Four years passed quickly, and Liu Shu reached 105 years of age. During this time, Liu Shu’s new technology progressed steadily. She completed many other components individually and even worked on mixing them together.

  At first, to make sure everything could work at a small scale, she created a new and installed the large computer there.

  Due to the lack of refinement, each component was relatively large, and the potency of the computer could be said to be negligible compared to any modern technology.

  The calculations it did were also slow, much slower than even the first forms of computer technology. After all, computers were initially created for quick encryption and compiling mathematical formulas and such. Some calculations were tedious and time-consuming. Hence, people of the far past invented computers.

  Or so Liu Shu read from history books.

  On the other hand, Liu Shu’s “biological computer” was very different. Its function was not quick calculations, and instead it was adaptability of use. Perhaps, at first, it would take a long while to answer something. However, the more often it did the same calculation or action, the faster it evolved the circuits inside to do them.

  Not by learning, but by imprinting.

  Liu Shu, having observed the first computer work for three years already, felt quite novel. In the end, the components that made up a single computer were the following:

  Cable → Synaptic Root

  Switch → Gradient Cell

  Logic Unit → Thought Lattice

  Memory Unit → Memory Bud

  Clock → Pulse Heart

  Processor → Cognition Weave

  Energy Source → Sap Reactor

  Storage → Archive Seed

  Network → Root Nexus

  With these as the foundation, Liu Shu was able to weave them together and create the first computer.

  Seeing it working was… peculiar.

  Mariane stood at the side, seeing the sloooooow calculations, and for the first time since the project started, she felt some doubt creeping up. “Um… Liu Shu, I do not want to bash your invention or something, but… This is not just slow. It’s… tree-language levels of slow.”

  The other scientists who had shifted their research branches to the biological computer felt Mariane’s words were not far-fetched.

  On the other hand, Liu Shu was not affected in the slightest. “What, did you expect some type of miracle-level technology that could surpass thousands of years of technological advances in just five years?”

  Her amused tone made the scientists in the room blush a little. Some of them were actually expecting it. After all, being intelligent and involved didn’t mean that they didn’t have dreams and expectations!

  A human man at the side looked at some data and commented. “Lady Heavenly Willow, how long do you think this technology will take to catch up with modern technology?”

  “Catch up?” Liu Shu laughed. “We are not trying to catch up. This technology does not follow the same path as modern technology. As much as I wanted to say that our technology will surpass the other in calculation speed, it won’t. Cold, machine-like calculations are always faster than anything else.”

  That was the truth. Another asked, confused. “If that’s not the intent… what is your objective, Lady Heavenly Willow? At our current efficiency, scaling this project will demand significant resources. What strategic edge does it ultimately provide?”

  Liu Shu sighed softly, her gaze sweeping across the room. “For five years, you have shaped this system with me. If you still believe we are chasing machines on their own path, then I have failed to make the vision clear.”

  The scientists were silent. Mariane knew that they didn’t have the courage to challenge Liu Shu straightforwardly. Therefore, with a great deal of foresight, she compiled their questions anonymously. Clearing her throat, Mariane took out a paper and read it.

  “Question number one: Lady Heavenly Willow, I’ve been working on this project for five years, but I can’t see the vision. I struggle to see this technology surpassing the functionality of machine computers. May you enlighten us on which aspects of our technology will surpass machine computers?”

  “Yes.” Liu Shu answered lightly. “Our computers will, in the far future, be able to have artificial judgment and response. In direct comparison, its initial calculation speed is slow. However, the way it grows gives it something that cold machinery lacks: refinement.”

  She used an example. “A machine translates ‘hello’ into rigid signal structures before sending it. Ours forms the intent as a living pattern and shares that pattern directly. It is slower—but it does not fragment meaning along the way.”

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  Mariane smiled. “Question two: If we are attacked by machine computers, wouldn’t our defenses collapse immediately? With their ability for cold calculation, we are helpless.”

  Liu Shu laughed. “Helpless? What will the other side calculate? Thought? Our systems are not built upon numbers; they are built by mimicking life and thought itself.”

  The other scientist paused here. Liu Shu, knowing the type of questions that were about to come, decided to put everything to rest with a single long explanation.”

  “Let me be extremely clear and solve all your doubts once and for all. This system is not built for raw speed. It is built for refinement. It does not seek immediate efficiency through rigid structure, but gradual optimization through use.”

  Seeing their thoughtful expressions, Liu Shu continued. “Each activation reshapes it. Each repetition subtly alters its internal architecture. There is no consciousness involved—only structural adaptation responding to repeated stimulus.”

  Liu Shu paused and clarified with a single sentence: “It is not a CPU. It is a growing neural substrate.”

  There was silence for a second, and then it finally dawned on them. That single sentence made the scientist feel a rush as their brain cleared of fog. Together with the help of Little Ingenuity, their minds were quick to Liu Shu’s uptake. They had not worked here for five years in vain, after all.

  Everyone glanced at the small computer struggling to make calculations, and their perspective changed. What they were seeing now was not even a toddler; it was the embryo. An embryo that, once matured, would become terrifyingly complex and efficient.

  “Alright.” Liu Shu gathered everyone’s attention one last time. “I need to go look at Little Eternity, since she is about to be finished. For now, observe how it develops. Give it three years or so before we continue with more tests. For now, feed it the same information, record changes, and every month, dismantle it and see the changes in internal structure. I want a comprehensive data folder uploaded to our database for me to look at later.”

  Mariane nodded, her wings buzzing with excitement. “Yes. I wonder how we can incorporate Runic Fields with this little darling?”

  Liu Shu chuckled. “They will fit right in, don’t worry.”

  As she was about to leave, she recalled something. “Oh, by the way, I’ve refined the enough to allow them to act as normal energy conductors along with their other functions. Tell the infrastructure division to start substituting our cable network with theirs. For now, don’t replace it completely. Tell them to design a mix that will allow complete substitution in time.”

  Mariane answered playfully. “Yes, Lady! Your orders are our calling!”

  Liu Shu chuckled, her laugh filling the room with the tenderness of nature. “Alright, I am leaving. Keep up the good work.”

  Her eyes then moved toward the area where the were built. There, four massive temples towered above the fifth one. This fifth one was naturally the .

  This temple, being A- Tier instead of A Tier, lacked an edge in terms of aura compared to its other four siblings.

  Even then, Liu Shu didn’t mind. The reason she chose this one was not really to buff her civilization, but for herself.

  [Congratulations on building !]

  [Error! Tier Upgrade buffs failed to trigger!]

  [ will remain as an A- Tier structure.]

  “Hm?” Liu Shu blinked, and then, she frowned. “What’s wrong? Why didn’t they trigger? According to my buffs, Little Eternity should’ve shot up to A+ Tier at least, S- Tier at most.”

  [System Hint: Materials and personal are unable to support such improvements.]

  [System Hint: After unlocking the and fusion options, the has detected that the path of merging is better to upgrade on .]

  Liu Shu frowned deeply. “And? When did the ask me if it was more suitable?” Her eyes flashed coldly. “System, if there is an option, present it. I don’t like others making choices for me, especially when it involves such an important matter.”

  [System Hint: The specialness of the attribute must be restricted. The options you’d be given are either to build it with inferior materials so that it reaches the A- Tier after the upgrades, or give up on the upgrade.]

  Liu Shu’s uncomfortable feelings relaxed slightly. Even then, she was still pissed. “If this happens again, and if I ever reach enough strength to threaten you… I’ll remember these little things. I can be very petty, especially when it comes to revenge.”

  The system didn’t answer further, making Liu Shu sigh. “Wisdom, why didn’t you warn me? I understand the being the won’t really take the initiative unless I ask it about things. But you are different.”

  [Wisdom: This time, there are no other options. can’t go beyond A- Tier. Only fusions will push it further up the ranks.]

  “Hm… alright.” She sighed, her mood still somewhat sour. “I’ll reluctantly agree… because I don’t really have any other option.” She sneered at them. Internally, she made a note to be more careful in the future.

  At this moment, everyone around the world received a message.

  [Congratulations! You’ve gained .]

  ***

  : While under its influence, all beings will gain 100% resistance to energy and its adverse effects. There is also a minuscule chance of becoming and gaining a