Chapter 412 A virtual realm within a virtual realm?
The process of re-entering the workforce for James Varley was much smoother than expected.
With Prince Colin personally coming forward, the magicians in the Xuebang Administrative Department who have always used "acting according to the rules" as their shield have shown unprecedented work efficiency.
In less than half a day, all the tedious procedures were settled.
Stepping out of the office of the Administration Department, James had in his hand a badge symbolizing the status of "Corinta Visiting Scholar" and a set of keys to the teachers' dormitory.
Looking at the certificate of the lost Xuebang magician, James actually felt like he was in another world. His life in the past year was like a dream.
"The next step is the issue of accommodation."
Luo Yan smiled, waved to a thin young man waiting not far away, and continued in a casual tone.
"Although the formalities have been completed, there are still a lot of trivial matters... I will introduce you to a helper. This is Corgi, Professor Hector's teaching assistant. If you have any questions, you can go to him directly."
The young man trotted over. He is not tall, but his steps are brisk, his eyes are bright, and he exudes a shrewd and capable temperament.
"Your Highness, are you looking for me?"
Luo Yan smiled at Corgi and introduced him.
"Corgi, this person next to me is Mr. James Vali. He will rejoin the Tower of the Great Sage as a special researcher and work in my magic science laboratory. Although he has lived in the Tower of the Great Sage before, he has been away for a while, and a lot of things have happened in this Mage Tower during this time... If he encounters any trouble in life or research, please solve it for him."
"Okay tutor! Please feel free to leave it to me!"
Assistant Coach Corgi nodded with bright eyes, responded cleanly, then turned to James and bowed respectfully.
"Hello, Mr. Walli, I am Corgi! Do you have any special requirements for the residence? For example, orientation, floor, or whether you need additional soundproofing circles? I can take you there now."
His series of questions made James, who was still in a trance, stunned for a moment, and then he smiled sheepishly and said cautiously.
"My dormitory has been decided, just...just take me there normally."
He had a good impression of this enthusiastic young man, but no one had ever treated him so enthusiastically before, so he was at a loss for a while.
Corgi didn't care about Mr. James's restraint and just said with a smile.
"Okay! Mr. James, please come with me! By the way, where is your luggage? I can arrange for someone to take it to your room for you..."
Thanks to His Highness Colin again for his kindness, James Walli followed Assistant Professor Corgi and left the corridor outside the administrative department office.
Watching the two people leave, Luo Yan was about to return to the laboratory.
At this time, a young magic apprentice hurriedly ran from not far away.
The young man stopped in front of him, panting because he ran too fast, and his face flushed because he saw the idol, and he spoke out of breath.
"Colin...Your Highness! Assistant Professor Miller asked me to tell you that over at Colin Tower, the research on Void Realm No. 178...has made new progress!"
Void Realm No. 178?
Luo Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, with a touch of unexpected surprise in his heart. He looked at the excited apprentice whose face was flushed and gave instructions.
“Tell Miller that I will be there early tomorrow morning.”
"Okay sir!" The apprentice nodded excitedly, feeling sincerely proud to be able to help His Highness Colin. He said goodbye and left in a hurry.
Although the situation in the upper levels of the Great Sage's Tower was turbulent, and the attitudes of many professors and mentors towards Prince Colin swayed along with the sages, the same was not true for the young magic apprentices.
They respected and admired His Highness from the bottom of their hearts for helping them in times of crisis...
...
The next morning, Luo Yan rode the Pegasus carriage borrowed from Professor Hector and landed on the frozen soil outside Corin Tower.
Stepping onto the frost-covered stone steps, he felt the uncontrollable excitement as soon as he entered the Void Realm Laboratory on the second floor.
All the researchers gathered around the lens of No. 178 Void Realm, whispering excitedly, and they did not even notice his arrival for the first time.
The scene in the lens is no longer the war-torn scene two months ago.
With the final victory of the "Cosmic Spirit" sect, the time behind the virtual realm has jumped forward rapidly for more than a century!
Not only has time changed, but the world behind the virtual realm has also undergone earth-shaking changes.
Buildings that are far more magnificent than before have risen from the ground, and the transportation between the building groups is orderly.
Everything seems to be the same as before, but there are completely different differences.
For example, the dark alleys without light have disappeared, and have been replaced by urban gardens that grow together with the high-rise buildings like gardens.
· Enjoying life seems to be no longer just the preserve of “high-rise residents” and “elites with floor-to-ceiling windows”.
Whether it is suffering or happiness, they are equalized in no particular order under the "empathic ability endowed by the huge spiritual network".
One person's misfortune is the misfortune of all those who resonate with it, and one person's joy is the joy of all those who resonate with it.
It’s more than that.
The slums that grew like moss in the shadows also disappeared. Jon's followers practiced the creed of "I will die first." The house planned by the "Cosmic Spirit" sect seemed to be just enough to fit every gray man.
They have the power to never allow any Gray Man who trusts them and gives their power to them to obtain salvation later than them——
If the pain of history is unavoidable, it should be borne by the lofty people first, not the first to enjoy it on behalf of those who suffer.
Because that's what Jon does.
After the catastrophe that destroyed everything, they did go through a difficult time, but the ebb was quickly followed by the ebb.
And this rise is different from the past. After the reconstruction, the Gray civilization gained not only prosperity, but also unprecedented unity and cohesion.
They have proven that it is possible to build the Kingdom of God on earth without relying on lies, and it is a Kingdom of God that belongs to every Gray.
Of course, this may also be related to their inability to lie.
Once consciousness is connected to the "spiritual network", the mental ripples of each sub-individual in the network will become "transparent".
Luo Yan could see with both eyes that tranquility and peace were written on the faces that happened to pass through the virtual lens.
He could see neither impetuosity nor joy, anger, sorrow, and joy, as if it was not only their property but also their emotions that were equally distributed.
Perhaps due to this, every individual who accidentally appears in the virtual realm exudes a "Buddhist lineage" that is transcendent from the world.
Or—
Divinity.
The researchers in Corin Tower were whispering.
"Their emotions are too stable. What do they have to "lose" to surprise them?"
"I don't know, but I think it's better not to break this balance."
"Agree, Your Highness asked us to carefully observe and study their mental network, but did not let us test its resilience..."
It was not until His Highness Colin approached that the excited discussion gradually subsided, and everyone bowed respectfully.
Luo Yan glanced around and did not see Merck. Then he suddenly remembered that Merck was Alister's disciple. He had recently been implicated in the Thorne Society and seemed to be under investigation by the Council of Sages.
I wonder if the Gray Man will have mixed feelings after learning about this.
Their "ancient god" may have really fallen this time.
Miller was the first to come forward and stepped forward quickly, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.
"You are finally here! Under your wise guidance, our research on No. 178 Void Realm has made another breakthrough!"
"There is no need to flatter, just get to the point." Luo Yan smiled kindly and looked at the excited Miller and said.
"Good mentor!"
Miller took a deep breath and began his report.
"At first, we thought that there was a universal psychic awakening among the Gray people, because we observed that both construction workers and doctors seemed to have mastered psychic skills. However, with our subsequent in-depth analysis, we overturned this conclusion - the truth is that not everyone has awakened to psychic powers, but they are sharing each other's power!"
He pointed to the lens, his expression became extremely awed, and there was a vague desire that could not be hidden.
"Their spiritual network has completely evolved! The invisible medium that shares their spirits is no longer just a platform for exchanging information, but has formed a truly powerful "spiritual network"! Each individual can access this giant network through specific rituals, and temporarily possess abilities that he does not have in specific rituals or work!"
"For example, when a doctor is treating the wounded, even if he has not shown any potential for psychic powers before, he can "borrow" powerful healing psychic powers from the Internet to help stabilize the injured person's condition! At the same time, after completing the work, he will return the borrowed powers, or perhaps automatically... In short, According to our follow-up observation of a gray man, we found that he did not show any qualities related to psychic powers in his daily life, but he suddenly showed it at work! "
Miller turned his head and looked at Prince Colin with eyes as if he had witnessed a miracle, and could not suppress the excitement in his voice.
"Mentors! Do you know what this means? They have redefined the way of using extraordinary power!"
“The civilization behind Void Realm No. 178 no longer uses the method of creating gods to produce extraordinary beings who possess infinite power. It no longer prays for the good deeds of those who are different, and imagines that they pity ordinary people struggling in the mortal world! They distribute extraordinary power to every ordinary gray person. , there is no distinction between high and low souls! "
"Holy Saint Sis... This is incredible!"
After listening to Miller's report and summary, the expression on Luo Yan's face gradually turned into shock as he stared at the virtual lens.
"That's really incredible."
The Gray Man solved two problems at the same time.
The problem of the lack of production enthusiasm in an average society, and the problem of the "paradox of the extraordinary".
If a person needs to have extraordinary power at work and become a legend or a hero in the eyes of people, even the lazy rat man will be embarrassed.
As for the "paradox of the extraordinary", that is, if everyone has extraordinary power, then the extraordinary power itself will not exist.
Unless the Grays, like the Solipsi in the 440th Void Realm, have traveled all over the universe where they are, they can obtain the power close to the origin of the universe from distant worlds, and achieve their own extraordinary at the expense of the ordinaryness of most young civilizations.
But obviously——
The Grays have not yet developed to that extent.
They are only suspected of using starships to colonize a few distant and desolate worlds, and have not yet come into contact with other civilizations in their own universe.
Luo Yan can understand Miller’s shock and, as an ordinary researcher, his uncontrollable yearning for the world behind No. 178 Void Realm.
In Osland, even in a place like Xuebang, the most powerful extraordinary power is not in the hands of those who really study it.
Power and resources are firmly in the hands of the sages and a few professors such as Alister Thorne, and these people are not much higher than ordinary people in terms of moral character and cultivation.
They have built academic barriers and determined the flow of knowledge, turning most researchers into worker ants that mine ore for them.
Researchers have spent their entire lives eager to break the shackles of the soul level, but even researchers like Alister, who has almost climbed to the top of the tower, cannot do it.
The Grays on the other side of the virtual realm have used their own way to establish an almost ideal mechanism for distributing extraordinary power.
In the more than a century after Jon's death, they truly tore down the tower in their hearts with their own hands.
Luo Yan can even assert that if it weren’t for him, the prince of the empire, standing here, Miller’s phrase "Saint Sith is above" would have been replaced by "The Gray Man is above."
longing is always the most beautiful distance.
While these researchers are observing and influencing the virtual realm, the world behind the virtual realm is also subtly affecting their spirits.
At this time, Luo Yan suddenly had an interesting idea in his mind.
Looking at those eyes sparkling with longing, he spoke in a casual tone.
"Miller, if the gods let you make a choice, would you like to be the master of this tower, a sage overlooking all living things. Or become one of them, an ordinary gray man?"
Miller was stunned by this question.
He opened his mouth, but found that he didn't know how to answer. After a long time, he smiled bitterly and said it truthfully.
"Your Highness, this question is too difficult."
"Don't worry, I'm just asking casually."
Luo Yan smiled and did not continue to ask.
It can be seen that the teaching assistant is thinking about this question seriously, instead of giving himself a perfunctory answer that he wants to hear.
And his answer just shows that this question is too early for the people in Osland.
If these researchers continue to observe, Void Realm No. 178 and the "Cosmic Spirit" sect behind it will probably become a "corruption" that is not inferior to Chaos.
As for the reason, it is not because the doctrines they preach are unrealistic, or the picture they paint is not good enough.
On the contrary, the utopia they created is so beautiful that there is no soil for it to take root and grow on the ground outside the virtual realm.
And if it was just about drawing cakes, Saint Sis’s drawing was better than it.
At least this is the case for the vast majority of ordinary people in Osland.
At this moment, a researcher responsible for monitoring the "Psychic Network" suddenly let out an exclamation, drawing everyone's attention back to the huge virtual lens.
"Mentor! Psychic energy is being enriched on a large scale to high altitudes!"
Luo Yan turned his attention to the virtual realm again.
In the virtual scene, countless spiritual light streams originating from the surface of the earth are like bright star rivers pulled by invisible gravity, penetrating the gray clouds, and finally converging on the world where the gray people are...or in the sky above the planet.
There, there is a silver-white palace.
It is made of some unknown silver-white metal, and its surface shimmers like an artificial star.
The researchers in Corin Tower were whispering excitedly, discussing the unknown metal structure.
Only their Highness Colin, the expression on his face did not change at all.
Luo Yan knew very well that it was just a space station, and it was not a great technology at all for the Grays who had already begun interstellar colonization.
They have already mastered it!
But soon, the scene in the virtual realm changed again.
This time, even though he was extremely resilient, he was shocked by the incredible scene that came into view.
Just outside the space station, all the gathered spiritual energy was compressed to a singularity, and then a crack shone with unstable light was suddenly torn open!
"It's the Void Realm! They actually opened the Void Realm!"
Miller exclaimed, followed by a wave of uncontrollable ecstasy, and his hands clenched unconsciously due to excitement.
He thought of the research records of Void Realm No. 440——
The Solipsi people behind Void Realm No. 440, through reverse exploration of the Void Realm, finally broke through the limits of their own vision and set their sights on the "Creators" behind the Void!
Nowadays, the Grays in Virtual Realm No. 178 are reenacting this historic scene!
And it is under the witness of the "Creator"!
Miller's heart was filled with excitement, and he couldn't help but pray silently for these "toddling" children.
If they could contact Xue Bang like the Solipsi people did, maybe they would make a "more generous and selfless" choice!
For example——
Just like the researchers at Corinta who "caressed" them meticulously back then, they would turn around and nurture their own "creators" who were still in dire straits!
Although Miller did not express his feelings, Luo Yan could tell at a glance what the young man was fantasizing about.
This is a fantasy that almost every first-time father will inevitably have, placing his unfulfilled wishes on his son.
However, understanding is understanding, but he does not hold a too optimistic view.
The civilization behind Virtual Realm No. 178 is still too young, and the exploration of Virtual Realm has just begun. It would be who knows how many centuries before the Solipsi people in Void Realm No. 440 truly found the "Creator" behind the Void Realm.
Furthermore, when the Solipsi first discovered that their "spiritual father" was just an ordinary person, it was quite disappointing.
As for the final "reconciliation" and the rediscovery of the umbilical cord connecting each other's spirits, it will be a matter of the 40th century.
The Solipsi civilization at that time was in its twilight years.
It is still unknown whether the intersection between the two parties in their limited lifespan lasted such a long time. The reunion in the virtual world of No. 440 is more like a miracle.
Perhaps by the time the Grays complete their final "reconciliation", they will never be seen again.
The time behind the virtual realm continues to flow.
The crack suspended outside the space station is much larger than the crack in Corin Tower. It is like a wound emerging in deep space, and can even fill the entire space station inside.
Of course.
Those gray men did not do this, but like the researchers in Corin Tower, they kept a distance from the rift and carefully observed the blue world behind the rift...
Through the analysis of the mental network and the switching of perspectives, the researchers in Corin Tower were surprised to find that they could have a panoramic view of it all.
Including the situation inside the space station, including that "virtual realm within a virtual realm"!
“…Doesn’t this mean that we can study the virtual realm in the virtual realm?” A researcher couldn’t help but muttered in a low voice, his shoulders shaking slightly with excitement and excitement.
This is an even more incredible discovery than Virtual Realm No. 440!
At the same time, the reactions of the gray researchers behind the virtual realm were strangely similar.
Looking at the azure world behind the virtual realm, all the ordinary faces showed expressions of longing, and their shoulders were shaking slightly.
It’s all because that world is so beautiful, it’s like heaven compared to their home planet that is about to burn!
The so-called longing is the most beautiful distance... Obviously this sentence is also applicable to the gray people.
Even though they knew very well that they could not cross the void to that beautiful world, they still could not suppress their yearning.
They really want a planet full of clean air and water.
It's a pity that their universe is too desolate, and those seemingly beautiful planets are too far away, just like mirages in the universe.
· Driven by this vision, they mobilized more spiritual power from the psychic network and invested it in the exploration of the virtual realm.
However, as they explored in depth, they soon discovered that it was too early to describe this strange world as paradise.
That place is not heaven.
On the contrary, it is more like their past - a past where they have not yet woken up from their dreams and are still immersed in the beautiful dream woven by neon.
Perhaps the thirty seconds of GG aroused the "post-traumatic stress disorder" deep in their souls. Seeing the group of humanoid creatures with similar appearances to them destroying their own world, the mental ripples that had been quiet for countless years began to ripple for the first time.
『We cannot let these materialists go astray! They will bring disaster to themselves and to the universe in which they live. 』
Intervention is a necessary option. We will not force them to become like us, but we need to give better choices to our friends in another universe who are suffering. 』
dedication! 』
They reached a consensus.
This is another unity since the Gray Psykers decided to use force to overthrow the Federation Council. This time they decided to give the best gift to the people on the other side of the Void Realm to help them end the Parliament on the other side of the Void Realm.
Just like their father "Colin" once did for them.
At the same time, the researchers in Corin Tower were also shocked, exchanging looks of astonishment in their eyes, and exchanging heated discussions.
The virtual realm within the virtual realm is an extremely prosperous material civilization.
Countless skyscrapers that are far taller than the Gray City soar into the sky, streamlined vehicles flow continuously between the buildings, and the crowds on the ground are bustling. Although their clothing styles are very different, judging from their appearance, they seem to be...human beings?
Moreover, these "human beings" have almost stepped on the edge of the starry sky, but they are not as thorough as the gray people.
"Holy Saint Sis, they are repeating our path?!" Miller's voice was filled with a hint of dreamy absurdity. After swallowing his saliva, he muttered and continued, "They are actually spreading the gospel of 'Colin' to another world!"
The fact is as he said.
Corinta's researchers soon discovered that the Grays had easily mastered the method of interfering with the virtual realm and the technique of using a power similar to the source force to accelerate the passage of time in the virtual realm.
They are very smart and know how to be flexible.
They did not use the oldest method to spread the most primitive teachings. Instead, after fully studying the society behind the virtual world, they weaved a set of teachings for the "human beings" living there that fit their actual conditions, guiding them to re-examine their souls and hearts.
不止如此，他们还在虚境的背后悄然设立了一个名为「宇宙之灵基金会」的组织。
思想准备以及物质条件都已经满足，他们对即将到来的变革信心满满，甚至做好了善后的准备。
然而就在他们快要成功的时候，意料之外的事情发生了。
History repeats itself in an almost mocking way, but what is repeated is not the story of "Jon and Colin", but the story of "the ancient gods Merk and Kel".
Under the corruption of power and desire, the "Cosmic Spirit Foundation" became an organization similar to the "Ark of Salvation".
They no longer pursue lofty ideals, but indulge in worldly desires, and do whatever it takes to achieve their goals.
This change that started with a beautiful intention eventually aroused the "human beings" behind the virtual realm to be wary of the void.
· The Foundation was classified as a cult, and a war that would affect the entire world was about to begin, wiping out years of hard work by the Grays.
The only good thing is that, perhaps because of the higher level of civilization, this catastrophe ended quickly and inspired "humanity"'s enthusiasm for exploring distant worlds.
A magnificent starship set sail from the azure world to the distant starry sky.
On the contrary, the first virtual realm channel that the Grays had just mastered became in danger and was almost extinguished.
Through the lens, the mental network of the Gray people is filled with fluctuations of regret and confusion. This failed intervention seems to have shaken their society.
The vast majority of Grays are criticizing this failed intervention, believing that instead of guiding the lost lambs to the right path, their actions have brought deeper suffering to innocent souls.
Because the psychic network refused to open psychic powers to the virtual realm channel, the gray civilization's research on the virtual realm came to a standstill for a while.
At the first crossroads, they seemed to have taken a completely different path from the Solipsi people.
The researchers at Corinta also felt the same way and sighed one after another. However, more sighs still focused on the fact that these gray men actually gave up just like that.
What a pity.
Different from those researchers who lamented the slim chance of reunion, the expression on Luo Yan's face became a little strange.
It has nothing to do with the issue of pity, he just feels that... that blue planet seems familiar?
"It can't be such a coincidence..." Luo Yan muttered to himself, until a holographic GG card flashed in front of him.
The flashing square characters in the neon light and shadow were extremely familiar to him, and it instantly brought his thoughts back to more than twenty years ago.
Good guy——
Is it really the earth? !
Although that didn't seem to be the earth he was familiar with, but the earth in another timeline, which had entered the future...