Parasitizing All Things, Programming All Things, Networking All Things

In fact, the parasitic method of those "Mutated Parasite" is very different from that of traditional parasites.

It does not directly absorb the host's blood most of the time within the host's body. Instead, it drives and guides the host to actively obtain the blood of other organisms, then absorbs this blood and, after obtaining the blood, "modifies" the host's body to a certain extent.

However, according to Xiang Kun's research, the relationship between the "Mutated Parasite" and its host is not one of "mutualism," but rather "parasitism."

Leaving aside its impact on the host's mind, altering the host's normal thinking logic and behavior patterns, and putting the host in danger without realizing it, its modification of the host's body is not entirely beneficial either.

Just as Xiang Kun had predicted, the "Mutated Parasite" basically treats the host as its "vehicle" or "tool" for "modification." The stronger the host and the stronger its subjective will, the more beneficial it is for the host to extract more of the type of blood it desires.

But a "vehicle" is ultimately just a "vehicle." When it is "modified," it is definitely thinking about how to be efficient and convenient, without considering the long-term health and benefits of the host itself.

Therefore, "Mutated Parasite" can use hallucinations to make the host amplify the effects of the modifications to their body, leading to misjudgments.

These modifications are also likely to cause other side effects, such as faster aging and a higher chance of developing cancer, which are quite different from the mutations of the "Mutated Creature" themselves.

So calling it "parasitic" isn't really a problem.

But why would it use this method? Why not drain the blood of a person or other creature completely before moving on to a new host?

Why not directly evolve through mutation to find a way to hunt and obtain blood without parasites?

After thinking Xiang Kun concluded that this was likely a result of the "Mutated Parasite" adapting to its environment.

This "parasitic" method serves two purposes: firstly, it allows them to better conceal themselves, reducing the probability of being discovered and tracked down;

Secondly, it allows one to do things that are otherwise impossible or very difficult to do, thus having a higher potential.

Thirdly, after drinking blood, it can have a relatively safe place to sleep and rest.

Xiang Kun's idea of "parasitic environment" is not actually directly related to "Mutated Parasite" themselves. It is just an idea of integrating mutation capabilities inspired by their parasitic methods.

Just like "object-oriented" in software development.

The hosts of "Mutated Parasite" include various organisms, including humans. The specific ways in which they influence and modify organisms are unknown, but it is conceivable that they do so through the tentacles that open after parasitizing.

Xiang Kun's "host" can be any space or environment, or even an object, a creature, or a group. The way he influences and transforms it is through his "Super-Linked Object system" and the various related abilities derived from it, as well as the special perception and control under the "Hyper-Sensory State".

In fact, Xiang Kun's behavior already showed some of this pattern when he used "Emotion-Infused Object" to change the emotions of those around him and "Super-Linked Object" to create a magnetic field to influence others.

Previously, the focus was on specific implementations, analyzing specific problems in specific ways, and even in the exploratory stage, without a holistic and continuous consideration.

On the plane Xiang Kun had the idea of a "parasitic environment," and he would tell Xia Libing about it, which would also help him refine his thinking.

While waiting at a red light, Xia Libing tapped the steering wheel rhythmically with her long, slender fingers and said, "If you don't have any adverse effects on the 'host,' it shouldn't be called 'parasitism,' right? It should be called mutualistic symbiosis, or partial symbiosis?"

"'Parasitism' is just a concept used for reference; it doesn't need to be strictly defined according to the biological definition," Xiang Kun explained.

Xia Libing tilted her head slightly and looked at Xiang Kun the passenger seat. "In that case... from the perspective of the 'Fantasy Manifestation' ability, am I also a kind of 'parasite' on you?"

"Huh?" Xiang Kun was taken aback, then touched his nose. "Indeed... you could say that. Of course, from another perspective, you could also say that I 'parasitized' you through 'Super-Linked Object' and 'Emotion-Infused Object'."

As the red light turned green, Xia Libing stepped on the gas and nodded, saying, "I understand what you mean. You want to have more influence over your surroundings and things, and make it sustainable and expandable. Also, you haven't developed the abilities related to the 'mutated vines' you got from that 'mutated spider.' This time, you might have gained the ability to modify animals from the inside out from the 'Mutated Parasite,' so we can try to find ways to expand and apply these abilities."

"Yes." Xiang Kun was very pleased; Lao Xia really knew what he was thinking.

Xiang Kun continued, "Just like the 'mutated bird' I encountered at Purple Huan Mountain a few days ago, if Purple Huan Mountain had already been modified by me before, like a 'host,' then there would be no need to temporarily set up the environment and go through so much trouble to trigger the thunderstorm in advance, so as not to give it a chance to escape."

"Even if the place I'm modifying isn't on Purple Huan Mountain, I can still find a way to bring it there."

"And there's 'Shenxing Technology,' which can also become my 'host.'"

"Mi Qiao, Fang Pingfang, Zhou Rui, and even that 'Mr. Liang' can all be seen as 'organs' or cells of that 'host'."

"And my various 'Super-Linked Object' and 'Emotion-Infused Object' are like the tentacles of that parasite."

"The effects we have through primary dreams and 'Dream Within a Dream,' as well as the effects of hallucinations in reality, are similar to the hallucinations and emotions that a parasite induces in its host."

"Once this influence accumulates to a certain extent, I will not only know the secrets of 'Shenxing Technology' and their situation, but I will also be able to enable them to investigate things that I want to investigate but are inconvenient to investigate, and to conduct research that I want to do but cannot do for the time being."

"They won't even be aware of my existence; they'll just think these are things they want to do, just like the hosts 'parasitized' by 'Mutated Parasite'."

After listening, Xia Libing hummed in agreement and said, "Not a bad idea."

Xiang Kun chuckled; he certainly understood the true meaning of those four words: "You wish!"

Although Lao Xia could understand his thoughts, she was more concerned about the specific ways in which the abilities were implemented and the details of the specific mutations.

In fact, besides what I mentioned before, after this idea popped into his head, combined with the previous ideas that "the more objects you establish 'Super-Sensory Link' and 'Emotional Injection' with, the greater your influence on the world and the stronger your abilities will be," as well as the ideas of "editing 'everything' and 'programming' everything through 'Hyper-Sensory State'," and "building networks and connecting everything through 'Super-Linked Object' and 'Emotion-Infused Object'," Xiang Kun suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

He had this feeling before he created Alice, when he perceived Little Apple's special dream through "Emotion-Infused Object".

But this time, the feeling was even stronger.

He had a vague feeling that if he could grasp that "light," the inspiration he would gain and the things he would discover would be even more powerful than last time.

Although the feeling was strong, he couldn't grasp the figure of that light at all. Xiang Kun could only keep trying with various ideas and directions to see if he could "bump" into it.

Xia Libing, who was driving, changed the subject and asked about what she was really concerned about, "I watched the video you sent several more times. After the insect left your body, it didn't recover on its own; it must have been suffering continuous damage. I speculate that when it was in your arm, it was 'entangled' by some substance in your blood and carried out of your body. At that time, did you have any special feelings? Could you feel a connection with something inside the insect's body, or that some substance left your body?"

Xiang Kun thought for a moment, then shook his head and said, "No, I didn't feel anything."

His judgment was actually the same as Lao Xia's. He also believed that the reason why the "Mutated Parasite" gave up parasitizing him and continued to deteriorate or even die quickly after leaving his body was because it was attacked and invaded by the immune system in his blood and body tissues, and then continued to backfire.

However, at the time, there were no conditions for him to carefully judge and distinguish the cause, and he could not determine exactly how the "Mutated Parasite" was killed. In order not to "waste" it, he could only swallow it after confirming that the worm was dead.

Xia Libing then asked, "What does it taste like to eat those insects?"

During their previous phone conversation, Lao Xia had asked what the insect tasted like, and Xiang Kun had answered that question. Therefore, he knew that Lao Xia's question about "feeling" did not refer to the texture or flavor.

Compared to the previous "Mutated Creature," this time the "Mutated Parasite" was completely swallowed.

"I didn't feel anything when I bit into it, but after swallowing it, about fifteen seconds later, it felt the same as when I swallowed the blood of other 'Mutated Creature' before—a feeling of comfort emanating from the root of my body, followed by a strong drowsiness. Compared to the blood of ordinary animals, the blood of 'Mutated Creature' should not be measured by volume, but by the proportion of each individual," Xiang Kun analyzed.

"In that case, if there's a 'Mutated Creature' that's extremely large, with thousands of liters of blood, even if you drink two liters, you might not be able to meet the minimum requirements for one blood-drinking period?" Xia Libing said thoughtfully.

Xiang Kun shook his head and said, "It probably won't work."

Xia Libing was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "You mentioned that feeling when you drink blood, like all the cells in your body are 'jumping with joy,' what exactly is that like? Is it similar to eating something delicious when you're very hungry?"

"It's different." Xiang Kun thought for a moment, but didn't know how to describe it, so he could only say, "This feeling... is something that normal people can't experience. Moreover, it can't be shared through 'Emotional Assimilation'."

"Oh." Xia Libing nodded, seemingly somewhat disappointed.

Xiang Kun's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly took out his phone and said, "Actually, I've thought of a way to try 'train' your emotional perception. Maybe in the future you won't need me and you'll be able to have some emotional perception abilities."

"What method?"

"Do you listen to music? I'm easily influenced by music; my emotions are readily affected. And once influenced, emotions naturally arise—there's an 'Emotional Assimilation.' You can feel the same emotions as me, and you're listening to the same songs. After experiencing this a few times, your body gets used to this emotion and external stimulus. Even if I'm not around, you might experience the same emotions when you listen to music on your own. And... over time, these emotions might become your own, no longer just the same as mine," Xiang Kun explained. "Of course, this is just my speculation for now; whether it will succeed, I can't say."

Xia Libing gripped the steering wheel, looking at the road ahead, and nodded slightly. "We can give it a try."

So Xiang Kun opened the music app on his phone to play a song, but after hesitating for two seconds, he put his phone away.

"What's wrong?" Xia Libing looked at Xiang Kun in the passenger seat with a puzzled expression.

Xiang Kun shook his head and said, "You're driving right now, so it's best not to let your emotions get too agitated. Try it again when you get home."

He had originally intended to play "Catch the Shrimp," but immediately thought of the potential safety hazards. Although Lao Xia is usually rational and doesn't drive much but has pretty good driving skills, it's hard to say what kind of state he might be in when his Emotional Assimilation.

Xia Libing responded with an "oh," accepting Xiang Kun's explanation, but still slightly increased the throttle, clearly wanting to get home as quickly as possible.

Half a minute later, Xiang Kun suddenly said, "Lao Xia, let's turn around."

This chapter was originally written in the early hours of the morning, but there were some problems, so I revised it and am only posting it now... _(:зゝ∠)_