Inside the winter palace hall, the Governor of the West—now the new Emperor—showed a distinct change of expression at those words.
"Explain in detail," he demanded urgently.
…
A moment later, a soldier hurried into the hall, presenting an object like a jade seal, its surface glowing faintly green.
"So this is the so-called Secret Seal? When the palace was about to fall, the empress of the old dynasty used this to control her guards and attendants, forcing them to fight?"
The new Emperor examined the exquisite seal.
It was smaller than the Imperial Seal.
Square and ancient in design, etched with faint golden patterns, though now the lines were dim and lifeless.
"Yes," the empire's new Chief Scientist said, his gaze thoughtful.
"This is the Academy's most important research project in recent centuries—Project 001. Outside a handful of people, it was kept top secret.
The project has been ongoing for more than a hundred years. It began when we accidentally observed a strange natural phenomenon, which we called the Spirit Tide.
That is, at regular intervals, the world seems to experience a kind of abnormal energy disturbance…"
He spoke slowly, carefully:
"More precisely, it is some sort of interference. The Academy hypothesized that there exists in nature a type of energy we cannot directly detect.
At certain times, this mysterious energy rises and falls like a tide, disturbing other observable energies.
We placed observatories on mountains to monitor the Spirit Tide for decades. Through calculation, we discovered a pattern.
At first, the intervals between tides seemed irregular. But later, the intervals formed a curve of decreasing function.
There were errors, but the pattern was real.
Each tide lasted about three days.
Some of the errors might have been due to primitive observation methods.
In short, we determined the cycle of the Spirit Tide—and we suspected it relates to the very foundation of the world itself.
Yet, despite advances in technology, we still could not directly observe this mysterious energy.
Until one day, an expedition in the southern mountains discovered a strange mineral. Around it, vegetation grew unusually lush.
Coincidentally, the site matched the direction of an ebbing tide.
We suspected the mineral had absorbed this mysterious energy after ages of exposure. Thus, a project group was formed to study it—though at the time, it was not yet called 001."
The scientist's eyes grew distant as he continued:
"From that stone, research into the unknown energy began. Progress was slow.
But gradually we learned: the stone did indeed absorb energy automatically.
Moreover, it carried a kind of extraordinary power.
When stimulated, it could influence the human mind.
Those who mastered it could amplify their inner thoughts through it, forcibly interfering with the thoughts of those nearby. Like… hypnosis! Yes, hypnosis!
When this was discovered, the Academy reported it immediately to the late emperor.
Thus it became classified as Project 001.
We tried to decode the mechanism, but progress stalled. Some speculated it touched upon the domain of gods.
Eventually, the stone was fashioned into the Secret Seal and kept in the palace under imperial control. After the late emperor's death, it passed to the empress. The rest… Your Majesty knows."
His words fell silent.
The new Emperor's eyes had changed.
Clutching the dim seal tightly, he stared hard at the scientist, voice low:
"So you're saying—the holder of this seal can hypnotize others?"
"…Yes. But there are limitations—distance, numbers, and the target's mental activity. A more active mind resists better."
Under the Emperor's pressure, the scientist lowered his head, swallowed, and added:
"Also, each use drains the seal's stored energy. It must be left to recover naturally. The empress used it once before the fall…
That is why it is dull and powerless now. It cannot be used again for some time."
The hall sank into silence.
The atmosphere was suffocating.
At last, the scientist dared lift his head—only to flinch, for the new Emperor's gaze was locked upon him, intense and unblinking.
"Your Majesty?"
"Tell me," the Emperor whispered. "How does it work?"
…
…
[Year 740,100,049 of World Evolution, summer: The Governor of the West was crowned emperor, founding the New Dynasty. In the same year, he issued laws to pacify the people, ending the war, restoring peace, and beginning recovery.]
On the operation log, lines clicked into existence.
At the same time, Lin Tuo noticed the Ether concentration on the virtual panel shift—From a red downward arrow, to an orange horizontal bar, then minutes later, a green arrow pointing upward.
"As expected. The civil war ended, society returned to peace, and Ether is recovering."
By the Sand Table, Lin Tuo let out a breath of relief.
The Chi Dynasty's fall and rise of the New Dynasty did not surprise him.
In truth, the Chi Kingdom had already begun decaying two centuries earlier. His own "descent" had merely extended its life with science.
Now, seeing the continent progress again, he finally relaxed. Turning, he hugged his laptop, put on headphones, and launched a game.
Yes—between cultivation, tinkering, and watching the Sand Table, he had been busier than working a job. A day of entertainment was well deserved.
Soon, only the clatter of keyboard and mouse filled the room.
Lin Tuo had no idea that his Ether-gathering last night had been detected by humans within the Sand Table.
Nor could he imagine that his habit of rising by alarm clock to collect Ether had been carefully recorded by Sand Table scientists, summarized into the "Spirit Tide cycle."
…
The Sand Table continued to evolve rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, the new emperor had reigned a full year.
In that time, he enacted reforms aimed at curbing regional powers and strengthening central authority.
As a usurper from the provinces, he would never allow another like himself to rise.
He also purged corruption, restructured bureaucracy, and gradually replaced the imperial administration with his own Western officials.
Through laws and decrees, he displayed formidable governing talent. Society quickly stabilized, advancing toward the electrical age.
Amid this transformation, new inventions appeared daily. Within a year, the people had adapted to New Dynasty rule.
The Chief Scientist, credited with presenting the Secret Seal, thrived throughout.
He led major projects, gaining the emperor's trust, basking in prestige.
Until, one cold winter day, he was summoned again—to the imperial study.
"Your Majesty."
Entering, he saw only the emperor inside, standing before a massive map on the wall, lost in thought.
"Ah, you've come. Sit," the emperor said warmly.
"What command does Your Majesty have?" the scientist asked.
"There is indeed something," the emperor began directly. "I plan to establish a new laboratory in the Western Continent.
For a major research project. I need someone to lead it. Would you accept?"
"The Western Continent? A new lab? What kind of research?" the scientist asked in surprise.
The emperor turned to the map. His eyes gleamed. He spoke a single word:
"Boundary."
"Boundary?"
The scientist stiffened.
In the empire, "Boundary" was a specific term: The World's Edge.
Beyond the continent, past the Endless Sea—stood the colossal, unfathomable Wall.
Unlike Lin Tuo outside the Sand Table, who could see its full form, those within only knew what their simulated world revealed.
Long ago, when seafaring was primitive, the Chi people had no concept of the world's shape.
Their ships vanished in storms when venturing too far into the Endless Sea.
Only after the Industrial Revolution, with stronger ships, did they break through—and find the Wall.
The Boundary.
Countless scholars puzzled over it, unable to discern its substance or what lay beyond.
Some claimed nothing existed outside.
Others believed it was the realm of gods.
It was said the Sage who had taught the world two centuries ago had come from beyond.
Thus, the Boundary became the empire's ultimate mystery—their "universe."
"Yes," the emperor said, pointing at the map. "Do you not feel it?
That our world is… small.
Back in the West, I often went to the observatory at night. The mountains there are high, close to the stars. The feeling is stronger.
Since seizing this nation, the sensation only grows.
My chest feels tight, suffocated.
Science says mankind arose from wilderness, conquered nature, and became what we are.
I've conquered this country. So tell me—what should we conquer next?"
"Conquer… what?" the scientist whispered.
The emperor turned his burning gaze upon him, voice heavy with ambition:
"The Boundary. I will conquer it—no matter the cost."
(End of Chapter)