CHAPTER 42: CHAPTER 39: IS THE HEAD SPLIT OPEN?

Zhu Zhengwei donned a cloak, concealing his appearance as he wandered around.

He felt that only by taking a look at the Empire that emerged after Shiguang’s reign would he be able to put his mind at ease.

"Of course, there’s another reason."

"To come and study his development of the Witch system, and take a look at his newly completed masterpiece ’Sutra of All Living Creatures,’ as it’s the foundation of cultivation."

In his heart, Zhu Zhengwei mused, "He spent a lifetime laying the foundation for this system, the civilization has started to bear raw fruits, the system tends towards perfection, it’s time to attempt a harvest."

Well, to put it simply, Zhu Zhengwei felt that the civilization in this world-sandbox had matured enough and it was time to reap a batch and see the results.

He was very practical, having always been a mere mortal, his power too weak, giving him a constant sense of insecurity.

He must cultivate!

Hundred-Stone City.

The streets were bustling as Zhu Zhengwei walked through them.

He looked at the initial capital city of the Slave Dynasty, which had already become a holy place for the Human Race.

Although only a few years had passed since he slept through the day, it seemed that the era had advanced tremendously, as if it had been wound up like gears.

At this time, cultivators no longer needed to directly consume the Immortal Herb, but could instead enter the ’Immortal Herb Pool’ where the Spiritual Qi was concentrated to sense the ’breath’ and start their cultivation.

Every year, many children aged six to seven were brought here to check if they had the aptitude to cultivate ’Qi.’

While this method was not as immediately rewarding as directly eating the Immortal Herb, it was beneficial in its consistency.

As long as there was a steady supply of Immortal Herb here, ensuring abundant Spiritual Qi, the Human Race would surely flourish, with Qi Eaters continuously emerging.

"The age of human excellence, the Ancestral Witch epoch, it’s only been a few short years."

Zhu Zhengwei couldn’t help but reflect, "It’s like a massive civilizational explosion, as if humanity, in a short time, broke free from its shackles and entered the steam era in an instant."

"Only here, the Qi is different, it’s another kind of steam era altogether."

The new era always comes in explosive bursts, often with grandmasters from the era pushing open that door.

"Shiguang, my hero."

Zhu Zhengwei felt a little excited, "He initiated a revolution, making Qi Eaters no longer the mythical emperors of the three great kingdoms, truly allowing all beings to be as dragons, everyone can eat Qi and achieve immortality, and created saintly writings to publish to the world."

"The Qi Eating Skill, cultivating powerful Spiritual Power, is enough to understand the mysteries of the world, and perhaps even allow me to become the only superpower user found in fantasy novels, movies, and myths in reality!"

Zhu Zhengwei sensed the era had truly set sail.

How thrilling!

With his push and the progression of time, this is becoming a vast and grand extraordinary world.

He continued observing, gauging the surroundings.

Now, with the spread of cultivators using Swallowing Wind and Eating Qi, stone houses began to rise, marking a complete transition from the primitive tribal age to a flourishing era of prosperity.

Cities and buildings began to spread across the land.

"This is my kingdom."

While walking, Zhu Zhengwei felt a massive sense of achievement in his heart.

This feeling is akin to playing a sandbox building game like ’Minecraft,’ seeing the buildings and landscapes you created, full of a sense of accomplishment.

In the distance, in the square of Hundred-Stone City.

As the morning sunlight dropped, a cultivator was leading a group of children through the buildings, pointing at a statue of a handsome middle-aged man on a central high platform who exuded infinite spirit:

"Today marks the third anniversary of the Chongdao Saint’s death."

"You are able to be brought to the capital, to sense Qi, and test your aptitude because of the blessing of this existence."

"In earlier times, only the sovereigns of the Bronze Kingdom, Seaside Ghost Kingdom, and Slave Dynasty had the right to cultivate Qi. You are in the best era!"

"This is a great human hero!"

Under the lead of this cultivator, the group of children were extremely fervent and hopeful, looking at the golden statue of the saint, each presenting a white wreath.

Almost every year, children from counties, cities, towns would be recommended to be brought here after the primary selections, to the legendary ’Witch Kingdom’ in the grandest Hundred-Stone City of humanity.

This place had already become a holy land for humans.

The apprentices who came here were those eager to grasp truth and understand the world, exploring a wondrous and magnificent world.

"It’s truly a case of each new generation replacing the old, the statue that originally stood there was that of Saint Zhang Zhi."

Zhu Zhengwei’s face had a quirky expression.

But, it was also understandable.

Zhang Zhi, though an old saint, had become distant, with little known tales, mostly revered by the Bronze Kingdom, while the other two kingdoms were generally indifferent.

With a new saint present, whom to believe in is evident without need for explanation.

"I even suspect deeply that Zhang Zhi deliberately downplayed his own existence."

"But it’s understandable, being worshipped well into eternity can feel peculiar each time you pass by."

"Besides, it becomes inconvenient for actions, for example, if he wanted to be a slave again, getting lashed by a slave master might be awkward if the master thinks he resembles a saint, thus missing the experience."

Zhu Zhengwei speculated inwardly and agreed, "I can understand this, as I too played the role of a koala before, only by putting on the costume could I truly let go of myself."

Zhu Zhengwei toured around and found it completely systematic.

Even the examination of children’s aptitude was divided into upper, middle, and lower levels...

Almost every year, geniuses are discovered, while others go home with disappointment.

"It seems that with more people capable of cultivation, the issue of cultivation aptitude arises, which was inevitable, just like teachers focusing on talent in modern society."

"But I always feel that the tide will eventually turn, and it won’t be wise to underestimate the youth."

The cultivation path has also been systematically categorized, currently divided into seven realms.

It is straightforward and clear—from rank one to seven as a Witch. Shiguang, being practical, did not engage in unnecessary complexities.

But there really wasn’t any need for division.

Because the real world is not a game, where nothing is absolute?

Especially for a system like the Witch, a so-called extremely powerful rank seven Witch, capable of Swallowing Wind and Eating Qi and standing against thousands, could still be killed by a mortal with a dagger.

The power of gods in the body of mortals, destined to be disjointed.

"However, I still don’t know what my cultivation aptitude is?"

At night.

Zhu Zhengwei easily infiltrated the Qi-eating Temple.

Being somewhat of an Immortal himself, ordinary guards couldn’t detect him, allowing him to move unimpeded, he found the device for testing aptitude: the Head Relic.

It was a Crystal Skull Witchcraft Artifact.

It was a skull with a crystalline transparency, as flawless as white jade, emitting a gentle and soft luster.

"This is the testing device, a head of a powerful Witch. By touching the skull and injecting Qi, you could test your aptitude."

Zhu Zhengwei was very interested in such a device for testing aptitude.

As for whose head this was?

It is said to be that of the second Emperor of the Slave Dynasty, Emperor Changshou of Shiguang.

Every year, children who came here seriously touch this skull, in a way making him eternally remembered.

And this skull was incredibly hard.

As everyone knew, the strongest part of a "Witch" was his head, often referred to as a Divine Skull.

Attacking these strong individuals by aiming for their head was a fool’s choice.

Zhu Zhengwei gently placed his hand on the skull.

Buzz!

A soft white light flashed.

Hmm, lower level aptitude.

The next second, the light became more intense, turning into a milky white glow.

Mid-level aptitude.

Then in the next moment, it turned into a golden white light.

Rocketing to upper-level aptitude.

Then something even more terrifying happened, the entire skull seemed unable to withstand the energy, beginning to crack.

Bam!!!

The skull shattered, exploding like a firework.

"It split open instantly?"

Zhu Zhengwei was somewhat shocked, "It seems like my aptitude is rather destined for greatness."

But quickly realizing the truth.

The other "servers" constantly emit Qi, what about him?

He is the core main server, whereas they are the secondary servers... They are the Immortal Herb that everyone desires, but he himself is the largest humanoid Immortal Herb!

Thinking this way, he realized that he was the ultimate source of ’Qi’ in the entire world, so having such an aptitude was understandable.

"Perhaps I am indeed the Supreme God in a sense, because I possess the only True God qualification in the whole world," Zhu Zhengwei seemed to gain a little more understanding of the structure of this Four-dimensional World.

"Who’s there?"

Click.

The lights were lit as a squad of guards briskly entered.