Ronan pressed for answers, though his feelings were rather complicated.
He had never imagined that one day, he would be streaking and vaulting through the air above the city alongside the Martial Emperor.
In his daze, the Martial Emperor actually answered him. "Let's still use dandelions as an example."
She casually pointed ahead, toward the black ash drifting over from Jiangbei on the night wind.
Ronan understood. It was just an example, after all! He put more force into his feet and drew a little closer to the Martial Emperor.
"In such a universe, even among dandelions, a very small number can undergo genetic mutations and grow into entirely different species. Perhaps one of them might rise as high as Jian Mu... Of course, that would only ever be an isolated case."
The Martial Emperor tilted her face slightly and glanced at Ronan, her eyes dark and unreadable.
"When this mutated dandelion stands tall enough to hold up the sky, yet still lives among the other dandelions, its understanding of the group it once belonged to, of its theoretical kin, will inevitably become confused. You will grow stronger and stronger, but your species—the vast majority of people—will most likely remain just as they are, even after countless millennia and innumerable generations."
Ronan opened his mouth, but the Martial Emperor cut off his words before they could leave his throat.
"I know. You would surely cite the Sky Abyss Empire and say that the Lord of Zhanhe was a counterexample—that he could lead his people onto the path of evolution and forge a grand empire. But in the end, was the difference between Zhan He and his citizens smaller, or greater?"
Ronan obediently shut his mouth. He was not especially familiar with that period of history and did not dare to