Matrix Survival: One random treasure chest per day

Chapter 812 What is it like to be pressured to get married by yourself?
Li Zheng said in a hoarse voice, "This is so similar to the history of human development."

Throughout history, there have been many tragedies committed under the guise of sacrifice.

The terminal turned off the monitoring screen and said, "Similar scenarios have repeated countless times in the ecosystem. I have seen far more outrageous behaviors than this, and I have tried to stop them, but to no avail."

Sometimes, I suspect this is an inevitable part of the historical process of every intelligent species' development.

Li Zheng asked, "What was their final fate?"

The terminal replied: "Most of them will die in the fight, and I will sterilize the rest so they can die of old age."

Neither of them wanted to continue the conversation, as it would remind them of unpleasant things.

It's not about the bad things that happened in history, but rather the possibility that certain scenarios might occur in the future that they don't want to see.

Li Zheng asked the terminal, "Now that the base has been successfully tested, will it be officially put into use next? There's another question. You said that the base in those experimental subjects was artificially inscribed into them. Does that mean that after it's officially put into use, if we want to continue to improve it, we will have to use external forces and won't be able to generate more bases on our own?"

The terminal replied: "The current conclusion is this: unless Yan Bujin can find the means of self-replication in the techniques he brought. In addition, I have not yet figured out the conditions for different individuals to accommodate more bases at the same time, which is also a topic that urgently needs to be studied."

So, is the so-called new cultivation system still a work in progress?

Li Zheng's eyelids drooped. He thought the terminal had excitedly brought him here because of some groundbreaking discovery, but... this is it?
“A semi-finished product can’t be put into use.” Li Zheng pondered for a moment and said, “Because we are unsure what changes will occur in the future, and we are also unsure whether this product has any undiscovered side effects.”

“Of course I understand what you’re saying,” the terminal said. “That’s why I’ve called you here for another reason. I hope you can find a few volunteers among the Blue Planet people to cooperate with my next research. I will inscribe enough genes into their bodies to observe the applicability of this ability in the human body.”

"If nothing unexpected happens, botanical gardens, factories and other enterprises that produce genetic artifacts will be completely replaced in the future. I will collect all the genetic ability graphics currently existing in the outer city residents, compile them into a book and start a new business system, using a CD burner to provide them with the abilities they want."

In this way, the terminal can have more experimental targets, and it will be extremely convenient to collect the conditions under which each capability is successfully recorded.

After pondering for a long time, Li Zheng said, "First, you can record some so-called 'base' on me and conduct experiments directly on me. I can give you the most direct experience."

“This…” The terminal hesitated for a moment, which was rare: “This might be very dangerous. You are my last clone, and I don’t want you to take any unnecessary risks.”

If Li Zheng dies, his... or rather, his original form, will be without descendants.

“I think it’s worth taking some risks,” Li Zheng said. “I’m different from ordinary people. I’m a clone, and my body has been modified by strange things like marrow cleansing pills and gene drugs. In addition, I’ve adapted to a 20 times gravity environment. I think I’m more than qualified to be the first human test subject.”

The terminal remained silent for a long time before finally refusing, saying, "No, no, if you want to take such a risk, you must first give me... no, give the main body an offspring!"

Li Zheng was taken aback, then exclaimed in surprise, "You've been so focused on creating clones, it's not like you just want a child, is it?" The terminal bluntly stated, "That's right! The reason I cloned so many people is to use you to leave me a child. After all, I have no relatives or friends in this world, and if I die completely, my bloodline will be cut off, won't it?"

Li Zheng finally understood that this was a philosophical question of existence or extinction.

In Earth terms, the terminal doesn't want its lineage to end with its own generation.

However, the terminal itself is currently just a wisp of consciousness within the supercomputer. Even if it has immense abilities, it is impossible for it to normally produce offspring with any other being.

Therefore, the terminal set its sights on cloning technology, using clones to complete this task for itself.

However, the previous clones were unwilling or unable to leave offspring for various reasons, so Li Zheng became the last hope.

“So…” Li Zheng rolled his eyes, feeling utterly speechless: “So that’s why that senior used the so-called marriage contract to bind those races back then, right?”

“Those races were just backup options,” the terminal said. “Back then, I didn’t know about the existence of the Water Blue Star people, otherwise I wouldn’t have allowed that guy to do such a... stupid thing.”

Li Zheng's eyebrows twitched: "You still want me to have a child with the Water Blue Star people, so you tacitly allowed me to break off my engagement with Mo Li and the others?"

"Yes!" The terminal nodded vigorously on the screen: "I know you've slept with that little succubus, but I'm telling you straight, you have to find a girl from Planet Blue and have a child with her! Once you have the child, I won't care what you do after that, you can do whatever you want!"

"Tsk." Li Zheng clicked his tongue a few times, looking at the terminal in disbelief: "We share the same memories, but why have your thoughts become so extreme? Like those parents who force their children into marriage."

The terminal replied matter-of-factly, "Parents? I should be the patriarch of a large family by now. I just want you to have a child for me. Is there a problem with that?"

There's a saying that time waits for no one, and the thoughts of a twenty-year-old are completely different from those of a forty-year-old, not to mention that the terminal should be... almost 100,000 years old this year.

Li Zheng's eye twitched, and he suddenly felt a sense of pressure.

Everyone else is pressured to get married by their parents, but he's the one being pressured to get married by himself?
“I feel like you’re being a bit unreasonable right now.” Li Zheng shook his head and said, “Even if I start preparing now, it will still take about a year for the child to be born, and then another year or so, the entire universe might be destroyed. Even so, you still insist that I leave behind an heir?”

The terminal immediately said, "It's precisely because time is running out that we must save one! Over the years, I've had only one wish: to experience what it's like to be a father. If I can't fulfill this wish even if the universe is destroyed, I won't be able to die in peace!"

Seeing that the terminal was acting a bit crazy, Li Zheng could only say helplessly, "Bring Xiaoying in later and have her call your name a few times..."

Before he could finish speaking, the terminal shouted, "Can an adopted child be the same as a biological one? I don't care. You all fooled me before, but this time you have to get this done properly!"

(End of this chapter)