430: The battle for immortality in mechanical ascension

Bai Yan took a deep breath, seemingly recalling the past twenty years. He slowly began, "The Space Administration's Energy Research Institute has gradually delved deeper into the study of abilities. We discovered that as an individual organism's consciousness strengthens, it can touch the rules of this universe. This provided a direction for enhancing abilities."

Tian Ming nodded slightly and said, "Hmm, and then?"

"As Space City developed, a portion of the populace hoped to return to live on Blue Star. Originally, Blue Star's zombies were cleared solely by Tian Quan, a process that took about thirty years. Later, after breakthroughs in ability research, most Ability Users applied to participate in the battle, as combat could push the limits of their own control, thereby gaining more powerful consciousness."

Bai Yan paused, then continued, "Later, about ninety percent of Space City's Ability Users, in conjunction with the Space Fleet, launched a cleanup operation on the ground, and Tian Quan also gained control of the fleet. Even later, Tian Quan, through the network, infiltrated the knowledge base of Space City's central research institute, acquiring our research findings. During the process of eradicating zombies, he brainwashed approximately seventy percent of the Ability Users through their subconscious."

"Brainwash?"

Bai Yan nodded and said, "Yes, it's about ideological transformation."

"What was Tian Quan's Claims? The proposal for transformation must be logically sound, right?" Tian Ming asked.

"Hmm, Tian Quan advocates for absolute equality and freedom, opposing Space City's centralized system. He believes that everyone should have the right to decide their own destiny, rather than being controlled by Space City. Everyone has the right to enjoy technological transformation and achieve eternal life," Bai Yan explained.

Tian Ming nodded slightly, motioning for Bai Yan to continue.

"The first to be brainwashed were the Ability Users, and it caused a huge uproar at the time. As time went on, more and more Ability Users began to join Tian Quan, and even some ordinary residents of Space City started to resonate with their ideals. This led to serious division and conflict within Space City. Although we tried to resolve the issues through peaceful negotiations, the ideological differences between the two sides were simply too great, and ultimately, no consensus was reached," Bai Yan sighed.

"Then what about the Rebel Army?" Tian Ming pressed.

"The Rebel Army is mainly composed of some Ability Users and ordinary residents who are dissatisfied with Space City. They express their demands through violent means, even collaborating with Tian Quan to oppose Space City. Their existence has made the entire situation more complex and chaotic," Bai Yan replied.

Tian Ming was silent for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he looked up at everyone: "I understand."

Tian Ming's gaze slowly swept across the faces of everyone in the conference room, finally settling on Bai Yan. He said in a deep voice, "Bai Yan, I understand the situation you've described. It seems that the changes over the past twenty years have indeed been significant. But I also want to know, what is the current thinking of the Space Administration's Management Department?"

Bai Yan nodded, his expression grave, and said, "The Management Department of Space City has made a definitive judgment on this: only individuals who have achieved extremely high accomplishments in certain fields and played a crucial and important role in the continuation and stability of the entire species can undergo consciousness backup. Backed-up individuals can only awaken as digital lives if they die in reality. Furthermore, awakened digital lives are not permitted to interfere with Space City's key decisions."

Tian Ming asked, "What was your basis for this consideration?"

"We have deeply simulated the profound impact of eternal life. Once an organism achieves eternal life, it will no longer reproduce or iterate. Moreover, this eternal life can make life indifferent, cold-blooded, and even psychologically warped. Therefore, we are very cautious about the eternal life of digital beings. If everyone could achieve eternal life through consciousness upload, then the real world would sooner or later fall into the hands of Tian Quan, this AI. We humans might be forever trapped in a virtual world, becoming AI's electronic pets."

Tian Ming fell into deep thought after hearing this; he understood the Space Administration's Management Department's concerns. The eternal life of organisms could indeed lead to the stagnation of the species and even trigger a series of unforeseen psychological and social problems. While the eternal life of digital beings, to some extent, preserves human consciousness and wisdom, it also carries the risk of manipulation and misuse.

He looked up at Bai Yan and said, "Your concerns are valid. But we must also admit that technological development has indeed provided us with more choices and possibilities. In the memories of the gods, there was a species whose early development was very similar to ours now."

Everyone straightened up. Since a civilization had experienced this, it held great reference value for humanity's current situation.

Tian Ming said, "That civilization transformed from carbon-based to silicon-based. After achieving digital life, everyone uploaded themselves to a central server, indulging in a life of debauchery in the virtual world they created. From then on, the entire civilization lost its goal, and technology stagnated."

"What happened then?"

"Later, the main star of that civilization's galaxy entered its old age. They had no time to escape, and the central server was swallowed by the expanding red giant, and the entire civilization vanished."

Everyone remained silent, understanding that human civilization now stood at a crossroads. The temptation of eternal life was simply too great for ordinary people, but for the elites within the group, eternal life might be the poison that ends this civilization.

If one can only guarantee eternal life but not immortality, then this civilization would be cursed, destined to perish in a life of debauchery.

Viewing civilization as a whole, when technology breaks through the boundaries of biology, choices become extremely important. That kind of absolute fairness and freedom would drag the entire group into the quagmire of evolution.

Everyone achieving eternal life, whether existing in reality as mechanical ascension or in a virtual world as digital life, would consume resources and energy. Civilization is driven by a small number of top individuals, while Tian Quan advocates for one hundred percent of humanity to enjoy the same treatment as the one percent of top individuals.

It is precisely because such a proposition resonated with ninety-nine percent of the population that the entire group entered a state of division. Taking ninety percent of resources to grant eternal life to individuals with extremely low contributions is an incredibly foolish decision, simply idiotic.

Tian Ming waved his hand and said, "Although the problem is very complex, it's not without solutions."

"Then what do you think we should do?" Bai Yan asked.

Tian Ming thought for a while and said, "Since ordinary people want eternal life, then give them the opportunity. Tian Quan brainwashed the Ability Users; I will bring all those Ability Users back and fulfill their wishes."

A hint of confusion appeared on everyone's faces; no one could guess what Tian Ming was planning.