Chapter 9: Searching for the Age of Giants

It was regrettable.

Xu Zhi was eating at the time, chatting with Chen Xi, enjoying a sweet, nutritious, and delicious farmhouse meal. He was quite happy, even able to tease the girl. He wasn't free to pay attention to him... and he didn't want to.

Life destined to die of old age would eventually do so; no one was immortal. Even the once valiant Queen of the Zerg couldn't achieve it. Otherwise, she wouldn't have tried to break through the barren land before her lifespan ended, venturing into the legendary realm of immortality to seek a chance at extending her life.

No species could live forever. Even Xu Zhi, the 'farmer' in this context, was now terminally ill, unsure when his stomach cancer would reach its late stage, potentially leading to sudden death at any moment, without even the peace of a natural old age.

“And this king of the fields? He truly had a happy, glorious life, a focal point of all, and future generations would write vast epic hymns for him. I even envied him greatly.”

Xu Zhi smiled.

He lived a legendary life that even Xu Zhi found enviable, filled with great achievements, pioneering the origin of civilization. In his tribe, he married over three hundred beautiful wives throughout his life. What more could he possibly regret?

Nothing at all.

If Xu Zhi could have transformed into one of those miniature people, to put it bluntly, he would have entered that world himself, living a carefree, blissful life, just enjoying himself to the fullest.

In Xu Zhi's view, there was nothing regrettable about such a life ending. For him, a terminally ill man, it was already immensely satisfying.

“Come on, let's go to the city to buy a washing machine.”

Xu Zhi stood at the courtyard gate, notably stroking his thick, dark hair.

“Brother Xu Zhi, let's take my electric bike!” Chen Xi smiled, scratching her head, and said innocently, “Actually, I have many professional questions I want to ask you. After all, you're a senior from our university, and I'm studying the same major as you!”

“That's great,” Xu Zhi smiled.

Xu Zhi hadn't bought a car. After all, he only had a few hundred thousand in savings from his previous job, and buying a good car would have almost depleted them. He hadn't chosen to buy one then, and chemotherapy had since drained most of his savings. Now, he only had a bicycle in his yard, so he naturally had to ride the girl's electric bike when going out.

Then, Xu Zhi and the girl rode the electric bike to the city, happy and ready for some shopping. They bought appliances to improve his farmhouse life. After all, it was a modern city now, and living without electrical appliances at home was quite uncomfortable!

This time, he acted very casually, believing that Gilgamesh would be as calm as he was the first time. If one couldn't resist aging, one should quietly accept death, just as Xu Zhi himself had chosen, enjoying the last moments of his life.

However, he overlooked one crucial point:

Humans are animals that, once satisfied, are never truly satisfied.

The first time, Gilgamesh had almost resigned himself to death. But after living a second life, he was ecstatic. Having experienced the fear of death and then rebirth, he began to thoroughly dread death. This heroic monarch desired to live a third life.

In the 102nd year of the Sumerian Dynasty, Gilgamesh was 142 years old. This legendary king, who had ruled for over a century and already possessed three times the lifespan of an ordinary citizen, began to show signs of aging at this moment. He was utterly shocked and furious, immediately issuing an edict to mobilize the entire nation's resources to search for the Wise Beast.

“A generous reward to anyone who discovers traces of the Wise Beast!”

At the same time, he summoned extraordinary individuals from across the land and began concocting potions and researching dark magic. For a time, countless giant beasts from the primeval forests were slaughtered. Their horns, hearts, and various body parts were used for experiments. The once immensely prosperous Aras, giant beasts, were even driven to near extinction as a result.

History entered the era of the infamous Tyrannical City-States, with black sorcerers running rampant.

In the 113th year of the Sumerian Dynasty, a court black sorcerer used Dora's horns, Whitebeard Grass juice, and organs from various giant beasts to create a longevity potion. It successfully extended Gilgamesh's life, but soon, after multiple doses, it ceased to be effective, and he gradually headed towards an unstoppable decline.

Death was unavoidable for any living creature; not even the greatest hero could escape it!

In the 145th year of the Sumerian Dynasty, another three decades passed, and Gilgamesh felt his life rapidly ebbing away. The majestic old man sat on his throne, his hair completely white, his body covered in wrinkles. He sat motionless, calmly, with his eyes closed.

“My life is about to end, yet I still don't want to die…”

After three days of silent meditation, he finally opened his ancient eyes, choosing to yield to time, and commanded: “Select candidates for the next king!”

The dynasty erupted in turmoil, shaken by the news.

“The great king is going to die!”

“Even the long-lived, immortal Hero King Gilgamesh is reaching the end of his life?”

But for a moment, no one dared to speak. The last time Gilgamesh faced old age, he had made his most trusted son, Aga of Kish, the next leader. Yet, after living his second life, he personally killed his beloved son. Everyone feared becoming the next Aga of Kish. If Gilgamesh were to live again, he would surely kill the next king!

At this point, Gilgamesh, truly the cleverest of kings, directly ordered: “Candidates for the throne shall receive the Blood of Power! They will possess strength comparable to mine, and thus need not fear me! Furthermore, they will gain the right to lead their subordinates and establish a second royal city outside.”

Permission to build a city!

Granting the Blood of Power!

When this news spread, the entire nation was astonished.

“The throne is mine!!!”

“I shall be Sumerian King the Second!”

Countless merchants, slaves, commoners, nobles, and artisans swarmed before the royal palace.

Ultimately, countless individuals, even if they passed the trials, died from being unable to withstand the Blood of Power. Only the forest warrior Enkidu and the grassland barbarian Ishtar survived after receiving the Blood of Power, establishing two city-states. Two future kings possessing the Blood of Power emerged. They were about to take over the royal authority, succeeding the aging Gilgamesh and guiding the next generation of Sumerian civilization.

—Civilization began with Gilgamesh, but it could not end with him.

In the 175th year of the Sumerian Dynasty, with three royal cities standing in parallel and three kings jointly governing the land, the Sumerian city-states entered an unprecedented golden age. Gilgamesh suddenly felt death's complete arrival and began to attempt a final struggle.

He summoned artisans to construct a temple, building a palace for the Wise Beast that was even more exquisite than his own Uruk Royal Palace, dedicating it to the Wise Beast. Inside the enormous stone temple stood a towering, majestic giant statue: a colossal, radiant giant, tens of thousands of feet tall, cradling the young Hero King Gilgamesh in one hand, gazing slightly down upon the vast land, exuding astonishing divine white brilliance.

On this day, he led his ministers and all several million citizens in a national worship ceremony for the Wise Beast, hoping that the great, colossal wise entity would sense his plea.

“If I could only see the Wise Beast once more before I die, see that great and mysterious wise entity one more time, then…” Gilgamesh's aged face was streaked with tears.

Eighty-eight years later, Gilgamesh, on the verge of death, led all his royal ministers to worship at the temple, making a second plea to see the Wise Beast again:

“Great Wise Beast, Gilgamesh wishes to see you again!”