The increasingly explosive drama quickly took over the top three trending spots online. The second top trend was, "Parents Scolding Me for Not Knowing How to Play a Game," while the third was, "Claiming to Achieve Immortality—A Hundred Years in One Real-Life Day—Fact or Fiction?"
Watching the huge online storm, with hundreds and even thousands of medical students tirelessly researching, Xu Zhi sat quietly in front of his laptop, somewhat amazed. He stood up to fetch a drink from the fridge, muttering:
"That 'Mixed Element Thunder Hand' is truly capable of stirring up trouble. I thought he'd come out just to brag, but he's actually leveraging the entire internet to analyze medicinal plants in the wizard world?"
Xu Zhi originally thought Li Shengjiang had only exited to boast and show off. Who knew he'd actually rush out to the forums for help, desperately trying to extend his second life in the other world?
Xu Zhi was pleasantly surprised.
"This is indeed an unexpected benefit... The wizard world's pharmacy will now see a massive leap forward. Usually, exploring the medicinal effects of herbs would take generations of wizards hundreds or even thousands of years, but with the power of the internet combined, it might be sorted out quickly..."
Xu Zhi reflected, "The alchemical potion system in the wizard world is nearly complete, and my own cancer finally has hope for treatment."
Surprisingly fast progress.
Xu Zhi had late-stage cancer, and something he'd previously thought was hopelessly distant was now finally within reach.
Li Shengjiang, this traveler from another world, had already brought countless pleasant surprises by rapidly advancing wizard civilization.
At this moment, the intelligent assistant suddenly alerted him:
"Organizations around the globe are attempting to attack our game's official forum... Do you wish to retaliate?"
Xu Zhi furrowed his brow.
The storm he'd created was enormous; some forces were clearly losing their patience and beginning cyber-attacks.
"I'm just a farmer trying to cure my cancer," Xu Zhi sighed. "No need to retaliate, just keep them blocked. Ignore them."
He knew full well what kind of turmoil he'd caused.
Virtual reality technology capable of simulating a second life was already groundbreaking enough.
Now, his game had a terrifying time-dilation mechanic—one day outside equaled a century within, practically a form of virtual immortality. Naturally, certain forces couldn't stay idle any longer.
Xu Zhi asked the intelligent hive-mind, "Are we certain there won't be any issues?"
The Hive-Mind Assistant mechanically replied:
"Modern human technology is far inferior to our Zerg's capabilities. They will never be able to trace our orchard's true location."
Xu Zhi nodded, satisfied. There would be no issue then.
Xu Zhi's current path was biological evolution—the path of supernatural organisms—while the previous generation's Zerg Empress had taken a technological evolution route, creating planetary-scale weapons and unimaginable technology.
Though the previous empress's technological knowledge had vanished, the Hive-Mind Assistant remained her final legacy. Humans couldn't harm him in the slightest.
Thinking it through, Xu Zhi decided to ignore external matters.
What did the world's uproar have to do with him?
What could various schemers plotting against him possibly achieve?
"I'll just tend my crops, and let them remain baffled."
…
Right now, as a relaxed, salted fish, Xu Zhi continued leisurely drinking his beverage.
It was bought online during a sale—38 yuan per case—since money had been tight lately.
Sitting comfortably in his yard, enjoying his rural idyllic life, he suddenly heard knocking at the door.
Knock knock knock!
"Hey! Open up! You're not farming yourself insane, are you?"
Xu Zhi stood up and opened the courtyard door to find Chen Xi standing there.
"I'm leaving early tomorrow morning, going back to school," Chen Xi said softly, looking slightly dispirited. "Oh, about that game you mentioned earlier, I've just heard—it's causing quite a sensation nationwide. Can you really get me into it?"
Chen Xi wasn't a gaming enthusiast—she didn't play games at all—but the commotion around this game was huge enough that even she, an outsider, knew about it.
After learning more, she realized how shocking the game truly was. A closed beta testing spot reportedly cost an outrageous four hundred thousand yuan, and even then, it was impossible to buy one!
She began feeling anxious.
Previously, Brother Xu Zhi had been quite impressive—a high-ranking executive at a foreign company with many connections—but now, he was merely a farmer.
"Don't worry, I can definitely get it. I have friends who are good at writing research papers. When the next testing opens, I'll secure a spot," Xu Zhi reassured her.
"But... everyone else must be thinking the same thing! Others have probably prepared in advance; the next beta test will be even more competitive, with professional game studios vying for spots," Chen Xi said anxiously.
"Relax, my friend will definitely win the spot," Xu Zhi laughed, patting her head gently. "No need to worry. After you return, start preparing a computer and wait patiently."
"Oh." Chen Xi hesitated but didn't question further. Suddenly, she jumped up, kissed Xu Zhi on the cheek, blushed, and ran away, waving back, "Darling, I'm going back to school. Let's meet again in-game!"
Xu Zhi smiled, touching his cheek.
In this world, sincere words were rare, but a girl's blush said more than any spoken promise.
Initially, he hadn't had strong feelings for Chen Xi—just appreciating the joy of being sincerely loved by someone who made thoughtful meals daily. But recently, he genuinely started feeling she was quite lovely, and being with her made him happy.
"After all, when you have cancer and are at your lowest, the girl who willingly comes to accompany you must truly care."
…
Xu Zhi returned to his yard, calm as ever.
With Chen Xi leaving for school, he began considering his future sandbox construction plans.
"First, I have to prepare for the third beta test. Originally, I didn't plan on opening it, but I need a reason to get Chen Xi into the game."
No one could've imagined that the much-anticipated third beta test was solely Xu Zhi's way of granting a little wish for his girlfriend—a small gift he'd promised.
"Since that's the case, the third test won't be too big—around thirty slots should suffice, allowing Chen Xi to quietly join." Xu Zhi casually decided, thus determining countless players' destinies.
"Next, there's the issue of further expanding the wizard world's sandbox."
Xu Zhi frowned slightly again, sitting on his wooden chair in the orchard, munching an apple and gazing at the huge sandbox.
Though the sandbox spanned one hundred mu (Chinese acres), the actively inhabited wizard area covered just thirty mu, with extensive uninhabited forests and an ocean occupying over forty mu. Still, the issue had to be addressed eventually.
Previously, travel had been primitive, but now the advent of alchemical airships greatly eased transportation issues.
Additionally, powerful individuals had begun emerging.
Wizards at Medusa's level—sixth or seventh-rank wizards—could easily shatter small mountains or destroy cities. Such cataclysmic powerhouses required more extensive space to prevent battles from instantly destroying the world.
"Should I expand?" Xu Zhi pondered briefly, then shook his head. "Not for now."
Their much-celebrated alchemy airships were merely fly-sized vessels buzzing around.
Even powerful wizards who could destroy small mountains were, in Xu Zhi's eyes, just tiny ants smashing thumb-sized peaks—terrifying at their scale, but negligible from his perspective.
"Unless someone can casually obliterate an entire mountain range—which, relative to me, would be equivalent to an ant demolishing something the size of a smartphone—there's no immediate need to expand."
Xu Zhi thought carefully, then glanced back into the sandbox and suddenly noticed something strange happening.
Instantly, veins popped out on his forehead.
"Damn! Li Shengjiang just returned to the wizard world, and he's already causing trouble again. Like the legendary rulers before him, he's attempting to explore the edge of the world, gathering national resources to reach the heavens, seeking the legendary floating island of the gods, 'Achilles,' to beg the gods for immortality?"
Xu Zhi was stunned.
There were no gods in the sky! The lie he'd casually created was about to be exposed!
"I allowed you to advance alchemical technology, not to mess with me!"
He quickly turned around and hurried to the storage room, searching frantically. "This brat really thinks he can ascend to the heavens? Looks like there needs to be some turbulent winds up in the sky... I'd better get my super-strong electric fan ready."