Chapter 736: The Layout of the Animal Realm

Everyone paused, secretly cursing the shamelessness of these beasts. Not only did they covet the Great Octopus itself, but also its family, hoping to extract energy from anywhere.

"The poor, innocent Great Octopus is being mercilessly exploited by these shameless brats (Terrifying!)."

"You're even making it solve problems?! Learning physics and chemistry, turning it into a bald octopus? But its 'relaxation' course is quite brilliant; perhaps this is the legendary classic dish: Octopus Slices! (Bright red grilled octopus slices.jpg)"

What the heck, octopus slices!

Everyone gasped, a shiver running up their spines. These guys were truly outdoing themselves!

But even more outrageous things were yet to come, as someone else picked up the thread.

"There's no helping it. If you spend all day watching 'Animal Planet,' this originally dignified creature might, sooner or later, be corrupted by you into a classic delicacy... Octopus Scamp! (Bright red grilled takoyaki.jpg)"

Everyone: "..."

"Indeed, there's no hope. Once these idiots corrupt you, you're beyond saving. Personally, I believe in 'cutting it off for good'; perhaps this is the legendary classic dish... Octopus Snip! (Squidward blowing a flute.jpg)"

Everyone: "!!!"

"No, you underestimate these guys. I think the Great Octopus will soon be killed by them, becoming a classic delicacy, or simply... 'Octopus Done!' (Bright red grilled octopus balls.jpg)"

Many were in high spirits, eagerly discussing. A 'one-stop' gourmet culinary experience featuring the Great Octopus was already taking shape, instantly mapping out the entire cosmic Great Octopus's future. Some new netizens were greatly shocked and genuinely impressed. Although they had heard that the "Spore Evolution" forum had a strong culture of learning, they hadn't expected it to be so. This group not only discussed cultivation systems from various universes and transcendent worlds, evolutionary biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, and blockchain – truly knowing everything from astronomy to geography – but now they were even discussing food.

"Do they also delve into Bear Grylls' territory?" Someone excitedly asked, chin in hand, sitting in front of their computer. "I really came to the right place; this is exactly the dream I wanted."

But at that moment, on the forum, someone suddenly started a new topic: "In the Wizarding World, a certain character is known as: The Public-Spirited Great Star, The Chicken Who Provides Comfort in Adversity... Your good friend Squidward is being cruelly toyed with; aren't you going to do something about it?"

Everyone's gaze shifted; this was clearly an attempt to stir up trouble.

At this moment, Autumn Mountain Speed spoke:

"Ahem, ahem, ahem, allow me to say a few words of fairness. So, the question is, how do you make the Great Octopus break through to immortal godhood? By using its blood relations to attract siblings? In this era where the path to immortality is cut off and monopolized by a shadowy mastermind?"

Yuan Qinghua: "..."

He suddenly seemed unable to process it. Indeed, at most, it could reach the Great Sage level. Even if the Great Octopus came from outside, it would be suppressed here and unable to break through.

Autumn Mountain Speed: "Idiot! Aren't we back to the main topic now? We still need to overthrow the Monarch of Reincarnation, restore the immortal path, and break the level 79 cap before we can reach level 80 and change classes!"

Yuan Qinghua was dumbfounded and fell silent.

Everyone burst into laughter, snorting like pigs. There's always a match for everything; on the road of 'driving' (making suggestive remarks), only Autumn Mountain Speed, the master of 'overtaking,' could truly win the race.

Autumn Mountain Speed: "Ahem, ahem, ahem, let's get back to serious matters. In this current situation, I'll explain: the main war happening now is definitely between the Seven Realms and the Ancient Lava Land, with the Mythical Heavenly Court battling the Arcane World... Meanwhile, the Small Universe World and the Six Paths of Reincarnation World are both hidden, observing from the sidelines, and it's unclear when they will make their move. However, both sides are at a stalemate. Just as I suspected before, the Three Pillar Gods might soon change their focus and seek out Caroline's world. It's highly probable that a new cosmic war will truly ignite there!"

Someone else chimed in:

"It's like a burly Three Pillar God who just can't undo the waistband of Empress Qi, that little wife?"

"Or maybe some idiots are more powerful; while the Three Pillar Gods are busy dropping their pants in front, these guys are behind them, grabbing Empress Qi's butt! (Applause and cheers)"

Everyone now had a terrible headache. Can they not calm down? Constantly corrupted by Autumn Mountain Speed, it's simply unbearable to witness. They were clearly discussing an extremely serious topic here.

Many serious individuals even wondered if, from the very beginning, without this notorious big shot, Autumn Mountain Speed, corrupting the forum's atmosphere, it would now be a super serious academic forum. In reality, they also knew how terrifying the Three Pillar Gods' invasion of the Small Universe World would be!

The structure of the Small Universe World was not as easily manageable as the Seven Realms. In the Seven Realms, only the Mortal Realm and the Demonic Realm were primary material planes; most of their land existed within inner spaces. But if a conflict truly broke out there, it would be too terrifying. How could they resist the Three Pillar Gods, who engaged in guerrilla warfare everywhere?

They couldn't withstand it.

Temporarily cultivate the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique? Impossible. This was the Seven Realms' iconic foundational cultivation method, just as demon cores were the symbol of the Lava Land. Even if one tried to learn it, it couldn't be mastered that quickly. That vast and expansive cosmic land now had a population of over one hundred billion! Its population was seven to eight times that of the Seven Realms!

"'Demon Pillar Europe' is truly coming," someone murmured in dread. "Doesn't 'demon' refer to the demon core lineage? And isn't the Pillar God's worldline the 'European Emperor' world? Put together, it's four characters: 'Demon Pillar Europe' – everything is a miraculous development, selecting the line with the best luck and combat power, truly the 'European Emperor'!" (This is a homophone for "Majin Buu" from Dragon Ball.)

Everyone broke out in a cold sweat, finding the implications uncannily fitting.

"Everything is predetermined fate, 'Grass Chicken Drying Horse Lure,' 'Demon Lure Pillar Vomit'... indeed, all are dialect homophones, hinting at the transcendent universe, the 'Dragon Ball' manga, and truly terrifying implications." (These are homophones for "Saiyan" and "Majin Buu" respectively.)

However, someone also asked, "Didn't the Holy Sakura Great Emperor flee quickly, making it impossible for the Three Pillar Gods to find their coordinates?"

Autumn Mountain Speed replied, "According to Empress Qi's estimation, it's not that they can't be found, but that it's extremely difficult. However, clues frequently appear, leaving traces on the Lava Land, which can significantly distort world laws, rejoining broken threads, and then following them over!"

Everyone's scalp tingled. Beings of the Ninth Tier were truly terrifying.

Autumn Mountain Speed said, "The Three Pillar Gods are likely going back to research new warfare, which is an extremely difficult endeavor. As for Empress Qi, according to the information she leaked, she might secretly monitor the Three Pillar Gods, observing the Lava Land in reverse, and stealthily follow behind the Three Pillar Gods to enter."

Everyone: "..."

Empress Qi was still incredibly cunning! She had anticipated so many scenarios and even planned to follow behind the Three Pillar Gods, hoping to fish in troubled waters within the Small Universe World?

"Something big is about to happen!"

Some netizens felt goosebumps. It was one thing for a Three Pillar God to enter, but Empress Qi too? Was this even fair play?

At this moment, the leader of the Digimon, Rayquaza, already a green digital tyrannosaur, stepped forward. Bai Xiaojun asked, "Approximately when?"

Autumn Mountain Speed: "I don't know, maybe around two hundred years? It's definitely longer than the time it would take to prepare to find Empress Qi; otherwise, they would have gone directly to Caroline already."

That was indeed the case. The remaining clues were too vague and scarce, hazy as if in a fog. If it were so simple to re-establish the connection, the Three Pillar Gods wouldn't have bothered trying to find Empress Qi.

Bai Xiaojun, however, found it terrifying. Two hundred years was a remarkably short period, astonishingly brief. "That short? In the current situation, the Super Saiyans' planet has just been destroyed, but their civilization has coincidentally entered a peak period of rapid development under pressure. Don't let the current population of over one hundred billion fool you; it's still not much. According to estimates, the population might multiply several times in two hundred years, reaching over three hundred billion. That's the normal population for this land."

Everyone's hair stood on end!

Over three hundred billion in two hundred years? In such a terrifyingly vast super-large world, the more populous it became, the harder it would be to defend. If the Three Pillar Gods simply consumed the life energy of a few planets, no one would be able to withstand them.

"What do we do then?"

"We're done for!"

There was nothing but endless sighs. Meanwhile, the various big shots and magnates began to discuss matters, preparing to figure out countermeasures.

Xu Zhi observed the situation for a while. The strange comments from netizens made the scene unbearable to behold. It was only then that he learned of the Three Pillar Gods' plans, realizing that Empress Qi had indeed forced them to seek alternative paths.

"Looking at it this way," Xu Zhi mused, chuckling, "among all the myriad worlds, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique is still the most powerful, specializing in dealing with all forms of cannibalism and world destruction." He didn't have many other thoughts. In fact, war was beneficial to him. Originally, his plan was to set his energy goal for becoming a god within the Small Universe World, as it was the largest sandbox he had ever created, with vast land and a large population, naturally containing the most energy.

"Now, it seems that with continued development, this is indeed the case. A great war in the Small Universe might very well be an extremely rare super-cosmic war."

In the Underworld's Hall of Reincarnation, Xu Zhi's mind was calm as he meticulously organized the Great Octopus's information and its future development. It was clear, however, that the spiritual energy of this realm had condensed to an extreme degree. This was only ten percent of what had been dispersed. Some top powerful sects could bathe in a rich ocean of spiritual liquid, building palaces and structures upon it.

"And this spiritual energy is within my inner world space." Xu Zhi sat on his imperial throne, pondering, "Even if I don't absorb other energy, once it's gradually assimilated, it will be enough for me to break through and become a deity, even a mid-level deity, and there's great hope for a high-level deity too!" Of course, this "gradual assimilation" referred to the energy being absorbed and cultivated by the living beings within his body, who would then raise their cultivation realms before naturally dying of old age or by other means, returning to him. Despite such a massive amount of energy, he could only absorb thirty percent of the beings' deaths. The remaining seventy percent was plundered by the powerful individuals who killed them or naturally dissipated into the air.

"But has the Animal Path truly become an online game world?" Xu Zhi lowered his head in thought, "I wonder what kind of achievements those guys have made over the years. I've never really checked. I might as well go see that poor Great Octopus while I'm at it."

A moment later, Meng Po entered, bent and hunched, a grim old woman. "Your Majesty, are you going to the Animal Path on an incognito visit?"

Shangguan Man was extremely surprised. After all, they had just gained such enormous benefits, which she was still processing. The Underworld had received the largest share. Although their combat power wasn't considered exceptionally strong—Shangguan Man and others had already entered the Great Sage realm but weren't known for exaggerated combat prowess—when the Underworld conducted official business, they wielded the order of world reincarnation. Who would dare challenge them?

In the lush green forests, a vibrant, naturally dense vitality permeated the area. This spiritual land, with its extremely rich spiritual energy, had even naturally given birth to many demon beasts, which had gained sentience and refined into spirits, giving it the appearance of a truly advanced world.

Before a redwood table, a bald chimpanzee, with a halo-like bald spot on its head, resembling a honey badger in its manner, was wearing a kasaya and speaking with a flea-shaped Taoist beside him. The two were clearly receptionists for a sect.

"Another batch of newcomers has arrived," the chimpanzee said. "I wonder about the quality of this group?"

"No idea," said the flea. "But most of them join our Great One Dao Sect."

When players entered, they would be reborn as various animals in different locations. Therefore, every time new players arrived, there were sect reception points scattered everywhere to take them in.

"We serve as the newbie village. Those guys can't just arrive; they must at least cultivate to level ten on their own before they can join major sects and change classes." The chimpanzee said, "After all, level ten is already a test to gauge their aptitude. For this batch, who will reach our point first? Who will reach level ten first? Anyway, the first genius to arrive will definitely be from our Physics Buddhism branch, the Electromagnetic Physics Buddha."

As the chimpanzee spoke, a look of anger crossed its face. "Compared to other Buddhist schools, we are the true, orthodox Buddhist Fruit! That Mechanical Energy Buddha next door, the artifact-refining sect within Buddhist cultivation, with their so-called Great Attainment True Venerate Indestructible Buddha Body – 'Namo Gatling Bodhisattva, six pure depleted uranium rounds, three thousand six hundred rotations per second, immeasurable merit saving the world'... it's simply ridiculous!"

The more it spoke, the angrier it became. A faint, sacred Buddhist light emanated from its back, as if it were a supreme, wrathful Vajra Buddha. The largest number of newcomers in the last batch had actually joined this Mechanical Physics Buddha sect? Everyone learning to forge artifacts? Using their bodily relics and nuclear energy to power machines, calling them 'Buddha artifacts'? It was simply a heterodox path! A crooked and evil way! How humiliating was this for them, the masters of electromagnetism in physics, the magnetic induction coil-cutting Buddhas, the great physics experts proficient in Tesla coils?!

One must know that many of their disciples were research assistants in universities! Physics PhDs and Masters in this field, yet they lost to the physics department next door? Although they also had quite a few newcomers, ranking second in prosperity among the Buddhist sects, the blue lightning arcs from Tesla coils—crackling and sparkling with blue electricity—were indeed incredibly cool. Their magnetic induction coils had formed a special Buddhist ring, which could be used as a weapon, the authentic Vajra Ring of Buddhism. They could even subdue demon beasts by placing the ring on their heads and chanting a spell, causing them unbearable pain from electric shocks!

"Heh heh... what do your internal ideological disputes have to do with my Daoist sect?" the other flea sneered. "You want to snatch the first person? Did you ask me first?"

In the distance, a calm-faced young man, dressed in a green robe, resembling an elegant young master from a noble family, was followed by an old woman.

Shangguan Man watched from the shadows, stunned. "Electricity? Electromagnetism? And Mechanical Buddhas? I don't know what kind of system this is, but it looks astonishing."

"After all these years, the cultivation methods from the Animal Path have continuously flowed out and become prevalent in the other two paths. Although their methods are rudimentary, once they enter the other two paths, the high-speed flow of time allows the Celestial Path and the Mortal Path to rapidly refine and continuously complete these crude methods."

Xu Zhi was also slightly surprised. He had to admit that these guys were incredibly creative, developing various schools and systems. After all, Physics Buddhism and Chemistry Dao were pioneered by them.

"It seems various meticulously branched and precise cultivation schools have emerged."

He quietly bypassed these receptionists and proceeded to the bustling core city. On the streets, various creatures continuously shouted, creating a bustling marketplace atmosphere. It truly had the feel of a virtual online game's city streets, with people buying equipment, forming teams, discussing cultivation insights, and even alchemy rooms. There were even "red-name" players (P.K. players) who robbed others in the shadows, staked out spots in the city's outskirts, and killed to seize treasures.

"The Animal Path has now been unified by the players," Xu Zhi noted calmly. "Originally, there were no external enemies, but there are still severe losses due to factional disputes and the cult-like sects formed by red-name players."