003 Chronos Science Museum

She spotted a bird napping on a tree at least twenty meters away, its size comparable to a small child’s head.

Yet, there was something about it that reminded her of a sparrow. She searched her memory for what a sparrow looked like; it certainly resembled one, but it was at least five times the size.

Unable to make sense of it, Lin Yan decided to visit the Science and Technology Museum to broaden her horizons. She paused when she saw the black crystal sphere, sensing that anything occupying such a central position must be significant.

The museum was a circular, hollow structure. The black crystal sphere was visible from every floor. Positioned so prominently, it was surely meant for more than just display. As she drew closer, she noticed a black panel beneath the sphere, so seamlessly integrated that it was easy to miss from a distance. After a moment, she saw an indentation on the panel, shaped like a human palm. Just as she was about to place her hand on it to test it, she remembered she was not here in her physical body and could not touch it.

Before she could finish the thought, the black panel lit up. It was a crystal screen displaying text prompts. It turned out the black crystal sphere was the control center of the Science and Technology Museum, and the black panel was the activation device. Everything here was controlled by mental energy.

The panel displayed settings, including an option for voice navigation. There were various choices for the voice: a cute baby’s lisp, a sweet girl’s voice, a cool, tech-inspired voice, and more. Lin Yan hesitated for only a second before choosing the "cute baby" option.

Immediately, she heard: "Welcome to the Time Science and Technology Museum. I am Pangbao, your cute assistant. It is a great honor for you to choose me to serve you."

The soft, milky, adorable voice satisfied Lin Yan greatly. She asked, "Pangbao, will you do whatever I ask?"

Pangbao replied, "Yes. You are a distinguished traveler of the Time Science and Technology Museum. Pangbao is dedicated to serving you. As long as it is within your requests, Pangbao will complete it for you."

Lin Yan said, "Then, could you introduce the Time Science and Technology Museum to me?"

Pangbao replied, "Certainly! The Time Science and Technology Museum is a historic collection hall that preserves the evolution of human civilization. Whether you want to know about the technology of any era—or indeed, any other information—the museum can provide it for you."

"Is it just a collection? How many years has human civilization developed?"

Pangbao replied, "Currently, it serves only as a collection. Based on your access level, human civilization has existed for six billion, ten thousand, two hundred and thirty-six years."

"Are there any other functions?"

"Access level insufficient; no information available."

Lin Yan asked, "Alright, what is this black crystal sphere for?"

Pangbao replied, "That is the core of the Time Science and Technology Museum. Everything here is controlled by it. To activate the core, your mental energy must reach Level A."

Lin Yan asked, "How is mental energy categorized?"

Pangbao replied, "Mental energy is divided into: Entry-level (R), Primary (C), Intermediate (Z), Advanced (G), Superior (A), and Special Superior (S)."

Curious, Lin Yan asked, "What is my current mental energy level?"

Pangbao replied, "...You do not have a level yet."

Lin Yan fell silent. After a while, she asked, "How do I increase my mental energy?"

Pangbao replied, "Seventy percent comes from talent, and thirty percent from hard work. Meditation and focus can increase mental energy."

Before she could ask further, she lost control of her body. As she drifted off to sleep, Lin Yan wondered if she would still be able to see the things in the museum if she couldn't activate the black crystal sphere.

When she woke again, she was back in the cave, the air so foul it made her question reality. Lin Yan longed to grow up quickly; she didn't want to live here, nor did she want to endure this inhumane torment.

It was already dark, and her mother was sleeping soundly beside her. With nothing to do, she decided to enter the museum.

"Pangbao, Pangbao, are you there?"

Pangbao replied, "I am here. How may I assist you?"

"What is in those grey rooms in the museum? When will I be able to enter them?" Currently, only room 0101 was accessible, and it was filled with books. She wanted to know what was in the other rooms.

Pangbao replied, "Access level insufficient."

"Ugh, Pangbao, just a little hint?"

Pangbao replied, "No information available."

Despite Lin Yan's persistent coaxing, Pangbao remained steadfast in its duties, revealing nothing useful. With no other choice, Lin Yan went to read. This time, she chose the era of ancient humanity, but she fell asleep before finishing even a third of it. Before dozing off, she sighed at the hardships of ancient times—it was simply no place for a human to live.

The next day, her mother carried her out of the cave to sunbathe again, and Lin Yan felt slightly better. Her days were spent eating, sleeping, sunbathing, and reading when bored.

Over a month passed like this, and Lin Yan gradually adapted to the life of an infant. During this time, she hadn't seen anyone else, and that boy, Jinzai, had not appeared. Sometimes, when her mother held her and her field of vision was clear, she could see people moving in the distance, though the view was blocked by trees. Everyone seemed busy, occupied with gathering food and preparing for the arrival of the cold season.

What Lin Yan found most unbearable was her observation that her mother never ate cooked food. The meat was eaten raw, and the sight of the blood made her shudder. She concluded that there was no fire here, which was a catastrophe.

The only consolation was discovering another function of the Time Science and Technology Museum. One day, her mother brought her a fist-sized red fruit. As soon as Lin Yan looked at it, Pangbao reminded her that, after scanning, the gene sequence of the fruit was similar to an apple—it was a primitive apple. Since the primitive red apple was a species not yet collected by the museum, it had been cataloged, and Lin Yan was awarded two contribution points.

A new term appeared: contribution points. Pangbao explained that these were rewards given to travelers by the museum. Once her access level increased, she could use these points to trade for the right to open certain rooms and obtain important information. In other words, the opening of room 0101 had been a gift from the museum; in the future, opening every other room would require her own effort.

Furthermore, her mental energy was crucial. If she could unlock the black crystal sphere, there would be unexpected rewards. Though the road ahead was long and difficult, Lin Yan felt relieved after a brief moment of frustration.

The existence of the museum meant she was not entirely alone in this primitive ancient era, and the room full of books provided infinite knowledge, enough to satisfy her spirit. She also confirmed one thing: wherever her eyes landed, the museum acted like a precision scanner, recording everything, with Pangbao always online.

During this time, Lin Yan’s mindset shifted. Originally, she had planned to just let things be, but her curiosity about the museum made her decide that once she could walk freely, she would go out and explore. Such a massive museum, so many rooms—what could be inside?

Driven by this curiosity, Lin Yan yearned to grow up quickly. However, before she could even learn to walk, the cold season arrived. The temperature plummeted, and overnight, the sweltering summer transformed into a biting, frigid winter. Lin Yan was covered in two layers of animal hide; the smell was stifling, but to resist the freezing cold, she had no choice but to endure it.