Chapter 173: Chapter 172: A Life-and-Death Mutation
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Carbon-14 dating, also known as radiocarbon dating, is a method of calculating the approximate age of a sample based on the decay of carbon-14. This principle is typically used to determine the age of paleontological fossils.
In simpler terms, living organisms constantly replenish their carbon-14 through respiration, keeping the level constant. After a plant or animal dies, the carbon-14 in its body begins to decay, which allows its age to be determined.
Banknotes are primarily made from cotton pulp, sometimes mixed with linen pulp, chemical wood pulp, and so on. The components within them can be used for carbon-14 dating.
However, the biggest problem with this method is its lack of precision, although the closer it is to the modern era, the higher the accuracy.
When Wang Aihua discovered that the banknote used technology that was still in the experimental phase and not yet in public use, he was already utterly shocked.
From a technical standpoint, it was an indisputably genuine banknote.
At first, he had only assumed it was a sample note created by some other country’s central bank, though he couldn’t for the life of him figure out who would make such a thing, or how Li Tongchen had obtained it.
Then one day, it occurred to him to run a carbon-14 test to see what year it was made.
The result left him completely stunned.
The banknote, which looked somewhat old, was brand new! Moreover, its carbon-14 level was constant; no matter how it was tested, it showed no signs of decay!
"Old Li, where on earth did you get this banknote? Can you tell me?" Wang Aihua asked, his expression grave.
Li Tongchen didn’t answer, instead teasing, "Your central bank has carbon-14 testing equipment now? Can you even trust something with a margin of error of several decades?"
Wang Aihua said with a serious expression:
"It wasn’t the central bank’s equipment. I had an acquaintance at the Chinese Academy of Sciences run the test. Their latest equipment can be accurate down to the month! According to my buddy, the age determination for your banknote should be negative!"
As he spoke, he pulled an envelope from his coat and carefully took the banknote out of it.
Li Tongchen said nothing. He took the banknote, examined it closely, then glanced at the news on TV about deep-space hibernation technology, his heart pounding with excitement.
’The banknote is real, but it’s not from this time.’
’It was truly created in the year 2025.’
’The year 2025 of a Parallel Cosmos.’
’That would explain the results of the carbon-14 dating.’
’And now deep-space hibernation technology, just like in the plot of the Gray Tide apocalypse mission, has appeared in this world.’
Any last shred of doubt he had about the Commander vanished in that instant.
Li Tongchen watched the introduction to "deep-space hibernation technology" on the TV, his eyes suddenly reddening as tears streamed down his face.
’A great era has arrived. An era of world-shattering destruction, and an era of turning the tide against all odds.’
’And he... he had become a participant, a witness, and one of the saviors of this great era.’
A sublime sense of mission filled his heart. A spontaneous pride made the man in his sixties feel as if he had rediscovered the passion of his fiery youth.
"’What have I done to deserve this... What have I done...’" Li Tongchen murmured, looking at the hundred-yuan bill in his hand—the testament of a Disciple.
Seeing Li Tongchen suddenly start crying as if possessed, muttering to himself, Wang Aihua, who was standing to the side, began to panic.
"Old Li! Old Li, are you okay?! Have you lost your mind? Did you get into some kind of trouble? Where did this thing come from?"
’He had his own suspicions about the banknote.’
’The central bank obviously wouldn’t create something like this, and criminal organizations that counterfeit money generally don’t have this level of capability.’
’To be able to produce such a realistic banknote, it had to be the work of a state actor.’
’Was it the Eagle Country waging economic warfare in secret? Or some country in Northeast Asia trying to fleece us with counterfeit currency? Or could it be the work of some international crime syndicate?’
Li Tongchen wiped the corners of his eyes and said to Wang Aihua:
"Aihua, sorry for making a fool of myself... I’m fine... Right now, I’m both worried and overjoyed..."
With that, he took the banknote, walked straight to the kitchen, turned on the gas stove, and burned it to a crisp.
’He had already revealed his identity as a Disciple in the Virtual Space, so he no longer needed this banknote as a form of certification.’
’Keeping it would just be a liability.’
’Of course, the Commander’s deeper meaning in giving them this banknote from 2025 was likely to dispel their doubts.’
Wang Aihua said anxiously:
"Old Li, why did you burn the money? Did you really get into trouble? Sigh... maybe it’s better that you burned it, better that you burned it..."
Then he looked at Li Tongchen and asked:
"What is it that you can’t tell me? If you think I can’t handle it, we can go find Jiadong. He’s a military region deputy commander now, a big shot. Let’s see who dares to mess with you! Besides, you’re a national treasure! Who would dare touch you?"
Li Tongchen, feeling an unprecedented sense of relief, smiled faintly and said:
"Don’t worry, Aihua, I’m fine, perfectly safe. As for the banknote, help me keep it a secret. Don’t tell anyone... I’m happy today. Let’s have a couple of good drinks later."
"You burned the money. Even if I told anyone, they wouldn’t believe me..." Wang Aihua rolled his eyes. But he still trusted his old classmate completely. He figured the matter must involve some state-level secrets, so he didn’t press further. "Let me tell you, I came all this way just to see you today. I’m not drinking any Maotai that’s less than ten years old!"
"HAHAHA, you old lush! How long have you been eyeing that twenty-year-old bottle of mine?" Li Tongchen laughed, then turned and walked towards the bedroom...
...
「A month passed in the blink of an eye.」
In a small courtyard in the suburbs of Tai City, Shen Feng’s Consciousness Antennae withdrew from cyberspace, a satisfied smile on his face.
The Salvation Army’s power was not to be underestimated. Ever since he revealed information about the Purification Society to the players in the Virtual Space a couple of days ago, a great purge against the Society had begun.
Many members of the Purification Society who had been undercover for years were uprooted, either thrown into prison or directly assassinated.
This was tantamount to a public declaration of war on the Purification Society.
But it didn’t matter. After all, they had already tried to assassinate Shen Feng directly; there was no point in hiding any longer.
Over the past few days, nearly a thousand members of the Purification Society had been eliminated.
Brendan, the president of Rattlesnake Company, remained unharmed, but he was under surveillance by Shen Feng’s order.
Meanwhile, the Purification Society seemed to have gone into hibernation. There was no reaction from them, and no further assassination attempts on Shen Feng occurred.
What put him on alert was that many of the identified and executed Purification Society members chose to gouge out their own eyes, or they would stare at their executioner’s face before death, their eyes filled with a greedy expression.
In response, Shen Feng used the game system to warn the members of the Salvation Army, telling them to face away from those being executed and not let their faces be seen.
’Eyes seem to hold a special significance for the Purification Society.’
’Although he still hadn’t figured out the mystery behind it.’
Although Shen Feng had a lot more free time recently, he hadn’t been idle.
Under his control, swarms of the Nanomechanical Cluster attached themselves to the landing gear or cabins of various airplanes, flying to different parts of the world. They were sown like seeds, gradually going dormant.
The Nanomechanical Cluster swarms that detached from the planes were grayish-white. They also used their configuration to reduce sunlight refraction, making them look like large birds falling from the sky—completely inconspicuous.
Even the radar systems of various countries would have difficulty detecting them, let alone pay them any mind.
Like termites, these Nanomechanical Cluster swarms could begin consuming materials upon landing, then hide in dark places where they could receive signals, remaining extremely covert.
For now, Shen Feng was operating within Hua Country, but there was no telling when he might have to go abroad. When that time came, these dormant Nanomechanical Cluster swarms would play a crucial role.
They were his life-saving trump card.
During this time, the "True Apocalypse Game" bracelet hadn’t assigned him any new missions. Shen Feng was happy to have the downtime, attending school and living a normal life. He savored these days, full of the warmth and bustle of ordinary life, and his heart grew much more peaceful.
As for Jingwei’s humanoid robot, it had appeared for a few days under the guise of a transfer student but was ultimately too conspicuous. It later took "sick leave" and stopped going to school.
Jingwei spent its days tinkering with all sorts of things in the basement, and he had no idea what it was up to.
Shen Feng couldn’t be bothered to ask.
’Ah, these peaceful days are so comfortable...’
’But one thing puzzled him. The "True Apocalypse Game" had been silent for a bit too long this time. It was strange...’
"Shen Feng, quick, look! What do you think of this appearance? Isn’t it realistic?" It was the weekend. Shen Feng was lying on the sofa eating fruit when he heard Jingwei’s voice.
Then, a beautiful, fair-skinned young woman of mixed heritage pushed the door open and walked in, completely naked.
"SPIT..." Shen Feng sprayed a mouthful of dragon fruit everywhere. "Get dressed! Get dressed!" he yelled. "You’re too realistic!"
The Jingwei before him now was completely different from its previous Nanomechanical Cluster mimicry. Its skin seemed to quiver, looking extremely elastic, and its long hair was real hair, without the slightest metallic feel.
Jingwei spun around gleefully and asked:
"Really? Can you still tell it’s a robot? I used the latest mimetic silicone. It has temperature and tactile feedback—it’s basically artificial skin. Feels exactly like a human’s. And I used bionic-mechanical eyes and human hair. Hehe, aside from the lack of body hair, every part of my exterior is identical to that of a real human girl."
Shen Feng snatched a large bath towel from nearby and threw it at Jingwei.
"Lady, would you please put on some clothes?"
Jingwei wrapped the towel around itself, burst out laughing at Shen Feng, and said:
"HAHAHA, you kid! Humans are so simple. I don’t even need a disaster; I could wipe out human civilization with my looks alone!"
Shen Feng’s face darkened. He was speechless at the antics of this deranged AI. ’This thing really knows how to have fun...’
Then, with a serious expression, he said, "Sis, can you make one for me too? Your tech is incredible!"
Jingwei snorted coldly. "I’ve never heard of a male version of a blow-up doll. What would you do with a realistic stand-in? Use it to trick young girls? Disgusting!"
Shen Feng was speechless.
’You’re really getting into character, huh?’ he thought. ’But you don’t sound like a beautiful, mixed-race transfer student. You sound more like a neighborhood watch busybody.’
While the two were bantering, Shen Feng’s bracelet suddenly vibrated. He immediately turned to look at it and saw a line of blood-red words flicker into view:
"...under... attack... temporary shutdown... protect... civilization... fight..."
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