The intricate passageways connected, with transparent glass walkways for both ascending and descending.
Gu Ya climbed upwards within the colossal building, its structure resembling the complex neurons of a brain.
With each level ascended, different technological achievements of Hui Ye Technology were displayed on either side of the corridor.
The Hui Ye family did not hide these accomplishments, showcasing them generously, as if to exemplify their own might.
At regular intervals, a new main brain would appear a short distance ahead, guiding Gu Ya forward until he entered a vast hall.
A woman, clad in a light and ethereal trench coat, stood between two giant columnar instruments, her back to the door, engrossed in taking notes.
"You've arrived. Are you accustomed to it?" the woman said calmly without turning to face Gu Ya.
As her voice echoed, the trench coat she wore shifted into a seven-colored gradient.
"The technology that trapped me earlier, what was it?" Gu Ya asked, his voice steady.
The female main brain retracted her holographic notes and turned to face Gu Ya.
Her entire being was metallic, even her trench coat detached from her mechanical body.
Despite her mechanical face, her expression was benevolent and serene, devoid of any malice.
"It is 'Yong Meng,' one of our research breakthroughs. It is used to imprison 'Brain Holders' and stimulate the secretion of more endorphins, thereby maintaining their vigorous work capacity."
"Brain Holders rest differently from humans. They require more realistic pain to convert it into pleasure."
"You have experienced 'Yong Meng' twice, so you should understand it well."
Gu Ya nodded, extending his hand and carefully feeling the surrounding air.
Indeed, as [Code Tampering] activated, strings of code surged in his mind.
With a casual wave, Gu Ya tore open the space before him, peering through the rift to see rows of massive, barrel-shaped instruments.
Each instrument contained a brain, suspended in a pale yellow liquid, connected by thin, transparent cables.
From the moment Gu Ya stepped into this room, he had entered 'Yong Meng.'
This illusion technology was incredibly mature; one would barely notice it unless deliberately searching.
The female main brain he saw now was merely one of the brains housed within those barrel-shaped instruments, or perhaps a composite of all of them, materialized by 'Yong Meng.'
"The Hui Ye family lives up to its reputation," Gu Ya murmured in admiration.
The female main brain inquired, "What did Ai Limi talk to you about?"
"Yue Lun Base, the Chong Li Cult, the New Moon Faction, and extraterrestrial technology. Also, her plans, though she didn't reveal much," Gu Ya replied.
The female main brain nodded. "As Ai Limi is my senior, I have no right to know her affairs. In our Hui Ye family, age dictates rank, and even main brains have no authority to interfere."
"Are there many people like Hui Ye Ai Limi in your family?" Gu Ya asked.
He walked beside the female main brain and looked up at one of the columnar instruments.
The cylindrical top featured a massive spherical device, adorned with numerous small apertures, appearing to be some kind of apparatus for receiving, detecting, and analyzing cosmic rays.
The female main brain gently shook her head. "Most Hui Ye individuals never venture half a step beyond the city for their entire lives. Upon death, their bodies are repurposed, and their brains are reallocated according to Protocol 0554, becoming Brain Holders or reserve main brains. A portion also serve as functional mental entities maintaining the city, such as stewards."
"Those like Ai Limi, who do not wish to die and always venture out, are not many."
Gu Ya casually picked up a chair, sat down, crossed his left leg over his right, and asked, "How do you procreate?"
The female main brain looked at Gu Ya and replied calmly, "In many ways: natural conception, test tubes, gestation pods, cloning, flesh and blood construction, cybernetic bodies – whatever you can imagine."
"Regarding consciousness?" Gu Ya asked, his tone level. "You should have my father, Gu Hui's, research findings. Could you show them to me? A secret has troubled me for a long time."
"Professor Gu Hui's research is not a secret to us," the female main brain stated indifferently. "Since it is a request from a divine power user, I can take you to see it."
The surrounding scene shifted, transforming into a magnificent library, with towering, immense bookshelves arranged around Gu Ya and the female main brain.
Gu Ya and the female main brain sat before a massive, deep brown, classic solid wood desk in the center of the library hall.
The entire library was imbued with an ancient, elegant atmosphere.
The scent of books and wood wafted through the air, intoxicating and captivating.
Around them, countless towering, immense bookshelves were scattered and arranged in a vast circular labyrinth.
Gu Ya and the female main brain were at the heart of this labyrinth.
The sensation was peculiar; Gu Ya didn't need to think, as the entire circular maze appeared clearly in his mind.
The patterns formed by the colossal bookshelves, intricate and mesmerizing, were utterly captivating at first glance.
The female main brain explained softly, "This is a two-dimensional map of the human brain. All functional areas can be located within this brain maze, which is why it is so captivating. We call it 'Origin'."
For a moment, Gu Ya could not distinguish whether this was reality or if he was immersed in the sea of code known as 'Yong Meng.'
The female main brain extended her hand, and a thick, hardcover book flew from a distant shelf, landing steadily in her grasp.
Gu Ya took the five-finger-wide book and opened the first page.
Instantly, the book seemed to come alive. It flipped pages rapidly on its own, all the text scattering into the air, merging together, and finally forming holographic blueprints.
Gu Ya finished reading everything with concentration, let out a long sigh, and after a moment of thought, said calmly, "My father said I am one of the very few in the world who can perfectly upload their consciousness to a computer."
"He utilized my ability to expand and research consciousness uploading technology."
"This is the answer to the question that has troubled me for years."
Gu Ya was not surprised by this answer.
Both Black Star and Xian Xia had groups of people searching for him, intending to utilize his abilities for consciousness research.
Most of his father's research findings were stolen by Black Star, who developed consciousness technology distinct from Xian Xia's. One such derivative technology was the supercomputer 'Hei Yang,' developed by Mu Ye Xing Chen.
In another timeline, the mechanical Gu Ya and Zeng Lang were still struggling to counter Hei Yang.
It seemed that many world-changing events originated from a single small action in the past.
The female main brain said softly, "Professor Gu Hui's research in the field of consciousness was many years ahead of ours. Our inability to break through technological barriers so far is mainly due to the lack of live experimental subjects."
"If we could find someone like you, who possesses this innate ability, we could perfect consciousness research and lead humanity into an era of eternal life."
Gu Ya recalled his father's dying words: "The eternal life I once pursued is a meaningless endeavor."
Gu Ya dropped the book, stood up, and said to the female main brain, "Eternal life is a sweet illusion. I do not wish to be a sinner of history."
The female main brain glanced at Gu Ya's bulging pocket, where Sakwan's consciousness program was stored.
A smile of amusement flickered across her mechanical face as she said, "You have already achieved it."
"No..." Gu Ya shook his head, stating firmly, "This technology will remain solely in my hands."
The female main brain sighed softly and said, "Why do you insist on going against the historical trajectory of humanity?"
Gu Ya let go of that particular topic and asked, "Now, let's talk about your New Moon Faction."