Cataclysmic Era: I can unlock the tech tree

Mao Zhengzhi was not at all surprised by Lü Yongchang's words.

He even breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Is this familiar scene finally about to unfold?!

"So, Professor, are you ready to...?"

Mao Zhengzhi asked with some curiosity.

Lu Yongchang glanced at Mao Zhengzhi with a half-smile: "Have you forgotten the starships of the Lator civilization that we captured back then?"

"I need to go and research magnetic field shield technology."

Mao Zhengzhi's expression immediately turned serious: "Excuse me."

"Professor, please continue with your work. You don't need to worry about the biology lab."

Lü Yongchang was amused by Mao Zhengzhi's reaction.

He smiled and shook his head, saying as he walked towards the lab door, "Remember to let me know before the human gene modification project is launched."

"Be very careful, it is just as important to human civilization as magnetic field shield technology."

Watching Lü Yongchang's retreating figure, Mao Zhengzhi nodded solemnly.

Then, he turned to look at the researchers who were "watching the show" on the side.

"What are you standing there for?"

"Aren't you going to get ready for the next experiment?"

"Hey you, go check if there's anything wrong with the mice's genes."

"..."

……

"Professor, the appointed time has arrived."

Zero's virtual avatar suddenly appeared beside Lü Yongchang and whispered a reminder.

"Agreement? What agreement?" Lu Yongchang frowned and asked subconsciously.

"The agreed-upon communication time with the human civilization on Proxima Centauri."

Zero quickly activated a holographic projection: "It is now October 13th, Earth calendar 2381."

"It has been exactly 80 years since the last communication."

"As agreed, the first communication will be initiated by the People's Federation."

"Of course, as agreed, you can postpone the communication for 20 years as appropriate," Zero thoughtfully reminded him.

Looking at the recorded items in the holographic projection, Lü Yongchang's eyes revealed a look of sudden realization.

I remembered.

After defeating the Lator civilization, he also conducted a "technology exchange" with the Proxima Centauri civilization.

"How is the social welfare system developing on Proxima Centauri?"

Lu Yongchang asked Zero with great interest, "I remember you provided them with computing power support back then?"

Zero's virtual avatar shook its head: "Professor, according to the orders at the time, I did not have the authority to observe the internal development of the Proxima Centauri human civilization."

"In the process of promoting the social welfare system, I only provided computing power support."

"Should we lift the restrictions and observe human civilizations on neighboring planets?"

Lü Yongchang quickly waved his hand: "Never mind, never mind."

"I'll ask myself later."

Although it allows Zero to spy on the development of human civilization on Proxima Centauri.

However, he had already made a promise at the time, and as the chief scientist of the Human Union, he wouldn't do something so dubious and morally reprehensible.

"However," Zero added again, "I haven't received any computational requests from the Proxima Centauri civilization for forty years."

Upon hearing this, Lü Yongchang's eyebrows shot up sharply.

Forty years ago.

That is 2341 years.

At that time, the human fleet should still be en route.

As for why Zero didn't give a warning, that's quite normal.

On the one hand, compared with the human fleet, the information priority of the human civilization on Proxima Centauri is not high, and it can even be said that it is at the bottom.

On the other hand, the disappearance of a computational request in the absence of clear information about seeking help is not necessarily a bad thing.

Is it possible that the humans of Proxima Centauri accomplished this social transformation?

"Okay, I understand." Lü Yongchang quickened his pace and walked towards his office.

A bad feeling rose in his heart.

……

"Zero, send a communication request to the human civilization on Proxima Centauri."

Lu Yongchang sat behind his desk and said in a deep voice.

Above the desk, a holographic projection quickly unfolded.

Sending a communication request...

A few minutes later.

Communication request failed.

"Professor, there is no response." Zero's voice came from the speaker next to him.

Lu Yongchang's expression darkened even further.

Does this mean that Ren Feng and his team failed?

Even if the restructuring fails, surely they shouldn't stop answering communications?

"Continue trying to connect."

Lu Yongchang slowly closed his eyes, leaned back in his chair, and waited quietly.

That line of faint text kept appearing in my mind.

Communication request failed.

He sighed softly.

Eighty years, a distance of more than ten light-years...

There are too many variables involved.

No one knows what changes have occurred to the other party in the past eighty years!

This, perhaps, is the ruthlessness of the universe.

"Ding-dong."

"Communication connection successful."

Lu Yongchang suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with excitement, and stared intently at the holographic image in front of him.

The scene that came into view left him stunned.

The background hasn't changed, and neither have the people.

The background of the laboratory is still a pure white minimalist style, and the two people, Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing, are still there.

What changed was the aura of the two individuals.

Eighty years ago, during their last communication, Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing were full of youthful vigor.

Eighty years later, the two men had grown up with white hair and exuded a gloomy aura.

Lü Yongchang opened his mouth, but no words came out.

"Professor Lü, it's nice to see you again."

Ren Feng gave a wry smile and was the first to greet them.

"You, you all..." Lü Yongchang's pupils trembled slightly as he asked in a heavy voice, "What happened?"

Why have you changed so much?

"Is there a problem with the lifespan extension technology?"

The first thing that came to Lü Yongchang's mind was the improved longevity enzyme technology provided by Zhang Zhengqing.

Zhang Zhengqing quickly shook his head: "Professor, there is no problem with the longevity enzyme technology."

"So you..." Lü Yongchang already had a guess in his mind, "The restructuring failed?"

Ren Feng took a deep breath, closed his eyes in pain, and nodded.

"right."

"We failed."

"Currently, the human population of Proxima Centauri is only 100 million."

Lu Yongchang's pupils suddenly contracted. He slammed his hands on the desk in front of him, straightened up, and asked in horror, "How could this happen?!"

"Even if the reform failed, it shouldn't have come to this, right?"

"What exactly happened in these eighty years?!"

One million people!

Lu Yongchang never imagined that the human civilization on Proxima Centauri would have only a mere one million people left!

What does this mean?

This means that this civilization has completely lost its potential for development, and may even be on the verge of extinction!

Faced with Lü Yongchang's question, Ren Feng and Zhang Zhengqing both lowered their heads.

silence.

A long silence.

Lu Yongchang did not urge them, but simply sat in his chair and waited quietly for their reply.