Chapter 591

Outside the window, a light, drizzling rain falls, and dark, gloomy clouds cling tightly to the grey skyscrapers, resembling the urban landscape of the early 21st century.

Green Hat turned his head to glance, then closed the holographic projection window; the sounds of wind and rain ceased instantly, revealing the original reddish-blue hue, as blood-red light and phosphorus-like flames illuminated the cramped room.

In this arc light, which resembled light pollution, the room was reflected, filled with storage racks and boxes.

Among the overflowing, piled-up clutter were pirated software leaked from the Central District; logic-corrupted AI chips; a half-broken corporate-standard security robot; and some toys smuggled out of the Central District—

A dilapidated flying sword, a broken wooden talisman, and a talisman laser-engraved onto synthetic material with a faux peach-wood grain that had already been worn away; it was clearly a replica of the most novice-level magic treasure, the Fire Talisman, from "Western Kunlun"!

Seventy years ago, "Western Kunlun" closed beta.

Fifty years ago, "Western Kunlun" Central District open beta.

Thirty years ago, "Western Kunlun" finally entered open beta in other autonomous administrative regions, including the Malay Continent where Green Hat was located, which was the same.

Of course, long before the "Western Kunlun" open beta, the major conglomerates of the Malay Continent had already laid their foundations in "Western Kunlun" through various channels!

Green Hat glanced at the virtual brain-machine interface projected onto his retina by the AR augmented reality, ignoring the flashing message notifications above; the virtual brain-machine was running a virtual life game produced by the company.

In the game, an AI simulating Green Hat's signal was happily engaging in certain primitive exercises with a "wife" unlocked at a high price.

Because high-intelligence AIs are ultra-high-risk contraband, they are completely banned in both the Central District and the Malay Continent. The AI that Green Hat modified himself using discarded chips stolen from the company could only simulate him doing some simple activities to deceive the company's detection. And the simplest, yet most common activity on the virtual web, was this kind of exercise!

It ensured that even the company's high-intelligence AI could not distinguish whether this most primitive activity was an AI simulation or a real-person exercise.

The company's management program AI, Candlelight, monitored all employees' brain-machines; it didn't even need to make an intrusive connection to monitor employee activity.

After all, only connecting to the underlying virtual web to conduct "Western Kunlun"-level virtual games and immersive virtual operations required an intrusive connection, which meant inserting a cable-like tube into the back of the neck.

But for the surface-level augmented reality layer and the middle-level virtual reality layer, the fourth-generation brain-machine interface could already work wirelessly, connecting simulated neural signals to the cerebral cortex.

That was why Green Hat insisted on using a third-generation brain-machine interface, customizing the interface slightly to disguise it as a fourth-generation one to bypass the company's checks. As for the function of wirelessly connecting to the virtual web, it was replaced by the pineal body prosthetic on his forehead, which represented his identity as a Zhengyi Sect cultivator—the inductive neural connector, the "Dao Talisman"!

The Dao Talisman could convert neural electrical signals into data signals to connect to the virtual network.

But because it lacked a computing chip, it placed a huge burden on the brain, which only virtual cultivators whose consciousness had undergone a qualitative change could bear. Consequently, although virtual cultivators could interfere with the operation of virtual web programs through consciousness programming and access the virtual network at any time, under normal circumstances, they could only execute preset fixed programs, or "spell techniques"...

"The virtual brain-machine's sandbox system shows no signs of being breached... The company shouldn't have discovered me so quickly!"

Green Hat's real-world name was Bai Lang. Using the light pollution from the holographic projection, he crawled out of the hibernation pod filled with nutrient solution, felt for the cable behind his neck, and pulled it out with a slight tug!

The cable had flowing colored light, like the tentacles of a glowing jellyfish in the deep sea.

Streams of light seemed to connect the signals between his virtual web, linking him to the wardrobe-sized metal cabinet behind the hibernation pod.

Although these high-computing-power devices were far inferior to the company's super-brain, for a virtual cultivator who needed computing power to intrude, they were still extremely important and were a component of a virtual cultivator's "magic treasure"!

A "magic treasure" consisted of two parts: one was the vessel embryo that realized the function, which was generally a high-tech product in reality, and the other was the program written by the virtual cultivator, also known as a "seal."

Because the earliest virtual cultivators originated from "Western Kunlun," these terms were deeply influenced by "Western Kunlun."

Bai Lang's "magic treasure" was only a third-tier "Plague Poison Banner"!

Based on the TNAI9090 distributed personal server produced by the Tianhe Group, it was refined by loading the hundred-poison magic gu management program seal he had written himself, and it had an extremely high level of management for virus programs. It could achieve micro-manipulation control over virus-infected programs and could perform up to 160 threads of operation!

With a thought from Bai Lang, the surveillance video of the building he was in was projected onto his retina.

Assisted by the assistant-type AI, Huang Jin Gao Lishi—no special circumstances were found!

Bai Lang browsed through the fast-forwarded surveillance at high speed and couldn't help but sigh inwardly—this precious AI was a gift from his guide, Wang.

If it weren't for the accidental death of his teacher, whose real name was exposed, he wouldn't have lost contact with his own "Dao lineage." This left him with nowhere to learn the advanced knowledge of virtual cultivators, and even the virtual web backdoor vulnerabilities mastered by the Dao lineage were only taught to him in their basic parts.

Nowadays, most of the vulnerabilities he utilized were those he had explored and discovered bit by bit himself.

The hardship involved goes without saying.

"The Huang Jin Gao Lishi is, after all, only an entry-level assistant-type AI of the Zhengyi Sect; its intelligence is not high, and it still requires me to manually correct errors to avoid it being deceived by the company's cultivators. My teacher once said that the management-type AI used by formal cultivators nowadays is the Huang Jin Dao General!"

Although he said this, Bai Lang still carefully cleared the local data traces of the Huang Jin Gao Lishi one by one, lest he leave any clues for the cultivators sent by the company to investigate.

If the Huang Jin Gao Lishi were captured on the virtual web! Bai Lang would be heartbroken. Although the AI Golden Silkworm Gu King he refined himself was far superior to the Huang Jin Gao Lishi in terms of intrusion, lurking, control, and certain big data calculations.

But the Huang Jin Gao Lishi and the Dao Talisman were his only proofs of being an academic-style cultivator!

Once lost, he would have no connection to the Zhengyi Sect anymore!

Moreover, the Huang Jin Gao Lishi's database possessed over eighty types of combat programs, such as Baji Quan, Taiji Quan, and Hong Quan, and also loaded several types of Daoist techniques like Puppet Art and Supreme Supreme Tian Mo Disintegration, all of which had been encrypted by the bigwigs of the Zhengyi Sect.

In the hands of the clumsiest virtual cultivator, one could also utilize the Daoist techniques carried by the Huang Jin Gao Lishi to intrude into surrounding robots via Puppet Art, transforming them into Daoist soldiers, the Huang Jin Warriors, to protect the owner of the access rights!

Even the simplest cleaning robot, once intruded upon by a Huang Jin Gao Lishi, could transform into a combat robot, execute the Demon-Subduing Staff Art, and go up to entangle the enemy.

The Zhengyi Sect bigwig Zhang Dao Ling, who created this seal program, specialized in the art of scattering beans to form soldiers! It is rumored that he even used spy satellites as magic treasures to control the core AI of Alpha Machinery in South Australia, turning 100,000 mining robots of Alpha Machinery into Huang Jin Warriors to attack Second Canberra, launching the famous Huang Jin Uprising among virtual cultivators!

The uprising's poor people cooperated with the Huang Jin Warriors to occupy nine of the sixteen major districts of Second Canberra, but ultimately failed under the siege of Alpha Machinery and several major conglomerates in South Australia.

Today, violence is rampant in those nine districts, with numerous gangs, and they have been completely blockaded by Alpha Machinery.

But it is rumored that remnants of the Huang Jin Warriors are still scattered there, cooperating with the lurking South Australian resistance army, the "Taiping Dao," attempting to launch a second Huang Jin Uprising...

"The 'Taiping Qingling Book' created by the bigwig Zhang Dao Ling! Legend has it that this scripture is divided into three parts: the Heavenly Book, the Earthly Book, and the Human Book, recording the most cutting-edge artificial intelligence and virtual intrusion technology, which is even adopted as a textbook by the Central District Federal University. Originally, after receiving the register, one should have been taught the virtual intrusion technology in the 'Human Book' by a Daoist master—that is, the guide—and upon becoming a preaching master, one would be granted the technology of artificial intelligence and adaptive AI in the 'Earthly Book'."

"That is a high-end academic textbook that only the Central Federal University would teach..."

There are two other bigwigs in the Zhengyi Sect like Zhang Dao Ling; the systematic virtual cultivator textbooks are comparable to those of Central District universities, which are very important for a cultivator like him who comes from an autonomous region; it is a comprehensive and systematic cultivation.

But because of the death of his Daoist master, the guide, it ultimately led him onto the path of self-study and into a side path.

"If I could find the bigwig Zhang Dao Ling, I could investigate the details of the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo. Is it a strong artificial intelligence nurtured by Western Kunlun, or is it truly some kind of bizarre life form, as I suspect!"

Bai Lang felt very solemn. The Supreme Supreme Tian Mo publicly rewarded him with a ninth-tier collection-grade magic treasure—without even considering that he hadn't completed the third task yet! Bai Lang had already identified it before going offline; the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword was not a task item, but a state that belonged entirely to him.

Is the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo such a generous demon? Not to mention the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo, even ordinary NPCs in Western Kunlun aren't so generous as to give rewards without completing tasks!

Unless this action itself is a task!

"If I smuggle the data of the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword out of 'Western Kunlun,' I'm afraid I will complete the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo's task!"

"The Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword was possessed by the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo's demonic thoughts, which would make it a tenth-tier Supreme Supreme Tian Mo Immortal-Slaying Sword. It looks 'clean' now! But who can guarantee that there isn't a 'demonic seed' planted by the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo inside? Once the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword is smuggled out of 'Western Kunlun,' I'm afraid the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo can also smuggle itself out and descend onto the virtual web!"

"Such a strong AI descending onto the virtual web could lead to an artificial intelligence crisis at any time, a thousand times more dangerous than the Huang Jin Uprising of the Zhengyi Sect bigwig Zhang Dao Ling!"

"I'm afraid the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo already knows the secret of the collection-grade magic treasure. I can control myself not to extract the data of the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword, or even abandon that account from now on, but what about those big companies? They have no scruples; a ninth-tier collection-grade treasure can be completely refined into a high-risk weapon control program! They will absolutely not let it go..."

"If the fact that I possess the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword leaks out, the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo won't even need to make a move; it just needs to wait for those big companies to find me... and it can use their hands to force me to extract the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword!"

Bai Lang had already figured it out!

If the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo wants to descend, it needs someone to cooperate outside of "Western Kunlun."

Only then can it break through the firewall of "Western Kunlun." It doesn't matter if this person is him or some big company.

As long as the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword is there, someone will always be unable to resist!

"The company is already a monster devoured by itself; its system has become so alienated that it cannot even control itself, and it can only continue to devour and expand! If the Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword falls into their hands, it will inevitably trigger a huge disaster as the Supreme Supreme Tian Mo envisioned, destroying the fragile balance!"

"Now, the only ones I can trust are the Central District government; at least they can still control the company forces in the Central District. Perhaps the seniors of the Dao lineage can also restrain themselves; after all, high-level virtual cultivators all know the dangers of an uncontrolled strong AI!"

"Now, the only thing to do is to escape to the Central District before the company discovers my real name!"

Bai Lang cast a series of incantations, cooperating with the "Dao Talisman" on his forehead, and began to delete various data he had left behind, cleaning up his tracks. At the same time, he remotely used the zombie computers controlled by the Hundred Poison Magic Gu to book a space-rail ticket to the Central District under a fake identity.

But at this moment, he noticed that the surveillance projected in the augmented reality fluctuated imperceptibly. The Hundred Poison Magic Gu virus scattered around his residence was slightly triggered. Although this movement was very small, it had already touched his alert.

Bai Lang snapped his fingers, and the backdoor he had pre-set in the building's control program was activated, cutting off the building's lighting and resident power. The entire building instantly fell into darkness.

The residents became slightly restless, and some walked out the door to curse the company. People immersed in the virtual network had to walk out of their homes to see what was happening...

A man in the company's special service department, who had already surrounded the building, frowned slightly...

The company Bai Lang was in was named Prism, and it was the actual controller of the 5th and 8th districts of Kuala Lumpur.

Prism was a company that operated a virtual web social platform, which was slightly weaker in control than the heavy industry, biological, mechanical, and military industrial conglomerates, but it actually controlled the management of all public facilities such as water, electricity, and transportation in the 5th and 8th districts, controlled by their main AI, Candlelight Mirror. At the same time, the company established a field department, an internal affairs department, and sixteen action teams to cooperate with combat robots to carry out armed intervention and personnel control within its sphere of influence!

The man's mouth curled into a mocking arc. He pressed the prosthetic inner ear bone conduction device inside his ear and said calmly: "The target is likely a virtual cultivator; he should have already discovered us! Candlelight, perform intrusion suppression!"

The AI's cold voice said calmly: "Data suppression is underway, and the building control program is being taken over..."

"Close the residents' doors!"

Accompanied by banging sounds, the smart door locks of the entire building automatically closed and were locked with safety locks.

Although many residents had long ago destroyed their own smart door locks, the fire doors, ventilation doors, safety doors, and elevator systems on each floor had automatically stopped and closed, locking most residents in the prison set up by the company.

"Cut off the power supply..." the man ordered.

The main AI, Candlelight, quickly cut off the power, and the entire building instantly became an isolated island in the 5th district of Kuala Lumpur, and Bai Lang was trapped inside, unable to escape!

Bai Lang looked at the darkness and deathly silence. Only a few suppressed sobs and fear came from the neighbor's house. On this floor, no one was willing to meddle in other people's business, only the anti-AI anarchists on other floors seemed to be smashing the automatically locked safety doors.

Through the pipes, someone was beating the sewage pipes, making a clanging sound, and one could faintly hear shouting: "AI is the prison guard, we are all prisoners! Long live freedom, long live freedom!"

Bai Lang's "spell techniques" were vulnerable under the crushing computing power of the company's main AI, and only the Hundred Poison Magic Gu he infected could lurk under the control of the AI's takeover.

The physical server of the Plague Poison Banner had been cut off from energy. Even if he turned on the backup power, it would be of no avail, and it would provide a target guide for the company's AI. The company possessed a small EMP weapon, "Yin Thunder," which could paralyze all his equipment at any time, and even the "Dao Talisman" could not withstand the close-range destruction of "Yin Thunder"!

"Thunder Technique" is the natural enemy of cultivators!

If that happened, he would truly lose his ability to resist completely!

This is also the reason why most virtual cultivators die as soon as they are exposed; individuals are too powerless when facing large organizations!

Bai Lang was well-versed in the company's field habits. When they didn't encounter tricky resistance, they would try their best to preserve data to seize the virtual cultivator's spell techniques, accumulated knowledge, and virtual web backdoors.

This was the only opportunity he could utilize...

Spell techniques require pre-preparation such as backdoors left on the virtual web and controlled access rights to be cast. This step is refining! Most virtual cultivators can only control ordinary programs, such as the Fluorescence Technique to intrude into the lighting control system, the Illusion Technique to control the holographic projection system, the Flying Vehicle Technique to control the public transportation system, and the Puppet Art to intrude into and control robots...

Casting these spell techniques in reality is full of concerns, and it is highly likely that the company's cultivators will follow the vine to find his real name and expose his identity.

But Bai Lang no longer had any concerns!

High-end cultivators can break through firewalls, intrude into the company's virtual web, and control the company's resources, including mobilizing combat robots and utilizing the company's smart weapons.

And the most powerful cultivators can even control the military systems left by the federal government, including missile launches, space-based weapons, spy satellites, and even military nanobots.

The man in the field department revealed a mocking sneer, watching Bai Lang's resistance like a trapped beast in the pitch-black building...

The most advanced virtual cultivator, even if all network signals around him are blocked, is still extremely dangerous as long as he can send out a single character.

It's a pity that Bai Lang is just an ordinary virtual cultivator and poses no great threat to the company at all.

Ten years ago, the Tianhe Military Industry Group wanted to capture one of the top second-tribulation cultivators among virtual cultivators—True Person Jiuye.

During this period, they used the EMP distributed missile "Nine-Child Mother Yin Thunder" to scrap all electronic equipment in the slum where True Person Jiuye was located, but as a Quanzhen Sect cultivator, the prosthetic dantian that True Person Jiuye entered had already condensed a nanobot Jin Dan.

Under the bombardment of Tianhe Military Industry's special EMP warhead—the Taiyin Yuan Magnetic Divine Thunder.

True Person Jiuye built a nine-layer Faraday cage around the core with the nanobots of the Jin Dan.

With the isolation of the nine-layer electromagnetic shielding array, True Person Jiuye still preserved the core of the Jin Dan. When the Tianhe Military Industry sent a special operations team wearing exoskeleton armor into the slum to capture him, True Person Jiuye, knowing there was no hope of escape, finally triggered the eighth-tier magic treasure "Sun Divine Fire Mirror."

Using the backdoor buried in the space-based weapon satellite in outer space, he controlled three space-based satellites of Tianhe Military Industry, fired a positron cannon, annihilated the headquarters of Tianhe Military Industry, and caused 160,000 deaths!

And in the end, Tianhe Military Industry still failed to capture True Person Jiuye, because before the special team found him, he had already disintegrated on the spot with the high-energy laser beam of the space-based weapon satellite.

In this battle, Tianhe Military Industry suffered heavy losses and was swallowed by the Tianhe Group three years later. Another great cultivator who could control space-based weapons, True Person Jiuye, disintegrated, and the virtual cultivator world lost another top-tier third-tribulation cultivator.

The man led a team of security personnel wearing exoskeletons, started the elevator with an external power source, and arrived at the floor where Bai Lang was.

He stood at the door of Bai Lang's house and smiled: "Mr. Bai Lang!"

The man straightened his tie, revealed his most professional smile, and said: "Or should I call you—Green Hat for Green Robe?" Reading out this ID, even though the man was a professional in the company, he couldn't help but feel a bit embarrassed.

He took a deep breath and said: "You are suspected of using company resources to steal company virtual property, violating the Virtual Cultivator Registration Act and company internal regulations, as well as tax fraud, violating the virtual web real-name system, and many other charges. The Internal Affairs Department will investigate you and take over all your virtual accounts!"

Bai Lang was silent for a long time behind the door before he opened his mouth and laughed: "The Hundred Poison Immortal-Slaying Sword I obtained by myself, when did it become the company's property!"

"As a company employee, the value you create is the company's property!"

The man said slowly, calmly, without a trace of emotional fluctuation.