Calculating Cultivation

“And now we have arrived,” She Who Seeks Knowledge said. The trip seemed far shorter than I had thought, but clearly there was some kind of temporal manipulation going on like she had stated with the separation chamber or the Explorer Seven was much faster than I thought possible. With energy, both options weren’t out of the question. “Once we dock with the Free Port you shall be allowed to freely depart. Until then, I will explain what will happen. We have an understanding with the Administrator of the Free Port.”

“Does the place have a name?” I asked.

“Too many to bother with like all Free Ports in the range of languages spoken. The simple fact is that Free Ports are locations where there is a single strong Administrator and people are free to trade under its protection.”

“And who or what is the Administrator of this Free Port?” I cautiously asked.

“A limited calculator. Like most administrators that govern such locations. A living being would find it too tedious. A true calculator would invite trouble and competition. It is more of a clockwork mechanism that is very good at pattern recognition,” she replied.

“A computer program without sapience?” I asked, a bit confused, what she was trying to describe.

“Something like that. But for your purposes it is the controlling entity of the Free Port we are arriving at. We arranged to go to this specific Free Port for you, even if it was a longer journey requiring more energy, as thanks for your warning,” She Who Seeks Knowledge inclined her head slightly towards me.

“My warning doesn’t seem like much,” I replied.

“We value information on its merits, not on the threat or power of the source of knowledge. Knowing the Infinite Ring Complex was plunging into Chaos saved us and Explorer Seven. Do not concern yourself with our decisions. For those that are kind, we return kindness. For those that are hostile, we leave them to self-destruct. That is the way of the folk of the Great Tree,” the elf said.

As I had found out in the past, it wasn’t what you knew, but who you knew that had a greater impact. There was a high chance that the defenses of the Infinite Ring Complex would keep them away or make understanding what was happening incredibly difficult. Backtracking back through the entire complex to the control area where Nianzu had been would be impossible.

It was to their advantage they had found me. While it was tempting to try and leverage my knowledge for more than what they had given, I was at their mercy. This elf was killing me with kindness. But I suppose when you have reached the limits of your power you would value knowledge over trying to dominate others or increasing your own power. This being’s mindset was throwing me off and the fact I had only spoken to her and no one else.

Regardless of what had happened, it was time to focus on the future and where they would be dropping me off. “Why is this Free Port better than the others?” I asked.

“The Administrator manages two discrete spheres. The outer sphere is much more dangerous and where people above a certain strength like myself may visit. Then there is an inner sphere that only allows weaker individuals like yourself. My understanding is that the Free Port was set up like this to prevent conflicts and thefts.” I wanted to reach for my goblet, but I had long since emptied it and had not gotten any more refills.

“If the Administrator blocked everyone above a certain strength, then no one would visit, and it would not be a Free Port. However, allowing beings above a certain strength to move about freely would create easily avoidable conflicts and allows for trade to occur,” She Who Seeks Knowledge explained while I listened closely.

“What level of strength is the division done at?” I asked.

“For yourself it would be your final breakthrough and reaching immortality. The ambient energy will be around what you experienced in the Mechanical Layer, but the Free Port’s safety is guaranteed. With the tokens we have given you, you will have more than enough wealth to see yourself live comfortably for the rest of your life.”

“But not break through. Could you give me enough energy to make that happen?” I asked. It was a big ask, but I had to. It would solve all my problems. The elf shook her head slightly.

“Your help is valuable, but nowhere near enough. That is also part of the philosophy of the folk of the Great Tree. We will not help or hinder someone becoming more powerful. We will trade, purchase knowledge, but we will not invest in people or organizations not our own.” I contained a sigh of frustration at that answer, even if it was understandable.

“There is nothing I can offer to change your minds or that of your superiors?” I asked.

“Unfortunately, not. You are not one of the folk of the Great Tree. While you have been helpful, we are being more than fair in your compensation. Let us focus back on the Free Port. Do not break the rules laid out by the Administrator and adhere to all dealings you agree to with it.”

“What are the rules and how are they enforced?” I asked. If I was going to be governed by a computer, I needed to know how I was going to be governed.

“Do not hide from its sight. Do not damage the structure. Do not harm, steal, or fight other beings. Those are the only rules. While they might seem simple there is a hidden complexity. Agreements between beings are done through the Administrator, and failing to adhere to them will be considered theft. You can end up in slavery if you are not careful. While you won’t be physically harmed, if you don’t complete the tasks you have agreed to, then the Administrator will kill you. It is unyielding and strict, which is why it is trusted.”

“And how are the rules enforced? Golems?” I asked.

“Yes. Something similar to that. The Free Port is incredibly large, but most of them are in order to accommodate the massive flux of beings passing through. You can go to the outer sphere, but the Administrator has a harder time enforcing the rules there due to the increased strength of the beings present. But it is your choice on where you go.”

“And you have an understanding with this Administrator?” I asked.

“We and our people are known to it. It will hold messages on behalf of our ships and alert us if any news of the Great Tree passes through the Free Port. The deals do not have to be fair. I suggest you gather your bearings when you arrive before committing to any trades or exchanges. Read any contract carefully. In time you might gather enough wealth to advance,” She Who Seeks Knowledge explained.

“A lot of beings stop at this Free Port? How big is it?” I asked.

“Two spheres around an enclosed star. Compared to your physical size, it is beyond massive. The Administrator won’t say, but it is speculated that some ancient race built this massive station with the help of the Administrator and then the bubble in the Material layer broke, sending the Free Port all the way to the Firmament. It is possible. Now there are beings who have come and gone, super organizations have trading outposts, and the inner sphere would be on par with the size of your Great World.”

It sounded like a Dyson sphere, two Dyson spheres. They were structures that would be built around a star to capture its entire output. I remembered reading about long ago that if one was built at Earth’s orbit, the inner surface area would be approximately 600 million times the size of the planet.

That would be massive. No wonder why the entire place needed some kind of computer program to run the entire thing. And there was a second Dyson sphere as well outside the first. The sheer scale was mind boggling, but now I knew that it should be possible to gather enough energy to break through in the place. The hard part was that everyone else would be trying to get energy for similar reasons.

“The place must wear down over time, how is it even maintained and why don’t super organizations target this Free Port?” I asked.

“The safety of the Free Port is small since it doesn’t occupy much space in the Firmament and doesn’t have very large borders. It drifts past other super organizations. Most prefer to have it in place in order to sell excess goods, gather knowledge, or send members of their super organization out beyond their borders. Also its defenses are immense and it isn’t worth the headache of conquering it to the amount of energy present.”

That could easily be another reason to push the more powerful beings to the outer sphere. They would act as a line of defense if there was an attack and it would discourage individuals pushing forward into the inner sphere. “Getting material is just a matter of processing all the gas out there in the Firmament. Almost anyone can do it if they have enough knowledge and energy. That brings up the next most important thing about this Free Port.”

I nodded to show that I was paying attention, since this information could be the difference between life and death. I wish I had gotten such a similar introduction before heading to the Forever City or the Great World. Bones had helped with the Forever City, but it was still a nightmare and a shock seeing the place for the first time.

“The Administrator hands out tasks for beings to complete. While it has drones it controls, it uses an incentive system and its own internal currency to employ beings to handle things on its behalf. The Administrator could easily run the entire Free Port without anyone present, but it is speculated that it was designed to be a place for various beings to come and work and for the Administrator to act as a caretaker program.”

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“Is there enough energy there to advance?” I asked.

“Yes. It is probably the best place to gather up raw energy to break through. If that fails it is the most likely location you can book passage back to the Heavenly Alliance. While there is no scheduled transportation between the Free Port and most super organizations, such a thing could be arranged,” She Who Seeks Knowledge answered.

This seemed like the best place to go to. I was still suspicious, but there was nothing I could do. I was at the mercy of this elf. “You mentioned we are here? How much longer until we arrive?” I asked.

“We entered the inner marked territory of the Free Port. That means traveling at a slower speed than we normally do. The shockwave and other defenses we employ would create too big a disruption otherwise. It will not take long. Once we reach the Free Port, I will escort you to the airlock of Explorer Seven with your goods.”

“The atmosphere there?” I asked.

“It would be breathable for someone of your ability, but a bit thin with a less than optimal composition for a regular member of your species. Neck, eye, and ear translators are provided for free by the Administrator.” That was nice, but it was probably to reduce fighting from beings not understanding each other or using substandard equipment.

If there was a being that had to wiggle its tentacles to communicate, then something more advanced would be needed. By the description of this place, it was probably a dumping ground costing through the Firmament.

Super organizations that fled and had nowhere to go, probably went to this place. The population of various species could easily be controlled by economic pressure. If a species was breeding too fast or using too many resources raise the costs of the local area and reduce supplies. Charge money for migration.

“Is there a basic tax for food, water, and air?” I asked.

“Yes. You can pay in advance though. One token will see your expenses paid far more than you would live as a mortal. Gathering enough wealth to advance will be difficult, but it is possible. Based on what you have told me, you clearly enjoy trading and business. This place should fit your requirements.” Again, this elf was being way too nice, but I had no doubt she would say it was the way of the folk of the Great Tree. Or she might say since I needed to be dropped off and I had helped them, they would make sure I wasn’t screwed over.

No matter how much I thought over the situation and how consistent this being’s actions were, it still felt weird. I guess it was because I couldn’t see myself doing the same thing. I might pick someone up and thank them, but I wouldn’t help them out to this extent. Saving my life should have been more than enough to balance the scales between us, but these elves clearly considered such a thing a natural thing to do.

I could appreciate the kindness being done for me, even if it made absolutely no sense. I really had been around other cultivators too long, since I looked at everything in terms of costs and benefits. That was part of the struggle of cultivation. If you weren’t looking for every opportunity to advance, you would never make it to immortality. Or if you did make it, you would be owned by some faction or organization.

“How is the Free Port laid out? Is it one big city?” I asked.

“The both spheres have two levels each. The inner sphere’s inner layer is devoted to manufacturing, equipment, and other processes the Administrator uses to keep everything running. The next layer of the inner sphere consists of farms, housing, and cities. The Administrator hires beings to manage the farms and then uses the crops in a variety of ways to help maintain its infrastructure.”

“Why grow things? Couldn’t it process everything from the gas in the Firmament?” I asked.

“It is a caretaker system. Many of the choices of the Administrator are illogical from the point of maximizing resources, but it clearly has a different focus. One of maintaining and stability. This makes it one of the best Free Ports in the Firmament that is known to us,” She Who Seeks Knowledge answered.

“The outer sphere has a trading level, where a tremendous amount of goods pass through, and then the defensive and docking level on the outer level of the outer sphere. While most of the weapons would be considered crude by our standards, they are still dangerous and powerful due to the sheer number of them.”

“Is the place ever attacked?” I asked in concern.

“It happens. But the Free Port has weathered such occurrences in the past. That is why it still exists. It has saved up a tremendous amount of critical resources and can process a tremendous amount as well while defending itself. It is able to fight on the level of replicators if necessary.”

“I am surprised this Administrator has remained stable for so long. There is no core that is about to break down?” I asked.

“It is a distributed system across the entire structure. How it handles the massive computational load is not something that I would be able to explain in detail. The best guess is that it manages things in sectors and transfers information between instances of itself between those sectors as necessary. Most beings live and die in the spheres without ever moving that far from their homes.”

That sounded depressing, but it really wasn’t with how big every was. Four levels of Dyson sphere meant it was huge. And She Who Seeks Knowledge most likely meant levels as divided areas of the structure, not levels as in floors. I could easily see each level being several stories tall in order to prevent claustrophobia and better air circulation.

A massive mix of civilizations from countless eons trying to coexist. No wonder why the rules were so simple and clear cut. While there were clearly complex applications of those rules, they weren’t meant to be convoluted or tricky. It was also interesting that the Administrator didn’t guarantee the welfare of any being that was living there. It was clearly a work or die type of situation.

As for the farms, food, and water there were probably complex calculations and it made sense that everything was managed in sectors. You would have several light minutes between one side of the Free Port and the other. This wasn’t like the Great World that had the Life Light which was artificial in the sky.

No, this place used a real star and some complex system to keep it at the desired strength despite the age of this place. Most likely some kind of energy technique so the star didn’t burn out. “What about the temperature?” I asked.

“You would find it quite cool, or cold. Not freezing, but only slightly above that. Most likely whatever creatures the place was originally designed for came from a colder place with a tinner atmosphere.” That most likely meant a smaller planet of some kind. “The gravity is the standard used almost everywhere. But some sections of the station are adjust slightly differently. Not a huge amount, but the Administrator will adjust some minor settings if enough of one type of being lives in that location.”

That meant it was probably like a wall thermostat. It was mostly a placebo effect. It made me wonder how civilizations would handle each other if they couldn’t fight or kill each other? With everything being monitored, it was probably a bad idea to try and get around the laws of the Administrator. A perfect example would be hiring someone to break these laws.

With no one to answer to, the Administrator held absolute power over everything, and She Who Seeks Knowledge clearly portrayed it as an unfeeling system, which made the beings like it. While I could see that being a good thing, that was only if you were careful and didn’t break the laws accidentally. Once I arrived, I would have to spend my time understanding the culture of this Free Port.

It no doubt would be a hassle, but I had done so before I would do so again. “We have almost arrived. Come, gather your belongings and I will escort you off the Explorer Seven.” I picked up my golem and hyper compressed energy cannister and followed the elf through the ship.

“I won’t be meeting with anyone else?” I asked.

“No. While our interactions were monitored by the others, they do not share my joy of greeting other beings in our travel. That is why I handled our interactions. Also it helps prevents confusion and misunderstandings.”

“Thank you for your help and rescue. I don’t know how long I would have managed out there or avoided Chaos for if you hadn’t found me,” I said. It felt small but important to thank my hosts.

“It was a pleasure. You were a wonderful guest. If only everyone and everything we came across was so agreeable and helpful as yourself, then the Firmament would be a much brighter place.”

“You would think that cooperation and understanding would win out over time across the Firmament,” I replied.

“And then you have an accident like the Soaring Star Society dooming everyone and everything. That is why the folk of the Great Tree choose stand alone and limit our interactions with others. It can be frustrating at times, but it has done well to protect what remains of our culture where so many countless others have disappeared over time.”

It truly was an alien perspective the elf had. While the words were translated there was a lot of historical and cultural subtext that I was missing. But that was not my path. While ours had crossed, these elves clearly wanted nothing more to do with me. They wouldn’t maroon me someplace where I would quickly die, but they weren’t going to help me anymore than they thought they should.

While I appreciated the lift, it was frustrating to be so close to my goal yet still so far. While the trek through the Great World allowed me to expand my horizons and return to the Firmament, my cultivation had remained stagnant and I had lost a lot of time. While I had gathered some valuables, they were nowhere near enough.

It was a shame I couldn’t have gotten several more cannisters of hyper compressed energy from the Infinite Ring Complex. Nianzu should have arranged an entire pallet, not just a single cannister. It was frustrating to lose out on all that possible wealth. While I had barely escaped with my life, it was frustrating to lose out on so much.

Now these elves wouldn’t help me either. While it was wrong of me to expect a hand out, my goal felt just out of reach and I was unable to grasp it. At least I was still alive. As long as there was life, there was hope. That was the most important thing.

As for everything else past immortality, I would worry about all of that once I reached that point. I would have the time sort things out and gain more energy to improve myself. I would heed the warnings I was given, but there was clearly a large gap in terms of knowledge and power between different immortals. Standing at the top of such a power structure would truly let me make my own choices and control my own fate.

That was what was truly bothering me about everything I had experienced. The lack of control I had. While I had made decisions that impacted things, there were too many occasions where I was nothing but an observer. I didn’t like that.

“I hope you had an enjoyable trip?” She Who Seeks Knowledge asked me.

“Yes, it was quite enjoyable. Thank you again for your hospitality and dropping me off somewhere hospitable,” I replied.

“I know you do not understand us folk of the Great Tree, but that is fine. True understanding is not required, only the willingness to work for a common goal combined with mutual respect. While it may seem foolish to say that as the more powerful party, it is our belief.”

“That makes such a belief all the more valuable, since such a belief system has its downsides,” I replied.

“That it does, but we are but voyagers along the river of our own fate.” I frowned slightly at that saying. I didn’t like thinking about having my fate controlled. I liked to think myself in charge of my future. Even if I made bad choices, they were still my choices to make.

“Lack of agency is the sin of the weak,” I said contradicting my host. While it was a bit rude, I knew that She Who Seeks Knowledge would appreciate a saying back. After our long conversation I had a better understanding of her personality. She liked twists of language and understanding, while I preferred directness and clear explanations.

She had been humoring most of our conversation, but the parts where she talked about herself or her people made this evident. It was like original texts I had read about cultivation. There were some flowery texts while others were all clear cut. Creativity versus cold hard math and logic.

“True. Now we are here at the airlock and it is goodbye Cultivator Yuan Zhou. You may call yourself a friend of the folk of the Great Tree if you ever run into more of my people. It is doubtful, but anything that is not impossible will eventually happen across the Firmament eventually,” she said. The plant door behind hissed open revealing another door. Either I was about to be ejected into space and killed or this was a polite goodbye.

“Goodbye She Who Seeks Knowledge,” I said and entered the airlock. The inner door closed and then the outer door opened while I braced myself for death or something else. Thankfully it wasn’t death, but rather what could only be described as a massive complex that would take a while to appreciate as I stepped off the Explorer Seven. I was glad it wasn’t death and my last moments weren’t having my amazement in the kindness of others crushed.