322: Chapter 322 Sandbox Showdown! Theocracy vs. Capitalist Civilization

The sandbox simulation entered its tenth year.

The theocratic civilization on the side of the Old Gods had already developed into a massive empire with a population of one million.

The temple of the Chaos Ancient God was built on the highest peak, magnificent and resplendent, with tens of thousands of people coming to worship every day. The hierarchy designed by the Ancient Immortal Emperor operated perfectly; the clergy stood high above, the warriors were loyal and devoted, and the commoners were law-abiding and content. The resource allocation plan deduced by the Mechanical God was precise and efficient, without a single trace of waste.

Civilization Index: 87 points (out of 100).

The representatives of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms looked at those data points and discussed them fervently.

"As expected of the Old Gods, three million years of experience is truly no joke."

"What about Lin Chen's side? Why hasn't there been any movement at all?"

"I heard they're still in chaos; ten years and they haven't even established basic order."

"Isn't this gap a bit too large?"

Under the tree of heavenly dao, Zhang Hao was pacing around in a frantic circle.

"What on earth is the Boss doing?! It's been ten years! Those people are still arguing!"

Arrogant Dragon stared at the screen, remaining silent.

Morgana said softly, "Don't worry, he surely has a plan."

Alpha analyzed, "From the data, the population on the Boss's side has grown from the initial 9,500 people to 32,000. Although the growth rate is slow, it at least proves they've survived."

"What's the use of just surviving?" Zhang Hao said. "The Old Gods' side already has a million people! A tenfold difference!"

Alpha fell silent.

It could not refute that.

Inside the sandbox.

The tenth-year Great Ceremony of Heaven Worship for the Old Gods' theocratic civilization was being held.

The projection of the Chaos Ancient God hovered above the temple, receiving the worship of ten thousand people. Those commoners knelt on the ground, praying devoutly, their eyes filled with awe.

The Chaos Ancient God was very satisfied.

He had enjoyed this feeling of being worshipped for three million years.

He looked toward the other side of the sandbox, where Lin Chen's territory lay.

"That kid is probably still worrying about finding food right now," he sneered.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor said, "Don't be careless. That kid is full of tricks."

The Mechanical God analyzed, "From the monitoring data, his civilization is indeed still in chaos. At this rate, in ten thousand years, his total population might be less than one-thousandth of ours. We are bound to win."

The Chaos Ancient God laughed loudly.

"Good! Then let's wait and see!"

But they all overlooked one detail.

Although Lin Chen's civilization was chaotic, it had one characteristic—

Those who survived were the smartest, most tenacious, and most creative people.

Over ten years, they experienced countless failures, countless arguments, and were on the brink of collapse countless times. But it was precisely these failures that taught them one thing:

Relying on others is not as good as relying on oneself.

In the fifty-third year, the first market appeared in Lin Chen's civilization.

It was a young man named 'Amu' who discovered that some people were good at hunting but couldn't build houses, while others were good at building houses but couldn't hunt, so he suggested they trade. At first, no one believed him, but a few people who were so hungry they couldn't take it anymore tried it and found they could actually survive.

The market was born just like that.

In the one hundred and seventy-second year, the first currency appeared.

It was a woman named 'Ajin' who felt that bartering was too troublesome, so she used seashells to make a kind of 'voucher.' One seashell could be traded for a rabbit, and ten seashells for a hide. At first, no one recognized it, but Ajin used her own credit as a guarantee, and it slowly spread.

Currency was born just like that.

In the three hundred and first year, the first enterprise appeared.

It was a man named 'Ashang' who hired over a dozen people specifically to make bows and arrows. He paid the workers wages, sold the bows and arrows to hunters, and used the profit to expand production. Others saw him making money and followed suit.

Enterprises were born just like that.

In the seven hundred and twenty-eighth year, the first bank appeared.

It was a merchant named 'Acai' who discovered the need for people to borrow money for turnover, so he opened a 'money house.' Deposits earned interest, and loans cost interest. At first, no one dared to deposit, but Acai used his own reputation as a guarantee and slowly grew the business.

Banks were born just like that.

In the one thousandth year, the population of Lin Chen's civilization broke ten million.

Although it still couldn't compare to the Old Gods' thirty million, the growth rate had already overtaken them.

More importantly, their civilization structure had undergone a qualitative change.

It was no longer a simple hunter-gatherer society, but one with division of labor, markets, currency, enterprises, and banks.

People no longer struggled just for survival but began to pursue a better life.

Some researched better bows and arrows, some explored further lands, some invented more efficient farming methods, and some composed more moving songs.

The civilization began to accelerate.

In the two thousandth year, the population broke fifty million.

In the three thousandth year, it broke one hundred million.

In the four thousandth year, it broke three hundred million—matching the Old Gods.

In the five thousandth year, it broke one billion—overtaking them.

In the six thousandth year, it broke five billion.

In the seven thousandth year, it broke twenty billion.

In the eight thousandth year, it broke one hundred billion.

In the nine thousandth year, it broke five hundred billion.

The speed at which those numbers jumped left everyone watching dumbfounded.

Zhang Hao stared at the screen, his mouth open wide enough to fit an egg.

"This... how is this possible? The Boss's civilization, how did it suddenly..."

Alpha's data form fluctuated violently.

"I understand now."

"Understand what?"

"The core of a capitalist civilization is not resources, not population, and not military force."

"Then what is it?"

"It's innovation," Alpha said. "Once innovation starts, it self-accelerates. The Old Gods' theocratic civilization relies on stability, order, and obedience. These traits indeed allow for rapid expansion in the early stages, but in the later stages, they become shackles on innovation."

"Whereas a capitalist civilization relies on competition, risk-taking, and trial and error. These traits lead to chaos, waste, and inefficiency in the early stages. But once the critical point is passed, there will be explosive growth."

Morgana said softly, "So, he was waiting from the very beginning."

"Waiting for what?"

"Waiting for the smartest, most tenacious, and most creative people to fight their way out of the chaos."

"He gave them the greatest freedom, but also the greatest test. Only those who pass the test are qualified to participate in the next stage of competition."

Arrogant Dragon was silent for a long time.

Then he said, "The Boss is a fucking genius."

Inside the sandbox, the Old Gods' civilization was also growing.

But the growth rate was getting slower and slower.

The Chaos Ancient God looked at those data points, his face turning ashen.

"What's going on?! How did they suddenly surpass us?"

The Ancient Immortal Emperor frowned.

"I've studied it. Their civilization is completely different from ours."

"What's the difference?"

"We rely on commands; they rely on transactions. We rely on obedience; they rely on innovation. We rely on stability; they rely on competition."

"Every year, countless new things emerge—new tools, new methods, new organizations, new ideas. 90% of these things fail, but the remaining 10% are enough to drive explosive civilizational growth."

The Chaos Ancient God fell silent.

The Mechanical God said, "According to my deductions, at the current rate, in ten thousand years, their total population will be three thousand times ours. Their comprehensive civilization index will be five hundred times ours."

"We... have lost."

The Chaos Ancient God smashed the void in front of him with a punch.

But he knew the Mechanical God was right.

The ten thousandth year.

The sandbox simulation ended.

All civilization representatives from the All Heavens and Myriad Realms entered the sandbox together to visit the final results of the two civilizations.

On the Old Gods' side was a magnificent but rigid theocratic empire.

Temples towered into the clouds, the hierarchy was strict and orderly, and resource allocation was precise. But the eyes of those commoners were hollow, the expressions of those warriors were numb, and the smiles of those clergy members were formulaic.

Civilization Index: 91 points.

An improvement of 4 points from ten thousand years ago.

On Lin Chen's side was a vibrant capitalist world.

Skyscrapers stood in rows, the markets were bustling with people coming and going, and innovation was endless. The eyes of those people were bright, their expressions were vivid, and their smiles were genuine.

Civilization Index: 99 points.

An improvement from ten thousand years ago that... no one could calculate, because the evaluation system had long since become obsolete.

Voting began.

The first vote went to Lin Chen.

The second vote, the third vote, the fourth vote...

Final tally: Lin Chen's vote share was 99.7%, while the Old Gods' was 0.3%.

The Chaos Ancient God looked at that result, remaining silent for a long time.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor sighed.

The Mechanical God's light screen flickered, its thoughts unknown.

Yuanshi stood above the sandbox and announced loudly:

"The sandbox simulation has ended. The winner—Lin Chen."

"According to the betting agreement, the Old Gods' side must unconditionally submit to the New Era Joint Development Company."

The Chaos Ancient God closed his eyes.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor lowered his head.

The Mechanical God remained motionless.

Lin Chen's figure appeared above the sandbox, looking at them.

"You three, are you convinced?"

The Chaos Ancient God opened his eyes and looked at him.

In those eyes, there was anger and resentment, but more than that, there was an indescribable complexity.

"Lin Chen, you won."

"But I want to know—how did you do it?"

Lin Chen smiled.

That smile formed a sharp contrast with the three million years of vicissitudes.

"Because you believe in order, and I believe in people."

"Order will stagnate, but people will innovate."

"As long as you give people enough freedom, they can create miracles."

The Chaos Ancient God was silent for a long time.

Then he nodded.

"I understand."

He knelt on one knee.

The Ancient Immortal Emperor followed suit and knelt.

The Mechanical God's light screen flickered a few times, and it also slowly descended, touching one knee to the ground.

"We three Old Gods admit defeat and accept the bet."

"From now on, we are at your disposal."

The All Heavens and Myriad Realms fell into a dead silence.

Then, an earth-shattering cheer erupted.