"Do you know what you’re saying? You want to challenge the very authority of reality."
She paused for so long that Ron almost thought she had left.
When her voice sounded again, it carried an almost mournful tone:
"There once existed a civilization that mastered similar technology. They were called the ’Dream Weavers,’ capable of creating virtual worlds indistinguishable from reality."
The surrounding scene began to change, displaying a magnificent yet eerie picture:
Huge bio-mechanical constructs floated in the void, each the size of a city.
The surfaces of these constructs were covered with countless intricate neural networks, flickering with the electric light representing mental activity.
"Initially, the virtual world was merely a supplementary tool for them. Researchers conducted dangerous experiments, and explorers simulated the exploration of unknown environments within it."
In the image, countless small light points flowed through the neural network, representing tens of thousands of consciousnesses active in the virtual environment.
"Gradually, they discovered that the virtual world could be shaped to be more perfect than reality. No pain, no death, no restrictions. Why endure the various constraints of the physical world?"
The image underwent a strange transformation.
The areas representing the real world began to dim, while those of the virtual world became increasingly bright.
The flow of light points also changed—more and more consciousness began pouring into the virtual areas, leaving the real world increasingly empty.
"Eventually, the entire civilization collectively chose to migrate. Trillions of individual consciousnesses simultaneously detached from their physical bodies, entering the digital paradise they created."
Ron witnessed the final image:
The vast bio-mechanical constructs floated silently in the void, their neural networks flickering with fervent light.
Yet beneath them, the cities on countless planets were in slow decay, their streets littered with life-depleted bodies.
"The maintenance of the virtual paradise required energy from the real world. When everyone was immersed in the false perfection, who would maintain those supporting systems?"
The voice of the King of Illusions turned like a eulogy:
"The system collapsed in less than ten thousand years. Energy depletion, server overload, maintenance program failure... the virtual paradise evaporated in an instant, and trillions of consciousnesses vanished simultaneously."
The final image showed those colossal constructs dimming one by one, like extinguished stars.
The universe gained another dead silence of a graveyard.
"This warning I will remember."
Ron’s voice remained steady, but he had begun to reassess the risks of his own ideas:
"Any technology has the potential for abuse. The key is how to design appropriate limitations."
He paused, a glint of thought in his eyes:
"My original intention was to create a supplementary tool, not a substitute. The virtual environment should serve the research and development of the real world, rather than become an escape from reality."
"Your rationality impresses me."
The tone of the King of Illusions returned to calm:
"Most people, upon hearing this warning, either get scared and abandon the entire concept or stubbornly believe they won’t meet the same fate. But you are thinking about how to avoid a repeat of the tragedy."
"The key lies in establishing multiple safety mechanisms,"
Ron continued to analyze:
"Time limits, reality verification, mandatory return programs... every consciousness entering the virtual environment must periodically return to the real world to ensure they have not lost the perception ability of physical existence."
"Moreover, the permissions in the virtual environment should be strictly graded. Core functions must be controlled by specially trained operators, while ordinary users can only operate within restricted safe areas."
This systematic thinking prompted a light laugh from the King of Illusions, a sound crisp like silver bells, yet containing a pressure that still made Ron feel oppressed:
"Very well, it seems you are indeed qualified to access those dangerous knowledge. Lance’s research notes indeed record the foundational theories of ’consciousness weaving.’"
"But I must warn you, this knowledge will be transmitted to you in... special ways. They cannot be obtained through normal channels, as any apparent association could attract unnecessary attention."
Ron immediately understood the implication.
Even beings of the Wizard King Level, in the face of certain higher-dimensional threats, needed to exercise caution.
This gave him a deeper understanding of the field he was about to delve into.
This was not just a technical challenge but a game with unknown dangers.
"Those materials will appear before you disguised in other forms,"
the King of Illusions continued:
"It might be a parchment in the pages of an ancient book, a mysterious structure inside experimental samples, or what seems like a chance spark of inspiration. Remember, you must appear to have discovered this knowledge through your research."
"I understand."
Ron nodded in acknowledgment, while contemplating in his heart how to reasonably ’discover’ this knowledge:
"The guise of independent research protects not only you but also myself. Advanced knowledge without a reasonable origin only arouses suspicion."
Just then, the King of Illusions’ attention suddenly turned in an unexpected direction.
Ron sensed a probing intention crossing the boundary of the Dream Realm as if observing certain existences in the real world.
"Your servants... are quite interesting."
Her tone carried the pleasure of discovering a treasure:
"That Tree Spirit has an extremely ancient bloodline flowing within; if my perception is not mistaken, it should be a direct descendant of the Earth Mother Goddess. Though diluted through countless generations, the core traits are still well preserved."
This discovery surprised Ron.
He had always seen Ailan as a reliable assistant but had never delved into the true origin of her bloodline. A descendant of the Earth Mother Goddess... what does that mean?
"And the Little Sea Siren is even more intriguing,"
the King of Illusions continued, the excitement in her voice becoming more apparent:
"Her genetic sequence contains the imprint of the ’Primordial Sea’—this is not an ordinary sea, but the conceptual sea where life first originated. Numerous ancient powers long lost are closely linked to that sea."
Ron began to reassess his understanding of his companions.
If they indeed possessed such unique bloodline backgrounds, their potential far exceeded his imagination. More importantly, this bloodline might provide unprecedented aid for his research.
"I can teach you the technology of bloodline Modulation,"
the tone of the King of Illusions became more practical:
"The Tree Spirit’s Awakening might grant her abilities to manipulate plant growth and communicate with the will of nature. This talent will greatly assist your alchemy experiments—cultivation of active materials, construction of special environments, even biological barriers for certain dangerous experiments."
"The Awakening of the Sea Siren is more complex. The power of the Primordial Sea encompasses not just Water Element Manipulation but also a deep understanding of the Essence of Life. She might gain abilities to perceive Life Energy flow and predict biological mutations."
These insights lit up Ron’s mind.
If Ailan could provide stronger experimental support, if Dale could predict the results of Bloodline Modulation... the efficiency of his research would leap forward qualitatively.
However, he also realized that such advancements did not come without costs. Bloodline Modulation often carried great risks, with a misstep potentially leading to bloodline breakdown or mental disarray.
"Risks indeed exist,"
the King of Illusions appeared to sense his concerns:
"But with your Bloodline Modulation technology, the dangers should be controllable within acceptable limits. Moreover, the ancient bloodline within them has a certain self-protection mechanism and will not easily spiral out of control."
As the conversation continued, the tone of the King of Illusions suddenly became exceptionally grave.
Ron felt the surrounding pressure rise again, the heaviness of a presence from higher-dimensional conflicts weighed down like a mountain, making every breath difficult.
"Now, I must tell you the truth about the current situation."
Her voice seemed to come from the deepest Abyss, with each syllable carrying a suffocating weight:
"Cassandra’s actions have received secret support from certain ancient existences within the Court of Truth. This is not merely an academic dispute, but a profound game concerning the direction of civilization development."
Ron forced himself to remain rational, though his Spirit nearly buckled under the pressure.
The importance of this news compelled him to concentrate all his attention on analysis—if the Conquest Faction indeed had Wizard King Level support, then the scale and impact of this conflict far exceeded his imagination.