Chapter 412: Neurotic

Xu Zhi slowly opened his eyes in the living room.

“In fact, this mass extinction event has come at just the right time.”

The Ishdars, despite their strong foundational power, had not produced any deities because they were too harmonious internally. No one died, and they had no interest in waging external wars; instead, their scientists zealously dedicated themselves to research.

Without a catastrophe, no deities would emerge.

“Even after just a short period of this outbreak, the energy of two deities has been reported. This energy hasn't been deliberately collected; it's dispersed among various creatures and powerful zombies. Meanwhile, individuals who were already at the pinnacle, refined by the disaster, should seize this opportunity and break through quickly.”

Disasters often presage opportunities.

The era was about to become turbulent.

Deities would soon emerge from those ruins, and in considerable numbers! After all, that land was vast, a hundred times the size of the Ancient World.

On the Spore Evolution forum, players’ reactions were quite something.

How did the art style suddenly change in the blink of an eye? Zombie bioweapons, apocalyptic ruins – did *you* travel through time, or did *we*?

Screenshot.Screenshot.Screenshot.

They were images of the ruins, a vast science fiction wasteland. Crumbling walls and broken structures, zombies roamed the streets, and massive black mechanical spacecraft had crashed into skyscrapers, looking like colossal black whales hundreds of meters long beached on hillsides, creating an extremely powerful visual impact and conveying a sense of heavy, ancient history.

Looking at these exquisitely detailed images and posters, which were more real than any Earth sci-fi movie, they were exasperated!

This was ridiculous! They had just started feeling good, hadn't even gotten their hands on the technology, and now it was gone?

It was gone!

Major research institutes were particularly distraught, feeling terrible that they were just one step away from "a small step for Earth, a giant leap for humanity."

However, some remained relatively optimistic, posting their views online:

“Don't panic! This is a new beginning for you; your era is coming! Not only can you pilot mechanical mechs to fight zombies, but you can also cultivate your body. This is a great opportunity to dismantle giant robots with your bare hands! It's a chance to fulfill a man's ultimate fantasy! Moreover, with civilization destroyed, it's the perfect time for *your* civilization to steal technology. This is a future with infinite possibilities!”

Hearing this, everyone thought it made a lot of sense.

They could randomly pick technology paths and develop whatever they wished, as the ruins contained everything.

Xia Naiming smiled, pleased with those who had rekindled hope. “Ahem, let me explain the situation further. The internet is destroyed; people are communicating via language again, reverting to a primitive, indigenous state. Top scientists are concentrated in a few core research institutes, having been taken away by Caroline.

Therefore! Core manufacturing data and blueprints aren't something ordinary citizens will have. We'll have to dismantle and research them ourselves.”

Everyone nearly coughed up blood. “Dismantle one and show us how?”

The civilizational gap was too vast. Even if an alien UFO were placed right in front of them, it would take an immense amount of time to study, not to mention that this magical-mechanical civilization used magic crystal energy, combining machinery with the supernatural, so there was little existing technology they could draw upon.

Xia Naiming still smiled.

He wasn't interested in the technology itself; as long as he could use a mech, that was enough. If you ride a motorcycle, do you also need to study its principles?

Xia Naiming immediately felt relieved and vindicated. He was such a serious person, and he almost got sidetracked by them, but he remained earnest and true to his original intention. “Mechanical mechs, now, when one breaks, there's one less. Few people will likely be able to repair them. In reality, there are still some ordinary scientists and research assistants—they couldn't have all been taken away—but they're hard to find. If we encounter one, we can have them transfer their knowledge to us, and then we'll be able to repair mechs, becoming mechanical engineers on average.”

Everyone still held onto a glimmer of hope. In the apocalypse, people were the most important asset!

What’s more, although the Ishdars had closed off their direct interface, they could still connect memories. As long as the other party wasn't infected with a virus, they could learn the technology stored in their brain.

The advantages of this advanced civilization still persisted.

“Everyone, I’ve escaped with Du Xue. Caroline didn't take us with her. Du Xue, as the next heir, is very strong-willed and said she wouldn't do research but wanted to stay behind to help survivors and wait for Caroline to return. And that's exactly what I wanted!

If I had been taken, I'd probably just be a specimen.

Right now, we're still in the ruins, trying to survive the apocalypse. The 'farming' survival style has begun. Can anyone help me get a bloodline fusion potion? I don't have a brain core, so I can only follow the previous supernatural path and start cultivating a supernatural system. I see that the magic beasts here are similar to the Evil Eye creatures.

Also, can anyone teach me how to build an apocalyptic shelter?”

He felt a sense of relief. “By the way! Zombies don't need condoms; my species is safe now! I'm going to transform and marry Du Xue (idiots, begone!)”

As soon as he said this, it immediately piqued everyone's interest. They had originally planned to just dive into the discussion, but what did he mean by that? "Idiots, begone!" Was it that Fat Tiger couldn't wield his knife anymore, or was Nobita getting too big for his britches?

“You’re going to transform? Marry Du Xue? After absorbing so much essence from the sun and moon, have you finally reached this point? (Moved)”

Xia Naiming paused, feeling that something was off.

“So, whose child is it?”

When Xia Naiming saw that sentence, he knew something was definitely wrong. His species might have been domesticated, but what did that have to do with him? He certainly didn't have a "green grassland" on his head.

“Darn it! You used to be a big shot with projects worth hundreds of millions! How did it all disappear so suddenly?! (Beating chest and stamping feet)”

“Sigh! To kill one is a crime, to kill ten thousand is a hero, to kill a million is a hero among heroes! To kill tens of billions is a setup. And you, a hero who has killed countless, are now retreating from the stage! (Heartbroken)”

Xia Naiming: "..."

He was exasperated, finding it incredibly difficult, and couldn't help but say, “Can you all speak like normal people?”

Immediately, someone spoke up: “I think you shouldn't pursue Du Xue, because she's simply not worthy of you!”

Xia Naiming was visibly surprised. Finally, someone was making sense!

Although he was a transmigrator, leading a seemingly weak species, he would sooner or later reach the pinnacle of life and become the most powerful being in the world. But Du Xue wasn't bad either! She was pure and kind, and she held the supreme human access key.

Xia Naiming immediately said, “You flatter me. I think she is quite worthy of me. (Making a cupped hand salute)”

“No, no, no, she's still not worthy of you, because you have lofty ambitions!”

Xia Naiming's face immediately broke into a wide smile. This was a normal person, how rare! “If you have something sensible to say, then say more! How could my ambitions not be lofty? Which transmigrator doesn't hope to reach the pinnacle of life? To dominate another world?”

Who knew the next sentence would be: “Your ambitions are indeed very lofty, because you, a toad, want to eat swan meat!”

Xia Naiming: "!!!"

You're all crazy!