Chapter 641: Reflections on Mimicry Souls and Soul Depiction
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 641: Reflections on Mimicry Souls and Soul Depiction
Standard Clone Techniques weren't enough to meet my needs.
Naturally, I possessed the classic spellbooks for such techniques. When cast, they created a magical duplicate identical to myself. It was similar to many summoning spells, except a Clone Technique "summoned" me.
One key difference between cloning and summoning was that a clone could share visual perception and physical control with the main body. Pain felt by the clone could be either synchronized or shielded; summoned creatures couldn't do that.
Of course, by combining certain spellbooks like Sensory Sharing or Visual Synchronization, one could achieve similar results.
However, a clone’s existence was merely a spell effect. Its physical presence was just a manifestation of that magic. Once the mana was exhausted, it would simply dissipate. Furthermore, it couldn't travel too far from me. If it did, I would lose control and sensory connection, the mana link would sever, and it would ultimately vanish.
This fell far short of my expectations. It couldn't help shoulder my burdens, nor could it help me acquire knowledge efficiently.
In truth, I had another motive for wanting a clone: I wanted it to plant trees across the entire Expansion Realm for me. If it could also guide the people in rebuilding the City of Civilization, that would be even better.
But casting range and the limitations of multi-threaded processing restricted a clone's distance and flexibility.
However!
Since I was preparing to do this, I naturally had some foundational ideas on how to proceed.
No time like the present.
The main reason I had this idea was actually related to the "Resurrection Rebirth Spell." This spell was no longer just a simple resurrection tool. It could revive things that weren't even alive—the most obvious example being the Fool's Dream.
Then there was the Mimicry Soul technique derived from the Great Wisdom Enlightenment Art. It could bestow reality concepts upon meaningless dream creatures, consuming only Soul Essence in the process.
But Soul Essence isn't life. If a mass of Soul Essence were released and became conscious, would that count as life? Or if Soul Essence was used to drive a machine equipped with an AI, would that be life?
Certainly not. This line of thought reminded me of the Elucidations of Life the Dean had once explained to me.
My Mimicry Soul was also just a technique—or rather, a half-finished one.
So... I wondered. I was already a recognized soul-based lifeform. If I used Mimicry Soul on myself, would that version of me... still be alive?
According to the essence of life described in the Elucidations, it seemed I wouldn't be. I would be an existence standing independently between Soul Essence life and soul-based life... I was definitely missing something...
I was missing Mimicry Soul Essence... but the raw material I used for Mimicry Soul was Soul Essence. Using Soul Essence to mimic Soul Essence?
No, no, no... it was a matter of advancement!
It was just like the Great Soul Subject: Soul Essence advances into a soul. For a biological organism to advance into true life, there must be a similar process.
What does one advance from to become Soul Essence?
Following that logic, was Soul Essence actually a renewable resource? Or was the metamorphosis from a biological organism to a lifeform actually the process of the organism gradually accepting Soul Essence?
I found that the more I thought, the more questions arose—unsolvable questions for which no one could give me answers.
But none of that hindered me from experimenting and trying. Reality would provide the answers.
"Knowledge Shadow, do you think it will work if I use Mimicry Soul on you?" I summoned the Knowledge Shadow and asked.
"Try it and find out," she said with a shrug.
"Fair point."
I immediately applied the Mimicry Soul technique to the Knowledge Shadow. Then... I saw that it worked.
"As expected. If dream creatures can do it, why couldn't I? But you must understand, I am still not a lifeform, nor am I a Mimic Life. I am merely your subconscious." The Knowledge Shadow moved around as if the sensation were novel, then spoke to me.
"That's why it's so fascinating... but facts will provide the answers. I've been thinking... perhaps the definitions of 'life' and 'individual' are too rigid. I feel there's no need to distinguish between what is life and what isn't."
"Actually, there is a need; you just can't articulate it yet. Perhaps anything that can realize it is alive can be defined as life?" The Knowledge Shadow said with a smile. "It's like an AI that has been given the ultimate emotional simulation versus a lifeform that has been hypnotized and conditioned to believe it is an AI capable only of calculating programs. Which one is the true life?"
"It's the AI—no! It's the lifeform! You almost tripped me up!"
"Your brain is working well. So, why?"
"The foundation. Life has a foundation, and the foundation is what matters most. A lifeform doesn't become non-life just because of personal will—unless they choose death."
"Then what if a person transmigrates? If a human consciousness possesses a machine, is that machine considered life?"
"That should... wait! No! Are you giving me brain teasers? That's just a 'what if'! The fact is that machines cannot carry consciousness. You're scaring yourself with fantasies. Even if it did happen, it would be the person's soul carrying the consciousness, and the machine would merely be carrying the soul. Your question is like asking if a lump of meat is life."
"..." After answering those two questions from my subconscious, I fell silent. I seemed to have realized something...
"Life has a foundation. Only with a foundation is it possible for consciousness to be born. Only with a cognitive consciousness can one recognize oneself as life!" I said, looking at the Knowledge Shadow.
"Correct. I am a part of your consciousness—your subconscious. What you're doing is simply piling some Soul Essence onto your own consciousness. The function of this Soul Essence is to provide compatibility with a physical body. Therefore, I can never become a lifeform!"
"Are you trying to dispel my fear of creating another 'me'?"
"I'm helping you de-mystify things, you dummy! You say I'm a part of you, but in your heart, you're brooding and afraid, fantasizing that you'll actually cause a disaster. How is that any different from people with low cognitive ability thinking Wi-Fi causes cancer?"
"Ugh... I was wrong, okay..." Being scolded like that actually made me feel a bit aggrieved. In this world, the only person who could make me want to cry with just words was probably myself. Even Sister Bai likely didn't have that power...
After a moment of recovery, I reorganized the thoughts I'd just had.
If Mimicry Soul really was just piling Soul Essence onto an existing consciousness, then it meant one thing: Mimicry Soul was meaningless!
"You really are a dummy! How could the Mimicry Soul technique be meaningless? What about your concept for Soul Depiction! If a problem arises, doesn't that just mean there's a way to solve it?"
"But... if Soul Depiction eventually allows a Mimicry Soul to become true life, it would be the consciousness born from those Mimicry Souls that replaces the original consciousness. How is that any different from the Ship of Theseus?"
"You're still stuck in the Mimicry Soul mindset. That kind of development is just the perfection of the Mimicry Soul technique—letting it be born, letting it develop consciousness, all of it. But what about Soul Depiction? Isn't that exactly what it's for? Isn't it the art of depicting a soul?"
"Then how should it be done..."
"Take the unknown structural creation that birthed that void consciousness and depict it as a soul. In other words, make that consciousness accept the fact that it has become a soul. Buy the ticket after you've already boarded the ship! That is Soul Depiction!"
"Didn't you think of it earlier? A biological organism becoming life is the process of it gradually accepting Soul Essence. That was an unintentional revelation. You don't realize what a magnificent revelation you just had!"
"Consciousness cannot be born directly. Take dream creatures, for example; their consciousness is born from a coincidence within the dreamscape itself. Your current idea is to build a ship and invite them to be its master. But they already have a ship—it's just not a ship you recognize. Mimicry Soul is you forcibly shoving a ship onto them. They can use it, but the ship doesn't belong to them."
"So I need to help them turn their original ship into the ship I recognize. That is Soul Depiction..."
"There is one more prerequisite: they must have the resolve to want to become that ship. The name 'Ship of Theseus' represents the consciousness of a lifeform. The materials being constantly replaced are its original dream essence, and the brand-new ship will be the soul you shape for it. It's that simple."
"So... Soul Depiction and Mimicry Soul are two completely different techniques!" I finally seemed to understand.
"No, they are homologous techniques within your consciousness; they just lead to different results. Mimicry Soul is a technique that can absolutely never break through to become life, making it an absolutely safe choice for creating clones. Soul Depiction is a seedling for creating life; it holds infinite possibilities for becoming a living being!"
"Both are techniques for utilizing Soul Essence."
Seeing me reach this level of enlightenment, the Knowledge Shadow finally wore a gratified smile.
I felt as though my entire being had become transparent... I understood! I finally understood!
A wave of endless joy and accomplishment surged through me, leaving me so excited I could hardly contain myself.
Is this what it feels like to truly "conceive" an idea?
This feeling was simply incredible...
And now... I only lacked the "doing."
But could I do it now?
I calmed myself down, though the lingering glow of my emotions remained. After cool reflection, I realized that while Mimicry Soul was possible, Soul Depiction was not. Although I had the theoretical guidance for Soul Depiction, I didn't meet one hard requirement: how to advance Soul Essence into a soul!
As long as I could achieve the advancement of Soul Essence into a soul—the foundational project of the Great Soul Subject—my Soul Depiction technique would be complete.
For now, all I could do was Mimicry Soul. But even so, it was a fantastic ability for shaping clones!
And I already had the foundation for it: the Knowledge Shadow! My subconscious wouldn't require me to actively control it, nor would it require multi-threaded processing. She would simply do the things I "truly" needed to get done.
The subconscious is so easy to control—and yet so difficult. Because only when I truly want to do something do my subconscious and my subjective consciousness align. For example, if someone ticks me off, both my subconscious and my subjective consciousness will want to step forward and give them a thrashing.
"Just this alone might not be enough. Don't forget, I am only your subconscious. If you try to control a clone by treating me as your subjective consciousness... you're really asking for trouble. After all, the subconscious needs to discard many things—emotions, social norms, all external attachments. It is the most essential self. That self cannot easily be judged as good or evil, and its actions cannot be measured by moral standards."
"But you seem quite..."
"That's because I am speaking with your subjective consciousness, engaging in an exchange of awareness and expressing myself subjectively. Therefore, you have bestowed emotions, cognition, and the correction of right and wrong upon me in a way you can understand. I believe I've explained this to you before?"
"Yes, you did explain it once."
"Dummy... then why are you asking again?"
"So... what should I do?"
"Asking me is just asking yourself!"
"You should have a lead, right? Don't hide it now! I'm too lazy to think..."
"Blank Consciousness! And the Great Knowledge Seed! Figure out the rest yourself... no slacking!"
"Hey!" I wanted to keep asking, but the Knowledge Shadow had already vanished.
All that remained was the Mimicry Soul I had created for her using Soul Essence.
Looking at the Soul Essence that could no longer revert and was waiting to enter the Ley Line Cycle, I instinctively felt a pang of regret.
This sparked a sudden inspiration. Soul Crystals... they were crystals too, weren't they?
I used the Crystallization Art on the Soul Essence, but I quickly found... it didn't work. After all, the Crystallization Art was just a spell, not a conceptual god-tier power.
But I wasn't willing to give up. I thought of the concept of a "crystal nucleus."
Take water as an example: even if water reaches the conditions for freezing, it might not freeze. But if you drop a piece of ice in as a "crystal nucleus," the crystallization reaction can proceed rapidly.
So, I took out a Soul Crystal and used the Crystallization Art on it... and the Soul Crystal actually began to "absorb" the Soul Essence, slowly growing larger!
"Tsk... amazing."
At that moment, I realized I might have underestimated this spell called Crystallization Art. It worked on Soul Essence, and it worked on every physical crystal I had tried so far. So... what about energy crystals? Or even... spatial crystals?
Once I had finished reclaiming all the Soul Essence, the Soul Crystal in my hand had grown significantly larger.
But now wasn't the time to think about the Crystallization Art. I needed to focus on the hints the Knowledge Shadow had left before vanishing.
Blank Consciousness.
And the Great Knowledge Seed?
Thinking of this, I felt as though I was on the verge of understanding something, but there was one last layer of paper I couldn't quite poke through.
No matter. If I couldn't reach it through thought alone, I would manufacture it with my own hands!
It was just a Great Knowledge Seed, after all.
Although I had used them all up during the Great Knowledge Seed mass-production plan, my efficiency in condensing them had improved significantly following my refinements to the Great Knowledge Seed.
After condensing a new seed, I faced another dilemma: what was Blank Consciousness?
Could it be using the Great Knowledge Seed and that Consciousness Crystal to simulate a Sea of Consciousness, and then using that entire assembly as the consciousness for a Mimicry Soul...
I reached out, using the Crystallization Art to condense a piece of Consciousness Crystal that could carry the Great Knowledge Seed. Regardless, I would find out once I tried.
After all, I was very curious to see what a Mimicry Soul would look like if it were applied to an unconscious creation that shared the entirety of my knowledge...