Fantasy Game: Infinite City

Chapter 720 The Model Issue of the Creation Engine

"Generally speaking, most people who know about, or at least have some information about, creation engines have fallen into a misconception, including myself. Regarding creation engines, whether it's the information we've received, the physical objects or samples we've seen, or the few creation engines we own and control, they all exhibit a state of 'being unable to move after taking shape, and can only grow and expand slowly.' However, based on my years of investigation, I am basically certain that these things that cannot move after taking shape, although they are indeed genuine creation engines, are not the same as what we previously imagined. They cannot represent the normal state of creation engines."

After thinking for a moment, Unger understood the meaning behind Wei Qinglin's words.

"You mean to say that what we thought was the standard form of the Creation Engine is actually just a relatively ordinary 'model'?"

"That's right. Just like early humans thought there weren't many differences between primates, but later they discovered that although they all belong to the primate family, the differences between different species are enormous. Moreover, the proportion within this category is not as large as we imagined. The creation engine that the Ferdinand family is currently trying to control, although it looks no different from a conventional creation engine, except that it is severely corrupted, is based on our original thinking. What if this so-called corruption is actually just a branch within the classification of creation engines, and it is not corrupted, but rather it was always in this state?"

Listening to the conversation between Wei Qinglin and Anger, Merlin also offered his own conjecture.

"If this possibility is correct, then it also means that the methods we use to deal with the 'standard' creation engine may not work at all. The methods that were originally intended to reduce the activity of the creation engine and decrease its threat level may actually have the opposite effect?"

“That’s right. You’ve all seen the Creation Engine and know how powerful these things are. If the Creation Engine isn’t handled properly, it could cause a lot of trouble. So even if the Creation Engine becomes Sebastian’s possession, he will face a very tricky situation before he can control it. It might even be a situation we’ve never seen before.”

"In this way, even if Sebastian and the Ferdinand family can handle this creation engine, it will definitely take them a lot of time. This is actually a good thing for us. After all, we can be less hesitant during this time and speed up our planning."

"Did you already think of this?"

"I'm not that good; I only just remembered this myself. But even so, while our operation wasn't a complete disaster, it certainly didn't go as I had envisioned."

Wei Qinglin stood up, walked to the liquor cabinet next to him, and poured himself some brandy. It was clear he wasn't lying; his hands were indeed trembling slightly, a sign of excitement.

"But if that's the case, then it doesn't matter whether Han Zu or Sebastian gets control of the Creation Engine, right? Why is it that Han Zu is on the better path? Even if he understands the Creation Engine better than Sebastian, he can't possibly prepare for unknown situations that might not even happen. And even if he's strong, that only applies to conventional things. For something like the Creation Engine, whose power originates from him, it poses a greater threat to Han Zu than to Sebastian or the Ferdinand family."

Merlin's question was indeed valid, and she was quite right. Although Han Zu's strength was currently immense, if he were to go to a location where the Creation Engine existed and was eroding and expanding, then the power of the Creation Engine could indeed pose a threat to him. Even Han Zu himself would agree with Merlin's statement.

"Wait a minute, I think I understand what you were trying to say with all that buildup... You're not trying to say..., are you?"

Wei Qinglin didn't speak, but when he looked at Anger, he pouted and nodded, as if he was thinking about something very complicated. Merlin naturally saw this and immediately expressed her dissatisfaction.

"Are you serious? There are only the three of us in this room, and you two are going to play the riddle-solver???"

"That's not what I meant, it's just that the two of us thought of it first... Should you say it or I say it?"

"...I'll do it."

Unger's face showed confusion, bewilderment, and a twisted expression. He smacked his lips as if he'd swallowed a fly, seemingly trying to organize his thoughts. Although his expression was quite comical and ruined the atmosphere of the secret meeting, Merlin immediately understood that what Unger was about to say might not be so easy to accept. So she made a small joke, hoping to ease the awkwardness and also to prepare herself for some 'explosive' news that she was about to hear.

"Unger, the only two things you didn't completely modify during the transformation were the face and the brain. I can understand the brain, but the face... you didn't do it just to be able to create those godlike expressions that even programming would have difficulty?"

"No, it's because... never mind, I'm getting off-topic. Do you still want to know?"

"Then why don't you speak up?!"

"I'm trying to organize my thoughts, thinking about how to put it in a way that's easier for people to understand..."

"Having worked at Infinite Corporation for so long, is there anything I can't accept...?"

"Theoretically speaking, Han Zu is actually a creation engine. Or rather, the original Han Zu no longer exists, and what we now call Han Zu is actually a creation engine that possesses all of Han Zu's consciousness."

Just as Anger and Merlin were still arguing, Wei Qinglin stepped between them and, in the calmest tone, uttered the most explosive sentence Merlin had ever heard.

"...I just wanted to make this situation easier to accept."

Unger shrugged. Since Wei Qinglin had already pointed out the truth, he no longer needed to consider embellishing his words. Merlin didn't immediately freeze, but judging from her constant opening and closing of her fingers without uttering a word, and the seamless switching between disbelief and solemnity in her expression, this matter had indeed had a significant impact on her. It took Merlin more than ten minutes to control her shock and regain some composure.

But after rationality returned, Merlin immediately thought of another situation.

"Wait a minute, doesn't that mean Sebastian, and you, are already creation engines like Han Zu???"

Wei Qinglin could understand Merlin's way of thinking. If he had heard the same thing for the first time, his reaction would probably have been similar to Merlin's, or even less calm.

“I understand your thoughts, but fortunately, my situation, as well as Sebastian’s, is quite different from Han Zu’s.”

What's the difference?

"The difference lies in how the power of the creation engine is used."

Wei Qinglin, holding his wine glass and bottle, sat back down on the sofa and began to explain in detail the differences between the three of them.

“I will explain the differences between us in as much detail as possible, so that if a serious situation arises in the future, or if I die, you will not be completely without ideas for further action. The first and most obvious difference between the three of us is the gap in individual combat strength. Han Zu is the strongest, followed by Sebastian, and then me. As for the fact that our power all comes from the Creation Engine, but our strengths differ, it is because of the way we use this power.”

"According to what you said, Han Zu is a creation engine. Based on our previous investigation and understanding of him, and according to his fighting style, we know that he can absorb energy and biomass, and even construct objects to strengthen himself. So theoretically, his power has no upper limit. But you and Sebastian seem to have corresponding abilities, right? What are the specific differences in your methods of using the power of the creation engine?"

"Of course there are. Han Zu goes without saying. His method is to absorb and devour other creation engines, as well as their secondary products or mutated products of the same level. This is exactly the same as the way creation engines grow and evolve that we know. It's just that Han Zu is faster and easier because he can move freely. And because he himself has become a creation engine, he has no aversion to the power of creation engines. He can obtain as much ability and power as there is."

As for Sebastian, his method involved using mystical items, techniques, and potions to seize and control the power of the Creation Engine. This method was quick and efficient; in some cases, he even gained power faster than Han Zu. However, the drawback of this method was that Sebastian couldn't fully obtain the Creation Engine's power like Han Zu, and those mystical items were never stable, potentially malfunctioning and backfiring on him at any time.

As for me, my situation is more complex. While you may not know the specific details, you should have a general understanding. My method of obtaining the power of the Creation Engine involves using samples of its remnants, neutralizing them with mysticism, and then capturing and absorbing them using equipment. This process involves the residual energy remaining after the Creation Engine remnants and mystical power destroy each other. This residual energy is then diluted into harmless energy, which is then channeled into my body through an editor. Therefore, although the power of the Creation Engine I use is inactive, preventing me from freely utilizing the Creation Engine and its derivatives like Han Zu and Sebastian, and because this method is cumbersome and yields much weaker energy compared to theirs, I cannot directly evolve by absorbing the power and flesh of other Creation Engines and their derivatives like they can. However, it is safer, as I have never personally come into contact with the biological components of the Creation Engine, and thus will not be transformed by it. However, I can also freely enter and exit the relatively stable range of creation engines, because in terms of energy fluctuations, the 'clean energy' I use has no self-identification; anything related to the creation engine will recognize me as part of it.

"That actually sounds like a safer approach."

"Indeed, you don't have the drawbacks of Sebastian and Han Zu, but you can still enjoy certain benefits."

"You two are right, but if I want to maintain this safety, then my use of the creation engine's power is limited, even if I continue to use this method, only absorbing processed residual energy. Theoretically, although my method is slow, as long as I can find enough sample debris, I can continuously strengthen myself. But in reality, there is a threshold. Once my energy exceeds a certain threshold, although I myself will not become a creation engine, since I don't directly absorb the biomass of the creation engine, if my energy exceeds this threshold, then because the energy fluctuations are consistent with the creation engine, I will be identified by other creation engines and their secondary products as 'a certain type of creation engine' or 'an engine core that is not fully activated'. Once this happens, many creation engines will send signals to their secondary products to 'help' the problematic creation engine return to normal, which is something I don't want to see."

Unger quickly understood what Wei Qinglin meant, and while Wei Qinglin was taking a sip of wine, he continued speaking.

"As Qinglin just mentioned, there are differences between creation engines, so this threshold is completely uncertain. Therefore, to ensure absolute safety, he can only keep the energy below a safe value... But... I guess you've already unknowingly crossed this threshold, right? This line of thinking is what you came up with after realizing you'd exceeded the threshold, right?"

"That's right, you researchers are indeed smart."

"So you've already dealt with those secondary products of the creation engines?"

"Well, I was lucky. They were all low-level flesh and blood constructs, and those things couldn't move long distances, nor could they survive in a vacuum like some powerful constructs."

"So, besides the strategic deployment, this was another reason why you didn't stay on the ground and returned to the lunar headquarters so early?"

"Correct."

"Those creation engines on Mars...?"

"Don't worry, the energy of those creation engines has not yet reached the scale to generate advanced constructs or minor products. Moreover, the constructs they generate are exactly what we need for our research on creation engines."

After these secrets were revealed, the atmosphere in the room quickly returned to normal. After finishing their business, the three began to talk about some less important topics. However, in Wei Qinglin's mind, who seemed perfectly normal and was chatting and laughing, the voice of the elven-looking creature suddenly rang out, but fortunately, only he could hear it.

"Misleading, a very clever method."

Wei Qinglin didn't need to speak; he answered silently with his thoughts alone.

"This is a choice made out of necessity, and it cannot be understood or accepted in every situation."