C8 The End of the World!(1)

On December 21st, 2022, at midnight, the international metropolis of Janville was far from quiet, with many revelers still immersed in the vibrant nightlife.

Janville, aptly nicknamed the 'City that Never Sleeps,' was aglow with a kaleidoscope of lights at that hour.

Suddenly, Mother Earth shuddered gently as if seized by a fit of epilepsy.

Every waking soul felt the tremor. Many shouted "Earthquake!" as they dashed into the streets, seeking the safety of open spaces.

The city erupted into chaos, like a cat with its tail caught, as the commotion roused nearly everyone from their slumber, prompting them to flee their homes.

But as swiftly as it arrived, the trembling ceased, and within a minute, calm was restored.

People found that, in fact, nothing had happened.

No mountains had crumbled, no buildings had fallen, no roads had caved in, and no animals had cried out in panic.

After a brief moment of hesitation, the falsely alarmed citizens grumbled and returned to their routines as if nothing had changed.

Meanwhile, Lin Chen was diligently at work in Seeds World.

He began by watering the seeds, saplings, and vegetables he had planted earlier in the day, then proceeded to experiment with diluting the source water and river water to varying degrees of energy concentration.

Ultimately, he sorted the resulting mixtures into nine levels based on his intuition, designating them as energy supplements for Extrasensory Perception users from First to Ninth Level. He chose straightforward, albeit unimaginative, names like First Level Energy Liquid, Second Level Energy Liquid, and so on.

Of course, he had only worked out the proportions and prepared a small reserve, refraining from mass production.

He was mindful that the quantity of Origin Water was crucial to the expansion of Seeds World.

With ample energy at his disposal, Lin Chen began to lavishly expend it, delving into the intricacies of his spatial and mental Extrasensory Perception abilities.

His research yielded significant breakthroughs.

For spatial abilities, he developed 'Space Movement,' 'Space Barrier,' and 'Space Blade.'

Most notably, he succeeded in creating 'Space Storage,' crafting a functional storage space with a modest capacity of just over ten cubic meters.

Lin Chen was undeterred. Having unlocked this capability, he knew he could gradually enhance it over time.

In the realm of Mind Power, his focus was on detection and early warning, with the addition of a 'Mind Barrier' to his repertoire.

Lin Chen's primary goal was to harness Telekinesis, yet his current mental strength fell short of what was required to wield such power.

If Lin Chen had been in the main world when the earth quaked, he would have recognized the onset of the apocalypse's overture.

Future studies would reveal that the end of the earth, in strict terms, began with these tremors. However, these shakes were a divine boon bestowed upon humanity. On the 21st, the earth would shudder nine times, a series of tremors that, remarkably, left no mark upon the land. Instead, they unleashed a mysterious energy from the core of the earth—the Universe Energy, as later generations would call it.

This energy was highly active and immensely beneficial to the evolution of life. Notice how the keenly perceptive animals remained calm during the tremors?

That day, many reported a significant boost in their physical condition and a surge in their spirits. Numerous patients found their ailments eased or miraculously healed.

Some quipped that if this was the apocalypse, they wished it would strike with even greater force!

Little did they know, the release of these nine waves of Universe Energy might have been a celestial act of compassion, granting humanity a slight edge against an impending evolutionary virus.

At two in the morning on the 21st, the earth shook once more, yet all was well across the globe.

At four a.m., the phenomenon repeated itself, and would continue to do so every two hours.

Since no catastrophe was felt—only a noticeable improvement in well-being—people started their day with a tinge of apprehension.

By ten a.m., with another tremor, many couldn't be bothered to leave their buildings.

Still, the 'end of the world' theories inevitably surfaced.

Riots of varying degrees broke out, traffic snarled, and highways began to restrict access.

Lin Chen made it to the car rental at seven, claiming the new BMW he had reserved online. His willingness to pay a hefty service fee ensured that someone was there, bright and early, for him to collect the vehicle.

As Lin Chen drove to East China Electronic Machinery College where Lin Ya was, he listened to the news and learned about the widespread highway blockages and traffic restrictions. He felt a wave of relief, thankful he hadn't impulsively headed home the day before, which would have surely left him stranded on the road.

He found a parking spot along the curb in front of a street-side shop. It wasn't long before he spotted a tall, striking young woman approaching from the distance.

Leaning casually against the hood of his car, Lin Chen watched her approach, steadying his nerves and maintaining his composure to avoid startling the lovely figure drawing near.

This vision of beauty had been absent from his life for nine years, haunting his dreams ever since.

Lin Ya was the picture of casual elegance in her well-fitted jeans and a light yellow down jacket, her high-heeled boots clicking on the pavement. A small leather bag swung from her shoulder, and her long, silky hair cascaded freely down her back.

Her features were delicate, her complexion porcelain—a look that was far from seductive, radiating instead a purity that was almost ethereal.

She scanned her surroundings as she walked, eagerly searching for her dear brother.

Upon exiting the school gates, a voice called out from across the street, "Yaya, your brother's right here!"

Lin Ya's gaze followed the sound, landing on Lin Chen, who was beckoning to her.

The sight of her brother's familiar form washed away the worries that had plagued her through the night, and her smile broke through like sunshine piercing through storm clouds.

A bystander, captivated by Lin Ya's angelic grin, was struck dumb, walking straight into a tree in his daze.

Crossing the street, Lin Ya was met with her brother's warm, welcoming smile. His face was alight with a joy too profound for words as he opened his arms to her.

A bittersweet feeling surged through her, and with a tender cry of "Brother!" she flew into his embrace.

In that moment, as Lin Chen wrapped his arms around Lin Ya, his heart swelled with a joy so intense it threatened to burst. He held her close, feeling as though he possessed the entire world. In his heart, he made a silent vow: Little sister, in this life, I will ensure you are treated like the most noble princess. I will not let a single soul cause you harm.

After lingering for a moment, Lin Ya stepped back from Lin Chen's hug and gave him an appraising look. "Bro, you seem a bit different now."

"Different how?"

"Well, you look taller and fairer. And your eyes... they're more intense than before, like you're someone important now... Basically, you're even more handsome than you used to be."

Lin Chen chuckled to himself. His sister really knew him best.

His recent marrow cleansing had added a couple of centimeters to his stature, taking him from 178 to over 180 centimeters. It was natural for someone with Extrasensory Perception to exude an intimidating presence to ordinary people, given the disparity in life force fields. Despite Lin Chen's efforts to contain his aura, Lin Ya could still sense the overwhelming force.

Usually, Lin Ya would inquire about Qiao Yilan's well-being during their meetups, but she refrained this time. After receiving Lin Chen's call the previous night, her concern had led her to call his dorm directly, uncovering the truth about Qiao Yilan's infidelity.

Truth be told, while part of Lin Ya felt sorry for her brother, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilty pleasure. She knew it wasn't right to feel this way, but deep down, she longed for her brother's undivided attention, just like when they were kids.

Basking in her brother's unreserved and intense affection, Lin Ya was on cloud nine. She didn't even bother to ask about the car rental, simply hopping in and joining Lin Chen for a day of fun.

Together, they explored every iconic spot in Janville. Lin Chen indulged Lin Ya as she snapped photos with her phone, and he had considerately provided her with two extra memory cards and four hefty power banks.

His goal was to fill his sister's life with as much happiness as possible before the apocalypse, to ensure she had the most beautiful memories of a time of peace.

Of course, by midnight, he planned to safeguard Lin Ya's phone by placing it in Seeds World, shielding it from the impending magnetic storm.

If being a doting brother, a 'sis-con', was the charge against Lin Chen, he'd gladly plead guilty.

Come noon, Lin Chen and Lin Ya were dining at the most upscale hotel in Janville.