Gene Research Is Prohibited

Shen Junyi sighed as he opened his computer to search for information. "It has nothing to do with which hospital you go to. Our Beichen Empire has always strictly prohibited genetic research. Once discovered, it is a serious crime. Even the National Academy of Sciences has no branch dedicated to genetic research. Tell me, how are we supposed to treat it?"

"There are clearly so many Gene Evolvers. Why is genetic research strictly forbidden?" Xia Chujian widened her eyes, completely unable to understand.

Shen Junyi smiled faintly. "Chujian, do you skip school a lot?"

Xia Chujian: "..."

What did that have to do with her question?

Shen Junyi continued, "Because if you had attended school properly, you should have learned that our Beichen Empire believes in the natural evolution of genes and does not permit interference by any external force. Once genes are interfered with, they can leave harmful consequences for future generations, just like those Humanoid Lowly People and Slaves."

"That is why, from the founding of the Beichen Empire, laws have strictly prohibited genetic research. Any violation is severely punished."

"Those Gene Evolvers all achieved naturally occurring beneficial genetic mutations. They were not altered through chemical interference. This was all taught in class."

Xia Chujian's lips twitched. Still unwilling to accept it, she asked, "But my aunt was clearly fine before. Then she suddenly fainted and never woke up again. Is it really because of her genes?"

"Yes. I still don't know what caused her to faint, but your aunt's body had actually been having problems for a long time. She endured it all these years without seeking treatment. The fainting spell three years ago was only a trigger, not the direct cause. It was like a pillar that looked sound on the outside but was riddled with holes within. One gust of wind, and it collapsed."

Xia Chujian took a deep breath, her face filled with disappointment and sorrow.

She murmured, "Really... really... there's no way?"

She had just gotten money. She had thought her aunt could be saved! How could this be? How could this be? Xia Chujian, who had spent three years determined to save her aunt and had never shed a single tear, gradually felt her eyes redden.

The Other Shore Flower-like Red Birthmark at the corner of her eye also grew increasingly, painfully red.

Unable to bear looking any longer, Shen Junyi withdrew his gaze and searched the hospital's internal medical network for a while. Then he suddenly made a sound of surprise.

Xia Chujian hurriedly looked up at him, hope filling her eyes. "Doctor Shen, did you find a way?!"

Shen Junyi said, "I just saw news on the internal network. Professor Tantai Sinian was recently named an Academician and will soon be transferred to the Imperial Capital Royal Academy of Sciences. Before leaving, he's giving one final academic report for the entire Mulan City medical system, on Gene Evolution."

As he spoke, he looked at Xia Chujian. "Perhaps he has another way to treat your aunt's illness."

"Tantai Sinian? Is he Royal Clan?"

Shen Junyi nodded. "He counts as Imperial Clan, but a very distant branch. He himself isn't even Nobility, only a Citizen."

Xia Chujian looked at him in confusion.

She only knew that "Tantai" was the surname of the Royal Clan. She did not understand the relationship between the Imperial Clan, Nobility, and Citizens.

Shen Junyi smiled and patiently explained, "The Royal Clan bears the surname Tantai, but not everyone named Tantai is Royal Clan. Members of the Imperial Clan who do not ascend the throne are reduced to Nobility after a New Emperor Ascends the Throne."

"After three generations, Nobility becomes Citizens. In our Beichen Empire, only the Four Great Noble Families are Hereditary and Unchanging. Other noble families cannot retain their status beyond three generations, and even the Imperial Clan is no exception."

"Oh..." Xia Chujian rolled her eyes unhappily. "But no matter how far they're demoted, they still become Citizens. They'll never be reduced to Commoners, right?"

Shen Junyi smiled. "Of course. In the Beichen Empire, the highest rank is Royal Clan, followed by Nobility, then Citizens. Only after that come Commoners, Untouchables, and Slaves."

"No matter how badly off those members of the Imperial Clan are, they still share an ancestor with the Emperor. How could they ever be reduced to Commoners? Still, making them ordinary Citizens in the end is better than having them remain Royal Clan or Nobility generation after generation, isn't it?"

Xia Chujian did not understand or care about politics. She nodded as if she understood.

Shen Junyi said no more on the subject and continued, "This Professor Tantai Sinian is the Chief Scientist at Li's Pharmaceuticals. With that status, he can conduct some research that skirts the edge of genetics."

At the mention of Li's Pharmaceuticals, hesitation flashed through Xia Chujian's eyes.

Still, she nodded and asked, "Can I attend his lecture? You said it's an internal lecture for the medical system. Can outsiders go?"

"No problem. It's a remote conference at one this afternoon. Come to my office. I have the authority to let you sit in."

Xia Chujian agreed.

There was still some time before one in the afternoon, so she first returned to her aunt's ward. Together with the caregiver, she bathed the still-unconscious Xia Yuanfang, then gave her a massage.

By the time she finished all that, it was already noon.

Her stomach started growling again, but she held back from eating. Even Low-Level Nutrient Solution, which cost only a tenth of a credit per tube, had to be rationed.

After going to her aunt's ward for a sip of water and tidying herself up a little, she arrived at Shen Junyi's office around twelve fifty.

At exactly one in the afternoon, the conference began on time.

Inside the Holographic Three-Dimensional Projection Council Chamber, Tantai Sinian sat alone at the podium.

He was a well-maintained man. Though he was already in his sixties, he looked only in his forties.

For a Scientist of the Beichen Empire, this was precisely the age when one was at one's peak and producing results.

At the podium, he displayed data, pictures, and video through 3D Holographic Projection, looking especially profound and inscrutable.

Tantai Sinian smiled with scholarly grace and began his speech. "We acknowledge that human genes are the most perfect and stable. They must not be interfered with or thrown into disorder."

"A million years ago, humanity did not know how to cherish its own genes. It tried to act as the hand of creation, carrying out all manner of gene editing and gene mixing. In the end, it brought disaster upon humanity and led to the emergence of Humanoids."

"A million years later, our Beichen Empire still has hundreds of millions of Humanoids, who remain trapped in a chaotic alternation between human form and Beast Form, their genes extremely unstable. This is a lesson from the past."

As he spoke, several extremely lifelike holographic Animated GIFs appeared before everyone.

Some creatures had human upper bodies but horse lower bodies. Others had pig heads, yet human bodies below the neck.

Still others were Animated GIFs switching between animal and human forms.

These were the "Humanoids" Tantai Sinian spoke of.

Xia Chujian was no stranger to these Humanoids, because Mulan City's South District was specifically where Untouchables among the Humanoids lived.

She only glanced at those holographic Animated GIFs before looking away and continuing to listen intently to the lecture.

Tantai Sinian continued in a measured tone. "...Therefore, after the end of the chaotic era, the Empire's first Emperor ordered a ban on research into human genes. This was to safeguard the stability of human genes and to comply with scientific ethics, so that human genes would no longer be contaminated by genes from other species."

"However, human genes are not unchanging. They have always been evolving and developing. When they undergo natural mutations, we gain our own Gene Evolvers."

"Three years ago, a rare organism appeared in Mulan City. It was called a 'Remnant.' This thing could actually contaminate human genes at an astonishing speed!"

"Its emergence shows that we must accelerate the natural evolution of human genes. Otherwise, we will be conquered by other species and reduced to Untouchables or Slaves like the Humanoids."

"Through many years of research, I discovered that certain natural medicines can promote the natural evolution of genes without interfering with natural genes. This result was published in the September issue of this year's Imperial Journal of Natural Sciences."

Xia Chujian only half understood Tantai Sinian's lecture.

But Shen Junyi kept nodding, looking as though he had benefited greatly.

When Tantai Sinian finished his speech and began answering questions, Shen Junyi finally seized the opportunity to ask, "Academician Tantai, can a patient with a Genetic Disease possibly become a Gene Evolver?"

"After becoming a Gene Evolver, would her Genetic Disease recover?"

Tantai Sinian looked toward Shen Junyi with considerable interest.

Because it was a remote online conference, under Shen Junyi's settings, he could only see Shen Junyi. He had no idea Shen Junyi had brought someone else to sit in on the lecture.

In his eyes, he was speaking only with Shen Junyi.

Tantai Sinian smiled at Shen Junyi and said approvingly, "That is a very good question. To be honest, I am currently conducting research in this area."

"In theory, a patient with a Genetic Disease can also experience genetic mutation. Of course, the probability may be so low as to be negligible. But theoretically, it is possible."

"When a normal person undergoes genetic mutation, it can only be a beneficial mutation, turning that person into a Gene Evolver."

"But if someone whose genes are already flawed undergoes mutation, there are two possible outcomes."

"One is a beneficial mutation. That means their genes have broken through their natural shackles and reached a new level. Like those Gene Evolvers, they would become representatives of a new humanity. Their Genetic Disease would naturally be cured as well."

"But it is also possible for it to be a harmful mutation, causing their genes to deteriorate further. Forget curing the disease—the entire Gene Chain would soon collapse, and their life would quickly come to an end."

"According to our observations, patients with Genetic Diseases have never experienced genetic mutation. Not even harmful mutations have appeared. Their genes are sick with remarkable stability."

A burst of uproarious laughter came through the remote conference system.

Xia Chujian clenched her fists.

Other people's pain was nothing more than a joke to some.

While relatives may yet grieve, others have already begun to sing.

Human joys and sorrows had never truly been shared.

Tantai Sinian did not laugh. He said solemnly, "So although the situation you mentioned is theoretically possible, it has never occurred in reality."

"However..." Tantai Sinian suddenly made a sharp turn.

New hope inexplicably rose in Xia Chujian's heart, which had fallen into despair.

Tantai Sinian continued, "I discovered a plant called Kongsang, which can promote natural beneficial genetic mutation. Unfortunately, Kongsang is simply too rare. In a million years, our nation's history has recorded only one instance of its discovery."

"It is precisely because it is so rare that, under Imperial law, Kongsang is not considered a chemical medicine. Beneficial genetic mutations achieved through Kongsang do not violate Imperial law."

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