Chapter 38: The Era of Doom and the Era of Origin

“Are these all true?” ‘That’s impossible, isn’t it!’

Suddenly, a fervent wave of doubt swept through the classroom. After all, everything in the film they had just watched was simply too incredible for them to believe.

However, Lan Baiyuan’s subsequent words dispelled my lingering doubts.

“Well then, if you harbor any skepticism, perhaps you can explain why the Gregorian calendar is no longer used, having been replaced by the Era of Origin?”

Indeed, Lan Baiyuan’s statement compelled a deeper reflection. The Common Era was undeniably a thing of the past; it had been over a century since its end, and now they stood in the 103rd year of the Era of Origin.

Observing the class’s nascent wavering, he offered a sly smile and revealed the true reason behind the change in eras.

He explained that between the Common Era and the Era of Origin lay the Era of Doom, arguably the darkest period in human history. The catalyst for this cataclysmic era, he asserted, originated from within humanity itself.

The Era of Doom had not erupted due to some unforeseen accident or peculiar circumstance; rather, it was unleashed through a meticulously planned and orchestrated scheme.

Thus, the advent of this dark age first swept across the entire Yanhuang region, subsequently engulfing the entire globe.

Only a handful of isolated sanctuaries remained as humanity’s last bastions. Therefore, once the Era of Doom was finally brought to an end, the new epoch was christened the Era of Origin, symbolizing a complete rebirth.

“My explanation concludes here. As for the organization, you may simply refer to them as MRZZ. Their opposing faction, however, remains unknown.”

With his explanation concluded, a stunned silence permeated the room, save for the collective shock. The entire affair was, truly, beyond belief.

It was almost unfathomable that such a period could exist within humanity’s timeline. This naturally led to the question of collective memory; faced with such unbearable history, people would, of course, choose to forget.

Now, in the 103rd year of the Era of Origin, just over a century had passed since the Era of Doom. While this span might seem brief in the grand tapestry of human civilization, it was, ironically, ample time for oblivion to settle.

Few indeed were those from the generation who had endured the Era of Doom, individuals who could still bear witness to this epoch.

This historical truth, it seemed, had been meticulously sealed away. A thorough search through history books yielded no record of this pivotal period. It was likely that, with the passage of many more years, all traces of that era would vanish completely into the river of history.

Yet, another detail now piqued my suspicion. If this historical juncture was never to be recorded in humanity’s annals, nor ever appear as material for examinations, then why was Lan Baiyuan elucidating it for us here?

‘What was his true intention?’

And how, precisely, did he come to know of it? Could it have been passed down through generations, perhaps from an ancestor who had not only lived through that period but also survived to the present day?

This seemed rather far-fetched. More than a century had elapsed; it was surely impossible for anyone from that distant era to still be alive.

Perhaps my contemplation of these questions was all too transparent, for Lan Baiyuan, to some extent, discerned something in my gaze. He likely surmised that I found these matters intriguing.

However, he did not dwell on it further.

It was then that he spoke once more.

“Alright, class. The main reason I’ve brought this up is quite simple: I wanted to ask you, are you truly certain that everything I’ve said is indeed factual?”

What? Just as the entire class began to waver in their conviction, he abruptly shifted his narrative, leaving everyone genuinely astonished.

‘What act was he performing now?’

“Did none of you notice the numerous discrepancies in my account? Furthermore, if this event is unrecorded in textbooks, even in historical annals, how then would I have come to know of it?”

As his words settled, many began to waver once more.

“This, then, is the objective of my lesson today. In learning, one must dare to question. What a teacher imparts is not necessarily absolute truth; you must possess the courage to challenge it. As for what I’ve presented today, whether you believe it or can refute it, rests entirely with you.”

Upon his declaration, the entire classroom fell into an abrupt hush, only to erupt moments later in a burst of fervent applause. Amidst the ovation, I found myself scrutinizing his expression, which unequivocally conveyed that matters were far from simple.

As the dismissal bell chimed, no sooner had Lan Baiyuan stepped out of the classroom than the entire room erupted once more into a cacophony of chatter.

After all, considering the content Lan Baiyuan had just imparted, many—indeed, the vast majority—regarded it with profound skepticism.

This particular historical account was simply too outlandish, too difficult to reconcile with reality. Coupled with his final pronouncements, it only solidified the conviction among many that everything he had said was a fabrication.

Turning, I glanced at Huang Beifeng, only to find her gaze already fixed on mine.

Her lips moved subtly, as if she were about to speak, yet perhaps due to the profound upheaval of her worldview, she found herself unable to articulate the words.

Nevertheless, from the faint movements of her lips, I managed to discern her unspoken question: “Do you believe it?”

Truthfully, I, too, found it hard to believe; it was simply too fantastical to accept. Yet, just as his initial explanation had almost swayed me, he had abruptly changed course. What exactly was he trying to achieve?

However, at that very moment, as Huang Beifeng and I were attempting to communicate through a silent exchange of glances, Can Ye suddenly rose and slowly approached my side.

After a brief, intense exchange of gazes, Can Ye turned and departed, yet from her eyes, I still perceived the unspoken message she wished to convey:

“It’s all true!”

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