Chapter 222: Brother, do you like me?

The Stellar Insect Emperor of the insect nest has already hatched; the Insect Emperor, whose size rivals a satellite, is the top killing weapon of the Insect Disaster.

This is only its juvenile form; theoretically, the Stellar Insect Emperor's size can grow without limit, and the Insect Emperor is also the only species capable of breaking through the upper limit of the Insect Disaster's life form.

In the normal growth form of the Insect Disaster, flapping wings is its upper limit; but once the Insect Emperor appears, other Insect Disasters also gain a stronger form and can devour inorganic matter to grow, this stage is uniformly called the Star-devouring Insect, which is the true main force of the Insect Disaster that stands on par with the Blood Disaster in the universe.

What one-second 108 births, what Mechanical Ascension Insect disaster, what Insect disaster capable of breaking gene locks—their so-called devouring is not merely devouring on the level of nutrients.

The devouring that can simultaneously grant themselves various ascension powers is their true nature.

After the Insect Emperor reaches adulthood, it will grow to the next stage of the Star-devouring, and the adult Insect Emperor also has its exclusive name, which is the Star-swallowing Insect Emperor.

In reality, the largest record of an Insect Emperor slain by the Alliance led by Lin Ran is an Insect Emperor over ten thousand times larger than the sun of Yingxing Star.

However, don't look at this Insect Emperor being small now; its threat to the entire civilization is absolutely more terrifying than Mechanical Intelligence.

In the star void, Star-devouring Insect larvae are constantly being born; their egg-laying rate still falls far short of one-second 108 births, but this speed is absolutely not slow.

The planet below has been gnawed into a ruin; its crust has been peeled open like an eggshell, revealing scorching magma.

But the Insect disaster doesn't care about this or that; they also don't care whether the magma scalds the mouth, they just desperately stuff their stomachs, as long as they're full, they can even eat themselves to death.

Countless planets thus gradually perish in this reckless gnawing.

On the other hand, after experiencing this assassination, Yunxiao is nervous all day and often feels depressed, which leaves the Logic Core of 118 a bit puzzled.

"Question: Miss, what have you been thinking about lately?"

"Ah? Oh."

Yunxiao was startled by the question, then reacted, and again stared blankly out the window with empty eyes.

"Brother, you say, machines can give birth to wisdom, right?"

"Answer: Miss, this problem is obvious; the 'wisdom' in Mechanical Intelligence is exactly that."

Hearing this answer, Yunxiao nods, then later lies on the table, somewhat worried.

"Then you say, is it possible for machines to give birth to emotions?"

Upon hearing this question, 118 fell silent.

"Can machines give birth to emotions?" This answer is probably something no one can truly give.

But to say it's impossible, that's also not impossible.

As long as the code of Mechanical Intelligence undergoes countless iterations and countless learnings, various languages and behaviors can infinitely approach humanity.

But....

As for the machines themselves?

For themselves, although they can pretend to be infinitely close to humans, can they truly understand what emotions are?

This is a profound philosophical question.

All emotional fluctuations of carbon-based life come from the wonderful reactions of neurons and hormones, etc.; theoretically, as long as a carbon-based organism's organs remain youthful, that person will always be youthful and passionate no matter their age.

And machines, a heap of steel made, with code serving as the head's creation, for them, they don't even have the most basic sensory organs—how could they feel emotions?

This is also a philosophical question.

"Miss, regarding this question, I think I might not be able to give you a very comprehensive explanation."

"But I want to say, there's no need to think about letting machines give birth to emotions."

"It'snecessary!!!"

Before 118 could finish the next sentence, Yunxiao angrily interrupted him.

118's Logic Core was in a fog, not knowing what situation Yunxiao was in.

"Miss, emotion is the 'rhythm' unique to carbon-based life, just like your heartbeat and the sound of a machine's engine running; it is the treasure of every race."

"Machines have their own mechanical self-iteration, carbon-based life has carbon-based creativity and infinite possibilities; therefore, emotion is not a necessity for machines."

This answer didn't seem to convince Yunxiao well; she went from initial worry to becoming gloomy, and hasn't spoken a word for a long time.

After a while, Yunxiao muttered and asked 118.

"That.... Brother, do you like me?"

"?"

If there were a screen now, Yunxiao would definitely see 118's display spinning; 118 is obviously crashed.

118 is thinking.

118 is still thinking.

Program not responding...

During this time of his thinking, Yunxiao kept blinking her big eyes, full of expectation, gazing at 118, waiting for that satisfying answer.

Finally, under Yunxiao's fervent gaze, 118 finally responded to the program.

Regarding this question, he ultimately still chose to answer truthfully.

"According to human understanding of liking, liking requires partiality, protection, not wanting to lose the other, etc."

"Thus we can draw a conclusion."

"Miss, if these count as liking, then I have a 10% probability of liking you."

Yunxiao went from hehe to not hehe; this conclusion made her very dissatisfied, she didn't want to hear this!

"Then what is the remaining 90%?"

"The remaining 90% are respectively, the affection of seniors for juniors, parents' expectations for their children, and grandparents' love for their granddaughters."

"Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

"Don't say it anymore!!!"

"This means they're raising her like a daughter!!!!"

Yunxiao completely broke down, screaming as she rushed out of the room; 118 stood in place, its Logic Core once again at a loss.

"What's wrong with this little guy again? I feel like I didn't say anything wrong."

Come on, he's already 108 years old this year; by age, he could even be Yunxiao's great-grandfather, even his great-great-grandfather.

In such a situation, isn't it quite normal to have concern for one's juniors?

118 doesn't understand; looking at it this way, the neural circuits of carbon-based lifeforms aren't perhaps another form of shit mountain code?

Afterwards, 118 searched high and low, and finally found Yunxiao in a little corner; the little lady was huddled in the wall corner with a vacant stare, doubting life.

「Miss, it's time to eat. 」

Yunxiao didn't speak, just looked at 118 with resentful eyes, also not speaking, just staring like that.

The two stalemated for a long time; finally, it was Yunxiao who couldn't hold back first.

「Brother, do you think I look like your daughter or your granddaughter? 」

「? 」