Other than the videos about the origin and evolution of life, the remaining capacity on the chip was naturally stored with tremendous files including the Federation's Encyclopedia and even some of the more general star maps that had been published publicly.
If the alien civilizations billions of years later could understand them, the star maps might be able to help them find the three thousand Sectors where the civilization of mankind was located.
Of course, such precious information and files would not be given away easily, either.
According to Wei Qingqing, the hundreds of psychologists in the Tinder Base had designed a series of secret tests specifically for the issue of 'civilization succession'. They could test the temperament, morals, values, and so on of the inheritors in secret.
"I have recorded all the contents of the tests. The 'old grandpas' that will be launched in the future all contain such 'test procedures', too. The old grandpas will observe what the inheritors do in silence nearby. At first, they will only release a tiny part of the information and techniques and conduct a series of tests. Only when it is confirmed that the inheritors' personality and values are in line with ours will they release all the information including the star maps.
Wei Qingqing explained, "For example, if our old grandpas find an alien world where the civilization is not very developed, perhaps they will find a common, or even poor, individual in the alien world as a 'sample' first. They will fall to the 'sample' in the form of a Cosmos Ring and release part of the information and techniques. In the way of the alien world, they will fabricate an origin, claiming that they are a primeval god, a sealed devil, or a lost weapon. Then, they will help the sample arrange a series of opportunities and adventures while observing what he will do with the old grandpas' techniques in secret.
"If the sample only cares about doing whatever he wants after receiving the help of the Cosmos Ring and the old grandpas, I'm afraid that such an alien species will not be suitable to inherit the civilization of mankind. It will be too dangerous. The old grandpas will automatically destroy most of the remaining information and will not let the alien species know the existence of the civilization of mankind. They will also release special spiritual waves that will slowly corrupt the brain of the sample, making the sample live in the dream that the old grandpas created and unable to free himself from it. In the eyes of the sane bystanders, the 'sample' will be an out-and-out lunatic who cannot be trusted at all.
"In that case, no one in that alien world will know the truth about human civilization.
"On the other hand, if the 'sample' still treats the old grandpa as usual and helps other people wholeheartedly, helps the weak, respects the old, loves the young, and cares for ordinary people and flowers, it means that this alien race has values similar to ours and is qualified to receive our legacy.
"The grandpas will also arrange a series of tests for the 'samples'. After every test is passed and more common values are confirmed, the grandpas will release more techniques and information, making the samples stronger and more capable of modifying and leading their world in the way of the civilization of mankind.
"In the end, all the tests will be passed. At that time, the 'old grandpa' will announce the truth and inform the alien race of the existence of the civilization of mankind. He will also give our star map to the sample of 'kindness and light' so that he and his descendants can return to the homeland of the 'teacher' and take a look when they have the chance.
"We believe that the aliens who pass all the tests will have values similar to ours. We will be able to understand and communicate with each other. There is also a high chance that we will help each other and pass on the knowledge to each other!"
Wei Qingqing paused for a moment and smiled brilliantly. "Do you understand now? We did not underestimate the ambitions of the potential alien species deep inside the universe. We will definitely search for the most suitable inheritors with the highest standards. In fact, it is largely the reason why the old grandpa's research progress is slow. It is because he has to design 'tests'.
"It is exactly because of this that I became one of the first members of the 'tinder'."
Li Yao asked curiously, "Because of what?"
"Because I am an 'Illusionist'!"
Wei Qingqing said with a smile. "The Illusionists boast unique techniques that allow us to influence other people's brainwaves with spiritual letters and spells and construct vivid illusions. Therefore, if we can really find an underdeveloped alien civilization, I will be able to find an individual sample of the alien race and interfere with his brain. I will fabricate a series of bizarre, zigzagging adventures for him so that he can be the dominator and omnipotent in the fantasy world. It will be a test of his temperament and whether or not he is suitable for the great heritage of the civilization of mankind."
Li Yao tilted his head and thought for a moment. Then, he was amused. "If the sample is slightly evil, it will be rather pitiful."
"It can't be helped. I believe that the universe is bright, but I will not turn a blind eye to darkness and evilness," Wei Qingqing said.
"We have to be responsible for the future of the civilization of mankind. A 'village teacher' has a whip in his hand, too!
"For the smooth implementation of the Tinder Plan, I've been meditating deeply over the past few years. With the help of hundreds of Illusionists, I have constructed and condensed a lot of colorful 'virtual test worlds' to ensure that our heritage will not be entrusted to the wrong people. So, rest assured, everybody!
"Ah. Here we are."
Passing through a long, silver pathway, they reached a splendid round hall in front of them. Countless light beams were embedded around the hall. There were also a lot of 3D light beams projected by the transmitters of mystic rays. Together, they created a vivid 'Half-step Grand Illusionary Land'.
All the lights and shadows interweaved and constituted a paradise together.
They seemed to be in the most perfect wilderness. Close to them was a lake that was as smooth and tranquil as a mirror. Far away was a mountain that was slightly covered in snow. At the foot of the mountain was a quaint town. Laughter and singing could be vaguely heard from the town.
Li Yao was gradually used to the style of the Tinder Base where reality and illusions were mixed. He knew that most of the scenes that he saw were false and just illusions caused by the mystic rays projected on his retina.
Blinking his eyes, he covered his lens with feeble spiritual energy and perceived with his' spiritual eye '. As he expected, he' saw 'the staff and the enormous computational group of crystal processors hiding behind the illusions.
At the center of the hall, a black cube two meters tall, one meter long, and half a meter wide was standing. Its surface was as smooth and shiny as a mirror. There was not the slightest flaw on it, and it seemed that it was difficult to create any.
"That is the super silicon chip that we have produced and can maintain stability for a hundred million years. It is my 'new home'."
Wei Qingqing introduced it with a smile. Pausing for a moment, she emphasized, "We!"
"We …"
Li Yao considered the deeper meaning behind the word.
So, Wei Qingqing was not the only spectral Cultivator in the 'tinder' that had been launched this time?
While he was pondering, a man of liquid metal strode toward them and laughed heartily. "Representative Lin, Representative Long, and Miss Ling, nice to meet you. I am Mo Xuan, the supervisor of the Tinder Plan. Welcome to the Tinder Base!"
It was his professor!
Li Yao's heart skipped a beat. Observing Professor Mo Xuan, whom he had not seen for a hundred years, he immediately had a weird feeling.
How should he put it? A hundred years ago, Professor Mo Xuan gave the impression that he was a dutiful, dutiful, and nice guy who did not seem to have much of a presence.
However, when Li Yao watched the video of Mo Xuan and Xie Wufeng's confrontation on the Spiritual Nexus and the virtual life decades ago, he seemed rather aggressive, radical, and zealous.
Professor Mo Xuan at this moment, however, was even more intimidating than in the video. He attracted the attention of everyone on the scene the moment he showed up.
The 3D light beam technology of the Federation was so advanced that, as long as Professor Mo Xuan was willing to, he could've built an illusion around himself and made himself look like a vivid human being, exactly like what Wei Qingqing did.
But as it happened, he maintained the silver body of liquid metal and did not disguise the difference between himself and a 'living person' at all. There was no telling whether it was because he did not care about the details or because there was a deeper meaning to it.
Li Yao vaguely felt that this was no longer the professor that he was familiar with.
Then, he thought to himself, Of course. A hundred years have passed. Professor Mo Xuan is not in hibernation. He has been through so many things and even found a mistress. Of course, he will change!
Despite what he said, Li Yao was suddenly reluctant to reveal his identity when he saw Professor Mo Xuan who was both familiar and strange to him. He did not want to reach out to Ding Ling Dong and Jin Xinyue through him, either.
Professor Mo Xuan glanced at Li Yao and Long Yangjun and smiled as if nothing had happened. "Representative Lin, Representative Long, the 'Firefly' that the two of you are on can also be said to be a tiny tinder that the Star Ocean Republic launched to the edge of the cosmos a thousand years ago. I feel that such a background will make it easier for you to understand the significance of the 'Tinder Plan', don't you?"
"Exactly."
Long Yangjun hurried to nod her head and said, "On our way here, Professor Wei introduced a lot of things. The Tinder Plan is indeed exciting. We were all deeply shocked and moved by Professor Wei's ambition to march to the future and pass on the tinder of the civilization of mankind. However, Professor Wei mentioned 'we' just now. Can such a large, black cube still be called a 'silicon chip'? That is to say, what you are going to launch is not a soul but a … virtual world and countless spectral Cultivators, right? "
"Yes."
Professor Mo Xuan said thoughtfully and sharply, "But the term is not very accurate. What is a 'virtual world'? For those of us who live in it for a long time, the world made of the Spiritual Nexus and the crystal processors is equally real and no worse than the outside world. It is neither 'illusionary' nor 'simulated'.
"Also, you may not know this, but I was once the president of the Association of Spectral Cultivators of the Federation for a long time. Today, the spectral Cultivators are also an important part of the people of the Federation. However, we are not satisfied with the name 'spectral Cultivators' that we have been using for a long time. When people die, they become ghosts, but we are clearly not dead but have only changed our life form into some sort of virtual life. We are still alive. What is a 'spectral Cultivator'?
"The word 'ghost' is neither pleasant nor accurate. Therefore, the Association of Spectral Cultivators of the Federation is considering a new proposal to change our name."
"Oh?"
Long Yangjun rolled her eyes and looked at Li Yao. "Excuse me, we did not mean to offend you. Then, according to your opinion, what should we call you if we are not 'spectral Cultivators' and 'virtual world'?"
"Spiriters."
Professor Mo Xuan condensed another arm from his body of liquid metal. Pointing at the black cube at the center of the hall behind him, he said, "We are not spectral Cultivators but the Spiriters, the third evolved form of mankind after human beings and demons, who can survive in the world of crystal processors and the Spiritual Nexus with only our souls!
"The worlds built with the Spiritual Nexus and the crystal processors are the best homes for the Spiriters. Therefore, we have named them the Spiriters' Realm!
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