"Witches, huh?"
Xu Zhi smiled faintly.
He had waited patiently for over three days—equivalent to three hundred years in the sandbox world. After enduring a prolonged struggle in the aftermath of the Great Flood, signs of revival were finally starting to appear.
Within this tiny simulated world, the first supernatural species had emerged—the Evil Eye. And those who successfully assimilated its genes became the first witches, blazing a trail into the age of magic.
"The Evil Eye really is incredible."
Xu Zhi's eyes lit up with joy. Creating the smaller sandbox had been a stroke of genius. Akinas Speedster's unorthodox thinking had inadvertently given birth to an entirely new species.
Sitting on a bench at the edge of his courtyard, he leisurely munched on an apple. "It's true what they say—two heads really are better than one."
In truth, the termite genes had proven difficult to assimilate. The genetic blanks required were too vast. Most organisms simply didn't have the capacity to accommodate such changes.
The Evil Eye, however, was a different story. Its genetic demands were far more modest, making it significantly easier to integrate. Out of four hundred attempts, three had succeeded. A more-than-decent success rate.
That was likely because the Evil Eye was a much weaker species compared to the termite. Unsurprisingly, the three witches were far weaker than Gilgamesh. They needed warriors to protect them and could only barely hold their own against the great beasts. Meanwhile, Gilgamesh had been strong enough to conquer the world alone. The difference was stark.
Their understanding of mental power was still in its infancy. Even so, the witches had started earnestly exploring their newfound abilities, developing rudimentary forms of magic and medicine—but progress was slow.
Xu Zhi tapped his chin thoughtfully and went back inside to consult the Internet.
"There should be plenty of resources on ancient meditation techniques—from both Eastern and Western traditions. These practices train the mind and spirit. If I give them this information as a foundation, they might be able to develop a proper magical framework."
Forging a new path was never easy. Every step came with obstacles. But having a general direction made a world of difference. Xu Zhi could provide that direction.
The real question now was: how should he descend and meet the witches?
Should he take the form of the Wise Beast once again and deliver the Three Treasures of Civilization?
He quickly shook his head.
Absolutely not.
Neither could he possess one of the sandbox creatures, overwrite its consciousness, and use it as his avatar. If that were possible, he'd already be inside having fun.
As Xu Zhi contemplated his options, the most hardcore players in the small sandbox had begun to climb ashore. There, in the distance, they spotted an unfathomably large figure—a colossal being sitting on a chair, quietly eating an apple.
"This game is insane. We're literally insects evolving in someone's backyard. Are we supposed to challenge that giant someday?"
A couple of bizarre-looking players whispered among themselves. The freedom the game offered was mind-blowing. There was no fixed storyline—only exploration and discovery. It was unlike anything they'd ever played.
"So cool… He looks just like the legendary Pangu."
"So the endgame is evolving and beating him up?"
"Shh! Let's stay low for now. We're still ants—he probably doesn't even notice us."
"Don't get too close. It took ages to get ashore. If he stomps our king to death, I'm rage-quitting."
The group of players hid among the trees, watching from the forest's edge. They snickered as they spied on the massive being.
"What a bunch of comedians," Xu Zhi muttered, glancing down at the tiny figures scurrying below. They were trying to strategize against him like he was a final boss. It was ridiculous... and a little charming.
Knock knock.
A knock echoed from the gate. Chen Xi had brought food again.
"Forget it, time to eat," Xu Zhi said, standing up and heading for the entrance.
"Holy sh*t! An earthquake! It's an actual earthquake!"
"RUN! His shadow's covering the whole sky! It's shaking! THE WORLD IS SHAKING!"
"Careful! Don't let him stomp the king!"
The players erupted into screams as the earth quaked beneath Xu Zhi's steps. The towering figure moved with casual grace, yet each step shook their world. Bizarre creatures scattered in a frenzy like terrified beasts, fleeing across the land.
And with long strides that crossed thousands of miles, the giant disappeared into the distance.
When Xu Zhi returned, he held a blue lunch box in hand. Settling back into his chair, he dug into a simple yet delicious meal: fried eggs, carrots, and cabbage. Every bite was rich with the earthy flavor of fresh farm produce.
As he savored his food, his thoughts once again returned to the witches of Babylon. How should he establish contact?
Meanwhile, the players crept back out of hiding.
"Whoa, the freedom in this game is insane!"
"We must've triggered a cutscene! Look at the way he eats!"
"Shhh… We should focus on growing stronger first."
Xu Zhi chewed slowly, watching them from the corner of his eye. Once again, they were scheming about how to defeat him. He didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Then, an idea struck him like lightning.
"That's it. The evolution sandbox!"
"I'll start as a spore, evolve like the other players, and eventually become one of them. Once I'm a player-controlled creature, I can enter the larger sandbox world myself."
The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.
The concept was perfect.
He could walk among them, grow, learn, and explore—just like any other player. No divine intervention, no cheats, just pure evolution from the bottom up.
Xu Zhi beamed with anticipation.
He would begin as soon as he finished eating.
But first, he needed to clear the field.
Suddenly, a message appeared in the sky above the tiny world:
"This game will undergo emergency maintenance and will go offline in three seconds!"