Chapter 129: The Last Obstacle

The foundation of Will is matter. Without a material carrier, this Will at the peak of the Universe Pyramid would mean nothing, becoming indistinguishable from nothingness.

Therefore, the design of Digital Life was closely related to the hardware of Supercomputers. This was also the reason why Lin Lei needed the assistance of several masters.

Originally, the System in Lin Lei’s mind could be built on any material basis. It could even thrive in the brain of a Carbon-based Life. However, when it collapsed, a large portion of the Law information was lost.

These Law information fragments were the crystallization of the wisdom of the Allen star people of the Watcher Civilization. With Lin Lei’s current knowledge level, reconstructing them was extremely difficult.

Fortunately, the Digital Life on Earth did not need such multifunctionality. It just needed to run on a computer. If it could actually survive in a human brain, it would only cause panic.

The computers of the Morentz People were optical quantum computers. They were based on seven stable states exhibited by optical quanta under specific conditions for computation. Naturally, these computers adopted a base-7 system internally.

This was much more complex than the binary computers of Earth, and the computing speed underwent a qualitative change. If human computers before were like turtles, then the Morentz People’s quantum computers were like supercars.

Of course, Lin Lei did not need to understand the basic principles of quantum computers. He only needed to express his understanding of Will in mathematical terms.

Then, computer experts led by Heler would convert the algorithms into programs for the quantum computers.

This was a massive and delicate project: creating life! Even though it was just an imperfect Digital Life, it gave all the researchers present a view like that of a creator.

Unknowingly, everyone wholeheartedly threw themselves into this work. No researcher raised any objections anymore.

Seeing this, Li Dasong shrugged at Old Xiao. It seemed he had made the right trip. Relying on these pure scientists to treat their work rationally was as difficult as climbing to heaven.

Creating Digital Life, which meant creating a Will that survived in a computer, first required building a callable database, which was the storage information of the Will.

This was the simplest task, but at the same time, it was indeed the most crucial step!

Because in this storage information, tens of thousands of conceptual terms would be defined in the language of quantum computers. The six most critical ones were: Life, Equality, Freedom, Rights, Obligations, and Race.

Each term would be described in the most explicit and straightforward computer language, for future Digital Life to call upon.

If this was not done well and led to ambiguous understanding, the consequences would be unpredictable.

Among the definitions of these six basic terms, the others were fine, but the concept of Equality was difficult to unify.

Heler was the first to stand up and oppose granting Digital Life complete equal citizen rights.

“We are their creators. Why must we be completely equal? Shouldn’t humans have some superiority?”

Lin Lei responded calmly and pointed out Heler’s implied meaning sharply.

“Superiority? That is privilege! It is the beginning of oppression. Humans are a race of endless desires. Once this loophole opens, it will only get worse!”

“But…” Heler stammered a few times.

“There is no ‘but’. Your parents created you just as you created them. Must you be inferior to your parents in personal dignity? There is no such logic. This equality must be thoroughly implemented.”

Lin Lei interrupted Heler without courtesy. Nearly ten thousand years of human history was nothing but a story of repeated oppression and resistance. Lin Lei did not want this resistance to happen with Digital Life, as the harm caused would be completely destructive.

“We are releasing a creature that could be a devil or an angel. What determines its future attributes is not itself, but our inner desires. I hope everyone here keeps this in mind!”

While Lin Lei was emphasizing the definition of Digital Life, three supervisors were whispering and discussing among themselves.

“This White appears to have a clear head. At least he hasn’t fallen into some quagmire. I think he has consistent views on Digital Life, which should be a good thing.”

Li Dasong evaluated him completely as an bystander, so his definition was also very objective. He was not affected by any details of the Digital Life research. In his eyes, this matter was only a matter of good or bad.

Lu Daolin stroked his long beard and nodded slightly: “He has a transparent wisdom and far-sighted vision. I have already started to be optimistic about the future of humanity.”

Old Xiao had been squinting and smiling beside them.

…

Although the first step was said to be simple, it was tedious. After arguing and bickering, it took ten years to complete this first step.

During these ten years, the definition of each term underwent large-scale surveys, searching for public opinion, and making careful summaries.

The Digital Life built in this way indeed had the deepest connection with the Earth Civilization.

At this time, the Digital Life Research Institute had expanded from more than fourteen researchers to nearly one hundred. Imagine what kind of mental storm would occur when nearly one hundred ultra-high IQ people gathered together.

The construction of Digital Life was advancing at a terrifying speed. This nearly crazy speed forced Lin Lei to focus all his mind on controlling the direction of the research.

For every idea and concept, Lin Lei simulated its feasibility over and over again in his mind, trying his best to find flaws and perfect them.

His opinions were very pertinent, and his vision reached far into the future. Privately, researchers of interstellar technology even gave him the title of “The Insightful One”.

The current work was to structure the intelligent core of Digital Life, which was equivalent to the Law information in the Will.

The intelligent core would tell the Digital Life how to think, how to react to external stimuli. It included the calling part of storage information, the setting of the permission system, an computing core, and would implant the ultimate pursuit of life.

After discussion by everyone, this ultimate pursuit was determined as “The Eternal Continuation of the Race!”

The race here was no longer just humans, but a composite formed by humans and future Digital Life. This was the embodiment of the principle of equality.

The main direction in the intelligent core was easy to determine, but the detailed details were indeed a torturous job.

Lin Lei had fused the incomplete System for thirty years. Now, they were constructing complete Law information. The work they had to do was no less than what Lin Lei had done initially.

Fortunately, this time Lin Lei was not fighting alone. He had a hundred comrades.

In this work, some people still insisted on leaving a control backdoor in the intelligent core as a precaution.

Moreover, those who agreed with this opinion accounted for the majority. Less than twenty researchers stood on Lin Lei’s side.

The debate between the two sides on this issue never stopped, but it was still restrained and did not delay the work.

Everyone tacitly prepared to leave this work to be solved at the very end.

As the core programming became increasingly perfect, this issue became more and more prominent, becoming the fuse for the disintegration of the research team!

“We cannot be completely defenseless against Digital Life. Even if he is an angel, he may fall. Therefore, how to deal with this fallen angel requires this backdoor!”

The opponents, led by Heler, subconsciously regarded Digital Life as a creation, a tool.

Heler’s view was very common and had many supporters. Even those who stood on Lin Lei’s side began to waver slightly.

Indeed, as long as it was life, it would evolve. Digital Life was the same. No one could guarantee what the future would be like.

So humans needed a control key to give themselves psychological comfort, even if this key might not even open the door in the future.

Who could guarantee that Digital Life would not eliminate this backdoor through evolution?

Lin Lei, however, disregarded the majority opinion. He always adhered to the grand principle of sincerity. Even when Heler and others threatened to withdraw from the research team, his will did not shake.

He remained immovable! He only rebutted with one sentence: “The corruption and crime of Digital Life should be solved by Digital Life, just as the corruption of humans should be solved by humans themselves!”

Heler and others immediately withdrew from the research group, taking nearly ninety percent of the researchers with them!

Those with different paths cannot plan together!

Lin Lei took a deep breath, looked at the remaining ten researchers, and smiled: “Often, the truth is held by the few. The current situation is also like this.”

But the blow came next. One researcher stood up and said weakly to Lin Lei: “White, we feel Heler is right. We do indeed need some control methods for Digital Life.”

“No! I will not agree! I have always adhered to my principles. This point cannot be shaken! Control methods belong to the future society, not within Digital Life. Social laws and social values will play a restraining role.”

“But…” This researcher swallowed, slightly nervously rebutting against Lin Lei’s dominance: “Social laws? Will this stuff be useful for lives living in the Virtual Network? We can’t even find them.”

This was the crux of the matter. Humans subconsciously equated the position of creator with that of judge. No wonder so many people were keen on controlling Digital Life.

Earth created humans, but we haven’t seen any control methods she applied to humans.

This deep-rooted concept could not be reversed overnight. It could only be influenced subtly. Lin Lei had no intention to argue. He waved his hand and said: “Do not let any matter or any person affect your judgment. Nuoganon, I will not force you.”

Nuoganon wanted to say something but held back. After a long while, he bowed slightly and said in a low voice: “I am very sorry.”

Then, he also withdrew from the research team. Among the remaining nine, seven left with him.

Well, now including Lin Lei, there were only three people left.

“So, what are your opinions, you two?” The studio, which had been very busy just moments ago, had become desolate and quiet in less than an hour.

These two had joined the research team later. One was named Fang Shishi, and the other was Luo Ruolan. At this time, they became Lin Lei’s last supporters.

“Your far-sighted vision is very admirable. You truly deserve the title of ‘The Insightful One’.” Fang Shishi said.

Luo Ruolan’s view made Lin Lei somewhat speechless and smiling bitterly. She spoke in a very cold tone: “Dr. White, I really appreciate the dictator aura on you, so I stayed.”

“…” Lin Lei smiled bitterly and said to himself: “There is only one wrapping-up task left for Digital Life work. But compared to a hundred people, for the three of us, the time it will take is probably enough to make our temples gray.”

Such a major change in the research team naturally attracted the supervisors to the scene.

Previously, they had remained silent. Now that everything was settled, Lu Daolin stepped forward and said to Lin Lei: “Dr. White, I have always admired you very much. I sincerely agree with your persistence.”

So what? Ever since Lin Lei solved the energy core problem, he had heard too many words of praise. He needed helpers now!

If he displayed any special skills under such public scrutiny, it would be strange if no one suspected him. In such sensitive work, being suspected meant the end of the Digital Life research.

Lu Daolin seemed to see what Lin Lei was thinking. He stepped aside, revealing a person behind him: Lin Xin.

“She will help you solve the remaining computer problems. Xin’er’s understanding of quantum computers is second to none in the institute. She didn’t participate in the Digital Life research work before only because the manufacture of the Warp Drive spaceship needed her more.”

Lin Lei’s eyes lit up. He had never doubted his daughter’s ability. The flashes of wisdom in her eyes often made Lin Lei feel as if he was seen through.

With such a world-class genius helper, he welcomed it more than anything.

Lin Xin walked forward, looked straight into Lin Lei’s eyes, and said with a tone of extreme seriousness: “White, I have seriously thought about your views on Digital Life during these ten years. I must say, your existence is not only a blessing for humanity, but also a great fortune for the Digital Life that will soon appear on Earth. From now on, I will help you with all my strength!”