Apocalypse: I Build A Doomsday Train

"Brain network?" Kiki frowned as she listened: "What do you mean?"

"The brain network can be simply understood as uploading human consciousness to the internet. The difference is that this transmission method is through the fungal network," Grace responded in a mechanical voice.

"So what? What's the point of doing this?" Ning Jing asked.

"Sounds like a different way of living," Lin Xian said gravely, "So, you think this is a form of immortality?"

"I can't comprehend the concept of immortality."

Grace looked at him: "Take Grace as an example; my consciousness exists in storage media and quantum processing units. The processor, as an industrial creation, does not possess the concept of 'immortality,' but compared to the lifespan of humans, Grace can 'live' longer. The brain network exists within the Star Abyss Fungus, a fungal organism. Currently, Deep Red has not conducted conclusive research on the lifespan of this dark creature; however, compared to the rapid death in the Extreme Night, this might be a form of 'immortality.'"

"Additionally, studies have found that after connecting to the fungal network, the secretion of dopamine in the human brain can be maintained at 5000 or above for a long time. This is the main factor that brings a sense of pleasure to consciousness, while the highest pleasure a human can originally obtain is a high-quality sexual experience, which can briefly achieve 400-500 dopamine factors. This indicates that after connecting to the fungal network, humans can sustain ten times the pleasure of sex, which is one reason why Deep Red members are willing to escape natural disasters in this way."

Amid the suffering of doomsday, surviving in the fungal network with a consciousness experiencing ten times the pleasure, Grace's words shocked Lin Xian and others more and more as they listened. At this moment, Kiki realized and exclaimed,

"So those people out there, and the heads on the ground, are they...alive?!"

Ning Jing: "Doesn't that mean they become like plants?"

"This defies humanity!" Lu Xingchen said with indignation.

At this moment, Ding Junyi said: "Once parasitized by the fungal network, the body undergoes irreversible fibrosis. How did you manage to keep these people alive?"

"By cooling."

Grace quickly responded: "After being invaded by the fungal network, there are two stages: the first stage is connecting to the fungal network, and the second stage is consciousness uploading, permanently entering the fungal network. Before completing the second stage, the brain enters a high thermal load state. The Zero Element Center monitors this characteristic information, disconnects the fungal connection within a safe timeframe, and maintains normal body metabolism. Therefore, Deep Red members are not resting in hibernation pods but in survival pods with metabolic capability."

Upon hearing this, Lin Xian said: "I see, once consciousness uploading is complete, the body becomes useless, effectively dead."

"I have a different perspective on death. The logic of human consciousness and the Intelligent Brain's consciousness is fundamentally the same; the difference lies in the carrier. Just like Grace's Deep Red online version is continually iterating, while the carrier for Deep Red members has been replaced by the Star Abyss Fungal Network, but isn't this still alive?"

"How can that be the same?!" Kiki wanted to say something but found herself unable to articulate a rebuttal.

Lin Xian turned to look at the densely packed survival pods in the deep pit and asked Grace: "These Deep Red members, they aren't your research staff, right?"

"Deep Red members come from all over the world, are highly strategic supporters of the Deep Red World, and possess significant financial resources. They have been strictly selected by Deep Red World, and those participating in the Zero Element project have done so with explicit consent."

"Oh, I see." Lin Xian remembered that luxurious carriage and couldn't help but sneer: "So it's just a bunch of wealthy people seeking immortality and treating this place like a sanatorium."

"Not just that," Ding Junyi realized at this moment: "They intend to sleep underground until Extreme Night disappears. I suspect this center must have some protocol in place; if dawn never arrives or a major upheaval occurs, these robots will stop 'cooling,' allowing these people to abandon their bodies and permanently upload to the fungal network, becoming immortal consciousnesses."

"Wow, impressive," Luo Yang was stunned as he listened: "I've really gained some insight this time."

Ding Junyi looked at Grace and then said to Lin Xian: "If their consciousness enters the fungal network, essentially, they won't be attacked by the forces of the dark, so they won't mutate as a result. That must be the reason."

Lin Xian snorted, his gaze intense: "If your brain sprouts mycelia, what's the difference from mutation?"

Saying that, he stepped forward and spoke to Grace.

"One last question, actually it's the first question, how do you know my name?"

Grace mechanically turned her head to look at Lin Xian: "From your tone, I infer that your question carries deeper significance, as if you believe I shouldn't know you or your name, and hence you seek a more traceable answer. But I'm sorry, as an offline version, I can't retrieve the answer you desire. Your facial features and personal information are stored in my known personnel database and hold a Level 3 permission. Access to research information about the Star Abyss Fungus is also only open to those with Level 3 permissions."

Upon saying this, everyone's eyes were fixed on Lin Xian.

Lin Xian didn't know when he had become associated with this Deep Red World. Upon hearing this, his expression immediately darkened: "Since I have such permissions, can you tell me what exactly is the Deep Red World organization, and where have all the people here gone?"