Volume 17: Enemy of All Things Chapter 3 Mars in the Heart
Martians still know how to play.
Looking at the gradually enlarging structure under his feet, Li Lin couldn't help but sigh.
It was completely different from the Martian arsenal and huge facilities he had in mind. The current Mars was no different from a poor man whose head was smashed by an axe.
Human-made factories have torn apart the steel crust of Mars and directly transformed the surface of the planet with the planet's own materials. Layer upon layer of thick factory facilities have enveloped the entire Mars, and the Martian atmosphere has been continuously polluted by these factories that have no idea what sewage is. From time to time, you can see dark red clouds covering a factory structure, and then pouring down gray-black rain.
That can't even be called rain, it's just the stones mixed by the impurities in the sky after collision and condensation. These black things keep falling down and landing on the surface of the black and yellow factory structures. Then they will be swallowed up by the factories inside and re-melted into some brand new factories or resources. In the past, some weapons may be cast. These things are often used to test things like smashing asteroids or destroying planets. In fact, their experiments were very successful, but the heroes had no place to use their skills, so they were left unfinished.
However, judging from the visual effects alone, it is really hard to believe that this huge structural planet was once called such a beautiful name as Yinghuo.
Now standing on the spaceship and looking down, there are nothing but various huge pipes, valves, various reactors, towering towers and some strange facilities whose uses are unknown. Those perverse and twisted architectural styles have a grotesque beauty against the overall heavy dark red background.
Especially when the shadows passed by, the molten iron and lava around the factories kept flowing along some inclined pipes and passages, looking like a series of high-speed channels. The whole planet was born for casting. Even in a relatively far place, Li Lin saw a huge artificial canyon. The interior was releasing huge heat and high temperature. It seemed that something was being cast inside, but it was definitely a big thing.
The surging filthy smoke, the splashing magma and molten iron, the various huge steel blocks cast in the open air, the scorching heat even distorted the air, and the accelerated fluid made the refraction of light extremely unnatural, looking like some kind of illusion or illusion. But if anyone thinks these places are not real, they are wrong. The high-temperature steam and molten iron are enough to turn any skeptical person into a pile of ashes in an instant. Even if you are wearing a prosthetic body, you will be burned to pieces in a short time. Therefore, people working on Mars basically have mandatory retention measures and electronic brains.
They did not believe that human instincts could keep them from making mistakes forever, so there was no problem with the electronic brain-assisted facilities for mandatory double insurance. If one missed a step, the fall might be much more terrifying than hell.
"Now starting navigation mode, about to arrive at the first landing platform on Mars..."
The spacecraft gradually slowed down and began to shuttle through those strange pipes and canyons. Although Mars is more developed than the moon, it is obvious that Mars, with its atmosphere and extremely harsh external environment, does not allow rough landing. Even landing directly on the platform is not allowed. They must pass through the Grand Canyon and a series of protective measures to build a channel before they can directly reach the landing site.
Flying slowly along the Grand Canyon, Li Lin could clearly see the steel structures on both sides. This wonder on Mars was created entirely by humans. They hollowed out the entire rich ore mining area, and then cast some to support the entire surface so that the outer shell would not affect the stability of the core workstation. This measure not only stabilizes the planet as a whole, but also acts as a pressure reducer for the entire planet. Spreading around this Grand Canyon, which is hundreds of kilometers wide, is a series of cylindrical shock-absorbing measures. It is used to reduce the tremors inside the planet and to more stably mine minerals.
Li Lin had heard of this facility before he entered prison, and it was already completed at that time. However, he had never seen this huge building that could be called great. Now, flying along the passage below the Grand Canyon as a spacecraft, looking at the densely packed shock absorbers on it, Li Lin really felt inexplicably frightened.
Especially because of the turbulence of the entire facility caused by a certain shock in the underground facility, from the perspective of the shock absorber rod with a diameter of several kilometers, it may only tremble slightly. But Li Lin watched with his own eyes a gray-sulfur combination of more than three people's size shook down from above and fell into the canyon.
"This is the planetary shock absorber. In order to prevent major earthquakes and energy accumulation that sweep across the entire planet, the people on Mars did not learn from the experience of the moon, but simply and crudely installed hundreds or thousands of shock absorbers on it. These things can reduce the energy pressure inside the entire planet through short-term energy storage and tremors. After the shock-absorbing canyon was completed, there have been no more severe earthquakes on Mars. It is also because of this that our factories can be spread all over the planet in a short period of time. Mars is full of minerals, and we can use local materials to complete the construction directly."
AI pointed at the huge cylindrical devices in mid-air and explained in a light voice. Then it pointed at some inconspicuous devices around. There were some slogans and pictures painted on them with high-temperature resistant paint. But because the distance was too far and the influence of the hot weather, it was difficult for Li Lin to tell what was written on them. And AI also explained to Li Lin in a gentle tone.
"That's a structure that the Martians used to decorate and beautify Mars. They believe that this style, which was called steampunk in ancient times, is a very aesthetic design. They also followed the settings of some ancient literary creators and built countless sanctuaries and related products on it as if it were real."
"The most eye-catching thing on Mars is the facility built by these believers. It is called the Mars Cathedral. It is a religious building built entirely of symbolic objects such as abandoned factory pipes, gears, and steam valves. Under the control of AI, the entire steam cathedral is like a living thing, moving along a huge steel track inside Mars and around Mars. Tourists and residents dressed as Victorians are constantly entertaining and performing there every day, or creating some great works of art."
"Mars is not only the capital of industry and construction, it is also the capital of art and creation. Seventy percent of all human artworks are created in factories and steam temples on Mars. They are the source of human inspiration, and countless artists from all over the world sing and dance there all night long. They also often hold private banquets to sing praises to life, or...something else."
"I think I understand."
Looking at the AI's human-like expression that said "you know what I mean", Li Lin immediately understood.
What else could it be? A private gathering of artists and drug addicts. Apart from some things not suitable for children, Li Lin couldn't think of what they could do. Some artists were real lunatics, some were fanatical enthusiasts, but most of them just wanted to have sex. Although there are not many demands for desire now, the desire for ritual is still indispensable.
"Buy me a house near the Mechanical Temple on Mars. I'll stay on Mars for a while. By the way, leave a message for Zhang Lingmeng, saying that I'm traveling on Mars for a while. If she can't find me, she can come to Mars to find me directly, or find me in the game."
"I have left a message for Miss Zhang Lingmeng. She is currently working and it is expected to be received in forty-five hours."
“Do child laborers have to work for such a long time now?”
"Cyborgs don't have the concept of fatigue, Mr. Li Lin. Only natural humans feel tired and lack physical strength due to muscle acid secretion. But cyborgs can complete this series of actions by recharging. Cyborgs don't have the concept of overwork or rest. They can achieve a permanent working state through the interaction and filling of brain matter. It is completely feasible for brain cells to work in a semi-sleeping state all the time. Efficiency will never decrease."
"Oh, really? Just find a place to land. I don't want to hear these things. Then point out the way so I can see what the scenery on Mars looks like. I have never been to Mars since I was a child. This is my first time here."
"Yes, Mr. Li Lin."
The AI nodded and followed Li Lin's instructions.
After a while, the spaceship landed in a huge empty chamber. The conveyor belt moved Li Lin out of the spaceship and quickly put him into a narrow passage. After a period of transportation, Li Lin felt that there seemed to be some light in front of him.
As he took a step forward, a dazzling light made Li Lin subconsciously squint his eyes. Noisy waves began to emerge around him, pulling him into a bustling street. Just like simply walking out of an alley, Li Lin stood in the street in a daze, looking at the strange yet familiar scenery around him, feeling a sense of confusion in time and space.
"The spherical city...?"
Looking at the huge pipes and twisted architectural styles around him, Li Lin couldn't help but mutter subconsciously.
The city structure inside Mars looks very much like the celestial city map that Li Lin had played before. Everywhere is filled with a weird and twisted huge industrial beauty. Looking up, countless rough aircraft and conveyor belts are crossing the sky, delivering supplies or other things to the hanging structures in the air. Li Lin is in a steel street that looks a bit old, and some people wearing gas masks or strange masks are walking on the road.
From time to time, I greeted the huge twisted pipe structure around me, and a brass door protruded from the inside. Once it was opened, there was a space for passengers. After sitting on it for a while, it seemed that I was in another place. However, this style did not look like high-tech at all, but rather like a cannonball.
"Is this the Martian city?"
It’s not quite what I imagined.
Looking at the lava waterfalls hanging down on both sides and the distorted air caused by the high temperature, Li Lin shook his head somewhat uncomfortably.
He still prefers the industrial structure of the celestial city that has fallen into a static and semi-dead state. Facing this huge, still burning red factory, most of the remaining feelings in Li Lin's heart have turned into disappointment and vigilance. This is not what he thought.
But just when Li Lin showed a disappointed look, the people on the street seemed to notice Li Lin's presence. After a brief commotion, a man walked out of the crowd, waved to Li Lin who was about to leave to find the house he bought, and ran over with enthusiasm. This local man looked like a fanatical steam believer, with a semi-mechanized body, several pipes spewing steam, and several bolts on his head, which looked quite weird.
"Earthlings? Moonlings? Saturnians? Or space city people?"
Before Li Lin could reply, the man with several circuit boards plugged into his head shook his head nervously and kept muttering:
"You're probably not from Space City. It's hard for these guys who call themselves space citizens to come to Mars except for tourism. And you don't look like a tourist. Moon people? Moon people should look like that, but you don't look like one. It takes Saturn people several months to come here, and not many people come here. You must be an Earth person, yes, you must be an Earth person, am I right?"
"Oh, yes. What can I do for you?"
Li Lin blinked and said calmly.
Although I moved from Earth to the space city and then to Mars, I am still an Earthling overall.
"What's the matter? No, no, it's not me who has the problem, it's you who has the problem. You seem to be very lost. Humans should help each other. Is there anything I can do to help you?"
"No, nothing. It's just that this place is simply different from what I expected..."
"No, no, no, you are wrong. This is just an area on Mars. How can you say it is different from what you think? There are endless styles here. You know, this is a paradise created by humans, a beautiful dream created by human hands. There is everything here, everything exists. Don't say you don't know, come on, let me introduce you to the different art areas on Mars."
"Well, I still have to go back home, so forget about the introductions. I have other things to do."
However, ordinary excuses obviously could not stop these people whose heads seemed to be filled with various drugs, and Li Lin himself was not disgusted enough to initiate compulsory measures. So he could only smile bitterly and let the man lead him to a notice board to show him the architectural styles and artistic trends of various regions on Mars. While opening Li Lin's eyes, he also did not forget to introduce his own art exhibition.
Although Li Lin thought that the latter might be his main purpose, he was kind enough to come and talk to him, so Li Lin didn't say anything, but just took a detour back to his residence. Then he stood at the door that looked very high-end, and waved to the man with some relief.
"Goodbye then. I have something else to do, so I won't disturb your artistic creation."
"Don't forget to attend our art exhibition in two days!"
"Ah, definitely..."
I don't want to go.
After saying goodbye to his overly enthusiastic new friend, Li Lin sighed and walked into the residence on Mars that he had purchased.
This place seems to deliberately imitate the typical architectural styles of the most prosperous era before World War I. Pale yellow light bulbs are arranged on both sides, and a "kerosene lamp" that looks extremely delicately carved is lit on the table. The bed and the surrounding decorations are luxurious red and gold, and the carved angel reliefs and a series of religious paintings make this room look extremely tasteful. Or, it has the taste of that era.
On both sides of this luxurious-looking reception room, there is a small wine cabinet, which contains glass bottles of wine and tin-made wine jugs. They all look very much like those of that era. However, Li Lin was not sure whether this thing was really a cultural relic of that era, because Li Lin's authority was really sufficient.
"But come to think of it, there's nothing much to do even on Mars..."
No need to work, no need to study, no need to worry about starving to death the next day, and no need to worry about your quality of life declining.
As long as AI exists, the quality of human life does not depend on humans, but on AI. Only when AI research progress explodes and completes the great development of productivity, humans will have the opportunity to enjoy more and better things. If AI does not develop, then humans will also have no development.
Even the second generation of rich people in ancient novels are more motivated than the salted fish of modern people. At least they pretend to be cool and slap their faces to show themselves and desire more things, but now everyone is the same, even the things that those with authority can do are extremely limited. Unless it is a supreme authority like Li Lin, there is no big difference in essence. But A-level authority is unlikely to enjoy pleasure, which is a false proposition in itself.
“It doesn’t feel as good as I imagined…”
Pull up the sofa and sit next to the imitation fireplace, listening to the crackling sound of burning wood while flipping through the Bible in your hand.
Although he tried his best to imitate the appearance of the nobles in ancient times, Li Lin still did not feel any joy. He casually threw the Bible into the stove, and the flames, firewood, and books turned into a ball of gray mist in the blink of an eye, clinging to the corners of the wall and transforming into an exquisite tall lamp.
Whether it was the dark red high-back chair, the long table in the living room, the fireplace next to the house, or the wine cabinets - this was also the main reason why Li Lin did not plan to drink - they were actually simulated goods made of nanomachines. Although the Martians looked down on the Moon people, to be honest, the Martians used nanomachines, which were extremely helpful little things in life, just as much as the Moon people.
After all, we all like to transform the world around us, and nanomachines are obviously the perfect tool for this.
But if you play too much, you will get bored.
"… Let's go play games."
Li Lin thought about it, then stood up, walked to a mahogany door and opened it.
What came into view was the familiar ascetic room that looked like Earth. The pale white ceiling and game equipment, the snow-white bed, and the extremely simple living facilities. Li Lin didn't even hesitate too much, and he lay directly on the game chair and put on the helmet.
The next moment, the familiar dragging feeling came again. It seemed that because of the spaceship in reality, Li Lin felt the dragging of those palms more clearly this time, directly pulling him into a narrow passage. The consciousness could deeply feel the gentleness and kindness, just like being immersed in amniotic fluid. After this warm touch lasted for about a while, accompanied by a sense of rejection, Li Lin subconsciously opened his eyes.
What comes into view is an unfamiliar starry sky.
