22 Global Evolution
Cong Xia initially believed that the Chief of Staff only intended to meet with Cheng Tianbi, but to his surprise, Zhao Qian looked at him and said, "You're coming too."
Cong Xia was quite surprised and left the room together with Cheng Tianbi.
They were led to an office on the second floor where three middle-aged men were seated. Cheng Tianbi saluted, "General Staff Zhao, Commander Liu, Deputy Commander Shen."
"Comrade Cheng Tianbi, have a seat," the Chief of Staff gestured towards a chair. "And you, young comrade, I heard you're Professor Cong's nephew, is that right?"
Cong Xia nodded, "Do you know my uncle?"
"We had a chance encounter in Beijing before. Professor Cong is now an important figure in Beijing, researching the central forces behind this global mutation."
Cong Xia wasn't surprised. His uncle's contributions in paleontology had already earned him international recognition, and this mutation happening now happened to be closely related to this field.
The Chief of Staff looked at Cong Xia, "You must think that Professor Cong is receiving special attention from the central government because of his expertise in paleontology, right?"
Cong Xia replied, "Is there another reason?"
"That is certainly one important reason, but even more significant is the fact that Professor Cong is a cerebral evolutionist."
Cerebral evolutionist?! Brain?!
Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi exchanged glances, knowing exactly what the other was thinking.
As global evolution intensified, they had come into contact with an increasing number of evolved species. The more they knew, the more they hoped to categorize these evolved species into a systematic framework, making it easier for them to understand.
Currently, they speculated two directions of evolution. One was like Cheng Tianbi, who could manipulate natural forces, but he remained the only one they had discovered so far. The other was genetic enhancement, which was more common, such as increased strength or, in the case of a rare example: the hair mutation. The cerebral evolution of Prof. Cong further confirmed this point.
However, they had now encountered an exception, namely Lui Fengyu. Lui Fengyu refused to reveal his direction of evolution, and it didn't seem to fit into either category of natural force manipulation or genetic evolution. This meant that there might be at least three different ways of human evolution, and possibly even more that they hadn't discovered yet. But each time they learned about a new form of evolution, it provided valuable information.
Cong Xia asked, "What were the specific manifestations of cerebral evolution?"
"Extraordinarily high intelligence, astonishing memory, analytical and computational abilities equivalent to computers. It was one of the most precious and rare directions of evolution we had discovered so far," replied the Chief of Staff.
Cheng Tianbi interjected, "One of them? Are there any other extremely precious and rare directions?"
The Chief of Staff let out a sigh, "Yes, there are. However, we hadn't come across them yet, including cerebral evolutionists. Currently, we had gathered around twenty mutants, mostly power-based. We had one with olfactory evolution, one with hair evolution, one with auditory evolution, and three with speed evolution. The most formidable one at the moment was an atavistic human, with the atavism direction being mammals. As for what Beijing considered the most precious and rare, it was cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators, but we hadn't encountered any thus far."
The two were astonished.
Natural force manipulation evolutionists were one of the most precious and rare directions of evolution?
Observing the regretful expression on the Chief of Staff's face, they wondered how he would react if he knew that one sat right in front of him.
Cong Xia calmly asked, "Chief of Staff, why did you consider cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators the most precious?"
"Isn't it easy to understand? Cerebral evolutionists were the hope of humanity. Only those exceptionally intelligent individuals had the potential to lead humanity through this catastrophe. And according to Beijing, natural force manipulators were the most powerful in combat. Once they matured, they possessed the ability to overturn natural environments and alter the entire landscape. Currently, Beijing had only discovered one—a fire energy manipulation evolutionist. They highly valued them. That's why one of the highest-priority tasks we received in the last communication was to search for cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators."
Cong Xia's heart started pounding. He didn't understand why the Chief of Staff was revealing so much information to them. If it was just for Cheng Tianbi, he could understand, as they already knew he was a wind natural force manipulation evolutionist, and they might want to recruit him. But why would they tell him? He could only analyze two possible reasons: first, they already knew about Cheng Tianbi and intended to win him over, and second, they needed to use his relationship as Cong Zhenzhong's nephew for something.
Regardless of the reason, caution was required.
They had been hiding themselves all this time for a deeper purpose.
Cheng Tianbi carried a special mission unknown even to Cong Xia. He remained low-key for a reason, and Cong Xia himself didn't want to be manipulated by anyone. As a small individual, all he wanted was to ensure his and Cheng Tianbi's safety, and he didn't want to be forced into doing anything dangerous for whatever reason. Whether it was selfishness or weakness, he simply wanted to survive.
The Chief of Staff was also experienced. Seeing the silence between the two, he guessed their doubts and proceeded to explain, "As Little Wang mentioned before, the global communication system was mostly paralyzed. All local forces were attempting to contact the central government. Our signals had to traverse several provinces, taking a detour of thousands of kilometers from the southernmost transmission station of our country to reach Beijing. Therefore, communication was extremely difficult and could only be used in urgent situations because the information we received was highly important. This included the latest research on human and plant-animal evolution. However, our last communication lasted only five minutes, and we only got a rough idea. The reason we're sharing such critical information with you is twofold. First, because of the unique nature of your mission, Little Cheng, we need to safely send you back to Beijing. Second, Little Cong, you are Professor Cong's nephew. If we manage to return to Beijing alive, we will need your assistance."
"We're going to Beijing?"
"We're going to Beijing?"
Both men exclaimed simultaneously, though with different tones - one surprised and the other somber. Cong Xia was taken aback by the military's decision to head to Beijing, and he couldn't help but wonder what assistance the Chief of Staff expected from him. He had limited understanding of the inner workings of the system and the intricacies involved. However, he realized that questioning the decision now would be futile. Their priority was to reach Beijing safely before anything else.
The Chief of Staff nodded. "You probably already know that the farther we are from Qinghai, the safer it is. Some people who managed to escape from Qinghai to Kunming have given a new name to the ordinary folks without any evolutionary changes. Do you know what they call them?"
"What do they call them?"
"'Fresh meat,'" the Chief of Staff sighed. "After food preservation became impossible, the only way to have fresh food was by finding living beings. In that region, where ordinary people without any evolutionary changes reside, they have become prey for mutated plants and animals. There's hardly any space left for ordinary people to survive. That's why we've witnessed an influx of people from Qinghai into Kunming over the past few days. It's just a matter of time before Yunnan faces the same situation. We must leave. Sitting around and waiting for death is not an option."
The atmosphere became unusually heavy for everyone present. Geographical location, race, and skin color no longer mattered. This was a catastrophe that affected all of humanity.
Commander Liu, who had remained silent until now, spoke with deep sorrow. "Fresh meat... Humans, who once stood atop the food chain, have now become prey for other animals and plants."
The phrase "fresh meat" painted a vivid and powerful picture. In the past, it referred to chicken, duck, fish, and other delicacies. Who could have imagined that within just a month, former prey would evolve into hunters, while the human race, once dominant, would become the hunted?
A somber silence hung in the air until Cheng Tianbi broke it. "Was today's riot a result of the influx of people from Qinghai?"
"To some extent, yes. But the main reason is that we've run out of food. Over the past few days, numerous weak and elderly individuals have perished. The remaining young and able-bodied are barely surviving, subsisting mainly on grass. Moreover, maintaining the water supply has become increasingly challenging. The microorganisms in the pipelines have also started to mutate, resulting in blockages throughout the city. It won't be long before we face a severe shortage of water and food. If we don't leave, we'll be left waiting for our demise."
Cong Xia's voice grew grave. "But where can we go? Can we be certain that we'll survive in Beijing?"
"Typically, there are two migration options: heading to the farthest south or the farthest north. The farther we are from Qinghai, the less impact we're likely to face. We can only cling to hope and pray that there might be a glimmer of survival elsewhere. Taking both Cheng Tianbi and your circumstances into consideration, we're definitely heading to Beijing. This morning, I issued the order that anyone who wishes to join us may do so, but we can't guarantee a steady food supply or safety along the way."
"There should be a considerable number of people choosing to leave, right?"
"No, on the contrary, there were more people who chose to stay behind. Firstly, here they at least had warm houses. As you know, the climate has become extremely unpredictable. Sometimes the temperature drops by thirty degrees in an instant, and other times it gets so hot that people suffer from dehydration. This has led to massive crop failures and everything in the fields has rotted away. In such conditions, it's safer to stay at home where they have shelter. Some people have families and it's not suitable for them to embark on long journeys. And there are those who possess self-defense abilities, like the evolved individuals or those with evolved pets. As long as they can hunt, they can still survive here. So, after filtering through these criteria, the minority are the ones planning to accompany us."
Deputy Commander Shen interjected, "But even if it's a minority, it could still be tens of thousands of people. It will be a large-scale migration. However, how many of them will actually make it to Beijing..."
He left his sentence unfinished, but everyone present understood what he meant.
In this perilous era, survival was left to fate.
The Chief of Staff added, "Go back and prepare. We'll depart early tomorrow morning. Oh, by the way, that actor surnamed Liu, did you find out anything from him?"
"He mentioned seeing a large pine tree before he lost consciousness, but he couldn't explain how the pine tree disappeared."
"It's truly a mysterious incident. We'll follow up on that when we reach Beijing. He was so close to the large pine tree, yet it didn't kill him. He's probably a mutant as well, right?"
"Yes, but he refuses to talk about it."
"I see. There are some people like that, unwilling to disclose information, wanting to preserve their own strength. Xiaocheng, I have a task for you. Since you've had contact with him, see if you can persuade him to join us. Having one more person with power would reduce the damage to our fellow citizens. Don't force him if he's unwilling, but try your best to convince him."
"Yes, Chief of Staff."
After the two left the office, they remained silent. They didn't speak in the corridor, fearing it was unsafe, and it wasn't until they returned to their room that Cong Xia, still shaken, said, "We received so much information today, I'm having trouble processing it all." He glanced at Cheng Tianbi and forced a smile. "I never expected you to be such a precious gem."
He knew he should be happy for Cheng Tianbi, but as Cheng Tianbi became more formidable, the gap between them grew wider. He truly wished he was also an evolved individual so that he could fight alongside Cheng Tianbi. At the very least, he wanted to have enough strength to stand by this man's side.
Cheng Tianbi remained expressionless. "They're talking about things that seem too mystical. I don't know how powerful that pyrokinetic manipulator truly is, but it hasn't even been a month since the earthquakes started. How could they possess such extraordinary powers? As for the future, no one can predict it. There's no need to worry too much."
Cong Xia smiled and said, "But I really hoped you could become powerful. That way, you would be safe. But with your strength, I’m sure you could protect yourself in the apocalypse."
Cheng Tianbi looked deeply into his eyes and replied, "Before taking you back to Beijing, I would ensure your safety too."
Overwhelmed with emotions, Cong Xia couldn't help but wrap his arms around Cheng Tianbi's shoulders. "Thank you, Bing Ge. I was grateful to have met you."
Cheng Tianbi gently sniffed Cong Xia's hair and didn't immediately push him away. Instead, he said, "You weren't entirely useless. You had that jade pendant, and it had already helped me. Don't overthink it."
Cong Xia nodded firmly, feeling a deeper sense of gratitude and reliance on Cheng Tianbi.
Despite Cheng Tianbi's cold and distant exterior, his inner self wasn't completely devoid of emotions. At least, that's what Cong Xia believed. He owed his survival to Cheng Tianbi, no matter what happened, and he was determined to do everything in his power to help Cheng Tianbi.
Regardless of the reasons behind the ancient jade's choice, Cong Xia would make good use of it to help Cheng Tianbi become stronger. He had to survive and witness the day when Cheng Tianbi's abilities could truly change the world.
22 Global Evolution
Cong Xia initially believed that the Chief of Staff only intended to meet with Cheng Tianbi, but to his surprise, Zhao Qian looked at him and said, "You're coming too."
Cong Xia was quite surprised and left the room together with Cheng Tianbi.
They were led to an office on the second floor where three middle-aged men were seated. Cheng Tianbi saluted, "General Staff Zhao, Commander Liu, Deputy Commander Shen."
"Comrade Cheng Tianbi, have a seat," the Chief of Staff gestured towards a chair. "And you, young comrade, I heard you're Professor Cong's nephew, is that right?"
Cong Xia nodded, "Do you know my uncle?"
"We had a chance encounter in Beijing before. Professor Cong is now an important figure in Beijing, researching the central forces behind this global mutation."
Cong Xia wasn't surprised. His uncle's contributions in paleontology had already earned him international recognition, and this mutation happening now happened to be closely related to this field.
The Chief of Staff looked at Cong Xia, "You must think that Professor Cong is receiving special attention from the central government because of his expertise in paleontology, right?"
Cong Xia replied, "Is there another reason?"
"That is certainly one important reason, but even more significant is the fact that Professor Cong is a cerebral evolutionist."
Cerebral evolutionist?! Brain?!
Cong Xia and Cheng Tianbi exchanged glances, knowing exactly what the other was thinking.
As global evolution intensified, they had come into contact with an increasing number of evolved species. The more they knew, the more they hoped to categorize these evolved species into a systematic framework, making it easier for them to understand.
Currently, they speculated two directions of evolution. One was like Cheng Tianbi, who could manipulate natural forces, but he remained the only one they had discovered so far. The other was genetic enhancement, which was more common, such as increased strength or, in the case of a rare example: the hair mutation. The cerebral evolution of Prof. Cong further confirmed this point.
However, they had now encountered an exception, namely Lui Fengyu. Lui Fengyu refused to reveal his direction of evolution, and it didn't seem to fit into either category of natural force manipulation or genetic evolution. This meant that there might be at least three different ways of human evolution, and possibly even more that they hadn't discovered yet. But each time they learned about a new form of evolution, it provided valuable information.
Cong Xia asked, "What were the specific manifestations of cerebral evolution?"
"Extraordinarily high intelligence, astonishing memory, analytical and computational abilities equivalent to computers. It was one of the most precious and rare directions of evolution we had discovered so far," replied the Chief of Staff.
Cheng Tianbi interjected, "One of them? Are there any other extremely precious and rare directions?"
The Chief of Staff let out a sigh, "Yes, there are. However, we hadn't come across them yet, including cerebral evolutionists. Currently, we had gathered around twenty mutants, mostly power-based. We had one with olfactory evolution, one with hair evolution, one with auditory evolution, and three with speed evolution. The most formidable one at the moment was an atavistic human, with the atavism direction being mammals. As for what Beijing considered the most precious and rare, it was cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators, but we hadn't encountered any thus far."
The two were astonished.
Natural force manipulation evolutionists were one of the most precious and rare directions of evolution?
Observing the regretful expression on the Chief of Staff's face, they wondered how he would react if he knew that one sat right in front of him.
Cong Xia calmly asked, "Chief of Staff, why did you consider cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators the most precious?"
"Isn't it easy to understand? Cerebral evolutionists were the hope of humanity. Only those exceptionally intelligent individuals had the potential to lead humanity through this catastrophe. And according to Beijing, natural force manipulators were the most powerful in combat. Once they matured, they possessed the ability to overturn natural environments and alter the entire landscape. Currently, Beijing had only discovered one—a fire energy manipulation evolutionist. They highly valued them. That's why one of the highest-priority tasks we received in the last communication was to search for cerebral evolutionists and natural force manipulators."
Cong Xia's heart started pounding. He didn't understand why the Chief of Staff was revealing so much information to them. If it was just for Cheng Tianbi, he could understand, as they already knew he was a wind natural force manipulation evolutionist, and they might want to recruit him. But why would they tell him? He could only analyze two possible reasons: first, they already knew about Cheng Tianbi and intended to win him over, and second, they needed to use his relationship as Cong Zhenzhong's nephew for something.
Regardless of the reason, caution was required.
They had been hiding themselves all this time for a deeper purpose.
Cheng Tianbi carried a special mission unknown even to Cong Xia. He remained low-key for a reason, and Cong Xia himself didn't want to be manipulated by anyone. As a small individual, all he wanted was to ensure his and Cheng Tianbi's safety, and he didn't want to be forced into doing anything dangerous for whatever reason. Whether it was selfishness or weakness, he simply wanted to survive.
The Chief of Staff was also experienced. Seeing the silence between the two, he guessed their doubts and proceeded to explain, "As Little Wang mentioned before, the global communication system was mostly paralyzed. All local forces were attempting to contact the central government. Our signals had to traverse several provinces, taking a detour of thousands of kilometers from the southernmost transmission station of our country to reach Beijing. Therefore, communication was extremely difficult and could only be used in urgent situations because the information we received was highly important. This included the latest research on human and plant-animal evolution. However, our last communication lasted only five minutes, and we only got a rough idea. The reason we're sharing such critical information with you is twofold. First, because of the unique nature of your mission, Little Cheng, we need to safely send you back to Beijing. Second, Little Cong, you are Professor Cong's nephew. If we manage to return to Beijing alive, we will need your assistance."
"We're going to Beijing?"
"We're going to Beijing?"
Both men exclaimed simultaneously, though with different tones - one surprised and the other somber. Cong Xia was taken aback by the military's decision to head to Beijing, and he couldn't help but wonder what assistance the Chief of Staff expected from him. He had limited understanding of the inner workings of the system and the intricacies involved. However, he realized that questioning the decision now would be futile. Their priority was to reach Beijing safely before anything else.
The Chief of Staff nodded. "You probably already know that the farther we are from Qinghai, the safer it is. Some people who managed to escape from Qinghai to Kunming have given a new name to the ordinary folks without any evolutionary changes. Do you know what they call them?"
"What do they call them?"
"'Fresh meat,'" the Chief of Staff sighed. "After food preservation became impossible, the only way to have fresh food was by finding living beings. In that region, where ordinary people without any evolutionary changes reside, they have become prey for mutated plants and animals. There's hardly any space left for ordinary people to survive. That's why we've witnessed an influx of people from Qinghai into Kunming over the past few days. It's just a matter of time before Yunnan faces the same situation. We must leave. Sitting around and waiting for death is not an option."
The atmosphere became unusually heavy for everyone present. Geographical location, race, and skin color no longer mattered. This was a catastrophe that affected all of humanity.
Commander Liu, who had remained silent until now, spoke with deep sorrow. "Fresh meat... Humans, who once stood atop the food chain, have now become prey for other animals and plants."
The phrase "fresh meat" painted a vivid and powerful picture. In the past, it referred to chicken, duck, fish, and other delicacies. Who could have imagined that within just a month, former prey would evolve into hunters, while the human race, once dominant, would become the hunted?
A somber silence hung in the air until Cheng Tianbi broke it. "Was today's riot a result of the influx of people from Qinghai?"
"To some extent, yes. But the main reason is that we've run out of food. Over the past few days, numerous weak and elderly individuals have perished. The remaining young and able-bodied are barely surviving, subsisting mainly on grass. Moreover, maintaining the water supply has become increasingly challenging. The microorganisms in the pipelines have also started to mutate, resulting in blockages throughout the city. It won't be long before we face a severe shortage of water and food. If we don't leave, we'll be left waiting for our demise."
Cong Xia's voice grew grave. "But where can we go? Can we be certain that we'll survive in Beijing?"
"Typically, there are two migration options: heading to the farthest south or the farthest north. The farther we are from Qinghai, the less impact we're likely to face. We can only cling to hope and pray that there might be a glimmer of survival elsewhere. Taking both Cheng Tianbi and your circumstances into consideration, we're definitely heading to Beijing. This morning, I issued the order that anyone who wishes to join us may do so, but we can't guarantee a steady food supply or safety along the way."
"There should be a considerable number of people choosing to leave, right?"
"No, on the contrary, there were more people who chose to stay behind. Firstly, here they at least had warm houses. As you know, the climate has become extremely unpredictable. Sometimes the temperature drops by thirty degrees in an instant, and other times it gets so hot that people suffer from dehydration. This has led to massive crop failures and everything in the fields has rotted away. In such conditions, it's safer to stay at home where they have shelter. Some people have families and it's not suitable for them to embark on long journeys. And there are those who possess self-defense abilities, like the evolved individuals or those with evolved pets. As long as they can hunt, they can still survive here. So, after filtering through these criteria, the minority are the ones planning to accompany us."
Deputy Commander Shen interjected, "But even if it's a minority, it could still be tens of thousands of people. It will be a large-scale migration. However, how many of them will actually make it to Beijing..."
He left his sentence unfinished, but everyone present understood what he meant.
In this perilous era, survival was left to fate.
The Chief of Staff added, "Go back and prepare. We'll depart early tomorrow morning. Oh, by the way, that actor surnamed Liu, did you find out anything from him?"
"He mentioned seeing a large pine tree before he lost consciousness, but he couldn't explain how the pine tree disappeared."
"It's truly a mysterious incident. We'll follow up on that when we reach Beijing. He was so close to the large pine tree, yet it didn't kill him. He's probably a mutant as well, right?"
"Yes, but he refuses to talk about it."
"I see. There are some people like that, unwilling to disclose information, wanting to preserve their own strength. Xiaocheng, I have a task for you. Since you've had contact with him, see if you can persuade him to join us. Having one more person with power would reduce the damage to our fellow citizens. Don't force him if he's unwilling, but try your best to convince him."
"Yes, Chief of Staff."
After the two left the office, they remained silent. They didn't speak in the corridor, fearing it was unsafe, and it wasn't until they returned to their room that Cong Xia, still shaken, said, "We received so much information today, I'm having trouble processing it all." He glanced at Cheng Tianbi and forced a smile. "I never expected you to be such a precious gem."
He knew he should be happy for Cheng Tianbi, but as Cheng Tianbi became more formidable, the gap between them grew wider. He truly wished he was also an evolved individual so that he could fight alongside Cheng Tianbi. At the very least, he wanted to have enough strength to stand by this man's side.
Cheng Tianbi remained expressionless. "They're talking about things that seem too mystical. I don't know how powerful that pyrokinetic manipulator truly is, but it hasn't even been a month since the earthquakes started. How could they possess such extraordinary powers? As for the future, no one can predict it. There's no need to worry too much."
Cong Xia smiled and said, "But I really hoped you could become powerful. That way, you would be safe. But with your strength, I’m sure you could protect yourself in the apocalypse."
Cheng Tianbi looked deeply into his eyes and replied, "Before taking you back to Beijing, I would ensure your safety too."
Overwhelmed with emotions, Cong Xia couldn't help but wrap his arms around Cheng Tianbi's shoulders. "Thank you, Bing Ge. I was grateful to have met you."
Cheng Tianbi gently sniffed Cong Xia's hair and didn't immediately push him away. Instead, he said, "You weren't entirely useless. You had that jade pendant, and it had already helped me. Don't overthink it."
Cong Xia nodded firmly, feeling a deeper sense of gratitude and reliance on Cheng Tianbi.
Despite Cheng Tianbi's cold and distant exterior, his inner self wasn't completely devoid of emotions. At least, that's what Cong Xia believed. He owed his survival to Cheng Tianbi, no matter what happened, and he was determined to do everything in his power to help Cheng Tianbi.
Regardless of the reasons behind the ancient jade's choice, Cong Xia would make good use of it to help Cheng Tianbi become stronger. He had to survive and witness the day when Cheng Tianbi's abilities could truly change the world.
