Chapter 7: The Divine oracle
As Jiang Ping roused from slumber, he swiftly surveyed the state of the primeval realm, finding joy in the absence of any disaster. While the introduction of magical beasts had led to the extinction of certain local creatures, their offspring had emerged, imbued with formidable strength.
In the heavens, a scarlet dragon soared with regal grace, igniting the verdant forest with its fiery breath. On another front, a colossal ice dragon froze its prey effortlessly, relishing in their icy demise. Meanwhile, their progeny, the Wyverns, slithered stealthily along the mountain's edge, patiently awaiting their next banquet.
As the denizens grew in power, their procreation became an arduous task, yet the nefarious dragons remained insatiable in their desires. Day in and day out, they indulged in feasting and copulation, their lives seemingly defined by an eternal cycle of hunting, exercising, and coveting glistening treasures, as if the love for riches was etched into their very essence.
Driven by the insatiable lust of these mighty dragons, their draconic lineage now thrived in every recess of the realm.
"Fajoshi, cease your fiery rampage, lest the wrath of the Tree be kindled once more," a white dragon chastised the fire-breathing red dragon.
"Boom!"
Upon hearing these words, it was evident that the red dragon harbored concerns over the might of Lahil. Refusing to douse its flames, the fiery dragon retorted, "As long as I remain beyond her domain, she shall find no purchase upon me!" Anger reverberated in its voice, hinting at past encounters with the towering arboreal guardian at the heart of the land.
Suddenly, the red dragon's eyes rolled, and a proclamation escaped its maw, "It has been an eternity since I last savored the succulent flesh of those delicate ape-men. I shall grace the heartland with my presence." With those words, it took flight, resolutely embarking toward the central region of the mainland.
The white dragon shook its head, bemused by Fahuoshi's penchant for self-destruction. Despite having suffered under the dominion of the tree Lashiel in the past, it now sought to feast upon the ape-men sheltered beneath the colossal tree's sprawling branches.
Jiang Ping redirected his gaze toward the center of the world. The tribe of ape-men, guarded by the grand arboreal sentinel, had managed to evade annihilation, but their numbers had dwindled to a mere 5,000. Most of their existence was spent ensconced within cavernous abodes, their lives burdened with relentless hardships. The once vibrant countenances of these beings had paled, their frames emaciated by perpetual struggle.
"During this protracted epoch, the progeny of colossal dragons have proliferated across the land. Why then do the ape-men struggle so much? Initially, their tribe boasted a population of at least 10,000, yet now only half endure," Jiang Ping pondered, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation.
Having held lofty expectations for the ape-men, who resided in the continent's auspicious heartland, abounding with sustenance, mana, and vast subterranean mineral wealth, he found it unfathomable why they suffered such profound destitution. Were it not for the protective embrace of the sacred tree, their species would have long been extinguished.
After profound reflection, Jiang Ping finally unraveled the plight of these sorrowful bipeds, once dominators of Earth's realm, now grappling with the adversities of the primordial world.
"When the ape-men first strode upon the Earth, only a meager few colossal beasts roamed. Their sheer magnitude merely categorized them as upper-middle hunters. However, within this original world, colossal creatures now roam in every corner. Empowered by the presence of mana, these beings have attained unprecedented might. Moreover, intermittent encounters with power magical creatures demanding sacrificial offering have imposed immense trials upon the ape-men's tenacity," Jiang Ping concluded, his comprehension deepened as he unraveled the intricacies of their plight.
Overwhelmed by a surge of emotion, Jiang Ping, his heart filled with conviction, proclaimed that the fate of a species hangs precariously upon the precipice of its struggle. Yet, in its endeavor, it must also heed the course of history, patiently awaiting that propitious juncture when a worthy creature emerges to claim its rightful place.
If one were to opine that humanity on Earth faced formidable challenges in its nascent stage, then the human beings of the primordial realm endured an infernal initiation, a trial by fire.
"It appears imperative that we devise a means to aid our brethren, these ape-men," mused Jiang Ping, his thoughts immersed in profound contemplation. For mere survival amidst their meager conditions would never imbue the ape-man group with the strength required to thrive. The dawn of civilization demands the presence of a substantial populace.
Whilst Jiang Ping pondered, deep in thought, the crimson dragon, Fahuoshi, once again indulged in a merciless feast upon the hapless ape-men. As these unfortunate individuals, engrossed in their careful gathering of fruits, cried out in terror and fled for their lives, the pitiless dragon reveled in his predatory prowess.
"Curses! Are we not, too, creations of the divine? How can this wicked dragon roam the realm, ruthlessly hunting us down and effortlessly annihilating entire families? Why do we remain feeble, unable to vanquish even the weakest of leopards?" gnashed the stalwart leader of the group, his frustration manifest in clenched teeth.
With his brethren falling prey to the heartless dragon's voracious appetite, the leader's eyes burned bloodshot, his fists clenched as he recklessly charged towards the crimson dragon!
"Roar?"
Observing these feeble worms rushing into his very maw, the red dragon Fahuoshi chortled with cruel amusement. Yet, in that moment of mockery, an adjacent towering tree swayed its branches with a gentle grace. The red dragon's scales stood on end, a surge of panic compelling him to flap his wings hastily and retreat!
The leader, having narrowly escaped the clutches of death, stood bewildered, his gaze sweeping over the scene of crimson-stained surroundings and scattered limbs.
"Wuma, your sudden rush nearly gave me a heart attack," a female ape-man, draped in animal skins, hastened to his side.
"Why? Why? Why must we, the ape-men, be destined to serve as prey for these colossal beasts? Are we not also creatures fashioned by the divine? Must we forever languish in feebleness?" Wuma's anguished voice reverberated as he pounded the ground, his eyes fixed upon his compatriots being devoured time and again by ferocious creatures. It seemed that suffering had become their eternal plight.
"No, it cannot be so. The mighty dragons possess inherent strength and extraordinary abilities. Other colossal beasts pale in comparison, posing no true challenge to us. Perhaps we were simply shaped differently by the god of creation," the female ape-man offered a feeble consolation to the leader, her voice filled with resignation.
"No, we too are creatures molded by the divine. I refuse to accept that we are inherently weaker than other beings!" Wuma's fiery gaze locked onto the distant sacred tree.
"Wuma, what course of action do you seek?" The intuitive female ape-man's senses were tinged with a sense of foreboding.
"I shall approach the sacred tree and beseech it for guidance on how our ape brethren may establish a foothold upon this Earth!" Wuma strode purposefully towards the revered tree, his resolve unwavering.
"You are courting death! The guardian tree has always shielded us. If we incur its wrath, we shall be obliterated within a day!" The female ape-man rushed forth, desperate to dissuade him.
Regrettably, Wuma, the leader, marched on resolutely towards the sacred tree. "I would rather perish than endure this existence! Should the sacred tree be truly angered, I am willing to sacrifice myself to quell its fury!" With unwavering determination, Wuma pressed onward towards the sacred tree, his intent to sacrifice himself for the greater good evident.
"I would choose death over continued feebleness!" Such were his unadorned thoughts.
"This leader possesses remarkable fortitude," remarked Jiang Ping as he observed Wuma's unwavering determination. "It appears I must provide them with the seeds of civilization." "I must also bring to the master's attention the existence of a formidable group in the original realm, whose potential, according to analysis and deduction, is immense, albeit accompanied by significant environmental damage." Genesis unexpectedly interjected.
Jiang Ping was taken aback and swiftly peered into the depths below, discovering sprawling underground cities with intricate passageways crisscrossing in every direction, ultimately converging into a superlair nestled in the deepest recesses.
"Extraordinary!" Jiang Ping couldn't help but marvel at the engineering prowess of the ant tribe. In an instant, the mutant ant colony flourished. They had not only conquered terrestrial land and built vast nests but also possessed a significant presence underground.
A queen ant, with a colossal abdomen measuring two meters in length, incessantly laid eggs. Worker ants and soldier ants dutifully executed their roles. Furthermore, Jiang Ping discerned the presence of numerous mutant ants among the ranks—super ants that devoured various minerals and boasted golden-armored exoskeletons.
"They harbor immense potential, capable of ingesting and mutating an array of substances, far beyond a mere tempestuous force. These mineral-devouring super ants are evidently elite soldiers. The queen ant herself possesses mature wisdom, which explains the exceptional progress of the colony. After establishing a foundational base underground, they have expanded onto the surface."
This revelation brought genuine surprise—while the ape-men continued to grapple for survival, the ant tribe had virtually conquered the subterranean realm and begun their ascent towards the surface.
"However, these mutated ants wreak havoc upon the environment," Jiang Ping frowned. Although the ant colony harbored tremendous potential, their strategy entailed wanton consumption.
"Devour all, seize all, exterminate all!" This very approach accounted for their rapid reproduction. Wherever the ant tribe traversed, no blades of grass or tufts of hair remained, for even the slightest trace of energy would be devoured by their insatiable appetites.
"I shall instruct them to focus on devouring ants," Jiang Ping pondered for a while but refrained from interfering with the ants. The growth of all living beings possessed inherent reasoning, and it was best to allow them to develop autonomously.
"The time has come to ignite the fires of ape-man civilization," Jiang Ping mused, directing his gaze back to the core of the Earth.
Meanwhile, Wuma, the leader of the ape-men, returned home in a state of desolation. He had spent an entire day kneeling before the sacred tree, imploring for assistance. Yet,
the sacred tree remained silent, providing no answers to his inquiries. "Does even the sacred tree fail to recognize the despair of the ape-men?" Wuma wondered in puzzlement.
Fatigued, he lay within the damp cave, pondering how to bolster the strength of the ape-man tribe. However, throughout most of the night, his mind remained devoid of any viable ideas. Gradually, his eyelids grew heavy, and he succumbed to sleep.
Simultaneously, the stars outside the cave shimmered brilliantly as a beam of light descended from the sky, penetrating Wuma's consciousness.
Wuma found himself enmeshed in a dream, yet upon awakening, he found himself shrouded in darkness, as if still enveloped in a dreamlike state. Suddenly, a glimmer emerged before him, and he raced towards it, eventually encountering a figure emitting divine radiance—a person whose countenance eluded clear perception.
"Who are you? How did I find myself in this place?" Wuma asked cautiously, maintaining a vigilant posture.
"Do not concern yourself with my identity. I am here solely to bestow upon you a flicker of hope," Jiang Ping spoke calmly.
In that instant, it seemed as though Wuma remembered the existence that emanated boundless radiance yet remained elusive in appearance, as if unearthed from the depths of his ancestral memory.
"Thud!"
Overwhelmed by emotions, Wuma prostrated himself before Jiang Ping, his trembling gaze fixed upon him. "Could it be that you are the Creator God who fashioned us and the world itself?!"