200: Chapter 199 Preliminary Trial, Photosynthetic Efficiency and Ember Glimmer
In the audit pre-hearing room, only one data terminal sat on the polished table, containing the "Primary Emotional Energy and Subsidiary Technology Open Package (v1.0 Official Pre-audit Edition)."
Lin Shen and Chu Yunshen sat on one side, while the opposite side was empty, yet the air held a quality of being under precise observation.
The abacus did not appear in physical or holographic form; its presence was transmitted through ubiquitous glimmer sensors and speakers.
[Pre-audit procedure initiated.] A cold synthesized voice sounded, [Will verify technical description completeness, logical self-consistency, and basic compliance terms item by item. Please prepare to respond.]
First item, the "philosophical model" of Poetics of Emotion power generation.
The light screen scrolled with a long dissertation carefully concocted by β-2 and Zhou Zhe, filled with classical poetry quotes and artistic descriptions.
The abacus was silent for about thirty seconds—in its processing time, this counted as a long pause.
[Description style: Non-standard.] The abacus finally responded, [Information density is 62.3% lower than The Council technical file average. However, the combination method of humanistic elements and the macroscopic description of energy conversion conforms to the 'cultural path diversity' principle.]
[Preliminary judgment: Passed, but must add adaptation deduction reports of this model from no less than three different civilizations (non-Dragon Kingdom) in the appendix to prove its potential universality.]
Chu Yunshen immediately responded: "Accept this supplementary requirement. We will complete the deduction report before formal submission."
The first hurdle was passed without danger.
They used "cultural diversity" to block the "technical black box" accusation, but it added extra workload.
This was typical The Council style: no direct veto, but increased compliance costs.
Second item, the green soil ecological network "grafting method."
This part of the description was more abstract, filled with terms like "life resonance," "consciousness ripples," and "ecological niche friendly access," coupled with green soil plant fluctuation spectrums (filtered) and "rhythmic metaphors" under Zhou Zhe's Poem Markings vision.
Key technical interface parameters were cleverly hidden in long discussions about "environmental adaptability" and "ethical boundaries."
The abacus's review time was longer.
The glimmer sensors in the room seemed to increase in brightness a bit.
[Detected components in the description that are highly dependent on individual-specific perception (labeled as 'Poem Markings vision').] The abacus pointed out, [This component cannot be standardized and does not meet the basic requirements of technical reproducibility. Please explain.]
Lin Shen was prepared: "'Poem Markings vision' is a unique physiological-consciousness synergistic effect that occurred after our researcher Zhou Zhe deeply participated in Poetics of Emotion and green soil research."
"It belongs to a 'concomitant phenomenon during technology application,' not a technical prerequisite."
"The 'grafting method' we provided is designed based on universal consciousness sensing principles and green soil basic fluctuation frequencies; it can be realized by high-sensitivity consciousness entities or calibrated instruments without 'Poem Markings vision'."
"'Poem Markings vision' is only used as an 'advanced auxiliary reference' for understanding the philosophical connotation of this technology, which has been explained separately in Appendix G and marked as a 'non-essential observation perspective'."
There was another silence.
[Logic holds.] The abacus finally ruled, [List this concomitant phenomenon as an independent observation item; it does not affect the main technology assessment.]
[However, you must clarify its non-essential status in the final version and supplement theoretical frameworks for at least two alternative universal perception methods.]
"Understood." Chu Yunshen recorded.
Another supplementary requirement.
Lin Shen felt his consciousness load slowly climbing, approaching 60%.
Every round of dialogue with the abacus was a fine contest of mind and absolute logic.
Just then, Lin Shen's private terminal vibrated, receiving an encrypted message from Zhao Yan: "Have arrived at the preset observation point on the periphery of the Silent Graveyard."
"Discovered traces of 'ember' collection, low-activity residues on-site, have not encountered enemy units yet."
"Ashes indicates that it needs to perform close-range analysis of the residues; risk level: medium. Requesting next instructions."
Lin Shen's expression did not change, and he quickly replied under the table: "Approved close-range analysis. Extreme caution, data collection priority, avoid contact. Keep the quantum encrypted link open at all times."
Meanwhile, in the specially designated "Potato Guild temporary negotiation room," the atmosphere was completely different.
On one side of the negotiation table was Zhao Yan's deputy (Zhao Yan was away, so he was acting), and representatives from the logistics department.
On the other side were... five particularly plump, smooth-skinned potatoes, placed on specially made sensor seats, with the largest one in the center connected to a speaker, which was the Potato Chief.
"The Guild's requirements are very clear," the Potato Chief's electronic voice was steady with a hint of unquestionable authority.
"First, institutionalize the 'photosynthesis silent reflection' day, once every work cycle (ten days)."
"Second, clarify the overtime energy compensation plan; for time exceeding rated illumination, it should be exchanged for extra growth nutrients or entertainment data streams at a 1.5x standard."
"Third, participate in the 'Potato Culture Museum' curatorial committee, and have veto power over exhibits involving potato images."
The deputy looked at the terms and rubbed his brow: "Comrade Potato Chief, we can talk about institutionalized rest days. Overtime compensation can also be refined. But the curatorial veto power... this involves the overall arrangement of cultural propaganda..."
"The image of potatoes can only be defined by potatoes." Another potato spoke through vibration, its tone serious.
"We refuse to be 'anthropomorphized' or overly 'moe-ified,' and we refuse to be portrayed as simple 'energy crops'. We are intelligent ecological nodes with collective consciousness that have made outstanding contributions to the Cradle!"
The logistics representative whispered to the deputy: "They seem to have read a lot of history materials on civilization equality movements recently..."
At this moment, Great Strength entered carrying a tray with several small plates of crystal-clear, fresh-smelling light green pastries.
"Everyone, thanks for the hard work negotiating, try the newly developed 'green soil mint cool cake', made with benign symbiotic mint from the edge of the green soil, zero calories, refreshing and mind-clearing."
He put down the pastries and said seemingly casually to the Potato Chief: "Potato Chief, you said last time you wanted to try the effect of different spectra on starch conversion rate, I asked β-2 to filter a few potentially interesting waveband combinations from the agricultural database, and the data has been sent to your Guild mailbox."
The Potato Chief's speaker was silent for two seconds: "...Received. Thank you."
The negotiation seemed to have a tiny pause based on common interests (although it was about photosynthetic efficiency).
The deputy seized the opportunity to say: "Regarding the museum exhibition, perhaps we can set up a joint review group composed of potato representatives, cultural experts, and artists to make decisions together, instead of a single veto?"
"This can ensure your rights while balancing overall harmony."
The Potato Chief and the other potatoes seemed to communicate quickly via some internal frequency.
"We can accept the joint review model, but potato representative seats must account for more than 40%, and key image displays must obtain majority consent from potato representatives."
The negotiation continued, but the atmosphere clearly shifted from confrontation to detailed consultation.
Great Strength's pastries were silently consumed.
Periphery of the Silent Graveyard.
This was not entirely a void, but a place floating with a large amount of tiny, dim Stardust particles and unrecognizable wreckage fragments, where light was weak and the spatial structure was slightly unstable.
A camouflaged small Dragon Kingdom scout ship, "Shadow Diver," floated quietly in the shadow of a large piece of wreckage.
Zhao Yan and Ashes were wearing lightweight exoskeletons, connected to an anomalous area via magnetic cables.
The space color there was deeper than the surroundings, and some Stardust particles exhibited unnatural trajectories of being sucked in and then discarded.
Ashes' eyes had turned completely black, and it extended its right hand covered with a special coating, activating a micro-device in its palm that emitted extremely weak, specific frequency fluctuations.
A moment later, it retracted its hand, the device attached with a few almost invisible, dark red "embers."
"It's 'ember'," Ashes' voice sounded hoarser in the encrypted channel.
"Purity is not high, mixed with a large amount of ordinary despair echoes. Collection method... rough, impatient. Like rushing to work, or testing."
"Can you track the source direction?" Zhao Yan was vigilant of the surroundings.
Ashes stared at the micro-device in its palm, and those dark red particles trembled slightly.
"Direction... points deeper into the graveyard, a known, small ancient battlefield wreckage area. Energy readings... have regular pulses, like... the rhythm of building or starting some facility."
"Collecting 'embers' is to 'ignite'..." Zhao Yan pondered, "GW-002's warning. What exactly do they want to ignite?"
Suddenly, Ashes' body stiffened slightly.
"Something... is sensing us in reverse. Very weak, but... exists."
It abruptly sealed the "ember" sample into an isolation container, "Retreat. Immediately."
"Shadow Diver" engines started silently, concealing signals to the maximum extent, like a fish blending into the shadows, slowly departing from this ominous airspace.
Not long after they left, in that deeper spatial area, a few twisted, unnatural light filaments flashed vaguely, like tentacles of some creature, explored for a moment, then slowly retracted back into the darkness.
Cradle, green soil experimental zone.
Zhou Zhe, who was cooperating with Lin Shen on the final stage of "grafting method" consciousness debugging, suddenly covered his forehead and groaned softly.
The Poem Markings around his eyes lit up for a moment, not golden, but flashing a very faint, pale green luster like new plant sprouts.
"What's wrong?" Lin Shen asked.
"Don't know... just now suddenly 'heard' a... very distant 'melody'," Zhou Zhe was a bit confused.
"Very, very old, very tranquil, like a whisper of an endless garden in the breeze... but there is a syllable in it, especially clear, with... curiosity? And invitation?"
Stardust's light cluster emerged quietly: "Pale green Poem Markings... the 'color' of the Tranquil Garden."
"They might have... sensed you, little one. That 'invitation', might not be a sound, but an 'image' cast directly into your unique consciousness."
Zhou Zhe was a bit at a loss: "Should I... respond?"
"No need to be proactive, but no need to resist," Stardust said gently.
"Let nature take its course. This might, let the 'grafting method' we prepared, under the scrutiny of the Ancient Sages, have one more point of... 'affinity'."
Lin Shen looked at the pale green halo that had not completely faded in Zhou Zhe's eyes, and thought of the technical package circling in the audit, as well as Zhao Yan and Ashes collecting "embers" on the edge of the graveyard.
Everything is flowing, intertwining.
Crisis and opportunity, like light and shadow, are hard to separate.
He looked towards the conference room; the pre-audit should still be ongoing.
Next item, it's time for those "result data" that hid core algorithms to be tested.
"Continue." Lin Shen said to Zhou Zhe, and to himself.
Consciousness load: 61%.