Chapter 10: The Path of Expansion

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With trembling hands, the elder shaman of the clan took down a mysterious star map and an ancient tortoise shell engraved with dragon patterns from his side and continued, “You know, these are the ‘Ancient Star Map’ and the ‘Turtle Dragon Divine Plate’ left by our ancestors. They contain inscriptions that guide the aerial routes and the energy field of the Golden Gourd. Unfortunately, the two core keys—the ‘Sacred Turtle Mirror’—were lost during the journey through time and space. I hope this does not hinder our people of Dragon Mountain from finding their way home.”

Ximoram nodded heavily with tears welling in her eyes, receiving the ancient star map and the divine plate with both hands.

As she watched Niseguo’s hand fall limply and his eyes slowly close, the life of a venerable tribal shaman came to an end. Tears streamed down Ximoram’s face as she slowly rose, took a deep breath to steady her emotions, and looked around at the battered Dragon Mountain people with unwavering resolve.

In her heart, though her son Nuka’s fate was unknown—left behind in the original world—he would forever be the chieftain of the Dragon Mountain tribe. As his mother, she bore the hopes of the entire tribe and was determined to lead them back home. No matter how thorny the path or how arduous the trials ahead, she would never falter.

At that moment, Waza approached, a fresh wound on his arm still oozing blood, yet he paid it no mind. Looking at Ximoram, he said, “Noxim, we all follow your lead. Together, we will find a way home.”

Other Dragon Mountain people gathered, dropping to their knees in unison, chanting “Noxim,” pledging their loyalty. Standing amidst her people, Ximoram’s gaze was steadfast. An artisan beside her grasped Longman’s hand with trust and said, “Shaman Ximoram, everyone is counting on you now to lead us out of this predicament.”

Ximoram nodded firmly, her voice steady and strong: “Lalong, rest assured, as long as I am here, I will never let anyone down.” A warm current surged through her heart as she looked at the trusting faces around her. She knew from this moment forward, she was the pillar of the Dragon Mountain tribe.

Turning her gaze to the half-built village, a profound melancholy filled her heart.

The warrior Waza stepped beside her and quietly asked, “Noxim, what do we do next? The village isn’t finished, but we can’t stay trapped here forever.”

Ximoram’s eyes fixed resolutely on the distant horizon. “We must leave and seek a safer place. The road ahead will be tough, but as long as we stand united, we will prevail.”

Thus, they boarded the vine ship and continued their uncertain journey. Yet this world was fraught with peril, and wherever they went, fierce beasts pursued them. Their fate was like drifting weeds in the wind, wandering the savage lands…

Meanwhile, in a different time and space, the Frozen Experiment Station had drawn the attention of the Chinese Academy of Sciences after its initial experiment met with setbacks. They hoped that Director Lin Yizhou of the Southwest Scientific Research Institute would take the lead in assisting Su Chunyang with the follow-up experimental work.

Lin Yizhou, fifty-three years old, of moderate build, had sharp, bright eyes. Having worked for years on the plateau, his face bore a faint reddish hue from the high-altitude ultraviolet rays. He often joked that he came to the southwest originally to study ethnic minority cultures but ended up being led by his wife, Cheng Ziwei, onto the path of exploring the scientific history of the western regions.

Upon receiving the task to assist with the Frozen Experiment Station, Lin Yizhou specially invited high-energy physicist Su Chunyang to the Southwest Scientific Research Institute for a discussion.

The extraction of antimatter from neutrino research was Professor Su Chunyang’s proud innovation and the key to cracking dark matter, a dream pursued by many nations and research institutions.

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To verify his hypothesis, Su Chunyang gathered various materials on kc20 and engaged in exchanges with top scientists worldwide. He understood well that breakthroughs in antimatter new energy could not be achieved single-handedly but required the collective wisdom and strength of global researchers.

Hearing that Director Lin Yizhou would assist him, Su Chunyang was delighted and promptly arrived at the Southwest Scientific Research Institute with his assistant, Zhou Huifang.

Upon meeting Su Chunyang, Lin Yizhou smiled and asked, “Professor Su, I’ve heard neutrinos are the ‘invisible people’ of the universe. What can you actually do with them?”

Su Chunyang smiled and replied, “It took the scientific community over twenty years just to prove their existence. Although many mysteries remain, capturing neutrinos is no longer an issue.” Lowering his voice, his expression grew serious. “The real challenge lies in how to harness and develop them. That’s the biggest hurdle we face.”

They entered a conference room.

Su Chunyang, familiar with the environment, had Zhou Huifang activate a 3D imaging switch on the desk, connecting pre-prepared data and images to the machine’s external interface.

Soon, the 3D imaging device slowly powered on, displaying clear experimental data and analytical images related to neutrino studies before their eyes.

Curious, Lin Yizhou asked, “Professor Su, the world has made significant strides in fusion energy, solar power, thermonuclear reactions, and artificial sun technology. What unique insights or ideas do you have regarding new energy development?”

He held great respect for Su Chunyang, knowing him as an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, a high-energy physicist, and a leading figure in modern quantum mechanics. Su had authored numerous specialized works such as Modern Mathematics in Science and Technology, Polymer Matter and Energy Conservation, and Neutrinos and Quantum Transitions. He was a rigorous scholar and staunch defender of modern science.

As Su projected a 3D diagram of neutrino experimental apparatus into the room, he explained, “Indeed, there are many forms of aggregated energy available today, but humanity remains in the early stages of detecting energy in the microscopic world and antimatter research. Therefore, the value and significance of developing neutrino technology are immense…”

Lin Yizhou laughed heartily, “So you plan to extract energy from neutrinos, huh?”

Su chuckled in return, “Exactly, that’s my plan.”

Lin knew some matters were sensitive and not to be widely broadcast, so he cautiously asked, “Professor Su, could you privately explain the nature of neutrinos to someone like me who’s an outsider?”

Su glanced at him thoughtfully, wondering if the question was genuine. Given Lin’s status and knowledge, it seemed unusual to ask such a question.

Although Lin headed the Southwest Scientific Research Institute, he was nearly a layman in modern science. However, as a scholar devoted to traditional Chinese culture, he firmly believed many ancient myths might have been real events. He had conducted extensive research on this in his book, A Brief History of the Development of Science and Culture in Southwest China.

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Su Chunyang studied him carefully. Seeing no jest in Lin’s demeanor, he lowered his voice and said, “Lately, I’ve been having strange dreams. I wake up in the middle of the night and see odd images in the mirror—it’s been affecting my mental state. Perhaps it’s better if my student explains it to you. I hope that’s all right?”

Zhou Huifang quickly interjected, “Teacher, you should explain it yourself.”

Su smiled faintly, his expression solemn. “Neutrinos, well, that’s a long story. I’ll give you a brief overview. Neutrinos are among the fundamental particles that make up nature. They have almost no mass and carry no electric charge. So far, the types detected include electron neutrinos, muon neutrinos, and tau neutrinos. According to quantum mechanics, these subatomic particles behave differently in matter and antimatter states. Unlocking these secrets is the focus of my work.”

Lin Yizhou shook his head. “I didn’t quite understand that. I’ve been wondering—since neutrinos can pass through the Earth at nearly the speed of light, could they possibly enable us to traverse time and space?”

Su’s face grew serious as he replied, “That possibility exists! It’s precisely what I am investigating and hoping for. One key direction in our neutrino research is to utilize their near or superluminal speeds to create opportunities to breach the boundaries of spacetime.”

Lin followed up, “Where exactly are you in your neutrino research?”

Su said, “Currently, our neutrino application technologies are among the world’s forefront. However, because neutrinos carry extremely weak energy and cannot be analyzed like other particles, we need more advanced technology. Previously, we relied on high-purity neutrino detectors located worldwide with the best international energy precision to capture neutrinos. Now, with the superior conditions at the Frozen Experiment Station and its apparatus, we have even made preliminary observations of antineutrino particles…”

Professor Ding interjected, “Why choose such a high-altitude snowy mountain for the station? Why not by the sea? What unique advantages does this location have?”

Su explained, “We selected the Himalayan snow plateau based on experiences from nuclear power plants, artificial sun projects, and neutrino stations worldwide, combined with innovative reasoning.”

Lin pressed, “What are the differences?”

Su elaborated, “There are three key reasons: first, the air and water here are relatively pure due to the high altitude; second, proximity to glaciers allows us to use ice refraction to reduce radiation; third, the remote location avoids pollution from cities that could interfere with the experiments.”

He then projected a high-altitude aerial video of the Frozen Experiment Station onto the screen. “See, this is our newly built facility.”