Chapter 412: A virtual world within a virtual world?
The reinstatement process for James Wall-E went much more smoothly than expected.
With Prince Colin personally present, the magicians in Xuebang Administration Department, who had always used "following the rules" as a shield, demonstrated unprecedented work efficiency.
In just half a day, all the tedious procedures were completed.
After walking out of the administrative office, James had a badge in his hand that symbolized his identity as a "Corinta Visiting Scholar" and a set of keys to the teachers' dormitory.
Looking at the recovered certificate of the magician Xuebang, James felt as if he was in another world. The life in the past year seemed like a dream.
"The next issue is accommodation."
Luo Yan smiled and waved to a thin young man who was waiting not far away, while continuing in a chatty tone.
"Although the formalities have been completed, there are still many trivial matters... Let me introduce you to a helper. This is Corky, Professor Hector's assistant. You can contact him directly if you need anything."
The young man came trotting over. He was not tall, but he walked briskly, his eyes were bright, and he exuded a shrewd and capable aura.
"Your Highness, are you looking for me?"
Luo Yan smiled at Corgi and introduced him to him.
"Corgi, the person next to me is Mr. James Wall-E. He will be rejoining the Great Sage's Tower as a specially appointed researcher and working in my Magical Science Laboratory. Although he lived in the Great Sage's Tower before, he was away for some time, and a lot has happened in this Mage Tower during that time... If he encounters any problems in his life or research, please help him solve them."
"Okay, mentor! Please leave it to me!"
Assistant Coach Corgi nodded with bright eyes and responded neatly, then turned to James and saluted respectfully.
"Hello, Mr. Wall-E, I'm Corgi! Do you have any special requirements for your accommodation? For example, the direction, floor, or do you need additional soundproofing? I can take you there right now."
His series of questions stunned James, who was still in a trance. Then he smiled a little embarrassedly and spoke stiffly.
"My dorm has already been decided, so just... take me there normally."
He had a good impression of this enthusiastic young man, but no one had ever treated him so warmly before, so he felt a little at a loss for a moment.
Corgi didn't care about Mr. James's restraint and just smiled.
"Okay! Mr. James, please follow me! By the way, where's your luggage? I can arrange for someone to deliver it to your room..."
After thanking His Highness Colin again for his kindness, James Wally followed Assistant Instructor Corgi out of the corridor outside the administrative office.
After watching the two leave, Luo Yan was about to return to the laboratory.
At this time, a young magic apprentice came hurriedly from not far away.
The young man stopped in front of him, panting because he ran too fast, and his face flushed because he saw his idol. He spoke breathlessly.
"Colin... Your Highness! Assistant Professor Miller asked me to tell you that there's been new progress in the research on Void Realm No. 178 at Colin Tower!"
Virtual Realm No. 178?
Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, a touch of surprise and joy rose in his heart. He looked at the excited apprentice with a flushed face and gave instructions.
"Tell Miller I'll be there early tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir!" The apprentice nodded excitedly, feeling sincerely proud to be able to help His Highness Colin. After saying goodbye, he left in a hurry.
Although the situation in the upper echelons of the Great Sage's Tower was turbulent, and the attitudes of many professors and mentors towards Prince Colin fluctuated with the sages, it was different for those young magic apprentices.
They sincerely respect and adore His Highness who has lent them a helping hand in times of crisis...
…
The next morning, Luo Yan rode the Pegasus carriage borrowed from Professor Hector and landed on the frozen ground outside the Corin Tower.
As he stepped onto the frosted stone steps and entered the virtual laboratory on the second floor, he felt an irrepressible excitement.
All the researchers gathered in front of the lens of Virtual Realm No. 178, whispering excitedly, and they didn't even notice his arrival at first.
The scene through the lens was no longer the war-torn scene of two months ago.
With the final victory of the "Spirit of the Universe" sect, the time behind the virtual realm leaped forward for more than a century!
Not only has time changed, but the world behind the virtual world has also undergone earth-shaking changes.
Buildings that are far more magnificent than those in the past are rising from the ground, and transportation between the buildings is in an orderly manner.
Everything seems to be the same as before, yet there are stark differences.
For example, the dark alleys without light have disappeared, replaced by urban gardens that grow like gardens alongside the skyscrapers.
Enjoying life seems to no longer be the exclusive domain of "high-rise residents" and "elites with floor-to-ceiling windows."
Whether it is suffering or happiness, they are all equally distributed under the "empathy ability given by the huge spiritual network."
The misfortune of one person is the misfortune of all those who resonate with it, and the joy of one person is the joy of all those who resonate with it.
There’s more.
The slums that grew like moss in the shadows also disappeared. Jon's followers practiced the creed of "I will die first", and the houses planned by the "Spirit of the Universe" sect seemed to be just big enough to accommodate every gray man.
They who possess power will never allow any of the Grays who trust them and give them power to be saved later than them.
If the pain of history is unavoidable, it should be borne first by noble men, rather than being the first to enjoy it on behalf of those who suffer.
Because that's what Jon did.
After the catastrophe that destroyed everything, they did go through some difficult times, but after the tide went out, it was soon followed by a rising tide.
Moreover, this rise is different from the previous ones. After reconstruction, the Gray civilization has gained not only prosperity, but also unprecedented unity and cohesion.
They proved that the Kingdom of God can be built on earth without relying on lies, and that it is a Kingdom of God that belongs to every Gray.
Of course, this may also be related to their inability to lie.
Once consciousness is linked to the "mental network", the mental ripples of each sub-individual in the network will become "transparent".
Luo Yan could see with his own eyes that the faces that occasionally flashed through the virtual lens all had tranquility and peace written on them.
He saw neither impetuousness nor joy, anger, sorrow or happiness in them, as if what was distributed equally was not only property, but also their emotions.
Perhaps it is because of this that every individual who accidentally appears in the virtual world exudes a "Buddhist" aura that is detached from the world.
Or rather—
Divinity.
The researchers in the Corin Tower were whispering.
"Their emotions are so stable. What would it take to 'lose' something to surprise them?"
"I don't know, but I think it's best for us not to upset this balance."
"I agree. Your Highness asked us to carefully observe and study their spiritual network, but he didn't ask us to test its resilience..."
It was not until His Highness Colin approached that the excited discussions gradually subsided and everyone saluted respectfully.
Luo Yan looked around and didn't see Merck. Then he suddenly remembered that Merck was Alistair's disciple. He was recently implicated in the affairs of the Thorne Society and seemed to be under investigation by the Sage Council.
I wonder if the Gray Man will feel complicated after learning about this.
Their "ancient god" might really have fallen this time.
"tutor!"
Miller was the first to come forward, stepping quickly forward, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"You're finally here! Under your wise guidance, we've made another breakthrough in our research on Void Realm No. 178!"
"No need for flattery, just get to the point." Luo Yan smiled friendly and said to the excited Miller.
"Good mentor!"
Miller took a deep breath and began his report.
"At first, we thought that the Grays had a general awakening of psychic powers, because we observed that everyone from construction workers to doctors seemed to have mastered psychic skills. However, with our subsequent in-depth analysis, we overturned this conclusion - the truth is that not everyone has awakened psychic powers, but they are sharing each other's power!"
He pointed at the lens, his expression becoming filled with awe, and there was a hint of desire that could not be concealed.
"Their spiritual network has completely evolved! The invisible medium that shares their minds is no longer just a platform for exchanging information, but has become a truly powerful 'psychic network'! Every individual can access this vast network through specific rituals, temporarily gaining abilities they wouldn't normally possess during specific ceremonies or tasks!"
"For example, when a doctor is treating a wounded patient, even if he hasn't previously shown any potential for psychic powers, he can 'borrow' powerful healing psychic powers from the network to help stabilize the patient's condition! At the same time, after completing his work, he will return the borrowed power, or perhaps it will be returned automatically... In short, based on our tracking and observation of a Gray Man, he didn't display any psychic-related traits in his daily life, but suddenly he developed them at work!"
Miller turned his head and looked at Prince Colin with an expression as if he had witnessed a miracle, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice.
"Mentor! Do you know what this means? They redefine how supernatural powers are used!"
"The civilization behind Virtual Realm No. 178 no longer cultivates gods to produce transcendent beings embodying boundless power. Nor do they beg for favors from those who stand out, hoping they will pity the ordinary people struggling in the mortal world! They distribute transcendental power to every ordinary Gray, and there is no longer any distinction between high and low souls!"
"By the grace of Saint Sith... this is incredible!"
After listening to Miller's report and summary, Luo Yan, who was staring at the virtual lens, gradually became shocked.
"That's really incredible."
The Greys solve two problems at once.
The problem of lack of production enthusiasm in an equalized society and the problem of the "paradox of the extraordinary".
If a person needs to possess extraordinary power through work and become a legend or hero in people's eyes, even a lazy rat man would be eager to learn.
As for the "superhuman paradox", if everyone possesses superhuman powers, then superhuman powers themselves will no longer exist.
Unless the Grays, like the Solipsis of Virtual Realm No. 440, have traveled all over the universe they are in, and are able to obtain power close to the origin of the universe from distant worlds, they can achieve their own extraordinaryness at the cost of the ordinariness of the vast majority of young civilizations.
But it's clear—
The Greys haven't developed to that level yet.
They are only suspected of using starships to colonize several distant and desolate worlds, and have not yet come into contact with other civilizations in their own universe.
Luo Yan could understand the shock in Miller's heart, and as an ordinary researcher, he couldn't help but yearn for the world behind Virtual Realm No. 178.
In the continent of Os, even in a place like Xuebang, the most powerful supernatural power is not in the hands of those who truly study it.
Power and resources are firmly in the hands of sages and a few professors like Ariste Thorne, and these people are not much better than ordinary people in terms of morality and cultivation.
They built academic barriers, determined the flow of knowledge, and turned most researchers into worker ants digging ore for them.
Researchers have spent their entire lives trying to break the shackles of soul hierarchy, but even Ariste, who is almost at the top of the tower, can't do it.
However, the gray people on the other side of the virtual world have established a nearly ideal mechanism for distributing supernatural powers in their own way.
More than a century after Jon's death, they truly tore down the tower in their hearts with their own hands.
Luo Yan could even assert that if it weren't for him, the imperial prince, standing here, Miller's words "Saints are supreme" would have to be changed to "The Grays are supreme."
Longing is always the most beautiful distance.
While these researchers were observing and influencing the virtual world, the world behind it was also subtly influencing their minds.
At this moment, an interesting idea suddenly came to Luo Yan's mind.
Looking at those eyes that sparkled with longing, he spoke in a chatty tone.
"Miller, if the gods gave you a choice, would you rather be the master of this tower, a sage overlooking all living things? Or would you rather be one of them, an ordinary gray man?"
Miller was stunned by the question.
He opened his mouth, but found that he didn't know how to answer. After a long time, he smiled bitterly and told the truth.
"Your Highness, this question is too difficult."
"Don't worry, I just asked casually."
Luo Yan smiled and didn't ask any further questions.
It can be seen that the teaching assistant is thinking about this question seriously, instead of just giving himself the answer he wants to hear perfunctorily.
And his answer just shows that it is too early for the people on the continent of Oss to answer this question.
If this group of researchers continues to observe, Virtual Realm No. 178 and the "Spirit of the Universe" sect behind it will probably become a "corrosion" that is no less than chaos.
The reason is not because the doctrines they preach are unrealistic or the pictures they depict are not beautiful enough.
On the contrary, the utopia they created was so beautiful that there was no soil outside the virtual world for it to take root and sprout.
And if it's just a pie in the sky, Saint-Sissi can draw a better picture than this one.
At least that's the case for the vast majority of ordinary people on the continent of Os.
At this moment, a researcher responsible for monitoring the "psychic network" suddenly exclaimed, drawing everyone's attention back to the huge virtual lens.
"Teacher! Psionic energy is converging towards the sky on a large scale!"
Luo Yan turned his gaze back to the virtual realm.
In the virtual world, countless streams of psychic light originating from the earth's surface were like brilliant galaxies pulled by invisible gravity, penetrating the gray clouds and finally converging in the world where the gray people lived... or in other words, above the planet.
There, stands a silver-white palace.
It is made entirely of some unknown silver-white metal, and its surface shimmers faintly, like an artificial star.
The researchers in the Corin Tower were whispering excitedly, discussing the unknown metal structure.
Only their Lord Colin's expression did not change.
Luo Yan knew very well that it was just a space station, and it was not a remarkable technology at all for the Grays who had already started interstellar colonization.
They already mastered it!
But soon, the scene in the virtual world changed again.
This time, even though he was very strong-willed, he was still shocked by the incredible scene that came into his eyes.
Directly outside the space station, all the gathered spiritual energy was compressed into a singularity, and then suddenly tore open a crack that shone with unstable light!
"It's the Void Realm! They actually opened the Void Realm as well!"
Miller screamed in surprise, followed by an uncontrollable ecstasy, and his hands clenched unconsciously with excitement.
He remembered the research records of Virtual Realm No. 440—
The Solipsi people behind Virtual Realm No. 440 finally broke through the limits of their own vision through reverse exploration of the virtual realm, and turned their attention to the "creators" behind the void!
Today, the gray men in the virtual realm No. 178 are reenacting this historic scene!
And it was witnessed by the "Creator"!
Miller's heart was filled with excitement, and he couldn't help but pray silently for these children who were just learning to walk.
If they could contact Xuebang like the Solepsi people did, maybe they would make a "more generous and selfless" choice!
for example--
Just like the researchers at Corinta who meticulously "cared" for them, they should now turn around and give back to their "creators" who are still in dire straits!
Although Miller did not express his true feelings, Luo Yan could tell at a glance what the young man was fantasizing about.
This is a fantasy that almost every first-time father will inevitably have, pinning his own unfulfilled wishes on his son.
However, although he understood it, he was not very optimistic.
The civilization behind Void 178 was still too young, and their exploration of the Void had only just begun. It would be centuries before the Solipsi of Void 440 truly found the "Creator" behind the Void.
Moreover, when the Solipsis first discovered that their "spiritual father" was just an ordinary person, it was quite disappointing.
As for the final "reconciliation" and the rediscovery of the umbilical cord connecting their spirits, that was a matter of the fortieth century.
The Solipsian civilization was already in its twilight years at that time.
It is still unknown whether the intersection of the two sides' limited lifespans will last for such a long time. The reunion in the virtual realm No. 440 is more like a miracle.
Perhaps by the time the Greys complete their final "reconciliation," they will no longer meet each other.
Time behind the virtual world continues to flow.
The crack floating outside the space station is much larger than the crack in the Corin Tower. It is like a wound emerging in deep space, and can even fit the entire space station inside.
certainly.
The Grays did not do so. Instead, like the researchers in the Corin Tower, they kept their distance from the rift and carefully observed the blue world behind it...
By analyzing the mental network and switching perspectives, the researchers in the Corin Tower were pleasantly surprised to find that they could see it all.
Including the situation inside the space station, including that "virtual world within the virtual world"!
"...Doesn't this mean that we can study the virtual world within the virtual world?" A researcher couldn't help but mutter to himself, his shoulders trembling slightly with excitement and excitement.
This is an even more incredible discovery than Virtual Realm No. 440!
At the same time, the reactions of the Gray researchers behind the virtual world were also strangely similar.
Looking at the blue world behind the virtual world, everyone's ordinary faces showed an expression of longing, and their shoulders were shaking slightly.
It was all because that world was so beautiful that it was like heaven compared to their home planet which was almost burning out!
The so-called longing is the most beautiful distance... Obviously this sentence also applies to the Gray Man.
Even though they knew very well that they could not cross the void to reach that beautiful world, they still found it difficult to suppress their yearning.
They desperately want a planet filled with clean air and water.
It’s a pity that their universe is too desolate, and those seemingly beautiful planets are too far away, just like mirages in the universe.
Driven by this vision, they drew more mental power from the psychic network and invested it in exploring the virtual world.
However, as they explored deeper, they soon discovered that it was too early to describe this strange world as paradise.
It's not paradise.
On the contrary, it seems more like their past—the past when they have not yet woken up from their dreams and are still immersed in the beautiful dream woven by neon lights.
Perhaps the 30-second advertisement aroused the "post-traumatic stress disorder" deep in their souls. Seeing that group of humanoid creatures with similar appearance to them were destroying their own world, the mental ripples that had been calm for many years began to fluctuate for the first time.
"We cannot allow these materialists to go astray! They will bring disaster upon themselves and upon the universe in which they live."
"Intervention is a necessary option. We will not force them to become like us, but we need to give our friends who are suffering in another universe a better choice."
'Do it!'
They reached a consensus.
This is another unity since the Grey Psykers decided to overthrow the Federal Parliament by force. This time they decided to give the best gift to the people on the other side of the virtual world, to help them end the parliament on the other side of the virtual world.
Just like their father, "Colin", once did for them.
At the same time, the researchers in the Corin Tower were also shocked, exchanging looks of astonishment and discussing the matter.
The virtual world within the virtual world is an extremely prosperous material civilization.
Countless skyscrapers, far taller than the Gray City itself, soared into the sky. Streamlined vehicles streamed between the buildings, and the ground below was bustling with people. Although their clothing styles varied greatly, their appearance seemed...human?
Moreover, these "humans" have almost set their feet on the edge of the starry sky, but not as thoroughly as the Grays.
"God bless you, are they repeating our path?!" Miller's voice was filled with a hint of absurdity, like a dream. After swallowing his saliva, he continued muttering, "They are actually spreading the gospel of 'Colin' to another world!"
The facts are just as he said.
Researchers at Corinta soon discovered that the Grays had easily mastered the methods of interfering with the virtual world and the techniques of using a force similar to the Source Force to accelerate the passage of time in the virtual world.
They are very smart and know how to adapt.
They did not spread the most primitive doctrines in the most ancient way. Instead, after fully studying the society behind the virtual world, they wove a set of doctrines that suited the actual situation of the "humans" living there, guiding them to re-examine their souls and hearts.
Not only that, they also quietly established an organization called the "Universe Spirit Foundation" behind the virtual world.
Having prepared themselves mentally and met the material conditions, they are full of confidence in the coming changes and have even made preparations for the aftermath.
However, just when they were about to succeed, something unexpected happened.
History repeats itself in an almost mocking way, but what is repeated is not the story of "Jon and Colin", but the story of "the ancient god Mercury and Kyle".
Under the corruption of power and desire, the "Universe Spirit Foundation" has become an organization similar to the "Ark of Salvation".
They no longer pursue lofty ideals, but instead indulge in worldly desires and use any means to achieve their goals.
This change, which started with good intentions, eventually aroused the vigilance of the "humans" behind the virtual world towards the void.
The Foundation was labeled a cult, and a war affecting the entire world was about to break out, destroying the Grays' years of hard work.
The only fortunate thing was that, perhaps due to the high level of civilization, this catastrophe ended quickly and inspired "humanity's" enthusiasm to explore distant worlds.
A magnificent starship set sail from that blue world and headed for the distant starry sky.
However, in contrast, the first virtual realm channel that the Gray Man had just mastered became precarious and was almost about to go out.
Through the lens, the Grays' mental network was filled with regret and confusion. This failed intervention seemed to have shaken their society.
The vast majority of the Greys are criticizing this failed intervention, believing that their actions not only failed to guide the lost lambs onto the right path, but instead brought greater suffering to innocent souls.
Because the psychic network refused to open psychic permissions for the virtual channel, the Gray civilization's research on the virtual world came to a standstill for a while.
At the first crossroads they seemed to be taking a very different path from the Solepsis.
The researchers at Corinta felt the same way and sighed. However, most of the sighs were focused on the fact that these Grays had simply given up.
What a pity.
Unlike those researchers who lamented that the chances of a reunion were slim, Luo Yan's expression became a little strange.
It’s not a question of whether it’s a pity or not, he just feels that... that blue planet seems somewhat familiar?
"It can't be such a coincidence..." Luo Yan muttered to himself until a holographic billboard flashed before him.
The flashing Chinese characters in the neon light seemed so familiar to him that his thoughts were instantly brought back to more than 20 years ago.
Good guy——
Is this really the Earth?!
Although that didn't seem to be the Earth he was familiar with, but an Earth on another timeline that had already entered the future...
(End of this chapter)
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