The Martial Unity

Chapter 3785: Integrated Information

Rui had made many of the same deductions that the Psycher had, but he had gone even further than Rui when it came to understanding where consciousness and information belonged in the grand puzzle of the universe. Many of his insights helped contextualize Rui’s own understanding with respect to the nature of reality itself.

”Still... a fundamental force, is it?” Rui murmured, engrossed in thought.

”Perhaps the most fundamental of them all, since it does not adhere to causality,” the Psycher remarked with a knowing tone. ”Any changes in information would likely reflect in changes to the material world in a manner that defies causality. I believe that is the explanation for why Transcendents perform feats that are defiant of the laws of physics. If you become a Martial Transcendent, I think you can help me achieve my ultimate goal of understanding the nature of consciousness itself.”

Rui raised an eyebrow. ”I feel like you’ve already done that.”

The Psycher shook his head. ”I have come close. But I wish to understand what separates consciousness from non-conscious phenomena, that is, the final impediment between myself and a complete understanding of the nature of consciousness as a phenomenon. I do have a hypothesis, however. I just have been unable to confirm or deny it.”

”Hypothesis?”

”Indeed, I call it Integrated Information Theory,” the Psycher replied. ”Simply put, I believe that consciousness arises in the information dimension when the underlying material phenomenon is able to integrate information into its system. I suspect that is when non-conscious information phenomena become conscious.”

”When information is integrated...” Rui frowned. ”But... a lot of things do that, do they not? Even our computers integrate information, wouldn’t that mean that they are conscious?”

”Perhaps, but likely not,” the Psycher replied thoughtfully. ”Computers are modular and separable. Components can be replaced with others with absolutely no loss in the structure of the information. To integrate information is not simply to store, but to band together information to create an outcome that is larger than the sum of the parts. Most computers are not designed to do that.”

”Then what about artificial intelligence that relies on neural networks?”

Rui raised an eyebrow with great interest. ”Would they be conscious in accordance with your hypothesis?”
The Psycher smiled.

”Yes.”

Rui fell into thought at those words. ”...I imagine that the organic superintelligence of the flora network currently being implemented across the Beast Domain is also conscious?”

”Oh, that network was definitely conscious with or without my hypothesis,” the Psycher chuckled. ”There is no question that is conscious and aware. Thankfully, it should be on our side since its fate is dependent on whether we are strong enough to protect it from outsiders.”

”...By your hypothesis, is it possible for Gaia to be conscious?” Rui’s eyes sharpened.

The Psycher’s expression grew knowing. ”...Possible, yes. It is hard to say how much Gaia’s structure integrates information, but from everything we have learned, I wouldn’t be surprised if her structure is able to integrate information extremely well.”

Rui fell into thought as he pondered that answer. He thought back to the crisis that the little task force comprising himself, Mother Maeria, the Divine Doctor, and the Elder Tree was tasked with handling, and wondered how relevant the Psycher’s hypothesis of consciousness was to it.

If integrated information was all it took, then he couldn’t help but wonder if the system of esoteric matter within Panama was able to integrate information in some manner beyond their fathoming, creating some sort of alien esoteric consciousness that had malicious intentions with Gaia.

He didn’t know.

It was frustrating, but their understanding of what was happening with Gaia was still quite limited; limited to speculations and deductions. Rui’s attention shifted back to the Psycher with a pointed gaze. He considered bringing the man into their little task force to perhaps evaluate how conscious the threat and crisis were, but...

He shook his head. ’He’s still in the theoretical and qualitative phase. He has no way of measuring it at the moment. So he will be of limited use.’

He heaved a deep breath, nodding at the man. ”This has been an enlightening conversation. You have helped me understand the Transcendent Realm a little better, and your insights into consciousness are deeply enlightening.”

”I’m glad to hear that,” the Psycher smiled pleasantly. ”I look forward to you or any of the other candidates breaking through to the Trancendent Realm. You will be of great use to me. Until then, keep growing stronger. Don’t let your duties as Emperor weigh you down.”

”I intend to have them fuel my growth,” Rui stood up. ”Coordinate with the Flora Network Department of the Panamic Alliance to integrate your algorithm into the network. We need to have as many Martial Masters break through to the Sage Realm.”

The Psycher nodded with a serious expression. ”I will do just that.”

”Good talk, I’ll see you later, then.”

WHOOSH

Rui teleported not to the Kandrian Empire, but rather to the Beast Domain where the Elder Tree was, before quickly acquiring Ieyasu’s head from the Garden of Salvation and teleporting away once more.

WHOOSH

He arrived at East Genora.

At the largest tree in the entire world. Despite the night sky, the large deciduous tree was clearly visible in the darkness. It towered over East Genora in a domineering manner as its giant, densely-leaved branches covered the sky for thousands of kilometers.

The fresh air of the forest and the odor of nature hung in the air even as a warm breeze swept across the domain of the most powerful Mother of Nature.

’You have returned.’ Mother Maeria’s voice echoed in his mind. ’Welcome back. You have changed a lot since your last visit. To think that you would succeed in integrating evosapien physiology into your body. Truly astounding.’

”It was not easy,” Rui admitted as he flew into an opening formed in the trunk of the tree. ”But it has allowed me to achieve much greater power and adaptive evolution than anything else. It allowed me to fend off powerful foes.”