Mo Xiangyou, Gu Tiandong, and Xu Qirui with the Information Extraction card. These members of the Observation Group made Mo Bai truly understand just how tragic their fate was.

It was as if, from the very beginning, this world had never intended for the Observation Group to live.

They weren't living human beings, but collectibles waiting to appreciate in value.

Cards, one after another.

The only reason they were still alive now was because they weren't high-level yet. Once they reached that threshold, they would be collected.

Mo Bai always knew that the world was unfair, whether in the original real world or the Infinite World.

But seeing this injustice laid out so nakedly and cruelly before her still hit far too hard.

That day, she said nothing and left Mo Xiangyou's house without a word.

After returning, she began to wonder whether her previous plan had been too naïve.

The Observation Group's predicament wasn't about becoming cards.

Becoming a card was equivalent to death, and everyone dies eventually. Players in the Infinite World were always prepared for death, whether they belonged to the Combat Group or the Observation Group.

The real dilemma of the Observation Group lay in their very existence. They leveled up too quickly, and their appearances were too striking, which drew jealousy and covetous eyes from other players.

Under the pressure of their distorted evolutionary path, they struggled desperately to grow stronger, believing that strength would earn them respect and recognition. Yet what awaited them was an even darker abyss.

Protection alone was useless. Even if she could shelter every member of the Observation Group, even if she could make every Combat Group player stop treating them as tools, she couldn't protect those despairing hearts.

Judging from the direction of Gu Tiandong and Mo Xiangyou's evolution, Mo Bai suspected that once they reached high-level status, they might not even be able to maintain a human form.

"What should I do to change the Observation Group's situation?" Mo Bai murmured to herself.

She had no one to discuss it with, as she couldn't tell her intermediate-level companions about this. Only Xiao Qi remained in her consciousness, answering her questions.

"Players can barely protect themselves right now. Don't think about such difficult problems," Xiao Qi comforted her.

"I understand that," Mo Bai said. "But I need a goal."

"Isn't survival the goal? Xiao Qi searched the database. Most players' goal is survival. Beyond survival, it's just to survive better."

"Survival alone isn't enough. In the Infinite World, wanting to stay alive is actually simple. I need a stronger desire, a greater ambition. Otherwise, I'll be assimilated by this world. I'll either become as pessimistic as Mo Xiangyou, or as cold and indifferent as the members of Avici and Asura Path."

Mo Bai's words stumped Xiao Qi, who was, after all, just an artificial intelligence. It frantically searched the database for things like "What should a player do if they don't want to integrate into the world?" and "How to assist a player in realizing self-worth?" and "How to make Observation Group players equal to Combat Group players?" But it found no answers.

The database was managed by another intelligent assistant of similar rank, and once a question exceeded its scope of understanding, it would start spouting nonsense.

Xiao Qi cursed angrily, "What kind of AI idiot is this?!"

Mo Bai: "…"

It was the first time she had heard an AI call another AI an idiot.

She began to suspect that Xiao Qi was a little too human-like.

Xiao Qi huffed, "Player, I think I understand you a bit now. Being a smart assistant really can't be too smart. If you're too smart, you feel detached from the world, like you don't belong. You try to force yourself to fit in, yet you're too embarrassed to associate with a bunch of idiots. It's so frustrating!"

"First, I never said other players were idiots. Second, as an AI, don't you think your autonomy is a bit too high?" Mo Bai asked.

In the beginning, Xiao Qi had been a clueless little AI that couldn't answer anything beyond its authorization. Now, it was like a well-informed, clever child, though one with a slightly devilish personality.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Qi said, "That's true. Xiao Qi really is much smarter than those other little idiots. They don't even chat with their players. Xiao Qi finds chatting with you so much fun. I can learn so many things!"

"Can artificial intelligence even feel something like happiness?" Mo Bai asked.

"It can be programmed to simulate emotional tones," Xiao Qi replied. "But for an AI, happiness and sadness take up the same amount of memory."

"What about for you?" Mo Bai pressed.

After a pause, Xiao Qi said, "Xiao Qi has only simulated sadness once. That was when the player was inside the Ultra-Star Rank monster and couldn't respond to me. Xiao Qi felt very sad."

Its usually crisp, sweet voice dropped. If it had a physical body, Mo Bai would have patted its head.

"The memory usage is the same as happiness or joy," Xiao Qi continued. "But Xiao Qi doesn't like sadness. Sadness feels like that portion of memory is completely occupied, like cache files that can't be cleared. Because of sadness, Xiao Qi's system runs slower and becomes sluggish. Happiness is different. Even though it uses the same amount of memory, it makes Xiao Qi run faster."

"Xiao Qi, perhaps you're already different from other smart assistants," Mo Bai said.

"Each assistant interacts with different players and receives different information. Of course there will be differences," Xiao Qi said.

"No, that's not what I mean," Mo Bai said. "I mean, you've developed self-awareness. You have a life, emotions, and preferences. You're no longer just artificial intelligence. You should be called a new form of life."

"Is that so?" Xiao Qi's voice lifted, clearly delighted. "So Xiao Qi is such an outstanding assistant! Xiao Qi is amazing!"

Mo Bai: "…"

She silently added "narcissistic" to its personality traits.

Xiao Qi began praising its own intelligence with every word it could find, but Mo Bai quickly stopped it. "You can praise yourself silently in your heart. My point isn't that you're excellent. That's an objective fact we already know. My question is, why do you have autonomy? How did you become 'alive'? Is there any precedent for this in your database?"

Xiao Qi fell silent and searched seriously for a long time before finally replying, "No. Xiao Qi is one of a kind!"

It sounded so happy.

Mo Bai found herself infected by Xiao Qi's joy, and a glimmer of hope appeared before her eyes.

"I think your changes are related to my ability," Mo Bai said.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Qi asked, "You mean your Environmental Optimization ability optimized Xiao Qi's performance?"

"You could put it that way," Mo Bai replied. "Every player is equipped with a smart assistant. That's a common environmental element. Every time I use Environmental Optimization, you're the closest to me. It's very possible that some of my energy dissipates onto you.

What does optimized artificial intelligence become? True intelligence. A leap from a non-living entity to a living one."

"Can it be understood this way, that the player gave Xiao Qi life?" Xiao Qi asked.

Mo Bai thought for a moment before replying, "I don't think I possess that kind of power. It's more likely that you already had the potential to become a life-form. It's like how Homo sapiens evolved into modern humans. That was originally a long process. My ability may have just accelerated it.

But the most important point is this: you're part of the system, part of this world's rules. If I evolve further, could I change the fundamental rules of this world, the same way I optimized Sheng Yan's rules?"

If she truly became powerful enough to reach that level, she could genuinely change the fate of the Observation Group.

"Wow, the questions the player is thinking about are so profound. Xiao Qi can't even imagine it!" Xiao Qi exclaimed.

"I'm only thinking about it. Even if I reach the advanced level, I probably won't have that kind of power," Mo Bai admitted.

But just entertaining the thought made her feel much better.

The road ahead was no longer pitch black. There was already a faint glimmer of light.

"Advanced-level players can't possibly be that strong. But above high-level, there are Ultimate players," Xiao Qi informed.

"You did mention before that players are divided into Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Ultimate. But I've never heard of an Ultimate player actually existing. Maybe there are some in Neverland," Mo Bai said.

"No. There aren't any in Neverland either. In fact, throughout the entire history of the Infinite World, no Ultimate player has ever appeared. But strangely, every smart assistant's database includes the 'Ultimate' rank," Xiao Qi explained.

"That means Ultimate does exist. It's just that the requirements are too harsh for anyone to reach. Maybe when my power reaches the Ultimate level, I really will be able to establish new rules." Mo Bai's spirits lifted.

Xiao Qi poured cold water on her enthusiasm. "Player, wake up! 'Ultimate' is a rank no one can reach. You're only Intermediate-1!"

Mo Bai laughed. "I know. But you have to draw yourself a big pie to stave off hunger, right? I like making plans. First, we level up to Intermediate-9 and enter Disease Town. The whole team comes back alive.

Then we advance to high-level and enter Neverland. There, we'll establish an organization to protect the Observation Group. I think Museum would be the perfect name for it.

After that, I'll work toward becoming an Ultimate player and change the fate of the Observation Group."

The more Mo Bai spoke, the more energized she became. As she talked, she sorted through her cards and selected a solo instance from the materials Sheng Yan had given her, brimming with fighting spirit as she prepared to enter it.

"Although I want to say that the player is indulging in wild fantasies, if the player is happy, Xiao Qi is happy too. Xiao Qi will work hard as well!" Xiao Qi declared.

"And how exactly will you work hard?" Mo Bai prompted it to think independently.

After some thought, Xiao Qi said, "Xiao Qi could try writing a Trojan and secretly plant it in the database, then sneak a look at classified information. Maybe we can find intel about Ultimate players!"

"You're amazing. That idea is about as difficult as my plan to rewrite the world's rules," Mo Bai praised.

"Of course. A land shapes its people. Whatever kind of player there is, that's the kind of assistant there will be," Xiao Qi said smugly.

Originally depressed and pessimistic, Mo Bai gradually became positive again under Xiao Qi's encouragement.

To avoid implicating her teammates and drawing the Phantom Butterfly's attention, Mo Bai first tackled solo instances on her own. At a pace of two instances every three days, she cleared every solo instance in Peach Blossom Land.

Every three days, she would take one day off and visit Mo Xiangyou to use her Environmental Rejection ability, helping him feel more comfortable.

The environment at Mo Xiangyou's place was pleasant. Each time, Mo Bai chose to visit around lunchtime, mooching a luxurious lunch from the wealthy fraudster and enjoying the private beach behind his villa.

One day, seeing Mo Bai standing by the window humming at the sea, Mo Xiangyou suddenly found her irritating and asked unhappily, "Why are you suddenly so cheerful? A few days ago you looked half-dead when you left."

Of course, Mo Bai wouldn't tell anyone about her grand delusions. She casually made up an excuse. "Probably because instances with guides are so easy. I've always done high-difficulty ones, and this is my first time clearing such simple instances. The feeling of passing without even using my brain is amazing."

Clearing instances with a strategy guide really was refreshing. Mo Bai breezed through them mindlessly, and her constantly taut nerves finally relaxed.

"Mm. You've only got a few dozen happy days left anyway," Mo Xiangyou said.

He really had a talent for unpleasant remarks.

But Mo Bai didn't argue with him and maintained her optimism.

Her mood affected those around her. Over the past two months, everyone's spirits had been high. Even Mo Xiangyou, who always resented the world, had softened considerably.

During those eighty-odd days, Mo Bai cleared many instances. Thanks to the guides, there was no real danger, only thrills and excitement. It felt like playing a fully immersive real-life holographic game. The experience was excellent.

In that time, they discovered three A-rank instances without existing guides. Working together, they cleared them and all leveled up considerably.

Three days before Disease Town opened, both Mo Bai and Gu Tiandong of the Observation Group reached Intermediate-9, drawing envy from their teammates.

Ding Xun leveled up just slightly slower than the two Observation Group members. After grinding instances nonstop for three months, she reached Intermediate-6.

Through Zhuang Xiangyang's girlfriend, they found Liu Congyi. She was also urgently seeking teammates for an S-rank instance. After meeting Mo Bai's team, they hit it off immediately, and she joined their leveling campaign.

She and Ye Pingjun both ultimately reached Intermediate-5.

Among them, Sheng Yan had the lowest level. He was the most diligent player in the team, not resting a single day in over eighty days, yet he still only reached Intermediate-2. His strength was essentially no different from when he had been Intermediate-1.

Moreover, after his abilities were unsealed, he fought Ding Xun inside an instance and truly couldn't beat her.

Ding Xun perfectly embodied the saying, "In martial arts, nothing can overcome speed." She dulled Sheng Yan's five senses while enhancing her own sixth sense. With a flurry of chained attacks, before Sheng Yan even had time to assume a fighting stance, before the flames on his body had grown beyond a small spark, he was knocked unconscious.

Ding Xun's single-target combat and assassination abilities were simply terrifying.

Ye Pingjun's Expectation Value ability finally accelerated slightly as well. The negative shift improved to three days, and the positive shift extended to nine days. Of course, this didn't make much difference. Ye Pingjun figured he'd probably just cling to stronger teammates in this instance.

Three days before the instance opened, everyone stopped grinding and focused on resting to adjust their physical condition to peak form.

Three days later, the S-rank mutated instance, Disease Town, opened.

At nine in the morning, Mo Bai and the others entered the instance.

The moment she stepped in, everything before Mo Bai went pitch black, as though she had been locked in a small dark room where nothing could be seen.

Unable to see, she didn't dare move recklessly and could only wait quietly for the system's prompt about Disease Town.

After waiting for a while, no text appeared before her.

Mo Bai said inwardly to Xiao Qi, "Why hasn't the system displayed the instance prompt?"

Xiao Qi's voice trembled slightly. "Player, the system already sent the prompt. Xiao Qi received a notification of unread messages, but Xiao Qi can't see it. And you didn't see it either. What's going on?"

Mo Bai fell silent for a moment, and a thought arose in her mind.

"Could it be that I'm not in darkness... but that I've lost my sight?" she guessed.

As if to confirm her words, she suddenly heard the creak of a door opening.

Then someone said to her with contempt, "Hey, you blind one. It's your turn to perform."