In the depths of the universe, within the Eagle Nebula, the Pillars of Creation stood like giant spectral fingers, touching the stellar cradle. Trillions of young stars, born and nurtured, emitted dazzling light, illuminating the endless void.
At the same time, on Earth, 7000 light-years from the Pillars of Creation, within the top-tier ZS University, Mu Yun, at just 22 years old, the world's youngest engineering academician, was invited by the school to give a two-day lecture.
His lecture topic was singular: "Cosmic Life Engineering".
On March 12, 2230 A.D., the classroom, as large as ten football fields, was packed to capacity. This was the final moment of Mu Yun's two-day lecture. In the center, a huge holographic 3D image projected the magnificent "figure" of the Pillars of Creation.
Mu Yun, dressed in a black casual suit, stood in the center of the "field." Behind him, the holographic image of the Pillars of Creation slowly rotated, casting colorful reflections upon his figure.
He was well-proportioned, with a handsome face. His eyes slowly swept over the crowd. If anyone met his gaze, they might even discern faint, ethereal star phantoms within his eyes.
This was a person both romantic and rational.
He looked at the holographic image of the Pillars of Creation behind him, then cast his gaze into the distance.
"Finally," Mu Yun's voice, gentle and clear, resonated through the classroom. "I have a non-academic question for everyone."
He smiled slightly, his gaze carrying a hint of inquiry.
"If stars are the embryos of life, then... do they have heartbeats? What would they sound like?"
Mu Yun's sudden question silenced the entire audience. Everyone found it difficult to answer for a moment.
After a while, a girl standing on the outer circle timidly raised her hand and said, "Is it like a symphony? Deep, passionate, grand, yet lonely."
"Hahaha..." The girl's words amused everyone.
Mu Yun's lips also curved into a smile.
"Hmm, that's an interesting idea."
"Symphony." Mu Yun repeated the word softly, his index finger tapping rhythmically, as if conducting a symphony in thought.
The crowd gradually quieted down again due to his contemplation, seemingly anticipating more of his astonishing academic pronouncements about the cosmic stars.
However, suddenly, Mu Yun extended his right hand and snapped his fingers in front of him.
Immediately, the holographic image in the classroom shifted dramatically. A star rapidly expanded, transforming into a supernova in everyone's vision. In an instant, dazzling light filled the entire screen, like fireworks quickly extinguishing after their ultimate display.
The students held their breath, utterly shaken.
Mu Yun snapped his fingers again, and in the desolate starry sky, cosmic dust gradually gathered, and swirling currents condensed and rotated in the void. A soft point of light illuminated at the center, then rapidly intensified, and a nascent star slowly blossomed with dazzling brilliance. Its light grew from weak to strong, eventually becoming the brightest entity on the screen.
Mu Yun gazed intently at this scene, murmuring in a voice only he could hear: "This is the true meaning of the universe. Death and rebirth, ending and beginning, never truly severed."
At this moment, his eyes seemed to lose their luster.
However, the next moment, his gaze once again shone brightly.
"Alright, class dismissed!"
Several days later, the remarks Mu Yun made during his lecture at ZS University were published through the media, causing a stir across various sectors of society.
"What? Mu, is that kid crazy?" Academician McWeedy, a renowned doyen of physics in the M country, was furious in his laboratory at this moment.
"Antimatter theory, I can still understand. But mythological civilization conjecture? Only a yellow-haired brat like him would dare to speak such nonsense!"
"Jane, stop reporting. I don't want to hear another word!"
A young blonde woman with blue eyes pushed up her eyeglasses, attempting to hand an information sensor to the man before her.
"No need. He's not the only one researching antimatter. He's just a step ahead. However, his method of observing the annihilation and rebirth of stars from a microscopic perspective to derive experimental conclusions about antineutrinos, which are absolutely repulsive to neutrinos, thereby fully substantiating antimatter theory, is indeed commendable,"
"That kid is indeed a genius. Hmph... However, to dare to presume to speculate about God based on that, it's simply... simply..."
"Simply blasphemous to God." The young girl interjected, finally handing the information sensor to the elderly academician before her, and chuckled, saying, "Aren't you his biggest supporter? Besides, in their country, God isn't a myth. The Jade Emperor is, or rather, Buddha."
The young girl couldn't help but let out a tinkling laugh, displeasing the old man.
"Bah! Jane, you need to stay away from him. People who disrespect God are not worth getting close to."
"Hahaha, alright, alright."
"Oh, by the way." The old academician suddenly became serious.
"Solar flares have been very active recently, reaching a critical point. Here are the data values." The old academician casually tossed an information sensor from his hand to Jane.
"Take it to the Cosmic United Front Bureau. The rest is up to the government. Anyway, I won't live to see that time."
Jane's face suddenly turned pale.
"Teacher, is Earth really entering a countdown?"
"Hehe... it's not Earth entering a countdown, it's all living beings, including humanity, entering a countdown."
After Jane left, the old academician slumped onto the sofa, seemingly tired. After a moment of thought, he picked up the information sensor Jane had brought. Soon, an image appeared in mid-air within the laboratory.
The image began with a young man with black hair, staring straight ahead and murmuring to himself.
"Hello everyone, I am Mu Yun. Next, I will elaborate on—antimatter theory and mythological civilization conjecture."
...
Just as Academician McWeedy had predicted, in the following years, the sun's abnormal activity led to frequent natural disasters on Earth.
In 2240 A.D., Earth's resources gradually depleted. Nations worldwide dispatched top scientists to establish the Interstellar Alliance, beginning space exploration. At the same time, another important invention, cell remodeling technology, was successfully applied to humans. However, due to various reasons, governments did not announce it to the world, and even enacted prohibitory laws.
In 2260 A.D., the Interstellar Alliance discovered a new type of superconducting material, X, and applied it to aerospace equipment manufacturing. In the same year, black hole data was decrypted, and with the application of wormhole jump technology, humanity achieved interstellar travel.
In 2280 A.D., the Interstellar Alliance developed artificial gravity fields, and "warp drive" transitioned from theory to practice, allowing humanity to achieve faster-than-light flight.
In 2300 A.D., the Interstellar Alliance constructed the "Genesis" spacecraft. Mu Yun, as captain and chief scientist, led several humans into the depths of the universe with the purpose of exploring new materials, new life, and new habitats.
In 2350 A.D., the "Genesis" spacecraft arrived at the core of the Eagle Nebula. After traveling through dense dust for several years, it gradually approached the Pillars of Creation.