I will be stronger after the remake

Tang Ping thought for a moment and said, "Let's talk about it after this semester ends."

He is only obsessed with government-affiliated positions and has only a slight nostalgia for his student life. However, this nostalgia is mainly for junior high and high school. The more relaxed learning environment of university, which relies entirely on self-discipline, lacks the Chinese youthful spirit and is therefore dispensable.

Well, Tang Ping's student life mainly revolved around studying, interspersed with chatting and playing with classmates, and had nothing to do with the student life depicted in the trilogy of fighting, abortion, and dropping out of school by directors of Chinese youth films.

"You were just talking to artificial intelligence, weren't you?"

Duan Jie had assumed everyone had tacitly let the matter drop, but Tang Ping's sudden mention of it made him respond somewhat awkwardly, "Eh? Ah, um."

Tang Ping looked at the camera and said, "Your AI seems to have visual capture capabilities, and its level is quite excellent. Did you develop it by yourself?"

"The basic framework was borrowed from other people's work, but I completed more than 70% of the content myself."

"Amazing! You're a tech genius!"

"It's not that exaggerated, it's just something I did out of interest, just messing around with things." Duan Jie said somewhat embarrassedly.

"You're too modest. This isn't something an ordinary technician could do. I didn't quite see it just now, but it seems you even matched the AI ​​with a human-like image?"

"Yes, having a concrete image makes it easier for people to feel like they are having a conversation with an intelligent life form. Conversely, if there is only a dialogue box, it will reinforce the impression that the other party is just a program."

"That makes sense. Have you tried to make it pass the Turing test?"

"This goal is too far away. Even if we train her with a lot of language data, at most she can pass the Turing test in a short period of time. As long as she has more conversations, she will still reveal her intellectual disability."

"Can I see it?"

"Just because you said 'let's meet,' of course there's no problem!"

Tang Ping's social skills are barely passable, but dealing with a slime-level tech geek like Duan Jie is still a piece of cake, providing plenty of emotional value. Besides, he's not pretending; he's genuinely interested in the beautiful AI girl.

Although Duan Jie didn't have mind-reading abilities, he could still sense that Tang Ping was different from Gui Taxi. She had no prejudice against anime and manga fans, nor did she put on a condescending attitude. It was very comfortable to talk to her.

He picked up the earpiece and said into the receiver, "Vanilla, come out and say hello to my friend."

A moment later, a soft blue light bloomed on the computer screen, transforming into a coffee shop. Then, the maid cat-eared girl pushed open the coffee shop door and walked out.

The maid with cat ears curtsied, her long pink hair swaying as she did so, her fluffy cat ears twitching playfully. A dialogue box popped up saying, "Welcome, guest! Your friend is my friend. I hope we can have a pleasant chat~"

Tang Ping clicked his tongue in amazement, then asked, "Vanilla, could it be chocolate and vanilla?"

Duan Jie's eyes lit up, and he asked, "You've played this before?"

"I've never played it, but I've heard of it, the famous Grass Cat Butter."

"I recommend you give it a try. Although the plot is weak, the character designs are really good. When I decided to design the AI ​​as a cat-eared girl, this work immediately came to mind."

The maid cat-eared girl on the screen blinked her big, watery eyes and said with a smile, "I love the name my master gave me! I'm so happy to meet everyone with this name!"

Tang Ping stroked his chin and said, "It's still a bit lacking without voice. Why don't we match it with a voice?"

Duan Jie sighed, "Building a separate voice library is quite expensive. The benefits at the Psionic Administration are excellent, but the salary is barely enough."

"It can match existing voice libraries, such as Hatsune Miku, Luo Tianyi, and Yue Zhengling."

“That won’t do! Using someone else’s voice would easily confuse the character. Xiang Zilan must have her own voice and be unique.” Duan Jie said decisively.

Tang Ping didn't understand the other party's insistence, but expressed her respect. She moved closer to observe the maid cat-eared girl on the screen and said, "The modeling level is very high."

"After all, it took me three months to create Vanilla's appearance. Behind it is a complex graphics rendering algorithm. To simulate the smooth texture of the hair, the luster of the skin, and the texture of the clothing material, the parameters had to be repeatedly adjusted. And her voice interaction required the use of natural language processing technology so that she could not only understand questions, but also give responses that fit her character and convey emotions..."

When talking about his professional field, Duan Jie became completely absorbed, his voice growing louder and louder, and he gestured with his hands from time to time, his original shy and socially awkward demeanor disappearing.

In the end, Gui Taxi got so bored that she pulled Tang Ping away.

"I was worried that you wouldn't get along with him, but it seems I was worrying for nothing."

Tang Ping said, "From what we can see right now, Duan Jie is not socially anxious. He simply can't find friends in real life with whom he can talk about his hobbies. He feels that he doesn't have much in common with you guys and doesn't want to change himself, so he has shifted his social needs to the internet and AI."

In the Public Security Section, Xiang Yun is a woman, Ling Chong is a male student from the Physical Education Department, and Gui Taxi is a technocrat. There is an insurmountable "dimensional barrier" between them and Duan Jie.

"Maybe." Gui Taxi exhaled a breath of turbid air. "Since you have common topics with him, you should talk more in the future. Oh, right, I almost forgot to remind you, magical artifacts in our spiritual energy world do not recognize their owners. Be careful to keep them safe. Once they are taken away, they become someone else's property."

Tang Ping clicked her tongue and frowned, saying, "This is so inconvenient."

Gui Taxi spread his hands and said, "There's nothing we can do. That's just how messed up the game is. It doesn't care about the player's experience. Players have to adapt to the system on their own. The developers won't make any adjustments for the players."

Tang Ping chuckled, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I was so distracted by that cat-eared AI that I almost forgot about my business. I actually came here today to ask for a long leave. I've been away for so long, it's time to go back to school. After all, it was the former Psychic Administration Bureau that asked for leave for me."

Gui Taxi said, "That's why you should transfer to this school as soon as possible, so you can manage both schools at the same time."

"I will seriously consider it."

……

After returning to Lin'an, Tang Ping attended classes for a week, getting to know her somewhat unfamiliar classmates again, and then went to see Zhou Canglan on the weekend.

"I thought you'd stopped coming back after joining the Jiangcheng Psionic Management Bureau... You've advanced to the second job advancement!"

Zhou Canglan originally intended to use jokes to break the ice, but when he sensed the spiritual pressure emanating from Tang Ping, his expression changed.

"Yes, something happened, but I was promoted by luck."

Tang Ping admitted it directly, because if he wanted to hide it, he could have easily concealed his spiritual pressure so that outsiders couldn't sense it.

"How long has it been?" Zhou Canglan roughly calculated, "Only a little over three months, that's impossible to do through normal cultivation."

"I didn't mention it before, but I saved the local psychic management bureau. To express their gratitude, they took me to the local mythological site, Guiyuan Temple. There are five hundred Arhat statues in the temple. As long as you communicate with the Arhat statues, your spiritual power will be enhanced. Not only that, but Buddhist psychics will have extremely good luck afterwards, and all sorts of convenient encounters in developing spiritual power will follow one after another."

"And then you advanced to the second job advancement?"

"Not yet. After I joined the Psionic Administration Bureau, I participated in another operation to investigate singularities. During the operation, I received guidance from a colleague and converted several monsters, which allowed me to complete the Spirit Transformation."

Tang Ping answered all the questions truthfully.

However, if one believes his words, one will subconsciously think that the Arhat statue was the key to his advancement to the second stage, and that the subsequent conversion of monsters was just to fill the last gap. After all, no matter how rich one's imagination is, one cannot imagine that a mere first-stage spiritual energy user could convert three third-stage great monsters.

At least that's what Zhou Canglan thought. His thinking couldn't escape the framework of common sense, and he immediately exclaimed, "Indeed, a tree dies when it's moved, but a person thrives. It seems that Jiangcheng is your lucky place. You've had one adventure after another there."

"Haha, I think so too. By the way, the Guiling Sect members I mentioned before were after Guiyuan Temple. I wonder if President Zhou is interested in that? If so, I can apply for guard duty and transfer the others away."

"Guiyuan Temple, um..."

Zhou Canglan pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "Never mind, it's probably not the target I'm looking for."

Tang Ping tentatively asked, "What is President Zhou's goal?"

"Now that you have advanced to the second stage, you are qualified to know about this matter. Do you still remember the New Realm Alliance's mission?"

"Make psionicists the ruling class, the superior people."

"Yes, that's the organization's ultimate goal. The way to achieve that goal is to break down the barrier between the real world and the illusory world, so that psionicists can use their psionic powers freely in the real world. According to the organization's investigation, the existence of the illusory world depends on five divine artifacts. As long as the artifacts are destroyed, the two worlds can be merged into one."

Tang Ping was taken aback, not expecting such a classic RPG-style setting, and asked, "What are these five divine artifacts?"

"I'm not trying to keep you in suspense, but the organization actually only obtained this information based on the prophecy of the psionicists. Currently, it is known that four of the five artifacts are hidden in China, Egypt, Europe, and South America respectively."

"And the fifth one?"

"I don't know. Maybe in Africa, maybe in Australia, or even in Antarctica. Of course, considering that there is no human civilization in Antarctica, the possibility of it being there is extremely slim. In the end, this is information obtained through prophecy, so it can't be 100% accurate. Vagueness is inevitable."

After digesting the information, Tang Ping frowned and said, "It sounds very unreliable that an organization's entire action plan is based on a vague prophecy."

Zhou Canglan shook his head and said, "It's not that unreliable. The organization destroyed the Egyptian artifact and used the remains of that artifact as a sacrifice to obtain the prophecy, so it's quite credible."

"Furthermore, according to the recollections of some veterans within the organization, the gap between the real world and the illusory world was even stronger in the past. It was only after the destruction of the Egyptian artifacts that permanent psionic energy was able to take effect in the real world. Otherwise, apart from having slightly better physical abilities than ordinary people, we would be no different from each other now."

Tang Ping asked, "But without information about the fifth divine artifact, we can't possibly dig all over the world for it, can we?"

"As long as you obtain the second artifact, destroy it, and then use the artifact's remains as a sacrifice, there is a high probability that you will learn about the fifth artifact. It doesn't even matter if you don't seek out the fifth artifact."

"why is that?"

"If you break four of the five pillars of a house, do you think the house can still remain stable?" Zhou Canglan sneered. "According to the organization's higher-ups, the house will collapse as long as three of the divine artifacts are destroyed."

Chapter 188 National Treasure

If Tang Ping were still working under Fu Zhengyi, she could now use the intelligence to claim credit.

But then he thought about it again. He was just a newcomer in the New Territories Alliance with no achievements. Just because he was promoted to the second job advancement, he was told about the New Territories Alliance's action plan. Was this action plan really some important intelligence?

Or is this not a secret at all, and everyone in the New Territories Alliance knows it?

But if it's so easy to find out, why wouldn't Fu Zhengyi know?

Tang Ping's mind raced, but his face remained impassive as he asked, "President Zhou once said that the New Territories Alliance's philosophy is like taking off your pants to fart, and he doesn't seem to agree with it. Why do you still support their plan to destroy the divine artifact? Do you also hope that the two worlds will merge into one?"

"I wouldn't say I'm looking forward to it, but I'd be happy to see it happen. If it succeeds, I can use psionic energy freely in the real world, which would be great. If it fails, maintaining the status quo isn't a big deal. Of course, it's easy for me to say this without being in the situation."

Zhou Canglan raised his palm, which instantly transformed into flowing water: "My 'Water God's Power' is a permanent type of spiritual energy, which can be used in the mortal world. Just this alone is equivalent to having an immortal body in the mortal world. Compared with other spiritual energy users of the same level, I undoubtedly have a great advantage. Some opponents that I could not defeat in the Illusionary Realm can be easily defeated in the mortal world. Therefore, maintaining the status quo is also in my interest."

Tang Ping looked puzzled and said, "Then I understand even less. President Zhou neither agrees with the New Territories Alliance's ideology nor has any enthusiasm for breaking the status quo, so why does he still join them? Even if he feels that joining the Psionic Management Bureau restricts his freedom, starting his own faction would be a good option, so why should he submit to others?"

Zhou Canglan fell silent, staring at Tang Ping seriously for a while, then smiled and said, "Alright, this isn't such an important secret. I can tell you without worry. The only spiritual personality I've awakened is 'Gonggong'."

"Gonggong! Gonggong who angrily struck Buzhou Mountain?"

Tang Ping's surprise was genuine.

He could sense Zhou Canglan's power and was worried about being discovered by the other party, so he never used "Three-Eyed True Radiance" to obtain the other party's spiritual information. Gonggong is undoubtedly a famous and very powerful deity in Chinese mythology. If he is not in the first tier, he can at least be ranked in the 1.5 tier.

Zhou Canglan was very satisfied with Tang Ping's reaction, which was why he revealed the unique spiritual personality.

The vast majority of third-stage unique psychics do not mind revealing their uniqueness, because it brings hidden benefits.

A typical example is Fu Zhengyi, who never hides the fact that his unique spiritual attribute is "Bi'an". He even actively promotes it to others because when people hear that his spiritual attribute is "Bi'an", they will subconsciously feel that he is reliable and that he would not do anything against justice.

The so-called name of a person is the shadow of a tree.

It is difficult for a person to build their own reputation; it requires solid achievements to back it up. Boasting can only fool a small number of people and carries the risk of being exposed.

A unique psychic can take advantage of this by claiming the reputation and achievements of a psychic as their own. Even if they have done nothing, others will subconsciously regard them as the representative of a unique psychic.

Zhou Canglan used the name of "Gonggong" to enhance his personal prestige. Even if he didn't take action, others would think he was very strong and would feel a sense of awe.

Although there is a risk of information leakage, the benefits outweigh the risks. Besides, they only revealed the name of the unique spirit rank, not the prefix spirit rank, and they kept their own spiritual energy well hidden.

Of course, some unique psychics choose to keep it a secret, for one of two reasons: either their unique psychic status is minor and revealing it would only lead to them being looked down upon, or their psychic status has obvious weaknesses.

For example, if someone awakens the unique spiritual personality "Achilles", their opponent will definitely try every means to attack their heels once they find out.

"What do you think is the essence of Gonggong's interpretation?" Zhou Canglan asked.

Tang Ping quickly recalled the mythological story, and then, considering Zhou Canglan's decision to join the New Territories Alliance, she instantly found the answer.

That's right, it's best to play dumb for now.

"When Gonggong angrily struck Buzhou Mountain, was the real purpose of his actions to destroy the mountain?"

"Ha, if that's the case, it's simple. I'll go directly to Guizhou and cooperate with the local government. I'm sure they'll be happy to help me level the mountain."

Zhou Canglan chuckled, then said seriously, "Gonggong angrily struck Buzhou Mountain, causing the heavens and earth to collapse. Only then did Nuwa mend the sky. In other words, the destruction of the world is the essence of Gonggong's story. Of course, Gonggong's battle with Zhurong is also a clue, but to use this method to interpret the spirit, the prerequisite is to find a fire god of comparable strength."

Upon hearing this, Tang Ping pretended to realize something and said, "No wonder President Zhou wants to cooperate with the New Realm Alliance. They want to destroy the Illusion Realm, while President Zhou can use the destruction of the world to manifest the Spirit Rank. It's a perfect match."

Zhou Canglan nodded and said, "I'm not some crazy villain who's going to destroy humanity. If there were only one world, I would never choose this path no matter how much I wanted to become stronger. But there just happens to be a Realm of Illusion, which is no different in size from the real world. As long as we destroy it, let alone the fourth level, even the fifth level will be within reach."

“The New Territories Alliance knew I wasn’t interested in their doctrines, but after learning that my spiritual identity was ‘Gonggong,’ they decided to cooperate with me without hesitation and made me the head of the China region. They also knew very well that anything can be lied about, but interests will not.”

After listening, Tang Ping knew that turning Zhou Canglan to the enemy was almost impossible, as it would be tantamount to asking him to give up his cultivation. She also understood why he was willing to tell her about the New Realm Alliance's plan.

Perhaps this is a secret known only to core members of the New Territories Alliance, but Zhou Canglan doesn't care. The two sides just happened to be on the same path and formed a cooperative relationship based on interests. In essence, they are not on the same path.

He thought for a moment and then asked, "Does Mr. Zhou have any clues about China's magical artifact? If you can provide keywords, I can search for relevant information on the official intranet."

Zhou Canglan sighed and said, "It's a pity that after searching for so many years, I still haven't found anything about the artifact. However, as the saying goes, 'practice makes perfect,' and after thinking about it a lot, I have indeed come up with a few guesses."

"Can you tell me about it?"

"It's very simple. To be qualified as a divine artifact that supports a realm, it is definitely not an ordinary magic weapon. Not only must it be famous, but its status must also be high enough. For example, the Ruyi Jingu Bang (the magic staff) is famous enough, but in essence it is just a measuring tool used by Yu the Great to measure rivers, lakes and seas. It is not that powerful."

Tang Ping thought for a moment and said, "Could it be at the level of a supreme innate treasure?"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Canglan couldn't help but chuckle: "What innate treasure? You young people have too much knowledge and you've confused the settings of online novels with traditional mythology."

"I remember that the three innate treasures are from the novel 'Investiture of the Gods', namely the Taiji Diagram, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and the Four Swords of Zhuxian."

As Tang Ping spoke, she took out her phone to search and confirm. When she saw the results, she was stunned: "It's fake! There's no such thing as a primordial treasure in Investiture of the Gods!"

"Even if there is such a setting in Investiture of the Gods, it doesn't count. It's just one person's opinion, and it doesn't carry much weight. As for the so-called Master Hongjun of the Dao Ancestor, even if someone awakens the corresponding unique spiritual personality, he would probably only reach the fourth level. Because after Investiture of the Gods, nobody recognizes him. Look at which Daoist sect's pantheon has Hongjun's name in it?"

Zhou Canglan gave Tang Ping a brief explanation of "Investiture of the Gods," explaining which parts of the content were ancient and which were original to the book.

For example, King Wu's conquest of King Zhou is mentioned in the Book of Documents, the Book of Poetry, and the Songs of Chu. This influence is very strong and will be reflected in the spirit, enhancing the character's spirit abilities.

However, original characters like Lu Ya and Hongjun, who don't even have a prototype, will have a significantly reduced influence. In terms of spiritual status, Hongjun would never be able to beat popular characters like Erlang Shen, who frequently appear in various mythological stories.