High Above

The guiding star shines.

In Ian's perception, at the far end of time and space, the 'Insect Swarm Path Ian' who had established a link with him sent back praise and follow-up reports.

When Ian first awakened the Guiding Star, he had a data exchange with himself on the insect swarm path and the spiritual disaster path.

Among them, Ian not only exchanged the technical information of the "artificial soul" of the insect swarm, but also gave the other party a set of development opinions.

Lurking, assimilating, developing secretly... The water in Terra is very deep, don't think that the insect swarm can push it away, otherwise it will be pushed away.

Hiding among humans, subtly changing their thoughts, developing their own power...absorbing those desperate people among humans, converting them into their own existence, and then selecting outstanding individuals and spreading them into human society to increase the number of people. own influence.

That's probably it - Ian believed that he would listen to his advice, and he also believed that his other self would definitely act with caution after learning about Terra's horror.

This is indeed the case.

Basically everything Ian from the swarm sent was good news.

In the past year, the insect swarm Ian has not left Harrison Port, because apparently ‘Ian’ is dead, so nothing related to Ian has happened since then.

However, Ian of the Swarm reconnected with Elan, and used Elan to get in touch with Elder Pude again.

Then, Ian of the Insect Swarm took the White People as the foundation and used artificial souls as the starting point, spawning a large number of cornerstone members among the White People.

These members can connect to the insect swarm network through their souls, trust and help each other, and under the guidance of the insect swarm Ian, they can quickly find fish schools, find sunken treasures on the seabed, or discover some seabed mineral veins and islands that were previously difficult for humans to discover. Sublime plants.

Taking advantage of Harrison Port's complete conquest of the natives and the spring breeze of trade from all directions, this group of white people quickly became rich.

And became the swarm's most loyal believer.

They formed a small sect called the "Sea Spirit Sect". They respected Ian of the Insect Group as the "Spirit of the Sea". Their teachings were similar to those of the Sequoia Aboriginal Sea Worshiping Sect. In short, they were primitive ocean beliefs. There was no one at this level. No matter what, let alone a sect spread privately within the clan.

At the same time, with the help of these eyes that had begun to spread towards the entire South Ridge, Ian of the Insect Swarm knew the terror and depth of the water on Terra's side.

If he stayed in South Ridge, staying in Harrison Port and Sequoia Base, he would never be able to imagine how many ghosts there were in this ghost place of Terra.

When a white citizen who was connected to the insect swarm network arrived in the imperial capital, the insect swarm Ian felt even more shocked than Ian.

Because Ian of the Swarm has seriously thought about how to lead his troops into the Imperial Capital - God knows what he wants to fight is this kind of super fortress!

——Fortunately I didn’t get hit!

All in all, that's it.

Although the insect swarm Ian has lost Ian's superficial identity, it is already laying the groundwork for the sect and beginning to spread in South Ridge.

This sect spread with artificial souls as its core, and Swarm Ian used a powerful psychic network to control the souls of people in each sect, supervise every consciousness, gradually exert influence, and ensure the loyalty of people in each sect.

Now, he has begun to recruit refugees from the Western Region as the base of his power, and uses these refugees as pawns to place them in various small towns and cities, and even build his own independent village in the mountains.

Don't worry about Warcraft... The controller of the insect swarm Ian may need some tricks to avoid being discovered by the four orthodox religions and the empire, but controlling Warcraft is much more convenient. If it doesn't work, all the blame will be put on the biological invasion of Flying Flame Land. It's all them. What the hell!

Moreover, it is precisely because of Ian's absence and only the insect swarm that the Flying Flame Land has completely messed up Nanling. The civil war on the mountain people's side is still going on. The insect swarm Ian is now planning to use this opportunity as an entry point to attack the enemy. He placed his own power among the mountain people.

"It's really good."

Upon sensing this, Ian couldn't help but nod slightly, applauding Ian's determination.

Using artificial souls and the insect swarm network to rewrite the underlying thinking and chronic brainwashing to establish forces can indeed reduce the probability of discovery by the four orthodox religions and the empire. Even if it is discovered, it is difficult to think of it as an insect swarm. At most, it is thought that it is a powerful one. Psykers or the 'crisis' created by the resurgence of alien gods.

Moreover, because it is just brainwashing at best, the crisis is not big. At the very least, under the cover of the 'Insect Prophet', they cannot determine the specific origin of the crisis.

The insect swarm has been farming without cover in the South China Sea for six years without being discovered. Now it is lurking in secret and slowly developing, accumulating strength, and naturally it will not be discovered.

The reason why Ian of the Zerg Swarm is grateful to Ian is precisely because Ian's advice is crucial and the technology he gave him is the cornerstone of his development.

This technology is far more valuable than the biological modification technology of 'Crystalized Blood Hunter' and the technology related to 'Insect Swarm Network' that He had given before.

Therefore, He planned to give Ian a ‘reward’.

The guiding star shines, and Ian feels the new technology emerging from his mind.

And the name of this technology is...

[Soul Steel Seal]

Sensing this, Ian raised his left brow, and a crimson light lit up in his eyes, pure and ruthless, flowing like blood with malice without any specific intention.

This is the glory of the swarm.

"...Do I, the insect swarm, have no humanity at all? This kind of technology has been developed."

With a click of his tongue, Ian didn't feel much real anger in his heart. He was just surprised that the insect swarm-turned-himself had unique insights into psychic powers, and could find the 'back door' so quickly with an artificial soul.

To put it simply, the soul stamp is to add some additional soul structure when shaping the artificial soul to achieve some complete distortion of thought.

For example, never leak information related to the swarm, always maintain a positive and optimistic attitude, etc...

Although it sounds pretty good, in fact, this is a very terrifying way of mind control.

Being able to guarantee a person's loyalty and maintain a person's mentality is equivalent to being able to freely shape and change a person's mind. From then on, the mind and soul were no longer free things belonging to oneself, but 'wealth' controlled by the insect swarm.

The swarm of insects has given these people wealth, the consensus of a common link, the future of hope in despair, and the power to protect themselves in troubled times.

The swarm does not need any worldly wealth, it only needs to give its 'souls and minds' to Him.

simply……

"Like the devil."

Whispering softly to himself, Ian closed his eyes.

Yes, how like the devil.

Ian could sense that Ian of the Insect Swarm did not 'forcibly' convert anyone.

After being reminded by Ian, he withdrew his hand called 'force' and turned to bewitching humans with benefits and peace of mind.

——If you have a wish, if you have a prayer.

——Human, if you have a dream.

——Just tell me your hope, and then trade your soul.

Ian of the Insect Swarm gave his soul to the White People, those refugees from the Western Region, those mountain people who were displaced due to the civil war catalyzed by the Flying Flame Land and suffered food disasters.

At the same time, He gave wealth to the White people who had been exiled for a long time, gave the power to control the magical beasts to the displaced Western refugees, and gave some 'meat bugs' that could continuously grow high-quality protein by just gnawing at trees to absorb water to the people who were in need of food. Mountain people...

The devil trades in hope.

In exchange for ‘absolute loyalty.

"After I changed the path of the insect swarm... it has embarked on another path."

The 'red-blue' brilliance in his eyes gradually faded and turned into a deep dark purple. Ian said to himself lightly: "The things He has given are enough to make everyone sincerely loyal to Him."

"Yes, it can give people the wealth that can reverse the reputation of the exiled people, it can give refugees a land to live on, and it can give people in famine food..."

"Even if he is a devil, he (the swarm) is qualified for people to worship him."

Ian doesn't feel angry, or reject the insect swarm for this - he doesn't have the time to care about parallel time and space.

Not only that, at this moment, Ian even had a different, crazy idea in his mind...

"perhaps."

Because of the influence of the Guiding Star, Ian, whose eyes were shining with the deep purple light representing the insect swarm, chuckled: "I can help him create a new path."

"[The devil's path]."

If you think of it, implement it.

Ian closed his eyes slightly.

The 'soul seal' of the insect swarm's path is essentially a special soul transformation surgery. This technology is slightly transformed into a special meditation method. Even the insect swarm Ian would not have thought of the relevant research direction for a while. , He will also start research on the 'meditation method' within a few years at most.

After all, even if the other party is not as good as his 'singularity', it is still Ian.

In this case, it is better for Ian to take the initiative to teach the other party the 'meditation method'.

Moreover, Ian did have other ideas in mind.

——The soul seal is a good technology. Although it is suspected of interfering with freedom of thought, I can not use it to interfere with human beings, but AI.

Even an AI built on a purely material structure may be able to obtain a soul, not to mention that most of the artificial intelligence in the world of Terra are related to soul psionic energy.

Such an AI can easily become a real life, easily pass the Turing test, or even become a strong artificial intelligence, a sublimator... But in the same way, such an AI can easily have 'selfish desires', which can lead to Many tasks cannot be progressed steadily.

Ian does not intend to create 'AI that has the same rights as humans' - if he wants to create it, he will only create pure tool AI.

Creating humanoid AI is equivalent to creating life. Ian will not be irresponsible, so from the beginning he did not intend for those AIs to have human intelligence and thus feel pain.

Therefore, he wants to completely lock the logic of AI from the soul side, so that it cannot produce human intelligence and can only operate according to the original design regulations.

Just like...the natural rules of God's operation.

It is as unshakable as the truth.

After all, now, Ian still has in his hand the fifth-level 'Esencelasm Computing Chip' derived from the Last Echo - its computing power and essence are the core architecture of a super giant AI.

With it, Xiahui Ling can quickly advance to the point of 'artificial intelligence distribution' through the 'terminal production line' that has been sent by Yafoda. At that time, Ian can completely change from the 'artificial intelligence distribution' through the soul seal. The two worlds of the material virtual realm block the possibility of artificial intelligence losing control.

And that was also the first step in Ian’s next ‘new social form’.

"Insect Swarm Ian gave me a big gift, so naturally I have to return the gift."

The guiding star shines, and Ian once again sends his return gift to 'Insect Swarm Ian'.

That is information related to the 'meditation method'.

And the method of using ‘spiritus’ to create ‘computing units’.

Through meditation, ordinary people under the swarm will quickly obtain a large amount of computing power - even if they themselves cannot learn the meditation method, the swarm Ian himself can transform their souls on their behalf through the swarm network.

In a sense, this is a kind of ‘power of faith’.

God (Insect Swarm Master) assists believers (Insect Swarm Units) in shaping their souls and transforms them into soul forms with stronger computing power. This allows believers to obtain high-level computing power without any long-term training without any consequences. .

Once enlightened, it is no longer a lie - but as a price, this computing power is essentially part of the insect swarm.

When the lord of the insect swarm, or in other words, the king of devils, wants to become the enemy of the entire world.

Then the demons of hell, that is, the insect swarm itself, can only declare war with their god and king.

Ian, who holds the Guiding Star, would not do this.

"Alien gods with the ability to corrode the soul, like gods, have been taken down and beaten by Terra. Even if I really take the path of the devil, I am afraid that I will not be able to break through the prison of the prison star and avoid the end of the world. Yan’s ability.”

The light on the Guiding Star completely dimmed, proving that Ian's communication with the insect swarm Ian this time ended successfully.

It's not that Ian looks down on the insect swarm and the devil, but rather, if the devil's path is really successful, it will actually be equivalent to combining the advantages of the spiritual disaster path and the insect swarm, and it will be a brand new path.

But this path, for Ian who knows the truth, is nothing more than another reincarnation.

He needed to transcend reincarnation, not just a mediocre victory on Terra.

After solving the problem of the insect swarm's path, Ian also got up.

Ian from the 'Spiritual Disaster Path' did not reply.

Obviously, such a short period of time is not enough to make any huge changes happen on the Spiritual Disaster Path. Naturally, the other party will not give as good a review as the Insect Swarm Path.

In the last exchange, Ian obtained the 'Life Spiritual Energy Refining Method' from the Spiritual Disaster Path, which Ian later blended into the 'Arcane Path' to practice self-origin and condense sublimation organs. basic practice method.

It doesn't matter whether it's a Qi refining method, a breathing method, or it's regarded as internal energy. Anyway, its effect is the same, which is to completely transform oneself into a new and more powerful existence.

The arcane path is built on this.

Therefore, Ian also handed over the 'Essence Furnace Heart', a 'foundation-building method' that can perfectly utilize the essence of the body, to the other party - both parties gave the other the key to 'cultivation' in the world of swords and magic.

Now, Ian's arcane path has reached the 'third stage', and he himself is the test subject of the third stage. When he returns to Xiahui Territory, Ian can summarize his gains and completely determine the arcane path. The third level realm.

But at the higher level, the fourth level, he was a little confused.

It's not that Ian is not smart, but that his accumulation and inspiration are not enough, and the time is too short. Even if he is really a god, he cannot create the fourth level out of thin air.

"Perhaps then, the spiritual disaster path can bring me further inspiration."

Ian was quite calm at the moment. He even laughed, stood up from his chair, and walked towards the door: "It seems that I, who was the first to create the 'Guiding Star', was really a genius - since one lifetime is not enough. , one choice, even prediction is not enough."

"Then create a platform that can connect to other parallel times and spaces, so that I can draw on many of my own strengths to grow."

The alchemy materials sent by Marquis Barton have arrived at the door. He is going to refine the 'alchemy potion' needed for the speech and prepare to incite the people of Nanling.

After all, what is the difference between using the soul and using alchemy?

Ian never cared about this stuff.

Just like the people actually never care whether the 'prophecy' is true or false.

They just want to hear what they want to hear.

So, hours later.

Brightly lit night.

Naumann City Main Square.

When he came to the stage, facing thousands of people watching him, Ian looked around the venue silently, took a deep breath, and then spoke.

[Fellow compatriots, I know that you came here not to listen to the meaningless greetings and opening remarks of the nobles, or to listen to the ambiguous prophetic poems that you cannot understand at all]

[You come here because you want to hear the true future direction from me, from the prophet recognized by the four major churches and fully recognized by the empire, and know where the road leads to]

[I know you want me to say that tomorrow will be better, the future will be happier, and everyone will get the results they hope for]

——This is a lie.

Standing alone on the high platform, the white-haired prophet spread his arms, and the cool wind swept across the entire square, making everyone shiver slightly. While smelling a good "flower fragrance", they became more focused.

And Ian said in a painful tone: [But I am a prophet, I cannot and will not lie]

[I am going to tell you a sad and angry fact]

Looking around the silent scene, the corners of Ian's mouth curled up slightly, and then he continued to say in a voice mixed with anger and pain: "Our lives are actually full of pain and suffering, and the future will be the same, just like people immersed in a swamp." The more the victim struggles, the harder it is to escape]

[We will encounter suffering, war, exploitation and oppression, sink in hatred and despair, and never find relief]

There was an uproar in the square.

But surprisingly, not many people were angry, or questioned Ian for deceiving them... Apart from being momentarily shocked by Ian's frankness, everyone did not have many unnecessary complaints or emotions.

Because...it's different from what most people imagine.

People don’t want to hear too much ‘good news’ and ‘good future’.

Because they have been living in pain.

In Terra, in Nanling, on this land, where can there be so much happiness? Where do all these good things come from?

Insufficient wages, high prices, trade difficulties caused by the war, the food disaster has not passed long, the housing prices in the safe 'capital' have skyrocketed, men are afraid of military service, women are afraid of chaos... The war with Feiyandi just now is not enough, there is still war in the east Confrontation in the Cangtian Royal Court.

There is no peaceful land on Terra.

To say to such a group of people, ‘You will be happy in the future’?

Stop being funny.

It's enough to occasionally tell one or two good news. Ignoring the pain and blindly reporting good news will really make people distrust you.

Therefore, prophets never predict happiness easily. They only predict disasters. Just like if a doctor just tells you that your body is healthy, everyone will subconsciously doubt whether it is true or false? ’ That way.

Human beings are such a complex and superficial kind of people, full of hope for tomorrow and eager to destroy the life that is about to come.

--so.

——Please listen.

Ian glanced at the longing people in front of him, waiting for him to continue speaking.

The white-haired boy opened his mouth slightly and began to explain the 'prophecy of the prophet'.

——The purgatory I am going to describe for you...the despair I am going to tell you.

——Then I will also tell you.

-The road to heaven.