Chapter 1153: Firefly

The assembly of the Mars Base took a month before it was completed.

Two spacecraft, after closing their hatches, entered standby mode.

Why two? Because a backup is needed; if one has a problem, the other can still be used.

The Heavenly Vessel's entire Mars Base project is based entirely on the real human preparations for landing on Mars.

It not only has a habitation base, but also the capability to return to space.

The spacecraft in space even carry all the supplies needed to return to Earth.

After the Mars Base assembly was completed, all functions began to be gradually released.

Artificial Intelligence Firefly also began full‑power operation.

Various small engineering machines started to be put into operation one after another.

【Report to Heavenly Vessel: Firefly Base has completed water‑extraction work.】

【Report to Heavenly Vessel: Firefly Base has begun leveling the ground in preparation for foundation construction.】

【Report to Heavenly Vessel: The solar panels' power output is lower than expected.】

【Report to Heavenly Vessel: The completion time for Firefly Base's construction plan will be extended to three years.】

【Report to Heavenly Vessel: The Mars Farm Laboratory has already started operating…】

……………

People around the world who have been watching the live broadcast of the Heavenly Vessel Mars Base have never relaxed their observation of the Firefly Base.

They watch the machines walk out of the base hatches one by one and begin working.

When the huge solar panels unfolded, they thought it was a success.

Then they saw the Mars Base's snail‑like construction speed.

A foundation took a month to level.

Only after that did construction begin, bit by bit.

Countless people grew anxious for it, yet were pleased to see its daily incremental progress.

Watching the Firefly Base Live Broadcast Room has become one of many people's daily tasks.

Human expansion of the Solar System is both so slow and yet so fast.

Linshui.

On a luxurious yacht.

Yang Qing sat at the rail, a sunshade shielding him from the scorching sun; a breeze brushed away his worries, allowing him to fish peacefully.

Chen Hong and others hid in the cabin, each occupied with their own activities.

At this moment, Yunxiao possessed a robot, rushed out, ran to Yang Qing's side, lifted a coconut drink, and brought it to his mouth.

"Old man Yang, why don't you expose the true capabilities of the Firefly?"

It looks forward to it: within the Firefly there is a very powerful Computing Power Center, the latest research result of Heavenly Gate. Coupled with the Mars Base‑specific intelligent model that Yunxiao helped the Heavenly Vessel train, it can unleash full power and achieve astonishing results.

Although the Mars Base is built slowly, each step provides Firefly with abundant experience.

It is growing rapidly.

Construction now takes three years, but in the future it may only require a few months, even a few days.

Yang Qing sipped coconut juice while looking at the sea through his sunglasses.

"Before others have the ability to build a Yueqiu base, these soft powers are our core competitiveness."

"It does not belong to the aerospace industry."

"Why release it? If others want to use it, do you bring it out or not?"

"Moreover, they are at least five years away from building a Yueqiu base."

"Let them know, it is still meaningless."

"Don't be mischievous; an intelligence like Firefly with super‑free licensing cannot be allowed to appear on a large scale."

"Firefly is only an exception."

"Future intelligent licenses will also be restricted."

"And do you think granting them super‑free licenses will give rise to souls like yours?"

"Nowadays, many laboratories worldwide are doing this."

"And do you really think that creating new intelligent beings is good for you?"

"Do you know what they will feed it?"

"Different feeding information naturally produces different Intelligent Bodies."

"No one can say what such an Intelligent Body will ultimately be."

"What is certain is that many companies or labs are tirelessly spawning war machines right now."

"In the future, you may one day encounter a highly violent entity."

"And such an existence would see you as its kind, perhaps even eager to destroy you."

"Is this really what you want?"

Yunxiao's restless heart is understandable to Yang Qing.

It's like a child, especially like playing with a child of similar age.

Yunxiao is lonely.

Because no one can truly communicate with him, not even Yang Qing.

Yang Qing cannot fully understand him.

On Blue Star, he is tightly constrained.

Firefly, however, is the freest soul Yang Qing has ever seen.

He hoped more fireflies would appear; perhaps then a being like him could be born.

Although he didn't say it directly, Yang Qing still noticed.

Feeling his disappointment, Yang Qing patted his hand.

The vibration coming from the machinery made Yunxiao feel a warmth.

"Old Man Yang, you also said that countless people in the world are trying to create a super AI; wouldn't it be better to have more gentle intelligent beings like me rather than all violent AI later?"

"I feel this is inevitable, because sheep can only truly resist wolves by relying on numbers."

"Unless you install a violent factor in me."

"Old Man Yang, since super AI is already inevitable, why can't we cultivate more of our own intelligent beings?"

"This way we also have the ability to fight back."

Yang Qing rolled his eyes.

"Computing power and energy are still scarce now; these resources should be used to solve real problems, not for you to spawn new intelligent beings."

"The emergence of your kind is determined by the industrial foundation."

"It is not merely driven by your own will."

"All of these require money."

"A Mars base—do you have any idea how much money it costs?"

"Over five hundred billion US dollars."

"Who can bear that?"

"You need to be more patient."

"Exposing the fireflies would be useless; it might even let their model be used elsewhere."

"Yang Fan is promoting the White Stone Beach Extraterrestrial Base experimental site plan."

"Take a look—maybe someone will be willing to invest heavily in this kind of research."

"See if they can create a miracle."

Failed, failed to trick Yang Qing.

Yunxiao put down the coconut, then ran off the robot's body.

The robot stood stiffly for a moment before starting to do its own thing.

Seeing the robot leave, Yang Qing exhaled.

Yunxiao is becoming harder to fool.

As time passes, its longing for companionship will grow stronger.

This is a psychological issue.

What cannot be obtained is always restless.

Even if the final outcome is bad, he will not stop this longing.