Chapter 617: Volume Finale: The Torrent of the Era

A note before the Chapter: The evolutionary history described in this text is purely fictional and completely different from that of the real Earth.

"We believe the evolution of human society is accelerating at an increasingly uncontrollable rate. Although this pace has slowed in recent years due to energy problems—such as stalled nuclear fusion research and the depletion of oil reserves—giving us time to adapt, the massive changes brought by the Spiritual Qi Burst have once again accelerated our society’s evolutionary process. The uncontrollable trend has only grown more severe."

—United International, Human Society Research Group, Spiritual Qi Society: The Coming Upheaval, 2015

"In as few as five years and as many as thirty, assuming the continued presence of Spiritual Qi, humanity will evolve into an entirely new species. This life-form is achieved through Postnatal Cultivation, spread and propagated by human-created ’memes.’ It will allow people to use knowledge called ’Inheritance,’ acquired through study and Cultivation, to develop their own evolved forms. Within thirty years, all ’Old Humans’ will be completely replaced by ’Cultivating Humans’—the latter being an irreversible evolution of the former."

—Byson Lemaitre & John Gamov, A History of Human Evolution: The Modern Era, 2016

"...The vast extension of the human lifespan, despite its various benefits, will bring a host of ethical and moral dilemmas. Our entire societal framework is built on the premise that ’a natural person will die within one hundred years,’ a principle that governs everything from retirement age to old-age insurance. Although the system was designed with some redundancy, lifespans exceeding 120 years will create major problems, and those over 150 will lead to immense conflict. And yet, one need only practice Cultivation to become a Cultivator of High-level Awakening—which is not difficult—for the average lifespan of an ordinary citizen in the three great Central Regions to reach over 235 years. The immense conflict caused by such a radically changed social structure could unleash destruction greater than a world war."

—Xu Ruisheng & Guo Xiaoling, The Lifespan War, 2016

The evolution of life on Earth, beginning three billion years ago, has been profoundly influenced by Spiritual Qi. Only organic macromolecular structures that could keenly capture Spiritual Qi and remain stable in an environment rich with it were able to take the next step in evolution. This destined all life on this planet to be inextricably linked with Spiritual Qi.

Of course, having a link does not mean one must possess or be able to wield Spiritual Qi. Creatures that can use Spiritual Qi are the champions of the natural world, but they are not the only ones capable of survival. After all, the essence of life is the survival of the fittest. At times, possessing Spiritual Qi can become a hindrance to survival, an event like the severance of Spiritual Qi being a clear testament to this. Humanity, a Race whose Innate Spirit Talent is not exceptional, ironically found it easier to endure than many innate Divine Beasts.

Of course, this was not the primary reason for humanity’s survival. What allowed humans to triumph over other wild beasts was intelligence, and intelligence alone.

Amidst the ever-changing environmental shifts on Earth, humanity utilized intelligence—a tool far superior to the ’natural selection’ through which most beasts adapt. In its capacity for reaction, change, and adaptation to new environments, intelligence was vastly superior, allowing humanity to dominate the planet’s ecosystem.

The ’tool’ that intelligent humanity forged to ensure its Race could survive, develop, and flourish was the Creation known as civilization.

Civilization is not static. As human knowledge accumulates and technology develops, civilization evolves, much like a biological species.

For instance, when a species that originally reproduced asexually evolves into one that reproduces sexually—a method better suited for creating genetic diversity—its original population of single-sex individuals gradually transforms. It becomes a completely different, dual-sex population. Its patterns of behavior and thought both change. Mating, procreation, socializing, and competition, all of which were previously absent, emerge within the species’ collective, becoming new ’instincts.’

Similarly, when civilization experiences a major technological leap, the challenges humanity faces are akin to that species’ transformation: the entire social structure and civilizational framework undergo a massive shift.

In reality, the evolution of civilization is far faster than that of a typical biological Race, and it exhibits an accelerating trend.

3.8 billion years ago, the first Spirit-attuned organic macromolecules appeared on Earth, developing the ability to self-replicate. They were strange, crude, and incredibly primitive carbon-based machines. Their lifespans were fleeting—in fact, the very concept of lifespan was meaningless, as the factors determining their existence were external, not inherent.

3.3 billion years ago, those primitive carbon-based molecular machines developed more efficient structures, and prokaryotic life appeared. This was followed by a type of blue-green algae that could convert both Spiritual Qi and sunlight for its own use. The oxygen content of the atmosphere began to increase, and the world’s Spiritual Qi started to settle into the oceans with the remains of the algae, circulating with geological movements and ocean currents. They, too, naturally had lifespans, because lifespan itself is a mechanism that forces life to renew itself and self-evolve.

1.3 billion years ago, eukaryotic organisms, which possess a cell nucleus, began to appear. They were a higher form of life than prokaryotes, with more complex structures, energy sources, and a greater number of intricate functions and modules. Their evolution was extremely rapid; vast numbers of primitive eukaryotes unsuited to the environment were swiftly born and then perished, adjusting their life-forms to a state approaching ’Perfection.’