Chapter 8: The Spark of Civilization, the Multiplication Table!

Wuma recalled a troubling issue that had been on his mind. He respectfully asked, “The ape-like tribes are inherently weak, lacking fur or claws, making them easy prey for beasts. Is my tribe doomed to be eliminated?”

Even the strongest Divine Tree on the continent couldn’t answer this question. Perhaps only the being before him, who bore resemblance to the Creator Deity, could shed light on it.

Jiang Ping looked at Wuma calmly. “Every life has its purpose. Even the tiniest, weakest insect can undergo metamorphosis and become the strongest divine beast. The mightiest dragon, too, may fall to the smallest creatures. To be human is to defy fate. Nothing is truly destined.”

“Defy fate?” Wuma murmured, suddenly captivated by the brilliance before him.

At this moment, Jiang Ping held a glowing orb in each hand. “Here are two sources of power. One contains the blood of a dragon. If you drink it, you will gain overwhelming dragon strength and become one of the strongest beings in the world.”

Wuma’s heart raced. He had seen the dragon’s might firsthand—capable of annihilating tribes effortlessly, it was not only extraordinarily powerful but also possessed exceptional abilities. He then turned to the other glowing orb.

“This one contains the spark of civilization. It won’t grant you divine power instantly, but it may empower your tribe to become the strongest in the world.” Jiang Ping continued explaining.

“Civilization?” The unfamiliar term left Wuma puzzled.

Jiang Ping didn’t delve into what civilization entailed. Instead, he instructed, “If you choose the dragon’s blood, run straight toward the left side of the Divine Tree upon waking. If you choose the spark of civilization, head to the right side of the tree.”

Upon finishing, Jiang Ping transformed into a streak of light and vanished. Wuma, bewildered, was about to call out when a deafening sound echoed in his ears.

“Whoosh~ Whoosh~”

Wuma awoke in a cold sweat, staring blankly into the dark night. He couldn’t tell if the previous conversation was a dream born out of his desperate desire for power, or if it was a divine manifestation that showed compassion for the weak apes.

Suddenly, he recalled the Creator Deity’s final choice offered to him. With a shiver, Wuma promptly rose and sprinted towards the Divine Tree. Despite the oppressive darkness, he could navigate the area with his eyes closed.

As he raced towards the tree, Jiang Ping inquired, “Which will he choose: the dragon blood or the spark of civilization?”

“Either choice wouldn’t be surprising. According to my calculations, having witnessed the power of dragons, he has a 60% chance of selecting the dragon blood. After all, the known strength of dragons seems more reliable than the unknown spark of civilization,” Genesis replied. “With dragon power, he could lead his tribe to rapid growth, securing a foothold on this land. However, placing all hopes on one individual brings risk; if he falters, catastrophe could easily follow.”

At that moment, Wuma had reached the base of the Divine Tree. He stood frozen in the darkness, clearly troubled over which power to choose. Both were gifts from the Creator Deity, and the decision could seal his tribe’s fate!

“The dragon’s power is the pinnacle even on land! If I possess it, I could easily repel beasts and help my tribe grow strong. But the spark of civilization is unknown to me; I only know it has the potential to strengthen the ape tribe,” Wuma mused as he moved toward the left side.

Just a few steps in, he suddenly pivoted. “I know the limits of dragon power, yet the spark of civilization is a treasure unheard of in all lands. Gifts from the Creator Deity can’t be lowly! I’m betting the future on every human in my tribe!”

Wuma dashed toward the right side, running vigorously. In the pitch-black night, he lost his footing several times but never gave up. Just when he thought it was all a dream, he spotted a flicker of flame shining brightly ahead.

Wuma jolted, immediately pushing himself to reach the light. As he drew nearer, he realized there wasn’t just one flame but several surrounding a long spear and a stone tablet on either side.

Approaching the flames cautiously, he knew of their terrifying nature. Forest fires after thunderstorms had killed countless beasts; even the strongest celestial tigers kept their distance. Carefully, he grasped the long spear.

The spear’s handle felt wonderfully comfortable, crafted from an unknown material; its tip, unlike any wood Wuma knew, glimmered under the flames. A voice rang out in his mind.

“The ape-like are born weak but possess incredible dexterity. They can arm themselves with the world’s resources. This spear of destiny is granted to you, for destiny lies in your hands.”

Wuma tightened his grip on the spear and couldn’t resist twirling it. With this indestructible spear, he felt empowered to face any extraordinary beast! At the same time, he couldn’t help but reach for the flames. Could this be the spark of civilization? He wondered.

“Do not fear the flames. They will illuminate your path in the dark and cook your food.”

Apparently, the fire possessed unimaginable power, Wuma thought, his gaze shifting to the stone tablet.

The tablet was small, engraved with complex symbols he couldn’t comprehend, resembling intertwined and spiraled insects.

“The tablet holds parts of the world’s truths.”

Was that all the introduction it got? Wuma clutched the tablet tightly, uncertain of its contents. However, the description inspired awe; it held parts of the world’s truths! If he could decipher the symbols, it would bring about monumental changes!

If a child who had attended elementary school on Earth were present, he would clearly recognize that the tablet was inscribed with the multiplication table!

The next morning, Wuma gathered all the tribe members under the Divine Tree. The apes clustered together, anxiously scanning their surroundings, fearing a beast might spring out at any moment. Once everyone had gathered, Wuma stood on a high platform, wielding the spear.

“Last night, I received divine inspiration!” Wuma began with this shocking claim.

As the tribe below remained puzzled, he continued, “The Creator Deity has taken pity on our hardships and granted me three treasures: this spear of destiny, the stone of truth, and the flames!”

Wuma scanned the faces of his tribe and raised the spear high, shouting, “To defy fate! From now on, we apes will no longer be prey for ferocious beasts!”

“To defy fate!”

“To defy fate!”

Over five thousand apes echoed the chant, their voices both loud and filled with tears. They had suffered far too much! Forced to hide in dark caves, they barely managed to survive!

Wuma truly exemplified a hero of his age. He guided his tribe to replicate the spear of destiny, binding sharp stones to branches. He then led his people to surround and attack the wild beasts.

The spear of destiny was indestructible, capable of piercing even the toughest armor. With this, the ape tribe cleared the surrounding dangers, expanding their territory and ensuring a steady increase in food supply.

Simultaneously, Wuma taught his people to adapt to fire. No longer was the night an end to their day. The flames drove away beasts and cooked their food, allowing the apes to grow stronger. The subtle energy within the flames even fostered brain development!

With the flames and spear, the ape tribe could finally withstand extraordinary beasts. Wuma further instructed them to use their wits, and gradually, some started crafting traps to hunt beasts. He also summoned the tribe’s brightest individuals to study the stone tablet.

The symbols on the tablet puzzled the apes. Despite not fully comprehending them, they created initial pictograms. The emergence of writing marked a significant milestone! Knowledge could now be passed down, and the next generation of apes grew increasingly clever; no beasts remained to threaten them!

The advent of writing allowed the apes to document history. Jiang Ping took a moment to observe the murals in the cave.

The first mural depicted thousands of tiny figures representing the apes living beneath the Divine Tree, symbolizing the ancestors of all apekind.

The second mural illustrated a red dragon devouring apes, with surrounding apes having no means to resist, only fleeing helplessly. Perhaps because of genuine emotion, the mural vividly captured the despair etched on the faces of the apes.

The third mural showed a glowing giant of light, under whose feet knelt the ape leader, receiving the spear of destiny. Surrounding him were flames and the stone tablet levitating.

The fourth mural portrayed the ape leader wielding the spear of destiny, leading the apes in combating beasts, symbolizing their newfound strength.

“These four murals likely represent the earliest history of humanity in the Original World, but I wonder if they will withstand the test of a million years,” Jiang Ping remarked. The murals, though simplistic, conveyed an inspiring spirit.

“With these three treasures, the apes should develop rapidly,” Jiang Ping mused, directing his gaze toward the ape tribe, which was currently divided.

With the nearby beasts hunted to extinction, the ape population surged, leading to a scarcity of food. Chief Wuma wanted to guide them to relocate, but others worried that without the Divine Tree’s protection, the tribe would face obliteration under extraordinary beasts!