This is a desolate world, where dust obscures the sky and the earth is barren, devoid of any crops. Arid and dry, it is almost impossible to see any greenery as far as the eye can see.
No one knows how long this overwhelming dust will last; in any case, it's impossible for humans to endure it.
Although there are no crops, the entire continent continues to function. Highly sophisticated robots operate various energy devices everywhere, including nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power plants. The planned industries have turned the whole world into steel.
Each robot operates with exceptional efficiency, handling every detail admirably within the vast factory.
But upon closer inspection, you'll find these robots quite strange. Despite being machines that should be devoid of emotion, they sometimes sit together in groups of three or five during their breaks and chat like humans.
Do you have enough points?
Five robots sat together, varying greatly in size. Some were enormous, nearly five or six meters tall, while others were only the size of a mouse. Their functions also differed; the enormous robot was mainly responsible for mining minerals, while the smallest robot was responsible for testing and polishing precision instruments.
"Almost there. We'll be able to go in soon." The giant robot gazed at the massive steel city in the distance. Although its face was expressionless, its voice was filled with excitement.
Their mining robot points yield very low rewards; they typically work for a year before they have the chance to enjoy themselves in the Big Data City once.
The tiny robot in front of me was different. As a repair expert of precision instruments, he earned points much faster than I did, and could earn an opportunity in just one month.
"Miner ID 175904, Data City has sent you an invitation. You can register at the Rare Minerals Center and then go to Data City!"
"Huh?" The big guy was taken aback when he heard the AI prompt.
Based on his points, he would have to work hard for at least half a month to get a chance to go to the Data City, right? And he had to apply on his own initiative; this was the first time he had ever heard of the Data City proactively inviting a mining robot like him.
"Excavator No. 175904, please reply!"
"Okay, okay, got it!" The big guy quickly stood up. "I'll go report right away!"
"Once you arrive at the Data City, please contact the Central China Region, Wu Xiaoli, or Shangguan. Thank you for your cooperation!"
"Yes!"
"Have a pleasant journey in the City of Data." The AI replied gently before cutting off the connection, leaving the large robot standing there in a daze for a long time before it started gesturing wildly.
"Calm down, don't step on me!" Several small robots nearby quickly moved away, their voices tinged with reproach.
"No, I was just a little too excited." The big guy realized what he meant and waved his hand apologetically.
"Did you receive any news?"
The big guy quickly shared the message he had just received with the others.
" Data City is actively requesting that you report on it?" The other robots all exclaimed in disbelief.
Only the oldest and shortest robot remained silent.
"By the way, Old Zhang, you go to the Data City the most, have you ever encountered this situation?" the big man asked the silent, short machine.
"I've never encountered that before." The other person shook their head. "Be careful, it might not be a good thing."
"What the hell? Can't you wish me something good? I finally get a free ticket once, and you're cursing me like this?"
The other person remained silent for a moment after hearing this, then finally smiled and said, "I hope I'm just overthinking it."
Everyone knows that Data City is hard to get into. Since the Digital Life Plan was launched, it has become the only place where humans consume. It has everything that doesn't exist in the post-apocalyptic world: cigarettes, fine wine, women in bikinis, blue skies, white clouds, and a colorful world.
Of course, that's fake, but that doesn't matter. For them, who have already become digital life forms, they can't truly enjoy that anyway; the virtual world is exactly what they need!
In the Data City, you can experience what it's like to live as a human.
However, the cost is huge. Each trip to the Data City requires a large number of points, which are earned through labor.
Humans will not actually rely on intelligent robots to maintain this world; human intervention is needed. Maintaining the power supply for the Data City requires the continuous construction of external energy projects, such as nuclear power and solar power.
Every energy project requires human maintenance. The world continues to turn. Although life is gone, humanity remains the digital master of this planet.
But working blindly will break anyone. Human emotions need to be released, and the Big Data City is such a place that can numb people's nerves and provide temporary relief. There is only one in the world, and it is the only driving force for all of humanity today.
The price was naturally exorbitant. The short robot had worked in the Federation for two hundred years, making it the longest-serving robot in the area. As a result, it had seen its share of things. The executives in Data City were very dangerous, and once they set their sights on you, it was usually not a good thing.
I hope I'm just overthinking it.
"Welcome to Data City! Oh, still a greenhorn, huh? Want to explore this area?"
The alluring female voice was captivating. The young man hadn't been here for a year, and the sight of the tall, beautiful woman in black stockings beckoned him so tightly that his soul almost flew away.
After all, at this age, he's most easily attracted to women. He's been facing deserts and cold robots all year round, and after a whole year of being cooped up, he feels like he can have his fun eight times today!
But he can't do that now; he has to go report first.
"Wait... I'll be there soon." The boy's voice trembled, his eyes red like a raging bull.
"Okay, haha, I'll be waiting for you!" The girl glanced at the boy's unseemly erect penis and smiled slightly. This kind of greenhorn who had only been in the Data City a couple of times was the easiest target for temptation in their red-light district. Judging from his dog-like appearance in heat, she knew he couldn't escape.
"Okay, okay, I'll be right there, I'll be right there!" The boy drooled, vowing that he would do it ten times this time to make up for his hard work throughout the year!
But he dared not do so now. The officials in Data City were all powerful and influential figures with the power to eliminate threats. He dared not show any resistance to such a summons.
Along the way, the diverse characters inside the Data City dazzled him, their clothing varied wildly. There was a punk-style blond guy, an exaggeratedly dressed foreigner, and a scholar dressed like an ancient character from a book.
These people strolled leisurely through the Data City, not even glancing at the women in the red-light district outside, seemingly quite disdainful of them.
The boy wiped the drool from his mouth, recalling the experiences Old Zhang had shared in the Data City.
According to him, those who can stay in the city permanently are all people who have made a name for themselves in the adventure zone. They should not be provoked easily. Even the high-ranking officials in the Data City will not easily offend those adventurers.
An adventurer?
Just as he was feeling envious, a scene suddenly shocked him: a woman in white was flying in the sky, riding on a flying sword. In an instant, he noticed that everyone was looking up at the sky, their faces full of envy!
The boy stood there blankly, continuing to recall Old Zhang's words.
Adventurers are divided into different classes, especially those dressed in a fantasy style who can even use supernatural powers in the Data City. They are extremely noble and have long lifespans, unlike us, who will inevitably enter a state of Alzheimer's disease after a maximum of three hundred years and be destroyed by data!
Is this some kind of supernatural power?
The boy muttered to himself, "How long can a woman like that live?"
"That woman?" A blond-haired man next to the boy looked up at the sky and answered his question, "That girl's Zhang Keyun, one of the high-level adventurers in the Chinese Paladin World. It's said that her lifespan is estimated to reach four thousand years. Sigh, it's really infuriating to compare people like that."
"Four thousand years?" The boy turned around in surprise, staring blankly at the other person.
These mining robot operators toil for a year before they can enter the Data City once, and if they're lucky, they might only get to enjoy themselves for a little over 300 days every three hundred years. Meanwhile, these adventurers can stay here every day, and some can even maintain this blissful existence for thousands of years?
Suddenly, he realized that the women in black stockings in the red-light district didn't seem appealing at all anymore.
"Excavator No. 175904, please report to the designated location as soon as possible."
"Oh, okay!" The boy snapped out of his daze and, not daring to delay, hurriedly followed the directions indicated by the AI in his mind.
The blond-haired man who had just spoken was initially annoyed that the young man left without saying goodbye, but when he saw the red light above the other man's head, he immediately abandoned his intention to teach him a lesson and avoided him several meters away as if he were a plague god.
"Red light. They're picking people up again."
"It's none of our business." The blond-haired man shrugged and said to the Human Dao next to him who had spoken up, "Don't be like Jiang Xiaoling and get yourself involved."
"I wouldn't dare." The man shuddered in horror upon hearing Jiang Xiaoling.
"Him too?" Another burly man next to him frowned.
"Of course," the blond-haired man sneered. "Anyone with a red card is just cannon fodder in the New World, and everyone knows that the Federation is now trying to conquer the most difficult world."
The burly man looked up from the "most challenging world": "A masterpiece left by the legendary designer, Pu Yunchuan: The Demon World!"
More chapters tomorrow!!