11 Global Evolution
"Here it came, the long-awaited day..."
"He woke up, he finally woke up..."
A voice, ancient and distant, resounded in the dark void, as if it were from a faraway place and yet right beside one's ear.
Who? Who was speaking?
A long sigh echoed through the void, as if it had spanned millions of years, carrying deep resignation and compassion. The sigh was so poignant that it brought tears to one's eyes.
Cong Xia couldn't feel his body, nor did he know where he was. There was only the voice of the aged elder, incredibly clear.
Had he died? Was this the afterlife? Whose voice was it? The ruler of the underworld? What did this day refer to? Who had awakened?
A flood of questions filled Cong Xia's mind, but he was powerless to answer them. He was like a lost soul, devoid of substance and sound. He existed in the pitch-black void, yet he couldn't determine in what manner.
The aged voice spoke again, "With blood as the oath, from that day forth, you became my sole descendant. I hoped you would be diligent and earnest, devoutly studying my teachings, and saving our clan from imminent danger. Remember, remember, your mission was to put it to sleep, to make it sleep..."
What? Descendant? Put who to sleep?
Before he could contemplate further, a burst of light pierced the pitch-black void. Before Cong Xia's "eyes," a dark green glow emerged. Wasn't that the "heart" of the giant mushroom? The glow grew larger and larger until it filled the entire void. The object enshrouded by the glow became increasingly distinct. It was an oval-shaped jade, as large as an adult's body, with a warm and ancient texture. The jade was adorned with intricate and tiny Sanskrit inscriptions, emitting a golden light that gradually permeated the void. The fonts grew larger and clearer, flowing and pulsating before Cong Xia's "eyes," accompanied by ethereal chanting that sounded extraordinarily sacred.
Cong Xia stared in astonishment at the shining golden characters, which he shouldn't have been able to decipher, given their ancient and mystical nature. Yet, he understood them all!
The green glow of the ancient jade and the golden light of the Sanskrit inscriptions resonated harmoniously, exuding a grand and sacred aura. Suddenly, the radiance intensified, and Cong Xia involuntarily closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Cheng Tianbi's face.
"You're awake," Cheng Tianbi said, gently lifting Cong Xia's eyelids to examine his eyes.
Cong Xia pushed his hand away, feeling uncomfortable. "I... this..." He turned his head and surveyed his surroundings, realizing they were still inside the giant mushroom. However, the mushroom had withered, and its once plump and translucent cap had shriveled, losing its blue veins. The entire mushroom seemed lifeless, as if drained of all vitality.
The large mushroom collapsed onto the ground, and instantly, all the surrounding mushrooms withered as well, as if the perilous situation they had just experienced was all an illusion.
Cong Xia abruptly rose from the ground. Then, he felt something in his hand. He looked down and saw an oval-shaped jade, about the size of his palm. It had a dark green color and a transparent, ancient texture. This was the jade he had seen in the void! It was just much smaller, and he couldn't make out any inscriptions on it. It appeared to be an ordinary jade, albeit stained with blood.
Cheng Tianbi glanced at Cong Xia's palm. "This is the mushroom's heart. You've been clutching it since you passed out. This jade must possess some kind of regenerative power. Take a look at yourself."
Cong Xia examined his body. He vividly remembered that before he lost consciousness, his lower legs, knees, and wrists had been submerged in the mushroom's sticky sap, corroding his flesh down to the bones. The intense pain he had felt was definitely not an illusion. However, now there was no trace of any injuries on his body. His skin was intact, except for his burnt-out shoes and tattered clothes, which served as evidence of what had just happened.
Cong Xia stared at the ancient jade in his hand in shock. Everything was real, and this ancient jade was an artifact left behind by some ancient figure with extraordinary powers. Moreover, it contained crucial information.
Regardless of what this jade was, the fact that it could heal the human body alone made it a priceless treasure. Otherwise, he would have turned into a skeleton by now.
Suddenly, Cong Xia lifted his head and rushed to Cheng Tianbi, grabbing his shoulders anxiously. "Are you alright? What happened afterward? Are you injured?"
Cheng Tianbi shook his head. "I only saw this jade floating up at the time. Its radiance was blinding, and then I also passed out. When I woke up, I saw you holding this jade, and all the mushrooms here had died."
Cong Xia breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "We survived."
Cheng Tianbi swept his flashlight around, looking at the shriveled mushrooms. He pondered the fact that they could still breathe in this place and felt a sense of emotion.
Cong Xia, still shaken by the experience, was overcome by curiosity about the ancient jade, which triumphed over his fear. He repeatedly examined the jade in his hand, wanting to unravel its secrets.
Observing his somewhat fervent demeanor, Cheng Tianbi asked, "What's wrong?"
"When I was unconscious, my consciousness entered a pitch-black place, and then some strange things happened."
Cheng Tianbi glanced at him, then at the jade. "Carry this jade with you. We'll talk as we go."
Cong Xia got up from the ground, and the two of them leaped off the giant mushroom, heading towards the passage behind it.
All the spore plants on the ground had died, freeing them from the arduous journey through the slippery slime. However, Cong Xia's shoes had been burned, and walking barefoot was extremely uncomfortable. The weeds and stones on the ground pricked his feet, causing him to frown and almost hop as he walked forward.
Cheng Tianbi glanced back at him and took off his own shoes. "Put these on."
Cong Xia's cheeks flushed, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, it's fine. I'll get used to it after walking for a while."
"You're slowing us down," Cheng Tianbi ordered. "Put them on."
Embarrassed, Cong Xia looked at him. He really didn't want to continue being a burden, but under Cheng Tianbi's commanding gaze, he reluctantly bent down and put on the shoes.
Cheng Tianbi's shoes were standard military boots, with iron plates at the front. They were heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Moreover, Cheng Tianbi had larger feet than Cong Xia, so Cong Xia's slender figure in those boots looked somewhat comical.
Feeling awkward, Cong Xia glanced at Cheng Tianbi and took a few steps. It was indeed much more comfortable than walking barefoot, and he no longer had to worry about stepping on anything unpleasant with every step.
In a low voice, Cong Xia said, "Thank you." He felt guilty being taken care of by a man five years younger than him. He hoped he could do something for Cheng Tianbi instead of always being a burden.
Cheng Tianbi led the way ahead, walking without any hesitation. As they continued, they felt the ground becoming drier, and the path becoming easier.
By now, both of them were starving. If they couldn't exit the sewage pipe within a few hours, they would have to find a way to solve their food problem on the spot.
Cong Xia asked, "How long was I unconscious?"
"About an hour."
"What about you?"
"About the same as you."
"You must be very hungry. I am too."
Cheng Tianbi didn't want to admit that he was already feeling dizzy from hunger, especially after being hit by a gust of wind when the mushrooms teleported him. In that instant, he felt his body being emptied, and his stomach was painfully empty. He had undergone hunger training in the military, surviving for a whole week with only basic drinking water and a minuscule amount of food to sustain his energy while enduring strenuous physical exercises. During that time, he had managed to hold on, and the sensation of his entire body convulsing from hunger didn't occur until the fifth day of the training. But now, it had only been a little over ten hours since his last meal.
It seems that his evolutionary ability comes at the cost of sacrificing physical strength, at least for the time being.
In order to buy some time, he changed the topic and said, "Tell me about Gu Yu. What did you encounter?"
"Ah." Cong Xia organized his thoughts and said, "After I lost consciousness, my awareness entered a pitch-black void, and then I heard a very ancient voice..."
He described everything he heard and saw in that void to Cheng Tianbi.
After listening, Cheng Tianbi remained silent for a long time.
Cong Xia pondered, "I don't know why, but I'm more curious about who or what the old man referred to as 'it.' If we analyze it logically, he meant that only by putting that 'it' to sleep, 'our clan' can be saved. But what does 'our clan' refer to? Humans?"
Cheng Tianbi pondered, "Considering what's happening now and the timing of this jade's appearance, it's definitely related to the major evolution that's taking place."
Cong Xia chuckled foolishly, "You think this jade is meant to save all of humanity." After speaking, he glanced at the jade in his hand but still couldn't make sense of it.
Although he encountered such unimaginable things, the events of the past few days had made him unfazed by anything. In this bizarre world, anything was possible, but how could someone like him, without any remarkable abilities, be entrusted with a great responsibility? He only hoped to keep himself and Cheng Tianbi alive for one more day, just one more day.
Regardless, this jade had the power to heal the body. Such a treasure, he must find a way to study its usage and keep it safe.
Cheng Tianbi remained silent for a while and said, "If we can get out of here, we must thoroughly study this jade."
11 Global Evolution
"Here it came, the long-awaited day..."
"He woke up, he finally woke up..."
A voice, ancient and distant, resounded in the dark void, as if it were from a faraway place and yet right beside one's ear.
Who? Who was speaking?
A long sigh echoed through the void, as if it had spanned millions of years, carrying deep resignation and compassion. The sigh was so poignant that it brought tears to one's eyes.
Cong Xia couldn't feel his body, nor did he know where he was. There was only the voice of the aged elder, incredibly clear.
Had he died? Was this the afterlife? Whose voice was it? The ruler of the underworld? What did this day refer to? Who had awakened?
A flood of questions filled Cong Xia's mind, but he was powerless to answer them. He was like a lost soul, devoid of substance and sound. He existed in the pitch-black void, yet he couldn't determine in what manner.
The aged voice spoke again, "With blood as the oath, from that day forth, you became my sole descendant. I hoped you would be diligent and earnest, devoutly studying my teachings, and saving our clan from imminent danger. Remember, remember, your mission was to put it to sleep, to make it sleep..."
What? Descendant? Put who to sleep?
Before he could contemplate further, a burst of light pierced the pitch-black void. Before Cong Xia's "eyes," a dark green glow emerged. Wasn't that the "heart" of the giant mushroom? The glow grew larger and larger until it filled the entire void. The object enshrouded by the glow became increasingly distinct. It was an oval-shaped jade, as large as an adult's body, with a warm and ancient texture. The jade was adorned with intricate and tiny Sanskrit inscriptions, emitting a golden light that gradually permeated the void. The fonts grew larger and clearer, flowing and pulsating before Cong Xia's "eyes," accompanied by ethereal chanting that sounded extraordinarily sacred.
Cong Xia stared in astonishment at the shining golden characters, which he shouldn't have been able to decipher, given their ancient and mystical nature. Yet, he understood them all!
The green glow of the ancient jade and the golden light of the Sanskrit inscriptions resonated harmoniously, exuding a grand and sacred aura. Suddenly, the radiance intensified, and Cong Xia involuntarily closed his eyes.
When he opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was Cheng Tianbi's face.
"You're awake," Cheng Tianbi said, gently lifting Cong Xia's eyelids to examine his eyes.
Cong Xia pushed his hand away, feeling uncomfortable. "I... this..." He turned his head and surveyed his surroundings, realizing they were still inside the giant mushroom. However, the mushroom had withered, and its once plump and translucent cap had shriveled, losing its blue veins. The entire mushroom seemed lifeless, as if drained of all vitality.
The large mushroom collapsed onto the ground, and instantly, all the surrounding mushrooms withered as well, as if the perilous situation they had just experienced was all an illusion.
Cong Xia abruptly rose from the ground. Then, he felt something in his hand. He looked down and saw an oval-shaped jade, about the size of his palm. It had a dark green color and a transparent, ancient texture. This was the jade he had seen in the void! It was just much smaller, and he couldn't make out any inscriptions on it. It appeared to be an ordinary jade, albeit stained with blood.
Cheng Tianbi glanced at Cong Xia's palm. "This is the mushroom's heart. You've been clutching it since you passed out. This jade must possess some kind of regenerative power. Take a look at yourself."
Cong Xia examined his body. He vividly remembered that before he lost consciousness, his lower legs, knees, and wrists had been submerged in the mushroom's sticky sap, corroding his flesh down to the bones. The intense pain he had felt was definitely not an illusion. However, now there was no trace of any injuries on his body. His skin was intact, except for his burnt-out shoes and tattered clothes, which served as evidence of what had just happened.
Cong Xia stared at the ancient jade in his hand in shock. Everything was real, and this ancient jade was an artifact left behind by some ancient figure with extraordinary powers. Moreover, it contained crucial information.
Regardless of what this jade was, the fact that it could heal the human body alone made it a priceless treasure. Otherwise, he would have turned into a skeleton by now.
Suddenly, Cong Xia lifted his head and rushed to Cheng Tianbi, grabbing his shoulders anxiously. "Are you alright? What happened afterward? Are you injured?"
Cheng Tianbi shook his head. "I only saw this jade floating up at the time. Its radiance was blinding, and then I also passed out. When I woke up, I saw you holding this jade, and all the mushrooms here had died."
Cong Xia breathed a sigh of relief and murmured, "We survived."
Cheng Tianbi swept his flashlight around, looking at the shriveled mushrooms. He pondered the fact that they could still breathe in this place and felt a sense of emotion.
Cong Xia, still shaken by the experience, was overcome by curiosity about the ancient jade, which triumphed over his fear. He repeatedly examined the jade in his hand, wanting to unravel its secrets.
Observing his somewhat fervent demeanor, Cheng Tianbi asked, "What's wrong?"
"When I was unconscious, my consciousness entered a pitch-black place, and then some strange things happened."
Cheng Tianbi glanced at him, then at the jade. "Carry this jade with you. We'll talk as we go."
Cong Xia got up from the ground, and the two of them leaped off the giant mushroom, heading towards the passage behind it.
All the spore plants on the ground had died, freeing them from the arduous journey through the slippery slime. However, Cong Xia's shoes had been burned, and walking barefoot was extremely uncomfortable. The weeds and stones on the ground pricked his feet, causing him to frown and almost hop as he walked forward.
Cheng Tianbi glanced back at him and took off his own shoes. "Put these on."
Cong Xia's cheeks flushed, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, it's fine. I'll get used to it after walking for a while."
"You're slowing us down," Cheng Tianbi ordered. "Put them on."
Embarrassed, Cong Xia looked at him. He really didn't want to continue being a burden, but under Cheng Tianbi's commanding gaze, he reluctantly bent down and put on the shoes.
Cheng Tianbi's shoes were standard military boots, with iron plates at the front. They were heavy and uncomfortable to wear. Moreover, Cheng Tianbi had larger feet than Cong Xia, so Cong Xia's slender figure in those boots looked somewhat comical.
Feeling awkward, Cong Xia glanced at Cheng Tianbi and took a few steps. It was indeed much more comfortable than walking barefoot, and he no longer had to worry about stepping on anything unpleasant with every step.
In a low voice, Cong Xia said, "Thank you." He felt guilty being taken care of by a man five years younger than him. He hoped he could do something for Cheng Tianbi instead of always being a burden.
Cheng Tianbi led the way ahead, walking without any hesitation. As they continued, they felt the ground becoming drier, and the path becoming easier.
By now, both of them were starving. If they couldn't exit the sewage pipe within a few hours, they would have to find a way to solve their food problem on the spot.
Cong Xia asked, "How long was I unconscious?"
"About an hour."
"What about you?"
"About the same as you."
"You must be very hungry. I am too."
Cheng Tianbi didn't want to admit that he was already feeling dizzy from hunger, especially after being hit by a gust of wind when the mushrooms teleported him. In that instant, he felt his body being emptied, and his stomach was painfully empty. He had undergone hunger training in the military, surviving for a whole week with only basic drinking water and a minuscule amount of food to sustain his energy while enduring strenuous physical exercises. During that time, he had managed to hold on, and the sensation of his entire body convulsing from hunger didn't occur until the fifth day of the training. But now, it had only been a little over ten hours since his last meal.
It seems that his evolutionary ability comes at the cost of sacrificing physical strength, at least for the time being.
In order to buy some time, he changed the topic and said, "Tell me about Gu Yu. What did you encounter?"
"Ah." Cong Xia organized his thoughts and said, "After I lost consciousness, my awareness entered a pitch-black void, and then I heard a very ancient voice..."
He described everything he heard and saw in that void to Cheng Tianbi.
After listening, Cheng Tianbi remained silent for a long time.
Cong Xia pondered, "I don't know why, but I'm more curious about who or what the old man referred to as 'it.' If we analyze it logically, he meant that only by putting that 'it' to sleep, 'our clan' can be saved. But what does 'our clan' refer to? Humans?"
Cheng Tianbi pondered, "Considering what's happening now and the timing of this jade's appearance, it's definitely related to the major evolution that's taking place."
Cong Xia chuckled foolishly, "You think this jade is meant to save all of humanity." After speaking, he glanced at the jade in his hand but still couldn't make sense of it.
Although he encountered such unimaginable things, the events of the past few days had made him unfazed by anything. In this bizarre world, anything was possible, but how could someone like him, without any remarkable abilities, be entrusted with a great responsibility? He only hoped to keep himself and Cheng Tianbi alive for one more day, just one more day.
Regardless, this jade had the power to heal the body. Such a treasure, he must find a way to study its usage and keep it safe.
Cheng Tianbi remained silent for a while and said, "If we can get out of here, we must thoroughly study this jade."
