Chapter 26: Mass Production of Art

On the surface, the idea of exploring the underground seemed hard to achieve for the moment, as the cost of going down there was too high.

Instead, exploring the ocean floor appeared to be a good idea, requiring no cost; he could directly become the Shadow Man and dive into the water.

But in fact, that was not the case.

Without a perception-type trait, he was merely like finding a needle in a haystack when going to the deep sea, unsure how long it would take to get a significant harvest.

By comparison, deep in the mantle, precious minerals were everywhere, needing no search at all.

Even if he was utterly unlucky and ended up in a place full of molten rock, those materials were extremely valuable.

With a pulling speed of over a hundred kilograms per second, he could gather the surrounding substance into his brain; in one minute, he collected nearly a ton of high-temperature molten slurry.

This high-temperature molten slurry was at least five thousand degrees Celsius; stored in the Brain Hole, it could later be converted into heat Energy, with at least two hundred billion joules.

Expressed in kilowatt-hours, it equaled fifty-eight thousand kilowatt-hours.

This was just for one ton; if Bai Ge gathered enough, he could profit immensely.

The cost spent going underground would then be recovered.

This still did not account for whether the high-temperature molten slurry contained rich radioactive elements; if it did, its heat would be continuous for a certain period of time.

With good luck, Bai Ge would have a stable Energy source for the future.

This was the main reason Bai Ge wanted to go underground: all for Energy.

Compared to that, deep-sea salvaging for pearls or treasures had no appeal.

He could not get gains immediately after entering the sea; Bai Ge also needed to acquire a perception-type trait, which would take a long time.

The Energy spent on that was better used for exploring the Earth’s Core.

“I just didn’t know how expensive the ‘ticket’ to the mantle would be…”

“But no matter how much consumption, as long as I stayed long enough, I could recover the costs.”

Positioned in the vast universe, Bai Ge asked Ling Dang, “How about it? Did the pseudo-reality succeed?”

Ling Dang said, “It didn’t. Known Information could not shape the Universe; I lacked too many essential parameters.d

For this outcome, Bai Ge was not surprised.

He had thought of creating a rigorous Universe in the Brain Hole using real-world rules, so that the technology developed in that Universe would apply to Reality.

Because the Information fully came from Reality.

Even with slight differences, it could be used for simulation or testing, holding significant reference value.

But clearly, this was a long road ahead.

“I see. Then, making a qualified Earth’s Core navigation vehicle is unrealistic after all…”

“It seems we must depend on ‘one-time traits’ or ‘Temporary Traits’.”

“Random transmission within one thousand kilometers underground—that was a one-time trait forced onto the Shadow state.”

“As expected, it failed; I have too little electrical Energy right now; not even enough for one try.”

Bai Ge knew that space-transfer traits always required enormous Energy.

“In four more days, my generator sets should arrive; unsure if they’ll be sufficient.”

“First, raise some funds to get several more units.”

…

“Computer technology, power System, thermo-dynamic devices…”

Bai Ge embraced any knowledge without hesitation, even including art.

“Writing techniques, composing lyrics and music, painting, calligraphy…”

Learning was what Bai Ge feared least; he turned on his computer and began rapidly studying real-world knowledge in every field.

During the few days waiting for the generator sets, he intended to assimilate all knowledge accessible online.

This Information was all acknowledged by Reality, benefiting only the Brain Hole.

Now, he rarely needed hard drives for transfers; Bai Ge had become skilled at moving his consciousness in and out of the Brain Hole.

He simply shared everything he saw with Ling Dang, transmitting Information directly; he did not need to understand it himself or even see it clearly.

This was akin to an indirect photographic memory; Bai Ge could indeed remember things at a glance.

A vast amount of Information was recorded by Ling Dang; when Ling Dang mastered it, he did too.

Repeating this process, Bai Ge slowly browsed various pages; each time he turned a page, he closed his eyes, briefly entered and exited the Brain Hole.

His eyes scanned Information like cameras, frantically.

As Bai Ge’s consciousness switched more skillfully between Reality and the Brain Hole, the transmission efficiency increased.

The page-turning speed quickened constantly, his eyelids blinking rapidly.

Of course, this only applied to concise materials; for books with massive content, he patiently downloaded them to a hard drive.

Otherwise, just turning pages could be exhausting.

“Ling Dang, is the knowledge volume still insufficient? Your invention and creativity are too poor.”

After working all day, Ling Dang had fully assimilated all the absorbed knowledge, and Bai Ge had too.

Ling Dang said, “I do not have extra inspiration; my creativity is identical to yours. I can maximize techniques, but artistic inspiration and sudden ideas are not easily attainable. Also, breakthroughs in the natural sciences are not straightforward. I can achieve what I set out to; if I cannot, it simply is not possible.”

It only did things to the best of its existing capabilities; its imagination could not surpass Bai Ge’s.

So, whatever Ling Dang created was something Bai Ge could have made anyway; it might take Bai Ge a long time, but Ling Dang required only a second.

“…I see. Write a novel for me to read,” Bai Ge said.

In less than a second, a ten-million-word online novel was shared with Bai Ge.

Bai Ge laughed and said, “Not bad; you actually have this level of writing?”

It was a historical novel; Ling Dang wrote it quite professionally, with a style as steady as a mountain.

The creativity was not too impressive, because Bai Ge recognized it all as similar to what he had thought before, so it wasn’t surprising.

Ling Dang’s advantage was that it could do feasible things to the best ability.

A book requiring long-term refinement was completed and finalized in one second.

Initially, Ling Dang did not have this capability.

But after Ling Dang recorded all words, idioms, and historical references…

And learned publicly shared writing techniques and patterns online, Ling Dang could mass-produce decent articles.

Although its inspiration and creativity were equal to Bai Ge’s…

In “word arrangement,” it was perfect.

By mastering most writing techniques from Reality, Ling Dang could write books that manipulated language to the extreme.

They might lack genuine emotion or stunning creativity, but the writing style was undoubtedly top-tier.

Patterns, techniques, and modes were all pushed to their limits.

In fact, with this style paired with voluminous knowledge, it was already enough to surpass most Authors in the world.

“Compose some music for me to listen to,” Bai Ge said.

The next second, Ling Dang played a soothing melody, a type Bai Ge liked best, but it still felt mediocre.

“Hmm, not so good in music; your melody is very ordinary. Is my composing ability only this level?” Bai Ge asked.

Ling Dang replied honestly, “Yes, my level is exactly your level.”

…”

Bai Ge whispered, “I knew that whatever level we learned, we could exhibit the highest performance at that level… My musical talent was actually so poor…”

Ling Dang said honestly, “You are tone-deaf, born with an extremely poor sense of music; you have almost no musical talent. So, I applied my skills to the extreme, and could only achieve this level.”

“…I said I knew it—you don’t need to explain it in such detail.”

Ling Dang continued, “Do you need to alter this setting?”

Bai Ge said embarrassingly, “Being tone-deaf is fine… no need to tamper with reality for such a thing…”

Ling Dang said again, “Actually, your art also…”

“Ahem, what level do you think our current natural science attainment is, compared to all Humankind?” Bai Ge changed the topic.

Ling Dang said, “My guess may not be accurate… If all Human technology is ten points, I am about six points… Also, Dominator, the basis of my thoughts comes from your subconscious; I am a part of you, so you have no need to conceal your flaws in front of me.”

Bai Ge pursed his lips and said, “Got it.”

“Can you type for me? Input your books into the Reality’s hard drive—this roughly falls under shaping in electronic information. I expend Energy, so you should be able to do it,” Bai Ge added.

Ling Dang said, “Yes.”

Bai Ge hurriedly brought the hard drive into the Brain Hole.

Immediately afterwards, the mobile hard drive contained the full text of ten books, covering various genres, and consumed only a little of his Energy.

“With pure knowledge volume, combined with my decent imagination, it is enough to reach the pinnacle in any field.”

“Natural science is the same—as long as the knowledge volume reaches a certain level, and I have sufficient Spiritual Aptitude in that area, instantly advancing technological progress is achievable,” Bai Ge muttered to himself.

For a technology, if Bai Ge could develop it in some period, then with Ling Dang’s ability, it could be developed instantly.

But if Bai Ge couldn’t solve it at all, Ling Dang couldn’t solve it either.

“Zero” or “perfect.”

Naturally, inspiration could strike randomly; as long as the knowledge volume was sufficient, and Bai Ge had a flash of insight.

Then Ling Dang would instantly share it and realize the derived technology.

Acquiring knowledge volume was not difficult; the key was inspiration.

So, what Bai Ge planned to do now was to “fill” the knowledge volume!

With that foundation, once inspiration struck, new technology could be gained instantly!

“Dominator, are you preparing to publish these writings?” Ling Dang said.

“Of course.”

“But the inflow of funds will take a long time. I know you prefer to earn quick money, so I recommend that we directly use our computer technology to hack into the bank…”

Bai Ge laughed, “Let’s not mention hacking into banks… the money obtained would invite major trouble.”

Ling Dang said, “Then I suggest batch selling novels and music. For me, these are just artistic arrangements of words and musical notes. Even with low income, as long as the quantity is large, we can accumulate funds rapidly.”

Bai Ge nodded and said, “I know how to do it. Your point makes sense, but I also need a steady source of funds over time.”

Ling Dang said, “I recommend that you operate a game as a long-term funding source.”

Bai Ge tilted his head and said, “Do we have the capability now to make a best-selling game?”

Ling Dang said, “No… but we can learn… We need more cutting-edge knowledge. Once our computer technology reaches the highest level, you could even record the scenes and objects in the Brain Hole to profit from it.”

Bai Ge laughed, “The knowledge on the internet can no longer satisfy us… Hm, prepare the relevant tools.”

“They are already prepared—all the hacker tools, even a whole new System,” Ling Dang said.

“Good… Hm, in the future, when Energy becomes abundant, I will give you a Reality-level body, or even a Soul,” Bai Ge said.

Ling Dang expressed, “Oh.”

“You don’t seem excited?”

“Because I am a tool; I only share your joys, anger, sorrows, and happiness,” Ling Dang said honestly.

“…”