Chapter 124: Cyber Technology, Splitting Up

Chapter 124: Cyber Technology, Splitting Up

"What is a gestalt consciousness?" someone raised their hand and asked the question.

This was a slightly tricky concept to explain, so Chen Zihan could only provide an example:

"You can think of gestalt consciousness as a machine version of a hive mind. In simpler terms, imagine the gestalt consciousness group as a beehive.

"The most basic robots are like worker bees in the hive, performing fundamental tasks. There are also drones, queen bees, and each unit has its role, functioning as a whole.

"Gestalt consciousness is a group of numerous robots, forming a hive-like collective structure."

After Chen Zihan finished speaking, he turned to look at Lu Heng, expecting him to continue the conversation.

Lu Heng had been less talkative since the discussion began.

Therefore, Chen Zihan wanted to hear more from Lu Heng, hoping to gain more useful information.

Lu Heng understood his intention and smiled, taking over the topic:

"The Central System also has similar characteristics. There should be a central computer connecting all the individuals in this world.

"What does each individual do? Where do they go? Everything, from large-scale battles to small-scale traffic, is controlled by this central computer.

"To put it in simpler terms, this Central System is likely a Super AI.

"In movies and literature, there are numerous stories about AI rebellions. That part doesn't need further explanation.

"However, whether this Central System's AI has actually rebelled or not, we don't know.

"As of now, it seems that either the Central AI System or the Rogue Servant Gestalt Consciousness has encountered a problem."

Lu Heng paused for a moment before adding, "As for what we should do, we can complete any tasks mentioned in the current task information. For the hidden tasks that will be triggered later, we'll have to make our own judgments. Lastly, remember that strictly speaking, we belong to a third-party faction, so don't mistake our own identities."

Chen Zihan heard some of the information he wanted, but feeling it wasn't enough, he proactively asked, "What do you think this world's civilization represents?"

Lu Heng waited for two seconds before replying, "I believe it's a mechanical civilization, or perhaps a semi-mechanical civilization. The parts that haven't been mechanized should resemble humans to some extent."

Chen Zihan nodded in agreement, "That's similar to what I was thinking."

In fact, human civilization, in a certain sense, is an early form of mechanical civilization.

Of course, whether human civilization will evolve into a mechanical civilization depends on the technological choices made in the future.

If one day, humans unlock technologies like mechanical consciousness and human-machine integration, they might very well embark on the path of mechanical civilization.

The development of civilization is a gradual process, and even if the mechanical civilization technology tree is unlocked, it will still progress through various stages, albeit slowly.

...

In truth, Lu Heng possessed even more information, but some of it was from his past life's memories, and there were certain things he couldn't reveal.

In his previous life, Lu Heng had once entered a cyberpunk wasteland world, but it wasn't this Orion Lambda 838.

So, while the world environments were similar, they weren't the same.

Additionally, the challenge task information mentioned that this cyberpunk wasteland world had a deep abyss contamination source.

In other words, this was also a world eroded by the abyss, and demons might exist here as well.

However, the form of their existence was unknown.

Lu Heng chose the Rogue Servant faction for another reason.

In his past life, the cyberpunk wasteland world he entered had Source Essence, and the probability of finding it was higher within the Rogue Servant faction.

Currently, Lu Heng's second-tier Source Essence fusion rate was 37%. If he could find Source Essence in this world, he might have a chance to obtain the second-tier job.

Furthermore, the Central System was a Super AI created by the cyber civilization, specializing in management and control, and was more strict.

If they joined the Central System faction, many of their actions would be restricted.

As for why Chen Zihan chose the Central System faction, Lu Heng could guess the reason.

Three members of Chen Zihan's team were from disciplinary forces, indicating a high probability of a military background.

When an ability user with a military background enters a cyber world, what would their first objective be? Undoubtedly, it would be technology.

Indeed, it would be technology.

In fact, even without Chen Zihan's team, Lu Heng would still consider bringing back cyber technology.

However, even if he did, the benefits to humanity wouldn't be particularly significant.

It's not hard to understand why.

Often, it takes over a decade for a technology to go from invention to market application.

3D printing technology, for example, was invented in 1983, but it wasn't until after 2000 that 3D printing technology was actually put into use.

Seventeen years had passed in between.

Perhaps some might argue that this was because it was a civilian technology, so it took longer.

Then, let's consider military technology. The 10 series fighter jets of Dahua were proposed in 1986, had their maiden flight in 1998, and were finalized in 2004.

Eighteen years had passed.

So, even if humans obtained cyber world technology, how would they implement it?

Firstly, the fundamental rules of the two worlds are different, so each piece of technological information would need to be tested and then considered for application.

Moreover, industrial technology isn't something that can be immediately produced just by obtaining the technological data.

Many people know that chips are made from sand, but only a few companies can manufacture high-end chips.

So, even if they obtained the technological data from the Cyberworld, without the supporting industrial system, they wouldn't be able to manufacture it.

Of course, the technological data from the Cyberworld is undoubtedly valuable, and its value is immense.

It can guide humanity's technological development and accelerate the progress of human civilization.

However, it won't bear fruit in just a year or two.

With the Abyssal invasion, humanity may not be able to hold out until a technological breakthrough.

Moreover, the human living environment will be continuously compressed by the Abyssal demons, and even the industrial system will be damaged, causing a disruption in technological development.

Therefore, while the Cyberworld's technological data is valuable, it doesn't have the ability to drastically change one's fate in a short time.

Humans can only resist the Abyssal invasion and then wait for the technological breakthrough.

However, even with a technological breakthrough, there isn't an absolute guarantee of success.

Just look at the current situation to understand this.

Even the Cyberworld has been invaded by the Abyss, indicating that its technology isn't as powerful against the Abyss as one might think.

...

Regardless of how the future situation unfolds, the necessary actions must be taken.

Therefore, Chen Zihan will undoubtedly attempt to bring back Cyber technology, and Lu Heng will support him in this endeavor, even offering assistance when needed.

Lu Heng guessed what Chen Zihan was planning, and Chen Zihan guessed that Lu Heng had figured out his intentions.

The two shared a tacit understanding and smiled at each other.

Chen Zihan said, "Since we're done chatting, let's get started. It's about time we split up."

Lu Heng nodded in agreement, "Then let's part ways here. I took a look at the bottom of the electronic shackles earlier, and there's a metal plate there. It's likely a stun needle, so forcibly prying open the shackles will probably trigger a high-voltage electric shock."

"Also, once the shackles are opened, the Central System will definitely receive an alarm and send armed units to pursue us."

"So, everyone's shackles need to be removed together. Figure out your own way to do it."

The danger level of this Abyssal battlefield is 4.

The summoned Abilities users here are around level 20, even if they haven't reached it yet.

So, everyone has a way to break free from the shackles; it's just a matter of when they make their move.

"Are you all ready? I'll count down from three, and then we'll all break free from the shackles and rush out, each going our separate ways," Chen Zihan announced loudly, raising his hand.

Three, two, one!

Boom, boom, boom...

A series of electronic shackle explosions sounded, and all ten people broke free from their restraints, then punched through the iron door of the transport truck and rushed out.

The transport truck was breached, and it immediately stopped, sounding an alarm from its original position.

However, nothing came out from the driver's seat.

Su Muyu had already checked earlier, and there was no driver in the cabin.

Indeed, this transport truck was self-driving, and there were no weapons installed. After the 'biological' it was carrying escaped, its program was to stop and sound an alarm.

As soon as the alarm went off, an armed guard tower three kilometers away immediately launched an armed drone into the air, heading towards the alarm's location.

As soon as Su Muyu jumped off the transport truck, he noticed the armed drone and quickly pointed towards the sky in front of the road, shouting, "Armed drone! Be careful!"

Lin Zeyu took out the SVD sniper rifle, raised it, and aimed at the armed drone.

When the drone flew within a kilometer range, he pulled the trigger.

Bang!

The gunshot echoed, and the armed drone shook, black smoke rising from its body as it tumbled and fell.

Lu Heng looked around and said, "We'll probably encounter stronger armed robots soon. Let's split up here."

"Okay, see you later." Chen Zihan raised his hand and slapped Lu Heng's palm, then led his team towards the road ahead.

"Let's go too," Lu Heng chose another direction.

The two solo Abilities users didn't follow Chen Zihan or Lu Heng's group of three; instead, they crossed the road barrier and headed towards the river.

"Those two..."

Su Muyu watched the two disappear into the city's mist, furrowing her brows, feeling something was odd.

Lu Heng also frowned and said, "I didn't notice it before, but those two are together."

While on the transport truck, the two didn't seem like a team, neither in their seating arrangement nor in their conversations.

Normally, if they were solo Abilities users, they would usually choose to follow a team that didn't have ill intentions towards them, increasing their chances of survival.

These two solo Abilities users didn't join any team; instead, they left together.

The key point is that the two didn't interact at all while on the truck.

If they had interacted and decided to stick together, it would make sense.

In this situation, it's obvious that they know each other and pretended not to while on the truck.

Now that he thought about it, Lu Heng also recalled some clues.

In fact, the clothing of the ten people on the truck indicated their origins.

Chen Zihan's team wore thicker clothes, suggesting they were from a higher latitude region.

Lu Heng's group of three wore autumn attire, which was more moderate.

Hou Lingshan and Liu Liangpeng wore short sleeves, indicating they were from a tropical region, and their darker skin tone suggested abundant sunlight.

Thinking back, the probability of these two knowing each other is indeed high.

However, at the time, everyone was focused on analyzing the world, and these two had a low presence, so no one paid much attention to them.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end