Chapter 762: History's Mystery, The Origin of the Dragon

"Creation requires a sense of ritual." Xu Zhi sat at his desk and silently put on a pair of black-rimmed glasses.

He donned the golden-striped long robe of a Moon Diviner, similar to the attire of other diviners, fitting for the era. He resembled a refined and gentle Eastern professor-scholar from the most renowned God Capital University.

He picked up a super-miniature metal tweezer, took out a miniature microscope, and began assembling pieces at his desk.

It was an extremely delicate task, akin to a surgeon on an operating table, using special needles and threads to meticulously pick out and suture blood vessels from limbs.

Meanwhile, the players' diverse evolved creatures allowed for bold experimentation. He realized that combining organs with special talents to control water vapor, wind, and lightning was indeed feasible. These were, after all, originally True Qi and radiation-based organs.

The so-called Tesla coil was lightning! Creating water from nothing and controlling fire – players had used these abilities before. Hydrogen and oxygen combustion produced water, a chemical reaction involving both water and fire. As for clouds and mist... they were originally True Qi circulating within the body, evaporating into mist.

The more Xu Zhi thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. Wind, fire, thunder, and lightning—was this the essence of a true dragon? Indeed, ancient 'Physical Buddhism' and 'Chemical Daoism' could already fully explain everything.

This was a 'Chemical Dragon'! No wonder dragons were Taoist mythical beasts; they were symbols of chemistry, as this creature perfectly embodied the entire system of Chemical Daoism.

However, observing the history of disputes between ancient sects, 'Physical Buddhism' was not to be outdone. Using their 'Radiant Buddhist Lands,' they would claim "this beast has a connection with me," converting true dragons and bringing them into the Buddhist fold, turning some into guardian mythical beasts.

"Perhaps, the conflict between Buddhism and Taoism in ancient Chinese mythology did happen," Xu Zhi mused. The more he thought about it, the more logical it seemed. Sitting in a chair in the living room, sipping tea, his thoughts drifted to ancient times. As he continued to deduce the supernatural sandbox, he found that it perfectly aligned with the historical truths of ancient China.

"Deer antlers, eagle claws, ox ears, snake body, fish scales, crocodile head..." Xu Zhi continuously connected and pulled fine blood vessels. Fortunately, they were all racial organs from the Asura Path, so although there was some rejection, it was minimal.

With a flourish, the fragmented organs on the table were completely sutured, transforming into a lifelike black dragon, fierce and majestic, with two whiskers dancing on either side.

"Now, some 'primal essence' is needed. This will not only completely integrate the body but also give birth to a soul... creating a perfect creature..." Xu Zhi reached out, took some primal essence, and chuckled, "This is an advantage players don't have, which is why their creations aren't truly complete living beings; you can see the assembly marks."

After the primal essence dripped, the entire dragon seemed to come alive, as if its eyes had been dotted in a painting, instantly gaining a unique sense of vitality.

"It truly seems that way. With the combined talents evolved by these players, perhaps it really can achieve cloud-riding and mist-traveling, and various supernatural abilities..." "A Cosmic True Dragon! Albeit a super-miniature one...."

He increasingly felt that the innate cultivation system pioneered by the Asura Path—organ plug-ins, resulting in composite beasts—was a powerful system with infinite potential. It could even be called a formidable evolution sandbox. After all, spliced supernatural creatures had a low barrier to entry and could be produced in large quantities.

While the splicing of several supernatural organs was far from as powerful as naturally formed ones, it offered infinite possibilities, classifying them as a secondary tier of top-level supernatural creatures.

Furthermore, the Asura Path warriors, the players themselves, had developed their system creatively. A new profession had emerged: Life Creator. Players had even formed a secondary trading market, the "Creation Market."

They would relentlessly rack their brains, proactively researching various fusion techniques for Xu Zhi and creating new supernatural species.

Of course, such a system required immense financial backing. Xu Zhi had spent seven million yuan, extensively sweeping the trading market to acquire these organs.

However, the stir Xu Zhi created lasted only a day or two. "After all," he thought, "the current Asura Path trading market is enormous. The lands of the Asura Path have formed a truly massive and flourishing online game. In the classical cities, 'pay-to-win' tycoons appear every other day, frantically combining pets and refining 'babies.' It barely makes a ripple; the daily transaction volume is too frequent and massive."

While Xu Zhi was creating new galaxy sandboxes there, he continued to monitor the Six Paths of Reincarnation world. He managed both without delay; after all, this world was within him. One could even say he had brought the 'Six Paths of Reincarnation world' to this galaxy.

"Speaking of evolved creatures, the Spore Evolution Sandbox has been quiet for a long time..." Xu Zhi took a deep breath, put down the tweezers, and, recalling some things, couldn't help but feel a sense of regret.

"After all, as my standards rise, I set the entry bar higher. If ordinary supernatural creatures cannot bring about significant change and are ultimately dispensable, then they won't be allowed in.... However, even with their strong aptitude, the accumulated knowledge of typical evolution geniuses only spans a few years or a decade or so. They simply cannot create powerful, high-potential creatures!"

It's not that geniuses like Emperor Alchemist haven't appeared. But currently, they can't enter either. After all, even powerhouses like Emperor Alchemist and Mount Akina's Speed were weak and lacked knowledge back then, only capable of creating low-potential creatures like evil eyes and slimes. Now, they wouldn't even meet the entry requirements!

It was only when the entry bar was still low that Pan Xuexian, Emperor Alchemist, Mount Akina's Speed, and others entered. After centuries of study within, they became absolute experts in this field, creating a second batch of heaven-defying creatures like 'Quality Source' and 'Alchemy Factory,' and so on....

Therefore, times make heroes. Reality is harsh, not a dream. In the current evolution sandbox, ordinary geniuses are just promising seedlings. Without spending time accumulating knowledge, it's already difficult for them to catch Xu Zhi's eye. The recent papers have all been filtered by the intelligent sub-brain, with nothing particularly outstanding.

"Finally, is the Spore Evolution Sandbox—where small groups of players evolve species—going to be phased out? And replaced by hundreds of thousands of Asura Path players in a massive online game, creating spliced creatures?" Xu Zhi said indifferently, "Perhaps that's not bad either!"

He stood up, opened his mouth, and a rectangular, transparent glass fish tank, shimmering with a diamond-like translucent luster, floated into the center of the living room. The fish tank quickly filled with water, lush green plants and trees, various rockeries, and miniature terrain. With a flick of his hand, the entire glass fish tank was placed beside the living room.

The black dragon was placed inside. The creation flow rate was applied to the black dragon. With added essence and the passage of time, any disharmonious parts of its body were perfected, and it completely formed into a whole creature, with no trace of its original spliced form.

"Keeping fish in the living room is a good choice," he mused. "Then let's keep a piece of the mountains and seas from ancient myths."

Xu Zhi's expression was utterly relaxed. He reached into the void, and a gray book, *The Classic of Mountains and Seas*, appeared in his hand.

"With nothing else to do, I might as well splice some more creatures," he thought idly, with a hint of interest. "For example, the famous one-legged ox... the Kui, which resembles an ox, has a dark blue body with no horns, and one leg." Xu Zhi continued to flip through the book, passing the time, his languid state now mixed with a touch of enthusiasm. "Hmm, speaking of which, the Qilin is also a composite mythical creature..."

Over the next few days, Xu Zhi settled in comfortably. The medieval planet's orchard here was like a resort villa. Passing farmers occasionally became friendly with the housekeeper girl, often greeting her and even bringing fruits and vegetables. Everyone in the valley knew that a mysterious astrologer lived there.

In the living room, a glass fish tank stood in the corner. If anyone could see inside, they would be utterly astonished. Ancient mythical creatures from China's *Classic of Mountains and Seas* lived there, yet to their master, they were like tiny plankton kept in a fish tank.

During these days, Xu Zhi's inner space was not idle either. He began instructing Lord Reincarnation to establish the Underworld, a spiritual world cosmos, within the Six Paths of Reincarnation. His days were orderly and remarkably serene.

A message was then proclaimed throughout the land: "The Underworld of Reincarnation previously only accommodated those with special talents; ordinary deceased had nowhere to go! Starting today, the Underworld shall be established to bring peace to the departed!"

Heaven and Earth trembled. Previously, only the talented had a place for their souls after death; now, even ordinary people had a realm for the deceased. Although the realm for ordinary deceased did not allow for reincarnation or rebirth as humans, this kingdom of the dead undoubtedly allowed the deceased to live a second life in a paradise for the departed.

Somewhere in the Human Path. "Finally, has the Emperor also turned his attention to ordinary people?" Lord Youshan gazed at the sky. "Competing with me for the share of ordinary people, truly worthy of you, Lord Reincarnation."

Upon hearing this news, players in the Beast Path completely erupted.

"Holy crap?""A new expansion pack?""The Emperor is awesome! I knew he'd go after that rebellious Lord Youshan!""The biggest disgrace of my life was trusting that miracle-mongering 'miracle scholar'!""Let's get him!"

Undoubtedly, countless talented individuals who had suffered great losses, along with players who had been tricked into joining the 'pirate ship,' were itching with hatred for a certain person, who had become a public enemy.

However, some players were also greatly shaken. "Brothers, a new expansion pack has been launched!" "Indeed, an era-defining expansion: 'The End of Talented Supernaturals! The Underworld Established! Ordinary Humans Shall Be the Protagonists of Heaven and Earth!' "It really is a new era! A few days have passed, and our next batch of players is already here! Hahahaha!"

After all, time flowed very quickly in the wizard community, with each PVP fighting competition equivalent to just a few real-world days apart.

But as soon as this was said, the players of the Evolution Sandbox erupted in protest!

"Why do things keep getting more exciting over there for you? Even facing harsh realities seems thrilling! Are we, the favored ones, now just the unwanted children from next door?"

"Exactly! We had to write difficult papers just to get in, but it's so easy for them next door! (Tears in eyes)"

"It's too hard! I've realized that as the times advance, the required level for supernatural species gets higher. Unless it's a heaven-defying creation that changes the era, it's simply..."

They were quite disgruntled. But the very next second, a piece of news completely silenced their complaints.

Player Yuan Qinghua's evolved species: 'Cheat Plug-in Warrior,' received an achievement reward! In the Spore Evolution Sandbox, everyone: "!!!"

They were hit with a ton of critical damage.

"What strange thing has infiltrated our ranks?"

"Isn't Yuan Qinghua a big shot from the Six Paths of Reincarnation online game next door? How did he come over here to prove his Dao? And even used spores to evolve a new species, preparing to enter the myriad worlds?"

They felt like their entire world was collapsing.