After Jiang Baimian said "Start," Shang Jianyao didn't immediately take action. Instead, he raised his hand covered in a metallic skeleton and stroked his chin, saying:
"I don't think this is safe enough.
"What if our plan really works, and that 'Future' takes a peek and thinks to themselves: 'Ah, this won't do. Let's activate the self-destruct device ahead of schedule.' What then?"
Theoretically, we've already destroyed all the electrical appliances in this area, including the hidden ones. The "Future" shouldn't be able to directly see what we're doing or hear our discussions… I'm even deliberately whispering… Hmm, this kind of enemy, never encountered before, deserves more careful treatment… Jiang Baimian pondered briefly, then approached the neutered version of the "Source Brain" again and said in a low voice:
"You need to infiltrate the central control system of the laboratory right now and use redundant data attacks to block the path for the self-destruct device to receive signals.
"No, not now. Wait for my signal. When I raise my right thumb, then you take action."
The "Source Brain," wrapped in an electromagnetic shielding suit, moved its head up and down and said in an equally low voice:
"The central control system has already shut down due to lack of power. The self-destruct device is a separate parallel system. I haven't figured out the power supply method because of the firewall.
"Moreover, if it really is as Shang Jianyao said, and the 'Future' decides to activate the self-destruct device early, it can completely use its ability to 'manipulate electromagnetism' to directly send it a signal from behind the firewall.
"In that case, no amount of redundant data can delay what's going to happen."
Redundant data blocks the data pathway and occupies the corresponding computing resources, but the "Future" can "manipulate electromagnetism" and directly generate a valid signal inside the self-destruct device, bypassing all of that.
You artificial intelligence things are really troublesome… Jiang Baimian had worked hard to self-study a lot of computer-related knowledge in order to better utilize the auxiliary chip inside her "electric eel" bionic limb, but after all, she wasn't from a formal education and hadn't immersed herself in it for many years. In many aspects, she only had a rough understanding, lacking in-depth research. Hearing this, she felt a headache and couldn't help but mutter to herself.
She composed herself and asked humbly:
"Then what do you think we should do?"
The "Source Brain" could share Genava's memories and knew that Jiang Baimian wasn't particularly professional in the corresponding areas. It had consciously used descriptions that were easier for her to understand, rather than more accurate expressions.
It was silent for a few seconds and then said:
"There's no way. Even if we can find the high-performance explosives connected to the self-destruct device in the shortest time and cut the correct lines, the 'Future' can create an explosion signal for them out of thin air.
"Now, we can only hope that your plan really works and can prevent the 'Future' from 'manipulating electromagnetism' for a certain period, or rather, prevent it from affecting the various devices in the laboratory with this ability.
"And before that, pray that it can't 'hear' what we're saying, can't 'see' what we're planning to do, and doesn't activate the self-destruct device ahead of schedule."
This is really… In her helplessness, Jiang Baimian's mind actually flashed the image of Shang Jianyao's "Chart of the Celestial Worthies' Blessing."
As someone who liked to analyze, was good at planning, and always made thorough preparations in advance, she rarely needed to entrust her fate to the blessings of the Celestial Worthies like now.
While Jiang Baimian and the neutered version of the "Source Brain" were whispering, Shang Jianyao looked at Wu Meng at the edge of the semicircular hall and asked curiously:
"You and the 'Future' are neighbors. You should have some understanding of it, right?"
"Yes," Wu Meng answered, but it was as if he hadn't answered at all, because he was simply answering the question without providing further explanation.
Shang Jianyao shamelessly continued to ask:
"What kind of person—artificial intelligence—is it?"
Wu Meng smiled:
"It's a masterpiece that Olei completed in his later years, inspired by the Mechanical Monks, using an incredibly absurd plan.
"If it weren't for the Celestial Worthies, he might have been able to create a 'God' out of thin air, a 'God' who could work 24 hours a day, respond to tens of billions of believers simultaneously, and have no shortcomings. No, no, no, without the Celestial Worthies, he wouldn't be able to create such a 'God' out of thin air.
"Aren't you looking for Olei's remaining data? Apart from the part about how to format the 'Source Brain,' the rest is directly embodied in the 'Future,' but you currently have no way to decipher it."
Speaking of this, Wu Meng said again in that leisurely tone:
"I look forward to the day when you truly understand its principles.
"The Dao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, Two gives birth to Three, Three gives birth to all things."
Wu Meng, wearing small round glasses, sat on a backrest chair placed beside the recording table, like a VIP seated during a theatrical performance.
Only his figure existed there, with the dimness nearby and the darkness far away behind him.
Shang Jianyao thought for a while and responded very honestly:
"You might as well have said nothing."
Not a single piece of key information was revealed!
On the other side, the "Source Brain" followed Jiang Baimian's instructions and came to an interface and squatted down.
Using tools, it quickly completed the "intrusion" and prepared a flood of redundant information.
Jiang Baimian, holding a tool given to her by the "Source Brain," walked back to Shang Jianyao's side.
It was an electromagnetic jammer, prepared by the "Source Brain" to prevent Wu Meng from disturbing its work. It had a small effective range, only a few meters, and its power wasn't too strong.
At this time, the "Source Brain," after consulting with Jiang Baimian, contributed this item, hoping that Shang Jianyao could use its interference to make the subsequent attempts "stealthy" and prevent the "Future" from noticing them in advance.
Jiang Baimian didn't have enough confidence in whether this would be effective; she was treating a dead horse as if it were still alive.
Shang Jianyao didn't immediately turn on the electromagnetic jammer. He placed it beside him and lay down on the empty metal bed.
He then took out the "Six Senses Bead" and immersed his consciousness in it, using the aura inside to enhance his perception.
—Shang Jianyao's own perception range was actually farther than the "Six Senses Bead's." Here, he mainly wanted to increase the "intensity."
In an instant, the "Six Senses Bead" lit up with a faint cyan light.
Shang Jianyao saw shadows emerging from the ceiling above, sometimes retracting, sometimes extending outward, like swaying seaweed.
"The 'Six Senses Bead' can also sense them," Shang Jianyao reported the situation.
Bai Chen, who was responsible for "lighting" the ceiling, breathed a slight sigh of relief upon hearing this.
The "Old Task Force" had quite a few special items.
Jiang Baimian, who was on guard for accidents along with Long Yuehong, asked:
"Can you sense a certain amount of consciousness, lock onto it, and use your ability?"
"It's like the entire darkness; you can't directly grab it," Shang Jianyao answered with his unique analogy.
Couldn't he just say "no"? Long Yuehong felt a little nervous; his mouth was dry.
Without needing Jiang Baimian to instruct him, Shang Jianyao put away the "Six Senses Bead" and took out the small jade Buddha that was the color of lake water.
He skillfully immersed his consciousness in it, but the small jade Buddha didn't even emit any light. Naturally, Shang Jianyao couldn't sense the shadows on the ceiling.
"This one is even worse…" Shang Jianyao sat up in disgust and explained the situation roughly.
"Next plan," Jiang Baimian responded calmly.
Shang Jianyao forgot about the previous setback and excitedly turned on the hourglass-like electromagnetic jammer.
In the zzz sound, Long Yuehong saw the figure of Wu Meng at the edge of the hall appear to be distorted and elongated to a certain extent, but it didn't disappear.
It looked even more terrifying!
Jiang Baimian took the opportunity to activate her military exoskeleton device and had Shang Jianyao do the same.
While waiting for the military exoskeleton device to fully activate, Shang Jianyao reached into his tactical backpack, seemingly busy with something.
After ten seconds or so, he retracted his hand and first put the "Six Senses Bead" on his left wrist.
Then, he suddenly pulled out the item he had just prepared in his tactical backpack and aimed it at the ceiling.
It was a very simple discharge device. It looked like a small wooden board with several high-performance batteries embedded in it, each battery connected by corresponding circuits.
Just as Shang Jianyao struck a pose and hadn't yet pushed the switch, Jiang Baimian raised her right thumb without hesitation.
The "Source Brain," which was closely watching her, saw this and, not caring whether the next attempt would work, sent out the flood of redundant information.
The next second, Shang Jianyao jumped towards the ceiling, and then, countless electric snakes converged into a mighty flood and surged forth, illuminating the semicircular hall as if it were daytime.
Pa!
Jiang Baimian felt a wave of dizziness in her head, as if the entire laboratory was shaking, but her body didn't move at all.
She was like this, and so were Bai Chen and Long Yuehong.
Before they could recover from this reaction, the members of the "Old Task Force" felt as if gazes were cast upon them from unknown sources.
At this moment, the neutered version of the "Source Brain" jumped up and shouted loudly:
"The self-destruct signal has appeared!"
Jiang Baimian wasn't surprised but rather pleased, because this was later than she had expected.
"Run!" she quickly issued the order.