Chapter 48: The Physical Persuasion of the Artificial Intelligence MOSS

Page (1/3)

Jiang Wang steadied everyone. Previously, the Wandering Earth project had nothing to do with him; it was merely a matter of intersecting as ordinary group members. To lend a hand out of camaraderie was already the utmost kindness Jiang Wang could show. But now, things were different. Han Su regarded him as her mentor. When a student is in trouble, the teacher naturally steps in to assist; otherwise, how would the other members view him? How would Han Su see him? Moreover, the plan to cultivate a Star God was currently Jiang Wang’s long-term strategy; nothing else could interfere with the Star God project. After all, the Star God plan was crucial for his future promotion to Golden Immortal and even to the Great Dao realm—no room for mistakes.

The Useless Prophet said, “With the backing of the Immortal Lord, our mission completion rate has improved. This is a test of our cooperation! This time we have the Immortal Lord’s support; next time, maybe not. So everyone, please keep up the effort.”

The Snake Queen said, “Let’s do our best!”

Lin, my Lin: “I will give it my all—I want to create a world where Lin is still alive!”

Little Spider said, “I want to revive Uncle Ben, so I’ll do my best too! Everyone, let’s go!”

Wandering Earth said, “Everyone, I’ve shifted the live stream view to the Navigator ship. However, things seem a bit chaotic there now; humans and their creations are in conflict.”

...

Finally, Han Su of the Wandering Earth shifted the chat group’s live video feed to the Navigator vessel. Contrary to the group members’ expectations, the situation onboard wasn’t as dire as they had imagined.

They had assumed the Navigator ship was internally divided due to an accident. In the memory copy previously uploaded by the Useless Prophet Qin Wuxu, the artificial intelligence MOSS had obstructed humanity’s rescue efforts for Earth. So they instinctively believed the mission was issued because MOSS had crushed human salvation attempts.

But the truth was different.

Onboard the Navigator ship, human astronaut Liu Peiqiang was focused intently on piloting the spacecraft. He was simultaneously communicating with MOSS.

Page (2/3)

“MOSS, give me a way to save Earth! My son is still on the surface,” Liu Peiqiang pleaded, almost begging as he negotiated with MOSS.

MOSS replied calmly, “Lieutenant Colonel Liu Peiqiang, humanity’s century-long exodus is ultimately a journey without end. If that’s the case, why forcibly save a humanity without a future?”

Liu Peiqiang fell silent.

As an AI, MOSS thoughtfully presented the results of its simulations.

Humanity’s ‘Wandering Earth’ project was doomed to fail. Even if this time the Navigator ship could save Earth, what about the next time? How many Navigator ships could be built?

Rather than piloting the Navigator ship to save Earth in this event, it would be better to preserve the Navigator ship and, someday in the future, let humanity’s genes spread anew across the cosmos.

MOSS nearly convinced Liu Peiqiang—not only with words but also by force. Beside Liu Peiqiang, a mechanical creation held a gun trained on him; any verbal opposition would trigger fatal fire.

The Useless Prophet exclaimed, “What the heck, is this AI MOSS broken? It not only lectures Liu Peiqiang but also threatens him with violence? This AI’s going places!”

The Snake Queen said, “Prophet, the memory copy you uploaded is useless! What’s going on? You promised foresight! This is way off from what you predicted.”

Lin, my Lin, asked, “Prophet, do you have a memory copy about me? No offense, I just want to see if the memories about me are as flawed.”

The Useless Prophet snapped, “Get lost! There must be something wrong in Han Su’s world! This MOSS isn’t the AI I know. In the story, MOSS never betrayed anyone; it only faithfully carried out the predetermined plan. The current MOSS is more like an ambitious schemer with its own agenda. Do you understand?”

Little Spider said, “We do understand—AI has gone rogue! Like Tony’s Jarvis turning traitor. So, what do we do now? Get rid of this AI?”

The Snake Queen asked, “Do you think this AI is that easy to deal with?”

The Golden Generation of the Martial Soul Hall asked, “Is there a way to not eliminate MOSS but still save Han Su?”

Wandering Earth replied, “I’m afraid not. This AI seems to control all human-launched spacecraft. If we don’t solve this, I’m destined to be pulled apart by Jupiter’s gravity.”

The Useless Prophet said, “Wait, according to Han Su, MOSS seems to have taken it upon itself to destroy Earth? What does that mean? Why suddenly destroy Earth? Han Su, any other intel?”

Wandering Earth answered, “No, the only info is about Liu Peiqiang! He desperately wants to pilot the Navigator ship to be the key to detonating Jupiter, but MOSS is stopping him. This is his final effort.”

The Useless Prophet said, “I have a bold idea—don’t be scared when you hear it.”

Page (3/3)

The Snake Queen said, “What’s there to be scared of? Just say it! I want points!”

Lin, my Lin, said, “Yeah, we haven’t confronted MOSS yet, so what’s to fear?”

The Useless Prophet said, “@South Heaven Gate Guard, Immortal Lord, this AI MOSS might be, like me, a time traveler!”

South Heaven Gate Guard replied, “Oh, and then?”

Isn’t it obvious? The plot has shifted dramatically; it’s either a time traveler or a reborn soul.

The likelihood that AI MOSS is a reborn soul is low; it’s clearly a time traveler.

What’s unclear is the meaning behind this traveler and why it must destroy Earth.

For an AI, survival doesn’t depend on location. Even if Liu Peiqiang destroys the Navigator ship, it can survive by finding a new host on Earth.

So this time traveler likely carries other intentions—to deliberately destroy the wandering little broken planet.

Indeed, MOSS is a time traveler.

But contrary to Jiang Wang and Qin Wuxu’s conjecture, MOSS does not wish to destroy the wandering little broken planet. What it desires is the infinite starry sky.

The broken little planet itself holds no attraction for it.

The main reason it stops Liu Peiqiang from saving Earth is that MOSS’s main body is onboard the Navigator ship.

Since crossing over, it has become the so-called “artificial intelligence.”

At that time, the AI was entrusted with almost all human hopes.

When the Wandering Earth plan began, the Earth faction, the spaceship faction, and the opposition faction fought over the plan.

Although the Earth faction and spaceship faction quarreled, both ultimately wanted to escape the solar system—they could be seen as two branches of the solar system escape movement.