At the top floor of the String Light Research Institute, the circular meeting room known as the 'Stargazing Platform' was enveloped in an almost sacred silence. The room had no main lighting; its curved dome was a seamless flexible display screen that could usually simulate any sky scene, from Earth's dawn and dusk to the deep cosmic nebula. At this moment, however, the dome was shut, presenting a soft, deep gray that seemed to absorb all noise. The circular walls were also display screens, but they too were dim. Only at the room's center, a minimalist round table made of solid wood and metal, along with three people seated around it, was illuminated by several beams of carefully designed focus lights.
Mozi, Yue'er, Xiuxiu.
There were no documents, no projection equipment, not even personal terminals before them. All information exchange took place through highly secure neural interfaces directly connected to the 'Oracle,' flowing between their conscious minds and a dynamic three‑dimensional holographic model floating at the room's center. This model was what Mozi would show them today—the grand vision he called the 'New Continent Plan.'
More than a year had passed since the storm of the Geneva Hearings. Time had smoothed the surface ripples, yet profound changes were quietly unfolding. Mozi had almost entirely withdrawn from day‑to‑day financial operations and business decisions, handing over the management of the 'String Light Fund' to a core team rigorously evaluated by the 'Oracle' and observed by himself over the long term, retaining only ultimate strategic veto power. He had devoted the bulk of his energy to the projects supported by the 'Human Future Fund'—projects that seemed distant yet touched the very foundations of civilization: the initial construction of an asteroid defense network, breakthroughs in nuclear fusion research bottlenecks, the establishment of a global ecological monitoring and restoration system...
Yet, the deeper he delved into these macroscopic projects that attempted to lay safety cushions for the entire human civilization, the clearer the sense of powerlessness in his heart became. He could leverage capital to move technology, use foresight to guide direction, but he could not alter the intricate web of interests within civilization, the deeply entrenched suspicions and divides, the governance models that led to resource misallocation and inefficiency. The civilization evolution model displayed by the 'Oracle' hung in the depths of his mind like an eternal warning: internal friction was the Sword of Damocles suspended over civilization's head.
He had witnessed the cautious, ice‑thin 'reconciliation' Xiuxiu undertook with the old system after reaching the pinnacle of lithography technology, and her resolute shift of focus to disruptive fields like 'Genesis' biomolecular computing. He had also sensed a certain spiritual detachment and return in Yue'er after completing the magnum opus **'The Source Code of the Universe'**; she now immersed herself more deeply in collaborating with the 'Oracle' to decipher the language of the cosmos and explore the fundamental nature of consciousness.
Each, in their own way, was searching for a possible path to break through the 'Filter.' Xiuxiu sought to achieve a leap from a technological paradigm, while Yue'er attempted to open new dimensions at the cognitive level.
What about himself, then? A former capital operator, an idealist who sought to 'revitalize the nation through capital'—where was his path? Was it merely to provide endless financial support for their explorations, then wait for a top‑down awakening of civilization as a whole that might never come?
No. He realized that the power of capital might lie not only in supporting existing explorations, but also in... constructing new arenas. A 'testing ground' that could shed the inertia of old civilization and practice new rules, new ethics from scratch.
This idea, like a seed, had long lain buried in his heart. The 'Oracle''s quiet series of seemingly scattered, even somewhat odd investment arrangements, the dawn of ultimate material programming potential that Xiuxiu revealed in the 'Genesis' project, and the philosophical thought Yue'er presented in her work's final chapter—linking the universe's source code to humanity's noble emotions—acted as sunlight, rain, and soil, together spurring this seed's germination and growth.
Today was the moment he would show this seedling to his closest companions, the only partners he could trust completely.
'Yue'er, Xiuxiu,' Mozi began, his voice unusually steady, even carrying a hint of solemnity in the silent meeting room. 'Over the past few years, each of us has traveled quite far in our respective domains of technology, theory, and capital. We have witnessed civilization's brilliance and personally experienced its chronic ailments. We've all been pondering how to cross that invisible 'Filter.'
His gaze swept over Yue'er's calm, deep eyes, then over Xiuxiu's focused, sharp gaze.
'Supporting the existing system for improvement is one path. Exploring disruptive technological paradigms is another. Deepening our understanding of the universe and consciousness is a third. These are all crucial,' he pivoted. 'But I've been wondering if there exists a fourth path? A path of... construction.'
As he spoke, the holographic model at the room's center began to change. It was no longer an analytical model, but a... blueprint. An extremely complex, nested, dynamic structure.
'I call it—the 'New Continent Plan,'' Mozi said, his voice imbued with a creator‑like passion. 'This is not a business plan, nor even primarily a technological plan. It is a social experiment. A blueprint aimed at simultaneously constructing a brand‑new, small‑scale civilization testing ground in both physical and virtual space.'
The holographic model clearly split into two parts that were both independent and mutually mapping.
One part represented the physical‑space 'New Continent.' The model showed it as a controlled‑scale physical settlement located in international waters, or some internationally co‑managed zone, or even possibly in near‑Earth orbit or on the Moon. It was not meant to compete with existing nations, but to exist as a highly autonomous 'special administrative region' or 'innovation zone.'
'Here,' Mozi pointed at the core of the physical model, 'we will apply Xiuxiu's team's cutting‑edge, even yet‑unpublished technological achievements.' The model began to mark out specific technology modules:
**—Distributed, adaptive, low‑energy‑consumption 'living architecture' and infrastructure based on 'Genesis' biomolecular computing and advanced materials science. Buildings are no longer cold reinforced concrete, but organic‑inorganic composites that can breathe, adjust, even self‑repair.**
**—A new energy architecture inspired by Yue'er's field theory, potentially including high‑efficiency solar harvesting, ambient energy capture (such as geothermal, temperature differential), and even exploratory zero‑point energy or quantum fluctuation energy utilization prototypes. Energy supply will be distributed, redundant, and nearly free.**
**—A highly circular resource utilization system. Drawing from and surpassing existing circular‑economy technologies, it achieves near‑100% closed‑loop utilization of water, materials, and waste, minimizing the settlement's ecological footprint.**
**—A highly automated, intelligent production and service system optimized and autonomously run by the 'Oracle,' covering food production, material distribution, environmental maintenance, etc., ensuring material abundance and liberating residents for more creative activities.**
Xiuxiu looked at those annotations, her eyes gleaming. Many of these technologies were still at the theoretical conception or laboratory‑prototype stage in her 'Genesis' project team, yet Mozi had boldly integrated them into a complete, actionable blueprint. This was not merely technological application, but a powerful pull on the direction of technological development.
Next, Mozi's finger pointed to the other part of the model, representing the virtual‑space 'New Continent.' This was a more abstract, yet more central structure.
'And here,' his voice carried a hint of awe, 'is the soul of the 'New Continent.' A... digital nation built upon next‑generation blockchain technology, DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) governance concepts, and Yue'er and the 'Oracle''s latest reflections in the domains of information and consensus.'
The virtual model's architecture began to unfold layer by layer:
**—At the bottom layer, a brand‑new consensus protocol. It goes beyond existing blockchain proof‑of‑work (PoW) or proof‑of‑stake (PoS), introducing a complex 'Proof of Contribution (PoC)' mechanism. Under this mechanism, an individual's 'influence' and 'resource allocation rights' are determined not by how much currency or computing power they hold, but by their multi‑dimensional, community‑verified contributions to the overall well‑being and intellectual progress of the community. This can include technological invention, artistic creation, knowledge dissemination, community service, crisis handling, even exemplary adherence to ethical norms.**
**—The governance structure is entirely driven by smart contracts and DAOs. All major decisions, from resource allocation to rule modifications, proceed through community voting based on PoC weights, or more sophisticated (e.g., liquid‑democracy‑inspired) proxy mechanisms. Code is law, but the code itself can also be upgraded and modified by the community according to established procedures. The 'Oracle' will serve as the system's 'guardian' and 'optimization engine,' ensuring stability, security, and efficient operation, but it holds no privileges; its behavior is entirely bound by transparent rules and subject to community oversight.**
**—The economic model abandons the traditional growth paradigm. It does not pursue infinite GDP expansion, but takes 'well‑being maximization' and 'sustainability' as core metrics. Currency may still exist, but its primary function is to facilitate exchange and measure contribution, not as a store of wealth or speculative instrument. Basic living necessities are allocated according to need, while higher‑level resources and opportunities are tied to contribution levels.**
**—Most importantly,' Mozi emphasized, 'this virtual nation and the physical settlement are completely isomorphic and interact in real time. Your contributions in the virtual world affect your resource access and community status in the physical world, while your actions and data in the physical world feed back into your identity and reputation system in the virtual world. Together they constitute a unified, indivisible 'New Continent' citizenship.'**
Yue'er gazed at that complex virtual architecture, especially the 'Proof of Contribution' mechanism and the setting of well‑being and sustainability as core metrics. This was no longer cold mathematical formulas, but a brave attempt to quantify and institutionalize the abstract humanistic values she mentioned in her work's final chapter—'love,' 'humility,' 'creative longing.' Undoubtedly, it was filled with enormous challenges and uncertainties, yet embedded within was a direct assault on the gene of civilization's 'internal friction.'
'The core of this plan,' Mozi concluded, his eyes blazing as he looked at his two companions, 'is an attempt to create a 'Minimum Viable Civilization (MVC).' In this small‑scale, controlled environment, we can experiment with entirely new governance models, economic systems, technological ethics, and interpersonal relationships. We can observe whether, under conditions of relatively abundant resources, relatively fair rules, and highly empowering technology, human society's 'internal friction' can be effectively suppressed? Can the potential for collaboration, creation, and sharing be stimulated to a greater extent?'
'If the 'New Continent' can operate successfully, even if only proving its feasibility on a smaller scale, it will become a powerful 'demonstration effect,' offering a possible evolutionary direction for the old civilization stuck in stalemate. It is itself a seed, a seed that may nurture the capabilities needed to cross the 'Filter.'
He stopped, and silence fell over the meeting room once more. Only the floating holographic blueprint, representing infinite future possibilities, rotated quietly, emitting a soft yet steadfast glow.
Xiuxiu took a deep breath. What she saw was not merely a blueprint for a social experiment, but a perfect platform where her most disruptive technological concepts could find application and undergo practical testing. There, technology would truly serve human well‑being and ecological harmony, not degenerate into a tool for internal friction and contention.
In Yue'er's eyes flickered the light of a thinker ignited. This 'New Continent Plan' seemed to pull her ultimate reflections on the universe's source code, on consciousness, on the nature of information back to the human realm, giving them a tangible, practicable form. To construct a social structure attempting to embody higher ethical principles—wasn't that itself a response to the universe's deep harmony?
This was no longer Mozi's business conception alone, nor a simple superposition of their three respective domains. This was a collective endeavor requiring them to pour in all their wisdom, resources, and faith. An attempt—more grandiose than any technological breakthrough or theoretical discovery, and also riskier—to create a new civilization.
Xiuxiu broke the silence first, her voice clear and firm: 'Count me in. The latest achievements of the 'Genesis' project can be prioritized for application in the 'New Continent''s infrastructure construction.'
Yue'er gave a slight nod, a clear, warm smile appearing at the corner of her mouth—the pure joy of an explorer that emerges only when facing enormous challenges: 'This is... a feat of turning ideas into reality. I'm willing to participate, especially in the design of consensus mechanisms and ethical frameworks.'
Mozi looked at them, and the boulder that had hung in his heart for so long seemed to finally land. A warm current surged through his body, dispelling the fatigue and sense of powerlessness that had long occupied his mind. He knew the road ahead would be fraught with thorns; this blueprint was overly idealistic and would inevitably encounter immense resistance from the old world, unknown risks in internal operation, and the complex tests of human nature itself.
But at this moment, with their recognition and support, he felt nothing was impossible.
He extended his hand, palm up, placing it at the round table's center.
Yue'er and Xiuxiu exchanged a glance, then without hesitation each extended their own hands, gently covering the back of his hand.
Three hands—representing capital, mathematics, and technology; representing their summation of past paths and their commitment to a shared future endeavor—lay tightly stacked together.
'Then,' Mozi's voice carried a strength and anticipation like never before, 'let our 'New Continent' set sail from this blueprint.'