86: file

Lu Jianchuan finished his food ravenously, finally suppressing that deadly sense of hunger. Just as he caught his breath, the Researcher from before approached him with a folder stamped with the red word "Confidential" and placed it in front of him.

"Mr. Lu, the higher-ups instructed me to give this to you," the Researcher said. "It's the detailed dossier on the 'primordial evolution factor.' Your clearance is sufficient for access, but we felt that giving you a physical copy would allow you to understand the situation more clearly."

"Thank you." Lu Jianchuan nodded and picked up the folder. He remembered that The Forger had mentioned the evo factor to him, but in rather general terms. This official dossier was perfect for filling in the details.

He opened the dossier and skimmed through it. The first part was similar to what The Forger had said: the evo factor was the underlying code of life that had existed since the archean eon. All living things possessed it, just in different concentrations.

His gaze stopped when he reached the section titled [Ancient Concentration Speculation and Evolutionary Costs]. The explanation here was much more detailed than what The Forger had told him:

...Based on trace particle detection of Archean fossils and energy model back-calculations, the research team believes that during the initial single-celled stage of life, the concentration of EVO particles may have been extremely high.

At that time, environmental energy was abundant, life forms were simple, and evolution was incredibly rapid.

The problem arose once life became more complex. The more complex and Advanced the evolution, the more terrifying the energy consumption.

To survive in an energy-limited environment and reproduce stably, life had to make a choice during evolution—prioritize basic metabolism and use precious energy to maintain daily survival. Thus, through generations of reproduction, the concentration of the evo factor in the body was gradually 'diluted.'

In other words, it wasn't that the ability to evolve had disappeared, but rather that complex organisms, for the sake of 'stability,' had dialed down that 'switch' for rapid evolution themselves.

Seeing this, Lu Jianchuan thought that it indeed aligned with what The Forger had said, though the speculations here were more specific, even including details like "energy model back-calculations" and "intergenerational genetic dilution." The scientists' speculations were reasonable; sacrificing a portion of evolutionary potential for the sake of survival was quite logical.

He closed the dossier, and the overall context of the situation became much clearer in his mind. This document, from an official perspective, connected and confirmed the fragments of information he had known previously.

"This factor... is truly miraculous."

Lu Jianchuan looked up at the Researcher beside him and voiced the confusion in his heart.

"But according to what's written here, its underlying logic of 'evolution = high energy consumption = potentially exhausting oneself to death' sounds very... ancient, even clumsy.

Why, after such a long time, hasn't it evolved a smarter, more energy-efficient way of operating? It feels completely contrary to modern concepts of efficient and precise energy utilization."

The Researcher didn't seem surprised by the question. He nodded and explained, "Your observation is very sharp. According to our research, it's likely not that the evo factor 'doesn't want' to change this set of rules, but that it 'cannot.' We tend to believe that what it represents is an underlying life code close to the level of a physical Law."

He gestured with his hands, trying to make the description more vivid. "Like the low-level binary machine language of a computer program, or the basic particle properties of matter, its core logic is solidified into the foundation of existence. And at the deepest level of this logic, a supreme command is inscribed: survive at all costs."

The Researcher's expression became very serious. "You can understand it like this: when the factor is activated, it's like an emergency program set with a single goal.

All its 'computations' revolve around one core—how to make the host survive the current fatal threat.

Based on the crisis the host is facing, it references all available 'materials' in the environment to forcibly drive the body to evolve in the direction that best solves the 'immediate trouble.'

As for how much energy this evolutionary form will require in the future, or if it will cause the host to die tomorrow due to energy depletion, those are not within its 'consideration.'"

He paused and concluded with a brutal metaphor: "Its logic is simple—'survive the present first to be qualified to talk about the future.'

This mechanism of 'survival first, regardless of the long term' might have been the most efficient survival strategy in the harsh ancient environments, but in modern complex organisms with finely balanced energy metabolism, it appears exceptionally crude and dangerous.

It is precisely because of this that in a normal environment with limited energy, life—in order to persist long-term—gradually lowered its concentration through the 'intergenerational genetic dilution' you just saw. This is essentially a passive adaptation and evasion of these overly 'overbearing' rules."

"However, in recent decades, an inexplicable phenomenon has emerged."

The Researcher changed the subject, his tone carrying the inherent curiosity of a scientific worker.

"Globally, the birth rate of 'dominant potential individuals' naturally possessing high concentrations of the evo factor has shown a statistically significant and abnormal increase.

At the same time, a large number of individuals who were previously in a 'recessive' state have shown abnormal fluctuations in the activity of the factor within their bodies.

It's as if... the intensity of the entire planet's 'background radiation of life' has been turned up. As for the reason, there is currently no consensus; whether it's drastic environmental changes, cosmic ray cycles, or some deep-seated mechanism we don't yet understand, these are all important research topics."

Speaking of application prospects, a flicker of fervor flashed in the Researcher's eyes, but it was immediately replaced by caution. "Undoubtedly, if we can safely and controllably guide this power, the benefits it brings will be revolutionary.

Theoretically, it can command cells to differentiate and regenerate in a targeted manner, meaning limb Rebirth and organ reconstruction will no longer be a dream;

It can prompt life structures to quickly adapt to and overcome extreme environments or pathological states, meaning many so-called 'terminal illnesses' might find entirely new ways to be conquered. Its potential is too immense to estimate."

"But," he emphasized, his tone returning to its previous seriousness.

"Precisely because the nature of its power is so primitive and strong, any radical intervention is accompanied by extremely high risks—uncontrolled evolution is more terrifying than any known disease.

Therefore, all our research must proceed under the strictest safety protocols, with an extremely conservative and prudent attitude.

To date, we haven't even been cleared to begin the most preliminary human clinical exploration based on voluntary principles; we are still at the stage of extensive basic theoretical research and non-human primate experiments.

This path is full of hope but also covered in thorns; we must advance steadily."

This explanation gave Lu Jianchuan a more multi-dimensional understanding of the nature of the evo factor and the challenges GUPA faced. It was both a Treasure Trove of infinite vitality and a double-edged sword hanging over one's head.