"However."

The other party turned the statue back into a gold coin, and then took out a crab coin from his pocket, which was the company's concept currency.

Hatway stacked the two new coins together, and the pattern on the crab coin visibly changed and distorted, turning into the shape of the God of Ten Thousand Mechanisms.

Lin Long hissed, "Evil God Coins can erode other new coins?"

Hatway separated the two new coins again.

The crab coin gradually reverted to the samurai crab pattern.

"If in contact for long, the new coin of the God of Ten Thousand Mechanisms will invade and assimilate other concept marks, changing their internal structures, and then become a carrier for spreading the statue."

"It will subtly influence the holder, executing continuous hypnosis and mental pollution."

Hatway pinched the golden disc between his fingers, "I previously thought the target of the God of Ten Thousand Mechanisms was Concept Life, and might directly act against other registered deities. But now it seems its method is more subtle and effective, assimilating the new coins."

"As long as the Evil God Coins continue to be issued and infiltrate to assimilate other new coins, all holders will become its believers."

"The more effort other registered deities put into acquiring new followers, the more they will become aids to the God of Ten Thousand Mechanisms."

"This method will fundamentally turn all consciousnesses into its catch."

"The more prosperous the new coin market is, the greater its destructive power and contagiousness will be."

Lin Long's face looked grim, "The situation is very serious, I need to report to the director in person!"

"Let's go together."

...

After hearing Lin Long and Hatway's joint investigation report.

Jue Mingzi's gemstone screen remained silent for two seconds.

Then a voice came from within.

"You've worked hard, and done very well."

"I just synchronized this matter with the chairman, who has given high praise and appreciation for your discovery. The company is currently conducting simultaneous checks on new coins in the New World and tracking suspects on the Forbidden Continent."

"Now you two continue pursuing the statue clues in Chongqing, maintain contact."

The work was not yet over.

But a break was necessary.

So Lin Long took Hatway to a hot pot restaurant to eat something.

"Normally, you have to be fully immersed in the New World to get a complete experience."

Lin Long found a seat and sat down, smiling as he explained, "We have the benefit of our profession, giving us perks in this aspect. Eating and drinking, all the sensations can be experienced here."

"Do you eat spicy food?"

"Yes, I can eat very spicy," Hatway said confidently.

"Is that in Sand Port?"

"Yes."

"This is Chongqing, where Sand Port's very spicy is basically mild." Lin Long waved to the nearby waiter, "We'll have a mildly spicy broth."

The waiter nodded.

Shortly after, Hatway was sweating profusely, gulping down water with his mouth wide open.

"...The feeling here is too real, just like the real thing."

Hatway wiped the sweat from his forehead with a napkin.

"This is inherently a consciousness-side world, merely constructed by our company and the Moon Service Company on the Moon. The reason most residents' experiences aren't as complete is because their Life Level hasn't reached A, and they can't fully project here. Currently, they can only use the Evil Brain Motor's peripherals, operating through a screen."

Lin Long picked up a roll of fatty beef with his chopsticks while speaking, "In the past, the way was to enhance one's Life Strength, but now the company can lower the world's entry threshold, so the Dream Demon Clan has a harder time monopolizing the Great Holy Spirit and locking in all Earth residents."

"Everyone now has the New World as an option, which is why the use restrictions on the Great Holy Spirit have repeatedly been lifted. Even when individuals use the Great Holy Spirit to excavate Consciousness Fragments, excavation tools are provided for free... Haha, it seems the company is putting a lot of pressure on the Dream Demon Clan."

The Sea Man Investigator took a sip of iced tea, "I've heard about this. It's said that some Dream Demons have applied to leave the Great Holy Spirit and have obtained permanent residency in the New World?"

"That's true."

Lin Long nodded, "There are now Dream Demon settlements in many cities, where dreams can seamlessly connect with the New World."

He pointed to his temple, "In the past, Dream Demons created dreams secretly and implanted them into brains, but now they are openly issued."

"People keep entering because they like it, and each dream keeps getting real-time updates with DLC expansions, so now it's all about showcasing hard strength."

"Dreams in the New World are custom-made based on different customers, allowing a free trial from half an hour to an hour. If they like it, they can pay for the subsequent dream chapters; if not, they can exit anytime. Thus, the quality of a dream and its popularity can be seen from its sales and audience size."

"The Dream Theatre is currently a highly popular emerging industry, with the leaders in this field being the three weaving monarchs, Monarch Ephemeral, Monarch Dingyou, and Monarch Spring Dream."

Hatway gulped down another mouthful of yogurt, making a hissing sound, "Lin, do you think the New World will eventually replace the Old World?"

"I mean, it's so convenient here, with no distances between cities, you can instantly arrive. Without heavy material constraints, living here is easy as long as you obtain the permissions... Will everyone eventually come here to live and abandon the material side of Earth?"

This Sea Man, who had been calm and steadfast during the investigation of the God of Ten Thousand Mechanisms, now had a trace of confusion in his eyes.

Lin Long put down his chopsticks and seriously replied, "I don't think so."