Chapter 17: A New Era
Chapter 17: A New Era
Perhaps because the information had been kept super secret before,
this announcement about the upcoming televised speech felt quite sudden to almost everyone.
Had any big things happened recently?
Was today a special day?
In Huaxia Nation, compared to just posting an update through media like Huaxin News Agency or the National News Broadcast,
this form of direct televised speech outside the normal routine was clearly much more serious and important.
So, what could be so earth-shattering that needed such high-level attention?
Could it be that we’ve started a war with the Moon Nation?
This was pretty much everyone’s first thought
when they suddenly saw this news topic jump to the top of social media feeds across the country.
Actually, it wasn’t just happening in Huaxia Nation.
Being one of the three most important members of the ‘Human Coalition’ (HCC),
things in Huaxia Nation often affected the fate of the entire human race within the HCC.
In the past, when Huaxia took such a serious stance, big events had definitely unfolded.
This time, outside Huaxia, everyone naturally wanted to know what big event was about to happen.
Within just a few minutes, maybe ten or fifteen,
across the entire world, online in every country,
this news climbed straight to number one on all their social platform charts.
Some people were curious.
Some were worried; others felt excited and buzzed with energy.
Some argued intensely with each other, making all sorts of wild guesses.
Meanwhile,
across Huaxia Nation,
staff members at all levels and units in every region got the notice, one after another.
They paused their non-essential tasks, gathered inside meeting rooms, and got ready to watch this live broadcast.
Earlier, hospital heads all over Huaxia Nation who had received those ‘paper boxes’—secret supplies—including those in every big and small hospital in Lingchuan City,
also got messages at the same time from their higher-ups in the health department. They were told to make sure to tune in to this live broadcast promptly.
Such a massive fuss and such huge steps only made almost everyone feel even more strongly just how important this televised address must be.
Of course, thinking back on all the events from the past few weeks,
a few people already had some guesses at this moment, they just didn’t dare be sure.
But the authorities didn’t give anyone time to keep guessing or putting things together.
Right after the announcement went out through media like Huaxin News Agency and the National News Broadcast…
That same day, at exactly 1:00 PM, the live broadcast began.
This timing
was picked on purpose.
Most working people had just finished lunch by then and had a small break available.
That meant the broadcast could reach the biggest audience possible.
This live broadcast wasn’t limited to regular TV either.
Online,
the National News Broadcast, Huaxin News Agency, and other major media outlets mirrored the feed simultaneously.
…
And so, with countless eyes watching,
this televised event flickered on,
appearing on screens belonging to an already waiting sea of people.
In the broadcast,
one long table faced the camera. More than one person sat behind it.
At the center was the Senior Leader, a face familiar to practically everyone.
On either side of him sat one elder, and one young man.
The elder was a stranger to most, though some recognized him quickly: it was Academician Shen Yaoguo, the head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The young man? For almost everyone, he was even more unfamiliar.
Only a few academics found his face somewhat familiar at first glance. After a moment, they placed him: that young professor from Lingchuan University –
Professor Qin Yu from the Field of Life Sciences. He laid the foundation for and launched this super popular research field everyone’s into now.
Of course, the National News Broadcast folks helping run the broadcast also had everyone’s names and titles shown at the bottom of the screen starting from minute one.
By Academician Shen’s name, it said ‘Head of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.’
For Qin Yu’s title,
right after his name, Qin Yu, popped up: ‘Head of Project 2611, Head of an Institute.’
Seeing titles like these for the two men beside the Senior Leader,
plenty watching the broadcast already figured out its focus.
War with the Moon Nation? Very unlikely.
Looked more like a huge breakthrough in science and tech?
But what huge breakthrough needed both this Senior Leader and such a massively serious nationwide televised announcement?
Had they achieved Controlled Nuclear Fusion?
While some people scratched their heads, others immediately started searching Qin Yu’s name online while still watching.
Of the three on-screen, Qin Yu’s presence was definitely the most unexpected.
Thinking that tiny bit ahead told you this whole thing probably centered directly around this Professor Qin.
“Ladies and gentlemen, friends, comrades… good afternoon.”
The broadcast didn’t pause for all the thoughts buzzing inside viewers’ heads.
The Senior Leader, who Qin Yu had met a few times now, spoke first.
“We have always believed that science and technology are the primary force driving progress. Many times throughout history, huge shifts have reshaped the world we live in, the societies we humans have built—even civilization itself—all thanks to scientific leaps forward.”
“This televised address serves to announce one such major technological breakthrough.”
“We firmly believe this breakthrough will profoundly alter our present civilized society. After careful consideration, we have decided to announce the birth of this scientific achievement.”
After this first part, the Senior Leader paused briefly, then looked toward Qin Yu.
As arranged earlier,
matters concerning Compound 2611 would be shared by Qin Yu himself – the creator of Compound 2611 – informing everyone of its existence.
“Professor Qin Yu, as the creator of this technological achievement, will be the one to announce this news to us.”
Facing the camera, Qin Yu paused unusually.
He knew that with these words, the future of human civilization was about to undergo a massive turning point.
Even years from now, it would likely continue to impact the fate of human civilization.
“Fellow countrymen, friends, hello. I am Qin Yu, working in the study of lifespan mechanisms within the field of life sciences.”
Before the camera, Qin Yu began speaking again.
By now, many people searching for Qin Yu’s information online had already found some of his materials.
They knew his research field and were starting to form bold conjectures.
But at this moment, since Qin Yu was about to announce it clearly, there seemed little need for further speculation.
Wherever televisions and devices were broadcasting this live feed, a peculiar silence had fallen.
People waited for Professor Qin Yu’s next words, instinctively holding their breath.
What kind of technological breakthrough could possibly merit the Senior Leader’s description of causing a massive change for all of human civilization?
“Recently, we have achieved a critical breakthrough in the research of lifespan mechanisms. This breakthrough isn’t limited to theory alone; it extends to practical application.”
“Based on lifespan mechanism theory, we synthesized a special compound, temporarily naming it Compound 2611.”
“Compound 2611 is a universal substance designed to extend human lifespan.”
“Under normal circumstances, when administered at an appropriate age range, it can elevate the human life expectancy to between 150 and 180 years. Even when administered outside this optimal range, it can still provide significant life-extending effects.”
Qin Yu spoke as he picked up a sealed 2611 Longevity Injection from beside him and held it before the camera.
“This is one unit of the 2611 Longevity Injection. Intramuscular injection delivers the life-extending effects I just described.”
“At present, the 2611 Longevity Injection has completed all necessary pre-deployment experiments and tests. Its stability and universality meet all requirements, making it ready for widespread use.”
Qin Yu placed the injection unit he was holding onto the table and stopped talking.
For Qin Yu, his part of this live broadcast was done. The next steps weren’t his responsibility.
He only needed to sit there as a sort of ‘mascot’ and wait for the broadcast to conclude.
After Qin Yu’s voice faded away…
The head technician at the central broadcasting station, assisting with the live feed behind the cameras,
glanced at the longevity injection Qin Yu had casually placed on the long table. Their eyes showed a distinct shift compared to before.
Luckily, the cameras were fixed on tripods and didn’t require holding, otherwise the camera operator would likely be trembling now.
Beside him, Academician Shen Yaoguo, an even more literal ‘mascot’ brought in solely to symbolize the nature of this broadcast,
also looked down at the 2611 Longevity Injection. Unavoidably, his eyes held a trace of deep emotion,
though he didn’t say anything at this moment.
This was when the Senior Leader should resume speaking, but the Senior Leader didn’t rush to speak immediately.
Instead, after Qin Yu finished announcing the major breakthrough in lifespan technology, a pause was left.
Seemingly intentional, allowing the viewers some time to digest this news.
And for the countless viewers right now…
they indeed needed that time to absorb the information.
Qin Yu’s previous words weren’t long, but the information packed within was immense.
It was like setting off a bomb and throwing it directly into people’s minds,
stunning countless people, leaving their brains momentarily blank.
Most people went through a psychological process similar to Professor Chen Anmin and others when they first learned about the creation of Compound 2611 and its astonishing effects.
For the majority, the first reaction wasn’t excitement or joy.
It was simply pure shock.
Their brains seemed to freeze, unable to process or react properly for a long time.
It was far too sudden.
Even though there had been a series of recent news reports hinting at something big, fueling scattered wild guesses online…
when people discussed it, it was more in gossip and jest; no one truly believed it could be real.
Artificially extending lifespan? By decades? Just hearing that, it didn’t sound like technology that belonged in this era.
Even when fantasizing about it, people placed such technology decades into the future.
How could it suddenly become reality?
Life extension – a dream etched into the very genes of countless humans.
Throughout history, across all lands, how many people had gone mad, driven insane trying to attain it, trying to make that dream real.
And now… it just was? Like this?
Some people opened their mouths, trying to speak, but no sound came out.
Others felt a cold shudder rush instantly from the base of their spine to their scalp, their entire scalp prickling with numbness.
Slowly…
some of the viewers watching the live broadcast began to regain their wits.
Their brains, recovering from the shock of this sudden bombshell, finally comprehended what their ears had just heard.
Countless heads turned, looking towards others around them,
seeking confirmation— did I really hear that correctly?
Discovering that everyone around them shared the same stunned reaction, they could only then confirm that their hearing hadn’t malfunctioned.
Yet, despite this confirmation, a powerful sense of unreality still gripped countless people at this moment.
Perhaps it took someone finally letting out a stunned curse, something like ‘holy crap’,
for the floodgates to burst open, the vast wave of pent-up emotion to spill out.
The live televised address couldn’t possibly accommodate millions voicing their shock and excitement simultaneously.
However, on the internet, across various social media platforms…
plenty of spaces existed for people to discuss freely.
Almost instantly, some social media platforms with weaker servers crashed under the surge.
Admittedly, some platforms, bigger and more robust, managed to withstand the initial onslaught.
Thus, you could see…
terms related to this broadcast’s content surged like a tsunami, obliterating most of the trending lists on surviving platforms, all while the live broadcast hadn’t even ended yet.
Naturally, sitting at the top of the trending topics was:
“2611 Longevity Injection”
Following closely below were:
“180-year lifespan”
“Professor Qin Yu”
“Professor Qin Yu, Father of Human Life Extension Technology”
and even the term “New Humans”.
Opening any of these trending topics revealed the most prevalent type of post:
“What the ???”
Posts full of question marks were instantly refreshed, flooding under the related hashtags by the hundreds.
It perfectly captured the collective reaction to hearing about the 2611 Longevity Injection.
Then came the torrent of follow-up posts and replies:
“Wait what? I just took a nap—someone tell me, what year is it??”
“I think my phone and the office clock broke. Seriously? It says it’s 2027. Life extension tech exists and you’re telling me it’s only 2027??”
“Okay, stop freaking out. It is 2027. That part’s correct… But—holy crap, holy CRAP!! Do you even understand how I feel right now???”
“Yes, yes we absolutely do understand. We feel the same… Holy crap… holy CRAP!! I’ve already done ten cartwheels across my living room!!!”
“180 years?! Did I freaking hear that right?! Is that even a human lifespan?! How can tech so outrageously awesome exist? And Professor Qin Yu, who created this thing—is he even human? I mean… My mind is BLOWN.”
“As a PhD candidate in the life sciences, I’m even more floored. I was just hoping to piggyback off Professor Qin Yu’s previous papers for my own thesis… Everyone in the field knows his research in this area was ahead, but THIS ahead?! Holy $&@!?”
“Wow?! Wow! Wow WOW WOW!!!”
Online, many people seemed robbed of coherent speech, babbling in their overwhelmed excitement.
Of course…
even while venting this swirling flood of emotion,
people hadn’t forgotten to keep watching the rest of the live broadcast.
After all, what was being discussed here would undoubtedly affect everyone deeply, shaping the fates of countless individuals.
And the Senior Leader, after a suitable pause…
allowing viewers time to digest,
began speaking again.
“Friends, the content shared earlier by Professor Qin Yu constitutes the major technological breakthrough this broadcast aims to announce.”
“This is a monumental technological achievement. All of us stand to benefit from this great technology.”
“At present, we have produced a sufficient quantity of the 2611 Longevity Injection.”
“Considering the profound nature of the 2611 Longevity Injection’s effect, the Huaxia Nation will unconditionally provide it free of charge to every Huaxian citizen within the nation.”