Chapter 282: Chapter 246: The Origin of the Era of Evolution

Su Ze took a deep breath. "You’re worried that because I’m a clone, I lack a sense of kinship with humanity. Are you planning to artificially instill that ’kinship’ in me?"

"Don’t make it sound so nasty, as if I’m trying to brainwash you," Chen Suifeng said with a sardonic laugh. "I just want to cultivate a few people for the Lin Hua Continent who can carry the weight, so people can’t say I’m sitting in the top seat of the Ministry of Education, Lin Hua State, doing nothing of substance."

Su Ze was silent for a moment, then suddenly said, "Mr. Chen, you must have heard the saying, ’To resist foreign aggression, one must first pacify the interior,’ right?"

"What do you mean? You think there are internal problems in the Lin Hua Continent?" Chen Suifeng frowned slightly. "I don’t deny there are a few pests, but on the whole, things are good."

"I’m not talking about those inconsequential pests." Su Ze’s expression was serious and solemn. "How much do you know about Bloodline Crystals?"

"Bloodline Crystals?" Chen Suifeng was slightly taken aback, not understanding what this had to do with them.

"Bloodline Crystals are a real rarity. Those who get them hoard them like treasure, and some even hide the fact that they have one. I’ve never had the chance to handle one myself. What’s wrong? Is there a problem with them?" Chen Suifeng asked. He knew Su Ze had just obtained one.

Su Ze no longer held back. He recounted his experience in the final trial of the Divine Dice, as well as Liou Wenxin’s test results and theories about the headless doppelgänger and the Bloodline Crystal, omitting only the parts that involved the Divine Grace of Evolution.

The more Chen Suifeng listened, the wider his eyes grew. He finished the cigarette in his hand in two quick drags, then immediately lit another, and then another.

"Among the names on the list you found, who is confirmed to have obtained a Bloodline Crystal?"

Su Ze then recited the few names he had memorized. So as not to frighten Chen Suifeng, he saved the name "Jiang Pingle" for last.

With every name he spoke, Chen Suifeng’s expression darkened. But when Su Ze finally uttered the last name—that of Jiang Pingle, the ruler of Lin Hua Country—Chen Suifeng’s face suddenly became calm.

He took a deep breath, tossed away the half-smoked cigarette in his hand, and stared blankly at the river for a full five minutes.

Su Ze knew this information was difficult to accept, so he didn’t disturb him, simply waiting quietly by his side.

After five minutes, Chen Suifeng shook his head and sighed. "I never would have guessed. Truly. I know many of the people you mentioned—some are even friends—but I never saw anything unusual about them. My first reaction was that you were making it all up!

"But I just thought back carefully and realized something suspicious. Many of those people hold key positions in Lin Hua Country, wielding great power, and on certain policy decisions, their stances have been surprisingly aligned.

"If you hadn’t told me these names, I never would have thought there was any connection between them, let alone noticed this suspicious pattern."

"So you believe what I’m saying is true?" Su Ze asked.

A hint of world-weariness appeared on Chen Suifeng’s young, handsome face. He didn’t answer Su Ze’s question directly, asking instead:

"Do you know how the Era of Evolution began on Blue Star?"

This was taught in elementary school on the Lin Hua Continent. Even a first-grader could answer that. ’Testing me on this is a little disrespectful to a university student,’ Su Ze thought.

"It was because of a rain of evolution," Su Ze answered.

"And do you know where that rain of evolution came from?" Chen Suifeng asked again.

’Now you’ve got me...’ Su Ze shook his head.

Chen Suifeng hadn’t expected Su Ze to know. He explained, "This is a secret known only to the top echelons of each nation. A thousand years ago, before the Era of Evolution began, Blue Star was still the domain of humanity. Among the hundreds of countries, large and small, a few superpowers held ultimate weapons. Wars between humans never ceased, but most regions were relatively peaceful.

"Until one day, all nations observed a huge, unidentified object in space rapidly approaching Blue Star. Given its speed and size, an impact would have likely meant the direct extinction of the human race.

"As the object drew closer, people finally got a clear look at it. It was a gigantic butterfly! But it was unclear whether it was dormant or already dead. All that was certain was that its body was shattered and it was clearly not conscious.

"With no other choice, as the butterfly neared Blue Star, several superpowers launched their ultimate weapons simultaneously. But even after emptying their entire stockpiles, they couldn’t completely destroy the object. They only managed to blast it into countless tiny fragments and dust that rained down on Blue Star.

"Its bodily fluids and the dust from its shattered form mixed into the atmosphere and the clouds. Soon after, a rain of evolution fell, covering the entire globe."

Su Ze was stunned. It was the first time he had ever heard such a secret.

’So the rain of evolution actually came from a giant butterfly? What level of being was that butterfly?’

"So humanity’s leaders confirmed the existence of alien life long ago?" Su Ze asked.

"That’s right." Chen Suifeng nodded. "So when you told me about the Bloodline Crystals, it wasn’t something I found impossible to imagine or accept."

"Besides, that Divine Dice is not something we humans on Blue Star could create. It’s obviously from space, the work of some other cosmic life-form. That’s long been the consensus among us."

Chen Suifeng sighed. "We were just optimistic, or perhaps I should say, we were banking on a bit of luck. We thought it might be a gesture of goodwill from a more advanced civilization. Thinking back on it now, it was a bit naive. Who knows what those alien bastards are plotting.

"The information you have access to in Dongli is limited. When I get back, I’ll look into it. I’ll get a complete list of everyone who’s won first place since the Divine Dice first appeared and investigate what they’ve been up to. Maybe I can find some clues."

Having secured Chen Suifeng’s help, Su Ze had achieved his goal. He reminded him, "This is a matter of great importance. You need to be careful with your investigation."

"Don’t worry, just leave this to me. Dongli shouldn’t get involved any further." Chen Suifeng paused. "If one day I suddenly die or disappear, take the people close to you and find a way to leave the Lin Hua Continent."

Su Ze advised, "Don’t be too hasty. The mother tree at the Miracle Oasis might know something. Once I reach Saint-level, I’ll make a trip to the Miracle Oasis. I should be able to get some useful information then."

Chen Suifeng nodded and added, "Don’t get too involved in these matters. Your main focus right now should be on increasing your own strength. In the near future, the peace humanity now enjoys will inevitably be broken. There will be a war between humans and the mutated beasts. Only by making yourself as strong as possible will you have a better chance of surviving the great war to come.

"If not for humanity, then do it for yourself. You need to grow stronger as quickly as possible."

"Are humans and the mutated beasts going to war again?" Su Ze asked, stunned.

"The peace between humans and mutated beasts was always temporary," Chen Suifeng said. "The moment a certain sensitive event occurs—for instance, a powerful human is about to complete their seventh evolution and reach God-level, or a seventh-rank mutated beast emerges—then humans and beasts will be forced into a life-or-death struggle."

On the surface, the Lin Hua Continent appeared to be thriving, but in reality, it was plagued by internal and external threats.

From within, the corrosion of an alien civilization; from without, the threat of mutated beasts.

"It seems we need to strengthen our contact with the other two settlements and see what their situation is," Chen Suifeng said thoughtfully. "Later, I’ll use the Ministry of Education’s name to organize some exchange events with the other two major human settlements. There will be prizes, and you can participate as you see fit."

The other two major human settlements... Su Ze only knew that two such places existed, but he didn’t even know their names.

This was the reality for most people on the Lin Hua Continent. The dangerous wilderness isolated the three major settlements from each other. Only Venerable Powerhouses could travel between them, which meant ordinary people knew nothing about the other two.