In a superheated spring, water bubbled and steamed. Deep within that geothermal vent, a microorganism adapted to the extreme temperatures flickered into existence—a thermophilic bacterium. Though it was only a single, infinitesimally small cell, it was undeniably life. It meant that this tiny world, less than a kilometer in diameter, had given birth to its first living creature. To become a true planet of life. This was the sign of a successful awakening. Lu Chen was now a Xing Master. Seeing the tiny thermophile, Lu Chen let out a long, slow breath of relief. At the same time, he noticed the panel in his mind had changed. (A newborn planet is extremely fragile and unstable. A single misstep could cause it to vanish like a meteor.) 【Xing Diameter: 0.9 km】 (The size of a planet is determined by its life force. The stronger the life force, the larger the planet.) 【Deduction Route: None】 "The diameter grew a little?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow. It wasn't entirely unexpected. A planet's size was entirely dependent on the life it sustained. This so-called life force was a measure of the richness and complexity of its biosphere. For instance, humans were considered high-level life forms, and a single human provided more life force than a lion. A lion, in turn, possessed a higher level of vitality than a blade of grass. Naturally, the life force it provided was greater. As for the lowest tier of life, like his single thermophilic bacterium, the life force it offered was pitifully small. The more life there was, and the more diverse it was, the stronger the planet’s overall life force became. Right now, Lu Chen’s planet had only one organism, and it was the simplest kind of microorganism. It was no surprise that its life force was barely existent. A planet not even a kilometer across was, by any standard, the lowest tier of existence. But Lu Chen wasn't worried. The planet’s evolution had just begun. The birth of this bacterium was only the first step. More life, and more complex life, would follow. "I'll call you Canglan Star for now." Lu Chen gazed at the planet, settling on a familiar name. Its surface was no longer a uniform, earthy yellow. Instead, a vast ocean now covered most of its surface. It was a faint, pale blue. Canglan Star. He checked his reserves and saw that a quarter of his initial origin energy remained. Yuan Neng was incredibly expensive on the open market. An ordinary family could never afford it. Only newly awakened Xing Zhu received a single, complimentary portion from the authorities. Lu Chen had no intention of wasting a drop. He decided to Jie the remaining energy into Canglan Star to accelerate its evolution. As the planet's master, Lu Chen could perceive every change occurring on its surface. Within the warm oceans, the number of thermophilic bacteria slowly began to increase. As eons passed in moments, other microorganisms began to appear. The first to emerge were Prokaryotes, simple single-celled organisms, just like the thermophiles. Time continued its frantic rush forward. Prokaryotes evolved into protozoa—still primitive and simple, but their structure and functions were far more complex. One particular protozoan, a type of Cyanophyta, evolved the remarkable ability to photosynthesize. This algae was incredibly adaptable. It could endure high temperatures, freezing cold, oxygen deprivation, drought, high salinity, and even intense radiation. The algae, along with other photosynthetic bacteria, began to release vast amounts of oxygen into the water and atmosphere. This process created the perfect conditions for the emergence of higher-level life. Meanwhile, back in the oceans, the first eukaryotic creatures appeared—organisms with true cell nuclei, like primitive sponges and jellyfish-like drifters. Their arrival heralded the birth of true animals and plants. Animals and plants were higher-level creatures. They contributed an extraordinary amount of life force to the planet. Fueled by this surge of vitality, the planet itself began to expand. At this point, three hundred million years had passed since the planet's birth. Life was not the only thing that had evolved. The surface of the planet had also undergone immense changes. The oceans had grown deeper and more expansive. The oxygen content of the atmosphere was steadily rising. What little land had existed was gradually submerged, until the entire world was a global ocean. All life was born and lived within it. Thanks to the ideal environment Lu Chen had established, the development of species was progressing much faster than it had on the Xuanhuang Star of his previous life. It was at this stage that Lu Chen was forced to halt the process. The origin energy was completely exhausted. He could no longer accelerate time, and the planet’s size stabilized. From less than a kilometer at the start, it had grown to its current, respectable diameter. In his mind, the updated panel data appeared. 【Xing Name: Canglan Star】【Xing Level: Level 1】【Xing Diameter: 35.2 km】【Xing Species: 215 (Excluding microorganisms and other lower life forms.)】【Deduction Route: None】 Even though they were all ordinary life forms, their sheer number and variety were immense. They provided a massive amount of life force, causing the planet's size to skyrocket. Most of the so-called Extraordinary planets, despite hosting higher-level species, were far inferior in quantity and diversity. For a newly awakened Xing Master, cultivating even five or six distinct species was considered the mark of a genius. Supplementing quality with quantity. This was Lu Chen’s strategy. At that same moment, elsewhere, the awakenings of the other new Xing Zhu were also drawing to a close.

Chapter 5: A Planet Awakens