Void Jigsaw Puzzle

Qi Yi regained his composure and looked at Zhong Chenmu: "Do you have anything else to say?"

He didn't seem to have any special reaction to Zhong Chenmu's statement just now.

However, Zhong Chenmu was already used to his behavior, and of course he couldn't let him go so easily.

"There's so much to say, old man. Don't even think about slipping away... Since we're trying to do our bit, we need to get more intelligence and information. Otherwise, not only will we be unable to help, we might even be a hindrance! Just like just now, if I didn't know that taking the initiative to contact would expose myself, I might have sent countless messages to Qingchen after chatting with you."

"..."

Zhong Chenmu saw that Qian Yi's face twitched very quickly and slightly.

"Then... ask." Hydrogen Memory still answered calmly.

"Okay, can you tell if Hydron Ao is possessed? This is very important. He is an important person to you."

"I'm sorry, I can't. After you mentioned this possibility, I've made my own assessments within my authority, but I haven't found any traces. It's difficult to determine if someone is possessed or infected unless they reveal it."

"That's a headache..."

Zhong Chenmu recalled the spread of the Turtle Clan in Wuming City, and it seemed to be similar. Although it required the exchange of bodily fluids to spread, making a lot of noise, it was difficult to detect who was possessed or infected until they activated the relevant actions. Fengyue joined the Jigsaw Team for a long time without revealing any signs, and only when they were besieged by the Puyue Team did they infect Huoyue.

However, communication in embodied form still has a process, but what about in virtual form?

So, he asked, "The Turtle Clan... sorry, we're used to calling them the Silicon Clan, the cosmic hooligans. How do you achieve contagion here? Although I feel it should be very fast, I don't know the specific principles and mechanisms. Now that we can transform into virtual forms, it's always a good idea to understand. Otherwise, if we fail to help and get infected, wouldn't that be aiding and abetting the evil?"

"It's nothing complicated," Qiong Yi replied. "Virtual infection happens in an instant. If they've set their sights on you, they'll constantly monitor your vulnerabilities. Just one instance is enough for them to succeed. That's why, if you suspect someone you're talking to or communicating with has been infected or controlled, try to avoid actively sending messages. In doing so, you're essentially opening up your virtual defenses, giving them an opportunity to exploit. Even I'm the same; I can't offer 24/7, all-around protection."

"Any proactive communication with the outside world will expose myself to the risk of infection..." Zhong Chenmu muttered to himself.

However, he changed his mind and asked, "If that's the case, how did you defeat them before?"

"We didn't defeat them by relying on frequent individual communication, but rather on the collective power of statistics. Similar to the Hydrogen Chen, monitors can sense disturbances in order and patterns, thereby summarizing new orders and patterns, as well as the differences between them. We then analyze the causes and traces of their operation. Then, through my highest authority, I control the personnel in the relevant areas to completely shut down all external communication, gradually forcing them out of our territory. Of course, this is a very understated description. In reality, the process is very complex and has many twists and turns. It also involves cooperation with other races like the Helium Clan, who, like us, have entered a virtual form of civilization."

"Do we have to rely on the Overseers to understand order and rules? Even you, as the clan leader, can't do it?"

Qiong Yi shook his head. "No, the stability and perfection of our system lies in the fact that no one can completely control everything. As the clan leader, I have the highest authority, but I don't understand the operation of order and rules. They are supervised by the Supervisors. After countless years of evolution, they have been running very well. Often, the Supervisors have nothing to do."

Zhong Chenmu was thinking silently, and suddenly, he had a very bad feeling.

To confirm his judgment, he asked again, "Did the Observers get infected during the last Turtle Clan invasion?"

"No." Hydrogen Memory replied.

"Oh no! They have obviously learned their lesson and this time they will start with the Supervisor!" Zhong Chenmu shouted.

For the first time, Hydrogen Memory showed an expression as if facing a formidable enemy.