Proving Just How Bad I Really Was
At the front-line outpost, Marco Laifu was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
The two passengers have been missing for 24 hours without any Summoning Bell signal. The decision will have to be made by the commander of the assault team, the Frost Moon Knights.
Just as Marco was frowning as he prepared his medical report, Luo Ping'an came down from his dormitory on the second floor, lifted the curtain of the command center, and stood before Marco.
Marco was taken aback and immediately asked, "Mr. Ping An, what are you doing here! Didn't you enter the city with General of Tears?"
At this moment, Luo Ping'an was dressed in a wide Daoist robe, purple and gold in color, with two wisdom swords and yellow ribbons attached, looking like a Daoist immortal with flowing robes.
He had his hair tied up in a bun, and he wasn't wearing sunglasses. He had a black stone thumb ring on his left Thumb and was holding a heavy, dark sandalwood box.
"I did go, but not completely."
Mr. Ping An calmly sat down at the conference table in the command post and began to explain the whole story to Marco Laifu.
"The person who accompanied Bu Liuxing on his exploration of the Shinto City was my [Primordial Spirit - External Avatar] -- much like a hair on Sun Wukong's head."
He rolled up his sleeve, revealing his right arm, which startled Marco.
"I don't have Sun Wukong's abilities, so I can only use my right arm as a medium to transfer the sword skills I've practiced for eighty years to my avatar."
The right arm looked like a marble sculpture. Mr. Ping An took a military flag from the sand table on the conference table and tapped it a few times. Sand and dust fell from the stone arm and soon turned into pieces. The pale blue spirit was exposed to the air and vanished without a trace in an instant.
"I had my Soul Power avatar create a fake body, and then I followed Brother Bu Liuxing inside."
Before Mr. Ping An could finish speaking--
--Marco Laifu exclaimed, "Mr. Ping An! You're sacrificing your friend to save yourself! Bu Liuxing is still in the Shinto City?! What's going on?"
"Don't get excited, don't be nervous." Luo Ping'an pulled a thermos from his wide sleeves.
His right arm, now free from the protection of the solid stone avatar, immediately gushed brownish-red blood from the wound. Unperturbed, he poured the White Lady's products onto the wound, wincing in pain as he watched the new arm grow, its slender Five Fingers resembling a woman's, the nails radiating a healthy, rosy glow. Finally, he opened and closed his palms, certain that his strength had returned to his body.
He and Marco explained the whole story, including their encounter in the Haofeng Ridge Tunnel, to the messenger. After that, it was up to Daoist Master Ping'an to make his own judgment.
"I got into a fight with the sheriff of Stone Hill Town, but my avatar couldn't defeat the executioner."
Marco nervously and excitedly clutched his logbook and phone. This was the first time in over fifty years that he had made such close contact with the civilization of the Ryukyu Islands—a tremendous scientific discovery.
"Mr. Ping An! You are no match for these androids?"
"It depends on the situation." Luo Ping'an made no attempt to hide his defeat. "Let me tell you about the executioners and the Shinto City from my perspective, and you'll remember it well."
Marco immediately said, "Wait a minute! Mr. Ping An, let me turn on a voice recorder!"
"First of all, calling Shinto City a city is definitely inappropriate," Luo Ping'an said calmly and naturally, recounting what he had heard and seen.
"--It has an economic system independent of both the underworld and the mortal world. Although it uses Hui Stone Currency, the means of payment is VENOM. We don't have that."
"Its political culture is also quite peculiar. It uses six industrial groups to create the image of a god, which then leads to the development of products from all walks of life. It seems that the economy is not doing well and there is no demand, so in order to stimulate consumption, all kinds of ubiquitous advertisements have appeared."
"When I went to the cemetery in Stone Hill Town, I discovered that the 'Night Wanderer' system of civil affairs treated people's dead souls as advertising space, using every means to promote their products. At that time, I could roughly guess that this area had already declined and become a ghost town."
"There's a body outside the Haofeng Ridge Tunnel. The body died in a car accident, but it hasn't decomposed in over fifty years. It's probably because the medical insurance company added this module to citizens' VENOM accounts to preserve the scene of death, making it easier for criminal investigation officers to investigate and collect evidence, and for insurance companies to process claims—this is very advanced, but also very absurd."
"Upon reaching the summit of Stone Hill Town Cemetery, there are cenotaphs for various departments, including the Day Patrol and Night Patrol. Among them, I recognized the codenames Zhong Kui, Jifeng, and Hayabusa —these are all names of fighter jets. This suggests that the gods of Shinto City likely come from a military-industrial complex economy. This city has also fallen into the hands of a military-industrial complex economy, and its scientific research level is extremely high."
"I want to use my avatar to rescue the souls in this cemetery. After all, people live their whole lives for freedom. These two words are both beautiful and cruel, romantic and vulgar. If I don't smash all these graves, I won't be able to live with myself."
"So I told Meteor that we might encounter enemy soldiers from Shinto City, and that he should stay calm. He's still a kid, and shouldn't get into direct conflict with these strange and violent institutions."
"I smashed all the tombstones, and then a drone arrived with the executioner. That drone was quite something; its battery energy density was outrageous, it was lightweight yet powerful, far more advanced than the psionic gadgets developed by the Gate of Wonders and the Arcane Library —that's when I felt something was wrong, that I was about to embarrass myself."
"Later, I proved myself with my abilities, and it was indeed embarrassing."
"Make a good note of the military equipment on the executioner. Based on my years of experience, I can say that any one of these items would be a groundbreaking achievement for both the railway and the world at large."
Marco Laifu nodded nervously.
Luo Ping'an continued.
"The artificial muscles on the executioner's body are likely the flesh and blood essence of a celestial beast. Its muscle density and overall power output far exceed those of ordinary humans. It's not an ordinary artificial body. In order to control these white muscles, a psionic suppressor was used."
"I've had close contact with him. The psionic tides of that divine beast have the characteristics of sulfides, Inspiration can smell a burnt odor. I think it must be the Pompeii worm. The frequent tectonic movements in the Pacific Rim can nurture such a beast."
"He has no reproductive organs. Apart from the pale artificial muscles, the most striking thing is his spine and a whole set of artificial nerves. That's quite remarkable."
"This artificial neural exoskeleton almost completely covered the back of the executioner's head. At the time, I thought to myself—if it came down to reaction time, I probably wouldn't be a match for him, because the transmission speed of human neurons is limited. From the brain issuing a command to the hands and feet performing the corresponding action, it's impossible to compare with a cyborg."
"My initial assessment of the artificial neural exoskeleton worn by the executioner is that it is a scientific research product that utilizes the power of the Original Seed."
Marco asked in surprise, "The Original Seed?! But wasn't psionic research on the Original Seed banned at the station a long, long time ago?!"
Luo Ping'an: "The BOSS also said that the activities of the Madness Butterfly Sect should be banned. Little brother, don't underestimate people."
Marco: "These Japanese are insane! If what you said, Mr. Ping An, is true, how dare they incorporate the iron-nickel core of the Earth and the nerve material of Mother Earth into their bodies?"
Luo Ping'an nodded.
"Although I don't know how they did it, the signal my Inspiration received, the one I sensed while fighting the Executioners—was the amplitude characteristic of the Original Seed. They used this elemental matter to create a complete set of artificial nerves that surpassed those of ordinary humans for the brain, cerebellum, brainstem, and spinal cord of the electronic android, in order to deal with the compatibility issues between this prosthetic module and various weapon modules."
"The Universal Elixir is a universal essential substance; it can replenish the essential substances of anyone who is injured."
"The Universal Elixir comes from the Vita Imprint, Vita Imprint comes from the Original Seed —in this respect, the Shinto City took a shortcut, and succeeded."
"Finally, there's the VENOM agency. I think it's a very outrageous system of education, culture, and censorship."
"The executioner must remain in a naked standby mode before landing, leaving all weaponry on the drone. He has no authority to use other weapons—because the goal is to capture the criminal alive."
"Before the fight begins, the executioner will don armor. Based on my experience, that black mesh skin should be made of carbon isotope nanomaterials—[C60·fulminene]. It was through the authority granted by the VENOM organization that the executioner was given a layer of nano-armor."
"These diamond and graphite isotopes possess extremely high toughness and tensile strength, and their derivative, fullerite, is also very hard. This armor is formidable. When I tried to strike and stab it with Mingde's remains, it was just a thin layer of nano-armor. Combined with the muscle cushioning of that holy beast, it was difficult to inflict effective damage."
"VENOM should have another form, because its research on nanomaterials goes far beyond this discipline; its core module is still AI."
"The executioner can learn the sword techniques and footwork of my Taiyi Xuan Sect and find the most direct and effective way to counter them. This was one of the most difficult fights I've ever had—because I had to violate common sense about movement and behavioral logic to break the enemy's predictions. More than once, I had to enter a state of selflessness and just throw punches at this AI master to death."
"However, my avatar's learning ability is relatively poor. The executioner was injured in twenty-one places, and Venom immediately deployed even more powerful high-frequency weapons. I was no match for him."
"At that point, it was no longer my Inspiration or technology that my common sense could distinguish; it truly possessed a kind of mythical beauty."
"After careful consideration, I realized that the executioner's sword contained valuable C60 material. The parts of the blade that I damaged were mostly made of relatively hard but fragile materials with poor shock resistance."
"Its blade structure is intact. When the high-frequency weapon is activated, the burst of plasma transforms into a rapidly vibrating and flowing blade, similar to a chainsaw. At that moment, I estimate that my avatar wouldn't be able to withstand a single blow. Even the bones of the Taowu Little Kitty wouldn't be a match for this divine weapon."
"It's important to know that C60 is non-conductive, but alloy products made with C60 as the metallic dielectric, including those containing radioactive elements, have the potential to develop superconducting structures."
"I felt strong wind pressure and a powerful magnetic field, which should be borrowed from the geomagnetism of the mythical unit, the Original Seed."
"For example, Cs3C60As, a product of cesium and C60, exhibits superconducting properties under special conditions."
"High-frequency weapons have very demanding requirements regarding the temperature and pressure of the working environment. If they have overcome this hurdle, they can definitely create an artificial sun. This technology must have been taught to them by a Lord of Cinder."
"Without a doubt, my avatar lost, lost without any suspense. Faced with that divine weapon that was almost like using sunlight as a blade, I had no way to launch an attack."
After Marco finished taking notes, he could hardly believe what he had just heard.
--More than fifty years ago, there was a civilization in the underground world that had already completed most of the scientific research process of the atomic age.
If we can explore these cities and acquire these technologies, it would be of great benefit to all of humanity.
"Don't get your hopes up, Laifu." Luo Ping'an pouted and shook his finger. "Don't get your hopes up too high. It's not a good thing if Homo sapiens get the next version's equipment ahead of time."
During the Cold War, the atomic bomb determined the world order; this is the next generation's version of weaponry.
However, more than seventy years have passed, Homo sapiens still cannot master stable and reliable fusion technology. Instead, nuclear weapons have brought about an era of deterrence and a peace under the pressure of fear.
"How do the people of Shinto City view all of this? I don't know," Luo Ping'an murmured. "But there are indeed some undead in that Venom."
Marco: "Undead?!"
Luo Ping'an explained patiently.
"When I fought the executioner, the collision of our spirits would exchange some information."
"This information convinces me that things like VENOM are actually more like electronic tombs. The Artificial Intelligence inside seems to have their own independent personalities. They still live in the virtual network, and they still retain the most basic desire for power—these are gods created by the people of Shinto City. Things made by humans will naturally retain human desires."
"Artificial Intelligence is a revolutionary and disruptive technology for Shinto City. It can help people learn knowledge, and the technology in various industries will advance by leaps and bounds—the standardized production of knowledge and the process-oriented education of students will turn anyone in society into an excellent [standard person], an outstanding [typical person], and a powerful authority."
Luo Ping'an described it in a serious manner, his expression turning ferocious.
"I reckon there are no more illiterate or lawless individuals in Shinto City."
"Because VENOM is linked to payment methods, it determines people's basic needs such as food, clothing, housing, and transportation, and AI-powered living has become as simple and natural as breathing."
"These ghosts in the electronic graveyards observe and learn from people, and then become teachers, scholars, and artists in the education industry to educate people. This is another kind of universal harmony."
"But I couldn't find a single living person in Stone Hill Town. The enemy I encountered was a cyborg. Its security center first called the Kyoraku Special Squad, then the medical insurance team, but neither of these communications received a response. I think that city is now deserted—only ghosts remain."
"That's why I say that the scientific research path of the Shinto City might not be a good thing for us Homo sapiens. Its [Daoist magic] are not natural; they are heretical and demonic. Otherwise, how could so much effort spent on cultivating truth and seeking the Dao have resulted in the extinction of all people?"
Marco seemed lost in thought. If the VIP hadn't told him these things himself, he would never have believed that such a place existed in the world.
"What should we do about Bu Liuxing!? Mr. Ping An!"
Luo Ping'an, unhurriedly, asked Marco for a cleaver.
When the cook brought a cleaver from the kitchen, Luo Ping'an chopped off his right arm once again!
Blood and spittle flew everywhere, making Marco tremble with fear.
As the right arm flew into the air, a great wind was heard inside the house, and dust and mud gathered into a human shape. The extra stone arm, named Ping An, was attached to the elbow joint, like a toy being assembled, creating another avatar.
Luo Ping'an: "What are you standing there for? Get my avatar a whole set of clothes."
Marco was dumbfounded; this was the first time in his life he had ever seen a Soul Might possess a flesh and blood body.
Just as Nuwa sculpted a human from clay, Mr. Ping An chopped off his right arm and, in just ten seconds, created a humanoid figure with all limbs, facial features, and hair intact.
Marco brought over the military uniform and MOLLE, along with a set of survival gear. This avatar, grinning, waved to the real body and immediately headed towards the platform railway to continue its exploration mission.
After doing all this, Luo Ping'an continued.
"You've seen Jason Megan's spirit form, she was a beautiful young woman who could even disguise herself as Homo sapiens, with breath and a pulse—so why are you making such a fuss about seeing my incarnation?"
Marco explained, "No. I didn't have much schooling, and I haven't seen much in the Arcane Library."
"Don't worry about Bu Liuxing. First, call his servant over and wait at the stronghold." Luo Ping'an brought up A Xing's matter. "When I fought with the executioner, I also obtained another piece of information."
Marco's eyes lit up, and he pressed, "Is it related to Mr. Meteor?"
"It's related, very related. I think this is an opportunity," Mr. Ping An explained. "You know that my spirit used Mingde's remains to shatter part of the execution sword's blade, right?"
Marco nodded.
Mr. Ping An continued.
"A portion of the essence of Venom's Mechanism flew into my avatar through these broken fragments."
"These nanomachines can record information, unlike traditional electronic computers which require a hard drive. They are based on the Liman model of thought—that is, they mimic the structure of the human brain—and their learning behavior is similar to the black box activity of the human brain."
"The information I received included the name [Hot Wind]."
"This young man used to be a thorn in the side of Shinto City."
"All security agencies regard him as their number one hypothetical enemy. Therefore, in the Artificial Intelligence system, the first thing to be exposed is the information about [Hot Wind], just like a person who has been severely beaten as a child will never forget the face of their enemy."
"The core used by Hot Wind's [VENOM] is, like Meteorite, Rose Shining Stone —not blackstone."
"VENOM is amazing. The cost of implanting it is too low. It has the characteristics of the Original Seed, like a virus, like the Vita Imprint. It can circulate in the human body, collecting primordial matter according to the production process specified by Artificial Intelligence to create the mechanical body. When my avatar was attacked by the Executioner, it was also infected with this nanomachine—that's when I realized that VENOM doesn't need to be purchased. No wonder the advertising space in the cemetery sells everything except VENOM."
Luo Ping'an patted Marco on the shoulder, telling the young man not to worry.
"I think this is the only way Bu Liuxing can take."