Chapter 354: Can Anyone Really Cultivate

The scenes at the research institute naturally fell under Xu Zhi's watchful eyes.

Xu Zhi: ...

Alright, you really won.

He hadn't expected them to become increasingly convinced that ancient Earth had Qi Refiners and an ancient transcendent civilization, believing themselves to be descendants of the Creation God, and that Dao Monarch was once their ancient Qi Refiner ancestor.

Ever since the "little meteorite incident," researchers, led by Li Shengjiang, embarked on a quest for truth. With a sense of longing and reverence, they pursued the thousands of years of civilization that once existed on this land, from the eras of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to Nüwa and Fuxi.

They even conducted archaeological digs, constantly studying ancient civilization remnants and artifacts!

They searched for traces of Dao Monarch's existence on Earth, even speculating that before becoming a god, Dao Monarch might have been Xuanyuan, Nüwa, or even Chiyou, and they found a wealth of corroborating evidence!

“You guys are insane, what’s with this pilgrim mentality!?” Xu Zhi didn't know whether to laugh or cry, finding it utterly bizarre.

I just casually opened a sandbox!

Yet, these people went wild with imagination from start to finish, completely perfecting the background setting and embarking on a journey to the myriad worlds with a heart full of yearning for ancient ancestral glory.

Xu Zhi felt his composure shatter!

He felt there was no way to explain it.

In reality, everyone else had returned, but he knew very well what the Alchemist Emperor had been busy with since his disappearance.

He simply didn't interfere.

After all, they were working so hard. As a wizard who once pursued truth and and ancient Earth civilizations, particularly ancient Chinese Qi Refiners...

How could he bring himself to shatter that shining, pure heart?

That would be cruel!

Originally, in Xu Zhi's eyes, this was nothing. Without a transcendent bloodline, it was very difficult to cultivate a transcendent system; no matter how they researched, they would only be stuck in a rut.

However, Pan Xuexian had actually opened up a system of physical cultivation for the demon race through fitness training, which gave him sufficient inspiration.

“Perhaps, he really can create it.”

Xu Zhi smiled, “I had long suspected this day would come, but I didn't expect it to be so soon.”

After all, with world systems being developed and major figures frantically researching within them, it was only a matter of time before what could be achieved in his orchard could also be achieved in reality.

The intelligent auxiliary brain transmitted a mechanical voice:

“Do you want to stop them?”

“They are backed by immense power, with ancient Celestial Emperors like Long Wuming, Thunder Emperor, and Bell assisting in their research.... If they work quickly, they will soon succeed.”

“No need,” Xu Zhi said calmly, standing up to look at the scenery outside the window.

Across the entire orchard lay a miniature wizarding world, with exquisite, tiny buildings that looked like the most beautiful works of art, alongside rivers, lakes, deep forest basins, trains, and steam airships.

“Don’t mind these small actions by the top players; let them do as they please.”

Xu Zhi maintained his relaxed attitude, fearless, letting events unfold naturally.

After all, what difference would it make if they could cultivate?

Even if they cultivated for a decade or more in reality, would they reach Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3?

Meanwhile, only a little over a month had passed for him...

Even Xu Zhi himself didn't know what heights he would reach after another month.

Time was asynchronous.

Their cultivation speed in reality was far too slow!

As a low-level civilization planet, Earth lacked acceleration in reality; its rise would take endless ages, while his transcendent world would have reached unimaginable heights by then!

If he were to describe this feeling, it would be:

“The morning mushroom knows not the alternation of day and night, nor the cicada the alternation of spring and autumn.”

Moreover, this was something difficult to prevent.

As long as they kept at it, it was bound to happen sooner or later. He could only block them temporarily, not forever. Furthermore, if he interfered and caused them repeated failures, it would severely dampen their enthusiasm, which they were working themselves bald for!

“You are all top-tier geniuses, exceptionally gifted, each a protagonist of a bygone transcendent era. You can secretly conspire and plan in reality; go ahead, I’ll just watch.”

Xu Zhi remained calm.

These players thought themselves very clever, but in reality, they were just 'little brothers,' working for free.

Of course, the little bit of sweetness he casually offered them was indeed an unimaginably terrifying stroke of luck! It wasn't exactly working for free; it was more about seeing things from different perspectives.

Xu Zhi, however, looked out the window. “What's most crucial for me is to face this huge disaster threatening both worlds. Winter is approaching, and with the winter calamity, anomalies will run rampant and grow stronger. In the future, a deity born from the concentrated fears of all beings might even appear.”

Would a god be born?

Highly likely.

The emotions of good and evil emitted by an individual are roughly balanced. If the collection of sentient beings' faith can give birth to a benevolent deity, then the collective fear of all beings might also be enough to birth an evil god...

How to weather this crisis in the sandbox—that was what he needed to concern himself with.

Furthermore, in the future, it's highly probable that every time enough faith energy is gathered to birth a deity, a corresponding evil god will emerge, a duality of good and evil...

“Mengmei’s system is not flawless.”

Xu Zhi pondered, “Perhaps, with the emergence of every deity in the future, heaven and earth will still need to face a tribulation! Although it won't be a mass extinction of living beings or slaughter for godhood that leaves the populace in misery, it will still be terrifying, perhaps even more so... An evil deity formed from the collective ill will of all beings could destroy the world.”

“This matter needs to be handled, but the immediate priority is how to deal with Mengmei, who is already on her way. That girl... is actually planning to dig up my past!” Xu Zhi had a headache and felt helpless.

Mengmei was now driving south, preparing to pass through Dongcheng.

The sky was bright with sunshine.

An ordinary car was driving along.

On both sides of the highway, lush green forests sped by, along with occasional wide fields and glimpses of small streams.

“I've been to this southern region once before. Now that things are settled there, I can take some time to investigate this area. I always feel like something is drawing me here.” A girl, dressed ordinarily, yet unable to conceal her captivating demeanor, mused.

She drove, occasionally glancing up at her phone screen, reading posts in the forum.

Inside, those 'animals' were still discussing the muscular 'bro' matter.

Mengmei occasionally chimed in, offering her opinions in the forum.

She had already gone into slumber in the Primordial World, but she carried her game login device in the trunk, checking in periodically to see what was happening.

After all, as the Earth Mother Qing Teng, lying down and sleeping was an everyday occurrence for her.

The current situation was beyond her control. Anomalies were rampant and continuously appearing; some were constantly eradicated, requiring a long period of accumulation to revive, while others grew stronger rapidly by absorbing people's fears.

It was like raising Gu worms.

The anomalies were constantly fighting and being killed; it was even possible that a terrifying existence might emerge among them.

She looked at the forum on her phone,

“It’s truly amazing,” she thought. “The forum and game use such terrifying black technology; anyone who logs in remains anonymous, their real-world identity untraceable unless they foolishly expose themselves to others.”

Some said it was the government's black technology.

After all, how could their secure network be easily infiltrated? This was a game promoted nationwide for 'love of learning,' and the government implicitly approved. Mengmei, however, felt the government was just covering up; they couldn't actually do it.

Suddenly, she received a private message on the forum.

The sender was the Alchemist Emperor, Li Shengjiang.

They often communicated privately, though they didn't know each other's real identities. They frequently helped each other but also remained wary, careful not to be tricked into revealing their real-world identities.

Li Shengjiang's message to her read:

“I’ve found a possible way to cultivate in reality.... Please help me check if there’s anything wrong with this alchemical array! I’ve also sent it to a few other big players. Through our communication, we might be able to usher in a new era—the Age of Earth Cultivation.”

What!?

We... finally did it?

Mengmei was instantly astonished, her hands trembling uncontrollably on the steering wheel.