Chapter 1217: Development

After all, the history players had previously speculated—that the God of Destruction created this universe precisely to replace the outside universe—now, unconsciously, just happened to align.

Xu Zhi couldn't obtain the Grand Dao diagram of the outside universe, so he was now trying to find a way around it. "It was always about making the impossible possible," Xu Zhi thought calmly. He considered that truly becoming the God of Destruction should be quite good. "Cultivation inherently has no path; paths are forged, new ones are carved out from the inconceivable."

At this moment, the appearance of the first disciple caused everyone to erupt in excitement. Especially the cultivators, their hearts pounded with disbelief. Yi Mang... That was the legendary most ancient saint. What was the origin of this sect before them?

Was this being lying, a charlatan, or was it truly as he claimed? And what he said—that all cultivation systems in the universe were false, not genuine, and only theirs was true? This was terrifying! It was utterly horrifying!

But only top-tier beings like Sage Mingwen understood the horror of it. Other cultivators found it impressive but, due to their limited perspective, couldn't grasp how terrifying it was; they didn't even know who Yi Mang was.

Nearby, an Emperor-level being whispered, "This is too exaggerated. The Primal Chaos Ancient God Era is too far removed from the present. It's said that the most ancient divine demon saints of that era are already on the verge of death. Could this being be a saint nearing their demise?" "Very likely," Sage Mingwen said in a low voice. "It could be an ancient chaotic divine demon saint, leaving behind their legacy at the final moment of merging with the Dao." "But there's another possibility." "What possibility?"

"Do you remember that ancient mythical tale about Yi Mang, who saw a god in his dream? He dreamed that at the moment of his own birth, there was a divine demon existence even more ancient than him..." "Are you saying!?"

Immediately, all the powerful cultivators were aghast.

As for the mortals, although they knew nothing of this history, they were even more excited. This was because an ordinary rural woman in her forties, who had already missed the age for cultivation, had actually succeeded. "What? That Li Zhuangya actually became a disciple of an immortal?" Many villagers were dumbfounded. "We are all farmers, so why are you so exceptional?"

"What a great fortune, this is a truly great opportunity! Look, even the immortal from the dynasty, the current emperor, has arrived. It's clear that this immortal is an extraordinary being among immortals!" "I know that Li Zhuangya; she's like a ferocious ox, eats a lot, and is excellent at farming. But who would dare marry her? No one could afford to support her. To a normal man, she's like a little chicken—tall and burly, ugly, and no bust! She's practically a tall, muscular man!" "What a regret! I should have proposed to her!"

Villagers from nearby towns and villages cried out in anguish, feeling immense regret and disbelief. They never imagined that an ugly, middle-aged farming woman from their village could become an immortal. Even Emperor Zhaowen and his ministers watched with subtly changing expressions, their minds stunned.

Their aptitude was even worse than that countrywoman's? Immediately, they redoubled their efforts, staring intently at the screen, repeatedly dividing and failing, hoping to find a pattern and achieve some results.

A few more days passed. A white-haired old man burst into laughter, "I think I've found it!" "It's Old Man Fang!" "That old man is great at Chinese chess; he's unbeatable in the whole village. Has he succeeded too?"

Soon, the second outer disciple appeared: Fang Shi. The current emperor and the Grand Imperial Sage looked ashen, feeling very uncomfortable.

Xu Zhi didn't pay them much mind, calmly sipping his tea. After all, their ability to pass the most basic test only proved they had some talent in this area. "Once you've passed, you will begin to learn the True Sound," Xu Zhi said calmly.

He handed them a new Dao artifact, identical in appearance but different in its manifestation: it now had sound. During division, it produced clanging syllables, splitting into a fragmented, incredibly melodious symphony; each division was an unprecedented composition.

"Yes, Master." The two nodded and began to formally study the musical scores. As mortals, they knew nothing and simply assumed this was the way to cultivate. They had no complaints and did exactly as they were told.

Perhaps if Xu Zhi told them that reading and writing were the methods of immortal cultivation, they would follow that too.

After completing these tasks, Xu Zhi planned another retreat, leaving them to continue their trials and pass the tests on their own. "This kind of pill can allow you to advance by leaps and bounds, directly transcending mortality," Xu Zhi said. He did not intend for the two to cultivate; instead, he directly gave them pills condensed from primordial matter, following a technology-based path to improve their realm through external means. The improvement in their realm merely extended their lifespan, nothing more.

With a rustle, the two took the pills. Old Man Fang, who was white-haired, instantly reverted to youth, growing a full head of black hair, his skin becoming fair, transforming into a young boy. The strong woman instantly became younger but remained a tall, robust woman. "What is this?"

"This is an immortal pill!" "They became young again!" "Take one, and you'll immediately become an immortal!"

Countless mortals from various towns and villages who witnessed this scene had eyes burning with unimaginable fervor. Who wouldn't long to take an immortal pill and instantly ascend to immortality, joining the ranks of celestials?

Even the powerful cultivators watched with drastically changing expressions.

Such methods were unheard of to them.

Although a technologically advanced civilization had appeared here, it was clearly not from this indigenous planet, and they could barely even leave the planet to know of it.

"The remaining pills are for those who pass the test." Xu Zhi handed the remaining miscellaneous tasks to Li Shengyin. Instantly, this tall, robust woman became a highly sought-after figure in everyone's eyes.

Time flowed, and Xu Zhi immediately entered secluded cultivation for thirty years. He continued to evolve the universe and proceed with his previous experiments. After all, for him, this outer disciple trial on this life-bearing planet was truly just something he casually set up during a break in his experiments.

This was quite normal; even for many Dao Attainers in the universe, conducting experiments so haphazardly on a life-bearing planet was a very common practice.

"The speed is getting slower and slower. Indeed, relying on one person's mind isn't enough..." Xu Zhi frowned, continuing to look at the glass bottles in his laboratory. "Just like the Spore Evolution System, a system and a path require countless strong individuals to establish and accumulate... Those players now have their own routines for evolution... Currently, it also requires countless living beings to deduce a systematic path."

"Alas, I still need the wisdom of other beings; I hope they can surprise me." Xu Zhi flicked his sleeve and left the laboratory.

When he emerged from seclusion again, he found that over sixty people had passed the initial test, but the number of those still undergoing trials was extremely small. The entire Great Wen Dynasty had already been tested once. Xu Zhi frowned slightly, realizing he still needed to expand the scope.

His method was simple and incredibly direct; he instantly transmitted his voice across the entire planet: "I have established a Dao lineage, the Sect of Heavenly Sound, to hear the True Sound of the Heavenly Dao... I widely recruit disciples, regardless of aptitude, age, or lifespan. All are welcome to attempt the entrance trial."

Boom! The news crossed oceans and spread across continents. Countless powerful individuals were moved, and even some Seventh-Stage Emperor-realm cultivators were incredibly astonished.

Xu Zhi then established teleportation arrays in various continents and kingdoms, transporting people to the Great Wen Dynasty's trial grounds for them to undergo the tests. Instantly, countless living beings flocked to it.

"How are your progress?" Xu Zhi asked, looking at the disciples before him. The strong woman, Li Shengyin, had already become a beautiful woman with an exquisite appearance and well-proportioned figure.

The old man, Fang Shi, had become a refined and elegant young boy. After all, the essence of cultivation was the evolution of life, the refinement of genes, and the advancement of bloodlines; even the ugliest beings would gradually approach perfection once they cultivated.

The so-called physical appearance was long since an illusion.

"Reporting, Master, I have already evolved that diagram 170 million times, and I have successfully deduced a suitable diagram," Li Shengyin stepped forward gracefully, like a lady from a prominent family. The faces of several people nearby immediately turned sour, filled with jealousy and resentment. "You're just a farming woman who became pretty; why are you pretending to be a refined young lady?"

If she had secretly learned various etiquettes and aristocratic knowledge, that would be one thing. But she had been evolving all these years, and her knowledge level had not increased at all.

"Only one?" Xu Zhi reached out, took the diagram, and chuckled softly, "Indeed, it's quite suitable; you've barely crossed the threshold." This meant she could already specifically evolve a bloodline universe.

This was only the most basic requirement, but it still needed to progress step by step.

"Very good. What about the others?" Xu Zhi smiled. Xu Zhi looked around; a few talented ones were similar, able to successfully evolve one, while some less capable disciples couldn't.

"In another ten years, if you still can't produce a successful composition, then return," Xu Zhi said, looking down at these disciples. "This place is not suitable for you. You have already received opportunities, gained several hundred years of lifespan, and powerful strength, which is enough for you to enjoy your lives among mortals." Several disciples' faces turned pale.

Another ten years passed, and only seven qualified; the rest were all eliminated, a truly cruel outcome. "Even this isn't enough, not enough!" Xu Zhi's expression was calm as he suddenly stood in the universe, looking at the planet. "Therefore, I shall envelop this planet in higher-dimensional spacetime, allowing its beings to rapidly iterate through birth, aging, sickness, and death. The geniuses who emerge from this will then stand out."

This was a common practice for many Dao Attainers concerning their own transcendent worlds.

Xu Zhi, now developing this sect, also chose this approach. *Woosh.* The planet's time was accelerated: one day became a hundred years. Meanwhile, the entire False Dao Universe itself was rapidly iterating under its usual time flow of ten thousand years per day.

"I hope something interesting emerges," Xu Zhi said, looking at the Grand Dao diagrams, knowing that he was ultimately constrained and bound by cultivation.

Innumerous years passed again.

The rapid iteration and accelerated time flow allowed the Sect of Heavenly Sound to fully get on track. Deities appeared everywhere. They even explored the universe and encountered many civilizations nearby.

However, their identities were kept very secret, and they were also required not to casually reveal their true nature or experiences.

The strong individuals here all achieved their power by consuming pills.

Everyone studied music and Grand Dao diagrams, and finally, a few geniuses discovered a path. They could, with a very high probability, use their divine sense to guide the Big Bang of a universe and enter a bloodline universe.

"It's time to give them some beads."