Upon hearing that the material-side Usurper Worm had been overcome by the Cave People, Book-eating Demon's eyes shone with excitement. "I'll accelerate the decoding of the Consciousness Fragments right away. Without the interference of the Evil Brain, I can fully focus on reading it!"

She turned to Sun Hao nearby and asked, "Can you handle it?"

"Don't worry, I won't hold you back."

The young man, though weary, had a determined tone.

Thus, they resumed the repair and decryption of the Consciousness Fragments.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi continued his discussion with the Dong clan.

The evolution of the Usurper Worm was completely focused on survival, which did not mean they were backward. With deeper excavation, the Cave People made many new discoveries.

The most significant discovery was:

"Mr. Zhou, there are cells within the Usurper Worm that are highly similar to ours. Initially, we thought they were deceased bodies of our kind, consumed by other existing cells inside. But after repeated verification, we discovered that this is one of the six core cell types controlling the Usurper Worm, governing their cooperative abilities."

"It is because of this that we can connect with these cells, quickly taking control of the Usurper Worm without facing rejection or the emergence of attack cells."

The Dong clan spoke with a serious tone: "The Usurper Worm is likely our descendant."

Zhou Yi immediately instructed Da Vinci and Gaelen to perform a genetic comparison.

The two mechanical doctors, upon hearing this, suggested including the genes of Ni Ge and Pan Tree for reference.

One hour later.

Da Vinci's progress bar was the first to complete.

It said, "Chairman, the initial BLAST model test results are out. The genetic similarity between the Usurper Worm and the Cave People is 26%, and the similarity between Ni Ge and the Cave People is 60%."

"This model is fast but less precise. An additional Smith-Waterman algorithm test on Gaelen's side is required. It has higher computational complexity and takes longer but yields more accurate results by comparing the entire genome."

Upon hearing these numbers, Zhou Yi immediately responded, "Does this test result mean the Mud Tree People are truly descendants of the Cave People?"

"One cannot judge it that way."

Da Vinci corrected, "Genetic similarity reflects the genetic conservatism between species."

"Based on the current data and the actual situation of the Mud Tree World, it only indicates a high probability that the Usurper Worm and the Mud Tree People evolved from a common ancestor, the Cave People."

"The high genetic similarity between the Mud Tree People and the Cave People indicates a slower evolutionary rate for the Mud Tree People, with some genes remaining highly conserved during evolution."

"The lower similarity between the Usurper Worm and the Cave People actually signifies faster evolution of this life group, leading to greater differences from the original Cave People."

Zhou Yi suddenly understood.

It seemed that the Cave People had not been exterminated back then but had initiated a new round of evolution, resulting in the Usurper Worm and the Cave People.

He asked again, "What about the Pan Tree?"

"The relevance is very low."

Da Vinci replied: "In the field of genetic similarity, a similarity below 10% usually indicates that two species share no obvious relation in most genes, but it is still possible for a few highly conserved core genes to exist."

"A similarity below 5% implies that the two species are almost unrelated."

"The genetic similarity between the Pan Tree and the Cave People is less than 1%. Therefore, it can be inferred that they are two entirely unrelated species, suggesting no relationship between the origin of the Pan Tree and the Cave People."

Zhou Yi was astounded: "So the Pan Tree is an independent life system apart from the Cave People?"

"Yes."

Seven hours later.

The verification test on Gaelen's side finally concluded.

"Chairman, the genetic similarity results in my test show that the similarity between Ni Ge and the Cave People is 62.77%, between the Usurper Worm and the Cave People is 21.02%, between the Pan Tree and the Cave People is 0.44%, and between the Pan Tree and the Usurper Worm is 1.13%."

"Notably, the similarity between the Pan Tree and Ni Ge is 36.97%, implying a distant relationship. It can be concluded that the Mud Tree People and the Pan Tree have high similarity, likely forming a life form combining ancestral Pan Trees and Cave People."

"Additionally, based on molecular clock measurement and full-genome tracing, it is confirmed that the Usurper Worm is an earlier descendant of the Cave People, preceding the Mud Tree People by over a million years. The Mud Tree People are a newer branch derived later."

"We have reason to believe that the Pan Tree is an alien species in the local world. The emergence of the Pan Tree led to the Mud Tree People, a recombinant of Pan Tree and Cave People genes."

"In conclusion, the Usurper Worm can be identified as a direct descendant of the Cave People, while the Mud Tree People are descendants of an alien species."

Ni Ge, listening with wide eyes, exclaimed, "Impossible, absolutely impossible!!"

"Your data must be wrong!"

"Let me see!"

Gaelen ran the data several more times, with repeated sampling, yielding consistent results.

The evidence was conclusive.

For a moment, Ni Ge was disoriented, almost unable to stand: "We are the aliens... Usurper Worms are the native life forms? How could this be..."

Zhou Yi patted his shoulder: "There are no such distinctions as locals and outsiders. Everyone lives in the same world. We've long been intertwined, so don't worry about such trivial matters."

With a bitter expression, Ni Ge asked, "Chairman... Are you saying that the evolved Usurper Worms control the Mud Tree People to ultimately expel us, the outsider descendants?"

"According to existing information, they are merely trying to survive, or to survive better, and thus need your brains."

At this moment, Ni Ge was in such turmoil that he completely forgot the low intelligence level of the Usurper Worms.

Zhou Yi reassured, "We will go to the Mud Tree World in the future, and we will investigate thoroughly. Don't overthink it. Let's focus on what we can do now."

Ni Ge somewhat calmed down, forcefully patting his face with both hands, smoothing his pointed hair: "You're right. Thinking too much only brings unnecessary worries! We still have work to do."

Da Vinci and Gaelen consolidated the data and conducted another round of biopsy and biological tests on the Evil Brain.

They came to a conclusion.

"The structure of the Evil Brain is highly similar to Ni Ge's brain and is likely the brain of the Mud Tree People."

"This brain is very developed, a matured and extremely intense Guangna Organ, reaching the Light Core Level. However, this is not an outcome of natural processes but a product of long-term stimulation and modification by the Usurper Worms."

"The Usurper Worms secrete a special substance, which we have named 'Usurper Worm Pheromone,' that can paralyze and stimulate the brain to continuously develop, preventing it from stabilizing after reaching maturity."

"Therefore, this brain grows exceptionally larger than normal because it's still being stimulated and enlarged by the Usurper Worms. But for some reason, this brain is in a state of deep sleep, as shown by the EEG, it remains dormant."

Seeing the progress, Zhou Yi returned to Jade City for a nap.

In the middle of the night, he was awakened by Yuan Xiao.

"Chairman, Da Vinci said that Book-eating Demon and Sun Hao have a significant discovery that needs to be reported in person."

Zhou Yi instantly felt fully awake, and took Yuan Xiao to the medical department aboard Hei Fu on the rooftop.

In the laboratory.

Everyone's expressions were different.

Book-eating Demon was in high spirits, munching on chips.

Sun Hao was sipping a company-made energy drink, deep in thought.

Ni Ge was observing the Evil Brain.

Gaelen was fiddling with an electron microscope, continuing further cellular observation.

Zhou Yi asked, "Where is Da Vinci?"

Book-eating Demon, washing her hands at a nearby sink, wiped them dry and said, "Minister Da Vinci went to perform an emergency surgery. A child got a fishbone stuck in his throat that had pierced through the esophageal wall. The child's constant struggle and crying made it crucial to have precise localization and endoscopic extraction, making the surgery very difficult. The Minister left instructions for me to wait for you here and report on its behalf."

"Chairman, the Cave People controlled the Evil Brain, so Sun Hao and I continued to repair and read the Consciousness Fragments."

Book-eating Demon said seriously, "Although the Dream Demon's consciousness is only 30% repaired, much information within it has already been extracted by us."

"The Dream Demon discovered a floating Evil Brain in the depths of the Dead Sea. It was an extremely powerful Light Core Level brain, highly enticing to the Dream Demon, as they are drawn to the consciousness of powerful beings."

"After confirming the brain posed no threat, the Dream Demon infiltrated it."

"Upon entry, the Dream Demon was captured by the Usurper Worms and subsequently dismembered and reassembled, transforming it into a usable consciousness tool that matched this brain."

Zhou Yi frowned, "Wait, is this Light Core Body a Dream Demon? Can the Usurper Worm capture Light Core Bodies?"

"The key is this brain."

Book-eating Demon pointed to the black organ in the metal container ahead: "Its strength is of the Light Core Level, and the Usurper Worms naturally possess the ability to capture consciousness, making it a trap for consciousness entities. Once inside, there is no escape."

"It can sever connections with the external Great Holy Spirit, preventing the consciousness from escaping or drawing on external power."

"Usurper Worms have simple physiological structures and, merging with the Evil Brain, are not hindered by thoughts or complex consciousness mechanisms. Simple as they are, their consciousness is fragmented, rendering the Dream Demon's consciousness abilities useless."

"The Usurper Worms captured the Dream Demon and integrated it into the Evil Brain, making it a usable tool. The process was akin to installing the Dream Demon as a program into the brain."

"Due to their limited intelligence, the Usurper Worms couldn't use this program, but the advanced consciousness matched with the brain facilitated its rapid development."

"That's about it."

She paused: "I thoroughly examined the Dream Demon and found it harbors a secret that likely few know about."

"Dreams are not naturally arising but created by the Dream Demons."

"They infiltrate the brains of various beings, especially intelligent species, creating dreams during their mind's rest. This is the truth behind dreams."

Zhou Yi frowned.

Dreams were crafted by the Dream Demons... If this were true, it made sense why dreams couldn't be artificially controlled or predicted.

"Why do they create dreams?"

"This is the interesting part."

Book-eating Demon raised her right index finger.

"Dream creation is for extracting the needed Consciousness Fragments from existing life forms."

"We often find that many elements in our memory fade, and without external recording mediums, recalling them becomes impossible. This is because Dream Demons steal related Consciousness Fragments."

"If there were no dreams, these wouldn't be lost. But people have come to see dreams as a normal biological function, like a knee-jerk reflex, entirely oblivious to any problem with dreaming."

"It's not like that at all—Dream Demons continuously instill the concept that dreams are normal and a result of unconscious brain randomness..."

In Zhou Yi's mind, he pictured the Dream Demon from Sun Hao's dreams, a horned being with a wary look.

Since waking from the Wasteland era, he hadn't dreamed.

It might be related to the White Suanni.

"Dream Demons, through stealing our consciousness, create what they need. Most of this world's secrets remain hidden from them..."

Book-eating Demon narrowed her eyes, her gaze sparkling with cunning: "Next, is the secret known only to Light Core Level Dream Demons."

"The stolen Consciousness Fragments are delivered to a hidden place of the Great Holy Spirit, helping to birth new Dream Demons."

"That is an area near an artificial consciousness field. Besides Dream Demons, no other consciousness entity or Concept Life can enter there or even detect its existence."

"Upon reaching the Light Core Level, Dream Demons can become invisible to any consciousness unable to trace them."

Zhou Yi felt his breath catch.

"Are you saying that they are... the Ancient Rulers?"

Book-eating Demon smiled slightly, her pink lips revealing small, white teeth: "Today is indeed a great day, for we have finally found these beings hiding behind the world's facade!"

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