Those who face the wall, but are in the Nascent Soul stage.

Chapter 122 I can’t tell the difference, I really can’t tell the difference!

In a corner unknown to humankind.

Following the [pro-victory faction] represented by PDC and Wallfacers, the [destruction and surrender faction] represented by ETO, and the [spaceship escape faction] of some civilian Wallfacers, a fourth faction emerged within humanity in response to the Trisolaran crisis: the [digital life faction].

Furthermore, among all the factions among humanity in responding to the Trisolaran crisis, only the [Digital Life Faction] received the full support of the Trisolaran civilization.

The Trisolarans even proactively transmitted a large amount of virtual reality technology back to the new ETO through sophons, hoping that the ETO would disseminate this virtual reality technology so that human civilization could better experience the "beauty" of virtual reality.

This is intended to accelerate the rise of the human [digital life faction].

However, for some unknown reason, Qin Shi Huang used the excuse that virtual reality technology would lead to the reverse analysis of the Trisolaran civilization's technology to order a ban on the outflow of Trisolaran virtual reality technology.

Although the Trisolarans did not understand, they still chose to believe Qin Shi Huang, who had worked diligently for the Trisolaran organization for more than 20 years, because what he said made a lot of sense and was from the Trisolarans' perspective.

Unfortunately, other ETO members were still able to carry out this 'accidental' technology leak.

Enraged, Qin Shi Huang ordered the execution of this 'traitor and leaker'.

Humans who unexpectedly acquired virtual reality technology were overjoyed, and virtual reality technology pushed the MOSS-based Internet era to a new climax.

Virtual reality gaming pods, similar to hibernation pods, quickly became the hottest products worldwide.

The powerful computing capabilities of MOSS and the promising future of virtual reality technology have also secretly fostered the emergence of some potential digital life proponents, and some discussions about 'digital life' have appeared in society.

However, some people were still not satisfied and stepped on the gas themselves.

Luo Qing had naturally noticed the strange winds of virtual reality that had swept through the world since the birth of MOSS, but he wasn't sure what to expect. Virtual reality technology, on the surface, seemed harmless to civilization; in fact, it effectively alleviated the high-pressure emotions in human society.

—People who are dissatisfied with real life can find solace in MOSS's virtual reality.

In the quantum network world, MOSS can simultaneously play the roles of 200 billion lolis and 300 billion mature women, as well as 400 billion unripe girls and 500 billion soft and sweet girls.

It's hard for anyone to resist the temptation.

Luo Qing couldn't bear to deprive these people of their last remaining means of entertainment, especially since this emerging technology didn't seem to have any downsides at the moment.

He also enjoys having fun.

-

Six months later (Crisis Era 24)
March 5, 2031, somewhere, a secret underground research center for brain science and human-machine interaction.

A volunteer subject (a homeless man) lay on the operating table. His hair was shaved off, and his scalp was covered with a large number of micro-devices that could sense brain waves. His whole body was enveloped in a medical device that looked like an MRI machine.

"The ideological imprint has been fully comprehended, and the comprehended proposition is as follows:"
"I am human, I possess human thought. This world is a computer simulation. I will maintain my humanity in this virtual world and live there permanently."

Wu Miaoyuan nodded as he checked the data stream on the computer, indicating that the homeless man's consciousness, which had been reinforced by the thought imprint, was synchronizing with the network.

But soon, he noticed that the subject's brainwaves showed a lot of abnormal and disordered patterns. Wu Miaoyuan watched nervously for a while and soon discovered that these seemingly disordered brainwaves seemed to contain a faint pattern.

“Professor Zhou,” Wu Miaoyuan asked Zhou Wenwang, who looked like a scavenger, “where did you find this subject? His brainwaves seem to be too active.”

King Wen of Zhou emphasized, "It's Associate Professor Zhou." Then he shook his head and said, "It's normal. He's a writer of online novels, so it's normal for his mind to be a bit active. He probably thinks he's typing away right now, which is why there are those changes in his brainwaves."

As King Wen of Zhou spoke, he pointed to the brainwave display with a certain rhythm: "Look, it's reached its peak. He probably enjoyed writing his novel. There aren't many pure fools like this nowadays. He's immersed in his own world, just like me, immersed in dinosaurs. But I've already come out of that world."

Despite King Wen of Zhou's explanation, Wu Miaoyuan was still a little nervous. "Is everything really okay?"

Ultimately, he was unable to drag Tu Hengyu into the deep waters of ETO, but Ma Zhao agreed to cooperate. Therefore, the two of them specially connected a main information flow data cable from the 550W to ensure that the subject's thoughts could be directly uploaded to the 550W in this experiment.

Wu Miaoyuan was very curious about what would happen when MOSS discovered that a human consciousness had entered its network world, and hoped that nothing would go wrong.

If humans using virtual reality technology are merely passersby on the internet, then those who upload their consciousness are truly permanent residents of the online world.

Hopefully, MOSS won't do anything reckless; it should already be aware of the treacherous nature of this world.

Soon, the brainwaves calmed down, the synchronization of brain consciousness ended, and a sentence appeared on the large screen:

[Wo Xiyinlei, Wo Xiangxi barrel rat enters self-pleasuring rat tool, mountain. 14 a pot of wine, insect droppings.]

“If you fail, try again,” Wu Miaoyuan said.

Ma Zhao, who was in the corner, had no choice but to restart the consciousness synchronization connection.

[I am a pervert. I input the number of pleasure tools into the system: 3.14, one pot of 9, try it.] "There's progress. Keep going." Wu Miaoyuan became excited.

[I am human. I am inputting Siwei's data into the system: 3.141, Pot 9. Retrying.]

"We're almost there! It's faster than I expected!" Wu Miaoyuan shouted.

[I am human. I am inputting thought data into the system: 3.14159.]

"Success!" A cheer erupted in the cramped basement! Wu Miaoyuan, suppressing his excitement, said, "The Wallfacer Hines gave me this inspiration. Although he's in hibernation now, I still want to thank him."

The sophon also unfolded in a lower dimension, forming a total internal reflection mirror sphere with a diameter of one meter. Two large, gleaming silver characters shimmered on the sphere: 【Congratulations!】

Upon seeing Zhizi, Wu Miaoyuan's eyes flickered for a moment, then he respectfully said to Zhizi, "This is for the Trisolaran fleet, and also for the survival of humanity."

Sophon: [If humanity truly desires to live in virtual reality, then the Trisolarans are willing to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining the MOSS system; this is a win-win choice for both civilizations.]

"The Lord is merciful!" Wu Miaoyuan cried out.

"Lord is merciful!" A large number of people around them knelt down in a rush.

Ma Zhao, sitting in the corner, witnessed this scene and knew that the thought imprint had taken effect. How arrogant and domineering ETO used to be, how could people who considered themselves the elite of humanity tolerate kneeling? But now it had become like a religion.

Ma Zhao sighed inwardly, but still cried out, "The Lord is merciful!"

Zhizi disappeared, satisfied.

After Zhi Zi disappeared, everyone scrambled to their feet. Among them, King Wen of Zhou asked Wu Miaoyuan, "Is it over?"

Wu Miaoyuan nodded and pointed to the homeless man lying unconscious on the lab table.

"It's over. In another of his perceptions, he will spend an almost infinitely long life in a quantum computer. He has the honor of being the first digital life—but this is only the beginning."

“But he still looks alive; his brain waves are still beating, and he hasn’t entered a state of brain death,” said one of the lab assistants.

“Of course I’m alive. Uploading consciousness is essentially a copy and paste, not a cut and paste. How could you make such a strange statement? Do I look like someone who would kill someone?” Wu Miaoyuan pointed to himself and looked at the assistant strangely.

"Uh...it seems I was overthinking it." The assistant looked like he understood.

The homeless man on the stage let out a groan, and soon he woke up.

The homeless man scratched his head blankly, then subconsciously removed the messy electrode devices from his scalp. He looked at the brightly lit basement and the researchers in white coats.

"here it is……"

Soon, he saw King Wen of Zhou.

"King Wen of Zhou, didn't you say you would take me to the Garden of Eden? Why haven't we set off yet?"

King Wen of Zhou coughed and said, "The other you has already gone. You can go back to the bridge now."

The homeless man stared at the other person in bewilderment.

"I'm still here, I haven't gone anywhere..." Suddenly, a splitting headache enveloped the homeless man.

[Idea Imprinted Proposition 1: I am human, I possess human thought, this world is a computer simulation, I will maintain my humanity in the virtual world and live there permanently.]

After understanding everything, the homeless man immediately collapsed to the ground and burst into tears: "So I've entered a virtual world, but how can this virtual world be just as bad as reality! Waaaaah..."

King Wen of Zhou was also dumbfounded. After a while, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed, "Oh no, the effect of the thought imprint is still there!"

"Wait, don't cry. Get up, I'll take you to a buffet restaurant for a big meal." King Wen of Zhou tried to help the homeless man up.

"Get out of my way!" The homeless man shoved King Wen of Zhou aside.

"You are fake, you are fake, you are all fake, you are all fake, the world is fake too." The homeless man's finger pointed at King Zhou Wen, at Wu Miaoyuan, at Ma Zhao, and at the other operators and researchers.

"Only I am real!!!" the homeless man cried out, then ran out of the house yelling.

"Aaaaaah, it's all fake, it's all fake! The virtual world isn't heaven at all! What am I going to do?! Mom, oh my god! I can't tell the difference! I really can't tell the difference..."

I am the best tailor in the village (proudly)
(Note: This chapter includes Liu Cixin's short story "Incompatible Festivals," an interesting story that explores human technological choices and ethical issues. It's only 3000 words long, and I recommend everyone search for it and read it.)
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(End of this chapter)