Shepherding Humanity

Letting everyone go to the otherworld was an incredibly bold idea. Perhaps, only these wacky and fearless players would be able to come up with such an idea.

"What's going on?" Xu Zhi couldn't help but step forward and ask.

"This person is…" The crooked tree doubtfully inquired.

"My boyfriend." Chen Xi proudly answered.

"Damn! You’re a couple who are both accomplished students? Did you write your research papers together and join this game together? Are you planning to show off your love for one another in this game?"

The crooked tree was shocked.

Everyone knew how difficult it was to get a beta tester’s slot, to think that this accomplished couple would be able to get two of them and join this game together. It was frightening to think about.

What a badass couple!

He was dealing with two big bosses, and should not try to mess with them. He really shouldn’t mess with them!

"Hmph, loving couples should all die!" The trees who were enthusiastically chatting with Chen Xi just a moment ago immediately lost interest now that her boyfriend had shown up. "Let's go, we should head to the meeting."

They pulled out their roots from the ground and strode forward.

At this time, a tree in the distance dumbfoundedly exclaimed: "Hey, take me with you! I can't move!"

"Can a tree that can’t walk even be considered a tree? You’re not a proper plant." Left with no choice, the crooked trees worked together to uproot this tree.

Then, two trees placed the dark green tree on their shoulders like a carrying pole, one in front, one behind, and began walking.

Chen Xi looked at this bizarre scene, of several trees with legs walking away while carrying another tree, and was lost for words.

After these deformed trees were gone, she hurriedly turned to Xu Zhi and said: "We’re very lucky to have encountered such a major event! Let’s go! Let's go to the meeting and join in on the fun! I’m so excited! It doesn’t seem possible that everyone would be able to go to the otherworld since only two big bosses have managed to get an achievement award so far, but who knows? It would be great if we could actually go to the otherworld!"

Chen Xi also knew the Emperor of Alchemy’s story well. This was a super realistic game world after all, and she could not help but be envious of such a life.

After all, how long can a modern person live?

Eighty years? Ninety years?

But in this game, if you’re strong enough, you could live for hundreds of years and rule the world. You could even learn magic and become a mighty being with supernatural powers. This was a world of limitless and glorious possibilities; calling it a true second life was not enough.

"Of course we should go." Xu Zhi thoughtfully replied.

Originally, he had entered the sandbox to go on a date. He only wanted to take the opportunity to talk to Chen Xi and also relax his nerves; he hadn’t expected to run into something like this. These *ssholes were eagerly causing trouble once again.

Why must you guys be so hyperactive? Can’t you just give it a rest?

"Give me 5 minutes, I’ll log out and check the forum to get a better understanding of the situation." Xu Zhi said.

"Right." Chen Xi quickly nodded.

After that, Xu Zhi immediately logged out and sneaked into the enemy camp to gather intelligence.

He checked the forum and discovered that there was another really active thread, he had just been too focused on the Emperor of Alchemy’s thread back then to notice.

[Is the matter of evolving your species still causing you worry? Are you going bald because of all the all-nighters? Do you truly want to go to the otherworld? Then join us! The “Learning is a Waste of Time” guild will fulfill your desire to go to the otherworld!]

The thread starter had the nickname "Learning is a Waste of Time" and was a newbie from the Third Beta Test. At this moment, he had just made another intriguing post.

"Let everyone enter the otherworld together?"

"A guild? Since when did this game have a guild system?"

"Impossible! Only a few big bosses have managed to enter before, how are we all supposed to leave the Beginner’s Village?"

Everyone angrily called this a scam at first, but when they finished reading the post, and saw the methodical analysis, along with the preliminary biological diagrams, everyone grew excited.

"Fuck! This is the principle of spore symbiosis. You’re making a synthetic life-form!"

"It must have taken great imagination to come up with the bio-engine from before, but this person is even more amazing!"

"When I think about it, it actually seems feasible! There are many examples of symbiosis in nature: wolf packs, rhinos and rhino birds…too many to count really."

"Let’s combine! I’ll form the head! (Gundam Warrior Transformation.jpg)"

"Let’s combine! I'll form the skin! (PreCure Transformation.jpg)"

"Let’s combine! I'll form the skeleton! (Sailor Moon Transformation.jpg)"

"Damn it! I can't find the right picture. (😭)"

….

In an instant, this thread had become extremely active.

Before this, everyone had been left wanting more after participating in the Emperor of Alchemy’s adventure as spectators, but now, they all had the opportunity to go to the otherworld together as a team. They’d be able to go sightseeing, and take in the exotic scenery of the other world, it was such a thrilling thought!

This synthetic creature would be equivalent to an entire guild; it would be amazing if this succeeded. The sense of accomplishment would be unimaginable. This was truly the most mind-boggling plan that the players have come up with since the opening of the sandbox!

Xu Zhi skimmed through the thread and immediately understood everything.

This was the player who had written that paper, and wanted to evolve a Mythic Level-Eight synthetic life-form.

Sure enough, he had started his plan of forming a guild as soon as he entered.

Learning is a Waste of Time: "Guys! The species that you evolve yourself may not have enough potential; you all know how difficult that is to accomplish. If you want to go to the other world, then this is a rare opportunity for you all.

Instead of trying to find your own way, why not enter the otherworld with us first? You can still evolve your own species after you’ve come out. Anyone who wants to participate in this “God-Maker” plan should come join us, first come first serve."

The big boss had issued a formal invitation.

I Love Learning: "What a monstrous newbie! I’m amazed! Does this mean that even I will have a chance to enter the otherworld?"

Cerebral Bluff: "We, you should say we! We’ll all enter together! I was so excited when I looked at the screenshots of the big boss’s life before, and now, it’s finally our turn to enter? Even though we’ll have to enter as a team, while the super bossman did it alone, I still want to beat him up and steal Ermin away from him. I’m coming, my goddess! Ha ha ha!"

Hands Off: "I’m so happy! If this succeeds, then won’t it mean that in the future, we’ll be able to team up and enter the sandbox as we please? (😆)"

Akina’s Speedster: "I don't think so. This synthetic life-form should only count as a single achievement, even if we could make another one in the future, it would be pointless. This is our one and only opportunity for all the players to enter as a team!"

….

There was a lot of discussion and excitement. People even started discussing the feasibility of the project.

Which led to the current scene, where a bunch of oddly shaped creatures were rushing to the meeting. It was time to find out if this was actually feasible, and they were discussing how they should combine according to the big boss’s evolutionary diagram.

Xu Zhi laughed when he saw this. "I’ve been trying to figure out how I could get them to team up, but to think that they would be so excited about this. They’re all full of enthusiasm after witnessing the Emperor of Alchemy’s life, and want to cause a stir."

Xu Zhi thought for a moment, then re-entered the game, and explained the general situation to Chen Xi.

"We’ll also be able to enter the otherworld?"

Chen Xi was very excited. "The bossman is too amazing! Even nobodies like us will benefit thanks to him. Let's go! The two of us should also participate! This is our one and only chance. There’ll be no next time."

Xu Zhi thought about this, "I will not participate; I’m not interested in this otherworld. You can go if you want though. This is a rare opportunity for you to go sightseeing with the big bosses and enjoy the beauty and harmony of the otherworld. Aren’t you one of those gamers who love to go around taking in the scenery? This is perfect for you then. Have fun with your group tour."

"You’re not going? That’s such a shame." Chen Xi was a little disappointed.

Xu Zhi had a hand rested against his cheek as he considered his options. Should he open a back door for Chen Xi and find a way for her to become one of the leaders of this “God-Maker” plan?

After all, according to the Hive Mind, this giant god would be a Tyranis pseudo-hero, a pseudo Mythic Level-Eight life-form. Even though it wouldn’t be a true Mythic Level-Eight, and only had one foot through the door, it was still a demigod…

A demigod has never appeared in the Magic World before.

If these wacky players were to cause trouble using the giant god, it would be difficult for him to deal with them. The heavenly gods, and Mercury, the God of Wisdom, were little more than props and won’t be able to do anything. He needed to insert a spy who would be able to control the giant god’s core functions.

Moreover, this spy needed to be dumb and obedient enough to play the game exactly as he instructed…

Wasn’t there a perfect candidate right in front of him?

She’s dumb. She’s never played games before and is completely ignorant. She’s super-excited about her sightseeing trip in the otherworld…

"But how will I insert Chen Xi in as my spy and give her control over the core functions?" Xu Zhi glanced at the excited Chen Xi beside him, and began to plot.