Chapter 76
The successful connection was like a thunderclap, splitting the fog that enveloped Taoyuan's Mirror Sea. The data was quickly distributed to representatives from nine countries, and the near-perfectly synchronized waveforms silently announced the possibility of a new era.
After a brief moment of shock, there was an explosion of action.
The general of the Saiyi Kingdom was the first to connect to the dedicated communication. His loud voice carried an unquestionable force: "The 'Anvil' Legion will set off today to be responsible for the protection of the energy network hub! If any star region dares to delay energy delivery, I will personally go to 'supervise' it!" The "supervision" he mentioned was obviously not just a simple word.
The representatives of Saijian Country responded almost simultaneously, with dispatch orders flying out like snowflakes: "All 'Jiyuan-class' energy collection ships stop non-essential tasks and immediately go to the preset coordinates to lay energy pipelines! Repeat, highest priority!" Efficiency is paramount, and it was fully demonstrated at this moment.
Scientists from the countries of Saizhi and Saili formed a joint project team overnight, led by Xinglan and Dr. Anthony. The psychic masters of Saili provided the ancient secret method of consciousness harmonization, integrated it with cutting-edge technology, and began to optimize the consciousness connection protocol on a large scale, and designed a safer and gentler access port for ordinary people.
The entire alliance, like a massive, precise machine, began to operate with unprecedented efficiency. The starships' tail flames traced dense trails of light across the starry sky, like a meteor shower rushing towards hope.
At the same time, in the core training room of "Dawn", Wen Ling and Miao Weizhen faced another test.
"Expand the link range test, the first phase, connecting to the consciousness of one hundred volunteers." Xinglan's voice came through the loudspeaker with a hint of nervousness.
As the connection activated, Wen Ling's brow furrowed slightly. A hundred unfamiliar streams of consciousness, each carrying their own joy, anxiety, curiosity, and even a hint of fear, merged like noisy streams into the sea, attempting to disturb the core of his consciousness.
At this moment, a force as calm and cold as a deep-sea undercurrent quietly intervened.
It’s Miao Weizhen.
But his role has subtly changed - he is no longer just an "anchor" of Wen Ling's emotions, keeping him stable; instead, he begins to actively build barriers, sort out and filter the messy thoughts that flow towards Wen Ling, and only smoothly convey the most core common will.
After the test, Xinglan immediately convened the core team for analysis.
"Data shows that the effect of pure 'emotional anchoring' weakens as the range of connection expands," Xinglan explained, pulling up a waveform chart. "Brother, your consciousness instinctively shifts its role in responding to the flood of external information, from an 'anchor of integration' to a 'barrier of screening.' This is the most effective way to protect your core."
Miao Weizhen looked at the data with a clear understanding. His past experiences, his instinctive ability to process vast amounts of information in complex environments, discern truth from falsehood, and build psychological defenses, were perfectly replicated on a conscious level.
Wen Ling held his hand, her eyes filled with understanding and support. "I understand. As an 'anchor,' you share my burden; as a 'barrier,' you block for me. Regardless of your role, we all work towards the same goal."
Miao Weizhen shook his hand back and nodded. This was a crucial shift in their understanding; they had found a new and most suitable position for each other within a larger-scale connection.
Subsequent training revolved around this new "core-barrier" model. The range of connections steadily expanded, from one hundred to one thousand, and then to ten thousand. Each time, Miao Weizhen's consciousness barrier strengthened and adjusted, accurately filtering out distracting thoughts and negative emotions.
Xing Lan looked at the monitoring data and couldn't help but sigh to Anthony beside him, "My brother... was born for this role. His past experiences, his instincts for survival in complex environments, his ability to remain absolutely calm under pressure, have all become the strongest weapon to protect Wen Ling and stabilize the network."
Dr. Anthony pushed his glasses up, his gaze gleaming with the excitement of a scientist. "Incredible. Minister Miao's subconscious defense mechanisms and logical processing capabilities, when channeled positively, have become the perfect 'firewall' and 'coprocessor.' And His Highness Wen Ling's pure empathy and unwavering will are the irreplaceable 'core engine.' Their combination is a miracle in the science of probability."
Under this protection, Wen Ling gradually adapted to his role as the "core processor." The light of his consciousness grew increasingly concentrated and stable, like a tempered star, softly yet unwaveringly illuminating every corner of the connected network.
One of them is responsible for the interior, stabilizing the core and guiding the direction; the other is responsible for the exterior, building barriers and resisting interference. Their cooperation is seamless.
As the news spread, the last shred of doubt within the alliance vanished. Even the initially cautious representatives from Saijian publicly stated, "With such a core and barrier, our country will spare no expense in building the energy network!"
Hope, like wildfire, spreads across the prairie.
However, after another intense training session, Miao Weizhen helped the slightly exhausted Wen Ling back to the lounge. While massaging his solar plexus, he offered no words of encouragement but a calm warning:
"The current connection is still in a controlled, relatively pure environment. When the scope is expanded to hundreds of millions of people, what will be connected to the network will be the unfiltered, most primitive human nature - there will be glory, but also darkness, selfish desires, and fears that we cannot imagine. That will be the real test."
Wen Ling leaned in his arms, feeling the reassuring heartbeat and steady tone of voice, and said "hmm" softly.
"I know." He closed his eyes. "But as long as I have you as a barrier, I'm not afraid."
They all knew that the peaceful training was just a prelude. The real storm was still gathering strength in the distance. And they were racing against time to forge an ark to withstand the storm.
The link range expanded steadily, and when it successfully broke through the 100,000 mark, Wen Ling was immersed in an unprecedented experience.
His consciousness seemed to float on a vast sea of light, a confluence of countless emotions and thoughts.
He "heard" the young soldiers of Saiyi missing their lovers in their hometown, and that attachment was pure and burning; he "saw" the engineers of Saijian working day and night to solve an energy parameter, and their persistent ideas were like precise carving knives; he felt the praise and awe surging in the hearts of the artists of Saiwen as they recorded this historic moment... Countless tiny wishes, ordinary troubles, and moments of concentration, like billions of stars, flickered and resonated in the universe of his consciousness.
This is no longer a noisy noise, but a grand and complex symphony of life.
He felt the weight of the word "civilization"——
It is not a cold symbol, but a living entity woven from the joys and sorrows, efforts, and dreams of countless individuals. The sense of mission to protect all of this has never been so concrete and strong in his heart.
However, just as he was immersed in the magnificence of this sea of living beings and trying to guide this enormous power of consciousness to flow more harmoniously, the monitoring alarm suddenly sounded sharply!
"An abnormal consciousness intrusion has been detected!" Xinglan's voice suddenly tightened. "The source is unknown, and it is attempting to bypass the barrier and attack the core directly!"
On the holographic screen, several dark red energy streams suddenly emerged around the ball of light representing the core of Wen Ling's consciousness, winding around it like poisonous snakes.
They were not chaotic negative emotions, but highly organized conscious attacks with clear malice - jealousy, resentment, and desire for destruction, precisely piercing the softest part of Wen Ling's consciousness.
Wen Ling groaned, his face instantly pale. These malicious thoughts were so concentrated and sharp, completely different from the chaotic but essentially simple stream of consciousness he was exposed to on a daily basis. They tried to plant the seeds of doubt in his heart:
"Why do you lead us?"
"Can Miao Weizhen really be trusted?"
"This is all doomed to fail!"
Almost at the same moment the attack was launched, the consciousness barrier constructed by Miao Weizhen shone brightly—
It was no longer a gentle filter, but an impenetrable shield, carrying an icy edge. Dark red malice collided with the barrier, emitting a piercing "crackling" sound that could only be perceived by the conscious mind.
Miao Weizhen's consciousness was like that of the most experienced hunter. He tracked the attack in reverse. His quick reaction and fierce methods made Dr. Anthony in the monitoring room gasp.
"Found it," Miao Weizhen's voice rang out coldly over the link network, carrying undisguised murderous intent. "Three o'clock direction, three hundred meters away, link cabin number B-7."
In the real world, Luo Yan, who had been on standby, sprang out like a ghost, leading the special forces team straight towards the target. A minute later, the communication came through: "Target secured. A low-level technician who had been bribed, his consciousness implanted with the evil thought virus."
The source of the attack was cut off, and the undercurrent within the linked network quickly subsided.
Wen Ling slowly opened his eyes, his forehead covered in fine beads of sweat, and his breathing was slightly rapid. Miao Weizhen immediately disconnected himself from the network, knelt on one knee in front of him, and held his cold hand tightly. His dark brown eyes were filled with resentment and fear that had not yet dissipated.
"I'm fine." Wen Ling held his hand back and forced a smile, her voice still a little hollow. "It's just... I didn't expect it to be so... direct."
Xing Lan walked over quickly and examined Wen Ling, his expression serious. "This isn't just a leak of negative emotions; it's a carefully disguised consciousness weapon. Its goal is to directly contaminate the core and destabilize the connection."
Miao Weizhen stood up and scanned everyone in the monitoring room with a sharp gaze: "Investigate how he was bribed, the source of the virus, and whether there are other lurking individuals."
His voice was not loud, but it carried a chilling sense of oppression. "Luo Yan, pry open his mouth."
"clear."
Luo Yan's figure disappeared from the other end of the communication.
This failed attack was like a bucket of cold water poured over everyone's heads. It clearly revealed a fact - the alliance was not a monolithic entity. The remnants of the old federation, or other people with ulterior motives, would never sit idly by and watch them succeed.
That night, the command room was brightly lit.
"The emergence of consciousness weapons means our enemies are well aware of our technological path." Wen Ling looked at the star map, brows furrowed. "Furthermore, they are hiding in the dark."
"This is also a warning." Miao Weizhen stood beside him, his tone cold, "When the scope of the connection expands to the billions, the malicious intent mixed in may be far more than this. We must upgrade our defense protocols."
He turned to Xinglan and Anthony and said, "We need to design a dynamic recognition system that can not only filter out distracting thoughts, but also proactively identify, isolate, and reverse-track this aggressive consciousness virus."
"It is technically feasible, but you, brother, need to provide more 'virus' sample data for study." Xinglan responded immediately.
"There will be samples." A cold glint flashed across Miao Weizhen's eyes. "Luo Yan will get all the information we need."
Wen Ling exhaled softly, his gaze withdrawing from the star map to rest on Miao Weizhen's stern profile. He extended his hand and gently placed it over Miao Weizhen's clenched fist.
"It seems that our ark must not only be able to withstand external storms," Wen Ling's voice was soft, but with unquestionable determination, "but also be able to eliminate the maggots breeding inside."
Miao Weizhen held his hand with his backhand, his strength firm.
"No matter what," he looked at Wen Ling with deep eyes, "no one can hurt you, and no one can destroy all this."
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