Chapter 5: To Shine with Whatever Light One Has

Chapter 5: To Shine with What Little Warmth One Has

While Xiong Yan was lost in memories of the past, the circle of strategists on the other side began a quiet discussion:

"Has there been any promising talent surnamed Ji in the Mathematics Department of Yanjing University in recent years?"

"I don’t know!"

"Is that really ignorance, or just pretending not to know? Don't say you don't know today, only to secretly take on a closed-door disciple tomorrow."

"I truly don't know!"

"Who is Professor Jiang?"

"Which university is he from?"

"Currently a doctoral candidate, probably quite young—most likely under twenty-eight. Let's search all the doctoral admission lists from universities in the past three years for anyone surnamed Jiang!"

"Lu Zhou!"

"Although we don’t know which university he belongs to, or whether he’s a graduate or doctoral student, he surely isn’t just an undergraduate."

"Anyway, we already have his name—let’s find him quickly!"

"Guan Ming, the name’s known. Start checking immediately!"

"In the future, the scientific community will shine with countless stars. Many who seemed ordinary before, once their talents awakened, instantly became great scientists or possessed the potential to become such."

"If there’s any regret among future scientists, it’s that there’s no clear leading elder. Between you and the four great professors, there’s no obvious hierarchy; all stand at the same level."

"Outwardly, there’s harmony, but in truth, no one submits to another," Chu Xuan said calmly.

"That’s your observation, not mine!"

"The supernatural realm is no different from the scientific world—perhaps even less organized."

"In the previous life, it wasn’t until three months later that a national special affairs management bureau was officially established. Half a year later, it was upgraded to a management department, and after a year, it became a full ministry."

"Three months later?" Chu Xuan asked directly.

Of course, the above was purely Chu Xuan’s speculation.

"Were there any outstanding supernatural beings at that time?"

Hearing this, Xiong Yan realized Chu Xuan was sharp—he’d mentioned that the bureau was established three months later, and Chu Xuan immediately grasped the truth.

"Quite a few!"

"The founder of the martial path of vital energy was the war god Peng Bing from Hebei; the originator of the Qi cultivation path was the Daoist Chang Kong; the founder of the spirit refinement path was Lin Er, a runaway disciple from Dragon-Tiger Mountain..."

"Additionally, there was the grandmaster Xu Guangling, creator of the enlightenment system; the two saints of Phoenix Mountain who entered the Dao through breath absorption; and the Phoenix Princess, who first traveled through the virtual realm and returned after shattering the void with newfound understanding..."

"Most of these individuals, shortly after the spiritual energy revival, broke through directly without teachers, resources, or companions, becoming pioneers of the supernatural era!"

"Before the spiritual energy resurgence, they had already reached human limits in certain fields and sought to transcend. Their inability to achieve supernatural status earlier was due only to worldly constraints. Despite that, their abilities surpassed common imagination."

Chu Xuan nodded again. "Both Lin Er of Dragon-Tiger Mountain and War God Peng Bing are no ordinary figures in official records."

The former used a miraculous hypnotic technique to make several smugglers of cultural relics, who had no physical contact with him, begin committing suicide after returning home.

The latter made friends through martial arts abroad, defeating foes worldwide; countless lives were lost under his iron fists.

Truly dangerous individuals!

"In other countries, having even one such person is cause for great joy. But in our nation, so many appeared at once, resulting in no one submitting to the other!"

"A truly fortunate dilemma."

By dawn, the convoy had reached the capital city, heading straight for Chang’an Avenue in XC District.

"If your body were well and everything normal, would you still do as you do now?" Chu Xuan asked one last question.

"Within three months, strange phenomena will continuously emerge. After three months, true living beings will be born from nothingness. Half a year later, supernatural beings, spiritual roots, and magical artifacts will appear!"

"One year on, a spiritual tide will erupt, with visible spiritual energy sweeping across the land, filling every corner of the world."

"On that day, some will see their white hair turn black and regain youth; some incurable diseases will be cured; others will die on the spot..."

"Life then will be exhilarating for us supernatural beings, but for the vast majority of ordinary people, it will be precarious—lacking security and order."

"Many will prepare wills before going to work."

"As a result, marriage rates among the post-90s generation will rise, divorce rates will fall, and birth rates will increase significantly, with more willing to have second or third children."

"This time, people will want children without government urging. Unfortunately, the past can never be reclaimed."

Looking at the bustling crowd outside the window, Xiong Yan said calmly, "Today, as long as one does not break the law, they are safe to pursue anything they desire. Such freedom will be unimaginable in the future!"

"In the future, even if you do nothing and live honestly, an accident could separate you from your family forever."

"Back then, mutated sea creatures were rampant, halving maritime transport, and nations communicated mainly by land."

"There were repeated beast surges domestically, alongside many maddening entities descending from the virtual realm."

"So, through the eyes of a reborn man like me, the world as it is now is the best it has ever been—a golden age people have long dreamed of!"

"Lu Xun once said: May the youth of China all rid themselves of coldness, only striving upwards, not listening to those who give up on themselves."

"Those who can act, act; those who can speak out, speak out. Even a flicker of warmth and light, like a firefly, can illuminate the darkness without waiting for a torch."

"I merely wish to make a small, insignificant contribution."

"So, my answer is yes."

"I also want to be like a firefly, shining with whatever warmth I have."

(End of chapter)