Chapter 676: Crystal Wall Bookshelf

This, it must be said, gave Xu Zhi a grand vision for a new world.

He had been thinking about what kind of new world sandbox to create. To be honest, with his development so far, he already possessed most conventional world types: the Six Paths, the Lava Earth, and the Miniature Universe. These three worlds covered the majority of world sandbox models. As for the fourth world, Emperor Qi? Heh heh... It was flying further and further into the vast cosmos, serving as the Zerg's scout ship, which Xu Zhi habitually ignored.

“Although the deductions for the Ninth-Tier cannot stop, it’s also time to simultaneously establish my fourth sandbox world elsewhere.” Xu Zhi looked at Medusa, stroking her hair. Where would he place her in the future? Most likely in the new world. Therefore, a new world still needed to be established.

And now, the Soul World presented itself as a good option. What made it good? First, its structure was vastly different. Second, it had a structure similar to the Eternal Life of the God of Death, a mental universe world. This would be very helpful for Xu Zhi in the future, once he broke through to godhood and created his own Eternal Life of the God of Death, a mental universe within his mind. It was like an early external attempt. Furthermore, there was even the possibility in the future of directly transferring this demon core universe into his own mental universe. What did this equate to? Creating his mental universe world in advance.

“A mental sandbox? A non-material soul world? But what is real and what is fake? For example, how do we know this Earth isn’t fabricated? Perhaps we are all just a virtual Earth within an online game? Perhaps we are all souls, or even programs?”

Truth and falsehood are sometimes relative. For the beings in the Soul Universe, they themselves are corporeal creatures with substance, capable of physical interaction. If various physical constants and collision reactions are set for this world, precise down to the particle level, it would be difficult to discern what is real and what is fake. Unless they ventured outside, essentially entering a higher-dimensional spacetime. Like the famous “brain in a vat” thought experiment, how do you know the external world you touch isn’t fabricated?

“Now, I can carefully study them and their artificial creation of demon core brains. If their experiments succeed, I can also create an artificial demon core brain in a bottle to construct my new world sandbox.”

Xu Zhi peered through the entire Underworld, at the group of gods within. They were constantly discussing feasibility, yet remained unaware of the miracle they were creating, or the terribly magnificent universe they were about to bring forth.

He said faintly: “At best, they would use this to create a spiritual soul world, only capable of absorbing existing biological souls from the outside for reproduction. It would be, at most, a dwelling place similar to the Underworld, just like Caroline’s Eternal Life of the God of Death. It wouldn’t be able to create a genesis, to spontaneously generate species, but I can!”

“A universe in a bottle?”

Xu Zhi quietly stared at them, licked his lips, then suddenly turned his head to look at the shelves in the room, where stacks of neatly ordered books were arranged.

He thought, “Soon, the densely packed, neatly arranged books on this shelf will be replaced by neatly aligned glass bottles, each containing a universe. Countless demon core brain bottles, forming a crystal wall system universe—no, a crystal wall system bookshelf?”

The bookshelves in the study would be filled with glass bottles, each containing a universe. The image was somewhat chilling, yet also magnificent and vast, grand, dazzling, as if a true Creator God.

Every sandbox was evolving, accumulating richer knowledge, and ascending to higher dimensions the more he played. Xu Zhi realized he truly resembled the Creator in myths and legends.

“I’m really pushing my own orchard to its limits,” Xu Zhi murmured, his expression turning strange. “But thinking about it, it really does resemble the terrifying plan of a mad scientist.”

In the Underworld, the group continued their discussions. They were unaware that they were already under strict surveillance. Caroline, however, had no intention of staying with them; she merely presented a concept and left them to organize it themselves.

Following this, god after god continued their research. Meanwhile, Armin and the Alchemy Emperor returned to their alchemy laboratories to begin research experiments on the demon cores.

“I’m leaving now,” she said. “I’ll continue researching this world’s civilization, and also meet some people—for example, to see Daojun’s body, to visit the group of muscular women at the Martial God Palace, and to see the legendary Hermes, the consciousness born from a portion of the remains of that fallen Ninth-Tier god.”

“The consciousness of a fallen Ninth-Tier?” Her expression tightened, becoming extremely solemn, even utterly shocked. “The remains of the fallen Ninth-Tier were used by the Ancient God to create reincarnation, and the fallen consciousness is here?”

“Back then, the Ancient God’s Ninth-Tier friend and fellow Daoist in this world was called Hermes? Is this its remnant soul?”

This was a terrifying secret. Yet the natives of this world remained unaware of the terrifying truth. The fallen Ninth-Tier, Hermes’ remnant soul, the ancient friend of the Ancient God—it was worth her seeing. What a terrifyingly powerful ancient existence that must be! She hoped to catch a glimpse of the unparalleled grace of this ancient, eternal being.

“And I will take his place, becoming the Ancient God’s fellow Daoist and protector, breaking through to the Ninth-Tier to face crises—is this truly possible?” She then left the area. The Six Paths were too vast; she still needed to thoroughly explore them. As the next-generation heir cultivated by the Ancient God, the burden on her was immense, and she feared failing expectations.

“Since you’re a guest, can we take a photo together?”

At this moment, Cute Girl approached, holding a black camera, seemingly to divert attention.

“Aren’t you afraid I’ll secretly kill you?” Caroline’s face showed exasperation as she said coldly, “Mother Earth Green Vine, you are an important foundation of this world. If I kidnapped you and threatened your life, that terrifying weapon might not dare to be used again.”

Cute Girl shook her head, a serious yet tentative expression on her face. “However, I refuse?”

Caroline: “…”

“Come on, let’s take a photo.”

Cute Girl was naturally outgoing and full of playful banter. She pulled the bewildered Caroline into a pose.

“Yay!” She wore the Mother Earth Empress’s golden hundred-phoenix imperial robe and a glazed crown. Gently, she pulled Caroline’s arm and made a V-sign. Then, she adjusted her pose again, picking up a folding fan with an ethereal, elegant demeanor. “Emperor Sakura, dear, open your umbrella; it’ll add more character. As the greatest tyrant in history, remember to show off your murderous aura. Taking a photo with gentleness—one soft, one hard—will be very beautiful.”

“Cheese!”

Caroline: “!!!” Her face darkened. Caroline never imagined that the scene of her, as a scientist on the Lava Earth back then, constantly being pulled by passersby for photos, would ever be replayed.