chsdbacks Chapter 573 Absolute Zero Degrees, Idle Talk, and the Godhood of Light
Chapter 573 Absolute Zero Degrees, Idle Talk, and the Godhood of Light
The war, which started abruptly due to an accident, has come to an end.
It was also done in an extremely abrupt way.
That pitch-black "wall" stretched across the center of the information plane, dividing the entire world in two.
On this side of the wall lies the outpost camp newly established by the wizards, a blue ocean floating with countless entropy brains.
On the other side of the wall lies the core area of the information beings, their home.
No one can cross that invisible barrier.
Not at least not now.
Over the next few days, the wizards used every means at their disposal to study this strange barrier.
Elemental shock is ineffective.
The laws of erosion are ineffective.
Information pollution is ineffective.
Spatial jumps—it's impossible to pinpoint the other side of the wall.
After completing the construction of the front-line outpost, Jemin also joined the research team.
He stood in front of the wall, but dared not get too close.
His eyes gleamed with a pale golden light.
The All-Powerful Eye operates at full capacity, with the Destiny System providing a continuous stream of computing power.
His gaze pierced through the black surface, delving deep inside, analyzing the essence of this barrier bit by bit.
Then he couldn't help but become addicted to it.
"This is·......"
All the surrounding microscopic particles were at rest.
It is not slow movement or near stillness, nor is it an exaggeration; rather, it is complete, thorough, and absolute stillness.
Every atom, every electron, every quantum, every element is fixed in place, without any fluctuation, without any movement, without any change.
Indeed, the wizards detected the true nature of the wall shortly after they came into contact with it: absolute zero.
Here, all change is forbidden.
There is no energy transfer, no information exchange, and no causal flow.
There is only eternal and absolute stillness, which can be described as deathly silence.
Jemin was mesmerized, his soul as a wizard researcher burning brightly:
"Is this... the ultimate reduction of entropy? What about the elements? How do the elements manifest themselves? How did they manage to do this...?" Those information beings, at the critical moment of life and death, actually created such a barrier.
Suddenly, Jemin remembered something and broke free from his immersive research.
He instinctively turned his head and looked at the center of the outpost camp.
There, Martin was suspended in mid-air, his body radiating surging energy fluctuations.
That was the aura unique to an eighth-level wizard, so powerful it inspired awe.
But at this moment, the powerful level eight wizard's expression was somewhat... awkward.
A level seven wizard stood beside him, speaking to him with a helpless expression.
"I told you to be more restrained..."
Jemin's ears twitched; the sound drifted over faintly.
"This way we get no loot. We've already lost a lot of those entropy brains..."
Martin coughed lightly and explained in a low voice, "I got excited and couldn't control myself... You know, I haven't taken action in a long time since I rotated out of the front lines..."
"Seriously, that Silent Abyss must have produced some really good materials, and you just destroyed it like that..."
Upon hearing this, Jemin's lips twitched slightly.
It turned out to be the case.
He finally understood why Martin rarely took action, and why he always let the high-ranking wizards go first.
It wasn't out of caution, it was because...
This level eight wizard's abilities meant he couldn't leave behind any spoils.
Heart of Ashes.
The reason why the Wizard of Martin has this title is because of the gray-white flames that can dissipate everything. In essence, they are a simulation of the force generated by heat death. Those information creatures touched by the gray flames are completely annihilated, along with their cores and information, leaving nothing behind.
Although the previous wave of gray flames was blocked by the black wall, it had already annihilated a large area of information creatures before that. The entropy brains in that area also turned to ashes.
The reason why Jemin was just pulled out of his research was because he suddenly remembered some details from before.
Martin discovered this plane, launched an interdimensional war, personally led a team to probe it, and then issued a mission for everyone to find an effective way to damage it... Was it really a coincidence?
"An eighth-level wizard whose ability is essentially 'entropy increase,' 'heat death,' and 'making everything into the most chaotic state' just happened to find a plane where a race that completely advocates 'entropy reduction' resides."
Jemin didn't believe it.
As he was thinking, he suddenly sensed that something was off about the atmosphere around him.
Turning his head, he saw that Martin was already standing next to him.
"..."
Jemin instinctively took a half step back, then realized what he had done and quickly bowed, saying, "Senior Martin."
Martin waved his hand, a smile similar to Lin's on his face.
He looked at Jemin, a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"It seems you already know some of the inside story."
Jemin paused for a second, then nodded honestly: "Mainly because you didn't hide anything either."
Martin laughed heartily.
"There's really nothing to hide." He turned, looking at the dark wall, his gaze deepening. "That's right, I specifically chose this plane."
Jemin listened quietly.
"I study entropy increase, I study heat death, I study how to bring everything back to chaos. I've walked this path for hundreds of thousands of years, and I've reached the limit of an eighth-level wizard." Martin's voice was calm. "But the opposite of entropy increase is entropy decrease. The two are opposed, yet unified. Simple entropy increase is ultimately one-sided."
He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips: "Therefore, I need a group that completely champions entropy reduction to help me complete the last piece of the puzzle."
Jemin was startled.
A specially selected plane...
Targeted groups...
Was all of this planned from the very beginning?
However... to complete the last piece of the puzzle...
He asked instinctively, "Are you going to advance to level nine?"
Martin's expression froze instantly.
He turned his head and looked at Jemin with a look of utter disbelief.
"What nonsense are you spouting!"
Jemin was startled by his reaction: "Huh?"
Martin took a deep breath, calmed himself, and then shook his head helplessly: "The increase in strength I'm referring to is within the eighth-level wizard realm. Ninth level? A long way off."
He paused, his tone becoming serious: "If you've ever actually seen a level nine wizard, you'd know that their strength is far beyond what mere entropy increase or decrease can achieve."
Jemin's curiosity grew even stronger.
"A level nine wizard... just what kind of strength is that?"
Martin was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head.
I won't tell you for now.
Jemin was taken aback: "Is it because of some rule?"
Martin thought for a moment, then slowly said, "It's not a hard and fast rule. It's just..."
He looked at Jemin, his eyes filled with a complex emotion.
"It's somewhat similar to not wanting your child to experience a harsh life."
Jemin was stunned.
cruel?
This adjective sparked countless speculations in his mind.
But Martin clearly wasn't going to continue the conversation. He patted Jemin on the shoulder and chuckled, "You'll understand when you reach the level of a high-ranking wizard that the path of a wizard has only just begun."
He turned around and looked at the dark wall.
"Like this plane. In fact, any high-ranking wizard who sees it knows that I specifically chose it."
Jemin frowned: "Why?"
"Because it's highly specific," Martin explained. "Only high-level wizards of level six or above, after merging with the plane's origin, can detect its existence. Look at this plane; up close, it is indeed very strange—a perfect sphere, pure white. But if you place it against the backdrop of the entire endless chaotic void..."
His tone became meaningful:
"No one will even notice this slight color difference."
Jemin seemed to be deep in thought.
"High-level wizards rely on their perception of other planes after merging with the origin of the plane," Martin continued. "It's somewhat similar to... if a plane gathers and forms somewhere, we can feel the fluctuations it emits in the endless chaotic void—like stars shining in the night sky." He pointed to the dark wall, then to the information plane core on the other side of the wall.
"But this plane is different. Because of its extreme entropy reduction, it blends into the background 'noise' of the endless chaotic void. The light of those 'stars' is completely absorbed here, making it impossible to detect."
"In other words, it's because the knowledge I study is quite specialized that I was able to find it."
Jemin finally understood.
Nothing of this is a coincidence.
It is the accumulation of tens of thousands of years, and a meticulously planned hunt.
Martin looked at him with a hint of encouragement in his eyes.
"You're Clark's student. That guy has a keen eye; the fact that he took you on as a student means you definitely have potential. Becoming a high-level wizard won't be a problem for you."
He smiled and said, "So don't rush, take your time."
After saying that, he turned and left to deal with the problems left over from the war.
Jemin stood there, watching his figure disappear into the camp.
After a moment of silence, he turned his head and continued to look at the dark wall.
Jemin took a deep breath, and his eyes once again gleamed with a pale golden light.
a few days later.
Jemin stood before the absolute zero barrier, his brow furrowed.
Surrounded by wizards, some frowned in thought, some discussed in hushed tones, and some simply sat cross-legged on the ground, closing their eyes to deduce.
But no matter what method you use, the result is the same...
no progress.
This pitch-black barrier was like an insurmountable chasm, standing in front of everyone.
"no."
A level seven wizard stood up, shaking his head with a grim expression. "Conventional methods simply won't work. The absolute zero barrier itself isn't difficult to deal with; just add enough mass or energy to it, and its balance will be broken."
He looked grimly into the depths of the barrier, where another level-seven wizard continued, "But the problem is, those information creatures on the other side are constantly replenishing their computing power; we simply can't break through."
Everyone fell silent.
Everyone knows what this means.
Because maintaining absolute zero is achieved by manipulating information, it is much easier than using other methods.
Those information beings can maintain this barrier indefinitely by continuously outputting computing power.
There are only three ways to destroy it:
First, directly attack the information-bearing organism behind the barrier.
Second, surpass them in total computing power.
Third, use a sufficiently strong attack to penetrate the defenses in one go.
The first method is a vicious cycle: if you can't break through the barrier, you can't hit the enemy; if you can't hit the enemy, you can't break through the barrier.
The second method is even less realistic.
Information beings are naturally best at computing power. In terms of computing power alone, a single information being might even be close to a level four wizard, not to mention their astonishing numbers...
The combined computing power of all the wizards and cannon fodder creatures present is still a fraction of the number of information creatures within the information plane. Unless a few more level-eight wizards are sent.
But if that were the case, Martin's gains would be greatly reduced, and the gains of all the wizards present would also decrease.
No one would choose this path unless absolutely necessary.
That leaves only the third option.
Everyone turned to look at Martin.
Martin stood at the front of the crowd, staring at the dark barrier, his eyes gleaming.
He raised his right hand slightly, and a gray light flickered in his palm—that was his power as the Heart of Ash, the entropy-increasing fire that could burn everything.
"Lord Martin!"
Several level-seven wizards nearby spoke up at the same time, their faces filled with terror.
"Think it over!"
"If you go all out again, all our efforts will have been for nothing!"
"Last time, we lost at least 30% of our entropy brains!"
"If we work for nothing again this time, we'll really have to sell dimension space to make money!"
Martin's hand froze in mid-air, his expression somewhat embarrassed.
He coughed lightly and withdrew his power.
"I'll just think about it."
Everyone around breathed a sigh of relief.
Standing on the periphery of the crowd, Jemin watched this scene and couldn't help but shake his head.
Greed.
These wizards knew perfectly well that the way out was right in front of them, but they hesitated because they couldn't bear to part with the spoils of war.
Reason told them they should let Martin take action, but greed led them to cling to wishful thinking, hoping to find a way to both break the deadlock and preserve the entropy brain.
"This is what a wizard is like. But for me, this situation... isn't bad?"
Jemin muttered to himself.
Within his inner sanctum, a magical array specifically designed to collect mortal energy was operating at full speed.
The greed, restlessness, and anxiety emanating from the surrounding wizards were continuously absorbed and transformed by the magic circle.
The efficiency is astonishing.
It was higher than the combined expeditionary forces of the previous several interdimensional wars.
Jemin sighed inwardly.
Indeed, wizards are a contradictory combination of reason and greed.
Just then, he suddenly felt an unusual fluctuation.
Looking up, Martin finally couldn't resist and raised his hand, releasing a small gray flame, tentatively striking the black barrier. The gray flame collided with absolute zero.
The entropy-increasing fire, powerful enough to incinerate everything, began to twist violently the moment it touched the barrier.
It tried to burn, but absolute zero kept all microscopic particles still; it tried to spread, but the barrier blocked all paths.
Finally, the gray flames went out.
Like a spark falling into an icy sea, it didn't even cause a ripple.
But as Jemin stared in that direction, his eyes grew brighter and brighter.
grayish-white flames...
Entropy increases...
Absolute zero...
Countless thoughts collided wildly in his mind.
The God of Light.
His strongest combat form at this stage is constructed with the Divine Light of Extinction and Fire, and integrates the three core technologies of Return to the Void Armor, Causal Tracing Technique, and Tai Xu Step, to achieve light-speed movement, super-speed regeneration, and destructive energy output.
The core of the Light Godification is a five-step framework:
The Five Aggregates are transformed into the Rainbow Mirror – an information technology.
The divine light of fire—energy replenishment.
The state of Guixu Jia Yi is maintained in a steady state.
Causal Tracing Techniques – Information Manipulation.
The Tai Xu Step resonates with energy and information.
Jemin chose these five steps to constitute the Light Godhood purely because of the limitations of his existing technology.
But now...
Looking at Martin's gray flames, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind—by relying on the wizards around him, perhaps he could replace the Divine Light of Annihilation with the one from the Fire of Destruction.
The essence of that step is simply "energy filling". What kind of energy is used to fill it doesn't really matter.
If we replace the Divine Light of Fire with Martin's gray-white flames...
Jemin jumped up wildly.
He had witnessed the power of the gray-white flames firsthand.
That is the entropy-increasing fire that can turn everything to ashes; it is the core power of an eighth-level wizard.
If this power could be integrated into the God of Light...
But here is the problem.
The five steps of the transformation into a divine being are interconnected. If the energy source changes, the other four steps must also be adjusted synchronously to adapt to the new energy characteristics. Information technology requires adaptation to new energy frequencies.
Maintaining steady state requires dealing with new energy intensities.
Information manipulation needs to be compatible with new energy logic.
Energy information resonance requires recalculation of resonance parameters.
Under normal circumstances, a renovation of this level would not be completed in less than several decades or even hundreds of years.
But now...
Jemin looked up at the group of high-level wizards around him, who were at least level six or above.
These people are all ancient monsters who have lived for thousands or tens of thousands of years.
In terms of knowledge reserves, deductive reasoning ability, and understanding of rules, any one of them would be far superior to him.
Why not take advantage of it?
Jemin raised his hand and opened the Magic Network terminal, quickly organizing his ideas into a detailed technical solution.
I checked it once and clicked send.
[Target audience: High-ranking wizards of the Expeditionary Force]
A few seconds later, the Magic Network terminal began to vibrate wildly.
[Level 7 Wizard Alva: Is this the combat form you designed?]
[Level 7 Wizard Mia: Informationization → Energy Replenishment → Steady-State Maintenance... This architecture is ingenious! Every single technology within it is incredibly sophisticated! How did you come up with it?]
[Level 6 Wizard Karl: The modification plan is entirely feasible! I can help calculate the resonance parameters!]
[Level 7 Wizard Silas: Jemin, you've been hiding your strength well... This level of combat structure is top-notch even among high-level wizards!]
As Jemin looked at the messages, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
His ethical conscience as a researcher compels him to say that this is not his original work, but rather a product of knowledge from another civilization.
But I can't say it out loud.
He could only silently accept the praise, wearing an awkward but polite smile.
"Jermin the Wizard!"
A level six wizard excitedly ran over, "I've reviewed your plan! I have a ready-made simulation model for the information module's adaptation parameters, which I can call up anytime!"
"Jamin!"
Another seventh-level wizard's voice came from afar: "Give me the steady-state maintenance module. I have some research on combating entropy-increasing structures!" Seeing the wizards' reactions, Jemin took a deep breath, suppressed his embarrassment, and strode towards the crowd.
"Okay, then I'll leave it to you all."
He looked at the dark barrier in the distance, his eyes flashing with eagerness.
Ignite your battle form with the power core of an eighth-level wizard.
How strong will he be then?
That's really something to look forward to...
(Too lazy to divide it into chapters, so this is the only one for today.)