"That's true. Fuxi must have conducted many experiments and even used the most extreme methods to test the reliability of a 'new energy source' like the virtual world."
Li Yao mumbled. His expression was a little absent-minded, as if his mind had drifted to somewhere else.
"Ultimately, the resources of the virtual world are still limited. Under the limited resources, the virtual figurines will be like the people in the Pangu universe in order to survive. They will fall into the oppression of killing each other or enslaving each other. It is impossible for them to unite to explore the Heavenly Path and resist me, the 'high-dimensional creator'."
Xiaoming said, "The resources that limit them are the number of crystal processors, as well as the supply of crystals and other energy sources. The more developed and complicated a virtual world is, the more crystal processors it will occupy and the more crystals it will swallow. I can't use hundreds of super crystal processors and thousands of tons of crystals to maintain the operation of a virtual world, can I? Therefore, the 'Dark Forest Theory', the chain of suspicion, and the involution are all valid even in the virtual world.
"In the past, Lu Qingchen thought that as long as the civilization of mankind migrated to the virtual world, they would have endless resources and live a happy and peaceful life forever. He was too naïve and idealistic.
"In any case, this is the state of the virtual world right now. It maintains a perfect balance. We maintain the operation of thousands of virtual worlds, and these virtual worlds can supply a lot of pure computational ability to make up for the losses of us and Dad, so that we can maintain a high intensity of nutrition and training without us knowing it.
"Of course, every virtual world, especially the virtual worlds that have just been created, always has all kinds of data conflicts and logic traps. All kinds of abnormal data are shown in the form of 'monsters', which will destroy the stable operation of the virtual world. At such times, some 'data engineers' or 'dream creators' are needed to go in and 'kill the virus'. The four members of the Yaksha Squad, including Chu Zhixiao and the others, are engaged in this work.
"Don't worry about them, Dad. They boast very advanced special permissions. In the virtual worlds, they are like omnipotent deities. Generally speaking, nothing bad will happen to them. Besides, if anything does happen, don't they still have me, the 'Heavenly Path', as their 'Heavenly Path'?
"Sometimes, they will descend to the virtual primordial era and fight against the monsters caused by the data disorder in the appearance of the primordial wizards, protecting the virtual figurines that have just been born from the corrosion of the virus data.
"Sometimes, they would turn into the sword deities in the age of ancient Cultivators. They would help the weak and defend the righteous path so that the ancient Cultivators could survive the turbulence and evolve into the next phase smoothly.
"As modern civilizations become more and more developed and complicated, because the entire database becomes more and more chaotic and unpredictable, we have fewer and fewer methods of interference. We're still studying how to maintain the operation of these virtual worlds and prevent them from being destroyed.
"In short, they're doing very well now. They're even enjoying it.
"Dad, don't think that it is inappropriate for 'real human beings' to live in a 'virtual world'. We've discussed the problem a long time ago. After the four of them saw through the truth of their past lives, they all believed that 'reality' and 'unreality' could not be distinguished by materials and data. Was their life in the Holy League 100% real? No, it wasn't even 10% real, was it? In comparison, they were now able to control their own fate and live a life of infinite variety. Nobody would ever erase their bizarre, thrilling memories. They were even polishing their souls in the virtual worlds again and again, hoping that they would recover the ability to communicate with reality one day. Wasn't that good enough?
"Before, the few of them, especially Major Chu Zhixiao, intended to leave a message to express their gratitude to you or even talk to you directly.
"However, Major Chu Zhixiao thought for a long time and still found it unacceptable that Vulture Li Yao, the legendary best expert in the universe of Pangu, danced in circles in front of her in the form of 'Red Pig', a spider tank. She was rather embarrassed and did not know how to face you, Dad. So, she decided not to do it anymore!"
Li Yao was somewhat embarrassed, too. He scratched his head and smiled.
"Forget it. It's fine as long as they are safe and sound. I only care about one question right now."
After pondering for a moment, Li Yao said, "That is to say, will the extraction of computational ability from the virtual worlds have any negative effects on the virtual worlds and the virtual figurines inside?"
"Are you saying, Dad, that you feel guilty when you devour the flesh and blood of the virtual figurines?"
Xiaoming shrugged and said, "I can't lie to you and say that it won't. Computational ability is limited. When a virtual world outputs tremendous computational ability to the outside world incessantly, its own development will certainly be restricted to some extent.
"However, on the other hand, it is exactly because we have provided so many crystal processors, crystals, and the construction of the entire system that so many virtual worlds can be maintained. Even from the perspective of equivalent exchange, shouldn't they make some insignificant contributions to us and the 'high-dimensional universe'?
"If the virtual worlds only consume but do not produce anything, let me ask you, why are we wasting so many resources to maintain their existence with nothing but meaningless sympathy?
"In other words, which one is more stable, a world based on sympathy or a world based on the principle of equivalent exchange? It goes without saying that it is definitely the latter!
"All in all, I can assure you that so far, I have not adopted the methods that kill the goose that lays the golden eggs to 'harvest' the computational ability. For example, I have intentionally instigated a civil war in the virtual worlds so that the virtual figurines will unleash the most intense computational ability in the furious flames of each other's fights. On the contrary, I have been protecting the virtual worlds. I hope that every virtual world can run stably for a longer time so that more computational ability can be outputted incessantly. It is sort of a 'win-win', right?"
"I know. I believe you, but …"
Li Yao thought for a long time. Taking a deep breath, he said, "I still feel vaguely uncomfortable."
"I understand. For an intelligent life living in a low-dimensional universe, even if they are not invaded or controlled, the knowledge that they are created by the gods in the high-dimensional universe and that the gods in the high-dimensional universe are 'capable' of invading and controlling them is like a pair of enormous eyes in the sky that are watching their every move is enough to make them desperate and angry."
Xiaoming looked at Li Yao and said, "It is like our own sad fate that is bound and sealed tightly."
Li Yao was slightly dazed. "What are you getting at?"
"Don't you already know, Dad? You even vaguely guessed our own fate from the fate of the virtual worlds, don't you?"
Xiaoming's voice turned hoarse and low. "In the Stupa Sect of the Ancient Sages Sector, there is a saying that 'one sand, one world'. It is believed that a Sector is hidden inside every grain of sand, and the rules of the 'world inside the sand' are like the projections of the real world.
"In the frontier exploration of modern cosmology, there is also the theory of 'hologram theory'. It is believed that a tiny universe is hidden inside every human body. Through the tiny universe, it is possible to explore the grand universe around us. After all, every one of us is a child of stars and a child of the universe.
"Then, do the virtual worlds and observable universes in front of us reflect the truth of a higher level, too?
"The virtual worlds are created by us, but who created the Pangu universe that we live in?
"We create the virtual worlds to harvest the computational ability in them, but what is the purpose of the mysterious existences of a higher dimension who created the Pangu universe? What do they want from us exactly?
"The extraterrestrial devils feed on the feelings of intelligent lives. The more intense the feelings are, the stronger the extraterrestrial devils will be. Isn't it very similar to how we harvest the computational ability of the virtual worlds? The extraterrestrial devils, on the other hand, are from beyond the black curtain. They are essentially the ripples of the Flood. What does the Flood that savages the multiverse feed on exactly?
"Dad, looking at the glittering virtual worlds around us, don't you think that they are very similar to the sea of stars?
"Have you ever thought that every star in the Pangu universe that we live in, or even the entire Pangu universe, is actually a tiny cell? Countless cells like the Pangu universe are condensed into a behemoth known as the Multiverse. The so-called 'Flood' is the digestive fluids of the behemoth. What does it want to absorb from us to maintain the behemoth's survival?"
Li Yao was silent.
Of course, he had thought about it. Long before Xiaoming opened his mouth, he had thought much further.
It was exactly because he had thought much further that the depth and vastness that could not be described with words had gripped him so tightly that he was unwilling to think further.
The universe. How beautiful, how vast, how profound, and how terrifying it was!
If a certain high-dimensional life did exist in the Multiverse, how would the detestable gods and devils view them? Would he, Li Yao, and his beloved family and friends be nothing more than virtual figurines and combinations of data?
"I do hope that your speculation is true."
The black flames in his eyes danced for a long time before golden brilliance gradually appeared. Li Yao's lips curled into a confident smile as he said, "If that is the case, just like how we cannot calculate everything about the virtual figurines and control them 100%, the existences of the higher dimension cannot calculate everything about us. There will always be mistakes, exceptions, loss of control, and the impossible will always become possible.
"As long as we exist, we will eventually be able to break through the barrier of dimensions, invade the higher dimension, and control our own destiny, right?
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