Chapter 594: Creating the Era of Dao Fruit Tree (Two-in-One)

Truthfully, these dark forbidden zones were quite easy to create.

Forbidden mountains, pitch-black desolate lands, and all sorts of bizarre phenomena—even the ancient remnants sealed within lakes—were nothing more than superficial displays. They were more for show than for actual use.

The radiation from the divine source amber was real, but the decayed limbs on its surface were merely a decorative "coating" or pattern, having long since rotted away with time. For the so-called forbidden zones, I merely needed to establish them as heavily irradiated areas. Radiated areas are inherently strange, prone to deformities, mutations, and festering, so no further elaborate measures were needed.

However, how should I create the ancient beings of these forbidden zones—those unparalleled, heaven-defying figures? They were all peerless Heavenly Emperors with exaggerated combat power, making them difficult to establish! Xu Zhi knew he didn't have that many capable individuals under his command. The inner world before him, the small magic cube of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, constituted his direct Zerg army, but it was still in its formative stages...

After much deliberation, he found it challenging. Previously, he had created an eighteen-level arcade hell to gather faith, where figures like Jue Wushen and Su Huanzhen didn't require genuine combat prowess. By the time they truly needed to manifest before others, they would have likely accumulated enough spiritual power to become real, no longer mere illusions. Their strength was proportional to how powerful people perceived them to be—a true "I think, therefore I am" scenario. However, the stronger they needed to be, the more spiritual power they would need to absorb over a longer period, as energy was equivalent.

But what about the current situation? The beings in these forbidden zones had no time to develop! These newly created ancient beings of the forbidden zones were soon to emerge and wage a world-shaking war. They not only needed to fight but also to hold an advantage, even crushing their opponents!

"However, this is ultimately part of refining the world, making it more dynamic. The eighteen-level arcade hell is already fostering a host of peerless beings... and if these forbidden zones also flourish, they too will give rise to unparalleled entities." The portable world within the Nine Revolutions Profound Art was his true foundation.

"But it's truly a challenge to nurture this direct guard force of ants within my inner world," he muttered, blinking helplessly.

Thud, thud, thud. Xu Zhi walked through the dark, deep mountains. Radiation was everywhere, alongside emerald vines, pitch-black soil, and a damp, gloomy environment that evoked a chilling draft.

"I do need to create some beings for these forbidden zones... However, unlike the others, these shouldn't be manifestations of faith. They ought to be real living creatures," Xu Zhi mused for a few seconds. Because how would faith gather? It requires people to think of him, worship him, praise him, fear him, and dread him. These ancient beings of the forbidden zones had long been forgotten by the passage of time. While the arcade hell was manageable due to its one-on-one setup, a worldwide scale would be too vast. Collecting the faith of countless beings would necessitate constructing dragon's ley lines, so that path was not feasible. As for the Dragon Pearl? Its mother was the entire planet itself, so naturally, it had no such concerns.

"They can only be tangible, real living beings. But that won't deter me; after all, I am a knowledgeable ultra-ancient god," he affirmed.

Xu Zhi, deep in thought, squatted slightly and touched the damp, black, radiation-soaked soil, which was mixed with numerous withered branches. "As a Ninth-Tier ultra-ancient god, in the eyes of outsiders, I am the oldest being from the most ancient epoch, having lived for at least twenty to thirty thousand years... While it's a role, I genuinely possess twenty to thirty thousand years of experience."

All worlds developed simultaneously. Yet, the combined duration of all these worlds added up to twenty to thirty thousand years. The more ancient a being, the broader their perspective and the wider their scope of knowledge. Having witnessed the systematic civilizations of world after world, they could naturally resolve any difficulty with ease. As their understanding deepened, the world gradually ceased to hold any secrets for them. Although Xu Zhi had not yet broken through to the Ninth-Tier, nor had he truly lived for tens of thousands of years, nor did he possess the intellectual depth of top Eighth-Tier powerhouses like Medusa, Di Qi, or Caroline... His perspective, however, was the broadest. This was because he had established a sandbox simulation civilization system, enabling the inhabitants within to forge new paths, overcome obstacles, and continuously interact with these beings. He also constantly absorbed their systems, thoughts, and wisdom, effectively standing on the shoulders of giants.

Whoosh! Xu Zhi extended his hand. The surplus magic cubes he had created reappeared, slowly swirling and floating in the air. These were additional magic cubes previously made for arcade beings like Jue Wushen. Now, he intended to add more creatures to the reincarnation mechanism, specifically special-mode beings.

Xu Zhi was about to attempt something new. He planned to create unique ancient races within reincarnation, existing outside the conventional Six Paths of Reincarnation.

"It seems I'll have to spend several more years researching here... Once this envisioned species is created, it won't be inferior to other demon core lineages or the humans of the desolate ancient inner world." He directly accessed the gene bank and propagated a common Bodhi ancient tree.

"Integrate demon core genes into it." Xu Zhi adjusted the potion, murmuring softly, "Those previous Bodhi trees were merely radiation-affected trees, planted like crops; they were hardly true Bodhi trees."

"Demon cores transmit and store knowledge. This is the true Bodhi fruit tree—under such an ancient tree, one can achieve enlightenment overnight, experiencing a profound revelation."

Whoosh! Xu Zhi integrated demon core genes into the Bodhi fruit tree. After several trials and adjustments, he intended for the core of its original star-like fruits to transform into demon cores, concentrating vast amounts of knowledge. One could eat a fruit and chew its demon core. Not only would it provide ample energy, but the knowledge stored within it would transform into a divine thought, surging into the brain.

This concept, though building on existing foundations and relatively simple in theory, presented many practical difficulties to overcome. It took Xu Zhi eight years, coupled with the ultra-fast processing of his demon core chip, to fully realize it. Xu Zhi accomplished all of this.

Soon, vast amounts of cultivation knowledge were injected into these apple-red fruit demon cores. The fruits transformed into advanced intelligent computers, storing knowledge and performing computations, much like an ancient tree laden with numerous smartphones.

"This isn't enough. If they merely store knowledge, then the computing power of the demon core fruits would be irrelevant."

"I want every fruit on this tree to function like a neuron, engaging in mutual computation to form a single, massive brain!"

Years passed—one year, then five. Gradually, through continuous trials and failures, the ancient tree's branches grew increasingly eerie. The form of the tree began to transform. Initially, it resembled a lush, rounded broccoli, verdant and vibrant. It gradually transformed into a demonic tree akin to a brain, its leaves largely withered, leaving bare, smooth branches that twisted and coiled like milky-white tofu, towering over the landscape.

Thump! Thump! True energy pulsed through it. It resembled a pulsating brain. Every branch resembled a branching nerve, and each fruit was like a neuron, storing information and memories. It was as if a mysterious brain, rooted deep in the earth, was slowly pulsating, resembling the heart of an ancient god or demon—an extremely bizarre and unsettling sight.

"This should suffice..." Xu Zhi frowned, alternately glancing at his notebook and the tree, meticulously recording his experimental notes. "I've embedded extensive knowledge and some memories into its various chips... It is an ancient entity that has forgotten much after slumbering for so long."

Xu Zhi gently flipped his palm, and on the magic cube, he inscribed the designation "X1000" to denote its unique structural properties. The ancient forbidden zones also served as Xu Zhi's testing grounds. He didn't research these extraordinary and bizarre creatures solely to create opponents for them; it was also for exploration and development. If these beings truly flourished, he might introduce them into a new world sandbox or utilize them for other purposes. The forbidden zone itself was merely a testing ground. Concurrently, it served the purpose of cultivating an even stronger direct personal guard.

Xu Zhi turned without hesitation and departed. "I've given them impressions from some interesting memory fragments; the rest they can piece together themselves."

The colossal brain continued to slowly pulsate within the deepest parts of the forbidden zone's dense forest.

Thump! Thump! Blood vessels, thick as wriggling snakes, pulsed across the grotesque brain. The neuron demon core fruits slowly converged, like nerves intertwining within a mind.

"Who am I..." A faint, ethereal voice resonated from the fleshy brain. After a long pause, it seemed to recall something—a few fragmented memories.

"...I am the Lord of the Revolving Peak of Youshan from the Chaotic Ancient Era. I once contended with that individual for mastery over the path of 'reincarnation,' but regrettably lost by a single move, leaving only my brain. For countless ages, I have remained coiled deep within this forbidden zone."

"In this current era, he has become the Lord of Reincarnation, overseeing the Six Paths."

"This world has endured so much destruction that only the Six Paths and six races remain. To think that in ancient times, there were over a hundred races spread across the vast world—how glorious our Revolving Peak of Youshan clan once was!" It sighed with deep emotion, glimpses of fragments appearing in its mind.

"In that era, I and that individual were closest to the laws of reincarnation... Though defeated, I still possess mastery over a portion of the incomplete rules of reincarnation. I can still manifest as half a cycle of reincarnation." The voice momentarily weakened.

"It's a new era again. I've slumbered for so long that my cultivation has become this weak... I must be more vigilant and rise anew."

Several days later.

A mutated, radiation-affected leopard passed by the strange brain-tree. Feeling an immense allure from the neuron fruits clustered upon it, it couldn't resist swallowing one whole. It chewed the fruit's core. Immediately, the leopard convulsed and collapsed to the ground. It felt its simple brain being overwhelmed by a massive stream of consciousness, as various miraculous cultivation methods appeared, and a profound revelation surged through it, its own awareness replaced by another's profound experience. The leopard slowly rose again and began to walk into the distance.

"Go forth, a fragment of my being. Experience a glorious lifetime through reincarnation, then return to my brain before death... This, too, is a form of reincarnation."

"In this mortal realm, I practice a supreme method—fragmenting my own memory and transforming into countless avatars. With just a single body, one can embody reincarnation."

"I, too, am a small cycle of reincarnation."

"I was one move short back then, but in this life, Lord of Reincarnation, I intend to challenge you again!"

Xu Zhi, now clad in a black Yama robe, was already exploring another forbidden zone. Xu Zhi didn't want to create too many of these unique beings, but he did want to diversify them. This single tree, capable of replicating hundreds, ensured that the forbidden zone's inherent strength, combat power, and eerie atmosphere would appear flawless to outsiders. With the flourishing of the Buddhist and Taoist systems, a grand era had dawned. As others rose, so too would these beings, creating fierce sparks of conflict from a shared starting line. Moreover, Xu Zhi had essentially given these forbidden zone entities an unfair advantage.

"That Reincarnation Brain Tree, a Bodhi Dao Fruit Tree from an ancient epoch... is the strongest, originating from the oldest era where the path to immortality was severed. It required significant effort, but those from other eras can be created more casually." Xu Zhi pondered for a moment and then had another idea.

"Since these are ancient forbidden zone powerhouses, it's logical that some would be reduced to mere brains, while others would be utterly fragmented... This not only provides a reason for their weakened state but also allows for a greater number of powerful individuals."

"Right, they can each inherit a portion of scattered remnants." Xu Zhi's form flickered, and he vanished from the spot. "And since it's a forbidden zone, I still need to incorporate elements that match an ancient aesthetic... Anyway, I just need to casually increase their numbers without too much concern. I'll transmit memories to them, and if they perish, it won't matter. After all, beings of the forbidden zones have long exceeded their natural lifespans, and their memories are eroded by time; it's perfectly normal for them not to endure."

"After all, it's not truly monstrous Great Saints who will slumber within, but also beings close to Heavenly Emperors. Thus, there will be both strong and weak opponents."

In a certain forbidden zone.

A mutated ape, its body decaying, rested on a large tree. Clearly, its resistance was weak compared to larger animals, and it was nearing its end. Suddenly, it felt a vague instinct, as if something in the distant mountains was drawing it. It slowly made its way, and after half a day, in a pitch-black fissure in the earth, it discovered a furry ape remnant encased in orange-yellow congealed amber. It instinctively reached out to touch it. Its entire body convulsed, and it collapsed, unconscious. When it awoke again, it had inherited a collection of ancient memories. Its intelligence was very low, and its thoughts were vague. "I received... some inheritance... the most ancient tribal ape-man... Human King... two epochs ago... Heavenly Mandate Emperor..." It vaguely saw images of ancient tribal apes. They resembled Australopithecus: hairy, hunched, with long black arms, fighting and roaring. They eventually led the ancient apes of that era to rise and cultivate. As epochs passed, these ancient apes evolved through cultivation, shedding their fur.

"I inherited... one of them... there are four in total... if we merge... we will regain the most complete inheritance. I am... the Long-Armed Ape..."

In another location. Deep within the dark mountains, an old, adult monkey stooped, leaning on a long staff. It was clearly extraordinary, gazing up at the sky.

"I am the Red-Butted Horse Monkey... are there three others?"

In an even more fractured depth. The largest amber stone, towering three times a person's height. A young monkey couldn't resist tumbling into it, but an accident occurred: it became solidified within the amber. Unlike the others, it was completely sealed within the amber before it could even fully emerge. In its hazy memories, it began to draw energy from the amber and cultivate. But gradually, exposed to wind and sun, the entire amber stone became obscured by a layer of murky dust.

The Sumeru Temple of Non-Action.

Xu Yingluo uttered an exclamation of surprise. She looked down at the six-eared monkey before her. This little monkey, originally enlightened within her Buddhist realm and one of the few intelligent creatures under her command, had developed organ mutations. To her surprise, it had entered a nearby forbidden zone a few days prior and, like herself, acquired some ancient legacy from within. Coincidentally, a Buddhist player, overhearing this, felt a shiver run down their spine as they looked at the six-eared monkey. They never imagined that Chinese myths would truly have such correlations.

Online, a storm of discussion immediately erupted.

"Brothers, even the Four Great Monkeys from ancient Chinese mythology have revived!"

"Quick, let's analyze this!"

"As expected, the formidable individual who penned Journey to the West back then was truly extraordinary! It's highly probable they had heard similar myths before committing them to writing."

"Ahhh! This is absolutely fascinating!"

Xu Zhi, already in other forbidden zones and draped in an imperial robe, recorded new special designations, all starting with 'X'. He also sought out various mutated races, imbuing them with legacies to make them believe they were ancient beings brought back to life. This was a strategy of casting a wide net, ensuring that at least some among them would rise to prominence. (88106)