Chapter 10

"More than forty years ago, in 2036, humans first landed on Mars," Angus said. "And we made astonishing discoveries on Mars, which were previously kept secret. Today, we can reveal some of these to the global public."

Secretary-General Angus stood up, and a massive screen behind him displayed a scene of a ruined city on Mars.

"This is the ruins of an underground city on Mars. From the remaining structures, we can infer that it is 36 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide, resembling a giant underground fortress," Secretary-General Angus said. He then waved his hand, and the screen changed to show a human statue.

"This statue was created 30 million years ago, and it bears a striking resemblance to humans," Secretary-General Angus said. "It was also discovered on Mars."

Without much further explanation, Secretary-General Angus waved his hand again, and an even more astonishing scene appeared: a massive, newly built spaceship, broken into two pieces, deep in a canyon.

"This spaceship is 5.8 kilometers long. It is estimated to have crashed and broken apart about one million years ago," Secretary-General Angus said. "When we discovered it, the broken spaceship was buried in the canyon. After excavating it from the ruins and performing some maintenance, we found that the spaceship was still in pristine condition, without any signs of decay. The technology contained within this spaceship is simply mind-boggling."

After finishing his statement, Secretary-General Angus paused momentarily.

But the world was already in an uproar.

"What is this?"

"Such a massive steel city?"

"Is this a spaceship? 5.8 kilometers long?"

"One million years, and the material is still new? What kind of technology is this?"

"What kind of technology is inside this spaceship?"

"That statue, a 30 million-year-old statue, still retains its original form. What material is this? And it looks like a human?"

"Were there humans on Mars in the past?"

People around the world were in awe and discussing the revelations.

Secretary-General Angus paused for a moment, glanced at the manuscript in his hand, and then continued, "Mars is a treasure for all of humanity. Therefore, in 2056, we formed the Blue Star Alliance to jointly develop Mars."

Landing on Mars in 2036.

Forming the Blue Star Alliance globally in 2056.

"By working together to develop Mars, the technology we obtain from Mars will benefit all of humanity," Angus said with a smile. "For example, the virtual glasses technology originates from the virtual helmet found on Mars."

Angus took a silver-gray helmet from a nearby box.

"The virtual glasses technology can only achieve about 30% realism, but the virtual helmet technology..." Angus said, "After paying an enormous price, we have finally mastered it."

"Wearing the virtual helmet, the brain's neurons will connect with the helmet, and the consciousness will enter the virtual world," Angus said. "First, the realism can reach nearly 100%, simulating touch and smell, and the body can be fully virtualized."

Everyone watching the live broadcast was stunned.

Nearly 100% virtual?

"Second, because the body is in a resting state in the virtual world, the brain will be like dreaming. People can use their 'sleeping' time to enter the virtual world, significantly increasing the available time in a day. Besides working and studying during the day, they can also learn, conduct scientific research, and entertain themselves in the virtual world at night," Secretary-General Angus said with a smile. "Technology will change humanity, and we can fully utilize our sleep time in the future."

"Is this how technology changes humanity?"

"Entering the virtual world during sleep?" Xu Jingming, Li Miaomiao, and their family were all amazed.

"When I was young, it was still the era of mobile games. In just six or seven decades... there are already virtual worlds? I'm 88 years old, and I can still see this day?" Grandpa Xu was stunned.

"The virtual helmet is not our greatest achievement in developing Mars," Angus said. "At today's press conference, the virtual helmet is only the second item. The first is... human evolution!"

"Evolution?"

People around the world listened intently. The virtual helmet is only the second item? Human evolution is the first?

"We have excavated some ancient technology from Mars, including gene evolution methods," Angus said. "After years of trials, we need to thank the volunteers who sacrificed their lives for these experiments. They are heroes for all of humanity."

Images of individuals, both men and women, appeared on the screen behind him.

People around the world fell silent.

Did many volunteers die during the trials?

"After years of trials, we have developed a 100% successful gene evolution method suitable for all humans on Earth," Angus said.

"Gene evolution may sound incredible, but the principle is very simple."

"Like a boxer, after long-term training, his fists and bones will far surpass those of ordinary people. His children, influenced by genetic inheritance, will also have stronger fists and bones. This is a small-scale gene evolution!"

"People have long discovered that exercise can make the body stronger, reduce many diseases, and extend life."

"But these are simple exercise methods summarized from daily habits."

Secretary-General Angus said, "If technology can advance to the point of monitoring human genes and summarizing the gene changes caused by exercise... monitoring the genes of millions or even tens of millions of people. The final exercise evolution plan will be incredible."

"These are the ten gene evolution methods discovered on Mars, which we have confirmed are suitable for Earth humans after our trials."

Ten books appeared on the screen behind him, each with alien text.

"Please look at a group of volunteers invited six months ago," Secretary-General Angus pointed to the screen.

On the massive screen behind him, thousands of people appeared, both men and women, young and old, some disabled, some sick, and some nearly on the brink of death...

They all wore silver-gray helmets and lay on beds.

"More than half of them had terminal illnesses, and one-fifth were disabled," Secretary-General Angus said. "Learning the gene evolution method is not easy; it can make the body extremely tired, and incorrect movements can be harmful. Therefore, these volunteers learned in the virtual helmet, ensuring they mastered it in the virtual world before applying it in reality."

"In just three months, these volunteers underwent a transformation," Secretary-General Angus said excitedly.

In the video, the limbs of the disabled, some with broken legs and arms, gradually regrew and eventually fully recovered.

Many elderly people with white hair gradually turned black, wrinkles disappeared, and they became young again.

Sick and terminally ill patients gradually recovered, even looking healthy and rosy.

"Their genes have evolved, transforming them to a new level," Secretary-General Angus said.

"This is a 100-meter sprint test. The previous world record for the 100-meter dash was 9.32 seconds. These eight volunteers..." Secretary-General Angus looked at the screen.

With the sound of a gun, the eight volunteers sprinted out like cheetahs, their figures blurring as they quickly reached the finish line.

The fastest volunteer's time was: 5.13 seconds.

"These eight volunteers, after just three months of learning the gene evolution method, can run 100 meters in about five seconds," Secretary-General Angus said.

On the screen, a young man lifted a barbell, the bar of which was thicker than an Olympic bar, and the heavy weights on both sides bent the bar.

But the young man easily lifted it over his head.

"Without professional weightlifting training, an ordinary young man can easily lift a 1,000-kilogram barbell."

On the screen, someone leaped over a high bar.

"A leap of 3.9 meters."

Secretary-General Angus said, "Jumping higher, running faster, lifting heavier, and having a stronger recovery ability, regenerating limbs, and making past terminal illnesses like a common cold, which the body's immune system can eliminate. All known terminal illnesses can be eliminated by the evolved human body. Most importantly... the lifespan has changed. After our confirmation, the lifespan of evolved humans will generally be between 160 and 200 years, doubling the human lifespan."

Upon hearing this, many people around the world were in an uproar.

"All terminal illnesses can be eliminated? Limbs can regenerate?" In the living room of a house in Jinmen City, Yang Qingshuo, holding his son and watching the live broadcast, was stunned.

"Can my mother's illness be cured? Can my hand grow back?" Yang Qingshuo murmured.

A small screen appeared beside him.

"Qingshuo, Qingshuo, did you hear that? Limbs can regenerate. In the video, both legs were broken and regrew. Your hand can definitely regrow." Yang's mother, tears streaming down her face, was overjoyed. She felt content knowing her son would no longer be disabled.

"Mom, your illness can also be cured," Yang Qingshuo said, tears of joy in his eyes.

"Yes, my illness can be cured," Yang's mother nodded. "Our family can be together again. Thank this era, thank this era."

Yang Qingshuo looked down at his son, who was dozing off. He had fallen asleep during the wait for the live broadcast. Yang Qingshuo, moved, kissed his son.

The son opened his eyes, looked at his father sleepily, and then closed his eyes and went back to sleep.

"Is TaoTao asleep?" Yang's mother asked.

"All entertainment is paused, no cartoons, TaoTao got sleepy," Yang Qingshuo said with a smile.

Yang's mother nodded: "Let him rest well. From now on, our family will get better."

"It will get better," Yang Qingshuo smiled, feeling hopeful about the future.

...

Xu Jingming's family was also in a state of excitement.

"All terminal illnesses can be cured?"

"Limbs can regenerate?"

"Lifespans of 160 to 200 years?"

These pieces of information left the whole family in a daze.

Xu Jingming looked at his aging parents, his father already 60, his mother with some gray hair, and his grandfather 88. Could these important people in his life live to be over 160 years old?

"Son, your leg injury will definitely be cured," his mother said, hugging Xu Jingming excitedly. "People with broken legs can regrow them; your injury is nothing compared to that."

Xu Jingming nodded: "But future martial arts competitions will be different. In the future, an ordinary person can lift over 1,000 kilograms with both hands."

"This is a new era," Grandpa Xu sighed. "When I was young, we used computers, and my father played computer games. In my youth, we entered the mobile phone era... in my middle and old age, the virtual glasses era... now, human lifespans can double. I have lived in a good era."

"Yes, living in a good era," Li Chen'an and his wife looked at each other.

"Mom, Dad, we can be together, living to be over 160 years old," Li Miaomiao said, hugging her parents happily.

"We will be together," Li Chen'an and his wife smiled, tears in their eyes.