BXBX NOVEL Chapter 142 - 139: Life
He had only told everyone the direction and distance of the well, aside from that, he asked for nothing, wanted nothing, as if Professor Gu and the others never existed.
“I lie on my back in the world, without need for a house, without need for a tent, so free, without worries, my life deserves such moments,” Song Vanning watched the figure disappearing into the horizon, her eyes deep with emotion. “What?” Gu Qingyuan was startled.
“Thomas Bernhard’s Tn the Summer,’ just sharing my thoughts,” she replied.
Gu Qingyuan savored the previous statement and agreed, “I didn’t expect him to refuse so decisively, I had wanted to persuade him.”
But Bi Fang had convinced him with just a sentence.
“If I got on the car, how would that be different from calling for rescue? Just being alive is lucky enough, please let me have a neat ending!”
Gu Qingyuan pulled back from his memories, waving his hand, “Enough of that, let’s focus on the task. We need to get Tiktaalik to the lab first, then proceed with the field investigation.”
“Is that fish really that important? There are many new species discovered every year, right?” Song Vanning followed behind.
“Of course, it’s important, its very existence is a jewel of evolutionary study, opening up new fields of research for both paleontology and evolutionary biology!”
Gu Qingyuan hurriedly urged his team to lift the strange fish onto the vehicle, “Be careful, it’s big, just bear with it for a moment.”
In fact, there was something he didn’t mention to Song Vanning; compared to its importance for evolutionary study, perhaps the discovery was even more significant for molecular biology.
This was the real reason the authorities wanted the actual specimen, despite concerns for animal protection.
The lungfish’s genome contains about 43 billion DNA base pairs, the largest of any animal sequenced to date, and is fourteen times the size of the human genome!
How about Tiktaalik in comparison?
Could it possibly have even more?
With such an immense genome, it might conceal the secrets of life’s evolution…
On the back of the camel, Bi Fang wrapped himself up tightly; with the strange fish gone, he could ride the camel, making his journey much easier.
A single-hump camel can typically carry a load ranging from one hundred sixty to two hundred kilograms; carrying a strange fish isn’t difficult, but it doesn’t allow for additional riders.
Now, the load had been lightened for both parties.
And the arrival of Professor Gu also revealed much information.
“Since Professor Gu and his team came by jeep, judging by the time it took, the town from which they embarked can’t be too far. This means we are close to success in our survival, nearing human settlements. If we’re quick, by tonight, at the latest by tomorrow.”
[Honestly, when Old Fang said how I refused, there was a bit of coolness to it.]
[Master Fang’s way of refusing others is so cool too!]
[No! I refuse!]
[Is this the world of the strong?]
[I am very strong, so bear with it.]
[Tyrand gifts the host a Spaceship*!–This is the best live stream I have ever seen, Bollywood movies are so weak compared to you! ]
[??? Where did the guy upstairs come from?]
[A foreigner came to watch Master Fang’s live stream? Can any big shot translate?]
[This guy said this is the most exciting live stream he’s ever seen, even Hollywood movies are nothing compared to Master Fang!]
[Awesome!]
Bi Fang, having wandered around in his past life and often watched academic research reports, naturally was not lacking in English and understood the message. He promptly expressed his gratitude in English, showing off to his online friends once again.
Old Fang really knows everything, outrageous!
For foreigners to climb over the wall to watch his live stream was something not even Bi Fang himself had expected; he thought at most they would watch his edited videos, but to actually have fans abroad?
The development was accelerating.
But it made sense; he was still wandering around domestically, and it might not be long before he went abroad for exploration. By then, he would need to establish international channels, and his foreign fan base would experience an explosive increase, the profits multiplying by more than just double compared to now!
As time passed, the sun began to sink once again.
It was already after five in the afternoon.
Bi Fang’s headache escalated from simple dizziness; his condition visibly worsened, and due to significant blood loss, his face was as pale as paper.
Camels are best at maintaining a speed of 15 to 25 kilometers per hour, and they can continue without rest for four days and nights, a pace three to five times that of humans.
Throughout the day, Bi Fang had walked over eighty kilometers, detouring around numerous sand dunes. However, in terms of a straight line, he must have covered more than thirty kilometers, a substantial distance indeed.
The Qaidam Basin from east to west spans roughly eight hundred kilometers, with a width of three hundred kilometers from north to south, and the desert area accounts for only one third.
The hope for survival was near at hand.
Bi Fang straightened up and looked into the distance.
In the distance, where the desert once was a blanket of yellow sand, a different color emerged – a shade of brown, clusters of well-ordered shrubbery!
Among the net-like arrangement of desert shrubs lay a black railway track – like a dragon resting within the sands.
“It’s the railway!”
Overjoyed, Bi Fang urged the camel to quicken its pace. After arriving at the railroad track and seeing the intact sleepers and newly marked rails, he finally let go of his worries.
This was not an abandoned railway.
The online friends were completely impressed.
[Awesome, this is truly a find of hope for survival, and it’s not just luck!]
[With the railway appearing, just follow it and you’ll eventually meet people]
[So strong, yyds! ]
[The king of survival! The world’s number one explorer! The king of kings!]
Following the railroad track, Bi Fang slowed down and began to reflect on this adventurous experience.
“We’re here and our survival mission can be basically considered a success. I must say, this experience has been quite magical, but the most delightful part wasn’t the successful survival, it was the discovery of prehistoric creatures.”
“The moment I discovered Tiktaalik, I felt genuinely thrilled; an unparalleled sense of pride overwhelmed me.”
As he spoke, a smile appeared on Bi Fang’s own face.
You have been here, and I have witnessed.
Even if the sky hasn’t retained your trace, you have flown and I have noted.
How lucky I am.
“In the Milky Way Galaxy, there are over a hundred billion stars, and the Milky Way is but one of about a hundred forty billion galaxies. Yet, despite the vastness of the universe, the only known place with life is Earth.”
“And on Earth, from the deepest trench to the highest peak, the known breadth of life’s existence spans only 28 kilometers – what is that compared to the immensity of the universe?”
The sky gradually darkened, the bright moon rose, and the silver light was cast broadly.
The stars sparkled.
Bi Fang walked slower and slower, as if reluctant to leave.
“The history of life tells a story of massive purges, followed by the diversification of a few survivors, rather than the commonly assumed continuous optimization, complexification, and diversification.”
“Earth has already witnessed five major extinction events respectively during the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods, as well as many smaller extinction events.”
“Each of these major extinctions eradicated 70% to 85% of species. During the Permian period, over 95% of creatures left the stage, never to return.”
“It’s important to realize the incredibly small chance for a species to fossilize, be preserved, and eventually be discovered and recorded by humans.”
“Humans have only one thing in common with other living beings: over nearly three and a half billion years, at every critical moment, our ancestors managed to squeeze through every closing door – never once failing at the numerous pivotal moments that could have erased us from history.”
“This is, the miracle of life!”
Bi Fang stopped the camel, gazing up at the starry sky.
In the distance.
Roads intersected, bright with lights.