Chapter 792: Destiny Begins

The Mother River system was indeed the core life system for their elemental beings. However, the vast Mother River, spanning the entire universe and connecting countless galaxies, was merely its ultimate form. Even now, after establishing the Incense Beam Array for the entire solar system and constructing their race's artifact of destiny—the Mother River Mirror—which could emit beams into the void, it was still just a vibrant green sapling, having just sprouted its tender shoots.

This tree grew very, very slowly. One must realize that the speed of light is minuscule in cosmic terms; galaxies in the universe are often separated by thousands, even tens of thousands, of light-years. What is a light-year? The distance light travels in a straight line in one year. Even if it grew and branched at speeds exceeding light, it would still take countless cosmic light-years for a tiny sprout to grow into a small tree and reach another solar system.

Yuan Qinghua then revealed another blueprint, pointing in a specific direction. "The Great Tree of the Universe, continually growing outward in light-years, its age increasing with time. As light, it is naturally countless times slower than direct 'space jumping,' but it is an eternal bridge connecting countless branches—an unimaginably stable and inexpensive pathway that space jumping cannot provide."

"A truly vast concept," Asa couldn't help but gaze with fascination at this beautiful cosmic giant tree. Growing at a speed exceeding light, continuously rooting, sprouting, and ascending, it was an ancient cosmic miracle tree, unimaginable to many transcendent life forms. A vast and magnificent mythical wonder! And this cosmic giant tree, in the future, would sooner or later become the nexus for major cosmic civilizations, forming a true Mother River cosmic transcendent system, with countless civilizations regarding it as their mother. That would be truly immense.

"Very well, I approve of this project," Asa said. "Furthermore, I also approve of the widespread adoption of your immortality system, Ji Shang. As the source of the Mother River, the research and protection of the Cosmic Mother River Tree, in conjunction with the immortal true spirits and the great Moon Diviners, will create a wondrous and perfect chemical reaction."

After a brief discussion, both major resolutions were approved. Both parties then retreated, leaving only the Sun God Asa, who closed his eyes on his divine throne, resting.

"An immortal bloodline, then?"

"According to their deductions, this ancient, great, and supreme bloodline comes from the universe's sole incarnation of truth, the Creator God. And one of their races obtained this gene but lost its perfect characteristics, becoming incomplete, only able to awaken for half the time and sleep for half the time. This is when the blood concentration of that race is pure. If other races were to inherit this bloodline from this immortal race, their blood concentration would decrease, and their sleep time would lengthen. Thus, they are categorized as First Generation Bloodline, Second Generation Bloodline—each level adding an additional period of sleep?"

The First Generation is 50-50 (awake to asleep ratio). The Second Generation is 40-60. The Fifth Generation is 10-90.

"The lowest is the descendant of the Fifth Generation Bloodline, who sleeps 90% of the time and is awake for only 10%. What use is such immortality? Its flaws are so great they could be killed at any moment."

Asa took a deep breath. What he had obtained was the Second Generation Bloodline, with a 40-60 sleep ratio. But it was already a relatively high-grade bloodline. Ji Shang had not hidden it from him. Ji Shang himself was a Second Generation Bloodline. The true First Generation, the source of all pure blood on the entire Planet Kyushu, was actually the young man beside him, Li Li, who was the true Ancestor of the Zombies. He was also no simple individual.

However, a First Generation Ancestor like him could not produce many Second Generation descendants; it required a great cost, heavily damaging cultivation. The stronger they were, the less willing they were to freely spread their bloodline to unrelated individuals.

"Ultimately, will this lead to the immortal bloodline being continuously diluted? People frantically pursued higher bloodlines, but as the older generation with high bloodlines were killed, fell into slumber, or died from various accidents, their bloodlines could not be continued, and the pure blood would inevitably be thoroughly diluted. Unless they found the mysterious home planet of the First Generation—the homeland of that true Bloodline Ancestor—that mysterious origin planet would be the true vast treasure trove of pure blood. Of course, if there were powerful cultivators, they might be able to research their own bloodline, perhaps even approaching the pure 50-50 state through acquired means, but that would undoubtedly take countless years to research this aspect of the bloodline, which is truly difficult."

After some deliberation, he decided to integrate the gene serum he had kept at hand. "Summon all the elemental leaders. For the future of our race, I am about to enter slumber. Instruct them that to maintain my rule during my sleep, no one is allowed to ascend to godhood. All other civilizations, wars, and developments are not to be interfered with."

"Yes!" A deep male voice came from the shadows.

Another hundred years passed. Asa entered slumber, and powerful elemental behemoths continued to adhere to his instructions, maintaining world order within the cosmic bridges of various planets. Concurrently, the "Sunfall Starmap" officially began construction. One by one, Heavenly Emperors, with no hope of becoming gods, began to climb towards the Great Saint realm. Moreover, they began to compete for immortal blood. Ultimately, however, most were Third or Fourth Generation pure bloodlines. Their prolonged sleep times led them to band together, forming alliances and becoming each other's guardians. Many were bound by life and death.

During this period, the bloodline disparity among immortals became increasingly apparent. The lower the bloodline tier, the shorter the wakefulness period, leading to slower cultivation speeds compared to others. Over the long term, the gap became unimaginable! Simultaneously, the cultivation method of "burning life" was fully developed: burning lifespan during wakefulness to accelerate cultivation and achieve higher power. This acceleration, however, naturally led to quick slumber. Through frequent and rapid cycles of slumber, one could quickly increase cultivation. However, this method clearly had a fatal weakness: it offered no defense against external malice, making the capabilities of one's guardian crucial.

"The era, the era determines the fate of the powerful."

On this day, Ji Shang once again ascended to the position of supreme monarch of Kyushu, becoming a Great Saint with the most exaggerated combat power, and re-established the Great Shang Dynasty. "The era determines who is the hegemon; circumstances create heroes. In the ancient era of the Sun God, they were the protagonists of the age, their colossal forms sweeping across galaxies, invincible among their peers, destined to unify the world. But in the era of the Vampire Dynasty, with Sun God Asa in slumber, I possess the highest bloodline. I was the first to cultivate the Vampire lineage; you are all latecomers, entering my era, and thus compelled to enter my era. This is my era."

The Great Shang Dynasty swept across Central Continent. Ji Shang quickly declared himself Emperor in Central Continent. His descendant, Ji Wuxiang, was relegated to the royal palace, forced to submit willingly and hand over the dynasty. This was the grand trend. He could no longer resist, becoming a vassal king, exiled to the frontier to live out his days.

Subsequently, Ji Shang fought against one nation at a time, single-handedly sweeping through the eight nations of Kyushu. Countless powerful individuals from various nations combined forces, yet none were his match. Even the Sunfall Mirror, when used, completely failed to hit him, and one nation was swiftly defeated.

"One man against an entire nation?"

"This exaggerated combat power is unimaginable. Only Asa's massive physique back then could create similar pressure."

"No, according to those ancient divine beasts, this combat power is already nearing the Great Saint realm."

"It's also because we sacrificed a part of ourselves, giving him an opportunity. We cultivated both Buddhism and Taoism, but to cultivate the zombie bloodline, we cut off our Buddhist cultivation system. Only when the zombie lineage reached the Heavenly Emperor realm could we reintegrate. However, it was precisely by severing half our cultivation, leaving us with only Taoist cultivation combat power, that we were defeated."

All the major continental races on the ground were filled with horror. The ancient Ji Shang had revived and was sweeping across the world, unstoppable. He was even about to declare himself emperor directly on this planet. His calculations were terrifying. Towards Asa, it was an overt scheme. Towards them, too, it was an overt scheme. Yet, they had no choice but to fall into his trap, stepping into the new era he had created.

"Ji Shang, the mythical emperor from the Primordial Age of Central Continent, has finally arrived?"

"He is a formidable man. He had been dormant, biding his time in the shadows, silent until today, when his move shook heaven and earth!"

"If the formation of the hegemon in the Sun God era was due to destiny and circumstances creating heroes, then in his Vampire Dynasty era, he is the hero creating circumstances! His overt scheme put Asa into slumber and dragged the entire galaxy into his vampire age; he is the king of this new era!"

Another year passed. Ji Shang swept across the Moon. All the diminutive Moon people were utterly shocked.

"Waaah! Why?! First the unified giant elemental race, then the unified giant race—is there no era for us Moon people?"

"First the largest race rules, then the second largest—is there never a time for us?"

"No! Our potential is actually stronger than theirs, but we've been suppressed! Our race should have been the first to break through to godhood, but this suppression has made us too weak in the same realm! Our advantages do not lie here!" Many elders wept, tears streaming down their faces. Their king was also a heroic ruler, whose wisdom was no less than that of Asa or Ji Shang, the kings of those two races. Yet, he remained silent, and outside races didn't even know his name. This was a great humiliation.

Ultimately, they were still subjugated. An unrivaled emperor of that time, who swept through all opposition, completely reigned over the entire galaxy. He was historically known as the Latter Shang.

Ji Shang ascended to the imperial throne, with Li Wang seated in a subordinate position. The two of them overlooked the scene below, simultaneously announcing the extensive repair and erection of statues of the Moon God Ji across all planets. This was in preparation for the vast incense and faith needed for the soon-to-be-completed Solar System Array. After all, for incense to exist, there must be belief to gather spiritual power. But whom to believe in? Naturally, Moon God Ji. At the same time, the entire Cosmic Tree was also named the Monthly Rose Tree. This coincided with their previous Monthly Rose Robes, the symbol of the Great Shang Dynasty.

In Pingcheng, statues of Moon God Ji stood tall in the plaza. Moon God Ji was a mysterious and dignified young man, followed by a beautiful and knowledgeable Moon attendant. Although the Galactic Incense Starmap was still under construction, faith had already begun, cultivating habits in advance.

In a manor, a white-haired old man was drinking tea, followed by an old woman who was serving tea and water.

"Brother, drinking tea again!?" Outside the courtyard, a beautiful middle-aged woman stopped her motorcycle, pulled off her helmet, and paused.

"Yes," Xu Zhi listened to his neighbor's decades-long daily greeting and replied with a smile, "Going for your long-distance cultivation run again?"

The student from back then had indeed become a middle-aged woman. "That's right, only through dedicated cultivation can one become strong." The middle-aged woman's voice gradually grew faint, as if her spirit was lacking.

Xu Zhi chuckled, "Still trying to get a Third Generation bloodline? It's quite difficult as a commoner."

"Yes." She took a deep breath, put on her helmet, and rode away on her motorcycle.

With the prevalence of the Vampire race, Buddhist cultivation naturally declined. Although reaching Seventh-tier Drought Demon could allow one to disregard Buddhist cultivation or even cultivate both, how many Seventh-tier Heavenly Emperors were there? For ordinary zombie clans, Buddhist cultivation remained a nemesis. With the general populace not cultivating it and incompatibility issues, its decline was natural. Meanwhile, as an ordinary commoner, she was originally a Buddhist cultivation genius who had been guaranteed university admission. Now, with the changing era, her decline was natural. Even if she wanted to switch to another cultivation path, she couldn't find anyone to fund high-grade zombie pure blood.

"This is the tide of a vast era, benefiting some and changing the fates of others, pushing them into the abyss." Xu Zhi continued to calmly drink his tea.

"Before I deduced this civilization sandbox, I hadn't expected it. I naively thought the ant race held an absolute advantage, but I never imagined it would develop this way. However, upon closer thought, it was historically inevitable. It's not just powerful potential that allows one to dominate an era; there are all sorts of factors."

"What is destiny? This is destiny." Xu Zhi looked at the young female housekeeper beside him and smiled faintly, "Just like you, who are about to be affected by destiny. Having followed me for many years, you will now ascend with me, worshipped by all beings—when one person achieves enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven."