Human Brain Farm

Here lies a cluster of residential houses.

Written above are the large characters "Zhang Family Ancestral Hall," and an old man stands before the grave, paying his respects.

Zhang Tu has retired from the position of Witch Emperor for many years now. In his twilight years, having grown old and frail, he returned to his original mountain village home.

Over the years, he has tirelessly pursued his uncle's footsteps, yet the more he chased, the farther he seemed to trail. With the passage of time, he finally came to recognize his own weaknesses and limitations.

His talents could be described as above average.

Unable to keep pace with the top elites, no matter how hard he tried over the years, he still could not achieve the kind of brilliance that could inaugurate an era.

"Ah, I have indeed become part of history. Looking back on this life, it has been quite fulfilling indeed, I've done my best," Zhang Tu smiled, feeling calm and composed.

He is surrounded by children and grandchildren and has developed a nation for the Ancestral Witch, reflecting on his life, he feels there are not many regrets left.

He simply stands before the tombstone, placing flowers in memory of the elder. In a trance, he seems to remember a snowy night from his youth—a fierce snowstorm—and his uncle holding his hand, walking in the snow, bidding farewell to the first generation of the Ancestor Witch Emperor.

"To drink with immortals when young, to see sunsets upon witch courts fall."

"When life ends, what else can one do? Leap through the void and over the stars."

"In ancient times, heroes wielded axes, breaking dawn through starry nights with chants!"

"Today not seen, with ten suns to ride upon, long songs stain the dusk with red clouds!"

...

The resounding voice echoes in his mind again, as if he has returned to those glorious days of yore.

At that time, he greatly admired the life of Chu Tiange, and even imagined himself becoming Chu Tiange, living carefreely, with immense satisfaction—a life with no regrets.

"What am I still waiting for? I have already lived a perfect life." Zhang Tu's eyes gently closed; no one knew that today, this renowned Witch Emperor would meet his end.

In a daze.

He saw a figure gradually approaching—it was the silhouette of his uncle, smiling at him:

"Zhang Tu, you truly understand—this kind of life is free and easy: in this world, we eventually become legends of the past, turning into distant mythologies, so we should simply follow our heart and desires."

"Indeed."

Zhang Tu smiled whole-heartedly. These were the words his uncle had spoken to him years ago, and hearing them repeated today dispelled the last trace of regret in his heart, allowing him to close his eyes in tranquility.

It was enough.

Just having these words from his uncle was enough.

As a deific presence in the world, he had been very good to our family of three.

It was not until the next morning that the descendants in the surrounding area climbed the mountain and discovered Zhang Tu's passing.

"The old Witch Emperor is gone!"

The overwhelming cry swept across the nation of the Ancestral Witch.

Countless people began to pay their respects; this Witch Emperor ruled the land for nearly eight hundred years, dedicating his heart and soul to the entire nation of the Ancestral Witch, leading the clansmen from the seventh stage into the age of the Emperor Realm, heralding a prosperous era.

And today, he too was gone, a glorious era of the past becoming history.

"Zhang Tu is also gone."

Zhu Zhengwei slowly descended the mountain.

Zhang Tu was the child of his brother from a previous life; he occasionally looked after him but didn't want to interfere too much.

Because he knew that Zhang Tu's talent wasn't stunningly exceptional, living out his life in peace was sufficient, and hadn't he lived a complete life?

He became a Witch Emperor of an era, a wave in the tides of time; he had his peak, his brilliance, and finally, he fell...

This was the best life he could provide.

In this world, no one is truly everlasting.

Perhaps he could have forcibly prolonged Zhang Tu's life, but long, enduring years without strength or brilliance might have been torture, turning eternal life into a prison.

"Alas, even as a Creator God, there are many things I cannot change or interfere with. Ultimately, it still comes down to my limited strength, too many enemies, unable to do as I wish."

Zhu Zhengwei murmured, his gaze gradually turning sharp.

"After extensive recuperation and hibernation, the Ancestral Witch world has entered a new era, but such tranquil harmony is not what I desire... They have strength but lack the corresponding iron will and mindset for war. The bloodshed they have known is nowhere near that of the Red Moon world next door, which constantly battles against demon calamities. It's time to train the troops."

"Survival of the fittest."

He looked toward the nation of the Ancestral Witch.

"Let's start a war here, sifting out the real gold, and with these war-bred strong individuals, strike the Red Moon world in one fell swoop."

Zhu Zhengwei continued down the mountain; his gaze seemed to traverse countless voids, penetrating the entire land of the Witch Race.

"Let me find an opportune moment in time, a wave-maker to stir an era of war."

Finally, by continuously using the core of the Dataized Celestial Dao, he sought out the strongest young talents of this era.

Age: Childhood.

Realm: Never trained.

Background: Living in poverty.

As Zhu Zhengwei applied filters, continually screening, a figure appeared before his eyes.

"Why is it a Minotaur again?"

Zhu Zhengwei was taken aback and said to the Celestial Dao, pointing at her, "What's her situation? How has she reverted to youth, to a childhood state?"

Ancestral Witch Celestial Dao responded, "In the prosperous Divine Realm, in recent years, she tried to seek the Elixir of Immortality, to let her crew live a second life, and encountered divine encirclement, her body destroyed. In a bid for survival, she used the ancient coffin of yours transformed into a Blood Ancestor entity, turning into a ghostly being..."

"Over the next few hundred years, she became a Blood Race species, continually seeking bodies, fighting battles—a mix of victories and losses—recently, severely injured, she entered the body of a Snake Race girl, fusing with her flesh, preparing for the next resurrection."

Unlike Zhu Zhengwei, who calmly bid farewell to old acquaintances.

Over these years, apart from the Minotaur advancing past the eighth stage, all others of the seventh stage are facing old age and death... Soft-hearted, she could only fervently search for Immortal Herb everywhere.

And how could Immortal Herbs from major sects be easily snatched away?

She waged battles across the world, made enemies of the world, but this time, she was defeated.

Zhu Zhengwei narrowed his eyes.

He looked at the girl who was possessed, now a Snake Race person.

This wasn't the first time she used the ability to possess after being blown to bits, with her blood fleeing, exploiting this characteristic once again. As a young Snake Race girl, her self was slumbering; conservatively estimated, she would undergo a transformation similar to Zhu Zhengwei, becoming a being like himself.

Zhu Zhengwei sighed.

"Unexpectedly, the coffin surgery platform I left behind to transform the Blood Ancestor was used by her... it seems she has gone through many things over these years, grown quite a bit."

The Minotaur was the strongest talent he selected last time, also exceptionally unique, with combat instinct and wisdom that defy the heavens to the extreme.

But somewhat naive in some aspects, also cherishing her friends and clan excessively.

Ancestral Witch Celestial Dao girl spoke, "I saw there was no danger, so I didn't mention it to you... Since she chose to walk your path, perhaps it's also a kind of opportunity, and besides, for the strong within the world, they need trials to grow. If forever a flower in a greenhouse, they cannot become your able aide to conquer all heavens for us."

Zhu Zhengwei did not object.

Giving up the body, transforming into a blood being like himself?

He pondered, "Just right, her body is collapsing, it can be used for the next bodily transformation, integrating magnetic energy technology, and serve as the starting point for the next era of warfare."

"Hmm, her Minotaur ghost combined with the snake's body, I will help her grow stronger. Is the Minotaur also about to upgrade to a new version?" He mused quietly to himself, "From now on, it shall be called, Bull Ghost Snake Body."