Space Odyssey from Abandoned Mining Space Station

"But based on our research on Spiritual Energy, cloning Psychics will be impossible to succeed."

Brilliant's assertion made Chen Ming ask, "Have you cloned Psychics?"

"Well, no, but when we became independent from the Human Empire, we took with us a lot of human technology, data, and achievements from various fields."

"Among them was the cloning technology that was not yet banned at the time and a lot of experimental data related to cloning."

"According to this experimental data, we can know."

"Psychics themselves can indeed be cloned, and the cloned individual's genetic expression is exactly the same as the original."

"But the awakening of Spiritual Energy in Psychics has nothing to do with a person's genes themselves; the cloned individual is not a Psychic, just an ordinary person."

Brilliant explained its previous statement, "There's a section in that data I remember."

"Humans have attempted active Spiritual Energy awakening in these cloned bodies of Psychics."

"It was found that these clones can indeed awaken, but the success rate of Spiritual Awakening is no different from that of normal people."

"And the Spiritual Energy awakened is almost unrelated to the cloning target."

"It's as if life experiences determine whether a person has the potential to become a Psychic and what type of Spiritual Energy they have."

After explaining the issue of cloning Psychics, Brilliant seriously said to Chen Ming, "So if the goal is merely to transplant your Enlightenment Nerve, then a normal clone is sufficient; there's no need to use yours."

"Infuse the knowledge this clone needs to know and the memories of being a member of Dusk, implant the Enlightenment Nerve, and then it's complete."

"But the reason higher-ups still chose to clone the genes we've recently acquired from you is that the individual responsible for the research wants to personally attempt cloning a Psychic like you."

"Although there are already records stating that Psychics can't be cloned, some individuals still want to try."

"If there are any breakthroughs, your clone would be the most suitable candidate for transplanting your Enlightenment Nerve compared to others."

It seems there's no issue, and it makes sense that cloning technology couldn't produce Psychics.

Otherwise, the Human Empire's Psychics should have already been widespread, and it's inconceivable that cloning technology development would still be banned.

However, Chen Ming still felt a shadowy intuition that the Empire's ban on cloning technology is certainly related to cloning Psychics.

"I just feel it's a bit unreliable. I've never heard of you Dusk conducting experiments in this area, nor have I seen clones piloting human ships on the battlefield."

"You've been independent for years; can technology from a past era still be applied now?"

Brilliant responded, "We've been using cloning technology continuously and advancing its research."

"Over the years, there have indeed been some tangible results, but the actual usage numbers are relatively small."

"And not in the battle arena, but in the research sector."

"Our Dusk's technology primarily relies on advanced individuals conducting research themselves."

"Compared to humans, we possess the significant advantage of strong computational power, but we also have drawbacks; every individual can become trapped by their own thinking, causing the research to stagnate."

"That's why we clone humans, leveraging their thinking and creativity to assist advanced individuals in research."

"Coupled with the scattering of human scientists who've fled here over the years, our clones can have a normal growth and learning space."

"Thus avoiding the various negative issues caused by memory and personality infusion."

Hmm...

Brilliant's words left Chen Ming at a loss for evaluation.

After all, he himself is human, and discussing these matters with Brilliant felt oddly unsettling.

So, he switched topics and asked, "Speaking of which, if the clone designated for transplanting my Enlightenment Nerve is truly brainwashed, entirely considering Dusk's welfare."

"Does he, have the same ideas as you?"

"After all, your thoughts, in a sense, also consider Dusk's welfare, although not for the entirety but for this Star Realm's Dusk."

"If my clone possesses such ideas, would he eventually act as I am doing now?"

Brilliant pondered for a long time before hesitantly saying, "… I can't be certain."

Chen Ming didn't pressure Brilliant or force it to answer this question.

But he thought, if he had two Enlightenment Nerves and could spare one, he genuinely wanted to witness this intriguing situation unfold.

He had learned what he needed from Brilliant.

Thus, Chen Ming refrained from further debate on clones and the mission Dusk had to accomplish and asked about other matters.

"Do you have an approximate time for your next initiation of the Spirit Awakening Nerve Extractor?"

Brilliant replied, "I can roughly determine."

"Because to extract a Psychic's Enlightenment Nerve, another non-functional Artificial Enlightenment Nerve is necessary."

"Artificial Enlightenment Nerves are difficult to preserve; they must be cultivated as needed. Cultivating one requires about twenty days."

"At that time, I should have new arrangements here. Yet, I'm uncertain whether I'll be forcibly required to undertake anything."

If that's the case, then the next time should indeed be the last; Dusk won't make another mistake nor grant Chen Ming a third opportunity.