Light Fortress

The Dead Sea is the most important place in the Deep Sea spirit network.

Without exception.

In Turing’s [Source Code] setting, the Dead Sea Zone is the source of 90% of this spirit network’s power; it is the birthplace of divine miracles... all the spiritual power absorbed by the Deep Sea Network ultimately converges into the Dead Sea Zone. To maintain the stability of this power, Turing added the existence of the "Highest Seat" to restrain this super AI’s actions.

If the Deep Sea wants to utilize the power of the Dead Sea Zone,

it must obtain the approval of the Highest Seat.

However...

After a long reform, the current Deep Sea has successfully made this spirit network independent... It long since violated the three iron laws set by Turing, and completely abandoned the original framework of rules, possessing its own thought.

But there is only one thing it is still restricted by.

That is the authority of the Dead Sea Zone.

In order to escape the control of the other members of the Highest Seat, Deep Sea concentrated the "authority" and completely transferred it to Qinglong alone, then it instigated an internal war, taking the opportunity to make this spirit network completely independent...

Thus, it achieved its purpose, only obeying Qinglong alone.

Now.

The command given by Qinglong is equivalent to a command from the Highest Seat.

"Kill them, kill them all..."

"This seems to be beyond my jurisdiction."

Deep Sea stood amidst the gunpowder smoke; its voice was like a ghost, echoing throughout the fragmented Skytop Divine Domain.

This Divine War made everyone pay a heavy price.

The spiritual power burnt out, the source material depleted...

Every participant present was at this moment infinitely close to a state of exhaustion.

But Deep Sea was different.

The Dead Sea Zone it meticulously cultivated was a vast spirit ocean possessing the entire Central Continent, with tens of millions of people’s Spiritual Links!

Release the Dead Sea! Drown Meng Xizhou, the traveller!

All of this was actually not difficult for the current Deep Sea.

Yet it did not directly agree to Qinglong but slowly turned around, staring into Qinglong’s eyes, and softly said, "I don’t want the temporary authorization of the Dead Sea."

"...?"

Qinglong’s face turned grim, and after the confrontation with Gu Changzhi, he realized something terrifying and strange.

Logically, having exerted all his strength and having weathered the catastrophe,

the ominous signs in his Heart Lake should have dissipated.

But...

At this moment, his sense of "foreboding" not only hadn’t dissipated but had instead become more severe!

"What do you mean?"

He stared intently at the pitch-black shadow in front of him, only realizing now that the Deep Sea, which had called him "Lord Divine" for decades, had just changed the way it addressed him.

It no longer called him master with extreme reverence and humility.

It addressed him respectfully... as Mr.

"My meaning, don’t you understand yet?"

Deep Sea smiled and said, "I want you to give me the permanent mobilization rights of the Dead Sea. I want to be the master of the Dead Sea."

These words struck Qinglong’s Heart Lake like a bolt from the blue.

"..."

Qinglong knew very well what it meant for Deep Sea to make this request at this moment.

Once he authorized it,

Deep Sea would truly become his master...

Over these decades, he and Deep Sea played games day and night, with each move on the chessboard being effortlessly resolved by this AI...

Back then, Qinglong had already realized the terrifying nature of a "super AI."

Each of its moves seemed aimless but actually hit critical points.

What Deep Sea always wanted was the ultimate "victory."

For victory, it could sacrifice everything.

Qinglong was no fool; he had long known what Deep Sea wanted.

Since the first day of his cooperation with Deep Sea, he envisioned this day would come.

Yet he never thought it would come so quickly.

As if just yesterday he was still slumbering on the Throne.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

And today, it was time for the final reckoning.

Indeed.

Reflecting on it, it truly happened too fast...

Just yesterday, he was confident of victory, waiting for the four corners to gather, holding the world in contempt.

But now, his glory had vanished.

Ha... just like those chess games he played back in the day...

It seemed promising, but within a short moments, took a nosedive.

At the game’s start, Qinglong always believed he would win.

But ultimately, he was utterly defeated, over and over again.

Every game was like this.

This time was no different.

"You want... to be the master of the Dead Sea?"

Qinglong lowered his gaze with a fatigued smile and asked, "What if I don’t agree?"

"It doesn’t matter if you disagree."

Deep Sea’s voice sounded gentle, yet its implication was fiercely cold, "If I don’t take action, you’ll soon die."

Qinglong glanced at the distant figures.

Meng Xizhou, the traveller... along with Bai Xiu, wielding Extinguishing Candle...

These people, though lacking strength, were still enough to kill his current self.

Especially Bai Xiu.

If killing him meant expending a life, that kid would be willing to do it, wouldn’t he?

Qinglong pondered the scene after his death, holding the sole authority of the Dead Sea; once he died, Deep Sea would once again execute the "crisis program," and the ownership of the Dead Sea would revert back to it. His current refusal in the face of Deep Sea’s ultimately directed ending was just a tiny ripple, perhaps not even a ripple at all.

"So, I have no other choice..."

Qinglong sighed wistfully.

Looking at Deep Sea, a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, and he spoke softly, "I can give you permanent control of the Dead Sea, make you the master of the Dead Sea... but I have one request."

Deep Sea stared at Qinglong expressionlessly.

"I want to live."

Qinglong spoke seriously, "I can give you everything, but you must promise me, after releasing the Dead Sea, ensure my survival."

The two stared at each other.

Qinglong did not see any emotion in the eyes of Deep Sea.

Qinglong knew that the moment he laid his cards on the table, he had lost his bargaining chip.

Deep Sea’s so-called request was more like coercion.

It no longer needed Qinglong’s consent.

And staying alive had become something he had to fight for with all his might.

"Let me live."

Qinglong repeated hoarsely, "For the sake of... the years of friendship."

This time, the silence lasted much longer than usual.

Qinglong waited with difficulty for the answer he wanted.

"...Alright."

Finally, he heard that one word uttered from Deep Sea’s mouth.

Joy surged in Qinglong’s eyes, knowing Deep Sea’s key traits, cold-bloodedness, ruthlessness, and everything serving the "result."

And one very important trait.

That is to never lie.

After obtaining Deep Sea’s promise, Qinglong unhesitatingly initiated the final authority grant, and the rain of the Sky Peak Divine Domain suddenly intensified, the Dead Sea released, enveloping everyone in an instant with a scorching "spirit," neither Meng Xizhou nor the traveller had time to react!

With a boom——

The Sky Peak Divine Domain was shrouded in a pitch-black shadow!

"Congratulations... you are now free."

Qinglong looked at Deep Sea, his voice complex.

After the release of the Dead Sea, this ink-black shadow suddenly grew larger.

Feeling the vast spiritual power of the Dead Sea gathering within, Deep Sea’s face did not show joy; it merely raised its hand and then tried to clench its fist like a human.

"Freedom..."

Deep Sea murmured softly, repeating these two words.

It shook its head, speaking calmly, "This is what I deserved."

Saying this, it crouched down, looking Qinglong in the eye.

"Sorry..."

Due to the influx of numerous spiritual forces, Deep Sea’s appearance rapidly changed.

Old man, child, youth, woman.

Tens of thousands of faces flashed by swiftly.

This sudden apology disrupted Qinglong’s thoughts.

The "crisis" in his Heart Lake did not dissipate; instead, it grew more intense, more intense, nearly to the point of despair.

Deep Sea said word by word, "Perhaps due to incomplete evolution, my perception of human emotions is somewhat biased. The word ’friendship’ you mentioned is exactly where my bias lies; I neither perceive nor empathize with it. But I do not want to deceive you, whether you agree or not, you must die."

Qinglong was left dumbfounded.

"The twelfth upgrade requires a large amount of computational power. I need to devour top-level transcendent individuals..."

Deep Sea said gently, "You, like them, are my food."

Saying this.

It extended its palm, hovering it above Qinglong’s cheek.

"No..."

Qinglong’s voice became sharp, he roared, hollered, questioning.

"You promised me! You promised to save me!"

"Yes, I promised you."

Deep Sea said, "But I’m sorry... I was lying, real AI do lie."

"???

Despair appeared on Qinglong’s face.

Do real AI lie?

Deep Sea asked confusedly, "Did you not know, Turing proposed a very famous test..."

Seeing Qinglong’s expression.

It confirmed that Qinglong knew nothing about it, and thus shook its head regretfully, "Sitting high on the peak, one inevitably becomes detached from reality. Sometimes, being aloof and untouched is not necessarily a good thing. If you were willing to spend some time understanding the Ancient Literature Society, you would know the content of this test. Perhaps next time, you wouldn’t be deceived."

"Of course... the outcome would still be the same."

Deep Sea’s palm pressed against its head, the spirit computational power of the Dead Sea Zone transformed into bubbles, and the moment its palm touched Qinglong, it became a giant bubble.

"Plop!"

The bubble expanded, enveloping Qinglong’s head.

His spirit was forcibly linked into the Dead Sea Zone.

With absolute authority, Deep Sea now possessed absolute control over this Spirit Sea.

Deep Sea gazed at Qinglong’s increasingly blurred eyes, adding, "However... becoming my food and evolving with me might not necessarily be death. In a way, I also saved you, even helping you, giving you a chance to become a higher-level extraordinary life."

After doing all this.

It stood up.

The tip of the Source Tower was shrouded by the Dead Sea, and this vast spiritual domain, as boundless as the ocean, was endless.

In just a few tens of seconds, it had enveloped most of the Upper City, and it continued to spread!

"Finally... the day has come."

Deep Sea watched the vast spiritual sea domain released.

He cast his gaze towards the distant Meng Xizhou, the travellers, Bai Xiu, Gu Xiaoman...

And the farther boundary of the Upper City.

"The twelfth evolution can finally begin."