Chapter 35: Life and Death

After waiting for so long, Xu Zhi finally began to integrate the first type of gene. He had skipped Gilgamesh's gene previously, not wanting that brute force. Although powerful and far stronger than the current witch abilities, it was relatively monotonous and lacked practicality.

Witchcraft, however, was different. He was quite looking forward to this mysterious spiritual power, especially the unique charm ability of the Evil Eye, which would be very useful in modern society. He clearly understood that while the witches' current power was far inferior to Gilgamesh's, their potential for diverse future development far exceeded his.

The Hive Sub-brain transmitted a mechanical voice: "Integrate Evil Eye gene?"

"Yes!" Xu Zhi took a deep breath, his expression solemn.

The Hive Sub-brain transmitted a mechanical voice: "Integrating. Please be prepared!"

Xu Zhi didn't hesitate. Back on the bed, he felt a tearing pain.

It must be said, that "sand sculpture" player, "Akina Speed," truly made a great contribution! In the sand table, he evolved an Evil Eye creature. The Evil Eye became the cornerstone of the extraordinary witch civilization, and based on its gene, various witchcraft abilities and spiritual meditation methods emerged among them. It even allowed for the emergence of witches like Circe, who controlled chaos and curses, with tentacles for self-comfort – truly versatile uses. And now, Xu Zhi had also integrated this Evil Eye gene into himself. "Akina Speed" had indeed ushered in a new era of civilization. Xu Zhi considered making a mark against that "sand sculpture" player in his mental ledger, noting that he had offended him.

It was a success. After a full half hour, Xu Zhi slowly stood up, feeling his spirit become exceptionally powerful, yet also somewhat volatile.

"Is this a side effect of the Evil Eye? Making one uncontrollably generate dark emotions."

Xu Zhi silently steadied his mind, feeling a headache. He couldn't help but have many dark thoughts: killing, doing evil, wanting to indulge, to unleash. He somewhat understood Circe's feelings. He felt a strong surge of primal urges, tempted to find a female university student in the alleys of Tongcheng for "tuition and assistance," feeling as if he couldn't control himself upon seeing any woman.

Then, Xu Zhi calmed himself down and began practicing the meditation methods they had developed. He referenced "Basic Meditation and Introduction for Witches." He sat cross-legged on the bed, took deep breaths, and began to enter a meditative state, trying to sense his spiritual power. However, he fumbled for a while, failed several times, and none were successful. He simply didn't understand the reason for his failures and could only silently complain!

What to do? Without a witch to guide him, he couldn't learn. Other newly born witches, after enduring the witch ritual, were personally taught by the three witches. But he could only grope his way through on his own, and he didn't dare to ask the three witches in the sand table, feeling a mix of helplessness and wry amusement.

After that, he gritted his teeth and studied for most of the day before he finally managed to grope his way to an initial understanding. After practicing, he discovered that having received the spiritual energy from three terrifying mass extinctions and the deaths of countless creatures, his spiritual power was incredibly potent, his foundation exceptionally strong. He felt as if he was progressing by leaps and bounds.

"At this rate, in less than three days, I'll probably be at their 'witch apprentice' level and able to learn the simplest witchcraft."

He silently sensed it, finally letting out a breath of relief. Quietly, joy filled his mind. "Soon, I will truly become a witch, the first witch in reality!" In reality, ordinary human bodies cannot cultivate. After all, they don't have the corresponding genes; it's only because Xu Zhi integrated the specially evolved Evil Eye gene that he could embark on this path.

He now felt that the sand table world was like a group of white mice, experimenting and paving paths for him. Once they succeeded, he could just follow along and cultivate. To what extent he would become powerful was still unknown, but his future was destined to be glorious.

"On Earth, there has never been a cultivation system or supernatural power. So, I will deduce it step by step in the orchard courtyard," Xu Zhi smiled, appearing calm. He sorted out his thoughts and grand plans. "Next, I need to seize the opportunity to introduce some extraordinary species to fully perfect the witch civilization." Currently, just "Akina Speed"'s big-eyed monster had led to so many surprises. What about the emergence of other extraordinary species? He was very much looking forward to what would appear!

The next morning at six o'clock, Xu Zhi glanced at the large sand table. Over fifty more years had passed, and many events had erupted within it, causing Xu Zhi's expression to become somewhat unusual and complex.

**Babylonian Kingdom, Year 146:**The two great Babylonian guardian deities discovered traces of Circe's evil church deep in the Balchik Mountains. The entire nation mobilized to attack Circe, attempting to eradicate her. After a great battle, both sides suffered significant losses.

**Babylonian Kingdom, Year 154:**Cassandra's voice of ecstasy echoed from the Babylonian Royal Palace, drifting across mountains and rivers. "So that's it! So that's it! This is the marvelous reaction of fusion and equivalent exchange; this is the truth! One essence pleases another, one essence overcomes another, one essence dominates another..."

Cassandra, the Witch of Spring, who oversaw mystical medicine and pastoral refining, led the Babylonian court mages in researching many pharmacological principles, eventually leading to the preliminary rudiments of alchemy. She developed a "Compatible Witch Potion" that could significantly reduce the rejection between the Evil Eye gene and humans, thus leading to the emergence of more witches. The Babylonian Kingdom completely entered an era of witch proliferation.

**Babylonian Kingdom, Year 167:**The two witches, hearing of Circe's whereabouts, went to pursue her but returned without success. In the same year, the two witches showed signs of aging, alarming both of them.

**Babylonian Kingdom, Year 171:**Cassandra, following the records of the ancient history "Genesis," successfully restored the longevity potion that Gilgamesh had commissioned to be developed.

**Babylonian Kingdom, Year 198:**The two great witches succumbed to the erosion of time. Having lived for 213 years, they were now on the verge of decline.

The magnificent Babylonian Royal Palace. On the vast, flat stone square, faint golden sunlight spilled down. Two imposing black carriages, pulled by terrifying, mighty Arad beasts, stopped. From them descended two beautiful women, still youthful and radiant, holding ancient-looking staffs. They looked as young and beautiful as ever. That was youth preserved by witchcraft, but it couldn't avert the fate of decline.

The flat stone square was where the Babylonian Kingdom had built a temple and statue to commemorate the great God of Wisdom, Hermes. The statue depicted a magnificent, perfect man without a face, with a black three-eyed raven perched on his shoulder, gazing into the distance. The great Mercury, a god from the heavens, conversed with mortals on earth, bestowing upon Babylon the triple wisdom of knowledge, meditation, witchcraft, and alchemy. He was known as Hermes Trismegistus, the great Thoth-Mercury.

"Great Hermes, God of Wisdom, we have come to see you again."

In front of the temple, the two legendary witches who had pioneered an era stopped, their eyes brimming with tears.