Chapter 571: Stone Pearl Warrior Saga (Two in One)

The trembling elder of the High Green Star people was the very leader who had brought his tribe to prominence years ago. In an environment where the average lifespan of a High Green Star person was 110 years, his cultivation was not weak, but at nearly two hundred years of age, his life was already nearing its end.

“Who are you?” the elder stammered, trembling.

Xu Zhi ignored him and walked directly to the seven stone beads placed on a nearby stone tray, which emitted a faint radioactive glow. “Are these seven stone beads the third generation of the entire race? Do they possess a special radiation source?”

He and Caroline were the first-generation ancestors. The planets Caroline bore were the second generation. And these seven stone beads, born from this planet, were naturally the third generation of the entire race.

“The entire race?”

The elder got goosebumps all over upon hearing these words and roared, “Guards! Guards! Who are you?!”

Footsteps sounded! A group of combat-type High Green Star warriors emerged.

Xu Zhi gently waved his hand, and they instantly collapsed. At this moment, there was no need to bother with the people of this era.

He meticulously observed the structure of the stone spheres, feeling it was a fascinating prototype of a clay-cell civilization. After studying their composition for a while, he left.

“This is true genesis,” Xu Zhi mused. “To be able to observe the next few hundred years of this race’s civilization’s development... I also saw that elder before, when the planet was first launched; he was gaunt and weak, chopping trees. It was hard to imagine that he would become such a dominant figure, leading his race to this point.”

Of course, these small beings had never seen him or Caroline.

“Advance time to the next world node.”

Light flowed. Everything progressed like a fast-forwarded film. Due to the direct fast-forward, detailed observation was impossible, turning it into a textual summary, much like a text-based adventure game.

Stone Star, Year 199.

The elder, terrified by the unknown life-god and the mention of "the entire race," understood the immense potential power within it. He also feared the very planet beneath his feet.

Another line of text appeared.

Soon, he couldn’t resist researching the beads and discovered that all seven stone beads were indeed alive. He immediately erased their nascent consciousness. Fearing he might be sought out again, he transformed the seven stone spheres, changing their spherical shape and crafting them into seven long blades inlaid with the stone beads, continuing his research.

Upon seeing this, Xu Zhi was speechless. What about the promised Dragon Balls? The elder, affected by his interference, started deceiving himself, and the worldline had changed.

However, he wasn’t too concerned, as this was a brand-new world. Even if left to develop naturally, those seven stone beads likely wouldn't have become Dragon Balls capable of granting wishes. Could they grant wishes? No, they couldn't. They could only use clay cells to act as prosthetics, organs, and self-healing bodies, functioning as life spheres.

Stone Star, Year 201.

The seven long blades, dubbed the “Seven Deadly Sins,” were infused with radioactive energy and true qi. They rapidly grew adhesive cells, possessing limb regeneration and terrifying life-creating power, and were worshipped by the High Green Star empire as gods of regeneration and flesh.

The following year, the High Green Star people experienced a technological explosion. They developed televisions and automobiles, utilizing radioactive energy in conjunction with metal machinery, thoroughly entering the Industrial Age and departing from the agricultural feudal era. This drastically reduced the need for manual labor.

Stone Star, Year 204.

As slaves, the White Dwarves were no longer needed for their labor. Their treatment worsened, and they were increasingly beaten and scolded. The White Dwarves gradually felt their doom approaching. They rose up in resistance in the slums, secretly organizing a rebel army, but were swiftly and brutally suppressed by the great general. Having no further use, the White Dwarves, who had helped the High Green Star people through the difficult period of initial accumulation and rise, were directly annihilated by the ruthless elder. The White Dwarves completely vanished from history.

The Red Beetles, the size of a finger, weak and powerless, posed no threat and continued to be used as convenient communication devices.

Seeing this, Xu Zhi sighed. “This is the reality of history. The threatening White Dwarf race was directly eliminated… while the extremely weak Red Beetle race survived because of their weakness.”

Sometimes, weakness can be a means of self-preservation.

Mid-civilization era simulation complete. Do you want to save?

“Save it, name it…” Xu Zhi nodded, sitting in the hall, leisurely taking a bite of fruit. “Civilization’s Revival: The Seven Deadly Sins.”

Stone Star, Year 212.

A meteor carrying an unknown virus fell into the ice cap of the East Ocean; the C-virus erupted. Initially resembling the flu, it continuously mutated, infected, and turned people into zombies, attacking humans. The pandemic was severe, turning the entire planet into a living hell.

Xu Zhi was speechless on the spot. He consulted Caroline.

“Yes, I introduced the virus 200 years into the future,” Caroline stated calmly. “It’s our Unified Pillar Virus... Even in the real world 200 years from now, I will truly introduce this virus. This isn't a virtual simulation. If they cannot defeat the earlier version of the virus in 200 years, then I deem them unqualified, and such flawed civilizations hold no value. I will release the virus to destroy them!”

Quite ruthless. Xu Zhi felt helpless.

As the virus spread, a month passed, and the biovirus infected the entire planet. On two-thirds of the land, countless creatures began to develop demonic cores. The increasing number of infected individuals led to a surge in the virus's evolutionary computational power, resulting in a second-generation evolved virus. Despite the elder’s desperate resistance, he could only gradually shrink the surviving cities.

Within three months, the situation became completely dire. The elder abandoned all his people and initiated the Spark Plan, leading the last suicide squad to resist. The legendary figure, a heroic leader throughout his life, died a valiant martyr. Kaka Lin, the High Green Star people’s top combat genius, wept uncontrollably, leading the most elite and hopeful young generation in a breakout. They delved deep underground, entering the final underground encampment, Castle Bidace, meaning 'Last Hope' in High Green. They used the Seven Deadly Sins stone blades to establish high-radiation zones to resist viral infection.

Stone Star, Year 219.

Years passed, and the High Green Star people's intelligent scientists finally found a vaccine serum to combat the virus. They began to establish survivor armies and counterattack the land.

However, resisting infection was only the first step. The High Green Star people soon discovered something even more terrifying: the infected zombies began to develop intelligence, and a third-generation mutated virus emerged. Although it only appeared in a few zombie kings, it still made them feel profoundly helpless. These zombie kings were powerful and highly contagious, and even a single one could cause devastating destruction. Without a new generation of serum developed quickly, the problem of zombie king infection remained unsolved. The zombie kings gradually discovered the existence of human survivors and began a counterattack, putting humanity in dire peril.

A year later, the New Human Project was launched. Xu Zhi saw a simple text, yet it seemed steeped in blood, roars, and wails, reflecting the civilization's final, desperate struggle. They chose to solve the problem indirectly. They removed the stone beads from the blades, using them as energy sources, and crafted massive armor to cover their bodies, avoiding direct combat and infection, thus becoming Marble Mechanical Warriors.

Xu Zhi fell silent. He watched the seven terrifying mechanical suits, each with a massive stone bead embedded in its abdomen, rampaging through the sea of corpses, slaughtering relentlessly, feeling utterly shaken.

“A stone bead civilization. Is this a technology-driven, evolution-response civilization born from the zombie outbreak?” Xu Zhi marveled. “The High Green Star people are a tenacious race! Their backbone is strong; they actually managed to endure to this extent.”

But their good fortune was short-lived; this was their last glimmer of hope.

Stone Star, Year 230.

Although the seven Marble Warriors eliminated the possibility of being infected, they were still overwhelmed by numbers, falling one by one. The High Green Star people became extinct.

At the very end, Xu Zhi saw the distant future 230 years later. The entire planet was desolate. The High Green Star race had risen like a meteor and quickly fallen, yet they had also developed a unique, special civilization – a combat civilization utilizing the energy of stone beads.

Late-civilization era simulation complete. Do you want to save?

“Save it. This civilization worldline shall be named…” Xu Zhi smiled. “Epoch of Destruction: The Stone Bead Warriors.”

A complete worldline, from beginning to end, emerged. This was a single timeline, like a documentary film, where one could drag the progress bar at the bottom to see corresponding scenes from different eras.

Epoch of Rise: The High Green Star People.Epoch of Revival: The Seven Deadly Sins.Epoch of Destruction: The Stone Bead Warriors.

“The Stone Bead Warriors arc is complete... It seems Caroline really wants to compete with me by creating a virus.”

Xu Zhi rubbed his nose. “The situation now is like when I guided the Isodarian civilization back then. I guided Levius and Caroline, and the flourishing Isodarian civilization... Now it’s a similar stone bead civilization, and she’s eagerly wanting to compete with me.” He guessed she had some expectations internally.

“Allowing this planetary civilization to resist the Unified Biovirus is the test... If they can endure, breaking the virus’s convergence in this timeline and shifting to another worldline, that will be success.”

Xu Zhi didn't view it as merely a game, because it was something that would inevitably happen in the future, similar to previous simulations of various civilization eras, just in a new format. For instance, if Xu Zhi did nothing, according to the prophecy, 200 years in the future, it would inevitably develop into the "Stone Bead Warriors" worldline.

Regardless, this universe sandbox civilization was about to begin.

“I have to start simulating and guiding new civilizations again.”

Xu Zhi reluctantly stood up. “I originally wanted to be lazy this time and let her handle it, but who knew it would develop like this... If we’re going to compete, I need to be serious... I definitely can't match a deity in computational power, but I have an advantage: information asymmetry. I need to leverage my knowledge of worlds unknown to her, my vast accumulated experience, to simulate a new civilization if I'm to defeat her.”

Xu Zhi sighed, thought for a moment, and vaguely conceived some new experimental ideas. However, he wasn't in a hurry. He wanted to observe Caroline next door.

At this very moment, Caroline, having seen the potential of the Stone Bead Warriors, was preparing to re-simulate. She saw the Ultra-Ancient God approaching and smiled, “You’ve seen it too, haven’t you? Those High Green Star people erased the will of those seven stone beads very early on, so during the subsequent virus outbreak era, in the underground base’s Spark Plan, the Stone Bead Warriors that were created had their seven stone beads artificially controlled, unable to unleash their true potential… What if those stone beads possessed consciousness themselves?”

“They are, in essence, our descendants, the third generation of spherical beings. If they controlled their own combat, it should be incredibly powerful. Perhaps that would be a brand new type of Stone Bead Mechanical Warrior... That would be the true Spark Plan. I want to call those seven stone beads the true... Sparks! Let them control the Stone Bead Warriors themselves.”

Xu Zhi was surprised and asked, “Are you planning to jump back to Year 199 and secretly prevent the elder from erasing the will of the seven stone spheres? To allow them to gain intelligence?”

“Yes,” Caroline nodded. “Because, although I don’t like mechanical armor, there’s no doubt that our Isodarian people are strong in that area. Developing in this direction aligns perfectly with my strengths! I will be the next Ultra-Ancient God, entering their era, shaking their entire century, and in a milk tea shop, guiding some of their wise men, the next Levius and Caroline, to catalyze the magnificent progress of their entire civilization!”

Xu Zhi remained silent.

Caroline continued, “This is the most correct and fastest method: observing the countless possible futures of this world, choosing one, stepping into it, and allowing civilization to achieve true transcendence!”

Xu Zhi was silent for a moment. He clearly understood that this was not a mere simulation! He and Caroline, two individuals debating their theories, whichever was the victor, whichever future they simulated, would become the actual future, the true three-hundred-year history of the entire planet! As another Ultra-Ancient God, he would exist within their history.

He thought for a moment, then turned to leave. “A very impressive plan. If possible, the Spark Warrior civilization you guide... it could be named Cybertron.”

Caroline didn't understand why.

Xu Zhi’s visit to Caroline's side made him feel rather amused. This was truly fascinating! Yet, there was also a sense of urgency. Her assisting the stone bead civilization to develop mechanical civilization was a very powerful path, potentially even allowing them to transform the entire planet in the later stages!

This put him in a slightly awkward position. He was the original creator god, who had simulated so many epochs of civilization. What if, now, when competing to simulate the world civilization of this single planet, he couldn't outperform her and was utterly outmatched?

“Waiting online, it's quite urgent.” Thinking this, Xu Zhi’s face darkened slightly.

However, his eyes flickered. “Mechanical civilization is not my strong suit. I definitely can't beat her when it comes to Stone Bead Mechanical Warriors. I'd rather focus on advancing the High Green Star people...”

“If that's the case, since the future of this civilization is mine to guide freely, I won't hold back. After all, if I make a mistake, I can always restart...”

Xu Zhi thought for a moment and clicked on the worldline he had just simulated. He instantly jumped to Stone Star, Year 198, the era when the seven stone spheres had just been discovered. The scene was the same as when he had appeared before.

At this moment, Xu Zhi stood before the stone tray, observing the seven Dragon Balls.

“This is...?” Xu Zhi muttered to himself. “The third generation of the entire race? Possessing some special radiation source?”

“The entire race?” The elder got goosebumps all over upon hearing these words. “Guards! Guards! Who are you?!”

Footsteps sounded! A group of combat-type High Green Star warriors emerged. Xu Zhi gently waved his hand, and they instantly collapsed.

This time, Xu Zhi was different from before. He suddenly turned to the elder. “Who I am is not important. What’s important is that your world is heading for destruction. On December 12th, Year 212, the end of the world will come. An unknown small meteor will strike the ice cap, an unknown infectious virus will erupt, and after less than a century of struggle, the High Green Star people will be wiped out.”

“Damn it!” the elder couldn't help but curse in a native dialect. “What nonsense are you spouting? Are you some kind of alien, an extraterrestrial higher civilization, given your appearance?” No one would believe it if told their world was ending and would be destroyed in the future.

Xu Zhi spoke calmly. “Tomorrow, in Qishan Town, there will be a small-scale White Dwarf riot. After it’s suppressed, seventeen White Dwarves will die.”

“On the third day from now, your confidant bodyguard will die of illness. It will seem like an accident, but your mood at the time will be very bad, and you will choose to investigate thoroughly, discovering it was due to a ridiculous crime of passion.”

With every word Xu Zhi spoke, the elder, seated in his chair, felt his large, plump body tremble slightly. This was too bizarre... For someone to suddenly appear out of nowhere and tell him about events that were about to happen in the future, it sent an unknown chill down his spine.

“You can verify these things over the next few days,” Xu Zhi said calmly. “Let me tell you about the future. In the next few decades, there will be no war, which means the High Green Star people will lack pressure and motivation. Although civilization will still advance, it will be very slow. Therefore, you need war. You even need to find ways to instigate the White Dwarves to rise up and fight against you.”

“That’s impossible!” the elder declared firmly.

Xu Zhi calmly looked at the large, plump elder. He appeared very old, but he actually had a long life ahead of him. In the future, he would even die leading a suicide squad to break through a zombie siege for the new generation, not from illness.

Xu Zhi ignored him and continued, “How to develop your civilization more rapidly—that’s up to you. I’ve already told you about the future apocalypse. If you, the rulers of the High Green Star people in this era, don’t believe me, you will pay a terrible price... And you have focused too much on the stone beads, neglecting to tap into your own abilities, your physical characteristics, and even your intelligence. I also hope you can disperse these seven stone beads in various locations, numbering them one to seven, allowing major factions to vie for them, igniting conflicts. This would ensure that combat-oriented talents no longer waste their abilities, and they can be called martial artists.”

“Once all seven stone beads are collected, there should also be a reward: wishes can be granted. For example, healing injuries, bringing the dead back to life, and, by accumulating energy within the stone beads, fulfilling minor desires.”

The elder was greatly alarmed. Healing injuries and bringing the dead back to life were precisely his future ideas for the stone spheres. He hadn’t expected this person to know.

But...

“As for wish-granting, how is that possible?” the elder asked. “Will my future self manage to achieve that?”

“No, you won't be able to, but I can help you... You already have some insights into structuring the internal mechanisms of these stone beads, but what if we add this?” Xu Zhi handed over Moe's Earth Dragon Vein System.

“Wish Power?” The elder’s eyes widened, trembling. In the lines and textures of the diagram, he vaguely sensed infinite potential.

“Yes, Wish Power,” Xu Zhi said. “Once many people desire to obtain them, the stone beads will naturally collect the dreams and Wish Power of countless individuals. As long as all seven are collected, wishes can be granted. The entire world would be consumed by this fervor. Over time, many dreams can be realized—wealth, power, and healing injuries can all be achieved.”

“And these seven stone beads, with their dragon veins, will condense beings that will likely be dragon-shaped.”

Xu Zhi pondered for a moment. “Let’s call these seven stone beads the Dragon Balls.”