Bai Zhongqi caressed the key pendant around his neck; he had created it when separating his game save. Ever since he logged into the Second Universe's game save, he had been unable to open the original save again. Bai Zhongqi had always kept it on his person, reluctant to part with it for even a moment.
Although his greatest reliance had now become a part of his body, he still hoped that one day, this old game save could prove useful.
As time passed, Bai Zhongqi gradually paid less attention to it. Today, when the third Crimson Gemstone suddenly vanished, Bai Zhongqi saw a red light pierce into his neck, he felt nothing in his body, so the place where the red light flooded in must have been this key pendant, still shrouded in mystery.
He had no way to explain all this, but at least with the object by his side, he could rest a bit easier.
Nan Ma looked at Bai Zhongqi, remarking with interest, "The Chancellor indeed is the Chancellor. Your actions have managed to destroy this pyramid; we believed that this tower was the core of the entire underground world's artificial ecosystem. It now seems like that's not the case."
Bai Zhongqi, holding two gemstones in his hand, pointed at a suddenly erect, square stone platform about a foot high on the empty land, saying, "The tower isn't, this is."
Nan Ma's eyes widened. "You mean to say, such a large artificial ecosystem is maintained by a device of this size? And this ecosystem continually draws energy from the core of the planet too."
Bai Zhongqi nodded. "That's right. The Elder Race possesses Space Folding Technology, but the master control system of this artificial ecosystem isn't folded. It's just this size."
Nan Ma marveled, "Indeed, it is a great power beyond our understanding."
Bai Zhongqi looked down at the two Crimson Gemstones and said, "And now, one of the Elder Race's great powers has fallen into the hands of our United Empire."
Nan Ma could feel the power of the two red gemstone-like objects in Bai Zhongqi's hand, but he refrained from inquiring further. Instead, Nan Ma asked, "So regarding this underground world, Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?"
"I will announce Mars as the property of the Star Alliance later on. This underground world will save us the trouble of constructing administrative regions on the Martian surface. It's large enough and strictly controlled by the entrance of this enormous pit. It can become a base for some secret facilities."
Nan Ma smiled. "Congratulations, Your Majesty. The Empire has gained a new Administrative Star."
Bai Zhongqi nodded. The development potential of this underground world was immense, yet currently, there was nothing here, not even bacteria, which had just been introduced by the people from Iridium Star. With the speed at which the Iridium people developed, this place could indeed flourish quickly.
Bai Zhongqi summoned a strike corps to be stationed here. The underground world's control console on Mars was the key to controlling this place. Later on, Bai Zhongqi would build a fortress-like military base to defend this console.
Now, his thoughts were absorbed in studying the two Crimson Gemstones in his hands.
Bai Zhongqi returned to Ruyi City's Lingxiao Palace, with Sacred Falcon still following by his side.
The strikingly voluptuous and alluring AI lady did not understand why the Chancellor had specifically summoned her to Lingxiao Palace. However, she was very aware that no matter what request the Chancellor made of her, she would carry it out.
They arrived in Bai Zhongqi's bedroom, where the sentient Sacred Falcon thought she understood something. She proactively began to take off her coat, revealing a close-fitting top made of reinforced fibers.
When Bai Zhongqi turned around, he saw Sacred Falcon's perfect torso wrapped in a tight top, which accentuated her curves. Even realizing that this was a bionic human's body, the blatant sex appeal still stirred something in Bai Zhongqi.
"Uh, what are you doing?"
Sacred Falcon seriously replied, "Your Majesty, this body has been configured to mimic the sensitivity of a female's private organs, so it would experience full pleasure or pain due to nerve stimulation in those organs, providing appropriate feedback. My database also contains extensive information on human sexual content between men and women from Earth.
If you decide to use this body for your leisure, I can assure you that the pleasure this body can provide you will definitely exceed what any Earth female can offer."
Bai Zhongqi blushed and hurriedly shook his head, "Put your clothes back on, I didn't mean to do anything to you."
The stunning expression of Sacred Falcon remained calm as she calmly said, "No need to be embarrassed, my Chancellor. Serving you is the ultimate purpose for which I was created. Engaging in *** with this body is not a shameful thing—many from Iridium Star use bionic humans to satisfy themselves."
Bai Zhongqi exclaimed, "I didn't order you to sleep with me... uh, whatever."
He took the Soul Stone out of his pocket and said to Sacred Falcon, "I do intend to do something with your body, but not what you're thinking."
Sacred Falcon cocked her head slightly, "So is it a borderline act?"
Bai Zhongqi snorted, "You're doing this intentionally."
The cunning smile suddenly appeared again on Sacred Falcon's face as she said, "Has Your Majesty misunderstood something? I am just an artificial intelligence."
Bai Zhongqi spoke with a teasing tone, "But you are an A-Level AI with self-awareness, emotions, and preferences, no different from a real person."
The cunning expression on Sacred Falcon's face flashed away, returning to a serious look as she replied, "But I am after all an artificial intelligence, not a life form."
Bai Zhongqi raised the gemstone in his hand, the light streaming through it into his eyes. The Chancellor mused, "So what is life, really? And what determines that you are not alive?"
Sacred Falcon said, "That is a philosophical question. I can provide you with theories from various fields, but I can't really understand these concepts myself."
Bai Zhongqi replied, "Yes, I don't understand either. You obviously have self-awareness like us, can think, and have emotions; you even play a prank on me within what's allowed, but we are still different. So, I need to try something—whether you will become like me once you possess what's in this gem."
Sacred Falcon looked at the Crimson Gemstone in Bai Zhongqi's hand, puzzled, "Your Majesty, what is that?"
Bai Zhongqi held the gemstone and said softly, "This is a soul."
Sacred Falcon shook her head, "I don't believe such things exist in this world."
Bai Zhongqi smiled, "Then let's verify that."