Chapter 1555
Chapter 1555 - 1551: Initial Results Appear
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7 min read
Lu Ping’an’s "work" proved to be more effective and swift than anyone anticipated.
Even Lu himself hadn’t noticed that, while he was merely attempting to create some "life forms," the ecosystem he constructed in the process had indeed broken the world’s cycle.
"This part of the ’particle’ cycle has been broken. The most common function of plants is to prevent soil and water erosion... When their roots dig into the earth and trees form forests, they naturally constitute an independent ecological circle within the wilderness. The particles can’t escape, thus forming a new natural landscape, or perhaps, compost."
What was most incomprehensible was that this did not provoke an extreme reaction from the world.
There were instances in the past where high-level Gardeners forcibly modified environments to create ecosystems adaptable to Earth’s life forms, but the results were quite tragic.
Local demons and residents, as if driven by some command, furiously attacked those areas... This might not be the malicious intent of the World’s Will, but simply that the emergence of a grassland or oasis on the wasteland naturally drew more attention.
And excessive observation and visitation of life disrupted the inherently fragile ecosystem, proving fatal.
"I used the local plants to begin with..."
Lu Ping’an had previously acquired local "aggregation particles" "crystal bodies," which were also among the keystones in the creation of Newborns, but they appeared to be purely mineral.
Yet under Lu Ping’an’s forceful notion that "you are Magic Plants," he also completed the construction of the Crystal Forest.
Below this forest, all the roots were crystal-like structures, and the upper half consisted of grafted Magic Plants from Earth.
A Gardener’s basic skills are also life-long core abilities... The fusion of these upper and lower halves indeed began transforming the surrounding environment.
"Eat, try eating these plants..."
Lu Ping’an’s experimental testing on the Demonic Apes continued. He let these animals live in the forest, using an intermediary environment to enhance their survival capability.
As they ate, drank, excreted, slept, and reproduced in the forest, they naturally integrated into the ecosystem, becoming part of the surrounding ecological cycle... In fact, not only those monkeys, but also the human observers watching them from the outskirts, were part of the ecosystem, and they were also key subjects of observation for Lu Ping’an.
"...Survival time has tripled, and beneficial changes have begun to appear. They’re starting to adapt to the local environment."
Lu Ping’an’s report stirred up another sensation.
Seeing Lu who had produced phase results, naturally spurred internal reviews of "look at how well others’ children are doing" and "you expect funding with these results?".
But Lu Ping’an knew that this path might have reached its limit... Without major genetic improvements, mere adaptation to external environments could only prolong their struggling existence.
These life forms were afflicted with a disease, a kind of "radiation sickness" caused by energy decay, slow in progression but incurable.
Yet, these longest-living populations also helped Lu Ping’an select the species most adapted to local conditions.
"They shouldn’t be too tall, ideally between 1.4 and 1.6 meters..."
Lu Ping’an didn’t know the reason, but according to statistics, this was one of the advantageous traits for survival.
𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
"They need a large heart... literally. Their blood vessels tend to be filled with the local peculiar particles, and this harmless internal circulation helps local life forms, but is fatal to animals that rely on fluid circulation."
This conclusion almost led Lu Ping’an’s research into a deadlock.
Demonized Animals weren’t inherently unusable, but when their bodies were filled with local energy elements, they simply couldn’t survive... Vascular blockages were common troubles, but blood crystallization was the fatal issue.
"What if I induce crystallization beforehand?"
Before sinking and drowning, Lu thought of what seemed like jumping in for self-destruction... Though absurd, as long as the experiment’s lead proposed a possibility for trial, everything could operate.
"Effective, it lived longer. In fact, the crystallized blood worked, taking on part of the internal circulation, except what flowed within were energy and energy particles."
This was, indeed, quite interesting.
Lu Ping’an recalled the "Energy Crystal Magic Plants" he had obtained here... At this moment, it should no longer be just a Magic Plant, it could be an animal!
"Let the Healer help, to transform certain parts of it, replace its blood vessels and circulatory organs..."
Isolated crystallization is basically asking for death, but this time, a Demonized Ape with a set of crystallized, corroded organs managed to last for quite some time.
It seems that these special Energy Aggregating Crystals (Magic Plants) are indeed basic structures of this world.
"Perhaps, we could link them together..."
The result was that Demonized Apes began to grow from the ground... Their limbs all connected to Crystal Tentacles leading underground.
And this time, they didn’t die within a foreseeable range, but they gradually lost vitality, becoming part of the Crystal Tree.
"This, is getting interesting, I need some volunteers..."
And this time, Lu Ping’an failed again, the local humanoid life forms simply dissipated.
The transplanted Crystal Tentacles also withered and died.
"Stupid, don’t you know to let it fuse in the womb? Is it that hard to recreate the gestation process?"
At this moment, the one who casually pointed this out was indeed that young-looking old-timer.
"Surprised, are you? I’ve eaten more salt than the amount of rice you’ve eaten, I know more Quasi-Gods of Life system than all those currently existing..."
Hearing this subtle metaphor, Lu Ping’an finally believed that he was indeed dealing with a very young-looking antique.
But her suggestion was quite reasonable.
Gestation is sacred in many mystical ceremonies, a transformation from non-life material to life, and also the key to whether the mystery in the womb exists.
This time, the experiment still failed.
The reason was quite simple, even though Lu Ping’an’s Life Cauldron created Newborns that met the requirements, they were far too "fragile" and "unstable"... Excessive direct intervention ultimately shaped Newborns that must hide in sterile rooms.
"Don’t you have a large Swamp-style Life Incubator?"
And this predecessor really knows more than Lu himself.
"What’s that?"
"...Forget it, that is Oak’s closely guarded secret, its very existence is confidential, you won’t be able to get your hands on it."
It seems like a private asset and technology of a Quasi-God, this path seems unfeasible...
"Then let’s change the approach, if animal pregnancy is not feasible... since you’ve already managed to link Magic Plants, Crystals, and life forms, why not simply let Magic Plants give birth to animals? Create a type of Magic Plant that is an animal when young, becomes a Magic Plant as it ages or approaches death; this way, it can serve as both a labor force and combat power, and transform the environment after death."
This outrageous idea had gone beyond the limits of Lu Ping’an’s imagination.
But he actually took inventory of the Tools and abilities he had... Treant Factor, Magic Plant Catalysis, Holy Fire, Beast God Blood, investments, and so on.
"Uh, it seems like I really can do it?"
"...No way, I was just throwing out ideas?"
But Lu truly managed to do it; the first time a Demonic Ape was born from within a Crystal Big Tree, what he received was not Trina’s approval, but a "reminder".
"Be careful, better not let Lin Nu know about this... This girl has been pursuing the perfect harmony of the ecosystem her entire life, seeking the perfect link between plants and animals."
— End of Chapter 1555 —