Chapter 589: Adult, the Times Have Changed

Chapter 1

At this moment, the players were still diligently toiling in the Animal Path.

It must be said, however, that they were all incredibly dedicated individuals.

Previously, in traditional online games, they had tirelessly ground through daily quests, indifferent to the boredom and tedium. Now, they were training just as relentlessly. While the first tier of cultivators had previously reached Tier 4, they were now at Tier 5.

The most elite among them were even at the peak of Tier 5, on the verge of breaking through to Tier 6.

This was not only due to their efforts, but also because the "Asura Clan," as set by Xu Zhi, was a rapidly evolving, short-lived race.

Their cultivation speed was fast, but their lifespans were short. Due to evolution significantly reducing their longevity, while a typical Heavenly Emperor might live for eight hundred years, their average lifespan as Heavenly Emperors was only eighty years.

Inside their self-built tiled and thatched huts.

“Brothers, those chemistry guys over there have already started establishing their sect...”

“We’ve barely managed to get this much uranium, and it was from that high-radiation zone in the Hell Secret Realm... Good thing some of the veterans had foresight back then.”

“Don't panic, don't let this small amount deceive you. The nuclear reactor it will power will be terrifyingly potent! Enough for all of us to cultivate orthodox Buddhism!”

“Damn it! The next batch of new players is coming in soon. I wonder if anyone will pick such an unpopular profession?”

“I don't know, but we’ve already issued a notice: This Buddhist sect welcomes physics masters to join and revitalize us!”

“Anyway, most high-level talents who study advanced physics usually have receding hairlines, so shaving it off is no big deal.”

A group of people, dressed in lab coats, were tinkering with test tubes and whispering to each other.

Their hearts sank; they felt they were facing too many difficulties.

But there was nothing they could do; they were already accustomed to the hardcore nature of it. They could only hope that many physics masters among the next batch of players would hear the call and come to revitalize their Buddhist lineage!

After all, it was one of China's two ancient divine systems, and they welcomed Chinese players with aspirations.

Footsteps.

Suddenly, a figure silently appeared in the hut: a majestic middle-aged man, whose oppressive aura was as vast as the sea and deeply sacred. He coldly asked, “Are you by any chance the legendary Asura Path? What are you researching?”

This Heavenly Emperor spoke in the language of the Animal Path.

The surrounding players didn't react immediately. Although they were learning the language, they hadn't mastered it all. Fortunately, a player truly proficient in the Animal Path language stepped forward.

He quietly started a live stream.

“Are you a Heavenly Emperor from the Mortal Path?” this player directly asked.

The Heavenly Emperor nodded, looking at them. He had heard tales of this mysterious race and calmly said, with his hands clasped behind his back, “The aura about you is somewhat similar to that restricted zone in the Mortal Path.”

“Restricted zone?”

The players didn't immediately react, as news from the Mortal Path didn't reach their location.

Is this a new main quest?

A class quest after a job change?

After all, traditional online game quests often had an old NPC saying, “Young lads, the aura of your profession is quite similar to an ancient place. I suggest you go check it out...”

Such cliché online game plots were all too common.

The Heavenly Emperor glanced at them and didn't conceal anything, as there was nothing to hide. He briefly described the current situation:

Turmoil in the Dark Restricted Zones.

Ancient taboos emerging.

Dramatic changes in the world.

The restricted zones also contained ancient divine sources, translucent, gelatinous amber, sealing unknown ancient creatures, possibly even slumbering taboos, as well as some strange branches and fruits.

The players then became thoroughly excited. “Could you describe their shapes?”

The Heavenly Emperor described them one by one.

They exchanged glances and discussed amongst themselves.

Those clothes, somewhat similar to Chinese styles, might actually be related to ancient China, perhaps some ancient people...

Even some of the sealed artifacts had a Chinese aesthetic, especially certain branches and fruits, which resembled the fruits of the Bodhi tree in the Underworld?

Could this be an immortality elixir from the divine source?

If it were before, seeing such a traditional fantasy xianxia world with its vast and magnificent setting would surely have thrilled them, prompting them to exclaim:

“Isn't this just an ancient Chinese xianxia world?!”

But now...

“My lord, times have changed.”

“Have you watched ‘Into Science’ or ‘Legendary Stories’?”

“We grew up watching these kinds of scientific de-mystification programs.”

So-called ancient mythical restricted zones, shrouded in ill omens, with people suffering misfortune in their later years—aren't those just radiation zones?

That's just how radiation is!

They all died silently.

What about the strange tales of the Celestial Master of Origin lineage, all dying tragically at home in their later years, encountering inexplicable disasters, and having high rates of cancer in old age? That's perfectly normal.

What about the Desolate Ancient Sacred Body?

A body radiating light, illuminating all ages—it must be a heavily mutated radioactive body, genetically inherited.

What about the Innate Sacred Body Dao Embryo?

Most likely, it's also a qi-inherited body, passed down from the descendants of two powerful Dao cultivators with abundant inner energy.

One must look at all things through a scientific lens!

“To be honest, those ancient restricted zones are related to our ancestors.” Finally, a player stepped forward. “Observe this move.”

“Great Sun Tathagata Palm.”

Light bloomed in his palm. He lightly pressed it against a nearby plant, and instantly, a patch of the plant's bark withered, completely devoid of life.

“Indeed, it's this aura!” The Heavenly Emperor's eyes lit up, his heart stirring with excitement. He clearly sensed that no innate talent had been used.

This was an ancient method that anyone could cultivate.

The players, in turn, grew somewhat excited. This native Heavenly Emperor clearly hadn't seen much of the world!

If he got this excited over such a simple trick, what would happen if he saw the qi cultivation lineage next door, who could fly in the sky, conjure fire, water, and explosions? It would be beyond him!

They immediately became interested in putting on a show.

After all, they had previously, like the qi cultivation players, researched flashy moves to attract new players.

“The move you just saw, when cultivated to its extreme, can suppress all things with a single palm strike.”

“Now, observe another move: Buddha's Realm in Hand.”

He slightly extended his hand, and a small golden temple vaguely appeared in his palm, shining like a light bulb. “Just like this Buddha's Realm, those restricted zones you saw, untouched for thousands of years, are also a type of Buddhist land... merely a corrupted, dark Buddhist land. True Buddha is a regenerative force of light.”

“Buddhist land?”

“Those death restricted zones are a destructive Buddhist land?”

“And there's a corresponding land of light?”

Listening to this, it sounded as magnificent as ancient mythology!

The Heavenly Emperor was deeply shaken. He hadn't imagined this ancient inheritance could be so terrifying. It seemed people of his era had never truly embarked on the path of genuine cultivation.

Given this, to confront the dark entities of the Dark Restricted Zones and the dark turmoil, it would be necessary to cultivate such a practice to produce powerful contemporary Emperors.

“I wonder if it's possible...” The Great Emperor exclaimed, slowly cupping his fists, his expression solemn as he faced the Asura Path cultivators around him.

“You want to learn? We can certainly teach you; we teach without discrimination.” The players were overjoyed. If they could rope a Heavenly Emperor into this, would they still have to worry about cultivation resources?

They quickly pulled out a book compiled for them by other players: *Introduction to Physical Buddhism: From Uranium-235 Preparation to Depression*.

The Heavenly Emperor was completely moved.

Such a peerless secret manual was handed over so easily. Yet, his expression turned strange. “Wait, isn't the power in your hands also a destructive force? Didn't you say this represents a light source land of vitality?”

Players: “.....”

His face instantly darkened, and he couldn't help but shed tears, holding a flask. “Oh, great one! It’s not that we don't want to! It's because we currently lack the energy to cultivate Buddhism. You know, cultivating this path requires vast resources. Without resources, we can't research the power of our ancestors, which is a benevolent radiation.”

“Look at this bottle, sulfuric acid! Bah! Abyssal Divine Liquid!” He cried with snot and tears. “Do you know how long it took us to purify this stuff in the wilderness? Without these basic materials, we can't create a nuclear reaction at all...”

Heavenly Emperor: “......”

He was momentarily dumbfounded.

He just felt... the style was a bit off.

The Heavenly Emperor pondered for a moment, then directly said, “How about I take you to the Mortal Path to see the ancient mythical restricted zones? To see what you call the ancient Buddhist-Dao lineage. Are you willing?”

The group of players exchanged glances, instantly ecstatic.

It's done.

Their Buddhist lineage's class dungeon was about to open!

And it was a map of the Mortal Path—that's no small feat! It was a real human society, with beautiful young ladies in ancient costumes and various green-robed uniforms. Just thinking about it was wonderful.

They knew their 'planner dad' (the game designers) would balance the classes. Once they got to those restricted zones, those radiation zones, would they still have to worry about cultivation resources?