Chapter 222 - 220: New Country’s Technology Explosion

Chapter 222: Chapter 220: New Country’s Technology Explosion

In the outskirts of Z City, Fang Can followed the Gimmick King to a hilltop and looked at the base entrance standing before them.

Gazing at the metal steps that stretched downward, the two of them stepped inside side by side.

As they walked deeper into the base, Fang Can listened to the Gimmick King’s explanation. He was like a child excitedly showing off a new toy to a friend.

’The Infinite Protagonist Project, huh?’

After hearing a complete overview of the project, Fang Can thought it was actually somewhat interesting.

They hypnotized clones into believing they were the protagonists of novels, then relied on their personal drive to grow stronger.

"So, what do you think? A truly grand plan, isn’t it? And it was all my idea," the Gimmick King said, pointing to himself with a smug grin.

"It’s lacking something," Fang Can said frankly.

"Huh? How could it be? That’s impossible!" The Gimmick King grew agitated. "This plan is absolutely flawless."

"Ultimately, clones are just fakes. Even with the same memories, they can never replace the original."

Fang Can stated honestly, "For example, a clone with your memories still isn’t you, is it? Would you accept a clone with your memories as being yourself?"

"Well..." The Gimmick King fell silent. When he imagined it happening to him, he was immediately against the idea.

"Let’s go in and take a look first," Fang Can said. "I’ll see how your Infinite Protagonist Project is doing and if it can be improved."

"Right, right, right. Let’s take a look first," the Gimmick King said, nodding repeatedly as he led Fang Can into the underground base.

Along the way, countless researchers in white lab coats greeted them, while numerous armed personnel in exoskeleton-like mecha stood guard, armed with live ammunition.

Arriving at a long, narrow research area, Fang Can could see clones cultivating behind glass windows on both sides.

Most of them were well-built male Martial Artists with blue hair.

These Martial Artists all had their eyes slightly closed, their bodies submerged in a transparent nutrient fluid, like livestock being raised in a pen.

At the same time, a white helmet that partially enveloped their heads was fitted onto each clone, with a thick data cable connecting the top of the helmet to the ceiling.

Outside the room, an electronic screen displayed the Martial Artists’ actions from a third-person perspective.

"A Virtual World?" Fang Can asked.

"Correct. The base isn’t big enough, and it would be problematic if they ran into each other. So I used online games as a model and had the clones live and train in a virtual space."

"Um, is our technology... really at that level?" Fang Can asked doubtfully.

"Of course it is. It’s just that the most advanced technology hasn’t been released to the public."

Finally getting a chance to show off, the Gimmick King said proudly, "For example, you can have an ability user with the power of luck synthesize special materials, letting you skip countless experiments and directly obtain the desired material structure."

"We also have a super-ability user with a power called Anomalous Appraisal. Through appraisal, they can directly determine the specific form and properties of microscopic particles."

"Or take Superman F for example. We have him stand still and get hit by a nuclear bomb. With his super vision and super reflexes, we can get firsthand data on the changes at the epicenter of a nuclear explosion."

"Or we could just have Superman F spend a few months taking a trip into the sun to conduct in-depth research on stellar changes."

"Our biological sciences division can study the body of Power King, and brain-mutant super-ability users can work directly as scientists. Although it hasn’t been many years since the Great Cataclysm, we’re having a technological explosion almost every month."

"Right now, our theories can’t even keep up with the speed of product development. We expect to have controllable nuclear fusion within three years. Oh, and as a byproduct of that research, we also whipped up an antimatter bomb."

"Just one kilogram of this stuff detonating can easily wipe a city off the map. We did all our initial tests on the dark side of the moon." The Gimmick King’s smile was completely deranged as he splayed his fingers wide, mimicking an explosion.

’This is just outrageous,’ Fang Can complained inwardly.

No wonder everything felt so strange, with the exoskeleton armor and the online-game-style helmets. It turned out they’d had a technological explosion behind the scenes long ago.

His gaze shifted to the screens on the wall, which clearly depicted the clones’ lives, actions, and martial arts practice within the virtual reality.

But in reality, these clones were just soaking in nutrient fluid, unable to take a single step out of their tiny rooms, just like in The Matrix.

"But what’s the point of this?" Fang Can asked, looking at the Gimmick King. "Without real physical training, they can’t build any real strength in the Virtual World, right?"

"Not at all," the Gimmick King chuckled sinisterly. "You’re underestimating the power of the Idealistic Martial Dao."

"No, or rather, you’re underestimating the power of these human-shaped wishing machines."

"After more than a month of training, these Tang Sans have already officially succeeded in inducting qi into their bodies."

"Moreover, because they believe they’re in the real world, their brains trick their bodies. Their physical strength is increasing in sync, and tests have shown they can already lift over a ton."

"It works like that?" Fang Can’s eyes widened in slight surprise. He had almost forgotten that the training before the Heaven-Ascending Road was also based on tricking the brain.

They continued walking and talking, and after passing hundreds of Tang San clones, Fang Can saw some clones who looked different from the previous ones.

"This bald one... whose memories did you implant in him?" Fang Can asked, pointing to one of the glass windows.

Inside, a dazed and simple-looking bald clone was submerged in the nutrient fluid, wearing a virtual helmet.

Through the perspective on the screen outside, he could see the bald clone doing push-ups in the virtual world.

"Ah, the Caped Baldy, Saitama. The results aren’t great, though. The way that guy gets stronger is too weird, it has no logic. He’s been training for so long but still hasn’t managed to induct qi into his body. His physical fitness is just slightly better, that’s all."

The Gimmick King sighed. "Besides, the people from the original One-Punch Man world have a thought process that’s just dogshit, it’s too hard to imitate. Our clones have normal brains, so the compatibility is terrible."

"Compared to those Xuanhuan, Xianxia, and comedy series, Wuxia is more grounded. The compatibility is also the highest, so we decided to try out a few more works later on."

The Gimmick King said, pointing to the Martial Artists with different faces behind him, "Guo Jing, Yang Guo, Li Xunhuan, Fu Hongxue, Qiao Feng..."

’This really is a Wuxia world smorgasbord.’

Fang Can looked at the clones one by one. These Wuxia masters had also basically inducted qi into their bodies. Each one possessed immense strength. In the Great Derivation, they would be considered one-in-ten-thousand geniuses.

’So, the higher the power compatibility and the closer they fit the character profile, the easier it is for them to successfully immerse themselves in the role?’

"Now that you’ve seen the whole tour, what do you think of the results?" the Gimmick King asked.

"It is indeed interesting. After hypnosis, their self-perception has certainly improved, but the speed at which they’re growing stronger is still too slow."

After finishing his tour, Fang Can said seriously, "I have a method for a direct shortcut. Want to give it a try?"