182: Chapter 182 A New Direction for the System: The Foundations of Civilization - Technology Tree
After Elder Chen left, silence returned to the observation room. The virtual Earth rotated slowly outside the window, and starlight filtered through the simulated porthole, casting a faint outline on Lin Mo's calm profile.
He did not act immediately, instead closing his eyes to let his thoughts sink into that interface only he could "see."
The interface of the 【civilization leap system】 quietly unfolded. The background starry sky was dark and deep, but at this moment, beneath the dark gold text representing the 【Watchers of the Dark Forest】 main mission, a warm and solid pale golden light was spreading out, like the roots of a great tree, digging deep into the soil representing civilization.
【Side mission confirmed: Comprehensively enhance the survival resilience of the host civilization (Civilization Cornerstone Plan).】
【system evaluation: The host's understanding of the civilization development path aligns with deep logic. A single military technology leap is like a tree without roots; the overall resilience of a civilization is the foundation of survival. Now opening the 'civilization cornerstone' auxiliary technology tree and supporting resources.】
Lin Mo's "gaze" focused on the newly unfolded technology tree. Unlike the military technology tree, which had sharp branches and a menacing edge, this one presented a form of intertwined, solid support. The main branches were divided into five, each shimmering with a different faint light:
【Root system · Efficient Agriculture and Ecological Restoration】: The icon is a golden wheat stalk growing tenaciously in damaged soil while its roots repair the earth. Redeemable items include: 【Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency and Stress Resistance Gene Bank (Plants)】, 【Ultra-Efficient Photosynthesis Optimization Path】, 【Rapid Soil Repair Microbial Community】, 【Closed-Loop Vertical Farm Full system Design】, and 【Global Ecological Balance Dynamic Regulation Model (Primary)】. The required points are relatively moderate, but it is marked with "Requires verification by a large number of biological laboratories and field test sites."
【Veins · Universal Healthcare and Life Support】: The icon is a capsule shrouded in a soft halo, with complex nanostructures flowing inside. Redeemable items include: 【Broad-Spectrum Targeted Nanomedical Robots (Basic Type)】, 【Gene Stability Repair and Common Genetic Disease Correction Technology】, 【Rapid Tissue Regeneration Inducing Factors】, 【Public Health Network Intelligent Early Warning and Response system】, and 【Neural-Interface Immersive Therapy (Psychological Trauma Repair Direction)】. Note: "Ethical review and long-term safety verification are prerequisites."
【Skeleton · Basic Materials and Energy Revolution】: The icon is a strange substance that smoothly transforms between multiple forms such as metal, polymer, and ceramic, with a miniature fusion light point at its core. Redeemable items include: 【Civilian-Grade Adaptive Materials Based on Field Effect Principles (Low Power Consumption)】, 【Safe Miniaturized Fusion Reactor Modules (Community/Household Level)】, 【Efficient Wireless Energy Transmission and Distributed Power Grid Architecture】, and 【100% Waste Recycling Technology system】. Note: "Requires transformation of existing heavy industrial base and formulation of new standards."
【Nerves · Information Equality and Educational Popularization】: The icon is a neural network covering the globe, connected by countless light points, each flickering with different knowledge graphs. Redeemable items include: 【Global Free Education Network Access Terminals Based on Quantum Encryption (Simplified Version)】, 【Immersive Adaptive Learning system (Covering All Age Groups)】, 【Global Unified Framework for Knowledge Graphs and Skill Certification】, and 【Barrier-Free Real-Time Translation and Cultural Exchange Platform】. Note: "Infrastructure investment is huge, but marginal cost is extremely low."
【Adhesive · Social Structure Optimization Model】: The icon consists of many modules of different colors and shapes, efficiently and stably combined into a solid yet flexible overall structure under a set of invisible rules. Redeemable items lean towards soft science and massive social engineering simulations: 【Dynamic Algorithm for Fair Resource Distribution in Wartime】, 【Social Psychological Resilience Cultivation Program Under Long-Term Stress】, 【Multicultural Integration and Community Consciousness Strengthening Strategy】, and 【Distributed Participation and Consensus-Building Mechanism for Crisis Decision-Making】. Note: "Requires access to "Fuxi"-level computing power and massive sociological data; effectiveness is uncertain."
Every branch, every redeemable item, pointed to those "civilization cornerstone" areas that Lin Mo had just discussed with Elder Chen. The system provided not just technical blueprints, but also promotion paths, potential risk warnings, and even preliminary plans integrated with the current social reality!
This was no longer simply "tossing out" a blueprint for a Moon Base; it was providing a complete "toolbox" and "operation guide" aimed at solidifying the foundations of civilization.
Lin Mo's heartbeat quickened slightly. The system's reaction this time was deeper and more systematic than he had anticipated. It seemed not just to be a technology distributor, but more like a... civilization mentor? It was guiding him, not just to climb the tech tree, but to shape a healthier, more resilient form of civilization.
His gaze swept over the required points. Compared to top-tier military technologies that cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of points (such as 【Planetary Shield Principle】 and 【Hyperspace Gravity Well Technology】), these "civilization cornerstone" technologies generally had point requirements an order of magnitude lower, mostly between several hundred to several thousand points. However, many projects were marked with "Requires prerequisite social conditions" or "Requires cross-disciplinary collaboration."
This meant that he could not simply work behind closed doors and submit blueprints anonymously like before. The implementation of these technologies required policy coordination, industrial transformation, public acceptance, ethical discussions... it was a massive and delicate social systems engineering project.
The challenge was huge, but the significance was even greater.
Lin Mo's mind raced, beginning to combine the existing global data models of "Fuxi" to conduct preliminary planning:
"Agriculture and ecology are the top priority and must be started immediately. Food is the foundation of stability, and restoring the environment can directly enhance the public's sense of survival security and confidence in the future. The 【Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency Gene Bank】 and 【Vertical Farm Design】 can be redeemed first, utilizing the existing agricultural system and newly built industrial capacity to quickly roll them out..."
"Healthcare follows closely behind. Nanorobotics and gene repair can greatly alleviate the public's fear of disease and aging, directly improving the health and lifespan of the workforce; this is the most intuitive 'inclusive technology.' However, the ethical hurdles must be solid. We can join with the GDA to establish a Global Bioethics Committee and advance them simultaneously..."
"Materials and energy are the enablers. Once miniaturized safe fusion and wireless energy transmission are popularized, they will completely change social production and lifestyle, releasing massive productivity and providing energy guarantees for other projects. We can start with 'community energy center' pilots and gradually replace the traditional power grid..."
"Information and education are the adhesive and accelerator. We must ensure fair access to knowledge and ideological cohesion under wartime controls. The quantum education network terminals must be made sufficiently cheap, durable, and easy to use..."
"Social models... this is the most difficult and the most critical. It requires "Fuxi" to intervene deeply, simulating the long-term effects of various policy implementations to find the optimal solution. This requires the wisdom and courage of politicians..."
One thought after another became clear in his mind. Lin Mo opened his eyes, the golden light in them slowly fading, replaced by a deeper, more resolute look.
He woke his personal terminal: "Su Xiaowan, notify the following personnel to meet in my main analysis room in one hour: the head of the GDA Livelihood Coordination Committee, the chief of the Global Agriculture and Ecology Expert Group, the chairman of the Life Science Ethics Committee, the leader of the Energy and Materials Industry Transformation Group, and the head of the "Fuxi" social model analysis team."
"Also," he paused, "in my name, draft a 'Proposal Outline for Launching the First Phase of the Civilization Cornerstone Plan,' attach the preliminary priority areas and resource requirement estimates, raise the encryption level to the highest, and prepare to submit it to the GDA Supreme Council special meeting."
"Yes, Consultant Lin." Su Xiaowan's voice came through, carrying a trace of imperceptible excitement. She seemed to have sensed it too: a revolution, different from military mobilization but equally profound, was about to begin.
Lin Mo ended the communication and looked at the virtual Earth outside the window again.
His fingers tapped lightly on the console, bringing up the thumbnail of the 【civilization cornerstone】 technology tree from the system interface, and superimposed it onto the blueprint of the future of civilization he had outlined in his mind.
"Military technology is the sharp spear and the solid shield that allows us to stand in the Dark Forest."
"And these..." he looked at the technology tree emitting a warm, resilient light, "will be the fertile soil and roots that allow us to take root, grow, and eventually make this forest remember our existence."
He slowly clenched his fist.
"system, redeem the full technical documentation and initial seed sample cultivation plan for the 【Nitrogen Fixation Efficiency and Stress Resistance Gene Bank (Plants)】."
【Command confirmed. Deducting 850 points. Data transmitting...】
"Redeem the basic principles and engineering implementation path for the 【Safe Miniaturized Fusion Reactor Modules (Community Level)】."
【Command confirmed. Deducting 1200 points. Data transmitting...】
"..."
A silent exchange was underway. This time, what Lin Mo exchanged was not sharp blades to be used directly against the star sea, but seeds and sweet springs to nourish the civilization's home planet.