Chapter 135: Evolution Induced by Axial Radiation

Li Jin and his companions were all bewildered. Evolution? His father wasn't sick?

Zhu Lan looked at Wei Juanwen with equal curiosity. "Speak clearly!"

Wei Juanwen waved his hand helplessly. "Isn't this clear enough? Your father's condition is currently in a shedding phase. However, there has never been direct evidence for this research, which is why only a few people in the world believe in this concept of human self-evolution."

"For example, thousands of years ago, due to geographical changes, human ancestors migrated south. Because they were accustomed to living in the north, they could not initially adapt to the southern climate—like the humidity—but human genes follow climate shifts to adapt to the surrounding environment. This is genetic self-evolution. However, this process might take over a decade, or even centuries. We ourselves cannot perceive this change; you only feel that you have adapted to the environment and integrated into it, but your genes have actually already changed."

"There are similar symptoms in modern times. A southerner who spends several years in the north will find it very difficult to adjust when they return to the south, because their genes have already altered to suit the northern climate. Returning to the south triggers another genetic shift. This is one form of self-evolution."

"Self-evolution is divided into environmental changes and genetic changes. Environmental change is what I described—the inability to adapt to a strange environment. Genetic change occurs when genes are stimulated by a specific environment, forcing them to adapt to those special conditions!"

"For example?" Zhu Lan began to understand.

"According to the test results, we detected subtle radiation sources deep within his genes. Although this radiation is very weak, if I'm not mistaken, it should be uranium radiation. We need to extract the radiation from his genes for a detailed examination to be certain."

"I understand. I want a detailed report by tomorrow!"

Wei Juanwen nodded and turned to return to the laboratory.

"Old Four, what does he mean?"

"You're all tired. Let's go! We'll talk in my office!"

Zhu Lan didn't elaborate, leading the three of them away. If not for Zhu Lan, the three would never have been able to enter this facility, and he didn't want them staying here too long. Some of the experiments in this building were hazardous, so to be safe, he decided to move them away first.

As soon as they sat down, Li Jin asked anxiously, "Old Four, what does my father's condition actually mean? What radiation? What self-evolution? I don't understand any of it!"

Zhu Lan didn't answer immediately, instead watching the data on self-evolution transmitted by Red Queen. The virus was like a larval form that triggered self-evolution. In Umbrella Corporation's experimental files, much of the research concerned self-evolution. The virus itself was developed to cure human diseases, and the best way to cure them was to let the human body heal itself. Every living organism has the ability to self-repair; a wound will heal based on that inherent ability, though the time it takes varies. The virus was initially designed to accelerate this repair process. You could say the virus was like a genetic optimization serum, just much more aggressive and powerful.

"Old Four?"

"Oh, sorry. I was distracted."

Li Jin rolled his eyes. "Old Four, what is really going on with my father?"

"Don't worry! Your father is perfectly fine. But it will take some time for him to recover!"

"No, Old Four, I still feel uneasy. Tell me plainly, what is wrong with my father?" Li Jin remained anxious.

"Simply put, the place where your father worked was an environment that provided intense genetic stimulation. Based on the current situation, your father must have been exposed to uranium ore, and for a long time. His genes mutated due to the radiation from the uranium. However, your father is lucky; you should know that 98 percent of people exposed to uranium ore develop cancer because the radiation triggers cancer cells."

"Uranium ore? Impossible. I've never seen my father come into contact with such things since I was a child. Besides, my father is just a farmer. How could he possibly encounter something like that? Uranium ore is prohibited by the state; he couldn't possibly have access to it!" Li Jin firmly denied that his father could have come into contact with uranium ore.

"Wait!"

At this moment, Li Jin's mother spoke up. She looked at Zhu Lan. "Zhu Lan, are you sure?"

"Ma'am, it seems you know something. Could you tell me? It would help me find a way to resolve this!"

"Mom?"

"Jin, you don't know. Your father did indeed come into contact with that devil's ore!"

"What? My father really did?"

Li Jin's mother nodded. "Back then, your father was a university student. Responding to a national call, he joined a mineral exploration team. That was when I met him. We traveled thousands of miles, searching mountain after mountain. Finally, our hard work paid off, and we found uranium ore. Because your grandfather was part of the group being denounced at the time, your father's merits were canceled out by his family background. I married him, and we returned to his hometown. It wasn't until the Reform and Opening-up that your father, unwilling to fall behind, caught the first wave of opportunity."

Li Jin's mother briefly recounted the past. According to her, Li Jin's father had participated in a uranium-seeking team, but for various reasons, he left and returned to his hometown.

"If that's the case, then it's explained!"

Li Jin was still confused.

"Your father came into contact with uranium ore back then. The radiation became entwined in his body, constantly altering his genes. In most cases, this triggers cancer, but your father's situation is special. His genes directly absorbed the uranium radiation, causing them to evolve."

"Have you seen the movie *Lucy*?"

Li Jin nodded.

"Your father's situation is just like the protagonist in that movie. The substance altered his genes, just not as exaggerated as in the film!"

"So my father won't turn into a monster?"

Seeing Li Jin's worry, Zhu Lan shook his head with a smile. "Don't worry, your father will be fine. It's just that his resistance to radiation has increased."

"What do you mean? Isn't this the start of turning into a monster?"

"You watch too many movies!" Zhu Lan glared at Li Jin, who spent all day fantasizing.

"Because of the uranium radiation, your father's genes developed the ability to self-evolve to resist radiation. In other words, once your father's metamorphosis is complete, he will be more resistant to radiation than anyone else. It's like having an enhanced immunity!"

"He won't turn into a monster?"

Zhu Lan shook his head. "Of course not. What monster? The radiation levels in your father's body were very low to begin with!"

Li Jin let out a sigh of relief. "So, you're saying my father has absolutely no problems, and we just need to wait for him to finish evolving?" Mentioning evolution made Li Jin feel quite awkward—his father was evolving?

Zhu Lan nodded.

"Mom, Sis, did you hear that? Dad is going to be okay!"

Li Jin's mother and sister nodded with relief, wiping tears from their eyes.

"Zhu Lan, are you sure? No, no, I don't mean to doubt you; I'm just too worried!"

Hearing this, Zhu Lan smiled and nodded. "It's alright, I understand. The detailed report will be out tomorrow. You can take it back to the university and ask my teacher if you like!"

Li Jin nodded awkwardly. It was no wonder the three of them were skeptical—they had already been to many large hospitals, and every one of them had issued a death warrant for his father. Now, after being brought to Zhu Lan, he was being told his father wasn't sick at all, but was undergoing a genetic evolution. He just needed time to finish his self-repair.

"Then why is my father in a coma?" Li Jin felt much lighter, but still had questions.

"Don't be ridiculous. If your skin were shedding itself entirely, you'd be unconscious too. If I slashed you a few times, you'd pass out!"

"Self-evolution is an extremely painful process. It's essentially shedding the entire outer layer of skin. A person cannot endure such a transformation and naturally falls into a coma. The body's instincts protect it. Once your father's metamorphosis is complete, he will naturally wake up. To put it bluntly, he is currently a living dead man, instinctively protecting himself. Once the transformation is finished, the outer layer will open, his consciousness will be awakened, and he will naturally wake up."

"He won't become a vegetable?"

What Zhu Lan said was still frightening. Li Jin felt a bit nervous, terrified that his father might have another accident.

Zhu Lan shook his head. "Don't worry. I study this. Genetic optimization serum is similar to this kind of repair. I am researching self-evolution, and I'm afraid there are few people in the world who understand it better than I do."

Hearing Zhu Lan say this, though he was still a bit skeptical, Li Jin had no choice but to believe him. He nodded helplessly.

"Alright, I'll have security give you a pass. You're tired, so go and get some rest. I'll arrange a place for you!"

"Is my father really going to be okay?"

"Relax, Old Three. Would I lie to you? If I say he's fine, he's fine. You can go ask tomorrow once you get the results."

Li Jin nodded awkwardly.

"Kong Yan, make arrangements for them!"

"Yes, Boss!"

"Old Four, sorry to bother you!"

"Get lost!" Zhu Lan waved his hand with a smile, telling Li Jin to get out.

Li Jin chuckled and nodded. "Mom, let's go get some rest. You haven't closed your eyes for days!"

"Okay!"

As the three left, Zhu Lan stood up and looked out the window. "Red Queen, how common are cases like this globally?"

Hearing his voice, Red Queen appeared behind him and calculated. "In the last decade, seven such cases have been recorded. Four resulted in death, and three were successful."

"Oh? Can you find the successful ones?"

"No. All three were taken by the US government. I have discovered research on similar self-repair capabilities."

"That's normal. There has always been research in this area. It seems this might be a gold mine."