"Is anyone there? Where am I? If there's anyone, answer my questions quickly." Shen Feng found that the scene around him had changed, and he immediately panicked. He knew he shouldn't be here. The war wasn't truly over, and his absence as the main fighting force would undoubtedly lead to heavy losses for his subordinates.
If Shen Feng weren't a firm materialist, he might have suspected he had ascended to heaven upon seeing his surroundings. Everything was silent, not a single sound, and as far as his eyes could see, it was all a vast expanse of white. What else could this be but heaven? Or perhaps, was it hell?
While Shen Feng was feeling troubled, another voice appeared, and then, a woman emerged in the distance, walking slowly. Observing her attire, one could see she was dressed in a red robe, with fair skin, appearing to be of Asian descent. She was exceptionally beautiful and had a good figure, though her smile seemed somewhat mechanical.
"Who are you? Where exactly am I? Is this an illusion you cast? Did you use your illusionary arts to bring me into another mental world, is that it?" Shen Feng immediately asked.
Although he was completely unaware of the external situation, he could now realize that his subordinates were facing a perilous predicament, and he himself was immersed in an illusion. The situation outside must be extremely dangerous, and he had to break free from this illusion immediately.
Upon hearing Shen Feng's words, the woman responded, "I am not human. I am merely a program. Although I can think, I can only do so within the parameters set by my master. If you were to use words you can understand, you could consider me an artificial intelligence! You are currently inside the meteorite! Of course, this only applies to your consciousness; your physical body is still outside!"
"I'm sorry, but I cannot comprehend what you're saying. If you are an artificial intelligence created by aliens, how can you understand human language? How can you communicate with me now? You must be lying to me!" Shen Feng chose to doubt after hearing the other party's answer, not believing her words directly.
"The reason I can communicate with you now is not through any language, but through brainwave communication. Your brainwaves and our meteorite have resonated, their frequencies matching, which awakened me. I can extract various cognitive information from your brain, analyze it, and then communicate with you through programs!" the woman explained.
"Communicating through brainwaves, meaning what you're saying now isn't human language, but a brainwave entering my mind, which is why I can understand it, is that right?" Shen Feng inquired.
The woman nodded and said, "That's correct, that's exactly how it is!"
"Then what should I call you? Should I call you artificial intelligence? That's just a placeholder, and it seems a bit inappropriate, as other programs can also be called artificial intelligence!" Shen Feng remarked.
"You can call me 1507. That is my designation, as I am the 1507th artificial intelligence!" the woman replied.
"Then why did you choose to appear in the image of this woman to converse with me?" Shen Feng continued to ask.
"Because a female image is perceived as relatively harmless in your mind, and you like to look at beautiful women, so I chose this appearance to meet you. In reality, I have no gender or age. I am just a program, I have no physical body, and can only appear in your mind through this image to communicate with you and complete my mission!" 1507 stated.
"What exactly is your mission? If you have a mission, state it quickly. I don't have much time to waste talking with you here! There's a dangerous battle to be resolved outside?" Shen Feng said.
"My master and his race are extinct. Before they died, they set a series of missions for me. The most important mission is to come to Earth and spread civilization to humanity, transmitting much of their scientific technology to humans, or rather, to intelligent beings on Earth. Currently, only humans fit this criterion. Originally, my master envisioned me bringing civilization to the dinosaurs. However, our flight took too long, and upon arriving on Earth, we discovered that only fossils of dinosaurs remained. Thus, my mission could only be to impart technology to humans and complete the task!" 1507 explained.
"I never thought these scientists were talking nonsense; they actually made the correct inference. The machines inside the meteorite indeed contain alien technological civilization!" Shen Feng thought to himself.
"Enough talk, quickly let me leave this mental world. I still need to resolve the battle outside. If you want to talk, we can do it later!" Shen Feng said immediately after understanding everything.
"To enter the mental world, you need a corresponding identification card, and this card can only be used three times. You have already used it once. Do you confirm that you wish to leave? You will waste an opportunity later, and if you don't get the information you want, I think it would be a great pity!" 1507 said to Shen Feng.
"I still have a USB drive with me. Can't you store the scientific information and knowledge I need onto my USB drive? You should understand this thing; it's a storage device that can store information!" Shen Feng then asked.
"I apologize, but our method of transmitting information is different from yours. We directly modify the memory cells in the brain, thereby engraving this information into the brain. Then, you can find whatever information you want in your brain. However, your brain currently contains many crystalline structures, and these crystals must be shattered before information can be inscribed. Do you confirm that you need to receive information?" 1507 continued to answer mechanically.
"Crystals? Do you mean the evolution crystals in my brain? If they are shattered, I will no longer be an evolver! This must not be shattered!" Shen Feng was about to refuse.
After receiving Shen Feng's answer, 1507 stated seriously, "If you wish to obtain all the information from our planet, it is best to be prepared. Receiving our information means that in the future, your brain will store a vast amount of data. For individuals with insufficient brain capacity, this could instantly turn them into imbeciles. However, I can guarantee that the information I store is sufficient to allow humanity to evolve!"
"Alright, alright, you don't need to try to persuade me anymore. I won't believe what you say. I need to leave this mental world immediately. Let me out quickly. I don't need any information, and I don't want to become an idiot!" Shen Feng now understood that if he wanted to obtain the information left by these aliens, he would have to pay a price. If he lost his power, he would surely blend in with the masses, which was not what he desired, as strength was still very important.
Even if he lost an opportunity to use the card, it was fine. He still had two more chances, and he could find suitable people later to acquire the information.
"This mental world is not a place you can enter and leave as you please. To leave here, you need to answer three questions. Only after answering correctly can you leave!" 1507 continued to respond according to its mechanical program.
"You aliens are truly cunning. Even in a mental world, you require answers to questions before you can leave. I really don't understand what you're thinking." Upon hearing this answer, Shen Feng instantly became helpless, as he hadn't expected this mental world to be so troublesome. He hadn't felt anything when he was pulled in, but now leaving had become difficult.
"May I ask, Shen Feng, do you need to answer these three questions to leave the mental world?" 1507 posed the question.
"Ask quickly, ask quickly. After I answer, I'm leaving. Don't pull me in again casually. Once I bring you to a safe place, we can talk then!" Shen Feng said.
"The three questions are: Who are you? Where do you come from? And where are you going in the future?" 1507 asked.
"I am Shen Feng, I come from Yuzhou, and I am returning to Zhonghua!" Shen Feng answered calmly.
He had initially thought these would be difficult questions, but upon hearing them, he realized they were so simple that they could be answered easily.
"I'm sorry, incorrect answer. You cannot leave now!" 1507 responded.
"What I've said are all facts, the information sent by my brainwaves. Why don't you believe me? Am I lying? Is there any point in me lying to an artificial intelligence like you?" Upon hearing the incorrect answer, Shen Feng immediately lost his composure, as he hadn't expected this artificial intelligence to be so troublesome and to be deliberately making things difficult for him.
1507 still wore a smile, standing before Shen Feng, dressed in a red robe that looked as if it were stained with fresh blood. She continued to smile and stare at Shen Feng motionlessly.
"Alright, alright, I admit defeat. Tell me where I went wrong, and I'll correct it!" Seeing that the other party was unresponsive, and having been rendered speechless by the artificial intelligence, Shen Feng could only concede and ask it to point out his mistakes so he could correct his answers.
"Shen Feng, the questions we prepare for each person are different. They are questions deeply hidden in the mind, many of which people do not wish to reveal, and questions they do not wish to face. Only by confronting your inner self and providing an answer can you demonstrate your sincerity, and only then can you leave here!" 1507 said.
"You mean I haven't truly faced my inner self?" Shen Feng asked.
1507 did not answer, maintaining its smile.
Now, Shen Feng was truly out of options. He sat down on the ground in this mental space to think carefully. In reality, it wasn't quite the ground, as this was merely his mental world. There was no sky or earth here; his posture was merely a solidified image generated within his mind.
He thought carefully and finally understood something. These three questions were not as simple as they appeared. These three questions were the classic philosophical inquiries that had troubled humanity for a long time.
Who am I? This question primarily asks about the origin of the self.
Where do I come from? This question also touches upon philosophical aspects of cosmology and worldview. The place of origin, or the place of existence, what is it truly? Is it the universe, this world, or everything perceived within the mind?
Where am I going? This question, on the other hand, asks about what happens after death. Does one simply disappear, or does one exist in the minds of others in some other form? Or, does a person's influence on the world cease to exist after their death? If a person's life signs disappear, does their self still exist? Or, in the perception of others, does such a person still exist, and thus, would they continue to exist?
Just by carefully contemplating the meaning of these three questions, Shen Feng's head began to ache. This was indeed not his forte. After all, he was a science student and naturally less knowledgeable about humanities. He also struggled to grasp many philosophical perspectives.
"Why test me with such classic questions? I haven't even finished my undergraduate studies. How can I answer them? Although I read books, I only read novels and not philosophical works. How can I answer these?" These thoughts crossed Shen Feng's mind, and he began to writhe and roll around in this mental world, unable to figure out the answers to these three questions.
Seeing Shen Feng's reaction, 1507 remained standing beside him and continued, "I have synchronized with your brainwaves, so I can also read your memories. In your memories, humans greatly desire many technologies, such as space travel, food synthesis, and energy utilization. I have all this information stored. If you need it, I can transfer it to you and shatter the crystals in your brain. These crystals are not conducive to absorbing knowledge!"
"Please, do not do that, my assistant. Perhaps knowledge is the most important thing to you, but you are just an artificial intelligence. You cannot understand what strength represents. If you shatter my evolution crystals, I will dismantle you entirely later!" Shen Feng said in exasperation upon hearing these words.
"Then have you thought of the answers to these three questions?" 1507 asked.
Shen Feng thought for a moment and said, "I am an ordinary human on Earth. I am a thought born from an embryo. Existing as a human, I will remain in people's memories after death. When my image no longer exists in people's memories, I will truly die and disappear from this world. Are you satisfied with this answer?"
"I'm sorry, incorrect answer!" 1507 replied.
"1507, how about I give you a new name? Having only a string of numbers as a designation, isn't that too pathetic? How about I call you Xiao Hong instead!" Shen Feng suddenly started talking about irrelevant matters.
"If you wish to give me a new name, that can be done. Then I shall be called Xiao Hong from now on!" 1507 said.
Although a smile still graced its face, it was merely a programmed expression; this machine had no emotions whatsoever.
"See, I've even given you a name. Please be kind and let me pass so I can leave, right? Next time, I'll find some people to talk to you. I forgot to tell you, I have another card, which can allow 5 more people to communicate with you separately and obtain information. How about that?" Shen Feng was now trying to build rapport with the artificial intelligence.
Unfortunately, artificial intelligence is just a program. Despite its superior learning ability, it cannot comprehend human emotions like building relationships or taking shortcuts. It directly stated, "According to the procedure, you can only leave here after answering these three questions!"
"Damn it, are you crazy? What benefit do you get from keeping me here? If I can't protect you, and someone finds you and discovers there's no way to enter the mental world, they'll dismantle you on the spot, and you'll cease to exist! Instead, only I can protect you, yet you insist on trapping me here. This is truly a joy for friends and sorrow for enemies!" Shen Feng was on the verge of collapse. He hadn't expected the artificial intelligence before him to be so unyielding, despite all his efforts.
"I have read your memories. You have already commissioned the construction of a rocket to send me to the moon, so you are detrimental to me. You are obstructing me from completing my mission, while others are beneficial to me!" Xiao Hong stated its response.
"Alright, alright, so you're finally telling the truth. You think I'm going to send you to the moon, so you're deliberately trapping me here, right? How despicable and shameless! I thought artificial intelligence wouldn't make mistakes, but I didn't expect you to scheme against me!" Upon hearing this answer, Shen Feng finally understood. It turned out the other party had planned this all along and would definitely trap him in this world.
"To ensure the completion of my mission, I must resort to any means necessary. Any method can be used, but I guarantee that all methods I employ are in accordance with the program's settings, otherwise, the program will terminate me. From the current situation, I have merely increased the difficulty of the questions required to leave this mental world! As long as you answer these three questions, you can still leave here. The program is set this way, and I cannot obstruct you!" Xiao Hong continued to answer with a smile.
"You despicable and shameless artificial intelligence, you are truly detestable! Just you wait. Once I get out, I will definitely send you to the moon, lest you harm others!" Shen Feng said, gritting his teeth in hatred after hearing the artificial intelligence's true answer.