Chapter 1411: Evolutionary Choice
Doesn’t help my current situation?
“Then at least tell me…”
Reinhardt didn’t want to argue with Lu Zhou, so he said calmly, “Inside the s.p.a.cecraft’s sample library, there are three medicines stored. The Observer asked me to bring them here and deliver them to the Chosen one together with this s.p.a.cecraft.”
Lu Zhou: “Let me see them.”
“Go through the pressure buffer room and go straight along the corridor. I’ll tell you when to stop.”
Under the guidance of General Reinhardt, Lu Zhou came to the door of the sample library. Just when he was about to find a handle or something like a switch on the alloy door, the door opened by itself.
Lu Zhou said embarra.s.singly, “I didn’t expect there to be electricity here…”
“…”
There was no response in the communication channel. After Lu Zhou coughed, he stopped caring about these trivial matters. He looked around the room with a flashlight and saw a silver-white metal cabinet in the corner of the room. He quickly walked toward it.
This should be it…
Lu Zhou reached out his hand and touched it.
The cold silver metal case seemed to fade in an instant, becoming as transparent as gla.s.s.
A touch of surprise appeared on Lu Zhou’s face.
“What’s this…”
“A two-phase material, but that’s not the point. Do you see the three potions in the freezer? The three colors of red, green, and purple. You can choose one of them and take it away.”
Lu Zhou looked at the three test tubes with different colors as he continued to ask, “What are they each used for?”
“Red is called ‘Awakening’, which can strengthen the coupling efficiency of protons and electrons on the inner membrane of your somatic cell mitochondria from the genetic level, as well as the activity level of the coupling protein, which is specifically reflected in the enhancement of metabolism and physical fitness. Your body becomes healthier and stronger.
“The green one is ‘Protector.’ It can modify your DNA telomeres at the genetic level, giving you almost endless life.
“As for the purple… It has no name, but according to The Observer, it should correspond to psionic energy.”
Lu Zhou was stunned slightly. He frowned.
“Psionic?”
General Reinhardt smiled faintly and continued, “I know what you’re thinking. It’s probably a little different from the kind of superpower you know. It’s very difficult to explain specifically. After I arrived at the center of the galaxy, I learned that there is also a group of evil civilizations that communicate through ‘universal consciousness’ and trade with the Void Civilization.”
Evil…
They just communicate in a different way, why is that evil?
Lu Zhou: “That is to say… If I’m injected with the purple potion, I won’t gain the ability to teleport or smash the planet with one punch?”
“It seems that you are still quite sharp.” Reinhardt smiled faintly and said, “It can make you metamorphose from a low-dimensional creature to a high-dimensional creature, from an ant to a giant. Its biggest use is to let you talk to the devil of the Void… Enough, hurry up.”
Lu Zhou stared at the three potions in front of him.
“Can humans use it?”
“Theoretically, any mammal can.”
“So, we are relatives?”
“Psst.”
What…
Did this guy just laugh at me?
Whatever, I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.
“I can only use one?”
“If you want them to work, it’s best to remove your greed.”
Red was excluded for the time being. Lu Zhou had no interest in becoming a superman. Humans’ advantage wasn’t their muscles, but their brains. As for green and purple, he did not know which to choose.
Psionic powers…
Living forever…
The first meant that he would open the door to a new world, the latter meant that he would have endless time to engage in research that he was pa.s.sionate about.
Few people could refuse the temptation of eternal life.
Lu Zhou finally made a decision. He took a deep breath and asked the last question in his mind, “By the way, are there any side effects?”
“There will be some side effects, it will probably weaken your fertility.”
Lu Zhou, who was about to make a choice, was shocked.
“Wait, what! What the h.e.l.l! This… has that kind of effect?!”
“Maybe it’s a little different from what you think. Have you heard of reproductive isolation?”
Lu Zhou nodded nervously.
“Yeah, why?”
“Modification of the genetic code is a very esoteric subject, and even we have not fully mastered this technology.”
After a pause, General Reinhardt continued, “Strictly speaking, if you use the red and green potions, you and your species become genetically similar but not exactly the same. The chance of breeding offspring between different species is lower. You can also use scientific means to get by this.”
Scientific means…
Like IVF?
Reinhardt saw through the hesitation in Lu Zhou’s expression. He said in a joking way, “Are you going to use it? If you are worried, you can also choose to give it to someone else.”
“I’ll do this by myself…”
This was an opportunity of a lifetime.
In contrast, reproduction was nothing important.
The worst-case…
He would have to spend more time trying to reproduce.
Lu Zhou took a deep breath. He had made up his mind. He reached out and selected the b.u.t.ton on the freezer.
The dark green test tube gently dropped into the sampling tank.
There was a chuckle in the communication channel.
“Sure enough, you chose the ‘Protector’.”
Lu Zhou: “Is there anything wrong?”
“Nothing, if it were me, I would probably choose the same. The strength of the flesh and muscle is just a burden, and time is the only enemy to any problem. Although you are surprisingly behind in technology, your morals are similar to ours. Maybe that’s why The Observer sent me here.”
Lu Zhou didn’t respond to General Reinhardt’s ridicule. In fact, when making a choice, he actually hesitated for a second as to choosing the purple potion.
However, the choice had already been made.
“What will happen to the remaining two potions?”
“Nothing. You can choose to take it away together or leave it here, but I suggest you destroy it. Genetic modification is a very sophisticated art. Not all genes are perfectly compatible, especially artificial modification. The wrong fusion will cause serious genetic pollution.”
“If you plan to use other potions for another person, I advise you to dispel this idea. You will plant a time bomb hidden in the chromosomes of your civilization.”
Is he exaggerating?
Lu Zhou admitted that he did want to take the potions away.
But it didn’t seem like General Reinhardt was joking, so he put the matter aside for the time being.
Lu Zhou turned his gaze to the test tube in his hand. He looked at the ominous dark green mucus swaying in the transparent container and asked, “How should I use it?”
“Just drink it.”
After removing the plastic hose connected to the water bag, Lu Zhou inserted the tube into the test tube port.
This was a reagent that had been stored in the freezer for billions of years. Even though it had maintained its original form under the protection of the freezing environment and four-dimensional s.p.a.ce fragment, Lu Zhou still had to take a deep breath before forcing the liquid down his throat.
The cold and thick liquid trickled down his esophagus. When an intense burning sensation rushed to his throat, Lu Zhou began to violently cough.
Fortunately, this intense discomfort did not last long. Soon, the burning feeling turned into a warm current, which spread along his chest cavity and washed over every cell in his body.
There was a wave of laughter in the communication channel.
“Congratulations, Chosen one, now you are the only carrier of the ‘Protector’ gene. If you can’t survive, I suggest you find a way to save some seeds for people who come here in the future. If I’m not mistaken, your oxygen levels should be low.”
Lu Zhou: “Are there no oxygen tanks on the s.p.a.cecraft?”
“Do you think there will be such a thing here?” The voice said in a mocking tone, “When it took off from the planet of the Calan Empire, it didn’t bring any living creatures. Why should I prepare oxygen tanks?”
Lu Zhou remembered.
Being sent to the center of the galaxy was just a memory.
The General Reinhardt he saw in the Void Memory had already died under the siege of the Empire army.
“I see… That’s a problem.”
Reinhardt spoke slowly
“Do you need some time? Use the sample cabinet next to you to save the seeds.”
“No, I will go back alive.”
After leaving the sample library, Lu Zhou walked through the entire s.p.a.cecraft.
General Reinhardt still abided by the contract he made with The Observer civilization, and he cooperatively explained to Lu Zhou the function of each room and facility.
Finally, in a room next to the c.o.c.kpit, Lu Zhou stopped when he found what he was looking for.
He looked at the rectangular parallelepiped in front of him that was shaped like a freezer. A smile of relief finally appeared on his face.
He had seen this thing on the four-dimensional s.p.a.ce fragment.
Through the four-dimensional s.p.a.ce fragment, he received the electromagnetic wave signal from the cave. He even heard Professor Vernal’s conjecture about the cubes that had been weathered into rock.
If his speculation was correct, the dormant cabin in front of him at this moment was the source of the cryosleep technology of Martian civilization and the prototype of the dormant cabins displayed in that grotto!
“General Reinhardt.”
“… What?”
“Let’s make a bet.”
“On what.”
Lu Zhou took a deep breath and said slowly, “Bet that I can get out of here alive.”