Chapter 283: Guided Delusion
After an hour of interviews and questioning, both parties got what they wanted. The expedition team obtained the information they needed about this world, while Sarah got a surprisingly straightforward interview.
Sarah took her leave, leaving the expedition group to their own discussion. As for her, she needed to report back to Ms. Youqi. After all, she had only received permission on the condition that she would share everything she learned with her.
The expedition group gathered together to discuss the information they had obtained from Sarah.
It turned out this world was a Chinese fantasy world where Chinese magic was real. People flying while standing on swords and palm strikes capable of leveling mountains were common occurrences here.
Moreover, this world was enormous, more than a thousand times larger than Earth. It was so vast that transportation relied on arrays that functioned like warp drives, compressing space to shorten the distance between provinces.
Cities were often as large as entire countries back on Earth. The world was filled with miraculous flora and fauna. They had even been given a sample of a common medicinal herb that ordinary people used to treat wounds.
According to their preliminary tests, it was incredibly effective. A cut on a person’s thumb healed completely within half an hour without leaving a scar. The scientists could hardly wait to return it to the laboratory for further analysis.
"It looks like you can’t treat this place like a colony after all, Captain," Brandon Lee said sarcastically. "Against these superhumans, our weapons are practically useless. They can’t even threaten the weakest warriors here."
He knew the military had also been given orders to establish superiority in this world. The strategists back home had assumed this civilization was no different from ancient China.
But who could have imagined this place would be home to a civilization that had followed an entirely different path of evolution and development than Earth?
If Earth had advanced through science and technology, then this world had advanced through spiritual cultivation and body refinement, developing its civilization to an astonishing level.
At that moment, the lead scientist, Dr. Neil Hampton, spoke.
"It seems the theory of Environmental Determinism is somewhat applicable here. To the point that it led to an entirely different path of development than our own."
Hearing that, the captain of the vanguard team asked, "Huh? Environmental Determinism? What’s that?"
"It’s an old theory that has long been debunked in our world," Dr. Hampton explained. "It argues that humans are passive, and that the environment, available resources, climate, and geography determine how civilizations develop."
"Isn’t that true here? I mean, look around us. People settle their disputes by slapping each other to death instead of using guns," the captain replied.
"In this world, yes, it’s somewhat true. But in our own world, Environmental Determinism was often used to justify claims of superiority. For example, people argued that Europe and other temperate regions became advanced and industrious because harsh winters forced people to work hard or die."
"On the other hand, tropical regions and the colonies were portrayed as places where food was available year round, supposedly making the people lazy and backward, requiring civilization from more ’advanced’ societies."
"That narrative made conquest seem both inevitable and justified. Geography was used to legitimize racial hierarchy, with white Europeans portrayed as the ’natural masters,’" Dr. Hampton said before letting out a sigh, as if exhausted by the mental gymnastics of their ancestors.
"But the theory has been thoroughly debunked. Look at Egypt and Mesopotamia. They shared similar environments and resources, yet developed very different technologies and cultures. If Environmental Determinism were entirely correct, then societies in similar environments should have followed nearly identical paths."
"But... isn’t Environmental Determinism actually true here? I mean... look around us. There are cultivators everywhere. Nobody uses guns because they’re useless. Instead, they rely on swords and cultivation. There are also all kinds of exotic plants and materials," the captain argued.
"That’s true, Captain. That’s why I said it’s only partly true here. This world’s civilization followed a different path because of its environment. However, there’s another theory that explains the development of both our world and this one."
"It’s called Possibilism."
"Possibilism?"
"That’s right. Possibilism is the modern response to Environmental Determinism. It argues that the environment presents both possibilities and constraints, but humans ultimately choose which path to take within those limits. That explains both our world’s development and this world’s."
"For example, on Earth we developed engines, railroads, and trains to solve the problem of long distance travel. Those inventions dramatically reduced travel time."
"Meanwhile, in this world, because the land is so vast, people chose to develop spatial arrays that utilize this world’s resources and natural laws to compress space and shorten travel distances."
Dr. Hampton smiled as he explained, looking as though he had returned to his days as an academic lecturer.
"You see, Captain? The problem was the same, but humanity chose different solutions based on the constraints imposed by their environment. In this world’s case, the differences were so significant that they developed spiritual cultivation instead of science, because for them, it was simply the more practical path," Dr. Hampton concluded.
"Doctor, are you implying that even if we bring the resources from this world back to Earth, we might not be able to utilize them?" the captain asked.
"Not at all. As I explained, Possibilism suggests otherwise. We have science, and we’ve already discovered many functions and properties from the Leviathan’s carcass that came from this world. We simply need to learn more about this world so we don’t have to fumble our way through developing these resources," Dr. Hampton said.
At this time, one of the members of the diplomatic team spoke.
"Yeah, it’s very enlightening to hear your explanation, Doctor, but we need to get rid of our prisoner status first. Otherwise, I can’t establish diplomatic relations with the authorities here."
He then turned toward Brandon, their leader.
"Chief, who do you think we should establish diplomatic relations with? There are more clans and sects than we can count, and from what that reporter said, it seems there are both righteous cultivators and demonic cultivators as well."
At this time, the captain spoke.
"I suggest we go to Green Bamboo Province. From what that reporter said, it’s the weakest province. There’s a high chance we could establish our superiority there."
"Yeah... and we have to cross a distance equivalent to about one tenth of the Solar System to get there. How are we supposed to do that in the first place?" one of the scientists argued.
At this time, Brandon Lee, the leader of the diplomatic team, spoke up.
"Ladies and gentlemen..." He paused, looking around at everyone in the tent to make sure he had their attention.
"I think we should establish diplomatic relations with the Underworld Palace."
"What? But that’s against the directive! We..."
Before the captain could finish, Brandon Lee cut him off.
"That directive is exactly the thing that could ruin our country, Captain. It was issued under the assumption that this world only possesses technology comparable to ancient China, at most the late Ming or early Qing Dynasty, and therefore poses no threat to us." He paused and looked the captain in the eye.
"But what we’ve discovered is a different kind of advanced civilization. They may even surpass us in terms of technological applications. It’s only their appearance, clothing, and culture that give the impression their civilization is less advanced than ours, when in reality it isn’t. They even have what is essentially warp drive technology for transportation!"
"Yeah, and they even have something like the internet. They call it the Spirit Net," one of the younger diplomats chimed in.
Hearing this, the captain was about to agree with their reasoning. But suddenly, as if guided by an invisible hand, he remembered his life in the military and the pride he held for his country.
No nation on Earth dared to go toe to toe with his beloved homeland.
His eyes grew resolute.
"I’ll consider your proposal only after we’ve witnessed it with our own eyes. We’re deep inside enemy territory, so every piece of information they feed us should be treated as propaganda or deception from the enemy,"
"But Captain, you saw it with your own eyes! You saw how strong that muscular man is! If things go sideways, we won’t stand a chance!" Brandon Lee argued.
"That man is African American. That only proves one thing. We can become just as strong as he is. And if we can, we’ll have a tremendous opportunity to establish our country’s superiority! Think about the benefits our nation would gain, Mr. Lee!" the captain said as he clenched his fist, trying to rally the team.
"What?" Brandon Lee was stunned. He had never expected the captain of the vanguard team to think like this.
He understood that the man was patriotic as a military officer, but this was delusion.
A bad feeling settled over him about this expedition. He could only hope things wouldn’t spiral too far out of control.