Perilous Peak

In August 2031, Rocket City, Sazhou, Liang Nation.

Michael and Daphne realized a problem: after mastering the technology to create intelligent machines, humanity had created various "intelligent living beings"—robot dogs that could jump over obstacles, robotic bees that could fly into small spaces, and even robotic crawlers that could enter the human body to eliminate tumors. There was no end to the marvels.

However, what truly amazed the world were humanoid robots. Making intelligent machines in human form became the common goal of major manufacturers, and the degree of similarity between humanoid robots and real humans became the most important evaluation standard.

The logical question that interested the two was: if humans were truly created by a Creator, and the vast universe was merely a game scene set by the Creator for "living beings."

Furthermore, if the Creator had the ability to create "intelligent machines" composed of any substance as the protagonists in his game, there was a high probability that the protagonist the Creator ultimately designed and created would be himself, with 100% similarity.

The Creator himself was also human, so where was he? To say he was hidden among the masses was obviously fantastical, not scientific. Michael connected to the VESSEL and handed this question over to the external brain.

The answer given by the VESSEL was that if a Creator existed and he was human, then he was either in another space outside of three-dimensional space or he appeared in a distant past.

Daphne said, "Theories of four-dimensional space or higher dimensions have achieved great success in mathematical calculations, but in physics, empirical evidence may never be found, so String Theory is merely an unfalsifiable hypothesis."

Michael nodded in agreement, "If we assume there is a Creator outside our three-dimensional space, even if he is human, it is clearly no longer within the scope of scientific discussion."

If the Creator was human, then he existed in the distant past. The reason for saying "distant" is that the evolutionary trajectory from Homo sapiens, which appeared in Africa 2 million years ago, to us today is supported by a large amount of archaeological evidence.

We today are born to parents, clearly not created by a Creator. If a Creator existed in the distant past, then that time must exceed 2 million years, possibly tens of millions of years, or even longer.

"Michael, do you think humans really existed on Earth millions or even tens of millions of years ago?" Daphne asked.

"Perhaps, but no more than 65 million years ago at most, because before that, Earth was ruled by dinosaurs," Michael said.

One sentence reminded Daphne. She instantly thought of the dinosaur extinction event 65 million years ago. Could fragments from the Mars explosion hitting the Yucatan Peninsula have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? Did the Creator who made us live before or after that?

If it was after the extinction of the dinosaurs, there was no evidence found in the archaeological strata, so it was clearly impossible.

If they lived before that, human groups could not coexist with dinosaurs because they couldn't defeat them. So where did they live? Not on Earth, but perhaps on Venus or Mars?

If they lived on Venus or Mars, then 65 million years ago, was the Mars explosion related to them?

Thinking this through, Daphne asked Michael with a solemn expression, "If my Mars Burst Hypothesis is correct, it happened 65 million years ago. Could it have been caused by humans, related to a Superlight Wave Power Station?"

Michael least wanted to hear this hypothesis. The Superlight Wave Power Station was the most crucial part of his plan to restart Mars. He grabbed Daphne's hand and said with some nervousness, "Using Superluminal waves to heat the Mars core and restart the magnetic field is necessary for humans to survive freely on the Martian surface. What explosion are you talking about!"

"I know, Mars's current magnetic field is very weak and cannot withstand cosmic high-energy rays. Your Capsule can only allow volunteers to live in underground caves in the Martian canyons several hundred meters deep," Daphne said with a look of regret.

Michael's Mars terraforming plan was to use the Superlight Wave Power Station to inject energy into Mars's interior. Under high temperatures, the metal in Mars's core would re-melt into a liquid state, thus generating a magnetic field like Earth's to protect humans from solar wind and cosmic ray radiation.

Water ice and oxygen in the Mars crust, along with dry ice from the poles, would be released with the increase in heat. Oceans would reappear on the Martian surface, and an atmosphere breathable by humans would form.

Daphne understood the man's feelings. She knew how much Michael had sacrificed to restart the Mars plan and create a "backup" for Earth.

He founded Acebe Company, experienced countless failures, and successfully developed reusable large-thrust rockets.

Not only that, but Michael and his team's work also included launching Mars probes, studying Mars soil, and designing experimental plans for the construction of the Superlight Wave Power Station.

Recently, he had also sent a heavy-duty electric pickup truck resistant to sandstorm impacts and robots, specially developed for Mars, to the planet.

65 million years ago? Daphne didn't know what had happened, but she guessed that the Mars explosion might have been related to an experiment or even an accident at the Superlight Wave Power Station. A hidden worry disturbed her mood.

Daphne changed the subject and said to Michael, "Michael, you are a hero in my eyes. The two great goals you told me when we first met truly shocked me."

Michael smiled, with a hint of pride, and said, "Freedom of the body for humans, and freedom of consciousness for humans."

Michael hoped that one day in the future, humans could leave Earth and live freely on other planets. Of course, in the foreseeable long future, leaving the Solar System was unlikely, so he set his primary target as Mars.

As for the freedom of human consciousness, Michael hoped to expand the depth and speed of human thought through Brain-Computer Fusion technology and achieve the "immortality" of thought and soul through consciousness upload.

"Michael, your goals are too grand. Let alone achieving both, even making progress in one of them would be a great blessing for humanity," Daphne continued. "If there are risks in terraforming Mars, you can focus more of your efforts on Artificial Intelligence, Brain-Computer Fusion, or even consciousness upload."

Michael said with a wry smile, "The best scenery is always on the most dangerous peaks. If restarting the Mars plan has risks, is Artificial Intelligence safe?"

"That's true. Didn't we meet online because we were both worried that Artificial Intelligence might threaten humanity itself?"

Michael thought for a moment and repeated the sentence he had just posted on social media:

"Even in the face of the worst outcome that Artificial Intelligence might bring, namely the annihilation of humanity, I would choose to face it rather than escape. I think I might actually be willing to witness it all."

At this moment, on the other side of Earth, Martha arrived at the estate of Andek, the owner of the media tycoon Tiangao Group. Besides Andek, the hostess Irene and her daughter Mandy were also present.

As Martha made small talk, she observed whether Boss Andek would ask Irene and her daughter to leave so he could hear her investigation report.

Andek didn't seem to care and didn't rush to ask Martha. Instead, he said something incomprehensible, "I am exactly 100 years old this year. With the current pace of technological development, in a few decades, the average human lifespan will reach 120 years, but it seems to have nothing to do with me anymore."

Mandy was Martha's best friend. Hearing the old man's words, they exchanged a look of bewilderment, waiting for the old man to continue. Irene was not surprised; she seemed to understand what Andek meant.

"I have lived for 100 years, built a business empire, and had five wives," Andek said, looking meaningfully at Irene and Martha. "I have passed the age of fearing death and can now face it calmly."

While Martha and Mandy were confused, Irene explained, "I suggested he use chemical small molecule bioengineering technology to reorder the aging genes. Even if it can't make him young again, it can prolong his life."

"I don't want to turn myself into a guinea pig. When you all live to be 100, you'll understand how I feel. I truly feel like I've had my fill," Andek said.

The reason the old man brought up this topic today was not only because Irene suggested Andek try a gene therapy method still in clinical trials but also because the old man had received olive branches from two Brain-Computer Fusion companies, including Michael's company.

They each invited Andek to be among the first subjects for consciousness upload, which, of course, was extremely expensive.

"In my 100 years, I have experienced the Electrical Age, the Information Age, and now the Intelligent Age. My media empire has cheered for every leap in human progress, but human technological progress has boundaries, and the risk of crossing those boundaries by disrupting natural laws is something I cannot accept," the old man said.

Mandy understood but couldn't help but ask, "For you, is there any risk more important than extending your life?"

"My dear child, although I am not a saint, the principles of a media person are more important to me than my life, and this has nothing to do with my age," Andek said. "I support the development of Artificial Intelligence, genetic engineering, and space technology, but the risks must be controlled, at least not threatening the safety of the Solar System and humanity."

"Even if Artificial Intelligence has risks, even if it could destroy humanity, how could space technology threaten the safety of the Solar System?" Mandy blurted out, asking in confusion.

The old man shifted his gaze from Mandy to Martha, seemingly asking for her investigation results on Michael. Martha completely understood the old man's intention but felt it was inappropriate to reveal them rashly. She nodded deeply towards Andek.

Andek seemed to have gotten the result he wanted, saying as if to himself:

"In this world, there are always tech fanatics constantly climbing dangerous peaks. If they succeed, humanity reaches new heights. But if the risks aren't controlled, and they fail, humanity and even the Solar System will be doomed."

Irene, who knew a little about Michael's plan to terraform Mars, asked, "Are you referring to Michael Max when you say tech fanatic?"

"Not just him, but also Nikola Tesla, who proposed the Superluminal Wave Hypothesis," the old man said indignantly.

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Poem of Collected Chapters:

Suddenly, a thousand-zhang wave surges across the sky, Ming, Cheng Benli

With no way to shrink the earth, what can be done? Tang, Yuan Zhen

Floating and sinking, its nature hard to discern, Tang, Yuan Yangzi

Shining through the universe, the mirror is yet unpolished. Song, Lu You