Chapter 301

Zero Element Center, central surveillance room.

The air seemed to be silent under a bizarre atmosphere. When the beautiful mechanical head called out Lin Xian's name, not only Lin Xian, but Xiang Xiang Ningjing and the others also felt their hair stand on end.

*Woo~*

Lin Xian's two drones had already circled the entire circular central surveillance room in a very short time. Under photoelectric scanning, no living people were found, except for Lin Xian's 7-person squad.

In the surveillance lobby, there was not a single person, and all terminal equipment was operating automatically.

"Lin Xian, how does she know you?" Kiki asked immediately.

"Not clear..." Lin Xian frowned, staring at the mechanical head at the high place, his heart full of doubts. Out of caution, he subconsciously prepared to use his mechanical ability to investigate.

"I suggest you do not perform physical or ability attacks on me. If the intelligent brain malfunctions, I will be unable to operate the system for the Zero Element Center, and at the same time, I will be unable to communicate with you in a friendly manner."

Grace's gaze focused on Lin Xian. Her words made Lin Xian change color slightly, and then he stopped the mechanical coverage action, but said:

"Then please answer me, who are you, and what is this place?"

"I am the offline version of the Crimson No. 3 intelligent brain at the Yijin Zero Element Center. You can call me Grace. I am responsible for guarding all 1623 Crimson members of the Zero Element Center. Currently, all defensive weapons in the system have gone offline, and my 4th basic protocol has been triggered, that is, to protect all Crimson members, I formally initiate negotiations with you." At this moment, the intelligent brain said.

"Negotiations?" Lin Xian looked at this robot intelligent brain that was almost exactly the same as the woman named Chu Yan in his dream, forcibly suppressed the doubts in his heart, and hit the point: "What do you want to negotiate with us?"

"According to the protocol content, I can provide you with, including but not limited to: (1) member survival supplies in the Zero Element Center's permanent warehouse; (2) 1000 sets of Interstellar Level III individual weapon sets in the weapon equipment warehouse; (3) safe evacuation routes."

"At the same time, I need to inform you that this Zero Element Center does not possess other content strongly related to survivors. Destroying the Zero Element honeycomb cave or killing Crimson members does not provide any benefits to you."

"Looks like this is a robot housekeeper." Ding Junyi said at this moment: "I sensed a large number of human heat sources in the curtain wall behind."

"Eh, really, Lin Xian, look!"

Kiki immediately flew into the air, looked down at the bottom of the curtain wall, and immediately showed surprise.

Lin Xian looked at the intelligent brain at the high place, then walked toward the transparent spherical dome. After walking closer, he discovered that under this dome, it was actually a huge deep hole vertically downward!

On the edge of this deep hole, countless oval survival cabins were neatly arranged, embedded in hexagonal honeycomb grids, like a large underground storage pit. But looking closely, there was actually a person lying in each survival cabin!

All survival cabins had blue lights flashing. Looking around, there were thousands of survival cabins in this huge pit. That is to say, there were thousands of people lying in this vertical honeycomb pit. At the same time, there were countless flying robots and a large suspended crane working in an orderly manner inside, like some kind of medical management robot, constantly checking the status of each survival cabin and taking care of them.

"This... what is this? Hibernation cabin??" The squad and others also followed up. At this moment, Luo Yang said in surprise.

This amazing sci-fi underground facility made everyone unable to help but change color.

"Could it be that the people of this organization are all lying here?" Xiang Xiang Ningjing also frowned.

"Maybe they want to escape the suffering." Lu Xingchen said rarely: "Sleeping for a hundred years is not necessarily not a choice."

"A hundred years?" Kiki crossed her arms, looking at the bottomless honeycomb pit below: "In this Polar Night, the dark invasion is everywhere. Whether you can live for a year is a problem, how can you sleep for a hundred years."

"That's right." Xiang Xiang Ningjing said at this moment: "Could it be that this organization already has a way to shield against the dark invasion?"

"Perhaps you all guessed wrong."

At this moment, Ding Junyi's Black Hawk combat armor observation system automatically zoomed in and scanned those oval high-tech survival cabins, but discovered some clues. She pointed to a survival cabin closest to the bottom and said:

"Look, on the heads of those people, besides sensors, there are also some white fungal threads."

"Fungal threads? Are these people already dead?"

"In biological definition, the Crimson members here are not dead." The 'intelligent brain' Grace's voice came from behind the group.

*Hiss~*

At this moment, the head at the high place slowly descended, and a power cabin below seemed to rise. A silver-black robot body with perfect female torso curves was supported by a bracket. Then the head and body completed the connection, and the several pipelines behind the head began to detach. 'She' stood on her tiptoes, like an elegant ballet dancer.

*Pat, pat. *

Grace walked to the front of the group with a smooth pace comparable to human coordination, and the holographic face said without emotion:

"They are in a state of eternal living body, a survival continuation plan secretly developed by Crimson World based on the characteristics of fungal threads."

"This kind of fungal thread that survives in the Polar Night tide is named Star Abyss Fungal Thread by Crimson World. Through human experiments, it was found that this fungal thread will erode the human body, making human tissue fiberized, but it will not erode the brain. Instead, it will release a special substance, transmitting human consciousness through the fungal thread network, forming a brain-domain network."

"Brain-domain network?" Kiki frowned: "What does that mean?"

"Brain-domain network can be simply understood as uploading human consciousness into the Internet. The only difference is that this transmission method is through the fungal thread network." Grace's mechanical voice answered.

"So what? What is the significance of doing this?" Xiang Xiang Ningjing asked.

"Sounds like changing a way of living." Lin Xian said with a solemn expression: "So, do you think this is a kind of immortality?"

"I cannot understand the concept of immortality."

Grace looked at him: "Taking Grace as an example, my consciousness exists in storage media and quantum processing units. As an industrial creation, the processor does not possess the concept of 'immortality'. But compared to human lifespan, Grace can 'live' longer. And the brain-domain network exists in the fungal organism of Star Abyss Fungal Thread. Currently, Crimson has not yet had definitive research on the lifespan of this dark organism. It is just that compared to the rapid death in the Polar Night, this may be a way of 'immortality'."

"In addition, through research, it was found that after connecting to the fungal thread network, the dopamine secretion of the human brain can be maintained above 5000 for a long time. This is the main factor that can make human consciousness generate pleasure. And the highest pleasure experience that humans could originally obtain was a high-quality sexual intercourse, which can briefly obtain 400-500 dopamine factors. This means that after connecting to the fungal thread network, humans can maintain the pleasure of 10 times the sexual intercourse for a long time. This is also one of the reasons why Crimson members are willing to avoid natural disasters in this way."

In this miserable doomsday, living in the fungal thread network with 10 times the pleasure of consciousness, Grace's words made Lin Xian and the others more and more shocked as they listened. Kiki reacted at this moment and exclaimed:

"So those human-fungi outside and the human heads on the ground are all... living people?!"

Xiang Xiang Ningjing: "Doesn't that mean turning yourself into a plant?"

"Against humanity!" Lu Xingchen said with indignation.

Ding Junyi said at this moment: "After being parasitized by fungal threads, the body has already irreversibly fiberized. How did you manage to keep these people alive?"

"Through cooling."

Grace responded quickly: "After being invaded by fungal threads, there will be two stages. The first stage is connecting to the fungal thread network, and the second stage is the consciousness completing the upload, forever entering the fungal thread network. Before completing the second stage, the brain will enter a state of high heat load. The Zero Element Center monitors this characteristic information, cuts off the fungal thread connection during a safe time period, and maintains the normal metabolism of the body. Therefore, what the Crimson members are sleeping in is not a hibernation cabin, but a survival cabin with metabolic capabilities."

Lin Xian said upon hearing this: "I understand. Once the consciousness upload is completed, the body is useless, equivalent to completely dead."

"Regarding death, I have a slightly different view. The logic essence of human consciousness and intelligent brain consciousness is the same. The difference is just the carrier. Just like the Crimson online version of Grace has been iterating, the carrier of Crimson members has been changed to the Star Abyss fungal thread network. This is also living, isn't it?"

"How can this be the same?!" Kiki wanted to say something, but found that she didn't know how to argue.

Lin Xian turned his head and glanced at the dense survival cabins in the honeycomb pit, and asked Grace: "These Crimson members shouldn't be your research personnel, right?"

"Crimson members are people from all over the world who highly recognize the strategy of Crimson World and possess significant financial resources, and have been strictly screened by Crimson World. Participating in the Zero Element project is also entered through clear willingness."

"Oh~ understood." Lin Xian remembered that luxurious carriage and couldn't help but sneer: "So it's just a group of rich people who want to pursue immortality treating this place as a sanatorium."

"Not only that." Ding Junyi also understood at this moment: "They want to sleep here underground until the Polar Night disappears. I estimate that this center must have set some kind of protocol. If they can't wait for the dawn or encounter a major change, these robots will stop 'cooling', let these people abandon their flesh and forever upload to the fungal thread network, becoming eternal consciousness."

"Wow, awesome." Luo Yang was stunned as he listened: "This time I really learned something."

Ding Junyi looked at Grace and then said to Lin Xian: "If their consciousness is connected to the fungal thread network, essentially they will not be attacked by the power of dark invasion, so they will not be alienated because of this. It should be for this reason."

Lin Xian let out a breath and said with burning eyes: "The brain has grown fungal threads. What is the difference between this and alienation?"

After speaking, he walked forward directly and said to Grace:

"The last question, which is actually the first question, how do you know my name?"

Grace turned her head mechanically to look at Lin Xian: "Through your tone, I judge that your question should possess a deeper meaning, seemingly thinking that I shouldn't know you or obtain your name, so you want to get a more traceable answer. But very sorry, as an offline version, I cannot retrieve the answer you want. Your facial features and personal information are stored in my known personnel information database, and possess P3-level permission. The above research information about Star Abyss Fungal Thread is also only open to personnel with P3-level permission."

As soon as these words came out, everyone's eyes looked at Lin Xian.

Lin Xian didn't know when he had gotten involved with this Crimson World. Upon hearing this, his face sank immediately: "Since I possess such permission, can you tell me what kind of organization Crimson World is, and also, where did the people here go?"

Grace replied: "Sorry, my database does not possess this kind of information. My basic protocols are all written based on managing the Zero Element Center, so I cannot answer your question."

"It should be for confidentiality. Information about the organization Crimson World has not been compiled into this intelligent brain." Ding Junyi said at this moment: "Judging from the design of the passage just now, this place has already made preparations not to let any living people enter."

"Then why are there survival supplies and weapon cabins?" Lin Xian said directly.

"That's right." Kiki crossed her arms: "Preparing these things shows that these powerful people didn't all prepare to turn themselves into vegetables. They still want to wake up again one day when the darkness recedes. They made two-handed preparations."

As soon as these words came out, the others also nodded.

"Your analysis is completely reasonable." Grace said at this moment: "Not only that, but also based on other safety considerations, this part of the supplies will be used as negotiation conditions to exchange with intruders."

Hearing the words of this intelligent brain, Lin Xian understood the current situation of the group. It looked like the Crimson World organization members who had a firefight with the Night Edge fleet had either been wiped out by fungal threads or had completely evacuated. And this Zero Element Center was defended by intelligent robots. As for the passage just now, if it weren't for his mechanical ability, really no one could just break in.

Thinking of this, Lin Xian said to the intelligent brain:

"Why should I accept your negotiation? I can take away all the supplies and weapons here directly." Lin Xian pointed to Grace: "Including you."

A quantum intelligent brain that can manage a huge underground base, Lin Xian had always wanted to find one to be responsible for the management of the train. The Grace in front of him was indeed a good choice. It's just that he didn't expect that an intelligent brain would appear in such a form. Judging from Grace's movements, she possessed extremely high coordination and athletic ability, and must be able to achieve some kind of combat capability. So from the beginning to now, his Mechanical Heart had been scanning Grace comprehensively, discovering extremely precise mechanical component structures inside, and his scanning progress was incomparably slow.

Even so, he could directly forcibly drive Grace's joints and drive units. If this robot had any movements, it would be difficult to escape his control.

Kiki on the side sneered cunningly upon hearing this: "That's right, what is there to negotiate? You don't possess any defensive means, and if it weren't for your organization destroying the tracks, we wouldn't be trapped here. You also captured survivors for human experiments. You are simply a group of human traitors. Why should we let this group of people go?"

Kiki's words made Ah Bai, who was standing next to Xiang Xiang Ningjing, feel deeply touched, and the fist in his hand couldn't help but clench.

Lu Xingchen looked at the Zero Element honeycomb cave below and also smacked his lips: "This place is about the same as that oven for roasting naan. If it's lit, it will definitely burn for a long time."

Grace heard Lin Xian's words, the holographic projection face had no expression change, and said in a flat tone:

"The permanent warehouse is not in the Zero Element Center. You might be able to find it, but you cannot take it away."

"We also came in here, why can't we take it away?" Lin Xian asked.

"Because you do not possess the time to complete the destruction of the Zero Element Center, search the permanent warehouse, and complete the safe transfer."

Lin Xian's heart jumped, and he said with a serious gaze: "Time? What do you mean."

Grace said: "The Yijin City area where the Zero Element Center is currently located is covered by the Polar Night. According to the Crimson Yijin Observation Station, every other day, the Star Abyss fungal network will enter an active state due to the dark tide and last for 9 hours. After the active state ends, the Sky Mushroom Tower will release a large amount of unknown energy fungal threads, attracting a large range of bizarre bodies into Yijin City. We define this phenomenon as a 'feeding' behavior of dark organisms. And currently, the fungal network has entered an active state for 6 hours and 15 minutes. That is to say, your time is only left with 2 hours and 45 minutes."

As soon as these words came out, everyone changed color.

"What?!"

"Bizarre bodies enter Yijin City in a large range?"

Lin Xian frowned: "So your negotiation condition just now said there is a safe evacuation plan, that's what you mean?"

"Yes, but the feasibility probability of this plan is declining." After Grace finished speaking, her eyes projected a holographic large screen, which contained the content and data observed by the Crimson Observation Station. It indeed showed that after a time cycle, the fluctuation of Yijin City's soul-swing value would impact to a terrifying degree, with the posture of bizarre bodies besieging the city!

Lin Xian stared: "Are you putting pressure on us?"

"From Grace's perspective, you don't have a better choice, and Grace's request will not touch any of your interests. The destruction of the Zero Element Center and Crimson members, apart from allowing you to vent your emotional emotions, has no meaning. If you want to act, I suggest you can quickly return to the ground through the spare passage entrance on the platform outside." Grace said.

"Team Leader Lin." Xiang Xiang Ningjing looked at Lin Xian at this moment, with inquiry in her eyes.

Lin Xian nodded slightly. Currently, Grace's conditions were completely letting him pick up benefits for nothing. The life or death of the people in those survival cabins had nothing to do with him, but the more this was the case, the more cautious Lin Xian became.

"I accept your conditions, but how can I ensure that you are not lying to me, or that the permanent warehouse is not a trap?" Lin Xian said at this moment.

*Woo~*

At this moment, a drone flew from afar and stopped in front of Lin Xian and the others. The cabin cover opened, and a device similar to a password device rose from inside.

"Inside here is the guidance orientation and joint key of the permanent warehouse, as well as the safe evacuation plan. You can transfer through this special line."

Kiki grabbed it with her telekinesis and connected it to the mobile terminal. At this moment, a holographic blueprint of Yijin City was projected. In the underground of Yijin City, there was an underground rail system extending in all directions. One of the secret lines was exactly the one from Crimson Pharmaceutical Group to the Zero Element Center.

Extending along this line, there was actually a secret underground entrance leading to a freight station loading workshop outside the city!

"I said that if this kind of underground project was transporting large instruments, it couldn't possibly be the subway line. It turns out there really is a separate entry line, hidden at the freight station!"

Xiang Xiang Ningjing's expression changed immediately upon seeing it. Looking at that position, she said urgently: "If we drive in reverse and enter underground from the freight station, we can leave Yijin City without building any tracks!"

"That's right!" Kiki's eyes lit up, but suddenly she thought of something and looked at Grace with suspicion.

"No, how do you know we are a train group?"

Grace opened her mouth: "In my database, Lin Xian, captain of the Infinite train fleet. In addition, the underground network of the Crimson Observation Station also learned your information."

"So that's it. Does that mean there are still people from your Crimson World in Yijin City?"

"After the Zero Element Center entered the hibernation plan, all field and research personnel have evacuated." Grace said.

Luo Yang looked at Grace and couldn't help but whisper to Lin Xian: "Team Leader Lin, could there be a fraud? She handed over the chips so easily. Isn't she afraid we will go back on our word?"

"This one also feels something is tricky." Lu Xingchen said.

"That's not simple."

Lin Xian took the password device from Kiki's hand, walked over, patted Lu Xingchen on the shoulder, and then whispered something in his ear.

Lu Xingchen was puzzled at first, then his eyes lit up.

"Understood." He responded, then stepped forward, preparing to strike a fire fist directly at the glass curtain wall!

*Scritch! *

The next instant, a silver-black figure flashed by, jumped out nimbly, caught Lu Xingchen's wrist, and pulled him backward.

*Boom! *

In an instant, a burst of fire ignited in the surveillance lobby.

Lu Xingchen looked up and saw that the intelligent brain Grace rushed to his front at an extremely fast speed. After unloading his fire fist, she raised her mechanical arm. The mechanism on her wrist raised a plasma beam pulse gun and started energy gathering quickly!

"Protocol 2, prohibit any biological destruction of the honeycomb, harm to Crimson members. Your behavior has caused a threat, I will..."

*Click, click. * Before the words fell, the joints of Grace's whole body were suddenly controlled, and the plasma beam pulse gun in her hand also went out of fire directly.

Mechanical control!

*Bang! *

Just when Grace was puzzled about how her mechanical components suddenly 'rebelled', Xiang Xiang Ningjing had already rushed out and slammed a punch onto Grace's face. The huge force directly brought up a muffled explosion, blasting Grace away like a cannonball, directly smashing through a large instrument. In an instant, sparks flew everywhere.

(End of chapter)