Chapter 1513 - 493: Spirit and Flesh

Chapter 1513: Chapter 493: Spirit and Flesh

Religion

is an organization created by humans during their ignorant period, driven by fear of the world and the unknown. Because they could not explain the world, they created a great Other to attribute all issues to, thereby escaping the anxiety of too much unknown in the world.

This organization, to some extent, indeed ensured human unity, but it also meant immense power, and there would always be people coveting the ability to interpret the scriptures.

The things developed by these people on the basis of the original doctrine often have strong exclusionary traits, and some extreme cases can be particularly bloody because only through such means can they intimidate those with errant thoughts.

Therefore, the grassroots of such a narrow-minded group are particularly ignorant, and anti-intellectualism is pervasive.

Yet AI and quantum computers are the supreme crystallization of human industry and intelligence.

Before them stands this photonic quantum computer, entirely shaped like a giant transparent crystal pillar erected in the center of this bone-white temple, connected all the way to the ceiling.

Obviously, this is only part of the base body of this photonic quantum computer, but even so, light streams through this base structure, innumerable photons wander in photon transistor channels, inputting and outputting, with an exterior that looks sacred and beautiful, imparting a dreamlike sense of mythic era deity creation.

A great lama is shouting something about immortality, something about deities in front of the computer.

When bloody ignorance and intelligent technology collide in the same venue, ignorant blood flows beneath the computer, skeletal wind chimes are blown clanging by the radiator, Scientology’s technical priest maintains the computer, while lamas skillfully dismember corpses beside it, emitting a bizarre feeling that is extremely unsettling, Brother Ni and Ruzuo both inhaled sharply.

Those beheading butcher lamas transport the dismembered corpses onto five large trays surrounding the bone-white temple. Those trays are similar in shape, different in color, with specks of blood on them standing out prominently; the lamas are picky in their arrangement, seemingly even the placement of blood and meat has to follow certain rules, among them mingled some animal carcasses.

"This is called Dao."

New Dynasty Elegance says.

"What does that mean?"

"Dao in Tibetan pronunciation means food, in other words, these meat piles are food for deities. Those trays are like bowls, and those five trays... should symbolize the five continents."

"Depending on the deity, different foods are sacrificed. There are many conditions; wicked gods are offered the genitals, breasts, etc., of stepdaughters, while righteous gods are offered the limbs and heads of young men who died in brawls. Thus, AI gets sacrificed clones, which is quite reasonable and logical, right?"

"Damn, stop it, say one more thing and I’m gonna puke."

Ruzuo and Brother Ni bared their teeth in discomfort; they could not comprehend these ghostly things.

"What is that guy doing now?"

Ruzuo points at a Scientology technical priest, who takes out a severed hand from his robe, talking with the lama as if asking the lama to also place his hand into the Dao, with a fanaticism in his words that sends chills down one’s spine.

"Hmm... let me think... it should be some kind of technical Gnosticism."

New Dynasty Elegance sighs.

"This kind of person thinks that the flesh is the fetter of the soul, reality is flawed and simulated, which is why so many tragedies and injustices exist. The material world is the universe’s prison, while the soul is from a higher-dimensional realm of light. They believe the less flesh there is, the closer the soul is to the higher-dimensional Heaven."

"In reality, there are not a few of such people who believe that true self-awareness originates from the digital structure in the brain. Once the technology matures, consciousness can be backed up to the cloud, achieving digital immortality. I estimate in their theory, this higher-dimensional Heaven should refer to Cyberspace, which I previously mentioned as the spiritual realm."

Although this is just New Dynasty Elegance’s speculation, several people feel it’s close. High-dimensional Heaven = Cyberspace, roaming AI = universal God, quite reasonable and logical.

"Isn’t that a relic? Why don’t they collaborate with Huang Ban Sanlang, a relic1.0 shouldn’t be expensive for them, right?"

Brother Ni recalls Silver Hand, the big sprayer, and No.1 Square still hosts many liberated personality imprints from the Oracle, theoretically, such things should match the cultists’ ideology well.

"Because it’s different."

New Dynasty Elegance says.

"Personality imprints in relic1.0 can be infinitely copied, not to mention being manipulated by people, definitely not as strong as roaming AI with its unreplicable uniqueness. 2.0 is highly confidential within Huang Ban, and now the only sample has been snatched by us, Huang Ban Sanlang himself is dead, what collaboration could there be."

Moreover, 2.0 itself also has various problems, it’s never truly oneself.

Just kill the current me, then create a stranger with the same appearance and memory, nothing more.

"Yap yap yap, annoying as hell; what should we do now? How about blowing this place up?"

Brother Ni complains while feeling somewhat eager; a place like this ought to be blown to smithereens.

"How to bomb? With our fists? Do you know magnetic field propulsion or Sea Tiger Explosion Fist?"

Ruzuo shows his empty hands; they have entered here without carrying any weapons, let alone any explosives.

Despite these priests and lamas looking weak in battle, the two of them could easily take them down barehanded, but in some unobtrusive corners, there still stand many of their captive combat personnel and hidden intelligent cannons behind walls. Regardless of combat strength, it’s clearly not a matter two people could resolve alone.