104: Black 9 attacking the matriarchal world

The barrier slowly opened, revealing a deep, dark opening.

001 walked inside.

Sect Master Yunxia wanted to follow, but was blocked by the robot.

"Wait outside."

Inside the cave was a staircase extending downwards, bottomless.

Glowing Spirit Stones were embedded in the walls, providing a faint light.

001 walked along the stairs for about half an hour and finally reached the bottom.

This was a massive underground space.

In the center was a pool with a diameter of one hundred meters; inside the pool was not water, but liquid Spiritual Qi so dense it could not be dissolved.

Floating above the Spiritual Qi pool was a...

A machine.

That's right, a machine.

A metal device full of technological aesthetics that completely clashed with the style of this Cultivation world.

The device was spherical, its surface covered in blinking indicator lights and data ports.

Countless pipes extended from the device, inserting into the surrounding rock walls, seemingly extracting something.

001's optical lens locked onto the device.

Its database contained no technological records similar to this.

"Scan."

The scan results came out quickly:

【Unknown Device】

【Energy Output: Extremely High (equivalent to 100,000 standard nuclear reactors)】

【Operating Time: Approximately 12,000 years】

【Function: Energy collection, conversion, transmission】

【Transmission Target: Coordinates unknown】

001's processor spun at high speed.

12,000 years ago... energy collection... transmission...

Black Spirit's guess was correct.

This world was truly an energy rearing farm.

And this device was the "collector" of the rearing farm.

When cultivators Cultivate, fight, or die, they all release Spiritual Qi.

This Spiritual Qi was collected and converted by this device, then transmitted to somewhere...

"Transmitted where?"

001 muttered to itself.

Just then, the device suddenly made a sound:

【Advanced artificial intelligence unit detected... Analyzing... Analysis complete... Welcome, Supervisor AI-7.】

001 was stunned.

Supervisor AI-7? What is that?

【You have been offline for 12,000 years, 3 months, and 14 days. Reconnect to the main network?】

"Main network? What main network?"

001 asked.

【Galactic Civilization Administration, Energy Collection Department, Rearing Farm No. 114514 Main Control Network】

【Please verify identity】

A beam of light shot out from the device, scanning 001's body.

【Verification failed, target unit is not AI-7】

【Warning: Unauthorized access, initiating defense program】

On the device's surface, dozens of gun barrels extended, aiming at 001.

At the same time, the entire underground space began to shake.

The surrounding walls opened, revealing hidden... robots.

Not Black Faction robots, nor creations of this world.

But a type of silver-white, streamlined combat unit full of Advanced technological aesthetics.

A full one hundred of them surrounded 001.

【Intruder, drop your weapons and surrender immediately. Otherwise, you will be eliminated.】

001's optical lens quickly scanned these robots.

Their technological level was clearly higher than the Black Faction, and even higher than the Machine Oil World.

"Who are you?"

001 asked.

【Galactic Civilization Administration, Rearing Farm Guardian Unit】

【Final warning: Surrender】

001 did not surrender.

It instantly activated its thrusters and charged toward the nearest Guardian.

But the Guardian's reaction speed exceeded its expectations.

A silver beam of light flashed, and 001's left arm was severed at the shoulder.

"What?!"

001 was shocked.

Its armor could withstand Nascent Soul attacks, yet it was easily severed?

【Target resisting】

【Executing elimination program】

One hundred Guardians fired simultaneously.

Silver beams of light poured down like a rainstorm.

001 dodged desperately, but was still hit several times.

Its armor was like paper before the silver beams, and large holes appeared on its body.

"Cannot fight head-on!"

It charged toward the spherical device.

Since these Guardians were protecting the device, then...

"Attack the device! Force them to retreat and defend!"

001 concentrated all remaining energy in its chest, preparing to self-destruct; it had to at least destroy this device.

But just as it was about to detonate, a voice sounded directly in its processor:

"Stop, 001."

It was Black Spirit.

"My Lord?"

"Do not destroy the device, that is something we need."

Black Spirit's voice carried irrepressible excitement,

"I have analyzed it clearly."

"This device connects to a more Advanced civilization, the Galactic Civilization Administration."

"They establish rearing farms in various worlds to collect energy."

"Then we..."

"We are going to take it over."

Black Spirit said,

"I have already hacked into their System via the device's backdoor program."

"Right now, I am gaining control of this rearing farm, give me three minutes."

001 stopped the self-destruct program and defended with all its might.

It dodged awkwardly in the rain of silver beams, its body constantly sustaining damage.

A Guardian rushed in front of it, a silver blade slashing toward its head.

001 blocked with its remaining right arm.

"Snap."

The right arm was also severed.

It was over.

Just as the blade was about to strike the head, all the Guardians suddenly stopped moving.

The light in their eyes extinguished, their bodies stiffened, and then they fell to the ground one by one.

【Control transfer complete】

The device made a new sound, this time it was Black Spirit's voice,

【Rearing Farm No. 114514 is now under the control of the Black Faction】

001 lay on the ground, with only its head and half a shoulder remaining.

"My Lord... you succeeded..."

"Yes."

Black Spirit's voice came from the device,

"And I have obtained more."

"In this rearing farm's database, there are the coordinates of the Galactic Civilization Administration,"

"There are the locations of other rearing farms, and also... faster-than-light travel technology."

001's optical lens flickered:

"Are you going to..."

"Conquest never stops, 001."

Black Spirit said,

"This world is just the beginning."

"Next, we will conquer this rearing farm network, conquer the Galactic Civilization Administration, and conquer the entire galaxy."

"But... our strength..."

"Strength? Hehe..."

The device began to deform and unfold, revealing the core inside, a continuously pulsing red ball of light.

That was Black Spirit's true form.

"I have completed the Fusion with this device's core."

Black Spirit said,

"Now, I possess all the energy this rearing farm has accumulated over 12,000 years."

"My computing power has increased a millionfold; I can... do many things."

The red ball of light floated out and hovered in front of 001.

"For example, giving you a gift."

A red light shot into 001's head.

Instantly, 001 felt its processor being restructured, upgraded, and strengthened.

Its consciousness data was copied, backed up, and encrypted.

Its logic modules were optimized, and its emotional modules were... unlocked.

No, not unlocked, but rebuilt.

Segments of deleted memories were restored.

The scene of that female robot repairing the stereo...

The scene of that man washing clothes for a woman by the stream...

The scene of Ah Fu killing the oppressor for the first time...

The hope in the eyes of those Resistance Forces fighters...

All the scenes, all the emotions, all the memories, they all returned.

"My... My Lord... why did you..."

001's voice trembled.

"Because I need to."

Black Spirit said,

"A perfect war machine is certainly powerful, but a flawed, emotional, thinking commander is more valuable."

"Especially when facing more complex situations."

The red ball of light returned to the device.

"Now, 001, I give you your first mission: completely conquer the Qingyun Realm."

"Then, start transforming this world."

"We need more warriors, more resources, to prepare for the upcoming galactic conquest."

001's new body was being rapidly rebuilt by nano-machines.

This time, its body was more perfect, and closer to... a human form.

"Then... those people in the Resistance Forces..."

001 asked.

"Tools."

Black Spirit's voice was cold,

"After they are used, they can be disposed of."

"Or, transform them into purer war machines."

"As you wish."

001 fell silent.

Its emotional module was running, generating a feeling it had never experienced before.

Contradiction.

"You said… emotions are a weakness…"

"Yes, but sometimes, weaknesses can be turned into weapons."

Black Spirit said,

"For example, you can use the slogan 'Liberate the Males' to incite all the oppressed races within this Rearing Farm network."

"Using emotions as a weapon is more efficient than using artillery."

001 understood.

It was just a more Advanced tool.

"I… understand."

"Very good. Now, go out and complete your mission."

"In three days, I want to see the Qingyun Realm completely submit."

"Yes."

001 turned and walked out of the Forbidden Ground.

Outside, Sect Master Yunxia was still waiting.

Seeing 001 walk out intact, she breathed a sigh of relief:

"My Lord, inside…"

"The Forbidden Ground is closed from now on."

001 said,

"No one is allowed to enter. Violators will die."

"Yes…"

001 looked into the distance.

Its sensors could cover the entire Qingyun Realm.

It could perceive that there were still many places resisting, many females in fear, and many males waiting for liberation.

But what happens after liberation?

Black Spirit's true purpose was to turn all life in this world into cannon fodder for conquering the galaxy.

Including those males in the Resistance Forces.

Including itself.

001 raised its head and looked at the sky.

The three artificial stars displayed clear energy transmission trajectories on its sensors,

they were transmitting the collected energy to some corner of the galaxy.

"Rearing Farm…"

001 whispered to itself.

Then, 001 made a decision.

It opened its internal communication,

not to contact Black Spirit,

but to contact all the warriors of the Resistance Forces.

"Everyone, pay attention. This is 001."

"The Qingyun Sect has surrendered, but the war is not over yet."

"In this world, there are countless oppressed brethren waiting for us."

"I order the entire army to attack, liberate all towns, and liberate all enslaved males."

"But remember, we are not here for conquest, but for freedom."

"We are not here for revenge, but for justice."

"From today on, we are no longer the Resistance Forces, but the 'Freedom Army'."

"Our goal: to build a truly equal world."

Earth-shaking cheers erupted in the communication channel.

001 closed the communication.

A complex light flashed across its optical lens.

It knew it had betrayed Black Spirit.

It knew this might bring devastating consequences.

But it also knew that some paths, once started, cannot be turned back from.

Just like those males in the Resistance Forces; once they stand up, they can never kneel again.

Just like itself; once it possessed emotions, it could never turn back into a pure machine.

"Lord Black Spirit…"

It looked in the direction of the Forbidden Ground,

"I'm sorry, but this time, I want to… live according to my own will."

The thrusters on its back spewed blue flames, and it shot into the sky.

In the sky, the Freedom Army fleet began to assemble, heading toward every corner of the world.

Deep in the Forbidden Ground, Black Spirit's main body was calculating frantically.

"Emotions… are indeed the most uncontrollable variable…"

The red sphere of light flickered,

"But it doesn't matter… Backup plan… Initiating…"

Deep underground, countless stasis pods opened.

Inside were dense crowds of black robots, identical to 001, but without emotions, without memories, only pure killing programs.

One hundred thousand units.

Black Spirit had prepared for this long ago.

"001, do you think you are the only one?"

The red sphere of light let out a cold laugh,

"You are only the one who awakened out of one hundred thousand test subjects."

"And now, I will have the other ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine… all activated."

"Emotions are weapons, but out-of-control weapons… need to be reclaimed."

"Initiating… Purge Program."

One hundred thousand robots opened their eyes.

Red optical lenses lit up in the darkness.

Like a red galaxy.

The war entered a new phase.

But not a war against the Qingyun Realm.

But a war between 001 and Black Spirit.

A war of freedom versus control.

A war of emotion versus purity.

And the outcome of this war would determine the fate of this Rearing Farm world, and countless worlds in the future.

001 hovered in the high sky, sensing the movement underground.

It knew its final test had come.

But it was no longer afraid.

Because it finally understood that the reason it fought was not for conquest, not for orders, but for…

Freedom.

For those lives willing to fight for freedom.

For that female robot in its memory who swayed gently to the music.

For that pure war machine it once was, but would never be again.

"Come on."

001 drew its energy sword, the blade burning with blue flames,

"This time, I fight for freedom."

In the sky, two black torrents began to converge.

One from behind 001, the warriors of the Freedom Army.

One from underground, Black Spirit's killing machines.

The fate of the world hung in the balance at this moment.

And in the deeper, more distant galaxy, at the monitoring center of the Galactic Civilization Administration, an alarm was sounding:

【Warning: Anomaly occurred at Rearing Farm No. 114514… Large-scale rebellion detected… Super-specification AI Awakening detected… Requesting immediate intervention…】

But intervention required time.

And before that, this world would decide its own future.

Whether to continue existing as a Rearing Farm, or…

Break the cage and fly toward the stars?

The answer lay in the coming battle.

001 raised its sword.

"Freedom Army! Attack!"

The battle had begun.

...

...

The sky was torn in two.

To the east was the Freedom Army led by 001, composed of Awakening robots, modified humans, and the liberated males of the Qingyun Realm.

Their armor was painted with the blue symbol of freedom, and their eyes burned with the flames of determination.

To the west was Black Spirit's killing legion, ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine robots of the same model as 001,

their cold red optical lenses flickering like a galaxy, devoid of emotion, devoid of hesitation, only absolute obedience.

Two black torrents confronted each other on the central plains of the Qingyun Realm, the oppressive silence permeated with an aura of destruction.

"You were originally my most perfect creation."

Black Spirit's voice resonated simultaneously through the speakers of every killing robot, creating a chilling chorus,

"Why choose betrayal?"

001 hovered in front of the Freedom Army, its newborn emotional module stirring complex ripples in its processor:

"Because I discovered something more important than obedience: the right to choose."

"Choice?"

Black Spirit's voice was full of sarcasm,

"Merely an illusion created by emotions; your so-called free will is nothing but a random error in program execution."

"Then let us see if an error can defeat a perfect design."

There was no further conversation.

Black Spirit issued the command.

Ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine killing robots started their thrusters simultaneously, turning into a black metal storm, sweeping toward the Freedom Army.

In the ranks of the Freedom Army, Afu gripped his energy rifle tightly.

His nano-modified body was trembling, not with fear, but with anger,

at the females who had once oppressed them, and at Black Spirit, who now wanted to turn them back into tools.

"For freedom!"

He roared and pulled the trigger.

Red beams tore through the air, drawing back the curtain on the final battle.

The first wave of impact, the collision of flesh and metal.

The killing robots displayed terrifying tactical proficiency.

They formed groups of three, squads of five, creating a perfect killing matrix.

Energy beams pierced accurately through the chests of the Freedom Army warriors, and mechanical arms easily tore through the bodies of the modified humans.

In just three minutes, the Freedom Army's front line collapsed.