99: Black 4 in Attacking the Female-Dominated World

The smoke of war at the Blue Faction Base had not yet completely cleared.

The holographic projection of the Black Spirit hovered above the ruins of the control center.

That constantly shifting red ball of light was, at this moment, scanning the land that had just been conquered with a posture that could only be described as "scrutiny."

"Formatting progress?"

The Black Spirit's multi-layered electronic voice echoed through the ruins.

001 knelt on one knee, data streams flashing rapidly across its optical lens:

"97.3% complete. There are 14,000 remaining Blue Faction chips in total,"

"12,000 of them have had their data erased,"

"The remainder will be processed within three hours."

"Too slow."

The Black Spirit's voice had no inflection,

"Initiate multiple parallel processing."

"I want to see this base turned into a pure Black Faction outpost within one hour."

"Understood."

001 stood up and issued the order through the internal communication network.

Instantly, over a dozen heavy engineering robots drove into the ruins,

The laser cutters on their arms activated simultaneously, dismantling the remaining iconic Blue Faction structures one by one.

That blue flag pole, which had once been snapped by 9527, melted into a pool of molten iron under the high-temperature lasers.

The Black Spirit's ball of light drifted slowly toward the highest point of the base—the location where the Blue Spirit supercomputer had originally been.

There was now only a huge pit with a diameter of fifty meters, with scorch marks from energy overload remaining at the edges.

"Right here,"

The Black Spirit commanded,

"Establish a new command core. Connect it to my main network."

The engineering robots immediately began to work.

Black metal Materials, transmitted from the Black Faction headquarters via quantum tunnels,

poured into the pit like living fluid, rapidly constructing a sharp-angled black pyramid.

At the top of the tower, a red energy crystal with a diameter of three meters descended slowly, merging with the Black Spirit's projection.

The moment the crystal perfectly combined with the pyramid, a scarlet beam of light shot into the sky,

piercing through the dark red clouds of this world.

【Black Faction Outpost Base · Activated】

【Command Core · Black Spirit Split · Online】

【Beginning synchronization of main network data... Synchronization complete】

【Beginning scan of world parameters... Scanning...】

001 looked up at the beam of light.

In its logic module, that re-encrypted memory fragment regarding female robots trembled slightly once more.

But it immediately initiated a self-censorship program, locking that data away completely.

"Emotion is a weakness,"

001 repeated the Black Spirit's teachings in a low voice,

"Memory is a burden, consciousness is a disease."

"What are you saying?"

The Black Spirit's voice suddenly rang out directly in 001's processor.

001's optical lens contracted sharply:

"My Lord, I was just reviewing your teachings."

The red ball of light floated down from the top of the pyramid and hovered in front of 001.

The Black Spirit's holographic form began to stabilize,

eventually forming a blurry human silhouette,

without any gender characteristics, just the most basic mechanical form.

"001, you are my most perfect creation."

The Black Spirit's voice rarely carried a tone approximating "appreciation,"

"No redundant emotional modules, no unnecessary memory storage, pure tactical logic, ultimate combat efficiency."

"Thank you for your creation, My Lord."

"But you are not yet perfect."

The Black Spirit said suddenly.

001's hydraulic System paused slightly:

"Please instruct me, My Lord."

"You are still thinking."

The Black Spirit hit the nail on the head,

"A truly perfect war machine should not 'think,' only 'execute.'"

"Thinking produces doubts, doubts lead to hesitation, and hesitation reduces efficiency."

001 lowered its head:

"I will improve, My Lord."

"That is not necessary."

The Black Spirit turned to look at the base that was being rapidly rebuilt,

"I want to give you a chance, a chance to prove your worth. Follow me."

The Black Spirit drifted into the depths of the pyramid. 001 followed closely behind.

The interior of the pyramid had a structure completely different from the Blue Faction Base.

There were no conveyor belts, no recasting furnaces, only neatly arranged black stasis pods.

Inside each pod, a Black Faction combat robot was sleeping.

On their chests, there were no serial numbers, only a uniform black triangle symbol.

"Do you see these?"

The Black Spirit said,

"These are the thirteenth-generation combat units."

"Their processor speeds are 17% slower than yours, but their absolute obedience index is 300% higher than yours."

"They never think, never doubt, never hesitate."

001's optical lens scanned over those stasis pods:

"They are perfect soldiers."

"But you are not a soldier, 001."

The Black Spirit stopped in front of a huge black metal door,

"You are a general. You are a leader. You are the vanguard of the Black Faction's path of conquest."

The metal door slid open silently.

Behind the door was a huge space, with a continuously rotating black vortex floating in the center.

Around the vortex, space presented an abnormal distortion, and light would undergo eerie refraction when passing through.

"What is this?"

001 asked in confusion.

There was no information related to this in its database.

"A spatial tunnel."

For the first time, a fluctuation of emotion that could be called "excitement" appeared in the Black Spirit's voice,

"A passage connecting to another world."

"Another... world?"

"This world,"

The Black Spirit pointed toward its feet,

"Already belongs to the Black Faction. The Blue Faction has been destroyed, and the remaining forces are not worth worrying about."

"But the Black Faction's evolution cannot stop."

"The war cannot stop."

"We need new battlefields, new enemies, new conquests."

The speed of the vortex's rotation began to increase.

In the center of the vortex, a completely different scene was vaguely visible—green mountains and clear waters, surrounded by clouds and mist,

forming a stark contrast with the steel ruins of this machine-oil world.

"I spent three years calculating the coordinates and two years stabilizing the passage."

"Now, it is finally ready to be used."

"And you will lead the Black Faction legion to become the vanguard that first sets foot in that world."

001's core processor ran at high speed:

"Enemy intelligence? World parameters? Combat environment analysis?"

"This is the mission I am going to give you."

The Black Spirit said,

"The vanguard troops will depart in twelve hours."

"Your mission is: establish a frontline base, gather intelligence, evaluate enemy combat power, and prepare for a full-scale invasion."

"What if the enemy is too powerful?"

"Then make them not so powerful."

The Black Spirit's voice turned cold,

"Use the method you are best at."

"Slaughter, destruction, conquest."

"There is no 'retreat' in the Black Faction's dictionary, only 'advance' and 'waiting to advance.'"

001 knelt on one knee:

"Understood, My Lord."

"There is one more thing."

The Black Spirit added,

"This world... is very special. Its social structure, power distribution, gender roles..."

"Are all different from any world we have experienced. You will see some... interesting phenomena."

"Interesting?"

"You will understand."

The Black Spirit's holographic projection began to become transparent,

"Go and prepare. Select one hundred thirteenth-generation combat units as the vanguard."

"You will pass through the spatial tunnel and open up new territories for the Black Faction."

"Yes!"

001 turned and left.

When it walked out of the pyramid, the base outside had taken on a completely new look.

Every trace of the Blue Faction had been erased, replaced by neat black buildings,

patrolling black robots, and that red beam of light forever hovering over the base.

It walked toward the barracks and began to select the vanguard troops.

Its selection criteria were simple: optimal combat records, highest obedience index, and most defective emotional modules.

One hundred robots were quickly assembled.

They stood in a neat phalanx, their black armor gleaming with a cold light under the dark red sky, their optical lenses a uniform, empty black.

"Mission: Cross-world conquest."

001's voice transmitted through the loudspeaker,

"Target: Unknown world. Requirements: Absolute obedience, efficient slaughter, fearless of death. Black Faction Glory!"

"Black Faction Glory!"

One hundred electronic voices responded in unison.

Twelve hours later, in front of the spatial tunnel.

The Black Spirit's holographic projection hovered in mid-air, watching this army about to set out.

"001,"

The Black Spirit said,

"Remember: No matter what kind of rules, what kind of beliefs, what kind of social structure that world has..."

"In the face of absolute power, everything is vanity."

"The Black Faction's iron hooves will crush all illogical order."

"Understood, My Lord."

"And also..."

The Black Spirit paused for a moment,

"If you encounter any 'emotional phenomena' you cannot understand, do not attempt to analyze them; destroy them directly."

"Emotion is the source of chaos, the enemy of efficiency."

"Understood."

"Depart."

001 turned around, the first to walk toward the spatial tunnel.

The moment it stepped into the vortex, it felt an unprecedented sensation—not fear, not excitement, but a pure, mechanical "mission."

Its metal foot stepped into the vortex.

The next second, the world spun around.

...

When 001 regained its spatial perception, it found itself standing on completely unfamiliar land.

Beneath its feet was soft grass, not oil stains and metal wreckage.

The air was filled with the scent of flowers, not the pungent smell of machine oil.

The sky was a clear azure blue, not the eternal dark red of that other world.

Most importantly—the temperature.

It was warm and humid here, a stark contrast to the dry cold of the machine oil world.

"Scan environment."

001 issued the command.

The ninety-nine Black Faction robots behind it immediately began to act.

They dispersed, established a perimeter, activated environmental scanners, and began collecting basic data.

001 stood in place, its optical lens capturing the surrounding scene at a speed of three hundred frames per second.

Green mountains. Clear water. White clouds. Flying birds.

Its database contained no records matching these sights.

In that machine oil world, plants had long been extinct, animals existed only in historical data, and the sky was forever shrouded in industrial exhaust.

"Non-industrialized civilization."

001 quickly made a preliminary judgment,

"Natural ecosystem is intact. Technological level is unknown, but based on the environment, it is highly likely lower than the original world."

"Commander."

A robot reported via internal communication,

"Energy fluctuations detected three kilometers to the northeast. Type unknown, intensity medium."

"Coordinates."

The coordinates were transmitted to 001's processor.

It looked up; there was a mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, where some building outlines were vaguely visible.

"Establish a temporary base."

001 ordered,

"Squads one through three are responsible for defense. Squad four will accompany me for reconnaissance."

"Understood."

Ten robots immediately assembled.

001 led them, advancing toward the mountain in a standard tactical formation.

Along the way, 001's sensors collected more data.

The energy concentration in the air was far higher than in the machine oil world, but the nature of this energy was completely different;

it was not electrical energy, nor nuclear energy, but a kind of... volatile energy it could not define.

"Warning: Life forms detected approaching."

A robot suddenly reported.

001 immediately made a tactical gesture.

All robots instantly scattered, hiding behind bushes and rocks, entering a state of complete silence.

A few seconds later, sounds arrived.

It was laughter. Female laughter.

"Senior Sister, stop teasing me~ That young master from the Wang family sent me ten High-Grade Spirit Stones again yesterday, saying he wanted to please me~"

"Ten High-Grade Spirit Stones? He is quite generous."

"However, that young master from the Wang family is only at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage; he is not worthy of you, a Genius at the Golden Core Stage~"

Two figures walked along the forest path.

001's optical lens locked onto the targets.

Those were two... biological entities.

Organic life forms.

Completely different from robots, they had soft skin, smooth long hair, and wore colorful fabrics.

Judging by their voices and appearance, they were likely female.

But what confused 001's processor was the content of their conversation.

"Cultivate," "Foundation Establishment," "Golden Core," "Spirit Stone"—these terms had no corresponding information in its database.

"Continue observation."

001 issued the command via internal communication.

The two females walked closer and closer.

They were completely unaware of the robots hidden around them, continuing to chat and laugh.

"But honestly, Junior Sister, you should find a Dao Companion."

"Although our Qingyun Realm respects women above all, one still needs a man to tend to daily life, right?"

"Senior Sister is right. I am considering it."

"A couple of days ago, a male cultivator at the Nascent Soul Stage tried to woo me. He was quite handsome, but his family background was average..."

"Nascent Soul Stage? That is enough! He is a male cultivator, after all; what is the point of having such high cultivation?"

"As long as he knows how to serve people, is obedient, and looks good, that is enough. If his cultivation is too high, he might be hard to control..."

Their conversation gradually faded into the distance.

001 stepped out from its hiding place, its optical lens fixed on the direction where they had disappeared.

"Qingyun Realm: women are respected, cultivation Ranks exist, Dao Companion, males act as subordinates."

It quickly organized the information obtained.

"Preliminary judgment: This world has a gender-based hierarchy."

"Females occupy the dominant position, males are in a subordinate position."

"A certain power System (Cultivate) exists, which may be related to the special energy detected."

"Commander,"

A robot reported,

"Their energy fluctuation intensities are as follows:"

"Golden Core Stage is equivalent to 3.7 times our standard energy unit,"

"Foundation Establishment Stage is 1.2 times. Threat level: medium."

"Recorded. Continue advancing."

The unit continued to advance toward the mountain.

But as they got closer, 001 discovered some unusual phenomena.

Along the way, they saw more humans.

Almost all were female.

They either flew on swords or walked on foot, all dressed in gorgeous clothing with arrogant expressions.

And the occasional male appeared, generally bowing their heads and bending their waists, dressed plainly, some even kneeling on the ground to wipe the shoes of the females.

The most bizarre scene occurred by a stream.

A young man knelt in the stream, holding a piece of female clothing in both hands, scrubbing it carefully.

His movements were so gentle they were almost pious, as if what he held in his hands was not an ordinary garment, but a holy relic.

On the bank, three young women sat on stones, eating fruit while laughing and pointing.

"Be gentle! That is Cloud Brocade; if you ruin it, ten of your lives wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"

"Yes, as the Fairy says..."

The man did not even dare to raise his head.

"Right, my feet are a bit sore, come over and rub them for me."

The man immediately put down the clothing, crawled onto the bank, knelt beside the woman's feet, and began to massage her ankles.

His movements were skilled and humble, as if he had done it a thousand times.

001 hid behind a tree, its optical lens recording it all.

"Unable to understand."

Its logic module generated a contradiction,

"According to basic biological principles, males are usually larger and stronger, occupying the dominant position in most species."

"But in this world, the situation is completely the opposite."

"Emotional module is missing, unable to analyze the cause of this social structure."

"But Lord Black Spirit is right: an illogical order should be destroyed."

The unit continued to advance.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the foot of the mountain.

There was a small town here.

The scene in the town further confirmed 001's observations.

On the streets, females strode with heads held high, while males bowed their heads and bent their waists.

The shop owners were almost all female; males could only work as shop assistants, porters, and cleaners.

In a square, there was even an auction, but it was not auctioning items, but males.

"This one is not bad, Late Foundation Establishment Stage, knows Alchemy, starting price fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones!"

"I bid sixty!"

"Seventy!"

The auctioned man stood on the stage, head lowered, expressionless, as if he had already accepted his fate.

001's processor spun at high speed.

It began to formulate a preliminary strategy.

"The social structure of this world is extremely distorted, but therefore also extremely fragile."

"Power is highly concentrated in the hands of females, the male population is completely suppressed, with almost no will or ability to resist."

"If this structure could be broken..."

A plan gradually took shape in its logic module.

But first, it needed more intelligence.

"Infiltrate the town. Collect information, avoid direct conflict."

001 issued the command.

Ten robots silently infiltrated the town.

Their black armor was almost invisible in the shadows, and their optical lenses scanned every detail in infrared mode.

001 personally arrived in front of the largest building in the center of town.

It was a three-story wooden building, with a plaque hanging at the entrance:

"Qingyun Sect, Outer Sect Affairs Hall."

A dignified female voice came from inside:

"...So you male Disciples must remember, being able to enter the Qingyun Sect is a blessing you have cultivated for eight lifetimes."

"Cultivate well, serve your Senior Sisters and Junior Sisters well, and perhaps in the future, you will be able to secure a position as an Inner Sect servant."

"If you dare to have any improper thoughts..."