Technological practice: leading the human race to the stars

Chapter 5 Blue Vial
"Master, you said that this would be given to you."

After washing up, Yuanze did not leave the martial arts gym in a hurry, but waited for his master at the door.

Li Haisheng took a small bottle of blue liquid from Yuanze, raised his head, held it under the light and examined it carefully, then looked at Yuanze.

His eyes flickered, and he was obviously considering his words. His deep expression seemed to be weighing various considerations in his heart. After a moment, he said:

"This should be the energy potion your father bought for you. I also said that you don't need this, but forget it. Your father really has a hard time. I will find a way to refund him, so you don't have to worry about it."

"Um"

Yuanze didn't understand either. Logically speaking, this was the most direct and simplest way to increase source power on the market, but his master repeatedly forbade Yuanze to use these potions.

He had asked this question many times, but without exception, the master seemed to be hesitant to speak, and only said, "Just listen to me."

Over time, Yuanze stopped asking about this matter.

"Yuan Ze, let's talk while we walk."

Li Haisheng lit a cigarette, then pushed Yuanze, indicating that he should go ahead.

"Do you know what the source force is?"

"The book says that source power is a new substance discovered in the human body after the catastrophe. It is the power of the body's origin. To put it simply, it represents the body's overall quality. The essence of source power is a manifestation of energy."

"But it's not entirely correct." Li Haisheng took a deep puff of cigarette and blew out a smoke ring into the sky.

"Your book should also say that the source of power that exists naturally in the human body is called innate source power, which can passively draw external source power into the body, thereby strengthening the physical fitness. Without innate source power, one will always remain an ordinary person and cannot become a source warrior."

"Yes."

"Then have you ever thought that your parents, sister, and brother may actually become Origin Warriors?"

"How is that possible? The book also says..."

"Don't become stupid, you. Don't be so rigid." Li Haisheng used a joking way to hide his loneliness.

"Hahaha, I haven't taken the college entrance exam yet, so I can only listen to what is said in the books."

"Textbooks won't teach you everything, so let me ask you another question." Li Haisheng quickly took the opportunity to change the subject, "What does the book say about the catastrophe?"

"This is an important test point. I remember it very clearly."

"Don't keep me in suspense. Tell me now."

"This is a disaster of mass extinction caused by a 'virus' that first appeared in 2030. It has a powerful transformation ability, can genetically modify organisms, and can also change the various properties of inorganic matter. It even transformed the Blue Star planet itself, causing the Blue Star to grow rapidly in size, resulting in the emergence of large areas of empty uninhabited areas.

Therefore, the pathogen is not a virus in the traditional sense. This ability exceeds human understanding of viruses, so it is called a "mutation source" by the academic community.

Humans had no way to deal with the 'mutation source'. The creatures that failed to be transformed could only die one after another. The surviving creatures all gained some special evolutions, and humans only gained a significant improvement in physical fitness. " "What happened afterwards? Do you remember what important events happened?"

"Then came the 'Great Cataclysm', the Source Beast War. The Source Beasts' evolution speed and quality far surpassed that of humans, and humans were no longer the only masters of the Blue Planet. The Source Beasts launched the Source Beast War in retaliation for the 'Sixth Mass Extinction' led by humans. Under successive attacks, the human population was reduced by more than half, and they barely survived under the protection of nuclear weapons."

"But not long after, a beast king-level source beast appeared, which had the ability to withstand nuclear weapons and could even use the energy of chain reactions to continue evolving. Just when humans were in despair, they also evolved the first batch of top powerhouses, and with the newly discovered materials and newly developed source energy weapons, they ended the war."

“People always seek enjoyment and forget too many lessons.”

"Forgot what?" Yuanze asked curiously.

“Forget the lessons of history and the cruelty of nature.”

Li Haisheng exhaled another circle of smoke and said slowly:
"Our ancestors were obsessed with the convenience brought by technology, over-exploited and destroyed the ecology, forgetting how powerful nature is. Until the arrival of the 'mutation source', the endless wealth that we once treasured became worthless. Only survival is the most basic need.

In peacetime, people tend to indulge in pleasure and pursue material satisfaction, but ignore spiritual pursuits and personal growth. When disaster strikes, the things we once took for granted become out of reach. "

"Not only that, humans always like to fight among themselves. They fight to the death for some resources and power." Li Haisheng added.

"It's much better now. The threat from the source beast is so great now, everyone is quite united."

"Unity? Human nature will never change! You still have a lot to learn." Li Haisheng put out his half-smoked cigarette, threw it on the ground and stomped on it twice, then caught up with Yuanze and patted him on the shoulder, "Go home, I won't visit your parents this time."

Li Haisheng watched Yuanze's back disappear in the community and squatted on the side of the road. He took a deep breath and his eyes fell back on the small bottle of blue liquid in his hand.

The blue liquid seemed to contain the power of the deep ocean, and as it swayed slightly, it was like waves gently rising and falling in the silent night. The faint blue light from the bottle, under the reflection of the street lamp, seemed to complement the starlight in the night sky, revealing a mysterious and profound beauty.

Li Haisheng held it and tilted the vial slightly, and the blue liquid began to flow slowly, as if it had life. The texture of the liquid was silky and delicate, like the finest silk. Under the refraction of light, it sometimes appeared deep blue, and sometimes glowed with a faint purple.

He stared at the blue liquid intently, with a complicated expression on his face. The blue color of the liquid reminded him of distant memories, those years that once made him proud. His solemn gaze seemed to see through some unknown secret in the blue liquid.

"Now, this stuff is getting worse and worse." Li Haisheng shook his head slightly, with a hint of sarcasm on his face, "These families, these old guys, are so cruel that they can even destroy their own path."

An inexplicable emotion surged in Li Haisheng's heart, a mixture of nostalgia for the past and helplessness towards reality.

Li Haisheng exerted a little force with his hand and shattered the blue bottle. The blue liquid gradually slipped from his palm through his fingers and fell to the ground.

Each drop of liquid was like a fragment of bright stars, sparkling with a mysterious and deep luster. The moment they touched the ground, they seemed to merge into the land and disappeared silently.

Li Haisheng followed these blue droplets closely, and an indescribable emotion surged in his heart. This liquid not only represents the glory and secrets of the past, but also carries the complex entanglement between him, his family, and the past.

A trace of determination flashed across his face, as if he was bidding farewell to an era and to those things he once cherished but had to give up.

As the last drop of blue liquid disappeared, only a hint of coolness and wetness remained on the palm of the hand.

Li Haisheng slowly withdrew his hand, stood up, and prepared to face the unknown fate.

(End of this chapter)