Chapter 364: An Era of One Person

Levi traced human history through segments of memory, arriving at the origin of human life. Instead of finding strong evidence for the theory of evolution—that apes evolved from other life forms—he witnessed a bizarre scene: a mysterious young man holding up two ape infants.

Suddenly, he was plunged into madness.

"What did that mysterious language mean?" he wondered. "It was as if it were a blessing for these two human ancestors." The language felt light, seemingly imbued with relief and release, making its true meaning hard to grasp.

"Was he an ancient human with supernatural powers?"

Impossible!

He immediately dismissed the idea. Humans were inherently weak and could not possess supernatural physiques; he had confirmed this through countless medical studies of the human body.

But was that truly the case?

He recalled his own unique brain, specifically the mysterious pineal gland within it, which seemed to unlock forbidden divine zones and unleash special potential. This thought made him doubt his previous conclusion.

In fact, Levi wasn't wrong. They did not possess extraordinary genes like the "Rubik's Cube gene" or "Evil Eye gene," and thus, they truly lacked supernatural abilities. Like ordinary people on Earth, their systemic genes did not directly confer superhuman powers.

"Perhaps, the figure in that vision was a person from the future?" Levi's voice was hoarse. Had future human technology achieved time travel, reaching a peak of technological civilization, allowing future humans to return and modify human genes? But that would create a time paradox!

He tried to explain it using his scientific knowledge, but it was utterly inexplicable. At this moment, he felt a growing confusion. His "Theory of Evolution," once published in major newspapers and scientific institutions, might have been disproven.

What terrifying upheaval would ensue if this vision were to become public?

Levi, the white-haired elder renowned as the backbone of human technology, fell silent. He knew full well that newspapers, media outlets, the great human empires, and television channels would go utterly insane. Humanity could not accept such a dreadful truth.

"If it cannot be accepted," he murmured, "then let it be buried."

Levi's consciousness gradually blurred, dissolving into a blank whiteness.

When he next opened his eyes from the hospital bed, a female assistant in white immediately cried out, "Mr. Levi is awake! Mr. Levi is awake!"

"Give me a mirror," Levi said, standing up.

Soon, a mirror was held before him. He looked at his reflection, seeing a young, handsome man.

"It was successful, after all," Levi murmured, staring blankly out the window. "This was a brain-dead patient, but it wasn't a brain transplant. It was a pineal gland transplant for both parties... I have transferred into his body."

His assistants, taken aback, could hardly believe that Mr. Levi, having been reborn and even achieving immortality, showed no excitement. This was a groundbreaking medical advancement for humanity! The old Mr. Levi would have trembled with excitement!

Levi merely smiled, noncommittal, for he had personally seen a man who seemed to be a god. He looked at his assistants, his gaze gradually sharpening. "Is everything ready?"

"Yes, it is," they quickly replied.

Year 132 of the Empire.

A terrible piece of news arrived: Mr. Levi, the backbone of humanity, had passed away!

Immediately, the entire world mourned, and newspapers, news outlets, and media went into a frenzy. At first, people refused to believe it. He was a man who had shaped an era, with wisdom akin to a god's. If anyone could transcend mortality and possess divine longevity, it would be him!

It wasn't until people sat before their black-and-white televisions, watching the body of Mr. Levi in a neat suit lying in a coffin, that they truly grasped the terrible, cruel reality. Mr. Levi was truly dead.

Both the Western and Eastern Human Empires lowered their flags to half-mast, and the entire nations went into mourning. This day was destined to be sorrowful. Levi's funeral was held in Velia, the capital of the Western Human Empire, in front of the Octagon Building. The Empire's President, high-ranking officials, and local lords, all in crisp black military uniforms, stood witness.

"This is a tragedy for humanity," the President wept openly at the podium. "We have lost everything."

In less than a month, the Levi Group rapidly disintegrated. Talent from its various research institutes was fiercely poached, and shareholders absconded with their profits. The entire conglomerate fractured into numerous smaller factions. These factions then began a frantic scramble for the experimental notes left by Levi, the man closest to a god. These notes contained prototype technologies centuries ahead of human civilization, including ball lightning, lava power plants, and earthquake generators.

Even half a month later, a great Tunguska earthquake occurred, killing countless people residing in the affected mountain range. Some claimed it was a result of the reckless testing of Levi's unfinished research by the corporations, who, despite the high danger of prototypes, disregarded human lives.

"Was this a weather weapon?"

While people scrambled madly, an ultra-small private consortium called the "Supra-Research Institute" was founded and quietly began to expand.

Year 137 of the Empire.

The Supra-Research Institute had spread across the territories of both great human empires, with many high-ranking officials becoming members.

Year 141 of the Empire.

The Supra-Research Institute successfully developed "lava thermal power stations." Covertly, they also excavated tunnels through the long lava river situated between the two empires' borders. No longer did people need to follow paths along the sky-high walls; instead, they built tunnels within the magma rivers, creating underground lava pipelines capable of withstanding the extreme heat of the magma, and remarkably, these conduits also had immense power generation capabilities.

Lava was the world's primary energy source, and their utilization of magma had reached astonishing levels. In contrast, basic appliances like televisions and light bulbs remained in a rudimentary state, their development lagging.

Year 143 of the Empire.

The Supra-Research Institute gradually emerged from the shadows. By this point, no one could stop this colossal entity. A middle-aged man stepped forward and declared, "I am Levi."

The entire world was shaken. The mere name "Levi" was already a legend!

Immediately, a storm erupted around the former Levi Group. Countless former major consortium shareholders came forward, accusing and denouncing him as an imposter who disrespected Levi, the founder of human science, the father of electricity, the father of medicine...

To the overwhelming accusations, he simply replied: "Levi is merely a codename. I am simply stating a fact, not claiming any glory. Time will prove everything for me." With that, he vanished from public sight.