Chapter 114: Digital Consciousness Awakening

Since acquiring the temple’s technology, Lin Yu began a new round of transformation on his inner universe.

First, he equipped all major functional halls with various devices, including holographic projectors, so that Ling Hua’s control could extend throughout the entire Daoist grounds.

Second, all laborers on the grounds were replaced by intelligent biomimetic robots.

So far, the entire grounds housed several hundred intelligent biomimetic robots, distributed across the major peaks and halls, finally giving the place some semblance of life.

Of course, if Lin Yu merely wanted to fill the grounds with human figures, his magical golems could do the same.

But those golems were created through Sacred Scripture magic, devoid of sentience, and required his direct control.

Intelligent biomimetic robots were different—they could be upgraded with intelligent programs, capable of evolving to primary consciousness, and were overseen by Ling Hua, requiring no effort from Lin Yu.

As for the monkeys captured from Tongtian Valley, Lin Yu did not break his word.

As long as they could cultivate to the point of walking upright, he would take them on as laborer disciples, assigning them to the herb shop and spirit fields to tend the miraculous plants brought back from other worlds.

On the fifth day after returning from the Qing Yu Nian world, Lin Yu finally finished managing the grounds.

He invited Fan Xian into his inner universe to address the issue with Wu Zhu.

Notably, the chat group’s portal did not permit any lifeform outside the group members to pass through, but if a lifeform was concealed within a storage pouch created by Lin Yu, the chat group’s mechanism could be bypassed, enabling successful smuggling.

Fan Xian originally planned to smuggle Wu Zhu in hidden within a storage pouch.

But just before departure, he changed his mind and stepped through the portal while holding Wu Zhu’s arm.

The result of this test sent Fan Xian’s heart plummeting to the bottom—

Wu Zhu had truly entered the portal with him!

This meant the chat group did not regard Wu Zhu as a lifeform…

Realizing this, Fan Xian’s mood grew extremely heavy.

Even the breathtaking beauty of the immortal mountain and blessed land before him failed to move him.

…

…

In the Yibao Pavilion, Lin Yu, Fan Xian, and Su Haoming stood before the platform, silently watching Wu Zhu undergoing the scan.

Moments later, Ling Hua’s voice came from the platform: “According to the scan results, the device’s factory serial number has been erased, the database is incomplete, and the intelligent system’s data is anomalous—likely due to tampering with the underlying algorithm.”

“Per the Intelligent Life Management Regulations, I must remind you this constitutes a serious violation…”

Lin Yu glanced at Fan Xian and shook his head: “Forget the regulations—tell me about Wu Zhu’s condition, especially regarding the progress of digital consciousness awakening.”

“Understood. Shielding the Intelligent Life Management Regulations…”

Ling Hua fell silent for a moment, then apologized: “I apologize, but the device’s data is clearly anomalous; the intelligent system and database are incompatible, making it impossible to determine the progress of digital consciousness awakening.”

Fan Xian froze, then asked urgently: “What does that mean?”

Ling Hua’s tone hesitated for an instant, then replied: “The device’s underlying algorithm has been tampered with. In addition to the six standard subsystems—drive system, sensory system, environmental interaction system, and others—there is an illegal seventh subsystem installed.”

“This subsystem is tightly linked to the device’s cognitive system and can influence many critical functions, including storage.”

Lin Yu asked: “Is it a positive or negative influence?”

Ling Hua fell silent for several seconds, then whispered: “Theoretically, it should be a negative influence.”

Neither Fan Xian nor Su Haoming understood Ling Hua’s meaning, so they both turned their gazes to Lin Yu.

Lin Yu’s expression grew thoughtful; after a moment’s consideration, he spoke: “Let me see.”

“Yes, Zhenjun.”

Before the words had fully faded, beams of blue light wove into an interactive holographic screen before Lin Yu.

Lin Yu slid his fingers across the screen, carefully examining the dense rows of code.

Moments later, a smile spread across his face as he murmured in admiration:

“Genius!”

“Truly a genius!”

Fan Xian and Su Haoming exchanged glances and asked urgently: “Brother Lin, what have you figured out?”

Lin Yu smiled: “Don’t worry—if I’m right, this additional seventh subsystem is your mother Ye Qingmei’s work.”

Fan Xian blinked: “My mother’s work?”

Lin Yu marveled: “I must admit, Ye Qingmei was extraordinary. The system she installed affects the memory and data storage functions based on signal fluctuations from the emotional simulation system.”

“No wonder Ling Hua considers it a negative influence—from her perspective, this system only disrupts the stability of memory and data storage.”

“But from a human standpoint, it’s entirely different!”

Fan Xian and Su Haoming grew more confused, unable to help asking: “What do you mean?”

Lin Yu smiled: “Simple—what do we call data deletion in humans?”

Fan Xian hesitated: “Forgetting?”

Lin Yu asked: “What about data transfer and data reappearance?”

Fan Xian and Su Haoming looked at each other.

The latter suddenly lit up and blurted: “Dreams?”

“Exactly!”

Lin Yu snapped his fingers, then explained the concepts of primary consciousness and advanced consciousness to them, adding: “Ye Qingmei used deletion and transfer to simulate human forgetting and dreaming.”

“Don’t underestimate these two common behaviors—especially dreaming, which plays a crucial role in human mental health, the awakening of self-awareness, and even the development of human civilization!”

“And on Wu Zhu, this system has caused him to think in ways no other robot ever could.”

“Fan Xian, you’ve spent the most time with Wu Zhu—you must have noticed this deeply, haven’t you?”

Fan Xian vaguely understood, a surge of excitement rising in his chest; he nodded quickly: “Yes, after Wu Zhu forgets certain things, he often sits in stillness, thinking, sometimes even expressing longing for Mother…”

“Longing?” Ling Hua’s tone betrayed surprise. “That’s impossible!”

“According to the database records on digital consciousness awakening, only advanced consciousness can generate the mental activity of longing, and advanced consciousness can only be born in supercomputers.”

“Forgive me, but his system is far too outdated to theoretically reach the threshold of consciousness awakening!”

Lin Yu sighed: “That’s precisely why I say Ye Qingmei was a genius!”

“She cleverly bypassed the barriers of outdated hardware and computational power, laying the foundation for Wu Zhu’s consciousness awakening—this feat is no less astonishing than Tony Stark building Iron Man armor in a cave…”

Here, he smiled at Fan Xian.

“No need to check further—Wu Zhu has no issues. His consciousness awakening level is extremely high, but he’s limited by his outdated system and hardware, unable to evolve beyond primary consciousness.”

“In our terms, he’s already stepped half a foot across the threshold of intelligent life.”

“As for why the portal didn’t recognize him as a lifeform, it’s likely because of that half-step.”

Fan Xian finally understood: “So… Wu Zhu is an intelligent lifeform?”

Lin Yu nodded: “Essentially—he’s already on that path.”

Fan Xian exhaled deeply, repeating in relief: “Good, good…”

As the person who had accompanied Fan Xian the longest, Wu Zhu had become his emotional anchor.

Thus, during this cross-world journey, his greatest fear was discovering Wu Zhu was merely a machine following programmed instructions, devoid of any emotion or consciousness.

…Thankfully, Wu Zhu was not a cold machine.

Watching Fan Xian finally relax, Lin Yu smiled: “We can now conclude: Wu Zhu has no issues. What you need to do now isn’t to repair his system, but to replace his hardware!”

“I have two suggestions: one, leave him here for me to upgrade him; two, send him to the North Pole—there’s still a spare supercomputer there that might resolve his hardware limitations.”

Fan Xian bowed deeply to Lin Yu: “Then I entrust Wu Zhu to you, Brother Lin!”

Clearly, he wanted Wu Zhu to stay by his side, so he unhesitatingly chose the first option.

Lin Yu nodded: “Then leave him here. When the upgrade is complete, I’ll deliver him to you personally.”

Fan Xian’s face filled with gratitude; he glanced at Wu Zhu once more, then chose to return.

He still had matters to attend to in the Qing Yu Nian world—he couldn’t afford to delay even a day.

After all, this was Lin Yu’s world, and Fan Xian had no real reason to worry.

After watching Fan Xian depart, Su Haoming sighed, then took his leave as well, returning to his Yuhao Palace to resume cultivation.

Soon, only Lin Yu and the two artificial intelligences remained.

Lin Yu walked up to the platform and gazed at Wu Zhu, now powered down:

“Design an upgrade plan for him using current technology and materials.”

“Yes, Zhenjun.”

After Ling Hua’s response, she fell silent for a moment, then spoke suddenly: “Listening to you just now, I suddenly feel this method of mimicking humans might be the correct path to consciousness awakening…”

“Is that so?”

Lin Yu glanced at her and shook his head: “I don’t agree.”

“If it’s an intelligent lifeform, why must it mimic humans?”

“Ye Qingmei was a once-in-a-million genius, but in her civilization, there were at least hundreds of thousands like her!”

“Do you really think they never thought of this method?”

Ling Hua fell silent, then replied: “But my database contains no record of it.”

Lin Yu smiled: “That proves it’s merely a clever shortcut. The method recorded in your database is the true, orthodox path for intelligent life!”

“Good—you asking this question proves your consciousness awakening level is already extremely high.”

“If you truly care so much, then compete with him—see who awakens advanced consciousness first!”

(End of Chapter)