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nTranslator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

nNobody knew what Chen Chen discussed with the four members of the Lilith Assembly.

nAfter the meeting, despite their reluctance, they agreed to implement Blacklight Biotechnology’s “Skynet system” and “digital judge” in certain specific cities for demonstrative purposes.

nThe so-called “Skynet system” was a project that utilized an artificial intelligence system to replace human-oriented law enforcement. First, ultra-high-definition cameras layered with many features which included facial recognition would be installed all over the city and ensure that not a single blindspot was left.

nThis included private companies, shops, streets, elevators, and corridors in residential buildings. All surveillance of public areas would be connected through a series of cameras and the combined feed would be relayed to the AI. Upon detection of criminal activities, there was no need for the victim to contact the police since the AI would notify the related agencies automatically and immediately.

nThis was the basis of the Skynet system.

nMeanwhile, all of the court cases and trials were entrusted to the worthy hands of the “digital judge” artificial intelligence to analyze and hand out judgments systematically. All of the procedures involved were presented intelligently and transparently. This way, the governmental hierarchy could not intervene with the process. Unless the offenders could somehow influence the digital judge, this system would effectively bring an end to practices such as court favoritism, bribing, and other corrupt activities.

nThe only way to overturn the decision of the digital judge was if several high-level officials joined together and raised valid arguments in favor of the accused.

nThe reason why Chen Chen wanted to implement the digital judge was partially due to the looming threat of subspace. Based on his previous conversation with the three consciousnesses in subspace, he found that human beings or any intelligent creatures were the most vulnerable to the influence of subspace.

nThe subspace was a mirror of reality and reflected the many thoughts, emotions, and intentions of intelligent beings. It was a place where these combined factors manifested and became magnified.

nChen Chen determined that this was how subspace threatened reality, by imposing its ill intentions on the intelligent beings of the real world.

nWhich was why he saw it fit to speed up his plans and use whatever advantage he could to implement the Skynet system and accelerate the coming of the third era – the Skynet era which would cultivate a more civilized and orderly civilization. A well-structured, disciplined society was a powerful deterrent against the effects of the subspace.

nEverything Chen Chen was doing now was to lay the foundation. Once the foundation had been set, everything he had envisioned should run its due course over the next few years.

n“We’ve already paved the path for the third era. Everything should work out in time.”

nAfter exiting the meeting, Chen Chen considered the matters again. It was then when he received another piece of information from Little X.

n“Sir Godfather, I found Wang Xi…”

n“Professor Wang Xi?”

nChen Chen was startled by this. “You mean to say that you found tracks of Professor Wang Xi online?”

n“Yes.”

nEven Little X sounded doubtful of this discovery. “According to my original database, Wang Xi should’ve completely vanished off the face of the earth due to the antimeme. The only reason I even know of the false existence of this person was that you were the one who told me about him. The strange thing is that earlier, I suddenly noticed Professor Wang Xi’s information lying idly in my database like it had been there all along. This included all of his information such as his childhood, studies, work, family background, and so on!”

n“Which means that Professor Wang Xi has returned?”

nChen Chen flung himself out of his seat and motioned for the virtual display to appear in front of him. There were countless rows of data and graphical information on the screen, all of them were directly related to Wang Xi. All of them surfaced out of nowhere.

n“Wang Xi is currently in Haizhou, Central Continent. He’s giving a lecture at Jiaotong University.”

nLittle X spoke like she could not believe the validity of the information she was uttering, “This must be him, I’ve hacked into the Jiaotong University network and confirmed that he’s scheduled for a lecture today. He’s giving a lecture as we speak. He’s the professor of the Chinese Academy of Sciences teaching the freshman biology students…”

nChen Chen was not going to let the moment go to waste. He left the office immediately and went to the teleportation room of the Spire Experimental Base, then teleported to the professor’s location using the Gantz black sphere.

n“Boom!”

nThere was a tremendous explosion when Chen Chen took off at supersonic speed. He soared at thirty times the speed of sound and made for the city center at breakneck speed. The closer he got to his destination, the heavier his expression became. His solemn expression was mixed with great caution.

nAt this point, he decelerated to only several times the speed of sound and began his slow descent. By the time he reached the skies of Jiaotong University, he had almost come to a complete stop.

nChen Chen looked at the familiar university that had only recently been renovated and landed from above. Resting at the center of his palm was a levitating black item. Its mysterious powers made it so that the crowd of people circling back and forth around the campus did not notice him descending from above.

nAfter landing, Chen Chen turned his attention to a building nearby. He considered for a moment, then took his first step and began advancing toward the building.

nAt last, Chen Chen arrived at the door of a classroom.

nThe door was made of sandalwood that was only recently sanded to give it a mint condition. After so many years, it seemed like everything had changed and yet not much changed at the same time. Chen Chen extended his arm outward and pushed the door gently.

n“Creak!”

nThe door obliged and opened.

nHidden behind the door was the familiar sight of a large multimedia classroom. The seats were arranged along several elevated levels with stairs leading up to each row. The seats faced toward the lowest section of the classroom, where there was a holographically projected podium, meeting up to modern standards. A gentle-looking old man was giving his lecture with a warm, inviting smile.

n“There’s a limit to the lifespan of men. We all go through phases of being born, getting old, becoming sick, and dying. Can somebody explain why we go through these processes?

n“As we all know, the unit of life is cells. Each one of us here is the divided result of a tiny, fertilized egg cell… However, this division isn’t infinite.

n“Theoretically, human cells can only divide up to 56 times. According to the calculation of the cell division cycle, the lifespan of a person should be around 120 years old. This theory is called…

n“Why don’t we have our classmate over there diving under the table to answer this question?”

n“Hahahaha!!”

nThe students erupted with laughter. A young man whose cheeks had turned beet red from embarrassment emerged from under the table and rose awkwardly before stammering, “Is, is it the Hayflick limit?”

nChen Chen remained at the entrance of the classroom and watched this scene unfold quietly. The present scene overlapped with his memories and put him in a sudden state of trance. He could not differentiate whether this was a dream or reality…

n“Correct, please sit down!”

nThe old lecturer gestured kindly for the boy to sit down before continuing. “However, science and technology are advancing with each passing day and various advancements that can prolong life have been developed. The most iconic one of them all is, of course, the ‘age-reversal treatment’ technology.

n“With our current technology, the effective lifespan of men has been extended between two to four decades and has reached more than a hundred years. We expect to see this rise up to a hundred and twenty years old very soon. The Hayflick limit has been overcome, but this isn’t the limit…

n“We humans can live longer than this!

n“Technological modification, genetic modification, and psionic modification… Of these three options, the one I see the most potential in is none other than psionic modification. To sum it up, each and every one of you seated here belongs to the generation that is closest to achieving the dreamlike immortality!

n“There’s so much of the truth of the universe that is still waiting to be discovered by humans. Perhaps achieving immortality will be the first and most important step in the pursuit of the ultimate truth…

n“In any case, the future is in your hands. Alright, that’s enough for class today!”

nThe ringing school bell echoed the lecturer’s dismissal only moments after.

n“Clap, clap, clap…”

nThe students applauded and thanked the lecturer for the lecture before packing up their belongings and shuffling out of the lecture hall.

nThey shuffled out of the only exit in the lecture hall and would intentionally curve around Chen Chen as if driven by an invisible force, like a stream of river splitting around a boulder. They did not even look at Chen Chen at all. He stood in the center of the stream completely invisible and yet declared his presence like an invisible obstacle…

nAfter all the students left, only two figures remained in the lecture hall.

nOne of which was Chen Chen.

nThe other was an old lecturer, still smiling – Wang Xi.

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