Chapter 1514 - 493: Spirit and Flesh_2

Chapter 1514: Chapter 493: Spirit and Flesh_2

Moreover, it’s obvious that this is the territory of the roaming Artificial Intelligence. The turmoil in Night City last time left a deep impression on Brother Ni. He wouldn’t believe it if someone said that the AI in the column hasn’t prepared anything.

"I think you guys can keep climbing; this is only the third level. Considering the height of this mountain, even if the levels above are the same height as the third, there’s at least space for another six or seven levels."

New Dynasty Elegance didn’t mention that he had already contacted the BOSS for reinforcements, so Brother Ni said,

"Let’s go up and take a look first, and ask Li De along the way. If they can cut the power down there, it would be a great achievement."

————

If what Brother Ni and Ruzuo witnessed on the third level was a hell of soul and flesh, then what Li De and Kles encountered underground was a world where technological ethics and morals were entirely shattered.

What, after all, is humanity?

This question has troubled philosophers for a long time.

If I create a clone and grant him all the memories, what difference is there between him and his original self?

Li De doesn’t know the answer to this question, but he is certain that if humanity ever truly does this, the very existence of humans would lose its meaning.

Because before him and Kles stands a grand underground bio-cloning factory.

Rows of coffin-shaped white containers are neatly arranged in the factory. Through the transparent polymer lids in front, fully naked individuals of varying ages can be seen, immersed in some liquid. Their napes are connected to nano-neural lines, with closed eyes and smiling lips, as if dreaming a beautiful dream.

Upon closer inspection, one can notice that many of the individuals in these clone pods are the same, only at different age stages, typically grouped in fives, arranged in sequence from infant—childhood—teenager—youth—adult, with both genders present, representing a wide variety.

From blond and blue-eyed Caucasians to red-haired Celts, black-haired Asians, and Latinos... the diversity is extensive, easily totaling at least a thousand people at a glance.

Kles couldn’t help but think of the modification pods used by players for revival, which look quite similar to these...

And in front of these clone pods, there’s also a control hall.

Dozens of Scientology members are monitoring each clone’s status here. The large screen in the control hall plays densely packed images, each depicting a clone being imbued with memories and their physical conditions.

Pure clones are nothing but mindless flesh; only by giving them the ’experience of growth and learning’ can they think like normal humans.

These clones grow in dreams, live in dreams, and are eventually sent down the assembly line like piglets in a flowing farm—picked out by cultists and senators to be toyed with, ultimately killed in a state of ignorance and made into magic artifacts or fed to those so-called ’gods.’

This is almost identical to what Lin Miao saw in the underground of Watson District in Night City, only on a much larger scale and with more advanced technology. To this day, he hasn’t disclosed anything about it to anyone, for he lacked the power to join this chaotic vortex back then and would have been torn into mincemeat in an instant.

All beauty is false, only the bloody reality is true.

Even Kles wasn’t spared from the shock; Li De, usually stern and calm, clenched his fists as his murderous intent soared within.

"What are you doing here?"

An unexpected voice interrupted their thoughts. Turning around, they saw it was a technical priest.

The priest doubtfully eyed the pair, though they were dressed in Scientology robes, those of external cultist robes were notably lower in rank than those of these technical priests.

"I..."

Kles was at a loss for words, not knowing how to respond.

It was Li De who reacted quickly; he slightly bowed.

"The people upstairs said the ritual materials are running low and sent us here to fetch and expedite the next batch."

Indeed, upon hearing they were there to expedite materials, the technical priest immediately dismissed his suspicion, grunting in dissatisfaction.

"Humph, those lamas just know how to waste resources on useless things."

Apparently, the relationship between this priest and the lamas wasn’t cordial, and prompting materials wasn’t a new occurrence; he held their ’wasting’ in disdain. The priest stepped into the cloning factory, his stride paused, and he turned back towards Li De and Kles.

"You two come in and help."

"Uh... alright."

Li De hurriedly pulled Kles along.

It was fortunate that there was communication between the upper and lower groups, else Li De and the others would have truly had trouble deceiving this priest.

Several cultists were still busy in front of the console. For a normal human to grow into adulthood, eighteen years are needed—clearly, these cultists couldn’t wait that long, so they manipulate cellular metabolism to accelerate growth, accomplishing it within a year.

This act greatly increases the risk of abnormal mutation during cell division, and without careful oversight, clones would turn into swollen lumps of cancerous flesh, demanding constant attention to various physiological parameters for timely adjustment.

Though he despised the cultists’ actions, Kles had to admit their biotechnology had reached the pinnacle, surpassing anything he knew. Seeing the massive data on the console, he couldn’t help but marvel.

"This technology is truly impressive..."