Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 664 - 575: Upper-Rank Wizard! Breakthrough!
Ring! Ring! Ring!...
A clear and melodious sound of a bell continuously rings within his chest, as if urging and reminding Aiven.
He looked back at the tree beneath his feet, resembling both an ash tree and a banyan tree, supporting the entire sky, but all he could see were faint and indistinct glimpses.
"After today, this 'Life Tree', which hasn't changed in at least three hundred years, should undergo some different changes, right?"
After murmuring to himself, Aiven hesitated no more.
Like a scientist stepping onto the podium to present his latest research findings to countless audiences and colleagues, except this moment would be witnessed by the "World Consciousness" itself!
Placing both hands over his chest, accompanied by the melodious sound of the bell, strands of light essence were extracted from his 'heart', containing not only his nascent [Genetic Theory] but also the spiritual power and spiritual origin that bore this groundbreaking knowledge.
When a red hemlock seed the size of an egg appeared in Aiven's hand, even his corporeal body here became somewhat illusory.
Clearly, a wizard's groundbreaking achievements may be numerous, but the opportunity to undergo the test only comes once.
If one cannot pass the test of the world itself, being kicked back to the material world would also result in great depletion, making it difficult to have another chance in the short term.
Unless one is fortunate enough to obtain a source of spiritual origin from the New Continent once more.
Whoosh—
Aiven forcefully tossed the seed in his hand far into the hazy and chaotic "Sea of World Consciousness".
The Spiritual Wind arose suddenly.
Separated from the misty protection of the World Tree's green glow for an instant, the seed began to rapidly take root and sprout, growing into a towering red hemlock flourishing with branches and leaves before Aiven within a breath.
Though there is no concept of spatial scale here, by comparison, its size already matches the smallest twig of the Life Tree.
This signifies that although the test of "World Consciousness" has yet to commence, the Life Tree, which always maintained a mysterious connection with Aiven, has already acknowledged this knowledge.
However, just like no one can predict the practical prospects of lab-derived products, everything requires the test of the "market".
Thus.
In the moment the red hemlock takes shape, a vast and chaotic airflow from all directions blows within the world root source, carrying infinite truths that unfold into layer upon layer of symbolic glyphs.
The astonishing momentum seems as if to uproot this towering tree!
Rustle, rustle, rustle...
The tall red hemlock began to sway violently amid the chaotic-colored airflow.
At this moment, even the normally confident Aiven couldn't help but feel somewhat nervous.
After all, these are two different worlds, and though experimental verification suggests his research should withstand scrutiny, nothing is certain when so much is at stake. What if something unexpected occurs?
Such consequences are risks he cannot bear amid this precarious situation.
Fortunately.
In the first wave of the airflow's onslaught, the red hemlock held strong!
Moreover, it seemed to undergo a certain refinement; the parts above the trunk became gradually ethereal while the root system solidified. This is due to the initial creation of [Genetic Theory] mainly concerning the root system.
Upon witnessing this scene, Aiven felt slightly relieved.
Though his school might not have predecessors who could offer experience unsuited to text, the Upper-Rank Wizard Nymph was generous. Based on her branch's experience, if one can withstand the first round, the rest should pose little problem.
The "Wizard School" imitates the extraordinary sources of certain primitive professions, artificially "presetting" a mysterious source unique to the school. From the "source", reverse engineering creates original witchcraft, systematized advancement rituals, and even a rune writing system.
The collective strength enhances the corresponding knowledge system, and through long-term accumulation complemented by moments of brilliance from geniuses, the great endeavor of manifesting the "Mysterious Source" is eventually realized!
During this process, not every individual needs to be an all-rounder, but is encouraged to delve deeply into their field of research.
Extending constantly from the known into the unknown, the "groundbreaking results" they produce are inevitably unexplored by predecessors. When a wizard advances using such results, it signifies the selection of their future primary research direction.
Aiven's [Genetic Theory] can be said to directly address biology's ultimate question.
That is: What is the origin of life, and where does life come from?
In the scientific world, there remains the debate between "Creationism" and "Evolution". In a world possessing gods, the prevailing theory is undoubtedly "Creationism"!
Although the narratives from various civilizations and countries differ, they ultimately converge on a superior power that shaped all things in the world.
Including the "Life Tree" of the Vitalist School whose fundamental core concept is the "Creation of All Things", effectively transplanting a portion of the Creator's powers onto oneself.
However.
If the "Life Tree" truly created all things in the world from nothing like the Creator, or bore all living beings as if producing fruits, such notions are undoubtedly unrealistic.
Because all the school wizards know well that most "Mysterious Sources" are artificially crafted based on feasible theoretical foundations, personal aspirations, ancient legends...
Just as how aspirations for avian traits lead to the integration of foundational knowledge in "Aeronautics", culminating in the creation of airplanes.
Legend is legend; reality is reality.
Whether in past or present, such a grand entity doesn't exist; otherwise, predecessors wouldn't have entrusted the mysterious source to it.
With the current accumulation of knowledge in the school, even with continued relentless pursuit in that direction, such a goal remains distant, perhaps even after one or several millennia.
Just as the first "Mysterious Source" in the world, the Life Tree, has yet to be manifested despite the long years that have passed.
Even the "Life Tree School" faced several halts!
Yet, Aiven has redefined, given a brand new concept with a more scientific mindset.
Firstly, for the individual...
The proteins in the human body need to continually be produced according to the information carried in the genetic genes, such as stomach cells regenerating every 7 days, skin cells every 28 days, red blood cells every 120 days, and liver cells every 180 days.
Within about a year's time, 98% of human body cells will be updated once, whereas the renewal of bone cells takes 7 years, so the whole body cells are replaced roughly every seven years.
After seven years, are you no longer you? Are you still you? It all lies in the genetic material within the body.
Just like when conducting an experiment on [Artificial Flesh], planting a stem cell allows the body to develop into the form that the "gene" requires it to express. Pork is still pork, beef is still beef.
Unquestionably, the [gene] is the "Life Tree" within organisms, maintaining the continuity of life.
Secondly, for populations.
In biological research, if you track each species long enough, you will find they have a common ancestor. For example, the very common pine family plants exist in 3 subfamilies, 10 genera, and over 230 species; a careful observation can bring this to attention.
Therefore, on a macro-level extending across the entire biosphere, the "Life Tree" can tie the "blood relationships" of plants, animals, and bacteria together.
As humanity's understanding of species continues to enrich, the Life Tree will gradually become fuller. It can be said that the "Life Tree" is one of the most important structural principles in biology.
Aiven will not deny the "Creation Theory" because it is the foundation for the existence of the Mysterious Source, but the Creator is not that unreachable or even unimaginable ultimate being. Instead, it is a power that can be mastered by the Vitalist School wizard.
Going back to the initial question.
Since all life comes from the "Life Tree," what exactly is the "Life Tree"?
Aiven provided his own definition:
The "Life Tree" is the commonality connecting all life entities (including elemental life) on this planet; it is the primitive gene! It is the genetic code rooted in the "bloodline"! It is the original one!
Furthermore.
In the Material World, the most widely circulated "Creation Theory" is not the Life Tree, but actually the "Spring of Life."
In an utterly barren world, the initial life came from the primordial ocean.
However, currently, there is no wizard school with the Spring of Life as its Mysterious Source, so Aiven unceremoniously adapted it into the origin of his own school.
The Spring of Life gave birth to the initial "Life Tree" (primitive gene)!
Anyway, even the True God's Church often asserts relations with residents of other regions for preaching purposes, not to mention Aiven's theory, which has become flawless after modification.
The "Life Tree" both originates from all life entities and transcends them, being one of the fundamental attributes that decide why something is so, ultimately to be refined by the Vitalist School into a universal dominion.
Even the trait of gene mutation is implicitly included within, further consolidating the "Creation Theory" while unifying the "Evolution Theory," leaving room for further development of the theory.
At present.
The test of "World Consciousness" has finally reached its end.
As the pioneering knowledge contained within this red fir gradually reveals itself, the chaotic colored airflow's every sweep over the red fir not only fails to harm it but helps it to grow stronger.
Within a short period, it has already grown taller than the branch where Aiven stands.
Finally, a brilliant radiance similar to the "Life Tree" radiated from the red fir, pushing the Sea of World Consciousness far away.
Next.
Dong——
In a chaotic, indistinct world, suddenly a grand, serene bell sound rang out.
"Made it!"
Upon hearing this sound, Aiven's spirit was instantly invigorated.
At the next moment.
The tall red fir abruptly disintegrated, twisting and changing to subtly form a blood-red double helix structure resembling DNA, and then the next moment morphed into a bronze-colored circuit board like in a storage device.
After repeating a few times, it transformed into a light stream carrying boundless information, penetrating Aiven's body and infusing into the Life Tree underneath his feet.
Rumble...
The giant tree stretching towards the sky began to constantly shake.
Aiven, full of anticipation, originally thought a new robust branch would extend on the "Life Tree."
Unexpectedly, the change occurred not in the branches and leaves but in the incomprehensibly thick trunk.
Nourished by the light stream, it constantly grew taller and straighter, raising the sky above higher and farther. During this process, the entire "Life Tree" slowly began transforming into the form of the red fir.
Under Aiven's somewhat dazed gaze.
A few minutes later.
The initially white ash-like or banyan-like gigantic "Life Tree" turned into a new form of four parts red fir, three parts white ash, and three parts banyan tree.
A brilliant, sun-like, and cool, spring-like Extraordinary Spiritual Light illuminated this piece of the Sea of World Consciousness until its coverage expanded by over a third, at which point it slowly stopped.
This scene also marked the success of Aiven's Upper-Rank Wizard promotion ceremony!
Immediately.
A beam of golden light shot from somewhere in the unfathomable depths of the World Root Source, enveloping Aiven with an actual sense of power, making him inadvertently step back half a step on the tree branch.
Melodious music like heavenly sounds echoed in his ears, countless golden symbols seemingly containing the truths of the Origin continuously merged into his body from the light, condensing into the shape of a key in his chest.
It then projected brilliant golden radiance once more, dyeing his materialized body a noble golden-blue.
Raising a hand to gently cover his chest, the smile on his face irrepressibly spread:
"This belongs to my... [True Name]!"
