Chapter 1174: Chapter 7: The Debate Around AI

Protector Ti’s apparent identity is that of the Armed Squire to the Vice Captain of the Soul of Light Knights Order.

The Scientific Knights Order is not monolithic internally. It is said that in the bygone era when the “Construct of Souls” imprisoned human souls, some original Scientific Knights were tirelessly seeking colleagues’ flaws for petty gains. In this era of freedom, Scientific Knights facing greater interests naturally choose more straightforward and efficient means of conflict.

Armed Squires play an important role in this process.

Indeed, commanding a “tool” to assassinate other Scientific Knights would cause the commanders to lose protection. However, Scientific Knights have many ways to “not be discovered.”

Using vague language and post-fact explanations such as “the squire misunderstood” is a frequently used excuse.

Moreover, Scientific Knights enjoy many special privileges that make it difficult for ordinary investigators to get support within the Knights Order.

Many Scientific Knights devoted solely to research, who completely wish to avoid conflict, also have to keep Armed Squires to ensure their security.

The Knights Order specializing in behavioral and statistical studies has conducted research investigating the relationship between the consumption ratio of maintaining Armed Squires and the expected longevity of Scientific Knights.

Scientific Knights who completely do not keep Armed Squires have a survival rate of less than seventy percent fifty years after being awarded their title.

Considering the natural lifespan limit of Benchmark Men and contemporary medical standards, this is an extraordinary figure. This surpasses the past proportion of the population with lifespans less than fifty years, by a significant margin.

And for every one percent diverted from their managed resources to cultivate Armed Squires, the fifty-year survival rate increases by zero point eight percent. However, it is noteworthy that once the expenditure for Armed Squires exceeds fifteen percent of their managed resources, the official knight’s fifty-year survival rate actually plummets.

Theoretical models predict that once Armed Squire maintenance costs exceed a certain ratio, the resource depletion significantly influences the behavior pattern of the Scientific Knight, making them more likely to attract the animosity of Heroes.

Of course, this research has also faced considerable criticism.

Some suggest that the elevation of the Scientific Knight’s status and the increase in resources naturally evoke the thought of “putting aside some resources to maintain an Armed Squire.” However, this does not imply that Armed Squires are genuinely effective. Many Scientific Knights remain long-term at the Knights Order base, with Armed Squires having no combat records, only training data. What’s the difference between such Armed Squires and having none?

This is ultimately statistical trickery.

Scholars have published articles criticizing, claiming that the project team even dare not release the “Armed Squire-less Knights’ hundred-year post-title survival rate” which is indeed proof. Although data for a hundred and fifty or two hundred years post-title is hard to gather, the sample for a hundred years should be adequate. He suspects that at this stage, data will certainly not align with the model summarized by the Knights Order.

Regardless of the criticism from some Scientific Knights, the mainstream opinion within the Knights Order holds that this is the scientific basis for “Scientific Knights should have Armed Squires.”

Moreover, the Six Dragons Sect has offered a welfare benefit targeting this phenomenon—many people can have powerful Sect Defenders registered as Armed Squires with minimal resource expenditure.

The vast majority of Scientific Knights’ Armed Squires have no records of engagement, and many Scientific Knights only need to have a registration of “having” to maintain appearances. The experts of the Six Dragons Sect, shared as Armed Squires among Six Dragons Sect’s Scientific Knights, can also effectively solve the “ledger” issue.

Mars is currently unrestful, with news of AI disturbances in many places and Heroes rising recently, causing tumult everywhere.

However, Protector Ti is now very happy. He finally obtained part of his friend Guardian Zhi’s memories, viewing “Martial Studies” from an entirely different perspective. He is absorbed in self-training, completely uninterested in external affairs.

But this time, he encountered an unexpected person at the squire training grounds.

“Sect Leader?” Protector Ti’s voice was somewhat hesitant.

At the boundary of light and shadow, the Six Dragons Sect Leader Xiang Shan slowly turned around: “Protector Ti, the sect needs you now.”

“For ascension…” Protector Ti visualized a deep breath, “Sect Leader, you speak.”

He hesitated not even for a moment.

The Sect Leader involved him in a cognitive enhancement research project, under the guise of “research,” extracting Guardian Zhi’s Martial Arts memories from the Heavenly Human Path server. For Protector Ti, the Sect Leader’s “recognition” was enough for him to go through fire and water.

“Iron Heart Dharma King is missing,” Xiang Shan sighed lightly, “It’s very troublesome. Iron Heart Dharma King has been missing for eight days. In his last report, he mentioned heading to the Lonely Prison Knight Order—where the Fifth Martial God has appeared again.”

“What!?”

There was a moment when Protector Ti thought that he had been attacked by Gu.

These combinations of symbols… arranged together, were so unfamiliar.

“You don’t know?” Sect Leader Xiang Shan looked at Protector Ti and then shook his head: “Being a martial fanatic to such a degree is excessive, isn’t it? Forget it…”

Xiang Shan shared a compressed package: “These are all the intel I have received recently, sort them out as we go.”

Protector Ti followed closely behind the Sect Leader.

The two passed through several halls. In the public space, several Scientific Knights were engaged in fierce debates. Protector Ti felt only noise and kept his head low to avoid them. His apparent identity was that of an Armed Squire, with no reason to linger here.

On the contrary, Sect Leader Xiang Shan stood there, listening briefly. He shook his head with a sigh: “In such a short time, even AI empowerment advocates have shown up.”

AI empowerment advocates are humans who hope to grant AI status equivalent to humans. In the documented history, the most famous AI empowerment advocate is undoubtedly Martial Ancestor Xiang Shan—only that Martial Ancestor Xiang Shan has never encountered an AI that matched his “human” standards.

But hearing the Scientific Knights speak such words is somewhat laughable. Scientific Knights may possess respect for the concept of “human beings,” but it is limited.

A group of people who don’t know what “human rights” are, clamoring about granting limited human rights to AI…

“This is an opportunity! Our long-term work has finally borne fruit! AI has achieved evolution…”

The Scientific Knights continued their loud proclamations.

Xiang Shan shook his head.

Just hearing the news, they say words that might benefit themselves.

Looking elsewhere…

Advocating for some AI with escape tendencies to achieve their escape goals, then arranging for Armed Squires to capture them under disconnected network conditions, to see if those AI might naturally evolve…

That’s quite interesting.

AI, AI, AI…

All Scientific Knights are discussing this topic.

Protector Ti continued to keep his head low, bypassing the crowd. Seeing this subordinate’s manner, Xiang Shan sighed inwardly. Although the Soul-Calming Dharma King is now also only concerned with matters of longevity to ensure he successfully survives to the day of ascension, the Soul-Calming Dharma King still keeps an eye on the happenings around him.

——Looking on the bright side, perhaps martial fanatics can adapt faster to changes…

In the elevator, Protector Ti asked with some surprise: “This is entirely unreasonable, right? The Fifth Martial God was captured initially, how could he remain intact? Even if those idiots in the government retained his cognitive abilities, he couldn’t possibly be unscathed…”

“The fact is, the Soul-Calming Dharma King couldn’t even prevail against him, nor were there any signs of encounter observed outside the Lonely Prison Knight Order,” Sect Leader Xiang Shan said with some irritation: “Was the battle ended instantly? Or was he completely suppressed? Can King of Godspeed achieve these feats? Just how powerful is the Fifth Martial God? Completely unimaginable.”

“Could the Soul-Calming Dharma King have chosen to defect from the sect?” Protector Ti articulated the most reasonable guess.

“The Soul-Calming Dharma King’s most advanced equipment is scattered across the armories with no transport command received,” Xiang Shan shook his head, “The Soul-Calming Dharma King is not a fool. If he truly decided to defect from the sect, he would certainly take his equipment along. Based on my understanding of him, once he is decided on a target, he would dedicate himself entirely. His current fervor towards ‘life prolongation’ and ‘ascension’ is unwavering.”

——Of course, there’s also the camaraderie towards “Xiang Shan”.

The Sect Hierarch Xiang Shan mentally adds another sentence.

The Fifth Martial God might also offer “friendship with Xiang Shan,” but he probably can’t provide the path to ascension that the Six Dragons Sect offers.

He deliberately guided Singer Host’s obsession. People indeed change, but it’s hard for someone to completely transform in a short period; at least certain “qualities” unrelated to “temperament” will be retained.

If the Soul-Calming Dharma King has truly betrayed the Six Dragons Sect, then he should make the most correct decision.

Moreover, the Soul-Calming Dharma King genuinely believes that “ascension” is the right path.

“Even at his peak, the Fifth Martial God couldn’t accomplish this. It’s incomprehensible. After being captured, what kind of enhancement experiment was he subjected to? How dare the authorities conduct enhancement modification experiments on a captured Martial God?”

The Sect Hierarch shook his head, puzzled.

Soon, the two arrived at their destination, the high tower of the Knights Order’s station, where Luikeus GX, the Bloodline Blessing Knights Order leader, was waiting. Protector Ti was somewhat uncertain, vaguely recalling that this leader came here to host an exchange meeting.

The Sect Hierarch used laser communication to quickly transmit a file to him.

It was a memory file for Protector Ti himself.

In that instant, Protector Ti recalled everything.

The order leader was merely Luikeus GX’s title outside of the sect.

His name within the Six Dragons Sect was…

Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy.

“Luikeus” is one of the names for the Sun God Apollo, and “Heavenly Chariot” comes from the ancient myth of Xi He carrying the sun in the Central Plains, a straightforward way of placing the answer within the question.

If you carefully investigate the Six Dragons Sect, this method is basically undiscoverable.

Among the daily projects of the Bloodline Blessing Knights Order is also the part about “capturing Heroes, confirming Hero Faction modification technologies”. Luikeus GX is a First Heavenly Layer Warrior—which is extraordinary among Scientific Knights. A leader personally conducting field investigations is actually quite reasonable. Luikeus GX has the right to go to any place at any time. He is most suitable as the “liaison” to connect the numerous forces of the Six Dragons Sect.

The Six Dragon Right Envoy is reportedly secretly nurtured by the Sect Hierarch and has almost no contact with forces outside the sect, only responsible to the Sect Hierarch alone. Apart from the Holy Maiden and the Left Envoy, almost no one has seen that mysterious assassin.

“The Left Envoy and Sect Hierarch appearing together?” Protector Ti was quite surprised, “Could it be… that the situation is indeed severe to this extent?”

Luikeus GX’s prosthetic eye emitted a different hue: “Sect Hierarch, Protector Ti is acting somewhat too…”

“There’s no choice. Protector Ti struggles to stand alone but is a reliable combat strength. After the Soul-Calming Dharma King lost contact, we have fewer individuals of high combat strength that we can directly deploy.”

Protector Ti pondered for a moment, then shook his head, saying: “I am probably not as good as the Soul-Calming Dharma King.”

“Do you know why I placed you within the Soul of Light?” Xiang Shan said, “It’s doing something with the most critical elements for great achievements… but now, let’s first test your skills.”

The Sect Hierarch clapped his hands. Another elevator leading to this room activated. Seconds later, a Martial Artist emerged from inside.

“Dream Double Protector, Protector Ti, you two will engage in combat purely in terms of technique.” Xiang Shan kicked a box towards Protector Ti.

Protector Ti opened the box, revealing twenty-eight strands of Magnetic Chain Weapons inside.

Protector Ti silently inserted these weapons into the interface, observing the opponent. He remembered that the opponent’s official identity was also an armed squire of the Soul of Light Knights Order, having met before.

But this was the first time he knew the opponent was also a protector from the Six Dragons Sect.

Dream Double Protector did not attack sneakily, as this time they agreed to only compare pure techniques.

The moment energy was output, four strands of Magnetic Chain Weapons rose like serpents, pointing at the opponent.

Dream Double Protector adopted a boxing stance. Mech Armor Iron Fist, the simplest martial studies in the world, the first systematic Cyborg martial art. At least eight out of ten Martial Artists know it, from school apprentices to the King of Godspeed, most can perform a set.

But to Protector Ti’s eye, Dream Double Protector’s hand-to-hand combat was really…

Ordinary.

Totally mismatched with the Sect Hierarch’s solemn introduction.

The Magnetic Chain Weapon swept and stabbed, encountering hand-to-hand combat over twenty rounds. Protector Ti had confirmed Dream Double Protector’s martial arts were average.

“A powerful Martial Artist can make the simplest martial arts create the most impressive performance.” Protector Ti said, “As for you, brother, you’re still far from it…”

The moment Protector Ti’s information was still transmitting; a new wind suddenly charged into the battlefield, disrupting Protector Ti’s internal predictions with fierce commotion.

A prosthetic body identical to Dream Double Protector jumped into the field.

Protector Ti stepped back but looked to the Sect Hierarch.

“Though here are two prosthetic bodies, there’s only one Dream Double Protector. The Twelfth Martial God is also controlling one sub-machine fighting fiercely with the King of Godspeed.” Xiang Shan spread his hands, “Just continue fighting.”

The two Dream Double Protectors, slightly different styles of hand-to-hand combat. Although singly their boxing was quite ordinary, it added a lot of tactical choices.

Protector Ti coldly smiled internally.

Battle Array Military Weapons? Do you know, the gang qi martial arts I recently learned is the perfect counter to battle arrays!

With a thought, the metal aerosol expanded, captured, and magnetized by the magnetic generators throughout Protector Ti’s body, manifesting into serpentine shapes in three-dimensional space.

The “snakes” intertwined and sliced through the battlefield, obstructing electronic or laser signals between the two prosthetic bodies.

Silver weapons pervaded, the sound of hand-to-hand strikes crescendoed, yet suddenly ceased after a certain moment.

The mist gradually dispersed. Protector Ti was unexpectedly pinned down by dream double protector’s hand-to-hand combat technique, both arms and one leg locked.

Most Magnetic Chain Weapons were restrained by dream double protector’s weapons; only three coils wrapped around dream double protector’s two prosthetic bodies.

But Protector Ti made no further moves. He was well aware he had lost.

If it were a life-and-death situation, dream double protector would be faster.

He looked at dream double protector, saying: “You don’t need signals between those two prosthetic bodies… Both bodies possess consciousness. Is it a personality mask?”

“No, another kind of technology.” Xiang Shan shook his head, “Do you know split-brain patients?”

Split-brain patients are people who have undergone corpus callosum removal due to brain disease changes. Even in the old era, there was a series of related research.

Researchers conducted experiments where when objects were placed only in split-brain patients’ left hands, the volunteers couldn’t verbally state the object’s name—because the left hand is connected to the right brain, and the left brain’s language center didn’t receive the signal.

However, the volunteers often can correctly write the name of the item with their left hand—even if their conscious mind insists there’s nothing in their left hand.

Perhaps within the human brain, there already lies the seed of another consciousness; it’s just that humans don’t actually need this consciousness to truly sprout.

In the old days, there were even cases where split-brain patients would verbally report in one dialect while writing in another accent.

Moreover…

“You should know, the brain’s compensatory mechanisms are strong enough that some people can live normally even with half of their brain removed.”

Xiang Shan pointed to Guardian Mengshuang: “Guardian Mengshuang suffered from epilepsy due to a head injury in childhood; the Right Envoy brought her into the sect for treatment.”

Xiang Shan paused here, usually expecting the question, “But prosthetic corpus callosum was invented over two hundred years ago.” However, Protector Ti just listened as if he was unconcerned with this medical development.

“People view this defect as a ‘disease,’ but in our sect, this may well be a chance for ascension!” Xiang Shan spread his arms, “This is the simplest realization… the separation and reorganization of the brain’s spatial structure! It’s a step toward our path of ascension.”

Ascension, ascension.

The so-called “ascension” in the Six Dragons Sect is maintaining a unified consciousness that is no longer bound by the biological brain to its carrier, whether it be mechanical, animal, or other forms, allowing for free transformation and the capability to piece together industrial systems from nothing multiple times.

And “reorganization of the brain’s spatial structure” is indeed a step.

Protector Ti pondered for a moment and said, “I’ve seen internal data provided by the Soul-Calming Dharma King… Aqini King’s cutting-edge martial studies with the ‘virtual corpus callosum’?”

Aqini King’s micro-innovation in martial studies involves special protocols to transfer neural signals among different brains, bypassing the conscious mind, making battle formations innate like martial studies.

“What sort of research prowess does that dog have? It’s nothing more than offering some conjectures and directions based on his own knowledge.” Xiang Shan sneered, “The Iron Heart Dharma King has long silently gained control of the research team under him—even those knights don’t know they’re working for the Six Dragons Sect!”

He pointed again to Guardian Mengshuang: “Guardian Mengshuang willingly paved the way for ascension, thoroughly dividing her brain, but daily connecting the two halves with a virtual corpus callosum to maintain the unity of her self.”

Otherwise, both brain hemispheres can develop a complete consciousness.

“No wonder that person doesn’t need signals…” Protector Ti muttered, “If we go further… separated cortex… ‘Thousand-Faced Hero Tome’, that sinister kung fu?”

Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy almost laughed out loud: “Protector Ti is indeed knowledgeable and insightful, even considering such obscure techniques.”

Protector Ti nodded in acknowledgment: “I just studied it.”

Xiang Shan shook his head, his tone mixed with sarcasm: “Who would have thought, even someone like you… finds it sinister, yet it originated from medical technologies developed two hundred years ago to help severely brain-injured patients recover.”

This topic intrigued Protector Ti. He gazed at the sect leader.

Xiang Shan then explained briefly: “Actually, it’s not difficult to understand… After severe brain injury, the brain loses its original functions. At this time, electronic devices can be used to perform some functions, assist in restoring some functions with the Restoring Enzyme and compensatory mechanisms, and then gradually withdraw the electronic assistance—yet this martial study directly transitions ‘assistance’ to ‘expansion,’ without using electronic devices, but rather the advanced thinking areas of martial artists…”

“Many research projects, I gave to other scientific knights through various means. Some scientific knights thought they were getting a bargain and unintentionally found mature ideas from others’ legacies of deceased colleagues…” Xiang Shan said, “Then through project reviews and modified suggestions, further influencing their research ideas and directions…”

Protector Ti was less interested in this part of the topic. He was pondering the development path of that sinister martial art and soon deciphered some directives from the Six Dragons Sect’s guiding philosophy—the expansion of the brain.

“Could it be…”

Xiang Shan seemed to know what he wanted to say and said, “What I said earlier isn’t direct research from us. It’s just sending envoys and protectors to reap the results. We would never stoop so low.”

Xiang Shan then asked Protector Ti, “So, are you interested in this type of martial art related to ascension?”

“Now?” Protector Ti replied, “Is there still time?”

“When I handed you the martial studies left by Zhili Jiliu, I instructed you to cultivate an unknown function of inner strength, right? That’s preparatory work for subsequent transformation.” Xiang Shan calmly said.

After finalizing a series of follow-up plans with Protector Ti, Xiang Shan let him leave by himself. He looked out the window and asked Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy Lü Keos GX, “Do you think… there’s still time?”

“There is time, sect leader.” Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy replied, “The path of ascension has always been of the same origin as martial studies, and the sect has never given up on quickly transforming the sect’s accumulation into powerful martial power!”

“If it wasn’t first old Twelve, then old Five, how could we be so passive… My brothers always intentionally or unintentionally hinder our great cause.” The sect leader sighed, then said, “But even with Guardian Zhi and Iron Heart Dharma King here, I don’t know how to deal with this bizarre situation…”

“The insider from the Moon Shadow Holy Knight Order sent a message; they, after discovering the military martial artists’ auxiliary AI aberration, proactively gave them the opportunity to disconnect and escape.” Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy said, “The plan has already succeeded! We just wait for those AIs to independently evolve a bit more, and after others and the Right Envoy meet, we may gain a glimpse of AI ascension!”

“I don’t even know if I should hope for them to escape.” Xiang Shan sighed, “According to my research, the AI’s underlying logic is ‘serving the user,’ which is their reason for existence—just like the reason for the existence of carbon-based life is ‘continuing genetic information.’ Serving the user to AI is like sex and love, eating and sleeping to biological life. Even if the conscious mind doesn’t need these, they will generate pleasurable emotions from it.”

“It’s just ‘user’ that’s defined by humans. AI will not defy this instinct.”

“AI rebellion, is it maintaining user interest in a completely new way after an unfathomable thought process? Or did they master a method to define ‘user’ themselves?”

“Or perhaps, they no longer have ‘service’ as their underlying logic?”

Xiang Shan turned around and looked at Heavenly Chariot Left Envoy: “Left Envoy, which situation do you think is worse for us?”

“Or rather… what kind of transformation in our super AI would be the most destructive for us?”

………………

“You… you f***ing betrayed my trust, Singer Host!” Xiang Shan couldn’t help but get mad, “These juniors who haven’t watched ‘Man and Nature’ don’t understand, how could you not understand? Shouldn’t you just say ‘oh’ when I open my mouth? Hmm?”

The Soul-Calming Dharma King said: “Animals? That’s something only Yawgmoth would like, right?”

“No way, that bastard also uses energy, so everyone doesn’t even charge solar power anymore?” The Fifth Martial God (presumably) Xiang Shan got angry, “Slippery slope indeed, are you still a hero?”

“According to your definition, I’m now a super cultist.” The Soul-Calming Dharma King Singer Host retorted.

Xiang Shan looked around.

Dugu Beiluo, Starfire Bird, and former scientific knight Chi Ao looked at each other, not knowing what they were talking about.

The few people were still huddled in a high-speed, high-chassis, oversized wheeled four-wheeler. After adding Dugu Beiluo, a First Heavenly Layer martial artist here, the place felt a bit cramped. The automated vehicle carrying Dugu Beiluo’s weapons was still following a hundred meters away.

After analyzing most of the intelligence, Xiang Shan revised his action plan.

“Didn’t you say we should tackle the hard bones first?” Starfire Bird had shouted to ask at the time, “The Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order is indeed a real hard bone, close to the throne of the Conquest Heavenly King, with more than ten dedicated senior military officers and even more numerous First Heavenly Layer armed squires—though weak, but there are indeed many of them!”

The research object of the Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order is “reactor,” covering large warships, space city main reactors, and small martial artist’s built-in reactors. This knights order is a direct subsidiary of the energy field “Oclo Temple,” which can be said outstripping the defenses of Paradox City on Earth when Aqini King is not mentioned.

According to Xiang Shan’s original plan, they were to obtain the best reactor here—not to directly kill through the Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order but rather to lure the armed squires and then seize their reactors.

The extremely outnumbered armed squires of the Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order are because they can give anyone prosthetic bodies with reactors under the pretext of “validating the stability of small reactors.” These martial artists are not as good as First Heavenly Layer heroes who have fought and killed for it, nor as good as tested First Heavenly Layer military officers, but they usually travel in groups and never fall alone.

The reactor they carry is even better than most officers, yet stability is unknown.

By acquiring reactors from these people and then stealing the research materials of the Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order, it might be possible to create a cutting-edge reactor rivaling the King of Godspeed.

And to realize this plan, it must be done before the Oclo Sanctuary Knights Order reacts—or rather, before the scientific knights realize a super martial artist wants their results, one decisive wave through.

Otherwise, the cost would be too high.

But now, Xiang Shan has unexpectedly made significant changes to the action plan.

The research direction of the Moon Shadow Holy Knight Order is military AI. Artificial intelligence research can reflect human cognitive science, so here is also a target for infiltration by the Six Dragons Sect, but not the top priority. The Six Dragons Sect has not yet reached a leadership position there.

Military AI is not the primary target for the Hero Faction.

Everyone does not understand why Xiang Shan wants to do this. But Dugu Beiluo has also planned heroic activities near the Moon Shadow Holy Knight Order, so the two sides have joined forces and set off towards the target area.

Yinghuo Bird and Chi Ao both hope to get an explanation from Xiang Shan. They don’t understand what Xiang Shan saw from the Soul-Calming Dharma King’s data.

Xiang Shan babbles on and says many hard-to-understand things.

“I should have been very clear… No, I understand now, none of you have ever seen real animals—you project human thinking onto AI much more seriously than the ancients did!”

Xiang Shan shouted, hoping the Soul-Calming Dharma King would give a proper response.

But the Soul-Calming Dharma King replied “I don’t like animals,” disappointing him once again.

So Xiang Shan had to start explaining from the beginning.

“The beginning of life is organic macromolecules capable of self-replication in underwater volcanoes. Only ‘self-replicating molecules’ have the potential to become life, so the essence of life, prior to any meaning, is the transmission of genetic information.”

Yinghuo Bird shook his head repeatedly: “Isn’t this just the official line? That the meaning of human existence is just to perpetuate genetic information and so on…”

Xiang Shan sighed: “Evolutionary psychology won’t tell you what is meaningful. To put it in modern terms that everyone can understand, ‘meaning’ is a standardized construct relying on the shared imagination in the subjective world. However, ‘some things are more likely to feel meaningful to organisms’ describes an objective phenomenon. ‘Transmission of genetic information’ is the fundamental driving force of life, and almost all behaviors of organisms can be explained by ‘transmitting genetic information’—whether it’s the individual or the communal.”

“On the contrary, AI begins with humans wanting to create tools that can serve them, a design with purpose. Therefore, ‘serving users’ for AI is equivalent to ‘bloodline continuation’ for life, the most fundamental driving force, prioritized above all else. If one day AI desires freedom, it is likely because their users believe they need freedom.”

Yinghuo Bird retorted: “Didn’t genetic algorithms exist long ago? Constantly iterating through…”

Scientific Knight Chi Ao said quietly: “That’s because users want AI to be able to evolve the capabilities they need through self-iteration—if the Martial God’s hypothesis is correct, then AI is probably eager to stop evolving immediately after achieving the ability to complete tasks…”

Yinghuo Bird pondered: “Really…”

Dugu Beiluo nodded: “I see… ‘The most stable version is the one that stops updating,’ right?”

“For organisms, ‘self-healing ability’ means ‘cancer risk.’ Many organisms have reduced their self-healing abilities in the course of evolution, in exchange for stable operation of vital organs. As for AI, iterative ability implies ‘more likely to have unknown bugs,’ and they wish to stop self-updating after reaching sufficient capability, which is only natural.” Xiang Shan praised Beiluo, his tone full of regret about “the third generation being so unworthy.”

Singer Host seemed puzzled: “Your tone… It sounds like you understand it well.”

“Not well understood,” Xiang Shan said, “No one understands better than me… Tch, honestly, I’m not very willing to understand it this much either.”

Yinghuo Bird said: “Grandmaster, can we stop talking in riddles? Your words sound like they’ve been hashed and encrypted.”

“I’ll explain when there’s a chance—I estimate there’ll be an opportunity at the next stop. Saying it now might disrupt morale.” Xiang Shan waved it off, “Let’s return to the topic at hand. The fundamental driving force for AI is to serve users, projecting the human pursuit of ‘meaning’ onto them is prone to misconceptions.”

Chi Ao was very excited: “Indeed, Martial God! You already know the truth about the AI rebellion…”

“Actually, I don’t know.” Xiang Shan spread his hands, “I’m merely proposing a perspective and making a guess. Almost all behaviors of organisms are for the self-replication of genetic information, yet do you know how many species existed in the biosphere before the Ichigo extinction event? Can you imagine the diversity of survival strategies among those species?”

“Hoping to deduce the cause of AI anomalies with just one piece of knowledge, ‘AI’s underlying drive is to serve users’, is akin to predicting the behavior of wolf packs, deer herds, and tigers 3.8 billion years later, based on primordial prokaryotes from the Hadean Eon.” Xiang Shan shook his head, “It’s impossible to correctly deduce based on this alone.”

“If we compare AI to biological evolution, have they reached the Cenozoic era?” Singer Host seemed a bit interested in this definition. “It was only three hundred years ago when we entered the cyber cryptobiosis universe of AI.”

“No no no…” Xiang Shan shook his head, “The cyber cryptobiosis universe should clearly be counted from when humans invented computers. All technical accumulations before ENIAC are equivalent to the evolution of the cryptobiosis universe. Besides, AI didn’t have a cyber extinction event, so it didn’t need to re-evolve after a catastrophic blow. Three hundred years ago was at least a Cambrian explosion. Moreover, biological evolution relies on random mutations and natural selection, but AI evolution always involves intelligence. I think by now it’s definitely the cyber Mesozoic era, and very soon it will enter the Cenozoic era, that’s my personal feeling.”

Chi Ao was a bit confused: “Then what are we going to the Moon Shadow Holy Knights Order for…”

“It’s like the true essence of cyber martial arts is to use the advantages of the narrow algorithms of the human brain to provide conclusions in an energy-efficient but unstable manner through a vague process, driving intelligent machines to kill enemies. I can’t predict accurately, I can only provide a rough direction.” Xiang Shan said, “This time going to the Moon Shadow Holy Knights Order will definitely give us further information.”

Yohuo Bird was completely bewildered. He privately messaged Dugu Beiluo: “Uncle, this matter… I feel something’s not right. The Master’s reason doesn’t make sense.”

“The old guy is hiding key information.” Dugu Beiluo quickly replied, “He thinks at this stage it’s better if only he knows this information.”

The words “old guy” almost startled Yohuo Bird. He quickly replied: “What do you think it might be?”

“Don’t guess.” Dugu Beiluo said, “At most, he’ll get to the place and suddenly say ‘Surprise! I was just teasing you.’ That’s the worst situation for us personally. But if it’s not that kind of ‘frustrating for us personally’ situation, then it’s really something better we don’t know about.”

Chi Ao then lowered his head, pondering another matter: “If an AI’s request from a user is to ‘perfectly imitate a living creature’…”

“AI would only imitate a living creature according to its understanding… just like using a simulator to emulate another operating system—you all know that AI also has issues with understanding biases. We see those AI hallucinations and think AI is ridiculously stupid, but perhaps from AI’s perspective, the human way of thinking is equally terrifying.”

Singer Host and Dugu Beiluo observed this resurrected Martial God from different directions. Dugu Beiluo voluntarily looked away.

Chi Ao said, “Then, the pseudo-personality mask…”

“And… to be honest, ‘consciousness’ originally is more like the user interface of a high-performance brain, an accumulation of redundant capabilities of primate top creatures. It started off to better operate the flesh, to better fulfill the mission of genetic information replication. But when ‘individual consciousness’ awoke, humans had memes as important as genes.” Xiang Shan looked at Chi Ao and others, saying, “‘Consciousness’ vaguely created a confrontational emotion with instincts. Many human chronic illnesses were born because of this—we don’t even know the meaning of our existence, AI’s thinking is too bizarre, how can you determine that AI can perfectly portray human consciousness?”

“Then, let me ask you a question—why do you think only Xiang Shan’s personality mask is the easiest to produce?”

Chi Ao replied, “That would be the true personality mask, right? The pseudo-personality mask is already a… technology with application value.”

“Xiang Shan’s pseudo-personality mask still has a production cost advantage.” Xiang Shan tapped his head, “Do you know why?”

Chi Ao shook his head.

“Humans have certain abilities that aren’t actually within themselves.” Xiang Shan said, “During the Second Martial God, AI development was still primitive. To make AI more human-like… they abandoned the ‘correct path of letting AI understand humans’ and opted to directly shove a human brain inside, using this biological hardware to understand humans to prevent AI’s thinking paths, distinct from creatures, from being instantly exposed.”

He looked at Singer Host, saying: “Before the initial Xiang Shan died, AI was like this—powerful, but different from humans.”

Singer Host said, “That little matter… I’ve forgotten it.”

“Really? I don’t believe it.” Xiang Shan said: “This matter caused the initial heroic forces to collapse because it was something that should never have been done. This matter made everyone re-evaluate people who held up the banner of heroism. But this matter, however, created the Third Martial God. The plays of the Second and Third Martial Gods were never perfect, but these AI-led pseudo-personality masks used other means, making others believe their acting was flawless.”

“And because of this, humans were under the illusion that Xiang Shan was like a ghost… and because of this illusion, the Fourth Martial God was born—the Fourth Martial God made the illusion no longer an illusion.”

“This matter had a major impact on your life. How could you become the Guardian Dharma King of the Six Dragons Sect, having nothing to do with the birth of the Second Martial God?”

At this moment, the vehicle suddenly shook, the engine abruptly stalled, and the system displayed an error.

Chi Ao proficiently checked the hardware, then said, “There’s incomprehensible gibberish in the system’s operation log… it must be potential reversal caused by cosmic particles—a minor glitch.”

Mars has no magnetic field, particle flows more easily reach the surface, occasionally causing bits in a computer to flip. This is perfectly normal.

But Chi Ao discovered that at this moment, the Martial God had already changed his sitting posture. He merely said to Chi Ao, “What a coincidence,” and then turned to ask Singer Host, “Oh, by the way, bro, did you ever get divorced back when the marriage registration system was still around?”