45: Chapter 45 Xia Kingdom's Actions

July 30th, late at night.

In Jing City, the highest-level research institute of the Xia Nation was brightly lit.

The conference room was full of people.

Dozens of academicians and hundreds of professors from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture, military research institutions, and several national key laboratories were present.

The conference tables were arranged in a square, with thick research reports spread out in front of everyone.

The air was filled with the mixed scent of strong tea and coffee.

No one spoke.

Presiding over the meeting was Elder Liu from the Ministry of Science and Technology. His white hair was combed meticulously, his hands were folded on the table, and his gaze slowly swept over everyone present.

To his right sat Academician Li from the Ministry of Science and Technology, and to his left was Academician Zhang from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The silence lasted for nearly half a minute.

Academician Li spoke first.

He took off his glasses, pressed his thumb against the bridge of his nose, and his voice was noticeably hoarse.

"It has been a full month."

He put down his glasses and looked at Elder Liu.

"From June 30th, when the nation organized us, to today, July 30th. We have tried every method we could: spectral analysis, mass spectrometry, electromagnetic detection, radiation detection, and high-altitude sampling with weather balloons. Every piece of equipment we could use has been used."

He paused.

"And the result? Nothing."

The conference room was very quiet. Only the sound of the air conditioner blowing could be heard.

"This substance, or this energy—regardless of what it is—it is just there. Plants are growing wildly, soil composition is changing, and certain parameters in the air must be changing, but we just cannot catch it."

Academician Li tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "It is as if it does not exist within our known physical framework at all. Yet, the changes right before our eyes tell us that it is real."

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. "I have done my best."

Academician Zhang took over. His voice was deeper than Academician Li's.

"The situation is the same on our side at the Ministry of Agriculture."

He opened the folder in front of him and pulled out a data sheet.

"Starting from June 27th, data from our plant observation stations across the country began to show warnings.

The first sign was from one of our doctors; while organizing weekly reports, he discovered that the number of rice tillers in the experimental fields was nearly 30% higher than in previous years.

He thought it was an equipment malfunction and repeated the measurements three times, but the data remained the same."

Academician Zhang pushed the table to the center; it was densely marked with growth rate comparisons of dozens of crops.

"We immediately began to expand the scope of our observations. Not only in the experimental fields, but plants in the wild are also growing at an accelerated rate. Grass, trees, vines, algae—without exception. Growth rates have generally increased by more than 40%, with the highest batch of samples reaching 60%. This has never happened in the history of botany."

He turned to another page. "Furthermore, this rate is still increasing. It is not a constant acceleration, but a continuous increase. Every week, the numbers go up a little more."

A slight sound of page-turning echoed in the conference room.

"The only thing we can do right now," Academician Zhang said, "is to reverse-calculate the quantity changes of this substance through the changes in these plants. The result is also very clear—this substance, whatever it is, is slowly increasing in concentration in the atmosphere."

He looked at Academician Li. "I look at those plant data every day and feel anxious. But I know that the work on your side is even harder."

Academician Li did not respond. He just nodded slightly.

Elder Liu spoke at this moment. His voice was unhurried, but everyone in the conference room subconsciously sat up a little straighter.

"Old Li, Old Zhang." He looked at both of them. "This matter has been difficult for you."

He put his hands down and laid them flat on the table. "I know you have exhausted every method. It is not just that we haven't detected it—"

He paused. "According to feedback from our channels abroad, no country in the world has detected this substance yet. Including the United States; their research progress is basically synchronized with ours. They have no less equipment than us, no less investment than us, and the result is the same. Zero."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip. "This thing that appeared out of thin air is not on the periodic table of elements, does not correspond to any known radiation frequency band, and does not participate in any physical process we can measure. It is like a transparent wall standing between us and the answer. To be honest, this has crushed many things we were proud of."

Someone in the conference room lowered their head.

"However." Elder Liu's voice raised slightly. "Things must always move forward."

He pulled a document from his folder. The document had a deep red security classification mark on the header.

"The nation has made a decision." Everyone lifted their heads.

"First. Formally name this unknown substance 'Spiritual Qi'. This name has been approved by the highest level. From today on, all departments will use this name uniformly."

A slight commotion broke out in the conference room.

"Spiritual Qi"—this term, spoken at an academician-level meeting, carried a sense of unreal weight. Everyone present was chewing on the weight of these two words in their hearts.

Elder Liu did not pause. "Second. Establish a new specialized department, tentatively named the 'Aura and Evolution Investigation Department'. It will be jointly formed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the military, with a tentative ministerial-level ranking. Old Li will serve as the Chief Scientist, and Old Zhang will serve as the person in charge of biological evolution. The specific structure and personnel list will be issued to everyone tomorrow."

He turned the page. "Third. The nation will formally issue a notification to the public in two days, that is, on August 1st."

As soon as he finished speaking, several academicians looked up at the same time.

"Elder Liu—"

"This timing—"

Elder Liu raised his hand to stop them. "I know what you are worried about. Public panic, social order, economic fluctuations—these issues have already been discussed at the top level."

His tone turned solemn. "However, the changes can no longer be hidden."

He turned on the projector. A set of satellite comparison images appeared on the screen. It showed the changes in vegetation coverage of major global mountain ranges, comparing early April to the end of July.

In the images, green was spreading in all directions at a speed visible to the naked eye.

The originally grayish-brown ridgelines had now turned deep green.

The green belts on the edges of cities were expanding outwards, and some suburban roads were already completely covered by tree canopies.

What made people even more silent were those remote mountainous areas; the once clearly distinguishable mountain paths were now almost swallowed by bushes.

"Reports from all over have piled up in our System. City roads are being overturned by tree roots, sewers are being blocked by root Systems, and the walls of residential buildings are being pulled apart by vines. The speed at which people in remote mountain areas are moving out can no longer keep up with the speed of vegetation spread."

He turned off the projector. "Under these circumstances, if we do not give the public an explanation, our credibility will be in trouble. The people need to know that the nation is paying attention to this matter and that the nation is taking action."

The conference room became quiet again.

Academician Zhang's fingers subconsciously tapped on the table, making a slight clicking sound.

Academician Li rubbed the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes.

Elder Liu's voice slowed down a bit. "This is a change unseen in a thousand years."

He looked at everyone present. "We do not know where this change will take humanity. Judging from the data we have so far, it is slowing down aging, repairing damage, and enhancing Physique—these are good news for the people. Everyone here should have experienced it too. Old Li, didn't you complain about knee pain before? Does it still hurt now?"

Academician Li was stunned for a moment and looked down at his knees. "...It doesn't hurt anymore."

A slight laughter broke out in the conference room. The laughter carried a hint of bitterness, as well as an indescribable sense of relief.

"So." Elder Liu stood up. "Two days later, August 1st. The Xia Nation will announce the arrival of the Spiritual Qi era to the whole world. No matter how the path ahead goes—"

He paused. "We have no choice but to move forward."

In the conference room, everyone stood up in unison.

Outside the window, the night in Jing City was as usual.

Under the distant skyline, the direction of the Western Hills could be vaguely seen; one wonders how much taller the trees there have grown.

Elder Liu's voice drifted in the chill of the air conditioning, so soft it was as if he were speaking to himself. "Leave the rest to Heaven."

Meanwhile, in Yi City, seven hundred miles away.

Chen Mo stood in the Main Hall of the old house. He had just finished the last set of Basic Muscle Tension Control Training, and the sweat on his body quickly cooled in the night breeze.

The starry sky above was covered by a thin layer of clouds, revealing only a few scattered bright spots.

He withdrew his gaze and picked up his phone to glance at it.

There was no news regarding any official updates. But he knew. It was coming soon.