The passages of the underground labyrinth are like a winding intestine, damp, dark, and full of rot and rust.
Zhou walked in it, stepping extremely steadily with every step. His perception was amplified to the extreme, and he could clearly "see" everything within ten meters around him - the direction of the cables in the walls, the trails of water droplets dripping above his head, and even the heartbeat of a mouse hidden in the dark.
Is this the power of [Swire Rabies Virus]?
"Yes, adapt quickly." The old ghost's voice sounded in his mind, with a bit of approval, "But don't be proud, it's just 1% unblocked." The real power is yet to come. "
"1%?" Zhou Xing frowned slightly, "How strong will it be to unblock everything?" "
"How strong?" The old ghost laughed, with a hint of desolation in the laughter, "Twenty years ago, when this virus was just born, the entire national computing power network trembled for it. Firewalls below L3 are like paper paste in front of it. "
Zhou Xing was silent.
He knew what L3 meant - a height that ordinary people at the bottom could not reach for the rest of their lives. And now, the old ghost said that it was just a piece of paper?
"Boy, find a safe place to sit." The old ghost's voice became serious, "There are some things, it's time to tell you." "
Zhou Xing looked around and found an abandoned ventilation duct. He got in and sat down cross-legged.
"First of all, let me officially introduce myself." The old ghost said, "My name is Shen Cangsheng, and twenty years ago, I was one of the national L0 layer computing power architects. "
L0 layer!
Peripheral pupils contracted suddenly.
Isn't that a legendary existence? It is said that in the entire East Asian computing power region, there are no more than ten people with L0 layer authority. They are the beings at the top of the pyramid, the ones who set the rules!
"Surprised?" Old ghost - no, Shen Cangsheng smiled, "I was indeed infinitely beautiful back then." Until ... I found something I shouldn't have discovered. "
"What is it?"
"Truth." Shen Cangsheng's voice became low, "About this world, about the computing power system, about ... The truth about human evolution. "
Zhou Xing held his breath.
"Do you know how computing power levels are divided?" Shen Cangsheng asked.
"Know some." Zhou Xing recalled, "L0 is legendary, L1 is national, L2 is enterprise, and L3 is civilian." Further down... It is the bottom enhancer and ordinary people. "
"That's just a superficial division." Shen Cangsheng sneered, "The real secret is that the computing power level is not used to 'allocate resources' at all, but to 'screen livestock'." "
"What do you mean?"
"Why do you think those powerful people can be high? Because they are naturally smart? Born good? Shen Cangsheng's voice was filled with anger, "No! Because they have been implanted with a 'gene lock' since birth! "
"Gene lock?"
"A computing power affinity gene engraved in DNA." Shen Cangsheng explained, "People with this gene are born to resonate with the computing power network and can easily upgrade to L2, L1, or even L0." "
And people who do not have this gene... "His voice becomes sad, "he is a livestock all his life." "
Zhou Xing clenched his fists.
He thought of the people at the bottom of the square who were suppressed and defeated by computing power. I remembered Zhao Mingxuan's contemptuous eyes. I remembered the days when I struggled at the bottom all these years.
It turns out ... Was everything doomed from the start?
"No." Zhou Xing suddenly raised his head, "If everything is predestined, then what is the rabies virus?" "
"Good question." Shen Cangsheng smiled, "The rabies virus is the key to breaking all this." "
"Twenty years ago, my team and I discovered the secret of the gene lock. We are angry, we are unwilling, and we want to create a world where everyone can play fairly. "
"So, we created the rabies virus."
"It's not a virus in the traditional sense, it's a ... Digital life. An existence that can devour computing power, reverse analysis, and infinite evolution. It doesn't need a gene lock, it doesn't require permission authentication, it just needs ... A host capable of carrying it. "
"And you, Zhou Xing, are the first person in twenty years to successfully carry it."
Zhou Xing looked down at his hands.
The hands that used to be able to move data and work as coolies are now emitting a faint black light. He could feel that the power was sleeping inside him, like a tamed beast, waiting for his command.
"Why me?" He asked, "Has no one else tried it in twenty years?" "
"Yes." Shen Cangsheng's voice became heavy, "Many people." hundreds, even thousands. "
"They either die in the process of access, or they are bitten back by rabid dogs and become unconscious monsters. or ... was discovered by those powerful and secretly executed. "
"You are the only one who has withstood the virus and maintained a sense of self."
"Because of your nervous system, there is a rare mutation." Shen Cangsheng paused, "I call it 'Chaos Affinity'. "
"Chaos affinity?"
"Simply put, it's your neural structure that is extraordinarily adaptable to chaotic, violent data flows." Shen Cangsheng explained, "Others need order, rules, and step-by-step upgrades. But you ... You can draw power directly from Chaos. "
"That's why you can carry a rabid dog."
Zhou Xing was silent.
He thought of his sister. I remembered Xiaoyu's weak smile.
"This kind of physique... Can it be inherited? He asked.
Shen Cangsheng was stunned for a moment, and then understood what he meant.
"You mean your sister?"
"Hmm."
"Theoretically... It's possible." Shen Cangsheng said, "But I don't recommend you let her try. At least, not now." "
"Why?"
"Because she's too weak." Shen Cangsheng said bluntly, "Her nervous system is already on the verge of collapse, and if she is forcibly connected to a rabid dog, she will surely die." "
Zhou Xing's heart sank.
"But..." Shen Cangsheng changed his subject, "If you can become strong enough, strong enough to control the output strength of the virus, maybe... It can be used to repair her nerve damage." "
Zhou Xing raised his head suddenly.
"Really?"
"Really." Shen Cangsheng said affirmatively, "The essence of rabies is evolution. If you can reach a sufficient state, you can even reverse the aging of cells and repair genetic defects." "
"But it takes ... A lot of computing power. "
"How much?"
"At least ten times the L2 level permission."
Zhou Xing clenched his fists.
Ten times the L2 level... That is L1 level? Or even L0 level?
"Don't worry, boy." Shen Cangsheng seemed to feel his pressure and smiled, "With me and the mad dog, your upgrade speed will far exceed those so-called geniuses." "
"Now, let me tell you about the real cultivation system in this world."
"Cultivation system?"
"That's right." Shen Cangsheng's voice had a hint of mystery, "Do you think L3, L2, and L1 are just simple divisions of authority? No, each level corresponds to a qualitative change in the nervous system. "
"L3 level is 'single threading'. You can only handle one task at a time, just like a normal person. "
"L2 level is 'multi-threading'. It can handle multiple tasks at the same time, and its thinking speed is far beyond that of ordinary people. "
"L1 level is 'overclocking'. It is possible to briefly break through the limits of the nervous system and gain several times more computing power. "
And L0 level ..." Shen Cangsheng's voice became yearning, "It is 'quantization'." Consciousness can be separated from the body and travel freely in the network, almost immortal. "
Zhou Xing was thrilled to hear this.
He had only heard of these concepts in those expensive popular science videos before. And now, he has the opportunity to embark on this road himself?
"What about the mad dog?" He asked, "What level does it belong to?" "
"Rabid dog ..." Shen Cangsheng smiled, "It doesn't belong to any level." It is an existence above the hierarchy. "
"Its first stage is called 'microthreading'."
"Microthreading?"
"You can understand it as... The ultimate micro-exercise. Shen Cangsheng explained, "Ordinary human neurons can only transmit signals hundreds of times per second." In the microthreaded state, your neurons can transmit signals at a speed of a thousand or ten thousand times. "
"This means that you can manipulate data at the smallest level, even ... Modify the underlying code of the hardware directly. "
Zhou Xing's eyes lit up.
Modify the underlying hardware code directly?
Isn't that possible...
"You're right." Shen Cangsheng seemed to see through his thoughts, "If you reach the realm of microthreading, those so-called firewalls and defense systems will become full of loopholes in your eyes." "
"You can pluck their underlying chords like you pluck strings."
"Let them ... For your use. "
Zhou Xing took a deep breath.
He can't wait.
"How do I reach microthreading?"
"It's simple." Shen Cangsheng's voice became serious, "Bear the baptism of the virus." "
"That would hurt."
"It is ten times more painful than the operation just now."
"It hurts more than death."
"You... Are you ready? "
Zhou Xing closed his eyes.
He remembered Zhao Mingxuan's condescending posture in the square. I remembered my sister's pale face on the hospital bed. I remembered the humiliation of living like a dog all these years.
"Come on." He opened his eyes, and the flame of determination burned in his scarlet pupils, "I'm not afraid of pain." "
"I'm just afraid... Not strong enough. "
Shen Cangsheng was silent for a few seconds.
Then, he laughed.
"Okay. Very good. "
"So... Let's get started. "
"This is yours... Awakening ritual. "
In the ventilation duct, Zhou Xing's body began to tremble violently.
A stream of data as black as ink gushed out from the chip in the back of his head, like thousands of poisonous snakes, penetrating every nerve of him.
The pain came as scheduled.
But this time, Zhou Xing didn't scream.
He just gritted his teeth and let the black torrent wreak havoc and reshape in his body,... Rebirth.
(Chapter 5 End)