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"One hundred million..."

The most vociferous ones from a moment ago were all stunned, and it was in US Dollars...

They say it’s degrading to have money thrown in your face, but with such an amount, who the hell still cares about dignity?

The scene went quiet the instant the number was mentioned. Looking at the silent crowd, the person in charge smiled.

In this day and age, when employment competition has reached its extreme, what does a hundred million US dollars mean?

Even if I were to turn twenty again and grow ten livers, I still wouldn’t be able to earn one-tenth of that money in my lifetime...

Especially for Cui Yan, who was the most vocal just now. He blankly stared at the person in charge, then at Wenshanshan, who he never dared to confess his feelings for. His eyes were red with restraint.

A hundred million US dollars... Even in the expensive Magic Capital, one could have their large house, and allow their children to live the life of the real second-generation rich...

I’m only thirty years old, and my health is even worse than my dad’s, who is fifty-eight—ain’t it all because of money?

If there was money, who would want to work overnight?

Who would wake up at five in the morning to squeeze onto the subway?

Who would spend forty or fifty bucks to eat garbage-like prepackaged meals?

Who doesn’t want to go running in the morning and walk the dog in the evening?

Who doesn’t want to buy a piece of good steak or ribs at their leisure and slowly cook it themselves?

Who doesn’t want to roam around leisurely with a cup of tea just like those old men all afternoon?

Why do people still go out during the holidays, knowing full well that it’s crowded outside, and the hotels are expensive, only to get tired from the trip?

Isn’t it because the precious holidays are too scarce, and there’s too little time to relax?

So scarce that it simply cannot be wasted like those old men do...

In the limited time available, everyone wants to experience something different to feel it’s worthwhile.

When it comes down to it... isn’t it because of lack of money?

With money, who the hell would let dog capitalists treat them like wage slaves and wreck themselves?

A hundred million... in US dollars...

"Actually..." a faint voice slowly rose, "Is there anything you can do to make money that doesn’t involve any risk?"

The crowd turned in shock towards the source of the voice—they hadn’t expected that the first to utter such a grounded statement would be the typically aloof Sister Chen...

The person in charge also curiously looked over.

Among everyone present, Chen Xiaohui was the least likely to be swayed by the money.

He had checked everyone’s background, and Chen Xiaohui belonged to the upper-middle class elite, with a high reputation in the industry.

Although a hundred million US dollars was a lot, it was not enough to make her risk her life.

His plan was not to have her participate in the experiment directly, but to invite her to be a professional data analyst.

After Pu YunChuan’s experiment succeeded, they found that using the same steps, they were unable to replicate Pu YunChuan’s perfection in several other domains!

It’s not that they couldn’t form a data life—there are already ten successful cases of data life. But there are two issues. The first is that they still can’t determine whether that cluster of data truly counts as the person, and whether it’s just an electronic pet or a real data life.

The second point... is the age-old problem of longevity.

Due to the inertia of memory, they discovered that not only does a large influx of data cause issues for data life, but other stimuli do as well.

Like... death!

Yes, that’s right, death. From Pu YunChuan’s case, they found out that people in a familiar environment grow more easily due to memory inertia, and data processing also becomes smoother.

But there are two prerequisites: first, it must be sufficiently realistic.

For instance, there was a doctor who, because the designed environment was too monotonous—a game set in a hospital where you’d work at the hospital then work again, without any time to play—ended up becoming irritable due to the tedium.

Soon, they stopped developing, and even after becoming numb for a while, they stopped operating and turned into a clump of dead data.

The second point... is that one cannot die!

The virtual world, if too realistic, poses dangers and accidents; several test subjects have perished within it, and with that, truly ceased to exist...

To simulate real life one must eventually face death, because the concept of lifespan is inherent in human memory.

The experiments have shown that data consciousness can’t resist aging, and after a certain period, they fade away just like any ordinary life, losing consciousness completely.

.. This is something investors find utterly unacceptable.

Although current technology has already extended human lifespan, what those backers are after is far more!

What’s the use if data consciousness can’t achieve immortality?

To attain immortality, one must overcome the issue of memory inertia, and among all experiments, only in Pu Yunchuan’s world has there been a successful case of reincarnation.

He is the only data consciousness that continued functioning after dying in the virtual world, a vital experimental result.

To replicate his success, the person in charge has managed to convince the backers to summon all employees who were part of the initial game, suggesting that if they can replicate Pu Yunchuan’s success, it means.

.. at least this virtual gaming world will become the main sanctuary for the immortal data consciousness.

Of course... they could spend money to create another game like this, but since there’s already one available, it’s only logical to use it for experimentation.

Chen Xiaohui is an indispensable individual on the list, not only as one of the gaming staff but also as a renowned Data Master within the Central Federation. She is the most viable candidate for the optimization of big data for the data consciousness within this game.

He was considering a private talk with her about a potential collaboration, but unexpectedly, she seemed to be already convinced right here.

This was beyond his expectations.

Others were equally surprised; wasn’t Sister Chen the one who drove a Maserati? Was she really in need of the money?

"Sister Chen makes a point..." Wenshanshan hesitated for a moment before adding, "Nowadays... what doesn’t involve risks?"

A hundred million US dollars—she could return to her hometown in Nandu, buy a grand villa, and live like a wealthy young lady.

She could visit all the places she had always wanted to travel to—Paris, Maldives, Tahiti, Switzerland.

.. So many places she could only "cloud travel" through videos before, but with this money, she could go wherever she wished.

When Cui Yan, who admired the goddess, heard her speak, he naturally echoed, "Exactly, what doesn’t have its risks?"

With someone leading, the rest quickly overcame their psychological defenses, consenting one after another, "That’s true..."

"But... we want to know the specific risks," Ziyue spoke up.

"This will be clearly explained before signing the contract," the person in charge quickly said, "We use brain-computer interface technology, which is also the leading technology used in virtual reality games today.

Unlike regular neural connections, we have also accomplished a download function, meaning that we can digitalize your neural memory data and transfer it to the device. "

"Through numerous experiments, we have been able to completely separate data from the physical entity, not only ensuring the physical body maintains vital signs, but also ensuring the data inside isn’t affected.

After a certain extent, the data can be sent back, and you will immediately return to normal, just with an additional memory of having been in the virtual world. "

"Oh?" Ziyue narrowed her eyes, "Has it been successful?"

"Yes, indeed. There have been a few successful instances of data being sent back," the person in charge affirmed.

"What do you need us to do?" Ziyue, having an idea, still asked with a puzzled expression.

"Because the world where Pu Yunchuan resides is unique, successfully replicating his situation would dispel any remaining doubts from the investors behind the lab."

"What situation needs to be replicated?" Wenshanshan inquired curiously.

"After having died once," the person in charge said somberly, "In any other virtual environment, all data consciousness becomes dead data upon death, but Pu Yunchuan’s case was able to successfully reincarnate. We hope... you can replicate his situation."

"Uh...."

This time, those who had just barely mustered some courage immediately withdrew.

Indeed...

The hundred million was not so easily attained.

This was literally a life-and-death gamble!!