Chapter 543: Air Heart (Two in One)

Novel

A gigantic, fiery red orb hung in the sky, seemingly within reach. Streaks of fire writhed wildly, and solar flares rolled in vibrant, tide-like reds, creating a spectacle even more magnificent than the mythological ten suns in the heavens.

The ground glowed with a uniform crimson.

A sleek, black mechanical battlesuit stood silently on the desolate, cratered ground, where the rocks were scorched a fiery red.

“The heat and radiation from this solar energy are far more intense than on Earth…” Xu Zhi thought, gazing idly at the sky. “At this concentration, I fear anyone below a Heavenly Emperor would instantly be irradiated to death, their skin festering, cells collapsing...” After all, this was the closest place to the sun.

Inside his internal experimental field, the Star Spirit Ancient Tree was currently proliferating wildly at ten thousand times its usual rate.

Evolving species within his inner world was the most effective method.

Previously, he could always find a suitable biological experimental field elsewhere. But in the current vacuum environment, where could he experiment? His Nine Revolutions Mysterious Art within his body was the only choice.

Soon, countless ancient spirit trees proliferated rapidly. They were verdant and vibrant, but only seedlings. It was uncertain how long it would take for them to grow into the eleven Eternal Spirit Mother Trees.

“Reduce air density by 50%.”

Whoosh—

In an instant, a significant amount of air was forcefully extracted.

As the air became sparse, Xu Zhi, lacking the time for gradual progression, initiated a mass extinction event from the very beginning.

Soon, as the air density decreased, oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere plummeted. Large numbers of Star Ancient Tree seedlings, unable to withstand the environment, began to wither, wilt, and die. Yet, after generations of proliferation, a few ancient tree seedlings ultimately endured, developing their own unique mutations.

They gradually turned dark green, beginning to significantly reduce their metabolic rate, thus requiring less gas!

The old species, unable to endure the altered environment, rapidly went extinct. New species began to reproduce, a clear demonstration of natural selection and the survival of the fittest. Soon, the entire landscape was populated by these new species, a vibrant expanse of green.

“Reducing their requirements? That’s treating the symptom, not the root cause.”

Xu Zhi shook his head, then forcefully drew out more air, thinning the atmosphere even further.

This time, the plants simply couldn't cope.

At this gas concentration, no matter how much the plants reduced their consumption, it was insufficient for their survival. These plants finally began to perish in vast numbers, with none showing any signs of enduring!

“They’ve been completely wiped out,” Xu Zhi murmured. “I'll try again. I suppose the reduction was too rapid this time, not giving them enough time to adapt.” He habitually picked up his pen and paper, making a note: “Next time, reduce air density more slowly.”

Twice...

The days of experimenting and evolving species were always tedious, much like in the Lava Region back then. With successive extinctions, an unknown amount of time passed.

Once more, a hint of green reappeared among the plants.

These were dark green plants, possessing two pea-like cavities within their bodies that stored external oxygen and carbon dioxide, compressing them to increase the density of the required gases.

They had started storing air.

Just like animals store energy and fat.

Similar to how baobab trees store large amounts of water in their trunks.

Simultaneously, they were gradually achieving equilibrium, balancing respiration and photosynthesis within the two cavities. This allowed oxygen and carbon dioxide to form an internal cycle within their bodies, eliminating the need for an external supply.

“Internal circulation has begun.”

Xu Zhi’s eyes widened, and he took a deep breath. “Self-sufficient! Oxygen and carbon dioxide circulate within their bodies, effectively combining plant and animal functions.

The plant part produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide, while the animal part produces carbon dioxide and absorbs oxygen. They are mutually complementary, forming a simple self-sustaining plant-animal ecological cycle.”

After a while, a strange and unexpected evolutionary phenomenon appeared.

Since the air in the entire space was limited, and their internal gas storage was also finite, air had unexpectedly become an extremely rare resource in this vacuum environment.

Surprisingly, some plants began to grow limbs, their bark transforming into a semi-human, semi-plant flesh. They started to steal air from other plants.

Boom!

Two comically bizarre small treemen violently collided, sluggishly rolling and wrestling on the ground.

Hoo-hah, hoo-hah!

Smoke billowed from their bodies, as if they were steam-powered beings.

Xu Zhi was startled; it was the first time trees had actively evolved to be so unruly.

However, a second thought brought him to a realization.

“Since the Star Ancient Trees propagate tree spirits, they naturally possess human-like genetic forms…” he mused. “The current evolutionary path of these spirits is driven by their struggle for air—a direct result of natural selection.”

To Xu Zhi's astonishment, one tree knocked down another, violently tearing out its two cavity sacs of oxygen and carbon dioxide and devouring them!

Its belly immediately swelled, looking utterly satisfied.

“Eating air?”

Xu Zhi was stunned. “Alright, a very unique vacuum species.”

Before long, these plants, hoarding air in their bellies, fought each other until only a small fraction remained.

“Interesting,” Xu Zhi mused, picking up his notebook to jot down a note. “The air supply is too limited for their population. An insufficient population size makes further evolution difficult.”

Xu Zhi pondered for a moment, then restored the air to them.

With the increase in air, the plants' internal supply became sufficient. They filled their two cavities, content, and began to produce offspring, supplying them with air.

However, as the population increased, the air supply became insufficient once more, and they resumed their struggle, ushering in a new phase of evolution!

Some plants gradually adopted the complete form of spirits, evolving into beautiful humanoid tree spirits with legs, arms, and emerald-green hair.

Their roots transformed into long, soft monkey tails, capable of rooting themselves in the ground when not moving, thereby fulfilling the function of a tree.

Their internal structure became extremely complex. The two cavities began to transform into two hearts, connected to an intricate network of air meridians, much like the human circulatory system.

“This is too interesting!”

Xu Zhi felt utterly delighted. “Two gas-cavity hearts,” he mused, “one for oxygen, one for carbon dioxide, forming a self-contained ecosystem within their bodies. They are completely self-sufficient; unless gas leaks, there's no need to worry in a vacuum...”

“These plants have no blood, though plants inherently don’t have blood... But for tracheas to replace blood vessels and circulate throughout the entire body, that's incredibly unique!”

However, it was only natural that in a vacuum environment, air would be an extremely precious stored resource, as valuable as blood.

Moreover, the airflow within the dense and complex meridian circulation began to carry nutrients, gradually replacing the function of blood.

Xu Zhi’s expression turned peculiar. “They can run and jump, and it seems the airflow in their ‘blood’ can contain and transport energy, forming a unique, transcendent vacuum-adapted cosmic life form... But this isn't what I wanted!”

His original intention was to create solar-powered energy-generating trees.

Like the Star Ancient Trees, dutifully rooted in the ground, absorbing sunlight and radiation, bearing energy fruits—trees that embody the spirit of selflessly dedicating energy...

However, this species clearly focused on strengthening themselves, hoarding energy and plundering resources everywhere—they were very “selfish.”

“The first vacuum species went completely off track; a tree can actually run!” Xu Zhi mused. “But its potential is unexpectedly vast... yet useless to me right now!” He thought for a moment and decided, “I’ll cast them into the vacuum outside and let them try to survive and adapt to the radiation and cosmic vacuum environment.”

He casually cast them onto Mercury, leaving them to fend for themselves. He then planted another batch of Star Ancient Trees and resumed his experiments.

This time, he was wiser.

The moment they evolved two cavities for gas storage and were about to start fighting, he immediately increased the concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide, providing their “food” right before them. This prevented them from growing legs and competing for other plants’ stored resources.

Sure enough, this time their evolutionary path didn't lead to them growing legs. Instead, they remained obedient trees, continuing to take root and sprout, desperately absorbing gases from the air with their two “cavities,” growing increasingly robust.

“It's done.”

Xu Zhi looked closely; this time, the internal structure of the trees was different again.

Unlike the humanoid plants, they didn't develop dense biological meridian vessels resembling two hearts within their bodies. Instead, they had two normal plant cavities for gas storage and circulation.

“They've successfully achieved self-circulation and no longer need external gases,” Xu Zhi said with a smile. “They are still Star Ancient Trees. Next, I'll place them outside to adapt to the vacuum and radiation environment.” He then directly opened the external area of Fentian, connecting it to real space.

Whoosh!

Beneath the enormous, scorching sun.

The trees began to rapidly wither, unable to withstand such extreme heat and the pressure of a complete vacuum.

The most challenging survival environment had been overcome, and not much time was needed afterward. Following extensive extinction, a few plants, being the fittest, successfully endured and rooted themselves in the ground, fully forming Star Ancient Trees capable of surviving in a vacuum.

Plants that could survive in the cosmos.

Meanwhile, the previously incorporated spirit ancient tree genes began to enable them to rapidly absorb radiation and star power. Each tree grew increasingly verdant and vibrant, exceptionally splendid.

“Finally, it's done.”

Xu Zhi smiled, filled with pleasant surprise. “It’s almost time for results.”

The Number One Great Extinction Power Station was established. This solar power station would continuously supply him with energy, ensuring his own cultivation realm would advance by leaps and bounds!

In the future, he would no longer solely depend on biological extinctions within the sand table.

“However, the limitations are significant,” Xu Zhi said, taking a deep breath. “They aren’t truly vacuum species after all; they still require gases. With my current knowledge, this is the best I can achieve. Furthermore, if their internal gas circulation breaks and leaks, they die... And even if it doesn't break, plants don't just need gas; they also need water!”

After all, no matter how heat-resistant a plant is or how strong its water storage capabilities are, it still requires water; this is an inevitable loss.

Where would the water come from?

It's important to remember that Mercury has no water.

“I’ll still have to water them myself,” Xu Zhi thought, feeling utterly speechless.

This was too difficult.

Yet Mercury was the best environment for solar energy, being so close to the sun with the strongest radiation. After all, if he went to Venus, not only would the radiation be much lower, but there was no liquid water there either.

“It seems my idea of greening the solar system isn't realistic.”

Xu Zhi continued to organize his thoughts. “However, I also have a backup plan: I managed to trick Armin into giving me another teleportation array. I’ll set it up at this power station later to facilitate travel back and forth for regular watering.”

He had truly adopted a farming-style approach.

Greening desert planet environments—I'm starting with myself.

“First, I’ll plant ten thousand of them, and then we’ll see...” Xu Zhi mused. “But first, I’ll refine the species again.” He wasn't afraid of others seeing this, as he already had methods to block prying eyes.

And ten thousand trees, he estimated, wouldn't even cover a hundred mu (approximately 16 acres). How much space is that on an entire planet?

Even without shielding, it would be difficult to discover.

He quietly watched these Star Ancient Trees in his inner space, observing them spread and grow. One by one, they extended outwards into Mercury's vacuum, while he silently provided them with water.

Soon, a section of the area was greened.

“In this situation, I estimate they’ll need another day or two to evolve on Mercury,” he thought. “What they’ve evolved now are crude embryos; when they fully mature, some details will improve.”

Xu Zhi calmly watched the trees on Mercury.

He was here to set up a power station, providing himself a channel for energy absorption.

As for developing the sand table and propagating extraordinary species... Mercury was not the place for that.

This place was destined to be a barren energy power station; coming here daily to water and cultivate was the best option.

Letting them live and die on their own, without requiring further attention or effort.

But the moment Xu Zhi quieted down, he noticed the group of spirits nearby, who had multiplied quickly and were now lively and jumping around.

Eee-yaa-yaa!

They were running and shouting joyfully all over the cracked meteorite craters. This astonished Xu Zhi, as this was, after all, a vacuum environment...

However, his face quickly darkened.

These creatures were running to snatch water from the Star Ancient Trees. Clearly, without water, they were doomed to die here.

Furthermore, they gnawed on the trees to obtain nutrients and energy. They also fought and battled each other, being very warlike and having a strong desire to kill.

Xu Zhi immediately drove them all away, even considering crushing them to death.

“Never mind,” Xu Zhi thought. “Let these air spirits jump around here a bit more and adapt to the vacuum environment. I’ll take them with me when I leave; after all, they can’t survive here and would literally die of thirst.”

How to accommodate these unexpected surprises was a problem.

Undoubtedly, their potential was great.

If they only needed water to live and drift through the cosmos, they would be incredibly powerful, as there are still many water resources in the universe.

“Moreover, even if their two hearts ruptured and their internal circulatory ‘blood’ leaked,” Xu Zhi continued with a smile, “they could go to other planets to replenish carbon dioxide or oxygen... As long as they obtain one, they can regenerate and complete themselves again. They can be considered the perfect vacuum cellular species I’ve created so far.”

“It was just a casual farming trip,” he mused, “but I’m returning with a bunch of little creatures. Where should I keep them after I take them back?”

Bored, Xu Zhi sat down, watching the trees evolve and teasing the air spirits. He found it rather peculiar. “Wait,” he thought, “they have tails, they’re warlike, they love to fight, and they can use and sense ‘qi’... Could they be the legendary first combat race in the universe, the Saiyans?”

He reached out and, from a distance, lifted a small child with a tail. “Goku, is that you?”

Eee-yaa-yaa!

The child struggled cutely, resisting with all its might.

When Xu Zhi gently relaxed his grip, the child immediately darted away, running behind a large gravel meteorite crater.

“No, Saiyans can’t survive in a vacuum,” he muttered. “And someone with a tail could also be the galactic emperor, Frieza.” With nothing else to do, wearing his mechanical battlesuit, his mind wandered with wild thoughts.

But suddenly, his eyes widened slightly in surprise as he sensed something within his inner space. “I didn’t expect Emperor Yun to actually bring the Celestials here, sensing Fentian and now approaching?”

He hesitated for a moment but didn't stop them. “Anyway, guarding this place is boring,” he thought. “They might as well come to Mercury—a mysterious cosmic secret realm? Let’s see if these ordinary beings can withstand the vacuum environment!”

“Wait a minute.” Xu Zhi’s eyes lit up. He looked at the sun in the sky, which bathed the ground in crimson and illuminated the ubiquitous meteorite craters. “I’ll create an ancient mythological battlefield.”

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