.

Then Victor once again tried entering the consciousness space. He met Guide Number 1 of the Beacon Lighthouse and placed three tasks on the calculation list: an army expansion plan, new compensation standards, and a development plan for the enclave.

The Calculation Module gave estimated calculation times of twelve hours, four hours, and five days respectively. From this, Victor realized that the vaguer the conditions, the greater the computational workload and the longer the calculation time.

After issuing the tasks, Victor suddenly thought of something. He turned to Guide Number 1 and asked, "How many Beacon Lighthouses were made in total? Where are they all located? Can I learn about that?"

"Of course. To ensure the Beacon Lighthouses could exist and operate in future magicless environments, the Moonlit Prophet mobilized the research power of the entire civilization and used a large amount of laboratory technology and materials that could not be mass-produced. Without affecting the operation of the fleet pursuing the Magic Tide, a total of six Beacon Lighthouses were created and placed in six different worlds. These worlds all had the potential to give rise to sentient life possessing Soul Matter. The Moonlit Prophet hoped that these newly born civilizations could use the knowledge and technology within the Beacon Lighthouses to leave their homes, embark on journeys through the void, and seek the truth of the world."

"Many years ago, the six Beacon Lighthouses could still communicate and link with one another. Later, magic energy gradually vanished, and the Beacon Lighthouses were all forced to abandon many external functional modules in order to preserve their most core functions and their own continued existence. Once a Beacon Lighthouse is activated by an inheritor, as the Magic Tide rises, it will restart its major modules and establish connections with the others, becoming a bridge of communication between these civilizations."

"In other words, eighty thousand years have already passed since the previous Magic Tide receded. It seems the Magic Tide's cycle is even longer than I imagined."

"And even if I obtain this Beacon Lighthouse and do nothing, once magic energy rises, other civilizations that have obtained Beacon Lighthouses might still follow the old coordinates and come looking for us."

"This really does feel like a dark forest. If they're hostile civilizations, I'm like a child who has just withdrawn a huge sum of money and is wandering through the streets, telling everyone to come rob me."

"Yes. Guide Number 1 agrees with the inheritor's statement. However, you could put it more concisely. There is also a phrase in the inheritor's database with the same meaning: like a child carrying gold through a busy market."

"Hah, is this some kind of memory retrieval function?" Victor asked helplessly.

"Guide Number 1, don't call me inheritor anymore. It feels awkward. Just call me Victor. To make things easier, I'll call you Number 1."

"Received. Command updated, Victor," Number 1 replied.

"Looks like there are some things I have no choice but to do. Number 1, make me a schedule. I need to know what I should do before the Magic Tide rises, and by what points in time I need to complete it, so that I can protect my world after the Magic Tide arrives."

"Victor, understood. The final objective will be to first establish a Void Lighthouse, which can be used to communicate and contact other civilizations, then establish a Void Fleet, which can be used to defend against potential invasions from other worlds. The remaining schedule will be set according to specific timeframes. Calculations will require approximately fifteen days."

"So I need to develop my civilization into a cosmic civilization capable of constructing things in the void and crossing it within fifty years. Even my previous world never managed that."

"Victor, rest assured. As the concentration of magic energy rises, the Beacon Lighthouse's various databases and functions will gradually unlock or activate. These goals may yet be achieved." Number 1 tried to comfort him in its utterly emotionless voice.