Chapter 11: Ch 11 : The Genesis of Wisdom and the Two Factions

Sunny's focus was absolute, his divine will meticulously channeled into the very fabric of life on Veridia. He was using every available Faith point to enhance the genetic code of his burgeoning mammalian population. His goal was crystalline clear: to develop a wise being, a creature capable of higher thought and complex problem-solving. This wasn't merely about accelerating evolution; it was about guiding it with precision. He was not saving any Faith points, for the next pre-ordained misfortune was still a distant concern. His current expenditures were a strategic investment. The emergence of a wise species, he knew, would act as a powerful multiplier, dramatically increasing his Faith point generation. It was the ultimate foundation for Veridia's future prosperity. Hours bled into days in the accelerated time of Veridia, while for Sunny, it was a relentless, focused drive. He was consumed by his research into genetic codes, meticulously balancing resource management with the pursuit of the fastest possible evolution rate. Many times, some of his nascent species, pushed to their evolutionary limits, teetered on the brink of extinction. But Sunny, with swift and precise divine intervention, saved them through targeted genetic modifications, ensuring their survival and incorporating new, beneficial traits into their lineage. Through these continuous modifications, many animals gained astonishing hearing capabilities, perceiving sounds far beyond the range of their ancestors. Others developed eyes that far surpassed any creature back on Blue Planet, granting them unparalleled vision in their diverse environments. He also kept a close eye on the God Chat, hoping for vital information or new insights, but for extended periods, no truly important data was exchanged. It had now been 20 hours since the initial opening of his world. Due to the sheer number of organisms teeming across Veridia's expanding ecosystems, his Faith points were increasing at an astonishing, almost overwhelming, rate. "I can't even imagine how much Faith Kairos and Strategist must have accumulated by now," Sunny pondered, a flicker of competitive curiosity crossing his mind. He wasn't entirely sure about Kairos; if he truly possessed an astronomical amount of Faith or had already birthed a wise species like humans, he would undoubtedly be boasting in the Chat like a madman, his ego filling the cosmic void. Sunny felt less certainty about Strategist. Firstly, his world possessed mana, an inherent advantage. Secondly, his Talent, "Children of Wisdom," seemed almost overwhelmingly powerful, a direct conduit to sapience. Sunny was acutely aware of the profound uses of wisdom in a species because, according to the System's fundamental laws, the Faith generated was directly linked to the intelligence and strength of a world's lifeforms. "This speed is not enough," Sunny grimaced, a rare frown marring his serene divine expression. "I don't know how many of these experts are still hidden, silently pulling ahead." The thought fueled his drive even further. Sunny shifted his gaze, focusing his divine perception on a specific creature on Veridia. It was a human-looking being, roaming the dense jungles, its movements agile, almost monkey-like. Its body was largely devoid of hair, save for a sparse covering on its face and head. It walked on two legs, though with a distinct, hunched back. These were the most primitive of humans, the very dawn of sapience on Veridia. Sunny was going to allow them to roam freely for approximately one hour of God-time, giving them the crucial opportunity to begin hunting and surviving in the wild. This period of natural selection was necessary to etch the fundamental instincts of survival deep into their DNA. If they were evolved too rashly, without first confronting the harsh realities of the wilderness, they would simply perish from hunger or predation, unable to adapt. Even though he had been constantly working on the genetic codes of his organisms for 12 continuous Godly hours (a staggering 13 and a half planetary years on Veridia), his Faith points had never dipped below 50. This remarkable sustained level was due to the simple fact that Faith was generating far faster than it was being depleted by his interventions. He also maintained a vigilant watch on the Trading Platform, looking for any potential trades that might offer unique advantages. However, all the products available were items he was not lacking. His planet now bore an abundance of fruits, so he no longer needed to purchase them. The only thing that truly caught his eye on the Trading Space was a "Fire Spirit", oddly shaped like a monkey. It was listed at a price of 100 Faith, a sum Sunny could certainly afford. But the fundamental problem quickly became apparent: this fire spirit explicitly required a world imbued with mana. Reluctantly, he closed the Trading Shop, the tantalizing glimpse of elemental power just out of his reach. Through the ongoing God Chat, he gleaned other crucial pieces of information. The System Shop, it seemed, would only display new products once a God had successfully solved a misfortune. Furthermore, those products would be tailored specifically to the condition of one's world; worlds with mana would receive different items than those without. Worlds with different climates would also see unique offerings. The Gods were now, subtly but distinctly, dividing into two major factions: one composed of Gods with mana worlds, and the other, Gods with mana-less worlds. Each faction, convinced of its own inherent superiority, passionately explained why their world was destined for greatness. Sunny, however, was not the type to engage in idle group chatting or pointless debates. He was rigorously enhancing his knowledge by manifesting creatures in his private God space, similar to those he had on Veridia, and meticulously experimenting on them. This method, fortunately, didn't require the use of his precious Faith points, as manifesting in the God space was entirely free of cost. The effects of this continuous manifestation and experimentation were clear: his understanding of genes and genetic codes was increasing minute by minute at an alarming pace. His knowledge in this complex field now far surpassed that of many experts back on the Blue Planet. He knew, with absolute certainty, that merely sitting idly by would not make his lifeforms evolve faster; only true talent, relentless observation, and tireless hard work could achieve that.