Chapter 338: Chapter 338

338: Chapter 118: Virtual Circuit 338: Chapter 118: Virtual Circuit Despite the highly personalized description method built into this computer, Xiang Shan understood it immediately.

Or rather, precisely because the program employed a narrative style so peculiar to Xiang Shan, he grasped it at once.

He stepped forward, “Are you a Pseudo-personality Mask capable of using Inner Strength?”

If he had to say, that was the only possibility he could think of.

Combined with the Eighth Martial God’s “I will return” last words…

This was the most likely scenario.

In the public’s perception, a Pseudo-personality Mask—purely a computer program—was incapable of using Inner Strength.

Inner Strength was based on those aspects of the human brain that “unlike computers,” enabled the brain to control computers to the greatest extent possible.

However, due to the mathematical structure inherent in computers themselves, they would not use Inner Strength.

But a few months earlier, he had encountered an exception in Pine Eagle City.

The “Little Brother” who stole research data from the Mona Knight Order.

This person was a Pseudo-personality Mask of an expert from Internal.

But this Pseudo-personality Mask could use Inner Strength through Hiroshi Matsushima’s brain.

The necessary knowledge to deploy Inner Strength had been encapsulated into the AI’s database.

With sufficiently well-written commands and a highly developed brain, it was theoretically possible; however, Xiang Shan didn’t know where to start.

After all, he was an ancient person from two hundred years ago.

The only uncertainty lay in the fact that there seemed to be no requirement for a “synchronization rate” between “Little Brother” and Hiroshi Matsushima—Xiang Shan felt that the two were completely different, from their behaviors to their ways of thinking. Discover more novels at novel·fire·net

Whereas the Eighth Martial God was Xiang Shan’s True Personality Mask.

He or she was almost identical to Xiang Shan.

The Pseudo-personality Mask of the Eighth Martial God required the Spirit Receivers to be fairly similar to “Xiang Shan.”

Otherwise, he would not specifically leave behind a special QR code “only recognizable by Xiang Shan” as a guide.

But the Eighth Martial God had been dead for decades.

“Little Brother,” on the other hand, was still active.

Perhaps they were the same technology but at different stages of development.

In the era of the Eighth Martial God, this technology must have required a “synchronization rate,” which it no longer required now.

The program seemed very surprised, “I never thought this technique would ever…

Have ‘we’ already won?

Has the Protector been eliminated?

Otherwise, how could this technique appear in the Present World?”

Xiang Shan shook his head, “What exactly is this technique?”

“Unless you are fixed on the surgical table, I won’t tell you,” the program responded.

Xiang Shan took a deep breath as he contemplated, trying to calm himself down, he started to consider whether to find an interface to hack into.

Almost as if the program knew what he was thinking, it said, “Just to let you know beforehand, this computer is smeared with red phosphorus and accelerants.

The moment you resort to physical destruction, it will self-destruct.

And if you attempt to hack in, I can self-destruct in advance as well.”

Xiang Shan said, “Does it have to be this way?”

“Rather than letting this technology be passed down, I would rather it sink into darkness with me.

Is there a problem with that?”

I understand.” Xiang Shan placed his hand on the speaker—though he knew that the speaker had no tactile perception and doing so was quite foolish, he felt it added a certain ceremonial sense.

He whispered, “You have some Inner Strength too, right?”

It didn’t need to be very strong.

If the Inner Strength of the Eighth Martial God could reach the level of Xiang Shan’s own peak, in addition to the vast cultivation techniques and patches that had appeared over the years, he would dare to confront the disciples of King Aqini!

“No comment,” the program said.

“I can accept this Pseudo-personality Mask.

What do I need to do now?”

As soon as Xiang Shan finished speaking, a structure that looked like an upright coffin opened its lid, revealing the restraints inside.

“Please stand on that.”

Xiang Shan walked to the front of the coffin.

Eight pairs of mechanical arms secured Xiang Shan’s limbs and head.

Then, a set of mechanical arms opened the top of Xiang Shan’s head, exposing the electronic devices inside his skull.

Xiang Shan felt something scanning the top of his head.

It seemed something was recording the position of the electronic components inside his skull.

Each time it recorded, a mechanical arm removed a component.

Immediately after, the computer would record again and then repeat the process.

The sensation was as if his “body was progressively disappearing.”

Xiang Shan felt himself losing the ability to move.

At this rate, he would soon lose even the ability to speak.

Seizing the opportunity, he asked, “Can you tell me now?”

“Human thought is built on neural connections.

The physical structure of the neural network determines its functions—memory, processing, and everything else.”

“Layer by layer, the network of neurons forms a filter for the extraction and recognition of specific information.

All of this occurs within the connections of the neurons.”

“The structure of this connection is determined by the experiences of a person’s life.

Everyone has a distinct physical and chemical reaction in their brain when they listen to the same song.

However, humans can rely on the external mechanism of ‘culture’ to integrate these ‘differences’.”

“Since the structure is so important, then orderly altering the structure should theoretically allow for targeted changes in thought.”

“Suppose there are four blocks of neural tissue, A, B, C, and D, with A connected to B and C connected to D.

We can implant artificial objects in these neural tissues.

When A is excited, it automatically stimulates D to activate.

And when C is excited, it automatically stimulates B to activate.

Thus, we effectively establish a neural circuit connecting A, D, and C, B.

If we use other implants to block the transmission of neural signals between A, B, and C, D, then…

the previously established circuit would be rendered ineffective.”

“In this way, it’s essentially rewriting the characteristics of brain circuits, which could enable one person’s brain to exhibit the thought patterns of another.”

Xiang Shan was astonished, “Is it really…

This technology, known as ‘Virtual Brain Circuit’, was originally used as a medical technology for repairing brain damage.

Wang Yi Emery’s Hospital Knight Order has been focused exclusively on this project for at least fifty years.

Wang Yi Emery simply hoped to develop technology that could restore cognitive abilities to patients with severe brain damage.”

“However, this technology was soon employed in other areas.

Under Hartman’s will, several knight orders with political ties to him launched other projects.

This technology was used to enhance Inner Strength — allowing neural impulses to surpass slow biological electric signals and transmit from point A to point B within the brain in the form of wireless signals.”

“However, the disciples of King Aqini involved in this project encountered various psychological issues, so progress has been limited—at least according to the intelligence I’ve gathered,” he added.

“Also, Hartman had plans to use this technology to enhance military martial skills.

I’m not clear on the specifics.”

“Without substantial experimental data, this technology is unworkable.”

In the midst of their conversation, Xiang Shan revealed his Brain-Machine Interface.

The AI said, “Please fully activate your Inner Strength.”

It felt like a flexible electrode was attached to his brain.

Xiang Shan did as instructed and circulated his Inner Strength.

The AI expressed surprise, “Huh?

It’s actually my Cultivation Technique…

I thought it would have been lost.

To think it has been passed down to the present.

Although I don’t know how you acquired it, this is good.”

“Your Cultivation Technique…

This technique was acquired by him after being stolen from Little Poison Insect.

And Little Poison Insect had stumbled upon it by chance…

No, it wasn’t that much of a coincidence.

Because the technique was potent, Gleayard and Little Poison Insect, who learned a part of the technique, became the strongest in the Green Forest region.

And precisely because they were active, they ended up clashing with Xiang Shan.

how did the inheritor of the Eighth Martial God Skill end up dead in a ditch…

The AI suddenly spoke loudly, “Now comes the final warning phase.

I cannot confirm how much you resemble ‘Xiang Shan’, nor do I know what effects this technology will have on you.

You still have the opportunity to stop the implantation process.

But once you decide to stop, the device will self-destruct immediately after reinstalling you.

There is only this one chance, please make your final confirmation.”

Xiang Shan said, “I most certainly accept.”

“Very well, the implantation process begins now.”

“Please keep your brain active, operate your Inner Strength Cultivation Technique, or even reminisce about the past.

Think about the elements of ‘Xiang Shan’ within you.”

“Hahaha,” Xiang Shan chuckled.

Then, he felt a discomfort.

His head was fixed, utterly unable to see upward.

But from this sensation of neural compression…

It’s likely that many needle-like objects were inserted into his brain.

The device’s prior scan was extremely thorough.

The implants avoided his neurons, navigating mainly among the glial cells.

Damage to this tissue, which serves to isolate neurons from each other, was inconsequential.

The artificial objects began to integrate with his neural network.

Xiang Shan felt darkness before his eyes.

His thinking began to be affected.

“So, the ‘installation’ process officially begins.

During this process, these implants will continuously produce electric shocks to stimulate your neurons while gathering feedback.

It acts as a deep-learning network and can quickly optimize the computation model to adapt ‘me’ to your neural network.

This process may take some time,” it explained.

“During this process, you will see many illusions — those vast inflows of external information will be processed by your mental Gestalt into illusions that you can comprehend.”

“If you don’t go mad during this process, you will become me.”