The reason why Zhao Meng could identify males and females was because the female fish was very huge.
Compared to the females, these males were like little sheep in front of an elephant.
Facing such a huge difference in size, Zhao Meng was a little puzzled.
"How do I reproduce?"
However, after some confusion, he thought of something.
The reproduction process of most fish was different from humans. There was no need for in-depth communication, but…
"It's starting!"
The huge female fish came to a pit and started to swing around, and then, a large number of fish eggs landed on the pit that the male fish had dug beforehand.
As the fish eggs continued to be expelled, the male fish beside the pit also came up and shook their body beside the pit. Then, a white cloud covered the female fish's eggs.
"So this is how it's solved!"
Zhao Meng expressed that he had learned something. Then, he followed suit and waited.
Soon, he understood why the males were not excited when the females came.
This was because the female fish had too many eggs. The eggs laid by a female fish were not something a male fish could deal with.
Female fish kept changing places to lay eggs.
As for the male fish, they were busy.
For a moment, the sandbed at the bottom of the sea was enveloped by a layer of white fog.
Zhao Meng also started his work.
Compared to the first three animals, this breeding process does not require contact between males and females.
Therefore, Zhao Meng did not feel much pressure.
The only thing that Zhao Meng felt uncomfortable about was the spreading white clouds.
"It's also a good thing that humans don't reproduce in this way. Otherwise, it would be very strange to think about that process!"
Zhao Meng shook his head gently.
Females laid eggs and males fertilized.
After completing this process, the female strutted away.
That's right, the female fish left, not the male.
In the following days, the male fish had to take care of these eggs. After these eggs hatched, the male fish could leave.
[In May of the second year, under your meticulous care, the fish eggs hatched successfully and you began to wander!]
Zhao Meng, who had experienced the entire reproduction process, finally understood why this sunfish could survive.
Because this fish laid too many eggs.
There were so many that even a few males could not handle the eggs laid by one female.
"This is the sea strategy of a fish!"
Zhao Meng completed his duty.
Although he was not sure if the fish's genetic material had been mixed into the eggs in the fog, Zhao Meng did not care about this. He was more concerned about his physical condition.
"There are more and more barnacles on my body!
"It's a little uncomfortable!"
As sunfish did not swim very fast, therefore, it was easily targeted by parasitic creatures in the water. This was something that could not be helped.
"I'll find a place to rub myself!"
[In the third year of eating, your body size has increased. You have come to the breeding ground again to start sowing.]
[In the fourth year, you ate and sowed.]
[In the fifth year of eating, you have come to the breeding ground!"]
After five years of growth, Zhao Meng's body continued to grow larger. Compared to the previous sheep size, Zhao Meng was now almost as big as a calf.
However, even with such a size, it was still very small compared to the female.
After these few years of growth, Zhao Meng also understood the source of this difference.
Females needed to be large enough to lay eggs that were sufficiently large.
Male fish had fewer restrictions on their size. After all, a drop of water contained thousands of essences…
Zhao Meng arrived at the breeding ground as usual. He looked at the busy male fish and sighed silently.
"My body is getting worse!"
He was not in a good state.
This was not because he had worked too hard and his body was hollowed out.
It was because he had eaten too much.
In the animal world, the size of the body determined everything.
When Zhao Meng observed that the sunfish were growing very quickly, he kept eating crazily to increase his size.
He did grow faster than other males, and he also avoided being devoured by other fish because of his larger size.
However, eating too much also led to another problem, which was that the number of parasites in his body kept increasing.
He still had a way to rub off the barnacles external to his body.
However, there was nothing he could do about the parasites in his body.
"This sunfish isn't very resistant to parasites!
"Maybe I ate too much and broke the balance between the host and the parasites!
"Looks like this simulation is about to end!"
Sensing the state of his body, Zhao Meng felt something.
And at this time, the female entered the breeding ground.
Although Zhao Meng was already sick, he still insisted on working despite his illness.
Taking care of the fish eggs caused Zhao Meng's body to deteriorate further.
The decline in physical fitness was a very dangerous thing in this world of survival of the fittest.
Before long, Zhao Meng's simulation ended.
"I've been eaten again!"
Sensing that his consciousness had returned, Zhao Meng sighed slightly. However, he quickly pulled himself together.
"This simulation should have reached a certain point in time, and the available messages should be displayed!"
After the simulation of these animals, Zhao Meng also gradually figured out the message patterns of this strange simulation system.
First was when a simulation failed quite soon. In this case, nothing would be displayed.
Second was when a simulation was a direct success.The messages would not be displayed. Instead, one could directly draw the messages.
Third was when a certain point in time was reached. Available messages could be viewed.
As to the reason for this situation, Zhao Meng guessed that the architect of this system was probably trying to motivate the users and prevent them from giving up halfway.
"Adulthood and reproduction were the most important time for the previous few animals. I think it's the same this time!"
Just as Zhao Meng had expected, notifications appeared before him.
[Simulation failed]
[If simulation succeeds, it would yield the following messages:
[Cloud Heredity (Gold)]
[Unlimited Energy (Purple)]
[Rapid Growth (Purple)]
[Deep Submersion Pressure Resistance (Blue)]
[Rapid Self-Healing (Blue)]
[Pain Suppression (White)]
[Host of Parasites (White)]
[Thick skin (White)]
[Shell Nemesis (Gray)]
[Jellyfish Predator (Gray)]
…
[Hidden messages (Not Unlocked)]
Looking at the messages that appeared in the notifications, Zhao Meng frowned faintly.
The notifications only showed the names of the messages; this had the effect of displaying the messages. It only allowed him to speculate from the behavior of the sunfish.
The first thing he noticed was naturally the Gold message.
"Cloud Heredity!"
"This message…"
Zhao Meng recalled the clouds released during the reproduction process of the sunfish.
"But what's the function?"
Immediately after, he thought of the consequences of using this message on himself and hurriedly stopped his wandering thoughts.
"It shouldn't be what I think!"
He recalled the heaven-defying effects of A Showdown and the pseudo-female transformation.
The effects of Cloud Heredity might far exceed his imagination.