Chapter 226: Chapter 225: Euthanasia Plan
Continue reading 0n Β0XN0VEL.ϹƟMIt was then that Bai Hongtu understood why Jiang Li had reacted that way upon seeing Feitian Group.
The Feitian Group had, over the course of fifty years, ushered the entire Goule civilization into the Virtual World.
And this happened a thousand years ago.
“So-called ‘longevity and long sleep nutrient solution’ only allows a person to live up to two hundred years, no wonder this world has no living humans.” Bai Hongtu finally comprehended why the Goule civilization didn’t have any living people.
This also confirmed that Du Ming was indeed dead.
“I remember Du Ming saying that the Feitian Group spent a century collecting data to create virtual personas, with reactions identical to humans.”
“You mean Du Ming is a virtual persona as well?”
“Yes, I suspect that while Du Ming was using the holographic simulator, Feitian Company collected all of Du Ming’s information—memory, physical strength, inner desires, etc. They transformed these into data, then verified the calculations which created a virtual persona indistinguishable from Du Ming!”
If a person has the same memories, body, and thoughts as you, is that person you?
In Jiang Li’s past life, this was a philosophical question that could prompt endless debate, but no conclusion was reached.
However, in Jiuzhou, this is an undisputed issue. Your soul has reincarnated, so that person is not you.
The unique soul is the standard for distinguishing one person from another.
The pair had already confirmed that the Goule civilization had neither living beings nor souls; what was stored in the server was data.
“Let’s go to the headquarters of Feitian Group.”
They both suspected that there was a major problem with the Feitian Group.
The Feitian Group also had no living humans.
When they arrived at the CEO’s office at the Feitian Group headquarters, they found a top-secret plan called the “Euthanasia” plan.
The plan was divided into four steps.
First, use divine revelations to develop technology.
Second, use the power of capital and technology to control the government.
Third, promote the idea that the Virtual World is equivalent to the real world, giving them a reason to escape reality and voluntarily enter the Virtual World.
Fourth, develop a holographic simulator with the longevity and long sleep nutrient solution, leading all mankind into the Virtual World.
Although the plan was simple, Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu found it chilling.
This is a public conspiracy, executed without any cover-up.
Two hundred years of life is but a moment for them, but for mortals, this is a groundbreaking feat that defies the heavens.
Who doesn’t want longevity?
And a virtual world that’s no different from the real one.
On one hand, there is the harsh reality of youth spent studying, middle age toiling at work, and old age enjoying a moment of peace, all while constrained by material needs.
On the other hand, there is the all-powerful and god-like Virtual World, with ultimate freedom.
Who doesn’t want freedom?
Longevity and freedom, the two things creatures crave most are laid out before them—who could resist?
The only reason Jiang Li could think of to refuse was that the real world was real, and the Virtual World was fake.
But does the distinction between real and fake matter?
“Damn, who came up with this plan! It’s like murder without shedding blood.” Bai Hongtu cursed. This thing would sell well in Jiuzhou too. Bai Hongtu could guarantee that ninety-nine percent of the people in Jiuzhou would choose a virtual world.
“Here, this is a holographic simulator, let’s go see Du Ming.”
Bai Hongtu nodded and put on the holographic simulator, and the two of them arrived at the Big World together.
Du Ming considered Jiang Li a friend and had given him a communication method, so Jiang Li could find him at any time.
“You’re back so soon, Brother Jiang, and there’s a newcomer?” Du Ming noticed Bai Hongtu.
“This is Bai Hongtu. We had some unfinished business and happened to come back.” Jiang Li said with a chuckle, “By chance, I saw your nameplate and realized that you, Brother Du, are an ancient person from a thousand years ago. Nice to meet you.”
“A thousand years?” Du Ming frowned, then relaxed, “The flow of time in the Little World can be controlled, but the Big World doesn’t display time, I didn’t realize so much time had passed in the outside world.”
“Indeed, the changes outside now are monumental. We’ve discovered a new continent that contains technology more advanced than ours. The Goule people are not the only intelligent beings in the universe.”
“Also, there is another world beyond this one. We’ve found the Cultivation World, and the people of the Cultivation World can move mountains and overturn seas using their bodies alone. I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t witnessed it with my own eyes.”
“Brother Du, would you like to go out and see?” Jiang Li asked eagerly, looking at Du Ming.
Du Ming shook his head regretfully: “If I had just come in, I might want to go out and see, but sadly, I can no longer leave.”
“How come?” Jiang Li asked knowingly.
“Brother Jiang… Although I am an ancient person, there are no rules of seniority in the Virtual World, so I think I can still call you brother. Brother Jiang, you should know that the nutrient fluid can only let me live for two hundred years. Since a thousand years have passed in the outside world, I must have already died. The me now is an electronic consciousness, I can’t leave the Virtual World.”
“Dead?” Jiang Li was surprised. He was truly shocked; Du Ming actually knew that he had already died.
“I don’t remember how long ago it was, but one day I suddenly lost consciousness and got disconnected. But soon after, I regained consciousness and was able to enter the Big and Little Worlds freely. I thought it was a server issue, but now that I think about it, that must have been when I died.”
“But it’s not really death, you see, I still have consciousness, can be considered as living, but it’s just in the Virtual World.”
Du Ming didn’t mind his own death.
Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu exchanged glances, this virtual persona believed that he was the real Du Ming.
“Brother Du, you accepted death with such equanimity. Admirable.”
This time it was Du Ming’s turn to be puzzled: “Didn’t the Feitian Company tell you before you used the simulator?”
“Tell us what?”
Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu had no idea what the Feitian Company might have said as the Feitian Company’s building is now occupied by a pack of wild dogs.
“The Feitian Company said that while soaking in the nutrient fluid will indeed grant you longevity, it will gradually strip away your consciousness. Over time, you won’t be able to return to reality, and you will lose your reproductive capabilities at a genetic level.” “Everyone who enters the Virtual World agrees to this cost.”
Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu fell silent.
They couldn’t judge who was at fault.
Was the Feitian Company at fault? They had clearly stated the consequences to the users.
Were the users at fault? If reality isn’t ideal, shouldn’t they have the right to escape to the Virtual World?
They couldn’t even judge whether this matter was right or wrong.
Du Ming thought Jiang Li and Bai Hongtu were upset about the fact they could no longer reproduce and tried to reassure them: “It’s just you can’t reproduce in the real world. It’s not a big deal.”
“In the real world, I had only one wife and a son, but in my world, I have a multitude of wives and countless offspring.”
“Where is your wife now?”
Du Ming waved his hand: “We were only married because we had to make do in life. There was no emotional connection, and as for my son, he wasn’t deserving or filial.”
“But in my world, my wives are the most beautiful women in the world who truly love me. My descendants are both capable and filial to me. I have long lost contact with my wife and son.”
Jiang Li sighed inwardly, everyone willingly marched towards their own death yet they feel extremely content, aptly named the “Euthanasia” plan..