Chapter 58
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Chapter 58: The Last Cycle
After hearing Luo Yu and the others, everyone fell silent. Ao Ci then slowly said, “From both the perspective of the natural environment and genetic setup, this cycle thirty thousand years later is clearly harsher than ours and the previous time periods. I suspect that at least one of the two unknown time periods between us has also undergone ascension. If your time period can also achieve ascension at the end, then it should be the final cycle.”
The group turned in unison to look at Ao Ci and chorused, “The final cycle?”
“I was just thinking along the same lines as my teacher,” Ji Shu added. “Based on the genetic model comparisons, the genes of secondary beings in your time period have a lot more room for adjustments than those in earlier time periods, but it’s basically reached its limit.”
“That’s right.” Ao Ci took a sip of water. “In this cycle thirty thousand years later, the initial humans are limited by some of their innate advantages due to the environment, while the secondary beings have been allowed more flexibility in gene editing. This shift significantly reduces the gap that should exist between them. And looking at the living genetic samples, the gene flexibility of secondary beings has reached its maximum; there’s no room for improvement in physical capacity or intelligence. This configuration is indicative of the final cycle.”
Ying Zhao glanced at Ji Shu and then at Ao Ci. “So… if this cycle fails to achieve ascension, it will lead to a reset, and all souls will have to endure another ten thousand years in the same harsh environment?”
Everyone in the room turned their attention to the three of them sitting in the middle, and Ao Ci looked at them with a complex expression. “Yes, based on what we currently know, the logic of the cycle operates this way.”
Luo Yu, who had been quietly listening, then asked Ji Shu softly, “How long until the end of our time period?”
Ji Shu looked at Ti Ran, who exchanged glances with several experts beside her, and replied, “While we have calculated the discontinuity points of the first two time periods, we discovered, through the data sent back by the exploration team and our assessments, that the actual starting time of each cycle is not fixed. Moreover, after the cycle starts, there’s a period that cannot be observed, lasting one to three thousand years. For now, we’ll mark that as the initial setup period of this cycle. It seems the creator observes and adjusts the ecological environment and human genes during this time. After this setup period, the world develops on its own without intervention until the cycle concludes.”
Luo Yu frowned again. “So… we can’t currently predict the specific time of the cycle’s endpoint?”
Ti Ran nodded heavily. “That’s correct. We can only know that both our world and the world thirty thousand years later have reached the end of the cycle. It’s certain that the endpoint is not more than a thousand years away, but whether it’s five hundred years, fifty years, or five years, we can’t confirm for now.”
Ao Ci added, “According to the latest projected decline period of secondary being genes, the presence of reproductive assistance lasts about seven to eight thousand years. Excluding the initial setup period of one to three thousand years, this generally aligns with a ten-thousand-year cycle duration. However, our estimates for these timeframes may still have a few hundred years of error. Perhaps after the secondary beings exit, there might still be five hundred to a thousand years for humanity to rebuild order.”
Luo Yu thought for a moment and then looked at Ao Ci. “But based on the decline of secondary being genes in our two time periods, it’s evident that our time is much closer to the endpoint, right?”
Ao Ci frowned, pondering for a moment before responding, “In terms of the decline comparison, the genes of secondary beings in your world are indeed shorter than those in ours. Based on time calculations, it appears that they have declined by about three hundred years more and are very close to reaching the natural exit level.”
After hearing her words, the people in the office fell silent again, as the exploration team had only conducted remote observations of the two historical time periods and had not confirmed the social structures of the local human populations. Thus, they currently couldn’t ascertain the duration between the natural exit of secondary beings and the end of the cycle.
Moreover, the gaps between the exits of secondary beings and the endpoints of each cycle were not necessarily consistent. Even knowing the situations of the historical time periods might not provide much reference.
As everyone mulled over these thoughts, Wanhua, sitting beside Ao Ci, suddenly said, “I think the time period thirty thousand years later can still make a last-ditch effort.” After saying this, she turned to Luo Yu. “Hasn’t your asexual experiment already made some progress? Since we’re not at the end yet, whether it’s fifty years or a hundred, as long as you ensure that some people survive before it ends, you can achieve ascension and avoid a reset!”
Her somewhat childlike voice echoed in the office. Luo Yu glanced at Zhu Huai and Ying Zhao beside her after hearing her words, then smiled lightly, “Yes, at least in my lifetime, I will definitely strive in this direction.”
“Mm!” Wanhua’s face was full of energy. “As long as your people unite, there’s no problem!”
“United…” The corners of Luo Yu’s smile turned downward into a wry grin. “That might be a bit difficult. Our world is very fragmented; some people have awakened, but another part…”
Her words reminded everyone of the earlier chaotic broadcasts they had seen. The mental state of the people in that world thirty thousand years later seemed quite dire. As they thought about it, everyone furrowed their brows in agreement. But before anyone could speak, Luo Yu said, “It’s okay; as long as we strive for it, there’s always a glimmer of hope. Now that we know this situation, we must give it a try, even if it’s like trying to revive a dead horse.”
Wanhua couldn’t help but burst into laughter at her words. “Your saying is really interesting! If it’s truly dead, there’s no need to revive it. But for something on the brink of death, you can still try! It all depends on your will and ability!”
Zhu Huai looked at Wanhua, then turned to Luo Yu. She pursed her lips, clenched her fists, but didn’t say anything, seemingly lost in thought.
At this moment, Ying Zhao asked Ti Ran, “When we stayed at the second discontinuity point for about ten seconds, we were thrown back into the time channel. The actual scene of ascension should only be directed at that specific time period, so we couldn’t see much. If we were in that time period, wouldn’t we be able to see the true form of the creator at the moment of ascension?”
Ti Ran thought for a moment before answering seriously, “The moment of ascension at the end of the cycle should only face the essence of souls of initial humans from this cycle. Ascending to the same dimension as the creator would naturally allow one to understand how the universe was born and surely see the true form of the creator.”
Ying Zhao’s eyes brightened upon hearing this, and she nodded vigorously. “I think so too.”
Just as she finished speaking, Ji Shu’s panel emitted a beep, signaling that the current meeting had exceeded two hours and advising attendees to relax and take a break. Ji Shu smiled down. “Time flew by while we were talking! Well, although things seem somewhat beyond our previous understanding, there’s still time to research the unclear parts. Let’s not be too heavy-hearted and go for a stroll outside to lighten our spirits.”
With that, she stood up first. Wanhua promptly jumped up, hooking her arm around Ao Ci as they laughed, “Let’s go look at the fish in the big pond outside!”
Everyone got up, chatting casually as they walked outside, the atmosphere now much lighter than before. However, Luo Yu and the others followed behind, each lost in their thoughts and still somewhat silent.
Before long, they exited the research institute and arrived at the rocky terrace outside. It was just past four in the afternoon; the sunlight had cooled and was now much gentler, casting elongated shadows of the flowers and grass on the platform as it streamed down from between the clouds.
The rock-top institute was nestled deep within the jungle, remaining relatively cool even in the height of summer. Stepping outside in this season felt pleasant with the optimal temperature and the soft, slanting sunlight.
Wanhua bounded straight to the shallow pond’s edge to watch the fish. Ao Ci chuckled, urging her to slow down. The others followed her, but Luo Yu and her friends initially trailed behind. However, when Zhu Huai looked up, she spotted the lynx they had encountered earlier lazily lying on a large rock on the other side, with three cubs rolling and playing on top of it. Zhu Huai poked Luo Yu and urged her and Ying Zhao to look in that direction.
They saw that the lynx remained unfazed by the group’s exit from the research institute, likely familiar with the people here. Once the three of them reached the middle of the terrace, they stopped and gazed in the lynx’s direction, wanting to approach but afraid of startling it away.
Ji Shu noticed them standing still and walked over, smiling. “This is my friend; don’t be afraid. I’ll take you over to have a look.” She led the three of them closer.
When the lynx saw them approach, it lazily flicked its tail and, until Ji Shu got closer, stretched and yawned. The cubs that had been on it tumbled off, flipping onto their backs, but it seemed unconcerned, shaking its fur before descending the stairs beside them and nudging Ji Shu’s arm with its head.
“This one here is the one that was just lying on my foot,” Zhu Huai pointed to one of the cubs that had just flipped over.
“How can you be so sure?” Ying Zhao bent down to take a closer look at the three little ones and noticed they seemed identical. “Don’t they all look the same?”
“They’re different; their forehead patterns are different!” Zhu Huai explained confidently to Ying Zhao, and the three of them then sat on the steps beside Ji Shu.
Gathered together, they peered at the little cubs crawling around, wanting to pet them but also worried the lynx wouldn’t allow it. Just then, the lynx reached over and gently picked up all three cubs, placing one on each of their laps. They quickly held them carefully in their hands, enjoying the soft fur that tickled their palms.
Ji Shu stroked the lynx that lay beside her. “My friend here is the gentlest lynx I’ve ever met.”
Seeing the three of them cradling the cubs with expressions of contentment shifted the mood, making it much lighter than in the office. Ji Shu turned to Luo Yu and said, “I know Mo Chuan discussed the cross-time investigation team’s analysis of your world and that the conclusions were somewhat pessimistic. However, I think if you can cultivate such outstanding individuals like you, then maybe that world isn’t entirely without merit. If you want to strive to return for your family, then go ahead and try. I believe you can do it.”
Zhu Huai and Ying Zhao turned to glance at Luo Yu, who nodded earnestly. “Yes, I will do my best.” After saying that, she lowered her head, feeling the lynx cub nibbling at her fingers on her lap. She toyed with the little creature and then looked up at Ji Shu, smiling brightly. “Thank you for your encouragement.”
As the afternoon sun angled lower while they chatted, a gentle breeze wafted through the forest, bringing coolness and the fragrant scent of flowers and grass.
The lynx lay comfortably beside Ji Shu, its spotted fur glistening in the sun. Ji Shu gently stroked its belly and said with a smile, “I asked Ti Ran, and it seems the next time our two time periods reach the same dimension will be in ten years. If upon your return you find the situation truly difficult to change, we’ll still welcome you back. This place can become your new home with your family.”
