What is the meaning of life?

The bright white words were still quietly displayed on the crystal interface. Omega seemed to be waiting patiently for Gao Wen's answer, and Gao Wen... didn't know where to answer for a while.

This question is classic, but it is also too broad, especially in this situation, when facing a "human" artificial intelligence that he knows nothing, he doesn't know how to answer it. Perhaps an eloquent and sharp-talking philosopher can express a large number of opinions here, but unfortunately Gao Wen is not such a philosopher, so after more than ten seconds of thinking, he just shook his head: "I don't know where to answer your question."

"… Interesting, the system records show that the same or similar answers appeared in total four times."

Gao Wen was stunned for a moment, and then reacted: "Have you asked someone else about this question?"

"There are few outsiders in Tallond - which means there will still be outsiders," the text on the interface began to refresh. "Maybe hundreds of years, or tens of thousands of years, whenever a new observation target appears, Omega will ask them a similar question - the observation target's reaction in front of the problem is also very meaningful."

Gao Wen suddenly felt interesting and couldn't help asking, "Who instructed you to do this? Does anyone give you instructions to observe and ask questions?"

"No." The text on the interface immediately replied.

"So this kind of observation behavior is your own...'interest'?" Gao Wen felt more and more interesting. "What are you doing this for? Satisfy your curiosity? Do you have curiosity?"

"...For the need to collect data," I don't know if it was an illusion, but the letters that kept popping up on the interface seemed to have a moment of delay, but soon lines of text began to refresh, "It is Omega's responsibility to expand the database and grow up on its own, and become a better service provider."

Gao Wen looked at the words that appeared on the interface, thought for a moment, and then casually said: "Look, for you, expanding the database, growing yourself, and becoming a better service provider, this is the meaning of your life."

“…It’s hard to understand that Omega has no life, Omega is a service system, so Omega has no ‘meaning of life’,” the words began to refresh again. “Are you shifting the topic or avoiding answers? Is this question too difficult for you?”

Gao Wen was a little silenced for a moment. In fact, he still did not seriously take the conversation until the previous second. This sudden unexpected connection made people feel inactive, and the communication through the text interface made him feel the illusion of "playing a Q&A game through the barrier". Until now, he felt that this so-called "Omega" system was communicating with himself seriously, seriously... "consulting" himself.

He didn't speak for a moment.

What does this "human" artificial intelligence want to do? Why did it suddenly find itself? It is just for the need to "observe" and "collect information" it mentioned? It chooses to come to the door after it talks alone with the Dragon God. Is there anything special about this point in time? Is this really the communication it initiated, or is there actually another commander behind it?

For a moment, all kinds of speculations came to my mind, stirring up Gao Wen's thoughts. When he temporarily suppressed these problems, he found that the text on the interface was still maintained.

Should we seriously answer this inexplicable "human" artificial intelligence that suddenly came to the door?

After a brief hesitation, Gao Wen did not analyze the possibility of conspiracy traps from behind this matter, so he spoke: "I can only talk about my own ideas - you can just use it as a reference.

"I think you should think about it from the perspective of individuals and groups - if the "life" you mean by "life", then it is divided into individuals and groups, at least on this planet. For a single life, it may have many meanings of existence, maybe for reproduction, maybe for survival, if it has higher intelligence and pursuit, then it may be for knowledge, for pursuing truth, for better enjoyment, or for dreams and self-worth... These are all "meaning" for individuals of life.

"But if it refers to the group and the big concept of 'life'... then I think that allowing oneself to continue is the meaning of 'life' itself."

The text on the interface did not start to refresh immediately this time, so that Gao Wen couldn't help asking again after waiting for two seconds: "Omega, are you still listening?"

"Omega is listening," Omega's message finally resumed its refresh, and lines of text began to scroll upwards. "The interesting answer sounds like the result of thoughtful thought. Is this the answer to 'human'?"

"This is just my own answer," Gao Wen said immediately, "Just as I said just now, life is divided into individuals and wholes. On this issue, there is no unified and recognized answer for the human whole, so I can only talk about my own views. And to be honest, your question itself is very general, the definition of life, the definition of existence, the definition of meaning... these are not quantifiable concepts, so I said that my answer is for reference only."

"Omega understands that your answer is used as a 'reference'...it's very inspiring. It will be included in the database and will be used for..."

The refreshed text on the interface suddenly stopped, and then the surface of the crystal panel that was flashing and shining light shook a few times. The interface originally used to display data such as temperature and airflow appeared in front of Gao Wen again.

Why did this suddenly run away?

Gao Wen didn't react for a moment. He was about to ask Omega what he planned to use for these data, but then he sensed a certain breath not far behind him, and the expression on his face suddenly stiffened.

He stood up (because the equipment was only more than one meter high, and Gao Wen was more than two meters tall), turned his head a little embarrassedly, and saw Melita standing at the door, looking at him with a look of astonishment.

"I..." Melita opened her mouth, as if she had sorted out the language before she said with a strange expression, "I just saw that the door was not closed, and I heard you seem to be talking to someone, just..."

Gao Wen's mouth trembled slightly: "So what did you see?"

"I saw you talking to my air conditioner (note)," Melita answered honestly, "and also looked thoughtful..." (Note: Translation)

Gao Wen: "…"

"That's right, Omega suddenly appeared just now," after a moment of embarrassment, Gao Wen decided to tell the truth. "It seemed to be a little curious about me, an 'outsider', so we communicated something-you know, I don't have the resonance core like you, so it would be more... strange to communicate."

Melita blinked, and seemed to accept this statement immediately, and she looked like she was suddenly enlightened: "Oh-so that's it. I said, you should usually look serious..."

Gao Wen: "…"

What else can he say? It is enough for a person in this world to study "The Holy Tale of Emperor Gowen Cecil" all day long... It is also good for Melita to maintain her current perception.

After that, Melita was still standing at the door, and she didn't seem to leave. Her eyes fell on Gao Wen, and she seemed to be a little reluctant to speak but stopped after wandering several times.

"You have something to ask me for?" Gao Wen finally realized that it was not by chance that Melita suddenly passed by her room at this time, so he asked on his own initiative.

Melita thought for a while and nodded: "Actually, it's just a little curious... After all, you talked with our gods for a long time today, and in my memory, no mortal has ever experienced anything like this..."

Gao Wen smiled and pointed to the side: "Will you come in and talk?"

Melita did not refuse. She walked into the house and sat skillfully on a chair next to the bar counter by the wall. She waved to the side, and a drink automatically flew over from the shelf not far away and landed on her hand. She picked up the cup and shook it gently at Gao Wen: "Do you want a cup? Although it may not be as good as the gods' hospitality."

Gao Wen came to Melita to sit down, and at the same time declined the other party's kindness: "No need, I'm still... not thirsty."

He was not polite. After all, he drank too much "Coke" at Dragon God not long ago. When he came back, he felt that his lung leaves were about to float up. Now he really didn't want to drink anything...

Melita didn't care: "Okay, then I'll enjoy it alone."

Gao Wen glanced at her: "You want to know what I have talked with your gods? Are you sure you want to inquire?"

Melita's movement of holding up the cup suddenly stiffened, and a hint of tension appeared on her face with naked eyes. Obviously, she quickly thought of some bad experiences, so she quickly shook her head: "It's not that... I'm just curious about what you talked about, probably, without any specific information... Ah, actually, I'm not that strong in curiosity..."

"I understand, I understand," Gao Wen couldn't help laughing, "I already know that as a member of the Dragon Clan, there are some things you really can't discuss with outsiders, not just divine punishment or 'enterprise regulations'... Don't worry, I already have a sense of responsibility and will not touch that layer of 'lock'."

Melita's movements stopped again, but this time it was due to surprise.

She stared at Gao Wen for a long time before showing a slightly complicated expression: "You...it seems that you have really talked to our gods about a lot of amazing things. You even know this."

Gowen nodded: "We talked about some of the history of Tallond, what happened in ancient times on this planet, and topics about faith and the realm of gods."

Melita seemed to be confused. She thought for a long time before she couldn't help asking curiously: "Why should our gods talk about this with you?"

"... Actually, I'm not sure," Gao Wen said frankly, "Maybe... even He is just looking for some answers."

"Looking for the answer?" Melita seemed even more confused. "Will even the gods be confused?"

"People will be confused, so God will be confused," Gao Wen smiled, then he looked at Melita and suddenly asked curiously, "Do you believe in that 'Dragon God'?"

Melita opened her mouth, but suddenly hesitated for a moment. If it were in front of the priest or the speakers, this should have been a question that needed to give an affirmative answer immediately. However, in front of Gao Wen, the "outsider", she finally gave an answer that might not be so "pious": "I...respected Him, but I don't know if that is pious."

"Awe is part of piety, but piety requires more than awe. I understand your answer," Gao Wen nodded, and then asked, "What about your friend Noreta? Is she a pious believer? Are there other upper-class dragons?"

"This... I don't really comment on others," Melita hesitated, but after a little struggling for two seconds, she seemed to think that her friend should still sell it. "Noretta should be similar to me. At least in my opinion, the dragons in the upper Tallond are more awe of our gods - of course, I mean we respect the dragon god very much, but we are a little scared of the great priests of the temple. You know, the places like the temple always make me a little nervous..."

Melita said while shrank her neck, as if she was already feeling that she was doing something very disrespectful, and then seemed to be trying to divert the topic that made her particularly awkward, she said: "But in the lower Tallond, there seemed to be many extremely pious dragons... They even use most of the synergists that are free to ration each month for pious rituals."

Gao Wen showed a thoughtful look.

The upper dragon clan is mostly awe of the Dragon God, but the lower dragon clan is closer to the unconditional pious believers... This is because the only value of the lower dragon clan in this society is to provide support for the Dragon God, and the upper dragon clan still needs to do something practical? Or is there some deeper arrangement behind this situation... Is this the acquiescence of the Dragon God, or is the secret tacit understanding of the upper Tarlongde?

"what's on your mind?"

Melita's voice woke Gao Wen from his thoughts. The latter woke up and shook his head with a smile: "Nothing. I just suddenly felt that your 'elasticizer' is really an incredible and easy to use thing. Can it be used in religious rituals?"

"The synergists are a general term for a series of biochemical agents. Some of them can be combined with our implant technology and have various functions," Melita immediately said with pride. "Some synergists can enhance nerve reactions and body recovery capabilities, while others are used to concentrate the mind and strengthen extraordinary perception. The "soul" synergists used in religious rituals are usually 'soul' synergists. It consumes nearly a hundred times the amount of the upper area. That thing is actually an inefficient hallucinogen, but the effect is not that strong..."

Listening to Melita's enthusiastic explanation, Gao Wen suddenly appeared in his mind a face and a promise that he almost forgot behind his mind. So he quickly interrupted Miss Dragon in front of him: "By the way, Melita, there is something I want to ask you..."

"Ah?" Melita was stunned, then nodded quickly, "Of course, if I can do it."

"That's right, I have... a friend," Gao Wen hesitated, trying to think about how to organize the next language so that the matter is not so weird. "He wants me to ask in Tallond if you have any technology that can help...hair growth...such as synergists or something."

Gao Wen finally finished speaking, and Melita immediately looked him up and down with a strange expression: "But you don't look..."

Gao Wen's mouth trembled suddenly: "I really have such a friend!"

"Isn't this friend you mentioned?" Melita seemed a little surprised and finally realized, "Ah, sorry, I'm rude, I didn't mean that..."

"It's okay," Gao Wen said helplessly, "Let's talk about whether Tallond has anything in this area-this shouldn't be a difficult task for you, after all, your technology seems to..."

"But we really don't." Melita said with a helpless expression on her face.

Gao Wen: "…How about Tallongd's such a developed technology..."

"Because the dragon clan has no hair..."
Chapter completed!