I Have a God Simulator

Due to lingering historical issues, Yunzhong Temple remained a fragmented world. In its dry, rainless desert environment, only a special group like the Wuzi People could widely adapt and travel about.

Most life forms require water and food.

Luh Yao already had some experience adding new rules, so creating a few more artificial lakes wouldn’t be difficult. However, these small lakes couldn’t form flowing rivers or become self-sustaining water sources.

This involved a more complex, higher level of geographical construction. It required both weather support and replenishment from the subterranean environment, which Luh Yao was not yet capable of.

He could only start with the simpler, surface-level aspects.

’How can I make the water flow, expand the oasis, and further extend Sand City’s sphere of influence?’

This was Sand City’s current pain point.

The residents of Sand City couldn’t accomplish this on their own.

Although the Little Elves and Pine Slipper Rats were full of vigor, their individual efforts seemed insignificant in the face of the region’s widespread water scarcity. They could maintain the vegetation within the city, but their progress in terraforming the lands outside had stalled.

Luh Yao’s solution was the cactus.

Cacti are desert plants capable of storing a certain amount of water. They were far better suited to the harsh local climate than pine trees or the Symbiotic Forest.

But ordinary cacti wouldn’t be enough. He needed to imbue them with some magical power so they could take root in the Gobi Desert and become the vanguard for the Yao Race’s efforts to terraform the wasteland.

Luh Yao opened his Artifact Bar and considered the items one by one.

His gaze settled on [Calamity Branches].

This Fire Seed Artifact, a Sacrificial Offering from the Little Elves, had a chance to spawn a Water Elemental Calamity Beast, but only if it was placed in water.

Unfortunately, the current need was to store water, not consume it.

Luh Yao continued to scroll down and soon locked onto the perfect Fire Seed Artifact to pair with the cacti.

[Silver-Buttoned Lacquer Box].

This was a Sacrificial Offering from Yao City to the Divine Hall. Its ability allowed an artifact placed inside to slowly recover life or durability, making it a small-scale repair kit.

Its ability was a much better fit for the current needs than that of the [Calamity Branches].

Luh Yao selected it and fused it with a cactus.

The Fire Seed Artifact and the creature in the frame were pulled backward, drawing a line that extended to a new frame, where a green figure materialized.

The cactus, now infused with the Fire Seed Artifact, had changed. Its body had become more humanoid, and it had a small cluster of red flowers on its head that looked like a little hat.

In the pixel art style, it had a pair of simple dot eyes and a tiny mouth.

The cactus carried a wooden box on its back. With its short legs, it looked like a student on their way to class.

The new cactus could be granted quite a few abilities, but he could only choose one positive and one negative Trait.

The positive abilities included: [Wisdom], [Poisoned], [Disguise], [Off-Road], and [Self-Repair].

The negative Traits were: [Timid], [Fear of Battle], [Fragile], and [Suspicious].

Luh Yao chose [Wisdom].

[Off-Road] was a good option, but Sand City already had Earth Traveling Boats and would soon have Fire Steam Carriages. Compared to those vehicles, a long-distance running ability wasn’t very useful.

[Self-Repair] was likely an ability derived from the [Silver-Buttoned Lacquer Box], but it didn’t have much long-term value either.

He naturally chose [Wisdom], a Trait with immense potential.

Luh Yao didn’t select any of the negative Traits, removing them all.

After he finalized its official name, a brand-new species, never before seen, came into existence.

...

[Backpack Cactus LV1]

Life Value: 41/41

Mana Value: 1/1

Damage: 2

Defense: 2

Speed: 6

[Wisdom]

[Drought Tolerance]

Can adapt to arid environments and stores water in its body. Can survive for 30 days without drinking.

...

Text appeared on the simulator.

[Please select the world in which to place this species.]

Luh Yao clicked on Yunzhong Temple.

And just like that, this Extraordinary Life appeared outside Sand City.

Although the Backpack Cacti could move autonomously, they spent most of their time rooted in the sand, just like ordinary cacti.

Unlike traditional cacti, if they sensed a lack of moisture, they would run to the edge of an artificial lake and drink their fill.

Only when they began to move would the spikes on their bodies wrap together to form a box shape.

The Backpack Cacti were mostly quiet by nature and very passive in their interactions. If no one approached them, they could remain motionless for a whole month, continuing the traditional lifestyle of a cactus.

Slime Mod set an example.

He guided and encouraged the citizens of Sand City to socialize with the Backpack Cacti.

First, they were to bring small gifts—anything would do—to show their desire to befriend the cacti.

The Backpack Cacti possessed Wisdom; even if they couldn’t understand the Yao Language, they could recognize goodwill.

If a cactus didn’t dislike someone, it would wave to show its gratitude.

Next, one needed to prepare [High Furnace Honey Wine] and use the [Intimacy] method, which allowed both parties to understand each other. Once someone became friends with a cactus, it would be more than happy to help any of its friends.

Gradually, the residents of Sand City grew accustomed to the Backpack Cacti’s presence.

They were born from cacti and did not stray far from other cactus colonies, preferring to live and rest in the dry desert.

After some time, Slime Mod stood outside the Divine Hall and announced, "Citizens, Sand City has formally partnered with over thirty Backpack Cacti! They will become new residents of our city."

"From now on, they will work with us to plant cacti in the surrounding areas and cultivate new oases."

"I now declare the Northern Oasis Development Project officially underway!"

The Northern Development Project aimed to start north of Sand City, first by expanding an oasis that would serve as a living area outside the city walls, and as a pilot program for future large-scale desert terraforming.

Luh Yao observed that the Backpack Cacti were indeed playing a crucial role in the entire Northern Development Project.

They possessed great endurance. They would process cactus fruits or stem cuttings, bury them in the sand, and with a little water, new cacti would sprout.

Other workers, like the Pine Slipper Rats and Little Elves, would quickly become exhausted and dehydrated, forcing them to take long breaks. This was to say nothing of their planting efficiency.

Under the harsh glare of the sun, however, the Backpack Cacti only grew more energetic.

They loved the sunlight.

At night, however, the Backpack Cacti would become listless, as if their bodies were weighed down by heavy iron blocks, and their movements would become extremely slow.

This was when the Pine Slipper Rats and Little Elves became active, the cooler temperatures allowing them to work for longer periods.

To boost the Backpack Cacti’s morale, Slime Mod came up with a plan.

He ordered a few Hanging Lamps from the Lamp Maker, Deng Cheng, and equipped them with Fire Steam Furnaces to artificially create light and heat. Naturally, the light from the Hanging Lamps couldn’t compare to the sun, but it was enough for the cacti to feel some light. Combined with the heat from the furnaces, it had a noticeable revitalizing effect on the Backpack Cacti.

During the Northern Development Project, the Backpack Cacti discovered a new use for ordinary cacti.

"...If you’re in the desert and dying of thirst, you can use a cactus for water."

The Backpack Cacti would stick their spines into an ordinary cactus to draw out some water, and other residents in need of water soon began to imitate them.

This turned the cacti into mobile water sources. They became like Life Pillars rooted in the barren desert, allowing the Yao Race to build roads and other infrastructure around them.

As these spiny green plants spread further and further from the city, the residents of Sand City were able to venture ever greater distances.

In addition to being hired by Sand City for terraforming, the Backpack Cacti also earned unanimous praise from the Wuzi People.

Most Wuzi People operated alone, piloting their Earth Traveling Boats deep into the desert for subterranean surveys and mapping. However, traveling solo had its drawbacks; it was easy to forget or misplace things, which created many inconveniences.

But the residents of Sand City couldn’t survive away from the city. Even most Extraordinary Life forms would fall unconscious after seven days without water, putting them in extreme danger. Food supply was another major issue.

The Backpack Cacti became the Wuzi People’s best assistants.

They were quiet and reliable, could endure solitude, were sensitive to sunlight and temperature, and could go thirty days without water, surviving on sunlight alone.

A Wuzi could take a Backpack Cactus deep into the desert. When it was time to conduct a subterranean survey, they would leave the cactus and some supplies on a sand dune at the surface. Not only could the cactus survive, but it also served as a natural landmark.

Seeing the Backpack Cacti thriving and proving their worth, Luh Yao’s gaze fell upon the glass of coconut juice and bowl of finely diced coconut meat that had been placed before him.

’The cactus family really are excellent helpers.’

Just then, a projection of Slime Mod reported, "Lord God, the first batch of applicants from the Ghost Realm and the Bamboo Reed Kingdom has arrived. I am evaluating them now."

Luh Yao switched his view to the Divine Kingdom Adhesive.

At the foot of Pillar Mountain, Slime Mod got off a Fire Steam Carriage and looked at the first applicant.

Luh Yao took a look.

’Hey, isn’t that a familiar face?’

It was Zhur Hu, the number one warrior of the Bamboo Reed Kingdom, second only to its Apostle.

"My... my strength is pretty good. I can fight. I want to go to Sand City to... to train. I’m good at... combat."

For some reason, Zhur Hu was incredibly nervous today, and he was stammering.

"I’m sorry, but Sand City isn’t looking for pure combatants at the moment. We are a city that values peace. The Martial Arts Tournament is a competitive spectacle, not an excuse to create conflict and violence."

Slime Mod asked him, "Is there anything else you’re skilled at?"

Zhur Hu thought for a moment before saying hesitantly, "I can also... plant bamboo, cut bamboo, split bamboo, and build bamboo houses."

"Congratulations! You’re exactly the kind of talent we’re looking for. Welcome to Sand City."

Slime Mod shook his hand.

"Really?"

Zhur Hu still hadn’t quite processed it. A question mark appeared over his head, which then turned into a smiley face.

And so, the number one warrior of the Bamboo Reed Kingdom entered Sand City to work as a Bamboo Constructor.