The Evolution of Civilization, Part Two

According to incomplete statistics, there has been a sudden increase in inventors among the Rat-folk. They are trying to fly, either openly or secretly, using various methods.

Although people say they don't believe in "God," their actions tell a different story.

Unfortunately, the Rat-folk's tools were still quite primitive. Those who built large slingshots to launch themselves into the air were considered to have relatively advanced ideas. Most Rat-folk chose to climb to the top of the tallest tree in their field of vision and then perform a "leap of faith."

In a short time, the Rat-folk suffered heavy casualties.

Rowan, who had been watching closely, was both amused and exasperated by how things had unfolded. Fortunately, the Rat-folk were now numerous, so some losses wouldn't be a major problem.

This action, however, ignited a certain enthusiasm among the Rat-folk, and suddenly, all sorts of inventions and creations sprang up like mushrooms after rain. Although most of them were just for laughs, there were always a few that were quite practical.

The wheel emerged in this context. The invention of the wheel quickly led to the development of vehicles, which in turn increased the transportation efficiency of the Rat-folk.

Besides the Rat-folk, other animals also survived the disaster. One of them was a creature that resembled both a dinosaur and a bird. Its forelimbs had completely transformed into wings, but they were short and stout and unable to fly. Its hind limbs were thick and powerful, making it very good at running.

Some Rat-folk discovered them and tamed them, using them as draft animals. Inspired by this, many other creatures suffered. After much trial and error, the Rat-folk found some creatures that could be domesticated and raised to serve as food or labor.

With their productivity greatly enhanced, the population of the Fat-Tail Rat exploded again. However, as the resources allocated to each person dwindled, war broke out once more.

Some say that war is a catalyst for technological development. If both sides in a conflict possess nuclear weapons capable of destroying cities and territories, this statement is utter nonsense. However, in primitive societies, this statement held some truth.

During the war, rulers invested a great deal of manpower and resources in the research of weapons. Many military equipment began to emerge, with chariots and crossbows appearing one after another.

Metal weapons even appeared later in the war.

With civilization having evolved to this point, Rowan's Blue Star on Earth was applicable here was still unknown.

However, although he could no longer help the Rat-folk with scientific knowledge, he could still provide some guidance in other areas.

Thus, the rulers of the Rat-folk learned about terms such as "family planning" and "eugenics" and understood their meanings.

Over the next decade or so, the Rat-folk waged several more wars. After the wars, the former thousands of tribes were consolidated into five factions.

Rowan had already reached the seabed at a depth of 8,000 meters, where the atmospheric pressure was incredibly high; a surface the size of a fingernail had to bear almost a ton of weight. He had learned from the skills of many creatures along the way to get here.

First, he molted several times, replacing his outer shell with a cartilaginous structure. This cartilaginous structure is more porous and more resistant to pressure than hard bone. However, its defensive capabilities are very poor. Rowan is trying to combine the advantages of both to create a new type of armor.

Furthermore, the pressure here can even break down protein structures at the cellular level. As a result, a high concentration of oxidizing substances is produced in his body, which can make the body structure more stable.

Besides these, he also acquired many other interesting talents. For example, in the deep sea, sunlight cannot reach, so many creatures there have their own lights. Therefore, they have a unique understanding of the application of bioelectricity.

Rowan silently digested these gains. Resources were scarce in the deep sea, so he prioritized modifying the Creep. The Creep itself had strong adaptability, and with the addition of some genes from deep-sea creatures, they took root there and began to provide Rowan with a continuous source of energy.

Outside, the Rat-folk civilization was evolving rapidly. Some of their rulers recognized the power of technology and, under covert guidance, began to promote education and cultivate talent.

However, due to the lifespan of the Rat-folk, their rulers change very frequently. Some of them are unambitious and try to hinder this progress, but they always inexplicably encounter various accidents.

The wise men of the Rat-folk also face the same lifespan problem. Advanced scientific knowledge requires time to learn and accumulate, and the Rat-folk's short lifespan of just over ten years is simply not enough to complete such accumulation.

Thus, the Rat-folk's technology stagnated after reaching a certain level.

Rowan, who was observing from the shadows, also noticed the problem. Soon, a Swarm Rat-folk carrying longevity genes were released.

Thanks to the Rat-folk's superhuman productivity, this gene quickly became widespread. The Rat-folk's lifespan also increased year after year, and their technological progress once again took a leap forward.

However, with their increased lifespan, the Rat-folk faced a surge in population pressure, and before long, another war broke out over resource issues.

The five major powers eventually became two major powers: the Kerrigan Kingdom and the Merican Kingdom.

The royal family of the Kerrigan Kingdom are a mutated white-furred rat. Their all-white fur makes them exceptionally beautiful and rare, giving them a natural appeal among the predominantly multicolored, mixed-colored Fat-Tail Rat.

Rowan discovered their ancestors long ago and, in some kind of commemoration, named them Kerrigan. The white-haired rats, believing they had received a divine gift, were very excited and, relying on the appeal of their unique fur color, formed a faction.

Their success today is inseparable from Rowan's behind-the-scenes help.

The Merican Kingdom, on the other hand, has reached its current position entirely through its own efforts. Their royal family is made of pure gray fur, and they have produced several insightful and capable rulers who have enhanced and accumulated their strength, leading to their current powerful and prosperous state.

The two kingdoms, one in the north and one in the south, divided up the entire continent. Evenly matched, they ultimately chose to cease hostilities.

With the reduction from five to two, resources were integrated once again, and technology ushered in another leap forward.

However, the population problem continued to plague the two kingdoms. Not long after the war, the populations on both sides began to surge again, and the life that had just become more comfortable became tense again.

Rowan, who was secretly watching, was extremely worried. A new Swarm- like Fat-Tail Rat was quietly released into multiple locations. Their reproductive abilities had been modified, allowing them to reproduce at most once a year, producing 1-3 offspring at a time. Moreover, their lifespans had been extended again, increasing the maximum lifespan of the Rat-folk to 60 years, four to five times longer than initially.

More than thirty years have passed in a flash, and the two kingdoms have fought two more wars for various reasons. Most of the Rat-folk who did not have new reproductive genes have died out, and the rest have lost their fertility due to age.

The number of newborns among the Rat-folk has been declining year after year, but after many years of development, it has finally stabilized at a suitable level.

Thank you for the 100 Qidian coins from Abyss Order.

The chapter title was misspelled and I can't fix it yet, sweating bullets.