Recalling the earlier surge of energy in his body, Chen Xu moved his mind and inner qi. Instantly, he felt the golden aura in his meridians fade. What had been a brilliant, molten-gold energy gradually dulled to pale gold—and then even further.
Within moments, his golden inner qi had vanished entirely, leaving him with nothing but the colorless normal energy he had known before. With the disappearance of the golden infusion, the diamond-shaped spiritual body in his mind receded as well, slipping back into the depths of his consciousness, invisible once again.
"Whoa…!" Chen Xu muttered, staring at the pale yellow stone in his hands. "So this thing isn't actually gold… it's some kind of energy! And the aliens… they were after the golden aura itself?"
The revelation sent a shiver down his spine. Even with the gold gone, his body still felt stronger than before—more resilient, more alive. His inner energy, clearly enhanced, pulsed rhythmically beneath his skin.
He understood then what might be the most earth-shattering truth yet: the origin of humans, millions of years ago, could be tied directly to this energy.
"Wait… are we saying humans were created… to harvest this energy for some alien race? That's… insane!"
Pinching his own cheek to make sure he wasn't hallucinating, Chen Xu couldn't resist testing the stone again. He placed it between his teeth, and, as before, felt the golden force surge into his body.
This time, the infusion was fleeting. His diamond spiritual body absorbed two-thirds of the energy, releasing only a third into him. His body tensed, muscles swelling, inner qi surging—just as he approached the Second Realm's mid-stage, the energy vanished. His inner qi, once rocketing upward like a rocket, returned to normal.
Spitting the stone out, Chen Xu examined it closely. Just as he suspected, the color had faded again—this time completely. What had once gleamed golden now looked like nothing more than ordinary crystal.
Astonishing. Moments ago, it had radiated molten gold… now, it was merely a pale stone.
Through the hints in the stone and the earlier teachings he'd received, Chen Xu pieced it together. This was no gold—it was energy made tangible. And yet, when mature, it mimicked gold perfectly.
No wonder humans have always coveted gold… Chen Xu mused. From the dawn of time, our genes have craved this hue. Millions of years of inheritance, impossible to erase… that's why gold has always captivated humanity.
He glanced at the sunlight outside the cave, yet felt no warmth. The aliens' motives, the inherited desires of mankind, the weight of all those millennia—it made his skin crawl. He was on the brink of realizing a truth that could shake the foundations of archaeology itself: humans were not the product of evolution alone, but the deliberate design of higher beings, drawn here for the golden energy.
"No matter what… this energy is powerful. I need to seize every opportunity to gather these relics, to increase my cultivation—and to earn the chance to meet these aliens."
A fiery determination lit his eyes. With his perception sharpened, his strength enhanced, he set his goal: amass as many crystals as possible, grow in power, and secure his place in this world—and beyond.
He hung the now-dull crystal around his neck, concealing it beneath his long hair, and walked toward the fire.
The cave smelled of roasted venison, remnants of the previous day's hunt. Chen Xu's stomach rumbled as he sat down among his ape followers, selecting a piece of meat and biting into it with relish. Once he had eaten his fill, he waved for the others to start. The hunting party eagerly devoured their portions, while the rest nibbled on bones.
Satisfied, Chen Xu tried to learn more about his surroundings. He spoke in crude ape-language, describing the terrain, the dangers, and asking about local beasts. The answers, predictably, were limited. Their minds couldn't comprehend the bigger picture—so the idea of a detailed map was quickly abandoned.
Instead, Chen Xu focused on the crystal. Questioning the former leader, he confirmed that the crystal's color deepened over time—an indication of its maturity and energy accumulation. He calculated that to achieve such a deep hue, centuries were required.
So the aliens have visited before… Chen Xu thought. And they'll return. Soon.
If he wasn't prepared—if his cultivation wasn't high enough—the encounter would be nothing short of catastrophic. Death, he knew, would be the least of it.
He did not intend to remain a primitive king in the Stone Age for the rest of his life. Standing at the cliff's edge, overlooking the dense forest below, Chen Xu's eyes gleamed. His next goal was clear: gather as many crystals as possible before the aliens returned, fortify himself, and prepare for whatever challenges awaited.
The aliens might be advanced—but the Earth's primitive state made them complacent. They did not expect anyone here to harness the golden energy. And Chen Xu intended to exploit that oversight.
Collect. Grow. Survive. And one day… meet them on my own terms.
With that, Chen Xu began to plan his ascent, knowing that the fate of this world—and perhaps the secrets of humanity's very origin—lay in his hands.