Human Brain Farm

Without a doubt, the Emperor Hongyan of this world is a radical reformist.

It's just a pity that reality is cruel, with interests taking precedence.

As a Ghost Witch Doctor myself, bringing enough short-term benefits to this world ensures they won't make a move against me...

Zhu Zhengwei glanced at him, continuing to chat cheerfully with several Demon Gods while sipping tea.

At this moment, the Zhenzi Demon God also glanced in the direction where Hongyan left.

"Back in the day, we were just like this man, serving as the Human Emperor in the mortal realm, eager to save each bit of misfortune and redeem every believer of ours."

"But those were the actions of mortals, and now... we are gods," Zhenzi said.

Zhu Zhengwei asked, "As gods, do we have to disregard the world?"

"Indifferent? Heartless? You might call us that," Zhenzi laughed.

Her gaze was indifferent as she tore open an atmospheric membrane, overlooking the Red Moon planet below, seeing the people's suffering: "We were him once, but one day, he will become us and understand us."

Zhu Zhengwei was surprised that these Demon Gods would discuss this topic.

"Why? I see the Emperor Hongyan is always devoted to his people, caring for his subordinates, and sympathetic to all living beings," Zhu Zhengwei asked.

"Hehehe."

Zhenzi said, "When I first, as a ghost, gained a new friend, I cherished, nurtured, and loved them... When they died of old age, I cried hysterically."

"Decades later, I emerged from the shadows with a second friend... I cherished them but not as much as before. When they died, I still cried until the third friend... I became indifferent."

"Initially, I thought I had become unfeeling, someone even I could not recognize."

Zhenzi stood up, her gaze cold as she looked down at the earthly world.

"Until later, I realized it wasn't just me—all humans are like this... I saw a child receive a pair of precious sneakers, cherishing them daily, afraid of even a speck of dust, but after the second pair, third pair... he changed too."

Zhu Zhengwei fell silent for a moment.

"I also saw a child crying loudly over the tragic death of his dog. When a thief stole his second dog, he only cried for three days... When the third was also stolen, he no longer cried."

"All of us present, who have been emperors in the mortal world, were wise rulers in human history."

"Like this Emperor, we loved our people like our own children. But ultimately, as they discovered their inability to change the cycle of life and death for generations of people, the departure of close friends, the emperors realized: the world is but a bustling mortal realm, history cycles, myriad changes. They began to abandon all worldly attachments, delve into cultivation for immortality, and became Demon Gods."

"When Hongyan has experienced the vicissitudes of life, he will understand that friends, comrades, subordinates, citizens... are all but dust of history, only the grand path is eternal, and only by completely detaching from worldly affairs can one pursue the grand path."

"In history, wise kings, tyrants, geniuses, prodigies... all lingered in the mortal world in various ways, entangled in countless troubles and ties... When they abandoned worldly affairs, then they took the first step to becoming a Demon God."

Zhu Zhengwei remained silent.

Unable to transcend with all living beings, one can only liberate oneself from the sea of suffering.

This seems like a compromise, but reality is so cruel. The Demon Gods present have all experienced the pain of vicissitudes, the departure of loved ones, only then becoming utterly solitary to fully step onto the path of longevity.

Zhu Zhengwei also felt this way.

Every time he reincarnates, he feels less attached to the initial family of his reincarnated identity.

This is very realistic.

Because he instinctively fears loss, he dare not invest too much emotion.

Even after his second reincarnation, in the world of the Ancestral Witch, he only visits his parents every Chinese New Year, and occasionally sees his eldest brother's son, Zhang Tu.

Ensuring they live fulfilling lives, he has no more interactions.

Ultimately, deep down... he's afraid.

Afraid of investing too much emotion, afraid of the pain of loss.

Even as the Creator God, he is this way, so what about them?

The pain of parting and death is the common state for mortals!

"Do you know the biggest difference between gods and humans?"

"Is it powerful strength? Is it invincible faith? Is it boundless knowledge? Is it monstrous wisdom?"

"No, the biggest difference between man and god is time."

Zhenzi said, "Time will allow us to complete the transformation from human to god... As time passes, our mindset gradually becomes that of a deity."

"Over a long period, we abandoned all that is fleeting, absurd, pitiable, wealth, beauty... all the temptations of the world, focusing wholeheartedly on the path, and finally became gods."

At this moment, Zhu Zhengwei finally understood that these Demon Gods were bestowing upon him a kind of karmic bond, revealing the true secret to breaking through to the eighth tier: the transformation of mindset.

The seventh and eighth tiers are the realm between human and god.

Theoretically, it is also a transformation of the mind.

Seeing through the mundane, all the worldly attachments, the attachment to all living beings, the greed for wealth, the importance placed on power, the yearning for beauty... unfalteringly embarking on the path of seeking the grand path to longevity, only then can such a transformation be completed.

"The mortal realm tempers the mind, seeing through the vulgar, only then can one heart be set on the path, and become the Divine Realm."

Zhu Zhengwei muttered to himself, suddenly clasping his fists toward the Demon Gods: "I am taught!"

From these Demon Gods' macro perspective.

That Hongyan, appearing not to be a tyrant but a wise king, actually in some way has no difference from a tyrant. Both linger over all the riches and honors of the mortal realm, their thoughts tangled and unable to let go, unable to practice detachment.

Being a wise king is not bad, but to step into longevity one must focus solely on the grand path, ignoring external affairs, focusing wholeheartedly on the breakthrough of realms...

"But, are such gods really good?" Zhu Zhengwei couldn't help but ask.

"Seekers are gods, those who seek the mundane are mortals."

"Mortals, gods, are essentially just two paths. We gain a lot, and we lose a lot."

Zhenzi smiled, "We seven have abandoned all mundane troubles, a pure heart seeks the path, walked the road of deities, yearning for higher realms... while mortals indulge in their wealth, treasures, riches, glory of heroes, leaving their mark in history, is also a nice transient life."

Zhu Zhengwei thoroughly comprehended, bending down in a bow, "Thank you, Demon Gods, for your guidance."

The wise is the teacher.

In dreams, Zhu Zhengwei utilizes numerous miners to create and simulate worlds, learning from each era's pioneers, their paths, and philosophies.

If no one pointed it out, he may struggle to realize this point over a long time.

Because they not only awakened him to the path as a god but also opened up his heart as the Creator God, giving him a lot of ease.

He is destined to walk on the path of seeking longevity and a greater civilization; naturally, his mindset needs to be properly aligned.