Chapter 963: Can you beat me?
Internal divisions within the Machine Race... the Machine Prophet... the Cult of Machines
The intelligence we've gathered during this period has been somewhat unexpected.
"Wait... I can't process what you're saying right now." Zhao Chen waved his hands repeatedly.
The little girl sighed and began to slowly tell Zhao Chen her story.
During this exchange, Zhao Chen gained a better understanding of the current situation of the mechanical race, but he also noticed that the little girl would deliberately avoid certain things when she spoke to him.
Even if Zhao Chen tried to ask, the little girl would pretend not to care and directly change the subject, talking to herself.
Based on a detailed conversation with the little girl.
Zhao Chen had roughly figured things out.
There is actually no powerful authority among the machine race. Before this, everyone automatically regarded the little girl as the supreme will of the machine race and obeyed her orders.
As for the mechanical lifeforms, the little girl didn't impose any strict rules; basically, everyone lived their lives in a routine manner.
But it started thirty years ago.
Another voice emerged from the Mech race.
At first, the little girl didn't pay any attention.
But that voice was like a fire, igniting something hidden deep within the hearts of many mechanical beings.
This directly led to the increasing status of the owner of that voice, who gradually acquired the title of 'Mechanical Prophet'.
It was only then that the little girl realized something was wrong. She could have used the authority of her supreme will to directly eliminate this mechanical prophet.
But to her surprise, she discovered that this mechanical prophet was not among the machine race's surveillance targets.
Or rather, the little girl couldn't find it!
At this point, the little girl realized something was wrong and began to try to directly mobilize military forces to eliminate the mechanical prophet.
But it was from that time that the mechanical prophet completely disappeared.
It was from that time that the 'Cult of Machines' was established.
Some of the ideas left behind by the 'mechanical prophet' began to spread.
For a long time afterward, the little girl pondered how to deal with the crisis and find the 'mechanical prophet'.
"As for the result, you've seen it yourself."
If I had resolved this problem, I wouldn't be bothering you now.
"That thing is like a rat! I almost caught it several times, but it always got away!" The little girl stretched out her hand, making a grabbing motion, and said indignantly.
After hearing all this...
Zhao Chen voiced his doubts: "Let me ask you a few questions that I don't understand."
"You say it," the little girl blinked, looking at Zhao Chen.
"You just said that as the highest will of the machine race, you can directly annihilate the existence of some mechanical life forms. However, this mechanical prophet has somehow escaped your annihilation."
But surely those intelligent beings of the Mechanicus cult don't have this ability?
"Then why don't you just wipe out these intelligent beings who believe in the Cult of Machines?" Zhao Chen asked.
The little girl shook her head and said helplessly, "It's like a virus."
If in the early stages, there are only a small number of infected mechanical lifeforms, I can directly eliminate them using the method you described.
But that's no longer possible. There are many mechanical beings who believe in the Cult of Machine God, but there are many more mechanical beings who have only been infected with the virus but have not yet become believers.
If I were to eliminate most of the followers of the Cult of Machine God at once, it would actually lead to a surge in potential followers.
Under this approach, even if I eventually manage to control the spread of the Machine God Cult, it is highly likely that only one in ten mechanical life forms within the Machine Race will survive.
This is just like the plague virus that your human race knows.
The only way to cure this is to find and destroy the source of it allβthe mechanical prophet!
At this point, the little girl gestured to her own neck.
Seeing a mechanical life form making such a gesture, I don't know why, felt a little strange.
Zhao Chen then asked a second question: "Since this Mechanical God Cult is a religion, what are their beliefs?"
The little girl paused noticeably for a moment when she heard the question.
Then he slowly opened his mouth and said, "They believe that mechanical life is the best life form in this universe, and for other life forms, if they are willing to believe in the mechanical god, they will be given a new body."
Conversely, they must all be eliminated.
The Cult of the Machine God will give all lower life forms in this universe a chance to evolve!
After hearing this, Zhao Chen frowned slightly.
"This... seems very similar to your mechanical race's original principle of purging all carbon-based life in the universe?" Zhao Chen muttered.
The little girl acted as if she hadn't heard Zhao Chen's words.
Zhao Chen glanced at the little girl.
He discovered that the little girl had been avoiding the topic of the Machine Race's battles with other interstellar races, as if there were some great secret hidden within.
The little girl blinked her big eyes and looked at Zhao Chen: "So, is the Cult of Machines a huge threat to you and to the entire universe?"
If they actually succeed, it will be a complete disaster!
Zhao Chen looked at the little girl suspiciously; what was hidden behind those seemingly sincere, watery eyes?
"But you already said it."
"You can't even find this mechanical prophet, so why are you asking me for help?" Zhao Chen shrugged.
"Because I have a clue that the mechanical prophet is most likely there."
But I can't go to that place. They created something... I can't explain it clearly to you right now, but basically, that place is too dangerous for me, and I can't go in.
If I send a mechanical fleet there, I'm not sure if it will be able to control it.
To be honest, the infiltration of the Mechanicus into the Mechanoid fleet has reached a level I can't even imagine.
So, if possible.
"I'm not keen on using the mechanical fleet too much," the little girl said.
Upon hearing this, Zhao Chen subconsciously said, "Could it be that the reason the Mechanical Race withdrew their troops a few years ago was because of this?"
The little girl said, "So I can only ask you to help me look for it in that place!"
She avoided her own question again.
"How do I know if this is a trap?" Zhao Chen said.
The little girl stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at Zhao Chen: "Please, if I wanted to target you..."
I can simply order the mechanized fleet to attack you.
"Although your Falcon Legion is quite powerful, do you really think you can defeat me now, even if my mechanical fleet goes all out?"
As she spoke, the little girl raised her chin, like a victorious rooster.
What the little girl said was indeed the truth.
But Zhao Chen still said jokingly, "You're so capable, but you still can't handle the little things at home."