126: Whispering Plague

Dr. Einstein temporarily named this "cacophony" and "nightmare whisper" permeating the underlying consciousness of the network as "Rule-Level Cognitive Ripples," or more commonly, the "whispering plague." It does not attack physiological structures like a virus, nor does it destroy matter like an energy weapon; it erodes consciousness itself, the fundamental cognitive basis of intelligent life's perception of reality, self, and rules.

The initial manifestations were subtle. A civilization skilled in music found that a few notes in its greatest symphony always sounded "off," causing listeners inexplicable anxiety; a race proficient in mathematics discovered that certain fundamental axioms began to "self-question" subconsciously, leading to stagnation in scientific research; even the People of the Forest felt a trace of a cold, unprecedented noise mixed into the "whispers" of the forest.

These phenomena were initially attributed to post-traumatic stress disorder from war. But as reports flooded from the network's edges to the Watch Outpost, and symptoms began to exhibit a strange, self-evolving pattern, everyone realized the seriousness of the problem.

"This isn't an ordinary psychological problem," Ling Shuang reported at the emergency meeting, her face paler than before, clearly indicating that continuous perception of this negative consciousness stream was a huge drain on her. "I can feel an external will, carrying strong intentions of 'negation' and 'deconstruction,' spreading through the network's inherent connectivity. It's amplifying the fear, doubt, and uncertainty in each individual's subconscious, transforming these negative emotions into questioning of existing rules and order."

"The message Liranta left... 'Dark Side of Resonance,'" Lin Mo mused. "Could she have been referring not to some power, but to this... cognitive-level attack? Is this 'spark' she sowed this?"

"Very likely," Einstein brought up complex consciousness fluctuation spectrograms. "The encoding method of this 'whisper' is extremely concealed; its underlying logic is different from any consciousness technology we know. Instead... it carries a hint of the emphasis on flow and change found in the Evolution Faction's theories, but it's distorted and full of malice. It's not promoting evolution, but rather guiding towards... chaos and self-destruction."

"Can we locate the source? Or block it?" Wu Yong asked urgently. The security forces he was in charge of had already begun dealing with social unrest caused by cognitive disorder.

"The source is extremely dispersed, as if it's everywhere yet nowhere to be found," Einstein shook his head. "It's like a... 'thought virus' spreading at the rule level. Blocking it is extremely difficult; forcibly cutting off parts of the network might cause greater isolation and panic, and it might not even eradicate it."

Just then, Xiao Li received an urgent communication from the Tide of Delusion. This time, even the cold, vast consciousness carried a hint of... solemnity.

"[Abnormal increase in system (universe) consciousness background noise level detected. Pattern recognition: 92.3% similarity to precursors of 'mind collapse' events in historical records.]"

"[Correlation analysis: This phenomenon is highly related to the last operations of the vanished unit Liranta and the data leakage of 'Evolution Faction' theories.]"

"[Warning: If this 'cognitive ripple' continues to amplify, it may lead to regional consciousness tsunamis, triggering a chain reaction of logical paradoxes, ultimately causing the rule structure of affected areas to collapse due to 'observer instability.']"

"[Recommendation: Conventional methods are ineffective. 'Immunity' and 'purification' are required at the rule-cognition level. Recommended contact unit: Void Whisperer. Their understanding of the essence of information and consciousness may provide unique solutions.]"

Void Whisperer! Everyone's spirits lifted. These ancient custodians of cosmic memory might be the key to countering this cognitive attack.

---

Meanwhile, in the "Silent Abyss."

The call signal from the remnants of the Sharp Advance Collective, like a stone dropped into an ancient well, finally stirred ripples.

The "Silent Abyss" was not truly empty; it was permeated by a rule-aura even more ancient and desolate than the Nexus of Myriad Laws. Here, even the concept of space-time became blurred, as if all activity had ceased, leaving only eternal "stillness."

However, after that signal arrived, something in this absolute "stillness" began to "awaken."

There was no radiant light, no energy explosion. Only a pure, extreme "attention" began to coalesce. This attention was cold, numb, carrying a sense of... annoyance towards all activity, all "noise," all "existence" itself.

A thought, like the first breath of a giant beast awakening from an ancient slumber, echoed in the abyss:

"[...Noise... has started again...]"

"[...Those... tiny... disturbances...]"

"[...Their (initial designers')... toys... are still... creating... chaos...]"

"[...It's time... to once again... 'silence'...]"

The consciousness of this awakened entity was distinctly different from that of the Void Whisperer. The Whisperer were recorders, the observer, full of curiosity about the "melody" of the universe. This entity, however, was The Averter; it yearned for ultimate, dreamless eternal slumber, detesting all forms of "activity" and "stories."

Liranta's so-called "potential collaborator" was such an entity?! Did she not know this was inviting a wolf into the house?

Or... she knew. Her goal was never collaboration, but to use all available power, including the power to destroy the universe she was in, to achieve her unknown ultimate objective?

---

The Watch Outpost quickly established a deep connection with the Void Whisperer.

Facing this crisis, the Whisperer set aside their usual distant and peaceful demeanor, their consciousness star-mist becoming solemn and focused.

"[We... sense... this... 'malicious melody'...]". The representative thought of the Whisperer conveyed, "[It is not... creation... but... erosion... It distorts... the essence... of information...]".

"[To counter it... requires... an opposing... 'resonance'... not negation... but... 'understanding' and 'integration'...]".

"[We... can encode... an ancient... 'lullaby'... and integrate it... into... the network... But this requires... a powerful... 'conductor'... to guide... the entire... network's... consciousness... in a... 'chorus'...]".

"A conductor?" Ling Shuang immediately understood. "Do you need my psionic energy to guide and amplify it?"

"[No... mere... psionic energy... is not enough...]". The Whisperer negated, "[It requires... a deeper... connection... It requires... touching... the 'Genesis' authority... of the rules... themselves... combined with... an all-encompassing... 'maternal'... psionic energy...]".

Everyone's gaze turned to Lin Mo and Ling Shuang.

Lin Mo possessed the Genesis Blueprint authority, representing the foundational rules of the universe. Ling Shuang's Stellar Silver Psionic Energy, after evolving, increasingly exhibited the "maternal" qualities of inclusiveness, connection, and healing. The two of them were precisely the best combination the Whisperer spoke of.

"What do we need to do?" Lin Mo asked without hesitation.

"[Construct a... temporary... 'super-consciousness resonator'...]". The Whisperer transmitted an extremely complex data stream, containing a technical Blueprint for temporarily merging two highly developed individual consciousnesses with the entire network. "[You... will become... the 'heart' and 'brain'... of the network... guiding... all... benevolent and firm consciousnesses... to 'sing' together... against... that malicious... whisper...]".

"[Warning: This process... is extremely dangerous... Your consciousness... will be completely exposed to... the entire network's... positive and negative emotions... The slightest wavering... could lead to... being swallowed... or... assimilated into... a part... of the whisper...]".

This was a huge gamble. To completely open one's consciousness, becoming the focal point and conduit for billions of consciousnesses, to guide a grand "immune response" against a cognitive virus.

Ling Shuang looked at Lin Mo, her eyes devoid of fear, only determination. Lin Mo held her hand and nodded solemnly to the Whisperer and all their companions.

"Let's begin."

---

In the deepest protective chamber of the Watch Outpost, Lin Mo and Ling Shuang sat facing each other, their hands touching.

Einstein and Wu Yong were responsible for external protection, mobilizing all resources to maintain the absolute stability of the rules in this place. Xiao Li coordinated the entire network, preparing for synchronization. The consciousness star-mist of the Void Whisperer permeated the surroundings, like an ancient choir, ready to chant the soothing "lullaby."

When preparations were complete, Lin Mo and Ling Shuang closed their eyes simultaneously.

"Genesis Blueprint, full authority open."

"Stellar Silver Psionic Energy, resonance mode, maximized."

In an instant, their consciousnesses left their bodies, like two stars cast into the ocean, instantly merging with the entire "Star Language" Network!

An unimaginably complex torrent of information washed over their consciousnesses. The joy, sorrow, fear, hope, love, and hatred of billions of lives... like countless colors of dye poured simultaneously into a clear pool, instantly making their self-awareness teeter on the brink.

They felt the pervasive "whispering plague"—a cold malice attempting to deconstruct all meaning into nothingness. It was like viscous ink, polluting the ocean of consciousness.

"Hold steady!" Lin Mo, relying on the Genesis Blueprint's instinctive anchoring to rules, fiercely guarded the core of his self-awareness, like a reef in a storm.

"Feel me..." Ling Shuang's psionic energy, like the gentlest yet most resilient net, enveloped Lin Mo's consciousness and began to radiate a warm, inclusive, and firm vibration outwards.

They began to guide.

Not to resist, but as the Whisperer had taught—to understand, then to integrate.

They guided the consciousnesses in the network to confront the fears magnified by malice, to acknowledge their existence, and then to embrace them with stronger hope and courage; to understand the questioning of rules, to explore with more open curiosity, rather than falling into a cycle of despair; to feel each other's existence, to dispel the chill of loneliness with the warmth of connection.

Lin Mo, using the Genesis Blueprint as a foundation, constructed a stable and open rule framework; Ling Shuang, using Stellar Silver Psionic Energy as strings, played a soul-stirring melody of comfort and encouragement.

Gradually, a new, grand "melody" began to resound in the "Star Language" Network. It was formed by the confluence of billions of tiny, firm consciousnesses, like a spring stream, beginning to wash away the viscous, malicious whispers.

This melody was not forceful, yet incredibly resilient. It acknowledged the existence of darkness, yet chose to sing of light; it understood the possibility of chaos, yet firmly believed in the value of order; it perceived the insignificance of the individual, yet highlighted the power of connection.

This was life's most instinctive resistance and affirmation in the face of nothingness!

Externally, it could be seen that the originally somewhat disordered and clouded consciousness-glow of the "Star Language" Network began to become bright and pure again, resonating with an unprecedented, harmonious, and powerful frequency.

The erosion of the "whispering plague" was curbed and began to slowly recede.

However, just as this "purification" process reached its most critical moment, the merged consciousness of Lin Mo and Ling Shuang suddenly captured an extremely deeply hidden "gaze," different from the "whispering plague," and even more ancient and cold.

A gaze from the "Silent Abyss."

The awakened "sleeper" noticed this grand "noise" occurring at the consciousness level.

"[...Interesting... resistance...]".

"[...But... still... noise...]".

"[...Let everything... return... to silence...]".

A will of "negation," far purer and more fundamental than the "whispering plague," like an invisible iceberg, began to slowly collide with this ocean of consciousness that had just regained vitality!

The real test had only just begun.