《Dominion of the Goblin Lord》
Chapter 1: Reborn as a Goblin
Chapter 1: Reborn as a Goblin
In a certain dim forest!
"Get lost, you trash only fit to eat excrement!"
A loud shout and a shove snapped Li Meng out of his daze.
Looking at the group of ugly green creatures in front of him, Li Meng''s pupils contracted.
They had slender bodies and green skin.
Not only were they ugly, but they also had big potbellies.
Although they had four limbs, their body proportions were extremely unbalanced.
Their ears were pointed, and their faces looked like clowns.
Their teeth were abnormally sharp, with astonishing bite force.
With one bite, they could tear off a large piece of meat from a wild boar''s body.
Even bones could be chewed with a crisp crunch!
"What is going on?"
The creepy chewing sounds made Li Meng''s scalp tingle.
How did he end up in this ghostly place after coming out of the bathroom?
Li Meng looked down at his own hands.
At a glance, he was shocked.
Also green, also skin and bones.
He... he had become a monster?
"What are these messages?"
When his gaze returned to the ugly green-skinned creatures.
Only then did Li Meng notice some information above their heads.
The digitized information gave a feeling of being in a game world.
[Name: Gobuda]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 4]
[Strength: 7]
[Defense: 4]
[Agility: 6]
[Magic Power: 0]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 2]
"Could it be that I''ve transmigrated to another world?"
The thought in his mind startled Li Meng.
He hurriedly forced himself to calm down.
Li Meng took a deep breath, and with a thought!
Sure enough, an existence in the dark responded to him.
A pale golden character panel appeared before his eyes.
Li Meng reached out to touch it, but felt nothing.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
The character panel existed only in his vision.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 4]
[Defense: 6]
[Agility: 5]
[Magic Power: 3]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: By devouring the flesh and blood of magical beasts, there is a chance to acquire their skills]
[Life Simulation System Activated]
[Current number of life simulations available: 1, can simulate life once per month]
[Current character level: 1, can spend 10 first-level magic crystals to exchange for an additional life simulation]
[Maximum number of life simulations per month is two]
[After life simulation ends, you can choose rewards based on the evaluation score]
[Would you like to start life simulation?]
Beside the character panel, there was also a log panel.
"Life Simulation System? Could this be my ability?"
Looking at the group of goblins voraciously devouring food in front of him, Li Meng showed a strange expression.
He felt a bit baffled by his current situation.
Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it.
Li Meng did not collapse because he was in an unfamiliar environment.
The instinct to survive made him quickly accept everything.
"Wait a minute!"
Now was not the time to simulate life.
The goblins in the forest were eating.
Although their voracious manner was a bit disgusting.
But Li Meng was almost drooling at the sight.
His body''s instincts urged him to join the eating group.
But his human consciousness made Li Meng give up.
"Gobumeng, here, the intestines are delicious!"
At this moment, footsteps were approaching.
A goblin holding a piece of foul-smelling intestine walked over.
The intestine was bulging, with greenish stuff inside.
From a distance, one could smell a strong odor.
His name was Gobuda, a weak goblin.
"I... I''m not hungry!"
Li Meng stepped back repeatedly, swallowing his saliva.
Although the smell indeed made one want to taste it, like stinky tofu.
But Li Meng still couldn''t accept it.
He turned around and ran off.
Gobuda looked puzzled at Gobumeng running towards the depths of the forest.
Didn''t Gobumeng usually love eating intestines the most?
What was wrong today?
Gobuda wouldn''t think too much about things he couldn''t understand.
He tore off a large piece of intestine with one bite.
Chewing the intestine along with the greenish stuff inside, he swallowed it with a satisfied face.
On the other side, Li Meng, who had run into the depths of the forest, sat down under a big tree.
After pondering for a while, Li Meng accepted the reality of transmigrating to another world.
"System, start life simulation!"
[Life Simulation Begins!]
[You woke up in the forest and discovered that you are in a different world]
[You followed the hunting party back to the goblin lair]
[You met the goblin leader "Gobuba", and were awed by its strength]
[As a transmigrator with high ambitions, you are eager to become stronger. You think that devouring the flesh and blood of magical beasts to acquire their skills is a good way to become stronger. You left the goblin lair and headed into the depths of the forest]
[You discovered a Ground Dragon; its skills made you drool]
[Please make a choice]
[1. You charge out and fight the Ground Dragon]
[2. You feel weak and plan to set traps to kill the Ground Dragon]
[3. You have a boss; you ask Gobuda for help]
Which of the three options should you choose?
Under the tree, Li Meng fell into deep thought.
The first option was definitely not viable.
A Ground Dragon with magical skills was surely strong.
But with his small body, fighting alone was courting death.
The second option seemed feasible but was actually a big pitfall.
Without handy tools, traps weren''t easy to dig.
Moreover, a bait was needed to lure the Ground Dragon into the trap.
Most likely, he would be the bait.
The risks were too great.
"Option three!"
Among the three options, only the third one had a chance of success.
[You chose to return to the lair to ask Gobuda for help. Gobuda punched you, telling you not to daydream. As a first-level earth-attribute magical beast, the Ground Dragon must be hunted with the combined strength of the entire hunting team. With just the two of you, it would be like throwing meat buns at dogs¡ªno return]
[As a proud transmigrator, you were unwilling to do nothing. You cleverly flattered Gobuda, making the foolish goblin think he was very strong. Gobuda was persuaded by you. The two of you went into the depths of the forest]
[You engaged in battle with the Ground Dragon. You failed and returned to the lair heavily injured]
[The failed hunt made you very frustrated. You and your boss lingered in the lair, licking your wounds]
[Due to serious injuries, you couldn''t grab food, and your injuries worsened]
[Gobuda died from severe injuries; his corpse became a feast for other goblins]
[Emitting a bloody stench, you became a delicious piece of meat in the eyes of your kind]
[One night, a group of goblins pounced on you. You died, ending a foolish and short life]
[Life Simulation Ends, Evaluation Score: 20]
[Please choose one of the following rewards]
[1. For every 5 points of score consumed, you can increase one level]
[2. For every 5 points of score consumed, you can increase 5 attribute points]
[3. For every 5 points of score consumed, you can increase 1 point of luck. Luck can increase key node options and end rewards in life simulation]
This death was too frivolous!
"It seems that the life simulation system predicts future lines; I can''t make random choices!"
Li Meng thought to himself, showing a contemplative expression.
Although he died rather frivolously, it also made Li Meng understand more about the life simulation system.
Glancing slightly, Li Meng looked towards the goblins.
"This future line cannot be taken."
Life simulation is a prediction of future development directions.
His every move could change the future development direction.
If he followed the predicted future direction, the same thing would surely happen.
Although the first life simulation failed.
But it wasn''t without gains.
At least Li Meng understood the ability of the life simulation system.
The rewards predicted by the life simulation system are ways to become stronger.
But more importantly, it''s the predicted future line.
Predicting the future is equivalent to trial and error.
He can obtain some future information in advance, thus avoiding dangers.
The turning point options in the predicted future must be chosen carefully.
"Gobumeng, are you sick?"
Just as Li Meng was thinking about how to choose the reward, Gobuda walked over.
Looking at Gobumeng sitting under the tree, a trace of greed flashed in Gobuda''s eyes.
A sick goblin was a piece of meat in the eyes of their kind.
Li Meng noticed the greed in Gobuda''s eyes, and his heart tightened.
Goblins really deserved their reputation as ugly and savage creatures.
Barbaric and greedy, they''d eat any meat.
Even their own kind were just backup food.
"Consume all the score to add to strength attribute."
[Consumed 20 score, +20 strength attribute points]
Li Meng felt a warm current suddenly surge in his body.
His skinny body crackled.
His originally thin body swelled up a circle.
Feeling the power surging in his body, Li Meng grinned hideously.
He swung his fist and punched at the approaching Gobuda.
His fist landed solidly on Gobuda''s face.
"Ouch!"
Gobuda let out a miserable cry, his body flying out.
He flew several meters before rolling to the ground.
"Gobuda, from now on, I''m your boss!"
Li Meng grinned hideously at Gobuda, waving his fist.
Gobuda, who was knocked to the ground, looked bewildered.
When he saw Gobumeng waving his fist, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
He quickly got up, nodding and retreating.
Among goblins, strength is respected; whoever is strong is the boss.
Chapter 2: Nest and Leader
Chapter 2: Nest and Leader
"Boss, today''s hunt is over. The clansmen are returning to the nest."
Although it was unclear why Gobumeng had suddenly become so strong, Gobuda''s small brain couldn''t comprehend such a complex matter.
The earlier beating seemed like it had never happened.
Gobuda grinned, trotting over cheerfully, his fawning behavior even more exaggerated than that of a dog not seen for months.
"Then let''s go back. Lead the way!"
"Boss, this way, this way!"
Gobuda led the way cheerfully, with Li Meng closely following behind.
Before long, Li Meng and Gobuda caught up with the tribe in the forest.
The movement of nearly a hundred goblins walking through the forest was loud.
Goblins were small, weak, and ugly creatures.
Their weapons were rudimentary¡ªeither wooden clubs or stone axes.
With such tools, hunting forest wild boars was absolutely impossible.
Some of the larger goblins carried iron weapons: knives, swords, and spiked clubs of various types.
Some goblins even wore ill-fitting leather armor.
The larger goblins were the small leaders of the tribe, each followed by more than a dozen goblins.
These larger goblins were the main force in hunting forest wild boars.
Gobuda, as a "boss," was merely a subordinate leader under one of these small leaders.
After walking for about four hours, they arrived at the nest.
The goblin nest was located in a cave at the foot of a large mountain.
From a distance, Li Meng could already smell the stench.
The area outside the cave was littered with bones, piled up like a mountain.
There were bones of various magical beasts and goblins, as well as many that resembled human remains.
Although the cave was pitch-black inside, it didn''t bother the goblins at all.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
Goblins naturally preferred damp, dark environments and had night vision capabilities.
"Who am I? Tell me, who am I?"
At the far end of the cave was a large open space.
A huge, burly figure sat on a stone platform.
Although it was also green-skinned, its massive body reached a height of three meters.
It looked like a small giant compared to ordinary goblins.
"Gobuba! Gobuba!"
The goblins in the cave raised their weapons and shouted loudly.
Every goblin gazed at the massive figure on the stone platform with admiration and excitement.
As soon as Li Meng entered the cave, he saw this lively and boisterous scene.
At this moment, he realized that the goblins accompanying him were merely a hunting team.
This place was the goblin nest''s main base.
The number of goblins in the cave was no less than a thousand.
[Name: Gobuba]
[Race: Goblin Leader]
[Level: 54]
[Strength: 195]
[Defense: 106]
[Agility: 101]
[Magic Power: 37]
[Physical Enhancement: LV3]
[Berserk: LV1]
The terrifying attributes of the goblin leader made Li Meng tremble with fear.
With his current strength, the goblin leader could kill him with a single finger.
In addition to the goblin leader, Li Meng also noticed many large goblins and goblin warriors in the cave.
Near the large stone platform where the goblin leader stood, there were fewer than ten goblin champions.
Ordinary goblins were about 1.3 meters tall.
Large goblins were slightly taller and more robust, reaching about 1.7 meters in height.
Goblin warriors were even more muscular, standing around 2 meters tall.
Goblin champions were only second in size to the goblin leader, with a height of about 2.5 meters.
The rock walls on both sides of the cave had numerous small holes.
These were prisons where female creatures were confined.
Goblins had no females of their own and relied on other female creatures to reproduce.
Goblins had no reproductive isolation with any species.
As long as the size was suitable, they could be used as breeding tools.
The prisons held numerous female field mice and wild boars.
The size of female field mice was suitable for mating with ordinary goblins, often resulting in litters of around ten.
Goblins ranked goblin warrior or higher would mate with forest wild boars, producing litters of no less than twenty.
The gestation period for any creature mating with a goblin was only one month.
The growth cycle of goblins was also very short.
With sufficient food, they could reach adulthood in just one month.
This terrifying reproduction speed made goblins as hard to eliminate as rats.
The innermost area was the breeding room. Once a female creature became pregnant, it would be sent to the breeding room.
Looking at the primitive breeding scenes in the crude prisons, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
"How did I become such a disgusting creature?"
Li Meng sighed deeply, feeling utterly lost about his future life.
"Huh, what''s that?"
At that moment, something glittering on the rock wall caught Li Meng''s attention.
Although the light was faint, he could see that there were crystals embedded in the rock wall.
The crystals emitted colors that varied slightly, their dim light slightly dispelling the darkness of the cave.
Upon closer inspection, they were indeed magic crystals.
Li Meng''s eyes lit up, and he cautiously approached the rock wall.
In a corner, he leaned against the wall, his hands deftly prying at the magic crystals embedded in it.
Before long, Li Meng had pried out ten magic crystals.
He didn¡¯t take too many, as there was nowhere to store them on his body.
"Boss, what are you doing with those glowing stones?"
Despite his caution, Gobuda noticed his actions.
Looking at Gobuda, a flash of killing intent crossed Li Meng''s eyes.
If Gobuda shouted loudly, he¡¯d be finished.
"Nothing... nothing. These glowing stones look nice, so I wanted to collect some."
Fortunately, Gobuda''s intelligence wasn¡¯t high enough to think beyond eating.
Gobuda didn¡¯t pay much attention to Li Meng''s actions of prying out magic crystals.
"Let¡¯s go. We need to find a place to sleep."
Outside, the sky was gradually darkening.
Inside the cave, many goblins began to sleep on the ground.
Over the next few days, Li Meng lived the daily life of a goblin.
Having learned lessons from simulated life, Li Meng had no choice but to stay cautious.
Every day began at sunrise and ended at sunset, with the primary task being hunting outside.
Even if they couldn¡¯t fill their bellies, they had to bring back enough food.
Otherwise, they¡¯d be punished with whippings.
Exceeding the task could sometimes earn the reward of mating rights.
Goblin offspring were absolutely loyal to their fathers.
Goblins could identify their fathers through scent.
Once granted mating rights, a goblin could form its own team within the tribe.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, about ten kilometers away from the goblin nest in the forest.
Following at the back of the team, Li Meng stealthily approached a goblin.
Then he knocked it out with a punch.
"From now on, I¡¯m your boss. Understand?"
The goblin, lying on the ground in fear, nodded.
"Good. Follow me!"
Watching the goblin walking ahead, Li Meng approached from behind.
Coming up behind the goblin, Li Meng patted its shoulder.
The goblin turned around, looking at Li Meng with a puzzled expression.
Chapter 3: The Second Simulation of Life
Chapter 3: The Second Simulation of Life
"From now on, I am your leader. Do you understand?"
The goblin did not seem to understand and clearly looked defiant.
It glared at him angrily, raised its wooden club, and screamed as it charged at Li Meng.
Li Meng threw a punch that landed squarely on the goblin¡¯s face.
The goblin screamed miserably and was sent flying several meters before crashing to the ground.
Its scream caught the attention of the goblins ahead.
But the goblins in front noticed it was just an internal fight and paid no attention.
The leading Hobgoblin didn¡¯t even turn around.
"Follow behind me!"
Li Meng pointed to the ground behind him and said proudly to the goblin on the ground.
The goblin scrambled up from the ground and obediently followed Li Meng.
In this way, along the way, Li Meng gathered more than ten followers.
When the number of goblins behind him reached thirteen, Li Meng stopped forcibly recruiting followers.
If he continued, he would draw the attention of the leading sub-leader.
Seeing that the timing was right, Li Meng signaled to his followers.
Under Li Meng¡¯s intimidation, the goblin followers could only slow their steps.
In a dense area of trees, Li Meng led the goblin followers away from the main group.
"Leader, if the leader of the leaders finds us, we¡¯ll be eaten."
In the forest, Li Meng led a group of goblin followers running.
They had no specific destination, only to get as far away as possible from the hunting party.
A goblin came closer, trembling in fear after leaving the group.
"What¡¯s there to be afraid of? I¡¯ll soon become the leader of the leaders."
Although Li Meng was just bluffing, the goblins believed him.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
The fear on its face instantly disappeared.
"Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
It cheered excitedly, waving its club in the air.
The goblins seemed to have wolf-like pack instincts.
Its cry incited the other goblins to shout loudly as well.
"Stop yelling! If you attract powerful magical beasts, we¡¯re dead!"
Li Meng had no idea how vast the forest and mountains surrounding the goblin nest were.
In recent days, the farthest he had gone with the hunting party was no more than ten kilometers.
The beasts they encountered were mostly low-tier ones like ground rats and forest boars.
Occasionally, they would encounter Wind Rabbits that could use magic, but they were too fast and dangerous.
Every time the hunting party encountered Wind Rabbits, they suffered heavy losses.
Fortunately, Wind Rabbits were timid and would flee after a chaotic attack.
If the Wind Rabbits stayed and fought, the hunting party would be annihilated.
The goblins quickly shut up and silently followed behind Li Meng.
As they walked, the sound of flowing water suddenly came from ahead.
A small stream blocked Li Meng¡¯s path.
"Rest here for a while. Wait for me!"
Li Meng threw down these words and walked towards the water¡¯s edge.
"Should I look at myself?"
Looking at the crystal-clear stream, Li Meng stopped five meters from the water.
Goblins didn¡¯t have a high demand for water.
When eating raw food, they could supplement water from the blood of their prey.
Li Meng was well aware of his appearance.
He had been avoiding it these past days.
Though he avoided it, he knew deep down that he had become a goblin.
When fighting with other goblins for food, he found himself enjoying it.
The stench of blood and flesh tasted so savory as he chewed it in his mouth.
Eventually, Li Meng moved his feet closer to the water.
Kneeling by the stream, he lowered his head to look at his reflection in the water.
Seeing the green-skinned, ugly creature staring back at him, Li Meng fell into deep thought.
"This world deserves destruction!"
Li Meng muttered softly as he knelt by the water.
He stood up with a grim expression.
"If goblins are the only intelligent species in this world, then goblins are the new humanity!"
The fact that he had been reincarnated as a goblin was an unchangeable reality.
Even if humans still existed in this world, they were now the alien species.
In every game or novel, goblins were always depicted as weak creatures.
"System, begin the simulation of life!"
Li Meng wouldn¡¯t risk his life recklessly.
The life simulation system could simulate his life and allow him to make mistakes in advance.
It would help him predict future dangers.
[Consumes 10 First-Tier Magic Crystals]
[Beginning the Life Simulation]
[To grow stronger, you gathered a team. By the river, you felt dejected and angry at your transformation into an ugly creature.
You recognized reality and accepted your fate.
The future you will become a nightmare for all intelligent species.
You embarked on a brand-new life.
You led your team away from the river.
Please make the following choice:]
[1. Head north to search for magical beasts.]
[2. Head west to search for magical beasts.]
[3. Head east to search for magical beasts.]
[4. Head south to search for magical beasts.]
[5. Do nothing and wait for opportunities.]
The goblin nest was in the south, so option four was out.
The hunting party had gone north, so option one was also not ideal.
That left east and west.
After some thought, Li Meng chose at random.
"Option three!"
[You led your team eastward.
A suddenly appeared.
You escaped quickly, narrowly avoiding danger.
Three goblins perished, becoming the bear¡¯s meal.
Please make the following choice:]
[1. Realize your weakness and return to the hunting team.]
[2. Believe it was just bad luck and continue searching for weaker magical beasts.]
[3. Think the is clumsy and huntable. Decide to take a chance.]
High risk, high reward. Let¡¯s go for it!
"Option three!"
[As a reincarnator, you believed in your intelligence.
You thought you were the protagonist and couldn¡¯t fail.
You decided to hunt the .
You and your followers dug a large trap over three days.
The clumsy bear fell into the trap, but you despaired.
None of your methods could kill the bear.]
[You resorted to poison.
You fed the bear poisoned ground rats stuffed with toxic mushrooms.
You succeeded in killing the .]
[You devoured the bear and gained the skill "Iron Body."]
[You returned to the hunting team and challenged the Hobgoblin.
You became a sub-leader.]
[Returning to the goblin nest with plentiful spoils, you received a reward from Gobuba: the right to mate.]
[A female boar was brought before you.
Mating in front of the tribe was a great honor.]
[Please make the following choice:]
[1. Mate with the boar and gain honor.]
[2. Refuse to mate with the boar.]
[3. Give the honor to the previous sub-leader.]
These options left Li Meng looking conflicted by the water.
The first option was too revolting to consider.
If the partner was human, Li Meng could accept it.
But mating with a boar? He wouldn¡¯t do it even if it killed him.
Chapter 4: Earth Demon Bear
Chapter 4: Earth Demon Bear
Although it was just a simulation of life, every choice mattered.
This involved the future trajectory, and it couldn¡¯t be chosen carelessly.
The second option was obviously a trap.
It should be known that completing the first mating in front of the tribe was considered an honor.
If he refused, who knew what might happen.
¡°The third option!¡±
[You chose to forgo the credit. Gobuba was enraged, accusing you of desecrating the goblin''s honor. You were skinned and tied at the cave entrance as a warning. After three days of agonizing struggle, you died, and your corpse was devoured by your former underlings. Your skull was collected by Gobuda and was drenched daily in urine.]
¡°Gobuda!¡±
Li Meng roared angrily at the water¡¯s surface.
He turned around and glared fiercely at Gobuda.
What kind of grudge made Gobuda treat his skull as a urinal?
Li Meng¡¯s roar startled Gobuda, causing him to jump.
Faced with the furious glare of his boss, Gobuda¡¯s neck shrank.
Like a frightened puppy, Gobuda hurried over to Li Meng.
¡°Boss, boss, I¡¯m here!¡±
Li Meng raised his fist, ready to vent his anger.
Gobuda¡¯s face was full of fear, and he collapsed to the ground.
In the end, Li Meng didn¡¯t punch him.
Why bother stooping to a goblin¡¯s level?
After all, goblins were creatures that bullied the weak and feared the strong.
Even as the boss, if you got injured, you could be killed and eaten by your subordinates.
Li Meng glared at Gobuda and ignored him.
[As a transmigrator, the goddess of fate did not favor you. Your life was as fleeting as a falling raindrop. Your death was meaningless and laughable. You were the first goblin in history to die for refusing to accept an honor. You became a joke among goblins, and even thousands of years later, goblins and humans alike would laugh at your story.]If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
[Simulation of life ended. Score: 35.]
[Please choose a reward:]
[1. Consume 5 points for +1 level.]
[2. Consume 5 points for +5 attributes.]
[3. Consume 10 points for +1 luck.]
Right now, strength was most important.
Luck was important, but not that critical.
After all, luck only influenced the life simulation.
¡°Level up!¡±
[Consumed 35 points. Level +7.]
Li Meng felt a warm flow rush through his body.
His bones crackled and popped as soreness and pain swept through him.
His vision seemed to rise, and his arms became sturdier.
Li Meng quickly opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 8]
[Strength: 32]
[Defense: 13]
[Agility: 11]
[Magic: 5]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Consume the blood and flesh of magical beasts for a chance to gain their skills.]
Goblins were indeed a trash-tier race. Even at level seven, his attributes only improved slightly.
Looking at the underwhelming attributes on his panel, Li Meng deeply regretted his decision.
Had he known, he would¡¯ve invested all his points into attributes.
¡°Boss¡ Are you¡ Are you about to evolve?¡±
Seeing his now-towering boss, the goblins¡¯ eyes filled with even more fear.
Li Meng looked at Gobuda and paused.
Goodness, why did Gobuda look so small now?
No, Gobuda hadn¡¯t shrunk¡ªit was he who had grown taller.
Li Meng quickly turned and looked at his reflection in the water.
Indeed, he had grown taller.
His appearance was also much more handsome than that of a regular goblin.
From a height of 1.3 meters, he had grown to 1.5 meters.
It seemed leveling up wasn¡¯t entirely useless.
At level 10, he should be able to evolve into a big goblin.
Although this life simulation lasted only seven days, it wasn¡¯t without gains.
¡°Let¡¯s go, move out!¡±
Li Meng shouted spiritedly.
This startled his goblin subordinates into shivering.
Soon, Li Meng led his goblin underlings to cross the river.
¡°You, you, and you¡ªgo up front!¡±
The river wasn¡¯t very wide, and the water was shallow.
After successfully crossing the river, Li Meng assigned three goblins to walk ahead.
Since three goblins were destined to die, not one could be spared.
The life simulation predicted a future timeline.
To achieve a good outcome, the prelude to hunting the Earth Demon Bear could not be altered.
The three goblins exchanged glances.
As weak goblins, they naturally didn¡¯t want to be at the front.
But under the boss¡¯s pressure, they had no choice but to obey.
Urged by Li Meng, the group left the riverbank and ventured deeper into the forest.
Two hours later, in a certain part of the forest in the east.
The forest was silent and dim.
Walking cautiously, Li Meng observed his surroundings with vigilance.
Although the future timeline indicated he wouldn¡¯t die under the Earth Demon Bear¡¯s claws,
If he actively sought death, he could still change the future.
That would be equivalent to altering the timeline.
¡°Roar!¡±
The unexpected came suddenly¡ªa beast roar echoed in the forest.
The sound was very close, coming from the left.
The roar made Li Meng¡¯s eyes light up.
At that moment, he was certain the life simulation could predict his future.
A massive black figure burst out from the dense woods to the left.
It was a bear, a beast larger than three adult grizzly bears combined.
Though chubby, its running speed was astonishingly fast.
Its target was the goblins¡ªits prey.
¡°Ah!¡±
One goblin at the front let out a miserable scream.
The Earth Demon Bear¡¯s colossal shadow terrified the goblins.
The goblin tried to escape but was too late.
The bear opened its gaping maw and bit down on a goblin.
With a swipe of its massive paw, a horrifying sound of bones cracking echoed.
Two goblins were flung like rag dolls, flying over ten meters before crashing into a tree.
¡°Run!¡±
Li Meng screamed sharply and bolted back the way they came.
The other goblins panicked and fled in chaos.
They ran and ran.
Li Meng only stopped half an hour later, gasping for air under a large tree in the forest.
¡°A second-tier magical beast is truly terrifying!¡±
Even though he wasn¡¯t the target, Li Meng felt the oppressive weight of death.
Luckily, the Earth Demon Bear didn¡¯t have magical skills; otherwise, none of them would¡¯ve escaped.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
Before long, the subordinates followed their boss¡¯s scent and regrouped.
The encounter with the Earth Demon Bear left the goblins trembling with fear.
Their grotesque faces twisted in terror, with some even shivering.
¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Do you want to eat bear meat?¡±
Hearing ¡°eat,¡± the goblins¡¯ eyes lit up.
They quickly nodded, their fear vanishing instantly.
¡°If you want to eat, you must follow my orders. Gobuda, Gobuba, Gobuka, you three go catch ground rats. Don¡¯t eat them; I want them half-dead. Also, collect the most poisonous mushrooms you can find and bring them to me. Go now.¡±
Gobuda, Gobuba, and Gobuka dashed into the forest.
Ground rats weren¡¯t very large and were the easiest prey to catch.
Goblins mainly ate ground rats because they were abundant in the forest.
Wherever there were burrows, there was usually a nest of ground rats.
Chapter 5: The Trap
Chapter 5: The Trap
"You all, follow me!"
With Gobuda gone, only nine goblin subordinates remained.
Li Meng led the goblins back in the direction they had fled earlier.
"Boss... Boss, there''s an Earth Demon Bear over there. It''s dangerous!"
Seeing their leader heading toward the Earth Demon Bear''s territory again, the goblins who noticed this were filled with fear.
One goblin timidly stepped forward and whispered nervously.
"With me leading the way, what are you afraid of? Don¡¯t you want to eat bear meat?"
Hearing their boss say this, it did seem logical.
Even if the Earth Demon Bear showed up, it would only attack the leader walking in front.
If the leader was eaten, they could return to the hunting team.
What a great plan!
The goblins, initially fearful, became excited again.
Watching these foolish goblin subordinates, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
Soon, Li Meng led the goblins to crouch behind a bush.
"Hmm, we¡¯re close!"
With the goblin''s keen sense of smell, Li Meng could detect the Earth Demon Bear¡¯s foul stench.
The smell of goblin blood and flesh was also present.
This meant the Earth Demon Bear was nearby.
Li Meng touched the soil beneath him. It was soft.
"Dig a pit here, a big one!"
The bushes could obscure the trap, and that dumb bear would surely fall for it.
The goblins exchanged glances, puzzled as to why their leader wanted them to dig a pit.
"Start digging! Do you still want to eat bear meat or not?"
Hearing about bear meat, the goblins began drooling.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
They immediately used their wooden sticks and even their hands to dig into the soil.
"Keep it quiet. Don¡¯t make too much noise!"
Under Li Meng¡¯s command, the goblin subordinates dug diligently.
Time passed minute by minute, and the pit grew steadily deeper and larger.
"Boss, I¡¯m back!"
Five hours later, Gobuda and two others returned.
Each carried a mole, roughly the size of a small dog.
"Put them here and keep catching more!"
The goblins¡¯ digging efficiency was abysmal.
The Earth Demon Bear was massive.
To trap it, the pit had to be big enough.
In the simulated life, it took three days to complete this¡ªno exaggeration.
"Alright, got it!"
Seeing their digging companions, Gobuda had a gleam of schadenfreude in his eyes.
Catching moles was much easier than digging a pit.
"Boss, I¡¯ll head off then!"
The three goblins dashed into the forest again.
Li Meng carried one of the moles and cautiously approached the Earth Demon Bear''s location.
The trap would take three days to finish.
He couldn¡¯t let the Earth Demon Bear leave, so he had to keep it nearby.
For a brainless beast like the Earth Demon Bear, food was the ultimate bait.
After advancing several miles into the forest, Li Meng finally stopped.
"This distance should be enough!"
Looking around, Li Meng tore open the mole¡¯s belly with his claws.
A strong scent of blood filled the air.
Li Meng threw down the mole and quickly retreated into a nearby bush.
Moments later, the forest stirred.
A massive Earth Demon Bear followed the scent of blood.
Its enormous body cast a shadow in the dim forest.
Hiding in the bush, Li Meng was stunned by the sight of the colossal Earth Demon Bear.
The oppressive presence of such a creature was overwhelming.
The bear sniffed at the mole¡¯s corpse.
The fresh blood excited it, and it opened its fearsome jaws.
With one bite, it devoured the entire mole, chewing noisily.
The sound of cracking bones made Li Meng¡¯s scalp tingle.
After finishing the mole, the Earth Demon Bear lay down where it was and fell asleep.
[Earth Demon Bear]
[Level: 24]
[Strength: 51]
[Defense: 57]
[Agility: 27]
[Magic: 7]
[Skill: Reinforced Bones LV1 (Strength +20, Defense +20, Agility +5)]
At level 24, its terrifying stats and the Reinforced Bones skill were impressive.
For such a monster, poison was the only way to kill it.
Fortunately, goblins were highly resistant to poison, and no goblin had ever been known to die from it.
"Sleep, sleep well. Three days from now will be your death day!"
Li Meng quietly crawled out of the bush and sneaked away.
Over the next few days, Li Meng periodically left bait in the forest.
While the Earth Demon Bear feasted on the easy meals, its death drew closer.
Three days later, in the forest where the trap was set.
"This should¡ be enough, right?"
Li Meng muttered as he looked at the large pit before him.
The trap was ten meters wide and twenty meters deep.
To prevent the Earth Demon Bear from climbing up the dirt walls, the pit¡¯s structure was wider at the bottom than at the top.
The walls slanted outward, making it nearly impossible for the Earth Demon Bear to escape.
"Hide around the area!"
At this critical moment, Li Meng didn¡¯t falter.
Exhausted, the goblin subordinates scattered into the surrounding bushes.
Li Meng, carrying three moles, headed toward the Earth Demon Bear.
About 500 meters from the trap, Li Meng dropped one mole with its belly slit open.
After that, he dashed back.
At around 300 meters from the trap, he left another mole.
The final mole was placed less than 100 meters from the trap.
Once he dropped the last mole, Li Meng hid behind a large tree, waiting patiently.
Time passed slowly. The forest was eerily quiet.
Hiding behind the tree, Li Meng was extremely tense.
He was only 100 meters from the trap.
Though the Earth Demon Bear was massive, it was surprisingly fast.
If he made a misstep, he¡¯d be finished.
"Crack!"
Suddenly, the sound of breaking branches echoed through the forest.
Li Meng¡¯s heart tightened, and his face filled with tension.
It was coming!
Yes, the Earth Demon Bear had arrived.
The massive shadow emerged from the forest depths, following the scent of blood to the mole.
It began chewing loudly.
"No room for cowardice now."
Behind the tree, Li Meng gritted his teeth and stepped out.
"Hey, dumb bear, over here!"
Li Meng shouted at the Earth Demon Bear, raising his middle finger¡ªa universal gesture.
The goblin¡¯s sudden appearance startled the Earth Demon Bear.
But when it saw the small figure, a hint of mockery flickered in its red eyes.
Li Meng turned and ran deeper into the forest.
With a roar, the Earth Demon Bear bellowed.
"Roar!"
The deafening roar echoed through the forest, sending birds flying.
Driven by hunting instincts, the Earth Demon Bear charged after Li Meng.
Its massive size made every step feel like an earthquake.
The ground shook as though a heavy tank was barreling through.
Hearing the growing commotion behind him, Li Meng broke into a cold sweat.
Faster, faster!
Li Meng sprinted frantically and dove into a nearby bush.
Chapter 6: Acquiring the Skill "Steel Reinforced Bones"
Chapter 6: Acquiring the Skill "Steel Reinforced Bones"
"Hey, big dumb bear, over here!"
Li Meng emerged from the bushes, shouting at the Earth Demon Bear.
"Roar!"
The Earth Demon Bear let out a roar and charged towards Li Meng, panting heavily.
Its massive body rushed into the bushes like a heavy tank.
Li Meng, hiding in the bushes, quickly ducked deeper into them.
Suddenly, the ground beneath the Earth Demon Bear gave way.
The bear tried to stop itself, its hind legs clawing at the earth, but it was too late.
The momentum of its charge sent the Earth Demon Bear tumbling headfirst into a trap.
"Got it, got it!"
Li Meng crawled out of the bushes, delighted, and ran to the edge of the trap.
The Earth Demon Bear lay on its back in the pit, disoriented.
It scrambled to its feet and roared at Li Meng above it.
It tried to climb out but couldn''t find any leverage.
"Bear meat, bear meat!"
The goblin underlings cheered as they rushed out from their hiding places.
"Gobumeng, Gobumeng!"
They shouted loudly near the trap, their eyes greedily fixed on the Earth Demon Bear.
Although the bear was terrifying, in the goblins'' eyes, it was now just a large piece of meat.
"Throw in the moles stuffed with poisonous mushrooms!"
At Li Meng''s command, the goblin underlings quickly got to work.
Each of them carried two blood-soaked moles and threw them into the trap.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
One, two, over a dozen moles were tossed in.
The Earth Demon Bear seemed wary, ignoring the bloody moles and struggling to climb out of the pit.
"Boss, what if it doesn¡¯t eat them?"
Li Meng sneered coldly, his eyes flashing with disdain.
A mindless beast couldn''t be that clever.
"It will eat them. Let¡¯s go!"
Li Meng turned and walked away into the distance.
The goblin underlings, confused, followed him.
Were they really giving up the bear meat just like that?
Li Meng left but didn¡¯t go far.
He led the goblins to a large tree about fifty meters from the trap and stopped there.
"Stay quiet, and wait!"
Li Meng sat under the tree and instructed the goblins.
The goblins exchanged glances before lying down to sleep.
After three days of work, they were utterly exhausted.
Li Meng watched the trap, a glint of excitement in his eyes.
Less than an hour later, agonized roars of pain erupted from the direction of the trap.
The pitiful cries echoed through the forest, piercingly mournful.
The goblins, startled awake by the bear''s howls, sat up abruptly.
The Earth Demon Bear struggled in the trap for over half an hour before the cries finally ceased.
"It¡¯s done. Let¡¯s go!"
Li Meng stood up and dashed towards the trap.
The goblins scrambled to follow.
When Li Meng arrived at the pit, he saw the Earth Demon Bear lying lifeless.
The system confirmed its death.
"Don¡¯t eat the internal organs!"
Goblins had strong resistance to poison but consuming the organs would still make them suffer for days.
Li Meng jumped into the pit, landing on the bear''s belly.
He raised his claws and began ripping at its hide furiously.
The other goblins followed, jumping into the pit and feasting on the corpse.
The trap couldn¡¯t hold goblins.
The soft soil allowed their claws to dig in easily, letting them climb out.
This was why Li Meng dared to jump in.
In no time, the Earth Demon Bear''s body was gutted.
Li Meng pulled out its massive heart and began gnawing on it.
"Boss, here¡¯s the shiny stone you like!"
Gobuda approached with a half-fist-sized magic crystal.
The crystal was brown, signifying earth attributes.
Li Meng accepted the crystal and put it away.
"Gobuda, how¡¯s the bear meat?"
Gobuda nodded eagerly.
"Delicious! I''ve never eaten such tasty meat."
"Then go eat your fill."
Gobuda quickly turned back and resumed eating.
The pit soon filled with a heavy scent of blood.
[Devour skill activated, acquired skill: ¡°Steel Reinforced Bones.¡±]
[Steel Reinforced Bones: LV1 (Strength +20, Defense +20, Agility +5)]
A warm current surged through Li Meng¡¯s body.
His muscles and bones crackled audibly.
Li Meng flexed his hands, excitement written all over his face.
He was stronger now!
"Boss, I¡ I can¡¯t eat anymore!"
In less than two hours, the goblins were all bloated, their bellies swollen.
Looking into the pit, less than a fifth of the bear''s body had been consumed.
Gobuda approached, clutching his stomach.
"Boss, there¡¯s so much meat left. Can we stay here for a few days?"
The goblins'' biggest dream was to eat their fill.
Eat, sleep, repeat ¡ª the life every goblin desired.
Today, under their boss''s leadership, they had finally eaten to their hearts'' content.
Not just any meat, but that of an Earth Demon Bear, something goblins rarely hunted.
At this moment, all the goblins gazed at Li Meng with pure admiration.
"No, the blood from the bear''s body will attract other powerful beasts. Eat up and let¡¯s go!"
Bear meat was valuable, but the heavy scent of blood made Li Meng nervous.
He feared a stronger beast might emerge from the forest.
"Boss, let¡¯s cut off some good meat to take with us!"
"No! If the leader finds out we hunted an Earth Demon Bear and ate it first, we¡¯ll be in trouble."
Li Meng¡¯s words made the goblins shrink in fear.
The Earth Demon Bear was a treasure.
If they brought leftover meat back, the leader would surely take it all.
"Let¡¯s go find the hunting party!"
Li Meng climbed out of the trap quickly.
The goblins followed closely, afraid to linger.
They looked back at the corpse in the pit with greedy eyes but feared the leader more.
"Hurry up, keep moving!"
Under Li Meng¡¯s urging, the goblins reluctantly left the trap behind.
In the following days, Li Meng stayed focused on finding the hunting party.
The hunting party¡¯s outings didn¡¯t have fixed durations, but they rarely exceeded half a month.
If they stayed out too long, it would anger the leader.
If they returned late and empty-handed, the hunting party leader would be replaced.
Fortunately, goblins had a keen sense of smell, allowing them to avoid dangerous beasts.
Their journey went smoothly. By the second day, they finally found traces of the hunting party.
"Boss, boss, I smell it! It¡¯s goblin droppings!"
Walking in the forest, Gobuda pointed north, hopping excitedly.
He looked at Li Meng, hoping for praise.
Chapter 7: I Am the Boss, You Are the Leader
Chapter 7: I Am the Boss, You Are the Leader
"Go over and take a look!"
The goblins in the forest quickened their pace, breaking into a jog.
Before long, Li Meng heard the noise of goblins ahead in the forest.
In a clearing in the woods, a group of goblins was enjoying a feast.
Each goblin held a piece of meat with fur still attached and gnawed at it.
"Who''s there!"
One goblin seemed to sense something.
It stood up alertly and let out a shout.
Its warning drew the attention of the nearby goblins.
The goblins, who had been dining, quickly picked up various weapons and stood up.
"It''s me, it''s me!"
Under the watchful gazes of the goblins, Li Meng emerged from the bushes with a group of goblin underlings.
Seeing their own kind appear, the goblins lowered their weapons.
"What have you guys been up to these past few days?"
At that moment, a rough voice came from the rear.
A tall hobgoblin, holding a spiked club, walked over.
Looking at Li Meng''s group of goblins, it glared at them angrily.
This was Gobuka, the small leader of this hunting team.
Seeing Gobuka approach, the goblin underlings behind Li Meng shrank their necks, stepping back repeatedly with anxious and fearful expressions.
Li Meng remained unfazed, holding a wooden stick and pointing it at Gobuka.
"Gobuka, I challenge you!"
This guy wasn¡¯t strong. Although it was a hobgoblin, its stats were pitifully low.
[Name: Gobuka]
[Race: Hobgoblin]
[Level: 16]If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
[Strength: 26]
[Defense: 24]
[Agility: 21]
[Magic: 6]
"Hahaha, Gobumeng, have you eaten too much filth? How dare you challenge me?"
Gobuka laughed loudly as if he had just heard the funniest joke.
The goblins behind him also burst into laughter.
They laughed so hard that they waved their arms and stomped their feet, some even rolling on the ground clutching their bellies.
"What, are you scared?"
Li Meng grinned, a mocking look on his face.
Seeing that Li Meng was serious, the smile on Gobuka''s face vanished.
It grinned hideously and greedily looked at Li Meng.
"Gobumeng, you look tender and tasty. Today, I¡¯ll eat you. Roar!"
Gobuka roared and charged at Li Meng, holding its spiked club.
It swung the club, aiming a heavy blow at Li Meng''s head.
If struck, Li Meng¡¯s head might explode like a smashed watermelon.
Gobuka grinned maliciously, its face filled with excitement and greed.
It could already imagine Li Meng''s head shattering into pieces.
Then, just as the club was about to smash into Li Meng''s head...
Li Meng moved. His right hand suddenly shot out, grabbing the spiked club.
With a loud "thud," Gobuka''s club was firmly caught in Li Meng¡¯s hand.
Although the spikes on the club caused blood to drip from Li Meng''s hand, Gobuka¡¯s strike was completely blocked.
"Impossible!"
Gobuka screamed, frantically pulling at the club.
But in Li Meng¡¯s hand, the club was as immovable as a mountain, no matter how much force Gobuka used.
"Boss, it¡¯s my turn now!"
Seeing the panicked Gobuka, Li Meng grinned.
He waved the hand holding the spiked club, easily prying it from Gobuka¡¯s grasp.
Then, he swung downward!
The handle of the spiked club smashed into Gobuka¡¯s face with a "thud."
Gobuka''s entire face twisted, and its body was flung over five meters away before crashing to the ground.
"The boss¡ the boss lost?"
The goblins watching this scene were dumbfounded.
"The boss won, the boss won!"
The goblin underlings behind Li Meng jumped and cheered.
"Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
Gobuda shouted excitedly.
The other goblin underlings quickly joined in, shouting in unison.
Their synchronized chants soon spread to the other goblins, who also began shouting together.
For a moment, the forest echoed with cries of "Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
Facing the goblins¡¯ reverent gazes, Li Meng grinned.
Good. From now on, this hunting team was his.
Of course, to avoid a "life simulation" ending, the process had to change a bit.
Li Meng raised the spiked club, and the chants in the forest fell silent.
In the forest, Li Meng, holding the spiked club, walked toward Gobuka.
Seeing Li Meng approach, Gobuka, who was struggling to stand, turned pale.
It stepped back repeatedly, looking at the advancing Li Meng with a face full of fear.
"Gobumeng, you win. From now on, you¡¯re the boss!"
Li Meng approached Gobuka with a smile.
"Do you submit?"
Gobuka nodded vigorously.
"I submit! I submit!"
Satisfied, Li Meng nodded, flashing a grin at Gobuka.
That smile sent a chill down Gobuka¡¯s spine.
"Here, this is yours."
Li Meng handed the spiked club to Gobuka.
Gobuka looked at the club in Li Meng''s hand, then at Li Meng himself.
Hesitation flashed in its eyes, but ultimately, it forced a flattering smile despite its reluctance.
"Boss, let me offer this club as a gift to you."
"I don¡¯t need it!"
Li Meng tossed the spiked club to Gobuka.
Gobuka hurriedly caught it and hugged it like a treasure.
"From now on, you¡¯re still the boss, the leader of the hunting team. But you¡¯ll follow my orders. Understood?"
***
Although Gobuka didn¡¯t understand why Gobumeng did something so incomprehensible to goblins, it didn¡¯t think too much. It nodded.
"Hand over the magic crystals. All of them!"
Gobuka quickly removed a pouch made of animal hide from its waist.
Li Meng weighed the pouch in his hand.
It was heavy, indicating Gobuka had hoarded plenty of magic crystals.
But magic crystals weren¡¯t of much use to goblins.
To goblins, magic crystals were just glowing stones.
"Boss, we should head back. We can¡¯t carry more prey."
After nearly ten days of hunting, the team had gained a lot.
Most of the prey were ground mice, which were goblins¡¯ staple food.
Without ground mouse meat, the goblin nest couldn¡¯t sustain so many goblins.
"Let¡¯s head back!"
The cooldown for the life simulation was still half a month away.
During this time, Li Meng planned to lie low as a weak goblin.
This world was too dangerous. The more you did, the more likely you were to meet an untimely death.
Without the life simulation to predict the future, it was simply too risky.
"Stop eating! Set off! Return to the nest!"
Under Gobuka¡¯s shouts, the hunting team began its return journey.
When they had set out, the hunting team had 87 goblins.
On the way back, only 64 remained.
"Boss, boss, I¡ I think I¡¯ve grown taller and stronger."
In the dim forest, a group of goblins marched along.
The long line stretched for hundreds of meters.
Gobuda approached Li Meng, waving its fists excitedly.
Li Meng glanced at it.
With that glance, he realized Gobuda had leveled up.
Its stats had also improved.
Li Meng looked at the other goblin underlings.
Those who had eaten the Earth Demon Bear¡¯s meat had all leveled up once.
It seemed eating high-tier magical beasts¡¯ meat sped up goblins¡¯ evolution.
This thought made Li Meng¡¯s expression shift as he recalled the bodies in the traps.
Chapter 8: I Want to Eat Humans
Chapter 8: I Want to Eat Humans
"It''s been so many days, the body should be gone by now."
In the forest, Ground Mice are known as scavengers.
Although they mainly eat plants, they won''t miss any chance to eat meat.
"It''s a real pity. That huge corpse could have fed all the goblins here for a meal."
Though he felt regretful, Li Meng didn''t dwell on it.
There would be plenty of opportunities to hunt stronger magical beasts in the future.
As for himself, it seemed that having the *Simulated Life System* caused him to lose the ability to evolve.
His strength came from the *Simulated Life System.*
This body had already been distorted and enhanced by the system''s power.
It wasn''t surprising that he lost some of the goblins'' original abilities.
Compared to the ability to evolve by eating magical beasts, devouring their skills was undoubtedly more powerful.
The former''s upper limit was too low and easily restricted by innate talent.
Most goblins, even if they ate a dragon, could only advance to Goblin Warrior.
Even if their bloodline was twisted and enhanced by a powerful foreign race, their strength would still be limited.
But the potential of skills was limitless.
"You''re getting taller, huh? What, are you planning to rebel?"
Li Meng glared at Gobuda with a fierce expression.
Daring to show off in front of him? That couldn¡¯t be tolerated.
Gobuda shrank his neck, his face full of flattery.
"Boss, I... I wouldn¡¯t dare!"
"Hmph, you better not!"
In the following days, the hunting team trudged through mountains and waters.
They hunted as they traveled toward the goblin lair.
On the third day, the hunting team returned to the goblin lair.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"Leader, this is my tribute to you!"
Inside the cave, Gobuka bowed respectfully with a flattering smile.
He turned to give a signal to his underlings behind him.
The goblins of the hunting team quickly carried Ground Mice and hauled wild boars, placing them on the ground before a giant boulder.
In no time, dozens of Ground Mouse carcasses and dismembered wild boar meat formed a small mountain.
Seeing the pile of food, the large goblins around them looked on with greedy eyes.
Only goblins who evolved into Goblin Warriors could become the leader''s guards.
Those who became guards didn¡¯t need to go out hunting.
They only had to wait in the cave for offerings from the hunting team.
Gobuba, perched on the stone platform, waved his hand.
Several Goblin Warriors jumped off the platform and carried wild boar legs back up.
Gobuba took a big bite out of a boar leg.
"Gobuka, you¡¯ve done well. You deserve breeding rights!"
At that moment, a pained squeal echoed from a prison cell in the right-side rock wall.
A Goblin Warrior herded a female forest boar toward them.
Looking at the sow being driven over, Gobuka''s face lit up with excitement.
His mouth hung slightly open, and drool was almost dripping out.
"Remember, this is an honor I¡¯m giving you!"
Gobuka couldn''t contain his excitement and lunged forward eagerly.
For a moment, the cave echoed with the squeals of the wild boar.
Watching Gobuka put on a live "spring show," Li Meng sighed in relief.
Good thing he was smart¡ªhe¡¯d changed the future seen in the *Simulated Life System.*
In less than five minutes, Gobuka was done.
He looked utterly satisfied, staggering as he walked.
"Ground Mouse meat, pork... eating this stuff every day is boring me to death."
Gobuba''s voice suddenly erupted with a dissatisfied roar inside the cave.
Gobuka was so startled that his body went limp and he collapsed to the ground.
From his perch on the stone platform, Gobuba violently threw the boar leg in his hand.
The leg flew dozens of meters and smashed against the rock wall.
The surrounding goblins trembled in fear and instinctively took two steps back.
"I want to eat human meat. I want human meat. You... go capture humans for me."
Gobuba raised his massive hand and pointed at Gobuka.
Gobuka, terrified, stiffened up completely.
"I¡¯ll go, I¡¯ll go!"
Realizing what had happened, Gobuka scrambled to his feet and ran outside.
The other goblin underlings followed behind him in panic.
Li Meng was among them, his expression more serious than usual.
Could this be what happened after his death?
Li Meng had never expected that humans truly existed in this world.
"Ha ha ha ha!"
Watching the fleeing goblins, Gobuba roared with laughter.
Elsewhere, after running out of the cave, Gobuka collapsed to the ground in terror.
"Gobuka, have you ever captured humans before?"
Looking up at Li Meng, who had approached him, Gobuka hurriedly stood.
Gobuka nodded, gesturing animatedly as he spoke.
"Boss, human meat is so delicious! It¡¯s tender, fragrant, salty, and incredibly tasty. It¡¯s just a pity that human females are too fragile. We barely breed with them a few times before they die. Mating with humans is also the most pleasurable, hehe!"
By the end, Gobuka was drooling.
But then, a trace of fear flashed in his eyes.
"Humans also have some really strong individuals. A few of them can wipe out our entire hunting team."
"Humans like revenge, too. Many goblin lairs on the forest''s outskirts have been wiped out by them."
"This lair is said to have been moved here from the outskirts. Back then, Gobuba wasn¡¯t even the leader yet."
"Boss, I¡¯m scared. We¡¯ll die."
Gobuka''s whole body trembled as he spoke.
Humans might be delicious, but they weren¡¯t easy prey.
Gobuka understood that better than anyone.
With their small numbers, they could easily be eaten by magical beasts on the way to human territory.
"If you don¡¯t go, the leader will eat you instead!"
Gobuka shrank his neck in fear.
The thought of becoming a piece of meat in the leader¡¯s mouth sent a shiver down his spine, making his legs tremble.
"Rest for the night. We¡¯ll set out tomorrow."
This was the leader¡¯s order. Whether they wanted to or not, they had to go.
Li Meng understood this, and so did Gobuka.
Otherwise, Gobuka would indeed be eaten.
Accepting reality, Gobuka resigned himself to the situation.
Time passed quickly, and the day soon ended.
As night fell, the forest outside the lair grew quiet.
The next morning, Gobuka led the hunting team toward human territory.
The team crossed mountains and streams, traversed valleys, and avoided powerful magical beasts.
Half a month later, on a certain tall mountain:
"Boss, once we cross this mountain, we¡¯ll enter human territory."
From the mountain¡¯s peak, the scenery on the other side was in full view.
The other side of the mountain was still covered in rolling hills, but they were smaller, lower, and less steep than the southern mountain range.
"Boss, we must be cautious. Humans often form teams to hunt goblins in the forest, and they¡¯re very strong."
Hunting teams?
Li Meng thought of the settings in some fantasy novels.
A world with goblins must also have adventurers.
And adventurers likely included magicians, warriors, knights, thieves, and the like.
Perhaps the humans Gobuka mentioned were those types.
"Let¡¯s rest for a bit."
Li Meng turned and sat on a large rock.
The other goblin underlings quickly sprawled out on the ground.
"System, start the *Simulated Life*!"
A month¡¯s cooldown had finally ended, and it was time to use it again.
Chapter 9: Growing Stronger Again
Chapter 9: Growing Stronger Again
[Life Simulation Begins]
[Through your efforts, you became the leader of a hunting team. Under the leader¡¯s orders, you headed to human territory to capture humans. You led the team northward and successfully reached the edge of the Goblin Forest.]
[Standing atop a mountain, you felt a sense of confusion about your future.]
[A large river blocked your path, but you built a raft and successfully crossed.]
[You encountered a Gale Rabbit. Please make a choice:]
[1: Hunt the Gale Rabbit.]
[2: Take a detour to avoid the Gale Rabbit.]
[3: Do nothing and scare the Gale Rabbit away.]
"Gobuka, have you ever seen a Gale Rabbit?"
The sudden question from the leader made Gobuka''s eyes light up.
He immediately approached with a fawning expression.
"Boss, the Gale Rabbit is an advanced form of the Wind Rabbit. It''s a Tier 2 magical beast, very large, with delicious meat. It¡¯s strong, but also dumb. It can get scared and run into a tree to its death."
An advanced form of the Wind Rabbit?
Li Meng''s eyes brightened, and he began to ponder.
The Wind Rabbit possesses magical abilities, so the Gale Rabbit must have even more powerful magical skills.
Perhaps he could gain his first magical skill.
"Choose the third option!"
[The Gale Rabbit was frightened and ran into a tree, dying. You devoured the Gale Rabbit and obtained the magical skill *Wind Blade.*]
[You grew stronger, and your mindset subtly changed.]
[You entered a forest full of spider webs. Please make a choice:]
[1: Continue forward, ignoring everything.]
[2: Sense danger and choose to take a detour.]Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.
[3: Believe that spider-like magical beasts might appear and decide to hunt unknown creatures.]
Which option to choose?
Sitting on the large rock, Li Meng appeared deep in thought.
The first option was the most foolish.
A forest full of spider webs clearly signaled danger.
If there was danger, ignoring it and moving forward was reckless.
Li Meng did not believe he would be so careless.
Between the second and third options, Li Meng leaned toward the second.
The second option was the safest.
The third seemed too risky.
Hunting an unknown magical beast without understanding its strength was also foolish.
"Choose the second option!"
[You chose to take a detour. A team of human adventurers ambushed you. You died.]
[Your right ear was cut off and became a trophy for the human adventurers.]
[Gobuda narrowly escaped. After the adventurers left, he returned and took your corpse.]
[You were eaten by Gobuda, who successfully evolved into a Hobgoblin.]
[Your skull was preserved and daily soaked in urine.]
[As a transmigrator, you were cautious, but it did not change the fact that you were weak. As a goblin, you were both hunter and prey. Your death held no significance to the world. It changed nothing but the fate of a single weak goblin. Your death had some value, but only barely.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 30.]
[Please choose one of the following rewards:]
[1: Consume 5 points for +1 level.]
[2: Consume 5 points for +5 attributes.]
[3: Consume 10 points for +1 level of *Steel Bones.*]
"Choose the third option!"
Li Meng glanced speechlessly at Gobuda, who was gnawing on a piece of meat.
What kind of obsession did this guy have with his skull?
Why was he always fixated on it?
Was soaking skulls in urine some sort of goblin ritual?
[*Steel Bones* level +3.]
The familiar sensation surged through his body again.
Li Meng felt his bones shifting and cracking noisily.
Intense pain coursed through his body, causing him to take a sharp breath.
Under his skin, his muscles visibly writhed and swelled.
After a while, the changes in his body finally subsided.
Li Meng hurriedly opened the character panel to check.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 8]
[Strength: 112]
[Defense: 93]
[Agility: 31]
[Magic: 5]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Skill: Devour ¨C Devour the flesh of magical beasts for a chance to acquire their abilities.]
[*Steel Bones*: LV4 (Strength +80, Defense +80, Agility +20)]
His strength and defense attributes were high, but his other attributes were lacking.
Li Meng thought of Gobuba''s stats.
As the goblin leader, Gobuba had high strength but more balanced attributes otherwise.
Of course, magic was not included.
"Boss, are you about to evolve?"
Gobuka looked at his leader with fear.
Earlier, the leader''s body had twisted and writhed like a monster.
Although Gobuka didn¡¯t know what had happened, he knew his leader had grown stronger.
"Yes, perhaps soon."
Li Meng accepted his newfound strength with satisfaction.
But it wasn¡¯t enough¡ªhe needed to become much stronger.
Although he was strong now, he was also vulnerable.
Without the life simulation predicting the future, he would have died countless times already.
Standing up, Li Meng dusted off his animal hide clothing.
"Let¡¯s move out!"
The goblins, who had just climbed the mountain, began descending.
This time, the life simulation didn¡¯t provide much information.
It didn¡¯t specify which direction to take after descending the mountain.
The lack of details on what to do next didn¡¯t bother Li Meng.
No matter what he chose, it seemed the life simulation had already accounted for it.
Five hours later, a large river indeed blocked their path.
Standing on the riverbank, Li Meng felt uncertain.
Goblins could swim; earlier, Li Meng had wondered why they didn¡¯t just swim across.
Now he understood why rafts were necessary¡ªthe river was incredibly turbulent, with raging currents.
The river spanned more than six hundred meters.
Swimming halfway would likely exhaust anyone.
"Boss, let¡¯s go downstream to find a better crossing point."
The overwhelming force of nature filled Gobuka with fear.
Crossing here was certain death.
"Go gather wood and build a raft!"
If they went downstream to look for a crossing, wouldn¡¯t they miss the Gale Rabbit?
Li Meng didn¡¯t intend to deviate from his future.
"Boss, what¡¯s a raft?"
Gobuka looked at his leader with a puzzled expression.
Li Meng suddenly realized he had overestimated goblins.
But it made sense¡ªgoblins had no need for rafts.
Their swimming abilities and forest lifestyle rendered such technology unnecessary.
"Go collect¡"
His words trailed off.
Li Meng gave up on having the goblins chop down trees.
Cutting trees wasn¡¯t easy.
With the weapons they had, felling trees was impossible.
"Go gather some deadwood. The bigger, the better."
Compared to chopping live trees, gathering deadwood was much easier.
Chapter 10: Rafting Across the River
Chapter 10: Rafting Across the River
Although it was unclear what the boss wanted to do, his orders had to be obeyed.
Gobuka turned around and pointed at a group of goblin underlings.
"Go find some deadwood and bring it back!"
The goblin underlings exchanged glances, then turned and ran into the depths of the forest.
"The rest of you, use tree bark to make ropes."
Tree bark ropes were a common tool for goblins.
"What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get to work!"
Under Gobuka¡¯s reprimands, the goblin underlings trembled, turned around, and ran swiftly into the forest.
Soon, the goblins were busy on the riverbank.
From time to time, goblins dragged various sizes of deadwood out of the forest.
A large pile of deadwood quickly appeared by the riverbank.
"Strange, how could goblins be ambushed by a human adventurer team?"
Standing on the riverbank, Li Meng gazed at the turbulent river, lost in thought.
The *Life Simulation* information about human adventurers made Li Meng concerned.
Goblins survived in forests filled with magical beasts due to their keen sense of smell.
Even upwind, they could judge whether an area was safe from the residual scent of magical beasts.
It was almost impossible for humans to ambush goblins.
Goblins could detect humans from far away.
"It seems I need to change my route!"
He couldn¡¯t follow the predicted future path from *Life Simulation*.
Otherwise, his life might be in danger.
"Boss, is this enough?"
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Gobuka walked over with a flattering expression.
Li Meng turned to look at the pile of deadwood on the riverbank.
"Not enough. Keep collecting!"
With over sixty goblins, the raft needed to be large.
The river was too rapid, so the raft couldn¡¯t be too small.
Li Meng walked toward the pile of deadwood.
"You, you, you, and you¡ªuse the bark ropes to tie these logs together, one by one, without overlapping!"
On the riverbank, Li Meng began directing the goblin underlings to build the raft.
"You need to tie it like this for it to be sturdy. Got it?"
"Idiot, not like that¡ªlike this."
"Come here, I¡¯ll show you again."
The goblins were slow learners, which frustrated Li Meng.
Fortunately, Li Meng was a patient person.
Under his repeated teaching, the goblins finally understood how to tie the logs.
Time passed bit by bit. As the sun set, an entire day slipped away.
On the riverbank, a rudimentary raft began to take shape.
The long night passed silently as the goblins snored in their sleep.
---
Early the next morning, under Li Meng¡¯s scolding, the goblin underlings resumed their work.
By the afternoon, the raft was finally completed.
"Good, everyone¡¯s here, right?"
Looking at the ten-zhang-long raft in front of him, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
Although it looked a bit ugly, that didn¡¯t matter.
Li Meng had only one requirement for the raft¡ªthat it floated.
Gobuka glanced at the goblin underlings.
"Boss, everyone¡¯s here!"
"Then let¡¯s start crossing the river!"
Li Meng stepped onto the raft.
"Come on, spread out to both sides and push the raft into the river!"
To make it easier to push the heavy raft into the water, Li Meng had deliberately chosen a gentle slope during its construction.
The goblin underlings quickly spread out, grabbing the pull ropes.
"Pull hard!"
At Li Meng¡¯s command, the goblin underlings exerted their strength.
The heavy raft shook slightly and began to move slowly.
Its speed increased, moving faster and faster.
"Alright, get on quickly!"
Seeing the raft sliding into the water, Li Meng urged the goblin underlings.
The goblins scrambled onto the raft in a panic.
Fortunately, no one fell into the water, and they all made it aboard.
With a loud "splash," water sprayed everywhere.
The raft successfully entered the river.
The swift current carried the raft downstream.
Li Meng grabbed a thick pole and pushed it into the water at the front of the raft.
The river was deep¡ªnearly five meters down to the riverbed.
Amid the rushing water, Li Meng struggled to steer the raft toward the opposite bank.
The raft drifted several kilometers downstream before finally reaching the far side of the river.
"Into the water!"
At a section with calmer waters, Li Meng shouted, dropping the pole and jumping into the river.
The goblin underlings grabbed the pull ropes and jumped into the water.
The large raft was slowly dragged ashore bit by bit.
They stopped only when half the raft was onshore and could no longer be moved.
"Secure it properly¡ªwe¡¯ll need it on the way back!"
Li Meng, not trusting the goblins, personally tied a bark rope to a large tree on the riverbank.
"Boss, you¡¯re so smart!"
Gobuka had never thought of crossing the river this way. It was much easier than swimming.
"Let¡¯s go, move out!"
The goblin hunting team quickly entered the forest again.
---
Before long, the team found itself in a valley.
"Boss, I smell something unpleasant¡ªit¡¯s lizardmen!"
As they walked, Gobuka made a new discovery, sniffing the air at the front of the group.
At this point, they were less than three kilometers into the forest.
Li Meng also detected a faint scent of decay.
"Are lizardmen strong?"
Gobuka looked around warily and nodded.
"Very strong. They like to live in swamps. Any creature that enters their swamp is killed."
"Sometimes they leave the swamp to hunt magical beasts. Many hunting parties have encountered them. Even though they don¡¯t like goblin meat, they kill goblins on sight."
The *Life Simulation* didn¡¯t predict any encounters with lizardmen.
This suggested they wouldn¡¯t run into them.
"Let¡¯s go around them!"
The rotten smell came from the left front, likely a swamp connected to the river.
The goblin team changed direction, heading northwest.
---
"Boss, boss¡ªit¡¯s a Gale Rabbit!"
A short while later, Gobuda ran toward Li Meng with an excited expression.
"Boss, Gale Rabbits are delicious. Let¡¯s catch it!"
Gobuda looked at Li Meng expectantly, drooling.
A Gale Rabbit?
Li Meng¡¯s eyes brightened. He had been waiting for a Gale Rabbit and didn¡¯t expect to find one so soon.
Li Meng nodded at Gobuka.
Gobuka grinned, drool dripping from his mouth.
"Hunt! Hunt! Gale Rabbit! Gale Rabbit!"
Although his words were disjointed, they excited the goblin underlings.
The goblins slowed their pace and spread out to the sides.
They had already caught the scent of the Gale Rabbit.
In the dim forest, dozens of goblins cautiously fanned out.
Chapter 11: Spider Web
Chapter 11: Spider Web
"Boss, that''s the Gale Rabbit!"
Li Meng and Gobuba crawled into a bush.
In the depths of the forest beyond the bush, there was a spot illuminated by sunlight.
Golden rays of sunlight shone down, making the forest clearing bright.
In that bright spot, a giant white rabbit was basking in the sun.
Its size was enormous.
Even while lying down, its shoulder height exceeded two meters.
[Gale Rabbit]
[Level: 17]
[Strength: 19]
[Defense: 17]
[Agility: 27]
[Magic: 21]
[Wind Blade Technique: LV2]
Its attributes were average, but its magic power was quite high.
A goblin stealthily approached the Gale Rabbit from the forest behind it.
"Ha!"
The goblin suddenly leaped out, shouting loudly.
The Gale Rabbit was startled, jumping up in fright.
The air in front of it distorted.
In the next moment, an almost invisible wind blade shot out.
"Shhh!"
A tree twenty meters away was suddenly split in half, crashing to the ground with a rumbling sound.
The panicked Gale Rabbit, now jumping about like a headless chicken, dashed randomly through the forest.
"Ha!"
Ahead of the frenzied rabbit, another goblin suddenly burst out from the bushes.
The sudden appearance scared the rabbit again.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
The massive creature jumped up in alarm and fled in a different direction.
A tree blocked its path, and it crashed straight into it.
"Boom!"
With a loud "boom," accompanied by the sound of breaking bones, the Gale Rabbit''s enormous body collapsed to the ground, twitching.
Soon, it stopped moving entirely.
Li Meng was speechless as he watched this unfold.
He hadn''t expected the old saying, "waiting for a rabbit by the tree stump," to come true in another world.
It turned out there were indeed creatures foolish enough to crash into their own deaths.
"Gale Rabbit! Gale Rabbit!"
As the rabbit died, the goblins immediately ran out from their hiding places.
They shouted excitedly, salivating as they surrounded the Gale Rabbit.
"What a sharp cut. Is this the power of magic?"
Li Meng clicked his tongue as he observed the smooth cut on a nearby tree stump.
A tree that required two people to encircle had been cleanly severed.
Even a tree behind it bore a half-meter-deep gash.
The destructive power of the Wind Blade Technique was astonishing.
"Move aside!"
Gobuba approached the Gale Rabbit''s corpse.
With a loud command, the surrounding goblin underlings backed away in fear.
Gobuba raised its sharp claws and began tearing into the rabbit''s belly.
Before long, a strong smell of blood filled the air.
The sweet scent of blood intoxicated the surrounding goblins.
Drooling, they stared greedily at the corpse.
After much effort, Gobuba pulled out a heart larger than its head.
Carrying the heart, Gobuba ran to the boss with a fawning expression.
"Boss, boss, here''s the heart you like!"
By now, Gobuba had thoroughly learned its boss''s preferences.
Li Meng particularly enjoyed eating the hearts of prey.
Taking the heart from Gobuba, Li Meng took a big bite.
The warm, bloody flesh slid down his throat, making Li Meng squint slightly.
The heart was indeed delicious and perfectly suited to his current taste.
"Boss, can I go eat the meat now?"
Li Meng waved him off.
Gobuba immediately turned and ran greedily back to the Gale Rabbit''s corpse.
It leapt into the rabbit''s belly and began devouring the tastiest internal organs.
After some time, Gobuba finally ate its fill and left.
With Gobuba gone, the goblins, who had been waiting eagerly, pounced on the rabbit.
Dozens of goblins swarmed the Gale Rabbit''s massive corpse, devouring it at a speed visible to the naked eye.
[Skill acquired: "Wind Blade Technique"]
The system''s notification made Li Meng grin.
The skill he''d longed for was finally his.
Turning slightly, Li Meng glanced at a nearby tree stump.
"Wind Blade Technique!"
The air in front of Li Meng distorted.
A gust of wind erupted, and a visible, transparent wind blade shot out.
"Shhh!"
Wood chips flew as the tree stump ten meters away was gouged deeply.
A half-meter-deep cut appeared on the stump.
Li Meng''s face turned pale, and a wave of dizziness caused him to collapse to the ground.
"Is it because my magic power attribute is too low?"
Struggling to sit up, Li Meng shook his dizzy head.
His pitifully low magic power likely contributed to the aftereffects of using magic.
Perhaps the side effects were due to insufficient magic capacity.
"Boss, are you... are you okay?"
Gobuda''s voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Li Meng.
Standing up, Li Meng turned and glared at him.
Gobuda shrank back, stepping away in fear.
"Are you full?"
Gobuda nodded hurriedly.
He patted his round belly and wiped his mouth.
Rubbing his still-dizzy head, Li Meng shook it again.
He decided that for the next system reward, he needed to prioritize improving his magic attribute.
Without higher magic power, the Wind Blade Technique was essentially a useless skill.
The commotion in the forest lasted less than half an hour.
After that, only bloodstains remained where the Gale Rabbit''s corpse had been.
"Move out, let''s go!"
At Gobuba''s urging, the hunting party continued on.
Three hours later, in a certain part of the forest.
This part of the forest was dark and damp.
The ground was covered with a thick layer of dead leaves.
Beneath the leaves lay water, making the ground feel soft underfoot.
Walking through the forest, Li Meng glanced around.
This section of the forest seemed even denser than the previous one.
Looking upward, he saw layer upon layer of dense foliage, blocking out any sunlight.
The air was filled with a strong smell of decay.
"Boss, this is the territory of Ghost Spiders. We need to leave!"
Gobuba suddenly noticed something, running to Li Meng in a panic.
"Ghost Spiders? Are they dangerous?"
Gobuba nodded vigorously.
"Ghost Spiders are Tier 2 magical beasts, and there are lots of them!"
Li Meng raised his head, looking into the depths of the forest ahead.
"Tell them to stop!"
Gobuba quickly turned and ordered the goblin underlings to halt.
The goblins in the forest stared at one another in confusion, unsure why their boss had stopped them.
Meanwhile, Li Meng approached a large spider web.
The web was massive, spanning two trees.
Judging by its color, it seemed abandoned, covered in dust and grime.
Li Meng reached out and touched the web.
The web trembled suddenly, emitting a "buzzing" sound.
Spider webs in the treetops also trembled, producing the same sound.
The "buzzing" quickly spread deeper into the forest.
Li Meng''s face changed, and he hurriedly tore down a piece of web.
"Run!"
Leaving those words behind, Li Meng bolted toward the way they had come.
Chapter 12: Surprise Attack and the Lizardmen
Chapter 12: Surprise Attack and the Lizardmen
The other goblins didn¡¯t understand what had happened.
But since their leader was running, they naturally followed.
Li Meng wasn¡¯t stupid; he clearly knew what had happened.
His actions of touching the spiderweb must have alarmed the Ghost Spider deep in the forest.
In the dim forest, dozens of goblins sprinted wildly.
They ran for several kilometers in one go before stopping.
In the dim forest, Li Meng leaned against a large tree, gasping for breath.
Looking down at the spiderweb in his hand, Li Meng showed a curious expression.
It was somewhat sticky but extremely tough.
Looking around, Li Meng walked towards a nearby puddle.
Squatting by the puddle, Li Meng placed the spiderweb into the water.
He scrubbed the spiderweb vigorously.
In no time, the stickiness of the web was washed away.
What had been a large clump of spiderweb transformed into a transparent thread.
Li Meng straightened the thread, holding one end in each hand, and pulled hard.
The thread stretched slightly but didn¡¯t break.
¡°This is great!¡±
The elasticity and toughness of the thread made Li Meng¡¯s eyes shine.
The Ghost Spider¡¯s web was an excellent material for making bowstrings.
With bowstrings, using the knowledge in his head, it wouldn¡¯t be a problem for Li Meng to create simple crossbows.
If goblins had crossbows as weapons, their combat effectiveness would increase significantly.
¡°Boss, what are you doing?¡±
Gobuda curiously approached.
¡°You¡¯ll find out later!¡±
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This small spider thread was key to conquering this world.
Li Meng planned to use Earth¡¯s knowledge to bring the goblins into the Iron Age.
¡°Vala!¡±
Suddenly, a commotion arose in the forest.
A loud and rough shout was heard, and a group of tall and muscular figures rushed out.
They charged at the resting goblins, slashing down with their large machetes.
The resting goblins were caught off guard and were decapitated instantly.
The sudden attack shocked the goblins.
¡°It¡¯s the Lizardmen, the Lizardmen!¡±
Faced with the nearly two-meter-tall, black-scaled Lizardmen, the goblins panicked and fled in all directions.
The goblins tried to escape, but the Lizardmen were faster.
Their rusty machetes cut down one goblin after another.
Some goblins attempted to resist but were vastly outmatched in strength.
Their clubs were shattered, and their bodies were nearly bisected by the machetes.
With a single kick, a Lizardman could send a goblin flying over ten meters.
Although there were only about a dozen Lizardmen, they were chasing and killing the goblins in the forest.
The sudden assault frightened both Li Meng and Gobuda.
One Lizardman set its sights on the two of them.
Its golden pupils locked onto them, and it charged forward with its machete.
[Lizardman]
[Level: 22]
[Strength: 37]
[Defense: 31]
[Agility: 33]
[Magic: 5]
Li Meng quickly assessed the Lizardmen in the forest.
He found that none of their levels were below 20, ranging between 20-30.
¡°Hmph, I¡¯m not afraid of you!¡±
Li Meng snatched the spiked club from Gobuda, who was about to fight, and stepped forward.
Seeing a tiny goblin daring to challenge it, the Lizardman¡¯s eyes gleamed with mockery.
It grinned, leaping into the air, and slashed down with its machete.
Li Meng didn¡¯t dodge; he swung the spiked club to meet the attack.
¡°Bang!¡±
The weapons collided with a loud ¡°bang.¡±
The Lizardman felt a tremendous force transmitted through its machete, numbing its wrist and sending the weapon flying.
¡°Die!¡±
Li Meng grinned at the astonished Lizardman.
With his left hand, he struck directly at the Lizardman¡¯s heart.
¡°Rip!¡±
The Lizardman¡¯s heart was pierced through.
The seemingly heavy Lizardman was lifted high by the tiny Li Meng.
With a flick of his arm, Li Meng flung the Lizardman aside.
In his hand was a still-beating heart.
Gazing at the warm heart, Li Meng took a greedy bite.
¡°Hmm, the hearts of intelligent creatures are indeed delicious!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s face was full of satisfaction, his gruesome mouth covered in blood.
A nearby Lizardman noticed what was happening and screamed as it charged over.
¡°I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re saying!¡±
Li Meng tossed aside the heart and hurled the spiked club in his hand.
The spinning club flew over several dozen meters.
It struck the Lizardman¡¯s head with precision.
With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the Lizardman was sent flying.
The club was also knocked away.
The fallen Lizardman twitched on the ground.
Its head was deformed, and blood poured from its nose and mouth.
Li Meng rushed to pick up a large machete lying nearby.
Grabbing the machete, he charged towards the Lizardman.
¡°Kill them, Gobumeng, Gobumeng!¡±
Seeing their leader instantly kill two Lizardmen, Gobuda was excited.
It roared and cheered.
The goblins, who had been fleeing, were inspired by their leader¡¯s bravery.
¡°Gobumeng, Gobumeng!¡±
They stopped running and enthusiastically charged towards the Lizardmen.
¡°Where are you looking?¡±
Li Meng quickly approached a Lizardman.
He swung the rusty machete in wide, powerful arcs.
The Lizardman reacted swiftly, blocking with its weapon.
¡°Clang!¡±
A metallic clang resounded, sparks flying.
The tremendous force made the Lizardman¡¯s expression change as it slid back several meters to dissipate the impact.
Li Meng followed up immediately, pressing forward and slashing down.
This time, the Lizardman wasn¡¯t as lucky.
Li Meng twisted his body, and the machete sliced through the Lizardman¡¯s chest.
The towering Lizardman¡¯s body split in two, its upper half flying off.
Blood sprayed everywhere, drenching Li Meng.
The pungent smell of blood made Li Meng feel a wild surge of excitement.
¡°Kill, kill, kill!¡±
Li Meng, with bloodshot eyes, charged at the Lizardmen like a beast.
No techniques, just raw power and relentless strikes.
One Lizardman after another fell under his blade.
At this point, the Lizardmen finally noticed this anomaly.
But they could no longer focus on anything else.
The goblins, emboldened, surrounded them from all sides.
Although strong, the Lizardmen couldn¡¯t fend off so many attackers at once.
Some Lizardmen were already beaten to death by the goblins.
¡°Lalalala!¡±
Sensing the dire situation, one Lizardman let out a sharp cry.
The remaining five Lizardmen turned and fled into the depths of the forest.
Their retreat boosted the goblins¡¯ morale.
They shouted and chased after them.
¡°Stop!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s loud roar halted the goblins in their tracks.
The sheer force of his voice scared the frenzied goblins into stillness.
¡°Eat them all!¡±
Hearing their leader¡¯s command, the goblins¡¯ eyes lit up.
They rushed towards the nearest corpses and began feasting eagerly.
In the dim forest, the sound of chewing filled the air.
First, the Lizardmen¡¯s corpses, then those of their own kind.
Chapter 13: The First Battle
Chapter 13: The First Battle
While the Goblin subordinates were enjoying a feast, Li Meng returned to the puddle, washing the blood off his body.
Lowering his head, he looked at the large machete placed on the ground beside him, a curious expression on his face.
The machete was not made of iron.
Its main body was wooden, with a sharp stone blade embedded in it.
The stone blade was smeared with some decayed mud, giving it the appearance of rust.
The blade bore polishing marks, making it exceptionally smooth.
This stone weapon was far superior to the clubs held by the Goblins.
Shifting his gaze slightly, Li Meng looked at the water, now tinged red.
His whole body trembled after his first battle.
Although dangerous, the feeling of adrenaline and excitement intoxicated him.
The metallic smell of blood ignited a fire in his heart.
Although he retained his human consciousness, his mentality was gradually transforming into that of a Goblin.
This was not necessarily a bad thing.
Surviving in this world with a human mindset was impossible.
"Boss, after they''re done eating, they''ll come back. We have to leave!"
Gobuqiang ran over, looking at the leader by the puddle with admiration.
The leader was clearly still an ordinary Goblin, yet his strength left Gobuqiang breathless.
Even the powerful Lizardmen had become weaklings before him.
Li Meng carefully placed the spider silk into the cloth bag at his waist.
"Let''s go, return to the riverbank!"
The simulated future had already changed.
From this moment on, the future was uncertain.
Li Meng did not intend to use his remaining simulation immediately.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
At least, the journey back to the riverbank should be safe.
"Move out! Get going!"
Under Gobuqiang''s shouts, the well-fed Goblins heaved their bloated bodies and got up.
The battle with the Lizardmen had been devastating for the hunting party.
In less than five minutes, over thirty Goblins had been killed.
The entire hunting party had less than thirty Goblins remaining.
"Gobuda, are you still alive?"
Walking through the dim forest, Li Meng suddenly shouted.
A Goblin up ahead flinched and quickly ran toward him with a flattering expression.
"Boss, I''m still alive!"
Li Meng gave Gobuda a once-over.
The Goblin had grown stronger, its body larger.
Its level had also risen to Level 8, not far from evolving into a Big Goblin.
After consuming the Lizardmen corpses, the other Goblins were also rapidly growing.
"Follow me!"
Gobuda grinned and eagerly followed behind Li Meng.
Being near the leader was much safer than walking in front.
"Boss, if we go back like this, I''ll be eaten by the chief."
Gobuqiang approached Li Meng with a dejected look.
Its face was full of unease, and its heart was filled with fear.
Li Meng scanned the remaining Goblin subordinates.
Goblins were simply too weak.
Over sixty Goblins had been decimated by just a dozen Lizardmen in an instant.
"Gobuqiang, why didn''t we detect the Lizardmen earlier?"
The Lizardmen had suddenly charged out of the forest.
This indicated that the Lizardmen had used some method to mask their scent and approach unnoticed.
"Boss, the Lizardmen smeared themselves with some decayed mud. That mud emits a swamp-like odor."
Li Meng''s face showed understanding.
So that was it. The Lizardmen indeed had some black, muddy substance on their bodies.
It seemed the Lizardmen knew Goblins well.
They were aware of the Goblins'' sharp sense of smell and knew sneaking up would be difficult.
Thus, they used decayed mud to mask their scent.
Soon, night began to fall.
To avoid the danger of the Lizardmen, Li Meng led the remaining Goblins back to the riverbank under the cover of darkness.
That night, the forest beside the river was silent.
Silver moonlight illuminated the land, slightly dispelling the darkness.
Suddenly, there was movement in the forest near the riverbank.
A group of dark figures darted out of the forest, stopping on the riverbank.
Under the moonlight, the figures were revealed to be ugly green-skinned creatures.
"System, begin the life simulation!"
For the sake of his survival, Li Meng activated the second simulation of the month.
Under the moonlight, Li Meng stood beside the turbulent river.
[Start Life Simulation]
[That night, you led your Goblin subordinates to the riverbank. Gazing at the shimmering water, you contemplated your future.]
[Before dawn, you plan to take action. Please make a choice from the following options:]
[1. Decide to cross the river overnight, avoid the Lizardmen''s threat, and return to the lair.]
[2. Knowing that returning to the lair will result in being eaten by an enraged Gobuba, decide to go downstream to human territory.]
[3. Do nothing, rest on the riverbank for the night, and become a wandering Goblin.]
Once again, three options, three future paths.
The first option seemed reasonable.
Staying on the riverbank was dangerous, as the Lizardmen might be in pursuit.
The hunting party had suffered heavy losses, and returning to the lair seemed the most logical choice.
But the logical choice wasn''t necessarily the correct one.
Returning to the lair would result in Gobuqiang''s death, and the rest of the Goblins might also be implicated.
The second option was more of a compromise.
Capturing a few humans and bringing them back to the lair could resolve the crisis.
Although the hunting party was devastated, sneaking into human territory to capture ordinary civilians was doable.
However, the second option was also the most dangerous.
It was entirely a gamble, and failure could happen at any moment.
The third option of becoming wandering Goblins was also a viable choice.
With enough food, the current Goblins could independently establish a new tribe.
"Gobuqiang, should we go downstream to human territory, cross the river back to the lair, or wander outside to avoid becoming food? Choose one!"
In the end, Li Meng decided to let Gobuqiang make the choice.
After all, the Goblins might not necessarily die if they returned.
But Gobuqiang was different. If it went back, it would surely be eaten by an enraged Gobuba.
Gobuqiang''s ugly face twisted in distress.
The boss let it choose, putting it in a difficult position.
It didn''t know what to decide.
If it chose to wander, would the boss abandon it?
"Boss, I don''t want to die. I... I can''t go back."
This was Gobuqiang''s answer and choice.
"Very well, then we''ll wander and establish a new lair."
Gobuqiang''s choice was also what Li Meng wanted.
Going to human territory was too dangerous. Wandering offered more freedom to grow stronger.
Returning to the lair carried too many risks.
Moreover, the daily struggle for food in the lair was not the life Li Meng desired.
"System, the third option!"
[You chose to wander. A new Goblin lair was established in the northern forest.]
[You led your Goblin subordinates upstream along the river.]
[You selected a dense forest as the new home. A new species of forest Goblins emerged.]
Chapter 14: The Tribes Initial Formation
Chapter 14: The Tribe''s Initial Formation
[To strengthen the tribe, you led the goblin underlings to capture female creatures in large numbers.]
[You discovered an Ogre and used traps to capture it. After whipping and tormenting it, the Ogre submitted to you.]
[You found an open-pit iron mine at the foot of a barren mountain.]
[You attempted to produce charcoal and succeeded. You tried to build a blast furnace, and after multiple failures, you succeeded.]
[You successfully made your first crossbow and your first bolt.]
[You discovered traces of the Pigmen tribe. Please make a choice from the following options.]
[1. Follow the traces to search for the Pigmen tribe.]
[2. Do nothing; you think this matter is unimportant.]
[3. Sensing danger, prepare for battle and arm the goblins.]
Among the three choices, the third option was obviously the most reasonable and cautious.
¡°Choose the third option!¡±
[You decided to prepare for battle. You built more charcoal kilns and iron furnaces.]
[The dense smoke in the forest attracted the attention of the Lizardmen, who launched a large-scale attack.]
[You tried to escape, but your display of strength caused the Lizardmen to encircle you, and you died.]
[The short-lived forest goblin tribe was annihilated and vanished from history.]
[Gobuda managed to escape by luck. It stole your corpse and ate you.]
[Your skull became Gobuda''s keepsake, constantly soaked in urine, serving as the only proof of your existence.]
[Your charcoal kilns and furnaces caught the attention of the Lizardmen, but they ignored them.]
[A group of Pigmen discovered the charcoal kilns and furnaces, piquing their curiosity.]
[Years later, the Pigmen rose to prominence, giving birth to the legendary Golden Pig King.]
[As a transmigrator, you left behind knowledge that instigated future wars in this world. Your death was not without value, as it shaped the destiny of a certain race.]This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
[Simulation ended. Score: 50.]
[Please choose one of the following rewards.]
[1. Consume 5 points for +1 level.]
[2. Consume 5 points for +5 attributes.]
[3. Consume 30 points for +1 charm.]
This time, the rewards left Li Meng somewhat disappointed.
Skill level rewards were what he needed the most.
¡°Choose the second option to add magic power!¡±
[Your magic stat has been increased.]
There was no noticeable feeling from the increase.
¡°Let''s go. We need to get farther from the swamp and head upstream!¡±
Although Li Meng wanted to give Gobuda a beating, he ultimately refrained.
Li Meng had to admit that Gobuda was indeed lucky.
Except for dying in the first simulation, it always managed to be the last survivor in the others.
That night, the goblins lingering by the riverbank returned to the forest.
Soon, the riverbank returned to silence.
Only the rushing river water made its sound.
In the following days, Li Meng led the goblin underlings upstream along the river.
The terrain of the Goblin Forest was not a flat expanse.
Instead, it consisted of intersecting mountains and valleys.
Scattered among the mountains were various small plains.
On the morning of the third day, in a forest by the riverbank:
¡°Boss, I see it! I see the barren mountain!¡±
Gobuqiang climbed a tall tree and was looking into the distance.
About ten miles away, on one side of the river valley, stood a barren mountain.
Gobuqiang quickly slid down from the tree.
¡°How far is it?¡±
Li Meng asked Gobuqiang, who had just descended.
Many useful pieces of key information could be found from the simulated future.
The barren mountain and the iron mine were the most important.
Discovering the iron mine early would provide more time for development.
¡°It¡¯s just ahead. We¡¯ll be there soon!¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go. Keep moving!¡±
The goblins, who had been resting briefly in the forest, continued onward.
About an hour later, Li Meng stopped in a section of forest.
Seeing their boss suddenly stop, the other goblins exchanged puzzled glances.
They also stopped and cautiously observed their surroundings.
Li Meng looked down at the ground and stepped on it.
This section of forest had a flat terrain, unlike areas riddled with rocks.
The ground was also dry, indicating the elevation was higher than the river.
There were no signs of water damage, suggesting this area wouldn¡¯t flood during river surges.
¡°Gobuqiang, this will be our nest. Take ten goblins to hunt and remember to capture more female Ground Mice.¡±
This is the nest?
Gobuqiang looked around the forest, puzzled.
This place didn¡¯t seem suitable to be a nest.
Although he found it odd, Gobuqiang didn¡¯t overthink it.
Now, Gobumeng was the boss, and the boss''s word was final.
¡°You, you, you, come with me!¡±
Gobuqiang selected ten strong goblins to go hunting in the forest.
Meanwhile, Li Meng got busy.
¡°The rest of you, climb the trees and strip the branches, leaving only the crown!¡±
Under Li Meng¡¯s orders, the remaining goblins climbed the trees.
The Lizardmen¡¯s large cleaver proved to be quite useful.
Although it was a bit cumbersome for the goblins to wield, it was still functional.
Soon, the forest echoed with the sounds of chopping.
While the goblin underlings were hard at work, Li Meng wandered through the forest.
The top priority now was to increase the tribe''s population.
Building beast pens and maternity huts had to come first.
The beast pens would be used to confine female creatures, while the maternity huts would care for pregnant females.
¡°This lack of female goblins makes it impossible for goblins to become the main species.¡±
Thinking about this goblin flaw gave Li Meng a headache.
How could goblins, reliant on other female creatures to reproduce, ever become the main species in this world?
Li Meng had always understood this reality.
But as a goblin, he had no choice but to rely on this species to survive in this world.
Even if it meant doing disgusting things, he had to.
Shaking his head, Li Meng dismissed his stray thoughts.
¡°This spot will do!¡±
The terrain here was relatively flat, and the ground was dry.
In the subsequent time, under Li Meng''s command, the goblins worked hard and sweated profusely.
As a section of large tree branches was stripped away, the space beneath the trees became much more open.
Under Li Meng¡¯s guidance, the goblins further shaped the branches into sticks suitable for fences.
¡°Boss, I¡¯m back!¡±
By the afternoon, Gobuqiang returned.
The goblin underlings were carrying three tightly bound female Ground Mice.
Li Meng inspected the three females.
They were all sizable, making them suitable for breeding.
¡°Put them in the beast pen!¡±
The beast pen had already been constructed, though it wasn¡¯t very large.
It was visible in the forest behind Li Meng¡ªa fenced area made of wooden stakes.
Gobuqiang quickly instructed the underlings to carry the Ground Mice over.
Once placed in the pen and untied, the Ground Mice began scurrying around.
Fortunately, Ground Mice couldn¡¯t dig holes, or the pen wouldn¡¯t be able to contain them.
Chapter 15: Beast Pen and Breeding Room
Chapter 15: Beast Pen and Breeding Room
"Gobuka, you did well. You¡¯ve earned the right to reproduce. Go ahead!"
Here, Gobuka was the only big Goblin.
The higher the evolution level of a Goblin, the faster their offspring grow.
If they wanted to grow the population quickly, Gobuka''s genes were indispensable.
Gobuka''s face lit up with joy.
He looked at the female Ground Mice in the beast pen, drooling.
"Boss, I¡ I''m going!"
Gobuka let out a strange cry and eagerly rushed toward the beast pen.
Meanwhile, the other Goblin underlings looked at Gobuka running into the pen with envy.
Li Meng grinned and leisurely turned to leave.
Although it was a bit hard to watch, Li Meng was already used to it.
However, he wouldn¡¯t participate himself¡ªafter all, he wasn¡¯t entirely a Goblin.
Goblin reproduction was understandable, but as humanoid, he needed a humanoid female for him to accept it.
"Everyone, follow me!"
While Gobuka was busy reproducing, Li Meng led the Goblin underlings to start building a breeding room.
Compared to the beast pen, the breeding room had to be somewhat more comfortable.
The forest winds were freezing, and without a more enclosed environment, they might freeze to death.
Due to a shortage of manpower, building the breeding room took a full five days.
On the fifth day, a large wooden hut appeared in the forest.
The hut was constructed by stacking and binding various sizes of branches.
A big tree served as the main support structure.
It resembled a giant barrel.
The roof and outer walls were covered with dry leaves to enhance its sealing properties.
"Finally, it¡¯s done!"Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
Looking at the somewhat crude breeding room in front of him, Li Meng nodded with satisfaction.
It was their first time building a wooden hut, and achieving this level was already impressive.
Though small, it was adequate for now.
If necessary, more could be built later.
Moreover, with some simplifications, such huts could be converted into comfortable Goblin dwellings.
"Boss! Boss!"
At this moment, Gobuka came running over.
"What¡¯s got you so happy?"
Seeing Gobuka¡¯s excitement, Li Meng asked curiously.
Gobuka chuckled, puffing out his chest proudly.
"Boss, it seems like all three female Ground Mice are pregnant."
Li Meng¡¯s eyes brightened with interest.
"Let¡¯s go check it out!"
Then, Li Meng and Gobuka headed to the beast pen.
Before long, they arrived outside the pen.
Li Meng curiously observed the female Ground Mice inside, chewing on leaves.
There were quite a few of them¡ªat least a dozen.
[Ground Mouse]
[Level: 4]
[Strength: 4]
[Defense: 2]
[Agility: 3]
[Magic: 0]
[Status: Pregnant]
Among them, the bellies of three female Ground Mice were noticeably larger.
It had only been five days, yet their bellies were already so prominent.
If these three litters were born smoothly, they could produce at least thirty Goblins.
"Take those three pregnant female Ground Mice to the breeding room and take good care of them!"
Gobuka nodded and gestured to the underlings behind him.
Over ten Goblins climbed over the fence into the pen and grabbed the female Ground Mice by their ears.
The Ground Mice squealed and struggled as they were dragged out of the pen.
"Also, take this one, this one, and this one to the breeding room!"
Pregnant Ground Mice exhibit abnormal states.
The Goblins grabbed four more female Ground Mice by their ears and left the pen.
"Gobuka, is there enough food nearby?"
The biggest factor affecting the Goblin population was food supply.
With ample food, the Goblin population could swell to tens of thousands in just a few years.
Gobuka nodded.
"Boss, there are plenty of Ground Mouse burrows. Their scent is strong."
Ground Mice were the most common magical beasts in the forest.
In the natural world, they occupied a similar ecological niche to Earth¡¯s mice.
However, relying solely on Ground Mice for food wasn¡¯t feasible.
As the tribe¡¯s population grew, their food demands would also increase.
To secure enough food, they would have to expand their hunting grounds.
Expanding hunting grounds would inevitably lead to encounters with other savage tribes in the Goblin Forest.
The ultimate result of such encounters was war.
In the depths of the Goblin Forest, battles between Goblin nests were a common occurrence.
Many Goblin nests used such battles to cull their own populations, balancing numbers with the hunting grounds.
Although food wasn¡¯t an immediate concern, it would eventually become the tribe¡¯s greatest development challenge.
"Boss! Boss!"
Just then, Gobuda came rushing over.
His face was full of excitement, and his gaze at the female Ground Mice in the pen was purely greedy.
Standing before Li Meng, Gobuda patted his chest.
"Boss, I¡¯ve evolved into a Big Goblin!"
Li Meng scrutinized Gobuda.
[Name: Gobuda]
[Race: Big Goblin]
[Level: 10]
[Strength: 14]
[Defense: 15]
[Agility: 17]
[Magic: 3]
Not only had his attributes doubled, but his physique had become more robust.
His height had grown to 1.7 meters, giving him a powerful appearance.
Gobuda¡¯s gaze was fixed on the female Ground Mice in the pen, drooling.
Seeing Gobuda¡¯s lustful expression, Li Meng chuckled.
Reproducing was an instinct for Goblins.
"Go ahead!"
Li Meng patted Gobuda¡¯s shoulder, granting him the right to mate.
"Great!"
Gobuda cheered and leaped into the beast pen without hesitation.
Li Meng glanced at the pen, where Gobuda excitedly harassed the Ground Mice, then smiled wryly and turned to leave.
The tribe couldn¡¯t rely solely on Gobuka¡¯s offspring.
Otherwise, Li Meng would eventually face rebellion from his underlings.
The only solution was for Li Meng to produce his own offspring within the tribe.
He didn¡¯t mind reproducing; he minded the choice of mate.
Even if the mate wasn¡¯t human, it had to be at least humanoid.
Near the beast pen, Gobuka glared at Gobuda harassing the Ground Mice with disgust.
If she had known this guy could evolve into a Big Goblin, she would¡¯ve eaten him long ago.
"Hmph, I¡¯ll eat you sooner or later!"
A flash of malice crossed her eyes as Gobuka turned and left.
Gobuda seemed to sense Gobuka¡¯s killing intent.
Confused, he glanced at her retreating figure.
But his lust soon overpowered his thoughts, and he focused on reproducing.
---
The next morning, Li Meng started another busy day.
The Goblin underlings were divided into three groups.
One group went hunting.
Another stayed in the tribe, building hut nests.
The last group followed Li Meng north toward the barren mountain.
In the northern forest, seven Goblins walked cautiously.
They sniffed the air as they moved.
Their keen sense of smell allowed them to distinguish various scents.
Suddenly, one Goblin stopped.
Its action immediately caught the attention of the others.
The other Goblins paused and turned their gazes toward it.
Li Meng crouched down and lifted a stone from the grass.
Chapter 16: The Cave Ogre
Chapter 16: The Cave Ogre
"Sure enough, it''s iron ore!"
The stone was gray-black, indicating a high iron content.
Li Meng glanced slightly sideways, scanning the surrounding ground. He noticed many similar stones scattered throughout the nearby forest. This area was at least a mile from the barren mountain.
Li Meng threw the stone in his hand aside and continued walking forward.
The iron ore was found, but now he needed to figure out how to conceal the smoke.
Smelting iron required burning coal, which would produce a large amount of smoke. This smoke could attract the attention of other intelligent species nearby.
Based on the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, at least two intelligent species, Lizardmen and Pigmen, were known to exist in the vicinity.
Attracting any intelligent species could spell disaster for the tribe.
"If only there were a cave!"
Walking through the forest, Li Meng thought to himself.
Ideally, it would be a very deep cave with multiple exits.
A sealed cave wouldn¡¯t work, as the smoke could become a lethal poison.
Although the smoke would eventually dissipate, it would be less noticeable after being diluted in a cave.
Li Meng knew that finding such a cave was easier said than done.
In the following days, Li Meng traversed mountains and valleys in search of a place for smelting iron.
Three days passed like this.
During these three days, Li Meng scoured all the nearby mountainous areas.
"Boss, we found it! There''s a cave up ahead!"
On the afternoon of the third day, a Goblin ran up to Li Meng excitedly.
Unknowingly, Li Meng and the Goblin followers had arrived at the foot of a mountain.
The steep cliff was almost vertical, rising several hundred meters high.This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Li Meng''s eyes lit up, and a smile appeared on his face.
"Lead the way!"
Under the Goblin''s guidance, the group hurried forward.
About two hundred meters ahead, a steep cliff appeared before Li Meng.
At the base of the cliff was a cave opening in the rock wall.
Judging by the shape of the fissure, it seemed to have formed naturally.
The opening was about three meters wide, and the inside was pitch-black.
Outside the cave lay barren, black soil, damp and marked by massive footprints.
"What a strange smell; I''ve never smelled this before!"
"Me neither!"
The Goblins chattered outside the cave, commenting on the unfamiliar scent emanating from it.
Li Meng also caught a whiff of a foul stench¡ªa mix of excrement and other unpleasant odors.
"Could it be an Ogre?"
Li Meng thought of the future predicted by *Life Simulation*, where he would encounter an Ogre.
"Boss, there''s movement!"
At that moment, sounds came from the cave¡ªthudding, heavy footsteps.
"Hide, quickly!"
Realizing something, Li Meng''s expression changed. He turned and bolted toward the forest.
The other Goblins, seeing their leader flee, immediately followed him.
Once back in the forest, Li Meng didn¡¯t move far from the cave.
Instead, he hid in a bush near the cave''s entrance.
The other Goblins also concealed themselves among various plants.
The noise from the cave grew louder and louder.
Moments later, a massive shadow appeared at the cave entrance.
In the terrified gaze of the Goblins, a colossal creature emerged from the cave.
It had gray skin, a bald head, and an enormous, muscular build. Standing nearly five meters tall, it dwarfed even the Goblin leader in size.
Its massive body was sturdy, with exceptionally thick limbs. Its bowl-sized eyes swiveled, giving it a somewhat foolish appearance.
[Cave Ogre]
[Level: 71]
[Strength: 317]
[Defense: 614]
[Agility: 151]
[Magic: 36]
[Enhanced Stone Skin: LV3 (Defense +300)]
[Physical Regeneration: LV1 (Increases healing speed)]
"My goodness!"
The Ogre''s terrifying stats left Li Meng shocked.
How could such a powerful creature be captured? With traps?
But traps weren¡¯t omnipotent. How deep must a trap be to trap this monster?
And even if it were trapped, how would it be captured?
At the cave entrance, the Ogre sniffed the air with its broad nose.
It seemed to detect a faint unfamiliar scent but lacked the keen sense of smell needed to locate the hidden Goblins in the forest.
Soon, it began striding toward the forest.
In the forest, the Ogre resembled a giant, crushing branches and leaves as it moved.
"Follow it!"
Using the vegetation as cover, Li Meng cautiously trailed the Ogre.
Although terrified, the Goblins followed their leader.
Before long, the Ogre stopped beneath a massive fruit tree.
It grasped the trunk with both hands and shook it vigorously.
Purple, fist-sized fruits rained down from the tree.
After completing this task, the Ogre sat under the tree and began picking up the fruits to eat.
"An Ogre eats plants?"
Li Meng wondered from his hiding spot in the forest.
Despite its size and the name "Ogre," it seemed to be a herbivore.
Of course, it could also be an omnivore¡ªmost humanoid creatures were.
Unlike the Goblins, which were purely carnivorous.
Time passed as the Ogre continued eating the fruits under the tree.
It ate for two full hours before finally stopping.
Just as Li Meng thought the Ogre was returning to its cave, it instead fell asleep under the tree.
A strange smell wafted over, making Li Meng wrinkle his nose.
"Is this... fermentation?"
Looking at the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng''s eyes brightened.
Could the Ogre be drunk?
The tree''s fruits were clearly overripe and rotting. Fermentation might have caused the Ogre to become intoxicated.
"Even with such high defense, I probably can''t kill it, right?"
Rather than killing it for its skills, Li Meng hoped to subdue it and use it as labor.
"Gobumeng, take all the Goblins and make bark ropes!"
Li Meng instructed a Goblin beside him. It nodded and scurried off, rallying the others to gather materials deeper in the forest.
Watching the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng contemplated.
The future seen in *Life Simulation* was only a reference.
In this situation, there was no need to build traps.
If the Ogre was truly intoxicated, it wouldn¡¯t wake up easily.
This was his chance to capture it.
About five hours later, Gobumeng returned with the Goblins.
Each Goblin carried a bundle of bark ropes.
"Come with me!"
Summoning his courage, Li Meng emerged from the bush and approached the sleeping Ogre.
Despite their fear, the Goblins mustered their bravery and followed their leader.
Li Meng and his Goblin followers tiptoed toward the Ogre.
Gesturing with his hand, Li Meng signaled for a Goblin to hand him a rope.
Taking the bark rope, Li Meng cautiously began tying up the Ogre¡¯s feet.
It might not be effective, but it was better than nothing.
Chapter 17: Devour It Alive
Chapter 17: Devour It Alive
The Ogre was in a deep sleep and didn¡¯t wake up even after all the fiddling Li Meng had done.
Li Meng used five ropes to tie the Ogre¡¯s legs tightly, looping them over and over.
"Come here, push it over!"
The Goblins quickly ran to their leader''s side, their faces full of fear as they pressed their hands against the Ogre''s back.
The Ogre was lying on its side, leaning against the mountain, making it relatively easy to push.
"Push!"
At Li Meng''s command, the Goblins exerted their strength together.
The Ogre''s massive body limply rolled over and fell flat on the ground, stirring up dust with its heavy breathing.
"Quick, bring the bark ropes over."
Li Meng hurriedly began tying the Ogre''s hands from behind.
To restrain the Ogre effectively, he needed a good binding technique.
First, Li Meng tied the Ogre¡¯s hands together.
Then, he used three ropes to connect the hands and the neck, wrapping them tightly.
This way, if the Ogre struggled, it would make its neck feel extremely uncomfortable.
The harder it struggled, the tighter the rope around its neck would become.
Even with the Ogre''s immense strength, it couldn¡¯t fully exert its power.
"Not enough, I need an extra layer of security!"
Li Meng used a few more ropes to tie the Ogre¡¯s feet to its neck.
Now, if the Ogre tried to break the ropes on its feet, the ones on its neck would tighten.
And if it pulled against the ropes on its neck, the bindings between its hands and neck would constrict even further.
Looking at the Ogre now bound tightly like a dumpling, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Let''s hide in the forest."
Whether it worked or not would only become clear when the Ogre woke up.
Hearing that they could get away from the terrifying Ogre, the Goblins dashed back into the forest without hesitation.
For the next few hours, Li Meng patiently waited for the Ogre to awaken.
Time passed slowly, one hour after another, until the sun was about to set and darkness was falling.
Finally, the Ogre woke up.
"Roar!"
A panicked roar echoed through the forest, scattering flocks of birds.
Near the fruit tree, the Ogre thrashed on the ground in terror.
Its immense strength caused the bark ropes to creak under strain.
The more it struggled, the tighter the ropes around its neck became, causing increasing suffocation.
After two hours of frantic struggle, the Ogre collapsed on the ground, gasping for air.
By this time, a third of the ropes around its neck had snapped.
Seeing the Ogre stop struggling, Li Meng, who was hiding in the bushes, let out a sigh of relief.
If the Ogre had continued, the ropes would have broken eventually.
"Alright, time for me to step in!"
Li Meng stood up, stepping out from the bushes, holding a whip made of bark ropes in his hand.
The whip was entwined with thorny vines.
These vines were a toxic plant found in the forest.
They had only one effect: extreme pain upon contact.
Though not lethal, the pain could last for several days.
Even Goblins were not immune to its effects.
Though the Ogre had high defense, its body wasn¡¯t invincible.
As soon as Li Meng appeared, the Ogre spotted him.
Its enormous eyes fixated on Li Meng, and it let out a resounding roar.
Li Meng grinned and cracked the whip.
The "snap" echoed far into the distance.
He lashed out again, striking the Ogre¡¯s back.
"Roar!"
The Ogre howled in pain, rolling its body toward Li Meng in an attempt to crush him.
Li Meng cracked the whip again, this time hitting the Ogre''s rear.
A bloody welt appeared instantly.
Though it only grazed the surface, it was enough.
"Stop resisting and just become my subordinate."
The forest resounded with the sound of whipping and the Ogre''s anguished cries.
As the sun set and night descended, the whipping continued.
Even in the dark of night, the sounds did not cease.
The next morning, near the fruit tree in the forest:
"You stubborn mule, still being fierce?"
Li Meng, out of breath, tossed aside the now misshapen whip.
After an entire night of whipping, the Ogre still appeared as fierce as ever.
Its gaze toward Li Meng was filled only with hatred.
"Again!"
Beside him, Gobuge quickly handed over a new whip.
The forest, briefly silent, was once again filled with the sound of whipping.
Over the next few days, Li Meng devoted himself to "training" the Ogre.
It was torture for the Ogre and equally exhausting for himself.
On the fifth day, under the same fruit tree:
"Be good. If you become my subordinate, you won¡¯t regret it. I¡¯ll make sure you live the good life."
Li Meng held out a purple fruit, attempting to lure the Ogre.
The Ogre lay on the ground, weak and spiritless.
However, its gaze toward Li Meng remained filled with hostility.
When Li Meng tried to feed it, the Ogre let out a roar.
Its massive body suddenly flipped, attempting to crush Li Meng.
Li Meng frowned, stepping back a few paces to avoid its charge.
His expression darkened, and impatience flickered in his eyes.
"Looks like you¡¯re only fit to become a meal!"
Li Meng tossed aside his whip and gestured to the Goblins behind him.
"Devour it alive!"
After five days of sleepless effort, Li Meng was at his wit''s end.
He simply wanted to end the ordeal and get some rest.
Hearing their leader¡¯s command, the Goblins were stunned for a moment.
Then, their faces lit up with excitement, their mouths curling into grins that revealed sharp teeth.
With cheers, the Goblins lunged greedily at the Ogre.
The Goblins frantically tore into the Ogre¡¯s body, ripping off chunks of flesh with every bite.
"Roar!"
The Ogre let out a feeble roar of pain as the Goblins devoured it.
Its weakened state left it powerless to resist.
Yet, something miraculous happened.
The wounds caused by the Goblins¡¯ bites began to heal visibly, new flesh growing rapidly.
This sight astonished Li Meng.
"Could this be the effect of the Flesh Regeneration skill?"
Eyes gleaming, Li Meng lunged forward, biting into the Ogre¡¯s thigh and tearing off a piece of meat.
"So tough!"
The Ogre''s flesh was incredibly chewy, like hardened rubber.
Despite its unpleasant taste, Li Meng persisted, determined to gain a skill.
One bite.
Another.
And another.
However, the system notification he was expecting never appeared.
"Do I need to eat the heart for the best chance of acquiring a skill?"
Both Steel Skin and Wind Blade skills were gained by consuming hearts.
Chapter 18: Black Rock Fish and Benben
Chapter 18: Black Rock Fish and Benben
[Devour Skill Activated Successfully, Obtained Skill: "Flesh Regeneration"]
The system prompt suddenly appeared, dispelling Li Meng''s doubts.
It seemed that acquiring a skill was unrelated to the heart.
Li Meng stopped devouring the Ogre.
"Alright, stop eating now!"
The leader''s command made the Goblins reluctantly end their feast.
Though not yet full, the blood-covered Goblins looked completely satisfied.
"Since you refuse to become my subordinate, you can be the delicacy of the tribe."
The giant in front of him was a level 70 creature.
Eating its flesh would enable the Goblins to evolve quickly.
With the "Flesh Regeneration" skill, they could control the amount of flesh consumed without endangering its life.
Thus, Li Meng cruelly declared the Ogre''s future fate.
"Gobuge, feed it some fruits, but not too much¡ªjust enough to keep it alive."
At this moment, Li Meng had lost interest in the Ogre.
He glanced indifferently into its eyes before turning to walk into the forest.
After being delayed for so many days, he needed to make up for lost time.
"Ugh... ugh..."
The Ogre seemed to understand its fate.
The malice in its eyes vanished completely.
It let out weak, pleading noises as it looked at Li Meng.
The sound made Li Meng pause mid-step.
He turned back to look at the Ogre and grinned.
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"Good, now you''re scared!"
Seeing the Ogre''s pleading expression, Li Meng knew he had succeeded.
He approached the Ogre, picked up a fruit from the ground, and offered it again.
This time, the Ogre opened its mouth.
Li Meng tossed the purple fruit into the Ogre''s mouth.
Having gone days without food, the Ogre chewed eagerly.
Li Meng then fed it a few more fermented fruits.
The fact that the Ogre displayed fear indicated it was an intelligent being with rich emotions.
This would have been different for Goblins, who would either flee or fight to the death without a third option.
"Bring all the fruits over!"
The Goblin underlings hurried toward the fruit tree.
For the next while, Li Meng used fruits to soothe the Ogre.
Starving for five days, the Ogre ate ravenously.
Watching the Ogre devour the fruits, Li Meng smiled.
Then, he did something astonishing.
He climbed onto the Ogre''s body to untie the bark ropes binding its hands.
This sight filled the Goblin underlings with terror.
They instinctively stepped back.
When the last bark rope was undone, the Ogre''s hands were free.
Just as the Goblins prepared to flee, they noticed that the Ogre did not attack their leader.
The freed Ogre sat up and continued picking up fruits from the ground to eat.
Li Meng then moved to untie the bark ropes around the Ogre''s legs.
In no time, the Ogre''s leg bindings were also removed.
Freed after five days of restraint, the Ogre regained its freedom.
Thus, Li Meng gained an Ogre subordinate.
Half an hour later, Li Meng followed his new subordinate into its home.
"Is there wind?"
The cave was silent and pitch black.
Li Meng felt a cool breeze brush past his ear.
This meant the cave had another exit.
The cave was even larger than Li Meng had imagined.
After walking less than thirty meters, the space became extremely spacious.
"Is this... moisture?"
The air was very damp, and Li Meng vaguely heard the sound of flowing water.
Li Meng continued deeper into the rocky cavern.
The Goblin underlings and the large Ogre followed behind him.
The Goblins were filled with fear toward the huge Ogre.
They kept their distance, afraid of being grabbed and eaten.
In contrast to the Goblins'' fear, Li Meng appeared very calm.
The Ogre was simple-minded and incapable of hiding its emotions.
Since it hadn''t attacked after regaining freedom, it would never attack him in the future.
"From now on, I''ll call you Benben. Benben, did you live here before?"
This was not an ideal place.
The wind blowing into the cave would lower the temperature.
More importantly, there seemed to be an underground river deep inside the cave.
Upon entering the cave, Li Meng felt a chill.
Benben looked at its leader in confusion, not understanding what he was saying.
It raised its sturdy right hand and pointed to the cliff wall.
Li Meng looked up and immediately understood.
It turned out Benben''s nest was in a cave on the cliff wall.
The cliff wasn''t vertical but rather terraced.
While climbing might be difficult for the Goblins, it was easy for Benben.
"Let''s go, let''s check ahead!"
Leading his subordinates, Li Meng continued forward.
Before long, after walking a few hundred meters, an underground river appeared before them.
The source of the water was a spring on the right side.
The water flowed turbulently, carving out a crystal-clear stream in the cave over the years.
Benben strode forward and crouched by the water, staring intently at the surface.
Li Meng wondered what Benben was doing.
Suddenly, Benben plunged its hand into the water, seemingly trying to catch something.
When it withdrew its hand, it held a large cartilaginous fish.
[Black Rock Fish]
[Level: 6]
[Strength: 3]
[Defense: 2]
[Agility: 7]
[Magic: 1]
It resembled an electric eel, with a black body.
Benben bit down on the Black Rock Fish, tearing it into two.
Seeing this, Li Meng smiled.
Benben was not a herbivore but an omnivore.
Benben offered half of the fish to Li Meng.
Li Meng took the half-meter-long fish with both hands and tore off a large chunk of its flesh.
It was slimy but tasted surprisingly good.
"Here!"
After eating a few bites, Li Meng tossed the remaining fish to the Goblin underlings.
The Goblins scrambled to grab the fish meat.
Li Meng approached the water to wash his hands.
"Splash!"
As he crouched down, a giant figure suddenly burst out of the water.
A 1.5-meter-long Black Rock Fish opened its sharp jaws and lunged at Li Meng.
Seeing the Black Rock Fish attack, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
With one punch, he struck its head and jaw.
The force sent the fish flying, where it hit Benben.
Benben instinctively caught the fish.
It looked at its leader, then at the fish in its hands, confused but started eating.
How had this fish ended up in its hands?
Li Meng picked up a stone from the riverbank and stood up.
Chapter 19: Iron Smelting Experiment
Chapter 19: Iron Smelting Experiment
"Let''s go, we''re heading out!"
The cave was large enough; there was no need to explore further.
Even this space was sufficient.
With wind and water available, it was an excellent spot for smelting iron.
Li Meng led the Goblin underlings out of the cave.
Outside the cave, Li Meng began assigning tasks to the Goblins.
"You, you, and you, go into the forest and collect stones like this."
Li Meng held up a stone to demonstrate.
The stone was one he had picked up by the river inside the cave.
It had a dull gray color¡ªit was iron ore.
This indicated that the cave was a natural iron ore mine.
The three Goblins he pointed at quickly ran into the forest.
"Gobuge, you guys gather dry wood!"
Gobuge nodded and led the remaining Goblins into the forest.
"Benben, we¡¯re going to find clay!"
Benben obediently followed Li Meng.
In the forest, Benben reached out and tapped Li Meng''s back.
"What is it?"
Li Meng turned to look at Benben.
Benben pointed at himself and made a deep sound from his throat.
"Boom-boom?"
Li Meng chuckled and pointed at Benben.
"Benben!"
Then he pointed at himself.
"Boss!"
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Benben looked at his boss and then down at himself.
He pointed at himself again.
"Benben?"
Li Meng nodded.
Benben then pointed at Li Meng.
"Boss!"
Li Meng nodded again.
Under Li Meng''s guidance, Benben learned his new name.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task: preparing for the iron smelting experiment.
On the fourth day, by the underground river inside the cave:
"Boss, what are you doing?"
Gobuge curiously asked when he saw the boss stacking firewood neatly.
"Watch closely; you¡¯ll need to do the same in the future!"
Li Meng laid the firewood flat and placed a piece of iron ore on top.
"Put all the iron ore on top!"
The Goblins quickly started placing the iron ore stacked nearby onto the firewood pile.
"One layer only, no overlapping!"
After giving instructions, Li Meng knelt on the ground.
The Goblins were startled by this sudden action.
Li Meng ignored their reaction and picked up some dry wood and fluff he had prepared earlier to start a fire.
The wooden stick made a rustling sound as Li Meng twisted it.
Benben sat nearby, watching the busy Goblins with curiosity.
Within ten minutes, Li Meng smelled smoke.
Soon, white smoke started rising from the fluff.
Li Meng quickly set down the stick and carefully blew on the fluff.
Before long, a small flame appeared in the darkness.
"Fire! It''s human fire!"
Gobuge shouted in surprise.
"Shut up!"
Li Meng glared at Gobuge, then quickly used the flame to ignite the dry grass in the firewood pile.
As the dry grass caught fire, the flames roared to life.
Benben flinched in fright, his massive body trembling.
Soon, the firewood was burning fiercely, and the heat waves radiated outward, fascinating the Goblins.
They never imagined that the boss could create human fire by rubbing sticks together.
"Benben, fetch water!"
Li Meng pointed at a bamboo bucket next to Benben.
The bamboo was discovered while searching for clay in the forest.
The bamboo was enormous¡ªseveral people holding hands would barely encircle one.
Li Meng used the bamboo to make buckets.
Benben stood up, picked up two bamboo buckets, and fetched water from the river.
Not far away, there was a pile of yellow mud.
"Pour the water in and mix it with your hands!"
Under Li Meng''s guidance, Benben mixed the yellow mud with his massive hands.
Soon, the yellow mud turned into clay.
Once it reached the desired softness, Li Meng began constructing a blast furnace with the clay.
"Gobuge, keep stacking firewood like I did earlier."
Seeing the first firewood pile burn down, Li Meng instructed Gobuge.
Gobuge nodded, somewhat understanding, and began stacking firewood with the other Goblins.
Soon, they managed to stack another pile of firewood, albeit clumsily.
The Goblins then placed iron ore on top.
"Don''t use your hands¡ªuse wooden sticks!"
Li Meng stopped Gobuge when he tried to pick up charcoal with his hands.
Gobuge flinched and quickly withdrew his hands.
Using two wooden sticks, he carefully picked up a piece of charcoal and placed it on the new firewood pile.
The dry grass was ignited, and the second firewood pile began to burn.
By now, the first firewood pile had burned down.
All that remained were charcoal and brittle iron ore.
"Take those brittle iron ores to the stone slab over there and crush them into powder. Remember, don¡¯t use your hands."
The Goblins followed Li Meng¡¯s example, using wooden sticks to handle the hot iron ore.
They placed the brittle iron ore on a smooth stone slab and began smashing it with rocks.
Because the iron ore had been heated until brittle, it shattered with a light hit.
The smaller fragments were also easily crushed into powder.
Once the iron ore was pulverized, it became iron powder.
Since this was just an experiment, the first blast furnace was small.
Li Meng spent five hours building a 1.5-meter-tall blast furnace.
He spent another two hours drying it.
"It should be good to go!"
Li Meng nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the completed blast furnace.
Although the surface wasn¡¯t smooth, it was acceptable for a first attempt.
The furnace was narrower at the top and wider at the bottom.
The top had a small smoke outlet and a feeding port.
To increase oxygen and raise the furnace¡¯s temperature, the bottom had three air vents.
Each vent was connected to a bamboo tube.
The other end of the bamboo tubes was attached to simple bellows made of animal skin and bamboo.
The bellows were straightforward and didn¡¯t require much effort to make.
"Let¡¯s start. Benben, load the materials!"
Benben picked up a bamboo bucket and poured its contents of charcoal into the furnace through the feeding port.
Next came the iron powder, followed by another layer of charcoal on top.
The feeding port was sealed, leaving only a bamboo chimney for smoke.
Finally, Li Meng lit dry grass at the iron outlet using a piece of burning charcoal.
As the grass caught fire, the furnace began to burn.
"What are you waiting for? Pump air!"
Li Meng urged the Goblins to operate the bellows.
The Goblins worked in pairs, vigorously pulling the bellows.
Thick smoke poured out of the chimney as the furnace grew scorching hot.
"Keep pumping, don¡¯t stop!"
To smelt iron, high temperatures were essential.
The furnace needed to reach at least 1,300 degrees to melt the iron powder into molten iron.
Chapter 20: A New Beginning
Chapter 20: A New Beginning
"Will it fail?"
Looking at the blast furnace radiating intense heat in front of him, Li Meng frowned slightly.
The larger the blast furnace, the better it retains heat, and the higher the pressure inside.
Higher pressure can lower the melting point of iron.
If the furnace is too small, heat will quickly dissipate through the furnace walls.
Without sufficient wind power, it is also difficult to raise the internal temperature of the furnace to 1300 degrees Celsius.
"Boss, is it ready?"
The Goblins pulling the bellows were sweating profusely.
They were not only hot but also had sore and tired arms.
"Keep going!"
The Goblins, with bitter expressions, had no choice but to continue.
"Boss, my hands are going to be useless!"
"Don''t stop!"
As the Goblins wailed in despair, time passed bit by bit.
---
Five hours later, at the underground riverbank in the cave.
The blast furnace on the bank emitted astonishing heat.
Even from five meters away, one could feel the scorching waves of heat.
Standing by the furnace, Li Meng used his hand to feel the temperature without directly touching it.
An hour ago, the temperature in the furnace had stopped rising.
Li Meng knew that the furnace had reached its limit.
"Then let''s open the furnace!"
Looking at the blast furnace before him, Li Meng thought to himself.
Success was important, but not critical.
This was just an initial experiment; Li Meng wasn¡¯t afraid of failure.
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Even if it failed, he would gain experience and ensure success next time.
Li Meng took a few steps back, bent down, and picked up a mold placed to the side.
He then positioned the mold at the furnace''s iron outlet.
Using a stick, he pried open the stone block sealing the outlet.
As the stone block was removed, molten iron, blazing hot, flowed out.
This sight made Li Meng¡¯s eyes light up.
He hadn¡¯t expected his first attempt at smelting iron in a blast furnace to succeed.
The molten iron, resembling lava, continuously poured into the mold.
With pig iron, the possibility of steelmaking emerged.
Pig iron, when placed in a humid environment, reacts with air and water to produce a large amount of rust.
Smelting rust and pig iron together can yield low-carbon steel.
Steelmaking is not limited to this method.
Pig iron can also be hammered into fragments for secondary smelting. Stirring molten pig iron increases its exposure to oxygen, oxidizing the carbon in the iron.
By controlling the carbon content through experiments, the process can be halted to produce medium-carbon or high-carbon steel.
Alternatively, carbon can be fully oxidized to obtain low-carbon wrought iron.
Pouring molten pig iron onto red-hot wrought iron and melting them together can produce high-carbon steel.
"Strange, such a small blast furnace shouldn¡¯t reach the melting point of iron."
Looking at the molten iron flowing from the outlet, Li Meng pondered.
Could the oxygen content of this world differ from Earth¡¯s?
Higher oxygen levels lead to more intense fires.
The more intense the fire, the higher the temperature.
Without dwelling too much on it, success was success; the result was what mattered most.
The successful first experiment marked a good beginning.
---
In the following days, Li Meng focused on one thing:
Teaching the Goblins the iron smelting process.
This included how to produce iron, temper it, quench it, forge it, and other related knowledge.
Although the Goblins weren¡¯t very intelligent, their ability to mimic was strong.
Li Meng didn¡¯t need the Goblins to understand the principles of iron smelting.
He only required them to follow the steps meticulously.
---
Half a month later, at the underground riverbank.
"This is an hourglass. When the sand runs out, it¡¯s time to open the furnace. Understand?"
At the riverbank, Li Meng held a simple hourglass made of bamboo.
The Goblins had no concept of time.
To be precise, they lacked tools to measure it.
The Goblins at the riverbank nodded in agreement.
"Good. Starting today, you will build blast furnaces, smelt iron yourselves, and produce molten iron. Success means each of you gets a day of mating rights. Failure means you¡¯ll never reproduce in your lifetime."
Hearing that success would grant them mating rights, the Goblins'' eyes lit up.
They looked at their leader with eagerness, drool nearly dripping from their mouths.
Since eating Ogre meat from the cave, the seven Goblins had evolved into Hobgoblins in just over half a month.
Facing the excited Goblins, Li Meng waved his hand.
"Go now! You have five sunsets¡¯ time!"
Hearing this, the Goblins quickly turned and ran towards the cave entrance.
They had to start from scratch, selecting iron ore with high iron content, finding clay for furnace construction, and gathering wood for charcoal.
Watching the Goblins¡¯ retreating backs, Li Meng grinned.
He intended to train these seven Goblins as blacksmiths.
Once they became blacksmiths, their descendants would inherit their craft.
By then, the tribe would have a large team of blacksmiths.
"System, begin life simulation!"
Unknowingly, a month¡¯s cooldown period had passed again.
Li Meng was filled with anticipation for the future of his simulated life.
---
[Start Life Simulation]
[You began a blacksmithing career. Your efforts paid off, and the tribe entered the Iron Age.]
[You forged your first spear.]
[You crafted your first crossbow.]
[You began arming your tribe, and it thrived.]
[One of your hunting teams was ambushed and annihilated by Lizardmen while collecting spider silk in the Ghost Spider Forest.]
[In the east, traces of Pigmen were discovered. A Pigmen tribe entered your territory.]
[Due to population growth in the tribe, food pressure led you to decide to wage war.]
[Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Seek revenge on the Lizardmen.]
[2. Annihilate the Pigmen tribe that entered your territory.]
[3. Cross the river to advance south and expand hunting grounds.]
Li Meng sat on a large rock by the riverbank.
Which of the three options should he choose?
Sitting on the rock, he stared blankly at the water.
The Lizardmen had lived in the swamp for countless years.
They were a tough opponent, and attacking them was unwise.
However, the Ghost Spider Forest was near the swamp.
Without eliminating the Lizardmen, obtaining spider silk would remain a significant issue.
The second option was a big trap.
Li Meng hadn¡¯t forgotten the predictions from his previous life simulation.
In that future, the Pigmen grew stronger due to his iron-smelting furnace, eventually giving rise to the Golden Pig King.
This indicated that the Pigmen were a vast and organized group.
Eliminating the migrating Pigmen tribe might provoke the larger group behind them.
As for the third option, it could lead to internal conflict.
Crossing the river would encroach on Gobuba¡¯s territory.
Li Meng wasn¡¯t confident he could defeat Gobuba yet.
If he lost the leader¡¯s duel, he¡¯d lose everything.
For now, the third option was also a trap.
"Choose to seek revenge on the Lizardmen!"
In the end, Li Meng decided to retaliate against the Lizardmen.
Chapter 21: Evolution into a High Goblin
Chapter 21: Evolution into a High Goblin
[Lizardmen''s ambush of the hunting party enraged you, and you decided to take revenge on them.]
[One night, you led the Goblin army in a surprise attack on the Lizardmen tribe.]
[Despite being prepared, the Lizardmen were no match for your Goblin army, and you successfully annihilated the Lizardmen tribe.]
[You killed all the adult Lizardmen and left only the children and females shorter than Goblins.]
[You found an albino female Lizardman who was the high priestess of the Lizardmen tribe.]
[She possessed the skill "Mind Speech," allowing her to communicate with all species.]
[She communicated with you, and you found her beautiful, experiencing a desire to mate for the first time.]
[You claimed her, and a month later, you had your own offspring with her.]
[Her name was Bai Ling. From her, you learned that besides the White Scale Tribe, there were also the Black Scale Tribe and Gray Scale Tribe in the swamp.]
[Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Continue advancing to destroy the Black Scale Tribe.]
[2. Continue advancing to destroy the Gray Scale Tribe.]
[3. Do nothing and lead the army back to the tribe.]
"Continue advancing to destroy the Black Scale Tribe!"
Although you were unaware of the losses suffered by the Goblin army in the battle against the Lizardmen, the third option was absolutely unacceptable.
If the Black Scale Tribe and Gray Scale Tribe learned of the destruction of Bai Ling¡¯s tribe, they might unite to cause trouble.
The safest choice was to take advantage of the time gap to eliminate the Lizardmen tribes one by one and unify the swamp.
[You chose to advance toward the Black Scale Tribe.]
[One night, your Goblin army launched a surprise attack on the Black Scale Tribe and successfully annihilated them.]
[You left behind the children and females and sent them to the White Scale Tribe.]You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
[The war caused many High Goblins to evolve into Goblin Warriors. Gobuge challenged you.]
[You accepted the challenge and slapped him ten meters away. Your strength intimidated all the Goblins.]
[Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Continue advancing toward the Gray Scale Tribe.]
[2. Decide that the Goblin army''s losses are too severe and abandon the attack on the Gray Scale Tribe for now.]
"Choose option one, continue advancing toward the Gray Scale Tribe!"
Having come this far, it was necessary to push forward and dominate the swamp.
[You chose to continue advancing toward the Gray Scale Tribe.]
[One night, you launched a surprise attack on the Gray Scale Tribe but found the tribe empty.]
[The destruction of the White Scale and Black Scale Tribes frightened the Gray Scale Tribe, and they had already fled elsewhere.]
[You decided to pursue the Gray Scale Tribe, but their tracks disappeared by the riverside.]
[You unified the northern swamp and became the King of the Swamp.]
[You implemented a twelve-tax system, requiring the White Scale Tribe to contribute two-tenths of their population annually for rotating labor.]
[With the addition of Lizardwomen, the population lost in the war was quickly replenished.]
[Your tribe thrived and experienced a population boom.]
[To meet the food demand, you taught the White Scale Tribe farming techniques, turning the swamp into your fishery.]
[Your hunting party ambushed a Pigmen group.]
[A large-scale Pigmen invasion began. Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Take the initiative to attack.]
[2. Defend passively and build wooden forts.]
[3. Abandon the breeding grounds and hide in the caves.]
"Why isn¡¯t there a timeline for this!"
Faced with three difficult options, Li Meng muttered to himself.
If he knew the timeline, he could calculate the tribe''s strength.
"Choose option one, take the initiative to attack!"
[You chose to take the initiative to attack the invading Pigmen.]
[Your Goblin army fought the Pigmen army in the forest and won, driving them back.]
[As you prepared to pursue, you received news from the swamp.]
[The escaped Gray Scale Tribe brought back a large Lizardmen army, and the White Scale Tribe surrendered.]
[Bai Ling betrayed you. The Lizardmen army learned of your tribe''s ability to forge iron weapons.]
[Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Continue eastward to annihilate the Pigmen tribe completely.]
[2. Lead the Goblin army to the swamp to confront the Lizardmen army.]
[3. Retreat to the tribe and build wooden forts to resist the Lizardmen''s attack.]
Allowing the Gray Scale Tribe to escape was clearly a grave mistake.
The rapid shift in circumstances predicted by the simulated life caught Li Meng off guard.
He understood that the escape of the Gray Scale Tribe marked a turning point in his life.
No matter what he chose now, the outcome seemed bleak.
The Pigmen army had been defeated, but pursuing them could leave his rear vulnerable.
The third option was too passive for Li Meng''s liking.
"Choose option two, confront the Lizardmen army!"
[You chose to confront the Lizardmen army.]
[You led the Goblin army to the White Scale Tribe but found it deserted.]
[The Lizardmen had withdrawn from the swamp. You found traces of their departure at the riverside.]
[Unable to achieve any results, you returned to the tribe.]
[You decided to continue advancing eastward to eradicate the Pigmen.]
[You discovered the Pigmen tribe but found it abandoned.]
[One day, the Lizardmen army reappeared in the swamp.]
[That same day, a massive Pigmen army emerged from the eastern forest.]
[Your tribe was caught in a pincer attack by the Lizardmen and Pigmen.]
[Bai Ling pointed you out. You and Benben were surrounded by the Lizardmen and Pigmen.]
[The two different species allied to eliminate you and Benben.]
[Benben died of exhaustion. You died of exhaustion.]
[Gobuda survived. He cut off your head and delivered it to Gobuba across the river.]
[Gobuba crushed your head and devoured Gobuda alive as he screamed.]
[As a transmigrator, your glorious life was abruptly ended by fate''s cruelty. Your death facilitated the rise of two barbarian races. Your death was not in vain, but it held little significance. You were merely one of the multitudes, with minimal impact on this world.]
[Simulated life ends. Score: 60.]
[Please choose one of the following rewards:]
[1. Consume five score points for +1 level.]
[2. Consume five score points for +5 attributes.]
[3. Consume ten score points for +1 charm.]
[4. Consume ten score points to increase the level of "Wind Blade" by +1.]
"Choose option one!"
Many Goblin underlings had already evolved into High Goblins.
Remaining as an ordinary Goblin would be detrimental to leadership.
[Consume 10 score points, level +2.]
[Consume 50 score points, level +5.]
[Your level has increased to level 15.]
"Does leveling up beyond level 10 require ten score points per level?"
As Li Meng pondered, a wave of intense pain engulfed his body.
Chapter 22: The Arrival of Newborns
Chapter 22: The Arrival of Newborns
Sitting by the shore, Li Meng''s body made a series of cracking sounds.
His small body swelled, and the beast skin on him burst open with a pop.
Benben, who was nearby, widened his eyes in curiosity as he watched his boss grow rapidly.
In just a short while, Li Meng grew from about 1.7 meters tall to 1.8 meters.
His body was no longer slim but had become incredibly strong.
"Ah!"
As the intense pain subsided, Li Meng lay on the rock, gasping heavily.
With a thought, he opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 175]
[Defense: 159]
[Agility: 91]
[Magic Power: 86]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Consuming the flesh and blood of magical beasts has a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Bones: LV4 (Strength +80, Defense +80, Agility +20)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Body Regeneration: LV1]
Upon leveling up, his attributes had significantly increased.
Each stat rose by 30-40 points.
"It seems the stronger one''s base attributes, the higher the attribute boost upon leveling up."
Li Meng was very satisfied with his current stats.
Even without the additional attributes from "Iron Bones," his stats were impressive.
After all, he was only level 15.
A regular High Goblin''s stats at level 15 ranged between 15 and 25.
His base stats at level 15 were several times higher than a normal High Goblin.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Li Meng wasn''t entirely sure if this was the case, but it was his assumption.
Perhaps the attribute boost upon leveling was related to skills.
The more skills one had, the higher their talent.
And the higher the talent, the greater the attribute boost upon leveling.
"Bo¡ªBoss, have you... evolved into a High Goblin?"
Gobuge, who had returned with a bundle of firewood, was startled by the sight of the High Goblin by the shore.
The familiar scent allowed the goblin to recognize its boss.
It had only been away for a short while, yet the boss had evolved?
Li Meng grinned and swung his arm.
"Yes, I¡¯ve evolved into a High Goblin!"
Gobuge dropped the firewood in his hands.
He ran forward a few steps and slid to kneel, kissing the back of Li Meng''s foot.
"Boss, you''re amazing!"
Time passed slowly, day after day.
In the following days, Li Meng acted as an examiner, observing the goblin subordinates'' iron-smelting efforts.
On the first day, the goblin subordinates gathered various materials for iron smelting.
They searched for dry wood to burn, clay to make blast furnaces, and iron ore necessary for smelting.
On the second day, they began making charcoal and building furnaces.
"The furnace wall is too thin; make it thicker."
Though he was observing, Li Meng occasionally gave the goblin subordinates some guidance.
The subordinates working on the blast furnace quickly tore down the foundation and started over.
By the third day, under Li Meng¡¯s orders, the goblin subordinates had built a blast furnace about five meters tall.
On the fourth day, they began smelting iron.
In the afternoon, just before sunset.
"It¡¯s working! It¡¯s working!"
Cheers echoed along the underground riverbank of the cave.
A large group of goblins danced with joy, watching molten iron continuously flow from the outlet.
Some goblins hurriedly placed forging molds near the outlet.
And so, under Li Meng''s guidance, the goblin subordinates successfully mastered iron smelting.
Li Meng didn''t rush to teach them how to refine steel.
Steelmaking was far more complicated than iron smelting.
For now, pig iron was sufficient.
Although pig iron was hard and brittle, making it unsuitable for weapons, the material requirements for spearheads and arrowheads weren¡¯t too high.
Once this crisis was over, they could improve the iron-smelting process.
At that time, they could use the puddling method to mass-produce steel.
"Very well. Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll rotate back to the tribe, each having a day¡¯s mating rights!"
Li Meng never went back on his word when it came to rewarding his subordinates.
Hearing this, the goblins were visibly excited.
After teaching the goblin subordinates iron smelting, Li Meng left the cave early the next morning.
He didn¡¯t head straight back to the tribe but wandered through the forest.
"Benben, break this tree!"
Benben glanced at his boss and then at the small sapling in front of him.
He stepped forward and slapped the tree with his paw.
With a "thud," the tree snapped in half.
Li Meng stepped forward and took a piece of wood from the break.
"Too soft!"
He discarded the wood and continued deeper into the forest.
In this way, Li Meng searched for suitable hardwood in the forest with Benben.
"This is it!"
On the fourth day, Li Meng finally found a tree suitable for making crossbows, spear shafts, and arrow shafts.
In the dim forest, he examined the branch in his hand.
Even the branch had such strong toughness.
The trunk would undoubtedly be even tougher.
"Benben, carry it back!"
Benben walked forward, wrapped his arms around the not-so-large hardwood tree, and yanked it up by the roots.
In the afternoon, Li Meng returned to the tribe with Benben carrying a large tree.
"The boss is back! The boss has returned!"
The goblins were visibly excited at their boss''s return.
However, Benben¡¯s massive size filled them with fear.
In nearly half a month, the tribe had undergone significant changes.
There were more than a dozen new wooden houses similar to breeding dens.
"Boss, Boss!"
Gobuba led a group of goblins running over.
"Boss, the first batch of newborns in the tribe is about to arrive!"
The news of their offspring about to be born left Gobuba extremely excited.
After glancing at the towering Ogre behind his boss, Gobuba shrank his neck.
The Ogre¡¯s size was intimidating enough to crush him with a single step.
Turning slightly, Li Meng looked toward the breeding houses not far away.
The timing seemed just right.
Goblin females only had a pregnancy period of 3-4 weeks.
"Ensure there¡¯s enough food so they can grow quickly. The tribe needs them."
Gobuba nodded vigorously.
"Don¡¯t worry, Boss. The food for the newborns is all prepared."
In the following days, Li Meng began studying how to make simple crossbows.
Compared to bows, crossbows were easier to handle.
Li Meng didn¡¯t expect his dumb goblin subordinates to ever become archery masters.
Their small builds weren¡¯t suited for using bows and arrows.
On the third day after returning to the tribe, the first batch of newborns arrived.
In the largest wooden house, Li Meng was carving a piece of wood with a small knife.
Looking around, the wooden house was piled with wood shavings.
Pieces of wood of various sizes were scattered everywhere.
Li Meng initially thought crossbows would be simple to make, but the various ideas flooding his mind delayed his progress.
The more he sought perfection, the harder it became to complete.
"Boss, Boss, they¡¯ve been born!"
In the afternoon, Gobuda rushed into the wooden house in a frenzy.
Li Meng put down his tools and walked out.
Soon, under Gobuda¡¯s guidance, he arrived at a nursery.
The entrance was fenced off.
Inside, a group of small goblins could be seen playing.
They were tiny, resembling puppies.
There were quite a few¡ªmore than a dozen.
Newborn goblins had to be separated from their mothers immediately after birth.
Otherwise, hungry newborns would see their mothers as food.
At that moment, a group of goblins approached, each holding two newborns.
Chapter 23: An Unchangeable Future
Chapter 23: An Unchangeable Future
"Bo... Boss!"
The goblins outside the wooden hut froze when they saw their leader at the door.
They didn¡¯t dare approach any closer and lingered outside the hut.
¡°Wah! Wah!¡±
The small goblins in their hands struggled fiercely.
Their mouths let out loud cries, sounding aggressive and unyielding.
The adult goblins held them by the necks tightly.
No matter how much they struggled, they couldn¡¯t break free.
All they could do was angrily cry out in frustration.
Li Meng stepped aside, signaling them to proceed.
Only then did the goblins outside move forward and toss the small goblins into the hut.
The newborn goblins were still wet, their bodies covered in moisture.
The strong scent of the newborns stimulated the other small goblins inside the hut.
Their eyes glimmered with greed as they watched the newborns struggle to stand.
Although only an hour or so older, the older small goblins already saw the newborns as food.
¡°Behave yourselves!¡±
The goblin guarding the door roared.
The roar startled the small goblins, causing them to retreat to the corners in fear.
Newborn goblins couldn¡¯t speak yet.
It would take about two weeks before they could communicate fluently with adult goblins.
That was one of the mysteries of goblins.
Language didn¡¯t need to be taught¡ªit came naturally with time.
Li Meng watched for a while before turning and leaving.
Returning to his wooden hut, Li Meng resumed his research on the crossbow.
¡°Boss, do you think this will work?¡±
The next morning, Gobuge entered the wooden hut carrying a beast hide bundle.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Kneeling before Li Meng, Gobuge carefully unwrapped the bundle.
As the hide opened, three 20-centimeter-long conical spearheads were revealed inside.
Though crudely made, they were sharp after being polished.
Besides the spearheads, there were over a dozen arrowheads as well.
Li Meng picked up one of the spearheads and examined it closely.
¡°Not bad. Use this as a template and mass-produce spearheads from now on.¡±
One batch of molten iron could produce dozens of spearheads.
The production process for spearheads was relatively simple.
Pour molten iron into molds, let it cool, and perform a simple forging treatment.
Li Meng glanced around the hut, then walked to the corner.
In the corner, he found a straight branch.
The branch was from the hardwood tree.
Li Meng had named this tree "hardwood" for its properties, as he planned to use it for making crossbows.
The branches of the hardwood tree grew remarkably straight, making them ideal for spear shafts.
Li Meng returned to his seat with the branch.
Using a small knife, he trimmed off the branches and smoothed the shaft.
After some processing and sharpening, he inserted the shaft into a spear tube.
He hammered the connection until it was tight, and just like that, a spear was completed.
For goblins, who were small in stature, the ideal spear length was about two heads taller than them.
Too long would make it cumbersome and unwieldy.
Most goblins stood around 1.3 meters tall, so a 1.5-meter spear was the most suitable.
Li Meng stood up and swung the spear a few times.
The spear whistled through the air as it moved.
Gobuda, standing nearby, instinctively shrank back and quickly retreated a few steps.
After playing with it for a while, Li Meng grew bored and tossed the spear to Gobuge.
He kept the arrowheads and handed the rest back to Gobuge.
¡°Use this as a template to create finished products. Go now.¡±
Gobuda nodded repeatedly.
He grabbed the spear and the beast hide bundle and quickly left the hut.
Meanwhile, Li Meng resumed his research on the crossbow.
¡°System, begin Life Simulation!¡±
Li Meng hadn¡¯t forgotten that he still had one chance left this month for a life simulation.
[Consuming 20 first-tier magic crystals. Life Simulation begins.]
[As a transmigrator, you used your knowledge to create the first crossbow.]
[You began to arm your tribe, and your tribe grew rapidly.]
[One of your hunting parties venturing into the Ghost Spider Forest for silk was ambushed by Lizardmen and wiped out.]
[In the east, traces of Pigmen were discovered. A Pigman tribe entered your territory.]
[With the population of your tribe surging, the pressure on food supplies forced you to wage war.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Seek revenge against the Lizardmen.]
[2. Exterminate the Pigman tribe that entered your territory.]
[3. Cross the river and expand your hunting grounds to the southern bank.]
The options for the first stage hadn¡¯t changed.
Even the choices were identical.
Last time, Li Meng had chosen to take revenge on the Lizardmen.
This time, he wouldn¡¯t repeat that choice.
¡°Option 2: Exterminate the Pigman tribe that entered the territory!¡±
[The intrusion of the Pigman tribe enraged you. You led your goblin army east to attack.]
[The Pigman tribe fled in panic, and you returned empty-handed.]
[Another hunting party sent to the Ghost Spider Forest was ambushed by the Lizardmen and wiped out.]
[The repeated ambushes angered you. You decided to take revenge on the Lizardmen.]
[One night, you led your goblin army to raid the Lizardmen¡¯s camp.]
[Although the Lizardmen were prepared, they were no match for your goblin army. You successfully wiped out their tribe.]
[You killed all the Lizardmen¡¯s able-bodied adults, sparing only their children and females who were shorter than goblins.]
[You discovered an albino female Lizardman who was the high priestess of the tribe.]
[She possessed the skill ¡°Heart Speech,¡± allowing her to communicate with all races.]
[She conversed with you, and you found her beauty captivating, feeling the urge to mate for the first time.]
[You claimed her, and one month later, you had your first offspring with her.]
[Her name was Bai Ling. From her, you learned of the existence of the Black Scale and Gray Scale tribes within the swamp.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Continue advancing to destroy the Black Scale tribe.]
[2. Continue advancing to destroy the Gray Scale tribe.]
[3. Do nothing and lead your forces back to the tribe.]
It had come full circle again.
Li Meng sighed, deep in thought.
It seemed only the third option in the first stage could alter the future.
No, that might not be the case. Perhaps the overall trajectory of the future was fixed.
As long as the Lizardmen remained in the swamp, they would remain a threat.
Similarly, the Pigman tribe¡¯s intrusion was an unavoidable event.
Whether by choice or fate, the threats posed by the Lizardmen and Pigmen were inevitable.
¡°Option 2: Continue advancing to destroy the Gray Scale tribe!¡±
The Gray Scale tribe appeared to be the Lizardmen¡¯s scouts.
Perhaps eliminating them could prevent future incursions by the Lizardmen army.
[You chose to attack the Gray Scale tribe.]
[One night, you led your goblin army to raid the Gray Scale tribe. The tribe was annihilated.]
[You spared their children and women, sending them to the White Scale tribe.]
[The battles caused many senior goblins to evolve into Goblin Warriors. Gobuge challenged your leadership.]
[You accepted the challenge and sent Gobuge flying ten meters with a single slap. Your power subdued all the goblins.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Continue advancing to destroy the Black Scale tribe.]
[2. Seeing your forces severely depleted, you decided to pause the offensive.]
¡°Option 1: Continue advancing to destroy the Black Scale tribe!¡±
[You decided to continue the assault on the Black Scale tribe.]
[One night, you raided the Black Scale tribe only to find it completely deserted.]
Chapter 24: Where Is the Turning Point?
Chapter 24: Where Is the Turning Point?
[The annihilation of the White Scale Tribe and the Gray Scale Tribe terrified the Black Scale Tribe. They fled long ago, migrating elsewhere.]
[You decided to pursue the Black Scale Tribe, but their traces disappeared at the riverbank.]
[You established control over the northern swamp and became the King of the Swamp.]
[You implemented a "Twelve-Tax," requiring the White Scale Tribe to contribute two-tenths of their population annually for rotational labor.]
[With female Lizardmen, the population lost in wars was quickly replenished.]
[Your tribe flourished and grew exponentially.]
[To address the food demand, you taught the White Scale Tribe the knowledge of farming, turning the swamp into your fishery.]
[Your hunting party ambushed a group of Pigmen.]
[The Pigmen launched a large-scale counterattack. Please choose an option:]
[1. Launch a preemptive strike.]
[2. Build a massive wooden fort and prepare for defense.]
[3. Abandon the breeding grounds and retreat to the caves for shelter.]
"It seems the swamp isn¡¯t the turning point to change the future!"
Looking at the wooden stick in his hand, Li Meng thought silently.
No matter if he chose to attack the Black Scale Tribe or the Gray Scale Tribe first, the outcome wouldn¡¯t change much.
"I choose option three, retreat to the caves for shelter!"
The other two options in this phase were death traps.
The third option might offer a glimmer of hope.
[You chose to retreat to the caves, temporarily avoiding confrontation.]
[The Pigmen army discovered the caves.]
[Your Goblin army fought the Pigmen army in the caves.]
[You achieved victory, repelling the Pigmen forces.]
[You received news from the swamp. The fleeing Black Scale Tribe returned with a massive Lizardman army, forcing the White Scale Tribe to surrender.]Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
[Bai Ling betrayed you. The Lizardman army learned that your tribe possessed the ability to forge iron weapons.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Continue advancing east to completely destroy the Pigmen tribe.]
[2. Lead the Goblin army to the swamp to confront the Lizardman army.]
[3. Retreat to the tribe and build wooden forts to defend against the Lizardman attack.]
"As expected, the Black Scale Tribe took over as the guide this time."
This result was within Li Meng¡¯s expectations.
However, from this predictive simulation of the future, Li Meng obtained a crucial piece of information.
It confirmed that other Lizardman tribes existed in the Goblin Forest.
"I choose option three, build wooden forts to defend against the Lizardman attack!"
[You chose to build wooden forts to defend against the Lizardman attack.]
[One day, a massive Lizardman army reappeared in the swamp.]
[On the same day, a large Pigmen army emerged in the western forest.]
[Your tribe faced a pincer attack from the Lizardmen and Pigmen.]
[The wooden fort was breached. You died, and your tribe was annihilated.]
[Simulation of life ends.]
[Future line unchanged. No rating, no rewards.]
"An invalid simulation of life?"
The system¡¯s notification made Li Meng furrow his brows.
This was the first time he encountered an invalid simulation of life after so many attempts.
No rewards if the future line remained unchanged?
Li Meng pondered over past experiences.
"Does this mean I must be at the turning point and make a choice to change the future?"
If this was indeed the system''s logic, Li Meng could understand.
After all, he had two simulation opportunities each month.
If used consecutively, the second simulation wouldn¡¯t deviate much from the first one.
The overarching direction would have been set by the first simulation.
Unless he was present at the turning point and altered the predicted future.
"Where will the turning point be?"
Li Meng didn¡¯t rush.
He decided to follow the predicted future path for now.
He would wait for the turning point and alter the future line forecasted by the simulation.
Time passed little by little, day by day.
Since settling in the northern forest, the tribe had grown steadily.
With the birth of the first batch of newborns, the tribe had finally taken its first significant step forward.
One morning, over a month later.
The tribe was bustling with activity, the chirping noise of Goblins echoing through the forest.
In the forest, hundreds of Goblins gathered before the largest wooden house.
The Goblins varied in size; most were immature young ones.
The young Goblins were the noisiest, playing and chasing each other.
They only quieted down for a short while when scolded by adult Goblins.
Closer to the wooden house stood a group of larger Goblins.
Their number was small, just over ten.
They varied in size, but the differences weren¡¯t significant.
At that moment, a sturdy green-skinned Goblin appeared at the doorway of the wooden house.
"The boss is here. Quiet!"
The boss¡¯s appearance silenced the chaotic noises outside.
The young Goblins, under the scolding of the adult Goblins, prostrated on the ground with reverence.
Looking at the dense crowd of green-skinned Goblins outside, Li Meng grinned.
"All the big Goblins, come in!"
After leaving this instruction, Li Meng turned and entered the wooden house.
The big Goblins outside the house hurriedly ran inside.
The wooden house was in disarray, with sawdust piled high on the floor.
In the corner, a large bundle of spears was stacked.
"These are newly forged weapons. Distribute them."
Hearing this, the big Goblins greedily eyed the spears piled in the corner.
Iron weapons were far superior to the wooden clubs in their hands.
They had long known that the boss had sent a group of Goblins to the caves to forge iron weapons.
Over the past few days, they often saw Goblins carrying weapons into the boss¡¯s wooden house.
But without the boss¡¯s permission, they could only watch enviously.
"Mine, mine!"
As soon as Li Meng spoke, the big Goblins rushed forward, scrambling to grab the spears.
Watching his subordinates bicker over the weapons, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
These Goblins were indeed as foolish as ever.
He told them to distribute the weapons, and this was how they did it?
"Stop! All of you, stop!"
Li Meng¡¯s stern shout startled the big Goblins mid-scramble.
All the big Goblins quickly dropped their weapons.
They bent over, looking at the angry boss with fear.
"Gobuqiang, you handle the distribution!"
Gobuqiang¡¯s face lit up upon hearing the boss¡¯s words.
The boss asking it to distribute meant all the weapons were essentially his?
This was great!
Gobuqiang hurried to the doorway.
"Gobuqiang, I told you to distribute, not hoard!"
Li Meng¡¯s scolding glare stopped Gobuqiang in its tracks.
Seeing its expression, Li Meng immediately knew what it was thinking.
Forget it, I¡¯ll do it myself.
Sighing in exasperation, Li Meng walked to the corner.
"Come back. I¡¯ll handle the distribution!"
Inside the wooden house, Li Meng began distributing weapons to his Goblin subordinates.
"Only when everyone has their share is it called distribution. Understand?"
As he distributed the weapons, Li Meng lectured his subordinates about fairness.
Whether they understood or not didn¡¯t matter; they needed the concept of sharing.
Even if they didn¡¯t comprehend, the Goblin subordinates instinctively nodded.
Chapter 25: The War Horn
Chapter 25: The War Horn
"Gobuda, you don''t need this. From now on, you won''t go out hunting. I have other tasks for you."
When it was Gobuda''s turn, Li Meng skipped over him.
Gobuda stood aside, disappointed.
Those weapons looked so appealing¡ªeven just a touch would be satisfying.
Soon, each Goblin Leader received dozens of spears.
At their signal, the Goblin Leader''s subordinates swarmed in and carried off the spears.
It wasn''t until over half an hour later that the wooden house quieted down.
The goblins outside dispersed as well.
The young goblins returned to their nurseries to continue eating and drinking.
Once they reached adolescence, they would join their fathers'' hunting teams.
Goblins had absolute loyalty to their fathers, provided the father was stronger than them.
If the offspring''s strength surpassed their father''s, the father would be replaced.
For goblins, the concept of "father" didn''t exist.
Their loyalty came from bloodlines; only the strongest goblin could become the leader of that lineage.
The adult goblins, meanwhile, went hunting with their respective teams.
"Gobuda, you don¡¯t have your own hunting team yet, right?"
Inside the wooden house, Gobuda nodded quickly.
He grinned, fawning.
"Boss, my offspring haven¡¯t come of age yet."
For any subordinate that evolved into a Goblin Leader, Li Meng granted breeding rights.
Goblins already had strong reproductive capabilities¡ªalmost a guaranteed success with every attempt.
Li Meng picked up a crossbow from the corner and walked outside.
"Follow me!"
Gobuda obediently followed behind his boss.
The two left the wooden house and headed into the forest outside.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
"Do you know what this is?"
Li Meng held the crossbow in both hands and cocked it with one hand.
Looking at the weapon in his boss''s hands, Gobuda shook his head.
He had never seen such a weapon before.
Li Meng grinned, pulled out a bolt from his waist, and loaded it.
This crossbow was something Li Meng had spent nearly a month crafting.
Its structure was very simple.
It resembled a combination of a bow and a block of wood.
"This is a crossbow, a weapon similar to a bow."
Having never left the Goblin Forest in his life, Gobuda naturally didn¡¯t know what a crossbow was.
Li Meng held the crossbow with both hands and aimed at a large tree fifty meters away.
"Swoosh!"
Li Meng pulled the trigger, and the bolt shot out.
In the forest, a streak of black light flashed.
A "thud" sound was heard as the bolt embedded itself into the tree trunk fifty meters away.
The sheer force made the tail of the bolt quiver.
Li Meng walked toward the large tree fifty meters away.
Upon reaching the tree, Li Meng inspected the bolt embedded in the trunk.
He found that the bolt¡¯s entire head and part of the shaft were deeply embedded into the wood.
"Boss, this¡ this is incredible."
Gobuda was shocked by the power of the weapon in his boss''s hands.
To penetrate so deeply from such a distance...
If it hit someone, they¡¯d surely die, wouldn¡¯t they?
Thinking about this, Gobuda looked at the crossbow in his boss''s hands with a face full of fear.
If the boss wanted to shoot him, he would be doomed.
"The power is satisfactory."
Li Meng was quite pleased with the crossbow''s power.
"Let¡¯s go back."
With the crossbow¡¯s power confirmed, the next step was figuring out how to mass-produce it.
Over the following days, Li Meng began teaching Gobuda how to craft crossbows.
The teaching lasted over a month.
At first, Gobuda was the only apprentice.
As time went on, dozens of adolescent goblins joined in the work.
The sound of wood carving in the wooden house became even more lively.
Every day, a large amount of wood shavings and waste were cleared out of the wooden house.
"This... isn¡¯t bad!"
Another new day arrived, and Li Meng was inspecting the works of his goblin subordinates in the wooden house.
Piles of unfinished crossbows were stacked in the corners.
The crossbows varied in size¡ªsome were slightly larger, while others were smaller.
The craftsmanship was extremely crude, but they were still usable.
Since these were handmade, it was impossible to achieve uniform specifications for each crossbow.
"Next, we need to obtain spider silk for the bowstrings!"
Without bowstrings, these crossbows were nothing more than pieces of wood.
The thought of the Ghost Spider Forest gave Li Meng a headache.
Stealing spider silk wasn¡¯t difficult. As long as they didn¡¯t venture deep into the Ghost Spider Forest, there wouldn¡¯t be much danger.
However, the Ghost Spider Forest was too close to the swamp.
If the Goblin hunting teams headed to the Ghost Spider Forest, they would inevitably be targeted by the Lizardmen of the White Scale Tribe.
"It seems we¡¯ll have to act on a large scale this time."
Looking at the mountain of crossbows in front of him, Li Meng thought to himself.
A large-scale operation could effectively reduce losses.
It would also allow them to steal enough spider silk in one go.
Once the Lizardmen in the swamp were eliminated, the Ghost Spider Forest could become a resource point for the tribe.
"Gobuda, go sound the war horn!"
Gobuda, who was busy carving wood, looked up at his boss in confusion.
Why blow the war horn?
When the war horn sounded, the hunting teams in the field would rush back as quickly as possible.
Was the boss planning to start a war?
Gobuda grinned, his face showing excitement.
He quickly stood up and ran toward the outer gate.
Not long after, the deep sound of a horn echoed from a fifty-meter-tall watchtower in the forest.
"Whooo!"
The long horn sound reverberated across the land.
Hunting teams scattered throughout the area looked toward the direction of the tribe almost simultaneously.
All the hunting teams immediately abandoned their hunts.
"Quick, return to the tribe!"
In the dim forest, a group of goblins carrying spears sprinted.
Looking around, the forest was filled with the running figures of green-skinned goblins.
Among them, one goblin stood out, particularly tall and strong.
It was Gobuqiang. As he ran, he urged his subordinates onward.
By the afternoon of the next day, all the hunting teams had returned to the tribe.
Within the tribe, a dense crowd of green-skinned goblins gathered in front of the largest wooden house.
Their figures stretched out in all directions, covering a large section of the forest.
Their numbers were no less than five hundred, likely more.
Each goblin held a spear approximately 1.5 meters long.
The sight of countless spears created an impressive spectacle.
"Gobuba, Gobuka, Gobuda¡ªyour three hunting teams will follow me to the Ghost Spider Forest!"
"Gobuqiang, Gobuliang¡ªyou two will guard the tribe and protect the breeding grounds."
"The rest of the hunting teams will continue hunting to supply food for the breeding grounds!"
Since arriving in this forest, over two months had passed.
The tribe¡¯s population was rapidly approaching the 1,000 mark.
Currently, the tribe had eleven hunting teams.
The number of goblins in each team varied.
The largest teams had fifty to sixty goblins, while the smallest had only thirty to forty.
However, as time went on, the number of goblins in each hunting team would only grow larger.
Standing at the wooden house¡¯s entrance, Li Meng issued orders to his goblin subordinates.
Chapter 26: Shadows in the Forest
Chapter 26: Shadows in the Forest
Li Meng waved his hand decisively.
"Scatter! Gobuda, Gobuka, Gobuba, let''s go!"
The group of goblins gathered in front of the wooden hut scattered in all directions.
Soon after, Li Meng led three hunting teams westward, leaving the tribe.
That night, the forest was eerily silent.
In the darkness, small shadows occasionally flitted past.
This world had both magical beasts and ordinary animals.
Creatures with magic crystals were classified as magical beasts, while those without were considered ordinary animals.
Suddenly, rustling sounds echoed from the depths of the forest.
Before long, the sound grew louder and closer.
Moments later, a large swarm of shadows emerged, spreading across the forest and moving in the same direction.
The crunching sound of dried leaves underfoot echoed throughout the forest.
Among the moving shadows was Li Meng.
This time, Li Meng had not brought Benben along.
Benben''s bulky size made stealthy actions difficult.
Li Meng''s goal this time was to collect Ghost Spider webs, avoiding battles as much as possible.
Five days had passed since leaving the tribe.
During these five days, the hunting team had hunted while steadily approaching the Ghost Spider Forest.
The tribe was not far from the Ghost Spider Forest¡ªapproximately 20 kilometers in a straight line.
If they marched at full speed, they could reach it within a day.
"Boss, it smells like a swamp!"
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In the dark, Gobuqiang identified the scent and approached his leader.
Li Meng also caught the damp and decaying scent in the air.
The smell of a swamp indicated that they were close to the Ghost Spider Forest.
Meanwhile, not far from the goblin hunting team, shadows were hiding in the underbrush.
"The noise is loud¡ªit¡¯s goblins!"
"There are too many of them. Be careful not to get discovered!"
"They won''t notice us. We''ve smeared ourselves with mud to disrupt their sense of smell."
"What should we do now?"
"Abu, once the goblins have gone far enough, return to the tribe and report to the High Priest."
Ada stared intently at the shadows moving through the forest.
Not long ago, its younger brother had been killed by goblins.
Though filled with hatred, it would not confront those vile creatures at night.
"What about you?"
"We¡¯ll keep watching the goblins to see what they¡¯re up to."
"Understood!"
Soon, the forest noise gradually faded away.
As the goblins moved farther, the forest grew silent once again.
Suddenly, there was a stir in the underbrush.
From the quivering bushes, a strong figure emerged.
"Be careful. I''m heading back."
In the darkness, whispers echoed through the forest.
Abu quickly turned and walked into the depths of the swamp-side forest.
"Whoosh!"
After only a few steps, a sharp whistling sound came from the right side of the forest.
"Thud!"
With a dull sound, Abu¡¯s body jerked as if struck by an invisible force, flying five meters before crashing to the ground.
"Abu!"
The sudden event caused an exclamation from the bushes.
"Stay quiet!"
Sweating profusely, Ada covered its companion''s mouth with a trembling hand.
It knew they might have been discovered by the goblins.
In another part of the forest, Li Meng stood holding a spear, his gaze fixed on the forest depths.
"Boss, it¡¯s Lizardmen!"
Behind Li Meng, Gobuqiang looked at his leader with awe.
With one throw, the boss had hurled the spear over 100 meters, accurately hitting the Lizardman.
The distance, along with the numerous trees in the way, made such precision incredible.
Even ten¡ªor twenty¡ªof him couldn¡¯t achieve the same feat.
Li Meng sniffed the air and listened to the sounds of the forest.
There were definitely more Lizardmen in the area¡ªthey never moved alone.
However, their exact hiding spots remained uncertain.
"Let¡¯s go!"
After a long silence, Li Meng turned and left.
Gobuqiang sneered at the forest depths before following his leader with a grin.
Someday, he thought, the Lizardmen would be nothing more than waste in his belly.
Soon, the forest fell completely silent.
Half an hour later, whispers emerged from the bushes.
"Is it quiet? Did they leave?"
"Not sure, but they should be far away by now!"
Moments later, several sturdy figures emerged from the underbrush.
Ada rushed to check on Abu''s body.
"Ada, how is he?"
"He¡¯s dead. A long weapon pierced his body!"
Ada gripped the spear lodged in Abu''s chest and yanked it free.
The weapon slid out with a wet sound.
"The goblins have found us but couldn¡¯t pinpoint our location. Let¡¯s go back!"
Moments later, the three Lizardmen carried their companion¡¯s body and hurriedly retreated.
**Five hours later, in the swamp.**
The silver moonlight illuminated the swamp, driving back some of the darkness.
Compared to the forest, the swamp was vast, like an expansive plain dotted with countless puddles.
Ninety percent of the land was submerged in shallow water no more than 20 centimeters deep.
In the swamp lay a small island with a cluster of thatched huts.
That night, in a larger, roofless hut, moonlight poured in, slightly dispelling the darkness.
"High Priest, this is the goblins¡¯ weapon!"
Kneeling respectfully, Ada presented the spear with both hands.
Before it sat a Lizardman covered in snow-white scales, shimmering under the moonlight.
Despite being a Lizardman, its figure was graceful and alluring.
It extended a slender hand and took the spear.
The white Lizardman examined the weapon, running its fingers over the spearhead.
"This is iron¡ªsomething only humans use!"
Humans?
Ada¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise as it recalled human adventurers from years ago.
Though those humans also used iron weapons, they were different in quality from the goblins¡¯ tools.
"Though it¡¯s iron, the quality is far inferior to human weapons!"
The white Lizardman set the spear aside and looked at an elder sitting nearby.
"Elder Adao, we cannot allow these goblins to pollute our swamp!"
Its voice was soft, but its gaze brimmed with loathing.
No race in this world liked goblins.
The elder Lizardman opened his eyes, stood, and strode out.
"Do not worry, High Priest. These goblins are nothing to fear!"
As the elder disappeared, the white Lizardman looked at the spear, deep in thought.
Chapter 27: Battle in the Forest
Chapter 27: Battle in the Forest
Seeing that Elder Adao had left, Ada finally snapped back to reality.
It hurriedly stood up and quickly walked out.
Time passed bit by bit, and the night deepened.
The next morning, the tribe was bustling with noise.
A hundred-strong team of Lizardmen left the tribe in grand fashion, heading eastward.
By afternoon, in a forest located northeast of the swamp.
A group of tall, robust figures was running through the dim woods.
Each of them held large machetes and moved in the same direction.
"Elder, ahead lies the Ghost Spider Forest!"
Ada approached Elder Adao.
This forest was the one Ada was most familiar with; they were heading closer to the Ghost Spider Forest.
Elder Adao frowned slightly, a trace of doubt flashing in its eyes.
The Ghost Spider Forest was a death zone.
Why would Goblins come to this place?
"Let''s go and take a look first, but don¡¯t enter the Ghost Spider Forest."
Now that they were here, they might as well investigate.
In the dim forest, the Lizardmen team pressed on.
Two hours later, at the edge of the Ghost Spider Forest.
The forest was silent, shrouded in darkness.
In a damp, blackened stretch of the forest, nearly a hundred Lizardmen advanced cautiously.
The spiderwebs on the treetops confirmed the nature of this place for the Lizardmen.
Every Lizardman tightly gripped their machetes, alertly scanning their surroundings.
"Elder Adao, the Goblin trail disappears here!"
Even though the Goblins were no longer around, Ada could still smell the residual stench they had left in the air.
That smell was revolting yet unforgettable.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
Elder Adao sniffed the air with its twitching nose, a trace of confusion flashing in its eyes.
The Goblins were gone, so why was their scent so strong, as if they were right beside them, within reach?
But no traces of the Goblins were found in the surrounding forest.
"Ah!"
Just then, a scream echoed through the forest.
A spear suddenly shot out from the fallen leaves on the ground, piercing through a Lizardman¡¯s abdomen.
"Rawrrr!"
A large number of Goblins crawled out of the ground, shouting excitedly.
They wielded spears and stabbed at the nearby Lizardmen, who hadn¡¯t yet reacted.
In an instant, leaves scattered everywhere, and the number of figures in the forest seemed to multiply.
The Lizardmen hadn¡¯t expected the Goblins to be hiding right beneath their feet.
Some Lizardmen had even stepped on the Goblins¡¯ bodies.
The sudden attack resulted in screams among the Lizardmen.
Before they could react, dozens of Lizardmen were already impaled by spears.
"It¡¯s the Goblins! Kill them!"
Adao roared, sidestepping a spear thrust by a Goblin.
It raised its machete and slashed down at the Goblin.
The stone blade, though not very sharp, still knocked the Goblin to the ground.
In the forest, the Lizardmen who regained their composure engaged in fierce combat with the Goblins.
Although the Goblins outnumbered the Lizardmen, the latter were much stronger in combat.
Even with iron weapons, Goblins could hardly defeat a Lizardman in a two-versus-one scenario.
Only with three Goblins attacking one Lizardman could there be any hope of victory.
The fierce battle filled the forest with noise.
"Get lost!"
In the midst of the battlefield, Elder Adao fought like a war god.
It wielded its heavy machete with unmatched skill, cutting down Goblins like chopping vegetables.
Despite its tall and bulky frame, Adao was surprisingly agile.
It seemed as if it had eyes on the back of its head, dodging attacks from behind as well.
Suddenly, the sharp sound of something piercing the air came from the right.
Adao¡¯s face changed slightly mid-fight, turning to block with its machete.
A spear whizzed through the air and struck Adao¡¯s machete.
"Clang!"
With a metallic clang, Adao¡¯s machete shattered into pieces.
"Shhk!"
The spear continued forward, piercing through Adao¡¯s arm.
The force sent Adao¡¯s muscular body flying backward.
It flew over ten meters before crashing to the ground.
"Hmm, it withstood my attack?"
Not far away, Li Meng looked surprised as he noticed the resilient Lizardman withstand his strike.
The machete was shattered, and its arm was pierced by the spear, yet the spearhead didn¡¯t reach its chest.
Nearby, Gobuqiang quickly handed another spear to Li Meng.
Li Meng grabbed the spear with one hand, his gaze locking onto the injured Lizardman.
Taking a step forward, he hurled the spear with great force.
The spear flew through the air, crossing the battlefield toward the Lizardman struggling to get up.
At that moment, a Goblin was hit by the Lizardman and collided with the spear¡¯s path.
"Shhk!"
The Goblin¡¯s body was instantly pierced through.
The powerful force carried the Goblin¡¯s body along with the spear, slamming into the Lizardman.
Although the Lizardman was knocked over again, it wasn¡¯t seriously injured.
Seeing that their leader accidentally injured one of their own, Gobuqiang gave an awkward smile.
Li Meng rolled his eyes.
Throwing spears could attack enemies from a distance but risked harming allies in chaotic battlefields.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
On the other side, the injured Adao struggled to stand and roared the order to retreat.
Adao knew that continuing the fight would risk their entire group being wiped out.
Looking at the two large Goblins watching him from afar, Adao¡¯s eyes flashed with fear.
The Goblin that attacked him was undoubtedly much stronger than him.
How was this possible? How could it achieve this?
That Goblin¡¯s size was only slightly larger than a regular big Goblin.
Even a Goblin warrior shouldn¡¯t possess strength surpassing his.
Yet today, a large Goblin¡¯s strength far exceeded his own.
How could Adao not be alarmed?
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Elder Adao¡¯s command snapped the Lizardmen out of their combat frenzy.
The surviving Lizardmen quickly turned and fled into the depths of the forest.
"Elder Adao, are you alright?"
Ada ran to Elder Adao and helped him limp deeper into the forest.
A few other Lizardmen also came over to cover them.
Seeing the Lizardmen retreating, the Goblins screamed in excitement and pursued greedily.
"Stop! Do not chase!"
Li Meng¡¯s stern shout stopped the Goblin squad from chasing after the Lizardmen.
The leader¡¯s command left the Goblins no choice but to halt.
They could only watch as the Lizardmen fled into the forest, disappearing from sight.
"Gather all the Lizardmen¡¯s corpses and spears. Move out!"
Following the leader¡¯s orders, the Goblins complied.
With the Lizardmen retreating, Li Meng and his Goblin followers quickly left.
Two hours later, in a forest near the riverbank.
The ghastly sound of chewing echoed through the forest.
Nearly a hundred Goblins were feasting on the Lizardmen¡¯s corpses.
"Boss, if we¡¯re so strong, why didn¡¯t we kill all the Lizardmen?"
Sitting on a large rock, Li Meng ate a heart bite by bite.
Meanwhile, Gobuqiang gnawed on a Lizardman¡¯s leg.
Looking at the leg in Gobuqiang¡¯s hands, Li Meng was reminded of roasted meat.
Li Meng had tried roasting raw meat before.
Well, Goblins could eat cooked meat, but their taste buds didn¡¯t approve of it.
The first time he tried eating roasted wild boar meat, Li Meng nearly vomited.
He even tried roasting fish, but the result was the same.
Chapter 28: Benbens Equipment
Chapter 28: Benben''s Equipment
"Deal with them later. The tribe must preserve its strength for now!"
The Goblins were still too weak.
Even with a surprise attack and superior numbers, they could only achieve a one-for-one trade.
The Lizardmen lost half their numbers, but nearly half of his Goblin subordinates were also lost.
If the battle continued, even if they defeated the Lizardmen, there might not be many Goblin subordinates left.
Gobuqiang gave the leader a puzzled glance, half-understanding.
Why preserve strength?
Subordinates could always be replenished.
Even if all subordinates were lost, new ones could always be born.
After consuming the Lizardmen corpses, the group continued upstream.
Two days later, in the afternoon, Li Meng led the hunting party back to the tribe.
Upon returning, Li Meng did only one thing.
That was strengthening the army, teaching the Goblins how to use crossbows as quickly as possible.
Once the Goblin subordinates were equipped with crossbows, hunting efficiency would greatly improve.
Their combat effectiveness would also increase several times over.
Unarmored barbarians stood no chance against crossbows.
It was a new day.
The weather was excellent today¡ªclear skies and bright sunlight.
In the forest where the tribe was located, the Great Goblins gathered.
"Boss, what is this?"
The Great Goblins curiously examined the crossbows in their hands.
"This is a crossbow, a new ranged weapon. Watch carefully!"
Li Meng held the crossbow in his right hand and pulled the string back with his left hand.
"Stop gawking and do it!"
The boss¡¯s command prompted the Great Goblins to fumble clumsily with the strings.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
While it was easy for Li Meng to load the crossbow, it was not the same for the Great Goblins.
They gritted their teeth, veins bulging in their arms, barely managing to pull the strings.
"Now, load the bolt. Make sure it fits snugly against the barrel!"
Li Meng took a bolt from his waist and loaded it into the crossbow.
The Great Goblins followed suit.
"Now, aim at that big tree over there!"
Li Meng aimed the crossbow at a tree 30 meters away.
"The trigger is the protrusion underneath. Press it in the direction of your body!"
With that, Li Meng pressed the trigger.
With a "whoosh," the bolt shot through the air.
"Thud!"
The next moment, the bolt embedded itself deeply into the tree trunk.
"Whoosh!"
The Great Goblins hurriedly pressed their triggers.
A series of whistling sounds followed, but the bolts flew in all directions.
When all the Great Goblins had fired, only one bolt was embedded in the tree.
"Now you understand what this weapon is!"
The Great Goblins nodded excitedly.
"Boss, you''re amazing!"
"Boss, the strength required is too much. The subordinates won¡¯t be able to pull it."
Li Meng bent down and stepped on the stirrup of the crossbow.
The stirrup was made of tree bark rope, which could be easily replaced if it broke.
"Watch closely. You can also use both hands to pull!"
Li Meng demonstrated loading the crossbow using both hands.
The Great Goblins nodded in realization.
If both hands were used, the Goblin subordinates could also operate the crossbows.
"Starting today, you must learn to use the crossbows proficiently and teach your subordinates."
Faced with the boss''s lecture, the Great Goblins nodded repeatedly.
"One month from now, I will conduct random inspections. It could be you or your subordinates. Anyone who fails will be sent to the Iron Cavern to do hard labor for a year."
Hard labor in the Iron Cavern?
The Great Goblins tensed and looked at the crossbows in their hands.
Although they liked the cave environment, being used as labor was torment.
The Great Goblins quickly nodded in agreement.
"Later, I¡¯ll have someone deliver the crossbows to your huts. Handle it yourselves."
Li Meng tossed the crossbow in his hand to Gobuqiang.
Gobuqiang was startled by the boss¡¯s action and hurriedly caught the crossbow.
"Benben, follow me!"
Li Meng turned and walked into the depths of the forest.
Benben, who had been obediently sitting nearby, heard the boss call and stood up.
It got up and followed with its enormous, heavy steps.
Half an hour later, outside the Iron Cavern.
The forest echoed with the crackling sounds of branches and leaves.
Moments later, Li Meng and the towering figure of Benben emerged from the forest.
In over three months, the Iron Cavern had undergone significant changes.
The originally narrow cave entrance had been expanded into a square-shaped large gate.
Upon entering, Li Meng was greeted by a wave of heat.
Looking deeper into the Iron Cavern, the firelight along the underground river dispelled the darkness.
In the glow of the fire, a bustling scene unfolded.
The riverbank was lined with countless bonfires.
When one bonfire extinguished, another was lit.
The fires weren¡¯t for illumination but for burning charcoal and smelting iron ore.
Aside from the fires, over a dozen five-meter-tall blast furnaces stood in a line along the riverbank.
Hundreds of Goblins were busy at work on the riverbank.
Some were pulling bellows.
Some were piling firewood for burning charcoal and smelting iron ore.
Others were forging iron tools, the clanging of their hammers echoing through the cavern.
Some foolishly touched the furnace walls and screamed from the burns, prompting laughter from their companions.
Others were mining iron ore deeper within the cavern with pickaxes.
"The boss is here! The boss is here!"
Benben¡¯s massive figure at the cave entrance caught the attention of the Goblins inside.
A strange shout from someone caused all the Goblins to look toward the entrance.
Near one of the blast furnaces, Gobuge quickly ran over to the boss.
"Boss, boss, what brings you here?"
Standing before Li Meng, Gobuge asked obsequiously.
The boss hadn¡¯t visited the Iron Cavern in a long time.
Why did he come today?
Li Meng looked at Benben beside him.
"I plan to personally forge armor and weapons for Benben. Are the iron rust supplies ready?"
Over a month ago, Li Meng had sent word to Gobuge to prepare some iron rust.
Smelting iron rust with pig iron could produce low-carbon steel.
Benben was a large creature, and armor or weapons made of pig iron alone would be too brittle.
"Boss, everything you requested is ready!"
In the days that followed, Li Meng and Benben got busy.
Standing nearly five meters tall, Benben required oversized armor and weapons.
For the first five days, Li Meng focused on two things: measuring Benben¡¯s body and crafting clay molds for the equipment.
On the seventh day, Li Meng began steelmaking.
More than half a month later, in the Iron Cavern.
On the riverbank stood a two-meter-tall, two-meter-wide anvil.
The enormous Benben stood before the anvil, wielding a massive hammer, striking a fiery red piece of armor repeatedly.
Each strike sent sparks flying.
"Here! Yes, here!"
Li Meng directed Benben, pointing at the red-hot armor with a stick.
Occasionally, he used large iron tongs to return the armor to the fire for reheating before continuing the forging process.
Piles of armor of various sizes lay scattered on the ground nearby.
Although rough, they would look completely different after further polishing and finishing.
Chapter 29: Pursuit in the Forest
Chapter 29: Pursuit in the Forest
"Boss, boss!"
At this moment, Gobuge ran over.
It didn''t dare come too close, shouting at the boss from about ten meters away.
Li Meng waved his hand to signal to Benben.
Benben put down the large iron hammer and sat on the ground with a thud.
After hammering for a few hours, Benben also felt a bit tired.
Li Meng turned and walked toward Gobuge.
"What¡¯s the matter?"
Gobuge gave a fawning smile and turned to point toward the cave entrance.
"Gobuqiang is outside. It wants to see you, boss!"
Gobuqiang? Why has it come?
A trace of surprise flashed in Li Meng''s eyes, and he pondered for a moment.
Without thinking too much, Li Meng walked toward the cave entrance.
Although there had been a fight with the Lizardmen at the edge of the Ghost Spider Forest, it was only a minor conflict and shouldn''t have altered the future predicted by Life Simulation.
It was unlikely that Gobuqiang was here for anything significant.
"Boss!"
As soon as he stepped out of the iron cave, Li Meng saw Gobuqiang outside.
When Gobuqiang saw the boss coming out, it quickly stepped forward to meet him.
"Speak, what is it?"
Gobuqiang grinned, a flash of greed appearing in its eyes.
"Boss, recently there''s been the scent of Lizardmen lingering in the forest near the tribe. They¡¯ve come looking for us!"
The scent of Lizardmen in the forest near the tribe?
Li Meng frowned slightly, his expression contemplative.
It seemed that the future predicted by Life Simulation had indeed undergone a minor change.
In the predicted future, the Lizardmen shouldn''t have appeared in the forest near the tribe at this point in time.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
"Should I use Life Simulation?"
After some thought, Li Meng decided against it.
Although there had been a minor change in the future, the overall situation had not shifted.
The Lizardmen discovering the tribe wouldn¡¯t alter the trajectory of the major events to come.
"Gobuqiang, how are things going with the crossbows?"
Hearing the boss ask about the crossbows, Gobuqiang nodded repeatedly.
"Boss, the crossbows are amazing! Prey we couldn¡¯t catch before can now be hunted with ease. The amount of food brought back by the hunting team is several times what it used to be, and the hunting range is rapidly expanding."
It seemed the Goblin subordinates were putting the crossbows to good use.
Gobuqiang''s words made Li Meng feel gratified.
His effort in creating the crossbows had not been in vain.
"Gobuqiang, starting today, your hunting team doesn''t need to go out hunting anymore. Your sole task is to eliminate the Lizardmen in the forest between the swamp and the tribe. Do not let them discover our movements."
If the Lizardmen were left unchecked, they might alert others.
Fortunately, the tribe''s size wasn¡¯t very large, with only a scattered number of wooden houses.
It wouldn''t scare the Lizardmen away, letting the Bai Ling Tribe escape.
The stronghold in the forest was just a breeding ground.
The hunting team usually didn''t gather in the tribe.
Even when they returned from hunting, they wouldn¡¯t linger in the tribe.
They would drop off the prey and head out hunting again.
Gobuqiang was overjoyed and eagerly pounded his chest in assurance.
"Boss, leave it to me! I won¡¯t let them get near the tribe!"
Thinking of Lizardmen meat, Gobuqiang''s drool nearly began to flow.
"Boss, I¡¯m heading out now!"
Gobuqiang excitedly ran toward the forest.
Li Meng turned and returned to the iron cave.
Gobuqiang, after returning to the tribe, made no stops.
Without delay, it led the hunting team into the western forest.
As the sun set in the west, Gobuqiang faced the first night.
The dense forest blocked the moonlight, plunging the forest into darkness.
But the forest was not silent; there were footsteps and whispers.
And shadows moving through the woods.
"Boss, what are we looking for?"
A Goblin subordinate approached Gobuqiang and asked.
Since entering the forest during the day, the boss had seemed very excited.
"Hehe, don¡¯t you smell the scent of the swamp in this forest?"
"The scent of the swamp?"
The Goblin subordinate sniffed the air.
"There is a bit of it. Boss, what¡¯s going on?"
In the darkness, Gobuqiang grinned.
"With the swamp so far away, how could there be the scent of the swamp here? The Lizardmen are too stupid."
The Goblin subordinate didn¡¯t quite understand what the boss meant.
"You don¡¯t need to think too much. You¡¯re still just a Goblin. Once you evolve into a Big Goblin, you¡¯ll understand."
Is that so?
The Goblin subordinate nodded, half understanding.
"Crossbowmen, string and load your crossbows!"
Gobuqiang let out a strange shout in the dark.
The sharp sound startled a flock of birds into flight.
The Goblins scattered throughout the nearby forest paused at the boss''s command.
They quickly bent down, stepping on their stirrup strings, and loaded their crossbows.
The Goblin subordinates, holding crossbows, searched ahead.
Looking into the nearby forest, there were no fewer than a hundred Goblins.
Of these, at least thirty held crossbows.
Meanwhile, whispers arose in the nearby forest.
"Have we been discovered?"
"I don¡¯t know. Maybe it¡¯s just a Goblin hunting party. They love hunting at night."
Behind a large tree, five sturdy shadows could be seen.
At a glance, there were five of them.
The distance between the five was close enough to hear even whispers.
"Ake, what should we do?"
"Hide until they pass!"
"Let¡¯s climb the trees and hide!"
"No, Goblins can see at night. If we¡¯re spotted, we won¡¯t be able to run."
"Hide in the bushes and don¡¯t make a sound!"
The five quickly left their positions behind the tree and each found a dense bush to hide in.
As the five hid, the forest grew quiet.
But soon, the noise of movement swept in from the east.
Shadows moved through the forest, accompanied by the rustling of vegetation.
"They¡¯re close. Don¡¯t leave any bush unchecked!"
The Goblins walking through the forest weren¡¯t idle.
They thrust their spears into the dense bushes.
"Not good!"
Ake noticed the Goblins using their weapons to poke into the bushes and felt uneasy.
These Goblins weren¡¯t out hunting¡ªthey had clearly discovered their presence.
They were only searching because they didn¡¯t know where they were hiding.
"Aning, Aba, retreat!"
Ake carefully backed out of the bush, trying to keep his movements as quiet as possible to alert his companions nearby.
"There¡¯s noise over there¡ªit¡¯s the Lizardmen! Shoot them!"
Ake¡¯s low voice was still heard by a Goblin not far away.
A Goblin pointed toward where Ake¡¯s group was and shouted loudly.
Nearby crossbowmen quickly pulled their triggers toward the indicated direction.
"Whoosh!"
Bolts whistled through the air toward the depths of the forest.
"Ah!"
A scream came from the forest.
A Lizardman climbing out of the bush was struck in the back.
The bolt pierced through its body, the tip emerging from its chest.
It staggered and collapsed to the ground, unable to rise.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [David Maclachlan], our very first supporter!
Chapter 30: Inescapable Death
Chapter 30: Inescapable Death
"Run!"
The scream of his companion caused Ake¡¯s heart to tighten.
He had just heard the whistling sound of something slicing through the air above him.
Something had flown past his head.
But he didn¡¯t know what it was.
"They¡¯re over there, over there! Kill them!"
The wails from deep within the forest filled the Goblins with excitement.
Crossbowmen from other directions hurriedly began shooting blindly into the forest depths.
For a moment, the forest echoed with the sharp "whizz" of arrows tearing through the air.
Bolts struck tree trunks, creating dull "thud" sounds that reverberated throughout the woods.
"Ah!"
Another scream came from the depths of the forest.
Among the four fleeing figures, two were hit by multiple bolts.
The forest was enveloped in darkness.
This made it impossible for their companions to discern what was happening.
They could only hear the rushing sounds of something rapidly closing in behind them.
And the sharp "thuds" of something striking trees nearby.
"Scatter! Scatter!"
Ake, running at the forefront, was fortunate.
His companions at the back bore the brunt of the attacks for him.
As he spoke, Ake dove into the bushes on the right.
The other two Lizardmen quickly scattered left and right as well.
The three clumsily fled through the forest, crawling and stumbling in panic.
"Chase them! Don¡¯t let them escape!"
Gobuqiang shouted excitedly.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Charge! Kill them!"
"Lizardmen! So tasty!"
The Goblins screamed and sprinted through the forest.
More than a hundred Goblins were chasing the Lizardmen.
The forest became a cacophony of chaos.
The Goblins'' cries echoed everywhere.
"No mistake, they¡¯re Lizardmen!"
On a grassy area behind some bushes, Gobuqiang found a Lizardman¡¯s corpse.
Staring at the body pierced by two crossbow bolts, Gobuqiang¡¯s eyes glinted with awe.
The leader was truly brilliant.
To think he could create such powerful weapons.
Even though the Lizardmen were far stronger, they were easily killed by these bolts.
That night, the noise in the forest gradually faded into the distance.
---
The next morning, by the riverbank forest.
"Run, run! Don¡¯t stop!"
Three robust figures stumbled through the dim forest.
Although Lizardmen had powerful legs, they weren¡¯t suited for long-distance running.
The three, who had been fleeing all night, were utterly exhausted.
Their legs ached terribly. If they stopped, they would collapse to the ground and be unable to rise again.
The exhausted trio was now running unsteadily.
The commotion coming from the forest behind made Ake¡¯s scalp tingle.
He knew the Goblins were still pursuing them.
Although Goblins were small in stature, they had exceptional endurance.
Not long after the three had left, a group of Goblins appeared in the forest.
They moved through the dense undergrowth, shouting and hollering.
"I see them! I see them!"
A Goblin climbed onto a boulder.
Standing atop it, he jumped and pointed his crossbow at the fleeing Lizardmen in the forest.
Some Goblins climbed trees, seeking a better vantage point.
"Whizz!"
A crossbowman who had climbed higher fired at the fleeing Lizardmen.
Bolts streaked through the dim forest, aimed at their targets.
"Ah!"
A scream pierced the air.
A Lizardman was struck in the thigh by a bolt.
The bolt pierced straight through, with the tip protruding from the other side.
The intense pain caused the Lizardman to stumble and collapse, wailing in agony.
"Aning!"
Ake cried out sorrowfully.
He immediately stopped and turned to rush toward the fallen Aning.
"Ake, go! Quickly!"
Aba, who was at the back, pushed Ake away.
"Thud!"
A whistling bolt hit Aba in the back of the head.
The bolt pierced clean through, with the tip emerging from his forehead.
Under Ake¡¯s disbelieving gaze, Aba collapsed to the ground.
"Ake, go! Don¡¯t worry about me! Tell the High Priest what we saw!"
The fallen Aning shouted through his pain.
"Ah!"
Ake let out a furious roar.
Reluctantly, he turned and fled deeper into the forest.
At this moment, he had forgotten the pain in his legs.
He kept running and running, ignoring everything else.
He was lucky. The whistling bolts flying toward him missed and struck the ground nearby.
"Thud!"
But suddenly, a bolt whistled out from the right side of the forest.
A streak of black shot through the dim forest and struck Ake in the head.
"Thud!"
The running Ake stumbled and rolled to the ground.
When his body finally stopped rolling, he lay motionless, a bolt lodged through his skull.
In the forest to the right, Gobuqiang lowered his crossbow.
He seemed dissatisfied with his shot.
Clicking his tongue, he tossed the crossbow to a nearby subordinate.
Gobuqiang had intended to hit the Lizardman¡¯s neck and let it bleed out.
Instead, he had hit its head, killing it instantly.
"Ake!"
A chilling wail suddenly echoed through the forest.
Looking at the motionless Ake not far away, Aning¡¯s eyes filled with rage.
"He¡¯s down!"
The sight of Ake¡¯s lifeless body, surrounded by blood, sent the Goblins into a frenzy.
Nearby Goblins rushed toward Aning with glee.
Several Goblins surrounded Aning.
Staring at the hideous green-skinned creatures, Aning¡¯s eyes were filled with hatred.
"Gob..."
Aning let out a roar.
His hateful gaze seemed to curse the ugly creatures around him.
But before he could finish speaking, the Goblins thrust their weapons into him with greedy faces.
"Meat! Lizardman meat!"
"What¡¯s he saying?"
"No idea!"
As the Goblins muttered, Aning¡¯s body was pierced and turned into a bloody mess.
The Goblins swarmed him, feasting hungrily.
Others ran toward the remaining two corpses.
They pounced on the bodies, devouring them.
In less than five minutes, the three bodies had been completely consumed by the Goblins.
Even the contents of their intestines were swallowed.
All that remained were patches of blood where the bodies had fallen.
"You¡¯re fast eaters. You didn¡¯t leave any for your leader!"
When Gobuqiang arrived, hoping for a bite, he found nothing left.
Annoyed, Gobuqiang kicked the backsides of the little Goblins.
Nearby Goblins cowered and ran away.
Glaring at the bloodstains on the ground, Gobuqiang wiped the drool from his mouth.
He glared at his subordinates and rolled his eyes.
"What are you standing around for? Keep moving! If anyone steals food again, I¡¯ll eat them instead."
Under their leader¡¯s fierce gaze, the Goblins lowered their heads in fear.
With Gobuqiang¡¯s menacing scolding, the Goblins continued their march through the forest.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Conspirant]
Chapter 31: Murder in the Night
Chapter 31: Murder in the Night
"Woo!"
The team had just set off when a long horn sound suddenly came from behind.
The sound was very faint, almost inaudible if one didn¡¯t listen carefully.
But all the goblins walking through the forest stopped in unison.
They turned and looked toward the direction of the tribe, their expressions uncertain.
"Boss, it¡¯s the tribe¡¯s horn sound!"
The sound of the horn made Gobuqiang¡¯s face light up with excitement.
He knew the boss planned to attack the lizardmen in the swamp.
At the same time, in the Goblin Tribe of the Riverside Forest.
The war horn on the watchtower sounded once again.
Li Meng stood at the doorway of a wooden hut, squinting his eyes as he gazed at the distant watchtower.
After more than three months, it was time to address the threat of the swamp lizardmen.
He glanced slightly sideways at Benben, who was snoring loudly while lying outside the wooden hut.
Benben¡¯s massive body was now clad in a set of iron-gray armor.
The armor covered 90% of his body.
Chest plate, back plate, gauntlets, arm guards, and leg guards¡ª26 pieces of armor in total covered his entire body.
Apart from the joints, crotch, and underarms, all other areas were tightly protected.
Even his large head was encased in a massive full-cover helmet.
It seemed that Benben was quite fond of the helmet.
After all, an ogre¡¯s only weakness was its eyes.
The helmet¡¯s visor was grid-shaped.
Although it impaired visibility, it offered excellent protection for his eyes.
Weapons like arrows would find it very difficult to strike Benben¡¯s eyes.
The helmet also gave Benben a sense of security while he slept.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Wearing this set of armor, Benben looked like a giant iron man.
Although it fell slightly short of a fully-armored knight from Earth¡¯s medieval times, it was close enough.
Benben¡¯s weapon was a massive spiked club.
The club was entirely forged from low-carbon steel.
Its length was nearly five meters, matching Benben¡¯s height.
The shaft of the club was covered in sharp spikes.
If he swung it down, anything hit would be smashed into pulp.
The combined weight of the armor and club reached a terrifying 1.3 tons.
For a human, this would be an unbearable weight.
But for a creature like Benben, 1 ton was equivalent to about 10 kilograms for a human.
Time passed by bit by bit. The sounding of the war horn prompted the hunting teams outside to return one after another.
By the afternoon of the third day, in the tribe¡¯s forest.
In front of the largest wooden hut, it was bustling with activity.
More than a thousand goblins made the nearby forest crowded.
A single glance revealed a sea of goblins with green skin of various sizes.
Some goblins held long spears, while others carried crossbows on their backs.
"War, lizardmen, kill!"
Li Meng stood at the doorway of the wooden hut and said just one sentence.
Upon hearing this, the goblins¡¯ faces showed excitement.
"Kill! Kill!"
The goblins raised their weapons and shouted loudly.
The unified shouting echoed through the forest, startling the birds into flight.
"Set out!"
Li Meng waved his hand and gave the order to march.
More than 1,300 goblins turned and surged into the western forest.
This movement resembled a green wave sweeping through the forest.
The rumbling sound of footsteps echoed through the woods.
Based on the future predicted by Sims, Li Meng began his crusade against the swamp.
Before long, the commotion in the western forest gradually faded away.
The next morning, in the Riverside Forest.
A large group of goblins was marching through the dim forest.
Countless green figures filled every corner of the woods.
Under their overwhelming numbers, even the strongest magical beasts retreated.
Among the green crowd was an even larger figure.
Wherever it passed, low-hanging branches and leaves were pushed aside.
Occasionally, branches would break with a "crack" sound.
"Where¡¯s the turning point?"
At the forefront of the group, Li Meng was walking quickly through the forest.
As he walked, he was deep in thought.
Would this crusade against the swamp bring a turning point? Li Meng didn¡¯t know.
If he couldn¡¯t find a turning point in the swamp, his future would be bleak.
Although the worst outcome wouldn¡¯t be death,
At most, he¡¯d have to lead his goblin followers and flee the northern forest.
As long as they left the northern forest, they wouldn¡¯t clash with the pigmen.
Without a conflict with the pigmen, the lizardmen wouldn¡¯t ally with the pigmen to attack him.
Although this plan seemed cowardly, it would ensure survival.
And as long as he was alive, there would always be hope.
------
That night, the swamp was eerily silent.
Under the moonlight, the White Scale Tribe was utterly still.
The entire tribe was quiet, except for some lizardmen guards on the wooden wall perimeter.
"What¡¯s happening in the eastern forest?"
"Who knows? We¡¯ve already sent out several scouting teams, but none have returned."
"I heard goblins appeared in the eastern forest."
"Goblins? Those little creatures can just be killed."
Late at night, the lizardmen guards on the wooden wall were chatting idly.
For the past few months, the atmosphere in the tribe had been off.
Once, Elder Adao led the tribe¡¯s warriors out, but only half of them returned.
Even Elder Adao was severely injured.
"Goblins in groups are the most troublesome," one said.
"Just goblins. I can handle ten by myself," another boasted.
"Yeah, right. If even Elder Adao got hurt, you think you¡¯re better?"
"Come on. I¡¯ve killed at least twenty goblins!"
While the guards chatted to pass the time,
In the largest straw hut within the tribe,
"We¡¯ve sent five scouting teams, and none have returned. Something¡¯s wrong!"
"Of course. When I returned today, there was commotion in the eastern forest."
Five lizardmen sat cross-legged on straw mats.
At the head was a white-scaled lizardman.
Adao¡¯s expression was grim as he surveyed the elders.
"This time, the goblins we¡¯re dealing with are different from the ones we¡¯ve known. They have standardized weapons, made of iron. We cannot afford to underestimate them."
"Just goblins. Is there any need to be so tense?"
"So what if their weapons are iron? It doesn¡¯t change the fact that goblins are weak."
Some elders still looked down on the goblins.
They couldn¡¯t understand why Elder Adao was so cautious about these supposedly weak creatures.
"Let¡¯s finish off those ugly green creatures quickly, like we always have."
"Could the commotion in the eastern forest be goblins?"
"Impossible. If it were goblins, then the scouting teams we sent¡ª"
Before Elder Aqi could finish, he fell silent.
The elders¡¯ expressions darkened, their hearts sinking.
The eastern forest was stirring, and the lizardmen scouting teams were missing.
Connecting these two facts led to a terrifying conclusion.
All the elders looked toward the high priest at the head.
Under the moonlight, the high priest was enveloped in a layer of white radiance.
She looked stunningly beautiful and sacred.
Chapter 32: Night Attack
Chapter 32: Night Attack
Facing the elders'' gazes, the white Lizardman opened its reptilian mouth.
A gentle voice echoed in the room.
"Elder Aron, immediately send people to warn the Gray-Scaled Tribe and the Black-Scaled Tribe. Tell them that, if necessary, the White Phosphorus Tribe hopes to gain their help. In this swamp, all Lizardmen are one. Only by uniting against our enemies can we survive."
Elder Aron nodded.
No one knew what would happen in the future.
But making early preparations was never wrong.
Meanwhile, on the other side, deep within the swamp.
Under the moonlight, the weed-filled swamp was draped in a silver veil.
In a knee-deep water area, a dark mass of figures waded forward.
The shadows under the moonlight spread across a large portion of the swamp.
The sound of water splashing reverberated in the night sky.
Ripples formed as the water¡¯s surface churned intensely.
The Goblins moved with ease, even in the swamp.
The loud commotion drove swamp crabs out of their water holes, scurrying away in panic.
Their speed left only faint ripples on the water.
Swamp crocodiles, nearly five meters long, poked their heads out from the distant waters.
The noise made by the Goblins caught their attention.
But the overwhelming sounds and the sheer number of prey deterred them from approaching.
"Swamp crocodiles!"
The nearby crocodiles made the Goblins somewhat nervous.
Swamp crocodiles were Tier-2 magical beasts, invincible in water.
They usually lived in swamps and rivers.
Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Approaching the water¡¯s edge often invited their attacks.
Goblins fetching water from the rivers had frequently fallen prey to swamp crocodiles.
Legend spoke of a Swamp Crocodile King, a Tier-5 magical beast with magical powers.
"What¡¯s there to fear? We have crossbows and spears!"
"Yeah, yeah, if those crocodiles dare approach, we¡¯ll shoot and stab them to death."
Thinking of their weapons, the Goblins felt braver.
Their gazes toward the crocodiles turned greedy.
"Swamp crocodile meat tastes delicious. Let¡¯s hunt them."
"No, tonight the Lizardmen are our feast!"
"If we leave the group, the boss will get angry."
"Exactly, exactly, no splitting up!"
Among the wading Goblins was Li Meng.
Turning slightly, Li Meng glanced at the nearby waters.
More and more swamp crocodiles were gathering in the waters near the Goblin army.
Any Goblin that strayed from the group would become their meal.
[Swamp Crocodile]
[Level: 32]
[Strength: 71]
[Defense: 88]
[Agility: 68]
[Magic: 11]
Their level and attributes were high.
But magical beasts were just beasts. Unlike humans, they couldn¡¯t learn magical skills.
Without the enhancement of magical skills, they were merely stronger animals.
This was shallow water. If the crocodiles truly attacked, the outcome would be uncertain.
Compared to the Goblins¡¯ somewhat labored movements, Benben appeared much more at ease.
Though this was a swamp, not all ground beneath the water was muddy.
Li Meng walked ahead to scout paths for Benben.
Otherwise, he would have already been riding on Benben¡¯s shoulders.
Benben also noticed the distant swamp crocodiles.
It opened its mouth, saying, ¡°Oh-oo, oh-oo,¡± while pointing at the crocodiles.
Turning back at Benben''s voice, Li Meng grinned.
From Benben¡¯s expression, Li Meng knew it must be talking about food.
Shaking his head, Li Meng pointed toward the dark depths ahead.
Benben could only look regretfully at the crocodiles before continuing to follow its boss.
Three hours later, at the White-Scaled Tribe.
It was late at night, and the tribe behind the wooden walls was silent.
Even the Lizardmen guards on the walls were dozing off.
"Hey, did you hear something?"
On a section of the southern wall, a sleepy Lizardman suddenly jolted awake.
Rubbing its eyes, it scanned the outer swamp.
It patted its equally drowsy companion beside it.
The awakened companion yawned.
"Probably just swamp crabs. Those things love digging by the water."
The Lizardman guard scanned the water again.
Under the moonlight, only messy weeds and rippling water could be seen.
"Wait, when did that mound appear over there?"
Suddenly, the guard''s gaze fixed on a massive shadow.
The mound wasn¡¯t far from the shore, only about fifty meters from the wall.
It was too far to make out clearly.
"Let me see. Huh, that wasn¡¯t there earlier."
The guards exchanged puzzled looks.
Having stood watch for so long, they were familiar with the swamp¡¯s layout.
They were sure that shadow hadn¡¯t been there before.
"Could it be a swamp crocodile?"
"Impossible. Even standing upright, a crocodile wouldn¡¯t be that big."
"That¡¯s strange. It¡¯s not like a giant rock could have fallen from the sky."
"Maybe it¡¯s a pile of floating weeds that drifted here."
"Whatever. When dawn comes¡ª"
Whoosh!
Suddenly, an abrupt sound pierced the night.
Black streaks flashed under the moonlight.
The bodies of the Lizardman guards, who were observing the swamp, froze.
Arrows had precisely struck both of their heads.
Their sturdy bodies collapsed one after the other, falling off the wall.
In the moonlit darkness, numerous figures emerged from the weeds.
"Benben, charge!"
With a loud roar, the dark shadow moved.
Benben stood up, taking massive strides toward the wooden wall.
"Kill, kill!"
"Meat, meat!"
The Goblins shouted loudly as they followed Benben¡¯s massive figure toward the shore.
Crossbowmen continuously shot at the guards on the wall.
"What¡¯s happening?"
"Enemy attack, enemy attack!"
The noise outside startled the Lizardman guards.
But they quickly realized what was happening.
Immediately, the guards shouted warnings.
The commotion woke the Lizardmen in the tribe.
Chaos erupted as many armed themselves with large machetes and rushed out of their straw huts.
"South! The southern wall is under attack!"
The Lizardmen warriors hurried toward the southern wall.
Meanwhile, outside the wall.
Benben had reached the shore, its massive body charging toward the wooden barrier.
"What¡¯s that? It¡¯s huge!"
The tribe¡¯s wooden wall was only five meters tall.
It was built primarily to keep out swamp crabs and crocodiles.
But Benben¡¯s height nearly matched the wall.
To the Lizardmen, Benben was like a giant.
"It¡¯s... it¡¯s an Ogre!"
One guard recognized Benben and shouted in alarm.
Benben, like a mountain, crashed into the wall with its massive shoulder.
Chapter 33: The Turning Point Revealed
Chapter 33: The Turning Point Revealed
"Boom!"
In the dark of the night, a loud crash echoed, and splinters of wood flew everywhere.
The wooden wall was directly smashed into a large hole by Benben.
Benben''s massive body lost balance and fell to the ground.
As Benben climbed up from the ground, goblins swarmed in through the breach behind him.
"Wowlala!"
The goblins shouted excitedly, their faces full of exhilaration.
They scrambled to rush through the opening.
"It''s goblins! It''s goblins!"
The Lizardmen rushing to support finally discovered that it was goblins attacking the tribe.
"How could ogres be helping goblins?"
"Have they been tamed by the goblins?"
"Kill them!"
Although Benben''s massive body made the Lizardmen reveal expressions of fear, their homes were behind them, and they had nowhere to retreat.
Hundreds of Lizardmen wielding large machetes roared and charged toward the goblins.
"Whoosh!"
Facing the charging Lizardmen, the goblins yelled wildly and charged toward them.
Crossbowmen shot arrows as they ran.
With so many Lizardmen in front, there was no need to aim.
The sound of arrows slicing through the air echoed through the night sky.
Black streaks of light darted toward the charging Lizardmen.
"Thud!"
The leading Lizardman warrior suddenly froze in place.
Then, like harvested wheat, they fell in waves.
The fallen Lizardmen let out wails of pain.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
Seeing their companions collapse suddenly in front of them, the Lizardmen behind were startled.
All they heard was the sound of "whoosh, whoosh" as arrows streaked toward them from the front, and their comrades ahead fell, lifeless.
By the time they realized what had happened, it was too late.
Before the fight had even begun, the Lizardmen suffered heavy casualties.
Inside the tribe, beyond the wooden wall, goblins shouted and clashed with the Lizardmen.
The chaotic battlefield quickly spread, the battle cries of the two different species resounding through the night sky.
Crossbows were already deadly weapons in close combat.
As the battle began, the goblin crossbowmen, working alongside the goblin spearmen, slaughtered the Lizardmen mercilessly.
At close range, the crossbow bolts became even deadlier.
Though many goblins fell under the large machetes of the Lizardman warriors, even more Lizardmen fell under the bolts of the goblin crossbowmen.
Within moments, hundreds of Lizardmen were defeated, scattering in retreat.
The battle quickly spread deeper into the tribe.
A group of goblins rushed into a thatched hut.
Inside the hut, a female Lizardman clutched her child, trembling in the corner.
The goblins spotted her and, excited, charged forward with their weapons.
"What are you doing?"
A goblin leader suddenly slapped one of his underlings on the head.
The stunned goblin looked at the leader in confusion.
The goblin leader grinned, greedily eyeing the female Lizardman.
"The boss of the bosses said we can''t eat female Lizardmen."
Hearing this, the goblin''s eyes lit up.
He raised his weapon again, aiming for the child in the female Lizardman¡¯s arms.
"Smack!"
The leader slapped him on the head again.
"Boss, what now?"
The underling glared at the leader in frustration.
The leader glared back.
"The boss of the bosses said male Lizardman children shorter than us can''t be killed either."
"Why? I want meat!"
The underling complained discontentedly.
"No why. What, you want to challenge the boss of the bosses?"
The underling shrank back, shaking his head quickly.
"Come on, there¡¯s plenty of meat outside!"
The goblins hurriedly left the hut.
Later, more groups of goblins entered the hut.
However, upon seeing the Lizardman mother and child, none of them harmed them.
Even those dissatisfied with the order grumbled and left without causing harm.
"What¡¯s going on? What¡¯s happening?"
In front of the largest thatched hut in the tribe''s center, the elders hurriedly gathered after running from their homes.
"It¡¯s goblins! Goblins have broken in!"
A Lizardman ran over from the darkness, terror evident on his face.
More Lizardmen gathered from all directions around the elders.
"Goblins?"
The elders exchanged looks of astonishment.
Goblins dared to attack their tribe?
At that moment, a group of Lizardmen ran in from the southern darkness, all of them terrified as if pursued by something horrific.
"Elder, we can¡¯t hold them off! The goblins are slaughtering their way through!"
Adao furrowed his brows, stepping forward and pushing aside the Lizardman in front of him.
He strode to the forefront, raising his large machete.
"Don¡¯t be afraid! Prepare for battle!"
Adao¡¯s roar rallied his companions.
Unknowingly, more than 200 Lizardmen had gathered behind Adao.
His shout gave the terrified Lizardmen a sliver of courage.
In the rear, more Lizardmen gathered from the north.
But suddenly, the southern darkness fell silent.
The chaotic sounds of battle vanished completely.
Adao stared intently into the darkness, gripping his large machete tightly with both hands.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, the darkness erupted with change.
A dense barrage of arrows filled the night sky, shooting from the south.
Countless black streaks hurtled toward the Lizardmen.
"Bang!"
At that moment, the door of the large thatched hut behind the Lizardmen burst open.
A cloud of white mist surged out, rolling over the Lizardmen''s feet and toward the darkness.
A miraculous scene unfolded.
Ten meters ahead of the Lizardmen, the white mist coalesced into an ice wall that rose high into the air.
The arrows clattered against the ice wall, scattering shards of ice.
The ice wall''s exterior quickly turned into a pincushion of embedded bolts.
"It¡¯s the High Priest!"
The appearance of the ice wall elicited cheers from the Lizardmen.
Amid the cheering, a white figure emerged from the hut.
Standing at the entrance, Bai Ling gazed solemnly into the darkness.
The goblins¡¯ large-scale attack tonight had taken him by surprise.
He had never thought the goblins would dare to attack the tribe, let alone with such force.
"A white Lizardman who can use magic¡ could that be Bai Ling?"
In the southern darkness, Li Meng observed the white figure at the hut''s entrance.
[Lizardman]
[Level: 41]
[Strength: 17]
[Defense: 14]
[Agility: 21]
[Magic: 71]
[Ice Elemental Control: LV4]
[Mindspeak: LV3]
As if realizing something, Li Meng grinned.
"So, you¡¯re the turning point, huh?"
Upon seeing the "Mindspeak" skill, Li Meng finally understood everything.
Bai Ling was the true culprit behind the tribe''s downfall.
The Mindspeak skill allowed Bai Ling to communicate with other tribes.
Bai Ling was the key to the alliance between the Pigmen and the Lizardmen.
Chapter 34: The Power of Magic
Chapter 34: The Power of Magic
"Benben, it¡¯s your turn!"
Benben turned his head to glance at the boss.
He raised his left hand and pounded it against his chest with great force.
A heavy and resounding "thump" echoed in the air.
Benben then turned around, dragging his spiked club toward the ice wall.
"Benben! Benben!"
The goblins behind him shouted excitedly at the top of their lungs.
Their thunderous cheers drowned out all other sounds.
Hearing the synchronized shouts of the goblins in the depths of darkness, the Lizardmen outside the thatched hut felt their hearts tighten.
The sound was so immense¡ªjust how large was the goblins¡¯ force?
Standing at the doorway, Bai Ling felt her heart sink as well.
At that moment, Bai Ling¡¯s pupils contracted.
In the darkness in front of the ice wall, a massive figure slowly emerged.
"Ogre?"
Bai Ling gasped in shock.
Her body swayed, and a hint of panic flashed in her eyes.
Outside the thatched hut, the Lizardmen also looked terrified as they stared at Benben, who was approaching the ice wall from the other side.
Benben''s enormous body was overwhelmingly intimidating.
"Gobuqiang!"
Seeing the Lizardmen beyond the ice wall looking utterly frightened, Li Meng smirked quietly.
Leaving Benben behind had proven to be the right decision.
If Benben weren¡¯t here tonight, no one might have been able to handle that female Lizardman.
"Boss, did you call me?"
Hearing the boss¡¯s call, Gobuqiang quickly stepped forward.
"Bring those female Lizardmen and Lizardman children over!"
Gobuqiang nodded repeatedly, turned around, and left with a group of subordinates.
By this time, in the dark depths ahead, Benben had already arrived at the ice wall.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
"Stop, Ogre!"
Benben''s body suddenly froze, as if startled.
He turned his massive head with a confused look, scanning his surroundings.
"I¡¯m over here, the white Lizardman at the doorway. I¡¯m the one talking to you."
Benben turned his head toward Bai Ling, who stood at the doorway of the thatched hut.
"Why are you helping the weak and disgusting goblins attack us?"
Benben glanced back into the dark depths at his boss before turning to Bai Ling and letting out a loud "Ooooh."
"They¡¯re just weak goblins. You could crush them with a single slap. You¡¯re free."
Benben shook his large head.
"Roar!"
He let out a thunderous roar at Bai Ling.
Then he raised his spiked club with one hand and smashed it down onto the ice wall.
"Boom!"
With a deafening crash, the ice wall shattered.
"Wait, I¡¯m not your enemy. The goblins who enslaved you are your enemies."
Benben shook his head and took large strides forward.
The voice in his head made Benben furious.
He didn¡¯t like this feeling; his mind was being invaded.
Seeing the ogre unmoved, Bai Ling¡¯s expression turned cold.
Thick white mist surged from under her feet.
The mist spread past the Lizardmen, sweeping toward the ogre.
The dense white mist wrapped around Benben¡¯s legs and quickly enveloped his body.
"Crack!"
A crisp "crack" echoed through the night.
Benben, who was advancing, suddenly halted.
The mist around his body turned into ice, freezing him instantly.
From the moment the mist appeared to the moment Benben was frozen, it all happened in an instant.
In less than two seconds, there was a "crack," and the ice shattered.
The Lizardmen, who hadn¡¯t had time to celebrate, froze in shock.
"Stop! Don¡¯t come any closer!"
Bai Ling¡¯s expression changed slightly as she raised her hand.
More than ten ice arrows, each a meter long and three inches thick, appeared out of thin air and shot forward.
The sound of piercing wind echoed through the night sky.
The ice arrows transformed into streaks of white light, instantly crossing the hundred-meter distance and striking Benben''s body.
At the moment of impact, there was a crisp "crack."
The ice arrows shattered with a resounding crash.
One by one, the ten-plus ice arrows collided and shattered, scattering shards of ice everywhere.
Looking at the breastplate on Benben''s chest, more than ten dents had appeared.
Seeing that her attack was ineffective, Bai Ling raised her right hand high above her head.
Above her, white mist surged and instantly solidified into ice.
A massive ice spike hovered above Bai Ling¡¯s head.
The spike grew larger and thicker at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Chilling air spread outward from the ice spike.
Wherever it passed, the ground was covered with a layer of frost.
The freezing air forced the surrounding Lizardmen to retreat repeatedly.
"Go!"
When the ice spike reached a length of nearly ten meters, Bai Ling let out a sharp cry.
She threw her right hand forward.
The massive ice spike shot out, heading straight for Benben not far away.
Faced with the incoming ice spike, Benben stopped in his tracks.
"Roar!"
He let out a roar and swung his spiked club with both hands toward the incoming ice spike.
This strike landed precisely on the ice spike.
"Boom!"
At the moment the spiked club and the ice spike made contact, a powerful shockwave exploded outward.
The ice spike shattered immediately, its fragments scattering with the shockwave.
The immense force of the impact caused Benben¡¯s massive body to stagger backward repeatedly.
Several thatched huts dozens of meters away were blown apart as if swept by a hurricane.
The ice fragments mixed with the shockwave, lifting the thatched huts into the air.
Even the Lizardmen nearby were thrown off balance, tumbling over one another.
The chilling air swept outward from Benben¡¯s position, covering the ground in a layer of ice crystals and freezing everything in its path.
"It¡¯s still no use, is it?"
Seeing that the ogre remained unharmed, a hint of despair flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes.
The difference in power between the two sides was too great.
And the ogre had formidable resistance to magic.
Just the ogre alone could slaughter all her people.
Facing the ogre, the only hope for survival was to flee.
But right now, they were not only facing the ogre.
They also had to deal with the goblins, who were watching like predators.
"Benben, come back!"
At that moment, Li Meng''s voice rang out from the darkness behind Benben.
Benben, who was approaching the Lizardmen, stopped in his tracks.
His massive body turned around and looked toward the darkness behind him.
In the eyes of the Lizardmen, a large goblin slowly emerged from the shadows.
"Goblin, retreat at once! This is not a place for you!"
The voice suddenly appeared in Li Meng¡¯s mind.
Li Meng¡¯s expression shifted slightly. He stopped in his tracks and looked up at the white Lizardman in front of the thatched hut.
Although it had the appearance of a lizard, it gave off a surprisingly alluring impression.
This wasn¡¯t an illusion¡ªit was due to the curvaceous figure it had when standing upright, which conformed to human aesthetics.
Lizardmen had lizard-like heads, bodies covered in scales, and tails.
But aside from the tail and head, the rest of their bodies leaned toward a humanoid shape.
"Surrender, or you will all die!"
Using the heart-speaking skill, the two communicated through their thoughts.
This wasn¡¯t a verbal exchange but a form of telepathy.
It allowed them to understand each other''s thoughts and intentions.
Li Meng gazed greedily at Bai Ling in front of the thatched hut.
This white variant female stirred his desire to reproduce.
Although she had a lizard¡¯s head, it wasn¡¯t something he couldn¡¯t accept.
At the very least, she was far better than those female magical beasts.
Faced with Li Meng¡¯s greedy gaze, Bai Ling¡¯s face was full of disgust.
"Wishful thinking! The White Scale Tribe will never be slaves!"
Li Meng grinned, turned around, and waved his hand into the darkness behind him.
The sound of footsteps echoed from the shadows, accompanied by the cries of Lizardmen women and children.
Chapter 35: Leave None Alive
Chapter 35: Leave None Alive
A group of female Lizardmen and Lizardman children were driven out of the darkness by Goblins.
The number was considerable, over 200 of them.
This caused a commotion in the darkness.
"Move quickly, or I¡¯ll eat you!"
A Goblin looked greedily at the female Lizardmen passing by.
He picked up a spear and jabbed one of them.
The Lizardman let out a miserable cry of pain and jumped in fright.
This provoked a burst of laughter from the surrounding Goblins.
The frightened female Lizardmen, holding their trembling children, walked forward with fear in their eyes.
The appearance of women and children caused unrest among the Lizardmen near the thatched huts.
All the Lizardmen glared angrily at the Goblins driving the women and children.
Faced with the enraged male Lizardmen, Li Meng grinned.
He then turned and waved at a female Lizardman not far behind him.
A Goblin nearby hurriedly used a spear to force the female Lizardman over.
The female Lizardman, full of fear, came before Li Meng.
The sight of the hideous Goblin made her legs weak, and she collapsed to the ground.
Looking down at the trembling female Lizardman before him, Li Meng grinned again.
His eyes suddenly turned cold. He stretched out his right hand and grabbed the female Lizardman by the neck.
The female Lizardman, larger than Li Meng, was lifted off the ground with ease.
The sensation of suffocation caused the female Lizardman to struggle violently.
But her struggles were in vain.
Li Meng, gripping the female Lizardman¡¯s neck, faced the group of Lizardmen.
"You should already know what I intend to do!"
Li Meng''s gaze fixed on Bai Ling standing at the doorway of the thatched hut.
Bai Ling glared at him angrily, her whole body trembling.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
"Damned Goblins, go to hell!"
Unable to bear the sight of their kin being so mistreated by the Goblins, several Lizardmen roared in fury.
The leading Lizardman let out an angry shout.
Five Lizardmen suddenly charged at Li Meng.
"Come back!"
Adao was alarmed by the reckless actions of his people.
He quickly tried to stop them, but it was too late.
Benben moved. The massive creature took a few steps forward.
With the giant spiked club in his hand, he swung horizontally.
"Bang!"
The massive club swept across the five Lizardmen.
At the moment of impact, the crisp sound of bones shattering echoed through the night sky.
The five Lizardmen were flung away like ragdolls, soaring tens of meters before crashing into a thatched hut.
One wall of the hut collapsed instantly.
"Roar!"
After finishing his attack, Benben let out an angry roar toward the Lizardmen.
Terrified, the Lizardmen retreated repeatedly, staring at the Ogre encased in steel.
"My patience is limited!"
Li Meng tightened his grip.
The female Lizardman clutched Li Meng''s hand tightly.
Her mouth dripped saliva profusely.
Her neck emitted cracking sounds, as if it would be broken in the next moment.
Bai Ling gritted her teeth, glaring at Li Meng with hatred.
"The White-Scaled tribe would rather die than become slaves!"
Hearing the final answer from the female Lizardman, Li Meng grinned.
Releasing his grip, Li Meng let go of the female Lizardman.
The Lizardman knelt on the ground, gasping for air.
Li Meng pointed forward, his gaze filled with killing intent as he stared at the Lizardmen before him.
"Kill them all, leave none alive!"
Originally considering keeping these adult Lizardmen as labor, he now decided to kill them all.
The Goblins behind him were overjoyed by the leader''s command.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The ecstatic Goblins charged forward in a frenzy.
Their cries echoed through the sky.
The sound of crossbow bolts piercing through the air resounded again in the dark night.
This made the Lizardmen in front of the thatched huts look tense.
"Block them! Kill!"
Adao realized that the High Priest had clearly been negotiating with the Goblins earlier.
The result was obvious¡ªthe talks had failed.
As the Lizardmen moved, so did Benben.
Holding his massive spiked club, he charged toward the Lizardmen like a heavy tank.
Just as the massive club was raised for a sweeping strike,
A cloud of white mist quickly approached from the ground, engulfing Benben''s body.
The white mist instantly turned into ice, freezing Benben once again.
"Ah!"
Bai Ling chose to stop Benben, but this meant she couldn¡¯t help the Lizardmen.
The crossbow bolts rained down, falling into the group of Lizardmen like droplets.
The darkness was filled with screams and wails.
Sharp crossbow bolts pierced through the Lizardmen''s bodies.
The Lizardmen at the forefront of the charge fell in large numbers.
Adao was strong, an outstanding warrior among the Lizardmen.
But he was still made of flesh and blood.
Charging at the forefront, Adao became the primary target of the Goblin crossbowmen.
His body was riddled with crossbow bolts, turning him into a porcupine.
Even so, he staggered forward in the darkness.
His legs gave out, and Adao fell to his knees.
"Goblins, I... I will kill you..."
His eyes were filled with hatred as he stared into the depths of the darkness.
In his vision, countless Goblins holding spears emerged from the shadows.
He tried to pick up the large machete beside him to continue fighting.
But his hands were already limp and powerless.
The Goblins ignored him, rushing past him with loud cries.
Before losing consciousness entirely, Adao saw and heard something.
He saw countless figures emerging from the darkness.
He heard the rumbling sound of their footsteps.
___
In the darkness, Adao fell to the ground with a mix of despair and resignation.
The night deepened, and the moonlight illuminated the chaotic village.
The shouts of battle, roars, screams, and wails echoed endlessly.
Magical lights flashed in some parts of the village.
"Don¡¯t come near! Don¡¯t come near!"
In front of the thatched huts, Bai Ling looked at the approaching Ogre with despair.
The Ogre seemed like a wall, blocking her magic.
She wanted to help her tribe, to use magic to kill the Goblins.
Even if the White-Scaled Tribe was destined to perish tonight, she wanted to take the Goblins down with them.
But her magic couldn¡¯t break through the Ogre''s massive body.
She couldn¡¯t bypass this formidable barrier.
"High Priest, save me!"
In the darkness, a blood-covered Lizardman crawled to Bai Ling''s feet.
Two crossbow bolts were lodged in its back, and blood poured from its mouth.
"Ah!"
Bai Ling, having never seen so much blood, let out a sharp scream.
Filled with fear, she turned and ran into the hut.
The High Priest''s reaction left the Lizardman lying on the ground bewildered.
As it succumbed to blood loss, it closed its eyes with lingering questions.
At this moment, the final slaughter was underway in the surrounding darkness.
Although it seemed like both sides were engaged in chaotic battle, the Lizardmen were rapidly being defeated.
Against the crossbows, the Lizardmen had no means of resistance.
The darkness hindered their vision.
Already outmatched, the Lizardmen were being slaughtered entirely under such conditions¡ªit was only a matter of time.
"It seems the Lizardmen aren¡¯t such a strong race after all."
In the darkness, Li Meng walked across the battlefield, stepping over corpses.
As he walked, Li Meng didn¡¯t find a single Lizardman with any special abilities.
The Goblins, though weak, clearly had a higher potential than the Lizardmen.
Chapter 36: Screams in the Night
Chapter 36: Screams in the Night
The Lizardmen had high potential, especially with someone like Bai Ling, a mage.
But from Bai Ling¡¯s appearance, it was clear she was an exception.
As long as Goblins survived, they had no issue evolving into Goblin Warriors.
Lizardmen, on the other hand, had no concept of evolution.
They could only enhance their strength through physical training and combat skills, whereas Goblins could grow stronger by eating.
The former had a higher baseline, while the latter had a higher ceiling.
When Li Meng arrived in front of the straw hut, the sounds of battle were already moving westward.
The area around the straw hut had been cleared of Lizardmen.
The Goblins were sweeping through the entire tribe.
Looking at the ground around the hut, piles of Lizardmen corpses could be seen stacked on top of each other.
"Oh?"
Standing in front of the straw hut¡¯s door, Benben looked troubled.
The hut was too small for it to enter.
Lowering its head, it glanced at its leader, who had just arrived. Benben pointed at the hut.
Li Meng grinned and patted Benben¡¯s leg.
¡°Benben, leave the rest to me.¡±
Looking at the hut¡¯s open door, Li Meng smirked lewdly.
For months, he had been suppressing his instincts to reproduce.
Tonight, he would no longer resist his body¡¯s primal urges.
With that, Li Meng swaggered into the straw hut.
Moments ago, Bai Ling had fled into the hut, and Li Meng had seen it clearly.
That woman¡¯s mental state had completely collapsed.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
As someone of high status who had always lived within the tribe, she had never experienced death.
How could she comprehend its terror?
¡°D-don¡¯t come any closer!¡±
The straw hut was not entirely dark.
Moonlight spilled through the skylight, softly dispelling the shadows.
Inside, Li Meng spotted Bai Ling curled up in a corner.
¡°Those young Lizardmen died because of you. Do you want the women and children to die for you too?¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s face froze as she stared blankly at the approaching Li Meng.
Standing before her, Li Meng looked down with a sneer.
Reaching out, he grabbed Bai Ling¡¯s hand.
He then forcibly pressed her beneath him.
¡°Live with this guilt. Only if you survive can your people survive.¡±
With that, Li Meng grinned grotesquely and tore off the beast hide covering Bai Ling¡¯s chest.
Her high, human-like breasts were exposed to his gaze.
Li Meng stared greedily, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
He had assumed Lizardmen were oviparous, but he was clearly wrong.
Like humans, Lizardmen were viviparous; otherwise, these breasts wouldn¡¯t exist.
Bai Ling didn¡¯t resist. She stared blankly at the full moon, allowing the grotesque Goblin on her to tear away her beast skirt.
Not long after, a suppressed scream echoed from the hut.
This was followed by muffled grunts and groans.
Under the full moon, the swamp was anything but peaceful tonight.
Two hours later, the noisy White White-Scaled Tribe gradually quieted down.
In the darkness, sounds of chewing echoed throughout the tribe.
The Goblins, famished after hours of battle, tore into the corpses.
The thick stench of blood permeated the air, enveloping the entire area.
Around the largest hut, the chewing noises were the loudest.
Numerous Goblins gnawed greedily on the Lizardmen corpses.
Not far away, the surviving Lizardwomen and children watched in terror as their tribespeople were devoured.
¡°Ah!¡±
At that moment, a scream suddenly came from within the straw hut.
This drew the attention of the nearby Goblins feasting on the corpses.
With bloodied mouths, they looked toward the hut.
Moments later, their leader emerged from the doorway.
In his hand was a thick white tail, from which he tore a chunk of meat with his teeth.
¡°Hmm, not bad!¡±
The flavor surprised Li Meng.
Bai Ling¡¯s tail meat was better than anything he had ever eaten¡ªchewy, with a faint milky aroma.
[Skill Devoured: Acquired Skill "Heart Speech"]
The system notification brought a grin to Li Meng¡¯s face.
For Bai Ling to survive, she had no choice but to offer her tail.
Otherwise, death awaited her.
Lizardmen could regenerate their tails, so losing one wouldn¡¯t harm Bai Ling much.
In half a year, her tail would grow back as good as new.
Standing in the doorway, Li Meng continued savoring the tail meat.
Bai Ling¡¯s other skill, "Ice Element Control," was an excellent ability.
If one tail wasn¡¯t enough to extract it, he could always eat her regenerated tail later.
[Skill Devoured: Acquired Skill "Ice Element Control"]
Before finishing the tail, the system notification appeared again.
¡°Lucky me. Here, a reward for you!¡±
Satisfied, Li Meng tossed the remaining tail to a nearby Goblin underling.
The Goblins scrambled to grab the prize.
Looking up at the full moon, Li Meng narrowed his eyes.
Based on his foresight from Life Simulation, Bai Ling couldn¡¯t stay in the White Phosphorus Tribe.
If she remained, she would undoubtedly betray him.
Li Meng wasn¡¯t naive enough to think that Bai Ling would fall in love with him after what he had done.
Such things only happened in illogical stories.
As a Goblin, despised by all intelligent races, Bai Ling would only feel shame and wait for revenge.
¡°Who cares?¡±
A hint of disdain flashed in Li Meng¡¯s eyes as he reached out toward the moon.
As a Goblin, Li Meng had no intention of being a ¡°good person.¡±
Since Goblins were universally loathed, he would use his existence to trample on the pride and dignity of those other races.
¡°No matter who you are, watch closely. I will torment this world to my heart¡¯s content!¡±
Li Meng grinned viciously, clenching his fists as if declaring war on some unseen force.
After a while, he lowered his hands.
Turning slightly, he looked at Benben, who sat in front of the straw hut.
¡°Benben!¡±
The sudden voice in Benben¡¯s mind startled it.
Benben¡¯s massive frame trembled as it shook its head violently.
¡°It¡¯s me, your leader!¡±
Benben lowered its head to look at Li Meng.
It extended a massive finger to point at him.
¡°Yes, it¡¯s me!¡±
¡°Leader, how did you get into my head?¡±
¡°I¡¯m not in your head. I¡¯m using magic to communicate with you.¡±
¡°Magic? This voice in my head is magic?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s magic.¡±
¡°Oh, I see. Benben understands!¡±
Li Meng sat down at the doorway, the moonlight illuminating their contrasting figures.
¡°Benben, do you have any family?¡±
¡°Yes, long ago, we all lived in a cave. But one day, they all disappeared.¡±
¡°Disappeared? Did you look for them, Benben?¡±
¡°Leader, why should I look for them?¡±
Chapter 37: The Gray Scales Tribe
Chapter 37: The Gray Scales Tribe
Li Meng''s expression froze for a moment, and he quickly understood what was happening.
It seemed that once Ogres reached adulthood, they separated from their parents.
However, unlike most magical beasts that drove their offspring away, Ogres chose to leave themselves, abandoning their nests to their children.
"Benben, have you encountered other Ogres before?"
Benben nodded its massive head and tapped on its helmet.
The magic cast by the boss in its mind made it somewhat uncomfortable.
"I met them in the mountains. They¡¯re really fierce. Benben doesn¡¯t like them."
"Them? Were they an Ogre family?"
"I don¡¯t know. Benben fought them. They were strange. When that hot thing in the sky looked at them, they turned into stone."
Turned into stone under the sunlight?
Li Meng¡¯s face displayed a thoughtful expression as he scrutinized Benben.
It seemed Benben was an outlier among Ogres.
Could it be because of its "Enhanced Stone Skin" skill?
Time slowly passed, and night deepened.
The sound of chewing in the tribe continued for a long, long time.
Only when dawn arrived did the tribe finally fall completely silent.
The well-fed Goblins lay down and began snoring.
The female Lizardmen and their children were driven back into the thatched huts.
The hierarchy among Goblins was strict. Reproductive rights belonged to the higher-ranked Goblins.
No matter how strong their mating desires were, they wouldn¡¯t reproduce on their own.
Ordinary Goblins wouldn¡¯t even have the initiative to seek reproductive rights because the genetic information etched into them suppressed such urges.
This was a form of biological evolution through survival of the fittest.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.
Offspring of higher-ranking Goblins had greater potential.
Only allowing higher-ranking Goblins to reproduce strengthened the tribe''s power.
Ordinary Goblin offspring would only weaken the tribe.
As the morning sun rose in the eastern sky, the battle traces from the previous night had vanished.
The tribe was filled with sleeping Goblins.
Neither the bodies of Goblins nor Lizardmen remained¡ªthey had all been consumed by the Goblins.
Looking over at the snoring Goblins, each one¡¯s belly was round and swollen.
"What¡ What are you planning to do with us?"
In the bright morning sunlight, the tribe was silent.
Bai Ling weakly stepped out of the thatched hut.
The pain of her severed tail caused her voice to tremble.
Bai Ling glared resentfully at the Goblin sitting at the door, staring blankly at the blue sky.
Li Meng turned to glance at Bai Ling, who was leaning against the doorframe.
Bai Ling was still Bai Ling, but the tail under her beast skirt was gone.
She had lost more than just her tail¡ªshe had lost other things as well.
After taking one look at Li Meng, she withdrew her gaze, continuing to stare at the blue sky.
"I am a smart Goblin. I won¡¯t let you become tools for breeding, used until death, and then eaten. Every 365 sunsets, you will offer ten percent of your population, half male and half female. This will rotate every 365 sunsets."
Sustainable utilization maximized the value of the Lizardmen.
Goblins had inherent flaws.
To reproduce, they had to rely on other races.
Thus, the tribe¡¯s future required subordinate races of its own.
"What difference does that make?"
Despair flashed in Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
She knew exactly what the difference was.
The former inflicted pain temporarily, while the latter inflicted pain for a lifetime.
"The difference is huge. At least you can live, reproduce, and thrive, providing us with more females and labor!"
"You¡ You demon!"
Bai Ling¡¯s face showed sorrow, and she despaired for her tribe''s future.
Li Meng turned to Bai Ling at the door, sneering hideously.
"Goblins are far scarier than demons!"
After speaking, Li Meng stood up.
"Once I destroy the Gray Scales Tribe and the Black Scales Tribe, all the Lizardmen in the swamp will be under your rule. If you don¡¯t want your people to suffer, work hard for me. Otherwise, you¡¯re only fit to be food."
Saying this, Li Meng patted the armor of Benben, who was snoring soundly.
Benben stirred and stood up.
"Roar!"
Benben let out a massive roar, its bellow from the helmet echoing across the land.
The Goblins in the tribe, who were fast asleep, were startled awake.
"Take me with you. I can help you subdue the Gray Scales Tribe and the Black Scales Tribe with less effort!"
Li Meng turned to Bai Ling and grinned.
"Then follow me. I¡¯ll be watching you."
Li Meng could see right through Bai Ling¡¯s thoughts.
She only wanted to preserve the Lizardmen¡¯s remaining strength for the future.
At noon, under the scorching sun, Li Meng led the Goblin army away from the White Scales Tribe.
With Bai Ling as the guide, the Goblin army advanced straight toward the Gray Scales Tribe.
Two days later, in the swamp, near the Gray Scales Tribe.
In a relatively shallow water area stood numerous stilted wooden houses.
The surrounding water made the view wide and open.
Due to its geographical location, the Gray Scales Tribe hadn¡¯t built wooden walls for protection.
By afternoon, inside the tribe''s largest wooden house:
"Gray Scales Chief, the Goblin army is attacking! The White Scales Tribe''s stronghold has already been breached!"
This sudden news shocked the elders in the wooden house.
The White Scales Tribe had nearly a thousand members and wasn¡¯t weak among the three tribes.
Moreover, with High Priest Bai Ling in charge, how could mere Goblins breach it?
The elders, kneeling inside the wooden house, exchanged glances.
On the main seat, the Gray Scales Chief stared expressionlessly at the Lizardman delivering the warning.
"Ridiculous! The White Scales Tribe has High Priest Bai Ling in charge. How could mere Goblins threaten it?"
Gray Scales found it hard to believe that the White Scales Tribe had been breached.
He had seen Bai Ling''s magical power firsthand¡ªit was formidable.
How could mere Goblins rival her?
The High Priest could easily annihilate hundreds of Goblins with a single spell.
Seeing the chief¡¯s disbelief, the Lizardman from the White Scales Tribe panicked.
It knelt down quickly.
"Gray Scales Chief, I speak the truth! When I left, the tribe¡¯s outer wooden walls had already been breached. The High Priest instructed me to alert the Gray Scales Tribe and the Black Scales Tribe!"
Could it be true?
Had the White Scales Tribe, under Bai Ling¡¯s leadership, really been breached by Goblins?
Looking at the kneeling Lizardman, Gray Scales¡¯s expression shifted.
The other elders were equally uncertain.
If the White Scales Tribe had indeed fallen¡
How powerful must the invading Goblin army be?
"Chief, Chief, something terrible has happened!"
At that moment, a Lizardman rushed in.
"It¡¯s the Goblins! The Goblin army is attacking!"
The rushing Lizardman¡¯s face was full of panic as it reported loudly.
"What?"
"How is that possible? So soon?"
The White Scales Tribe messenger had just arrived, and now the Goblin army was here?
Chapter 38: Surrender
Chapter 38: Surrender
At this moment, everyone in the wooden huts realized the severity of the situation.
The goblin army''s arrival signified the fall of the White Scales Tribe.
Gray Scales stood up and strode outside.
"Inform all tribesmen to follow me into battle!"
Meanwhile, in the vast waters to the east of the tribe.
Under the scorching sun, a dense group of green-skinned figures waded through the water.
The sheer number of them occupied a vast expanse of the water.
Amid the numerous smaller green-skinned figures, there was one significantly larger figure.
It resembled a towering mountain moving through the water.
Wherever it passed, splashes flew everywhere.
On its shoulders sat two figures, one on each side.
One was Li Meng, and the other was Bai Ling.
Sitting on Benben''s shoulder, Li Meng gazed into the distance.
In that direction, wooden huts stood over the water, blending seamlessly with the horizon.
The scene was grand and awe-inspiring.
"This Gray Scales Tribe sure knows how to pick a location!"
The surrounding water was clear, no deeper than one meter.
Anything approaching could be spotted from a great distance.
As an amphibious intelligent species, such an environment was ideal for the Lizardmen to fight in.
At this moment, movement erupted within the tribe.
Countless Lizardmen surged out of the tribe.
With a leap, they dived into deeper waters like dumplings plunging into a pot.
Ripples spread across the water''s surface, moving in the direction of the goblin army.
"Stop!"
Li Meng, sitting on Benben''s shoulder, shouted loudly.This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
The goblin army wading through the water halted.
The rippling water made it difficult for the goblins to stand firm.
"How did I manage to defeat the Gray Scales Tribe?"
Looking at the goblins around him struggling to keep their balance in the water, Li Meng pondered silently.
In this environment, crossbows were of little use.
The Lizardmen''s agility in water far surpassed that of the goblins.
Fighting the Lizardmen in water would make it impossible for his goblin army to win.
Even if they could win, the losses would be enormous.
Conquering the final Black Scales Tribe would then be an impossible task.
With a leap, Li Meng jumped off Benben''s shoulder.
As he was about to land in the water, white mist rose beneath his feet, freezing the water''s surface.
Li Meng ran forward across the frozen surface.
Wherever he stepped, the water beneath froze solid.
This scene left Bai Ling, sitting on Benben''s shoulder, in disbelief.
"Impossible!"
She exclaimed in shock.
A goblin capable of ice magic?
The goblins stared in astonishment at their leader running across the water.
The boss could use magic?
Li Meng ran to the front of the army, extending his right hand with his palm facing outward.
"Freeze!"
Thick white mist surged forward, spreading to both sides.
Wherever the mist passed, the water froze instantly.
Before long, a massive ice sheet appeared before the goblin army.
It stretched out for hundreds of meters before the white mist gradually dissipated.
"Magic is indeed useful!"
Looking at the vast expanse of white ice, Li Meng was very pleased.
Only now did Li Meng understand why he had been able to defeat the Gray Scales Tribe.
In the predictions of the Simulated Life skill, he had similarly acquired the skill of Ice Element Control from Bai Ling.
However, the prediction did not clearly state this.
"Onto the ice, prepare for battle!"
Li Meng climbed onto the ice and shouted.
The appearance of the ice excited the goblins.
All of them looked at their leader on the ice with awe.
"Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
It was unclear who shouted first.
Soon, all the goblins began chanting "Gobumeng" as they climbed onto the ice.
The sudden emergence of the ice also startled the approaching Lizardmen.
The Lizardmen, who had been charging underwater, came to an abrupt halt.
Rising out of the water, they stared at the ice not far away with a mix of confusion and fear.
"This is ice magic. How could the High Priest Bai Ling assist the goblins?"
"It''s the High Priest Bai Ling! I see her there!"
"That massive figure¡ªwhat is it?"
Benben''s enormous stature was conspicuous.
Even from a distance, many Lizardmen could see the white figure of the High Priest Bai Ling sitting on the giant''s shoulder.
Bai Ling''s white-scaled armor was too striking.
It was instantly recognizable.
"An ogre! Why is an ogre with the goblins?"
"Damn it! The High Priest Bai Ling has been coerced!"
Many Lizardmen began discussing, quickly realizing what had happened.
Clearly, the goblins had forced the High Priest Bai Ling to comply.
That was the only reason she was helping them.
"Damn goblins!"
Gray Scales and its tribesmen watched the goblins climbing onto the ice from a distance.
The sight of the High Priest Bai Ling being held captive filled it with fury, causing it to slap the water violently.
"Chieftain, what should we do now?"
A group of elders approached Gray Scales.
"Charge! Rescue the High Priest Bai Ling!"
A Lizardman elder clenched its fists tightly, its gaze fixed on the white figure atop the giant.
The High Priest Bai Ling was the dream of all male Lizardmen.
Nearly all the elders had once pursued her in their youth.
Though they had failed and been rejected, the High Priest Bai Ling belonged to no one but was cherished by all Lizardmen.
"No! If I¡¯m correct, the giant beneath the High Priest Bai Ling is an ogre!"
Gray Scales¡¯ words stunned the elders.
"An ogre? This... This is impossible!"
"No wonder the High Priest Bai Ling was captured. If it¡¯s an ogre, it makes sense."
Ogres had strong magic resistance.
Magic was almost ineffective against them.
The only weakness of an ogre was its eyes, which were vulnerable to human arrows.
By now, all the goblins had climbed onto the ice.
"Bai Ling, it¡¯s your turn!"
Li Meng glanced at Bai Ling beside him.
Bai Ling walked forward expressionlessly.
Without her tail, Bai Ling¡¯s back resembled a human¡¯s even more.
The swaying of her waist and hips was irresistibly alluring.
"Strange... How can a Lizardman be this seductive?"
Bai Ling''s graceful figure made Li Meng wonder if he had a peculiar fetish.
"It¡¯s the High Priest Bai Ling! She¡¯s coming over!"
Bai Ling quickly reached the edge of the ice.
Without hesitation, she stepped into the water.
As her feet touched the water, it froze immediately.
Bai Ling walked steadily across the frozen surface toward the Lizardmen.
Seeing this, Gray Scales dove into the water, swimming toward the High Priest Bai Ling.
Soon, they stopped about a hundred meters from the ice.
"High Priest Bai Ling, your tail?"
Rising from the water, Gray Scales¡¯ face twisted with rage.
The High Priest Bai Ling¡¯s tail was gone?
While Lizardmen could regenerate tails, the pain of losing one was unbearable, even for males.
Bai Ling shook her head, looking calmly at Gray Scales.
"Gray Scales Chieftain, surrender!"
From about a hundred meters away, the two exchanged words.
In the water, Gray Scales shook its head and slapped the surface violently.
Occasionally, it cast vengeful glances toward the goblins on the ice.
Chapter 39: Iron Skin
Chapter 39: Iron Skin
"The future should have changed!"
Looking at the two people chatting not far away, Li Meng muttered to himself.
"System, start the life simulation!"
Since there''s nothing better to do, let''s use this month''s simulation attempts.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You lead a goblin army to advance toward the Gray Scales Tribe.]
[Under Bai Ling''s persuasion, the Gray Scales Tribe chooses to surrender to you and is willing to act as mediators to convince the Black Scales Tribe to submit to you.]
[The Black Scales Tribe surrenders to you, and you successfully conquer the marshlands.]
[You lead the goblin army back to the tribe with the spoils of war.]
[Your tribe thrives, and the hunting grounds expand explosively.]
[Bai Ling gives birth, and you have a bloodline descendant.]
[One day, a group of Pigmen appears in the eastern forest. You choose to ignore them.]
[One day, a person in a black robe, whose face cannot be seen, appears in the tribe and seeks you out.]
[You obtain a sacrificial plate for summoning the "Savage God" from the black-robed individual.]
[Make a choice:]
[1. To gain immense power, you choose to summon the "Savage God."]
[2. You decide to seal the sacrificial plate of the Savage God, perhaps it will be useful in the future.]
[3. You immediately destroy the sacrificial plate of the Savage God after the black-robed individual leaves.]
"Savage God?"
A trace of doubt flashed in Li Meng''s eyes as he muttered inwardly.
What kind of thing is this?
Could it be some sort of summoning magic?
"Choose three!"
Something summoned, especially if it involves gods, must be an ominous thing.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Li Meng would never dabble in something that clearly had issues.
Compared to the second option, Li Meng preferred the third.
[You destroy the sacrificial plate of the Savage God.]
[A large number of Pigmen are discovered in the eastern forest. You choose to retreat.]
[Goblins are discovered on the southern shore.]
[A Lizardman army from the west arrives in the marshlands.]
[The Lizardman tribes in the marshlands rebel on the Day of Rotation. Bai Ling betrays you.]
[A Lizardman army marches from the marshlands toward your tribe.]
[You lead the goblin army to meet the Lizardman army and encounter them in the eastern forest.]
[You achieve victory, with less than 10% of the Lizardmen surviving.]
[You lead the goblin cavalry to capture Bai Ling.]
[You lead the goblin army to advance into Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe summons the Savage God "Akuya."]
[The Black Mountain Marshlands are corrupted by the Savage God, turning into the Great Wasteland Domain. All life is refined into wasteland slaves.]
[You choose to retreat and lead the goblin army back to the tribe.]
[Three years pass.]
[As a transmigrator and a goblin, you cautiously and diligently expand your tribe. Your efforts bear fruit, and your life has just begun.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 100.]
[Choose a reward:]
[1. Consume ten points to increase level +1.]
[2. Consume one point to increase an attribute +1.]
[3. Consume ten points to increase charisma +1.]
[4. Consume ten points to increase the "Steel Muscles and Bones" skill level +1.]
[5. Consume ten points to increase the "Wind Blade Technique" skill level +1.]
"Great Wasteland Domain, wasteland slaves?"
For some reason, the future predicted by the life simulation sent chills down Li Meng''s spine.
The appearance of the black robe, the sacrificial plate to summon the Savage God, the Great Wasteland Domain, wasteland slaves...
Everything happened so suddenly.
It was as if a bomb had suddenly fallen into what was once a peaceful life.
And Li Meng hadn''t expected the life simulation to predict only three years into the future.
"Choose four!"
[Consume 60 points to increase "Steel Muscles and Bones" skill level +6.]
["Steel Muscles and Bones" skill is maxed out and advances to "Iron Skin."]
[Consume 40 points to increase "Iron Skin" skill level +2.]
[Your attributes have been enhanced.]
"Ugh!"
Li Meng suddenly let out a muffled groan, his face showing pain.
Both hands gripped his thighs tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands.
His whole body crackled and popped.
The intense pain made Li Meng feel as if the bones all over his body were being crushed.
After several minutes, the pain gradually subsided.
When the pain disappeared, Li Meng was drenched in sweat.
"B-Boss, are you okay?"
Behind Li Meng, Gobuqiang took a fearful step back.
For some reason, Gobuqiang felt that the boss had changed.
Just standing behind him, it felt a suffocating pressure.
Its legs were trembling, and it had the urge to kneel before its boss.
"I''m fine!"
Taking a deep breath, Li Meng willed his status to appear.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 775]
[Defense: 759]
[Agility: 291]
[Magic Power: 86]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring the flesh and blood of magical beasts grants a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Skin: LV2 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +200)]
[Wind Blade Technique: LV1]
[Physical Regeneration: LV1]
[Telepathy: LV1]
[Ice Element Control: LV1]
What on earth just happened?
The terrifying attributes left Li Meng dumbfounded.
He hadn''t expected the skill''s advancement to bring such an absurd boost in attributes.
Now, his attributes had completely surpassed Benben''s.
Though he looked small, his body contained immense power.
"This feels amazing!"
Li Meng clenched his right fist excitedly.
From this moment on, Gobuba no longer posed any threat to him.
He could crush Gobuba with a single finger.
"Boss, it''s back!"
At this moment, Bai Ling finished negotiating with the Lizardmen.
She turned and walked toward Li Meng.
Seeing Bai Ling approaching, Li Meng''s face showed greed.
There was still time. It should still be possible.
With his current powerful physical attributes, mating with Bai Ling could produce offspring with even greater potential.
Facing Li Meng''s greedy and lustful gaze, Bai Ling frowned slightly.
Returning to Li Meng, a trace of disgust flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes.
She lowered her head slightly and reported the outcome of her negotiations with the Gray Scales Tribe leader.
"The Gray Scales Tribe is willing to submit to you. They also agree to tribute 20% of their population and are willing to act as mediators to convince the Black Scales Tribe to surrender. However, they have two conditions."
Two conditions?
Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen standing in the water not far away.
Facing Li Meng''s gaze, the Gray Scales leader lowered its head in humiliation.
This was a gesture of submission.
"Speak. What are the conditions?"
Li Meng turned back to look at Bai Ling in front of him.
"First, the goblins must guarantee the safety of the tribute population and cannot treat the Lizardmen as food."
"Second, there must be no goblins in the tribe."
"Fine, I agree!"
Li Meng agreed to the Gray Scales Tribe''s two conditions without hesitation.
Chapter 40: Endure Hardship and Seek Revenge
Chapter 40: Endure Hardship and Seek Revenge
¡°Bai Ling, tell them to send the tribute population to the White Scales Tribe in three days.¡±
Bai Ling nodded, then turned to walk toward the Gray Scales Tribe leader.
The two exchanged some words briefly.
Before long, the Lizardman turned and dived into the water, swimming away into the distance.
¡°Gobuqiang, retreat!¡±
Taking two steps forward, Li Meng grabbed Bai Ling''s hand as she returned to his side.
He pulled her up onto Benben¡¯s hand.
Benben stood up and placed his leader onto his shoulder.
Sitting on Benben''s shoulder, Li Meng forcefully pulled Bai Ling into his embrace.
Both hands tightly gripped Bai Ling¡¯s waist and hips.
¡°What... are you doing?¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s face filled with panic as she struggled.
However, to her despair, she found herself unable to move.
The hands on her waist and hips locked her body firmly in place.
¡°No, please, not here!¡±
The strange sensation beneath her beast skirt made Bai Ling realize what this goblin intended to do.
Her face showed a pleading expression.
Her kind was watching from not far away.
As the High Priest, how could she endure such humiliation?
¡°Retreat, return to the White Scales Tribe immediately!¡±
At Gobuqiang¡¯s order, the goblins on the ice began to turn and withdraw.
Seeing their leader on Benben''s shoulder bullying the female Lizardman, the goblins wore greedy expressions.
Some even drooled.
¡°Ah!¡±
A scream rang out, and Bai Ling, straddling Li Meng¡¯s lap, wore a face full of resentment.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
Li Meng buried his ugly head into Bai Ling¡¯s soft chest.
¡°How hateful, how detestable!¡±
Not far away, the Lizardmen witnessed everything.
Gray Scales threw back his head in a mournful cry of rage.
His face twisted with hatred, his heart filled with extreme fury.
Around him, the elders clenched their fists, their bodies trembling.
Their High Priest had been turned into a breeding tool by the goblins.
¡°Hateful, so hateful!¡±
Many Lizardmen lowered their heads, unwilling to watch.
Others, unwilling to accept this, slapped the water in anger to vent their frustration.
¡°Chief, let¡¯s fight them!¡±
¡°Yes, fight!¡±
The Lizardmen, filled with righteous indignation, all turned toward the Gray Scales Tribe leader.
Faced with the furious and expectant gazes of the young members of his tribe, Gray Scales hesitated.
Ultimately, his expression darkened, and he waded toward the direction of his tribe without a word.
¡°Everyone, return!¡±
¡°Chief!¡±
Some Lizardmen wanted to speak further, but Gray Scales silenced them with a glare.
The chief''s authority forced the reluctant Lizardmen to follow in silence.
The elders, too, wanted to speak but hesitated.
Though they didn¡¯t know what the chief and Bai Ling the High Priest had discussed, the goblin retreat gave them a sense of relief.
---
Later, in the chief¡¯s wooden house in the Gray Scales Tribe:
¡°What? I won¡¯t agree! I absolutely won¡¯t agree! Chief, you¡¯re handing our people over to the goblins as breeding tools!¡±
The elders looked at the chief in disbelief.
They couldn¡¯t believe the chief would agree to submit to the goblins.
Elder Huigu roared at Gray Scales.
Gray Scales faced the elders¡¯ angry gazes with a blank expression.
¡°Do you think the Gray Scales Tribe is stronger than the White Scales Tribe?¡±
The chief¡¯s question rendered the elders speechless.
Among the three major tribes of the marshlands, the White Scales Tribe was the strongest.
Not only did they have a large population, but they also had Bai Ling, the High Priest.
¡°The White Scales Tribe was defeated by the goblins. How can we possibly fight them?¡±
Faced with the chief¡¯s gaze, the elders lowered their heads.
Elder Huigu wanted to say something but ultimately remained silent.
¡°Bai Ling, the High Priest, told me herself. In last night¡¯s battle, all the White Scales Tribe¡¯s able-bodied men were killed by the goblins. Only women and children remain. If we want revenge, we must first avoid direct confrontation. Pretending to submit to the goblins will buy us time to seek help from the Black Scales Tribe. A direct fight would only lead us to the same fate as the White Scales Tribe. We will have our revenge, but not now. We must preserve our strength for the future.¡±
Revenge!
The chief¡¯s words caused the elders to clench their fists.
Their eyes burned with hatred for the goblins.
To avenge their losses, they had to endure the humiliation of submission.
¡°Chief, I¡¯m afraid the tribe won¡¯t accept this easily.¡±
Huigen looked worried, fully aware of the uproar this news would cause.
Gray Scales glanced apologetically at his wife, seated nearby.
¡°I will lead by example and become the first tribute.¡±
At these words, the elders¡¯ expressions shifted.
Elder Huigu let out a bitter laugh and shook his head.
¡°There¡¯s no other way. If we don¡¯t become the tribute, we can¡¯t explain it to the tribe.¡±
The elders exchanged glances, nodding in unison.
¡°Chief, we will bear this burden together.¡±
Faced with their determined gazes, Gray Scales felt comforted.
If only he became the tribute, the elders would bear the tribe¡¯s resentment.
But if both the chief and the elders became tributes, the tribe would understand their intentions.
Soon, the chief led the elders toward the Black Scales Tribe.
---
Three days later, in the White Scales Tribe:
At noon, the marshlands were bathed in the blazing sun.
Compared to the morning¡¯s bustle, the White Scales Tribe was now much quieter.
Looking toward the tribe, the wooden walls showed many goblins playing and laughing.
Inside the walls, the tribe seemed relatively calm.
Early that morning, nearly half of the hunting teams had gone out to hunt.
Goblins had no habit of storing food. They ate wherever they went.
Goblins didn¡¯t consume much; a full meal could sustain them for three days.
In front of the largest thatched hut in the tribe, Gobuqiang looked ingratiatingly at Benben, who sat by the door.
¡°Well... I want to see the boss!¡±
Hearing the noises coming from inside, Gobuqiang¡¯s eyes flashed with envy.
Benben lowered his head to look at Gobuqiang, staring silently.
Feeling Benben¡¯s gaze, Gobuqiang awkwardly smiled, took two steps back, and sat down obediently.
Meanwhile, in a corner of the room, two figures, one green and one white, overlapped.
Bai Ling was pinned beneath Li Meng, unable to move.
Her hands tightly gripped the wooden planks, her eyes filled with humiliation and hatred.
At that moment, Li Meng¡¯s body trembled and collapsed weakly onto Bai Ling.
After a while, Li Meng got up and sat beside Bai Ling.
Looking down at her belly, he reached out and gently stroked her slightly bulging abdomen.
¡°It seems you¡¯re pregnant.¡±
Though his voice was quiet, Bai Ling heard him.
Though she couldn¡¯t understand the goblin language, her "Mind Speak" skill translated the meaning.
Her body trembled, and a trace of fear flashed in her eyes.
¡°Giving birth to goblins is relatively easy. It won¡¯t hurt,¡± Li Meng said.
The size of goblin infants depended on the size of the mother¡¯s body.
If the mother was a Ground Mouse, the goblin would be very small, ensuring the mother could give birth safely without dying during labor.
Chapter 41: The Tribute Has Arrived
Chapter 41: The Tribute Has Arrived
Goblin limits are closely tied to their paternal bloodline.
The lower limits of goblins, however, are closely related to the maternal body.
The goblins born from ground mouse mothers have the lowest limits.
If the mother is a dragon, the goblin born would not only have extraordinary attributes from birth but might even evolve into a goblin king upon reaching adulthood.
Additionally, it would possess draconic traits, granting it powerful skills.
Of course, dragon-blooded goblins likely don¡¯t exist in this world.
After all, goblins occupy the bottom tier of the world¡¯s biological chain.
While they can cooperate in teams to hunt powerful magical beasts, many beasts in the forest also prey on goblins.
Dragons, on the other hand, stand at the pinnacle of the pyramid of life.
The two would never intersect. Even if they did, goblins would only ever be insignificant ants.
Faced with Li Meng¡¯s reassurance, Bai Ling turned her face away expressionlessly.
Li Meng grinned and stood up, heading outside without a care.
Li Meng had no interest in Bai Ling¡¯s thoughts.
In the coming year, Bai Ling¡¯s task was to bear his offspring.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
Outside, the door was suddenly flung open, startling Gobuqiang, who had been waiting inside.
Gobuqiang hurriedly got up with a flattering smile and went to greet him.
Standing at the doorway, Li Meng stretched lazily.
He then looked up at the clear, cloudless blue sky.
¡°What now?¡±
A goblin outside glanced greedily toward the interior of the room.
¡°Boss, give me a female!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s face turned cold as he looked at Gobuqiang expressionlessly.
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¡°Gobuqiang, you¡¯re the first goblin to openly ask me for breeding rights.¡±
Facing the boss¡¯s piercing gaze, Gobuqiang¡¯s face turned pale.
Terrified, he dropped to his knees, kowtowing furiously.
¡°Boss, I was wrong, I was wrong! I won¡¯t dare again!¡±
Looking at the groveling Gobuqiang, Li Meng waved his hand impatiently.
¡°Don¡¯t do it again. Now scram!¡±
Gobuqiang immediately turned and scampered off, tripping over himself in his hurry.
¡°Hmph, serves you right!¡±
Nearby goblins watched the scene with schadenfreude.
¡°That old guy strutting in front of the boss all the time¡ªhe should¡¯ve stepped down ages ago!¡±
¡°Gobu De, why don¡¯t you challenge Gobuqiang?¡±
¡°Get lost! I left his hunting party long ago. If I were to challenge someone, it¡¯d be the young boss.¡±
Hearing the mocking comments of his kin, Gobuqiang glared at them furiously.
Clenching his fists, a hint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
¡°Just wait. Once I evolve into a goblin warrior, I¡¯ll deal with you all!¡±
At that moment, a goblin came rushing over from the front.
Gobuqiang grabbed him.
¡°What¡¯s going on?¡±
¡°There¡¯s a group of lizardmen approaching from the northwest of the tribe.¡±
A group of lizardmen approaching?
Gobuqiang¡¯s eyes lit up as he turned and dashed toward the boss.
¡°I¡¯ll handle this!¡±
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
Gobuqiang, who had just run off, came scampering back.
Sliding to a kneeling stop, he landed firmly before Li Meng.
¡°Boss, the tribute has arrived!¡±
Upon hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up.
He was about to go take a look but reconsidered and dismissed the thought.
¡°Let them in. Bring a few key individuals to see me.¡±
Gobuqiang nodded vigorously.
Being entrusted with this task by the boss was excellent.
It meant the boss still trusted him.
His position in the boss¡¯s mind wasn¡¯t something those foolish goblins could challenge.
Gobuqiang quickly got up, puffed up with pride, and ran off into the distance.
Meanwhile, to the northwest of the tribe in the marshlands, a group of lizardmen was wading through shallow waters toward the tribe.
Their figures formed a dense cluster, numbering at least four to five hundred.
The faces of the lizardmen, even those leading the group, were filled with fear.
The sight of the fortress ahead caused their hearts to tighten further.
Reaching this place meant there was no turning back.
¡°Gray Scales Chief, I hope your decision with the White Scales Tribe is the right one.¡±
Amid the group, the Gray Scales Chief supported his wife as they waded through the waters.
Hearing this, he glanced toward the distant White Scales Tribe.
¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to the Black Mountain Marshlands to request aid from the Black Mountain Tribe. You should know how precious the High Priest¡¯s bloodline is. The Black Mountain Tribe won¡¯t refuse us. Once reinforcements arrive, it will be our day of revenge!¡±
The Black Scales Chief turned to look at his slightly nervous wife beside him.
He sighed but said nothing more.
Too much comfort would only make her more fragile.
They had no choice, and neither did their tribespeople.
They could either struggle to survive or become food for the goblins.
Half an hour later, the lizardmen, acting as tribute, arrived at the northern wooden walls of the tribe from the northwest.
They entered through the northern gate.
Goblins stared greedily at the lizardmen entering through the gate.
Some lizardmen glared angrily back, while others trembled in fear.
The elders of the Gray Scales and Black Scales Tribes looked tense.
Having entered the tribe unarmed, they knew that if the goblins turned hostile, they would all die.
Fortunately, the goblins merely stared at them with hungry eyes.
¡°Gray Scales Chief, the weapons those goblins are holding seem to be human bows and arrows!¡±
Since entering the White Scales Tribe, the Black Scales Chief had been observing the goblins in the tribe.
The weapons they carried had caught his attention.
The Gray Scales Chief had also noticed that the goblins¡¯ weapons appeared to be made of iron.
¡°They look similar, but bows and arrows aren¡¯t like this!¡±
¡°Where did these goblins get iron weapons?¡±
On this point, the Gray Scales Chief was deeply puzzled.
¡°We¡¯ll find out soon enough!¡±
Raising his head slightly, the Black Scales Chief looked at a goblin blocking their path.
¡°Follow me!¡±
The goblin in their way was Gobuqiang.
He gestured for the group of lizardmen to follow him.
Although they didn¡¯t speak the same language, his body language made his meaning clear.
Goblin gestures were easy to interpret.
With that, Gobuqiang turned and led the lizardmen into the depths of the tribe.
Before long, Gobuqiang brought the group to the largest straw hut in the tribe.
Li Meng still sat at the entrance, while Benben lay nearby, sound asleep.
Bai Ling stood at the doorway, quietly watching the approaching lizardmen.
¡°It¡¯s the High Priest Bai Ling!¡±
The sight of Bai Ling caused a small commotion among the lizardmen.
All of them looked at Bai Ling with complicated expressions.
They hadn¡¯t expected the High Priest to become a prisoner of the goblins.
The lizardmen stopped about twenty meters from the hut.
Gobuqiang scampered over to Li Meng.
¡°Boss, all the tribute has been brought!¡±
Li Meng scanned the lizardmen.
There were hundreds of them.
Pointing to the two leading lizardmen, he noted that their levels were the highest, at 47.
This meant their status in the lizardmen tribe wasn¡¯t ordinary.
Chapter 42: Return to the Tribe
Chapter 42: Return to the Tribe
The goblin sitting at the door pointed toward himself.
The members of the White Scales Tribe and Black Scales Tribe slightly shifted their expressions, glancing toward High Priest Bai Ling.
Standing at the door, Bai Ling lightly nodded in response to their gaze.
Seeing this, the two individuals strode toward the thatched hut.
¡°Bai Ling, what are the identities of those two Lizardmen?¡±
The goblin''s question made Bai Ling frown slightly.
She lowered her head and answered Li Meng truthfully.
¡°They are the Gray Scales Chief of the Gray Scales Tribe and the Black Scales Chief of the Black Scales Tribe!¡±
Hearing this, Li Meng''s eyes flashed with surprise.
¡°A chief of a tribe willingly acting as a tribute¡ªwhat boldness. Those leading the Lizardmen must not be simple either.¡±
¡°Yes, they are elders and elder wives of the two tribes.¡±
Li Meng grinned, now understanding the situation.
If the leaders didn''t lead by example, how could they convince their tribes?
To submit to the goblins was an immense humiliation for any intelligent race.
Once the fire of rage ignited, both tribes would fight to the death.
By sacrificing themselves, the upper ranks of the tribes preserved their people.
The Gray Scales and Black Scales stopped five meters from Li Meng.
With heads bowed and expressions of humiliation, they knelt on the ground.
Li Meng was very satisfied with their submissive gesture.
Although these Lizardmen were only pretending to surrender to buy time, Li Meng didn¡¯t care about their petty schemes.
After all, time was on his side.
¡°Bai Ling, tell them: from now on, male Lizardmen are their responsibility, while the females are under your jurisdiction. Tomorrow, we return to the tribe!¡±The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Bai Ling relayed Li Meng¡¯s words to the kneeling Lizardmen in their language.
The two raised their heads to look at Bai Ling and nodded.
With the Mind Reading skill, Li Meng understood their conversation but pretended not to.
Soon, the two got up and left.
The gathered Lizardmen in front of the hut were also taken elsewhere to be settled.
Time ticked away, and the sun gradually set.
Before nightfall, the hunting team returned to the tribe, bringing back a large number of swamp crabs and swamp crocodiles.
That night, the White Scales Tribe was bustling.
Moonlight poured from the sky, slightly dispelling the darkness.
Inside one of the thatched huts crowded with Lizardmen, over a dozen were whispering.
¡°These goblins seem different from those we¡¯ve encountered before.¡±
¡°Indeed, they¡¯re too rational.¡±
¡°The goblins we knew before were more like beasts. Today, they seemed like true intelligent beings.¡±
¡°Is it because of that goblin?¡±
The day¡¯s events left them astonished.
They had prepared themselves for humiliation.
Although the goblins ogled the females greedily, they restrained their desires.
Were these still the goblins they knew?
Moreover, the atmosphere surrounding the goblins was entirely different.
¡°For now, we can only wait and see. Disperse quietly and don¡¯t alarm the goblins.¡±
Gray Scales ended the discussion.
The gathered group soon dispersed and lay down to sleep in the darkness.
Time passed, and the night deepened.
The next morning, just as dawn broke, the White Scales Tribe grew lively.
Goblins rudely pushed open the doors of the huts, waking the sleeping Lizardmen, driving them outside.
The massive group marched westward, leaving through the west gate.
By the afternoon of the second day, the group exited the swamp and entered the forest.
They hunted while traveling upstream.
By the afternoon of the fifth day, the group finally returned to the tribe.
¡°This is the goblins¡¯ lair?¡±
Looking at the scattered wooden huts in the forest, Gray Scales mused silently.
Beside him, Black Scales was equally surprised.
The goblin army that conquered the White Scales Tribe was not small.
There were at least a thousand goblins.
How could such a small place house so many goblins?
Could it be that these thousand goblins were the entirety of their forces?
Soon, the massive group gathered in front of the largest wooden hut.
Dense figures stretched across the forest, covering every corner.
Li Meng stood at the hut¡¯s entrance, like a "king."
Outside were numerous Big Goblins.
After devouring a significant number of Lizardmen corpses, over twenty goblins had evolved into Big Goblins, with some showing signs of further evolving into Goblin Warriors.
Even among the Big Goblins, these were hulking figures.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
At that moment, Gobuge ran out of the forest with a group of goblins.
Panting heavily, it joined the ranks of the Big Goblins.
Li Meng turned to Bai Ling at his side.
¡°Separate them: males to the left, females to the right!¡±
Bai Ling silently approached the Lizardmen group.
In their language, she loudly instructed the Lizardmen.
The Lizardmen exchanged glances, fear evident on their faces.
Some female Lizardmen clung tightly to the males for comfort.
Seeing their hesitation, Li Meng, standing at the hut''s entrance, grew impatient.
He had no time to waste with the Lizardmen.
Li Meng gestured to the goblins surrounding the Lizardmen.
The goblins grinned and shouted, brandishing their weapons as they charged at the Lizardmen.
¡°Males to the left, females to the right! Separate, separate!¡±
The goblins yelled as they jabbed the Lizardmen with spear tips.
Although the Lizardmen couldn¡¯t understand the goblin language, they knew it related to what Bai Ling had said.
Under the goblins¡¯ forceful commands, the Lizardmen finally separated.
¡°Gobuge, the male Lizardmen are under your care. Make them do hard labor, and remember¡ªthey are not food.¡±
Gobuge¡¯s eyes lit up, nodding enthusiastically.
¡°Uh¡ Boss¡¡±
Gobuge grinned, hesitating as it glanced at the female Lizardmen with greed.
It wasn¡¯t the males Gobuge wanted.
¡°Come see me later!¡±
Hearing this, Gobuge was overjoyed and quickly led the male Lizardmen into the forest¡¯s depths.
The departing male Lizardmen glanced back repeatedly, unsure of what awaited them.
Once they vanished, Li Meng began assigning the female Lizardmen.
¡°These are the mates of the three tribes¡¯ elders. They rightfully belong to you!¡±
Bai Ling brought over a dozen female Lizardmen to Li Meng.
Looking at the females behind Bai Ling, Li Meng smirked wickedly.
In a few months, he would have his own offspring.
By then, he would truly control the tribe.
¡°Take them inside.¡±
Bai Ling turned to the Lizardmen behind her and spoke a few words.
A total of thirteen female Lizardmen followed Bai Ling into the hut.
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Chapter 43: I Want to Challenge You
Chapter 43: I Want to Challenge You
Although Li Meng couldn¡¯t tell whether the Lizardmen were considered attractive or not, the elders¡¯ companions all had a certain allure.
They differed slightly from ordinary female Lizardmen.
At the very least, their curves were fuller and more graceful.
Their levels were also significantly higher.
Ordinary female Lizardmen typically had levels around 20, while the elders¡¯ companions exceeded level 30.
¡°Bai Ling, you should call me Master!¡±
When walking beside Li Meng, he coldly uttered this sentence.
Bai Ling¡¯s body trembled, and she lowered her head slightly.
¡°Master!¡±
This word, "Master," brought a smile to Li Meng¡¯s face.
Reaching out, he gave Bai Ling¡¯s plump rear a playful slap.
Bai Ling, both embarrassed and annoyed, led her tribe members into the house.
Bai Ling herself didn¡¯t enter but stood behind Li Meng.
¡°Gobuqiang, you performed valiantly this time. I¡¯ll reward you with ten female Lizardmen. Remember, they¡¯re not food. Before the Day of Rotation, you must return them to me intact. If any are missing, you¡¯ll need to explain yourself, and I will punish you based on your explanation.¡±
Gobuqiang nodded fervently, overjoyed.
He knelt to the ground with a sycophantic expression.
¡°Boss, I won¡¯t eat them. Absolutely not!¡±
Li Meng waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the female Lizardmen.
¡°Go and pick ten female Lizardmen.¡±
Gobuqiang immediately jumped to his feet and joyfully ran toward the female Lizardmen.
¡°You, you, you¡¡±
Before long, Gobuqiang had chosen ten female Lizardmen and happily led them to his wooden hut.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
The other Goblins looked on enviously as Gobuqiang departed with his reward.
¡°Gobuda, Gobuka, Gobuqi, Gobuliang, you all performed well in this battle. I¡¯ll grant each of you five female Lizardmen.¡±
The four Goblins excitedly rushed toward the female Lizardmen.
Seeing the group of female Lizardmen, greed shone in their eyes.
The female Lizardmen, on the other hand, trembled with fear.
¡°Gobu De, Gobuba, Gobuge, each of you may choose three females.¡±
Of the three Goblins, two dashed toward the female Lizardmen with greedy expressions.
Only Gobuge didn¡¯t move.
¡°I¡¯m not satisfied, Gobumeng! I challenge you!¡±
Gobuge stared greedily at Bai Ling, standing behind Li Meng.
Fearlessly, he met Li Meng¡¯s gaze and provocatively pointed his right hand at him.
Gobuge¡¯s challenge shocked the surrounding Goblins.
But what followed was a wave of excitement and cheers.
¡°Gobuge! Gobuge!¡±
All the Goblins in the forest chanted loudly, cheering for Gobuge.
The law of the jungle had been the Goblins¡¯ creed for millennia.
Challenging the boss was an honor worthy of admiration.
Even Gobuqiang, who had walked away, returned, shouting ¡°Gobuge¡± to lend his support.
Encouraged by his companions¡¯ cheers, Gobuge¡¯s face lit up with excitement.
¡°Ah!¡±
He let out a roar toward the sky.
Something astonishing happened¡ªGobuge began to evolve.
His body emitted cracking sounds as he swelled visibly.
From an initial height of nearly 1.8 meters, he shot up to 2 meters.
His frame became even sturdier and taller.
¡°Gobuge! Gobuge!¡±
This sight sent the Goblins into a frenzy, their shouts deafening.
¡°Gobumeng, I am the real boss!¡±
Fueled by the newfound strength surging through his body, Gobuge roared.
His powerful physique charged toward Li Meng like a heavy tank.
Behind Li Meng, Bai Ling smirked gleefully.
A challenge between Goblins likely prohibited the use of magic.
If magic were disallowed, a mere Great Goblin like Li Meng was doomed.
¡°Benben, don¡¯t intervene!¡±
Benben, standing nearby, gripped his spiked club tightly.
If he struck, even ten Gobuge wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.
As Gobuge charged, Li Meng¡¯s eyes narrowed.
In his simulated life, he had foreseen this moment¡ªGobuge challenging him.
Li Meng thought he had changed the future, but it seemed he was wrong.
His future had shifted, but Gobuge¡¯s evolution into a Goblin Warrior and subsequent challenge remained unchanged.
¡°Gobumeng, die!¡±
Gobuge¡¯s burly form barreled toward Li Meng, his massive fist aiming for Li Meng¡¯s head.
Seeing his boss within reach, Gobuge¡¯s face glowed with excitement.
If he killed the boss, he¡¯d take his place.
Once that happened, he¡¯d possess everything the boss had.
As the fist approached, Li Meng moved.
His left hand shot out, striking Gobuge¡¯s arm with lightning speed.
The sheer force knocked Gobuge¡¯s fist aside.
This opened Gobuge¡¯s defenses.
Li Meng stepped forward, his right hand forming a palm, striking Gobuge¡¯s chest.
In one fluid motion, Li Meng executed both defense and attack.
¡°Boom!¡±
With a loud explosion, a shockwave erupted.
Gobuge¡¯s massive body flew backward like a cannonball.
He soared dozens of meters before crashing into a large tree with a ¡°bang.¡±
¡°Crack!¡±
The tree¡¯s trunk caved in, forming a deep dent.
Gobuge¡¯s body, shattered like a watermelon struck by a hammer, burst apart.
Blood and flesh flew everywhere, staining the surroundings red.
This gruesome scene silenced the cheering Goblins.
All the Goblins stared in fear at their boss standing at the hut¡¯s entrance.
Behind Li Meng, Bai Ling¡¯s face turned pale.
Only she could sense the terrifying power hidden within the small Goblin¡¯s body.
She couldn¡¯t believe that a Great Goblin could wield such overwhelming strength.
Li Meng¡¯s cold gaze swept over the Goblins.
Under his gaze, the Goblins lowered their heads in reverence.
¡°The remaining Great Goblins may each select three female Lizardmen.¡±
Li Meng¡¯s sudden order startled the Great Goblins.
Over ten of them instinctively knelt, but upon hearing his words, they excitedly rushed toward the female Lizardmen.
Once all the Great Goblins had chosen their mates, over a hundred female Lizardmen remained.
Many ordinary Goblins were close to evolving into Great Goblins, so some females needed to be reserved for them.
¡°Bai Ling, organize the rest to care for the pregnant females.¡±
Hearing this, Bai Ling silently walked toward her tribespeople.
Everything the Goblins had done left Bai Ling trembling with fear.
He was too cunning¡ªit was hard to believe he was a Goblin.
Reasonably distributing the females was not something a Goblin would normally do.
Not long after, the Goblins dispersed from the hut.
Before nightfall, Gobuge returned to the tribe.
¡°Benben, is the boss inside?¡±
Gobuge enviously stared at the closed door.
He could hear faint noises from inside.
Clearly, the boss was in there.
Chapter 44: Expanding the Tribe
Chapter 44: Expanding the Tribe
Benben, who was sound asleep, sat up.
It looked down at the little Gobuge.
Then lay back down and continued sleeping.
Gobuge chuckled awkwardly and had no choice but to wait patiently.
Inside the hut, Li Meng was venting his energy on a female Lizardman.
The other female Lizardmen huddled in the corner in fear.
Among all the female Lizardmen, only Bai Ling remained calm.
She sat with her legs hugged, pretending to sleep near the door.
It seemed she didn¡¯t care about the exposed springtime scenery beneath her beast skirt.
¡°Ah!¡±
The female Lizardman beneath Li Meng suddenly let out a sharp scream.
She tightly embraced Li Meng¡¯s chest and waist with her powerful hands.
Even with her lizard head, the desire in her eyes was apparent.
Seeing the seductive expression on the female Lizardman¡¯s face, Li Meng smiled secretly.
To increase the chances of conception, Goblins have an aphrodisiac effect.
No matter how much Bai Ling hated him, once caught in that state, she would succumb to desire.
At that moment, she wouldn¡¯t just stop resisting but might even take the initiative.
It was precisely because of this ability that female creatures who mated with Goblins often experienced mental instability.
Day after day, the blend of pleasure and disgust could easily lead to a mental breakdown.
No one knew how much time passed before the sounds in the hut finally ceased.
Inside, Li Meng climbed off the female Lizardman.
Standing up, Li Meng opened a side window.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
With the window open, the room became much brighter.
¡°Bai Ling, why didn¡¯t they escape?¡±
Li Meng had always wondered about the Black Scales Tribe¡¯s submission.
The marshland was vast. If the Black Scales Tribe chose to flee, he wouldn¡¯t bother to pursue them.
Not just the Black Scales Tribe¡ªif the Gray Scales Tribe abandoned their fortress and fled, Li Meng wouldn¡¯t chase them either.
After all, the marshlands were the Lizardmen¡¯s territory.
In the marshlands, Lizardmen could move much faster than Goblins.
Even if he wanted to pursue them, he wouldn¡¯t catch up.
Sitting by the door, Bai Ling opened her golden eyes.
She looked up at her master, who stood naked by the window.
¡°Master, we swamp Lizardmen like humid environments and can¡¯t live without water. If our bodies go too long without moisture, our skin will crack, and our scales will break. In the Goblin Forest, only two places suit swamp Lizardmen: the Black Mountain Marshlands and the northern marsh where we are now. Our roots are here; once we leave the northern marsh, we can¡¯t survive.¡±
¡°Why not return to the Black Mountain Marshlands?¡±
Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling.
His gaze slightly lowered, taking in the sight beneath her beast skirt.
Noticing where her master¡¯s eyes were, Bai Ling shifted slightly and lowered her legs.
Inside the wooden hut, Bai Ling¡¯s voice sounded again.
¡°The Black Mountain Marshlands are deep within the Goblin Forest, far from the northern marsh. If the entire tribe migrates, the risks are too great. Aside from the able-bodied, most women and children might die along the way. While we are good in water, we cannot catch agile fish in deep waters. On land, we are not nimble enough to catch small magical beasts or animals.¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s explanation made Li Meng suddenly understand.
No wonder the Black Scales Tribe would rather submit to him than migrate.
Thinking carefully, their choice made sense.
Capturing magical beasts wasn¡¯t easy.
Low-tier magical beasts weren¡¯t much different from ordinary animals.
Even if facing a weaker opponent, they would prioritize fleeing over fighting.
Magical beasts that didn¡¯t run were often extremely powerful.
Swamp Lizardmen weren¡¯t agile on land, making it hard to hunt low-tier magical beasts.
Unlike Goblins, who had powerful claws capable of digging up ground mice hiding in burrows.
Goblins were small enough to crawl into burrows and flush out ground mice.
Additionally, Goblins had night vision.
This significantly increased their hunting success rate.
Swamp Lizardmen lacked such advantages when it came to hunting.
In terms of survival in the forest, Goblins far surpassed swamp Lizardmen.
Migrating without sufficient food would be catastrophic.
Leaving the window, Li Meng walked toward the door.
With a creak, the door that had been closed for hours finally opened.
¡°Boss, Boss!¡±
The sound of the door opening startled Gobuge, who was dozing off near the entrance.
It jumped up in surprise, quickly turning to face the door.
In Gobuge¡¯s eyes, the boss walked out from inside the hut.
Gobuge immediately ran up with a fawning smile.
Li Meng stretched lazily after stepping out.
¡°Bai Ling, take Gobuge to pick five female Lizardmen.¡±
Hearing this, Gobuge¡¯s face lit up with joy.
Bai Ling, now dressed in her beast skirt, stepped out of the hut.
She glared at Gobuge with disgust before walking toward the huts where the female Lizardmen were kept.
¡°Gobuge, split half of the male Lizardmen and assign them to Gobuqiang. Go.¡±
Gobuge nodded hurriedly and chased after Bai Ling.
Watching them leave, Li Meng scanned the tribe.
The tribe was still too small, with not enough wooden huts, and the existing ones weren¡¯t large enough.
The buildings of the White Scales and Gray Scales Tribes were much better.
It was the perfect opportunity to have the Lizardmen expand the tribe.
To build more and larger wooden huts.
¡°You, go find Gobuqiang and bring him to me.¡±
Li Meng addressed a Goblin standing guard at the entrance.
The hunting teams wouldn¡¯t all go out at once.
Two teams stayed behind to protect the tribe¡¯s safety.
In addition to patrol teams, Goblins also guarded key locations.
¡°Yes, Boss!¡±
The guard Goblin quickly ran toward Gobuqiang¡¯s hut.
About ten minutes later, Gobuqiang arrived before Bai Ling.
¡°Boss, you called me?¡±
Gobuqiang ran over eagerly.
Seeing the panting Gobuqiang, Li Meng glanced slightly toward the forest.
In that direction, Bai Ling was walking over.
¡°Soon, Gobuge will assign some male Lizardmen to you. You won¡¯t go hunting anymore. Your next task is to lead them in expanding the tribe and building more and larger wooden huts. Understood?¡±
Expanding the tribe?
Gobuqiang¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously.
¡°Boss, leave it to me.¡±
The wooden huts were far too small for comfort.
Larger wooden huts would provide much more space.
Gobuqiang was thrilled at the thought.
Soon, he could have a big hut of his own.
¡°Go!¡±
Gobuqiang turned and ran toward the forest.
Just as Gobuqiang left, Bai Ling returned to Li Meng¡¯s side.
Chapter 45: The Grand Undertaking of Pig Farming
Chapter 45: The Grand Undertaking of Pig Farming
Yawning, Li Meng turned around and embraced Bai Ling''s slender waist.
Holding the expressionless Bai Ling, he entered the house.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on only one thing.
That was procreation¡ªno, the creation of little goblins.
The other senior goblins stayed in the tribe for two days before leading their respective hunting squads out for expeditions.
The male lizardmen began their lives as slaves.
Chopping trees, building wooden houses, mining, transporting clay¡ªevery hard labor task was assigned to the lizardmen.
Iron Cavern, Underground Riverbank.
"What are you looking at? Keep moving!"
The bustling scene by the underground riverbank caught the attention of the passing lizardmen.
Gray Scales wanted to get closer for a better look but was blocked by goblins.
Having no choice, Gray Scales continued walking forward with a basket of clay on his back.
There were many burning mounds of earth along the riverbank.
The heat waves originated from those mounds.
Around the mounds, numerous goblins were hard at work.
Some goblins were stomping on something rhythmically.
Others were hammering red-hot objects with iron hammers, creating a rhythmic "clang clang" sound.
"Chief, what are the goblins doing?"
The elder following Gray Scales asked aloud.
"I don''t know. It''s too far to see clearly."
The swamp lizardmen knew about human iron tools but had no idea how they were made.
Even if they got closer, they wouldn¡¯t understand that the goblins were forging iron.
At the same time, another group of male lizardmen was working within the tribe.
Looking toward the tribe, a large number of lizardmen were building wooden houses.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
In the distant forest, the "thud thud" sound of tree felling had continued for over ten days.
Thanks to the lizardmen''s efforts, dozens of brand-new wooden houses had been added to the tribe.
The newly built wooden houses were larger and offered more comfortable and ample space inside.
"Hei Nana?"
In the tribe, the appearance of a familiar figure caused Hei Lin, who was carrying timber, to freeze in place.
He quickly threw down the timber on his shoulder and rushed toward his wife.
"Stop!"
The goblins guarding the female lizardmen bared their teeth and roared at Hei Lin.
Spears and crossbows were pointed at him.
Hei Lin had no choice but to stop five meters away from his wife.
Hei Nana, with a bulging belly, shook her head at Hei Lin.
"Are¡ are you okay?"
Lowering his head to look at his wife''s round belly, Hei Lin clenched his fists tightly.
His eyes were filled with humiliation and anger.
Hei Nana nodded and followed her husband''s gaze with disgust, looking at her own swollen belly.
"I''m fine, Hei Lin. I just wanted to see you."
The two exchanged a look, saying everything without words.
"I will end these humiliating days. Please endure for now!"
Their meeting and exchange were observed by a nearby goblin.
To be precise, it was a senior goblin.
And that senior goblin was none other than Li Meng.
"Boss, what do you think?"
Near a large animal pen, Gobuqiang asked with a flattering expression.
Li Meng withdrew his gaze and scanned the surrounding forest.
There were many similar animal pens in the forest.
"Gobuqiang, are you interested in raising pigs?"
Raising pigs?
Gobuqiang looked at his boss with a puzzled expression.
Turning slightly, Li Meng looked at an animal pen housing wild boars.
"Bring over a wild boar. It must be male!"
Although Gobuqiang didn¡¯t know why the boss wanted a wild boar, he didn¡¯t dare to ask.
He quickly ran toward the pen and led over ten goblin subordinates with bark ropes into the enclosure.
The sound of "oink oink" echoed as a male wild boar was dragged over by the goblins.
The male wild boar was quite large.
Its shoulder height was around 1.3 meters, just slightly shorter than the goblins.
It was also very strong, and over ten goblins struggled to hold it.
Whenever the wild boar struggled, it made the goblins on one side stumble.
"Boss¡ the¡ the wild boar has been brought over!"
Gobuqiang strained to hold the bark rope.
The wild boar struggled violently, constantly pulling backward.
Only through brute force could the goblins move it.
Li Meng approached the wild boar.
"Boss, it¡¯s dangerous!"
Seeing the boss approach the wild boar directly, Gobuqiang quickly warned.
Li Meng didn¡¯t stop.
A miraculous scene unfolded.
When Li Meng got closer, the wild boar suddenly calmed down.
Its large eyes stared directly at Li Meng.
Standing beside the wild boar, Li Meng gently stroked its neck.
The wild boar seemed to enjoy Li Meng¡¯s touch, snuggling against him.
This scene left the surrounding goblins in shock.
The male wild boar, known for its ferocity, was unusually calm before the boss.
"Bring the items!"
After stroking the wild boar for a while, Li Meng called out to a few goblin subordinates nearby.
The goblins quickly carried over a boar saddle made from animal hides.
Circling the wild boar, Li Meng equipped it with the saddle.
Although the wild boar saddle was simple, it was functional.
"What¡¯s the boss doing?"
Seeing the boss dressing the wild boar, Gobuqiang muttered to himself.
After tying the last hide rope, Li Meng pushed the saddle.
It was firm and secure!
Patting the wild boar¡¯s back, Li Meng mounted it.
"Oink oink!"
The weight on its back made the wild boar uncomfortable.
It grunted a few times and then quieted down.
"Ha!"
With a shout, Li Meng urged the wild boar forward.
The boar dashed off like an arrow.
Its speed was astonishing, and it darted into the forest in no time.
Bending slightly, Li Meng grabbed the wild boar''s left ear and pulled.
The boar turned left while running through the forest.
Gobuqiang could only watch as the boss rode the wild boar deep into the forest.
Before long, the boss returned, still riding the wild boar.
Under Li Meng¡¯s control, the wild boar ran wildly around the tribe.
"Quick, dodge!"
Seeing the wild boar charging toward them, a few lizardmen carrying timber fled in panic.
Just as it seemed the boar would crash into them, it abruptly turned and ran past them.
"What¡¯s the boss doing?"
The goblins in the tribe looked curiously at their boss riding the wild boar.
The lizardmen were equally baffled.
Only Bai Ling, standing at the wooden house¡¯s door, looked uneasy.
After playing around for a while, Li Meng returned to the animal pen.
Dismounting, he patted the wild boar''s neck.
"Gobuqiang, what do you think? Want to ride wild boars into battle?"
Gobuqiang¡¯s eyes lit up, nodding enthusiastically.
The boss looked so cool riding the wild boar.
With such speed, they could hunt even the swift forest deer.
"Then let¡¯s start raising pigs. Male wild boars are stronger and more enduring. You must bond with them from a young age."
Without the Heart Speech Skill, the wild boar wouldn¡¯t have allowed him to ride it.
In the simulated future of the Life Predictions, he would form a wild boar cavalry.
Forming a wild boar cavalry aligned with that future vision.
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Chapter 46: Changing the Future
Chapter 46: Changing the Future
"Boss, I know what to do. Once the piglets are weaned, I''ll assign each brother to raise one piglet."
Grinning, Li Meng turned and began unfastening the wild boar saddle from the boar.
After removing the saddle, Li Meng patted the boar''s sturdy body.
"This boar has good genes; let''s use it for breeding."
And so, Li Meng''s goblin army gained a new division of wild boar riders.
However, cultivating a wild boar cavalry couldn''t be achieved in a short time.
The gestation period for wild boars was over two months.
It would take an additional three months for the piglets to reach maturity.
This meant that the first batch of piglets would only reach adulthood as mounts six months later.
Watching the boss''s departing figure, Gobuqiang looked on with admiration.
The boss was truly brilliant¡ªnothing like an ordinary goblin.
Returning to his wooden hut, Li Meng sat down at the entrance.
Glancing at Benben, who was snoring loudly nearby, Li Meng chuckled softly.
Benben had almost become his guardian deity.
Raising his head slightly, Li Meng looked toward the dense canopy above.
Goblins didn¡¯t like staying under sunlight for long periods.
As such, the construction of the settlement hadn¡¯t involved cutting down trees.
The wooden huts were built using the trees as supporting structures.
"I wonder when the black-robed man will show up!"
Li Meng thought of the black-robed figure that had appeared in the simulated future, a person tied to the mysterious sacrificial disc capable of summoning the Savage God.
But what exactly was the Savage God?
Was it some sort of deity in this world?
"Bai Ling, what is the Savage God?"
The door behind him was open.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Bai Ling sat just inside, leaning against the wall.
Although she was out of sight, Li Meng knew she was there.
"Each race has a deity they worship. The god worshipped by the barbarian race is called the Savage God."
Could it be that gods truly existed in this world?
"Why don¡¯t goblins have a deity they believe in?"
During his time in the goblin nest, Li Meng had never heard of anything like a Savage God.
"Goblins are a foolish and savage race. Their ugly nature means they think of nothing beyond eating and reproducing."
Bai Ling¡¯s disdain for goblins was unreserved.
Sitting at the doorway, Li Meng grinned and didn¡¯t take her words to heart.
Just as Bai Ling said, goblins were indeed primitive and ignorant.
Beyond eating and reproducing, everything else was superfluous to them.
The only reason his tribe appeared somewhat normal was because of his leadership.
Standing up, Li Meng dusted off the dirt on his clothes.
"I''ll be leaving the tribe for a while. Bai Ling, you¡¯d better take good care of my bloodline descendants. If your hatred for me leads you to harm them, believe me, I¡¯ll make every lizardman wish for death yet be unable to die."
Faced with Li Meng¡¯s threat, Bai Ling, sitting behind the door, turned pale.
Although the goblin¡¯s tone was calm, Bai Ling knew he meant it.
This wasn¡¯t an idle threat.
"Master, where are you going?"
Li Meng didn¡¯t reply. Bai Ling only heard the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance.
Half an hour later, on the southern riverbank of the tribe¡¯s territory:
A shadow flashed through the forest, and a figure darted out.
The figure emerging from the woods was Li Meng.
"Looks like the flood season is over!"
Looking at the calm water, Li Meng thought to himself.
Compared to the surging waves he encountered a few months ago while crossing the river, the current was much slower now.
The water level had also dropped significantly.
"If I cross the river, the future should change, right?"
In the simulated future, he hadn¡¯t crossed the river to return to the goblin nest.
Yes, Li Meng planned to return to the goblin nest to challenge Gobuba.
With his current strength, Gobuba was no longer a match for him.
His bloodline was also from Gobuba¡¯s lineage, granting him the right to challenge Gobuba.
Once he killed Gobuba, he would gain dozens of elite goblins.
With the addition of these goblins, the tribe''s strength would multiply several times over.
Without hesitation, Li Meng leapt into the river.
A miraculous scene unfolded: instead of sinking, Li Meng ran across the water''s surface.
Wherever he stepped, the water beneath his feet instantly froze.
The hundreds-of-meters-wide river was crossed in a single sprint.
Standing on the opposite bank, Li Meng stopped and turned back to look at the ice bridge spanning the river. Grinning, he muttered to himself:
"Magic is such a wonderful thing¡ªso practical."
Under the force of the river¡¯s current, the ice bridge began to crack and gradually melted downstream.
"System, start Life Simulation!"
[10 second-tier magic crystals consumed. Life Simulation begins.]
[You crossed the river and returned to the goblin nest.]
[You confronted Gobuba and issued a challenge to the goblin leader.]
[You killed Gobuba and devoured his flesh.]
[Your territory expanded rapidly, and your tribe flourished.]
[A human airship appeared above the forest near the goblin nest.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. You are curious about the airship and choose to observe it.]
[2. You are intrigued by the structure of the airship and decide to capture one for study.]
"Option two!"
Until now, he had never seen humans.
Li Meng was eager to see what kind of tools humans used.
[You watched the airship fade into the distance and decided to develop a weapon capable of capturing airships.]
[After some research, you successfully created a giant crossbow.]
[One day, a mysterious figure in a black robe arrived at the tribe and sought you out.]
[You acquired the sacrificial disc capable of summoning the Savage God and smashed it in front of the black-robed figure.]
[The black-robed figure was enraged, and you died.]
[As a transmigrator, your efforts ultimately amounted to nothing due to your arrogance. As the saying goes, weakness and ignorance are not barriers to survival; arrogance is. Staying humble allows you to live longer.]
[Life Simulation ends. Score: 40.]
[Please choose a reward:]
[1. Spend 10 points to increase a level by 1.]
[2. Spend 1 point to increase an attribute by 1.]
[3. Spend 10 points to increase Luck by 1.]
[4. Spend 10 points to increase the ¡°Regeneration¡± skill level by 1.]
"Option four!"
[40 points consumed. ¡°Regeneration¡± skill level +4.]
Sitting on the riverbank, Li Meng stared blankly at the sky.
"What on earth made me act so arrogantly in front of the black-robed figure?"
Smashing the sacrificial disc in front of the black-robed man didn¡¯t seem like something he would do.
No matter how arrogant he was, there was no reason for such behavior.
"Am I really that stupid?"
Li Meng got up, muttering to himself.
Could it be that his goblin body was making him dumber?
"It¡¯s a pity. The future involving the airship is gone!"
The thought of the airship made Li Meng itch with curiosity.
In this world, anything capable of flying must be extraordinary.
Even if he couldn¡¯t replicate it, Li Meng wanted to understand how the airship worked.
"I guess I¡¯ll have to wait until next month¡¯s Life Simulation!"
Knowing that provoking the black-robed figure would lead to death, altering the future didn¡¯t seem too difficult.
Chapter 47: Going Home
Chapter 47: Going Home
On the riverbank, Li Meng turned and ran into the forest.
The forest was immediately disturbed, with startled birds flying away.
The commotion spread deep into the forest.
Over the next few days, Li Meng continued southward.
Although he encountered some of Gobuba¡¯s hunting teams along the way, he avoided contact with them.
A journey that should have taken over half a month was completed by Li Meng in just five days.
---
It was a new day, in the morning.
In the forest outside the Goblin cave.
Within the dim forest, a dark figure flashed past.
Its speed was so fast that it disappeared deep into the forest in the blink of an eye.
Moments later, in the forest outside the Goblin lair, Li Meng leisurely emerged.
¡°It¡¯s Gobumeng! Gobumeng has returned!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s appearance caught the attention of the Goblins playing at the cave entrance.
Seeing Gobumeng back, they all displayed looks of astonishment.
Gobuqiang¡¯s hunting team had been missing for a very long time.
No one expected Gobumeng to return today.
¡°Gobumeng, where¡¯s Gobuqiang?¡±
A Big Goblin approached Li Meng.
¡°None of your business, get lost!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s rude scolding stunned the Big Goblin.
Instinctively, it stepped aside to make way.
It wasn¡¯t until Li Meng walked past that it reacted.
¡°Gobumeng, after being gone so long, the boss won¡¯t let you off the hook.¡±Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
The Big Goblin glared angrily and roared.
¡°Hmph, perfect. I won¡¯t let him off either!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s words left the Big Goblin dumbfounded, followed by a mocking expression.
A mere Big Goblin daring to challenge the boss?
It was simply seeking death.
Under the gaze of the Goblins outside the cave, Li Meng entered the dark cave.
The familiar environment and the foul stench made Li Meng frown slightly.
While Goblins liked this kind of environment, he did not.
¡°Gobumeng, you dare return?¡±
Just as he entered the cave, a Goblin Warrior stepped out.
It held a stone axe in hand, glaring angrily.
The disappearance of Gobuqiang¡¯s hunting team had made the boss furious.
As a result, the underlings suffered.
Three Goblin Warriors were even eaten alive by the boss.
No wonder Gobuyuan was enraged.
¡°Haha, isn¡¯t this Gobumeng? You¡¯re finally back!¡±
At this moment, an excited laugh echoed from the depths of the cave.
Hearing the voice, Gobuyuan¡¯s body trembled.
It quickly stepped aside to make way.
In the distance, atop a stone platform, Gobuba remained as domineering as ever.
Its gaze toward Li Meng was filled only with excitement.
¡°Speak quickly. Did you bring me the humans?¡±
Standing before the stone platform, Li Meng looked up at the towering Gobuba.
A few months ago, upon first seeing Gobuba, Li Meng had almost been scared to death.
Now, facing Gobuba again, he felt nothing.
Li Meng¡¯s direct gaze made Gobuba frown, anger flashing in its eyes.
¡°Gobumeng, how dare you look directly at me, you trash born from a Ground Mouse¡¯s belly! Kneel!¡±
Gobuba roared furiously, its glare terrifying.
The surrounding Goblins shrank back in fear.
Even the Goblin Warriors knelt trembling on the ground.
Facing Gobuba¡¯s furious roar, Li Meng grinned.
¡°Gobuba, today this piece of trash will challenge you!¡±
Hearing this, Gobuba froze momentarily.
¡°Haha!¡±
The cave echoed with Gobuba¡¯s wild laughter.
The Goblins joined in, laughing uproariously.
Some Goblins even rolled on the ground clutching their stomachs.
They all looked at Li Meng as if he were an idiot.
The boss was the Goblin leader, and a mere Big Goblin dared to challenge him?
¡°Haha, looks like your trip out made you Ground Mouse-born trash even dumber.¡±
Gobuba laughed so hard it pounded its chest, tears streaming from its massive eyes.
¡°Gobuba, do you dare fight me?¡±
Li Meng¡¯s thunderous shout silenced the laughter abruptly.
All the Goblins looked at Li Meng in disbelief.
¡°How amusing. Very well, Gobumeng, I¡¯ll make you pay for your stupidity.¡±
Gobuba grinned menacingly, genuinely enraged.
The tiny Big Goblin dared to challenge him?
Gobuba grabbed the giant stone axe beside him.
Its enormous body leaped down from the stone platform.
¡°Boom!¡±
The ground shook as Gobuba¡¯s massive body landed steadily in front of Li Meng.
Compared to Gobuba, Li Meng was like an ant.
¡°Die!¡±
Gobuba roared and swung the stone axe down at Li Meng with both hands.
Even before the axe landed, its forceful wind rushed forward.
Gobuba¡¯s face twisted in savagery.
It could already imagine splitting Gobumeng in two with its axe.
Li Meng didn¡¯t dodge, staring expressionlessly at the descending axe.
The giant stone axe struck heavily on Li Meng¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Boom!¡±
The moment the axe hit Li Meng¡¯s shoulder, it shattered into countless fragments, scattering everywhere.
The force caused Li Meng¡¯s body to sink slightly.
The ground beneath him cracked as his feet dug in.
¡°Impossible, absolutely impossible!¡±
Seeing Li Meng unharmed while his stone axe was reduced to a wooden stick, Gobuba was stunned, disbelief written all over its face.
It couldn¡¯t comprehend how Gobumeng had withstood its full-force strike.
Gobuba staggered back, its expression as if seeing a ghost.
The surrounding Goblins were equally shocked.
¡°How about it? Planning to flee already?¡±
Li Meng remained expressionless as he watched Gobuba retreat.
¡°Gobumeng, you¡¯re courting death!¡±
Gobuba roared furiously, throwing away the wooden stick.
It raised its massive fist and charged at Li Meng.
With a few strides, its giant fist swung down at him.
¡°Die!¡±
Li Meng let out a cold snort, taking a step back with his right foot to stabilize himself.
He clenched his right fist and simply threw a punch to meet Gobuba¡¯s.
At the moment of impact, a shockwave erupted from Li Meng¡¯s fist.
¡°Crack!¡±
A loud crack echoed.
In an instant, Gobuba¡¯s fist twisted unnaturally, its bones shattering completely.
¡°Ah!¡±
Gobuba screamed in agony.
The overwhelming force not only shattered its arm but sent its massive body flying.
Gobuba crashed onto the stone platform with a thunderous boom.
Li Meng followed closely, leaping into the air like an arrow.
¡°Die!¡±
With a powerful punch, Li Meng struck directly at Gobuba¡¯s heart.
¡°Splat!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s fist pierced through Gobuba¡¯s chest, burying half his arm into its body.
He yanked his arm out, holding a massive heart in his hand.
Before Gobuba could regain consciousness, Li Meng had already taken its life.
Chapter 48: Becoming the Boss
Chapter 48: Becoming the Boss
The enormous body slowly collapsed to the ground.
Li Meng stood atop Gobuba''s massive body, holding its heart aloft.
His gaze was cold, and his expression emotionless as he looked at the goblins in the cave.
Faced with Li Meng''s gaze, the goblins in the cave were filled with fear.
Even the few Goblin Warriors took several steps back.
"Come on, I accept your challenge!"
Li Meng grinned and roared loudly.
The thunderous roar startled the goblins in the cave, sending shivers down their spines.
"Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
The weakest of the Great Goblins was the first to yield, dropping to its knees with a loud thud and shouting loudly.
Once one goblin took the lead, the others quickly followed suit, bowing and kneeling.
Soon after, the Goblin Warriors followed, and then the Goblin Brave ones.
All the goblins knelt down, chanting in unison.
The deafening sound echoed throughout the cave.
Facing the worship of the goblins, Li Meng grinned hideously.
Excellent. With this, the higher-ranking goblins here were already in his grasp.
Li Meng opened his sharp mouth and tore off a large chunk of the heart.
Standing on Gobuba''s corpse, he ate the heart while basking in the cheers of the goblins.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
[Devour skill activated, gained skill: "Berserk"]
The system prompt made Li Meng look down at the corpse of Gobuba beneath him.
Gobuba had been too careless.
It hadn''t even had the chance to use its Berserk skill before being killed.
Perhaps Gobuba had been like him when the Black Cloak killed him¡ªarrogance and overconfidence often lead to one''s demise.
Leaping down, Li Meng landed from Gobuba''s body.
"The corpse is yours!"
Hearing this, the surrounding goblins showed greedy expressions.
In a frenzy, they rushed toward Gobuba''s body.
Even the weakest Great Goblins dared to fight the Goblin Warriors for the corpse of their leader.
Nearly a hundred goblins swarmed over Gobuba''s body, tearing it apart in a frenzy.
Li Meng climbed onto a stone platform, sitting at the edge.
He watched the chaotic and bloody scene below with great interest.
[Devour skill activated, gained skill: "Limb Enhancement"]
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 825]
[Defense: 759]
[Agility: 341]
[Magic: 86]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devour the flesh of magical beasts to have a chance of gaining their skills]
[Iron Skin: 2 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +200)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Flesh Regeneration: LV5]
[Heart Word: LV1]
[Ice Element Control: LV1]
[Berserk: LV1]
[Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
Seeing the low magic stat, Li Meng felt a headache.
The magic stat was incredibly difficult to increase.
Out of all his skills, none were related to magic attributes.
It felt wasteful to spend points to improve the magic stat.
Shaking his head, Li Meng sighed and casually threw away the heart in his hand.
Below, the goblins scrambled for it once again.
It took more than half an hour for Gobuba''s body to be entirely devoured by the goblins.
"You, you, and you, come here!"
The three Goblin Brave ones pointed out by Li Meng exchanged glances.
They took a few heavy steps forward, approaching the stone platform.
The Goblin Brave ones were the goblins second only to the Goblin Leader.
They were enormous, standing at 2.5 meters tall, with physiques resembling bears.
Their muscles bulged all over their bodies, clearly indicating their strength-based nature.
"Gobuqiang, go sound the war horn and recall all the hunting parties outside!"
Gobuqiang looked fearfully at the small figure of Li Meng on the stone platform.
It nodded and turned to stride out of the cave.
"Gobude, Gobushi, gather all the goblins here and follow me!"
The goblins left in the cave were all higher-ranking goblins.
At the very least, they were Great Goblins.
If he brought this group of higher-ranking goblins back to the tribe, the population would multiply several times within half a year.
The potential of newborns would also be much greater.
"Boss, where are we going?"
Gobude asked from below the stone platform.
Li Meng leaped down from the platform, landing steadily on the ground.
"Back to the tribe!"
Li Meng strode toward the cave exit.
Wherever he passed, goblins parted to make way for him in awe.
Gobude and Gobushi exchanged glances.
Now that Gobumeng was the new leader, they could only follow his orders.
The two Goblin Brave ones followed behind Li Meng.
The other goblins followed behind Gobude and Gobushi.
Leading this horde of higher-ranking goblins, Li Meng left the cave in great momentum.
On the mountain peak outside the cave, Li Meng heard the long blast of a horn.
He also saw Gobuqiang walking toward him.
"Gobuqiang, you stay behind to guard the goblin lair. When the hunting parties return, tell them who the new boss is. I''ll be back soon."
Gobuqiang nodded and stepped aside.
Under Gobuqiang''s watchful gaze, Li Meng led a group of goblins into the depths of the forest.
It had taken Li Meng five days to get there.
But it took more than half a month to return.
Chapter 49: Gobuqiangs Panic
Chapter 49: Gobuqiang''s Panic
"Boss! Boss!"
At this moment, Gobuqiang came running over, panting heavily.
When he saw the group of high-ranking Goblins behind his boss, Gobuqiang stumbled and almost fell to the ground.
"Gobude? Gobushi?"
The appearance of the two Goblin Warriors made Gobuqiang''s face turn pale.
With Gobude and Gobushi appearing here, it could only mean one thing...
The thought that crossed his mind made Gobuqiang collapse to the ground in terror.
"Gobuba is dead. From now on, I am the boss of the Bloodline Tribe!"
Gobuba is dead?
Hearing this, the fallen Gobuqiang froze for a moment.
Then, an expression of wild joy spread across his face as he scrambled to Li Meng''s feet.
He prostrated himself, kissing the top of Li Meng¡¯s shoes.
"Boss, you''re amazing! You''re invincible, boss!"
The surrounding Goblins, hearing the news, erupted in wild cheers.
"Gobumeng! Gobumeng!"
For a moment, the cheers of the Goblins echoed throughout the tribe.
This commotion caught the attention of some female Lizardmen in the wooden huts.
Doors and windows were pushed open, and one by one, Lizard heads peeked out.
It took quite a while for the Goblin cheers to die down.
In just over a month, the tribe had undergone tremendous changes.
Larger wooden huts now filled the forest, stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Boss, the new throne cave has been completed. Bai Ling and the female Lizardmen have already moved in."Stolen story; please report.
In the tribe, Li Meng led a group of high-ranking Goblins, following Gobuqiang deeper into the settlement.
Soon, they arrived in front of a giant wooden hut.
The hut was built around an enormous tree, looking like a giant mushroom.
It had a diameter of over fifty meters.
Standing at the doorway was Bai Ling, appearing obedient and composed.
In just over a month, Bai Ling''s large belly was gone, indicating that she had already given birth during Li Meng''s absence.
"Gobuqiang, assign them all accordingly, then come back to see me!"
Leaving these words, Li Meng strode toward the wooden hut.
Gobuqiang, now facing a group of high-ranking Goblins, was filled with unease.
"Uh... follow me!"
The appearance of so many high-ranking Goblins sparked a sense of crisis in Gobuqiang''s heart.
He had to accomplish every task the boss gave him perfectly.
Otherwise, there might no longer be a place for him at the boss''s side.
At the wooden hut''s entrance, Bai Ling stared intently at the departing high-ranking Goblins, her expression grim.
That big Goblin had been away for more than half a month.
Who would have thought he''d return with so many high-ranking Goblins?
There were even two Goblin Warriors among them.
The arrival of these high-ranking Goblins made Bai Ling realize the gravity of the situation.
"Master!"
Seeing Li Meng approach, Bai Ling¡¯s expression flickered.
Placing both hands on her abdomen, she respectfully bent over in a bow.
Li Meng grinned, circling around Bai Ling.
"Hmm, your tail is growing out!"
Curiously, Li Meng reached out to grab the small tail peeking out from under Bai Ling''s beast skirt.
It was slightly cold and soft, almost like it had no bones.
"Ah!"
Bai Ling shuddered, letting out a soft gasp.
"Master, p-please don¡¯t grab my tail."
Bai Ling¡¯s charming eyes filled with a flicker of disgust that she quickly concealed.
Seeing her trembling body, Li Meng grinned wickedly.
"What¡¯s wrong? Sensitive?"
Bai Ling tightly gripped the hem of her beast skirt and nodded lightly.
With a lewd smile, Li Meng smacked Bai Ling¡¯s plump rear.
"Go, bring all the unassigned female Lizardmen here!"
Bai Ling¡¯s face turned pale, a hint of sorrow flashing in her eyes.
Her tribespeople were ultimately unable to escape becoming breeding tools.
Watching Bai Ling¡¯s retreating figure, Li Meng smirked.
He enjoyed seeing her humiliated and resentful demeanor.
Sitting on the steps at the hut''s entrance, Li Meng kept his gaze fixed on Bai Ling¡¯s departing figure, admiring her voluptuous form.
Before long, Gobuqiang returned with the high-ranking Goblins in tow.
"Boss, their cave dwellings have all been arranged!"
Li Meng¡¯s gaze swept over the group of high-ranking Goblins outside the hut, finally settling on Gobude and Gobushi.
"From now on, the Goblin Warriors and Goblin Fighters have one task: to reproduce."
Reproduce?
This declaration caused the high-ranking Goblins to reveal greedy and excited expressions.
Reproduction was an instinct ingrained in every Goblin.
Previously, Goblins could only fight for mating rights through brute force.
"It¡¯s Lizardmen¡ªfemale Lizardmen!"
At that moment, Bai Ling returned, leading a group of female Lizardmen.
Upon seeing them, the high-ranking Goblins became ecstatic, their eyes greedily scanning the Lizardwomen.
Under the Goblins'' ravenous gazes, the female Lizardmen looked terrified.
"All of you will have the right to mate. Remember, take good care of them. If even one is lost, prepare to be smashed into paste by Benben."
These Goblins came from the Goblin Nest.
Under Gobuba''s influence, they had become quite brutal, especially toward females, often killing them during mating due to their perverse desires.
Dealing with these violent Goblins required more than simple instructions; it also required deterrence.
Nearby, Benben stood and lifted his massive spiked club, smashing it into the ground with a "boom."
A huge crater instantly appeared.
All the Goblins stared at Benben with fear.
They had noticed the big armored figure earlier but hadn¡¯t known what it was until now.
Now they realized it was an Ogre.
"Gobude, Gobushi, do you understand my words?"
Facing their boss¡¯s cold gaze, Gobude and Gobushi took a step back, nodding fervently.
"Boss, I¡ I understand! I won¡¯t harm them."
Gobude swallowed nervously, glancing at Benben¡¯s massive spiked club.
A direct hit from that thing would be fatal.
Gobushi also pounded his chest in assurance.
"Boss, I¡ I¡¯ll obey you."
Li Meng glanced at Bai Ling.
"Bai Ling, come here!"
Silently, Bai Ling stepped forward, standing beside Li Meng.
Finally, Li Meng began assigning the female Lizardmen to the Goblins.
"Gobude, Gobushi, each of you select ten female Lizardmen and take them back to your caves!"
Gobude and Gobushi¡¯s eyes lit up.
They immediately turned and strode toward the group of female Lizardmen.
Faced with the approaching Goblin Warriors, the female Lizardmen panicked and backed away.
After some commotion, Gobude and Gobushi each took ten female Lizardmen away.
Chapter 50: You Dont Believe Me?
Chapter 50: You Don''t Believe Me?
The female Lizardman followed behind the two Goblin warriors with a face full of despair.
The stronger the Goblin, the more ferocious it was.
Their future seemed bleak.
Standing beside Li Meng, Bai Ling also looked at the tribesmen following the Goblin warriors with a face full of reluctance.
Her fists were tightly clenched, and her sharp nails nearly pierced through her scales.
In front of the wooden house, the allocation continued.
The number of female Lizardmen allocated was divided according to the strength of the Goblins.
Goblin warriors were assigned ten female Lizardmen.
Goblin fighters were assigned five female Lizardmen.
The large Goblins were assigned three female Lizardmen.
However, due to the insufficient number of female Lizardmen,
The allocation for large Goblins was reduced to two.
In no time, over a hundred female Lizardmen were divided up.
Each Goblin excitedly left the wooden house with their assigned female Lizardmen.
Li Meng stood up, dusted himself off, and glanced sideways at Bai Ling, whose face was expressionless.
"You should be grateful that it¡¯s me you encountered. Otherwise, you Lizardmen would just be meat."
Though it was hard to tell from a Lizardman''s expression,
Li Meng could see something from Bai Ling''s eyes.
"You know better than me how ferocious Goblins are. Do you think they¡¯d follow your words?"
With a grin, Li Meng stepped forward and forcibly lifted Bai Ling around her waist.
Bai Ling didn¡¯t resist, but she fixed her gaze on Li Meng.
"I am their leader. They will listen to me. That is what Goblins are."
Li Meng''s words left Bai Ling silent.
Thinking back, it seemed there really hadn¡¯t been any tribesmen harmed by Goblins.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Not a single female Lizardman had died at the hands of the Goblins.
Even they, the female Lizardmen, could freely leave the wooden house to wander in the forest.
They could bathe in the river without the Goblins stopping them.
Even though the Goblins'' gazes were filled with greed,
They never forced themselves upon them.
"Goblins are indeed ferocious. Apart from eating and mating, they don¡¯t think about anything else. But precisely because of this, as their leader, I can restrain them better. In the Goblins'' strictly hierarchical society, my orders hold more weight than their lives."
This statement was both true and false.
If the leader''s orders held more weight than life, Gobuqiang wouldn¡¯t have betrayed Gobuba.
The premise required one more condition¡ªdirect bloodline descendants.
Gobuqiang''s bloodline came from the paternal line of Gobuba''s father.
Therefore, his loyalty to Gobuba wasn¡¯t absolute.
The reason Li Meng could restrain the Goblins in the tribe was due to strength.
Great power could also earn a Goblin''s loyalty.
Although this loyalty wasn¡¯t greater than their lives,
The Goblins didn¡¯t dare disobey Li Meng''s orders.
While speaking, Li Meng carried Bai Ling into the wooden house.
Upon entering, the layout of the house made Li Meng roll his eyes.
Such a large wooden house, yet its interior wasn¡¯t divided into rooms.
There were only a few pillars, and behind each pillar, there was a bed.
At the far end opposite the door was a large bed.
Calling it a bed was a stretch¡ªit was just animal hides spread on the ground.
Seeing this, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
It seemed he¡¯d also have to research carpentry thoroughly.
Li Meng¡¯s arrival startled the female Lizardmen inside the house.
Many of them hurriedly covered themselves with hide bras.
Holding Bai Ling, Li Meng sniffed the air with his nose.
The room was filled with a rich milky fragrance.
A female Lizardman sitting on the bed caught Li Meng''s attention.
Her face was full of panic, and she hid something behind her.
"What¡¯s behind your back? Show me!"
Li Meng¡¯s words made Bai Ling¡¯s body tremble.
Her expression changed several times before she nodded toward the female Lizardman.
The female Lizardman nervously pulled out a bamboo tube from behind her.
Li Meng put Bai Ling down and walked over to the female Lizardman.
When he reached her, he took the bamboo tube from her hands.
The tube contained liquid; Li Meng could feel it sloshing inside.
After glancing at the female Lizardman, who kept her head low, Li Meng opened the stopper.
As soon as it was opened, a strong milky fragrance wafted out.
Li Meng peeked into the tube,
And found the liquid inside was white.
Understanding dawned on him.
He closed the stopper and returned the bamboo tube to the female Lizardman.
"Bai Ling, who did you give it to?"
Li Meng glanced at Bai Ling''s ample chest.
Only then did he notice her hide bra was wet.
Bai Ling lowered her head slightly and replied without expression,
"I gave it to the tribesmen who needed it."
With a grin, Li Meng grabbed Bai Ling¡¯s hand.
Then he pulled her toward the main bed.
The main bed was slightly elevated,
With four steps leading up to it, about a meter higher than the rest of the room.
Li Meng lay down on the bed, hands behind his head.
"I approve of this. No need to hide it. The tribe needs strong laborers."
Young Goblins had no breastfeeding period¡ªthey could eat meat immediately after birth.
The milk from female Lizardmen could also nourish the male Lizardmen, making good use of resources.
Especially since male Lizardmen did heavy labor,
Milk as a nutritional supplement could give them more strength.
Looking at her master lying on the bed, Bai Ling''s eyes flashed with surprise.
She hadn¡¯t expected him to approve of giving milk to male Lizardmen.
With her master¡¯s permission, they wouldn¡¯t need to be sneaky anymore.
Bai Ling turned and spoke a few words in the Lizardmen language to the other females.
The female Lizardmen¡¯s faces lit up with joy,
Though they glanced at their master with a hint of astonishment.
One by one, the female Lizardmen pulled out their hidden bamboo tubes.
They removed their bras and began squeezing milk right in front of Li Meng.
Li Meng watched with interest.
Due to the Goblins¡¯ short pregnancy cycle, the female Lizardmen would remain in lactation for a year.
This brought both advantages and disadvantages.
The advantage lay with the male Lizardmen, while the disadvantage was the need to provide more food to the females.
Without sufficient nutrition, prolonged lactation would weaken their bodies.
Although he was just a Goblin, Li Meng valued promises highly.
In non-critical situations, he adhered to them.
"Bai Ling, come here!"
Lying on the bed, Li Meng leered at Bai Ling¡¯s voluptuous figure.
Facing her master¡¯s disgusting gaze, Bai Ling frowned slightly.
Resigned, she removed her hide bra and skirt.
Before long, the wooden house was filled with noise.
The female Lizardmen sneaked glances at their master and Bai Ling, the High Priest.
The atmosphere in the house made all the females feel restless.
Some squeezed their legs tightly and squirmed on their beds.
It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon of the next day that the wooden house quieted down.
Satisfied, Li Meng climbed off one of the female Lizardmen.
Looking around, he saw all the females exhausted and asleep on their beds.
"What¡¯s your name?"
The sudden voice in her mind startled a female Lizardman curled up on the bed.
She looked at the large Goblin beside her in disbelief.
Could the voice in her head really be her master speaking to her?
Chapter 51: The Three-Bow Ballista
Chapter 51: The Three-Bow Ballista
"I... I''m Hei Nana!"
Li Meng grinned, reaching out to pat Hei Nana on her rounded buttocks.
Satisfied, he turned and walked out.
Among the many female Lizardmen in the wooden hut, Li Meng only knew Bai Ling''s name.
As for the reason, it was naturally the language barrier.
But now, Li Meng felt there was no need to hide anymore.
That said, he also saw no need to know the names of the other female Lizardmen.
Asking Hei Nana for her name was merely a spur-of-the-moment decision.
Hei Nana shuddered slightly from the slap.
She looked at her departing master with a complex expression.
The Goblin before her was somewhat different from the Goblins she knew.
His eyes lacked the cruelty and madness typical of Goblins.
Instead, he exuded an air of rationality and intelligence.
By afternoon, the main gate of the tribe''s throne cave opened with a creak.
Li Meng walked out of the wooden hut, looking refreshed.
Seeing Benben snoring loudly outside the door, Li Meng chuckled.
Without waking him up, Li Meng headed toward the nursery.
"Boss, your bloodline offspring are all over here!"
Under the guidance of a Goblin, Li Meng arrived at a relatively large nursery.
Stopping at the entrance, he peered inside without entering.
In the wooden hut, over a hundred young Goblins were frolicking and playing, their chatter creating a cacophony.
The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Noticing Li Meng at the doorway, the noise abruptly ceased.
The young Goblins huddled in a corner, their gazes filled with terror as they looked at him.
Faced with adult Goblins, young Goblins instinctively felt a sense of danger.
After observing for a while, Li Meng turned and left.
Goblins lacked any concept of familial affection.
Even the mothers who bore them were seen as mere females.
Once they reached adulthood, their mothers were nothing more than breeding tools.
If a female failed to separate from the young Goblins after giving birth, she might even become their food.
Leaving the nursery, Li Meng headed to the carpentry workshop.
Before even reaching it, the sound of wood being carved emanated from the wooden huts.
"Boss, what brings you here?"
Inside the largest workshop, Li Meng found Gobuda.
Seeing the busy Goblins in the carpentry workshop, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
Though Goblins were rather dull, they excelled in obedience and hard work.
While lacking innovation, their ability to mimic was even better than humans''.
"I need to build something big. Clear this space for me!"
Soon, floating ships would appear in the skies near the Goblin lair.
Knowing this, Li Meng had no intention of sitting idle.
The future predicted by his life simulation was valuable intelligence.
For the next few days, Li Meng immersed himself in the workshop, researching large-scale ballistae.
Gobuda and the other Goblins assisted him.
By the afternoon of the seventh day, outside the workshop, a massive ballista was carried into the forest by the Goblins.
The ballista was essentially a scaled-up crossbow, structurally similar to the single-hand crossbows used by the Goblins.
The main difference was the addition of a winch for drawing the bowstring.
"Boss, the bolts are here!"
Three Goblins carried over a 1.5-meter-long bolt made entirely of low-carbon steel.
The bolt''s tail was fitted with iron fins to maintain stability and direction during flight.
"Load the string!"
At Li Meng''s command, the three Goblins hurriedly turned the winch.
With creaking sounds, the bowstring was slowly drawn back.
After over a minute, the bowstring was finally cocked.
The Goblins carrying the bolt placed it in the ballista''s firing slot.
"Boss, everything''s ready!"
With the preparation complete, it was time to test the ballista''s power.
Li Meng adjusted the ballista, aiming at a tree hundreds of meters away.
*Whoosh!*
Pulling the trigger, he heard a sharp snap, followed by the whistling of the bolt as it tore through the air.
In the dim forest, a black streak flashed past, heading deep into the woods.
*Thud!*
About 200 meters away, a massive tree was struck.
The bolt embedded itself deep into the trunk, its tail vibrating violently.
Watching this, Li Meng''s eyes revealed a trace of disappointment.
The ballista''s power was far below his expectations.
The bolt began to lose altitude after flying just 200 meters.
This level of power was unsatisfactory for Li Meng.
"Is it a problem with the materials or the design?"
He murmured as he studied the ballista before him.
The materials were already at their limit.
In the Goblin forest, there was no wood stronger than hard ironwood.
Spider silk ropes were also the best choice for bowstrings, offering the ideal balance of elasticity and toughness.
"It seems I can only make improvements to the design!"
Turning back toward the workshop, Li Meng instructed, "Bring the ballista back!"
Hearing this, the Goblins quickly swarmed the ballista, carrying it back to the workshop.
For the next several days, the sound of carving wood filled the workshop once again.
Occasionally, the rhythmic tapping of hammers could be heard.
"Boss! Boss!"
One afternoon, Gobuka rushed into the workshop, where Li Meng was refining a massive bow frame.
"Boss, bad news! We''ve found Pigmen in the eastern forest!"
Hearing this, Li Meng''s heart tightened.
So the Pigmen had indeed appeared.
It had been just over a month.
The Black Robes were supposed to appear after the floating ships, so the timeline still aligned.
"Don''t provoke the Pigmen. If you encounter them, avoid them."
The future simulated by the life prediction was valuable intelligence.
To guide events as desired, he needed to proceed cautiously.
"Boss, can''t we eat them? Pigmen meat is way better than wild boar!"
Gobuka''s face lit up with greed, saliva nearly dripping at the memory of Pigmen meat.
"Now''s not the time to go to war with the Pigmen. Inform the hunting parties in the eastern forest not to engage with them. Avoid them if encountered. Now go!"
"Alright, boss, I''m on it!"
Though disappointed, Gobuka obeyed his leader''s orders and scampered off.
The next morning, the quiet workshop came alive once more.
This time, a larger ballista was carried out by more than ten Goblins.
Compared to the previous one, this ballista was nearly twice as large, with a much more complex design.
Chapter 52: Impossible Things
Chapter 52: Impossible Things
A dozen goblins carried a ballista into a clearing in the forest and set it down.
This time, the ballista had three massive bow arms.
The three bow arms were arranged with two upright and one inverted.
The ballista before them was designed by Li Meng based on the structure of a triple-bow ballista.
However, it was only a rough imitation, with significant differences in many details.
"Load the string!"
This triple-bow ballista had two winches.
Six goblins rushed forward, panting as they cranked the winches.
The immense tension caused the bowstring and bow arms to creak loudly.
With the help of the pulley system, the power of the three bow arms was concentrated together.
It took over a minute for the bowstring to be fully loaded.
Li Meng single-handedly lifted the giant ballista bolt carried by three goblins and placed it into the firing slot.
This time, the bolt was even larger, about two meters long.
With the preparations for the test shot complete, the experiment officially began.
Li Meng aimed the ballista at a large tree several hundred meters away.
"Hoo!"
Li Meng took a deep breath.
His eyes were fixed intently on the target tree in the distance.
With a firm grip, he pulled the trigger.
"Whizz!"
The ballista shuddered.
The piercing sound of the bowstring snapping back echoed through the forest.
A streak of black light shot through the air, heading deep into the forest.
"Boom!"
Almost instantly, a loud explosion sounded deep in the forest.
A large tree three hundred meters away collapsed with a crash.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
The bolt pierced straight through the tree, and the immense impact shattered its trunk.
After penetrating one tree, the bolt continued its momentum, embedding itself into another tree a hundred meters away.
A third of the bolt''s length sank into the trunk.
The terrifying power left the goblins dumbfounded.
The commotion here caused an uproar in the tribe.
Even Li Meng was startled by the sheer force.
A tree so large that it would take three people holding hands to encircle it had been pierced straight through by the bolt.
If the shot were arced, its range could easily exceed one kilometer.
"However, the bow arms need to be reinforced!"
Earlier, when the bowstring was being loaded, Li Meng had heard cracking sounds from the bow arms.
With the current strength of the triple-bow ballista, the bow arms would break after only a few uses.
The limitation lay not in the bowstring but in the bow arms.
If the bow arms were thickened, the ballista''s power would be even greater.
This was because the power of the ballista was determined by the tension of the bow arms.
"Good, not bad. Take it back!"
With that, Li Meng returned to the carpentry workshop to continue reinforcing and adjusting the triple-bow ballista.
Time passed slowly, day by day.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, in the carpentry workshop¡ª
"Boss, do you think this will work?"
Gobuge led a group of goblin underlings to find their leader in the carpentry workshop.
Li Meng, who was assembling the triple-bow ballista, put down his work.
He took a harpoon bolt from the shoulders of three goblins with one hand.
Weighing it in his hand, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
Although the harpoon''s tip was a bit rough, it was still usable.
"Good. How many have you made?"
Gobuge chuckled and started counting on his fingers.
When he reached ten, Gobuge looked puzzled.
"Alright, put them down. That''s enough!"
Overjoyed, Gobuge quickly directed his underlings to set down the harpoon bolts they were carrying.
Looking at the three massive ballistae in the wooden house, Li Meng grinned.
With these three ballistae, they could set out tomorrow.
About half an hour later, Li Meng left the carpentry workshop.
"Benben, let''s go!"
Benben had been waiting at the entrance of the carpentry workshop.
Taking Benben with him, Li Meng walked toward the throne cave.
By this time, the sky was gradually darkening.
"Bai Ling?"
On his way back to the throne cave, Li Meng encountered Bai Ling.
Bai Ling, escorted by several goblins, was heading in the same direction.
"Master!"
Seeing her master approach, Bai Ling lowered her head slightly.
At this moment, Bai Ling was already heavily pregnant.
Two weeks after returning to the tribe, the female lizardmen in the throne cave, under Li Meng''s efforts, had one after another become pregnant.
Li Meng glanced sideways toward the forest depths behind Bai Ling.
"You went to the Iron Cavern?"
The tribe''s expansion work had been completed half a month ago.
Now, all the male lizardmen were working in the Iron Cavern.
After the first lactation period, the female lizardmen remained in a continuous lactation state.
Li Meng looked down at the bamboo tube in Bai Ling''s hand.
He could smell the rich scent of milk emanating from it.
Clearly, Bai Ling had gone to deliver milk.
Since Li Meng had allowed the female lizardmen to deliver milk, it had become a daily routine.
In the morning, they milked. In the afternoon, they delivered the milk to the male lizardmen.
Before dark, they would return to their caves.
Since most of the milk recipients were couples, every male lizardman received milk from his own mate.
As for Bai Ling''s milk, it was obvious who it was sent to¡ªthe most frail male lizardman.
Li Meng couldn''t care less about the lizardmen''s habit of sticking together.
Providing milk to the male lizardmen for nutrition and maintaining their health and strength was no bad thing.
Bai Ling nodded lightly.
Li Meng said nothing more.
The two walked together toward the throne cave.
"Master, are they smelting iron in the cavern?"
As they walked, Bai Ling suddenly asked.
Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling with a half-smile.
"Why do you think it''s called the Iron Cavern?"
His response made Bai Ling''s heart sink.
A trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes.
If any barbarian tribe in Goblin Forest smelted iron, Bai Ling wouldn''t find it strange.
But goblins smelting iron was unimaginable.
With their intelligence, how could they learn human iron-smelting techniques?
Even the marsh-dwelling lizardmen were clueless about iron-smelting.
"I told you, I am a clever goblin. Nothing is impossible for me."
Bai Ling lowered her head slightly, avoiding her master''s gaze.
With her head lowered, a murderous intent flickered in Bai Ling''s eyes.
This goblin overlord''s mere existence was a disaster for all intelligent races in Goblin Forest.
Even with her head down, Li Meng sensed Bai Ling''s murderous intent.
Looking down at her, he grinned maliciously.
"You can try, but if you fail, I will make you watch as all your kin are eaten alive!"
Hearing this, the heavily pregnant Bai Ling shuddered.
Her legs gave out, and she almost fell.
Li Meng stepped to the side and caught her.
"Master, Bai Ling wouldn''t dare!"
Li Meng smirked and said no more.
The two, harboring their own thoughts, walked together in the tribe.
In the following days, Li Meng didn''t leave immediately.
The next morning, he dived back into the carpentry workshop.
Having the triple-bow ballista wasn''t enough¡ªthey needed a means of transportation.
Not only the ballista but the tribe''s cargo also needed transportation tools.
In ancient times, the best means of transport was one thing¡ª
a cart with wheels
Chapter 53: Lying in Wait
Chapter 53: Lying in Wait
Although the tribe didn¡¯t have horses, it did have wild boars.
The structure of a carriage was relatively simple; the wheels were the most difficult and crucial part.
Although carriages weren¡¯t very suitable for use in forests, it wasn¡¯t entirely impossible. After all, the forest wasn¡¯t completely impenetrable.
Many areas were relatively flat and could accommodate carriage passage.
As the tribe''s territory expanded, building a road for faster travel became increasingly necessary.
Five days later, at the carpentry workshop:
"Making wheels is far harder than forging iron!"
Looking at the rough axle in his hands, Li Meng felt powerless.
Making wheels required some specialized tools.
Using just hammers and carving knives was not only time-consuming but also produced rough results.
"Forget it, I¡¯ll study it properly when I come back."
Missing the airship because of the wheel research would be a terrible loss.
Standing up, Li Meng hurriedly walked outside.
In the afternoon, the tribe was bustling with activity.
A large group of goblins rushed into the carpentry workshop, panting as they carried out three triple-bow ballistae.
Each triple-bow ballista required over twenty goblins to transport.
Seventy goblins carried three triple-bow ballistae.
Over thirty goblins carried the bolts.
More than twenty goblins carried the spider silk ropes.
A procession of over a hundred goblins marched grandly southward.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡±
The commotion outside caught Bai Ling¡¯s attention.
Bai Ling pushed open the door of the throne¡¯s cave dwelling and stepped outside.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
As soon as she exited, Bai Ling saw the mighty goblin procession heading off into the distance.
What the goblins were carrying piqued Bai Ling¡¯s curiosity.
She didn¡¯t know what those wooden contraptions were, but they looked heavy, requiring over twenty goblins to carry them together.
Benben was also in the procession.
Its master was sitting on its shoulder.
Noticing Bai Ling¡¯s gaze, Li Meng, sitting on Benben¡¯s shoulder, turned and waved at her.
Meeting her master¡¯s gaze, Bai Ling, standing at the entrance of the throne¡¯s cave dwelling, slightly lowered her head.
She turned back into the wooden house and closed the door.
Seeing this, Li Meng grinned.
The procession headed south, leaving the tribe in a grand display.
Half an hour later, the river was a scene of noise and activity.
"So slippery, the water is rising!"
"Hold steady! Don¡¯t push this way!"
On the icy path connecting the two banks, goblins carefully carried the triple-bow ballistae.
The massive weight caused the icy path to sag slightly, making river water surge onto it.
The goblins on the icy path wobbled unsteadily.
The commotion lasted for a long time.
The goblin procession moved across the icy path like turtles.
Fortunately, the process went smoothly without incident.
It took over half an hour for the goblins to reach the southern bank.
For the rest of the time, the goblin procession continued southward.
During the day, they marched; in the early night, they hunted; and in the late night, they rested.
After more than half a month, they arrived in the forest near the goblin lair.
By noon, at the goblin lair:
¡°Boss! Boss!¡±
A goblin scrambled into the cave.
It stumbled and slid to a kneeling halt at Gobuge¡¯s feet.
Gobuge, sitting on a stone platform, was gnawing on a large pig¡¯s head.
Looking down at the tiny goblin at its feet, Gobuge wiped the blood from the corner of its mouth.
It grinned and reached out a paw to grab the goblin.
The goblin let out a terrified shriek.
"The boss¡¯s boss is here!"
Gobuge¡¯s expression changed.
It quickly withdrew its hand, stood up, and rushed outside.
Watching its boss leave, the goblin looked relieved.
It had almost become the boss¡¯s lunch.
¡°Boss! Boss!¡±
Before it could run out of the cave, Gobuge¡¯s roar echoed from the entrance.
Gobuge dashed out of the cave¡¯s darkness with hurried steps.
As soon as it emerged, it halted.
Looking at the goblins huffing and puffing as they emerged from the forest, Gobuge was filled with questions.
What were those things the goblins were carrying on their shoulders?
¡°An ogre?¡±
At that moment, a massive figure emerged from the forest.
Although it wore iron armor, Gobuge recognized Benben as an ogre at first glance.
Gobuge let out a terrified scream.
That was an ogre, the most terrifying creature in the goblin forest.
"Is that... the boss?"
On the ogre¡¯s shoulder, Gobuge saw a familiar figure.
It was the boss¡ªthe one who had killed Gobuba not long ago.
The boss was sitting on the ogre¡¯s shoulder.
Seeing this, Gobuge¡¯s face was filled with fanaticism.
The boss was incredible, even managing to tame an ogre.
Gobuge hurried over.
¡°Boss, what are you doing?¡±
Gobuge asked with a fawning smile, its huge face almost scrunched together.
Li Meng leaped down from Benben¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Gobuge, from now on, have some goblins spread out around the goblin lair and keep an eye on the sky. Report to me immediately if there¡¯s any movement. I¡¯ll be staying here for the next few days.¡±
Although Gobuge didn¡¯t understand what the boss was planning, it didn¡¯t ask questions.
It quickly turned and dashed back to the cave.
Thus, Li Meng began waiting, lying in wait for the appearance of the airship.
To expand the range of observation, he had to use as many goblins as possible.
At Li Meng¡¯s request, hundreds of goblins spread out in the forest surrounding the goblin lair.
They climbed trees and mountain peaks, watching the surrounding sky.
Time passed quietly as Li Meng waited day by day.
One afternoon, in the forest northwest of the goblin lair:
The mountain where the goblin lair was located was a lone peak.
All around were rolling forests.
It was only over ten kilometers away that one could see the undulating mountain ranges.
In the dim forest, a few goblins were lying on treetops, watching the sky.
¡°What does the boss want us to look at? Birds?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. Just keep looking!¡±
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, staying here is much better than hunting."
¡°I want to go to the mountain peak to see. You can see farther from there.¡±
¡°You idiot, it¡¯s cold on the peak at night. Nowhere near as comfortable as here!¡±
¡°What do you know? If I spot something first, the boss might reward me with mating rights!¡±
¡°You¡¯re trash. Only when you evolve into a big goblin can you talk about mating rights.¡±
"Yeah, trash offspring will only produce trash, haha!"
The goblins on the surrounding treetops burst into laughter.
Their laughter filled the dim forest with a lively atmosphere.
¡°Hmph! When I evolve into a big goblin, you¡¯ll all be licking my feet.¡±
¡°You? If you evolve into a big goblin, I¡¯ll lick!¡±
Laughter erupted again from the treetops.
¡°Look, what¡¯s that?¡±
At that moment, a goblin on the outskirts suddenly shouted.
It lay on a treetop, pointing toward the northwest
Chapter 54: Hunting the Floating Ship
Chapter 54: Hunting the Floating Ship
In that direction, a ship soared over a mountain.
It flew past the peak almost touching it.
The ship wasn''t very large, measuring about thirty meters in length.
The two-masted sails on the deck were particularly striking.
"Quick, go tell the boss!"
The goblins who witnessed this scene were overjoyed and excited.
"I''ll go!"
"I''ll go!"
"You stay here and keep watch. I''ll go!"
The goblins perched on the treetops scrambled to slide down.
"Gobu Xia, how dare you fight me for it?"
In the dim forest, a few goblins dashed forward.
One goblin leaped and tackled another ahead of it.
It used a foot to step on the back of the fallen goblin and dashed ahead.
"Gobu Xiao, I''ll eat you!"
The fallen goblin roared angrily.
The running goblin turned its head and made a face.
"Who eats who? We''ll see!"
"Stop right there!"
The goblins in the forest rushed frantically toward their goblin lair.
"Boss, boss!"
The fastest goblin, Gobu Kuai, was the first to rush into the cave.
It slid to its knees and prostrated before a stone platform.
At this moment, Li Meng was seated on the stone platform, eating the heart of a wild boar.
"What¡¯s the matter? Why are you so flustered?"
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Gobu Kuai, panting heavily, patted its chest.
"Boss, something is flying towards us from the sky, and it¡¯s not a bird!"
Upon hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up.
He casually tossed away the heart in his hand and leaped off the stone platform.
"Benben, let¡¯s go!"
With a flash, Li Meng darted out of the cave.
Bursting out of the cave, Li Meng didn¡¯t stop and headed straight into the forest.
Moments later, Li Meng appeared on the treetop of a large tree deep in the forest.
Standing on the treetop, Li Meng gazed into the distance.
In the direction of the sky, a floating ship was flying toward them.
"So, this is a floating ship? Truly remarkable!"
No wings, no visible propulsion system.
And no airbag like a zeppelin.
Although the floating ship wasn¡¯t very large, the fact that it could fly was a miracle.
Li Meng placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled.
"Whooo, whooo!"
The sharp whistle echoed through the air.
"It¡¯s the boss¡¯s signal!"
The goblins at the cave entrance heard the whistle.
They scrambled back into the cave, stumbling over themselves.
Soon, over a hundred goblins huffed and puffed as they carried three-bow ballistas out of the cave.
A dark mass of goblins, carrying the ballistas, charged into the forest.
The deployment positions for the ballistas had long been rehearsed.
Around the goblin lair, there were 24 deployment locations within the forest.
Each location had a small clearing where trees had been removed.
The goblins carrying the ballistas split into three teams, heading to their respective deployment sites.
In the forest, the three ballistas were arranged in a triangular formation.
Each ballista was spaced about a hundred meters apart.
"Move faster, faster!"
"Tie the spider silk ropes tightly and wrap them a few more times!"
Under the scolding of the larger goblins, the goblins at the three deployment sites began preparing to fire.
The goblins responsible for turning the winches started cranking.
Those handling the harpoon arrows tied the other end of the spider silk ropes to the thickest trees nearby.
Some goblins even climbed the surrounding treetops to monitor the floating ship.
For a moment, the forest was in an uproar.
The goblins'' shrill cries echoed through the forest.
"Good, it¡¯s heading this way!"
Seeing the floating ship approaching, Li Meng grinned.
The floating ship was about 700 meters above ground and was steadily lowering its altitude.
This height was already within the range of the ballistas.
Meanwhile, not far away in the sky.
A floating ship sailed leisurely, carried by the wind.
On the deck, a few soldiers in blue armor could be seen.
There weren¡¯t many of them, only thirteen in total.
They leaned against the ship¡¯s railing, observing the forest below.
"Any signs of the savage tribes?"
A military officer in more elaborate armor paced the deck.
He wore a helmet adorned with a red plume.
The helmets of the other soldiers were bare.
"The forest is quiet, no signs of activity!"
"Captain, have we reached the target area yet?"
A soldier stood up, stretching his sore neck.
The officer stopped behind him and kicked him in the rear.
"Don¡¯t slack off. We¡¯re still 30 kilometers away from the border of the scouting zone."
"Captain, are the recent rumors true?"
"Probably not. The goblin forest is home to many savage tribes. Those guys aren¡¯t easy to deal with."
"It¡¯s about time. Such a beautiful land shouldn¡¯t be occupied by savages."
The soldiers on the ship discussed the topic among themselves.
The officer didn¡¯t stop them. His subordinates needed something to pass the time.
"Captain, suspicious goblin activity spotted ahead!"
At this moment, a soldier at the bow of the ship reported loudly.
This caught the attention of the other soldiers.
They all rushed to the bow to observe the forest ahead.
"There are beast bones at the entrance¡ªit must be a goblin lair!"
"The forest outside the cave is too quiet; it might be an abandoned lair."
"Record the location and let the adventurers deal with it!"
"Scribe, mark this spot!"
On the deck were not only soldiers and officers.
There were also a scribe in a blue robe and a low-ranking priest in a white robe.
The scribe held a piece of parchment, which glowed faintly with magical energy.
The low-ranking priest stood at the rear deck, controlling a crystal glowing with blue magical light, functioning as the ship¡¯s helm.
Meanwhile, in the forest ahead of the floating ship.
"Boss, boss, the thing in the sky is getting closer!"
The goblins on the treetops kept reporting the floating ship¡¯s position.
At the deployment site, Li Meng adjusted the ballista to aim at the sky.
Once the floating ship came into view, he would pull the trigger.
"Come, my floating ship!"
Looking at the blue sky, Li Meng grinned.
If the hunt succeeded, he might unlock the technology for floating ships.
Although the chances were slim, it was worth trying.
This was a magical world, and the floating ship¡¯s ability to fly was surely linked to magic.
Lacking magical knowledge, Li Meng doubted he could replicate one just by taking it down.
But no matter what, it was worth a shot.
As time passed, Li Meng waited patiently.
Soon, a floating ship slowly appeared over the deployment site in the forest.
"I see you!"
Li Meng¡¯s eyes gleamed as he grinned menacingly.
He placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled.
Chapter 55: First Encounter with Humans
Chapter 55: First Encounter with Humans
"Shhhhhh!"
A sharp, clear whistle echoed in the depths of the forest.
"Whoosh!"
Almost simultaneously, a piercing sound tore through the air.
Three harpoon bolts with long tails shot out from the forest, soaring skyward.
In less than 500 meters, their trajectory abruptly ended.
One harpoon bolt missed its target, scraping past the bow of the airship and flying higher into the sky.
The other two harpoons struck the ship''s hull.
"Boom!"
With a loud "boom," wooden debris scattered everywhere.
A two-meter-long harpoon bolt pierced through the ship''s body, crashing out from the deck.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed as wooden fragments flew.
One unlucky soldier on the deck was struck by the harpoon bolt as it emerged.
The massive force drove the harpoon bolt through the soldier¡¯s body, launching him over 10 meters into the air before he crashed heavily onto the base deck.
The airship trembled violently under the impact.
"What¡¯s happening?"
"What¡¯s going on?"
The sudden attack threw the soldiers on the deck into chaos.
"We¡¯re under attack!"
The harpoon bolt that grazed the bow of the ship had torn through the sails, tangling with them as it fell.
The web-like thread instantly tightened.
The pulling force from below caused the airship to jerk sharply.
"Ah!"This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Another scream rang out, this time prolonged.
A soldier fell off the deck, his harrowing scream fading quickly into the distance.
"Captain, we¡¯re under attack!"
A soldier lying flat on the deck spotted the harpoon bolt embedded in the boards.
The soldier impaled by the harpoon bolt was a gruesome sight.
Blood gushed across the deck under the immense pulling force.
The soldier, pierced through his abdomen, was still alive but struggling. He reached out to his comrades for help as blood and crushed organs spewed from his mouth.
"Lower the sails! Lower the sails! Stop moving, quickly!"
The officer snapped out of his shock and rushed forward, throwing his sword.
The blade spun through the air, severing the web-like thread tangled with the sails.
With the thread severed, the bow''s downward tilt corrected itself immediately.
Hearing the creaking of the ship''s frame, the soldiers'' faces turned pale.
If this continued, the airship would surely disintegrate.
The soldiers scrambled to their feet and rushed toward the mast.
Meanwhile, below in the forest, two ropes emerged, connecting the airship to the forest floor, resembling kite strings.
The finger-thick web-like threads creaked under the strain.
At that moment, the airship¡¯s sails suddenly dropped.
The powerless airship drifted to a stop in the sky.
As the ship stabilized, soldiers hurried to the ship''s edges, scanning the forest below for enemies.
Upon looking, they quickly spotted goblins in the forest.
"Captain, it¡¯s goblins! Goblins are attacking us!"
"What? Goblins?"
The officer couldn¡¯t believe his ears.
He rushed to the edge of the deck and looked down at the forest.
Sure enough, he saw goblins.
In three cleared areas of the forest, goblins were operating some kind of weapon.
"Are those¡ siege crossbows?"
The massive contraptions in the forest left the officer in shock.
Siege crossbows were military-grade equipment, usually reserved for the kingdom¡¯s city walls.
How could goblins possess such military weapons?
"Quick, cut the ropes!"
Three soldiers hurried toward their fallen comrade impaled by a harpoon bolt.
He was already dead, having bled out completely.
The deck was almost entirely stained with blood.
"High Priest, are you alright?"
The officer shouted toward the rear deck.
"Still alive, but the ship won¡¯t hold for long. Hurry!"
Inside the cabin, a soldier found the harpoon bolt embedded in the ship.
He spotted the web-like thread attached to it and swung his sword, aiming to cut it.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, wooden debris exploded from beneath his feet.
With a deafening crash, another harpoon bolt pierced through the ship.
The soldier was incredibly lucky; the bolt barely missed his nose.
But he was also incredibly unlucky; the ship¡¯s structure beneath him collapsed, and he plummeted.
"Ahhh!"
The sense of weightlessness overwhelmed him as his terrified scream faded into the distance.
The harpoon bolt that struck the airship penetrated the hull, sending the soldiers on the deck tumbling.
"Damn it! What¡¯s going on?"
Even if these were siege crossbows, their power was too terrifying.
The airship hovered at an altitude of at least 500 meters, yet the bolts struck with such force.
"Final shot! Bring it down!"
In the forest, Li Meng, operating a massive triple-bow crossbow, grinned toward the sky.
Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
"Whoosh!"
The harpoon bolt tore through the air like a black flash, heading skyward.
The 500-meter distance vanished in an instant.
"Boom!"
This shot struck the airship¡¯s keel directly.
With a loud explosion, wooden fragments flew.
The airship split into two, breaking apart at the center.
The broken bow and stern plummeted toward the ground.
If one listened closely, terrified screams could still be heard.
If one looked closely, silhouettes could be seen falling alongside the wreckage.
"Are those humans?"
In the forest, Li Meng gazed at the sky, watching the catastrophic scene unfold.
"They fell! They fell!"
The goblins erupted in cheers, their cries resounding through the forest.
Goblins perched on treetops danced and shouted in excitement.
After falling for more than ten seconds, the wreckage crashed into the depths of the forest.
"Let¡¯s go take a look!"
With a flash, Li Meng dashed into the forest depths.
Benben followed with heavy strides, chasing after their leader.
The goblins in the forest swarmed toward the airship¡¯s crash site.
About 700 meters to the northwest, Li Meng found the airship wreckage.
The bow and stern were over 100 meters apart.
"Humans, indeed!"
In the dim forest, Li Meng kicked over a corpse lying on the ground.
As the body flipped, a blond-haired, blue-eyed man came into view.
He resembled a European from Earth but only somewhat.
His hair and eyes matched, but his face was a blend of East and West.
His skin was pale, and his face was scruffy with a beard.
"Humans! They¡¯re humans!"
Figures flickered through the surrounding forest.
One by one, goblins emerged from the dim shadows.
Upon seeing the corpses on the ground, greed flashed in their eyes.
But with their leader present, they dared not act, merely watching from the sidelines.
Chapter 56: Crystal Apostle
A Heartfelt Thank You!
I want to express my deepest gratitude to [Lycha] for their incredible support on Patreon! Not just any support, but the highest tier¡ªSupporter Level 100. Your generosity means the world to me
Chapter 56: Crystal Apostle
"Move all the corpses together!"
The leader''s order made the goblins in the surrounding forest quickly gather.
Hundreds of goblins searched the forest nearby for human corpses.
Before long, over ten human corpses were placed in front of Li Meng.
Looking at the neatly arranged corpses before him, Li Meng''s face showed curiosity.
They were all humans, but their hair colors were different.
Some had golden hair, while others had black or brown.
Their facial structures were quite similar, indicating they belonged to the same race.
Since they were dead, Li Meng could not see their information.
"Leader, leader, there''s a human still alive!"
At that moment, a goblin came running hurriedly.
Hearing this, Li Meng''s eyes lit up.
"Where? Lead the way!"
"This way, this way!"
The goblin eagerly led the way.
Li Meng followed the goblin northward.
After running about a hundred meters, they found a person under a large tree.
It was someone wearing a white robe.
He was still alive but barely hanging on.
More than ten goblins surrounded him, their eyes glinting with greed as they sniffed the blood on him.
They wanted to approach but dared not, with drool nearly dripping from their mouths.
"The leader is here! The leader is here!"
With a loud shout, the goblins surrounding the human scattered like birds and beasts.
They ran far away, watching Li Meng with fear.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
[Crystal Apostle]
[Level: 31]
[Strength: 17]
[Defense: 14]
[Agility: 15]
[Crystal Mana: 267]
[Crystal Magic (?) (Cannot be devoured)]
[Crystal Magic (?) (Cannot be devoured)]
[Crystal Magic (?) (Cannot be devoured)]
Seeing the information, Li Meng''s expression turned peculiar.
Strange, why were all his skills marked with question marks?
He was clearly human, so why did the system label him as a Crystal Apostle?
"Leader, leader!"
At this moment, a goblin ran over with exaggerated eagerness.
It held a crystal radiating blue light in its arms.
The crystal was sizable, just slightly smaller than the goblin¡¯s head.
"This was found in the wreckage. It''s so pretty!"
Li Meng took the crystal from the goblin''s hands.
[Crystal]
[Crystal Mana: ]
The crystal''s information caused a flicker of surprise in Li Meng''s eyes.
The mana contained within this crystal astonishingly reached a value of 110,000.
"Could it be that the flying ship is powered by crystal mana?"
Looking down at the crystal in his hand, Li Meng muttered to himself.
If this were true, then crystals were indeed valuable items.
However, for some reason, holding the crystal made Li Meng shiver inexplicably.
"Why does it feel like an ominous object?"
Li Meng raised the crystal high and observed it carefully, murmuring softly.
It was beautiful, extremely beautiful.
The blue mana glow formed stunning light particles.
If this were on Earth, it would definitely be worth a fortune.
"Goblin, take your filthy hands off the crystal! You... you''re not worthy!"
At some point, the unconscious human had awakened.
He glared angrily, his eyes filled with nothing but disdain.
Li Meng looked down at him and grinned ferociously.
"Eat him!"
The surrounding goblins were overjoyed.
They screamed and pounced on the human.
One, two, three¡ªover ten goblins swarmed over the human.
They used their hands and sharp teeth to tear at the warm flesh.
The human didn¡¯t even have the strength to scream.
He could only watch helplessly as he was disemboweled and eaten alive.
Warm blood splashed onto Li Meng¡¯s face from the goblins'' claws.
Li Meng stuck out his tongue, licked it, and grinned.
Human blood and flesh were indeed delicious.
Li Meng stepped forward and pulled a blood-stained cloth from the feasting goblins.
He then wrapped the crystal with it.
Humans were indeed remarkable.
Who knew what the cloth was made of?
It was smooth, soft, and very comfortable to touch.
"What a pity!"
Looking at the torn cloth in his hand, Li Meng shook his head.
That human had many skills, but it was unfortunate they couldn¡¯t be devoured.
Afterward, Li Meng searched the floating ship wreckage again.
He searched and searched but could not find any magical devices.
The wreckage consisted of ordinary wood, with nothing special about it.
"Strange, it¡¯s impossible for there to be nothing special!"
Staring at the wreckage, Li Meng was perplexed.
After searching for hours, he found nothing.
If he hadn¡¯t seen the floating ship flying in the sky with his own eyes, he wouldn¡¯t have believed this pile of wood could fly.
The wreckage looked just like an ordinary wooden ship, with nothing special at all.
"Could it be..."
His eyes lit up as he rushed back into the wreckage.
He rummaged through the debris, scattering wood chips everywhere.
Minutes later, Li Meng emerged holding a long, thick, curved piece of wood.
"So that¡¯s it!"
Looking at the curved wood in his hands, Li Meng grinned.
This was a section of the broken keel.
The keel was made of some kind of purple wood.
It was engraved with peculiar patterns that looked mysterious and profound.
"Forget it, this is too complicated!"
Li Meng regretfully tossed the keel aside.
It was evident that the keel was a magical device.
But the patterns on it were too intricate.
With just one glance, Li Meng knew it couldn¡¯t be replicated.
Such brain-draining tasks made Li Meng''s head hurt just thinking about them.
The commotion in the forest lasted for a long time.
It wasn¡¯t until sunset that the forest quieted down.
"Gobu Tian, tomorrow bring some goblins and follow me back to the tribe."
That night, the cave was pitch black.
Below the stone platform, Gobu Tian immediately knelt down.
"Leader, I¡¯ll follow you!"
Gobu Tian knew the leader had established a new tribe elsewhere.
It had also heard there were many female Lizardmen in the tribe.
"From now on, you¡¯ll be the leader here. I¡¯ll tell you what you should and shouldn¡¯t do."
"Leader, I... I don¡¯t quite understand."
"You don¡¯t need to understand. Just do as I say."
"Leader, I understand. I¡¯ll obey you."
Time passed slowly as the night deepened.
In the quiet cave, the goblins¡¯ snores echoed.
The next morning, as dawn broke, the goblin cave was bustling with noise.
A large group of goblins rushed out of the cave and into the northern forest, screaming.
The three triple-bow ballistae were not taken by Li Meng.
They were left in the goblin cave.
There were many powerful magical beasts in the goblin forest.
The triple-bow ballistae were highly effective against beasts below the fifth rank.
If a strong magical beast appeared, they could use the ballistae to kill it.
This way, they wouldn¡¯t have to avoid strong beasts like before.
The goblin nest was a good place, and Li Meng wouldn¡¯t abandon it.
As the tribe¡¯s hunting range expanded in the future, the goblins couldn¡¯t stay together.
They had to spread out and establish multiple goblin tribes.
Each tribe would be responsible for a specific hunting area.
Normally, they would develop separately and regroup when necessary.
This would prevent the hunting teams from wasting too much time traveling back and forth.
By establishing separate tribes, the demand for food would also be significantly reduced.
Chapter 57: Powerful Human Male and Female
Chapter 57: Powerful Human Male and Female
The next day, it was already noon.
In the dim forest, the sound of footsteps rumbled, and figures moved in a steady flow.
Hundreds of goblins were scattered throughout the forest, advancing in groups.
Amidst the many green-skinned figures, there was one particularly massive presence.
Benben moved through the forest like a mobile metallic mountain.
Li Meng, sitting on Benben¡¯s shoulder, yawned.
"System, start Life Simulation!"
The airship being shot down meant the future had already changed.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You and the goblin underlings walk through the dim forest.]
[You return to the tribe and patiently wait for the appearance of the black-robed figure.]
[One day, the black-robed figure appears.]
[You obtain the ritual disc for summoning the Savage God from the black-robed figure.]
[You discover signs of Pigmen activity in the eastern forest and choose to ignore them.]
[As the Day of Rotation approaches, choose one of the following options:]
[1. Allow the Lizardmen in the northern marshlands to rebel.]
[2. Gather all goblins to intimidate the Lizardmen in the northern marshlands.]
[3. March into the northern marshlands, eradicate the Black Scales Tribe and Gray Scales Tribe, and kill all male Lizardmen.]
[4. Summon the Savage God.]
A trace of helplessness flashed in Li Meng''s eyes as he sat on Benben''s shoulder.
The future predictions provided by the Life Simulation were too vague.
The lack of details made it easy to miss side stories that could influence the future.
Every step had to be planned carefully, changing the future based on known information.
"What should I choose?"
Li Meng focused his attention on the four options.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Options 1, 3, and 4 were not viable.
Knowing in advance that the Lizardmen would rebel, he couldn¡¯t just ignore it.
If left unchecked, the combined male Lizardmen of the two tribes would number over a thousand.
This was a force that could not be overlooked.
The third option contradicted Li Meng¡¯s original intention of subjugating the northern marshlands'' Lizardmen.
The fourth option was even less desirable.
He would have to be out of his mind to choose the fourth option.
"Option 2!"
[You gather all the goblins, and their sheer number intimidates the Lizardmen.]
[You travel with Bai Ling to the Iron Cavern.]
[The Day of Rotation arrives, and Bai Ling returns to the White Scales Tribe.]
[The Black Mountain Lizardmen army attacks but retreats without a fight, and Bai Ling is captured.]
[One day, an adventurer party appears in the forest near the Goblin Nest.]
[Gobu Tian is killed by the adventurer party, and the Goblin Nest is annihilated.]
[Gobu Di and Gobu Shi lead a goblin army to pursue the Black Mountain Lizardmen army.]
[You head to the southern bank to confront the adventurer party alone.]
[In the forest where the airship wreckage lies, you encounter the adventurer party.]
[You achieve victory, killing all the men and capturing two human females.]
[From the captives, you learn information about the human Principality of Illisis.]
[You catch up with the goblin army and lead them to continue pursuing the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army.]
[In a forest, you lead the Goblin Boar Riders to overtake the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army.]
[You defeat the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army and kill them all.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe, hearing of their army¡¯s annihilation, summons the Savage God Akuya in fear.]
[The Black Mountain Marshlands are polluted by the Savage God, becoming the Great Wasteland Domain, and all life is refined into Wasteland Slaves.]
[You retreat with the goblin army and return to the tribe.]
[Due to food needs, you teach the Lizardmen aquaculture techniques.]
[Your tribe thrives.]
[One day, a fully armored man appears in the forest near the Goblin Nest.]
[One day, he finds the Goblin Tribe.]
[On that day, you use swarm tactics to kill the man, but the tribe suffers heavy casualties.]
[One day, a woman appears in the forest near the Goblin Nest.]
[One day, she finds the Goblin Tribe.]
[On that day, the tribe becomes a sea of flames, and you die, with the tribe utterly annihilated.]
[As a transmigrator, no matter how cautious you are, you cannot escape being toyed with by the Goddess of Fate. Your efforts ultimately amount to nothing. Your life, however, has value, as it marks the beginning of the Goblin Forest''s transformation into the Great Wasteland Domain.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 60.]
[Choose from the following rewards:]
[Consume 10 points to increase level +1.]
[Consume 1 point to increase attribute +1.]
[Consume 10 points to increase Charm +1.]
[Consume 10 points to increase "Berserk" skill level +1.]
[Consume 20 points to increase "Iron Skin" skill level +1.]
[Consume 10 points to increase "Heart Voice" skill level +1.]
"So, taking out the smaller fry has brought the bigger ones?"
The final male and female humans were clearly powerful individuals.
Otherwise, the man wouldn¡¯t have required swarm tactics to defeat.
This suggested that the man was far stronger than him.
And the woman could annihilate the entire tribe.
Such formidable strength likely placed them at the pinnacle of human power.
"Could those adventurers have been relatives of the man and woman?"
Li Meng considered this possibility.
It was highly likely.
Otherwise, their appearance couldn¡¯t be explained.
"It seems destroying the airship triggered a chain reaction!"
Li Meng furrowed his brows, his expression contemplative.
If the airship hadn¡¯t been destroyed, would that adventurer party have appeared?
Without that adventurer party, the final man and woman wouldn¡¯t have been drawn.
"How can I avoid the worst outcome?"
Li Meng lowered his head, lost in thought as he sat on Benben¡¯s shoulder.
The system provided too few options.
Li Meng suspected that the frequency of options in Life Simulation was tied to his Luck attribute.
If the options appeared more frequently, he would have more future paths to choose from.
He wouldn¡¯t be stuck with one path until the end after making a single choice.
This time, however, his luck was decent, as there were three skill reward options.
"Choose to increase the ''Iron Skin'' skill level!"
[Consume 60 points. "Iron Skin" skill level +3.]
Here it came¡ªthe familiar excruciating pain swept over him.
Sitting on Benben¡¯s shoulder, Li Meng''s body crackled and popped.
His shin bones twisted out of shape, as if crushed by some force.
His face contorted into a grimace before being forcibly straightened.
After a while, Li Meng¡¯s body returned to normal.
Benben curiously turned to look at his boss on his shoulder.
When Benben looked over, Li Meng¡¯s transformation had already ended.
Li Meng lowered his head, gazing at his hands, and grinned.
He had grown stronger again.
Li Meng could feel the immense power hidden within his body.
At this moment, he finally understood why he was so confident before the black-robed figure.
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 1675]
[Defense: 1659]
[Agility: 591]
[Magic: 86]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring magical beast flesh has a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Body Regeneration: LV5]
[Heart Voice: LV1]
[Ice Element Control: LV1]
[Berserk: LV1]
[Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
Chapter 58: Bai Lings Plea
Chapter 58: Bai Ling''s Plea
[Steel Skin] skill''s attribute bonus was truly astonishing.
As the panel''s attributes became more exaggerated, Li Meng realized something.
That Goblins were indeed very weak.
Even the Goblin King''s panel attributes were probably only around two to three hundred.
"I wonder how high the panel attributes of those two humans are!"
Despite having such high panel attributes, he still wasn¡¯t a match for that man.
This showed that the man¡¯s strength far exceeded his own.
In the following days, Li Meng led his Goblin underlings, traveling north while hunting along the way.
It wasn¡¯t until one afternoon, half a month later, that they arrived at the tribe.
"Gobu Tian, stay in the tribe for a month before returning. When your offspring mature, someone will come to pick them up!"
In front of the throne cave, Li Meng gave Gobu Tian some instructions.
Gobu Tian nodded, curiously examining the tribe.
It didn¡¯t expect its boss''s lair to be in the forest.
Even less did it expect the boss to construct strange dwellings like the Lizardmen.
"Gobu Ke, take Gobu Tian to choose a dwelling, and then bring it to the Iron Cavern!"
The one guarding the tribe today was Gobu Ke.
Gobu Ke quickly nodded.
Afterward, Gobu Ke led Gobu Tian and its group of Goblin underlings away.
Watching Gobu Tian''s departing back, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
The worst future had already emerged.
Now, he had to find a way to change it.
Li Meng turned and looked at Bai Ling, who stood at the door.
In one trip and back, more than a month had passed.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.
Bai Ling''s swollen belly was now gone.
Even from the doorway, Li Meng could smell the faint scent of milk.
Seeing Bai Ling''s curvaceous body, Li Meng thought of his bloodline offspring.
The first batch of Goblin children had already matured.
They were learning how to hunt with the hunting team.
Calculating it, the number of his bloodline offspring had exceeded two hundred.
Within a year, the number could surpass five hundred.
With more female Lizardmen, the rate of offspring growth would only increase.
This was the terrifying aspect of Goblins.
Even Ground Mice couldn''t reproduce as fast as Goblins.
Only food could limit the Goblin population.
Li Meng approached Bai Ling expressionlessly.
The number of his bloodline offspring was still not enough.
As his panel attributes increased, his bloodline offspring''s potential would only grow.
Only through his bloodline offspring could the quality of the tribe''s Goblins improve.
Whether he wanted to or not, he had to dedicate himself to reproduction.
As a Goblin, in this world, he could only rely on other Goblins.
Everything was for survival!
Seeing the terrifying Goblin approach, Bai Ling''s heart trembled.
She quickly lowered her head, hesitant to speak.
Over the past few months, they hadn¡¯t had a moment''s rest.
She wanted to beg this Goblin for a few months'' respite.
But as a High Priest, her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to bow to a Goblin.
Li Meng strode up to Bai Ling.
He grabbed her waist and led her into the wooden house.
Soon, sounds began emanating from within the wooden house.
Hearing the noises from the throne cave, the Goblins outside were filled with envy.
The commotion in the wooden house continued for a long time.
It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon of the third day that the tightly closed door finally opened again.
Li Meng emerged, looking refreshed.
Inside the throne cave, all the beds had been pushed together.
On the beds, graceful figures lay scattered, their animal skirts long discarded.
All the female Lizardmen looked utterly exhausted.
"High Priest, are¡ are you alright?"
Hei Nana weakly sat up.
She looked worriedly at the High Priest, who was lying on the bed not far away.
Among them all, the High Priest had been tormented the most.
Bai Ling, lying on the bed, moved slightly.
She sat up, taking a deep breath.
"I''m fine. I¡¯m perfectly fine!"
At this moment, the other female Lizardmen gradually recovered.
One after another, they sat up, searching for their animal hide skirts.
Outside, Li Meng heard the murmuring from the room.
He grinned and walked leisurely toward the carpentry workshop.
These female Lizardmen, despite their inner loathing for him, were utterly wild in the throes of desire.
"Boss, boss, what brings you here?"
Seeing Li Meng arrive, Gobu Da hurried over.
In the carpentry workshop, a group of Goblins was busy.
One corner of the wall was piled with crossbows lacking bowstrings.
In another corner stood an incomplete three-bow ballista.
"How¡¯s it going? Have you figured out how to make the three-bow ballista?"
Gobu Da shrank his neck and smiled sheepishly.
He glanced at the unfinished three-bow ballista in the corner.
For Goblins, the construction steps for a three-bow ballista were still too complicated.
"Alright, keep learning from me!"
Seeing that Li Meng wasn¡¯t angry, Gobu Da quickly nodded.
Over the next few days, Li Meng continued to teach Gobu Da how to make the three-bow ballista.
In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
In the morning, at the carpentry workshop.
"Gobu Da, when I return, I¡¯ll inspect the three-bow ballista. If it¡¯s not up to standard, you know the consequences."
At the doorway, Gobu Da nodded vigorously.
Without saying much else, Li Meng turned and left.
Watching his boss''s departing back, Gobu Da slapped his face.
This time, he couldn¡¯t afford to forget.
Gobu Da turned to the group of Goblins inside the workshop.
"Did you all get a good look?"
Faced with their leader''s gaze, the Goblins exchanged uncertain glances.
One hesitant Goblin nodded slightly.
The other Goblins quickly followed suit.
It didn¡¯t matter if one remembered; as long as someone else did, it was fine.
"Good. Let¡¯s get started!"
Gobu Da grinned excitedly.
Whether or not he remembered didn¡¯t matter, as long as his underlings did.
In the tribe, Li Meng walked leisurely with Benben.
"Benben, stay here in the tribe. I¡¯ll be back soon!"
As if recalling something, Li Meng sprinted toward the forest.
Watching his boss''s hurried departure, Benben shook its head.
Instead of following, it headed toward the throne cave.
After leaving the tribe, Li Meng followed the river eastward.
Occasionally, he climbed treetops to observe the terrain.
Sometimes, he scaled high ground to survey the surrounding landscape.
The next day, atop a mountain roughly ten kilometers north of the river.
Li Meng climbed a tree and scanned the distance from its peak.
Clamping the branch tightly with his legs, he held a wooden plank in one hand and a charcoal stick in the other.
From time to time, he drew on the plank.
Looking closely at the plank, a faint map was forming.
Chapter 59: Water Slime
Chapter 59: Water Slime
"From now on, this will be called Goblin River!"
Standing high up, Li Meng looked far into the distance. The forest river meandered forward, stretching to the edge of his sight.
Li Meng, perched on the treetop, put away the wooden board and swiftly slid down the tree.
As soon as he landed, his figure flickered as he ran down the mountain.
Over the next few days, Li Meng focused on one task: mapping the areas along both banks of Goblin River.
It was a new day on the southern bank of Goblin River.
Deep within the dim forest, Li Meng strolled leisurely, holding a wooden map board and making adjustments with charcoal.
After several days of following the river upstream, Li Meng gained significant insight, memorizing the terrain and topography on both sides of Goblin River.
"This smell... Hmm, I''ve never encountered it before!"
Li Meng suddenly stopped in his tracks as he walked slowly through the forest. He raised his head slightly, his nose twitching as he sniffed the peculiar scent in the air.
"Could it be a high-level magical beast?"
He looked towards the depths of the forest, pondering to himself.
The tribe was located at the northern edge of Goblin Forest, making encounters with high-level magical beasts rare.
Even in regions inhabited by the savage tribe, spotting such beasts was difficult, as the tribe would actively drive away or hunt them down.
Although powerful, the lack of intelligence among magical beasts was their greatest weakness, often making even the strongest of them prey for hunters.
"Let¡¯s take a look!"
Curiosity propelled Li Meng to head towards the source of the scent.
After walking about three hundred meters, he suddenly saw a sunlit clearing in the forest ahead.
Seeing this, Li Meng quickly darted behind a large tree, cautiously peeking out from behind it to observe.
What he saw left him stunned.
Before him lay a forest lake.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
The lake wasn¡¯t large, covering only about 2,000 square meters.
Its water was shallow and crystal clear, revealing its bottom.
Within the lake were some round, semi-transparent small creatures.
[Water Slime]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 1]
[Defense: 1]
[Agility: 1]
[Magic Power: 3314]
[Elemental Affinity: LV3]
The peculiar attribute panel left Li Meng, still hiding behind the tree, in disbelief.
All its stats were at 1, even its level.
Yet its magic power was astonishingly high at 3314.
Such an extraordinary magic power stat, yet without offensive magical skills?
This was beyond bizarre.
"Unexpectedly, it¡¯s a Water Slime!"
Hiding behind the tree, Li Meng''s eyes gleamed with greed as he stared at the Water Slimes in the lake.
The skills of the Water Slime were exactly what he needed.
With the "Elemental Affinity" skill, the problem of insufficient magic power could be perfectly resolved.
Glancing at the ground, Li Meng bent down to pick up a stone roughly the size of half a fist.
Weighing the stone in his hand, he looked towards the lake, searching for a target.
"You¡¯re the one!"
Locking onto the nearest Water Slime, Li Meng assumed a throwing posture behind the tree.
With a forceful swing of his right arm, the stone flew out.
Pa!
The stone swiftly crossed a distance of over twenty meters, striking a Water Slime.
With a pop, the Water Slime''s body burst like a balloon, quickly dissolving into the water.
Witnessing this, Li Meng froze.
Meanwhile, the death of their companion startled the remaining Water Slimes.
They all transformed into water and disappeared without a trace.
Seeing the Water Slimes vanish, Li Meng, still hiding behind the tree, was dumbfounded.
"How am I supposed to catch them like this?"
Li Meng emerged from behind the tree, exasperated as he looked at the tranquil lake.
"I don¡¯t believe you won¡¯t come out!"
After a while, Li Meng left the lakeside and hid in the forest again.
Time ticked by, hour after hour.
Three hours later, still at the forest near the lake...
"Why hasn¡¯t anything happened yet?"
Hiding behind the tree, Li Meng continued observing the lakeside.
So much time had passed, yet the lake remained motionless.
"Could it be they won¡¯t come out again?"
Reluctantly, Li Meng decided to keep waiting.
Another hour passed...
A whole day passed...
Three days later, at noon, near the forest by the lakeside.
"Damn it, come out already!"
Frustrated, Li Meng carried a large stone as he angrily emerged from the forest.
With a heavy throw, the boulder splashed into the water.
"Come out! Come out!"
Fuming, Li Meng began hurling stones from the lakeside into the water, creating a spectacle of splashes.
The sound of water echoed throughout the area.
"You won¡¯t come out, huh? Let¡¯s see how long you can hide!"
After three days of waiting, Li Meng lost his patience.
Quickly, he approached a massive boulder on the lakeside.
Gripping it with both hands, he forcibly pulled it out from the soil.
"I¡¯ll crush you all!"
The several-ton stone was hurled into the lake, landing with a thunderous splash.
A massive column of water shot skyward.
The water¡¯s surface rippled violently, forming small waves that spread outward.
After venting his frustration, Li Meng lay on the lakeside, panting heavily.
"You little cuties, you sure know how to waste my time!"
Cursing under his breath, Li Meng crawled to the water¡¯s edge and drank from the lake.
"Bleh, what the hell? No taste at all!"
After a few gulps, he spat out the water in disgust.
[Skill successfully activated: Obtained skill "Elemental Affinity"]
The sudden system prompt stunned Li Meng.
"Damn, is this even possible?"
Li Meng was bewildered, his emotions a mix of surprise and amusement.
He had waited three days in vain, only to gain the "Elemental Affinity" skill in such an unexpected manner.
"Could the water in this lake be made of Water Slime body parts?"
The tasteless water was evidently not ordinary.
If it wasn¡¯t water, then what was it?
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 15]
[Strength: 1675]
[Defense: 1659]
[Agility: 591]
[Magic Power: 1086]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts grants a chance to acquire their skills]
[Iron Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Body Regeneration: LV5]
[Telepathy: LV1]
[Ice Element Control: LV1]
[Berserk: LV1]
[Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic Power +1000)]
As expected, his magic power had increased, surging by 1000.
"Could the water in this lake be liquid magic power?"
Realizing the possibility, Li Meng quickly returned to the water¡¯s edge and drank several large gulps.
To his disappointment, the magic power stat didn¡¯t change at all.
"Guess I was overthinking!"
Smiling wryly, Li Meng stood up.
Chapter 60: Pigmen Tribe
Chapter 60: Pigmen Tribe
¡°Humph, I¡¯ll spare you this time since I¡¯m in a good mood.¡±
Li Meng initially planned to freeze the lake.
But since he had already obtained what he wanted, it was unnecessary.
Afterward, Li Meng walked into the depths of the forest with a pleased expression.
In the following days, Li Meng continued heading upstream.
He traveled over mountains and rivers, walking and stopping along the way.
Five days later, on the northern bank of Goblin River.
About twenty kilometers away from Goblin River, there was a large mountain.
Halfway up the mountain, near a cliff, stood a green-skinned figure.
The green-skinned figure was Li Meng.
Standing high gave him a panoramic view of the forest at the mountain¡¯s base.
However, the forest was far from peaceful and was bustling with noise.
The forests on both sides of a tributary of Goblin River were being logged.
Within the forest, numerous humanoid creatures with pig heads could be seen.
They wielded stone axes, huffing and puffing as they chopped down trees.
These creatures were much taller than goblins.
Their average height was around 1.9 meters.
They looked plump yet sturdy at the same time.
Compared to pigs, they resembled humans more.
Their pig heads, aside from their large noses and ears, leaned more towards human features.
The Pigmen Tribe had been living here for some time.
On both sides of the stream stood rows of brand-new thatched huts.
Although the structures were simple and looked rather rough,
they were decent shelters from wind and rain.
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Within the tribe, a few campfires emitting smoke could be seen.
The presence of campfires indicated that the Pigmen Tribe knew how to use fire.
¡°At last, I¡¯ve found you!¡±
Looking at the distant Pigmen Tribe, Li Meng murmured to himself.
Another purpose of following the stream upstream was to locate the Pigmen Tribe.
After a month, he had finally found them.
The Pigmen Tribe was large, with at least 2,000 members visible to the eye.
If not for the undigested droppings he had seen in Goblin River,
finding the Pigmen Tribe wouldn¡¯t have been easy.
Turning slightly, Li Meng looked southward.
The end of this tributary was Goblin River.
At the confluence, Goblin River meandered southward into Goblin Forest.
The Pigmen Tribe¡¯s settlement was about seventy kilometers away from the tribe.
Not too close, but not too far either.
Li Meng used charcoal to record the Pigmen Tribe¡¯s location on a wooden board.
¡°It¡¯s time to return!¡±
Li Meng hadn¡¯t forgotten about the black robe matter.
However, the black robe likely wouldn¡¯t appear so soon.
Although the life simulation provided vague future information,
it didn¡¯t specify when the black robe would show up.
Still, some clues allowed him to estimate a rough timeframe.
Before long, the green-skinned figure on the cliff had vanished.
Traveling upstream had taken over a month, as he moved sporadically between the north and south banks.
But returning to the tribe only took Li Meng five days.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, Li Meng arrived back at the tribe.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
The goblins guarding the entrance to the cave dwelling grew ecstatic upon seeing their leader return.
Two goblins looked at their boss with flattery as he approached.
¡°Go find Gobuge and tell him to bring some clay over!¡±
Li Meng instructed the goblin underlings as he walked up.
One goblin immediately turned and ran toward the iron cavern.
¡°Where¡¯s Benben?¡±
Li Meng glanced around but didn¡¯t see Benben.
¡°Boss, Benben left half a month ago and hasn¡¯t returned yet.¡±
Benben left?
This news surprised Li Meng.
He didn¡¯t dwell on it too much and entered the dwelling.
Benben was an ogre, and its armor alone allowed it to roam Goblin Forest freely.
Although he didn¡¯t know where Benben had gone,
Li Meng believed it would return eventually.
¡°Not here either?¡±
Entering the dwelling, Li Meng found that the female Lizardmen were absent.
He knew exactly where they had gone.
They must have gone to the iron cavern to deliver milk to the male Lizardmen.
Li Meng didn¡¯t linger in the dwelling.
Seeing it empty, he turned and left.
¡°I wonder how Gobuda is doing!¡±
Walking through the tribe, Li Meng pondered silently.
After over a month, he hoped Gobuda hadn¡¯t disappointed him.
Before long, Li Meng arrived at the woodworking workshop.
¡°The boss is here! The boss is here!¡±
Upon seeing the boss, the goblins at the door acted as if they had seen a ghost.
They turned and ran into the workshop, even shutting the door behind them.
This scene gave Li Meng a bad feeling.
At the door, Li Meng heard scurrying inside the workshop.
¡°Gobuda, what are you up to?¡±
Li Meng roared, pushing the door open.
The scurrying immediately ceased.
All the goblins stared fearfully at the boss standing in the doorway.
Especially Gobuda, who was tinkering with a triple-bow ballista in the corner.
¡°Not bad, not bad at all!¡±
Seeing the ballista in the corner, Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up.
He walked over to Gobuda with a satisfied expression.
As he walked, he didn¡¯t hold back on his praise.
Gobuda chuckled nervously and greeted him obsequiously.
¡°Boss, you¡¯re back so soon?¡±
¡°Over a month isn¡¯t soon!¡±
Li Meng glared at Gobuda before approaching the ballista.
Gobuda shrank his neck, anxiously watching the ballista.
Looking at the ballista before him, Li Meng nodded repeatedly.
Although it lacked bowstrings, it resembled a proper ballista.
Its craftsmanship, however, was incredibly crude and clumsy.
The bow and frame were full of dents and imperfections.
¡°Not bad. All my teachings weren¡¯t wasted on you!¡±
Li Meng was satisfied with Gobuda¡¯s progress.
Now, it was up to Gobuda and the others to refine their skills.
Thinking this, Li Meng reached out to adjust the slightly crooked bow.
¡°Crash!¡±
At his touch, the ballista suddenly fell apart.
With a series of clatters, its components scattered across the floor.
Li Meng¡¯s outstretched hand froze mid-air, his expression blank.
¡°Uh¡ boss!¡±
Gobuda retreated two steps in terror.
He wanted to run but couldn¡¯t move.
¡°You fool, Gobuda!¡±
A thunderous roar echoed through the workshop.
The tribe¡¯s goblins shuddered in unison, puzzled as they glanced toward the workshop.
Meanwhile, in a nearby forest, a group of female Lizardmen was returning to the tribe.
¡°High Priest, it seems to be that goblin¡¯s voice.¡±
Hei Nana trembled, her expression filled with doubt.
Their master had been gone for over a month.
They had just given birth, and now he had returned.
Frequent pregnancies had left them physically and mentally exhausted.
Bai Ling¡¯s heart sank as she remained silent.
The other female Lizardmen¡¯s eyes also revealed a hint of fear.
In the following days, Gobuda¡¯s luck seemed to have completely run out.
The woodworking workshop frequently echoed with Li Meng¡¯s scolding and the goblins¡¯ cries of pain.
Chapter 61: Apostle of God
Chapter 61: Apostle of God
The screams lasted for five days before finally subsiding.
It was a new day, and the goblins in the carpentry workshop faced yet another fearful and busy day.
Inside the workshop, Li Meng stood in a corner, coldly observing with a long whip in his hand.
The goblins trembled as they used carving knives to process the wood in their hands, occasionally glancing fearfully at their boss in the corner.
"Too thin! The sleeper needs to be two fingers thicker!"
With a shout, Li Meng raised his whip.
*Snap!*
The whip struck the back of a goblin ten meters away.
"Ah!"
The goblin let out a miserable scream.
"Boss, I¡ I know I was wrong!"
The goblin hurriedly pleaded for mercy.
"The bow body must be thicker! If you keep shaving, there¡¯ll be nothing left!"
Another *snap!*
The long whip struck another goblin.
Meanwhile, Gobuda stood to the side, gloating at the pitiful screams of his subordinates.
*Snap!*
The sharp sound of the whip rang out again, this time striking Gobuda.
"Ah!"
Gobuda screamed in pain, retreating several steps.
"Gobuda, you¡¯re their leader. You should be supervising and guiding them!"
"As the leader, it¡¯s not your job to stand by and laugh at their misfortune."
Li Meng swung the whip again, hitting Gobuda once more.
Gobuda jumped in pain, letting out another miserable cry.
"Ah! Boss, stop hitting me! Please stop!"
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Gobuda quickly stepped forward, pretending to supervise his subordinates.
Sweeping his gaze over the goblins in the room, Li Meng sneered.
After these few days of training, Li Meng had come to understand one thing:
Goblins indeed had strong imitative abilities, but they also had a lazy and careless nature.
Only by forcing them could he cram new knowledge into their brains.
"Keep working. When it¡¯s done, I¡¯ll inspect it. Gobuda, if you fail this time, just see what I¡¯ll do to you."
Li Meng¡¯s fierce gaze made Gobuda shrink his neck and smile ingratiatingly.
"Boss, we won¡¯t fail this time. Absolutely not."
"Hmph, you¡¯d better not!"
With a cold snort, Li Meng threw down the whip and turned to leave the workshop.
Seeing the boss finally leave, Gobuda breathed a sigh of relief.
He wiped his wounds, grimacing in pain.
"What are you looking at? Get back to work!"
Gobuda rushed forward, picked up the boss¡¯s whip, and struck the nearest goblin subordinate.
"Ah!"
The goblin subordinate screamed in pain.
"This is all your fault! I got beaten because of you fools!"
For a time, the workshop echoed with Gobuda¡¯s angry roars and the goblins¡¯ cries of pain.
---
On the other side, after leaving the workshop, Li Meng returned to the throne cave.
At the entrance of the throne cave was a pile of loose soil and several bamboo buckets filled with water, along with some green branches and leaves.
"You, come help!"
Li Meng called over the goblin subordinates guarding the entrance.
Four goblins hurriedly ran over obediently.
For the next while, Li Meng busied himself at the entrance.
After some time, he carried two buckets of clay into the throne cave.
By afternoon, all the female lizardmen were present in the cave.
They looked curiously and questioningly at what Li Meng was doing on the ground.
Li Meng ignored the female lizardmen and focused on his task.
Before long, under his hands, the clay took the shape of various mountains.
From time to time, he glanced at the map on a wooden board.
Time passed as Li Meng worked.
On the third day, Bai Ling finally realized what her master was doing.
"Master, are you making a map?"
Looking at the lifelike sandbox map before her, Bai Ling felt a mix of emotions.
Her master was truly an anomaly among goblins.
His intelligence far exceeded her understanding.
Every action he took made it hard to believe he was just a goblin.
"Yes, this is a sandbox."
Clay was used to create mountains and terrain, while branches and leaves were used to simulate forests.
After three days of work, the sandbox map was 70% complete, covering about ten square meters.
Though not a perfectionist, Li Meng sought precision.
The mountain models closely resembled their real-life counterparts, down to the peaks and even some large rocks.
The other female lizardmen gathered around, their faces filled with wonder as they looked at the sandbox map.
They had never seen anything like it before, but one glance was enough to understand what it was.
"Master, is this the northern marshlands?"
Hei Nana cautiously asked, pointing to a patch of uneven terrain with miniature huts resembling their tribal structures.
"What are you saying? He doesn¡¯t understand Marsh Lizardmen language!"
Bai Ling rolled her eyes at Hei Nana¡¯s attempt to communicate with the master.
Their master didn¡¯t understand Marsh Lizardmen language, and goblins couldn¡¯t even pronounce it properly.
Hei Nana looked confusedly at Bai Ling, then at the High Priest.
"Yes, that area represents the northern marshlands."
Li Meng¡¯s answer stunned Bai Ling.
He¡ he understood Marsh Lizardmen language?
The astonishment was evident on Bai Ling¡¯s face.
It¡ it could understand Marsh Lizardmen language?
"High Priest, hasn¡¯t the master spoken with us frequently? Did you not notice?"
The other female lizardmen nodded in agreement.
During mating, the master would communicate with them.
"This¡ this can¡¯t be. Do you mean to say you understand Goblin language?"
Bai Ling¡¯s face was filled with disbelief, momentarily losing her composure.
The female lizardmen exchanged glances and collectively shook their heads.
"No, but we can understand what the master means from his words!"
Hei Nana¡¯s explanation reminded Bai Ling of her own unique ability.
Since she was young, she had been able to communicate with other species through a kind of mental connection.
Could it be that the master also possessed this ability?
"Jie jie, such a clever goblin!"
At that moment, an unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed in the room.
The voice wasn¡¯t in Goblin language or Marsh Lizardmen language, yet everyone present understood it clearly.
The sudden appearance of the voice drew all the female lizardmen¡¯s attention to the entrance.
At the doorway stood a black-robed figure, its entire body hidden beneath the cloak, obscuring its true form.
"You¡¯ve arrived quite quickly!"
Li Meng didn¡¯t need to look to know who the visitor was.
He hadn¡¯t expected the black robe to come so soon.
Standing up, Li Meng turned to face the entrance.
[Divine Apostle (Holy)]
[Level: 1]
[Strength: 1]
[Defense: 1]
[Agility: 1]
[Magic: 1]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
[Divine Magic (?)]
The black-robed figure¡¯s information made Li Meng furrow his brows.
Judging by its stature, it was likely a human from this world¡ªor perhaps a humanoid barbarian species of a similar size.
However, why was it that the system couldn¡¯t detect the power possessed by the humans of this world?
Chapter 62: Pretending to be Mysterious
Chapter 62: Pretending to be Mysterious
The black robe in front clearly concealed its power.
Could it be that his death at the hands of the black robe was due to curiosity?
"Who are you?"
Li Meng scrutinized the black-robed figure and asked.
The black robe politely placed a hand on its chest and bowed slightly to Li Meng.
"You don¡¯t need to know who I am. You only need to know that I am a friend bringing you power!"
"Friend?"
Li Meng sneered and bared his sharp teeth at the black robe.
"We Goblins don¡¯t have friends!"
The black-robed figure stood upright, unfazed.
"It doesn¡¯t matter whether we¡¯re friends or not. What matters is that you will gain the power to summon a god from me!"
As the words fell, a hand emerged from beneath the black robe.
In the hand was a silver plate about three centimeters in diameter.
Though small, the silver plate emanated an aura of profound mystery that Li Meng could feel.
"Your faith will be answered by a deity. Call out to it loudly!"
A strange scene unfolded.
In the eyes of everyone in the room, the black-robed figure at the door vanished into thin air.
The silver plate in its hand fell to the ground with a "clang."
"Pretending to be mysterious!"
Seeing this, Li Meng muttered to himself.
The black robe''s aura was still present, indicating it hadn¡¯t left.
The disappearance of its body was likely due to some magical skill or the black robe itself.
For his own survival, Li Meng didn¡¯t act too abnormal.
"How amazing!"
Grinning, Li Meng ran excitedly to the door, shouting joyfully.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
He eagerly picked up the silver plate from the ground.
Raising the silver plate high, Li Meng shouted in excitement as if he had obtained some extraordinary treasure.
Watching their seemingly crazed master, the female Lizardmen exchanged puzzled glances.
Bai Ling¡¯s eyes, however, revealed a trace of worry.
The appearance of the black robe and the existence of the silver plate gave Bai Ling a foreboding feeling.
After a while, the excitedly shouting Li Meng suddenly fell silent.
With a cold expression, Li Meng exerted force in his hands.
"Crack, crack!"
The sound of metal groaning echoed as the silver plate was crushed into a lump of metal in Li Meng''s hands.
Then, with a casual toss, the metal lump flew out of the window.
After doing all this, Li Meng returned to the sandbox map and continued working on his model as if nothing had happened.
Li Meng''s sudden shift in attitude left the female Lizardmen bewildered.
Moments ago, their master had been thrilled about obtaining the silver plate.
Why had his attitude changed so drastically that he destroyed the silver plate?
Only Bai Ling looked at Li Meng with utter fear.
At this moment, Bai Ling finally realized how terrifying this Great Goblin truly was.
His intelligence sent chills down her spine.
In his presence, Bai Ling felt nothing but despair.
Could they really achieve revenge?
"The next step is figuring out how to prevent the Black Scales Tribe from summoning the Savage God!"
Squatting by the sandbox map, Li Meng wore a contemplative expression.
The matter of the adventurer team and that pair of humans was easy to resolve.
As long as they didn¡¯t provoke the adventurer team, there would be no further consequences.
The adventurer team was clearly investigating the airship crash.
Even if they were clever, they wouldn¡¯t suspect that the Goblins were involved in the airship crash.
As long as Gobuka avoided the adventurer team, the incident would come to an end.
The future where the Black Scales Tribe summoned the Savage God was the real trouble.
"It seems I need to avoid engaging in large-scale warfare with the Black Scales Tribe."
Kneading a lump of clay, Li Meng thought to himself.
The Black Scales Tribe was quite far from the northern marshlands.
Otherwise, the Lizardman army wouldn¡¯t take a year to reach the northern marshlands.
With such a distance, territorial disputes wouldn¡¯t arise in the short term.
There was no need to engage in a deathmatch with the Black Scales Tribe just yet.
Li Meng glanced at Bai Ling, who had returned to the bed.
In the future predicted by the simulated life, Bai Ling¡¯s fate was worth pondering.
Although the Black Scales Tribe retreated without a fight, they abducted Bai Ling.
This suggested that Bai Ling held a special status among the marshland Lizardmen.
Time passed bit by bit, and another day went by.
The black robe''s appearance was just a small episode in the tribe''s development.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on refining the sandbox map.
Another new day arrived, and by the afternoon, the throne cave was empty.
Only Li Meng and a few Goblins were busy inside.
Earlier, Bai Ling had led the female Lizardmen to the Iron Cavern.
This was their routine, as they visited it daily.
"Alright, this will do!"
Looking at the sandbox map before him, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
"Go call all the Goblin warriors and Goblin fighters in the tribe!"
The advanced Goblins from Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave had been staying in the tribe for reproduction.
Their bloodline offspring now exceeded a thousand in total.
Including the juveniles, the total population was close to three thousand.
"Boss, I¡¯ll go!"
A Goblin turned and hurriedly ran outside.
"Take all this junk out and throw it away!"
The remaining Goblins began clearing the trash from the throne cave.
In less than ten minutes, the sound of dense footsteps came from outside.
With the arrival of one large figure after another, Gobude and his group of Goblins entered.
"Boss, you called us?"
Seeing their boss inside, Gobude eagerly approached with a flattering smile.
"Stop, don¡¯t move!"
Seeing Gobuda rushing over, Li Meng immediately stopped him.
The boss¡¯s reprimand made Gobude halt in his tracks.
Beneath his feet was the sandbox map.
If Gobuda took another step forward, he would step into the sandbox.
"Watch the ground. Be careful not to damage anything!"
The Goblins entering the cave finally noticed the sandbox on the ground.
"Gather around, but don¡¯t step on anything on the ground!"
The advanced Goblins cautiously gathered around.
Looking at the sandbox on the ground, curiosity filled their eyes.
Li Meng''s gaze swept over the Goblin warriors and fighters around the sandbox.
Two Goblin warriors and over thirty Goblin fighters made the throne cave feel crowded.
"Gobude, Gobushi, I have a task for you!"
A task?
Gobude and Gobushi¡¯s eyes lit up.
They eagerly nodded at their boss with anticipation.
They had long grown bored of staying in the tribe.
"Under your feet is a sandbox map. This is the Goblin River, the southern river!"
Li Meng held a wooden stick and pointed at the river running through the sandbox.
"Gobude, where do you think this is?"
Li Meng pointed at a small cluster of wooden houses in the forest and asked Gobude.
Gobude scratched his head.
"Boss, is this here?"
Li Meng grinned, pleased that Gobude could understand the sandbox map.
"Very good. It seems you¡¯ve realized what this sandbox map represents."
The boss¡¯s praise made Gobude chuckle.
Beside him, Gobushi glared angrily and stepped forward, pointing at a mountain not far from the tribe on the sandbox.
At the mountain¡¯s base was a cave, and outside the cave was a forest.
Chapter 63: Double Insurance and Wheels
Chapter 63: Double Insurance and Wheels
"Boss, this must be the Iron Cavern."
After speaking, Gobu Shi raised his head and cast a provocative glare at Gobu Di.
With his massive body, Gobu Shi bumped into Gobu Di, shoving him aside.
Gobu Di, enraged, retaliated by slamming his shoulder into Gobu Shi.
Unwilling to back down, Gobu Shi pushed back.
The two started shoving each other near the sand table.
"What are you two doing? Don¡¯t break my sand table!"
Seeing the two hulking figures clash, Li Meng scolded them sternly.
His reprimand startled Gobu Di and Gobu Shi, and they both quickly separated, lowering their heads in shame.
"Gobu Di, I need you to take your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin warriors to establish a new tribe here."
Li Meng held a wooden stick and pointed to the forest on the northern bank of Goblin River, about fifty kilometers from the tribe.
Gobu Di nodded.
Although he didn¡¯t understand why the boss wanted him to establish a new tribe, he didn¡¯t overthink it.
Whatever the boss said, he would follow.
"Gobu Shi, you too. Lead your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin warriors to establish a new tribe in the forest on the southern bank."
Scratching his bald head, Gobu Shi was also puzzled about the boss''s orders.
But since Gobu Di had such a task, he figured he must have one too.
"Boss, can I take some female Lizardmen with me?"
"No, all female Lizardmen must stay in the tribe!"
Li Meng rejected Gobu Shi¡¯s request without hesitation.
Female Lizardmen had to remain under his control, as this helped him regulate the population of the tribes.
While rapid population growth had its benefits, it could also cause numerous problems.
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"Go prepare. Leave immediately after your bloodline descendants return!"
Adult Goblins typically joined hunting parties to learn how to hunt.
The bloodline descendants of Gobu Di and Gobu Shi were scattered among various hunting teams.
It would take at least a week to recall all of them.
With that, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi left the throne cave with their followers.
Standing at the entrance, Li Meng watched the Goblin followers disappear into the distance.
"This way, we have double insurance!"
With the establishment of new tribes, he now had additional options.
From now on, his tribe would no longer face the risk of complete annihilation.
Survival was the most important thing¡ªeverything else could be sacrificed.
As long as they survived, they could rebuild anything.
In the days that followed, Li Meng stayed obediently in the tribe.
Gobu Qiang¡¯s pig-rearing enterprise, Gobu Da¡¯s carpentry workshop, and Gobu Ge¡¯s Iron Cavern all required his attention.
During the day, he inspected the tribe, while at night, he worked on producing more Goblins with the female Lizardmen.
Li Meng was particularly diligent when it came to reproduction.
On the fifth day, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi departed with their followers.
Meanwhile, Gobu Tian had already returned to the Goblin Nest half a month earlier.
Another day began, and time moved to the afternoon.
"Boss, it¡¯s done this time. Absolutely no issues!"
Outside the carpentry workshop, Gobu Da greeted his boss with a fawning expression and led him inside.
The carpentry workshop was the same as before.
Upon entering, Li Meng immediately noticed a Triple-bow Ballista near the doorway.
Clearly, Gobu Da had placed it there on purpose.
Having learned from the previous experience, Li Meng refrained from praising Gobu Da too quickly.
He approached the Triple-bow Ballista to inspect it carefully.
First, he grabbed it and shook it slightly.
Although there was some noise, the modules were well-fitted and sturdy.
Next, he touched the bow frame.
Though the craftsmanship was rough, the quality of the bow was solid.
He then rotated the winch, and the sound of creaking filled the carpentry workshop.
Despite being a bit loose, it didn¡¯t affect usability.
Seeing the boss silent for a long time, Gobu Da began to panic.
"Very good. Not bad!"
Finally, Li Meng spoke up with a word of praise.
It was already quite impressive for them to achieve this level.
The next step was to improve the Goblins¡¯ proficiency and have them optimize and refine the design of the Triple-bow Ballista.
Hearing the boss¡¯s praise, Gobu Da grinned widely.
"Great!"
Gobu Da cheered, and the Goblins in the workshop echoed with jubilant shouts.
Over the past few days, they had endured many of the boss¡¯s lashes.
If the boss was satisfied, perhaps they wouldn¡¯t be whipped anymore.
"But it¡¯s still not good enough. It¡¯ll only be truly excellent when the ballista operates without making any noise."
The boss¡¯s remark caused Gobu Da¡¯s excitement to turn into despair.
"Bring in a new group of Goblins. I¡¯m going to teach you all how to make something new."
Hearing that something new needed to be made, Gobu Da¡¯s heart sank.
His head felt like it was going to explode¡ªthere was no more room for new knowledge.
He wanted to say this to the boss but didn¡¯t dare.
Instead, he reluctantly chased the Goblin workers out of the workshop.
"Out! Out! All of you, leave! Bring the Goblins from the other workshops over."
The tribe had five carpentry workshops.
However, none were as large as this one.
The boss¡¯s reprimand made the Goblins shrink their necks as they hurriedly fled.
Although the boss wasn¡¯t holding the whip, it was lying in a corner not far away.
They didn¡¯t want to feel its sting again¡ªit was painful.
Before long, another group of Goblins entered the workshop.
With that, Li Meng resumed his efforts to develop wagon wheels.
Time passed bit by bit, day by day.
Life for the Goblins was monotonous and dull.
They were either on hunting trips or on their way back to the tribe.
Another new day began, and the afternoon arrived.
"Boss, is this the new thing we¡¯re making?"
In the carpentry workshop, the first wagon wheel was successfully completed.
Gobu Da stared at the large wheel in front of the boss with curiosity.
He couldn¡¯t comprehend the purpose of this round object.
Li Meng propped up the wheel and examined it from top to bottom.
The wheel was about 1.2 meters tall.
Its outer rim wasn¡¯t a single piece but was assembled from multiple segments.
The segments were fixed together with iron nails and wrapped with a layer of iron to reduce friction.
To prevent deformation, the wheel had weight-bearing spokes between the axle and the outer rim.
The axle had a linear groove, inside which were small steel balls.
The groove was filled with animal grease for lubrication.
The steel balls and grease effectively reduced friction between the bearing and the axle.
It had taken Li Meng nearly two months of trial and error to create this wheel.
During that time, he constantly experimented and remade it until settling on the current design.
Just creating the steel balls for the axle had kept him in the Iron Cavern for over half a month.
"Excellent, it¡¯s nearly perfect!"
Li Meng was very satisfied with the completed wheel.
Though it had taken a lot of time, it was worth it.
With a prototype, making a second or third wheel would be much easier.
Chapter 64: Goblin Wild Boar Cavalry
Chapter 64: Goblin Wild Boar Cavalry
"Gobu Da, you''re responsible for the second wheel!"
Hearing the boss''s words, Gobu Da''s body trembled.
To better teach the goblins how to make wheels, Li Meng modularized the process.
He taught each goblin to make different parts and then had them teach others.
This method fostered teamwork and sharpened the goblins'' small minds.
Gobu Da was tasked by Li Meng with learning the final assembly process.
"What? I''ve taught you for so long. Don¡¯t tell me you still can¡¯t do it?"
Facing the boss''s cold gaze, Gobu Da stepped back in fright.
"I can! I can, boss! I''ve remembered everything!"
Gobu Da nodded vigorously.
"I¡¯ll inspect it in three days!"
Leaving those words behind, Li Meng leaned the wheel against the wall and turned to leave the woodworking shed.
Gobu Da ran after him.
He crouched at the door, sneaking a glance at the boss''s departing figure.
Seeing the boss really leaving, he breathed a sigh of relief.
He quickly turned around and ran back into the woodworking shed.
"You, you, you, come over here!"
Gobu Da called over three goblins.
"Did you all learn what the boss taught me?"
The three goblins looked at each other.
Seeing Gobu Da''s menacing gaze, they reluctantly nodded.
"Ha ha ha! Great! The boss will definitely be satisfied."
Gobu Da danced around in excitement.
"Don''t slack off! Wheels, wheels, wheels! I need wheels!"
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Meanwhile, in the tribe outside...
Hearing Gobu Da''s strange yells from the woodworking shed behind him, Li Meng grinned.
Li Meng was well aware of Gobu Da''s little tricks.
When he was teaching Gobu Da, three goblins had been eavesdropping nearby.
Li Meng merely allowed Gobu Da''s small scheming to pass.
For goblins, a bit of cleverness wasn''t a bad thing.
"Boss! Boss!"
Shortly after leaving the woodworking shed, the sound of hoofbeats filled the tribe.
Five wild boars charged out from the western forest and headed straight for Li Meng.
Each wild boar carried a goblin on its back.
The noise of the wild boars running was loud and imposing.
It felt like a mountain of meat was pressing forward.
Gobu Qiang, riding one of the wild boars, shouted loudly.
About twenty meters away from Li Meng, the wild boars suddenly stopped.
Their four hooves skidded several meters on the ground.
Looking at the five massive wild boars in front of him, Li Meng''s eyes lit up.
By now, the first batch of male wild boars had reached adulthood.
Although smaller than their father, they had shoulder heights of about 1.3 meters.
Wild boars grew larger the longer they lived.
In another year or two, reaching a shoulder height of 1.5 meters wouldn''t be a problem.
Gobu Qiang dismounted from his wild boar.
He ran up to Li Meng with a fawning expression.
"Boss, you''re amazing! These wild boars, which we raised from a young age, are so obedient now."
Li Meng walked over to Gobu Qiang''s mount, the forest wild boar.
He reached out with his right hand to touch its tusks.
Although classified as a magical beast, the forest wild boar was only a first-tier magical beast with limited potential.
It had a magic crystal, but the likelihood of it learning magical skills was slim.
However, the presence of the magic crystal gave the wild boar a physique far superior to ordinary animals.
"Snort, snort!"
The wild boar, being stroked by Li Meng, was very obedient.
Its gentle eyes fixed on him, and it occasionally snorted.
"Gobu Qiang, what kind of weapons do you guys like to use?"
Li Meng had been considering what weapons would be suitable for goblin wild boar cavalry.
Typically, cavalry used lances.
But using a lance required skill to unleash its full power.
For goblins, learning such techniques was nearly impossible.
Moreover, long weapons were challenging to use in the forest''s narrow spaces.
The goblins were better suited for slashing than thrusting.
Equipping them with spears was a compromise due to limited iron supplies from the Iron Cavern.
Forging blades required significantly more iron than spearheads.
"Boss, I like crossbows!"
Li Meng then noticed that the other four goblins were all carrying handheld crossbows.
Aside from their crossbows, they had no other weapons.
Looking down at the wild boar''s tusks, Li Meng fell into deep thought.
Lances were for breaking formations, a one-time-use weapon.
The wild boars'' tusks, excellent for ramming, could entirely replace lances.
Mounted archery could disrupt enemy formations and switch seamlessly between charging and shooting.
Equipping a blade could also compensate for close combat weaknesses.
Moreover, the wild boar''s shoulders were broad, making it difficult to attack enemies directly in front with a lance at a 90-degree angle.
Li Meng nodded and smiled.
"Crossbows it is. Gobu Qiang, how many adult male wild boars are there now?"
Wild boars were prolific, so their numbers should be considerable.
"Boss, there are so many adults, and even more juveniles¡ªso many, many more!"
Gobu Qiang''s answer left Li Meng speechless.
Li Meng then remembered that goblins couldn¡¯t count.
They didn¡¯t care about numbers or how many goblins were in a hunting team.
As long as they could eat their fill, they could reproduce and add new members.
If they couldn¡¯t eat enough, they wouldn¡¯t reproduce.
"Alright, let¡¯s go check the livestock pens!"
Li Meng then headed toward the pens.
Before nightfall, Li Meng had determined the numbers of forest wild boars.
There were 137 female wild boars, half of which had just reached adulthood.
There were 481 juvenile male wild boars.
There were 281 juvenile female wild boars.
"Gobu Qiang, how many goblins do you have under you now?"
Beside the pen, Li Meng asked Gobu Qiang.
Scratching his head, Gobu Qiang smiled sheepishly.
He didn¡¯t know how to answer.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Li Meng realized he shouldn¡¯t have asked.
Looking back at the dense group of snorting wild boars in the pen, Li Meng asked another question.
"Gobu Qiang, how are you providing food for so many wild boars?"
The pens were filled with piglets that hadn¡¯t been weaned yet.
After weaning, goblins would adopt them.
Li Meng wasn¡¯t sure how many adult male wild boars there were.
Gobu Qiang''s subordinates had all gone hunting, leaving only about thirty goblins with him.
"Boss, wild boars eat everything¡ªgrass, mushrooms, roots, berries, leaves. Other than dirt and rocks, there''s nothing they won''t eat. They also eat meat and gnaw on bones. They''re easy to feed."
Hearing this, Li Meng nodded in understanding.
No wonder Gobu Qiang had no problem feeding over a thousand wild boars.
"It seems I¡¯ll need to take time to conduct a population census!"
Looking at the snorting wild boars in the pen, Li Meng thought to himself.
Since the establishment of the tribe, Li Meng had noticed the explosive population growth.
However, he had not conducted a detailed count of the exact numbers.
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Chapter 65: Terrifying Reproductive Speed
Chapter 65: Terrifying Reproductive Speed
However, it is possible to estimate based on the number of female Lizardmen.
There are a total of 253 female Lizardmen.
More than half a year has passed, and now the pregnant female Lizardmen are on their fourth litter.
Each litter of Goblins numbers no less than ten.
Even if it''s slightly fewer, the difference isn¡¯t significant.
With 253 female Lizardmen, each litter can produce over two thousand baby Goblins.
Four litters mean nearly ten thousand.
Therefore, the population of the tribe is around ten thousand.
Even if it¡¯s not exactly ten thousand, it¡¯s not far off.
¡°Are there really ten thousand Goblins?¡±
Li Meng did a quick calculation in his head.
The resulting number gave him a big fright.
How is so much food being managed for this many Goblins?
It¡¯s important to know that Goblins are pure carnivores.
How many lives have to be slaughtered to fill the stomachs of the Goblins?
Where does so much food come from in the nearby forest?
¡°Gobu Qiang, has it become more difficult to acquire food recently?¡±
Gobu Qiang didn¡¯t quite understand what the leader meant.
It shook its head and scratched its head.
¡°No, hunting has become easier since we got crossbows.¡±
¡°Have you started hunting in very faraway places?¡±
Hearing this, Gobu Qiang nodded hard.
¡°Leader, there are too many hunting teams around the area. We can only find more prey in farther places.¡±
Gobu Qiang¡¯s response confirmed what Li Meng had suspected.
No wonder Gobu Di and Gobu Shi waited in the tribe for five full days before leaving.
This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Now, hunting teams need to go farther away to bring back food.
No wonder he found signs of Goblin activity near the Pigmen tribe¡¯s forest.
The hunting range of the tribe has expanded to over seventy kilometers eastward.
¡°That¡¯s enough. You¡¯re dismissed. Go play on your own.¡±
Waving Gobu Qiang away, Li Meng turned and left.
Li Meng didn¡¯t impose too many restrictions on his Goblin subordinates.
As long as they brought back food, they could do whatever they wanted.
If they wanted to laze around in the tribe for a few days, he didn¡¯t stop them.
After all, each of them had their own underlings.
They could have their underlings work while they played.
As for whether the underlings would rebel, that was none of his concern.
When Li Meng returned to the throne cave, night had begun to fall.
Bai Ling and her group of female Lizardmen had already returned to the tribe.
Looking at the spot outside where Benben used to sleep, Li Meng frowned slightly.
He didn¡¯t know where Benben had gone.
It had been more than a month without any trace of him.
Sighing softly, Li Meng pushed open the door and entered.
Before long, the sounds of "humming" echoed from the wooden house.
Time ticked by, and the night grew deeper.
In the following days, Li Meng began to tally the tribe¡¯s population and weaponry.
There was only one thing to do every day.
That was to wait for the return of the hunting teams.
Half a month later, on a certain morning.
In the tribe, inside the throne cave.
¡°All your underlings have returned?¡±
The five Great Goblins in the room hurriedly nodded.
¡°Leader, they¡¯ve all come back!¡±
Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng.
These five Great Goblins were Li Meng¡¯s bloodline descendants.
Their names were all given by Li Meng.
They were the first batch of Goblins born.
In just half a year, they had evolved into Great Goblins.
Each one was nearly 1.8 meters tall.
They were only one step away from evolving into Goblin Warriors.
Li Meng waved his hand slightly, dismissing the five Great Goblins.
¡°Go on!¡±
Although they were his children, Goblins had no concept of familial bonds.
To them, he was merely a strong figure in the Goblin tribe.
Bloodline connection only enhanced their loyalty to their father.
Li Meng didn¡¯t view them as his children.
The Goblin barbarian race was far too weak.
In the future, even Goblin leaders would only serve as cannon fodder.
All green-skinned Goblins were disposable.
The female Lizardmen in the room silently watched the departing Great Goblins.
To them, all Goblins looked the same.
They couldn¡¯t distinguish whether any of the five Great Goblins were their offspring.
Even if they could, they wouldn¡¯t show motherly love toward those Goblins.
The mere thought of what Goblin newborns looked like made them shudder.
Those tiny Goblin infants, only about the size of a fist.
The moment they were born, they could scurry around looking for food.
If they couldn¡¯t find food, they would attack their mothers.
Many female Lizardmen had sustained injuries for failing to separate from the Goblin infants in time.
Watching the backs of the departing Great Goblins, Li Meng appeared deep in thought.
After half a month of tallying, the population and weaponry data were finally ready.
Though it wasn¡¯t possible to get an exact figure, the margin of error wouldn¡¯t exceed two digits.
The tribe¡¯s population was around 9,000 Goblins.
Excluding the juveniles, there were over 7,000 mature Goblins.
This was the terrifying part of Goblins.
From a population of a few hundred to nearly ten thousand in under a year.
Among the mature Goblins, only 5,000 were equipped with spears and crossbows.
There was still a weaponry shortage of about 2,000.
¡°Bai Ling, come with me!¡±
With that, Li Meng walked out.
Calculating the time, it was still more than three months until the rotation period.
Unknowingly, nine months had passed since the swamp''s domination.
White Scales Bai Ling, who was sitting on the bedding, stood up.
She walked forward and quietly followed behind Li Meng.
"Master, where are we going?"
In the dim forest, the two walked one behind the other.
Bai Ling''s belly had grown bigger again, though not significantly.
"To the Iron Cavern!"
About half an hour later, the two appeared in the forest outside the Iron Cavern.
Following behind Li Meng, Bai Ling looked at the cave entrance not far ahead.
She had come here often and was already very familiar with this place.
"High Priest Bai Ling?"
At that moment, a team of male Lizardmen carrying several round logs emerged from the eastern forest.
They saw Bai Ling and Li Meng outside the cave entrance.
When they spotted Li Meng, all the male Lizardmen''s faces changed drastically.
They hurriedly lowered their heads and dared not speak further.
Quickly, they carried the logs into the cavern.
Although they drank milk every day, the male Lizardmen still appeared somewhat emaciated.
"Bai Ling, do you swamp Lizardmen need to eat fish to maintain strong bodies?"
The tribe''s food supply for the male Lizardmen was sufficient.
Even if they couldn''t eat their fill, they would not be starved.
The Iron Cavern had an underground river, and an hour of free bathing time was granted before resting.
Yet even so, the male Lizardmen''s bodies continued to visibly thin.
If there were no rotation period, those male Lizardmen would likely exhaust themselves to death within two years.
"Fish from the water is indeed our staple food. We also eat other magical beasts'' meat but not in large amounts."
Bai Ling''s response confirmed Li Meng''s hypothesis.
"Let''s go. We''ll head inside."
Li Meng noted the issue in his mind.
It was a problem he would address eventually, but not now.
Chapter 66: Forging Ones Own Weapon
Chapter 66: Forging One''s Own Weapon
The Day of Rotation was approaching, and a series of major events were bound to occur in the next six months.
The appearance of adventurer teams and the Black Scales Tribe''s army invasion were among them.
To change the worst possible outcome, preparations needed to start early.
Afterward, Li Meng led Bai Ling into the Iron Cavern.
As soon as they entered, a wave of scorching heat rolled over them.
It felt as though they had stepped into an oven, making it unbearably hot.
The cavern was bustling with activity.
The continuous clanging of metal echoed throughout the space.
Accompanying it were the loud shouts of goblins.
Looking toward the underground riverbank, the cavern was as bright as day.
Dozens of five-meter-tall blast furnaces stood on the riverbank.
Behind the furnaces were countless bonfires burning brightly.
Closest to the river were groups of goblins forging iron.
They swung their hammers with all their might on the anvils.
Each hammer strike sent a shower of sparks flying.
Deeper in the cavern, faint "thud-thud" sounds could be heard.
Male lizardmen, carrying iron ore in bamboo baskets, could be seen there.
On the river''s shallow shores, some male lizardmen soaked in the water.
The cavern''s high temperatures made their skin prone to cracking.
They needed frequent baths to rehydrate and alleviate the effects.
"Boss, Boss, why are you here again?"
As soon as Li Meng entered the cavern, Gobuge hurried over upon hearing the news.
"What? Can''t I come?"
Li Meng glared at Gobuge.
Gobuge''s neck shrank, and he smiled obsequiously.
"The Boss can come whenever he likes."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
"Cut the nonsense. Get me a blast furnace. I need to smelt iron!"
Gobuge nodded vigorously.
He turned around and led the way.
"Boss, Boss, this way, this way!"
Following Gobuge, Li Meng and Bai Ling delved deeper into the cavern.
Finally, they stopped in front of a blast furnace.
"Boss, this is it!"
Li Meng took the leather apron handed to him by Gobuge and put it on.
The apron not only effectively blocked splattering molten iron but also protected against flying sparks during forging.
"Bai Ling, go to the river!"
Bai Ling couldn¡¯t withstand the high temperatures near the furnace.
At most, she would faint within two hours.
Bai Ling silently stepped forward and waded into the icy river.
She sat in the shallow one-meter-deep water, only her head above the surface, watching the goblins on the riverbank.
At this moment, over a dozen goblins rushed over to assist Li Meng.
In the following hours, Li Meng busied himself around the blast furnace.
By the afternoon of the next day, as molten iron flowed from the furnace, Li Meng entered blacksmith mode.
Near the water, Li Meng held a massive iron hammer in one hand.
He fiercely pounded a long weapon on the anvil.
At times, he quenched it. At times, he tempered it. At times, he hammered it.
Each hammer strike produced a crisp metallic sound that resonated throughout the cavern.
The sound was the loudest, overpowering all other noises.
The saying "a hundred refinements make steel" held true.
To create excellent steel, it had to be hammered countless times.
"Is he forging iron?"
Bai Ling, still in the river, watched the goblin on the shore.
Since arriving at the Iron Cavern yesterday, he hadn¡¯t paid her any attention.
Bai Ling wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with the Iron Cavern.
She had been here hundreds of times.
Though she couldn¡¯t get close to the furnaces, she knew what the goblins were doing from a distance.
While swamp lizardmen were a savage race, they didn¡¯t harbor animosity toward humans.
Bai Ling had even communicated with human adventurers before.
She wasn¡¯t unfamiliar with iron tools.
On the third day, the loudest metallic clanging in the cavern finally ceased.
"Bai Ling, what do you think of this weapon?"
The master''s call from the riverbank made Bai Ling step out of the water.
She came ashore and stood before her master.
Seeing the long-handled weapon in her master''s hand, Bai Ling''s pupils contracted.
"Master, this weapon¡ looks mighty!"
The weapon in her master''s hand had a long handle and a long blade, nearly matching his height.
The entire weapon was iron-gray and had a smooth surface.
The sharpened blade gleamed menacingly under the firelight.
Holding this weapon, her master''s aura seemed even more imposing.
"This is a Zhanmadao!"
Li Meng wielded the Zhanmadao with both hands, swinging it a few times.
In a flash, he dashed toward a massive boulder by the riverbank.
"Slash!"
The twenty-meter distance vanished in an instant.
Li Meng wielded the Zhanmadao and shouted explosively.
With a standard waist-body integration slash, he cut downward.
"Boom!"
A thunderous boom echoed.
The Zhanmadao sliced through the two-meter-tall boulder like tofu.
The massive impact shattered the boulder into pieces.
The commotion startled the surrounding goblins.
The scene left Bai Ling deeply astonished.
What a sharp weapon!
It had split such a massive rock.
Li Meng nodded in satisfaction at his strike.
He inspected the blade of the Zhanmadao.
A trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.
The blade hadn¡¯t chipped but had slightly warped.
His strength was too great, exceeding the Zhanmadao¡¯s capacity.
Deformation in cold weapons was unavoidable.
Shaking his head, Li Meng discarded the Zhanmadao.
"Bai Ling, back to the water."
Bai Ling glanced at her master and then at the discarded Zhanmadao.
She silently turned and returned to the river.
On the riverbank, Li Meng resumed tinkering with the blast furnace.
The following morning, another batch of molten iron emerged.
Li Meng on the riverbank began hammering again.
Each swing sent sweat flying from his body.
The scorching heat left Li Meng drenched in sweat.
In the icy underground river, a white figure flashed briefly.
Moments later, water splashed on the river¡¯s surface.
Bai Ling emerged from the water.
She held a frozen Black Rock Fish in her hands.
Dragging the fish, Bai Ling returned to the shallows.
Sitting in the water, she quietly watched the goblin forging on the shore.
These past few days, Bai Ling had come to understand.
Her master had brought her along to intimidate and warn her.
It was to show her that goblins with iron-forging technology were not a force the swamp lizardmen could challenge.
Time passed slowly.
The daily life of the Iron Cavern didn¡¯t change with Li Meng¡¯s arrival.
The next afternoon...
"It¡¯s done!"
By the underground riverbank, Li Meng planted a massive iron rod into the ground.
The iron rod was about 2.5 meters long and 5 centimeters in diameter.
For now, it seemed too long and thick for Li Meng.
But once he evolved into a Goblin Warrior, it would suit him perfectly.
Looking at the iron rod in his hands, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
This was the weapon he had forged for himself.
Compared to bladed weapons, Li Meng felt blunt weapons were more suitable.
Initially, he had wanted to forge a long-handled mace.
But after careful consideration, he abandoned the idea.
A mace¡¯s weight distribution was uneven, unsuitable for close combat.
When fighting strong opponents, every move had to be swift and precise.
Any mistake could be fatal.
Against weaker foes, any weapon would do.
Even fists were enough to defeat them.
Chapter 67: Big Iron Stick
Chapter 67: Big Iron Stick
"How about I call you Ruyi Jingu Bang?"
The big iron stick in Li Meng¡¯s hand reminded him of memories from when he was human.
"Never mind, you¡¯re not worthy, I¡¯ll just call you Big Iron Stick."
How could a mere big iron stick be worthy of that name.
Even if the iron stick came from his own hands, Li Meng still felt it was unworthy.
"Bai Ling, let¡¯s go, we¡¯re heading back!"
Li Meng tore off the apron, shouldered the big iron stick, and walked outside.
Bai Ling, who was in the shallow water of the river, stood up.
Once ashore, she followed behind her master.
The two then left the Iron Cavern.
Until returning to the Throne Cave Dwelling, Li Meng did not say much to Bai Ling.
It was as if taking Bai Ling to the Iron Cavern this time was just a whim.
That night, the Throne Cave Dwelling was very quiet.
Ever since the female Lizardmen became pregnant, Li Meng had not tormented them again.
The goblin¡¯s libido was somewhat different from that of humans.
The goblin¡¯s sexual desire was based on the urge to reproduce.
Although the body also experienced pleasure, it was not as intense as that of humans.
Goblins would not mate solely in pursuit of sexual pleasure.
Whenever the female Lizardmen were pregnant.
Li Meng would enter a ¡°saint-like¡± mental state.
He would no longer have any desire to mate with the female Lizardmen.
But the moment he saw a non-pregnant female creature.
The desire to mate would erupt like a volcano.
Inside the main bedding in the house, Li Meng lay there in a daze.
Bai Ling lay beside him, her breathing somewhat rapid.
This indicated that Bai Ling was awake and not asleep.
"System, begin life simulation!"Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Li Meng did not know if the future had changed.
He had not yet used this month¡¯s simulation attempts, so why not use them.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[The night is deep, you lie on the bed in the wooden hut, lost in thought]
[Your tribe grows strong, appearing calm, but in truth it is the calm before the storm]
[The Day of Rotation has arrived, please choose from the following options]
[1. Let Bai Ling return to the Northern Marshlands]
[2. Violate the promise and continue to keep Bai Ling in the tribe]
[3. Advance into the Northern Marshlands, lie in wait, and wait for the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army to arrive]
The appearance of the third option made Li Meng understand one thing.
That is, last time¡¯s life simulation became effective intelligence for this time¡¯s life simulation.
The system knew he would not choose the future line predicted last time.
And it would change the future line based on that information.
"How should I choose?"
Turning slightly, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling¡¯s snow-white, graceful body.
The third option was very tempting.
But its result would probably lead to a deadly battle with the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army.
The Black Mountain Tribe would be new to the area, completely in the dark.
If they did not contact the Lizardmen tribes of the Northern Marshlands to exchange information.
The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army, knowing nothing, would likely launch a mindless attack.
Once the fight started, it would be a fight to the death.
By then, if either side wanted to retreat, the other would not agree.
But choosing the battlefield in the marshlands was not a good strategy.
Even if victory was achieved in the end, the tribe¡¯s losses would be great.
Without the Pigmen, a bit of loss would not matter.
It would be just clearing out goblins with low potential as cannon fodder.
But with the Pigmen present, it was necessary to preserve as much fighting strength as possible to deal with the threat of the Pigmen.
A year ago, leaving Bai Ling in the tribe only changed that future line of the Pigmen and Lizardmen cooperating to attack the tribe.
It did not mean the threat of the Pigmen had been eliminated.
The threat of the Pigmen still existed.
It had only been postponed.
Li Meng ruled out the third option.
"The first option?"
Thinking it over, Li Meng rejected the first option as well.
The first option would return to the previous future line.
The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army would retreat, and Bai Ling would be taken away.
If Bai Ling was left alone, maybe conflict with the Black Mountain Tribe could be avoided.
Then the Black Mountain Tribe would not summon the Savage God.
But as a result, the Lizardmen of the Northern Marshlands would vanish without a trace.
Without the Northern Marshlands Lizardmen, how could the tribe mass-produce warriors?
"Choose two!"
[The Day of Rotation has arrived, you forcibly keep Bai Ling, the Northern Marshlands Lizardmen become furious]
[The Marshlands Lizardmen rebel and successfully escape through the river channel]
[You assemble the goblin army and advance toward the Northern Marshlands]
[Under the guidance of the Northern Marshlands Lizardmen, the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army lands on the southern riverbank of your tribe]
[The Lizardmen army launches a surprise attack on your tribe, the tribe is destroyed]
[Gobu Da leads bloodline offspring into the Iron Cavern]
[The Lizardmen army invades the Iron Cavern]
[Gobu Ge leads bloodline offspring deeper into the cavern]
[Upon learning that the Lizardmen army has raided the tribe, you, enraged, withdraw your army and return to the tribe]
[One night, Benben leads a group of Ogre back to the tribe and engages the Lizardmen army in battle]
[The Lizardmen army is repelled, taking Bai Ling away, and hurriedly withdraws through the river channel]
[You return to the tribe, angrily staring at the ruins it has become]
[You have lost the tribe, and also lost Bai Ling]
[Please make the following choices]
[1. Continue advancing to the Northern Marshlands to seek revenge]
[2. Do nothing, rebuild the tribe]
[3. Enraged, you charge alone into the Northern Marshlands]
"Am I really that strong?"
The third option made Li Meng¡¯s expression turn strange.
Could he be strong enough to fight a thousand by himself?
So many Lizardmen could tire him out just by sheer numbers.
But how to choose left Li Meng stumped again.
Option one would likely yield no results.
By the time he led the goblin army to the Northern Marshlands, the Lizardmen would have fled long ago.
Option two meant swallowing a big loss.
And he had no choice but to accept it.
The result should not differ much from option one.
The Lizardmen who betrayed him would certainly not remain in the Northern Marshlands.
They would likely leave the Northern Marshlands and merge with the Black Mountain Tribe.
Just because he did not seek trouble with the Northern Marshlands Lizardmen for the time being did not mean he never would.
Since he could not beat them, they had no option but to migrate.
Options one and two were both bad choices, so only option three remained.
"Choose three!"
[Enraged, you charge alone into the Northern Marshlands]
[One night, you rush into the White Scales Tribe, and find the White-Scaled Tribe already gone]
[One night, you rush into the Gray Scales Tribe, and find the Gray Scales Tribe already gone]
[One night, you rush into the Black Scales Tribe, and find the Black Scales Tribe already gone]
[You return empty-handed to the tribe]
[You begin rebuilding the tribe]
[You head to Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave]
[One day, an adventurer squad appears in the forest near Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave]
[You follow the adventurer squad to the crash site of a floating airship]
[The adventurer squad continues northward]
[You suspect the adventurer squad can sense the position of the crystal]
[You return to the tribe and throw the crystal into the Goblin River]
[One day, the adventurer squad finds the crystal in the river]
[You follow the adventurer squad downstream, heading west all the way]
[One day, you are discovered]
Chapter 68: The Unchangeable Future Line
Chapter 68: The Unchangeable Future Line
[Please make the following choices]
[One, avoid battle and escape]
[Two, fight against the adventurer team]
Lying on the bed, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
Goodness, the results of these three options are actually all the same.
How should he choose the new two options?
¡°Option two!¡±
He followed the adventurer team all the way westward.
There is a high probability that he has already moved far away from the tribe¡¯s hunting area.
Killing that adventurer team has very little subsequent risk.
Even if it attracts those two humans, it doesn¡¯t matter.
At that time, those two humans certainly won¡¯t find the culprit.
They also won¡¯t associate the killers of the adventurers with weak Goblins.
The reason those two humans found the tribe last time.
It should have something to do with those two human women.
Those two women must have something that has a positioning function or something similar.
[You choose to fight against the adventurer team, successfully killing all of the adventurers]
[You gnaw on their hearts and do not obtain a new skill]
[You return to the tribe, the tribe thrives]
[The lesson of being ambushed makes you decide to strengthen the tribe¡¯s defenses]
[The tribe now has walls, watchtowers, and a large number of Triple-bow Ballistas]
[One day, Bai Ling returned to the tribe, bringing back a piece of news]
[The Black Mountain Tribe was attacked by a pair of mysterious human powerhouses, and they summoned the Savage God ¡°Akuya¡± to defend]
[The human powerhouses perished, and the Black Mountain Marshlands were polluted by the power of the Savage God]
[The Black Mountain Marshlands gradually became part of the Great Wasteland Domain, and all living creatures were refined into Wasteland Slaves]
[One day, you discover that the Great Wasteland Domain is expanding, and the devoured lands lose all vitality]Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
[One day, a fleet of human ships appeared on the Goblin River, sailing upstream]
[The three-year deadline has arrived]
[As a transmigrator, you used your wisdom to survive. Although you are only a Goblin, your future is filled with infinite possibilities, and your rise is unstoppable]
[Life Simulation ends, rating: 100]
[Please choose the following rewards]
[One, for every ten points consumed, level +1]
[Two, for every one point consumed, attribute +1]
[Three, for every ten points consumed, luck +1]
[Four, for every ten points consumed, ¡°Wind Blade Technique¡± skill level +1]
[Five, for every ten points consumed, ¡°Heart Word¡± skill level +1]
[Six, for every ten points consumed, ¡°Berserk¡± skill +1]
All three skills are not urgently needed for upgrading.
Then let¡¯s raise the level.
¡°Choose one!¡±
[Consume 100 points, level +10, current level: 25]
It¡¯s here, it¡¯s here, the familiar intense pain once again swept through his entire body.
This time, it is even more painful than the previous times when gaining levels.
On the bed, Li Meng¡¯s body was undergoing strange distortions.
All shinbones were displaced, making cracking sounds.
It was as if an invisible giant hand was kneading Li Meng¡¯s body.
Li Meng¡¯s entire ugly face twisted out of shape.
His skull suddenly protruded outward, as if something was about to crawl out of his brain.
The crisp ¡°crack¡± sound startled Bai Ling beside him.
She turned her head to look at her master next to her.
At this sight, Bai Ling¡¯s expression froze.
The master, who was originally small in stature, suddenly grew larger.
His height already exceeded two meters, and his physique became more robust.
His entire body emitted rolling white heat.
Some areas of his skin were even flushed red.
¡°Master, you¡ what¡¯s wrong?¡±
Li Meng got up and sat up, looking down at his hands that had grown larger.
¡°I have evolved into a Goblin Warrior!¡±
Power, power, Li Meng felt the powerful strength inside his body.
Right now, he is simply comparable to a muscular man like Tyson.
Of course, only in physique. In terms of strength, even fifty Tysons can¡¯t compare to him.
Li Meng looked up and lay back down on the bed.
¡°Sleep!¡±
With a single thought, Li Meng opened the character panel.
[Name: Gobu Meng]
[Race: Goblin Warrior]
[Level: 25]
[Strength: 1925]
[Defense: 1859]
[Agility: 871]
[Mana: 1551]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: By devouring the flesh and blood of magical beasts, there is a chance to acquire their skills]
[Iron Skin: LV5 (Strength+1500, Defense+1500, Agility+500)]
[Wind Blade Technique: LV1]
[Physical Regeneration: LV5]
[Heart Word: LV1]
[Ice Element Control: LV1]
[Berserk: LV1]
[Limb Strengthening: LV1 (Strength+50, Agility+50)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Mana+1000)]
¡°It seems the guess is correct!¡±
The addition of as many as hundreds of points to the panel attributes confirmed Li Meng¡¯s guess.
The higher the panel attributes, the higher the attribute growth gained when leveling up.
Li Meng still remembered that before rising from level 1 to level 10.
Each level only added a single-digit attribute increase.
Staring blankly at the ceiling, Li Meng thought again about the predicted future line from the life simulation.
Li Meng never expected that Bai Ling would actually return at the end.
Also, why did those two human powerhouses run off to the Black Mountain Tribe?
Could it be that the place where the adventurer team was killed was very close to the Black Mountain Tribe?
No, that is absolutely impossible.
Although Bai Ling never told him the exact location of the Black Mountain Tribe.
But Bai Ling said that the Black Mountain Tribe is deep within the Goblin Forest.
It is very far from the Northern Marshlands.
Even if traveling by water, even the Lizardmen would need more than three months to reach it.
He couldn¡¯t possibly have followed the adventurer team for several months to near the Black Mountain Tribe.
¡°This is really strange, could it be that the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s summoning of the Savage God¡¯s future cannot be changed?¡±
All three future lines cannot change the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s act of summoning the Savage God.
This made Li Meng feel deep anxiety about his own future.
And what is the Irisis Principality doing meddling here?
This is the Goblin Forest, the paradise of the Savage Tribe.
The appearance of the Irisis Principality¡¯s fleet in the Goblin Forest is definitely not a good thing.
Perhaps that fleet is indeed the warships of the Irisis Principality.
¡°Forget it, take it one step at a time!¡±
Gaining too much information at once gave Li Meng a headache.
Too many events happened too intensely.
Li Meng had no clue how to change the future.
Time passed bit by bit, and the night gradually deepened.
¡°I got it!¡±
Early the next morning, Li Meng suddenly sat up abruptly from his sleep.
Li Meng¡¯s strange shout startled the female Lizardmen sleeping soundly.
They all sat up, looking at their master in confusion and uncertainty.
Li Meng got up and hurriedly walked out.
Bai Ling also woke up.
She looked at Li Meng¡¯s hurriedly departing figure with some doubt.
¡°Call Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao over!¡±
Outside the door, Li Meng woke up the Goblin underlings who were lying on the ground snoring.
At the sound of the boss¡¯s voice, the few Goblins who were sleeping trembled.
They jumped up in surprise and hurriedly stood at attention.
One Goblin quickly picked up the spear on the ground and ran off in a hurry.
¡°Boss, you¡ you evolved into a Goblin Warrior?¡±
When their gaze fell on the boss, all the Goblins were startled.
In just one night, the boss evolved from a Great Goblin into a Goblin Warrior.
The Goblin underlings were all terrified.
They shrank their necks and quickly stood tall with their chests puffed out.
Chapter 69: Attack and Defense
Chapter 69: Attack and Defense
Before long, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over.
From a distance, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao saw the Boss outside the Throne Cave Dwelling.
The Boss¡¯s tall and strong figure made the two big goblins look at each other.
The Boss actually evolved into a goblin warrior?
Gobu Mo immediately quickened his pace.
Gobu Gao then ran with all his might, surpassing Gobu Mo.
¡°Boss, that¡¯s great, you¡¯ve finally advanced to become a goblin warrior!¡±
Gobu Gao ran up to Li Meng with a flattering expression.
Gobu Mo, who was a few steps behind, glared at Gobu Gao.
¡°Boss, what¡¯s the matter for calling us here?¡±
Gobu Mo also had a flattering expression.
But it was smarter than Gobu Gao, and asked about the important matter right away.
¡°Come with me!¡±
Li Meng left the front of the Throne Cave Dwelling and walked deeper into the forest.
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly followed.
Li Meng went all the way into the forest.
He didn¡¯t stop until he was several hundred meters away from the tribe.
¡°Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, from now on your task is to build a wooden wall to enclose the tribe!¡±
¡°Right now, what you need to do is clear a buffer zone around the tribe by cutting down the trees.¡±
Li Meng thrust the large iron rod into the ground.
One end of the iron rod sank deep into the soft soil.
Then he forcefully drew a large circle.
¡°The width of the buffer zone should not be less than five hundred meters!¡±
Li Meng swung the large iron rod and pointed at the big tree beside him.
¡°About as wide as the height of ten big trees, understand?¡±
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao both looked up at the big tree beside them.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
How tall was ten big trees?
¡°Boss, how much is ten big trees?¡±
Hearing Gobu Mo¡¯s inquiry, Li Meng rolled his eyes.
Fine, in the future he still had to teach the goblin underlings some counting.
They must know what 1, 2, 3, 4 mean.
¡°First arrange goblins to cut down the trees, I will teach you on site!¡±
¡°There are logging axes and saws in the warehouse, go!¡±
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao nodded.
Then they turned and hurried away.
In the forest, Li Meng watched the backs of the two big goblin underlings leaving.
He didn¡¯t withdraw his gaze until they were completely out of sight.
Sweeping his eyes around the forest, Li Meng grinned.
¡°Since attacking won¡¯t work, then defend!¡±
Previously, Li Meng felt there was no need to build a wooden wall.
Because he thought that rather than passive defense, it was better to take the initiative to attack.
Although a wooden wall could effectively protect the tribe, it would also bring some trouble.
And once goblins fell into passive defense, they would not be far from failure.
Now, Li Meng had changed his viewpoint.
Why choose?
Li Meng wanted both defense and offense.
Before long, the tribe was in an uproar.
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao led a large group of goblin underlings over in mighty formation.
Some goblins carried logging axes, while others carried saws.
At a glance, the dense cluster of green-skinned figures numbered no less than five hundred.
Before long, the deep forest echoed with the clamor of logging.
The repetitive sounds echoed through the depths of the forest.
From time to time there was the rustling sound of trees toppling.
In the following days, Li Meng began teaching the goblin underlings some basic counting.
By the fifth day, the deep forest had changed drastically.
Several hundred meters away from the tribe, there was now a cleared zone in the forest.
The cleared zone was five hundred meters wide and six hundred meters long.
On the bare ground, tree stumps were everywhere, and layers of branches and leaves were piled up.
A large number of logs were scattered all over, crisscrossing in disarray.
The cleared zone was not straight; it was curved.
Before long, the cleared zone would wrap around the tribe.
¡°How many is this?¡±
In one part of the cleared zone where logs were piled up.
Li Meng held three wooden sticks in his hand.
Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, and a group of big goblins sat obediently on the ground.
Some members of the hunting team had returned and been required by Li Meng to join the wall-building team.
Now the number of goblins building the wooden wall had exceeded one thousand.
Li Meng pointed to Gobu Gao.
The Boss¡¯s question made the big goblins shrink their necks.
Their gazes were somewhat evasive.
¡°Gobu Gao, you answer!¡±
Gobu Gao stood up, scratched his head, and then looked down at his hands.
Eyes brightening, Gobu Gao spoke a number.
¡°3, this is 3!¡±
Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
¡°Very good, that¡¯s correct!¡±
Gobu Gao grinned, very excited.
¡°Then what does 3 mean?¡±
Li Meng continued to question Gobu Gao.
Gobu Gao looked down at its feet.
It bent down and picked up three small stones from the ground.
¡°One stone, two stones, three stones!¡±
Gobu Gao¡¯s answer made Li Meng very satisfied.
After his teaching these days, the goblin underlings finally understood the meaning of numbers 1 through 10.
Numbers were the foundation of enlightenment.
Although this could not change the inherent stupidity of goblins.
But from now on he could command the goblin underlings more effectively.
¡°Very good, Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, you know how to build the wooden wall now, right?¡±
Not far away, at the edge of the cleared zone, a small section of wooden wall had already been built.
The wooden wall had two layers, hollow in the middle.
It was about 7 meters high and 5 meters wide, and every fifty meters a fifteen-meter-high watchtower would be built.
The trees in the forest were all very tall, averaging about 70 meters in height.
It wasn¡¯t that the wall couldn¡¯t be built higher.
But above seven meters, the workload would be huge.
It would be much more troublesome to build.
After all, raising logs that were seven meters long wasn¡¯t easy.
Fortunately, the tribe now had quite a number of big goblins.
With them around, handling seven-meter-long logs was no problem.
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao nodded quickly.
¡°Very good, I¡¯ll leave this place to you. Work hard and don¡¯t slack off!¡±
Facing the Boss¡¯s gaze, a group of big goblins shrank their necks.
Without saying anything else, Li Meng threw away the wooden sticks in his hand.
Then he turned and walked back in the direction of the tribe.
¡°Go find Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, Gobu Sheng, and have them come see me!¡±
As he walked, Li Meng waved to a goblin underling behind him.
A goblin following behind Li Meng immediately ran towards the tribe.
Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng had always stayed in the tribe.
Their task was to guard the tribe.
Time reached afternoon, the sun was blazing overhead.
When Li Meng returned to the Throne Cave Dwelling, the wooden house was empty.
At this time, the female lizardmen had gone to the Iron Cavern.
¡°Why are goblins not omnivorous creatures?¡±
Smelling the strong milky aroma in the house, Li Meng couldn¡¯t help but complain in his heart.
The milky aroma was indeed pleasant, but it couldn¡¯t be drunk.
Not that it couldn¡¯t be drunk, but it tasted strange when drunk.
¡°Could it be that the original flavor of milk itself isn¡¯t good to drink?¡±
Back when he was a human, Li Meng had heard that human milk didn¡¯t taste good.
But he never had the opportunity to try it personally.
After all, an adult man only had the chance after marrying and having children.
Chapter 70: Wa Haha!
Chapter 70: Wa Haha!
¡°Boss, Boss!¡±
Outside the door came hurried footsteps.
The next moment, three tall figures rushed into the house.
¡°Boss, you called us?¡±
Gobu Sheng pushed aside Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang in front of him.
He approached the Boss with a flattering expression.
Looking at the three big goblins in front of him, Li Meng nodded.
In another half month Gobu Mo and the others would probably evolve into goblin warriors.
Li Meng¡¯s gaze fixed on Gobu Sheng.
¡°Gobu Sheng, go to the Iron Cavern and bring all the male lizardmen here!¡±
Gobu Sheng grinned, nodded, and turned around, running off with enthusiasm.
Li Meng¡¯s gaze turned to Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang.
¡°Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, gather your underlings and get ready to go with me to the Northern Marshlands.¡±
The Boss wanted to take them to the Northern Marshlands?
Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang were excited.
Great, they could finally follow the Boss out to hunt.
Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang immediately turned and scrambled out, pushing each other aside in their haste.
Watching the backs of the two big goblins shoving each other, Li Meng gave a sinister smile.
¡°Three months left, just enough time!¡±
Li Meng already had a plan in mind on how to change the future line.
For the future of the tribe, he absolutely could not lose the Northern Marshlands lizardmen.
Although Bai Ling would return by herself in the future line,
The number of lizardmen able to escape the Black Mountain Marshlands would likely be very few.
Half an hour later, at the Iron Cavern.
¡°No way, no way, the lizardmen are mine, they¡¯re all mine!¡±
At the entrance of the Iron Cavern, Gobu Ge glared angrily at Gobu Sheng.
¡°Today I must take away all the male lizardmen, they¡¯re mine.¡±Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Gobu Sheng refused to back down.
He opened his sharp mouth and roared loudly.
¡°Gobu Sheng, when the Boss took me as an underling, you were still in the Boss¡¯s egg, and you dare to fight me for things!¡±
Gobu Ge grinned, looking at Gobu Sheng with disdain.
¡°Are you giving them or not?¡±
Gobu Sheng glared angrily.
Gobu Ge also glared angrily.
¡°Not giving!¡±
The goblin underlings inside and outside the cave looked at each other.
¡°Fight, fight!¡±
No one knew who shouted this.
All the goblins¡¯ eyes lit up, shouting excitedly.
¡°Fight, fight!¡±
The tidy chanting grew louder and louder.
Their underlings¡¯ shouts made Gobu Sheng and Gobu Ge¡¯s blood boil.
¡°Wa haha, Gobu Sheng, come on, today I¡¯m definitely going to make you crawl!¡±
Gobu Ge laughed excitedly, tearing off the apron on his body.
Gobu Sheng, however, was not blinded by the cheering of the underlings.
He snorted coldly, his face full of mockery.
¡°Hmph, it¡¯s the Boss who told me to come!¡±
Hearing this, the excitement on Gobu Ge¡¯s face stopped abruptly.
The underlings behind both sides also stopped shouting.
They stared wide-eyed at each other at the entrance of the cave.
¡°Gobu Sheng, why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Just you wait, I¡¯ll definitely tell the Boss!¡±
Gobu Ge glared at Gobu Sheng angrily.
Then he turned and ran back into the cavern.
His group of goblin underlings hurried after him.
Gobu Sheng looked scornfully at the noises coming from the Iron Cavern.
¡°Hmph, just a piece of trash like you, I can fight ten!¡±
At the same time, on the other side of the tribe.
By afternoon, the tribe suddenly became noisy.
A large number of goblins gathered in the forest outside the Throne Cave Dwelling.
They had been patrolling various parts of the tribe.
The Boss¡¯s orders made them leave their posts and gather in front of the Throne Cave Dwelling.
¡°What are they trying to do now?¡±
The female lizardmen hiding inside the wooden house secretly observed outside.
They saw a large number of goblins gathering in front of the largest wooden house.
The goblins¡¯ babbling voices echoed in the tribe.
¡°Boss, they¡¯re all here!¡±
Gobu Yi approached the Boss with a flattering expression.
Li Meng stood at the doorway and grinned.
He narrowed his eyes, sweeping his gaze over the dense crowd of goblin underlings.
By his estimation, there were nearly a thousand goblins in sight.
Among them, 40% were his direct blood descendants.
30% were his grandchildren goblins.
The rest were branch blood descendants who submitted to his offspring.
Just then, a commotion arose on the periphery.
Bai Ling came over under the protection of a group of goblins.
Wherever she passed, the goblins made way.
Their gazes at Bai Ling were only filled with curiosity and greed.
¡°Master, what are you trying to do? Where are you taking the male lizardmen?¡±
The commotion at the Iron Cavern made Bai Ling hurry back to the tribe.
Seeing that the day of rotation was approaching, Bai Ling had a bad feeling.
Bai Ling, full of momentum, came to Li Meng¡¯s side.
Her anxiety made her urgently question Li Meng.
Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, and their eyes met.
¡°Pa!¡±
Li Meng swung his hand and slapped Bai Ling¡¯s face.
The huge force directly sent Bai Ling flying.
Her somewhat plump body heavily crashed into the wooden wall.
¡°Hmph!¡±
A painful muffled hum came from Bai Ling, who fell to the ground.
Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth.
The Boss¡¯s sudden action startled the goblins outside.
Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang, closest to Li Meng, backed away in horror.
They sensed anger from behind their Boss.
Li Meng gave Bai Ling a ferocious smile and walked toward her.
Bai Ling tried to get up, but Li Meng stepped on her head.
¡°Looks like I¡¯ve been too gentle lately, making you forget your identity!¡±
Li Meng looked down expressionlessly at Bai Ling, who was stepped under his foot.
With a ¡°crack¡± sound.
The wooden board under Bai Ling¡¯s face was crushed.
It showed how astonishing Li Meng¡¯s strength was in that step.
Bai Ling, under Li Meng¡¯s foot, was full of fear.
She felt the Boss¡¯s murderous intent.
¡°Master, I¡I was wrong, please spare me!¡±
Humiliation flashed in Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
She couldn¡¯t die yet. If she died, what would happen to her people?
She had to live, she must live well.
Only by living was there hope for everything.
Seeing Bai Ling begging for mercy, Li Meng sneered playfully.
This female lizardman was quite able to swallow her pride.
Li Meng removed his foot from Bai Ling¡¯s head.
Then he turned to face the group of goblin underlings outside.
¡°Bai Ling, remember, I am a goblin, and you are a slave of goblins. The reason you are still alive is because I still need you. Don¡¯t try to test my bottom line. Otherwise, you won¡¯t just be slaves, you¡¯ll be meat!¡±
¡°Wa haha!¡±
Li Meng, standing at the door, laughed out loud.
His loud laughter echoed through the tribe.
Seeing the Boss suddenly laugh, the goblins looked at each other.
¡°Wa haha!¡±
Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang followed with big laughs.
They were full of excitement and joy.
As if they had heard the funniest joke in the world.
¡°Wa haha!¡±
The other goblins also became happy.
They danced and laughed loudly, ¡°Wa haha!¡±
For a while, the tribe was filled with the goblins¡¯ babbling laughter.
For a while, the tribe was filled with laughter and joy.
But this laughter and joy only belonged to the goblins.
Any other race hearing it would only feel a chill.
At this time, shadows moved in the nearby forest.
Gobu Sheng brought a group of male lizardmen over.
Seeing the goblins laughing heartily in front of the Throne Cave Dwelling, he also became happy.
¡°Wa haha!¡±
He couldn¡¯t help laughing out loud.
His underlings followed suit, ¡°Wa haha,¡± laughing together.
The male lizardmen looked on, puzzled by the laughing goblins.
What exactly happened?
Why were these goblins laughing so happily?
Chapter 71: Simply Perfect
Chapter 71: Simply Perfect
After a while, the ¡°wa haha¡± laughter echoing in the tribe finally stopped.
Almost at that moment, all the sounds disappeared.
Because the Boss in front of the Throne Cave Dwelling door was no longer laughing.
¡°Boss, Boss, they are all here!¡±
Gobu Sheng rushed over with a flattering expression.
Li Meng glanced at the male lizardmen not far away.
¡°Have them take all the logging axes and saws, set off! Head to the Northern Marshlands!¡±
After speaking, Li Meng strode forward, heading out of the tribe.
Wherever he passed, the goblin underlings made way.
Looking at the Boss¡¯s tall figure, there was only awe.
Nearly a thousand goblins followed Li Meng like a wave rolling out of the tribe.
At the doorway, Bai Ling got up from the ground.
She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth.
The female lizardmen who came back with her hurried forward to support her.
¡°They are heading to the Northern Marshlands?¡±
Bai Ling thought silently as she looked at the goblins leaving.
Just now she heard what the Master had said.
She was sure that the Master¡¯s destination was the Northern Marshlands.
Why would the Master go to the Northern Marshlands at this time?
¡°Could it be that the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s reinforcements have arrived?¡±
This possibility brought a hint of joy to Bai Ling¡¯s heart.
But immediately followed by worry.
Unless the Black Mountain Tribe attacked with the entire tribe, there was no possibility of defeating the Master.
¡°High Priest, go back and rest!¡±
Two female lizardmen supported Bai Ling into the wooden house.
The commotion in the tribe only lasted for a short while.
Not long after, the tribe quieted down again.If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
In the following days, Li Meng led the team all the way west.
They stopped and started along the journey.
During the day they traveled, at the first half of the night they hunted, and in the second half of the night they rested.
On the third day, in the forest north of the Goblin River.
¡°Where are the goblins taking us?¡±
¡°This direction¡ could it be heading to the Northern Marshlands?¡±
In the dim forest, a large group of lizardmen traveled westward.
Surrounding them were many goblins ¡°wa wa¡± communicating.
Large and small green-skinned figures filled a large area of the forest.
Walking in the forest, the Gray Scales Tribe and Black Scales Tribe looked at each other.
As the Day of Rotation approached, they had a bad premonition.
Time passed bit by bit, day after day.
On the afternoon of the fifth day, in the forest east of the Northern Marshlands.
¡°We really came back!¡±
Looking at the boundless marshlands ahead, the lizardmen on the shore looked at each other.
After nearly a year, they finally returned.
This was a place they were familiar with.
As long as they dived into the water, they could escape the goblins¡¯ control.
But they did not dare, nor could they do so.
Because their families were still in the hands of the goblins.
Because their home was in the Northern Marshlands.
¡°Wa wa!¡±
Just then, a group of goblins rushed over ¡°wa wa¡± shouting.
They snatched the logging axes and saws from the hands of the lizardmen.
They started chopping down trees in the forest by the shore.
There was also a group of goblins poking the lizardmen with long spears.
Driving the lizardmen to fell trees.
For a while, the ¡°de de¡± sounds of logging echoed in the forest.
From time to time there was the ¡°hua hua¡± sound of trees falling.
On the other side, Li Meng led a group of goblins into the marshlands.
In the vast marshlands, Li Meng led the goblin underlings westward.
On the afternoon of the third day.
On the eastern shore of a piece of land not submerged by water.
Li Meng led a group of goblin underlings onto the land.
¡°Mm, this place is not bad!¡±
Stepping on the soft land, Li Meng looked into the distance.
During the past few days of traveling, they encountered many similar small islands.
But those islands were either too small or had rugged terrain.
In contrast, the island in front of him was a piece of flat land.
There was a risk of being submerged once the tide rose.
Such a place was most suitable for lizardmen to live.
¡°This is it. We will build a wooden fortress stronghold here!¡±
A trace of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng behind Li Meng.
They originally thought that the Boss brought them out to fight and cause trouble.
They didn¡¯t expect it to be hard labor.
¡°Gobu Yi, you know where the Gray Scales Tribe is, right?¡±
The map in the Throne Cave Dwelling¡¯s sand table clearly marked the locations of the three lizardmen tribes.
Although goblins were foolish.
They had a good sense of direction. Once they had been somewhere, they never forgot.
Gobu Yi looked around at the surroundings.
It pointed its right hand to the southwest.
¡°Boss, in that direction!¡±
¡°Very good, go then. Head to the Gray Scales Tribe and bring all the lizardmen back.¡±
At this, Li Meng gave a ferocious smile.
¡°If they resist, then kill them until they can¡¯t resist anymore!¡±
Gobu Yi grinned, resting its wolf-toothed club on its shoulder.
¡°Alright, Boss, I will bring them back.¡±
Then Gobu Yi hurriedly led its goblin underlings toward the southwest.
On the island, a group of goblins watched Gobu Yi go away.
¡°Gobu Zhang, go to the Black Scales Tribe and bring all the lizardmen back!¡±
Gobu Zhang nodded and continued walking.
Its group of goblin underlings followed behind it.
¡°Gobu Sheng, return to the forest immediately and transport all the timber here.¡±
Where there was water, transporting timber was much more convenient.
After all, timber floated.
Gobu Sheng wore a bitter face and turned to head back the way they came.
Once the three big goblin underlings had left.
Only more than ten goblin underlings remained behind Li Meng.
¡°Three months left, just in time!¡±
Li Meng took a deep breath.
Breathing the rotten-scented air of the marshlands with a look of delight.
The purpose of building the wooden fortress was only one.
That was to gather the lizardmen of the three tribes together.
In this way, the Black Mountain Tribe army lost the possibility of contacting the Northern Marshlands.
Even if they found the wooden fortress stronghold, it didn¡¯t matter.
Li Meng didn¡¯t mind fighting a defensive battle against the Black Mountain Tribe army.
He had enough troops to guard the Northern Marshlands wooden fortress stronghold and the tribe.
Li Meng¡¯s purpose was not to eliminate the Black Mountain Tribe army.
Rather, it was to make the Black Mountain Tribe army retreat after gaining no advantage, returning empty-handed.
At the same time, he couldn¡¯t push the Black Mountain Tribe too hard.
To avoid them summoning the Savage God Akuya.
As for how to avoid the appearance of those human experts, it was easy.
The adventurer squad line was the easiest to solve.
Just let them complete their mission and leave obediently.
As long as he didn¡¯t touch that adventurer squad, no subsequent events would be triggered.
¡°Simply perfect!¡±
Li Meng grinned proudly.
With the Life Simulation System, avoiding dangerous future lines was relatively easy.
¡°Releasing the adventurer squad won¡¯t lead to some unknown event, right?¡±
Li Meng suddenly thought of four words.
That was the ¡°butterfly effect.¡±
Letting the adventurer squad go did not mean the event ended.
It might lead to a bigger event.
¡°I can only wait and see. Let¡¯s solve the immediate problem first.¡±
Shaking his head, Li Meng muttered.
He was not a perfectionist.
The most perfect ending was not so easy to achieve.
Chapter 72: Wooden Fortress Stronghold
Chapter 72: Wooden Fortress Stronghold
For now, he could only proceed step by step, taking one step at a time.
Time passed bit by bit, day after day.
In the following days, large-scale construction began at the wooden fortress stronghold in the Northern Marshlands.
The lizardmen were responsible for felling trees in the forest on the eastern shore.
The goblins were responsible for sending all sizes of timber to the wooden fortress stronghold.
On the island, the wooden wall began construction from the eastern shore.
On the first day, only 30 meters of the wooden wall were built.
With a beginning, progress accelerated on the second day.
50 meters were built on the second day.
70 meters were built on the third day.
After three days, the daily construction length of the wooden wall never fell below 70 meters.
On the fifth day, in the morning.
¡°Boss, Boss, Gobu Zhang is back!¡±
A goblin ran up to Li Meng with a flattering expression.
At this moment, Li Meng on the island was observing the goblin underlings¡¯ construction work from afar.
Without him watching, goblins loved to slack off the most.
Hearing the goblin underling¡¯s report made Li Meng¡¯s eyes light up.
¡°Finally back!¡±
Li Meng turned and walked toward the northwest shore.
He hurried to the shore and looked out over the distant marshlands.
In that direction, a mighty procession was approaching.
A dark mass of figures stretched out continuously, both large and small.
The small ones were goblins, the large ones were lizardmen.
Although the number of lizardmen far exceeded that of goblins,
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The lizardmen honestly traveled together with the goblins.
Both sides coexisted peacefully, each walking their own way.
It took more than an hour for the mighty procession to approach the island.
¡°Boss, I¡¯m back!¡±
Seeing the Boss waiting on the shore.
From far away, Gobu Zhang ran toward the Boss.
Gobu Zhang, panting heavily, came ashore.
He shook his body vigorously, shaking off the water on his animal skin.
Li Meng glanced at the lizardmen team not far away.
¡°They¡¯re all here?¡±
Gobu Zhang nodded and grinned.
¡°They don¡¯t understand what I¡¯m saying. I gestured for a long time before they understood. Some lizardmen didn¡¯t want to come with us and started attacking us, so we ate them, and then they were willing to follow us!¡±
At this, Gobu Zhang laughed ¡°wa haha.¡±
¡°Boss, those lizardmen are too stupid, we wouldn¡¯t eat them!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s gaze turned to the lizardmen team coming ashore not far away.
There were quite a few of them, nearly eight hundred in total.
Most were women and children.
The number of adult male lizardmen did not exceed three hundred.
It was very easy to distinguish female lizardmen from male lizardmen.
Female lizardmen¡¯s bodies were much more petite than those of male lizardmen¡
¡°How many male lizardmen died?¡±
Gobu Zhang looked down at the fingers on his hands.
¡°There¡there are¡3¡33!¡±
The number Gobu Zhang reported made Li Meng grin.
¡°Not bad, well done!¡±
Only 33 male lizardmen died.
Such a loss was within Li Meng¡¯s acceptable range.
Gobu Zhang chuckled, his eyes greedily fixed on those plump female lizardmen.
¡°Boss¡you¡look¡¡±
From Gobu Zhang¡¯s lewd expression, Li Meng knew what was on his mind.
¡°Now is not the time for that. Have them go to work. Gobu Zhang, take your underlings to catch fish and bring the female lizardmen. They are good swimmers and can effectively assist you. As for the male lizardmen, have them build the wooden fortress stronghold.¡±
As more and more lizardmen arrived here,
The demand for food would only increase.
Li Meng was not at ease letting lizardmen go out hunting.
If they took the opportunity to run away, it would be a loss.
It didn¡¯t matter if one or two escaped, but not if they fled in groups.
Seeing Gobu Zhang¡¯s sulky expression and lack of movement, Li Meng¡¯s face turned cold.
¡°What, do I have to say it a second time?¡±
Gobu Zhang¡¯s heart jumped at the Boss¡¯s gaze.
¡°Boss, I¡I understand!¡±
Instinctive fear made Gobu Zhang¡¯s heart pound with terror.
He backed up a step, turned around, and ran toward the team coming ashore not far away.
Under the goblins¡¯ scolding, the lizardmen team that had just come ashore was forcibly divided into two groups.
Although the male lizardmen were full of anger,
They dared not resist too fiercely.
Goblins were all around, and their wives and children were also here.
Once a fight broke out, it would affect their families.
In this way, with the arrival of the Black Scales Tribe lizardmen, the island became even more lively.
The abundance of manpower also made the island bustling.
With male lizardmen around, goblins began to slack off.
They changed from laborers to overseers.
The next afternoon, at the busy construction site on the island.
A goblin was slacking off.
It lay leisurely on a log basking in the sun.
Although goblins didn¡¯t like sunlight,
No matter how unpleasant the sunlight was, it was better than doing hard labor.
A passing big goblin kicked it.
This kick directly flipped it onto the ground, its butt sticking up.
¡°Don¡¯t slack off, the Boss¡¯s Boss is watching!¡±
The big goblin shouted.
This frightened the goblin so much that it jumped up in shock.
It gave a flattering smile and prostrated at the big goblin¡¯s feet.
¡°Boss, I¡¯m not slacking off, I¡¯m watching these male lizardmen work!¡±
The big goblin looked around.
Indeed, there were many male lizardmen working around.
¡°You¡¯re not lying to me, are you?¡±
The big goblin looked down at the goblin at its feet.
The goblin quickly shook its head.
¡°No, I¡I wouldn¡¯t dare!¡±
The goblin nodded vigorously.
The big goblin grinned at the underling.
Its right hand suddenly swung up, slapping the goblin¡¯s face.
¡°Ow!¡±
The goblin let out a miserable cry.
Its body flew several meters away and rolled on the ground.
¡°You think I¡¯m stupid? I¡¯m a big goblin! You were slacking off, now get back to work.¡±
The big goblin glared angrily at the goblin underling on the ground.
Although its face hurt, the goblin scrambled up in panic.
It crawled and rolled toward the working crowd.
This scene was witnessed by the male lizardmen around.
They were happy to see goblins fighting each other internally.
¡°What are you looking at? Get to work!¡±
Seeing that the male lizardmen around were watching this side,
The big goblin roared.
Although the male lizardmen did not understand what the goblin was saying,
From the big goblin¡¯s demeanor they could also sense that the goblin was scolding them.
The nearby lizardmen immediately bowed their heads and continued working.
¡°Mm, the big goblins are still very obedient.¡±
This scene was seen by Li Meng not far away.
Standing by the shore, Li Meng nodded repeatedly.
Very satisfied with the big goblin¡¯s performance.
The higher the goblin¡¯s rank, the smarter it was.
Ordinary goblins were like big fools who couldn¡¯t concentrate.
Although they were obedient, they were easily distracted by other things.
In places he couldn¡¯t see, they would start slacking off.
Chapter 73: Great Construction
Chapter 73: Great Construction
Send a goblin somewhere, and it will go.
But it¡¯s hard to say when it will arrive.
Various things along the way will delay its time to reach the destination.
¡°Boss, boss, Gobu Yi is back!¡±
At this moment, a goblin ran over in a hurry.
¡°Oh, finally back!¡±
The Wooden Stockade Stronghold was located north of the central region of the Northern Marshlands.
It was closer to the Black Scales Tribe and farther from the Gray Scales Tribe.
It was normal for Gobu Yi to return later than Gobu Zhang.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the marshes southwest of the small island.
A large group of figures were approaching the small island where the Wooden Stockade Stronghold was located under the scorching sun.
¡°What are the goblins doing?¡±
¡°Seems like they¡¯re building a new tribe!¡±
¡°Can goblins survive in the marshlands?¡±
¡°Not sure, the damp environment of the marshes might be too much for them.¡±
From far away, the Lizardmen saw the wooden structures on the island.
Although the scale was not very large, the construction scene was astonishing.
From afar, one could see goblins and Lizardmen laboring.
¡°Looks like people from the Gray Scales Tribe!¡±
The characteristics of Lizardmen from the three tribes were quite obvious.
The White Scales Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen had grayish-white scales.
The Gray Scales Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen had dark-gray scales.
The Black Scales Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen had dark-black scales.
¡°People from the Gray Scales Tribe also came?¡±
This discovery caused a commotion among the Gray Scales Tribe Lizardmen.
They were brought here by goblins, their fate uncertain.
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The presence of Black Scales Tribe Lizardmen at least proved they were safe.
Many Lizardmen who were anxious and fearful relaxed their tense expressions after receiving this news.
Half an hour later, a mighty procession landed from the western shore.
¡°Gobu Yi, you¡¯re too slow, I¡¯ve been back for a long time!¡±
As soon as it went ashore, Gobu Yi saw the fellow it least wanted to see.
It was Gobu Zhang, a big goblin walking over with a mocking grin.
¡°Hmph, I was far, you were near, what¡¯s there to be proud of.¡±
Gobu Yi snorted coldly, ignoring Gobu Zhang.
It looked toward the flat island in the distance.
¡°The boss is over there!¡±
Gobu Zhang grinned, shifting its body slightly to the side.
It did so deliberately to block the direction where the boss was.
Just so Gobu Yi couldn¡¯t find the boss.
Now that Gobu Zhang moved aside, Gobu Yi immediately spotted the boss.
Seeing this, Gobu Yi glared at Gobu Zhang.
It quickly ran toward the direction of the boss.
¡°Boss, boss, I¡¯m back!¡±
Gobu Yi ran up to the boss with a fawning expression.
¡°All brought back?¡±
Li Meng¡¯s gaze turned to the Lizardmen troops not far away.
Gobu Yi grinned and nodded.
¡°Not one less, all the Gray Scales Tribe Lizardmen have been brought over!¡±
Li Meng nodded with satisfaction.
¡°Very good, well done!¡±
It seemed that Gobu Yi¡¯s operation went very smoothly.
After all, the Lizardmen left behind in the Black Scales Tribe had never seen goblins.
Their resistance was inevitable.
But the Gray Scales Tribe was different.
Back then, the Gray Scales Tribe surrendered only after being attacked by the goblins.
The Lizardmen left behind in the Gray Scales Tribe had all seen goblins.
They had also witnessed the goblins¡¯ strength.
So they wouldn¡¯t easily resist.
With Gobu Yi bringing back the Gray Scales Tribe Lizardmen.
In the following days, the small island where the Wooden Stockade Stronghold was located became even more bustling.
Once the population grew, the demand for food increased dramatically.
Although goblins could eat once and not be hungry for three days.
Lizardmen could not do that.
To meet the food needs of more than two thousand people.
The Lizardmen and goblins split into two groups.
Male Lizardmen were responsible for building the Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
Two-thirds of the goblins and two-thirds of the female Lizardmen went out to hunt.
The remaining goblins stayed behind to guard the Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
The remaining female Lizardmen were responsible for looking after the Lizardmen younglings.
Under Li Meng¡¯s command, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
Time passed bit by bit, day after day.
Another new day, morning.
¡°It¡¯s off, it¡¯s off, yes, that¡¯s the position!¡±
On the northern shore of the small island, Li Meng was directing Lizardmen to build wooden walls.
The fact that this goblin warrior could communicate with Lizardmen was no longer surprising to them.
Being able to communicate was not a bad thing.
With communication, they knew what they should do.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
At this moment, a goblin ran over from afar.
It ran while shouting loudly.
Its loud cries attracted the attention of many Lizardmen.
After a while, the goblin, panting heavily, ran up to Li Meng.
¡°Boss, it¡¯s bad, we¡¯re in trouble!¡±
¡°Trouble? What happened?¡±
Li Meng lowered his head and looked at the goblin underling who had run to his side.
Facing the boss¡¯s gaze, the panting goblin shrank its neck.
It instinctively took a step back.
¡°It¡¯s the Swamp Crocodile King, that guy is really strong, we can¡¯t beat it!¡±
Swamp Crocodile King?
Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up, becoming interested.
¡°Let¡¯s go, take a look!¡±
Li Meng grabbed the goblin underling by the back of its neck.
Like lifting a chick, he held the goblin underling in his hand.
Li Meng turned and dashed out, sprinting madly on the island.
His speed was so fast, like a gust of wind passing by.
In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the distance.
¡°Boss, boss, my¡my head hurts!¡±
Amid the goblin¡¯s wailing.
Approaching the water¡¯s edge, Li Meng leaped up and rushed toward the water¡¯s surface.
He crossed dozens of meters before landing heavily on the water¡¯s surface.
As soon as he landed, the water surface instantly froze.
On the water¡¯s surface, Li Meng continued to sprint.
His speed was so fast that the ice path on the water¡¯s surface spread northward at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This scene was watched by the goblins on the small island.
¡°The boss is too amazing!¡±
On the island, the goblins let out bursts of exclamation.
¡°Isn¡¯t that so!¡±
A goblin excitedly slapped the shoulder of its same-kind beside it.
Because it used too much force, the slapped goblin fell flat on the ground.
¡°Damn it, did you hit me?¡±
¡°I¡I didn¡¯t, I just patted you.¡±
¡°You hit me!¡±
¡°I didn¡¯t!¡±
¡°You did, Gobu Diao, you¡¯re looking for death!¡±
The goblin that got up leaped at the other, knocking it to the ground.
¡°No, I didn¡¯t, you¡¯re the one looking for death!¡±
The two goblins started wrestling on the ground.
This attracted the attention of the nearby goblins.
They all gathered around to watch the fun.
Three hours later, near the edge of a certain water area.
¡°The boss is here, the boss is here!¡±
From afar, Li Meng saw a group of goblins on a small island.
The small island wasn¡¯t large, about two hundred square meters.
Its highest point was no more than one meter above the water surface.
Seeing the boss coming, the goblins on the small island let out cheers.
Seeing this, Li Meng ran toward the small island.
When he was still more than fifty meters away from the small island.
Li Meng jumped up, soared into the sky.
Like a grasshopper, he landed on the small island with a ¡°thump.¡±
Chapter 74: Swamp Crocodile King
Chapter 74: Swamp Crocodile King
That tall figure was extremely oppressive.
It made the surrounding goblins and Lizardmen retreat repeatedly.
Li Meng put down the goblin underling in his hand, his gaze sweeping over the waters ahead.
There was a smell of blood!
Very faint, it was the smell of Lizardman blood.
¡°Boss, it¡¯s in the deep water ahead, two female Lizardmen who went into the water to drive fish were eaten!¡±
Hearing this, Li Meng narrowed his eyes slightly.
His gaze locked onto that patch of dark water.
No wonder he smelled a faint scent of Lizardman blood.
It seemed that the marshlands were not absolutely safe for Lizardmen.
They would also encounter danger when hunting outside.
While hunting, one could also be prey.
After a while, Li Meng retracted his gaze.
He looked left and right at the female Lizardmen.
Finally, he locked onto a relatively plump female Lizardman.
Li Meng walked toward her.
¡°No, no!¡±
The female Lizardman seemed to realize what Li Meng was about to do.
She shook her head in horror.
Her steps kept retreating.
Li Meng grinned and approached her.
With his right hand extended, Li Meng grabbed the female Lizardman¡¯s shoulder.
Then he forcefully threw her toward that deep water area.
¡°Ah!¡±
With a scream of terror.
The female Lizardman flew out.
The immense strength sent the female Lizardman flying over a hundred meters.
¡°Splash!¡±
The female Lizardman plunged headfirst into the water.
A huge pillar of water was thrown up.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.
The female Lizardmen on the shore looked at the goblin warrior in fear.
Afraid that they would become the next bait.
Li Meng switched his grip on the iron rod from left hand to right, waving the big iron rod.
At this moment, the female Lizardman who fell into the water was thrashing violently.
The impact of entering the water left the female Lizardman half-dazed.
Her body instinctively struggled in the water.
Her struggle also attracted the attention of a huge creature beneath the water.
From the sky looking down at the water¡¯s surface.
A huge shadow appeared beneath the female Lizardman.
¡°Wahaha, found you!¡±
On the shore, Li Meng suddenly let out a wild laugh.
His figure flashed, rushing out like a fired cannonball.
His foot stepped on the water, and the water surface instantly froze.
Running on the water¡¯s surface, Li Meng held the big iron rod and dipped one end into the water, then lifted it upward.
White mist spread out, rolling forward.
Where it passed, the water surface instantly froze.
In the blink of an eye, within a hundred meters radius centered on the female Lizardman, the water surface was sealed in ice.
¡°Boom!¡±
The instant the water surface was frozen.
At the location of the female Lizardman, the ice layer suddenly shattered.
A huge, ferocious maw broke through the ice.
The female Lizardman, along with the broken ice, fell into the ferocious giant maw.
¡°Wahaha, I wanted you to show up!¡±
Li Meng grinned ferociously, his figure flashing.
¡°Bang!¡±
The huge power in his foot caused the ice underfoot to shatter with a roar.
Li Meng¡¯s strong body shot out like an arrow.
In an instant, he crossed dozens of meters and kicked the giant maw¡¯s lower jaw.
¡°Bang!¡±
A muffled sound was heard.
A wave of air exploded forth.
The ice shattered, and a huge figure was kicked out of the water by Li Meng.
It was a Swamp Crocodile King, a swamp crocodile magnified five times.
Its body length was nearly forty meters, and its huge mouth could swallow a car whole.
¡°Freeze!¡±
Landing on the ice layer, Li Meng raised his right foot high and stomped down.
Billowing white mist howled out, turning into a tidal wave that swept over a large area of water.
Wherever the white mist passed, everything was frozen.
The Swamp Crocodile King that had been kicked into the air had not yet fallen into the water.
The water surface below it was already frozen.
Suddenly extending his left hand, Li Meng caught the falling female Lizardman.
And dozens of meters away.
The huge Swamp Crocodile King fell heavily onto the ice surface.
It slid dozens of meters on the ice before coming to a stop.
[Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)]
[Level: 31]
[Strength: 617]
[Defense: 711]
[Agility: 458]
[Magic: 391]
[Water Bullet: LV7]
¡°How can its attributes be so high?¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s information made Li Meng show a look of surprise.
Level 31 actually had such terrifying attributes.
¡°Could it be related to the ¡®Elite¡¯ suffix?¡±
Li Meng thought of a possibility.
Perhaps after level 100, one becomes Elite-level.
The level then starts from zero again to increase.
At this moment, the female Lizardman held by Li Meng woke up.
She was still a bit confused and shook her head.
Li Meng let go of her.
¡°Go back to shore!¡±
The voice in her mind made the female Lizardman pause.
She regained clarity.
She quickly turned around and limped toward the direction of the small island.
At this moment, not far away, the Swamp Crocodile King got up.
¡°Roar!¡±
It turned around, opened its huge mouth, and roared at Li Meng.
It was very angry, extremely angry.
Its huge pupils were full of crimson.
Facing the roar of the Swamp Crocodile King, Li Meng grinned.
He brandished the big iron rod and pointed it at the Swamp Crocodile King.
Since coming to this world, he had not fought properly.
The Swamp Crocodile King wasn¡¯t too strong, but it wasn¡¯t weak either.
It was the perfect sparring partner.
¡°Come on, big crocodile!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge pupils contracted.
¡°Ugly goblin born from a Ground Mouse¡¯s belly, you¡¯re courting death!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King let out another roar.
Li Meng grinned hideously and waved the big iron rod provocatively.
The ¡°Mind Speech¡± skill was really useful.
Even if the magical beast didn¡¯t have much intelligence, communication was possible.
In the eyes of others, the Swamp Crocodile King was just roaring.
But in Li Meng¡¯s ears, it was a language.
Accurately speaking, the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s roar carried its thoughts.
¡°Goblin, I will turn you into minced meat!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King opened its huge mouth.
It seemed to be laughing, laughing at Li Meng¡¯s overconfidence.
Inside the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge mouth, blue magical light flickered.
A water ball surged forth.
The Swamp Crocodile King opened its mouth and sprayed it, the huge water ball shot out.
Its speed was so fast that there was a piercing whistle of breaking air.
¡°Ha!¡±
Facing the incoming water ball, Li Meng let out a shout.
He swung the big iron rod and rushed forward like a fired cannonball.
At the moment he charged, a circle of air waves exploded.
The ice underfoot cracked with a ¡°ka¡± sound.
Li Meng turned into an arrow running wildly on the ice.
He swung the big iron rod.
With a ¡°whoosh,¡±
A transparent wind blade shot out.
Visible gusts of wind swept in all directions.
Dozens of meters away in midair, the wind blade collided with the water ball.
The water ball shattered with a roar.
It turned into raindrops falling onto the ice.
This scene made the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s face freeze.
It never expected the water bullet to be broken.
¡°Roar!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King roared angrily.
Its huge mouth opened wider.
Blue magical light flashed.
One after another, water balls emerged like machine gun bullets, sweeping toward Li Meng.
¡°Damn, are you kidding me!¡±
The terrifying speed of water bullet release shocked Li Meng.
His wind blade technique couldn¡¯t be released as quickly as the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s attacks.
Running on the ice, Li Meng dived to the left.
Two water bullets narrowly passed by his feet.
Chapter 75: Toothpick Stirs the Sea
Chapter 75: Toothpick Stirs the Sea
¡°Boom!¡±
Two water bullets struck the ice one after another.
A loud ¡°rumble¡± was heard.
That piece of ice was directly shattered.
Two huge water columns soared high into the sky.
¡°Damn, water bullets are kinetic attacks!¡±
Li Meng rolled on the ice and got up, continuing to run.
Looking back, the terrifying power of the water bullets startled Li Meng.
If he tried to block them with the big iron rod, he definitely couldn¡¯t hold them off.
Running wildly on the ice, Li Meng dodged left and right.
One water bullet after another slammed into the ice behind Li Meng.
Pillars of water rose into the sky one after another.
¡°Fortunately, the bullet speed isn¡¯t too fast!¡±
While dodging the water bullets, Li Meng still had time for stray thoughts.
Water bullets were kinetic attacks, so their flight speed wouldn¡¯t be too high.
Li Meng appeared a bit frantic on the ice.
But in reality, he was quickly closing in on the Swamp Crocodile King.
¡°Ka!¡±
While sprinting, Li Meng stomped hard under his foot.
The ice instantly broke and sank deep into the water.
His body shot up like an arrow leaving the bowstring, rushing straight at the Swamp Crocodile King.
Seeing Li Meng leap to attack, a hint of mockery flashed in the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s eyes.
It raised its head and opened its huge mouth, aiming at Li Meng.
Finally, a water sphere emerged, spinning rapidly.
Facing the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s confident strike, Li Meng grinned hideously.
He suddenly hurled the big iron rod in his hand toward the Swamp Crocodile King.
With a ¡°bang,¡±
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A circle of air waves exploded.
The big iron rod turned into a black flash, instantly spanning dozens of meters.
It shot straight into the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s mouth.
¡°Chi!¡±
The big iron rod deeply penetrated the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s throat.
It was almost fully embedded.
¡°Ugh!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King let out a wail.
It shook its head, its huge body swaying.
Trying to fling out the big iron rod in its mouth.
But it was useless, the big iron rod was firmly stuck in its throat.
¡°Wahaha, die!¡±
Li Meng, who had leapt downward, landed heavily on the ice.
With a ¡°ka¡± sound, that piece of ice shattered with a ¡°boom.¡±
LV1 Ice Element Control was still too weak.
This caused the ice layer¡¯s strength to be insufficient.
Only slightly tougher than natural ice.
As soon as he landed, Li Meng rushed out again.
A swift step brought him close to the Swamp Crocodile King.
He swung his right fist, punching the Swamp Crocodile King in the face.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge body staggered.
The massive force made it roll on the ice.
The big iron rod in its throat seemed to be making it very uncomfortable.
It couldn¡¯t even make a sound.
Li Meng waved his hand, and the air in front of him exploded.
A wind blade shot out, heading straight for the Swamp Crocodile King.
Only a few meters away, very close.
With a ¡°chi,¡± the wind blade hit the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s scales.
The wind blade striking the Swamp Crocodile King dissipated instantly.
¡°Its defense is pretty good!¡±
You must know, a single wind blade attack could cut through a tree requiring two people to encircle.
Yet it couldn¡¯t leave any mark on the Swamp Crocodile King.
¡°Hey, big crocodile, want to be my underling?¡±
Looking at the big fellow before him, Li Meng was quite tempted.
With the Swamp Crocodile King as his underling, many things would be easier.
In the future, he could stride through the marshlands.
Even if the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army came, it wouldn¡¯t matter.
With the Swamp Crocodile King assisting, the trivial Black Mountain Tribe was not worth mentioning.
¡°Could this be the turning point to change the future?¡±
Li Meng grinned, feeling very expectant.
But thinking again, something seemed off.
There was no information about the Swamp Crocodile King in the future line, right?
What was going on?
¡°Wishful thinking, you monster born from a Ground Mouse¡¯s belly!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King flipped over and got up.
It endured the discomfort and severe pain in its throat, ramming its head toward Li Meng.
Alright, it seemed even magical beasts hated goblins.
Li Meng¡¯s figure flashed, jumping backward.
He extended both hands and grabbed the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge tail.
¡°Then I can only smash you to death!¡±
Li Meng exerted force with both hands, using his waist and hips together.
Holding the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge tail, he swung it.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge body was immediately lifted and slammed onto the ice.
¡°Boom!¡±
The thick ice instantly cracked into pieces.
The Swamp Crocodile King was knocked dizzy.
The big iron rod in its throat seemed to be wedged even tighter with a ¡°ka.¡±
Seeing that the ice layer was somewhat fragile, Li Meng grinned.
Holding the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge tail, he dragged it toward a small island not far away.
¡°See that piece of land, there¡¯s a sharp big stone on it. I will smash your body against that big stone, bit by bit. You will be smashed into a bloody pulp. After you die, I will cut you open, and goblins will eat you completely, not even leaving the crap inside your belly. Hmm, letting you just die would be too easy.¡±
Li Meng turned his head and gave the Swamp Crocodile King a ferocious grin.
¡°How about this, I won¡¯t let you die easily. I¡¯ll let you watch with your own eyes as your body is cut open by goblins before you die. I¡¯ll do my best to keep you alive until the end, watching your body get gnawed away by goblins bit by bit. Hmm, that would definitely be very interesting.¡±
This was not a bluff, this was Li Meng¡¯s final offer for the Swamp Crocodile King to stay alive.
Submission was best, if not, then it didn¡¯t matter.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s corpse was a good thing.
Gobuge, Gobuda, Gobuqiang had limited potential.
They needed high-level magical beast meat to evolve.
Li Meng intended to train these three underlings.
Li Meng¡¯s intimidation finally caused a trace of fear in the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s eyes.
Death was not terrifying; living a fate worse than death was more terrifying than death.
¡°You are strong, I can submit to you, but I have one condition!¡±
Li Meng originally thought the Swamp Crocodile King would hold out for a while.
After all, it was a magical beast, and magical beasts had no brains.
If everything could be solved by ¡°communication,¡± why would there be so many wars among humans?
Unexpectedly, the Swamp Crocodile King did not persist at all.
As soon as the intimidation was spoken, it compromised.
Li Meng¡¯s footsteps paused, stopping his advance.
Standing on the ice, Li Meng grinned.
Having conditions meant it was already decided.
¡°Speak, what condition?¡±
Li Meng released the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s tail.
He turned around and looked at the Swamp Crocodile King, which had regained its freedom and lay prone on the ice.
¡°I don¡¯t want to mate with goblins, I don¡¯t want to bear little goblins!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King turned around in pain, staring straight at Li Meng.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s condition left Li Meng speechless.
It seemed even magical beasts couldn¡¯t stand goblins.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s settled then, open your mouth.¡±
This wasn¡¯t really a condition.
With the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s massive size, anyone with it would be like a toothpick stirring the sea.
Even a large goblin leader wouldn¡¯t fit.
¡°that¡¯s settled then, you can¡¯t go back on your word.¡±
¡°What, you don¡¯t trust me?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t trust goblins!¡±
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Matthew], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 76: Yue E
Chapter 76: Yue E
Li Meng grinned and slapped the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s lower jaw.
¡°I am indeed a goblin, but I am a goblin who keeps his promises!¡±
The Swamp Crocodile King opened its big mouth half-believing.
Although it wasn¡¯t very smart, it knew what to do to stay alive.
With a grin, Li Meng crawled into the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s big mouth without hesitation.
Then he followed its tongue into its throat.
Inside the sticky throat, he found the iron rod that was stuck.
¡°Ah!¡±
On the ice, the Swamp Crocodile King let out a roar of pain.
After a while, Li Meng crawled out of the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s mouth holding the big iron rod.
¡°It stinks!¡±
The stench on his body made Li Meng roll his eyes.
Li Meng stabbed the big iron rod into the ice layer.
With a ¡°ka¡± sound, the ice layer shattered into pieces.
Li Meng lunged forward and plunged into the water with a splash.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s huge body also crawled into the water.
This scene was witnessed by the goblins and Lizardmen not far away.
When they saw the boss crawl into the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s mouth.
The goblins were startled.
But before long, the boss crawled out of the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s mouth again.
They were all puzzled, not understanding what had happened over there.
At this moment, the water not far from the shore began to ripple.
A shadow appeared beneath the water.
Suddenly, the boss¡¯s head emerged from the water.
First the head, then the neck, then the body, and finally the feet.
At the very end, under his feet was the giant Swamp Crocodile King.
¡°Let¡¯s go, time to go back!¡±This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Li Meng leaped down from the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s head.
He landed steadily on the small island.
The Lizardmen and goblins on the island looked at the Swamp Crocodile King in horror.
They retreated repeatedly, terrified.
But the Swamp Crocodile King did not attack them.
Its huge body crawled in the shallow water area, following behind the boss.
¡°The boss got a new underling!¡±
Goblins were silly, but not stupid.
They quickly realized what had happened.
The goblins on the island looked excited, shouting loudly.
The female Lizardmen beside them looked shocked.
The Swamp Crocodile King actually submitted to that goblin?
The Swamp Crocodile King was the most terrifying lord beast of the Northern Marshlands.
Although only a fifth-tier magical beast, its strength surpassed most sixth-tier magical beasts.
In the Northern Marshlands, the Swamp Crocodile King was the true king of the marsh.
And now, the king of the Northern Marshlands had submitted to that goblin warrior.
Amid the cheers of the goblins on the island, Li Meng led the Swamp Crocodile King away.
¡°Boss, you can sit on my back, that would be faster, you¡¯re too slow!¡±
Following Li Meng, the Swamp Crocodile King let out a dissatisfied snort.
The boss¡¯s speed was too slow, making it uncomfortable to follow.
Li Meng stopped, turned, and walked toward the Swamp Crocodile King behind him.
Then he climbed up onto its back along its leg.
As soon as Li Meng sat down, the Swamp Crocodile King sped up.
It crawled in the shallow water area with splashes of water everywhere.
Sitting on the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s back, Li Meng looked up at the sky.
The sun had not yet set, but a half-moon was already hanging in the sky.
¡°From now on, I¡¯ll call you Yue E.¡±
Li Meng felt that ¡°Yue E¡± was a very suitable name for the Swamp Crocodile King.
¡°Boss, call me whatever you like!¡±
Just like that, the Swamp Crocodile King got a new name.
¡°Yue E, can you still evolve?¡±
Although Yue E looked very large.
It was indeed very large!
Its body length was nearly 45 meters, with a shoulder height of about 4 meters.
But the tail alone accounted for almost half its length.
¡°Yes, consuming magic crystals can make me stronger!¡±
When magical beasts in the forest died, their magic crystals would be eaten first.
This was a natural ability of magical beasts.
¡°Low-tier magic crystals probably don¡¯t help you much.¡±
Yue E was a fifth-tier magical beast. One or two-tier magic crystals should be of little use.
¡°They are useful, just need to eat more of them!¡±
Quantity leads to qualitative change?
Li Meng thought of those magic crystals embedded in the rock walls of the goblin cave.
Although most were first-tier magic crystals.
They were just right for feeding Yue E.
¡°Yue E, why do you only have one magic skill?¡±
Yue E was indeed strong, yet it only had one magic skill.
Li Meng instinctively felt that Yue E¡¯s talent wasn¡¯t great.
¡°Boss, I am a genius. I¡¯ve never seen another of my kind who can use magic.¡±
Having only one magic skill was also called a genius?
Li Meng rolled his eyes while sitting on Yue E¡¯s back.
But thinking about it, magical beasts with magic skills were indeed rare.
Most magical beasts only had enhancement skills.
Their combat style was more inclined to close combat.
Several hours later, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold island.
¡°Not good, big crocodile is coming!¡±
Suddenly, panicked shouts rang out on the island¡¯s northern shore.
A goblin looked as if it had seen a ghost.
It stumbled and ran toward the boss.
Nearby goblins turned their heads to look.
With this glance, the giant creature in the depths of the northern marsh made their faces change.
¡°Not good, big crocodile, big crocodile!¡±
Like a stone dropped in calm water, it caused a thousand ripples.
The goblins ran amok on the island.
They wanted to run but were afraid.
After running a short distance, they ran back again.
More goblins ran toward their boss.
¡°What are you afraid of, all of you stand guard at the water¡¯s edge!¡±
Gobu Zhang came over in big strides due to the commotion on the north shore.
It kicked over a goblin who was screaming loudly.
The arrival of the boss gave the nearby goblins a backbone.
They gathered behind Gobu Zhang.
¡°It¡¯s not a big crocodile, it¡¯s the boss¡¯s boss, boss, it¡¯s the boss¡¯s boss!¡±
A brave goblin at the water¡¯s edge danced and cheered.
¡°What are you talking about?¡±
Gobu Zhang was confused.
Looking carefully into the distance, Gobu Zhang¡¯s pupils contracted.
It was a big crocodile, it was the boss!
¡°The boss is riding the big crocodile back!¡±
Standing by the water¡¯s edge, Gobu Zhang shouted excitedly.
Only then did the goblins on the island notice the boss on the big crocodile¡¯s back.
¡°The boss¡¯s boss is back!¡±
¡°The boss is back!¡±
The goblins quickly ran to the shore, shouting excitedly.
The commotion on the north shore attracted the Lizardmen¡¯s attention.
They looked curiously toward the northern marsh.
With this look, all the Lizardmen showed disbelief.
In the depths of the northern marsh, a giant Swamp Crocodile was approaching.
Its running caused a huge commotion, splashing water everywhere.
¡°That¡¯s¡ the Swamp Crocodile King?¡±
¡°How could the Swamp Crocodile King submit to the goblins?¡±
Only the Swamp Crocodile King possessed such a gigantic physique.
Lizardmen living in the marshlands were not unfamiliar wit the Swamp Crocodile King.
The Swamp Crocodile King was a sacrificial beast worshipped by the three Lizardmen tribes of the Northern Marshlands.
Offering themselves as food to the crocodile was the ultimate fate of all elderly Lizardmen.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Vinicius Mattos], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 77: Sacrificial Beast and Guardian Deity
Chapter 77: Sacrificial Beast and Guardian Deity
Sacrificial beasts are very dangerous, but at the same time, they are also the guardian deities of the Northern Marshlands.
With the Swamp Crocodile King present, no other high-level magical beasts could exist in the Northern Marshlands.
But today, they actually saw the Swamp Crocodile King become a goblin¡¯s mount.
¡°This is impossible, absolutely impossible!¡±
¡°How could this happen?¡±
The Lizardmen found it difficult to accept that mere goblins could achieve such a feat.
Mere goblins could actually subdue the Swamp Crocodile King.
¡°Gobumeng, Gobumeng!¡±
As Li Meng approached the small island riding Yue E, the goblins on the shore shouted excitedly in unison.
They looked at their leader on the massive crocodile¡¯s back with fervent eyes.
Hearing the goblins¡¯ unified chants, Li Meng grinned.
He greatly enjoyed the goblins¡¯ fervent cheers.
Under their fanatical gaze, Li Meng felt a powerful sensation awakening within him.
It was as if some force in his body was stirring and gradually making him stronger.
Amidst the crowd¡¯s attention, Li Meng rode the giant Swamp Crocodile King ashore.
The goblins on the shore looked at Yue E, who resembled a mountain of flesh, with fear.
Though they shouted fervently, their instincts compelled them to retreat step by step.
Standing up on Yue E¡¯s back, Li Meng raised his massive iron rod with his right hand.
¡°Wahaha!¡±
Li Meng laughed heartily, his loud laughter echoing across the island.
The goblins¡¯ chanting immediately changed as they all began laughing ¡°wahaha¡± together.
¡°Wahaha!¡±
The goblins on the shore surrounded Yue E, laughing joyously with a hint of madness.
Some goblins laughed so hard they rolled on the ground, while others clutched their bellies as they laughed.
Yue E, looking at the small goblins around her, showed a trace of confusion in her eyes.Stolen novel; please report.
She didn¡¯t understand what these goblins were doing.
In the distance, the Lizardmen silently watched and listened.
The size of the crocodile confirmed for them the identity of the Swamp Crocodile King.
After a while, the ¡°wahaha¡± laughter from the island¡¯s northern shore gradually subsided.
Li Meng leapt down from Yue E, landing steadily on the ground.
He patted Yue E¡¯s massive forelimb.
¡°Yue E, go play nearby. The goblins and Lizardmen are my subordinates, don¡¯t harm them!¡±
Yue E¡¯s enormous eyes glanced at her leader, then she slowly turned her gigantic body and crawled towards the water.
¡°Boss, you¡¯re amazing!¡±
When the giant crocodile left, Gobu Zhang quickly ran forward, but Gobu Sheng was even faster.
Gobu Sheng slid to his knees and bowed at Li Meng¡¯s feet.
With a fawning expression, he kissed the top of Li Meng¡¯s foot.
¡°Boss, you¡¯re so powerful, I almost lost it!¡±
As he spoke, Gobu Sheng¡¯s body suddenly shuddered.
With an exasperated expression, Li Meng kicked Gobu Sheng over.
¡°Alright, go get to work!¡±
The kicked-over goblin scrambled to his feet and ran off into the distance.
The surrounding goblins also dispersed, each going their own way.
Thus, the once lively island quieted down relatively.
In the following days, everything in the Northern Marshlands remained as usual.
The construction of the Wooden Stockade Stronghold proceeded in an orderly manner.
Each day, visible changes could be seen on the island.
The wooden wall surrounding the island grew at a pace visible to the naked eye.
Time passed little by little, day after day.
Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly in the Northern Marshlands.
In the forest on the eastern shore of the Northern Marshlands, a large area of trees near the shore had been felled.
A great number of Lizardmen and goblins were working in the forest.
Although the two races couldn¡¯t communicate verbally, their long-term joint efforts had cultivated a mutual understanding.
Goblins excelled at chopping, so they handled the tree-felling work.
The Lizardmen¡¯s strong arms were suited for pulling, so they took care of sawing the wood, turning the felled trees into logs.
¡°Gray Scales, have you found out anything?¡±
In a messy clearing, Gray Scales and Black Scales were sawing wood, their saw making a ¡°whoosh whoosh¡± sound as it was pulled back and forth.
Gray Scales glanced at the western marshlands and shook his head.
¡°The goblins won¡¯t let us leave this area, so we can¡¯t learn any news from outside.¡±
Black Scales¡¯ face darkened, and he remained silent.
It had been nearly a month; even a fool could sense something was amiss.
So much wood was being transported deep into the marshlands.
The goblins were definitely up to something secretive.
¡°Be patient. The Day of Rotation is coming soon!¡±
Gray Scales¡¯ words of comfort made Black Scales take a deep breath.
Yes, the Day of Rotation was near.
When that day came, they would regain their freedom.
Once they returned to their tribe, things would become much easier.
¡°Black Scales, do you think the Black Mountain Tribe will come?¡±
Gray Scales¡¯ expression was complicated.
He hoped the Black Mountain Tribe would send an army to support the Northern Marshlands.
At the same time, he dreaded the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s arrival.
The goblins in the forest were simply too powerful.
If they failed, there would be no space left for the Lizardmen in Goblin Forest.
¡°They will come, they definitely will.¡±
Black Scales had no doubt about the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s arrival.
------
Goblin Forest.
Northern Marshlands, Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
Time flew by, and two months passed silently.
Two months of construction had transformed the small island in the marshlands.
In its place now stood a massive Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
The stronghold spanned about nine hundred meters from north to south and seven hundred meters from east to west.
Seven-meter-high wooden walls towered in the marshlands.
Fifteen-meter-high watchtowers were scattered across the walls, with one every fifty meters.
Looking up at the wooden walls, numerous goblins could be seen standing guard and patrolling.
Although the watchtowers were currently empty, soon each would hold a Triple-bow Ballista.
Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly in the Northern Marshlands.
On the watchtower of the northern wooden wall of the stronghold.
¡°Has Gobu Yi not returned yet?¡±
Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng gazed at the interior of the stronghold.
After two months of construction, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold was 80% complete.
Looking inside, a variety of wooden houses filled the area.
There were caves for habitation, warehouses for storing supplies, and two ditches dug within the stronghold for easier access to water.
Due to the marshlands¡¯ humid air, goblins disliked staying in this environment.
After this operation concluded, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold wouldn¡¯t host a large permanent force, only a small number of goblins to guard it.
¡°Boss, Gobu Yi hasn¡¯t returned yet!¡±
Gobu Sheng responded to the boss and glanced towards the southern marshlands.
Gobu Sheng and Gobu Zhang stood behind Li Meng.
Five days ago, Li Meng had sent Gobu Yi to the White Scales Tribe.
Since only women and children were left in the White Scales Tribe, Li Meng hadn¡¯t rushed to bring them over.
Li Meng turned to look southwards, deep in thought.
The Triple-bow Ballistas were on their way and would arrive in half a month.
The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army would take at least two or three more months to appear.
The timing was still adequate; there was no need to rush.
Although the simulated future didn¡¯t specify a timeline, the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s arrival in the Northern Marshlands was expected to happen after the Day of Rotation.
The estimated timing wasn¡¯t too far off.
Chapter 78: The Crispy Rabbit Head
Chapter 78: The Crispy Rabbit Head
On the afternoon of the next day, Gobu Yi returned.
Accompanying him were hundreds of Lizardmen women and children.
The arrival of the White Scales Tribe Lizardmen caused a commotion in the Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
"It''s the White Scales Tribe!"
"What exactly do the Goblins plan to do by gathering us all here?"
The long line of Lizardmen entered the Wooden Stockade from the southern gate.
This caught the attention of the other two Lizardmen tribes.
For a time, discussions spread among the Lizardmen in the stronghold.
Now that all three tribes were gathered, it was hard not to speculate on the Goblins'' motives.
"Boss, I¡¯m back!"
On the other side, Gobu Yi cheerfully climbed up a watchtower.
From a distance, he had already spotted the Boss standing on the watchtower.
Hearing Gobu Yi''s breathless voice behind him, Li Meng grinned.
"Well done, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng. I¡¯m leaving this place to you. Keep a good watch on those Lizardmen."
With the Day of Rotation approaching, Li Meng needed to go back to make some preparations.
"Boss, where are you going?" Gobu Yi asked curiously.
Li Meng turned to look at the towering wooden structures within the stockade.
"Of course, I''m returning to the tribe!"
Li Meng had initially thought of instructing them to stockpile more food.
But on second thought, he abandoned the idea.
The food brought back by the hunting teams was mostly carcasses, which would start to rot within three days.
Although Goblins had powerful digestive systems and could consume even heavily decayed and maggot-ridden meat, the same couldn¡¯t be said for the Lizardmen.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Their digestive systems required fresh food.
Plans for making jerky and dried fish would have to wait for now.
If the tribe wanted to launch expeditions in the future, they couldn¡¯t afford to hunt as they traveled; it was too time-consuming.
They needed long-lasting, portable food supplies.
"I¡¯ll be back soon!"
With that, Li Meng turned and leaped off the watchtower.
The ground was soft, and even from a height of fifteen meters, he landed silently.
Landing firmly, Li Meng darted into the water.
Wherever he passed, the water beneath his feet froze into ice.
In an instant, a trail of ice stretched across the marshlands, leading far into the distance.
Heading east, it took Li Meng less than three hours to reach the forest on the eastern shore.
What took the Goblins two days of travel, Li Meng accomplished in mere hours, showcasing his incredible speed.
Li Meng didn¡¯t linger in the eastern forest and continued upstream.
In the afternoon, near the Goblin River, in the northern forest.
The forest was dark and eerily quiet.
Surviving in the dense Goblin Forest was an art.
To live, one had to first learn silence.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a bush, and the leaves swayed gently.
The next moment, a flash of white darted out of the underbrush.
It was a small white rabbit.
Judging by its size, it was an ordinary animal.
It hopped to a colorful mushroom and stopped, sniffing it.
The fragrant aroma of the mushroom made its mouth water.
Opening its mouth, it moved to take a bite.
But before it could, a dark shadow flashed past.
The rabbit was snatched up, its head bitten off in an instant.
The crunching sound of chewing echoed through the forest.
"The bones are so crispy!"
Running through the forest, Li Meng grinned.
Compared to magical beasts, ordinary animals were far more delicious.
Even their bones were crispy¡ªa delightfully crunchy sensation.
Hours later, in the western forest near the tribe.
A tall green-skinned figure emerged from the woods.
"Not bad!"
Li Meng said, gazing toward the tribe in the distance.
It wasn¡¯t far¡ªonly about three hundred meters.
The tribe resembled an island amidst the forest, with a blank clearing surrounding it.
Beyond the wooden walls, dense trees were visible, forming a thick barrier.
The wooden walls encased the tribe, with guards standing vigilant on top.
Every fifty meters, massive triple-bow ballistae were mounted on the watchtowers.
"Boss is back! Boss is back!"
Li Meng''s presence was quickly noticed by the Goblins on the wall.
Peering closer, they confirmed it was indeed the Boss.
The Goblins, who had been dozing off, suddenly became energized.
Li Meng entered the tribe through the western gate.
A pungent smell of pig manure greeted him as soon as he stepped inside.
Walking through the tribal forest, Li Meng frowned.
"It seems I need to have Gobu Qiang move out and build a new pig-rearing settlement quickly!"
Li Meng had long planned for this.
He didn¡¯t want his base to turn into a cesspool.
Despite being a Goblin in this life, Li Meng still valued cleanliness.
The tribe had numerous dry toilets, each equipped with a septic pit.
Although simple, they were effective in processing waste, needing only periodic cleaning every few years.
"Boss! Boss!"
Before he could leave the forest, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over.
"Boss, you''re back!"
The two large Goblins fawningly approached Li Meng.
"Did anything happen while I was away?"
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly shook their heads.
"Boss, everything''s fine. Nothing happened at all," Gobu Mo replied obsequiously.
"Good. Go notify Gobu Di and Gobu Shi to lead all the Goblins to assemble at the Throne Cave Dwelling!"
Upon hearing this, the two large Goblins'' eyes lit up.
Excited, they turned and ran out of the tribal forest, disappearing quickly.
Compared to two months ago, the tribe hadn''t changed much.
Aside from the addition of an outer wooden wall, the internal structures remained the same.
As he walked, Li Meng arrived at the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Looking at the distinctive structure, Li Meng grinned.
He thought of Benben, the simple-minded Ogre who loved guarding the entrance.
According to the simulated future, Benben would return with a group of Ogres.
This meant Benben had gone to find his kind.
Compared to Goblins, Li Meng preferred the simple-minded Ogres.
Their foolishness made them honest and unwavering in their loyalty.
"Bai Ling, I¡¯m back!"
Reaching the door, Li Meng kicked it open.
The door banged loudly, startling the Lizardmen women inside.
They had been huddled together, chatting about something.
Seeing the familiar and intimidating figure, they scattered in fear.
Li Meng strode into the Throne Cave Dwelling, his gaze sweeping over the Lizardmen women.
He noticed something strange.
Without the male Lizardmen, they seemed to be faring poorly.
Their chests were wet, and the room was filled with a rich milky aroma.
Looking at Bai Ling lying on the main bed, Li Meng smiled and walked toward her.
Seeing her master approach, a trace of fear flashed in Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
Chapter 79: The Future Has Already Changed
Chapter 79: The Future Has Already Changed
"Master, the... the Day of Rotation is approaching."
The Day of Rotation was just one month away.
Bai Ling was reminding her master that time was running out.
Li Meng, who had stepped to the front of the main bed, did not bully Bai Ling.
He climbed onto the bed, rolled over, and fell asleep beside Bai Ling.
Watching her master sleep soundly beside her, Bai Ling breathed a sigh of relief.
The Goblin in front of her was becoming increasingly intimidating.
"Bai Ling, you should know about the Swamp Crocodile King, right?"
Li Meng, with his eyes closed, suddenly asked a seemingly irrelevant question.
Bai Ling looked down at her master beside her and nodded lightly.
"The Swamp Crocodile King is our sacred beast. It is inherently ferocious and difficult to communicate with. I promised many conditions before it agreed to protect the Northern Marshlands. Once high-level magical beasts invade, it will take action!"
Bai Ling''s reply made Li Meng''s expression shift slightly.
"So that''s how it is!"
The Northern Marshlands was the domain of the Swamp Crocodile King.
Logically, there shouldn¡¯t be any space for the Lizardmen to survive.
But the Swamp Crocodile King coexisted with the Lizardmen.
Although they maintained a hunter-and-prey relationship, the Swamp Crocodile King did not actively attack the Lizardmen''s tribe.
Li Meng opened his eyes and turned to look at the soft and curvaceous Bai Ling beside him.
"Not long ago, I encountered it. It is now my subordinate. I named it ''Yue E''!"
"That... that¡¯s impossible!"
Bai Ling¡¯s startled cry suddenly rang out in the wooden house.
She looked at her master beside her with an expression of disbelief.
Seeing Bai Ling slightly lose her composure, Li Meng grinned.
"Nothing is impossible. It¡¯s a fact!"
Bai Ling hesitated to speak, her expression shifting repeatedly.
Although she said it was impossible, Bai Ling still believed it deep down.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
The Goblin beside her had no reason to deceive her¡ªit served no purpose.
"Bai Ling, do you think the Black Mountain Tribe will launch a large-scale invasion of the Northern Marshlands?"
Hearing this, Bai Ling¡¯s face turned pale.
Her voluptuous body trembled, almost losing its balance.
Bai Ling appeared panicked and avoided meeting Li Meng''s gaze.
Grinning, Li Meng lay flat on the bed, hands resting behind his head.
"I¡¯ve said it before: I¡¯m a smart Goblin. I know everything!"
"You must be curious why I led those male Lizardmen to the Northern Marshlands two months ago."
Bai Ling¡¯s body trembled, and she stared intensely at her master.
Fear flickered in her eyes.
She feared hearing news from the Goblin beside her that would shatter her resolve.
"They¡¯re all alive!"
Seeing Bai Ling¡¯s reaction, Li Meng knew what she was thinking.
Li Meng recalled that night when the male Lizardmen of the White Scales Tribe were nearly exterminated.
That night, Bai Ling¡¯s face was filled with despair¡ªa rare sight on a Lizardman.
It was difficult to discern emotions on the round faces of Lizardmen, but that night, despair was evident.
¡°Phew!¡±
Bai Ling took a deep breath.
Her arms, weak, propped her up on the bed as she panted heavily.
Her emotional turmoil had left her body limp.
She had been terrified just moments ago. Truly frightened.
"I built a Wooden Stockade Stronghold in the Northern Marshlands. The Black Scales Tribe, Gray Scales Tribe, and White Scales Tribe Lizardmen have all been relocated there. That¡¯s what I¡¯ve been doing these past two months."
Bai Ling didn¡¯t react much to this revelation.
She sat up straight and leaned forward slightly, her hands massaging Li Meng¡¯s legs.
Bai Ling¡¯s sudden action brought a relaxed smile to Li Meng¡¯s face.
After a day of running around, his legs were indeed sore.
Bai Ling¡¯s massage brought relief¡ªa tingling comfort.
"Since Master has subdued the Swamp Crocodile King, there¡¯s no need to worry about the threat from the Black Mountain Tribe!"
Bai Ling knew better than anyone how powerful the Swamp Crocodile King was.
If the Swamp Crocodile King was willing to heed her master¡¯s commands, the Black Mountain Tribe would have no chance unless they mobilized their entire tribe.
"Are there any powerful individuals in the Black Mountain Tribe?"
Bai Ling shook her head lightly.
"I¡¯m not sure. The White Scales Tribe hasn¡¯t interacted with the Black Mountain Tribe in a long time."
Since Bai Ling claimed ignorance, Li Meng didn¡¯t press further.
Whether it was true or not didn¡¯t matter.
What mattered was that Li Meng already knew the outcome.
If the Black Mountain Tribe had strong individuals, they wouldn¡¯t have been forced to summon the Savage God, Akuya.
If the invading Black Mountain Tribe army had powerful warriors, Bai Ling wouldn¡¯t have fled in panic.
Even if there were strong individuals, their power wouldn¡¯t change the course of the war.
Time passed little by little, day after day.
In the following days, Li Meng stayed in the tribe, not venturing out.
Occasionally, he visited the woodworking workshop to teach Gobu Da more carpentry skills.
He also visited the Iron Cavern a few times.
Gobu Ge needed to quickly master the knowledge of high-carbon and low-carbon steel smelting.
Without Lizardman laborers, the Iron Cavern¡¯s efficiency had dropped.
Gobu Ge had to assign subordinates to mine and chop wood for charcoal production.
Half a month later, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi finally arrived at the tribe.
A new day began, and by morning, the tribe was bustling.
The Goblins'' noisy shouts were chaotic.
Nearly two thousand Goblins gathered outside the Throne Cave Dwelling.
A sea of green bodies filled a vast expanse of forest.
Among the ranks were not just Goblins but also female Lizardmen.
A year had passed, and only thirteen female Lizardmen had died.
The deaths weren¡¯t entirely unrelated to the Goblins, but they weren¡¯t primarily their fault either.
---
Eleven had died of illness, and their deaths had clear causes.
Due to continuous pregnancies, their bodies had been overburdened and weakened.
This was partly related to the food provided by the Goblins.
Lizardmen mainly relied on fish as their staple food.
Fish from water sources provided the essential nutrients they needed to survive.
Eating only magical beast meat couldn¡¯t meet their nutritional requirements.
Over time, they succumbed to illness.
As for the remaining two, one had drowned.
While bathing in the river, she slipped, hit her head on a rock, and fainted.
The river carried her away, and by the time the Goblins caught up, she had already drowned.
The last female Lizardman died in the Iron Cavern when a falling rock crushed her.
At the doorway, Li Meng raised his hand and waved.
"Move out!"
With a thunderous shout, Li Meng¡¯s voice reverberated across the area.
Instantly, the tribe erupted with the sound of marching feet.
A dense crowd of Goblins surrounded the Lizardmen, surging westward.
As far as the eye could see, it was a forest of spears and a mass of moving figures.
"Bai Ling, go now. The Lizardmen in the Northern Marshlands need your leadership!"
Behind Li Meng, Bai Ling silently stepped forward.
The waiting Goblins hurriedly surrounded her, following the main force.
Watching the departing Goblins of his tribe, Li Meng grinned.
"Now, it¡¯s time to address the Adventurer Squad incident!"
Once Gobu Di and Gobu Shi reached the Northern Marshlands¡¯ Wooden Stockade Stronghold, the stationed forces there would number four thousand.
With Yue E¡¯s support, the stronghold would be impregnable.
"System, begin Life Simulation!"
Li Meng spread his arms and took a deep breath.
He was certain that the future had already changed.
Ever since he led the Goblins to the Northern Marshlands, the trajectory of the future had shifted.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible to encounter Yue E.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Nik Dunlap], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 80: King of Ice Elements
Chapter 80: King of Ice Elements
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You stand at the entrance of the Throne Cave Dwelling, brimming with confidence for the future.]
[You carry the crystal to Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave, waiting for the Adventurer Squad to appear.]
[Gobu Di and Gobu Shi lead the Goblin army to the Wooden Stockade Stronghold in the Northern Marshlands.]
[One day, a small human boat sails upstream and docks on the southern shore.]
[One day, the Adventurer Squad appears in the forest outside Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave.]
[You follow the Adventurer Squad westward, watching them board the boat and drift downstream.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe launches an all-out attack, only to flee in panic.]
[Your tribe thrives and flourishes.]
[Bai Ling unites the Lizardmen tribes in the Northern Marshlands, forming a new tribe called ¡°Yue Clan.¡±]
[You withdraw your forces from the Wooden Stockade Stronghold, which becomes the Yue Clan¡¯s base of operations.]
[Your tribe thrives as you teach the Goblins how to make jerky.]
[One day, a squad of Pigmen attacks your hunting party. The Pigmen squad is annihilated.]
[One day, you receive news that the Pigmen are mobilizing their entire tribe.]
[You receive news from the Yue Clan in the Northern Marshlands: a large human fleet is sailing upstream along the Goblin River.]
[The colonization legion of the Irisis Principality is on its way.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Gather superior forces to eliminate the threat of the Pigmen.]
[2. Recall all Goblins from outposts and defend the main base of the Throne Tribe.]
[3. Split your forces to defend Yue Clan and resist the enemy together.]
[4. Gather forces and ambush the human fleet along the northern bank of the Goblin River.]
The colonization legion of the Irisis Principality?
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Sitting at the entrance, Li Meng leaned forward on the steps.
The safe departure of the Adventurers had caused the Irisis Principality''s army to appear earlier than expected.
It was at least a year and a half ahead of the timeline previously predicted.
All four options had pros and cons.
The first option required seizing the time advantage.
If the Pigmen were not dealt with quickly, the Yue Clan could not be supported in time.
As the colonization legion, the human army''s target would include all Savage Tribes in the Goblin Forest.
Li Meng could not guarantee that the colonization legion would not attack the Yue Clan.
The second option was too passive.
While it would minimize losses and repel the Pigmen, it meant abandoning the Yue Clan.
The third option was trying to have it all.
However, splitting forces risked both locations suffering from insufficient manpower.
The fourth option was extremely risky but offered tactical flexibility.
Defending the main base while ambushing the human legion at a critical point could yield victory.
Yet any misstep could lead to total collapse.
¡°Option 1!¡±
The first option was the most reliable.
Defeating the Pigmen in one swift strike would allow for gradual planning.
There would still be time to either support Yue Clan or ambush the human legion.
[You choose to concentrate your forces to confront the Pigmen.]
[In a forest to the east, your Goblin army clashes with the Pigmen.]
[You achieve victory, driving the Pigmen into retreat.]
[You lead your Goblin army to the northern bank of the Goblin River in the Northern Marshlands and establish defenses in the western forest.]
[You ambush the fleet of the Irisis Principality¡¯s colonization legion.]
[You win the battle. Benben and Yue E perish in the fight, and your Goblin army suffers heavy losses, with only one-tenth surviving.]
[The colonization legion¡¯s fleet is completely destroyed, shaking human nations.]
[You return to the tribe with your remaining Goblin forces.]
[Your tribe struggles to recover but does so rapidly.]
[One day, a demonized Beastman claiming to be a centurion of the Demon Clan appears at the western gate of your tribe.]
[It challenges you to a duel.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Accept its challenge.]
[2. Refuse its challenge.]
¡°A Demon Clan Centurion?¡±
Sitting at the entrance, Li Meng¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise.
If there was a Demon Clan, then there must be a Demon King.
If there was a Demon King, there must be Heroes.
Li Meng grinned with newfound interest.
¡°Option 1!¡±
[You accept its challenge.]
[You defeat it, and the Demonized Beastman Centurion flees in panic.]
[Your tribe thrives and flourishes.]
[The deaths of Benben and Yue E deepen your hatred for the world and humanity.]
[You unleash boundless power, causing the female Lizardmen to wail in misery day and night.]
[Your bloodline expands its territory like locusts.]
[Your hunting teams begin attacking those unrelated by bloodline.]
[The rapidly expanding territory borders human lands.]
[Your hunting teams start raiding human villages.]
[One day, you receive news that the Black Mountain Tribe has summoned the Savage God Akuya.]
[The three-year timeline has passed.]
[As a transmigrator, you have gradually adapted to your new identity. You embark on your unique life in this otherworld, aware of its harshness. You strive to grow stronger and pursue this goal with determination.]
[Life Simulation Ends, Score: 100.]
[Please select your reward:]
[1. Consume 10 points for +1 level.]
[2. Consume 1 point for +1 attribute.]
[3. Consume 20 points for +1 charisma.]
[4. Consume 10 points for +1 level in the ¡°Ice Elemental Mastery¡± skill.]
[5. Consume 10 points for +1 level in the ¡°Mind Whisper¡± skill.]
[6. Consume 10 points for +1 level in the ¡°Berserk¡± skill.]
¡°Benben and Yue E will die?¡±
Li Meng frowned slightly, lying flat on the ground at the entrance.
Gazing at the dense canopy, his expression turned contemplative.
Knowing their fate, Li Meng resolved to prevent it.
From today, he would tread cautiously at every step.
¡°What¡¯s with the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
Thinking of the Black Mountain Tribe, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
Previously, he had thought the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s summoning of the Savage God Akuya was thwarted.
Yet events had circled back.
His actions had merely delayed their summoning of the Savage God Akuya.
¡°Could it be that the Black Mountain Tribe has encountered another invincible enemy?¡±
At this moment, Li Meng realized just how troublesome the Black Mountain Tribe was.
Rising to his feet, he took a deep breath.
¡°Forget it, I should decide on a reward.¡±
There were six reward options, and this time his luck was decent.
Yet seeing the skills, Li Meng sighed again.
Of the three, only ¡°Ice Elemental Mastery¡± seemed useful.
Though ¡°Berserk¡± was powerful, its side effects were unacceptable.
While berserk, one would lose all reason.
The first three options did not offer meaningful strength enhancement.
¡°Option 4!¡±
[Consume 90 points to increase ¡°Ice Elemental Mastery¡± by 9 levels.]
[¡°Ice Elemental Mastery¡± reaches max level, advancing to ¡°King of Ice Elements.¡±]
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Fitzgibbon], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 81: The Small Boat on the River
Chapter 81: The Small Boat on the River
The increase in magic skill level didn¡¯t bring any noticeable sensation.
To be precise, there was no feeling at all.
Li Meng extended his right hand, and with a thought, white mist surged from his palm, instantly condensing into a three-foot-long icicle.
The icicle was white and transparent, radiating an intense chill.
¡°This is truly amazing!¡±
Every time Li Meng used magic, he found it incredible, especially the skill "Ice Element Control."
It was far more advanced than spells like Wind Blade.
This skill allowed him to directly and freely manipulate the power of ice.
Li Meng waved his hand, flinging the small icicle deep into the forest.
The icicle shot out instantly, crossing dozens of meters and striking a large tree.
¡°Hiss!¡±
A sharp sound echoed as the tree was pierced through.
The icicle continued its momentum and hit another tree beyond.
¡°Crack!¡±
Sitting at the doorway, Li Meng snapped his fingers.
The icicle, which had penetrated the second tree, suddenly shattered mid-air, transforming into a cloud of white mist that rolled outward.
Everything it touched was frozen solid.
In an instant, that small area was completely encased in ice.
This terrifying scene made the nearby goblins exchange nervous glances.
Even though they kept a distance from the frozen area, they could feel the cold seeping into their bones.
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao looked at their leader with fanatical admiration.
¡°The power has indeed grown much stronger!¡±
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Satisfied with the display, Li Meng nodded. He stood up, turned, and entered the wooden house.
When he came out again, there was a package strapped to his waist.
¡°Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, you two will continue guarding the Throne Cave Dwelling!¡±
Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly nodded without saying anything further.
Li Meng strode out of the tribe.
Watching their leader leave, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao were filled with questions.
Why did their leader, who was supposed to be in charge, always leave the tribe?
Couldn¡¯t he delegate tasks to them, his subordinates?
And why was he always alone, without even taking a companion?
---
Half an hour later, on the northern bank of the Goblin River.
Li Meng walked unhurriedly out of the dense forest.
Standing by the river, he gazed at the vast Goblin River before him.
¡°Ha ha ha, freeze!¡±
Li Meng laughed loudly, stomping on the water''s surface.
¡°Crack!¡±
A sharp cracking sound echoed as white mist surged out like a charging army, spreading across the water.
In the blink of an eye, a ten-meter-wide icy pathway appeared on the river, which was several hundred meters wide.
¡°It feels like something in my body is depleting... could it be magic power?¡±
Looking at the ice path across the river, Li Meng thought to himself.
He didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. Grinning, he stepped onto the icy path and walked toward the other side.
---
In the Irisis Principality, near the border region, the Goblin Forest stretched across rugged mountains.
The Goblin River snaked through like a long dragon.
It was midsummer in July.
On the river, a small boat was sailing upstream.
The boat carried five people: one steering and four rowing against the current.
The boat was modest in size, about ten meters long.
Two of the men wore armor, with swords, shields, and axes placed on the boat.
Another man, dressed in leather armor and wearing a hood, had a bow and arrows by his side.
The two women wore robes¡ªone in white, the other in black¡ªwith staffs inlaid with blue crystals beside them.
¡°It¡¯s so hot! Odyssey, is this the route you picked?¡±
Under the blazing sun, the girls on the boat were drenched in sweat.
Feeling sticky and uncomfortable, the girl in white glared angrily at the man steering the boat.
Odyssey gave an awkward smile.
¡°Martha, Eileen, you can¡¯t blame me. Taking the water route is the safest and quickest way. If we went by land, it would be more exhausting and take almost twice as long. Could you endure that?¡±
Martha and Eileen pouted but continued rowing.
Meanwhile, Payes and Rachel focused on rowing silently.
¡°If I¡¯d known, we should¡¯ve rented a floating ship from the Crystal Temple!¡±
Eileen sighed in frustration, her face full of regret.
¡°Come on, we don¡¯t have that kind of money!¡±
Odyssey¡¯s words drew angry glares from the other four.
The reason they were broke was right in front of them.
Facing their reproachful gazes, Odyssey laughed awkwardly.
¡°Well... sorry!¡±
The four ignored him and continued rowing.
¡°Captain, no matter how much you donate, that money will never reach those children!¡±
After a long silence, Rachel broke it.
Rachel¡¯s words made Odyssey frown slightly.
¡°Rachel, what do you mean?¡±
Odyssey looked at him with confusion.
Rachel hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth.
As a Crystal Paladin, Odyssey was naive and oblivious to the harsh realities of the world.
The other three were also curious about Rachel¡¯s statement.
They supported their captain¡¯s donations to orphanages, as the children were the offspring of adventurers.
As adventurers themselves, they couldn¡¯t remain indifferent.
Finally, Rachel decided to speak.
¡°Captain, you know I used to be a mercenary. During those years, I witnessed things you might not even imagine. What I¡¯m about to tell you is true¡ªit¡¯s what I saw with my own eyes.¡±
The other four looked at Rachel with curiosity, eager to hear more.
¡°Do you know why the orphanage in Rock Town only takes in girls?¡±
Martha raised her hand.
¡°I know, I know! It¡¯s because boys are taken in by the militia!¡±
The militia, a group funded by merchants and nobles, was tasked with protecting local towns.
Though they were affiliated with the regular army, they were not directly managed by the authorities.
Their primary role was to safeguard towns and settlements.
Rachel¡¯s face darkened as he forcefully rowed the boat.
¡°On the surface, that¡¯s true. But secretly, it¡¯s a different story. During my mercenary days, I came across a slave caravan carrying girls from the orphanage in Rock Town. Some were adults, while others were still children!¡±
¡°This... that¡¯s impossible!¡±
Rachel¡¯s revelation shocked the other four.
Martha immediately objected, glaring at him.
¡°The head of the orphanage is Sister Tataru, a nun from the Crystal Temple. How could she do such a thing?¡±
As a Crystal Priestess, Martha couldn¡¯t tolerate anyone tarnishing the Crystal Temple¡¯s reputation.
¡°Rachel, could you have been mistaken?¡±
Odyssey also found it hard to believe that Sister Tataru would commit such acts.
In his mind, Sister Tataru was always a kind and gentle woman.
¡°Maybe...¡±
Rachel chose not to argue further with his companions.
Chapter 82: The Black Mountain Tribe Attacks
Chapter 82: The Black Mountain Tribe Attacks
He knew this was hard for his companions to believe.
Sometimes, unless one sees it with their own eyes, no matter how others explain, they won¡¯t believe it.
Afterward, the boat fell silent.
Only the sound of the oars splashing through the water echoed in the air.
The five on board each wore expressions of contemplation.
Although four of them found Rachel''s words hard to believe, they were all well aware of what kind of person Rachel was.
Rachel wouldn¡¯t speak nonsense without reason.
As a Crystal Demon Hunter, Rachel¡¯s life experience far exceeded theirs.
After a long silence, Martha turned and looked at Rachel behind her.
"Rachel, I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯ll investigate this matter carefully!"
The three others exchanged a smile upon hearing Martha¡¯s words.
"Martha, be thorough after we return. This matter¡ª"
Eileen didn¡¯t finish her sentence, her voice suddenly cutting off.
She stood up abruptly, her face filled with unease as she stared at the river behind the small boat.
The other four seemed to sense something too, their expressions changing slightly.
They quickly stowed their oars and grabbed their weapons.
"Don¡¯t move. Keep rowing!"
Odyssey''s face darkened as he spoke in a low voice.
The four silently continued paddling.
"Captain, what is that?"
Martha sounded nervous, her rhythm of rowing becoming erratic.
Rachel, sitting behind, lowered his head to glance at the dark shadow flashing by under the water.
"It should be Swamp Lizardmen!"This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
From the sky, the river¡¯s surface showed countless shadows passing beneath the boat in a continuous stream.
This lasted a full half hour.
Only after thirty minutes did the movements in the water disappear.
"Captain, could we have encountered migrating Swamp Lizardmen?"
Payes wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
Fortunately, the Swamp Lizardmen had no interest in them.
Otherwise, the five of them would¡¯ve been doomed.
No matter how strong they were, they couldn¡¯t outmatch Swamp Lizardmen in the water.
"Captain, look over there!"
Eileen suddenly exclaimed.
The others turned to where she pointed, frowning in unison.
Ahead, on the northern shore, lay an even broader stretch of water.
It was an endless swamp.
At the intersection of the swamp and the Goblin River, there was movement.
Large groups of Lizardmen emerged from deep water, wading into the swamp.
A massive, dark wave of Swamp Lizardmen formed as they marched northward in droves.
Even more Lizardmen continued to surface from the deep water, heading ashore.
The five on the boat watched silently as this unfolded.
"Those Lizardmen are armed; this doesn¡¯t look like migration!"
"Could it be tribal warfare among the Savage Tribes?"
"It¡¯s none of our concern. Keep rowing and leave this place!"
Rachel was the first to react.
This was no time to spectate.
Staying away from this danger was the wisest course of action.
Her words snapped the others out of their thoughts.
They began rowing vigorously, quickly speeding up against the current.
While the five watched the Lizardmen in the swamp, those same Lizardmen noticed their boat.
"Humans... Adventurers. Elder Chiskale, should we deal with them?"
Three Lizardmen, observing from the shore, exchanged glances.
Among them, one stood out.
Its entire body was covered in fiery red scales, distinct from the others.
"Human adventurers are troublesome and strong. Now is not the time to stir up more trouble."
"Let¡¯s move. Don¡¯t forget our mission!"
Without expression, Chiskale withdrew his gaze from the river, turning to follow the marching army.
The other two Lizardmen quickly followed behind him.
From above, the swamp was filled with a massive, dark mass of Lizardmen moving northward.
Their numbers exceeded five thousand.
---
Five days later, in the morning at the Gray Scales Tribe.
The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s army entered from the northwest, flooding the small village.
"Elder Chiskale, everything¡¯s empty. It¡¯s been deserted for a long time!"
Standing amidst the wooden houses built over water, Chiskale scanned his surroundings.
"Elder Chiskale, could it be that the Gray Scales Tribe¡ª"
The Lizardman beside him hesitated to finish the sentence.
"Go to the Black Scales Tribe!"
Chiskale turned expressionless, striding out of the village.
The Lizardmen behind him quickly followed.
"Elder Chiskale, should I take some men to check on the White Scales Tribe?"
"No need. Based on the information we¡¯ve received, the White Scales Tribe was the first to be attacked by the Goblins. If something has happened to the Gray Scales and Black Scales Tribes, the White Scales Tribe wouldn¡¯t be spared either."
"We know nothing about the current situation in the northern marshlands. We cannot split our forces!"
By noon, the army that had entered the village was already marching northeast again.
The massive group left the village in a grand procession.
---
The following day, at the Wooden Stockade Stronghold in the northern marshlands.
The sun was high, casting a blazing heat over the stronghold.
Gobu Sheng, stationed on the watchtower, was feeling irritable.
After more than a month, Gobu Sheng had successfully evolved.
Now a Goblin Warrior, his height had surged to two meters, and his frame was more robust.
The former leaders, Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang, could only stand behind Gobu Sheng.
Gobu Sheng had become the boss of the Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
"Boss! Boss! They¡¯re coming! They¡¯re coming!"
A Goblin scrambled up the watchtower.
"Speak clearly! What¡¯s coming?"
Irritated, Gobu Sheng glared at the Goblin, raising his thick right leg to kick it.
"Lizardmen! Lots and lots of Lizardmen!"
Hearing this, Gobu Sheng¡¯s eyes lit up.
He withdrew his foot and burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed from the watchtower for a long time.
"Excellent! The Lizardmen are finally here!"
"Gobu Zhang, find that white-scaled female Lizardman. Have her send all the male Lizardmen out to hunt. Also, tell her to spread the news of the Lizardmen''s arrival."
Gobu Zhang nodded, then turned and climbed down the watchtower, running into the stronghold.
Gobu Sheng grinned as he looked out over the swamp.
Although he didn¡¯t understand why the boss gave these orders, he wasn¡¯t interested in figuring it out.
All he needed to do was follow instructions.
Turning to the Triple-bow Ballista beside him, Gobu Sheng grinned sinisterly.
"Come on, let me shoot you all into pieces!"
The thought of such a delightful scene made Gobu Sheng shiver with excitement.
---
Shortly after, in the largest wooden house within the stronghold, Bai Ling gathered the tribal elders.
"The Black Mountain Tribe has indeed arrived!"
The news from High Priest Bai Ling left the elders exchanging uneasy glances.
Chapter 83: The Adventurer Squad by the Campfire
Chapter 83: The Adventurer Squad by the Campfire
"Revenge, revenge, this is our chance!"
An elder Lizardman spoke with excitement, its voice trembling as it clenched its right fist and slammed it onto a wooden plank. Hatred and exhilaration burned in its eyes. Having lost its wife, vengeance was the only thing left in its life.
The ferocious tone caught Bai Ling¡¯s attention, making her glance slightly at the Lizardman elder.
"Revenge? With what? Even the Swamp Crocodile King has been subdued by that Goblin!"
"It''s too terrifying. We have to think this through carefully."
"That Goblin is unlike any other and has become a nightmare for all savage tribes in the Goblin Forest. We can''t gamble the survival of our tribe on this."
"I would rather die standing than live in humiliation."
"Where was this determination before? You didn''t speak like this when heading to the Goblin tribe."
As the discussion continued, the elders in the wooden hut began to argue.
"Quiet, quiet!"
Hei Lin finally put an end to the escalating quarrel. Hei Lin turned to Bai Ling, the High Priest seated at the head of the room, and bowed slightly.
"High Priest, please say something!"
As soon as those words were spoken, all the elders turned their eyes to Bai Ling. Under their collective gaze, Bai Ling sighed inwardly. At this moment, she had no choice. Before reaching the Wooden Stockade Stronghold, she had already lost the courage to resist her master. She knew all too well what the consequences of defiance would be.
They lacked the strength for revenge. Resistance would only lead to the total annihilation of the Lizardmen of the Northern Marshlands. The surviving females would be reduced to mere breeding tools for the Goblins, and their plight would be a hundred times worse than now.
Bai Ling raised her hands.
"Those who agree to submit to the Goblins, stand on the right. Those who choose revenge, stand on the left."
The elders in the room exchanged glances. No one moved, waiting for someone else to act first.
As the elders hesitated, Hui Gen made the first move. He stood up and moved to Bai Ling''s right side.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Hui Gen''s decision drew varied reactions from the other elders. Hei Lin was the second to rise, joining Hui Gen''s side.
With the two chiefs making their choice, the other elders stopped hesitating. Some moved to the right, but others stood on the left.
The final outcome soon became clear.
Only nine elders chose to gamble the survival of the tribe.
"Cowards, cowards, you''re all cowards! I would rather die standing than live kneeling!"
The Lizardman elder who led those on the left cursed loudly, glaring disdainfully at the others.
Bai Ling remained unmoved, her expression calm as she looked at the elders on the left.
"This is our choice, and it''s your own choice as well. The Black Mountain Tribe''s army has already reached the Northern Marshlands. If you can abandon your families, leave during the next hunting trip and never return!"
Bai Ling knew leaving these dissenters within the tribe would be a threat. One day, they might incite a rebellion against her master. As a Goblin, her master would not have the patience to give them a second chance. Unless the day came when she could regain her freedom, she would never risk the survival of the tribe.
It was better to let them leave than force them to stay.
"Hmph, Bai Ling, I hope you don''t regret your decision today!"
The leading elder snorted coldly and cast a disdainful glance at the tribesmen who chose to live in humiliation.
Then it turned and strode out. The other dissenting elders quickly followed.
However, two of them hesitated at the door. Ultimately, they chose to stay.
---
Early the next morning, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold was bustling with activity.
Hunting squads of male Lizardmen left the settlement through its four gates, heading out to hunt.
Their departure quietly set certain events in motion.
---
That night, south of the Goblin River, in the forest.
The silver moonlight bathed the land, filtered through the dense canopy of leaves. The forest was silent and pitch black, save for the flickering glow of a campfire.
Deep within the forest, a bonfire blazed. Five people sat around it¡ªthe members of the adventurer squad.
"Captain, are we almost there?"
Eileen asked, sounding a little bored as she poked at the fire.
Odyssey pulled out a magical map from his coat.
"Almost. The airship''s trace disappeared in the southeastern part of this forest."
Hearing this, Eileen''s eyes lit up.
"Captain, does that mean we¡¯ll find the crashed airship tomorrow?"
Odyssey shook his head and put the map away.
"Not necessarily. We might have to search that part of the forest for a few days."
"Eileen, you should be able to sense the presence of crystals nearby, right?"
Martha suddenly turned to Eileen.
Eileen nodded, lifting her staff and waving it slightly.
"Yes, as long as they''re not too far away, I can detect them!"
Martha smiled faintly and tossed another log into the fire.
"There should be a sizeable crystal on the airship."
Hearing this, all five of them exchanged knowing smiles.
It seemed their mission would soon be accomplished.
"Rachel, have you ventured deep into the Goblin Forest before?"
Martha asked Rachel curiously.
Rachel shook his head, glancing back at the dark expanse of the forest behind his. Pulling his hood tighter, she replied:
"The western edge of the Goblin Forest borders the Southern Wilderness Peninsula, the north connects to the Irisis Principality, and the south and east are flanked by the sea. A few centuries ago, the lands of the Irisis Principality were part of the Goblin Forest."
"Although I haven¡¯t gone deep into the forest before, I know a lot about it."
"The most common savage tribes here are the Goblins."
"They¡¯re the vilest creatures in the world, especially for women."
Rachel''s words made Martha and Eileen blush. As adventurers, they were well aware of the Goblins¡¯ infamous characteristics and had encountered related missions during their careers.
"Fortunately, they''re weak. Even rookie adventurers can take on ten at once."
"However, don¡¯t underestimate them because of this."
Rachel raised a hand, ticking off points on his fingers.
"One, Goblins always appear in groups. Never let yourself get surrounded."
"Two, never chase Goblins into dark caves."
"Three, don¡¯t try to eradicate them. They can never be completely wiped out."
"Four, carry plenty of magical energy supplies."
"Five, Goblin ears aren''t worth much¡ªideal for beginner adventurers."
"Six, the greatest mystery of all is why humans continue to overlook their existence."
Rachel¡¯s thorough explanation gave the group a deeper understanding of Goblins.
"Rachel, why do we need to bring extra magical supplies?"
Eileen asked curiously.
Rachel tossed another log into the fire, clapped her hands clean, and looked at Eileen.
"Eileen, you¡¯re a mage. If you run out of mana and get surrounded by Goblins, what do you think will happen?"
Chapter 84: All Are Elites
Chapter 84: All Are Elites
Rachel''s retort made Eileen''s face turn pale.
She certainly understood what kind of fate awaited them.
No wonder Rachel had previously warned never to allow oneself to be surrounded by goblins.
However, the five were unaware that deep in the darkness, a pair of eyes was watching them.
Just within the depths of the forest, less than twenty meters away from them.
Behind a large tree, a faint shadow could be seen.
The shadow hidden behind the tree was Li Meng.
"This feels a bit like the sword-and-magic professions in fantasy novels!"
Secretly observing the human adventurers around the campfire, Li Meng thought to himself.
Two men wore armor, with weapons by their sides: a sword and shield, and a battle axe.
They were likely knight and warrior professions.
The last man wore brown leather armor and a hood, with a finely crafted short bow lying beside him.
The bow had a small blue crystal embedded on it.
The two women wore robes, one black and one white.
The white-robed mage was probably a cleric-like profession, judging by the religious ornament on her chest.
The black-robed mage was likely the typical magic caster seen everywhere in fantasy novels.
Both had staves with crystals embedded on them.
In the forest, Li Meng carefully observed the stats of the five.
[Crystal Apostle (Elite)]
[Level: 59]
[Strength: 517]
[Defense: 719]
[Agility: 481]
[Magic: 161]
[Crystal Magic (?)]The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
These were the stats of the knight. His stats were almost on par with the Swamp Crocodile King.
[Crystal Apostle (Elite)]
[Level: 51]
[Strength: 769]
[Defense: 417]
[Agility: 609]
[Magic: 371]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
The warrior''s strength was also remarkable.
[Crystal Apostle (Elite)]
[Level: 71]
[Strength: 214]
[Defense: 171]
[Agility: 811]
[Magic: 887]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
The leather-armored man was the strongest among them. His stats leaned towards agility and magic.
[Crystal Apostle (Elite)]
[Level: 39]
[Strength: 13]
[Defense: 9]
[Agility: 11]
[Magic: 1273]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
"Indeed, mages are glass cannons!"
The black-robed mage''s stats made Li Meng silently comment to himself.
Finally, Li Meng turned his attention to the cleric.
[Crystal Apostle (Elite)]
[Level: 21]
[Strength: 9]
[Defense: 11]
[Agility: 8]
[Magic: 917]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
This woman had learned way too many skills.
The cleric''s long list of crystal magic skills left Li Meng speechless.
"No wonder they dared to venture deep into Goblin Forest. They''re indeed strong!"
While impressed by the group''s strength, Li Meng was also deeply aware of the goblins'' weakness.
Among the upper-tier goblins, only the Goblin King reached elite rank.
All other goblins were of ordinary rank.
There had to be ranks stronger than elite.
Li Meng recalled the "Saint" rank of the black-robed mage.
The Saint rank''s strength clearly surpassed the elite rank by an enormous margin.
"How are we supposed to play against that?"
Just thinking about humans far stronger than the elite rank gave Li Meng a headache.
"No matter. Let''s first test out human combat methods!"
When the time comes, there will always be a way forward. For now, he could only take one step at a time.
The future conflict between the tribe and the expansion corps of the Irisis Principality was inevitable.
Surely, there would be "Crystal Apostles" similar to these adventurers in the human armies.
Collecting combat data on "Crystal Apostles" in advance was absolutely necessary.
In the darkness, Li Meng silently retreated into the deeper parts of the forest.
Time slowly passed, and the night grew deeper.
The campfire in the forest continued to burn, never going out.
The adventurers did not all fall asleep.
The five took turns keeping watch.
Four rested on the ground while one kept guard.
By the campfire, Rachel held his bow, gently polishing the bowstring with a smooth cloth.
Suddenly, Rachel''s expression shifted as he stood up, staring intently into the depths of the forest.
Seconds ticked by in silence, the forest utterly still.
"Was it a small animal?"
Standing by the campfire, Rachel muttered softly.
"No!"
Rachel''s face changed as he drew his bow and nocked an arrow.
The moment he released the string, a gust of wind burst forth.
A small wind blade shot out with a piercing whistle, slicing through the air towards the forest.
"Waah!"
The next moment, a goblin''s cries of pain echoed from the depths of the forest.
In the forest, a goblin fell to the ground screaming, its entire right arm severed from the shoulder.
The cries of their companion enraged the goblins lurking nearby.
"Waah!"
The dark forest erupted with the goblins'' angry screeches.
"Get up, it''s goblins!"
Hearing the familiar "Waah" roars from the forest, Rachel quickly woke his companions.
The four startled awake, jumping to their feet.
"Whoosh!"
At this moment, the sound of countless arrows flying through the air came from the forest.
"Captain!"
Rachel shouted as he rapidly loosed several magical wind blade arrows, each cutting through the forest.
Several goblins were instantly split in two, some decapitated, others sliced in half.
Wherever the wind blades passed, shrubs were cleaved in half.
"I''ve got this!"
The volley of arrows made Odyssey''s face turn serious as he rushed forward, raising his shield.
"Stone Wall!"
A golden barrier of light suddenly expanded from his shield, forming a glowing magical shield five meters wide and three meters tall.
The light shield dispelled the surrounding darkness.
Numerous arrows shot from the forest struck the shield and were deflected.
"Are these... crossbow bolts?"
Looking at the arrows on the ground, Rachel''s face turned grim.
"Not good. Martha, full defensive magic!"
Just as Rachel spoke, the sound of arrows whistling through the air came from all directions.
Martha frantically waved her staff.
Seeing it wouldn''t be fast enough, Eileen raised her staff and chanted, "Arkanuha!"
The harsh, commanding incantation echoed through the forest.
A whirlwind suddenly rose around the group, visible to the naked eye, sweeping up leaves and dust.
The arrows flying towards them from all directions were blown away by the gale.
Chapter 85: The Adventurers Fighting Style
Chapter 85: The Adventurer''s Fighting Style
¡°I¡¯m on it!¡±
Rachel bowed, aiming at the sky.
A blue magical glow surged onto the drawn bowstring, quickly condensing into a sapphire-colored water arrow.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
Rachel released the bowstring.
A sharp ¡°whoosh¡± echoed.
A streak of blue light shot straight into the eye of the hurricane, heading skyward.
At a height of about five hundred meters, the water arrow suddenly exploded.
It transformed into a shower of rain arrows, crashing down upon the surrounding forest.
¡°Crack!¡±
The forest echoed with the sound of ¡°crack, crack.¡±
The rain arrows pierced through trees and Goblins alike.
¡°Waaah!¡±
Shrieks rang out from deep within the forest.
The tiny rain arrows were like steel needles, penetrating the Goblins'' bodies.
Non-lethal hits left Goblins screaming in agony, while those struck in the head or heart dropped dead instantly.
¡°Martha, the wind is dissipating!¡±
Eileen''s reminder snapped Martha out of her trance.
She raised her staff, chanting a sacred incantation.
¡°Aru, Koria, Alan!¡±
Brilliant blue light radiated from the crystal atop her staff.
In the next moment, a ring of white light spread out from the crystal, enveloping the five of them almost instantly.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
As soon as the light curtain formed, the hurricane outside vanished.
Without the wind to shield them, dozens of arrows shot forth from the surrounding forest.
The arrows struck the light curtain, deflecting away.
¡°Rachel, Payes, handle those ranged Goblins!¡±
¡°Eileen, hold back for now. Act only when the time is right, and try not to cause too much commotion!¡±
Eileen, as a mage, would undoubtedly unleash a spectacle if she intervened.
As the captain, Odyssey took on the responsibility of coordinating the team.
Rachel and Payes nodded.
The two darted out of the light curtain almost simultaneously.
Rachel was the fastest.
Her figure weaved nimbly into the forest.
Payes, on the other hand, was more brutish.
With a giant axe in hand, he barreled into the forest like a heavy tank.
Arrows clanged and sparked against his armor.
Some arrows ricocheted, while others pierced his armor, embedding themselves.
As soon as the two entered the forest, the sound of arrows whizzing through the air ceased.
In the depths of the dark forest, only the rustling of movement could be heard.
¡°Rachel, Payes, don¡¯t pursue too far!¡±
The distant noises in the forest told Odyssey that the Goblins were retreating.
He shouted toward the forest¡¯s darkness.
Before long, Rachel and a disgruntled Payes emerged from the shadows.
¡°Those Goblins are so boring; they ran away already!¡±
Payes sat back down by the campfire, removing his helmet with a look of dissatisfaction.
By now, Martha had dispelled the light curtain.
¡°Captain, look at this!¡±
Rachel approached Odyssey, holding a few arrows in his hand.
Odyssey glanced at the arrows Rachel held, taking one for a closer look.
¡°Captain, these arrows are strong. They easily pierced my armor!¡±
Payes, sitting by the fire, spoke up.
The group turned to him, noticing for the first time that he was covered in arrows.
¡°Payes, are you okay?¡±
Martha hurried over to him.
Payes shook his head, patting his chest.
¡°I¡¯m fine. The arrows pierced the armor but couldn¡¯t hurt me.¡±
¡°Really?¡±
Martha scrutinized Payes.
¡°Really, I¡¯m perfectly fine!¡±
Martha pulled an arrow from Payes¡¯ armor, relieved to see no blood on the tip.
¡°If you¡¯re hurt, let me know!¡±
Payes grinned and nodded.
The five of them returned to the campfire.
¡°Captain, should we relocate?¡±
Eileen cast a wary glance toward the forest.
Goblins were weak but numerous.
Fighting Goblins at night was dangerous; humans couldn¡¯t see in the dark, but Goblins could.
Odyssey shook his head, setting down his shield.
¡°If Goblins are truly targeting us, moving won¡¯t help.¡±
¡°You all rest. I¡¯ll take the second half of the night shift.¡±
Odyssey volunteered for the later watch.
Rachel stared at the arrows in her hand, feeling uneasy.
Bows and arrows weren¡¯t supposed to be in Goblin hands, let alone in such quantity.
Meanwhile, about a hundred meters deep in the forest¡
¡°Humans truly are formidable!¡±
Li Meng was both amazed and shaken by the adventurers¡¯ combat style.
Their mastery of magic showed their deep understanding of it, leading to the creation of countless skills.
¡°No wonder five of them can destroy a Goblin nest!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s mouth watered as he eyed the firelight in the distance.
The tempting aroma of human flesh stirred something primal within him.
He wiped the drool from his mouth.
The Goblin instincts within his body awakened a desire to devour humans.
¡°No!¡±
Li Meng slapped himself hard.
¡°Smack!¡±
The crisp sound echoed in the forest.
It was strange¡ªhe¡¯d encountered humans before but had never reacted like this.
Rubbing his face, Li Meng faded into the shadows.
By the campfire, Rachel suddenly stood up.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Odyssey asked.
Rachel¡¯s gaze fixed on the eastern forest.
After a moment, doubt flickered in his eyes.
¡°Probably just a branch falling,¡± he replied.
Odyssey chuckled, attributing Rachel¡¯s sensitivity to the earlier attack.
¡°Just a few Goblins. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡±
From start to finish, Odyssey didn¡¯t think the Goblins posed a real threat to their group of five.
At worst, they could leave; Goblins wouldn¡¯t stop them.
The night deepened, and time ticked by.
The next morning, Odyssey led his team southward.
By the afternoon, they stood silently before the overgrown wreckage of an airship.
¡°Eileen, where is it?¡±
¡°It¡¯s close, just inside!¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go.¡±
Rachel slipped through a narrow gap in the ship''s hull.
Rustling noises came from inside.
Before long, Rachel emerged, now holding a crystal in his hand.
Chapter 86: The Lizardman Army Attacks
Chapter 86: The Lizardman Army Attacks
"Captain, how do you think the airship crashed?"
Odyssey took the crystal from Rachel¡¯s hand and looked at her curiously.
"Rachel, did you discover something?"
Perhaps Rachel had found clues within the cabin.
Rachel turned to look at the wreckage of the airship.
"The wreckage has numerous openings, clearly pierced by some sort of sharp weapon."
Pierced by a sharp weapon?
Rachel¡¯s words made the four companions scrutinize the remains of the airship.
Indeed, the wreckage had many pierced areas.
"A sharp weapon? Could the airship have encountered some powerful flying magical beast?"
Payes speculated that some flying magical beasts might also create such openings.
"Now that the airship''s crash is confirmed, our mission is complete. Let¡¯s go!"
There was no further point in investigating the crash site.
Months had already passed.
In a place like Goblin Forest, all traces would have been wiped out.
The people onboard were likely eaten clean by the magical beasts of the forest, leaving no bones behind.
Afterward, Odyssey led his companions deeper into the forest.
"Good, good, hurry and leave. Don¡¯t come back! Next time, you won¡¯t be so lucky!"
At this moment, Li Meng, hiding deep within the forest, smirked as he spied on the adventurer squad.
Seeing them leave, Li Meng, perched on a tree, revealed a satisfied grin.
If he hadn¡¯t feared drawing in those two powerful individuals, he wouldn¡¯t have let the adventurer squad go so easily.
Now, Li Meng only wanted them gone so he could focus on the upcoming series of events.
For the next two days, Li Meng trailed the adventurer squad from a distance.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
To avoid being discovered, he kept his distance very far.
On the third morning, in the forest south of Goblin River.
Odyssey and his team pushed a small hidden boat from the woods into the water.
Standing on the shore, Rachel cast a wary glance toward the forest depths.
"Rachel, what¡¯s wrong? Get on the boat!"
The other four were already aboard, waiting for Rachel.
"I¡¯m coming!"
Rachel turned and hurried onto the boat.
As the oars moved, the boat gradually floated downstream.
"Captain, it felt like something was following us these past two days!"
Not until the boat was far from the shore did Rachel finally take a deep breath.
Something following them?
The four exchanged glances, but Odyssey¡¯s expression remained thoughtful.
As the boat disappeared from the river¡¯s surface, a burly green figure emerged from the forest where the five had launched.
Watching the boat fade away, Li Meng grinned grimly.
"Finally, those troublemakers are gone."
Li Meng had already figured out how to resolve the returning issues.
If he sped up the timeline, he would have ample time to handle any threats.
Soon, the figure vanished from the shore.
---
That afternoon, in the Goblin Nest.
Li Meng hurried out of the forest and entered the cave.
"Boss, what about those adventurers?"
Seeing the leader return, Gobu Tian eagerly approached.
Recalling the recent battle with humans, Gobu Tian¡¯s face revealed a greedy expression.
Human meat was too delicious.
Once tasted, it could never be forgotten.
"They¡¯ve left. Don¡¯t mess with them¡ªthey¡¯re not to be trifled with. Even ten of you would be courting death."
Goblins were good for nothing but their numbers.
When he first arrived in this world, Li Meng had thought Gobuba was strong, perhaps among the world¡¯s top combatants.
Only now did he realize what he thought was the pinnacle was merely the starting point of this world¡¯s power.
Gobu Tian shrank his neck and gave an embarrassed smile.
It had witnessed the strength of human adventurers from afar during that night¡¯s battle.
In just a moment, the humans had killed forty of its underlings.
"Gobu Tian, remove all the magic crystals from the wall and send them to the Throne Cave Dwelling."
Gobu Tian quickly nodded.
Though it didn¡¯t know what the boss wanted with those shiny crystals, it didn¡¯t ask.
After all, those things were useless on the wall anyway.
"I need to head back. Gobu Tian, go stay at the Throne Tribe for a while. The goblin population here must remain around two thousand."
The Goblin Nest¡¯s hunting territory was vast enough to support that many goblins without issue.
Currently, the Goblin Nest¡¯s population was under seven hundred.
Gobu Tian nodded excitedly.
Li Meng didn¡¯t linger in the Goblin Nest and soon left.
---
Hours later, before nightfall, on the south bank of Goblin River.
"Huh, it still hasn¡¯t melted?"
As Li Meng emerged from the forest, he was startled by the scene before him.
After so many days, the ice path was still intact.
It showed no signs of melting.
Due to the lowered water level in recent days, the ice had been suspended above the river¡¯s surface, with both banks becoming its sole points of support.
Even so, the ice path remained unbroken.
"An upgraded skill truly is powerful!"
True to its "King" title, the skill lived up to its name.
With a grin, Li Meng stepped onto the ice and crossed to the opposite bank.
---
Northern Marshlands.
Afternoon, Wooden Stockade Stronghold.
With Gobu Di and Gobu Shi leading reinforcements, the goblin forces stationed at the stronghold reached four thousand.
Adding in roughly two thousand lizardmen, the total population of the Wooden Stockade Stronghold swelled to six thousand.
This made the stronghold crowded.
The afternoon was usually the most tranquil time at the stronghold.
But suddenly, loud goblin cries erupted from the southern wooden wall.
"Hoo!"
A deep war horn followed immediately.
The sound of the horn threw the entire stronghold into chaos, like a drop of water hitting a hot pan.
The Wooden Stockade Stronghold boiled with activity.
Numerous goblins poured out of huts large and small, yelling and rushing toward the southern wooden wall.
At the same time, in the southern marshlands.
In a deeper water area, ripples appeared across the surface.
Beneath the water, fleeting black shadows could be seen.
At the edge of the deeper waters, countless lizardmen emerged, standing upright and wading ashore.
Soon, a dense mass of lizardmen covered the land, their numbers growing as more emerged from the water.
Before long, a vast army of nearly five thousand lizardmen had formed in the marshlands south of the stronghold.
Stretching over nearly a kilometer of water, the sheer number was staggering.
Though their formation wasn¡¯t organized, their presence alone radiated immense power.
"They¡¯ve finally arrived!"
On a southern watchtower at the stronghold, Gobu Di grinned ferociously as he gazed at the overwhelming lizardman army.
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
Today, the lizardman army was finally here.
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Chapter 87: Retreat Without Battle
Chapter 87: Retreat Without Battle
¡°Chiskale, this is the Wooden Stockade Stronghold!¡±
Outside the stronghold, the Lizardmen army gathered.
A group of Lizardmen stood together, observing the Wooden Stockade Stronghold from 500 meters away.
Next to Chiskale, a Lizardman glared angrily at the stronghold.
Hatred for the goblins made it a willing guide, even hiding the existence of the Swamp Crocodile King.
Chiskale gazed solemnly into the distance at the stronghold.
He hadn¡¯t expected the goblins to build such a massive stronghold in the swamp.
What were they planning?
The goblins weren¡¯t even suited to the swamp¡¯s damp environment.
Though puzzled, Chiskale wasn¡¯t afraid. He nodded to his companion.
¡°Attack!¡±
The Lizardman beside him ran off at his command.
¡°Ah-la-la!¡±
They shouted as they swung their crude stone machetes.
The Lizardmen army raised their weapons high, shouting ¡°Ah-la-la,¡± their voices echoing across the land.
Inside the Wooden Stockade Stronghold, the goblins heard the commotion.
The familiar shouting brought all the goblins out of their wooden huts.
They eagerly watched the wooden wall¡¯s perimeter.
¡°Shut them up! Shoot them down!¡±
The Lizardmen¡¯s shouting irritated Gobu Di.
With a roar, he grabbed the war horn beside him and blew it forcefully.
The sharp sound of the horn blared out, signaling an attack.
On the watchtowers, goblins manning the Triple-bow Ballista cheered with excitement.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
They chattered excitedly as they aimed the ballista at the approaching Lizardmen army.
¡°Thwang!¡±
The sound of bowstrings snapping filled the air, followed by piercing whistles as massive bolts shot forward, streaking across 500 meters to the Lizardmen army.
¡°Boom!¡±
The Lizardmen''s formation was too dense.
Over ten bolts slammed into their ranks.
Explosions echoed as bolts tore through multiple Lizardmen, landing with a splash in the water.
Water splashed high, and agonized screams filled the air.
The sudden attack shocked Chiskale.
How could the goblins attack from such a distance?
¡°All units, charge!¡±
At this critical moment, retreat was not an option!
Chiskale raised his stone machete and roared, leading the charge toward the stronghold, wading through the water.
¡°Kill! Ah-la-la!¡±
Following his lead, the Lizardmen surged forward like a flood bursting through a dam.
¡°Ahhh!¡±
Another round of deafening explosions and screams rang out.
One massive bolt after another pierced the Lizardmen¡¯s ranks, destroying everything in their path.
Even a glancing hit sent Lizardmen flying.
The dark mass of the Lizardmen army surged toward the stronghold like a tidal wave.
¡°Boom!¡±
Suddenly, a thunderous noise erupted from the army''s right flank.
In the right wing of the Lizardmen forces, a massive water column shot skyward.
Before it rose, the Lizardmen in that area were reduced to chunks of flesh.
The water column sent a large group of Lizardmen flying.
It didn¡¯t stop there¡ªmassive water bombs began to rain down on the right flank.
Each water bomb landed precisely among the Lizardmen, tearing apart those it hit.
When they exploded, water droplets scattered like steel needles, piercing Lizardmen within tens of meters.
Screams filled the air on the right flank.
¡°It¡¯s the Swamp Crocodile King!¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Swamp Crocodile King!¡±
The Lizardmen on the right quickly identified the attacker.
In the nearby swamp, a massive beast stared at them.
The monstrous creature opened its gaping maw and spewed water bombs.
Caught between the ballista and the Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s onslaught, the Lizardmen suffered heavy casualties, losing hundreds before reaching the stronghold.
Fear gripped the Lizardmen as they faced the Swamp Crocodile King.
Why was this creature aiding the goblins?
How could goblins exist where the Swamp Crocodile King resided?
¡°Damn it! What¡¯s going on here?¡±
Chiskale grabbed the neck of the guiding Lizardman.
The captive Lizardman showed no fear.
Instead, it laughed maniacally.
¡°Kill them! Kill them! Hurry!¡±
Chiskale frowned at the captive¡¯s madness.
¡°You lunatic!¡±
He cursed, tossing the Lizardman aside.
¡°Retreat! Fall back!¡±
Chiskale shouted and turned to flee.
The Swamp Crocodile King¡¯s unexpected presence caught him off guard.
He wasn¡¯t afraid but knew his army lacked the means to counter such a foe.
Without proper preparation, continuing the fight would be futile and cost his people their lives.
His retreat caused hesitation in the charging Lizardmen.
Those nearest to Chiskale were the first to follow his order.
Further away, others joined the retreat after seeing their comrades flee.
The once-surging Lizardmen army dissolved into chaos.
---
The simultaneous attacks of the ballista and the Swamp Crocodile King forced a panicked retreat.
The air was filled with screams, and the sounds of bolts and water bombs echoed.
The fleeing Lizardmen dove into the water at the edge of the deep swamp.
Leaving nearly a thousand corpses behind, the Lizardmen army fled in disarray.
¡°Wa-wa!¡±
Seeing the retreat, the goblins on the wooden walls cheered loudly, waving their arms in celebration.
The stronghold erupted in jubilant chaos.
But inside the stronghold, the Lizardmen showed faces of disappointment.
¡°Run away, just run...¡±
At the entrance of the largest wooden hut, Bai Ling stood, gazing southward at the wooden walls.
She murmured softly, a trace of sorrow in her eyes.
From this day on, her people would live under the shadow of the goblins.
Before long, the fleeing Lizardmen disappeared into the swamp.
¡°What cowards! Running so quickly, wahaha!¡±
On the watchtower, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi laughed loudly.
They were amused by the Lizardmen¡¯s cowardice and how easily they were fooled.
Most of all, they laughed at the bloodless victory.
Their laughter echoed for a long time.
---
The next day, inside the largest wooden hut.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say the Lizardmen army would retreat without a fight?¡±
Li Meng looked exasperated as he listened to Gobu Di¡¯s excited report about the previous day¡¯s battle.
¡°Why did they fight?¡±
He pondered deeply, realizing that the simulated future¡¯s ¡°retreat without a fight¡± wasn¡¯t what he imagined.
¡°At least the casualties were minimal.¡±
That was the only silver lining.
Li Meng didn¡¯t want to see events circle back to the same future.
Heavy losses in the expeditionary forces would prompt the Black Mountain Tribe to summon the Savage God Akuya.
This potential future remained vividly in his mind.
Chapter 88: Yue Clan Tribe
Chapter 88: Yue Clan Tribe
Li Meng shook his head and raised his hand, stopping Gobu Di from continuing his chatter.
¡°You¡¯ve done well on this matter. I¡¯m very satisfied!¡±
Gobu Di and Gobu Shi, the two big figures, grinned widely.
The praise from their leader filled them with excitement.
Li Meng turned to Bai Ling and the group of Lizardmen elders.
¡°You have two choices. First, return to your respective tribes, and Goblins will station troops here. Second, merge your three tribes into one. This place will become the headquarters of your new tribe, and the Goblins will withdraw.¡±
Since a new tribe was destined to form, he decided to speed up the timeline by bringing it up himself.
The key to altering the future lay in timing.
Hearing this, Bai Ling showed a look of surprise.
She hadn¡¯t expected her master to ask for the merger of the three tribes.
¡°Master, we need some time to...¡±
Li Meng raised his hand to interrupt Bai Ling.
¡°Discuss it here and now. I need an answer. Your choice will influence what I do next.¡±
This made Bai Ling¡¯s heart tighten.
Not daring to delay, she quickly turned and began discussing the matter with the elders.
A dozen Lizardmen gathered together, whispering among themselves, arousing the curiosity of the Goblins in the room.
Before long, Bai Ling and the elders reached a decision.
She turned back to face her master.
¡°Master, we choose to establish a new tribe and name it ¡®Yue Clan.¡¯¡±
The words ¡°Yue Clan¡± made a hint of amazement flash in Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
The future simulated in his predictions truly aligned with reality.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
¡°Very well. Prepare the tributes. I will withdraw my troops tomorrow. Additionally, to avoid deaths caused by spoiled food, you will provide the tributes¡¯ food from now on. I¡¯ll take care of the transportation.¡±
Li Meng wasn¡¯t worried about the Yue Clan Tribe fleeing.
The tributes were hostages.
Moreover, the Yue Clan Tribe had nowhere else to go outside the Northern Marshlands.
The Black Mountain Marshlands might seem like a viable option, but the Lizardmen of the Northern Marshlands originated from there.
The Lizardmen¡¯s departure from the Black Mountain Marshlands must have been due to some feud with the Black Mountain Tribe.
Unless forced, the Lizardmen wouldn¡¯t return to the Black Mountain Marshlands.
Bai Ling bowed her head slightly.
¡°Yes, Master. I will prepare the tributes.¡±
Over the next hours, Bai Ling busied herself.
Though it was easy to say, preparing the tributes came with numerous challenges.
Throughout the afternoon, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold echoed with the cries of the Lizardmen.
By nightfall, the stronghold finally quieted down.
That night, the stronghold was silent.
The weather was clear, with a full moon hanging in the sky.
Silvery moonlight bathed the earth, dispersing the darkness slightly.
At the door of the largest wooden house, Li Meng gazed up at the full moon.
¡°Isn¡¯t this a bit too cruel?¡±
Recalling the scene of Bai Ling selecting tributes earlier, Li Meng felt a lingering thrill.
For the Lizardmen, it was a gruesome and heart-wrenching scene.
But Li Meng couldn¡¯t empathize.
Instead, he felt a strange excitement beyond words.
The stronger the Lizardmen¡¯s negative emotions, the more pleasure he derived.
¡°Blame your misfortune on encountering a clever Goblin!¡±
He was a Goblin now, no longer human.
Li Meng had long accepted this fact.
If he had acted like a human, he would have already perished.
¡°At least you get to live, while I continue to struggle to survive!¡±
Li Meng refused to yield to the moral guilt of his human consciousness.
He turned from the moonlit doorway and stepped back into the wooden house.
Bai Ling was inside, but he didn¡¯t touch her.
Li Meng¡¯s self-control was the one thing distinguishing him from other Goblins.
Reproduction and fulfilling desires were fine, but only if necessary.
Without necessity, he preferred to rest.
Time ticked by, and the night deepened.
The next morning, at the break of dawn, the Wooden Stockade Stronghold came alive with noise.
The Goblin troops stationed there began their orderly retreat.
The watchtowers remained standing atop the wooden walls, but the triple-bow ballistae had been dismantled.
While the stronghold could be gifted to the Yue Clan Tribe, the ballistae could not be left with the Lizardmen.
The Lizardmen chosen as tributes bid tearful farewells to their kin.
This parting would last a year before they met again.
As the morning sun rose from the east, the stronghold reached a peak of bustling activity.
A massive group departed through the eastern gate, forming a dark cloud of moving figures stretching across the marshlands.
Soon after, the group dispersed like scattered sand.
Marching as a united force of thousands couldn¡¯t meet their food needs, so they had to spread out, hunting as they made their way back to their tribe.
Five days later, the scattered groups gradually returned.
Thus, the Northern Marshlands incident came to a close.
The tribe¡¯s development resumed its normal trajectory.
Another day dawned.
On the second morning after returning to the tribe, Li Meng got busy again.
Early that morning, he crawled out from a pile of female Lizardmen.
Bai Ling was no longer there, but the task of reproduction continued.
The Throne Cave Dwelling housed thirteen beds.
Thus, Bai Ling had selected thirteen female Lizardmen from the new batch of tributes.
They were all daughters of elders.
With a creak, the door to the dwelling opened.
Stretching lazily, Li Meng stepped outside.
¡°Find Gobu Gao and bring him to me!¡±
The Goblin guarding the door scurried into the forest.
Not long after, noises emerged from the wooden house.
The female Lizardmen inside began to stir, silently picking up their scattered beast-skin skirts to dress.
They felt weak and sore from the previous night¡¯s ordeal, with some lying motionless, tails swaying.
¡°Boss, Boss!¡±
Gobu Gao¡¯s loud calls rang out as he dashed from the forest.
¡°Gobu Gao, do you remember the place where we harvested wood to build the stronghold?¡±
Gobu Gao nodded eagerly.
¡°Of course, Boss! Should we cut more trees there?¡±
¡°Yes. Take your offspring and descendants to build a new stronghold there.¡±
The stronghold would be built by the water, featuring a dock.
The Yue Clan Tribe would deliver the tribute food via waterway to the stronghold.
The Goblins stationed there would then transport the food to the tribe.
¡°The stronghold must be built by the water, with a dock for small boats¡¡±
Li Meng explained the concept of a dock and gave instructions on the scale and design of the stronghold.
Chapter 89: Wild Boar and Carriage
Chapter 89: Wild Boar and Carriage
"Boss, this is easy. Leave it to me!"
Li Meng nodded and waved his hand.
"Go ahead. Set off once you''re ready!"
Li Meng was relatively strict with the leaders in the tribe.
Ordinary goblins could muddle along as mere goblins since they lacked strong independent thinking abilities.
But leaders were different¡ªthey had to be smarter.
Otherwise, under his leadership, less intelligent leaders would eventually be eliminated.
They¡¯d perish like cannon fodder, unaware of the day they''d meet their end outside.
Gobu Gao grinned widely, turned around, and scurried into the depths of the forest.
"Boss, boss!"
As Gobu Gao left, a loud, clamorous voice echoed from the forest.
A tall, sturdy figure came huffing and puffing toward him.
It was Gobu Yi, who had successfully evolved into a Goblin Warrior.
"Boss, I¡¯ve evolved! Look at how handsome I am!"
Standing before Li Meng, Gobu Yi flexed his muscles, pounding his chest like a gorilla.
Li Meng examined Gobu Yi from head to toe.
[Name: Gobu Yi]
[Race: Goblin Warrior]
[Level: Level 20]
[Strength: 134]
[Defense: 117]
[Agility: 121]
[Magic Power: 51]
The stats were decent, almost on par with Gobuba.
Keep in mind, Gobu Yi was just a Goblin Warrior and had yet to become a Goblin Chieftain, with a Goblin Brave still in between.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.
As expected of his descendant.
The potential of goblins truly depended on their paternal lineage.
"Not bad, not bad!"
Looking at Gobu Yi, Li Meng nodded repeatedly.
It was indeed impressive¡ªexceptionally so.
His offspring possessing such strong stats proved that his method of enhancing the tribe''s goblin quality through his own bloodline was the right approach.
If goblins were to cease being weak, the only solution was relentless reproduction.
The compliment made Gobu Yi grin obsequiously.
The large figure¡¯s hunched posture appeared somewhat amusing and endearing.
"Gobu Yi, you''re here just in time. Go and clear a road."
"Clear a road?"
Gobu Yi looked puzzled, unable to grasp the concept.
"Yes, cut through the forest to create a path suitable for travel."
Li Meng then spent the next half hour explaining what a road was and introducing the measurement unit of a "meter."
Finally, Gobu Yi grinned.
"Boss, this is simple. Leave it to me!"
Li Meng nodded, waving him off.
"Go ahead. Set off once you''re ready!"
Gobu Yi turned and dashed away excitedly.
Compared to staying in the tribe, Gobu Yi preferred being out and about, as long as he wasn¡¯t idle.
Watching Gobu Yi¡¯s jubilant departure, Li Meng smiled.
While goblins could be disgusting and evil, their evilness was straightforward and pure.
If only goblins had females.
That way, they could evolve into a normal yet powerful savage tribe.
Once Gobu Yi disappeared into the forest depths, Li Meng turned his attention back to the goblin guard outside the wooden hut.
"Gobu Lun, keep an eye on the returning leaders these days. Have them stay in the tribe for now and await my orders."
The goblin stationed outside the wooden hut quickly nodded.
Li Meng then left the Throne Cave Dwelling, heading toward the woodworking area.
Shortly after, outside the woodworking workshop:
"Boss, what brings you here?"
In the open space outside the woodworking area, Gobu Da was busy tinkering with a pile of wagon wheels.
He held a hammer, banging away at the iron rims of the wheels.
The clanging sounds of metal echoed through the tribe.
Li Meng had heard the noise from afar.
Noticing Li Meng¡¯s approach, Gobu Da quickly put down his work and scurried over.
Over the next few days, Li Meng patiently taught Gobu Da how to construct a wagon.
Although the wagon wheels were ready, building the wagon body was also a technical challenge.
However, compared to the wheels, the wagon body was relatively simpler.
In less than half a month, Gobu Da had more or less mastered the process.
Close enough was good enough; perfection wasn¡¯t necessary.
Li Meng didn¡¯t have high expectations for the goblins¡ªfunctionality was sufficient.
Another new day, in the morning:
"Boss, is this a wagon?"
Outside the woodworking area, Gobu Da looked curiously at the peculiar contraption before him.
Yes, it was peculiar¡ªan ugly contraption.
A somewhat crude wagon sat in the forest outside the woodworking area.
The wagon had four large wheels, each slightly taller than a goblin.
The body was a simple flatbed, which could be outfitted with different cargo compartments as needed.
For now, the wagon¡¯s primary purpose was transporting aquatic goods.
Hence, two coffin-like water tanks were placed on the flatbed.
The tanks, arranged side by side, fit perfectly within the flatbed''s width.
"Yes, this is a wagon!"
Li Meng initially wanted to call it a "wild boar cart," but he reconsidered and decided against it.
It was just a name¡ªno need to overthink it.
At that moment, a series of snorts echoed from nearby.
Two goblins were leading two wild boars toward them.
"Boss, the wild boars are here!"
Li Meng examined the two robust wild boars.
"Come here, little piggies!"
Surprisingly, at Li Meng¡¯s call, the wild boars obediently approached him.
He then guided them to the front of the wagon.
"Stand here. That¡¯s right¡ªmove your rumps over!"
After some effort, the wild boars stood side by side in front of the wagon under Li Meng¡¯s guidance.
Li Meng then equipped them with specially made wild boar harnesses for transportation.
After a while, everything was ready.
Looking at the wagon, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
Next came the test run.
If all went well, they could begin mass production.
Li Meng climbed onto the wagon, taking hold of the reins.
Grinning, he tugged and swung the reins.
A sharp "crack" echoed through the forest.
The two sturdy wild boars began to trot, pulling the wagon, which slowly rolled forward.
Fortunately, the tribe''s space was large enough for the wagon to move around.
Li Meng pulled the reins to the left, and the wild boars obediently turned left.
The front wheels, pulled by the wild boars, also turned left.
Essentially, the wagon¡¯s functionality relied on its front wheels.
The rear wheels were attached to the front axle¡¯s circular base.
Without that circular base, the four-wheeled wagon wouldn¡¯t turn efficiently.
However, with it, the wagon¡¯s structure became more complex.
Still, this posed no challenge for Li Meng, who had simplified the wagon¡¯s design as much as possible.
"Very stable!"
Li Meng was thoroughly satisfied with the wagon¡¯s performance.
With the wagon, transporting goods between the tribe and the stronghold would be much easier.
While they could use Goblin River for water transport, the tribe¡¯s inland location made land transport unavoidable.
Chapter 90: Storing Food and Jerky
Chapter 90: Storing Food and Jerky
Furthermore, the Goblin River experiences flood seasons, often leading to massive surges.
This results in limited timeframes for water and land transportation.
Building docks along the shore is another significant challenge.
During the flood season, any structures would be destroyed.
¡°What is the boss doing?¡±
The commotion in the tribe caught the attention of the higher-ranking goblins who had been waiting in the settlement.
They left their wooden huts, curiously observing the scene.
In the middle of the settlement, the boss was riding a strange beast.
The beast needed to be pulled by two wild boars to move.
¡°Boss, boss, I want to play too!¡±
Gobu Di eagerly chased after the wagon.
As he ran, he shouted loudly.
Li Meng glanced at Gobu Di¡¯s massive frame.
As a Goblin Warrior, Gobu Di stood at an impressive 2.5 meters tall.
¡°Hop on!¡±
Li Meng grinned, granting permission.
It was a good opportunity to test the wagon¡¯s load capacity.
Excited, Gobu Di quickly climbed onto the wagon.
As soon as Gobu Di got on, the wagon sank, leaving visible wheel marks on the ground.
¡°I want to play too! Me too!¡±
Another Goblin Warrior eagerly ran over.
¡°Hahaha, get on, all of you!¡±
Li Meng laughed aloud, giving permission.
The Goblin Warrior promptly climbed onto the flatbed.
¡°Boss, I want to play too!¡±
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
¡°Me too! Me too!¡±
Seeing others board the wagon, the rest of the goblins couldn¡¯t hold back.
The higher-ranking goblins all rushed toward the wagon.
¡°Move over! Let me on!¡±
¡°No space, no space!¡±
¡°You¡¯re stepping on my leg! Are you looking for trouble?¡±
¡°How dare you touch me?¡±
¡°What if I did? The boss told me to get on!¡±
The goblins scrambled to climb onto the wagon.
As more piled on, the wagon slowed down.
The boars pulling the wagon began to struggle visibly.
Their bodies leaned forward, panting heavily.
The wagon creaked ominously, as if it were about to fall apart.
Hearing the noise behind him, Li Meng turned around.
What he saw shocked him.
The goblins piling onto the wagon had formed a mountain of bodies.
The first to get on, Gobu Di, was now buried at the bottom.
¡°Get off quickly, or you¡¯ll break the wagon¡¡±
Before Li Meng could finish his sentence, a loud ¡°crack¡± echoed.
The wagon¡¯s four wheels twisted and collapsed simultaneously.
The wagon sank abruptly.
The goblins on board tumbled down in a chaotic heap.
Fortunately, Li Meng reacted quickly, jumping off the wagon just in time.
Looking at the disastrous scene, Li Meng¡¯s mouth twitched.
¡°You fools!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s roar echoed across the settlement.
The sound was so loud that flocks of birds and beasts scattered from the nearby forest.
The female Lizardmen watching the commotion couldn¡¯t help but laugh.
The goblins looked ridiculous.
The goblins who had climbed out of the pile shrank their necks and grinned sheepishly.
They backed away, avoiding Li Meng¡¯s gaze.
Once Li Meng¡¯s eyes shifted away, they would immediately scatter.
Taking a deep breath, Li Meng gave a sinister smile.
¡°Since you¡¯re here, let¡¯s get some work done!¡±
¡°Follow me, and bring some food.¡±
¡°Call everyone else. Gather at the Iron Cavern!¡±
With that, Li Meng strode toward the direction of the Iron Cavern.
Watching their boss walk away, the higher-ranking goblins exchanged nervous glances.
Despite their unease, they had no choice but to follow.
¡°I¡¯ll go get food!¡±
¡°Me too!¡±
And so, Li Meng led a large group of higher-ranking goblins northward.
Half an hour later, outside the Iron Cavern.
Emerging from the forest, Li Meng basked in the scorching sunlight.
He looked up at the blinding sunlight.
¡°This is the place. Bring me a blade!¡±
A goblin promptly handed over a knife.
The knife wasn¡¯t large, resembling a cleaver.
¡°Bring the meat!¡±
From within the cavern came the sounds of movement.
More than ten goblins carried a wild boar carcass over.
They set it down three meters from Li Meng.
Holding the cleaver, Li Meng turned to face the higher-ranking goblins.
There were nearly a hundred of them, mostly large goblins and goblin warriors.
¡°Now, I will teach you how to store food!¡±
Although goblins could eat carrion, they preferred fresh meat.
From fresh meat, they could absorb the water needed by their bodies.
For this reason, it was rare to see goblins drinking water directly.
Even when they did, they would drink very little.
Drinking too much could lead to diarrhea or, in severe cases, water poisoning.
Making jerky was a straightforward process.
Drying or roasting the meat removes moisture.
Dry meat can be preserved for much longer without rotting.
The next afternoon, outside the Iron Cavern.
¡°Boss, I¡ I don¡¯t like jerky!¡±
Looking at the jerky in his hands, Gobu Di wore a miserable expression.
¡°Even if you don¡¯t like it, you¡¯ll eat it. It may not taste good, but it fills your stomach and gives you strength for battle. In wars against other savage tribes or humans, we can¡¯t waste time hunting. Eat!¡±
By now, the first batch of jerky had dried.
Several racks stood in the open space outside the Iron Cavern.
Strips of jerky hung from the racks.
Under Li Meng¡¯s watchful gaze, Gobu Di had no choice but to chew on the jerky.
As he chewed, his eyes lit up.
His large mouth moved constantly, eating with great enthusiasm.
After a while, the jerky was finally swallowed.
¡°How does it taste?¡±
Gobu Di nodded quickly.
¡°Boss, it¡¯s chewy and gets tastier the more I chew!¡±
Li Meng grinned, satisfied.
It seemed goblins could accept jerky after all.
Li Meng surveyed the higher-ranking goblins.
¡°Remember what I taught you. This is dry rations. You must learn to prepare them yourselves!¡±
The goblins nodded repeatedly.
The process of making jerky was simple.
They had memorized it and planned to try it themselves later.
¡°All right, you¡¯re dismissed!¡±
The higher-ranking goblins dispersed, heading back into the forest toward the tribe.
Li Meng turned and entered the Iron Cavern.
Benben would soon return, bringing with him a group of Ogres.
Ogres couldn¡¯t be exposed to sunlight.
Therefore, they needed full-body armor.
With the armor¡¯s protection, sunlight would no longer be a problem.
However, making armor couldn¡¯t be rushed.
Ogres varied in size.
Without custom-made armor, it would be uncomfortable for them to wear.
Weapons for the Ogres could be forged first.
Over the next few days, Li Meng stayed in the Iron Cavern, going nowhere.
Meanwhile, outside, events quietly unfolded.
Although the future predicted by the simulation could be altered, some things were inevitable.
Li Meng chose not to intervene in events that triggered these outcomes.
Chapter 91: Gobuchai and the Pigmen
Chapter 91: Gobuchai and the Pigmen
It was a new day.
On the northern shore of the Goblin River, within a certain forest.
The forest was dark, silent, and still.
However, beneath the seemingly peaceful surface, danger lurked.
Among the dense forest vegetation, a group of small, green-skinned figures moved quietly and cautiously.
Their movements were slow and deliberate.
Even as they pushed through flowers and grass, they made no sound.
They exchanged glances and communicated using hand signals.
The goblins, who had initially gathered together, dispersed to the left and right.
As they moved, one goblin at the front suddenly crouched down.
It crawled forward through the grass.
The other goblins followed its example, all creeping forward through the underbrush.
Before long, Gobuchai used its hands to part the weeds obstructing its view.
In the open forest ahead, a herd of forest deer was grazing.
The forest¡¯s flowers, grass, and trees were their food.
Gobuchai did not act hastily.
It lay patiently in the grass, waiting for the right moment.
¡°Coo, coo!¡±
Before long, cooing sounds echoed from other directions in the forest.
One coo, two coos, three coos!
One coo indicated one direction, two coos meant two directions, and three coos signaled three directions.
The cooing noises piqued the forest deers¡¯ curiosity.
They raised their heads warily, scanning their surroundings.
However, their not-so-bright minds could not distinguish the authenticity of the bird calls.This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
When the third coo sounded, Gobuchai grinned.
It suddenly stood up.
With its crossbow aimed at a forest deer not far away, it pulled the trigger while shouting excitedly, ¡°Arlele!¡±
¡°Whizz!¡±
As the bowstring twanged, the bolt flew through the air.
Almost simultaneously, the sound of bolts slicing through the air echoed from all directions around the forest deer.
Dozens of bolts shot into the herd of forest deer.
¡°Ugh!¡±
More than ten forest deer were hit instantly.
Bolts pierced their bodies, leaving them writhing on the ground in excruciating pain.
The injured deer struggled, but the more they moved, the faster their blood flowed.
The fortunate ones that escaped the bolts panicked and fled in all directions.
Their massive bodies barreled through the forest like heavy tanks.
¡°Wah, wah!¡±
Seeing the escaping deer about to break through their encirclement, goblins armed with spears suddenly emerged from the thick underbrush.
They shouted excitedly, their faces filled with glee.
The sudden appearance of the goblins startled the forest deer.
They quickly changed direction but were too late.
The goblins hurled their spears like javelins at the nearby deer.
¡°Thud!¡±
More pitiful cries followed.
The spears deeply embedded themselves in the forest deer¡¯s bodies.
The injured deer staggered for dozens of meters before collapsing to the ground.
Out of a herd of twenty or so forest deer, only five managed to escape the hunt.
Those five were all pregnant does, intentionally spared by the goblins.
¡°Wah, wah!¡±
The goblins cheered as they emerged from the dense foliage, thrilled by their successful hunt.
Their greedy gazes fixated on the forest deer carcasses strewn across the ground.
The still-breathing deer especially attracted their attention.
¡°Meat, meat, let¡¯s eat, let¡¯s eat!¡±
Gobuchai shouted excitedly, raising its crossbow.
With their leader¡¯s permission, the starving goblins swarmed forward.
They greedily pounced on the forest deer carcasses, tearing into them.
The still-living deer were also quickly overwhelmed.
¡°Don¡¯t abandon your weapons!¡±
Gobuchai kicked a goblin minion passing by.
The goblin had been so excited it had thrown away its weapon.
The scolded goblin scrambled back to pick up its discarded crossbow before rushing back to the feast.
Gobuchai¡¯s outburst caused many goblins to flinch.
They quickly abandoned their frenzied eating to retrieve their weapons.
¡°Anyone who lets go of their weapon again, I¡¯ll eat them myself!¡±
As a goblin warrior, Gobuchai commanded authority.
Even the goblins gnawing on the forest deer paused to glance fearfully at Gobuchai.
After intimidating its minions, Gobuchai was satisfied and approached its prize¡ªa still-breathing deer.
As the leader, only Gobuchai had the privilege of enjoying a still-living prey.
While the goblins feasted ravenously in the forest, noises arose from deeper in the forest to the east.
Large, bulky figures charged through the dim forest.
Heavy, labored breathing accompanied their movements.
It was the Pigmen, charging through the forest.
There were many of them¡ªover thirty at a glance.
¡°It¡¯s the goblins! Kill them!¡±
The leading Pigman warrior spotted the goblins feasting ahead.
¡°Oink oink!¡±
The forest suddenly filled with the sound of Pigmen squeals.
Dozens of Pigmen warriors charged at the goblins.
The commotion in the eastern forest caught the goblins¡¯ attention.
¡°Not good, it¡¯s the Pigmen!¡±
The warning cry had barely left their mouths before several Pigmen burst through the bushes.
They raised their iron machetes and charged at the nearest goblins.
The feasting goblins had no time to react.
As they stood up, the machetes came crashing down.
Several goblins were instantly slain, their bodies nearly cleaved in two.
¡°Kill them!¡±
Fortunately, the goblins were scattered throughout the forest.
Although several dozen were easily cut down, goblins from other areas quickly regrouped.
Abandoning their freshly acquired meat, they joined the battle.
¡°Wah, wah!¡±
Goblins armed with spears rushed to confront the Pigmen, while crossbow-wielding goblins loaded their weapons.
As the sound of bolts slicing through the air filled the forest again, several Pigmen fell to the ground.
¡°Ah!¡±
The fallen Pigmen let out miserable cries, their bodies pierced by numerous bolts.
Some were killed instantly, their foreheads punctured by bolts.
A chaotic battle erupted in the forest.
While the Pigmen were individually stronger than the goblins, they were vastly outnumbered.
Before long, the Pigmen were surrounded by over a hundred goblins.
Due to their height advantage, the Pigmen inadvertently provided the goblin crossbowmen with clear shooting angles, minimizing friendly fire.
Even missed shots only lodged into tree trunks.
¡°Roar!¡±
One Pigman roared, wielding its machete against three goblins.
The goblins circled around it cautiously.
The Pigman charged forward, swinging its blade at one of the goblins.
The goblin rolled to the side, dodging the attack.
The Pigman pursued and swung its machete again at the scrambling goblin.
However, the goblins behind it thrust their spears forward.
¡°Ah!¡±
The Pigman howled in pain.
One spear pierced its hip, while another stabbed into its waist.
Chapter 92: King of the Ogres
Chapter 92: King of the Ogres
Half of the spearhead pierced deeply into the body.
The enraged Pigman swung its blade, decapitating a scrambling Goblin.
The Goblin¡¯s head flew off, and foul-smelling blood sprayed into the air like a fountain.
Despite its injuries, the Pigman turned around and slashed fiercely at the enemy behind it.
¡°Thwack!¡±
Before it could react, a bolt pierced its skull, entering through the left side of its head.
The Pigman¡¯s eyes rolled back, and its bulky, fat body collapsed heavily to the ground.
The battle didn¡¯t last long.
In less than five minutes, more than half of the Pigmen were already dead.
This terrified the remaining ones¡ªthey couldn¡¯t understand how the usually weak Goblins had suddenly become so formidable.
After all, in the past, ten Pigman warriors could easily scatter a hundred Goblins.
¡°Oink! Oink!¡±
An urgent pig-like squeal echoed through the dim forest.
The battling Pigmen abruptly broke away and fled without looking back, running deep into the forest.
Several more Pigmen were shot down as they tried to escape, their bodies sprawling lifelessly on the ground.
¡°Waaah! Waaah!¡±
Seeing the Pigmen flee, the Goblins screamed in excitement and gave chase.
However, the Pigmen quickly vanished from sight.
Though they appeared clumsy, the Pigmen were actually quite agile. Combined with their large strides, their running speed far outpaced the short-legged Goblins.
¡°Stop chasing them! Everyone, come back!¡±
Hearing the diminishing noises from the depths of the forest, Gobuchai roared out loud.
His voice echoed powerfully through the woods, reaching the ears of the pursuing Goblins.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
The Goblins immediately stopped in their tracks and began scurrying back obediently.
At this moment, the Goblins seemed to remember something important¡ªthe feast they had yet to finish.
If they returned too late, there wouldn¡¯t be anything left for them to eat.
As the sound of the Goblins returning grew closer, Gobuchai smirked.
He hadn¡¯t forgotten the boss¡¯s instructions.
The boss had explicitly ordered them not to engage with the Pigmen.
If they encountered them in the forest, they were supposed to avoid or steer clear of them.
¡°It was the Pigmen who started it first! The boss can¡¯t blame me!¡±
Thinking of the boss, Gobuchai shivered slightly.
Should he keep this incident a secret from the boss?
Gobuchai¡¯s tiny brain worked quickly.
As long as the boss didn¡¯t find out, he wouldn¡¯t be in trouble.
As long as the boss remained unaware, it could be as if nothing had ever happened.
With that thought, Gobuchai grinned.
¡°I¡¯m such a genius!¡±
Nodding to himself, Gobuchai decided on his plan.
After all, the boss had never explicitly forbidden lying.
Even if he lied, he wouldn¡¯t technically be wrong.
¡°Listen up! No one tells the boss about today¡¯s fight with the Pigmen!¡±
Gobuchai¡¯s statement left the Goblins exchanging confused glances.
¡°Boss, the boss will eat you if you lie.¡±
¡°Yes, yes, he¡¯ll definitely eat you.¡±
¡°If Gobulai lies to me, I¡¯ll smash his head!¡±
¡°Just try it! I can take on two of you little weaklings.¡±
¡°Bring it on! I¡¯ve had enough of you!¡±
The forest erupted into chaos with their squabbling.
¡°Great! If the boss gets eaten, I¡¯ll become the new boss!¡±
One of the larger Goblins cheered loudly.
Watching the rowdy underlings before him, Gobuchai¡¯s face darkened.
¡°Shut up!¡±
His roar echoed through the forest once again.
The Goblins quickly fell silent.
¡°You worthless lot! I¡¯m not dead yet!¡±
Faced with their boss¡¯s glare, the Goblins cowered.
¡°I¡¯m not trying to deceive the boss¡ªI mean, I¡¯ll handle explaining it. If any of you try to snitch, I¡¯ll eat you!¡±
The Goblins exchanged hesitant glances.
¡°I told you! The boss isn¡¯t that dumb.¡±
¡°Exactly, the boss is the boss¡ªhe¡¯s not stupid.¡±
Feeling smug, Gobuchai listened to the murmured agreement of his underlings.
He really was clever.
With just a bit of quick thinking, he had smoothly resolved the situation.
¡°Keep eating! Eat until you¡¯re stuffed. If there¡¯s any left over, pack it up and bring it along!¡±
In the dim forest, the Goblins¡¯ shrill cries echoed once more.
They dove greedily into the meat¡ªboth venison and Pigman flesh.
The sounds of their frenzied chewing were chilling.
---
Goblin River, Northern Forest
Throne Cave Dwelling, Iron Cavern
Nighttime, with a full moon high in the sky.
Silver moonlight spilled across the land, dispelling some of the darkness.
Outside the Iron Cavern, the forest was eerily quiet.
Only the ¡°clang, clang¡± of activity within the cavern echoed in the stillness.
Suddenly, faint noises arose from deeper within the forest.
A soft rustling sound indicated something brushing against the vegetation.
Moments later, massive figures emerged from the woods.
One by one, gigantic Ogres stepped out from the forest.
Leading the group was Benben, carrying a spiked club over its shoulder. Its armor was dented and misshapen.
¡°Ah! Benben! Benben¡¯s back!¡±
A Goblin guarding the Iron Cavern¡¯s entrance jolted awake at the commotion.
Spotting the figures in the forest, it shouted excitedly.
Another Goblin ran inside the cavern to alert the others.
Out in the open space near the cavern, Benben plopped down to rest.
The other twenty or so Ogres also sat down, pulling fruits from their pouches to eat.
Before long, Li Meng emerged from the cavern, followed by Gobuge.
¡°Benben! You finally decided to come back!¡±
Seeing the massive figures outside, Li Meng felt relieved.
Though Benben usually acted foolish, it had its moments of cleverness.
Li Meng approached and slapped Benben¡¯s leg.
Benben looked down at its boss and grunted softly, then turned to glance at the other Ogres behind it.
Following its gaze, Li Meng inspected the group.
[Ogre]
[Level: 82]
[Strength: 481]
[Defense: 457]
[Agility: 176]
[Physical Regeneration: LV2]
Li Meng noticed that all the Ogres were high-level, mostly above level 80, with many exceeding level 90.
¡°Huh? Benben got stronger?¡±
It was then that Li Meng realized Benben had grown even larger over the past few months.
Previously standing at five meters tall, Benben was now nearly seven meters.
Its armor seemed stretched to its limit, barely covering its body.
The armor no longer fit properly¡ªit hung loosely, leaving parts of Benben¡¯s body exposed to the air.
[Ogre King (Elite)]
[Level: 11]
[Strength: 1314]
[Defense: 2716]
[Agility: 1114]
[Magic: 707]
[Reinforced Stone Body: LV1 (Defense +1000) (Non-absorbable)]
[Physical Regeneration: LV5]
[Heart of Stone: LV1 (Immune to all negative effects) (Requires "Reinforced Stone Body" as a prerequisite skill)]
Chapter 93: The Event That Triggered Another Event
Chapter 93: The Event That Triggered Another Event
The surging attributes on the panel left Li Meng stunned.
The Strengthened Stone Skin skill had not only advanced to Strengthened Stone Body but also gained a powerful new ability: "Heart of Stone."
This ability to be immune to all negative effects made Li Meng drool with envy.
With this skill, only direct combat could defeat him.
"No wonder you were able to bring back so many Ogres, Benben. You''ve gotten stronger!"
Clearly, Benben had returned to the mountains to battle over the past few months, growing stronger through fights with his own kind.
The pitted and scarred armor on him was the best evidence.
Ordinary attacks couldn''t cause such damage; only the fists of Ogres could leave such marks.
"Boss, my armor''s broken and can''t be worn anymore!"
Benben lowered his head, poking at his chest armor with his right hand.
With a poke, the chest armor immediately fell to the ground.
Li Meng grinned, feeling elated.
"No problem. I''ll make you a new one. Let''s go inside!"
Benben stood up and turned to roar a few times at his companions behind him.
The Ogres rose one by one, following their leader and the goblins into the Iron Cavern.
Before long, silence returned outside the cavern.
Under the moonlight, the forest resumed its previous tranquility.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task:
Crafting custom armor for Benben and his followers.
Thus began the daily life of a blacksmith upon Benben''s return.
From that day onward, the metallic clanging sounds in the cavern grew even louder.
It was a new day, in the afternoon.
At the underground riverside of the Iron Cavern, Li Meng stood in front of a massive iron anvil, holding a large pair of tongs to place the red-hot armor pieces in position.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Benben wielded a giant iron hammer, striking repeatedly.
The Ogres curiously watched from the side.
Ogres liked warm environments, so they could tolerate high temperatures.
"Benben has become so strong, yet he can still be killed by humans. Humans should never be underestimated!"
Looking at Benben''s massive frame, a trace of worry flickered in Li Meng''s eyes.
The Irisis Principality was launching a massive invasion of the Goblin Forest to expand its territory.
The future of human invasions into the Goblin Forest seemed inevitable.
For humans, it was merely the development of untamed lands.
Exterminating the Savage Tribes was just a byproduct.
Conflict with humans was an unavoidable path in the future.
"Boss! Boss!"
At this moment, a goblin warrior named Gobuchai came running over excitedly.
However, upon seeing the densely packed, massive figures of Ogres by the riverside, Gobuchai stopped abruptly.
With a look of uncertainty, he glanced at the Ogres by the riverside.
Had the Iron Cavern been invaded by Ogres?
Where did so many Ogres come from?
"What''s the matter?"
Seeing Gobuchai hesitating to approach, Li Meng inquired.
The boss''s question snapped Gobuchai out of it.
With a fanatical expression, Gobuchai looked at the figure working by the anvil.
The boss was incredible. He had recruited so many Ogres as subordinates!
Overcoming his fear, Gobuchai cautiously approached the riverside.
"Boss, I encountered Pigmen in the eastern forest. They attacked us, but we drove them away!"
Gobuchai''s report caused a flicker of emotion in Li Meng''s expression by the anvil.
The pivotal point predicted in Simulated Life had finally arrived.
This conflict would lead to a large-scale attack by the Pigmen.
The Pigmen were likely already preparing for their westward expansion.
"Boss, it''s not my fault! They attacked us first!"
Gobuchai shrank his neck and cautiously watched the boss''s reaction.
"How far from Gobudi''s Tribe did the battle take place?"
Gobudi''s Tribe was about twenty kilometers west of the Pigmen''s territory.
Not far, but not very close either.
Gobuchai began counting on his fingers.
"About five Iron Cavern distances from the tribe."
Since the Iron Cavern was roughly two kilometers from the Throne Tribe, five such distances would be just over ten kilometers.
"I see. You may go!"
Realizing he wouldn''t be punished, Gobuchai grinned.
He turned and ran out of the cavern excitedly.
Listening to the retreating footsteps, Li Meng showed a contemplative expression.
It seemed the Pigmen were expanding westward.
"Gobu Ge!"
Li Meng suddenly called out.
By the water, Gobu Ge, who was cooling down, shuddered.
He immediately stood up and looked at the boss.
"Boss, I''m here!"
"Starting today, begin mass-producing goblin armor."
Because goblin physiques constantly evolved, full-body armor wasn''t feasible.
However, simple armor to protect vital parts could be crafted.
With the Iron Cavern''s current iron production, large-scale production of goblin armor was now viable.
It was time to equip his goblin subordinates.
With armor, even ordinary goblins'' survival rates would improve significantly.
In the era of cold weapons, having armor made a world of difference.
Gobu Ge''s eyes lit up, and he ran off energetically.
"Boss, got it!"
Having been stuck forging arrowheads and spear tips, Gobu Ge was tired of it.
At last, he could forge something new.
Li Meng looked up at Benben and grinned.
"Benben, pick up the pace. Next month, we''ll trouble the Pigmen!"
Benben let out a joyful roar and hammered even harder.
---
Goblin Northern Forest.
Deep within the endless green expanse, a tributary of the Goblin River meandered north.
About twenty kilometers away, along the riverbanks, a settlement had sprung up at some point.
Wooden structures lined both banks in a continuous stretch.
A vast area of forest around it had been cleared, leaving not even tree stumps.
In the afternoon sun, the Goblin Forest gleamed brightly.
Inside the largest wooden house in the settlement:
"What a bunch of useless fools! You can''t even handle a bunch of goblins!"
A roar of fury echoed in the wooden house.
Over a dozen Pigmen, clad in animal hides, sat cross-legged in the hall.
At the head of the room sat a Pigman leader, towering at nearly 2.5 meters, resembling a giant.
His stout and rotund build was larger than the other Pigmen present.
Faced with the leader''s gaze, all the elders lowered their heads.
"Chief, goblins have been appearing frequently in the western forest. There must be a goblin nest there."
"No kidding! We''ve barely been here for a short time, and reports of goblin sightings keep coming in every few days."
"The goblins we encountered this time were unusual. They seemed to avoid us intentionally."
"Exactly! Several times, goblins turned and fled as soon as they spotted our hunting teams."
"We''re Pigmen! Isn''t it normal for goblins to run away from us?"
"No, goblins are generally too foolish to assess their strength accurately."
"True. When goblins gather, they''d even dare to bite a dragon a few times."
The elders in the hall engaged in lively discussion, gradually forgetting about the chief''s earlier anger.
Chapter 94: The Clever Pig Da Zhi
Chapter 94: The Clever Pig Da Zhi
The moment the elders seemed to ignore him, Pig Da Qiang¡¯s mouth twitched.
¡°Silence!¡±
A deafening roar erupted from him, causing the Pigmen elders in the hall to shudder and immediately quiet down.
¡°Kill all those damned goblins for me! There must not be a single goblin in my territory!¡±
Faced with the chief¡¯s furious roar, the elders exchanged uneasy glances.
The Pigmen elder seated at the front raised his hand.
¡°Chief, we need to wait a bit.¡±
¡°No waiting!¡±
Pig Da Qiang glared fiercely.
Pig Da Zhi straightened up, meeting the chief¡¯s angry gaze without flinching.
¡°We must wait, Chief. As the sage of the tribe, I cannot allow you to act recklessly!¡±
The Pigmen elders nodded in agreement.
Although the chief¡¯s strength was formidable, his intelligence paled in comparison to the sage.
Pig Da Zhi rose to his feet, turning to face the elders and the chief. He grinned confidently.
¡°I¡¯ve questioned the clansmen who fled back. They said the goblins possess a long-range weapon capable of firing arrows. This weapon has given the weak goblins the power to challenge our hunting squads.¡±
¡°Now, the question arises: why do the goblins possess long-range weapons?¡±
Pig Da Zhi smiled confidently and turned to the chief seated on the throne.
¡°It¡¯s obvious. The goblins must have taken these weapons from humans.¡±
Under Pig Da Zhi¡¯s gaze, Pig Da Qiang¡¯s annoyance grew, his eyes glaring with frustration.
¡°Get to the point, you chatterbox!¡±You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Unbothered by the chief¡¯s scolding, Pig Da Zhi grinned again.
¡°Any goblin capable of stealing weapons from humans is not a simple opponent. Therefore, we must not act carelessly.¡±
With that, Pig Da Zhi returned to his seat, slightly bowing his head toward the chief.
¡°Chief, we should wait a little longer. Once our clansmen have all migrated to their new home, it won¡¯t be too late to sweep away the goblins.¡±
Wasn¡¯t the conclusion the same anyway?
Pig Da Qiang grinned.
¡°Fine. We¡¯ll wait then!¡±
The Pigmen elders exchanged glances, then looked at the sage with admiration.
The sage was indeed impressive¡ªhis reasoning sounded entirely logical.
---
Goblin Forest, Northern Bank.
Throne Cave Dwelling, Iron Cavern.
It was a new day, in the afternoon.
On the open ground outside the Iron Cavern, Li Meng stood, basking in the scorching sunlight, facing the cavern entrance.
Beside him stood a massive armored figure: Benben.
Benben¡¯s armor appeared even thicker and heavier than before, weighing a staggering five tons. Every part of his body was encased in iron, including his joints, which were cleverly designed to allow unrestricted movement.
The helmet was a giant barrel-like structure with a visor slit ten centimeters wide. Though wide enough for arrows to target his eyes, a mesh guard protected the visor. In combat, the mesh could be lowered to block arrow strikes; in normal times, it could be opened for better visibility.
All ogres'' helmets shared this design. The angled mesh guard also effectively shaded the visor from sunlight. As long as they didn¡¯t look directly at the sun, their eyes wouldn¡¯t be exposed to sunlight.
Time flew by, and a month passed unnoticed.
Today, Li Meng completed his blacksmithing work.
¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Come out now.¡±
Li Meng called toward the Iron Cavern.
Beside him, Benben bellowed toward the cavern as well.
Urged by the two, a massive shadow in the cavern¡¯s darkness began to move.
An ogre mustered the courage to step out cautiously. It first extended an arm into the sunlight. The scorching rays glinting off the iron armor caused no discomfort, encouraging the ogre to carefully step out of the cavern.
Under the sun, the ogre moved like a curious child, glancing around, lifting its legs, and waving its arms. It even raised its head to look for the thing it feared.
But with its new gear, it no longer feared the thing in the sky.
¡°Don¡¯t look at the sun!¡±
Seeing the ogre raise its head, Li Meng roared.
The thunderous shout startled Benben, who stood beside him, as well as the ogre outside the cavern. The latter quickly lowered its head.
¡°Do not look at the sun! Do not look up at the thing you fear, or you will turn into stone. Understand?¡±
Li Meng¡¯s words were directed not only at the ogre outside but also at those hiding inside the cavern.
¡°Alright, now come out. As long as you don¡¯t look up, you won¡¯t turn to stone.¡±
Li Meng¡¯s task now was simple: to help the ogres adapt to life under the sun and train them to avoid looking upward.
Seeing their clansmen safe in the sunlight, the ogres inside the cavern began stepping out one after another.
A total of 23 ogres, all clad in full-body armor, emerged. Their massive figures cast a dark, continuous shadow.
Looking at the hulking figures before him, Li Meng grinned.
¡°Good. Time to trouble the Pigmen!¡±
A conflict with humans was inevitable, and Li Meng had no intention of retreating.
¡°Benben, take them for a walk. I¡¯m heading back to the tribe.¡±
With that, Li Meng turned and hurried toward the tribe¡¯s direction.
Watching his master leave, Benben stayed put. As the leader, he couldn¡¯t always follow his master. He needed to watch over his clansmen, who weren¡¯t very bright. Without his supervision, they might turn into stone by the time he returned.
During the months spent in the deep mountains, Benben had seen too many ogres turned to stone under the sun. He couldn¡¯t comprehend why his clansmen, despite their fear of sunlight, would hide in sunlit forests.
---
Throne Tribe.
Half an hour later, Li Meng returned to the tribe¡¯s cave dwelling.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
At the entrance, he spotted a female Lizardman sitting idly. Seeing him, she quickly stood up.
¡°Master, I¡¯m sorry. I didn¡¯t mean to block your way.¡±
¡°No worries. You¡¯re not in my way.¡±
Li Meng sat down where the female Lizardman had been sitting. Standing behind him, the Lizardman seemed unsure whether to retreat into the cave or remain still.
¡°Why didn¡¯t you go to the Iron Cavern with the others?¡±
Delivering milk to the male Lizardmen had become the female Lizardman¡¯s daily routine, which Li Meng had tacitly approved. Allowing male and female Lizardmen to interact wasn¡¯t a bad thing¡ªit benefited their emotional well-being.
¡°I¡¯m called Hui Shasha¡ I¡ didn¡¯t.¡±
Do Lizardmen blush? At least, Li Meng couldn¡¯t tell.
He glanced at Hui Shasha¡¯s stomach. Seeing him look at her belly, Hui Shasha¡¯s eyes flickered with panic.
Smiling faintly, Li Meng didn¡¯t press further.
Chapter 95: I Want It All
Chapter 95: I Want It All
"Boss, Boss!"
Before long, the sound of hooves echoed through the tribe.
Gobu Qiang came rushing over, riding a wild boar, snorting heavily.
The galloping boar screeched to a halt, sliding several meters before stopping.
Gobu Qiang quickly dismounted and ran over.
"Boss, did you call for me?"
Gobu Qiang knelt dramatically, sliding several meters and bowing before Li Meng.
"How''s the spear training coming along?"
Li Meng had been pondering how to effectively utilize the Goblin Boar Cavalry.
Initially leaning towards crossbow cavalry tactics, he eventually settled on spear cavalry.
The weapons had gone through several trials.
Crossbows and throwing spears were effective for hunting large creatures.
The crossbow allowed for long-range attacks, while the spear was ideal for short-distance throws.
With the added speed of a charge, the throwing spear became incredibly powerful.
However, considering that cavalry¡¯s primary role was to break through enemy lines, the lance became indispensable.
Thus, Li Meng designed a specialized lance for the Goblin Boar Cavalry.
The lance''s tip was a short, cylindrical structure.
The tip itself was very short, less than ten centimeters in length.
Behind the tip was a cylindrical shaft.
This design ensured the lance wouldn''t penetrate too deeply, making it easy to pull out.
Targets struck by the lance would be knocked back rather than impaled.
This prevented the lance from being a single-use weapon.
Between crossbow cavalry and lance cavalry, Li Meng chose to have both.
He divided the Goblin Boar Cavalry into two main groups.
The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
The first group consisted of the Big Goblin Boar Cavalry, a versatile unit.
Equipped with crossbows, throwing spears, lances, and longswords,
The wild boars they rode provided ample space to carry all four weapons.
Even the lance could be neatly secured¡ªone end rested on the boar¡¯s tusks, while the other hooked onto the rider''s leg.
This allowed for easy access to the lance, making it very convenient.
Only the Big Goblins had the strength to wield the lance effectively.
The second group was the regular Goblin Boar Cavalry.
These were standard goblins serving as cavalry.
They carried crossbows, throwing spears, and longswords but were not equipped with lances.
Their role was to provide ranged support and assist in charges from behind the Big Goblin Boar Cavalry.
Gobu Qiang scratched his head with a sheepish grin.
"I can hit wooden dummies now, Boss, but the lance''s impact is too strong¡ªit makes my arms hurt so much!"
"Pain is good. Train more, and it won¡¯t hurt anymore!"
Li Meng was deeply invested in developing the Goblin Boar Cavalry,
And he had high standards for them.
Only the most exceptional goblins could become cavalry.
Cowardly goblins were eliminated before they reached adulthood.
From a young age, goblins learned to wield various weapons.
They also underwent targeted training to strengthen their arm muscles.
Logically, Li Meng¡¯s descendants would make the best cavalry candidates.
Their superior strength would allow them to handle lances with ease.
However, the transition period for Li Meng¡¯s offspring from goblins to goblin warriors was too short.
The cycle lasted less than a year.
Once they evolved into goblin warriors, riding wild boars became unsuitable.
To goblin warriors, the boars were simply too small.
Gobu Qiang pulled a long face.
"Boss, I¡¯ll have the little ones train more!"
Riding wild boars was fun, but lance training was exhausting!
"Good. Gather your boar cavalry; your first battle is coming soon!"
Gobu Qiang froze, his expression shifting to one of wild excitement.
"That¡¯s great, Boss! Are we going to fight the Lizardmen?"
He¡¯d been upset about missing the trip to the Northern Marshlands with the Boss last time.
Now, he finally had the chance to fight alongside him.
"The Lizardmen in the Northern Marshlands are allies. This time, we¡¯re targeting the Pigmen in the Eastern Forest!"
Gobu Qiang nodded enthusiastically.
He didn¡¯t care who the enemy was, as long as he could fight alongside the Boss.
Gobu Qiang quickly got up, sprinted to his boar, and mounted it.
"Boss, I¡¯ll gather the troops right away!"
With a tug of the reins, the boar turned and snorted, galloping into the forest depths.
Most of Gobu Qiang¡¯s subordinates weren¡¯t in the tribe;
They were out hunting.
In the tribe, hunting teams were responsible for their own food supply.
They took care of providing for their bloodline and offspring.
The portion of game they submitted supported goblins left in the tribe.
Over the next few days, Li Meng focused on one thing¡ª
Selecting hunting teams to form an army to march against the Pigmen.
---
Half a month later, in the afternoon.
The Throne Cave Dwelling buzzed with activity.
Inside a wooden hut, a group of higher goblins surrounded a sand table.
Among the goblins, goblin warriors formed the majority.
They stood closest to Li Meng,
While the Big Goblins stood farther away.
"Our target is here!"
Li Meng stood by the sand table, holding a stick and pointing to the Pigmen Tribe¡¯s location.
"This is a Pigmen Tribe with a population of about three thousand!"
"Their presence poses a serious threat to our safety. Therefore, they must be eliminated!"
The goblins around the sand table grew excited,
Their eyes gleaming with greed as they stared at the spot Li Meng pointed to.
"Boss, I¡¯ve never eaten Pigmen before. Are they tasty?"
A goblin warrior looked at the Boss expectantly.
The question drew the attention of all the goblins, who turned to stare at the Boss.
Faced with their gazes, Li Meng grinned.
"I haven¡¯t tried them either, but you¡¯ll get to taste them soon."
The higher goblins around the sand table nodded eagerly,
Saliva almost dripping from their mouths.
"I¡¯ve tried them! Pigmen meat is fatty and delicious¡ªone bite and it¡¯s full of oil!"
Gobu Chai raised its hand, drooling as it reminisced about the taste of Pigmen meat.
The surrounding goblins felt their mouths water at Gobu Chai¡¯s description.
Saliva trickled down their lips uncontrollably.
"Ahem. Now, pay attention!"
Li Meng tapped the ground with his stick, pulling the goblins¡¯ thoughts back.
"Remember the location. If you get separated, head there directly. The Pigmen Tribe is about twenty kilometers northeast of the Gobu Di Tribe. You can follow this tributary to reach them."
Although the goblins rarely got lost in the forest,
Thanks to their keen sense of smell that allowed them to track the group,
It was always better to be thorough.
"From today, prepare at least half a month¡¯s worth of dry rations!"
"Also, take your subordinates to the Iron Cavern to receive your equipment."
"Prepare everything within half a month. After that, the army will set out!"
Standing tall, Li Meng discarded his stick,
Sweeping his gaze over the goblins around the sand table.
With a wave of his hand, he commanded, "Go, and make haste!"
The wooden hut erupted into commotion.
The goblins around the sand table dispersed swiftly.
The goblins leaving the Throne Cave Dwelling scattered in all directions,
And before long, they disappeared into the forest depths.
Chapter 96: We Are Goblins
Chapter 96: We Are Goblins
Li Meng stood at the doorway, watching the goblin underlings leave.
This expedition to the Pigmen Tribe was considered a form of extended training.
He instructed the goblins to habitually stockpile dry rations for emergencies.
The drawbacks of hunting while traveling were too great to be acceptable.
Thus, over the following half month, the tribe began preparations for the expedition to the Pigmen Tribe.
The area outside the Iron Cavern bustled with activity.
A long line of goblins queued up to receive armor.
Hunting squads returning from foraging started producing large quantities of dried meat.
Li Meng didn¡¯t remain idle in the tribe. He went to the eastern outpost of the Northern Marshlands.
---
Morning, Northern Marshlands Eastern Outpost.
¡°Hmm, not bad!¡±
Li Meng walked around the outpost, nodding in approval as he surveyed the surroundings.
Indeed, it matched his planned design closely.
The outpost was built near water, covering an area equivalent to five football fields.
Surrounded by seven-meter-high wooden walls, it was well-fortified.
Five watchtowers stood at the four cardinal directions, each equipped with a triple-bow ballista.
The outpost could accommodate around 500 goblins for battle.
It had a west gate, outside which was a simple dock.
Li Meng¡¯s praise brought a grin to Gobu Gao¡¯s face.
¡°Boss, boss!¡±
At that moment, a goblin came running over energetically.
¡°Boss, the Lizardmen have brought fish!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up with interest.
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
¡°Let¡¯s go take a look!¡±
Li Meng and Gobu Gao climbed the watchtower on the left side of the west gate.
From there, Li Meng saw the dock outside.
Built half on land and half over water, the dock stood in a deeper section of the water.
Not far from the dock, a group of Lizardmen approached, accompanied by over ten wooden boats.
The boats varied in size, with the largest being several times bigger than the smallest.
These wooden boats had been made by the goblins for the Lizardmen as transport tools.
The Lizardmen swam while pushing the boats toward the dock.
The boats appeared heavily loaded, their sides nearly level with the water.
Luckily, the water in the marshes was calm.
If they had been on the Goblin River, the boats would have capsized and sunk long ago.
¡°Boss, the Lizardmen always deliver fish in the afternoon. After transporting it overnight to the tribe, it usually arrives by morning.¡±
As the boats drew closer, Li Meng could see their cargo clearly.
They were filled with water, the surface gently rippling.
Within, large and small fish swam about.
When the Lizardmen arrived at the dock, the outpost became lively.
With the creaking sound of wood, the west gate slowly opened.
Dozens of goblins swarmed out with carts.
Nearly a hundred goblins and Lizardmen worked in tandem, efficiently transferring the fish.
¡°Boss, why don¡¯t we have the Lizardmen make dried fish instead? It would be much more convenient.¡±
Gobu Gao looked at Li Meng in puzzlement.
While dried meat wasn¡¯t tasty, it was filling.
Transporting live fish with the Lizardmen seemed unnecessarily troublesome.
It took time, and each transfer required significant effort.
¡°Dried meat can be used in emergencies but isn¡¯t suitable for long-term consumption.¡±
Li Meng¡¯s explanation made Gobu Gao nod in half-understanding.
Indeed, even they couldn¡¯t endure eating dried meat daily.
After inspecting the outpost, Li Meng didn¡¯t linger.
Early the next morning, he departed.
By the time Li Meng returned to the tribe, it was already the afternoon of the following day.
Back at the tribe, Li Meng stayed put and didn¡¯t go anywhere.
Time passed day by day.
---
Half a month later, Throne Cave Dwelling.
It was another day, in the morning.
The buffer zone outside the eastern wall was bustling with activity.
Nearly 5,000 goblins filled the barren land.
Their green figures formed a dense, seemingly endless mass.
This sight alone was enough to send shivers down one¡¯s spine.
The goblins¡¯ noisy chatter echoed through the air.
The collective gathering made them unusually excited.
They looked around, occasionally shouting excitedly.
¡°Boss, the boss is here!¡±
At that moment, a commotion rippled through the goblin crowd.
Li Meng¡¯s sturdy figure appeared on the watchtower to the left of the east gate.
The sight of their leader sent the goblins into a frenzy.
Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng looked at the sea of goblins with satisfaction.
In less than two years, he had achieved this level of success.
He relished the fervent gazes of thousands of goblins.
Facing their countless gazes, Li Meng spread his arms wide.
This gesture instantly silenced the goblin crowd outside the wall.
¡°Tell me, what are we?¡±
Li Meng¡¯s voice roared like thunder.
¡°Goblins! Goblins!¡±
The goblins outside the wall raised their weapons high, shouting in unison.
The deafening response rolled like waves, one after another.
The overwhelming noise sent birds fleeing from the surrounding forest.
Li Meng grinned, pressing his hands downward.
The thunderous cheers stopped abruptly.
¡°We are goblins, and we have many enemies. Our battles will never end. Perhaps we are weak now, but we will become stronger. We will show our enemies that the era of goblins has arrived. Goblins will rise!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s voice echoed grandly between heaven and earth.
It was so loud that every goblin heard the ambition in their leader¡¯s voice.
Every goblin looked at the figure on the watchtower with fanatical devotion.
Under their leader¡¯s guidance, they believed they could overcome any powerful foe.
¡°Gobumeng! Gobumeng!¡±
A shout suddenly erupted from the goblin crowd.
It was quickly echoed by the rest.
The goblin army outside the wall became even more frenzied.
Their fervent cries of their leader¡¯s name reverberated.
¡°Gobumeng! Gobumeng!¡±
The overwhelming volume built wave after wave.
Every goblin raised their weapon, shouting with fervor.
Even the wild boars ridden by the goblin boar riders seemed infected by the atmosphere, snorting and grunting.
Li Meng raised his arm, pointing eastward.
The fervent cheers stopped abruptly.
¡°Our enemies are to the east. March forward!¡±
The goblin army on the barren land responded by moving.
Clad in simple armor, they turned and surged into the forest.
The sound of footsteps thundered across the land.
The black tide of the goblin army swept eastward like a wave.
The dense forest seemed like a voracious beast, devouring the goblins.
¡°Goblin Boar Riders, move out!¡±
Gobu Qiang, riding a wild boar, roared with excitement.
Nearly a thousand goblin boar riders mobilized and charged into the forest.
The rumble of hooves echoed across the land.
The boar-riding goblins rushed into the dense forest like a dark cloud.
Seeing this, Li Meng grinned.
From atop the watchtower, he suddenly leaped.
His muscular body landed steadily on Benben¡¯s shoulder outside the wall.
Chapter 97: Forest Encounter Battle
Chapter 97: Forest Encounter Battle
Outside the wooden wall, twenty-four Ogres stood under the wall.
They lined up in a single row.
Each Ogre wore heavy armor and held a massive spiked club.
¡°Roar!¡±
The impact on its shoulder caused Benben to let out a roar.
Its massive body began running with enormous strides.
The other Ogres followed closely, charging into the forest.
Although their movements appeared somewhat clumsy, their speed was astonishing.
In no time, they caught up with the main army that had yet to fully enter the forest.
Facing the approaching Ogres, the Goblins scattered to make way.
The dense crowd of Goblins opened up paths wide enough for the Ogres to pass through.
The twenty-four Ogres charged into the forest like heavy tanks.
It took over half an hour before the wasteland outside the eastern wall finally quieted down.
The once bustling sea of Goblins had disappeared entirely, leaving only the forest deep with noise.
The commotion gradually faded into the distance.
---
Goblin River''s Northern Forest
It was now afternoon, and the forest was eerily quiet.
¡°Boss, I smell pigs. They''ve been here!¡±
Deep within the dim forest, a group of Goblins gathered.
One particular Goblin was the tallest, standing around 2.5 meters with a massive build.
In its presence, the surrounding Goblins resembled little rabbits.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Gobu Di glanced around the depths of the forest.
¡°Tell the little bosses to spread out with their underlings. If they find the Pigmen, kill them!¡±
Gobu Di grinned, a glint of greed flashing in its eyes.
Compared to wild boars, Pigmen meat was far more delicious¡ªfat, tender, and incredibly satisfying.
¡°Boss, how about we take a look at the Pigmen''s settlement?¡±
Gobu Di kicked the Goblin who made the suggestion, sending it flying.
¡°Idiot, do you want to die?¡±
The kicked Goblin quickly got up from the ground, smiling ingratiatingly as it trotted back to its boss''s side.
¡°Boss, what does the big boss want us to do?¡±
Gobu Di glared at the little Goblin.
It let out a menacing grin, its eyes gleaming with greed.
¡°The big boss wants us to wander around the nearby forest. If we encounter Pigmen, we¡¯ll kill them!¡±
The Goblin grinned back.
¡°Boss, that¡¯s it! If the big boss wants us to kill Pigmen, wouldn¡¯t it be better to attack their settlement directly?¡±
Gobu Di looked at the little Goblin like it was a fool and kicked it flying again.
¡°Idiot, are you looking to get yourself killed? I''m not as stupid as you!¡±
The big boss only instructed them to hunt Pigmen in the forest, not to attack their settlement.
¡°Boss! Boss! Pigmen!¡±
Just then, a Goblin ran over, panting excitedly.
¡°A lot of Pigmen! They¡¯re over there!¡±
The Goblin pointed to the northeastern part of the forest.
¡°How many is a lot?¡±
Gobu Di glanced in the direction the Goblin indicated.
¡°Well¡¡±
The Goblin began counting on its fingers.
Finally, its eyes lit up, and it held out both hands.
¡°Boss, more than ten sets of fingers!¡±
¡°Ten sets of fingers?¡±
Gobu Di scratched its head, looking puzzled.
¡°I know! That¡¯s ten!¡±
Another Goblin jumped in, looking pleased with itself.
¡°No, ten sets of ten is two tens¡ªit¡¯s twenty!¡±
¡°No, no, it¡¯s not twenty!¡±
¡°It¡¯s twenty!¡±
The Goblins around Gobu Di started bickering, faces flushed with anger.
Their noisy argument irritated Gobu Di.
¡°Shut up!¡±
Its roar silenced the squabbling Goblins.
The Goblins immediately shut their mouths, shrinking under their boss¡¯s fierce gaze.
Gobu Di pointed at the Goblin who reported the Pigmen.
¡°Are there more of them than us?¡±
The Goblin quickly shook its head.
It started counting on its fingers again.
¡°Stop counting! As long as they¡¯re fewer than us, it¡¯s fine!¡±
Gobu Di glared at the little Goblin and pulled a war horn from its waist.
It placed the horn to its mouth and blew.
The long, deep sound echoed through the forest.
All the Goblins scattered throughout the forest heard the horn at the same time.
They turned and ran toward the sound¡¯s source.
Their boss was summoning them!
Meanwhile, in the northeastern part of the forest.
Amidst the dim woods, shadows moved.
Over a hundred Pigmen were advancing through the forest.
The sound of the horn caused all the Pigmen to halt.
They raised their heads, looking toward the direction of the horn.
¡°It¡¯s Goblins!¡±
Hearing the horn¡¯s echo through the forest, Pig Gutwater grinned.
Recently, Goblins had been frequently appearing in the western forest, harassing hunters.
Under the chief¡¯s orders, Pig Gutwater led the team to clear out the pesky Goblins.
¡°Everyone, follow me, quickly!¡±
Pig Gutwater let out an excited roar, wielding a large machete as its plump body charged deeper into the forest.
The other Pigmen warriors hurried to keep up.
Their chubby bodies jiggled as they ran, filling the forest with snorts and wheezes.
It wasn¡¯t pig squeals but the sound of the Pigmen panting as they ran.
Half an hour later, deep in the dim forest.
¡°Bad news! Bad news!¡±
¡°Boss! Boss! The Pigmen are charging this way!¡±
A Goblin ran over, panting heavily.
¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Charge back at them!¡±
Gobu Di slapped the panicked Goblin, sending it flying.
By now, over three hundred Goblins had gathered around Gobu Di.
¡°Little ones, follow me! Wahaha!¡±
Gobu Di laughed loudly, letting out a roar.
Its massive body charged into the forest with its spiked club.
¡°Wah! Wah!¡±
The other Goblins, inspired by their boss¡¯s bravery, excitedly shouted and followed.
In less than ten minutes, the two sides met in a slightly open area of the forest.
¡°It¡¯s Goblins!¡±
¡°It¡¯s meat!¡±
Both sides spotted each other simultaneously.
¡°Kill them!¡±
¡°Eat them!¡±
Gobu Di grinned viciously, shouting loudly.
Opposite him, Pig Gutwater roared back.
The excited Goblins licked their lips greedily at the sight of the chubby Pigmen.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
The Goblin crossbowmen were the first to attack.
They pulled their triggers, releasing bolts into the forest.
The whizzing sound of the bolts made the Pigmen hastily cover their heads.
Chapter 98: What Are You Afraid Of?
Chapter 98: What Are You Afraid Of?
"Ah!"
A scream rang out.
Several Pigmen were struck by crossbow bolts.
The bolts pierced into their plump bodies.
Although they penetrated deeply, they didn''t inflict fatal injuries.
Their layers of fat effectively protected their vulnerable internal organs.
The wounded Pigmen became even more frenzied.
With bloodshot eyes, they charged at the Goblins.
"Wa-haha, die!"
The massive Gobu Di was like a heavy tank.
The moment it saw the Pigmen, it launched a charge.
Its barreling body, like a mountain of flesh, pressed toward the Pigmen.
Two fearless Pigmen rushed to meet it head-on.
Gobu Di grinned hideously, raising its spiked club to smash down on one of them.
"Stand back! Leave it to me!"
A thunderous shout rang out.
A stronger Pigman darted past the two others.
It charged forward, wielding a large cleaver to counter the spiked club.
Clang!
A piercing clash of metal echoed through the forest.
The spiked club collided with the cleaver.
Sparks flew as both combatants were forced back two steps.
The impact from the spiked club left Gobu Di''s hands trembling.
The Pigman, known as Pig Gutwater, fared no better.
Its right hand, clutching the cleaver, also quivered.
"Again!"Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.
Gobu Di grinned savagely.
It charged forward again, swinging its spiked club.
Unwilling to back down, Pig Gutwater rushed to meet it.
Their weapons clashed repeatedly.
Once, twice, three times!
Their strikes grew faster and faster.
Both warriors adjusted their footwork continuously, seeking an opening in their opponent''s defense.
The rapid swings of their weapons stirred up gusts of wind.
The force was palpable even to bystanders nearby.
While the leaders were locked in fierce combat, Goblins and Pigmen clashed as well.
The dim forest echoed with chaos.
The Goblins'' screeches and the Pigmen''s roars intertwined.
The Pigmen warriors were undeniably strong.
Even with their powerful crossbows, the Goblins couldn''t secure a decisive advantage.
Despite their numbers being several times that of the Pigmen, they couldn''t end the battle swiftly.
In the dark forest, the gruesome fight raged on.
Each Pigman faced off against multiple Goblins.
They also had to remain wary of the occasional whistling crossbow bolts.
Many Pigmen, pierced and bloodied by Goblin spears, still refused to fall.
Meanwhile, their cleavers were stained with Goblin blood.
A single cleaver strike from a Pigman was often lethal to a Goblin.
However, as more Goblins poured in from all directions,
the balance shifted.
The Pigmen, once evenly matched, began to falter.
"Accursed green-skinned trash, get lost!"
Amid the chaotic battlefield, a Pigman roared furiously.
It stepped forward and slashed a Goblin across the shoulder.
"Ah!"
The Goblin screamed in agony,
its body nearly cleaved in two.
It fell lifelessly to the ground.
Its death did not intimidate the surrounding Goblins.
They screeched and charged in.
Their spears stabbed into the Pigman''s body with force.
The spearheads sank halfway in.
The Pigman howled, staggered, and fell heavily to the ground, never to rise again.
Its body was riddled with bloody holes.
Clang!
At that moment, a sharp metallic clash pierced the air.
The leaders'' duel reached its climax.
A massive cleaver flew through the air.
It soared over ten meters before embedding itself into a tree with a "thunk."
"Die!"
Gobu Di roared with excitement.
It swung its spiked club down on Pig Gutwater''s head.
If the blow landed, Pig Gutwater''s skull would undoubtedly shatter.
"Elder!"
Suddenly, a Pigman rushed forward.
It lunged, knocking Pig Gutwater aside,
and used its own body to absorb the blow.
Crunch!
The massive spiked club struck the Pigman''s head.
The Pigman''s head burst like a watermelon,
blood and flesh splattering everywhere.
Its crushed body was driven into the ground by the force of the club.
"Accursed Goblins!"
Pig Gutwater''s eyes burned with fury at the sight.
"Elder, retreat! Retreat!"
Two Pigmen rushed forward, forcibly dragging Pig Gutwater toward the depths of the forest.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
Reluctantly, Pig Gutwater issued the command to withdraw.
It blew the whistle hanging around its neck.
Tweet! Tweet!
The sharp whistle echoed through the forest.
The Pigmen, snapping out of their combat frenzy,
abandoned their enemies and retreated, bloodied, into the forest depths.
"Wa-wa!"
The Goblins erupted in gleeful shouts at the fleeing Pigmen.
They rushed after them in pursuit.
But after a short chase, the Pigmen disappeared without a trace.
Though the Goblins could track their scent,
they knew the Pigmen''s settlement was nearby.
Pursuing further would risk drawing more Pigmen into the fray.
"Boss, boss, they ran away!"
With the Pigmen gone, the dark forest fell silent.
Gobu Di chewed on a Pigman¡¯s severed head with relish.
A large chunk of skin tore off with each bite.
Seeing their leader eat so heartily, the Goblins swallowed hungrily.
"Let them run! Clean up the battlefield, eat, and drink to your heart''s content!"
The surrounding Goblins'' eyes lit up.
They screeched and pounced on the corpses littering the ground.
The returning Goblins, who had been chasing the Pigmen, cursed but joined the feast.
For a while, eerie chewing and gnawing sounds filled the dim forest.
---
Pigmen Settlement
In the afternoon, inside the largest wooden hut.
"I can''t take it anymore! Those damned Goblins¡ªI¡¯ll tear them apart and boil them for soup!"
A furious roar echoed through the wooden hut.
Sitting at the head seat, Pig Da Qiang glared at Pig Da Zhi, panting heavily.
"Those disgusting Goblins have invaded our doorstep, Pig Da Zhi. Do you still want us to wait and do nothing?"
Pig Da Qiang clenched its fists tightly, its face flushed with anger.
It had made up its mind.
If Pig Da Zhi spouted nonsense again,
Pig Da Qiang would teach it a lesson with its fists.
Facing the chief''s fiery gaze, Pig Da Zhi grinned.
"Then we won''t wait. We''ll clean out the Goblins in the surrounding forest first!"
Pig Da Qiang was momentarily stunned by the agreement.
It hadn''t expected Pig Da Zhi to concede so easily.
"Chief, we can fight, but we mustn''t venture too deep into the forest.
Our forces are limited; we can''t afford a reckless westward advance."
Pig Da Qiang rubbed its bald head,
casting a puzzled look at Pig Da Zhi.
"Sage, what are you afraid of?"
Chapter 99: Gobu Di Tribe
Chapter 99: Gobu Di Tribe
Pig Da Zhi stood up and walked out.
¡°Of course, it¡¯s fear of that kind of powerful being who can fight a thousand enemies alone. Chief, just do what you need to. Remember my words.¡±
As they watched the wise one¡¯s departing figure, the elders in the wooden hut looked at each other.
¡°What¡¯s there to fear? Don¡¯t we have strong warriors too?¡±
¡°Exactly! At worst, we report it to the commander!¡±
¡°Chief, what should we do next?¡±
Pig Da Qiang grinned, stood up, and waved his large hand.
¡°Gather all the warriors and follow me to wipe out the green-skinned trash in the forest!¡±
The elders were thrilled as they stood up.
The recent news about goblins had infuriated them to no end. Now, they finally had a chance to take revenge on the goblins.
Before long, the tribe was in an uproar.
All the Pigmen warriors stopped their work. Nearly 3,000 Pigmen warriors surged towards the forest in the southwest, preparing to take bloody revenge on the goblins in the forest, killing every green-skinned creature in sight.
---
In the forest north of Goblin River.
¡°Boss, boss, something¡¯s wrong!¡±
The day¡¯s hunt was over, and Gobu Di was leading his underlings back to the tribe. In the dim forest, numerous green-skinned figures swayed. Amid chaotic cries of ¡°Wa wa,¡± the group moved southward.
Suddenly, a goblin ran out from the depths of the forest, chasing after the largest figure in the group.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Gobu Di was holding a roasted pig leg, gnawing on the bone as he walked. He glanced at his panting underling beside him.
¡°It¡¯s the Pigmen, lots and lots of Pigmen! All the Pigmen are coming!¡±
The report made Gobu Di grin. He threw away the pig leg bone, and the goblins around him scrambled to snatch it.
¡°Run back to the tribe!¡±
Gobu Di roared loudly, his voice echoing through the forest. His massive body began running through the dim woods. The goblins around him also cried out, running after him.
Not long after the goblins left, the forest quieted down again.
But the silence was soon broken. Countless Pigmen figures emerged from the depths of the forest, their corpulent bodies filling a large area. Each Pigman wore beast-hide clothing and wielded a large machete. Standing nearly two meters tall, they looked extremely sturdy.
¡°I smell goblins, Chief. They¡¯re in that direction!¡±
A Pigman elder sniffed the air with his tubular nose. Beside him, Pig Da Qiang grinned.
¡°Good, good! This time, they won¡¯t escape!¡±
Pig Da Qiang¡¯s face was full of excitement. The goblins had made him so angry that his teeth itched. But the thought of tearing goblins apart with his hands filled him with anticipation.
Behind Pig Da Qiang, Pig Da Zhi scanned the forest thoughtfully.
¡°The tribe isn¡¯t far from here. Don¡¯t rush to catch up with them.¡±
Pig Da Qiang curiously turned his head to look at Pig Da Zhi.
¡°Didn¡¯t you say not to go too deep into the forest?¡±
Pig Da Zhi smiled leisurely.
¡°Chief, when I said not to go deep, I meant not to stray far from the tribe. If the goblin¡¯s lair is close to the tribe, we can¡¯t let it remain. Don¡¯t just listen to what I say¡ªwatch what I do. Things to be done don¡¯t always get done because many factors can change the plan.¡±
Pig Da Qiang glared at Pig Da Zhi, frustrated by the cryptic words.
¡°Chief, let¡¯s move on!¡± a Pigman elder quickly intervened, stopping the chief from arguing further. In the tribe, the most foolish thing was to argue with the wise one. The Pigmen, whom the wise one considered not too bright, obediently followed orders.
Pig Da Qiang gave Pig Da Zhi a glare but didn¡¯t press further. For the rest of the journey, the Pigmen tracked the goblins, moving several kilometers through the dim forest toward the southwest.
---
The next morning, at the Gobu Di Tribe.
The Gobu Di Tribe was located in the forest about ten kilometers north of Goblin River¡¯s north bank, situated on an elevated plain. Though only one-fifth the size of the Throne Tribe, its defenses were impeccable.
Like the Throne Tribe, the Gobu Di Tribe had cleared a 300-meter-wide buffer zone around it. High wooden walls, nearly seven meters tall, surrounded the settlement. Towers stood along the walls, each equipped with a Triple-bow Ballista.
Early in the morning, the forest to the north of the tribe was noisy. Soon, a large group of goblins poured out of the forest like a tide.
¡°Be alert and get on the walls!¡± Gobu Di roared as he ran across the open ground outside the tribe. The towering wooden walls brought a grin to his face. He would skewer the Pigmen chasing them.
Nearly a thousand goblins swarmed into the tribe and scattered, climbing the walls via various stairways. Soon, the previously empty wooden walls were packed with goblins. Gobu Di also climbed the tower to the right of the northern gate.
The goblins on the walls eagerly watched the forest edge of the buffer zone, anticipating the Pigmen¡¯s arrival. The thought of war made them salivate at the idea of feasting on meat until they couldn¡¯t eat anymore. They relished the sensation of being so full they could burst.
As they waited, the morning sun gradually rose in the eastern sky. The first rays of sunlight illuminated the forest¡¯s edge on the open ground. Shadows moved within the forest, accompanied by loud noises. Countless Pigmen appeared at the forest¡¯s edge.
Seeing the wooden stronghold, the Pigmen were astonished. They hadn¡¯t expected the goblins to build such a large wooden fort in the forest.
¡°Interesting. It seems we¡¯ve encountered a clever goblin tribe,¡± remarked Pig Da Zhi, intrigued by the buffer zone and fortifications. Goblins usually preferred dark, damp caves. Why had they built such a large wooden fort in the forest? His curiosity was piqued, especially about the cleverness of the goblin leader.
¡°Hmph! Just a wooden wall. I¡¯ll smash it!¡± Pig Da Qiang sneered, raising his machete and preparing to charge.
¡°Chief, let¡¯s observe first,¡± urged Pig Da Zhi.
¡°No! Warriors of the tribe, follow me!¡± Pig Da Qiang roared, ignoring the advice. He raised his machete and charged out of the forest.
¡°Roar!¡±
Inspired by their chief¡¯s courage, the Pigmen roared and charged out of the forest, following him. Under the morning light, countless Pigmen surged out of the forest like a tidal wave.
¡°Haha! They¡¯re coming!¡± Gobu Di laughed excitedly on the tower, personally aiming a Triple-bow Ballista.
Chapter 100: Goblin Tribe Defense Battle
Chapter 100: Goblin Tribe Defense Battle
"Fire! Shoot them to death!"
The strings of the ''Triple-bow Ballista'' were loaded with a new component¡ªa wooden arrow barrel.
The barrel was drilled with 72 holes, each capable of holding a half-meter-long bolt.
Once fired, the 72 bolts would be unleashed simultaneously.
Although the accuracy was poor and the dispersion wide, it was perfect for dealing with large groups of enemies.
While the giant bolts were powerful and effective against individual targets, the barrel was designed for clustered enemies.
"Fire! Kill them all!"
Gobu Di sneered menacingly as he pulled the trigger.
With a loud "thwack," the snapping of the massive bowstring resounded across the watchtower.
Seventy-two bolts shot out from the barrel, scattering across the sky and arcing toward the charging Pigmen on the wasteland.
At almost the same moment, the sounds of bowstrings snapping echoed from other watchtowers.
The dense swarm of bolts rained down like a storm, covering a vast area of the Pigmen below.
"Ahhh!"
Screams filled the air, mingling with the sickening sounds of bolts piercing flesh.
The Pigmen caught in the arrow storm collapsed in large numbers.
Some Pigmen were turned into literal porcupines, their bodies bristling with bolts.
"What kind of weapon is this?"
Watching from the forest, Pig Da Zhi was stunned.
When the black cloud of bolts descended from the sky, it immediately sensed disaster.
In just one volley, dozens of its kin were slain.
The terrifying weapon filled Pig Da Zhi''s heart with unease.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Ha ha ha! Reload, quickly!"
Seeing a single shot wreak such havoc on the Pigmen, Gobu Di was ecstatic.
He eagerly urged the goblin underlings to reload the barrel.
The goblin lackeys hurriedly carried a preloaded barrel and mounted it onto the ballista.
"Curse these goblins!"
Pig Da Qiang, charging on the wasteland, was also startled by the sudden attack.
There were simply too many bolts in the air.
Several bolts had embedded themselves in its body, but thanks to its thick hide, it suffered no significant injuries.
It merely felt pain as the bolts lodged into its fat layer.
"I''ll kill you all!"
Suddenly, Pig Da Qiang halted mid-charge.
It raised its right foot and stomped heavily on the ground.
"War Stomp!"
With a roar that sounded like a chant to the heavens, the earth began to tremble.
The ground beneath it cracked open, the fissure rapidly spreading toward the wooden stockade.
"Damn it, magic!"
This scene caught Gobu Di''s attention from the watchtower.
The last shot had been aimed at the largest Pigman, but seeing the massive crack spreading from its feet, Gobu Di''s face darkened.
The fissure¡¯s trajectory was aimed directly at his watchtower.
Before the goblin underlings could finish reloading, Gobu Di dove to the left.
His massive body leaped off the watchtower and crashed onto the wooden wall with a thud.
Out on the wasteland, the fissure raced across 200 meters, slamming into the watchtower.
"Boom!"
With a deafening crash, the segment of the wooden wall, along with the watchtower, collapsed.
The rumbling noise persisted for a long while.
The collapsed structures filled the fissure, leaving a massive breach in the wooden wall.
"Ha ha! Warriors, charge! Kill the goblins! Leave no one alive!"
Pig Da Qiang laughed triumphantly, raising his great blade as he resumed his charge.
The other Pigmen, seeing the wall breached by their chief, were invigorated.
"Roar!"
Amid the rain of arrows, they bellowed and pressed forward.
In no time, the Pigmen had closed the distance to within 100 meters of the wall.
"What are you waiting for? Shoot them!"
Gobu Di picked up a spiked club from the ground and roared at the goblin lackeys, who were stunned on the wall.
The goblin archers hastily pulled their triggers, and the sound of snapping bowstrings filled the air.
A denser volley of bolts rained down on the Pigmen.
The charging Pigmen raised their arms to shield their heads while continuing their assault.
Though the bolts embedded in their bodies elicited screams, the Pigmen displayed astonishing bravery.
Even with their arms riddled with arrows and blood streaming down, they pressed on without hesitation.
The sight of their fallen comrades did not deter them but instead fueled their frenzy, their eyes glowing crimson.
From above, the Pigmen swarmed toward the breach in the wooden wall like a dark cloud.
Standing at the breach was a tall green-skinned figure¡ªGobu Di!
He stood upright, holding a spiked club, his eyes unflinching as he faced the oncoming Pigmen.
Behind him, the goblins shouted excitedly, brandishing their spears with eager anticipation.
Their leader stood at the forefront, filling them with courage.
"Come at me, goblins! Die!"
Pig Da Qiang was the first to reach the breach, sneering as he charged toward Gobu Di with his great blade.
"Pigman, I¡¯ll eat you alive!"
Gobu Di sneered back, charging fearlessly to meet him.
At the breach, the two massive figures collided with a clash.
Sparks flew as the great blade and spiked club struck each other.
One strike after another, they fought fiercely.
"Get lost!"
When a Pigman tried to join the battle, Gobu Di stepped back and swung his spiked club at its head.
The Pigman tried to deflect the club with its blade but failed.
The spiked club smashed into its skull, sending brain matter splattering as its plump body crumpled to the ground.
"Goblin! You¡¯re dead!"
Enraged by his comrade''s death, Pig Da Qiang lifted his right foot but refrained from stomping.
Using "War Stomp" now would block their entry.
At the breach, Pig Da Qiang realized just how thick the goblins'' wooden walls were.
It would take an enormous amount of time to hack through with weapons.
Left with no choice, Pig Da Qiang continued battling Gobu Di.
Both were powerhouses, locked in a stalemate of attack and defense.
"Don¡¯t mind me! Get inside!"
Roaring amidst the battle, Pig Da Qiang urged his kin.
He knew they couldn¡¯t stay outside, where they would remain sitting ducks for the goblins on the walls.
"Charge! Kill them!"
The chief''s roar snapped the Pigmen back to attention.
They surged past the two combatants, rushing into the wooden stockade.
"Ahhh!"
Inside, the goblins shrieked and surged forward as well.
At the breach, the Pigmen and goblins clashed violently.
But the moment they collided, the goblins fell into a disadvantage.
Chapter 101: My Hand is Broken
Chapter 101: My Hand is Broken
The Pigmen possess physiques and strength far superior to Goblins.
Their weapons are also large iron machetes.
Though rusted, they are still considered sharp tools.
As soon as contact was made, a large group of Goblins was cut down.
The Pigmen used their massive physiques to forcefully break through.
The Goblins couldn¡¯t stop them; the defensive line was instantly shattered.
The Pigmen¡¯s machetes could kill a Goblin with a single strike.
However, the Goblins¡¯ spears could not inflict fatal injuries on the Pigmen.
Even when stabbing their chests, the spear couldn¡¯t penetrate the layers of fat.
Only the Goblin archers on the wooden walls could deal deadly blows to the Pigmen.
But the space on the wooden walls could only accommodate a limited number of Goblin archers.
Thus, the Goblin archers couldn¡¯t provide effective support.
As more and more Pigmen charged into the wooden stockade stronghold, Gobu Di was surrounded.
¡°Clang!¡±
A piercing metallic sound echoed through the air.
At the breach, two figures separated again.
Both were gasping for breath as they stared at each other.
Their hands gripping their weapons trembled from the clash.
The webbing between Gobu Di¡¯s thumb and index finger was torn open.
Drops of thick blood dripped onto the ground.
¡°This is a duel between me and it. You all deal with the Goblins inside the stockade!¡±
A Pigman tried to sneak attack Gobu Di from behind.
However, the moment it stepped forward, Pig Da Qiang stopped it.
This was a battle of leaders, a matter of honor, not to be sullied by others.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
The surrounding Pigmen didn¡¯t linger.
They turned and charged into the stockade.
At this moment, the Goblins defending the breach inside the wooden stockade were already defeated.
Though they continued to fight, the tide had turned irreversibly.
The Goblins on the wooden walls were frantically shooting at the Pigmen.
But there were simply too many Pigmen.
For every one shot down, more filled the gap.
Once they approached the wooden walls, the triple-bow ballistae on the watchtowers lost their firing angles.
The ballistae could not target the Pigmen gathering at the breach.
¡°Kill them all! Leave no one alive!¡±
A Pigman elder roared excitedly after cutting down a Goblin.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
The roar caught the attention of the Goblin archers on the wooden walls.
The sound of arrows breaking through the air followed swiftly.
¡°Thud!¡±
Several bolts struck the elder¡¯s body.
One even pierced through its skull.
The Pigman elder¡¯s eyes rolled back, and it collapsed to the ground.
¡°Climb up and kill the Goblins on the walls!¡±
The death of the elder enraged the Pigmen.
They roared as they charged toward the wooden walls.
Meanwhile, the battle at the breach reached its conclusion.
Due to exhaustion, Gobu Di reached his limit first.
¡°Ah!¡±
A scream echoed.
Losing strength, Gobu Di failed to raise his spiked club in time.
Pig Da Qiang took advantage, stepping forward and severing Gobu Di¡¯s right hand with a single strike.
The severed hand holding the spiked club fell heavily to the ground.
¡°Die, Goblin!¡±
Pig Da Qiang let out a victorious roar.
With a sinister grin, he swung his machete down toward Gobu Di¡¯s neck.
Even at the end, Gobu Di refused to yield.
Opening its mouth, it roared at Pig Da Qiang.
¡°How dare you!¡±
At that moment, a thunderous roar resounded across the battlefield.
The voice was so loud that it drowned out all other sounds.
From the forest to the northwest, a dark shadow suddenly darted out.
It moved so fast it seemed like a bolt of lightning streaking across the wasteland.
The newcomer was none other than Li Meng!
With a furious shout, Li Meng used all his strength to hurl the massive iron rod in his hand.
¡°Boom!¡±
A visible shockwave burst forth.
The iron rod whistled through the air.
Its speed stirred up a trail of dust.
Covering hundreds of meters in an instant, the iron rod plunged into the dense formation of Pigmen outside the breach.
¡°Boom!¡±
Where the iron rod passed, Pigmen were thrown into the air.
A line of Pigmen was directly pierced through.
At the breach, Pig Da Qiang felt a chill down his spine.
A sudden impact struck from behind.
Then there was nothing but darkness as it was engulfed.
In reality, with a loud ¡°smash,¡± Pig Da Qiang¡¯s upper body exploded.
It was as if a watermelon had been smashed open.
Blood and flesh splattered everywhere.
¡°Boom!¡±
A large hole appeared in the wooden wall to the left of the breach.
The iron rod, still unstoppable, crashed into the stockade.
It barreled through over ten wooden houses before embedding itself in the eastern wall with a ¡°thud.¡±
¡°It¡¯s over! It¡¯s over!¡±
This scene terrified Pig Da Zhi in the forest.
The feared entity had finally appeared.
Never did it expect a Goblin capable of taking on thousands to emerge.
¡°Retreat! Retreat! Hurry!¡±
Pig Da Zhi quickly turned and grabbed a horn from a clansman¡¯s waist.
Bringing it to his lips, he blew with all his might.
¡°Woo!¡±
The urgent horn resounded through the forest.
It reached the attacking Pigmen at the stockade.
¡°The leader is dead! The leader is dead!¡±
The sudden attack and the leader¡¯s abrupt death caught the Pigmen off guard.
The horn sound brought them back to their senses.
The leader¡¯s death sapped their morale.
The horn¡¯s call threw the Pigmen into a panicked retreat.
Both inside and outside the stockade, the Pigmen fled in disarray.
At this moment, hoofbeats thundered from the western forest.
The sound grew louder, shaking the earth.
In the next instant, a tide of Goblin boar riders surged out of the forest.
¡°Goblin boar riders, charge!¡±
Seeing the fleeing Pigmen, Gobu Qiang roared in excitement.
Nearly a thousand Goblin boar riders flooded out of the forest.
Like a black cloud, they bore down on the fleeing Pigmen army.
¡°Goblin riders?¡±
A startled voice came from the forest.
Pig Da Zhi stared in disbelief at the charging Goblin boar riders.
The Goblins had formed cavalry?
Was this still the foolish race only interested in eating and breeding?
¡°What a joke!¡±
Cursing under his breath, Pig Da Zhi turned and fled deeper into the forest without looking back.
When the Goblin boar riders charged out, Li Meng had already reached the breach.
Seeing the fleeing Pigmen, Li Meng didn¡¯t bother to pursue them.
Smirking, Li Meng shook his aching hand.
It seemed he had used too much force earlier, exceeding his body¡¯s limits.
At the moment he hurled the iron rod, Li Meng felt the bones in his arm fracture.
Thankfully, his regenerative abilities quickly healed the broken bones.
¡°Boss, my¡ my hand is broken!¡±
Seeing the boss approach, Gobu Di plopped to the ground.
Looking at his severed hand, he cried with a face full of despair.
Update 1
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Chapter 102: The Defeat of the Pigmen
Chapter 102: The Defeat of the Pigmen
Li Meng glanced at the ground and bent down to pick up a large cleaver belonging to the Pigmen.
Then, he extended his left hand.
Holding the cleaver in his right hand, he suddenly slashed at his left arm.
"Shhh!"
His left hand was severed at the wrist, and blood spattered everywhere.
The intense pain caused Li Meng to frown slightly.
With an expressionless face, he dropped the cleaver, picked up the severed hand from the ground, and tossed it to Gobu Di.
"Eat it!"
At that moment, something miraculous occurred.
From the wound where Li Meng''s hand was severed, new flesh and bone began to grow visibly.
"Ah!"
In the distance, screams from the Pigmen echoed from the wasteland.
The rumbling sound of hooves reverberated as it drew closer to the fleeing Pigmen.
The charging Goblin boar riders first unleashed a volley of arrows.
With the added speed, the crossbow bolts gained greater range and power.
Hundreds of bolts rained down like a dark cloud upon the Pigmen.
Hundreds of Pigmen were immediately pinned to the ground.
After the first volley of arrows, the Goblin boar riders closed in on the fleeing Pigmen.
At the forefront of the charge, the leading Goblin wielded a lance.
Before the Pigmen could retreat into the forest, the Goblin boar riders thundered into their ranks with an unstoppable force.
The fleeing Pigmen were thrown into disarray.
The sound of "bang, bang" collisions echoed across the battlefield.
Many Pigmen were sent flying by the tusks of the boars.
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Some Pigmen were impaled and flung into the air by the lances.
When the Goblin boar riders finished their charge, they left behind a field of wailing Pigmen.
The once-dense Pigmen scattered and fled into the forest.
Meanwhile, at the breach in the wooden wall.
In less than five minutes, Li Meng''s left hand had fully regenerated.
This scene left Gobu Di stunned.
"Eat it now!"
Gobu Di snapped back to his senses.
He hurriedly stuffed the severed hand into his mouth and swallowed it whole.
"My hand... My hand!"
Shortly after swallowing, Gobu Di''s severed hand began to respond.
New flesh and bone grew from the wound.
Ignoring the pain, Gobu Di hopped around joyfully.
"Boss, you''re incredible!"
Gobu Di dropped to his knees with a "thud."
He crawled forward and kissed Li Meng''s foot.
Li Meng grinned and patted Gobu Di''s shoulder.
"You, kid, didn''t even flinch in the face of death. Not bad, very good!"
Gobu Di grinned sycophantically in response to the praise, his large front teeth making him look comical.
Li Meng had discovered the regenerative properties of Ogre meat by chance.
It happened the day he met Benben.
A Goblin with a severed finger had regrown it that day.
Although Li Meng hadn''t paid much attention at the time, he later realized it must have been related to Benben''s flesh.
The Ogres'' regenerative ability came from their "Flesh Regeneration" skill.
If they had it, their flesh must have similar effects.
Today was the first experiment.
As Li Meng had expected, the result was exactly as he anticipated.
Li Meng bent down and picked up another cleaver from the ground.
Then, he approached the lower half of a Pigman corpse nearby.
With a single slash, he severed the left leg of the Pigman.
Pulling off the beast hide from the leg, he tore off a chunk of fatty meat and took a bite.
The unique, rich flavor made Li Meng''s eyes light up.
"This Pigman meat is quite good!"
Not just good¡ªexcellent.
It was ten times better than wild boar meat.
[Devour skill activated, gained skill "War Stomp"]
The system notification made Li Meng grin.
Judging by the breach in the wooden wall, Li Meng deduced that the Pigman who fought Gobu Di must have had magical abilities.
It turned out to be an offensive magical skill.
"Boss! Boss!"
At that moment, Gobu Qiang rode a boar and came galloping over.
Reaching the breach, he dismounted and scurried to his boss''s side.
"Boss, should we pursue them? I''m not familiar with the terrain over there. If we encounter uneven terrain, it could spell trouble for us."
Hearing this, Li Meng''s face showed a trace of appreciation.
"Very good, Gobu Qiang. It seems you haven''t forgotten my teachings!"
Gobu Qiang grinned obsequiously.
"I''ll never forget what the boss says."
The saying "Avoid forests when in pursuit" was just as applicable to Goblin boar riders.
Boars were only suited for charging on relatively flat terrain.
Encountering uneven ground would render them ineffective.
Without speed, cavalry would lose its advantage.
Turning to look at the battlefield littered with corpses inside the wooden stronghold, Li Meng fell silent.
There were Pigmen corpses, but even more were Goblin corpses.
If he had been a little later, Gobu Di''s Goblin squad would have been annihilated.
"Boss, what should we do now?"
After a moment''s thought, Li Meng shook his head.
"Don''t pursue them for now. Marching all night must have been exhausting. Let the boys have a good meal!"
Hearing this, Gobu Qiang''s eyes lit up.
He quickly turned and hurried back to his boar.
"Boss, got it!"
Gobu Qiang mounted his boar and eagerly galloped toward the battlefield outside the forest.
Soon, the Goblin boar riders stationed outside the forest stirred.
One by one, the Goblins dismounted, eagerly pouncing on the Pigman corpses to devour them.
Some Pigmen were still alive, their screams echoing in the night.
"They really do resemble hyenas."
Watching his Goblin underlings show the most interest in the half-dead "meat," Li Meng chuckled and shook his head.
Perhaps because he had once been human, eating prey alive still unsettled him slightly.
However, he had no intention of stopping his Goblin underlings from doing so.
After all, it was their nature.
As their leader, he couldn''t easily change their instincts.
An hour later, the western forest once again erupted with noise.
A dense crowd of armored Goblins emerged from the woods.
Their numbers were so vast that they quickly filled the wasteland.
Seeing the Goblin boar riders feasting so contentedly, they furiously screeched and rushed to snatch the food.
For more than half an hour, the chaotic cries of "wa wa" echoed around the stronghold.
Eventually, the battlefield inside and outside the stronghold was cleared.
Apart from the bloodstains, even the bones had been devoured by the Goblins.
With full bellies, the Goblins lay down and slept contentedly.
Goblins were like that¡ªlazy after eating, only active when hungry.
"Get up, you lazy worms!"
Under the rebukes of their leaders, the Goblins reluctantly got up and stood.
The densely packed Goblins moved like snails, slowly disappearing into the forest.
As the Goblin army continued its advance deeper into the northeastern forest, the western forest once again grew noisy.
Massive figures emerged.
Benben had arrived with the Ogres.
Announcement 2
What do you think about this setup for a character?
A guy with a fianc¨¦e who, no matter how hard he tries to win her over, only sees him as a loyal puppy. The twist? She¡¯s a hardcore yuri who¡¯s only into girls¡ªand she uses his powers to charm and collect girls for herself!
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Now, imagine this: our MC, Shia, reincarnates as that guy in an eroge he used to play. But this time, will he let his fianc¨¦e steal all the girls again? Or will he flip the script and turn her into his puppy instead?
(Harem story vibes, of co urse.)
The link to the story: https://www.royalroad.com/fiction/101862/from-pawn-to-king-ruling-a-harem-of-chaos?utm_source=home&utm_medium=latest_updates
Chapter 103: Simulated Life of the Ghost Beastman
Chapter 103: Simulated Life of the Ghost Beastman
¡°Looks like Benben and the others are of no use now!¡±
Looking at the approaching Ogre, Li Meng grinned.
Bringing the Ogre along was a precaution, just in case.
Li Meng hadn¡¯t expected the Pigmen to collapse so quickly.
¡°Let¡¯s go and take a look at the Pigmen tribe!¡±
With a wave of his slightly numb hand, Li Meng headed toward the forest in the northeast.
Gobu Di glanced back at his dwindling subordinates.
He scratched his head and finally followed behind his leader, wagging his tail.
Meanwhile, the surviving Goblins in the wooden stockade watched as their leader and the leader''s leader departed.
Many Goblins in the wooden stockade were injured.
The incessant cries of ¡°Wah wah¡± filled the air.
Injured Goblins who could recover mobility within a day would survive; otherwise, they would become food for their companions.
In the afternoon, before the sunset¡ª
¡°Wah wah!¡±
The forest west of the Pigmen tribe¡¯s settlement became noisy.
A dense swarm of green-skinned figures charged out of the forest, shouting ¡°Wah wah!¡±
Thousands of Goblins turned into a dark tide and stormed into the Pigmen tribe¡¯s settlement.
But all they found was an empty settlement.
¡°Go inside and check! There¡¯s a Pigman scent!¡±
Under the scolding of a small boss, the Goblins rudely barged into the wooden houses.
The sound of crackling and smashing filled the air.
Before long, the Goblins emerged empty-handed.
¡°Boss, bad news! The Pigmen have fled!¡±
A Goblin ran out of the settlement and dashed toward Li Meng.
Outside the forest west of the settlement, Li Meng was gazing at the Pigmen tribe from a distance.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
From afar, he could already smell the stench of the Pigmen¡¯s latrine pits.
This made the slightly cleanliness-obsessed Li Meng keep his distance from the Pigmen¡¯s settlement.
¡°If they¡¯ve fled, so be it. Withdraw!¡±
Li Meng waved his hand in disgust at the stench lingering in front of him.
His tall figure turned and entered the dark forest.
Gobu Di twitched his nose, sniffing the air.
It smelled good to him. Why did the boss seem displeased?
Unable to figure it out, Gobu Di turned and followed his boss.
¡°System, begin the Life Simulation!¡±
Walking through the forest, Li Meng activated this month¡¯s Life Simulation attempt.
Whether the future had changed or not, Li Meng didn¡¯t know.
But this month¡¯s Life Simulation attempt was still unused.
Whether the future had altered or not, a single simulation would reveal the truth.
[Life Simulation begins]
[You and Gobu Di are walking through the dark forest]
[You drove out the Pigmen tribe and claimed ultimate victory]
[You led the Goblin army back to the settlement]
[You found Bai Ling and instructed the Yue Clan tribe to monitor movements along the western river]
[Your settlement grew and flourished]
[One day, you received news from the Yue Clan tribe that a fleet was advancing upriver along the Goblin River]
[The Irisis Principality¡¯s pioneering legion launched a massive assault]
[You led your army to the northern marshlands¡¯ western forest to ambush the human fleet]
[A Ghost Beastman appeared outside your settlement, and your settlement was destroyed]
[Furious, you returned to the settlement alone upon hearing the news]
[The Ghost Beastman awaited you in the settlement, and you killed it in a rage]
[You rushed back to your Goblin army, only to find that the human fleet had left the ambush zone]
[The Yue Clan tribe was discovered by the human fleet, and the Irisis Principality¡¯s pioneering legion launched a full-scale invasion]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Lead the Goblin army back to the settlement]
[2. Lead the Goblin army to the Yue Clan tribe to jointly defend against the Irisis Principality¡¯s pioneering legion]
[3. Continue ambushing on the northern bank of the Goblin River with the Goblin army]
[4. Pursue the fleet for a frontal battle]
¡°The Ghost Beastman arrived early?¡±
Walking through the forest, Li Meng frowned slightly.
In the previous simulated future, the Ghost Beastman merely came to challenge him.
But this time, it destroyed his settlement outright.
¡°Could it be because the Pigmen were driven out early?¡±
This seemed likely, but there was no way to be sure.
Li Meng didn¡¯t dwell too much on the issue.
He focused his attention on the four options.
Option one was too passive to choose.
Returning to the settlement meant abandoning the Yue Clan tribe.
While it was tempting to rely on the settlement¡¯s defenses to repel the pioneering legion¡¯s assault, the high wooden walls of the settlement would likely be useless against the human army.
The human army included strong individuals who could kill Benben and Yue E.
The settlement¡¯s defenses couldn¡¯t withstand magic.
Option four, although proactive, was foolish.
Options two and three were the best choices.
But the former required a significant sacrifice, while the latter was fraught with uncertainties.
¡°Option two!¡±
Rather than fighting alone, it was better to unite all available forces.
The marshlands outside the Yue Clan tribe had only the southern shoals suitable for human landings.
Choosing the battlefield near the Yue Clan tribe would at least offer a terrain advantage.
[You led the Goblin army to retreat to the Yue Clan tribe]
[The Yue Clan defensive battle began in earnest]
[Your unparalleled strength led to the defeat of the Irisis pioneering legion]
[One day, you received news of a demonic army led by the Pigmen attacking your settlement]
[The Gobu Di settlement was destroyed by the demonic army]
[The Throne settlement was destroyed by the demonic army]
[The Iron Cavern was destroyed by the demonic army]
[The Irisis pioneering legion launched another assault]
[Hearing about the demonic invasion, the Irisis pioneering legion hastily retreated to avoid battle]
[One day, a Ghost Beastman appeared outside the Yue Clan tribe, challenging you]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Accept its challenge]
[2. Submit to it]
¡°This must be the worst future line!¡±
Walking through the forest, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
Humans came, and so did demons.
He was like the cream in the middle of an Oreo.
One side was the humans, and the other was the demons.
And both were coming for him.
¡°Fine, let¡¯s try being a bit more cowardly this time!¡±
¡°System, option two!¡±
[You chose to submit to the Ghost Beastman]
[You knelt in humiliation before the Ghost Beastman]
[For killing its clansmen, the Ghost Beastman punished you]
[You were hung on the eastern gate of the Yue Clan tribe, enduring a thousand lashes of poison daily]
[Your descendants submitted to the Ghost Beastman out of fear]
[One day, Benben and Yue E attacked the Ghost Beastman]
[Hearing the commotion, you broke free of your restraints but arrived too late]
[The Ghost Beastman kicked Benben¡¯s head to your feet]
[Sitting on Yue E¡¯s corpse, the Ghost Beastman taunted you]
[In a fit of rage, you used the Berserk skill and devoured it alive amidst its screams]
[With Benben and Yue E¡¯s deaths, your hatred for the world grew]
[You led the Goblin army to attack the hesitant Irisis pioneering legion]
[You emerged victorious, annihilating the Irisis pioneering legion and shocking the human nations]
[The demonic army retreated in panic after their leader¡¯s death]
Chapter 104: Evolving into a Goblin Warrior
Chapter 104: Evolving into a Goblin Warrior
[You led the heavily damaged goblin army back to the tribe and rebuilt it.]
[Your tribe thrived and grew.]
[One day, you received news from the Yue Clan.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe summoned the Savage God Akuya.]
[The three-year deadline has arrived.]
[Simulation ended. Score: 100 points.]
[Please select one of the following rewards:]
[Each 10 points spent: Level +1.]
[Each 1 point spent: Attribute +1.]
[Each 20 points spent: Charisma +1.]
[Each 10 points spent: "Wind Blade" skill level +1.]
[Each 10 points spent: "Mind Speech" skill level +1.]
[Each 10 points spent: "Body Strengthening" skill level +1.]
"Choose to increase my level!"
This time was unlucky. All three skill upgrades were pretty useless.
The best option was to level up and improve the character''s attributes.
Although "Body Strengthening" was a skill that enhanced attributes, the bonuses were so insignificant that even if upgraded, it would still be mediocre.
[100 points consumed. Level +10.]
The familiar, excruciating pain struck again.
This time, it was a deep, bone-penetrating agony, as if his entire skeletal structure was being crushed by a massive hand.
As Li Meng walked through the forest, his body crackled audibly, swelling visibly at a rapid pace.
His height also increased quickly: 2.2 meters, 2.3 meters, 2.4 meters, 2.5 meters, 2.6 meters¡If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"Boss¡ Boss?"
Gobu Di, trailing behind Li Meng, was startled by the transformation.
It watched as its leader¡¯s body grew taller and more muscular before its eyes. In just moments, the previously smaller boss had become larger than it was.
Li Meng glanced at his now burly hands and grinned. His body brimmed with explosive power.
At this moment, he felt like the Hulk from Marvel packed with muscle from head to toe.
"Gobu Di, am I handsome?"
Li Meng raised his arms, flexing. The bulging muscles exuded a robust beauty.
Gobu Di nodded enthusiastically.
"Boss, you¡¯ve evolved into a Goblin Warrior?"
Scratching its bald head, Gobu Di couldn¡¯t fathom why its leader was evolving so quickly. Not long ago, the boss was just a runt¡ªweak enough to be stomped to death.
Born in the stomach of a Ground Mouse, he shouldn''t have grown so strong.
Li Meng grinned with satisfaction. "Yes, I¡¯ve evolved into a Goblin Warrior!"
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 35]
[Strength: 2717]
[Defense: 2664]
[Agility: 1497]
[Magic: 2399]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Skills:]
[Devour: Gain a chance to acquire the skills of beasts devoured.]
[Iron Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Physical Regeneration: LV5]
[Mind Speech: LV1]
[Ice Elemental King: LV1]
[Berserk: LV1]
[Body Strengthening: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
The stat increases from leveling up were decent¡ªabout 80 points added to each attribute per level.
Watching his leader from behind, Gobu Di¡¯s eyes gleamed with zeal.
Perhaps the boss would soon become the legendary "Goblin King."
If the boss became a king, all goblins in the Goblin Forest would come to worship him.
"Damn it, it feels like I¡¯ve hit a dead end," Li Meng muttered, his excitement fading.
The thought of the bleak future ahead gave him a headache.
Without the trial-and-error simulations, he would have died countless times already.
This time¡¯s prediction indicated the worst possible future.
There were two unavoidable enemies on this path:
One was the Irisis Principality¡¯s human frontier army.
The other was the demon clan''s Ghost Beastmen.
"The only turning point might be the Ghost Beastman¡¯s first appearance!"
As he walked through the forest, Li Meng pondered.
The Ghost Beastman couldn¡¯t die¡ªnot by his hand.
He could defeat him but had to let him escape.
Afterward, he could simulate life again to see if the future changed.
That night, under the full moon, chaos erupted in the northeastern part of the Gobu Di Tribe¡¯s forest.
Dark shapes moved through the woods, and the sound of footsteps rumbled.
A large number of goblins emerged from the darkness into the moonlit clearing.
The goblin army, returning from the Pigmen Tribe, headed back to the Gobu Di Tribe overnight.
"The boss is back! The boss''s boss is back!"
Cheers erupted from goblins stationed on the wooden walls.
Even the Ogre resting on the barren land outside the walls raised its head.
Emerging from the forest, Li Meng spotted the massive steel frame of Benben in the moonlight. His eyes flashed with determination.
No matter what, he would never allow a future where Benben died to happen.
As the night deepened, the Gobu Di Tribe became overcrowded, unable to accommodate all the goblins.
The goblin army camped on the barren land outside the wooden walls.
By early morning, the outside of the Gobu Di Tribe bustled with activity.
A dense swarm of goblins moved westward into the forest like a dark cloud.
From the watchtower, Gobu Di watched its leader leave.
Soon, it would return to the Throne Cave Dwelling and spend the next half-year there, reproducing.
With rations in hand, the goblin army moved swiftly.
Covering the nearly seventy-kilometer journey in just a day and a half, they returned to the Throne Cave Dwelling.
With the goblin army back, life in the Throne Cave Dwelling returned to normal.
Goblin hunting parties spread out, swarming into the deeper parts of the forest like locusts.
Li Meng didn¡¯t idle after returning to the Throne Cave Dwelling.
The next day, he left for the Yue Clan.
---
Northern Marshlands.
Yue Clan Tribe. Afternoon.
Under the blazing sun, an ice trail extended from the east.
Viewed from the sky, the trail spread rapidly across the water¡¯s surface, forcing the marshland creatures to retreat underwater.
A tall, muscular figure dashed along the icy path.
The figure was none other than Li Meng.
As he ran, Li Meng looked up slightly.
"There it is!"
With a grin, he slowed his pace, transitioning from running to a leisurely walk atop the water.
Ahead, in the swamp, stood a wooden stockade¡ªjust within reach.
"Yue E, are you there?"
Li Meng¡¯s loud shout caught the attention of the Lizardmen guards on the walls.
Chapter 105: Yue Clan and Yue E
Chapter 105: Yue Clan and Yue E
"A huge goblin!"
"Is this a Goblin Warrior? Did it come from the Throne Cave Dwelling?"
"It must be. Go notify the chief immediately!"
The Lizardmen on the wooden wall dared not act carelessly.
One Lizardman hurriedly ran down the wooden wall.
At this moment, Li Meng received Yue E''s response from the waters outside.
"Boss, I''m here!"
Not far away, the deep water suddenly splashed violently.
A massive creature leaped out of the water.
Then it heavily crashed back into the water.
A shadow flashed beneath the murky surface.
At the boundary between the deep and shallow waters, Yue E leaped out of the water again.
Her enormous body landed heavily in the shallow waters.
For a moment, water splashed everywhere.
Yue E waded through the water, running towards Li Meng.
"Boss, it''s been so long since you came!"
Upon reaching Li Meng, Yue E circled around him twice.
Her massive tail swayed joyfully.
Her huge eyes looked eagerly at the sack Li Meng carried on his shoulder.
"Boss, you''ve gotten stronger again!"
From her boss, Yue E could sense a powerful aura.
The current boss was much stronger than before.
"Yue E, since I''ve gotten stronger, you need to grow stronger quickly too!"
Li Meng took the sack off his shoulder.
Seeing this, Yue E eagerly and skillfully opened her ferocious mouth.
Li Meng poured the magic crystals from the sack into Yue E''s mouth.
"Try to master more skills. Having only one skill is too useless."
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Yue E swallowed the mouthful of magic crystals in one gulp.
"Boss, having too many skills would make it hard to decide which to use. It''s troublesome!"
Li Meng shook his head helplessly.
Perhaps for magical beasts, having many skills wasn¡¯t necessarily a good thing.
Specializing in a single skill might be the norm for magical beasts.
Li Meng observed Yue E closely.
[Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)]
[Level: 43]
[Strength: 841]
[Defense: 917]
[Agility: 611]
[Magic: 592]
[Skill: Water Bullet (LV8)]
With the large quantity of magic crystals she consumed, Yue E had gained 12 levels.
Her stats had also improved slightly.
Even her Water Bullet skill had leveled up by one.
"Alright, go play on your own!"
Being the Swamp Crocodile King, Yue E¡¯s potential was naturally not low.
With a few more years of feeding, she might even break into the next rank beyond "Elite."
Patting Yue E''s large tusks, Li Meng turned and walked towards the wooden stockade.
Watching her boss leave, Yue E lounged leisurely in the sunlight.
"It''s here! It''s here!"
The eastern gate of the wooden stockade was already open, awaiting the arrival of the Goblin Warrior outside.
When the Goblin Warrior''s muscular figure appeared, the Lizardmen behind the gate immediately lowered their heads.
Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen behind the gate and noticed Bai Ling among them.
Facing the Goblin Warrior¡¯s gaze, Bai Ling''s body trembled.
She was about to bow her head when she suddenly realized something.
With a stunned expression, she looked at the Goblin Warrior in front of her.
"Mas¡ Master?"
Li Meng grinned and walked forward, hoisting Bai Ling onto his shoulder.
Carrying Bai Ling, Li Meng strode towards the largest wooden house.
"What¡¯s wrong? A few months without seeing me, and you¡¯ve already forgotten your master?"
A faint blush flashed across Bai Ling¡¯s cheeks as Li Meng carried her.
The surrounding tribesmen were all watching.
Faced with the Goblin Warrior¡¯s rough behavior, the surrounding Lizardmen were filled with anger but dared not speak out.
They could only lower their heads to hide the hatred in their eyes.
"Bai Ling would not dare. Bai Ling was merely surprised that Master evolved so quickly!"
At this moment, Bai Ling was utterly shocked.
The first time she met this Goblin, he was still weak.
He was just a Hobgoblin then.
She hadn¡¯t expected that in less than a year, he had evolved into a powerful Goblin Warrior.
"Haha, I¡¯m a genius!"
Li Meng laughed heartily, carrying Bai Ling into the wooden house.
"Master, this isn¡¯t the Throne Cave Dwelling. I¡ I can¡¯t!"
Placed on the bed by Li Meng, Bai Ling retreated repeatedly.
Her face showed a pleading expression.
Li Meng grinned and sat casually by the bed.
"Outside the Throne Cave Dwelling, I have no interest in reproducing offspring!"
Li Meng was busy and had no time to bully Bai Ling.
Hearing this, Bai Ling sighed in relief.
"Then why has Master come here this time?"
Li Meng took out a wooden board from his waist pouch.
Then he pulled out a piece of charcoal.
"Bai Ling, where does the Goblin River lead westward?"
Though she didn¡¯t understand why the Goblin Warrior was asking this, Bai Ling didn¡¯t think much of it and gestured with her hand.
"It flows westward at first, then northward into human territories!"
"When the river bends northward, there is a branch heading south that leads straight to the Black Mountain Marshlands."
Li Meng began sketching on the wooden board with the charcoal.
"How far is it from here?"
"For the Lizardmen, it would take about nine days on foot."
The Lizardmen¡¯s stamina was decent.
Traveling by water, they could swim over 50 kilometers a day.
This meant the distance to the junction was about 500 kilometers.
Not too far, but not exactly near either.
"Bai Ling, I want you to send a Lizardman team to monitor the junction. If any human ships head south, notify me immediately!"
Human ships heading south?
Curiosity flickered in Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
"Master, have you received some information?"
Without hiding anything, Li Meng nodded.
"The nearby human forces are stirring."
Li Meng didn¡¯t elaborate.
He believed that with Bai Ling¡¯s intelligence, she could deduce the rest.
Bai Ling frowned slightly, a hint of worry in her eyes.
"Master, I will immediately send a Lizardman squad to monitor the junction!"
The Northern Marshlands bordered the northern edge of the Goblin Forest.
Bai Ling knew a bit about the humans on the other side of the border.
Humans had always coveted the fertile lands of the Goblin Forest.
For centuries, they had been encroaching on it bit by bit.
The so-called adventurers were a human profession born to exterminate magical beasts.
Once the magical beasts were wiped out, the humans would deforest the area completely.
Standing up, Li Meng turned and strode outside.
"I came here for this matter. I¡¯m leaving!"
Waving his hand, Li Meng left the wooden house in large strides.
Standing at the doorway, basking in the sunlight, Li Meng grinned.
His decision to spare Bai Ling¡¯s life back then had been the right one.
Otherwise, the Lizardmen of the Northern Marshlands wouldn¡¯t have obediently accepted his rule.
"It¡¯s time to go back and reproduce offspring!"
Leaving the wooden house, Li Meng walked towards the outskirts of the tribe.
Wherever he passed, the Lizardmen avoided him like the plague.
Li Meng paid no attention to their minor actions.
He never expected the Lizardmen to willingly submit to him.
As long as their submission maintained the status quo, it was enough.
"Boss, are you leaving?"
Just as Li Meng left the Yue Clan Tribe, Yue E caught up to him.
"You can¡¯t go where I¡¯m going. Stay in the marshlands obediently."
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Chapter 106: The Boss Just Likes Strange Things
Chapter 106: The Boss Just Likes Strange Things
Yue E shook her enormous head.
"Boss, I want to give you something!"
Li Meng patted Yue E¡¯s massive tusk and grinned widely.
"Then give it to me. I¡¯ll take anything!"
"Wait here, I¡¯ll go get it!"
Yue E''s enormous body turned and ran toward the deep-water area.
Soon, Yue E dove into the water right before Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
Before long, there was a loud "splash."
Yue E''s massive form leapt out of the water and landed heavily in the shallows.
She waded through the water and ran over.
"Boss, it¡¯s this!"
Yue E opened her ferocious mouth and used her tongue to push out a silver metallic disc.
"This is¡ a sacrificial plate?"
Seeing what was in Yue E¡¯s mouth, Li Meng frowned slightly.
Why would such a thing appear in the Northern Marshlands?
And how did it end up in Yue E¡¯s possession?
Li Meng retrieved the sacrificial plate from Yue E¡¯s foul-smelling mouth.
"Yue E, where did you find this?"
Li Meng inspected the plate and asked Yue E.
"It was at the bottom of the water over there. At night, my kin would gather around it, but it makes me uncomfortable."
There was an ominous aura emanating from the sacrificial plate, one that stronger beings could sense more acutely.
"Could it be that guy deliberately left it here?"
Looking at the plate in his hand, Li Meng murmured to himself.
The Northern Marshlands were full of swamp crocodiles and swamp crabs.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Though these creatures lacked high intelligence, if they gathered around the sacrificial plate, they might accidentally activate it.
"It seems I need to grow stronger as quickly as possible!"
If he had enough power, he could capture the black-robed figure and interrogate them.
Then, he would uncover their goals and the forces behind them.
"This gift is great. If you find similar items in the future, bring them to me."
The Northern Marshlands were vast. There might be more than one sacrificial plate.
"Boss, this thing is strange. Are you sure you like it?"
Yue E¡¯s enormous eyes were fixed on the sacrificial plate in Li Meng¡¯s hands.
Li Meng grinned and stowed the plate away.
"I, your boss, love strange things. Alright, go back to sunbathing. I¡¯m leaving now!"
Li Meng began running again across the water¡¯s surface, leaving a long-lasting trail in his wake.
Watching her boss''s retreating figure, Yue E¡¯s enormous body sank into the water.
She closed her eyes and basked in the sunlight.
Her originally dark gray scales gradually turned light red under the sun¡¯s scorching rays.
---
The next morning, Li Meng returned to the tribe.
The Pigmen incident was over, and the tribe had returned to its usual routine.
This was the Goblins¡¯ time.
Nearly every day, new Goblin newborns were welcomed into the Throne Tribe, strengthening it further.
Likewise, Goblins died daily for various reasons.
Hunting teams continued to expand their hunting territories deeper into the forest on both riverbanks, suffering inevitable casualties along the way.
---
Another day, in the morning.
At the Throne Tribe, within the Throne Cave Dwelling.
"Boss! Something terrible has happened!"
A Goblin¡¯s voice suddenly shouted from outside, accompanied by urgent footsteps.
"Bang!"
The sturdy door was violently pushed open.
Gobu Zhang''s tall frame trotted inside.
As soon as he entered, he froze in place.
"Boss, I¡¯ll¡ just wait outside!"
Seeing his boss sitting cross-legged on the bed with a female Lizardman in his arms, Gobu Zhang gave a sycophantic smile and quickly backed out, closing the door behind him.
After some time, the sounds inside the wooden house ceased.
Before long, with a creak, the door of the Throne Cave Dwelling opened from the inside.
Li Meng¡¯s tall and muscular figure emerged.
"Gobu Zhang, what¡¯s got you so flustered?"
Outside the wooden house, Gobu Zhang, waiting anxiously, quickly stepped forward.
"Boss, two of my hunting teams haven¡¯t returned for nearly two months!"
Gobu Zhang wore a mournful expression.
Li Meng sat on the steps at the door.
"Where did you send them?"
Gobu Zhang glanced around nervously, pointing northward.
Seeing the direction Gobu Zhang indicated, Li Meng glared at him.
"They probably entered human territory and were dealt with by the humans."
To the north lay a mountain range. Beyond it was human territory.
After two months with no news, it was clear what had happened.
"Those damn humans!"
Gobu Zhang cursed angrily.
"Boss, I want revenge!"
Fuming, Gobu Zhang knelt down and prostrated himself, his rage turning into servile flattery.
Li Meng waved dismissively, impatient.
"They¡¯re dead. Let it go. We can always make more. Revenge can wait for another time."
Li Meng was busy strategizing about future plans and had no time for unnecessary trouble.
The tribe lost Goblins daily for various reasons.
Losing two hunting teams was no big deal to him.
"Alright, for now, just stay in the tribe and focus on replenishing the numbers."
Gobu Zhang¡¯s initially disappointed expression brightened.
He scrambled to his feet and joyfully ran toward the depths of the forest.
Watching his subordinate¡¯s retreating figure, Li Meng shook his head in exasperation.
Goblins were like that¡ªobsessed with food and reproduction, and nothing else.
Gobu Zhang didn¡¯t actually care about the lost teams; he just wanted an excuse to stay in the tribe.
To encourage their evolution, Li Meng hadn¡¯t allowed even Goblin warriors to remain in the tribe.
Over the course of a year, they spent at least half their time hunting outside.
Glancing westward toward the forest¡¯s depths, Li Meng¡¯s eyes narrowed.
Now, all he had to do was wait.
Three months had passed since the Pigmen incident.
The Irisis Principality¡¯s pioneering army would likely arrive within a year, no sooner than six months.
"It seems preparing for war is the only way forward."
Li Meng turned and reentered the wooden house, his expression cold.
In the coming year, his only focus would be on producing offspring.
Food? Let the Goblins solve that problem.
If they couldn¡¯t find food nearby, they would search further away.
No matter the cost, he needed to increase the tribe¡¯s forces.
Soon, the tranquility of the wooden house was broken once more and continued for a long time.
Every few days, the female Lizardmen in the Throne Cave Dwelling would be replaced with new ones.
Time passed, day by day.
---
Seven months later, in the Goblin Forest.
It was noon, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky.
Among the mountains, the Goblin River meandered onward.
At the confluence of the main river and a tributary, a massive fleet sailed upriver against the current.
Tall sails rose high, forming a sea of white clouds over the river.
Chapter 107: Humans Appear
Chapter 107: Humans Appear
A series of massive wooden sailing ships glided through the water.
Each sailing ship was approximately 80 meters in length.
Along both sides of the ships, a row of oars moved rhythmically.
The sailors inside the cabins shouted in unison as they rowed.
The oars dipped into the water in sync with the sailors¡¯ chants.
Over thirty sailing ships formed a column, stretching several kilometers along the river.
Looking toward the sky on either side of the river, two floating ships could be seen.
One floated to the left, the other to the right, scouting the nearby forest for movement.
Looking toward the decks of the sailing ships, rows of soldiers in blue armor were visible.
Each soldier held a long spear, patrolling the decks diligently.
On the decks of some ships, adventurers could be seen admiring the scenery on both banks.
Their attire distinguished them from the soldiers.
Unlike the standard armor of the soldiers, the adventurers¡¯ equipment appeared older yet more intricate.
At the same time, on the deck of the lead sailing ship.
A figure in silver armor stood at the bow, leaning on the ship''s railing.
His hands rested on the railing as he gazed into the distance at the river''s end.
His rugged face exuded an aura of authority and dignity.
¡°Lord Carlos, the floating ships report a suspected Gobu Xia¡¯s Cave has been discovered on the northern bank!¡±
A soldier hurried to the side of the general in silver armor.
The soldier placed one hand over his chest and gave a respectful salute.
Carlos waved his hand lightly.
¡°Have the adventurers deal with it. The fleet must not stop!¡±
Looking at the imposing figure before him, the soldier''s eyes filled with admiration.
Lord Carlos was not only a renowned Sword King of the borderlands but also the lord of the frontier territory.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
In the principality, he was known as the ¡°Southern Sword King.¡±
¡°Yes!¡±
The soldier turned and hurried toward the temple priest responsible for communicating with the floating ships.
Before long, one of the sailing ships detached from the main fleet.
The ship slowly approached the northern bank.
It stopped about 100 meters from the shore.
Two small boats were lowered from the deck into the water.
Two five-member adventurer squads boarded the small boats and headed toward the shore.
This entire scene was observed by multiple pairs of eyes ahead of the fleet.
¡°It¡¯s humans! The human fleet has appeared!¡±
At a bend where the Goblin River extended eastward.
In the reeds along the riverbank, several lizard heads emerged from the water.
Pairs of eyes spied on the human fleet in the distance.
¡°Go, report to the chief!¡±
The five lizard heads submerged one after another.
Beneath the shimmering surface, dark shadows darted away.
Ten days later, at the Yue Clan Tribe.
In the afternoon, inside the tribal chief¡¯s wooden house.
¡°What are the humans trying to do?¡±
¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? Such a large-scale invasion¡ªit¡¯s war!¡±
¡°Who is the target of this war?¡±
¡°Of course, it¡¯s the Savage Tribe and the magical beasts that humans consider monsters!¡±
The news of the humans¡¯ massive invasion caused heated discussions among the elders in the wooden house.
No one had anticipated that humans would truly invade the Goblin Forest.
When they first heard the tribal chief suggest monitoring the river to the west, they hadn¡¯t believed it.
After all, how could mere goblins know anything about human movements?
Yet the humans had indeed appeared.
And they hadn¡¯t come quietly¡ªthey were advancing aggressively.
This wasn¡¯t like the occasional adventurer¡¯s foray into the forest.
This was war. Real war.
¡°Chief, we must quickly inform the Throne Cave Dwelling. If the Yue Clan Tribe is discovered by humans, we¡¯ll be in grave danger!¡±
The Black Scales Chief looked solemnly at Bai Ling, the tribal chief sitting at the head of the room.
Although submitting to the goblins was an extremely humiliating choice, they had no other options.
To survive, they had to align themselves with the goblins.
Bai Ling glanced slightly at the Black Scales Chief.
¡°Black Scales Chief, I entrust this matter to you. Be quick and return swiftly!¡±
Black Scales nodded.
He stood up, turned, and hurriedly walked out.
The next afternoon, at the Throne Cave Dwelling.
A Lizardman suddenly emerged from the southern forest.
¡°Looks like someone¡¯s coming!¡±
¡°It¡¯s someone! It¡¯s a Lizardman!¡±
The appearance of the Lizardman caught the attention of the goblins on the wooden wall.
They didn¡¯t recall any Lizardman venturing out recently.
¡°Open the gate! The boss said to let Lizardmen in if they come!¡±
¡°Yes, yes! I almost forgot. Gobu Pig, you¡¯re the best!¡±
¡°If you really think I¡¯m the best, stop fighting me for meat.¡±
¡°No way! I¡¯ll concede on other matters, but not on this one!¡±
The Lizardman emerging from the forest was none other than Black Scales.
He had traveled through the night to reach the Throne Cave Dwelling as quickly as possible.
Seeing the wooden gate open, Black Scales quickened his pace.
¡°Hey, Lizardman, go to the Throne Cave Dwelling to see the boss!¡±
¡°He¡¯s a Lizardman; he won¡¯t understand us.¡±
¡°In that case, point with the spear!¡±
The goblins on the wooden wall gestured wildly with their spears, pointing toward the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Other goblins imitated them, causing a commotion.
Black Scales looked puzzled at the goblins bouncing around on the wall.
He couldn¡¯t understand what they were trying to convey.
¡°Lizardmen are really dumb!¡±
¡°Exactly, they can¡¯t even figure this out.¡±
¡°I haven¡¯t eaten Lizardman meat in a long time. Let¡¯s eat him.¡±
¡°Gobu Pig, I¡¯m telling the boss!¡±
¡°You wouldn¡¯t dare! I wasn¡¯t serious about eating him.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t care. You said it, so I¡¯m telling the boss!¡±
One goblin scrambled down the wall.
Another chased after him.
The two goblins tumbled and wrestled on the ground.
The other goblins laughed and cheered noisily.
¡°What are you doing, you useless trash fit only for eating dung!¡±
A loud scolding came from the wall.
A large goblin approached.
Seeing the two still fighting, the large goblin glared at them.
¡°Gobu Pig! Gobu Wen! Do you two want to become my dung tonight?¡±
The large goblin roared.
The two goblins on the ground quickly separated and scrambled to their feet.
They picked up their spears and hurried back to the wall.
The large goblin shot them one last glare before turning to look at the Lizardman below. He pointed toward the depths of the forest.
This time, Black Scales understood.
He quickly turned and ran toward the forest.
Before long, Black Scales found the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Inside, he met the fearsome goblin.
¡°Do you have news about the humans?¡±
Li Meng was fiddling with a sand table nearby.
As his size had grown, certain tasks had become inconvenient.
A single careless move could damage the sand table.
Black Scales took a deep breath.
He stepped forward and knelt with a thud.
¡°Yes. A massive human fleet is advancing up the Goblin River. Their intentions are clear!¡±
The commotion behind him made Li Meng turn toward the door, looking at Black Scales.
¡°I understand. You may leave now.¡±
Black Scales hesitated.
He wanted to know what the goblins would do.
But the goblins were unpredictable, and he dared not ask further.
He still wanted to return alive to his family.
Black Scales stood, kept his head lowered, and hurriedly departed.
Chapter 108: The Army Sets Out
Chapter 108: The Army Sets Out
Li Meng turned his head to look at the sand table in front of him.
He grinned and tossed the wooden stick in his hand into the sand table.
The stick precisely landed in the forest on the western side of the Northern Marshlands.
The tremendous force caused the end of the stick to tremble violently.
"Sound the war horn!"
Within the Throne Cave Dwelling, Li Meng''s roar suddenly echoed.
This startled Hei Lin, who hadn''t yet walked far from the cave entrance.
The Goblins guarding the gate shuddered at the sound.
One Goblin hurriedly ran toward the nearby watchtower.
"Oooo!"
Before long, a deep and resonant horn sound resounded from the tribe.
The loud sound reverberated through the heavens and earth.
Goblins hunting near the Throne Tribe halted their activities one after another.
Shortly after, sharp horn sounds echoed from deep within the forest and mountains.
Today, the Goblins were in uproar.
The deep horn sound reverberated across a hundred kilometers around the Throne Tribe.
All the hunting teams outside immediately ceased their hunts upon hearing the sound.
Each subdivision of the tribe began assembling its forces.
The scattered Goblins within the hundred-kilometer radius all moved toward the same direction.
Five days later, at the Throne Tribe.
In the morning, the wasteland outside the western wall was bustling.
The entire wasteland beyond the western wall was no longer visible.
It was completely covered by the dark, dense silhouettes of Goblins.
With numbers exceeding ten thousand, they stretched endlessly.
When nearly twenty-five thousand Goblins gathered together,This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
what a spectacular scene it was!
And this scene was personally witnessed by Li Meng.
Standing atop the watchtower, Li Meng silently gazed at the massive Goblin army outside the city.
The entire buffer zone was now covered by the green-skinned Goblin figures.
Looking south and north, the dense horde stretched beyond the horizon.
The so-called vast and boundless¡ªthis must be it.
It was not until today that Li Meng truly understood the terrifying nature of Goblins.
Li Meng held aloft a massive iron rod, raising it above his head!
The iron rod in his hand was no longer the one it used to be.
It was larger, thicker, and forged through two months of relentless hammering and refining.
The iron rod''s length now approached three meters.
At the instant Li Meng raised the iron rod,
the noise outside the wall instantly disappeared.
Every single Goblin gazed fanatically at their boss atop the watchtower.
"We are Goblins! Though we are weak, our numbers are infinite!"
This was what Li Meng most wanted to proclaim now.
Even the weakest creatures could ignite a wildfire that shook the world.
"Ha ha ha!"
Li Meng grinned and burst into laughter.
It was a ferocious laugh, a confident laugh.
A joyous laugh.
And even more, a laugh filled with anticipation for the future.
"Ha ha ha!"
The boss''s laughter infected all the Goblins outside the wooden wall.
Big and small Goblins couldn''t help but laugh aloud.
Some laughed while dancing around.
Some rolled on the ground, holding their bellies in laughter.
Others raised their weapons high and laughed feverishly.
Even the Goblin Wild Boar Riders laughed, and the boars beneath them snorted with laughter as well.
For a moment, the sound of raucous laughter echoed through the heavens and earth.
After a while, Li Meng atop the watchtower finally ceased laughing.
He waved the massive iron rod in his hand and pointed westward.
The deafening laughter outside immediately fell silent.
"This time, our target is humans. The entire army, march out!"
With Li Meng''s command, the boundless Goblin army moved.
The bosses and subordinates'' shouts echoed between heaven and earth.
The dark mass of troops surged like a tide into the western forest.
It seemed chaotic, but in fact, it was well-organized.
Nearly two thousand Goblin Wild Boar Riders also slowly advanced into the forest.
"Gobu Ge, from now on, seal off the Iron Cavern, stop the forge. If we run out of food and haven''t returned, seek your own path."
Gobu Ge nodded vigorously.
He turned and scurried along the wooden wall toward the north.
Standing atop the watchtower, Li Meng gazed expressionlessly at the departing Goblin army.
In this battle against humans, Li Meng had deployed all his forces.
He gathered every Goblin and brought along every weapon he could.
All the Triple-bow Ballistae in the Throne Tribe were dismantled and carried along.
The Gobu Di Tribe did the same.
Except for one wooden stockade, nothing else was left behind.
The Gobu Shi Tribe and Goblin Cave Dwelling were no different.
Even the Lizardmen were sent back to the Yue Clan settlement in advance.
Now, apart from himself, no living creature remained in the Throne Tribe.
Even the captive sows were taken away by Gobu Qiang.
"Benben, follow the main force. I''ll catch up soon!"
Benben and a group of Ogres stood outside the wooden wall.
Benben''s massive body almost reached the height of the wall itself.
"Boss, I run fast. I want to stay with you!"
Benben looked up at his boss atop the watchtower.
"Listen, your underlings need you. Stay with them!"
Benben lowered his head to glance at the Ogre underlings beside him.
Opening his huge mouth, Benben roared at the Ogres.
Then, he took giant strides toward the western forest.
The other Ogres followed closely behind.
Watching Benben''s departing figure, Li Meng took a deep breath.
With Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, and Gobu Tian¡ªthese three Goblin warriors¡ª
there shouldn''t be any major issues with the Goblin army.
For now, all he needed to do was wait for the arrival of the Ghost Beastmen.
"Ghost Beastmen, let me see how formidable you are!"
Li Meng grinned and turned to leave the watchtower.
At this moment, the Goblin army outside hadn''t fully departed yet.
It wasn''t until half an hour later that the west fell silent.
The sounds of commotion in the forest gradually faded into the distance.
Over the next few days, Li Meng stayed alone in the tribe, waiting.
Waiting for the Ghost Beastmen to arrive.
Another day came, in the afternoon.
On the eastern wooden wall watchtower of the tribe,
Li Meng lay leisurely, basking in the sun.
Goblins disliked sunlight, but he enjoyed it.
He relished the burning sensation of the sunlight on his skin.
"I wonder when the Ghost Beastmen will arrive!"
Li Meng squinted his eyes, ensuring the sun wouldn''t catch him off guard.
"Ten days have passed. The army should have reached the ambush site by now."
Li Meng imagined the army deploying Triple-bow Ballistae along the northern riverbank.
Once the human fleet entered the trap, the ballistae would unleash devastating power.
"And Gobu Ge, that little guy, better stay sharp!"
Li Meng was most worried about Gobu Ge.
Losing Gobu Ge would mean spending a long time teaching another underling to forge iron.
"Should I simulate life again?"
Li Meng opened his eyes, the glaring sunlight making him instinctively shield his face with his hand.
"Forget it. I''ll wait until we drive off the Ghost Beastmen!"
After some thought, Li Meng gave up the idea.
For now, he hadn''t changed the future.
Life simulation would most likely be ineffective.
Wasting a simulation would be foolish.
Chapter 109: Terrifying Attribute Panel
Chapter 109: Terrifying Attribute Panel
Though he had wasted several months of opportunities to use the Life Simulation system.
To be precise, he hadn¡¯t used the Life Simulation system at all in the past half year.
After all, this past half year had been spent in the transition of the future timeline.
The days were mundane and uneventful.
¡°Hmm, what¡¯s this...¡±
Suddenly, Li Meng¡¯s expression shifted.
His tall figure abruptly rose as he stood up.
Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng¡¯s gaze was fixed on the forest in the east.
After a long while, a sinister grin spread across his face.
Wielding a massive iron rod in his right hand, he gave it a swing.
¡°Finally, it¡¯s here!¡±
Li Meng leaped from the watchtower.
With a loud ¡°crack,¡± the wooden floorboards shattered.
Li Meng¡¯s tall figure shot up like a cannonball.
Leaping dozens of meters through the air, he landed heavily in the barren wasteland outside the wooden walls.
Standing in the wasteland, Li Meng held his massive iron rod, waiting for the ¡°guest¡± to arrive.
Not long after, there was movement in the forest to the east.
Moments later, a figure, not particularly tall, emerged from the forest.
Its skin was dark brown, and it had a pair of horns on its head.
Its lower body was composed of two long, furry legs ending in hooves.
Though not towering in stature, it was extremely muscular.
Standing at two meters tall, it carried a massive sword on its shoulder.
Its eyes were golden, and it exuded an aura of intense ferocity.
¡°Haha, interesting! A goblin like you is indeed special!¡±
Noticing that Li Meng was waiting outside the gate of the wooden stronghold, the Ghost Beastman chuckled, excitement gleaming in its eyes as it laughed heartily.
It stopped in its tracks, standing two hundred meters apart from Li Meng.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
For a moment, the area fell into dead silence.
Standing in the wasteland before the wooden stronghold, Li Meng expressionlessly scrutinized the Ghost Beastman.
[Ghost Beastman (Elite)]
[Level: 67]
[Strength: 1991]
[Defense: 1961]
[Agility: 2411]
[Magic Power: 1771]
[Demon Lord Contract: LV2 (Immune to mental magic)]
[Berserk: LV3]
[Warcry: LV4]
[Super Physique: LV3 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +600)]
[Charged Strike: LV4]
[Super Leap: LV3 (Agility +600)]
[Flash Assault: LV2]
[Ancestral Blessing: LV5 (All attributes +500)]
[Ancestral Protection: LV3]
[Demonic Physique: LV2 (All attributes +200)]
[Note: Consuming skills will establish a master-servant contract with the Demon Lord.]
Li Meng was thrilled by the Ghost Beastman¡¯s attribute panel.
But the last line of information made him roll his eyes.
¡°Damn it, are you kidding me?¡±
Li Meng couldn¡¯t help but curse inwardly.
This guy was absurdly strong, with ten skills in total.
Li Meng had initially thought that devouring it would exponentially increase his strength.
But before he could feel any joy, he saw the cost.
He had no intention of becoming the servant of a Demon Lord.
At that moment, the Ghost Beastman moved again.
Studying Li Meng, the Ghost Beastman repeatedly nodded.
Its demeanor resembled someone evaluating a valuable item or tool.
It grinned wickedly, raising its massive sword.
The sword pointed directly at the goblin warrior not far away.
¡°Goblin, I am Ghost Hand, a centurion of the Demon Lord¡¯s army. Surrender, or die!¡±
Its roar echoed powerfully, reaching Li Meng¡¯s ears.
From this goblin warrior, Ghost Hand could sense an overwhelming aura.
Even it felt a sense of oppression when facing that aura.
This left Ghost Hand astonished.
Even a Goblin King was trash in its eyes.
It could crush one with just a single finger.
Yet this goblin warrior managed to exude an aura that oppressed it.
Li Meng grinned, spinning the massive iron rod and resting it on his shoulder.
¡°If you want me to surrender, let¡¯s see if you have what it takes!¡±
Though Ghost Hand lacked a skill like ¡°Mind Speech,¡± it could still speak the goblin language.
This piqued Li Meng¡¯s curiosity about how it managed to do so.
¡°A mere goblin, so arrogant!¡±
Ghost Hand¡¯s expression darkened, its face filled with murderous intent.
¡°Today, I¡¯ll show you that goblins are always goblins. No matter how strong they get, they¡¯re still trash!¡±
As soon as it finished speaking, Ghost Hand took a large step forward.
¡°Boom!¡±
The moment its right foot hit the ground, there was a loud explosion.
With a ¡°boom,¡± a shockwave spread out, and Ghost Hand¡¯s figure vanished in a flash.
Ghost Hand didn¡¯t truly vanish; instead, it shot forward like a bullet.
The ground beneath its feet caved in with a resounding ¡°boom.¡±
Its speed was so fast that it was almost invisible.
Only a fleeting shadow could be seen darting across the wasteland.
This was quickly followed by the sound of air being torn apart.
¡°So fast!¡±
In Li Meng¡¯s eyes, Ghost Hand¡¯s figure blurred.
In the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of him.
Li Meng hurriedly swung the massive iron rod toward it.
Li Meng¡¯s movements were also incredibly fast, too swift for ordinary people to follow.
¡°Too slow, goblin!¡±
A cold snort came from Ghost Hand as it suddenly vanished beneath Li Meng¡¯s iron rod.
It seemed to teleport, disappearing from right in front of Li Meng.
The massive iron rod, missing its target, crashed heavily into the ground.
Dust flew up, dirt and stones scattered everywhere.
The ground before Li Meng was left with a large crater.
At almost the same moment, Ghost Hand reappeared behind Li Meng.
Holding its sword with one hand, it struck Li Meng¡¯s waist with the flat side of the blade.
¡°Boom!¡±
A dull thud echoed.
With a loud ¡°crack,¡± several bones in Li Meng¡¯s waist were broken.
His towering figure was sent flying.
He flew dozens of meters before crashing into the wooden wall with a ¡°bang.¡±
¡°Boom!¡±
A large section of the wooden wall collapsed from the impact.
Even after breaking through the wall, Li Meng¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t stop.
He smashed through several large trees before finally tumbling to the ground.
He slid another several dozen meters before coming to a stop.
¡°Impressive!¡±
The excruciating pain in his organs made Li Meng suck in a breath of cold air.
Grinning grimly, he leaped up from the ground, seemingly full of life.
Looking at the collapsed wooden wall outside the forest, Li Meng let out a furious roar.
¡°Ghost Beastman, I¡¯ll kill you and use your head as a urinal!¡±
Fighting against a strong opponent filled Li Meng with exhilaration.
He could feel his body boiling with energy.
A force within him was yearning to erupt.
He craved to unleash it, to feel pain, to endure injuries.
¡°Roar!¡±
The surging bloodlust intoxicated Li Meng.
Opening his mouth, he let out an ecstatic roar.
His Berserk skill activated on its own.
In the dim forest, Li Meng¡¯s tall frame began to crackle audibly.
A thick, bloody aura emanated from his body.
The oppressive atmosphere and murderous intent filled the air.
His skin turned from green to reddish-brown.
The veins under his skin pulsed red, resembling worms crawling across his body and face.
At this moment, Li Meng had become utterly terrifying¡ªa true monster.
The surrounding air radiated with intense heat.
¡°Berserk? Interesting!¡±
A cold snort sounded again, followed by the whistle of air being torn apart.
Like an arrow, Ghost Hand shot into the forest.
Gripping its massive sword with both hands, it appeared before Li Meng in an instant.
The Ghost Beastman grinned savagely, raising its sword high.
The blade came slashing down toward Li Meng¡¯s shoulder.
Chapter 110: You Better Not Die
Chapter 110: You Better Not Die
But this time, Li Meng''s movements were even faster.
The large iron rod in his hand swung up to block the front.
Clang!
A piercing metallic clash echoed as sparks flew.
The immense force pushed Li Meng''s tall body back over ten meters.
The Ghost Beastman was also forced back ten meters by the recoil.
"Very good, you''ve grown stronger!"
Seeing the goblin easily block his attack, a trace of surprise flickered in the Ghost Beastman''s eyes.
Its gaze swept across the large iron rod in the goblin''s hand.
That sword strike had left only a shallow scratch on the rod.
This piqued the Ghost Beastman''s interest in the weapon the goblin wielded.
"Very good, this is getting interesting. Again!"
The Ghost Beastman''s figure blurred as it dashed towards Li Meng again.
Its speed was still astonishing, appearing in front of Li Meng almost like a teleportation.
Li Meng was undeterred and swung the iron rod down on the Ghost Beastman once more.
The familiar scene unfolded again¡ªthe Ghost Beastman''s figure vanished in a flash and reappeared behind Li Meng in an instant.
It held its sword single-handedly and twisted its waist, slashing horizontally at Li Meng''s side.
But this time, the Ghost Beastman used the sharp edge of the blade.
The moment the Ghost Beastman vanished, Li Meng knew it had once again used the "Blink Strike" skill.
Li Meng didn''t dodge¡ªhe knew he couldn''t.
At the moment the Ghost Beastman disappeared, Li Meng swept the iron rod behind him with one hand.
This was a mutual destruction move.
The Ghost Beastman¡¯s greatsword would land on him at the same time as his iron rod struck it.
The Ghost Beastman was startled by Li Meng''s reckless fighting style.
It had no choice but to withdraw its attack and take a step back.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Though Li Meng''s attack missed, his body had turned to face the Ghost Beastman.
"Die!"
Li Meng roared as he swung the iron rod at the Ghost Beastman.
The Ghost Beastman sneered and met the attack with its sword.
Clang!
The ear-piercing metallic clash resounded in the forest once more.
At the moment their weapons collided, the Ghost Beastman''s expression changed.
The immense force shook its wrist, and the greatsword flew out of its hand.
Hahaha!
Li Meng grinned ferociously.
Without pausing, he stepped forward and, taking advantage of the Ghost Beastman''s brief daze, kicked it in the chest.
Crack!
The Ghost Beastman''s ribs shattered.
Its body flew backward with a Boom!
A shockwave burst forth, sweeping through the surroundings.
Bang!
The Ghost Beastman''s body smashed through several large trees before crashing into the wooden wall.
A section of the wall collapsed with a Boom!
The Ghost Beastman, still moving with tremendous force, flew another hundred meters before tumbling to the ground.
It bounced several times and skidded dozens of meters before finally coming to a stop.
"What was that just now?"
Looking in the direction the Ghost Beastman had flown, a hint of curiosity flashed in Li Meng''s eyes.
When he kicked the Ghost Beastman earlier, he had felt some resistance.
Otherwise, that kick would have seriously injured it.
"Could it be the effect of the ''Ancestor¡¯s Protection'' skill?"
Li Meng''s figure blurred as he dashed out of the forest towards the tribe''s outskirts.
In the wasteland outside, the Ghost Beastman coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Clutching its chest, it wobbled as it tried to stand up.
"Are you kidding me? How can a mere goblin possess such strength?"
That kick from the goblin had almost sent it to meet its ancestors.
If not for the ''Ancestor¡¯s Protection'' skill softening the blow, it would have been seriously injured, if not dead.
"Was it feigning weakness all along, waiting for the chance to deliver a fatal strike?"
Just then, loud laughter echoed from behind the wooden wall.
Hahaha! Ghost Beastman, is this your limit?
The sound of something slicing through the air followed.
A greatsword spun down from the sky, embedding itself heavily in the ground before the Ghost Beastman.
Li Meng leaped over the wooden wall, landing heavily on the ground.
"Again!"
Li Meng pointed his iron rod at the Ghost Beastman.
Li Meng had already grown accustomed to the Ghost Beastman''s sudden "Blink Strike" skill.
If it used it again, he wouldn''t be as helpless as before.
The Ghost Beastman still had many skills unused¡ªits trump cards.
But Li Meng hadn''t used any magic to assist himself yet.
Close combat was the most dangerous form of battle, and this was a rare opportunity to improve his combat experience.
"Goblin, you''re courting death!"
Li Meng''s provocation made the Ghost Beastman glare furiously.
A savage glint flashed through its eyes.
The goblin¡¯s actions were an affront to it.
Ahhh!
The enraged Ghost Beastman roared at the sky.
Its muscles bulged as surging blood energy erupted from its body.
Splat!
Suddenly, the Ghost Beastman spat out a mouthful of blood.
Clutching its chest, it looked on in disbelief.
Ahhh!
The Ghost Beastman let out a scream, spewing more blood.
Its berserk transformation came to an abrupt halt.
Its eyes rolled back, and it collapsed onto the ground.
The sight startled Li Meng.
"Damn it, you better not die!"
Though in a berserk state, Li Meng hadn¡¯t lost his reason.
He hurriedly sprinted towards the Ghost Beastman.
As he ran, he observed its condition.
[Ghost Beastman (Elite)]
[Level: 67]
[Strength: 1991]
[Defense: 1961]
[Agility: 2411]
[Magic: 1771]
[Demon King¡¯s Contract: LV2 (Immune to mental magic)]
[Berserk: LV6]
[War Cry: LV4]
[Super Physique: LV3 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +600)]
[Charged Strike: LV4]
[Super Leap: LV3 (Agility +600)]
[Blink Strike: LV2]
[Ancestor¡¯s Blessing: LV5 (All attributes +500)]
[Ancestor¡¯s Protection: LV3]
[Demonic Physique: LV2 (All attributes +200)]
[Note: Swallowed skills establish a master-servant contract with the Demon King.]
[Status: Near Death]
It wasn''t pretending¡ªit was genuinely on the brink of death.
"Why are you about to die now?"
Li Meng, now crouched beside the Ghost Beastman, seemed at a loss.
The Ghost Beastman was bleeding from its seven orifices.
The scene was gruesome.
Blood flowed continuously like a rushing river.
"Could its shattered ribs have pierced its internal organs?"
Recalling the Ghost Beastman''s condition during its berserk state, Li Meng realized what had happened.
The berserk skill put too much strain on its body, causing it to expand.
The shifted broken ribs must have punctured its organs.
"You can''t die¡ªyou dying now would be troublesome."
If the next Ghost Beastman appeared, he might choose to confront it.
This could potentially prevent the deaths of Benben and Yue E.
But fighting wouldn¡¯t guarantee its death.
After all, during Benben and Yue E¡¯s deaths, his mindset would be entirely different.
Hatred would strengthen him and dull his pain.
If the Ghost Beastman escaped, he would face both the human army and the demon army.
These two forces wouldn¡¯t cooperate, but he couldn''t afford to waste time.
There were over 25,000 goblins, and their food supplies would soon run out.
Once the food was gone, he¡¯d have no choice but to take the offensive.
Chapter 111: Get Lost, Don鈥檛 Come Back
Chapter 111: Get Lost, Don¡¯t Come Back
That kind of future would definitely be a dead end.
There might not even be a chance to escape in the end.
But if this Ghost Beastman in front of him were allowed to live, everything would improve.
The Demon Army wouldn¡¯t appear, or at least not so quickly.
Without the Demon Army, dealing with humans as the only enemy would be much easier.
¡°You unlucky yet fortunate bastard, I¡¯ll finish you off next time!¡±
Li Meng cursed as he turned and walked toward the heavy sword not far away.
With the heavy sword in hand, Li Meng returned to the Ghost Beastman¡¯s side.
Li Meng slashed his palm with the sword.
Blood gushed out instantly.
Li Meng discarded the heavy sword.
He then forcefully pried open the Ghost Beastman¡¯s mouth with his left hand.
Letting the blood flow into its mouth.
Within seconds, Li Meng¡¯s wound healed.
And the Ghost Beastman began to change.
No more blood flowed from its pores.
Its sunken chest also started returning to normal.
A cracking sound could be heard.
¡°Get lost, and don¡¯t come back!¡±
Li Meng grabbed one of the Ghost Beastman¡¯s arms with both hands.
He spun 360 degrees and threw it with all his strength.
The Ghost Beastman shot into the sky, flying hundreds of meters high.
Its spinning body swept over the forest canopy.
In the blink of an eye, it disappeared from Li Meng¡¯s sight.
Li Meng gazed toward where the Ghost Beastman vanished.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t... fall to its death, right?¡±
With a sinister smile, Li Meng clapped his hands.
The regenerative effect on its body would last for a while.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Even if it was barely alive, it would survive.
With the Ghost Beastman¡¯s physical resilience, it wouldn¡¯t die from the fall.
Standing on the wasteland, Li Meng turned toward the wooden stockade gate.
He didn¡¯t leave the tribe immediately.
Instead, he stayed for a day at the watchtower on the eastern wall.
Night came, and the full moon hung high.
The Throne Tribe was deathly silent.
Not a single sound could be heard, as quiet as a grave.
¡°Is that guy still not giving up?¡±
Lying atop the watchtower, Li Meng felt helpless.
Before nightfall, that guy had already ¡°returned.¡±
It was hiding in the forest, secretly observing the tribe.
This left Li Meng quite annoyed.
The reason he hadn¡¯t left was to prevent the Ghost Beastman from coming back.
The Ghost Beastman, upon waking, would undoubtedly be curious about why it was alive and well in the forest.
That curiosity would drive it to investigate the tribe.
Li Meng had anticipated the Ghost Beastman¡¯s return.
What he hadn¡¯t expected was that the guy wouldn¡¯t fight, nor would it leave.
Li Meng didn¡¯t have the time to waste with it.
¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll figure out how to cut off one of its arms. Such a nuisance.¡±
Though the guy outside wasn¡¯t his match, Li Meng was deeply wary of the Demon Army¡¯s strength.
If even a mere centurion had such power, how strong would the commanders or generals be?
¡°It seems I shouldn¡¯t provoke the Demons for now!¡±
Li Meng muttered to himself.
When you¡¯re weak, you have to be cautious.
Staying alive was the most important thing.
Time ticked away, and the night grew deeper.
Before long, there was movement in the forest.
A dark figure crept out from the forest, hugging the ground.
It was the Ghost Beastman from earlier.
It slithered across the ground stealthily.
After crawling for over a hundred meters, it stopped by a heavy sword.
When it saw the heavy sword, its eyes lit up.
The heavy sword symbolized its rank as a centurion.
It was a gift from the Demon General.
If it lost the sword, it would lose everything.
It would also become a laughingstock.
Only death in battle could cleanse it of its shame.
¡°Such a foolish Goblin, casually throwing away a meteoric iron sword. Doesn¡¯t know its value!¡±
Now reunited with its heavy sword, the Ghost Beastman grinned.
It cast a resentful glance at the watchtower atop the wooden wall.
From that tower, it could sense the Goblin¡¯s presence.
If only the burden of berserk mode on its body wasn¡¯t so great, and it couldn¡¯t be used consecutively.
It would have taken its head to appease its anger.
¡°Just you wait, I¡¯ll be back, you trash born from a Ground Mouse¡¯s belly!¡±
Cursing under its breath, the Ghost Beastman turned and crawled away like a gecko.
Its speed was astonishing, vanishing into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.
As the Ghost Beastman disappeared into the forest, Li Meng stood up on the watchtower.
Gazing at the silent eastern forest, Li Meng grinned sinisterly.
¡°Knew you¡¯d come back to steal the sword!¡±
That heavy sword had been deliberately left there by Li Meng.
It was meant for the Ghost Beastman to take and leave quickly.
That heavy sword wasn¡¯t just any weapon.
Its blade bore engravings signifying rank and status.
Upon noticing this, Li Meng knew how important the sword was to the Ghost Beastman.
If it was something important, then naturally, he had to satisfy it.
Under the moonlight, a shadow leaped from the watchtower.
It covered dozens of meters before landing in the forest within the tribe.
Not long after, on the western wooden wall of the tribe.
A shadow climbed over the wall, heading west into the forest.
Soon, the shadow disappeared into the forest.
Time ticked away, and the night grew deeper.
------
Goblin Forest.
Northern bank of Goblin River.
By noon, the riverside forest was abuzz with activity.
A massive group of Goblins traveled downstream from the east.
Stopping in the riverside forest.
In the dim forest, green-skinned figures moved en masse.
A large number of Goblins were assembling Triple-bow Ballistas deep in the forest.
The surrounding forest appeared chaotic.
In truth, the Goblin army was preparing an ambush in an orderly manner.
To deliver a devastating blow to the human fleet.
The ambush line stretched two kilometers through the northern forest.
Fifty-two Triple-bow Ballistas were to be deployed along the two-kilometer line.
This was all the Triple-bow Ballistas the Throne Tribe could muster.
Every forty meters, one ballista would be placed.
¡°Boss, boss, bad news!¡±
While the Goblin army busied themselves setting up the ambush.
A Goblin rushed toward Gobu Tian.
¡°It¡¯s an airship! A human airship, flying this way!¡±
The Goblin jumped and pointed toward the western sky.
Gobu Tian frowned deeply.
It turned to look around.
Then selected a large tree and climbed it swiftly.
Emerging from the thick canopy, Gobu Tian peered into the western sky.
A small black dot appeared in the western sky.
Though distant, the outline of a ship could be seen.
Gobu Tian had seen such skyborne monstrosities before.
Previously, the boss had used Triple-bow Ballistas to bring down an airship outside the Goblin Cave.
Upon seeing this, Gobu Tian¡¯s towering frame retreated into the canopy.
¡°Prepare the Triple-bow Ballistas, shoot it down!¡±
Gobu Tian roared from the treetop to the underlings below.
The Goblins in the forest below shouted in excitement.
¡°No, stop everything!¡±
At this moment, Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng, five Goblin warriors, arrived.
They looked up at Gobu Tian in the tree.
¡°Gobu Tian, the boss said we mustn¡¯t be discovered by humans before the fleet arrives!¡±
¡°Exactly! If we shoot down the airship, we¡¯ll lose our cover.¡±
¡°Now is the time to make all Goblins hide and avoid detection by the airship.¡±
¡°You¡¯re a Goblin warrior now; how can you still not be smarter than us?¡±
¡°I¡¯m going to tell the boss!¡±
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Jackie Tarrier], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 112: Simulated Life in the Papal State
Chapter 112: Simulated Life in the Papal State
When Gobu Sheng spoke, Gobu Tian quickly slid down from the tree.
¡°Don¡¯t! Don¡¯t tell the boss. I was just preparing the little ones for shooting in case the airship spotted us and we needed to take it down. I didn¡¯t intend to expose ourselves¡ªyou all overthought it!¡±
¡°What do you need to tell me?¡±
At this moment, Li Meng¡¯s voice suddenly rang out from the nearby forest.
A tall Goblin warrior emerged from the depths of the forest.
Wherever he passed, the Goblins got excited and wanted to shout loudly.
But they quickly covered their mouths.
The boss had said that they must stay quiet in the forest.
¡°Boss, you¡¯re finally here!¡±
Gobu Tian ran towards the boss, feet flying.
Standing in front of the boss, Gobu Tian¡¯s face was full of flattery.
His tall body bent over, making him appear much shorter.
¡°Boss, an airship is flying in this direction.¡±
Upon hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s expression shifted slightly.
The appearance of the airship indicated that the human fleet wasn¡¯t far from here.
¡°Inform all the Goblins to hide immediately and not make any sound.¡±
The boss¡¯s order prompted the elite Goblins around him to dash into the depths of the forest.
Before long, the forest was bustling with activity.
The scolding voices of the boss and the sub-leaders echoed through the trees.
Both the working and slacking Goblins scrambled to hide.
Not long after, the forest quieted down once more.
Li Meng didn¡¯t idle; he climbed up a tree to observe the airship in the sky.
¡°Airships are truly amazing!¡±
Watching the airship in the distant sky draw closer, Li Meng could hardly contain his envy.
¡°One day, I must capture some human alchemists from their lands.¡±Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Whether this world had alchemists, Li Meng wasn¡¯t sure.
Whatever the people who made magical artifacts were called, to Li Meng, they were alchemists.
About ten minutes later, a moderately sized airship flew over the ambush site on the northern shore forest.
On the airship¡¯s deck, soldiers wearing blue armor could be seen.
One officer stood out, holding a long telescope to survey the forest below.
¡°Captain, we¡¯ve traveled far from the fleet. Shouldn¡¯t we return?¡±
A soldier standing at the ship¡¯s railing looked toward the western end of the river.
In that direction, the fleet was no longer visible.
¡°What? Are you scared?¡±
The soldier¡¯s companion laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.
The young soldier glared at the veteran.
¡°I¡¯m not scared. Lord Carlos explicitly instructed us not to stray far from the fleet!¡±
¡°Captain, was the cause of the sentry ship¡¯s crash last time ever determined?¡±
At this moment, a soldier on the deck asked the officer near the railing.
The question made the sentry ship¡¯s captain¡¯s expression change.
He put down the telescope, turned around, and waved his hand.
¡°Return!¡±
The airship, hovering a thousand meters above the ambush site, slowly turned around and headed back.
This scene did not escape Li Meng, who was hidden in the treetops.
¡°It seems the fleet isn¡¯t far from here!¡±
The airship¡¯s arrival and subsequent return was the best evidence.
Li Meng descended from the treetop, sliding down the tree trunk.
¡°Continue preparing the ambush site and speed up the process!¡±
¡°Gobu Tian, Gobu Mo, I¡¯m leaving this to you. I¡¯m going to take a look at the human fleet!¡±
Gobu Tian and the elite Goblins nodded vigorously.
Without saying more, Li Meng took off running toward the riverbank.
Breaking out of the forest, Li Meng leapt into the air.
Performing a textbook dive, he plunged headfirst into the Goblin River.
At the spot where Li Meng entered the water, a massive shadow flickered underwater.
Before heading here, Li Meng had visited the Yue Clan tribe.
Before long, Li Meng¡¯s head emerged from the water.
His head skimmed rapidly across the river¡¯s surface, leaving a long trail that lingered behind him.
Looking underwater, Li Meng was seated on the massive back of Yue E, tightly gripping the scales on Yue E¡¯s back.
¡°System, start Simulated Life!¡±
The Ghost Beastmen had already been driven away.
Whether the future trajectory had changed was something Li Meng couldn¡¯t determine.
After all, the grand trends still lingered within the future timeline.
[Simulated Life begins.]
[Driven by curiosity, you ride Yue E across the waves toward the human fleet to spy on them.]
[The moon is full tonight.]
[You set out eagerly and return disappointed.]
[You ambush the human fleet.]
[You engage in battle with the Southern Sword King, Carlos.]
[The human fleet is defeated and flees downstream in panic.]
[You lead the Goblin army back to the tribe.]
[Your victory intimidates the Yue Clan tribe.]
[Your tribe grows stronger and more prosperous.]
[Curiosity leads you to investigate the Black Mountain Tribe.]
[You reach the Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[You discover that the Papal State¡¯s Temple Knights are invading the Black Mountain Tribe.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe is overwhelmed and trapped in their ancestral village.]
[In their final stand, the Black Mountain Tribe prepares to summon the Savage God, Akuya.]
[Choose one of the following options:]
[1. Prevent the Black Mountain Tribe from summoning the Savage God by destroying the sacrificial plate.]
[2. Do nothing and observe the events unfold.]
[3. Launch a surprise attack to kill the Temple Knights¡¯ commander, Serov.]
[4. Launch a surprise attack to kill the Temple High Priest, Tawil.]
[5. Negotiate with the Black Mountain Tribe to help them repel the Temple Knights.]
¡°Five options?¡±
Li Meng patted Yue E¡¯s back.
¡°Yue E, rise a bit higher. I¡¯m about to choke on water!¡±
Yue E had been swimming deeper and deeper, causing water to reach Li Meng¡¯s chin.
With every breath, river water threatened to fill his mouth.
Yue E quickly moved closer to the surface, allowing Li Meng¡¯s neck to rise above the water.
¡°No wonder the Black Mountain Tribe wants to summon the Savage God, Akuya!¡±
It was only now that Li Meng understood the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s desperation to summon the Savage God.
It was because of the Papal State¡¯s invasion.
¡°Could those two people from the previous timelines be Commander Serov and High Priest Tawil of the Temple Knights?¡±
Li Meng wasn¡¯t certain.
After all, the identities of the pair had never been revealed in earlier timelines.
¡°What should I choose?¡±
Looking toward the river¡¯s end, Li Meng pondered.
Options one and five seemed viable.
However, the success rate of the fifth option wasn¡¯t high.
After all, he was only one person.
Helping the Black Mountain Tribe repel the Temple Knights alone was nearly impossible.
The chances of success were practically zero.
Although he had some strength, the many deaths he¡¯d experienced in the future timelines had taught Li Meng not to be overly confident.
Option two was not a choice for him.
If he chose to do nothing, there was no point in coming to the Black Mountain Marshlands.
Options three and four were also off the table.
Killing either Serov or Tawil would earn him the Papal State¡¯s enmity.
Moreover, killing just one of them might not even force the Temple Knights to retreat.
Even if they did retreat, what would he do with the Black Mountain Tribe afterward?
The Savage God was too dangerous, and Li Meng wouldn¡¯t allow the Black Mountain Tribe to keep the sacrificial plate.
In the end, he would still have to oppose the Black Mountain Tribe and destroy the plate by force.
Chapter 113: World-Class Skill "Mad God"
Chapter 113: World-Class Skill "Mad God"
So, five options may seem like a lot.
In reality, Li Meng only had one choice.
"Option One!"
[You decided to take advantage of the chaos and forcefully destroy the Sacrificial Plate of the Ancestral Tribe.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s chief, Scarface, fought to his death to stop you.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe successfully completed their full-tribe sacrifice, summoning the Savage God Akuya.]
[The Savage God descended, and divine power brought destruction to the world.]
[The Holy Knights suffered heavy casualties and fled in disarray.]
[Faced with the divine might of the Savage God, you joined forces with Serov and Tavil to battle the Savage God.]
[You failed. Serov and Tavil perished in battle.]
[You barely escaped Black Mountain Marshlands by relying on the Physical Regeneration skill.]
[You returned to the tribe.]
[The descent of the Savage God led to the gradual wastelandification of the Goblin Forest.]
[One day, the Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand reappeared, bringing news.]
[A human hero perished in Black Mountain Marshlands, sealing the fate of the Goblin Forest¡¯s transformation into wasteland.]
[The Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand invited you to join the Demon King¡¯s army, but you refused.]
[The Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand challenged you, but you declined.]
[The Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand left, promising to return again.]
[The three-year time limit has ended.]
[Life simulation ended. Score: 100.]
[Please select your reward from the following options:]
[Consume 10 points to increase one attribute level by 1.]
[Consume 1 point to increase one attribute by 1.]
[Consume 30 points to increase Luck by 1.]
Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
[Consume 10 points to increase the level of the Berserk skill by 1.]
[Consume 20 points to increase the level of the Iron Skin skill by 1.]
"Upgrade the Berserk skill!"
[Consumed 90 points, increasing Berserk skill level by +9.]
[Berserk skill has reached max level and automatically advanced to Mad God.]
[The Mad God skill is a world-class skill. Current host strength does not meet requirements. Skill has been sealed.]
[Evolve into a Goblin King to unlock the Mad God skill.]
"World-class skill? Sealed?"
Li Meng frowned slightly and thought deeply.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 35]
[Strength: 2717]
[Defense: 2664]
[Agility: 1497]
[Magic: 2399]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Consuming the flesh of magical beasts grants a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Physical Regeneration: LV5]
[Heart Speech: LV1]
[King of Ice Elements: LV1]
[Mad God (World-Class): LV1 (Sealed)]
[Limb Reinforcement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
"Could it be that my body isn¡¯t strong enough to handle the burden brought by Mad God?"
Li Meng could only think of this reason for the seal.
The Berserk skill already put immense stress on his body.
Using it once would leave him exhausted for days or even months.
As an advanced form of Berserk, Mad God would only bring an even greater burden.
"I was counting on using Berserk as a backup, but now it¡¯s like taking off my pants only to find no one around!"
Frustrated, Li Meng took a sip of river water.
Now, even Berserk was unusable.
On the vast river, Li Meng¡¯s big green head drifted away quickly.
---
That night, the Goblin River was far from silent.
The rushing sound of water echoed endlessly.
The weather was excellent, with a full moon hanging in the sky.
The silver moonlight bathed the earth, faintly dispersing the darkness over the river.
In one section of the river, a massive fleet of ships lay anchored.
The sails on the ships had been furled, and anchors were lowered into the riverbed.
Each ship floated silently at intervals of several dozen meters, occasionally creaking under the strain of the anchors.
On the deck of each ship, clusters of flames flickered, casting a fiery glow over the river.
The fleet formed a fiery dragon drifting on the water¡¯s surface.
Silhouettes of people moved across the decks.
"Humans are all the same in any world¡ªarrogant and self-righteous!"
About a kilometer ahead of the fleet, a green-skinned head emerged from the moonlit rippling water.
Looking at the human fleet in the distance, Li Meng mused to himself.
This was the Goblin Forest, teeming with magical beasts and Savage Tribes.
Yet humans showed no concern about their fires attracting magical beasts nearby.
"Yue E, let¡¯s head back!"
After watching for a while, Li Meng lost interest in spying.
Humans, though arrogant and self-righteous, were not fools.
Even on the river, they had guards on watch¡ªsoldiers and adventurers.
They even posted adventurers as hidden sentries in the forest on both banks.
Even if a powerful magical beast approached, it wouldn¡¯t disturb the fleet.
The adventurers in the forest would handle it themselves.
Quietly, Li Meng came and went.
Time passed bit by bit, and the night deepened.
---
The next afternoon, on the Goblin River.
Under the scorching sun, a fleet sailed upstream against the current.
White sails towered high, stretching endlessly into the distance.
Because they were going against the current, the fleet moved very slowly, crawling forward like snails.
"Lord Carlos, are we almost there?"
On the foredeck of the lead ship, a High Priest approached Carlos.
Carlos pulled a magical map from his waist.
"Not far now. We¡¯ll reach the Northern Marshlands by tomorrow morning."
The High Priest smiled faintly, gazing toward the river¡¯s end.
"Once we eliminate the Savage Tribes in the Northern Marshlands, we can build a watchtower nearby. With the watchtower, inland trade routes will open. At that time, Lord Carlos, you will become the master of this new territory!"
Carlos turned to the High Priest with a stoic expression.
"Watch your words, High Priest. The Principality¡¯s territory has only one true master¡ªHis Majesty, the Lionheart King!"
Carlos¡¯s caution elicited only a chuckle from the High Priest.
He did not pursue the topic further.
"Lord Carlos, do you know why the Irisis Principality is called a ''Principality''?"
Carlos frowned.
This was a forbidden topic in the Principality.
Among the nobility, it was a taboo subject.
"The disintegration of the Holy Dragon Empire was caused by the Duke of the Southern Border. The empire is long gone, lost to the rivers of time. The empire¡¯s lords have all declared independence, yet the Southern Border Duke still retains the title of ''Duke.'' Don¡¯t you find that ironic, Lord Carlos?"
The High Priest looked at Carlos with a smirk.
Carlos could not respond to the High Priest¡¯s gaze.
"Is it sentimentality, or does the Southern Border Duke harbor ambitions of reclaiming the entire Holy Dragon Empire?"
Carlos avoided the High Priest¡¯s gaze.
His expression turned cold as he looked toward the forests on the northern bank.
"Time erases everything. The previous Duke is long gone. Why cling to the glories of the past?"
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I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Edward Zidd AND Zigei], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 114: Battle on the River
Chapter 114: Battle on the River
The Crystal Temple within the principality had a long and storied history.
Its zenith coincided with the peak of the Holy Kingdom Empire''s power.
Although the Crystal Temple now had the Holy See Nation, it was not content to settle for a single territory.
The temple''s ambition was never merely "domination."
The High Priest of the temple glanced at Carlos thoughtfully.
He smiled but did not continue the discussion.
The timing was not right, nor was the location.
Sometimes, personal will was insignificant.
One day, Lord Carlos would understand.
As the pioneering fleet of the Irisis Principality advanced upstream along Goblin River, they were unaware they had fallen into a trap.
¡°Boss, it¡¯s the humans. They¡¯re here!¡±
In the dim forest, a goblin ran up to Li Meng, panting.
¡°Don¡¯t rush. Wait until the leading ship of the fleet reaches this point before attacking!¡±
¡°Pass down the order again: no one is to attack without my command!¡±
Li Meng stood in the forest on the northern bank of Goblin River.
Beyond the forest lay the wide Goblin River.
The ambush line in the northern forest stretched only two kilometers, while the fleet spanned several kilometers.
Li Meng did not expect to annihilate the entire human fleet.
However, he also did not wish for them to leave unscathed.
He had to inflict as much damage as possible on the Irisis Principality¡¯s Pioneer Corps.
Only by doing so could he ensure that the principality would not attempt another invasion anytime soon.
In the dim forest, the goblins stood ready.
Countless green-skinned figures hid in the underbrush, clad in crude armor and armed with spears and crossbows.
Their eyes gleamed with excitement as they watched the river beyond the forest.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
The goblin boar riders calmed their mounts to keep them silent.
Under Li Meng¡¯s leadership, the goblins had learned many things.
While they still cast greedy eyes on the boars when hungry, they refrained from slaughtering the boars they had raised from young.
Among the goblins, towering ogres loomed.
In the forest, these ogres donned heavy armor.
Standing still, they resembled metal mountains.
Their spiked clubs in hand only added to their intimidating presence.
The goblins kept a respectful distance from them.
As time passed, the fleet advanced deeper into the trap.
Within half an hour, Li Meng saw the leading sailboat on the river.
The towering sails made the fleet highly visible, even from a distance.
¡°They¡¯re here. They¡¯re here!¡±
Li Meng grinned sinisterly in the forest, resting a large iron rod on his shoulder.
¡°Benben, remember what I told you. If you¡¯re tired, run. If you can¡¯t win, run. If you¡¯re out of magic, run!¡±
In the chaos of battle, no one could stop Benben from retreating.
After all, Benben wasn¡¯t alone.
The humans had no chance to encircle Benben.
In the previous timeline, Benben and Yue E had likely died because they fought to the end instead of retreating.
In the chaos of battle, Li Meng couldn¡¯t protect both Benben and Yue E while fighting powerful enemies.
He had watched them die helplessly.
Benben looked down at the boss beside him.
¡°Boss, I understand!¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s get this show started!¡±
Li Meng turned and nodded to an ogre beside him.
The ogre hefted its spiked club and struck a massive iron gong suspended from a tree.
¡°Clang!¡±
A thunderous metallic sound echoed through the forest.
The sound reverberated across the land.
The gong¡¯s resonance brought a flurry of activity to the forest.
¡°Wah-wah!¡±
The goblins operating the triple-bow ballistae shouted as they pulled the triggers.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
Amidst a cacophony of bowstrings snapping, the dim forest was filled with the sound of projectiles cutting through the air.
Massive bolts shot out from the forest, aiming directly at the fleet on the river.
Covering hundreds of meters in an instant, the bolts struck with ferocious force.
¡°Boom!¡±
With a deafening crash, the bolts pierced the ships¡¯ hulls.
¡°Ah!¡±
Unfortunate soldiers hit by the bolts were impaled, their bodies carrying through the hulls and into the water on the other side.
The ballista bolts had devastating power.
Splinters flew as the hulls of the ships were riddled with holes.
Inside the cabins, soldiers were thrown off balance, their cries filling the air.
¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±
The sudden attack threw the soldiers into chaos.
In the cabin of the lead ship, the soldiers scrambled to the deck.
But with a loud ¡°boom,¡± the hull was pierced by another bolt.
Several unlucky individuals were flung out, their screams drowned by the impact.
Within seconds, one of the sailboats was split in half by the massive bolts.
Its hull shattered, and the ship disintegrated.
Screaming soldiers plunged into the river.
¡°High Priest, freeze the river immediately!¡±
On the deck of the lead ship, Carlos rushed out of the cabin.
With a cold glare, he swung his greatsword.
The blade flashed, slicing a bolt in two.
The arrowhead and shaft separated, with the latter falling to the deck and the former plunging into the river.
The force from the impact caused Carlos¡¯s wrist to tremble.
His expression darkened as he turned toward the forest on the northern bank.
In the dim forest, green-skinned figures were faintly visible.
¡°Goblins?¡±
Surprise flickered in Carlos¡¯s eyes.
He hadn¡¯t expected goblins to ambush the fleet from the riverside forest.
Nor had he anticipated them wielding such powerful ballistae.
¡°Sound the war drums!!¡±
Carlos¡¯s roar prompted the drummer on the rear deck to strike the war drums urgently.
¡°Boom, boom,¡± the drumbeats echoed over the river.
As the lead ship¡¯s drum sounded, the other sailboats followed suit.
The priests of the temple rushed to the decks, raising their staffs high.
On the deck of the lead ship, five temple priests chanted in unison.
The crystals atop their staffs glowed with a blue brilliance.
Billowing white mist expanded outward from the ships, freezing the river wherever it touched.
When the lead ship employed ice magic, the temple priests on the other ships followed suit.
The spreading mist froze the river surface instantly.
Even the soldiers who had fallen into the river were frozen.
The thrashing soldiers turned into ice sculptures.
¡°Adventurer mages, prepare to defend!¡±
¡°It¡¯s goblins! They¡¯re in the northern forest!¡±
¡°Kill them! Counterattack!¡±
After the initial chaos, the human fleet quickly regained composure.
The decks shimmered with magical lights of various hues.
Multicolored magic barriers materialized around the ships.
Bolts from the forest were deflected by these barriers, falling harmlessly away.
Fiery orbs rose from the decks, hurtling toward the northern forest.
¡°Boom!¡±
Explosions erupted in the forest.
Blazing flames consumed everything in their path.
The magic attacks weren¡¯t limited to fireballs; ice lances and water projectiles also joined the fray.
The human fleet¡¯s bombardment devastated the forest along the riverbank.
In no time, swaths of trees near the waterline collapsed.
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I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Toffi coffe], for supporting me on Patreon
Chapter 115: Yue E, Youre Too Fast!
Chapter 115: Yue E, You''re Too Fast!
"Boom!"
A loud explosion resounded.
A massive fireball descended into the forest.
It was the immensely powerful war magic spell, "Explosive Fireball."
In the riverside forest, a brilliant explosion of magical flames erupted.
A towering mushroom cloud of fire slowly ascended.
The shockwave of the explosion uprooted the vegetation within a hundred-meter radius.
Burning remnants of plants were flung into the air.
They turned into a fiery rain that fell back to the ground.
The flames in the forest spread outward from the center of the explosion.
Wherever they passed, the damp forest ignited.
The goblins hiding in that part of the forest were instantly consumed by the flames.
They were incinerated to ashes before they could even scream.
¡°Lord Carlos, the magic barrier won''t hold much longer!¡±
On the aft deck, Carlos closely monitored the battle situation of the fleet.
The sudden attack earlier had caused three ships to disintegrate.
The other ships also suffered severe damage.
The hulls were badly damaged, with massive holes gaping in them.
Although they hadn¡¯t sunk yet, they were on the verge of doing so.
This was why he had ordered the river to be frozen.
The frozen river would provide a foundation for the ships to rest on.
Even if the damage worsened, they wouldn¡¯t immediately sink.
¡°Order all ships to disembark and have the troops form up for an advance toward the northern bank!¡±
The rhythm of the war drums suddenly changed.
The drumbeats became faster and more urgent.
Under the protection of the magical barrier, soldiers from all the ships disembarked and gathered on the icy surface.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Alongside the soldiers, adventurers also disembarked.
In no time, around three thousand soldiers had assembled on the ice.
Nearly a hundred adventurers joined them.
As soon as the soldiers disembarked, the magic barriers on the ships dissipated one after another.
Without the protection of the magic barriers, the ballistae bolts regained their devastating power.
"Boom!"
A loud scream followed.
Soldiers lined up on the ice were blown away.
The bolts pierced through the hull of the ships with unstoppable momentum.
"Watch out!"
Another bolt came hurtling through the air.
On the left side of the ice near the third ship, a heavily armored adventurer knight wielding a sword and shield roared as he stepped forward.
His massive shield was raised in front of him.
"Clang!"
A piercing metallic sound rang out.
Sparks flew off the shield.
The tremendous impact sent the adventurer knight flying backward.
The bolt soared vertically into the sky.
It flew dozens of meters before crashing into the hull of the ship with a "thud."
¡°Captain, are you alright?!¡±
The knight¡¯s teammates were startled.
¡°I... I¡¯m fine!¡±
The adventurer knight, looking disheveled, pried himself out of the dented ship hull.
The shield that had fallen onto the ice was already cracked.
The crystal embedded in the shield was covered with cobweb-like fractures.
¡°Brave warriors of the Irisis Principality, charge with me!¡±
At this moment, Carlos, standing on the ice near the lead ship, issued the order to charge.
He knew staying on the ice would only make them easy targets.
With a loud roar, Carlos personally led the charge toward the northern forest.
¡°Charge!¡±
The soldiers, encouraged, shouted as they launched their assault.
The adventurers provided covering fire, attacking the northern forest.
Under the barrage of magical attacks, the northern forest was already ablaze.
Yet, even so, bolts continued to shoot out from within the flames.
On the two-kilometer stretch of the frozen river, the human army charged forward.
Priests aboard the ships raised their staffs.
They continuously unleashed Explosive Fireballs to attack the northern forest.
They needed to eliminate as many enemies in the northern forest as possible before the troops landed.
¡°Humans truly are strong!¡±
The forest ahead had turned into a sea of fire.
Tall trees burned fiercely.
Waves of searing heat surged forward relentlessly.
Through the fiery sea, Li Meng could see the human troops charging across the river.
Fortunately, the ambush site was a hundred meters away from the riverbank.
Otherwise, the humans¡¯ magic would have inflicted massive casualties on the goblins hidden in the forest.
Although some goblins were hit by the humans¡¯ magic, the losses were within an acceptable range.
At that moment, Li Meng¡¯s expression suddenly changed.
¡°Damn it, Yue E, who told you to charge out so quickly?!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s figure flickered as he darted out of the forest.
As he burst forward, a shockwave erupted.
The ground beneath him cracked and collapsed.
In a flash, he sped through the fiery sea.
His voice, filled with curses, trailed behind him.
Wherever he passed, the raging flames were extinguished by the strong gusts of wind.
At the same time, on the river in front of the human fleet,
a loud "splash" echoed.
A massive creature leapt onto the icy surface.
It was the Swamp Crocodile King¡ªYue E.
Yue E opened its menacing maw, unleashing a barrage of water projectiles.
The projectiles spanned hundreds of meters in an instant, smashing into the ships.
"Boom!"
The ship hulls were torn apart layer by layer, wood splinters flying everywhere.
In the blink of an eye, the lead ship was left in shambles.
¡°Ah!¡±
Priests on the deck screamed in agony.
Splinters, as sharp as bullets, embedded themselves into their bodies.
One priest was hit directly by a water projectile.
His body exploded with a "pop," scattering flesh everywhere.
The commotion caught Carlos¡¯s attention.
¡°Swamp Crocodile King?¡±
The sudden appearance of the Swamp Crocodile King made Carlos frown slightly.
¡°Hmph, courting death!¡±
Running across the ice, Carlos¡¯s figure blurred.
He vanished in an instant.
The ice beneath him cracked open.
A shockwave exploded outward.
Carlos¡¯s speed suddenly increased more than tenfold.
He streaked across the ice like an arrow skimming its surface.
His speed was so great that only a blur remained.
In the blink of an eye, Carlos appeared in front of Yue E.
He raised his greatsword, which gleamed with light, and struck at Yue E.
At the same time, he positioned himself for a thrust.
¡°Human, don¡¯t get cocky!¡±
A sudden roar erupted from a distance.
Li Meng, leaping like a flea from the forest, soared over a hundred meters and landed heavily on the ice.
"Boom!"
A thunderous crash echoed.
The thick ice cracked apart.
The cracks spread across the ice like a spider web, reaching Yue E¡¯s position.
The cracking wasn¡¯t caused by the impact of the landing.
It was Li Meng¡¯s ¡°War Stomp¡± skill.
The cracking ice made Carlos lose his balance.
His attack missed Yue E entirely.
¡°Yue E, attack the humans from underwater. Leave this to me!¡±
Li Meng roared, his voice thunderous.
The boss¡¯s roar sent a shiver through Yue E¡¯s massive body.
It quickly leapt into the water with a splash.
¡°Human, your opponent is me!¡±
White frost suddenly spread from under Li Meng¡¯s feet.
The shattered ice around him instantly refroze.
¡°This¡ is ice magic?¡±
Seeing the river refreeze, Carlos¡¯s eyes flashed with surprise.
He stared at the goblin warrior in the distance with doubt.
A goblin warrior capable of using magic?
Chapter 116: Battle on the Ice
Chapter 116: Battle on the Ice
The previous strike was incredibly powerful.
How could a mere Goblin Warrior possess such strength?
On the icy surface, two figures stood facing each other, separated by 200 meters.
Hundreds of meters away, the human army was charging forward.
"It''s a Goblin Warrior!"
"Archers, attack! Kill that monster born from the belly of a Ground Mouse!"
Seeing Lord Carlos being confronted by a Goblin Warrior, the archers immediately began shooting at Li Meng.
A dense barrage of arrows whooshed through the air.
Li Meng didn''t bother to dodge, letting the arrows strike his body.
"Thud!"
Arrow after arrow embedded itself into Li Meng.
The force was significant, with some arrows penetrating deeply.
The intense pain made Li Meng grin menacingly.
One arrow even struck his head.
Although it grazed his skin, it was deflected by his skull.
A bizarre scene unfolded.
Within three seconds, the arrows stuck in Li Meng''s body were pushed out as his wounds healed.
"You follow the army''s advance. Don''t worry about this side!" Carlos roared at the nearby archers.
Ordinary soldiers had no place in battles between the strong.
Carlos''s command halted the archers'' attacks.
They turned and resumed following the charging soldiers.
"Crack!"
Before they had run far, a loud noise erupted beneath the ice.
A section of the ice shattered violently.
A massive column of water shot into the sky.
More than ten archers were instantly shredded by shards of ice and torrents of water.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Their fragile bodies were torn to pieces.
Beneath the ice, a huge shadow glided slowly.
It was Yue E launching an attack from the water.
"Clang! Clang!"
At that moment, two loud metallic clashes suddenly echoed from the burning forest on the northern bank.
It was a signal¡ªthe signal to attack.
"Swish! Swish!"
The sound of arrows tearing through the air immediately followed.
A dark rain of arrows soared from the flames, tracing a beautiful arc before descending upon the human army advancing on the ice.
"Shields up!"
A human officer leading the charge on the ice shouted loudly.
Spearmen raised their shields.
The bolts fell like raindrops onto the human army.
"Clang! Clang!"
The bolts struck the shields, producing a series of intense metallic clangs.
Sparks flew everywhere.
Some bolts ricocheted, while others pierced through the shields.
"Ah!"
Some archers, unable to take cover behind the spearmen in time, were pinned to the ice by the bolts.
Blood flowed freely as screams echoed across the battlefield.
Adventurers used various means to fend off the bolts.
"Roar!"
After the volley, loud roars erupted from the northern forest.
Accompanying the roars were shrill "Wah wah" cries.
On a two-kilometer stretch of riverbank, massive figures suddenly charged out of the blazing forest.
They were clad in heavy armor and wielded spiked clubs.
Their enormous bodies stood nearly five meters tall.
These figures plunged into the Goblin River, barreling forward like heavy tanks.
Behind them followed countless screaming Goblins.
The densely packed Goblins surged onto the ice like a green tidal wave.
What terrified the humans even more was that these Goblins wore crude armor.
"They''re Ogres! Ogres!"
"Dammit, why are Ogres fighting alongside Goblins?"
The appearance of Ogres caused the charging human army to falter.
The soldiers'' faces showed panic.
"Quick, kill the Ogres!"
"Archers, take them down!"
"Adventurers, what are you waiting for? Stop them!"
The Ogres'' overwhelming charge instilled dread.
Archers frantically aimed and fired at the Ogres.
A dense rain of arrows descended upon the charging Ogres.
The bolts clashed against the Ogres'' heavy armor, producing bursts of sparks.
Yet the bolts were deflected by their armor.
This scene filled the human soldiers on the ice with terror.
After the arrow volley, adventurers launched their attacks.
Fireballs streaked through the air, smashing into the Ogres'' massive bodies.
Blazing magical flames exploded upon impact.
Ice spears, water jets, water arrows, and ice arrows followed, their colorful magical energy colliding with the Ogres.
Yet these attacks failed to cause significant damage.
The Ogres continued their charge through the magic.
"Adventurers, tie up the Ogres!"
Seeing that magic was ineffective, the human officer changed tactics.
He decided to use the agile adventurers to distract the Ogres, while the army focused on the Goblins.
"This is a disaster!"
Fully armored Ogres posed a fatal threat.
One misstep would mean certain death.
But on the battlefield, the adventurers had no choice but to obey orders.
"Follow me!"
Adventurer squads charged toward the Ogres.
Meanwhile, the human army attacked the Goblins.
At the rear, on the deck of the sailing ship, temple priests were casting war magic.
War magic consumed vast amounts of mana but was far more powerful than ordinary spells.
Exploding Fireballs were the lowest-tier war magic.
Massive fireballs, three meters in diameter, streaked across the sky and crashed onto the ice.
With thunderous booms, fiery mushroom clouds erupted.
Goblins within a 100-meter radius were instantly incinerated.
Goblins farther away were blasted into the air by the shockwaves.
Across a span of several hundred meters, Goblins were thrown into chaos.
The ice in that area vaporized, leaving a stretch of water.
One Ogre took a direct hit from an Exploding Fireball.
With a deafening roar, a fiery mushroom cloud ascended.
When the flames dissipated, the Ogre had vanished.
That section of ice was melted by the fireball.
Moments later, a massive shadow moved beneath the water.
Suddenly, water splashed everywhere.
The enormous Ogre leapt onto the ice.
The enraged Ogre roared at the humans.
Its heavy armor glowed red-hot, emitting steam.
The Ogre had plunged into the river to escape, then used its brute strength to leap back onto the ice.
The furious Ogre resumed its charge.
It ignored the advancing adventurers and human soldiers, charging madly toward the sailing ship.
The temple priests on the deck were its target.
Meanwhile, on another part of the ice, another battle was about to commence.
On the ice, Li Meng and the human strongman stood facing each other, 200 meters apart.
Both were assessing their opponent.
[Crystal Apostle (King)]
[Level: 41]
[Strength: 1497]
[Defense: 1317]
[Agility: 1671]
[Magic: 1291]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
The human strongman''s stats caused Li Meng to frown slightly.
"A King-tier should be stronger than an Elite-tier, right?" Li Meng thought with a trace of doubt.
But why were this guy''s stats weaker than the lower-tier Ghost Beastman "Ghost Hand"?
Why was Carlos, known as the Southern Sword King, so weak?
Li Meng had always believed that those with titles were at a godlike level.
But reality had slapped him hard.
Chapter 117: I Underestimated You!
Chapter 117: I Underestimated You!
"Very well, weak enemies are not necessarily a bad thing!"
Li Meng sneered viciously, swinging his large iron rod.
The massive iron rod pointed directly at the Southern Sword King, Carlos.
"Hey, human, if you don¡¯t hurry up and kill me, your army will be wiped out by my little brothers!"
A mere goblin could actually communicate telepathically?
Carlos''s face turned cold, filled with killing intent.
This goblin warrior was extremely dangerous and had to be killed.
"Then let me grant your wish. Goblin, prepare to die!"
Carlos snorted coldly, stepping forward with his right foot.
The moment his foot stepped on the ice, his figure vanished.
A wave of air exploded outward.
The ice beneath him cracked with a sharp sound.
Carlos shot out like an arrow released from a bow.
He was so fast that the sound of him breaking the air followed after he had already arrived.
"Haha, then let¡¯s fight!"
Li Meng laughed uproariously.
In a flash, he dashed toward Carlos.
Li Meng was fast, but Carlos was even faster.
On the icy ground, the two figures flashed by each other in an instant.
They crossed paths in the blink of an eye.
On the icy field, the two stood back to back, separated by several dozen meters.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
"Hiss!"
A few seconds later, the sound of "hiss" rang out.
Li Meng''s right hand, which had been holding the iron rod, was severed from the shoulder.
Blood sprayed out as the severed hand fell to the ground.
The massive iron rod had been broken in two.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
"So painful, so painful! Hahaha!"
Li Meng roared toward the sky.
The towering figure turned around, grinning maliciously at Carlos.
"Hiss!"
Carlos''s body suddenly went limp, and he half-kneeled on the ground.
He spat out a large mouthful of blood.
Looking at Carlos''s chest, a large concave dent could be seen.
In the brief moment when they crossed paths, many things had occurred.
Although Carlos had severed the iron rod and cut off Li Meng¡¯s arm with one slash, his chest was also struck by a punch from the severed arm.
When the iron rod was severed, Li Meng had changed his attack and punched Carlos''s chest.
Carlos, relying on his advanced combat skills, twisted his body to reduce the force of the punch.
Even so, Li Meng''s punch, which slid off the chest armor, nearly claimed Carlos''s life.
"You... your body can regenerate?"
Carlos struggled to his feet and turned to face Li Meng.
Upon seeing him, Carlos¡¯s expression changed dramatically.
The goblin¡¯s severed arm was regenerating at a speed visible to the naked eye.
This ability was something only seen in ogres.
But today, he witnessed this "physical regeneration" ability in a goblin.
How could Carlos not be shocked?
Furthermore, the goblin warrior possessed extraordinary strength.
Ordinary goblin warriors could be killed by him with just a finger.
But this goblin warrior exceeded him in raw strength.
"Hu!"
A flicker of killing intent crossed Carlos''s eyes.
He took a deep breath.
Wielding his massive sword, his eyes locked onto the goblin warrior.
"Goblin, I must kill you today!"
Carlos''s figure flashed, transforming into a violent wind shooting forward.
In the instant Carlos attacked, Li Meng''s right hand had already regenerated, sprouting as a fresh green hand.
Li Meng stepped on the ground, causing the broken iron rod on the ice to bounce upward.
Holding a piece of the broken rod in each hand, Li Meng swung one toward Carlos.
"Clang!"
The sound of their weapons clashing echoed across the battlefield.
Sparks flew as Carlos frantically swung his massive sword.
The speed of his swings was so fast that the sword seemed like a blur.
However, every strike was blocked by the iron rods in Li Meng¡¯s hands.
Carlos circled Li Meng, attacking relentlessly.
Sometimes advancing, sometimes retreating, their exchange created a flurry of sword and blade shadows.
Each collision of their weapons sent shockwaves spreading outward.
The surrounding ice cracked layer by layer under the impact of their clash.
"Sword of Light: Strike!"
Carlos roared inwardly, his body assuming a striking posture.
The giant sword in Carlos''s hand thrust forward.
In that instant, the sword transformed into light.
Carlos¡¯s aura surged.
The light sword, like a falling star, aimed straight for Li Meng''s chest.
"Crack!"
At that moment, ice elements suddenly converged beneath Carlos¡¯s feet.
Carlos''s expression changed slightly.
He abandoned the attack and leaped backward.
The moment Carlos jumped, a massive ice spike shot up from where he had just stood.
The towering ice spike, nearly ten meters tall, formed a shield in front of Li Meng.
"Sword of Light: Slash!"
Landing on the ice, Carlos swung his sword.
A gigantic light blade shot out.
The blade moved with the speed of light.
In a flash of white light, it struck the ice spike.
"Crack!"
The ice spike shattered into pieces.
The light blade¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t falter as it struck the ice layer.
In an instant, a trench several meters long appeared on the ice.
This was carved by the light blade.
"Where is it?"
Although the ice spike shattered, Carlos couldn¡¯t see the goblin warrior¡¯s figure.
It wasn¡¯t dead¡ªCarlos was certain of that.
"Crack!"
Suddenly, the ice beneath his feet shattered.
Carlos¡¯s expression changed.
"Sword of Light: Blink!"
Carlos¡¯s figure transformed into light, dashing into the distance.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared dozens of meters away.
"Boom!"
Where Carlos had been standing, the ice violently shattered.
A towering green figure emerged from the water¡ªit was Li Meng.
Before Carlos launched his light blade attack, Li Meng had already stomped through the ice beneath him.
Although Carlos saw his reflection behind the ice spike, it was only an illusion.
Landing steadily on the ice, Li Meng stepped forward.
"War Stomp!"
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion followed.
The ice in front of Li Meng shattered completely.
Web-like cracks spread across hundreds of meters of ice.
The massive force lifted a wave that surged toward Carlos.
Standing on a piece of ice, Carlos swayed with the rippling water.
As the wave mixed with ice chunks approached, Carlos raised his massive sword.
"Sword of Light: Void Slash!"
Holy-tier light magic burst forth from Carlos.
A massive light sword phantom appeared above him.
Carlos gripped his sword with both hands and slashed forward.
The hundred-meter-long light sword cut the wave in two.
The residual energy surged to the sides.
The light sword continued its trajectory, slicing toward Li Meng''s position.
"Well, I underestimated him!"
Li Meng cried out, awkwardly leaping to the side.
The hundred-meter-long light sword struck the river surface.
"Boom!"
With a thunderous roar, the river split into a massive trench.
Two columns of water shot skyward.
Seconds later, the trench was refilled by the river, leaving the surface violently rippling.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Jose Jimenez AND kekoa haywood], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 118: Sword Technique of Light
Chapter 118: Sword Technique of Light
"This is the oppressive aura of the Sword King?"
At this moment, Li Meng finally understood that compared to overwhelming skills, even the highest attributes on the panel were useless garbage.
Even with ten thousand defense attributes, he couldn''t block that strike.
Sliding on the icy surface for dozens of meters, Li Meng rolled and got back on his feet.
At the moment he stood up, Li Meng¡¯s figure flashed.
A blast of air exploded outward, sweeping across the surroundings.
Li Meng dashed wildly across the icy surface, charging toward Carlos.
"Light Sword: Slash!"
Carlos, standing on the ice block, had already given up on close combat with the Goblin Warrior.
Through the earlier battle, Carlos deeply understood that engaging in melee with this Goblin Warrior would yield no advantage.
It wasn¡¯t because he wasn¡¯t strong enough.
But because this Goblin Warrior could also use ice magic.
Additionally, his strength was far inferior to that of the Goblin Warrior.
Carlos could only resort to long-range sword techniques that consumed massive amounts of magic power.
Carlos raised his greatsword and swung it forward.
A blade of light shot out once more.
"Hah!"
At the instant Carlos swung his sword, Li Meng let out a roar while sprinting on the ice.
Frost mist surged in front of him, sweeping across the icy surface.
"Crack!"
The ice surface trembled violently.
Massive ice walls rose abruptly.
One, two, three!
Three towering and thick ice walls stood in front of Li Meng.
Each ice wall was no less than fifty meters high.
The thickness was over five meters.
The immense weight caused the ice surface to sink downward.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
At the moment the ice walls rose, the light blade streaked through the air.
"Boom!"
The first ice wall shattered.
The light blade, losing no momentum, slammed into the second ice wall.
After breaking through the second ice wall, the light blade finally dissipated.
Seeing that the human¡¯s attack was blocked, Li Meng leapt high while sprinting on the ice.
Soaring dozens of meters, he kicked the ice wall.
"Crack!"
The ice wall was uprooted.
With a single kick, he sent the massive ice wall flying.
The ice wall spun through the air, crashing toward Carlos.
"Light Sword: Sky Splitting Slash!"
Carlos raised his greatsword once again.
Holy light magic erupted forth.
The phantom of a hundred-meter-long light sword appeared, slashing down at the incoming ice wall.
"Boom!"
The gigantic ice wall was cleaved in two.
The light sword¡¯s momentum didn¡¯t wane, slamming into the icy surface.
A massive section of the ice shattered instantly.
Two columns of water mixed with shards of ice shot skyward.
On the river surface, two huge waves surged in opposite directions.
"Human, I¡¯m right here! Wahaha!"
Behind a massive ice block, Li Meng lay prone.
The ice block was falling toward the river surface near Carlos.
Lying on the ice block, Li Meng let out a hearty laugh.
He leapt up, like an arrow, straight toward Carlos.
This scene made Carlos sneer with contempt.
"Foolish!"
"Light Sword: Strike!"
Carlos swung his sword in one strike, the greatsword turning into light and heading straight for Li Meng¡¯s chest.
"Whoosh!"
In mid-air with nowhere to dodge, Li Meng couldn¡¯t avoid it.
The light-formed greatsword pierced through Li Meng¡¯s chest.
"Gotcha!"
Despite the intense pain, Li Meng grinned ferociously and punched Carlos in the face.
"Boom!"
A loud explosion echoed.
The icy island beneath their feet shattered, sending both of them plunging into the river.
A massive column of water shot skyward.
Ice rain began to fall from the sky.
The battle between the two seemed long.
But in reality, it lasted only three minutes.
At the same time, along the two-kilometer-long river battlefield¡ª
Ogres had broken through the defenses of adventurers and human soldiers.
They charged into the ships like heavy tanks.
Their spiked clubs tore apart the ship structures.
The priests on the decks tried to escape but found themselves targeted.
The massive spiked clubs crushed them amidst their terrified screams.
One strike left nothing behind but a bloody mess.
On the icy surface, humans and Goblins were locked in fierce combat.
Arrows rained from the sky, and blades clashed on the ice.
The shouts of humans and the cries of Goblins echoed together.
Human soldiers continuously fell.
At the same time, numerous Goblins were killed by humans.
"Get lost, you monsters that crawled out of Ground Mouse bellies!"
A knight adventurer roared furiously.
He dashed forward, using his shield to deflect a Goblin¡¯s thrusting spear.
With a swing of his sword, he struck the Goblin¡¯s shoulder.
The Goblin¡¯s head flew off.
Turning swiftly, he bashed another Goblin away with his shield.
A whistling sound approached.
He stepped back, raising his shield in defense.
Several crossbow bolts clanged against the shield.
The bolts didn¡¯t penetrate but were deflected.
"Wahhh!"
Over a dozen Goblins roared as they charged toward him.
The adventurer knight showed no fear.
"Crack!"
Suddenly, thunder roared in the sky.
A series of purple lightning bolts struck down, hitting the surrounding Goblins.
One after another, Goblins fell to the ground, their bodies smoking.
Behind the adventurer knight stood a robed adventurer mage.
Holding a staff, he sneered at the Goblins.
His chants shifted between high and low tones.
Each swing of his staff brought a clap of thunder.
"Nice one, Ace!"
The mage¡¯s support eased the knight¡¯s pressure.
He turned to praise the mage.
"Whoosh!"
But at that moment, another whistling sound approached.
"Not good!"
The knight sensed danger.
His expression changed as he rushed toward the mage.
But it was too late. The battlefield allowed no moment of distraction.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed.
The mage, unable to cast a defensive spell in time, was riddled with arrows.
One crossbow bolt pierced his forehead, silencing him instantly.
His face filled with disbelief as he fell backward onto the ice.
He never expected to die at the hands of Goblins.
"Ace!"
The mage¡¯s death caused the surrounding adventurers to cry out in shock.
"Captain, what are you doing?"
A warrior wielding a large axe shouted angrily, chopping down a Goblin.
The knight seemed disoriented, shaking slightly.
"Captain, watch out!"
A Goblin Warrior charged toward the knight.
"Haha!"
The Goblin Warrior grinned viciously.
Swinging a spiked club, he struck the knight¡¯s shoulder.
"Ah!"
The knight screamed in agony, the impact knocking him to the ground.
The surrounding large Goblins wielding spiked clubs swarmed him.
They raised their weapons, repeatedly smashing them into the knight¡¯s body.
The knight screamed continuously as his face was beaten into a bloody pulp.
Soon, the screams stopped.
"Captain!"
The adventurer warrior roared in fury.
He charged madly toward his fallen captain.
But dozens of Goblins surrounded him.
Facing the encroaching Goblins, the warrior swung his large axe in wide arcs.
The approaching Goblins were reduced to mangled bodies.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Michael Brandt], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 119: Dragon Spear Technique
Chapter 119: Dragon Spear Technique
"Swish! Swish!"
Arrows from crossbows flew toward him.
Sparks erupted dazzlingly from his armor as the arrows ricocheted off.
"I want you all dead!"
The adventurer warrior roared.
He swung his giant axe, spinning rapidly.
A whirlwind of axe blades swept through the surrounding goblins.
The goblins charging toward him were sent flying.
Some were hacked into mangled pieces of flesh.
Even the arrows were deflected by the whirlwind of axe blades.
"Roar!"
At this moment, a roar came from the rear.
An Ogre suddenly charged forward.
Its massive steps resounded with "thud, thud" on the ice.
It approached the adventurer warrior and raised a giant spiked club, smashing it down on him.
"Boom!"
With a loud crash, the adventurer warrior was driven directly into the ice.
When the Ogre pulled back its spiked club,
the warrior''s body had turned into a mangled mess of flesh.
Looking beyond the Ogre,
the massive sailing ships were reduced to scattered wreckage, barely recognizable.
On the battlefield, the Ogre was almost an invincible force.
A large number of ships had been smashed into debris by the Ogre.
The temple priest on the deck had also vanished.
However, not all the Ogres managed to destroy the ships without resistance.
Some Ogres were being besieged by adventurers.
But the adventurers¡¯ attacks on the Ogres were destined not to last.
Because the goblins from the rear charged forward.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Facing several times their numbers in goblins, the human army couldn¡¯t hold the line.
The moment they engaged in close combat, they began retreating continuously.
"Don''t be afraid! They''re just little goblins! Each of you can take on ten!"
On the chaotic battlefield, a human officer was leading his soldiers in killing the enemy.
Hundreds of human soldiers and goblins clashed fiercely on the ice.
The soldiers displayed incredible bravery,
their spears piercing through goblin after goblin.
But the goblins seemed endless.
More and more soldiers fell, swarmed and killed by the goblins.
The soldiers¡¯ screams caused fear to spread across the faces of those nearby.
The officer, wielding a sword and shield, plunged deep into the goblin ranks.
Though clad in armor, he moved with agility.
Dodging left and right, his longsword sliced through goblins as if they were nothing.
Even armored goblins were pierced through with a single thrust.
"Warriors of the Irisis Principality, charge!"
He raised his longsword and shouted loudly.
The soldiers around him, their morale boosted,
gathered around the officer, trying to form a compact charge formation.
"Swish!"
Suddenly, an unexpected change occurred.
A sharp whistling sound pierced through the air.
"Boom!"
A massive crossbow bolt struck the ice.
In a straight line, goblins and humans alike were sent flying.
The just-formed human formation was instantly shattered.
The officer was skewered by the crossbow bolt,
his body impaled and pinned to the ice like a piece of meat on a spit.
"Wow! Wow!"
This scene excited the nearby goblins.
They cheered and charged forward in unison.
The officer¡¯s death shattered the human army¡¯s will to fight.
"Don¡¯t run! Come back and fight, fight!"
On this stretch of ice, the human soldiers were routed.
Their faces filled with terror, they turned and fled.
Those who wanted to continue fighting couldn¡¯t stop the collapse.
All they could do was run, run from the goblins.
But turning their backs on the enemy was not a wise move.
Though humans had longer legs, making them faster than goblins,
the crossbow-wielding goblins could reach them.
"Swish!"
A dense volley of bolts rained down like drops of water.
"Ahhh!"
Screams echoed one after another.
Human soldiers fell one by one, pinned to the ice by the bolts.
Excited goblins swarmed over, ending their misery.
Looking across the entire front line, the human forces were in full retreat.
Although less than twenty ships had entered the ambush zone,
this already represented two-thirds of the human fleet¡¯s strength.
The human soldiers numbered close to four thousand.
Four thousand was a significant force, but they faced 25,000 goblins.
Moreover, the sudden attack in the first wave had inflicted heavy casualties on the humans.
"You monster, don¡¯t even think about it!"
On the ice near the second ship of the human fleet,
a heavily damaged ship was protected by a white barrier of light.
A nearly seven-meter-tall Ogre repeatedly swung its spiked club at the barrier.
Each strike caused ripples to spread across the barrier''s surface.
On the deck inside the barrier stood a High Priest of the temple.
He raised his staff, angrily cursing the Ogre outside.
"Crack!"
At that moment, the crystal atop the staff shattered.
A web-like pattern of cracks spread across the crystal¡¯s surface.
This made the High Priest¡¯s face change slightly.
"Faris, if you don¡¯t act, I¡¯m going to die!"
The High Priest shouted angrily toward the cabin.
"You won¡¯t die. Lower the Holy Light Barrier!"
A lazy voice came from the cabin.
A burly figure holding a spear stepped out of the cabin.
He wore brown leather armor and had light-colored hair.
"No way! If I lower the barrier, I¡¯ll definitely die!"
The oppressive presence of the Ogre outside terrified the High Priest.
If the Holy Light Barrier were removed, the massive spiked club would strike him directly.
Faris grinned and twirled his spear.
"Dragon Spear: Break!"
Faris shouted loudly.
A surge of blood energy erupted from his body.
The hair on his head stood upright like needles.
In a flash, Faris turned into a streak of blood-red light and charged at the Ogre outside.
The Holy Light Barrier was pierced through directly.
The blood-red streak didn¡¯t slow down, heading straight for the Ogre.
"Clang!"
A sharp metallic clash rang out,
sparks flying in all directions.
Benben, the Ogre, staggered backward,
retreating over ten meters before stopping.
Looking at Benben¡¯s chest,
a large hole had appeared on its left side.
Its armor was pierced through, along with its body.
"Roar!"
The intense pain made Benben roar in anger.
The gaping hole, large enough to fit a bowl, began healing visibly.
Standing on the ship¡¯s edge, Faris grinned.
"As expected of the Ogre King. Tough enough!"
Not only was it tough, but it had three hearts.
With just one spear, killing the Ogre by targeting its hearts wasn¡¯t feasible.
"Dragon Spear: Descent!"
Faris twirled his spear again.
Another surge of blood energy erupted from his body.
"Boom!"
Faris shot up into the sky from the ship¡¯s edge.
He soared hundreds of meters high before plummeting back to the ground.
A dazzling blood-red radiance burst forth,
like a demonic spear descending from the heavens.
"Roar!"
Feeling the oppressive force from above, Benben roared toward the sky.
It raised its spiked club to block the attack.
But as soon as it raised the club, it lowered it again.
The massive creature turned and fled,
its heavy footsteps pounding the ice with "thud, thud" sounds.
"That human is incredible. Boss said, if we can¡¯t win, we run!"
While fleeing, Benben glanced nervously at the sky.
Chapter 120: Sorry, I Cant Save You
Chapter 120: Sorry, I Can''t Save You
When the Ogre fled, Faris did not pursue.
A flash of blood streaked across the sky.
Faris descended heavily onto the ice.
The small patch of ice immediately shattered and cracked.
"Faris, kill it!"
The High Priest on the ship''s deck shouted angrily at Faris.
Faris picked at his ear with his pinky.
"I told you, Kain, you''ve already lost. If you don''t leave now, you won''t be able to."
Kain''s expression shifted repeatedly on the deck.
The Crystal Temple had worked hard to persuade the Lionheart King to expand into the Goblin Forest.
Who would have thought the expedition corps would be repelled by mere Goblins?
"We haven''t lost! We still have Lord Carlos!"
Kain roared, looking towards the battlefield ahead.
His face froze at the sight.
The ice on the river surface had disappeared.
The ice layers were now replaced by turbulent waters.
Neither the Goblin warriors nor Lord Carlos were anywhere to be seen.
"This can''t be! It''s impossible! Just mere Goblins!"
Kain¡¯s face contorted in disbelief.
"You can lose your mind here; I won''t be joining you!"
Faris''s figure darted off like an arrow toward the fleet behind.
"Faris, wait, take me with you!"
Seeing Faris truly leave, Kain panicked.
He hurriedly leaned over the ship''s railing, shouting in the direction of Faris''s departure.
"Someone will come to get you, haha!"The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
In the distance, Faris''s laughter echoed.
"Boom!"
Suddenly, a loud rumble erupted from beneath the icy surface of the ship.
The ice beneath Kain''s side of the ship shattered instantly.
A column of water shot into the sky.
Within the water column, a silver-white figure emerged.
Before Kain could react, his body was lifted into the air.
"Lord Carlos?"
Seeing Lord Carlos, whose face was bloody and mangled, Kain was startled.
Carlos said nothing, carrying Kain as he sprinted across the ice.
Whenever he moved his mouth, the flesh on his face threatened to fall off.
Kain finally realized.
"Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!"
He shouted the order to retreat with reluctance.
Kain''s desperate cries echoed across the battlefield.
"It''s Lord Carlos! Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"
The adventurers and human soldiers fighting desperately heard the High Priest''s retreat order.
They also saw Lord Carlos retreating with the High Priest in tow.
Across the two-kilometer-long battlefield, wherever Carlos passed, the human army collapsed entirely.
The already battered human forces were immediately overwhelmed by the Goblins.
Human soldiers on the ice fled en masse from east to west.
The few remaining soldiers frantically withdrew westward.
The ships not yet caught in the ambush circle tried to approach the ice to rescue them.
However, the Triple-bow Ballistas on the shore stopped them.
Massive bolts flew across the river.
Some plunged into the water, while others pierced the sails and hulls.
The powerful impact sent human soldiers on board tumbling.
In less than two minutes, the lead ship was struck and sank.
The massive vessel was riddled with holes.
Large gaps in the hull allowed river water to pour in, gradually capsizing the ship.
Seeing this, the trailing ships quickly turned away from the battlefield.
"The fleet has fled! They''ve abandoned us!"
Human soldiers fleeing to the edge of the ice showed expressions of despair.
They helplessly watched the fleet retreat further into the distance.
Without the fleet''s support, how could they escape?
Now, they were powerless.
All they could do was watch the fleet fade away.
"Head to the south bank! Quickly, retreat to the south bank!"
Experienced adventurers immediately chose the best escape route:
To flee into the southern forest and follow the river downstream.
The adventurers began running toward the south bank.
"Follow them! Retreat to the south bank!"
With the adventurers retreating, the remaining human soldiers had no choice but to follow.
From above, the battlefield on the ice appeared to shrink in space.
The fleeing human army surged toward the south bank.
Chasing after them were the Goblins.
The ice was incredibly slippery.
Both humans and Goblins frequently slipped and fell.
Even the large Ogres occasionally stumbled, falling clumsily.
"Haha! The humans are running! They''re running!"
The Goblins were ecstatic at the sight of the human retreat.
They screamed and shouted as they pursued the fleeing soldiers.
A storm of ballista bolts rained down on the fleeing soldiers.
"Ah!"
Soldiers at the rear fell, screaming in agony.
"Don''t come closer! Stay away!"
One fallen soldier struggled desperately.
He tried to rise, but the searing pain in his body robbed him of strength.
The Goblins sneered as they closed in on him.
"Lord Carlos, save me!"
"Lord Carlos!"
"Lord Carlos!"
More soldiers fell behind.
Helpless soldiers could only cry out for their revered leader to save them.
The soldiers'' screams and pleas made Carlos pause.
Running across the ice, Carlos came to a stop.
He put down High Priest Kain.
"Lord Carlos, don''t do anything foolish! As long as you live, we can rebuild and rise again!"
Kain knew what Carlos intended to do.
But he also knew Carlos was already at his limit.
If he continued to fight, it would surely be his end.
Lord Carlos''s value far exceeded that of an army.
Ordinary soldiers could be recruited again.
But a warrior like Carlos was not so easily cultivated.
Carlos¡¯s figure vanished in a flash, speeding through the retreating army.
"It''s Lord Carlos!"
"Lord Carlos has come to save us!"
Carlos halted on the ice.
Expressionless, he looked at the soldiers lying on the ice.
Those soldiers lit up with joy at his arrival.
"Sorry, I can''t save you."
Carlos raised his massive sword.
He glared hatefully at the approaching Goblin horde.
Their overwhelming numbers were like a tide, sweeping toward him.
"Goblins, I will kill you all!"
Carlos opened his mangled mouth.
The loose flesh on his face fell away, revealing exposed bone.
Brilliant light magic erupted from his body.
Shockwaves rippled outwards, sweeping through the surroundings.
"Light Sword: Sky Severance!"
With all his strength, Carlos slashed his massive sword forward.
Under the horrified gazes of the fallen soldiers...
A raging force tore through them.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the ice quaked violently.
An invisible force erupted outward.
The ice in a straight line shattered explosively.
Countless Goblins and three Ogres were torn apart.
Two massive water columns shot hundreds of meters into the sky.
The ice across two kilometers split in half from west to east.
Chapter 121: Severe Injuries and Hollow Cavities
Chapter 121: Severe Injuries and Hollow Cavities
A hundred-meter-wide chasm suddenly appeared across the ice layer on the river surface.
The existence of this chasm halted the Goblins'' pursuit of the human army.
The ice layer beneath Carlos shattered into large pieces.
After completing this action, Carlos endured severe pain and leaped off the icy island.
Landing on the ice surface, he stumbled and staggered southward.
Wherever he went, a trail of blood was left on the pristine ice.
Seeing that the pursuit of the human army was no longer possible, the Goblins on the ice roared angrily.
They could only watch helplessly as the human army disappeared into the forest on the southern bank.
Meanwhile, on the other side¡ª
At the eastern edge of the icy river, a giant shadow swiftly passed beneath the water.
The next moment, with a loud crash, water splashed everywhere.
Yue E¡¯s enormous body leaped onto the ice.
Li Meng, who was riding on Yue E''s back, climbed down with a pale face.
¡°Boss, there¡¯s a hole in your body!¡±
Yue E turned around, her giant eyes staring intently at the boss.
At this moment, Li Meng¡¯s appearance was utterly miserable.
A gaping wound the size of a bowl had opened on his chest.
Through the hole, one could even see wriggling internal organs.
At that moment, Benben¡¯s massive figure also came thundering over.
Benben plopped heavily onto the ice and sat down.
Lowering his head, he gazed at the pitiful state of the boss.
¡°Boss, are you going to die?¡±
Benben¡¯s voice was low, carrying a hint of sadness.
Li Meng forced a wry smile and leaned back against Yue E''s leg.
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Li Meng could feel his wound gradually healing.
But it seemed as if some foreign force was lingering in the wound, interfering with his body¡¯s natural healing.
Recalling the technique used by that human, it was evident that the remaining force in his wound was Crystal Magic.
¡°That¡¯s great, Boss! I thought you were going to die!¡±
Benben moved closer, lying on the ice as he curiously observed the hollow in the boss¡¯s chest.
¡°Boss, your organs are so disgusting!¡±
The boss¡¯s organs were sticky, pulsating, and seemed to be teeming with countless writhing worms.
Even for Benben, an Ogre, it was enough to make his skin crawl.
Turning slightly, Li Meng glanced toward the west.
¡°What¡¯s the situation over there?¡±
Benben sat back down and shook his massive head.
¡°Boss, the humans ran away!¡±
Li Meng noticed a deep chasm that spanned the southern ice layer.
He had sensed the earlier commotion as well.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect that human to still have enough strength to unleash such a powerful skill!¡±
At this moment, Li Meng deeply realized the terrifying nature of humans.
While their physical strength couldn¡¯t compare to the Savage Tribe''s elites, the skills they possessed were extraordinarily potent.
¡°It seems that altering the future trajectory is indeed not so easy!¡±
Li Meng recalled that in one of the future lines, the human fleet was completely annihilated.
After numerous attempts to alter the future line, the new outcome saw the humans retreating.
Before the great battle, Li Meng had considered ensuring the complete destruction of the human fleet.
He had even planned to personally eliminate the dozen or so human ships that hadn¡¯t entered the ambush circle after the battle.
However, the results proved that some futures were beyond his ability to change.
The future line predicted by Simulated Life was simply too fragmented.
Without enough details, it was impossible to alter the future at will.
By the time the events were unfolding, it was already too late to make changes.
Li Meng sat down, leaning against Yue E.
¡°Benben, did you encounter any unbeatable human warriors?¡±
In one of the future lines, both Benben and Yue E were fated to perish.
This indicated that there were other powerful individuals among the human fleet besides Carlos.
Benben nodded his enormous head.
He reached out his right hand and touched the armor on his chest.
¡°Boss, earlier, I got stabbed with a big hole too. That human was amazing! I couldn¡¯t even see how he attacked me. Then he jumped up, really high, and the sun was too blinding. So, I ran!¡±
At this moment, Li Meng noticed a large hole in Benben¡¯s chest armor.
It should be noted that an Ogre¡¯s chest armor was the most defensively robust area.
The armor¡¯s thickness reached a terrifying ten centimeters.
Yet, the human warrior¡¯s strike had directly pierced through Benben¡¯s body.
Seeing this, Li Meng frowned slightly.
Li Meng couldn¡¯t understand why the human warrior who attacked Benben didn¡¯t team up with Carlos to fight him.
If the two human warriors had joined forces, he might have been killed right there.
¡°Boss! Boss!¡±
At that moment, Gobu Tian came trotting over.
Sliding across the ice, he knelt dramatically before the boss, skidding for more than ten meters.
¡°Boss, you¡¯re amazing! Even the Goblin King is unworthy of licking your boots!¡±
Gobu Tian looked at his boss with fanatical admiration.
He had witnessed the battle between the boss and the human warrior.
That immense strength made his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
He had been so excited that he¡
Facing Gobu Tian¡¯s fanatic gaze, Li Meng weakly waved his hand.
¡°Clean up the battlefield. Remember to strip the humans of their armor and weapons and take them with us!¡±
Gobu Tian nodded fervently.
Looking at the massive hollow in the boss¡¯s chest, Gobu Tian swallowed nervously.
¡°Boss, are you¡ okay?¡±
Yue E and Benben both turned to glare at Gobu Tian.
Facing their oppressive gazes, Gobu Tian shivered and withdrew his neck.
He scrambled to his feet and ran off without looking back.
As the human army retreated, the battle on the ice came to an end.
The Goblins began cleaning up the battlefield.
For a moment, the cries of the surviving human soldiers filled the air.
Whether alive or dead, they all became the Goblins'' feast.
On the ice, tens of thousands of Goblins scrambled for food.
¡°Humans, delicious!¡±
¡°Mine, all mine!¡±
The humans became the Goblins'' top-priority meal.
Especially the powerful adventurers, who were highly prized by the Goblins.
Compared to ordinary soldiers, adventurers¡¯ meat was chewier, and their marrow even sweeter.
The battlefield on the ice turned into a dining table for the Goblins.
The Goblins feasted, their chewing sounds echoing to the heavens.
¡°Damn it, despicable!¡±
The horrifying dining scene of the Goblins on the ice was seared into the eyes of the humans in the southern forest.
Their hearts were filled with hatred and loathing for the Goblins.
So many of their comrades had died, with fewer than a thousand survivors.
Around three thousand warriors had fallen at the hands of the Goblins.
With such deep hatred, how could they not be vengeful?
¡°Go! Live to seek revenge!¡±
A military officer punched a tree trunk hard.
The punch was so forceful that it left bloodstains on the bark.
The soldiers in the forest helped the wounded and left this nightmarish place.
Time passed bit by bit.
The sound of chewing on the ice persisted for a long time.
By the time the sun set in the west, the Goblins had devoured all the corpses on the battlefield.
Aside from bloodstained equipment, nothing remained.
¡°We won!¡±
¡°Human meat is so delicious!¡±
¡°Humans are so weak; we¡¯re so strong, haha!¡±
That night, a black mass of jubilant Goblins swarmed into the forest.
Chapter 122: Living and Dignity
Chapter 122: Living and Dignity
Under the moonlight, the ice glimmered with a dazzling brilliance.
Soon, this layer of ice would melt away under the river''s erosion.
When the ice vanished, the traces of the battlefield would disappear as well.
The Goblin army, marching through the darkness, returned triumphantly.
Some carried the armor and weapons of human soldiers.
Others bore dismantled Triple-bow Ballistas.
The dark forest echoed with the "wa-wa" cries of Goblin chatter.
The victory during the day had left the Goblins ecstatic.
They had not only defeated the hated humans.
They had also feasted on delicious human flesh.
The Goblins were in bliss!
---
Northern Marshlands
The following day, Yue Clan.
Inside the chieftain''s wooden house.
"Chieftain, the humans were defeated and suffered heavy losses. The Goblin army has emerged victorious!"
This news left the elders inside the wooden house speechless.
They knew a massive Goblin army had ventured into the western forest.
Its sheer size suffocated them with dread.
They also knew what the Goblin army intended to do.
But they never imagined the Goblin army could actually defeat the humans.
"How is that possible? Among humans, there are many powerful individuals capable of fighting a thousand foes. How could mere Goblins stand against them?"
"Are you certain of what you saw?"
Facing the skeptical gazes of the elders, the reporting Lizardman nodded.
"We saw it clearly. The humans were indeed defeated, and the Goblin army is now retreating from the battlefield."
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The confirmation of the report filled the Lizardman elders with despair.
They feared they would never regain their freedom from the Goblins in this lifetime.
The wooden house fell silent, the oppressive atmosphere palpable.
Seated in the main position, Bai Ling waved a hand gently.
The reporting Lizardman bowed and rose, then turned and hurried out.
It wasn¡¯t until the Lizardman disappeared through the doorway that Bai Ling withdrew his gaze.
Sweeping his eyes over the elders, Bai Ling¡¯s expression remained calm.
"I will soon head to the Throne Tribe and serve the master for a time. I will strive to persuade the master to treat the Yue Clan kindly. The master is not an ordinary Goblin; he is intelligent and thoughtful about what benefits him most. For the Yue Clan to survive, we must depend on the master and demonstrate our sincerity. Only in this way can we secure a place in the master¡¯s future kingdom!"
Bai Ling¡¯s words caused the expressions of the elders to shift repeatedly.
"Chieftain, this cannot be! To do so, I..."
Gray Scales, unable to accept this, protested immediately.
Gray Scales could endure a temporary humiliation to survive.
But he could not bear to live a lifetime in humiliation.
"Gray Scales, if you have a better solution, I am willing to hear it!"
Bai Ling interrupted Gray Scales before he could finish.
Everyone present understood what Gray Scales wanted to say.
But Bai Ling believed it was time for the elders to face reality.
He had struggled and despaired once.
But now, he had made up his mind.
To live was the most important thing.
Only by surviving could hope exist.
If one chose to live, then every effort should be made to secure a better future for the tribe.
There was no need to torment the tribe for the sake of so-called dignity.
Facing the chieftain¡¯s gaze, Gray Scales lowered his head.
"Then it¡¯s decided. Once I leave, you elders must take good care of the tribe!"
Under the chieftain¡¯s gaze, the elders looked at each other in dismay.
At this point, they no longer knew what to do.
They could only nod in agreement, supporting the chieftain¡¯s decision.
---
Goblin River¡¯s Northern Forest
Throne Tribe, Throne Cave Dwelling.
Since returning to the tribe, time had flown by.
More than half a month had passed without notice.
It took half a month to finally tally the losses from the battle with the humans.
"Eight hundred enemies killed, with three thousand of our own lost?"
The report from Gobu Mo left Li Meng, seated by the sand table, murmuring to himself.
In the last battle with the humans, about three thousand human casualties were inflicted.
The total strength of the Irisis Principality''s Pioneer Corps was about five thousand.
Nineteen three-masted ships were also among their losses.
On the Goblin side, however, nearly ten thousand were killed or injured.
Forty percent of the ten thousand fell to magical bombardment.
The humans¡¯ magic was indeed powerful.
A massive fireball spell, if cast into a dense crowd, could instantly annihilate hundreds of Goblins.
Twenty percent died in direct combat with human soldiers.
Thirty percent fell at the hands of adventurers.
Although adventurers were far fewer in number compared to human soldiers, their efficiency in slaughtering Goblins far exceeded that of the human troops.
Even an ordinary adventurer mage could easily obliterate dozens or even hundreds of Goblins.
The remaining ten percent were killed by Carlos¡¯s final strike.
Carlos¡¯s last blow also claimed the lives of three Ogres.
Without crossbows, armor, and iron weapons, not even fifty thousand Goblins could likely match the Irisis Principality¡¯s Pioneer Corps.
This calculation didn¡¯t even account for human elites.
Goblins simply weren¡¯t suited for the battlefield.
They were only fit to live like rats, endlessly hunted.
They were merely stepping stones for novice adventurers.
"Is this the so-called ants biting an elephant to death?"
As if realizing something, Li Meng grinned.
The Goblins¡¯ current weakness was only temporary.
As his offspring and descendants grew, the quality of Goblins would improve.
By then, even short Goblins would possess immense strength.
"Well done. You may leave now. Send Gobu Qiang to see me!"
Gobu Mo rose to his feet and hurried out.
Outside, the sound of departing footsteps gradually faded.
Inside the wooden house, Li Meng, staring down at the sand table, grinned.
In the last battle, the Goblin Wild Boar Cavalry hadn¡¯t been utilized.
The boars¡¯ hooves weren¡¯t suited for running on ice; they slipped easily, causing chaos.
Thus, from the beginning to the end of the battle, Gobu Qiang had been watching from the sidelines.
Before long, footsteps sounded outside again.
Gobu Qiang rushed in.
"Boss, boss, you called me!"
Running and shouting, Gobu Qiang slid on his knees, stopping several meters away and bowing behind Li Meng.
"Gobu Qiang, it¡¯s time for you to go out and establish your own tribe!"
The stench of pig dung in the tribe had become unbearable.
It was time to send Gobu Qiang out to form a branch tribe.
Hearing this, Gobu Qiang was elated.
Li Meng picked up a wooden stick and pointed to a spot on the sand table.
"Go here. The terrain is flat, the vegetation lush¡ªperfect for you!"
Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously.
Anywhere would do. Wherever the boss sent him, he¡¯d go.
"Go now¡ªno, prepare immediately!"
Li Meng could no longer tolerate the occasional whiff of pig dung.
He just wanted Gobu Qiang to quickly take the wild boars and leave.
"Boss, then I¡¯ll head out!"
Gobu Qiang got up and ran off.
Listening to the sound of departing footsteps outside, Li Meng touched his chest.
The intense pain made him grin.
Though painful, it was a satisfying kind of pain.
Chapter 123: Water Battle Legion
Chapter 123: Water Battle Legion
After half a month, the hole in Li Meng''s chest had healed.
Although the wound had healed, traces of crystal magic power remained at the site.
That lingering power occasionally caused Li Meng pain.
Over time, however, the force was gradually weakening.
Li Meng leaned back and collapsed onto the floor.
The Goblin army, on its return journey, had conveniently brought back the tributes as well.
At this time, the female Lizardmen had all gone to the Iron Cavern.
This left the wooden house empty.
"In a few days, I''ll go and take a look at the Black Mountain Marshlands!"
Li Meng had not forgotten the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s summoning of the Savage God, Akuya.
Once he fully recovered, he had to investigate.
Although, in the future timeline, he failed to stop the Black Mountain Tribe from summoning the Savage God Akuya, in reality, he still had a chance to alter that outcome.
Even if he couldn¡¯t change the future, he needed to gather intelligence at the Black Mountain Marshlands.
At this moment, footsteps echoed outside the door.
They were not the footsteps of a Goblin but those of a Lizardman.
The steps of a Lizardman were distinctly different from those of a Goblin, and their sound was slightly unique.
The footsteps belonged to one person, indicating it wasn¡¯t one of the female Lizardmen from the Throne Cave Dwelling.
As Li Meng wondered which Lizardman had come, a graceful white figure appeared at the doorway.
"Master!"
The entering figure was Bai Ling. She saw the Goblin lying on the floor, staring at the ceiling as though lost in thought.
"What are you here for?"
The familiar scent and voice told Li Meng who the visitor was.
Bai Ling stepped lightly forward and sat beside the Goblin.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
Looking at the Goblin before her, Bai Ling¡¯s expression remained calm.
She stretched out her hands and began kneading Li Meng''s legs.
"It has been a while since we last met. Bai Ling is here to serve her master!"
Bai Ling¡¯s words brought a smile to Li Meng''s face.
He leisurely enjoyed Bai Ling''s massage.
The touch of the Lizardman¡¯s smooth, cold hands was exceptionally pleasant.
With his eyes slightly squinted, Li Meng observed Bai Ling by his side.
"Speak. What do you want?"
Although Bai Ling no longer showed hatred in her eyes, Li Meng knew she had merely hidden her resentment deep within.
"Swamp Lizardmen excel at water battles. If the master treats us well, we are willing to fight for you!"
Bai Ling had no intention of pleading for anything from the Goblin before her.
Only through the purest exchange of interests could she achieve her goal.
By demonstrating the value of the Yue Clan Tribe, Bai Ling hoped the Goblin might agree to her request.
Li Meng grinned, looking at Bai Ling with interest.
"Your numbers mean nothing to me."
The Yue Clan Tribe had a total population of only about three thousand, with adult male Lizardmen making up less than a third.
Even if the Yue Clan Tribe tried its best to reproduce, it would take at least ten years to double its population.
Such slow growth did not interest Li Meng.
Bai Ling raised her head slightly to meet the Goblin¡¯s gaze.
"Master, the Goblin Forest also has the Black Mountain Tribe. Their population far exceeds that of the Yue Clan Tribe¡ªover ten times greater. If you can subdue the Black Mountain Tribe, you could have a water battle legion of more than ten thousand!"
A ten-thousand-strong water battle legion?
Li Meng¡¯s large frame sat upright.
His right hand suddenly shot out, gripping Bai Ling by the neck.
"Interesting idea. But how can I ensure that your so-called ten-thousand-strong water battle legion won''t betray me at a critical moment?"
Li Meng sneered viciously at Bai Ling.
The strength of his hand increased.
Bai Ling grabbed at Li Meng¡¯s wrist with both hands, struggling against the choking sensation.
Fear flickered in her eyes as she looked at the Goblin''s savage grin.
"Master, we... we all have loved ones¡ªparents, offspring, partners. You can separate them and keep them as tributes under your control. That way, we would never dare betray you, knowing the enormous cost to our kin. If you ensure their safety, we would not risk it!"
Bai Ling¡¯s suggestion brought a flicker of surprise to Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
He hadn¡¯t expected her to be so ruthless.
Although the Throne Tribe already had a group of tributes, these Lizardmen were largely kept as couples to give them some hope.
After all, a year wasn¡¯t long; enduring it was manageable.
This approach avoided many unnecessary troubles.
However, Bai Ling¡¯s plan went straight for the jugular.
Grinning, Li Meng released his grip.
Gasping for air, Bai Ling collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
After some time, she regained her composure.
She removed her animal-hide skirt and crawled toward her master¡¯s towering frame.
Sitting in the Goblin¡¯s lap, Bai Ling looked up at his grotesque face.
"Master, one day you will become the King of the Goblin Forest. When that day comes, please spare the Swamp Lizardmen of the Black Mountain Tribe. I will ensure their submission to you!"
Looking down at Bai Ling in his arms, Li Meng said nothing.
Did the Black Mountain Tribe even have a future?
The tribe''s fate was already sealed.
Regardless of whether Li Meng could stop them from summoning the Savage God Akuya, the Holy Church''s paladin regiment was an insurmountable barrier.
Of course, Li Meng had no intention of sharing this information with Bai Ling.
He had little interest in ruling the Black Mountain Tribe.
Three hundred female Lizardmen were sufficient.
Unrestrained growth of the Goblin population was foolish.
If the number of newborn Goblins from a single generation was too high, it would cause severe food supply issues.
Currently, the Throne Tribe welcomed new Goblin infants approximately every 35 days.
Each batch consisted of around a thousand Goblins.
This meant the population could grow by over ten thousand each year.
Without proper control, this number could multiply several times over.
The female Lizardmen¡¯s gestation period was about one month, with each litter producing around ten infants.
Three hundred female Lizardmen could produce about three thousand Goblin infants per cycle.
In one year, these three hundred female Lizardmen alone could increase the Goblin population by tens of thousands.
This was the terrifying nature of Goblins.
The current number of female Lizardmen in the Yue Clan Tribe was more than sufficient.
Of course, Bai Ling¡¯s proposal did tempt Li Meng.
Goblins were indeed poor at water battles.
Having a competent amphibious army would not be a bad idea.
Before long, Bai Ling¡¯s soft murmurs filled the wooden house.
By nightfall, the female Lizardmen who had gone to the Iron Cavern returned.
The chieftain¡¯s presence surprised them.
The night was long, and the wooden house was lively.
It wasn¡¯t until late into the night that the activity in the house finally ceased.
The following morning, a sharp "bang" was heard.
The door to the Throne Cave Dwelling swung open from within.
Li Meng hurriedly stepped out of the wooden house.
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Chapter 124: The Silver Ore
Chapter 124: The Silver Ore
"Benben, you don¡¯t need to follow me. Go play wherever you want."
Watching the figure of the boss leaving, Benben remained lying on the ground, continuing to snore loudly.
Ever since following the boss, it had grown fond of the days of eating and sleeping, and then eating again.
The goblins provided its food, offering both meat and delicious fruits.
After leaving the Throne Tribe, Li Meng headed north.
Half an hour later, he arrived at the Iron Cavern.
By the underground riverbank, an extinguished blast furnace reignited.
"Boss! Boss!"
As soon as Li Meng entered the Iron Cavern, Gobuge came running excitedly.
"Boss! Boss! Look at this!"
Gobuge, with a flattering smile, held out a silver stone.
"What is this?"
Taking the stone from Gobuge''s hand, Li Meng examined it closely.
It resembled iron ore but was covered with a silver-colored substance.
"I don¡¯t know. We found it deep inside the cavern, boss. This cave is really deep, with many bottomless abysses. We discovered these stones by a small stream. They glow in the water."
Stones that emit light when in water?
Li Meng turned and walked toward the underground river.
Upon reaching the riverbank, he threw the stone into the water.
Just as Gobuge described, the stone emitted a faint silver glow upon contact with water.
This made the stone appear exceptionally beautiful.
"Could it be mithril?"
Looking at the glowing ore in the water, Li Meng muttered to himself.
In Western fantasy films, there were often references to precious metals like "mithril."
This reminded Li Meng of the giant sword used by the human strongman Carlos.
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Carlos¡¯s sword also emitted a similar glow in water.
Perhaps this material was the primary component for forging that sword.
The giant sword in Carlos¡¯s hands was incredibly tough.
Even Li Meng''s iron rod couldn¡¯t inflict any damage on it.
Not even a dent appeared on the blade.
"Gobuge, go mine some of these stones. I want them right now!"
If it were a metal, it should be possible to smelt it.
Gobuge immediately ran toward the depths of the cavern.
By the riverbank, Li Meng crouched down and retrieved the stone from the water.
Once removed from the water, the stone returned to its original appearance.
"This cavern truly is a treasure trove. It¡¯s worth exploring thoroughly when there¡¯s time."
Although he couldn¡¯t yet confirm what the ore in his hand was, Li Meng had a strong premonition.
He might have stumbled upon something truly valuable.
He waited for five hours.
By afternoon, five hours later, at the Iron Cavern''s underground riverbank, two goblins carried over a basket filled with the silver ore.
"Throw these stones into the bonfire!"
If the silver ore was indeed a metal, the smelting process wouldn¡¯t differ significantly from iron.
Li Meng directed the goblin underlings to burn the silver ore.
Soon, the bonfire roared to life.
Standing beside the fire, Li Meng eagerly watched the silver ore amidst the flames.
Three hours passed.
By the bonfire, Li Meng looked speechlessly at the unchanged ore in his hand.
It wasn¡¯t entirely unchanged.
The non-silver parts of the stone had become brittle due to the heat.
But the silver substance remained unaffected.
It was very hard, impossible to crush.
"Gobuge, fire up the furnace!"
Li Meng poured the entire batch of ore into the blast furnace to begin smelting.
Time ticked by, and night fell.
Sitting beside the furnace, Li Meng stared intently at it.
Over ten goblins huffed and puffed as they operated the bellows.
Waves of intense heat surged forward continuously.
The next morning, at the Iron Cavern¡¯s underground riverbank:
"Boss, there¡¯s still no change!"
Gobuge pulled out a piece of ore from the bottom gate of the furnace.
Despite an entire night of smelting, the ore remained the same.
"Could it be that the smelting method is wrong?"
Looking at the ore on the ground, Li Meng thought to himself.
After all, some precious metals required specific smelting methods.
"It seems I¡¯ll need to capture a human adventurer!"
He regretted not keeping some human captives.
Otherwise, he might¡¯ve already figured out what this mysterious material was.
"Boss, should we keep smelting?"
"Smelt, but not this material. Smelt steel!"
Later that day, Li Meng began smelting steel.
He selected some steel armor from his war spoils for secondary smelting.
Seven days later, Li Meng finally left the Iron Cavern.
"Ah, it¡¯s so nice to bask in the sun!"
Outside the Iron Cavern, Li Meng basked in the blazing sunlight.
The warm, tingling sensation all over his body was comforting.
After a long while, Li Meng headed into the forest.
In the dim forest, Li Meng walked slowly with his massive iron rod on his shoulder, lost in thought.
"How can I change the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s future of summoning the Savage God Akuya?"
This event in the future timeline originated from the Papal Kingdom¡¯s Temple Knights.
However, in previous future timelines, the causes of the events varied.
The first time, the Black Mountain Tribe summoned the Savage God Akuya out of fear after their expedition army was annihilated.
The second time, they summoned Akuya to counter an invincible pair of human warriors.
The third time was this current scenario.
Three different reasons, yet the Savage God Akuya was summoned each time.
This revealed something strange.
In the first and second instances, altering the future prevented the Black Mountain Tribe from summoning Akuya.
But the tribe¡¯s future of summoning Akuya remained unchanged.
Thus, there was only one conclusion:
The time gap in the Papal Kingdom¡¯s Temple Knights¡¯ appearance was the key.
This threat had always existed.
It was just that the Black Mountain Tribe was unaware of it.
If, in the previous future timelines, the tribe had summoned Akuya, the Temple Knights would still have appeared.
Only, their opponent wouldn¡¯t have been the tribe but the Savage God Akuya they summoned.
Moreover, the strength of that pair of human warriors remained a mystery.
Their power might even surpass Carlos.
Even Carlos couldn¡¯t survive an onslaught of tens of thousands of goblins.
Although Carlos was incredibly powerful, his magic and stamina were finite.
The stronger the magic or combat technique, the greater the consumption of magic power.
When magic power was depleted, stamina would drain faster, leaving the body in a weakened state.
In this state, even a strong warrior would become extremely vulnerable.
Thus, on large battlefields, even a powerful individual found it hard to change the tide.
Yet, this pair of human warriors had forced the Black Mountain Tribe, with its tens of thousands of members, to summon Akuya.
Of course, another possibility existed:
The Black Mountain Tribe might not have understood the dangers of summoning Akuya.
Thus, they chose to summon their god to deal with the human warriors.
Perhaps they believed that the god they worshipped would not harm them.
"Steal the sacrificial plate?"
This thought was immediately dismissed by Li Meng.
With his massive size, sneaking into the Black Mountain Tribe to steal the sacrificial plate was almost impossible.
The tribe was unlikely to be a small place.
Finding the sacrificial plate alone would be a significant challenge.
Chapter 125: Journey to the Black Mountain Tribe
Chapter 125: Journey to the Black Mountain Tribe
"Why not do nothing?"
Li Meng recalled the hero who perished in the future timeline.
This information was provided by the Ghost Beastman "Ghost Hand."
A human hero had appeared in the Black Mountain Marshlands and fought against the Savage God "Akuya."
This indicated that humanity was aware of the threat posed by the Savage God.
Although the hero died, humanity would undoubtedly have a contingency plan.
Perhaps he didn¡¯t need to do anything, and the Savage God would be eliminated by humanity.
However, rather than doing nothing, there was another opportunity to change the future.
If the timeline in which the Black Mountain Tribe summons the Savage God cannot be altered,
helping the hero eliminate the Savage God "Akuya" might just be the turning point to change the future.
"Let¡¯s go to the Black Mountain Marshlands first and see what happens."
The information from the future timeline was too limited.
Li Meng could only head to the Black Mountain Marshlands to observe the situation.
In the forest, Li Meng quickened his pace.
---
Half an hour later, at the Throne Tribe.
Li Meng hurried into the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Arriving at the sand table, Li Meng beckoned Bai Ling over.
"Bai Ling, where are the Black Mountain Marshlands?"
Bai Ling stepped lightly to the sand table and pointed to a section of the Goblin River westward.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"There''s a tributary leading south at this point. Follow it downstream to reach the Black Mountain Marshlands!"
"Let¡¯s go, I¡¯ll take you back!"
Li Meng turned to leave.
Yue E resided in the waters near the Yue Clan''s territory.
To reach the Black Mountain Marshlands quickly, Yue E, his mount, was essential.
Hearing this, Bai Ling was momentarily stunned, hesitating before chasing after him.
In the tribe''s forest, the two walked one after the other.
"Master, are you heading to the Black Mountain Marshlands?"
Bai Ling inferred this from Li Meng¡¯s inquiry about its location.
"Yes, I¡¯m interested in the Black Mountain Marshlands and plan to take a look."
Hearing this, curiosity flickered in Bai Ling''s eyes.
What was her master''s purpose?
What significance did it hold for him to venture alone to the Black Mountain Marshlands?
---
"The boss is here! The boss is here!"
Seeing their leader and a white-scaled Lizardman approach, the Goblins guarding the western gate quickly opened it.
Amid the Goblins¡¯ enthusiastic and obsequious gazes, Li Meng and Bai Ling exited through the western gate.
Outside the gate, Li Meng turned toward Bai Ling.
Seeing her master stride toward her, Bai Ling instinctively backed away.
Before she could retreat further, Li Meng closed the distance and hoisted her onto his shoulder.
After a moment, he put her down again.
"You¡¯d better stay in the Throne Tribe!"
Li Meng glanced at Bai Ling''s belly.
It was only when he lifted her earlier that he realized she was pregnant.
Bai Ling could not give birth in the Yue Clan''s territory.
Li Meng had no intention of provoking the Yue Clan unnecessarily.
Bai Ling touched her belly and nodded gently.
She had wanted to inform her master about her condition but had feared angering him.
Now that he knew, she no longer needed to return.
"You should go back!"
With that, Li Meng turned and sprinted into the forest.
His speed was so swift that he vanished into the trees in the blink of an eye.
Bai Ling watched until her master''s figure disappeared into the forest before turning back toward the tribe.
---
The next day, in the Northern Marshlands.
In the morning, at the Yue Clan''s territory.
"It''s the Goblin Warrior!"
"Is it that Goblin?"
"It should be; only that Goblin uses ice magic!"
"Ice magic? Isn¡¯t that the same ability as the chief¡¯s?"
The Lizardman warriors on the western wooden wall buzzed with chatter.
They had spotted the Goblin in the waters west of the wall.
A towering Goblin Warrior walked on the water, leaving an icy path in his wake.
He shouted loudly as he moved.
Before long, the water ahead churned violently.
A colossal Swamp Crocodile King leapt from the water, its massive body crashing into the shallows.
"Boss, boss, I¡¯m here!"
The enormous creature waddled toward Li Meng, splashing water everywhere.
"Boss, where¡¯s my magic crystal?"
Seeing that her master wasn¡¯t carrying a bag of magic crystals, disappointment flashed in Yue E''s large eyes.
Li Meng grinned, patting her fearsome tusks.
"This time we¡¯re going on a long trip. If we encounter powerful beasts, they¡¯re yours to eat!"
Yue E¡¯s eyes lit up at this.
"Great, great, I love traveling far!"
She wagged her enormous tail in excitement, sending water flying everywhere.
---
Three days later.
In the Goblin Forest, by a southern tributary.
The river, though not as wide as the Goblin River, was still sizable, winding its way through mountains and forests.
The banks were densely forested, lending the area a serene atmosphere.
Suddenly, rustling came from the underbrush on the riverbank.
Moments later, a massive armored beast emerged from the forest.
Its bulky body appeared clumsy, with short legs and a dragon-like head adorned with a small horn.
Its appearance startled nearby animals and magical beasts, which fled into the distance.
The beast approached the water and began to drink greedily.
Suddenly, a shadow darted underwater.
"Splash!"
With a loud crash, a massive crocodile burst from the river, biting the beast¡¯s neck.
"Roar!"
The beast struggled furiously, but the crocodile steadily dragged it toward the water.
The enraged beast¡¯s eyes turned blood-red as it raised its tail high.
Yellow magical energy swirled at its tail tip, forming a rapidly condensing stone bullet.
At that moment, a green-skinned figure leapt from the water.
Li Meng landed behind the beast and swung his massive iron club.
With a sickening crack, the beast''s tail shattered under the blow.
Chapter 126: The Swamp Turtle King
Chapter 126: The Swamp Turtle King
"Roar!"
A beast''s roar echoed in pain.
With a splash, the massive creature''s body was dragged into the water.
The shadow beneath the surface churned violently, causing waves to ripple across the river.
It took a while for the surface to calm down.
On the riverbank, Li Meng gnawed contentedly on the tail of the beast.
The Tier-4 magical beast, named "Spine-Back Ground Dragon," was an advanced version of the Ground Dragon.
[Skill Devour activated. Skill acquired: "Stone Projectile."]
This was the sole ability of the Spine-Back Ground Dragon.
At that moment, ripples spread across the water''s surface again.
Yue E''s massive figure emerged from the water.
"Boss, its meat is awful!"
Alongside Yue E was the headless corpse of the Spine-Back Ground Dragon.
The twenty-meter-long corpse floated on the water''s surface.
With a grin, Li Meng tossed away the tail in his hand.
"It really is terrible!"
Li Meng leaped onto Yue E''s back as she swam through the water.
On the river, a crocodile and a goblin continued heading south.
Li Meng remained vigilant, observing everything around him.
Whenever they encountered a magical beast, no matter its strength, it would not escape a beating.
Some beasts, though weak, were incredibly quick to flee, making them hard to catch¡ªeven for Li Meng, with his agility stat exceeding a thousand.
Although they encountered many beasts along the way, 99% of them had no unique skills.
These creatures fought using only their physical strength, akin to ordinary animals.
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The following day, in a southern tributary of Goblin River:
Under the scorching afternoon sun:
"Boss, what is that thing?"
Yue E paused, her massive eyes fixed on what appeared to be an island in the river.
But it wasn''t an island¡ªit was a magical beast.
A turtle-like creature whose shell resembled an island.
The enormous shell had a diameter of over 200 meters, making it appear like a small floating landmass.
[Swamp Turtle King (Emperor)]
[Level: 51]
[Strength: 51327]
[Defense: 67147]
[Agility: 37141]
[Magic: 41874]
[King of Water Elements: LV5]
"My heavens!"
Li Meng was startled by the Swamp Turtle King''s terrifying stats.
"Yue E, don''t move. Let it pass!"
Li Meng quickly backed off, making way for the creature.
The river island moved, albeit slowly.
Before long, it approached the riverbank.
With thunderous crashes, the Swamp Turtle King revealed its full form.
It truly resembled a colossal turtle, its shell towering like a mountain, complete with soil and lush vegetation.
The Swamp Turtle King lumbered into the eastern forest, carving a massive trench through the woods as it went.
Watching its retreating figure, Li Meng heaved a sigh of relief.
Luckily, the Swamp Turtle King was docile.
If it behaved like them¡ªattacking every beast they saw¡ªthey''d be doomed.
Li Meng was certain that if the enormous creature had any intent to kill them, they wouldn''t last a second.
---
"This Simulated Life System is so unreliable!"
Li Meng couldn''t help but complain inwardly.
How could it fail to provide information about such a significant encounter as the Swamp Turtle King?
"Boss, it''s so strong! My tail''s gone limp!"
Like Li Meng, Yue E was thoroughly shaken.
Upon seeing the Swamp Turtle King''s true form, she felt her entire body weaken as if all her strength had vanished.
If not for Li Meng on her back, she would have fled long ago.
"It is indeed powerful. Fortunately, it doesn''t care about us. Let''s move on, Yue E."
In the Swamp Turtle King''s eyes, they were no more than ants¡ªnot even worth a glance.
Yue E resumed swimming in the river.
---
Time passed day by day.
On the ninth day, Li Meng and Yue E arrived at the Black Mountain Marshlands.
---
Morning, Black Mountain Marshlands:
In the vast expanse of water, Yue E wriggled her massive body forward.
"That must be Black Mountain," Li Meng said, gazing into the distance from Yue E''s back.
They had left the river behind some time ago.
Now, they were in a boundless marshland with water no deeper than three meters and murky depths.
The river carried a faintly rotten smell.
All around them was a white expanse of water.
It felt like entering the sea, with no land in sight.
Only in the west could a massive black mountain be seen on the horizon.
Its peak was snow-capped, indicating its immense height.
Undoubtedly, that was Black Mountain.
"Yue E, head toward that mountain!"
Yue E picked up speed, her enormous body swaying more vigorously as she stirred up muddy waves.
---
In Goblin Forest, there was a swamp called the Black Mountain Marsh.
The swamp contained a mountain named Black Mountain.
At the mountain''s base was a settlement called "Ancestor Tribe."
---
Afternoon, under the blazing sun:
At the southern foothills of Black Mountain lay a massive wooden stockade.
The sprawling wooden structures stretched along the shore for over two kilometers.
In the southern waters near the stockade, a fleet of three-masted ships floated.
Towering sails filled the waters, covering an area spanning several kilometers.
A glance revealed no fewer than fifty ships.
Floating among the fleet were numerous Lizardmen corpses.
On the decks, leather-armored archers stood on high alert.
They lined the rails, ready to fire arrows at any disturbance in the water.
"The ship''s bottom is under attack! Lizardmen are boring through the hull!"
One ship erupted in chaos.
A soldier in red armor rushed to the rail.
"Stay calm. Their stone weapons can''t break through."
"Priests, show them our strength!"
White-robed temple priests approached the rail, holding crystals in their hands.
The priests chanted loudly, and the crystals in their hands began to glow faintly.
As their chants ceased, they hurled the crystals into the water.
The sinking crystals spun rapidly, forming vortices on the water''s surface.
From the vortex center, blue magical light burst forth, unleashing countless water arrows in all directions.
The Lizardmen boring into the hulls were instantly pierced, their blood rising to the surface.
Although the ship hulls were also struck, the water arrows left only small dents.
"Retreat!"
Realizing they couldn''t harm the human fleet, the Lizardmen onshore sounded a retreat horn.
The urgent horn blasts echoed from the shore''s settlement.
The attacking Lizardmen fled in panic.
From above, black shadows could be seen darting away underwater near the fleet.
---
Meanwhile, on the deck of one of the ships, a middle-aged man in silver armor stood at the bow.
Helmet under his arm, he gazed coldly at the wooden stockade onshore.
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Chapter 127: Black Mountain Tribe
Chapter 127: Black Mountain Tribe
¡°They have nowhere to run!¡±
Selof turned to look at the graceful figure standing on the helm deck.
She wore a white, low-cut priestess robe, with a touch of snow-white skin on her chest adding to her alluring charm.
Facing the gaze of Legion Commander Selof, she gently nodded.
Raising the staff in her hand, she began chanting loudly.
Blue magical energy slowly drifted from the crystal at the tip of her staff toward the sky.
Above Tavier''s head, a massive mermaid illusion appeared.
The mermaid was stunning, with a human upper body and a fish tail for the lower half.
She folded her arms across her chest, lowering her head with closed eyes.
As the illusion became more solid, she opened her eyes.
¡°Ah!¡±
She opened her mouth and let out a piercing scream.
The sound was sharp and swept across the fleet like a tidal wave.
Where the sound passed, the water trembled.
Visible soundwaves rippled through the air, sweeping over the wooden stockade on the shore.
The Lizardmen retreating underwater couldn¡¯t bear the sound and surfaced one after another.
¡°Attack! Fire at will!¡±
Seeing the Lizardmen emerge from the water, the human officers on the decks of various ships hurriedly issued attack orders.
¡°Whoosh, whoosh!¡±
The sound of arrows cutting through the air echoed across the fleet.
A dense rain of arrows fell on the Lizardmen who had surfaced.
¡°Thud!¡±
Many Lizardmen were struck by the arrows.
Sharp arrowheads pierced into their bodies.
¡°Ah!¡±
The Lizardmen let out cries of pain.
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The surrounding waters turned red with blood in an instant.
The Banshee¡¯s howl was merely a signal, a signal to command the fleet to attack.
The temple priests from each ship rushed to the bow.
They raised their staffs and began chanting loudly.
Rolling ice fog surged over the water near the ships.
A series of ¡°crackling¡± freezing sounds followed.
Where the ice fog passed, the water surface froze instantly.
A wave of ice fog swept out from the fleet toward the shore.
The Lizardmen retreating ahead of the fleet were engulfed by the ice fog in the blink of an eye.
Their bodies were frozen in the water.
Some Lizardmen, noticing the commotion behind them, fled to deeper parts of the water.
Within ten seconds, the ice fog ravaging the water surface reached the shore.
A large area of water froze solid.
The thick ice connected the fleet to the land.
¡°Temple Knights, disembark and assemble!¡±
The fleet became a scene of bustling activity.
A large number of heavily armored knights climbed down from the decks using the netting along the ship''s sides.
Thousands of Temple Knights gathered on the ice in front of the fleet.
Before long, they formed rank after rank, lined up in rectangular formations.
Each formation consisted of 200 Temple Knights, with a total of twenty formations.
Behind them were archer units in column formations.
The powerful military force caused fear among the Lizardmen in the wooden stockade.
¡°Chief, we have nowhere to retreat!¡±
On the shore, a group of Lizardmen elders looked despairingly at the distant human fleet and army.
¡°Fight! What is there to fear in death?¡±
"Yes, even if we die, we must make humans pay the price!"
The scar-faced leader stood silently, gazing at the human army on the distant ice sheet.
This time, the human forces were clearly here to annihilate their tribe.
It was humanity''s inherent malice toward all savage tribes.
They were like locusts, occupying every inch of land.
Although humans weren¡¯t the most powerful race on the continent, they were the most numerous and aggressive.
"Pray to the gods. It¡¯s our only chance to defeat the humans!"
These words from Scarface made the elders of the Lizardmen show excited expressions.
"Yes, the great Water God Akuya will surely destroy the humans and protect our tribe!"
"Chief, let us summon our Savage God!"
The Lizardmen elders unanimously echoed.
They knew well that their tribe was at the brink of life and death.
Only by summoning the Savage God Akuya could they defeat humanity.
Scarface turned to look toward the tribe, his expression shifting.
"Go, gather all the tribespeople at the shore. Together, we shall welcome the descent of our Savage God!"
The Lizardmen elders quickly turned and rushed toward the tribe.
The humans were about to land, and time was running out for them.
Scarface sighed deeply on the shore.
He turned again to look at the distant fleet of human ships.
Scarface wasn¡¯t sure if his choice was the right one.
The black-robed figure gave him an ominous feeling.
Nor was he sure if the Savage God would truly descend.
If the Savage God Akuya did come, would it protect the Black Mountain Tribe?
Everything was moving toward an uncertain future.
---
Meanwhile, on the distant fleet of human ships.
"Commander Selof, the army is assembled and ready!"
Standing at the bow of the ship, Selof gazed at the army on the ice ahead.
The dense phalanx before him filled him with confidence.
The Temple Knights would crush everything in their path as they always did.
Selof raised his sword and pointed forward.
A loud shout echoed across the bow deck from Selof.
"Temple Knights, advan¡ª"
Boom!
Suddenly, a dramatic change occurred.
The ice to the right of Selof¡¯s ship suddenly shattered.
Through a spray of water and shards of ice, a massive Swamp Crocodile King burst out.
It leaped from the water like a carp ascending a dragon gate.
The Swamp Crocodile King broke through the ice, soaring over the ship.
At that moment of flight, a green figure pounced toward the rear deck at Tavier.
"Ah!"
A scream was heard.
Tavier''s staff was knocked from her hand by Li Meng¡¯s palm.
Her graceful figure was slung over Li Meng¡¯s shoulder.
Tavier had no time to react.
When she did, she was already in the goblin¡¯s grasp.
"Women! Give birth to goblin babies for me! Wahahaha!"
Li Meng let out a hearty laugh and, in a flash, his tall green figure leaped from the deck to the ice behind.
Meanwhile, Yue E, who had flown over the ship, smashed into the ice on the other side and dove into the water.
Li Meng, carrying Tavier on his shoulder, landed on the ice and started running wildly.
"Selof, save me!"
Tavier screamed in terror.
"If you struggle, I¡¯ll take a bite out of your thigh!"
Li Meng smacked the human woman''s full hips with his palm.
Taking in the fragrance from the human woman, Li Meng grinned.
Human women were indeed far more tempting to him.
Terrified by Li Meng¡¯s threat, the human woman¡¯s body trembled.
Ignoring the pain in her hips, she quickly shut her mouth.
"Goblin! You¡¯re courting death!"
Selof, on the ship¡¯s bow, finally snapped out of it.
He roared and, in a flash, leaped down from the deck.
Crack!
As he landed on the ice, it shattered beneath him.
A shockwave exploded outward.
"Holy Leap!"
Selof suddenly transformed into a white beam of light, soaring into the sky.
He rose to a height of a thousand meters, descending like a meteor toward the fleeing Li Meng on the ice.
"Damn! Human skills are seriously ridiculous!"
The commotion behind made Li Meng instinctively turn to look.
What he saw scared him half to death.
That human warrior had rocketed into the sky like a missile.
In one jump, Selof had risen a thousand meters high.
Chapter 128: Let Go of the High Priest!
Chapter 128: Let Go of the High Priest!
[Human Apostle (Holy)]
[Level: 9]
[Strength: 4191]
[Defense: 2481]
[Agility: 3671]
[Magic: 2791]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
"It¡¯s actually a Holy Rank powerhouse!"
The attributes of a human powerhouse are somewhat stronger than those of the King Rank.
The Holy Rank must be the higher tier above the King Rank.
"Goblin, let go of the High Priest!"
A roar echoed from the sky.
Following that was a streak of white light flashing by.
It landed on the ice several hundred meters ahead of Li Meng.
The white light descended from the sky and smashed onto the ice.
"Boom!"
A thunderous explosion resounded.
The ice in that area shattered instantly.
A towering pillar of water shot into the air.
Waves surged and swept in all directions.
Li Meng quickly stopped and activated his willpower.
"Crack!"
An ice wall suddenly rose from the ice in front of Li Meng.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
The ice wall was about ten meters tall and five meters wide.
The surging waves collided against the ice wall.
The water flow was blocked and diverted to both sides.
When everything calmed down, the two stood hundreds of meters apart, gazing at each other from a distance.
At this moment, Li Meng hadn¡¯t left the fleet.
He was still within the waters where the fleet was located.
The shattering ice and waves caused the surrounding ships to sway violently.
"Goblin, let go of the High Priest!"
Standing on the water, Selof''s face was filled with killing intent.
Selof hadn¡¯t expected a goblin to suddenly disrupt the situation.
What made it worse was that he hadn¡¯t even noticed the goblin hiding in the waters near the ships.
What infuriated him further was that the goblin kidnapped the High Priest right before his eyes.
"How is that guy standing on the water without sinking?"
The human powerhouse''s ability to stand on the water baffled Li Meng.
"Is it because of the necklace around his neck?"
Li Meng¡¯s gaze locked onto the necklace on the human powerhouse¡¯s neck.
The man wore a necklace inlaid with a deep blue magic crystal.
Judging by the color, it seemed to be a water-element magic crystal.
Li Meng grinned at the human powerhouse.
That guy was likely the future Temple Knights Corps Commander, "Selof."
And the person on his shoulder should be the Temple High Priest, "Tavier."
"No way, I need to take her home to give birth to my little goblins!"
These words made Tavier''s face turn pale.
She started struggling again.
"Selof, I... I¡¯d rather die than give birth to little goblins! Kill it, don¡¯t worry about me!"
Tavier bit her lip, despair written all over her face.
She¡¯d rather die than fall into the goblin''s hands and be humiliated.
She knew all too well what fate awaited her.
Hearing Tavier¡¯s cries, Selof¡¯s face turned cold.
He swung his sword, his expression icy as he stared at the goblin.
"High Priest, I will kill it!"
Seeing Selof ready to attack, Li Meng grinned.
"If you don¡¯t care about her life, then I¡¯ll kill her now!"
As he spoke, Li Meng tightened his grip on Tavier¡¯s waist.
"Ah!"
Tavier screamed in pain.
Along with her scream was a chilling "crack."
On Li Meng''s shoulder, Tavier struggled in terror.
The harder she struggled, the tighter Li Meng¡¯s grip became.
Her waist emitted horrifying "crackling" sounds.
The excruciating pain turned Tavier¡¯s face pale.
Blood began to seep from her mouth.
"Stop it, stop!"
Tavier''s screams made Selof¡¯s face turn grim.
He roared in anger, glaring with fury.
"Goblin, if you kill the High Priest, I swear you won¡¯t die peacefully!"
Facing Selof''s threats, Li Meng grinned wider.
Perfect. This was the reaction he wanted.
As long as Selof still cared about Tavier¡¯s life, the initiative was in his hands.
Li Meng¡¯s only fear was if Tavier was worthless in Selof¡¯s eyes.
It seemed his gamble had paid off.
As a High Priest and a Holy Rank powerhouse, Tavier¡¯s status in the Crystal Temple must be extraordinary.
This status ensured Selof wouldn¡¯t act rashly.
"System, initiate Life Simulation!"
With Tavier in his grasp, the future trajectory must have shifted.
[Initiating Life Simulation]
[You ambushed Tavier and captured her.]
[She is alluring, arousing your primal urges.]
[You plan to bring her back to the Throne Tribe to bear countless goblin offspring.]
[Temple Knights Corps Commander "Selof" blocks your way.]
[You propose a truce: their withdrawal in exchange for Tavier.]
[Selof agrees and swears by the crystal not to invade Goblin Forest for five years.]
[Please choose your course of action:]
[1. Hand over Tavier after the Temple Knights withdraw from the Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[2. Break your promise and take Tavier away.]
[3. Kill Tavier after Selof swears the oath.]
"Option 2!"
Li Meng was curious about what would happen if he took Tavier away.
Even if it led to a bad outcome, it didn¡¯t matter.
He could always choose Option 1 in reality.
[The Temple Knights withdrew from the Black Mountain Tribe.]
[You forcibly took Tavier away, enraging Selof.]
[Bound by his oath, Selof retreated reluctantly.]
[You brought Tavier back to the Throne Tribe and did things she despised.]
[Tavier became pregnant.]
[One day, Tavier committed suicide.]
[Your tribe flourished.]
[One day, the Ghost Beastman "Ghost Hand" found you again.]
[You accepted Ghost Hand¡¯s challenge.]
[Ghost Hand was defeated and fled, vowing to return.]
[Your hunting team began operating near human territories, causing conflicts.]
[Your hunting team clashed with other goblin nests.]
[A human hero appeared in the Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe summoned the Savage God, "Akuya."]
[The human hero fell in battle.]
[One day, a pair of humans found the Throne Tribe.]
[You died.]
[Life Simulation ended. Score: 70]
[Please select your rewards:]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level.]
[Consume 1 point for +1 attribute.]
[Consume 20 points for +1 Luck.]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in "Wind Blade."]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in "Physical Regeneration."]
[Consume 50 points for +1 level in "King of Ice Elements."]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in "Body Enhancement."]
"Increase the level of ''Physical Regeneration''!"
Surviving ensures continued fighting.
A tough body guarantees a longer life.
[Consumed 50 points, +5 levels in "Physical Regeneration."]
["Physical Regeneration" maxed out, evolved into "Immortal Body."]
[Consumed 20 points, +1 level in "Immortal Body."]
Chapter 129: Beware of My Iron Rod
Chapter 129: Beware of My Iron Rod
The Black Mountain Tribe had once again summoned the Savage God [Akuya].
The hero had died again.
Those two human males and females appeared again and again.
The future timeline kept circling back to the beginning.
Li Meng was speechless, feeling helpless in his heart.
Now was not the time for random thoughts.
Li Meng¡¯s consciousness returned to reality.
Facing Selof¡¯s angry gaze, Li Meng grinned.
"Humans, retreat and swear never to invade Goblin Forest again, or I¡¯ll kill her."
If they could swear not to invade Goblin Forest for five years, why not extend it to a lifetime?
¡°Absurd! Goblin, I am the leader of the Paladin Order, [Selof]! How could I be threatened by a goblin? If the High Priestess dies, I will avenge her. The Holy See will avenge her. As for you, I¡¯ll make sure you die the most painful death!¡±
Selof roared, his eyes filled with anger, and pointed his sword at Li Meng.
Selof¡¯s reaction left Li Meng stunned.
"Damn, the script is wrong!"
¡°Goblin, prepare to die!¡±
Selof¡¯s eyes turned red as he roared.
Holy magic power surged from his body, spreading waves of energy in all directions.
The water trembled violently.
The space around them twisted.
"Five years!"
As Selof was about to launch his attack, Li Meng shouted.
These words froze Selof¡¯s aura instantly.
The holy magic power surrounding him vanished.
Selof raised his great sword high, his face solemn.
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¡°I, Selof, knight of light serving the Crystal, hereby swear to make an agreement with the goblin before me. As long as the goblin ensures no harm comes to High Priestess Tavier, the Paladin Order will immediately retreat and refrain from invading Goblin Forest for five years. If this oath is broken, may I die a violent death!¡±
Selof¡¯s solemn oath echoed loudly.
As the last word fell, the holy magic power on his body flickered.
A burst of light swept around him.
¡°Goblin, I have sworn. Release the High Priestess and leave at once. Five years from now, I will come for you!¡±
Facing Selof¡¯s cold gaze, Li Meng pouted slightly.
What¡¯s this? He compromised so quickly.
If he had known, he would have asked for ten years.
Li Meng grinned, patting the plump hips of the woman on his shoulder with his right hand.
¡°This won¡¯t do. Leave a small boat behind and retreat immediately. Once you¡¯ve withdrawn from the Black Mountain Marshlands, I¡¯ll release her.¡±
Selof¡¯s face turned cold, and he said no more to the goblin.
He turned and rushed towards the fleet¡¯s flagship.
Meanwhile, the Paladin Order did not attack the Black Mountain Tribe immediately.
They gathered on the ice, waiting for the commander¡¯s order to attack.
Although many had noticed what was happening behind them, without the commander¡¯s order, none dared act.
¡°Boom, boom!¡±
Shortly after, the sound of war drums resounded from the ship.
It was the signal to retreat.
Although many knights couldn¡¯t understand why the commander had given the order to withdraw, an order was an order.
With the drums sounding, the Paladin Order began to retreat.
The army gathered on the ice dispersed in an instant.
Each formation returned to its respective ship.
The human army¡¯s retreat left the lizardmen in the wooden stockade on the shore puzzled.
The humans had come aggressively; why were they suddenly retreating?
Due to the distance, the lizardmen had no idea what had happened.
Shortly after, the human fleet in the distance set sail.
The blue glow of magic flickered, and the ice around the ships quickly melted.
The ships turned in place and gradually sailed back the way they had come.
In the vast expanse of water, the fleet moved slowly.
A small boat followed not far behind on the water.
"Human, you¡¯re truly seductive!"
Looking at the alluring curves of the human woman¡¯s body, Li Meng grinned.
¡°Y-you¡ Stay away from me.¡±
Li Meng¡¯s smile seemed lewd in Tavier¡¯s eyes.
Frightened, Tavier backed away repeatedly.
She hugged her chest with both hands, curling up in a corner.
¡°Wahaha!¡±
The woman¡¯s comical reaction made Li Meng laugh heartily.
Sitting on the boat, Li Meng clutched his stomach, laughing.
¡°Human, you¡¯re a Saint-level powerhouse. How can you be so timid?¡±
This woman wasn¡¯t weak.
[Crystal Apostle (Saint)]
[Level: 17]
[Strength: 21]
[Defense: 15]
[Agility: 14]
[Magic Power: 5179]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
[Crystal Magic (?)]
Her level was even higher than Selof¡¯s.
If it weren¡¯t for being taken by surprise and held captive, catching her wouldn¡¯t have been easy.
Faced with the goblin¡¯s mockery, Tavier glared angrily.
¡°Despicable goblin! If it weren¡¯t for your sneak attack, how could I have fallen into your hands?¡±
Tavier¡¯s words made Li Meng laugh even harder.
Pointing at her, he almost cried from laughing.
"Y-you, what are you laughing at?"
Tavier was furious, looking flustered.
As the High Priestess of the Holy See, she was now being mocked by an ugly goblin.
¡°Oh, my goodness! Is this your first time on the battlefield? What, did you think your enemies would stand far away and let you cast your magic? Human woman, you¡¯re the most foolish human I¡¯ve ever seen in my life.¡±
Tavier¡¯s face turned red with frustration.
She couldn¡¯t think of anything to refute the ugly goblin before her.
¡°I-I¡¯ll kill you!¡±
Tavier, enraged, pointed at Li Meng.
Magic light shimmered at her fingertips.
¡°Boom!¡±
The small boat on the water suddenly rocked violently.
Li Meng lunged forward, pressing Tavier beneath him.
¡°Y-you, let me go!¡±
Li Meng, pinning Tavier beneath him, gripped her neck tightly.
The intense feeling of suffocation made Tavier¡¯s face flush red.
Looking at the human woman beneath him, Li Meng grinned sinisterly.
¡°Woman, why are you so brainless?¡±
Li Meng stuck out his massive tongue and licked Tavier¡¯s pale cheek.
¡°Although I promised that human to release you, I¡¯ve got plenty of time to torment you before then. What¡¯s wrong? Want to experience what it¡¯s like to bear little goblins?¡±
Tavier shook her head frantically in terror.
¡°Don¡¯t anger me further, or I¡¯ll show you the might of my iron rod!¡±
Tavier¡¯s delicate body trembled, her face turning deathly pale as she nodded.
Her reaction greatly pleased Li Meng.
Li Meng released Tavier and got off her.
As soon as the restraint was gone, Tavier crawled to the side of the boat.
She scrubbed her face vigorously with water.
Bent over the edge of the boat, her curvaceous body formed a beautiful silhouette.
Looking at Tavier¡¯s rounded hips, a strange glint flashed in Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
Even as a goblin, his sense of aesthetics hadn¡¯t changed much.
Compared to the Savage Tribe, he still preferred human women.
Chapter 130: Sacrificial God and the Hero
Chapter 130: Sacrificial God and the Hero
¡®Should I take some time to capture a few female adventurers to enrich my harem?¡¯
Thinking of such a future, Li Meng chuckled mischievously.
His lascivious expression caused Tavier, who was washing her face, to tremble slightly.
It was only then that she realized how alluring her posture might appear.
She quickly retreated to a corner, hugging her chest and watching the Goblin with wary eyes.
After indulging in his fantasies for a while, Li Meng finally dropped his lecherous demeanor.
¡°Hey, woman, why did you attack the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
Out of boredom, Li Meng started chatting with the human woman.
Tavier remained silent.
This Goblin seemed peculiar.
Although he was just a weak Goblin Warrior, his strength was several times greater than that of a Goblin King.
As a High Priestess, she would never divulge important information to the Savage Tribe.
Li Meng smirked, his lewd gaze lingering on Tavier.
¡°If you don¡¯t speak now, soon enough, under the teaching of my iron rod, you¡¯ll obediently spill everything!¡±
Tavier''s face flushed slightly, glaring at the Goblin with a mix of shame, anger, and disgust.
For her own safety, Tavier decided to comply.
¡°In recent years, the Shadow Council has been frequently appearing in the Goblin Forest. The Papal State received information that a Sacrificial Plate suspected to summon the Savage God had appeared in the Black Mountain Tribe. Thus, they mobilized their forces to prevent the Black Mountain Tribe from summoning the Savage God to wreak havoc upon the world!¡±
The Papal State came for the Sacrificial Plate?
So, the so-called Sacrificial Plate was a tool for summoning the Savage God.
¡°Since you knew the Black Mountain Tribe possessed the Sacrificial Plate, weren¡¯t you afraid it would provoke them into summoning the Savage God against you?¡±
Upon hearing this, Tavier looked mockingly at the Goblin.
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¡°The Savage God isn¡¯t so easily summoned. It requires devout faith to nurture the divine essence, which takes a long time. While there are faster ways to summon the Savage God, no one would be foolish enough to sacrifice the lives of thousands of their kin to bring it into the world. Besides, a blood-sacrificed Savage God has no self-awareness. It would instinctively devour the world, leading to the extinction of all life and turning the land into a barren wasteland.¡±
Tavier¡¯s words made Li Meng¡¯s eyes light up.
So, the method of summoning determines whether the Savage God is benevolent or malevolent?
Whether this was true or not, Li Meng couldn¡¯t be sure.
However, Tavier definitely knew the truth.
After all, Tavier was not only a Saint-level powerhouse but also the High Priestess of the Crystal Temple.
Her strength and status gave her a deep understanding of this world.
¡°What would a Savage God nurtured through faith be like?¡±
Tavier looked puzzled at the Goblin, who seemed brimming with curiosity.
Aren¡¯t Goblins creatures that only think with their lower halves?
Why did this Goblin give off such a wise impression?
Although he could sometimes be no different from an ordinary Goblin, his lewd gaze just as revolting, his calm demeanor felt completely distinct.
On the small boat, Tavier¡¯s voice rang out.
¡°Many powerful races on the continent have their own Sacrificial Gods. These deities are the product of faith and serve as the guardians of their respective races, both powerful and fearsome.¡±
¡°The very existence of deities profoundly impacts the world. They absorb the world¡¯s energy to sustain themselves. To minimize their influence on the world, deities often inhabit living beings, who then become the Heroes of their respective races.¡±
Heroes are the vessels of Sacrificial Gods?
This revelation surprised Li Meng.
He hadn¡¯t expected the Heroes of this world to be such entities.
The beings hosting the deities could wield divine power.
Did that mean the Sacrificial God was essentially a rechargeable battery?
¡°If a Hero is killed, does the deity die too?¡±
Tavier shook her head.
¡°Unless their essence manifests, deities cannot die. If a Hero is killed, another Hero will appear, starting from scratch but quickly growing to become a powerful guardian of their race.¡±
Turning his gaze slightly, Li Meng looked at the fleet ahead of the small boat.
It seemed that kidnapping Tavier was the right decision.
Not only had it disrupted the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s plan to summon the Savage God, but it also bought five years of buffer time.
He had also gained significant intelligence from Tavier, furthering his understanding of this world.
¡°So¡ are there any races in this world that resemble humans but have fluffy ears and tails?¡±
Li Meng looked at Tavier expectantly.
His eager gaze sent shivers down Tavier¡¯s spine.
She couldn¡¯t understand why the Goblin was asking such an absurd question.
After some hesitation, Tavier nodded.
¡°There are many demi-human races on the continent that resemble humans. Aside from certain physical traits, they¡¯re not much different.¡±
¡°Wahaha!¡±
Li Meng burst into joyful laughter at Tavier¡¯s answer.
This world was simply too wonderful!
Li Meng jumped off the small boat, running barefoot across the water.
Behind him, a long-lasting trail of ice formed on the water¡¯s surface.
¡°Woman, next time I see you, you¡¯re coming home with me to bear little Goblins! Wahaha!¡±
Watching the Goblin disappear into the distance, Tavier glared furiously.
¡°Goblin! The next time I see you, I will kill you!¡±
Tavier¡¯s furious scream echoed from the boat.
Hearing her enraged shouts, Li Meng, sprinting across the water, grinned.
If possible, he really wanted to carry that woman home.
Unfortunately, someone like her had a strong sense of pride.
For her to take her own life wasn¡¯t surprising to Li Meng.
After all, he was a Goblin, not some overpowered human protagonist.
Looking toward the direction of the Black Mountain Tribe, Li Meng grinned menacingly.
¡°Since the future has already been altered, let¡¯s change it once more.¡±
Strike while the iron is hot.
The Black Mountain Tribe was currently like a sickly giant.
The humans¡¯ retreat had left them temporarily exhausted.
Now was the perfect time to steal the Sacrificial Plate.
Li Meng didn¡¯t understand why, in the future timeline, he hadn¡¯t done this.
But now, he was determined to alter the future again.
When he had ambushed Tavier earlier, Li Meng had sensed an ominous aura from the wooden stockade on the shore.
Only then did he realize he could pinpoint the exact location of the Sacrificial Plate.
Perhaps this was one of the abilities granted by his powerful attributes.
With this ability, he had a chance to seize the plate.
All he needed was a swift assault on the Black Mountain Tribe.
Snatch the Sacrificial Plate and escape immediately. Success was certain.
In the vast expanse of water, Li Meng sprinted across the surface.
His speed was so incredible that he appeared like an arrow skimming the water.
In less than half an hour, the Black Mountain Tribe was clearly visible ahead.
Li Meng grinned wickedly, icy mist rising around him.
He prepared to unleash his most powerful ice magic to throw the Black Mountain Tribe into chaos.
¡°Black Mountain Tribe, I have come¡ª¡±
Before he could finish his words, a silver light flashed across his neck.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Jeff Thomas], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 131: Dead? Almost There
Chapter 131: Dead? Almost There
Li Meng, sprinting across the water¡¯s surface, suddenly found his body and head separated.
His head flew high into the air, face twisted with shock, his eyes full of disbelief.
His limp body bounced across the water¡¯s surface like a skipping stone, rolling dozens of meters before finally coming to a stop.
¡°Splash!¡±
The severed head crashed heavily into the water moments later.
Meanwhile, on the water¡¯s surface not far away, two figures in black robes appeared out of thin air.
Standing on the water, they coldly eyed the floating body and head in the distance.
¡°Failed, just a bit off.¡±
¡°No matter. There will be another chance.¡±
A deep voice echoed across the water.
The next moment, the black-robed figures vanished without a trace.
With their disappearance, silence returned to the water.
Time ticked by, second by second.
After an unknown duration, the floating head suddenly opened its eyes.
The nearby body floating on the water began to stir as well.
The headless corpse paddled with its arms and kicked its legs.
Soon, it swam up to the severed head.
The headless corpse grabbed the head and pressed it against the neck wound.
Before long, white frost emerged.
Li Meng, revived, climbed out of the water.
¡°Phew, that was close!¡±
Touching his neck, Li Meng¡¯s eyes glimmered with relief.
Thankfully, his ¡°Body Regeneration¡± skill had evolved into ¡°Undying Body.¡±
Otherwise, he would¡¯ve fallen to the black-robed figures this time.
¡°Sure enough, deviating from the future timeline leads to uncontrollable danger!¡±A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Li Meng twisted his neck, muttering to himself.
This time, survival was sheer luck.
Would he have such good fortune next time?
Though difficult to kill now, a next encounter with the black-robed figures might result in them grinding him to dust.
Actually, to kill him, grinding his bones wasn¡¯t even necessary.
Just shattering his head would suffice.
Gazing toward the Black Mountain Tribe in the distance, Li Meng sighed inwardly.
It seemed brute force wasn¡¯t an option.
If he caused too much commotion and caught the attention of the black-robed figures, it would mean certain death.
Li Meng understood his limitations.
He wasn¡¯t a match for the black-robed figures yet.
Earlier, he hadn¡¯t sensed their presence in advance.
By the time he did, it was already too late.
¡°Just wait. Someday, I¡¯ll eat you alive!¡±
Cursing inwardly, Li Meng turned and bolted away.
Fortunately, he had sent Yue E back to the river beforehand.
Otherwise, Yue E would¡¯ve likely perished at the hands of those two black-robed figures.
¡°It seems the Black Mountain Tribe summoning the Savage God, Akuya, is an unchangeable future event.¡±
While running on the water¡¯s surface, Li Meng¡¯s face showed contemplation.
He had a strong premonition.
The Black Mountain Tribe was likely under the black-robed figures¡¯ watch.
They hadn¡¯t left but lingered nearby.
They would orchestrate events forcing the Black Mountain Tribe to summon the Savage God, Akuya.
¡°Why are they doing this?¡±
A trace of confusion flickered in Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
He couldn¡¯t fathom the reason behind the black-robed figures¡¯ actions.
The descent of the Savage God would indiscriminately devour the planet¡¯s life energy.
There wouldn¡¯t be any beneficiaries.
¡°They dared to cut off my head. How could I let them succeed?¡±
Li Meng sneered, a plan forming in his mind.
With a flash, he accelerated.
---
Two hours later, in the afternoon.
The scorching sun hung high in the sky.
An endless expanse of water shimmered white.
On the water¡¯s surface, a massive fleet of ships moved slowly.
From the sky, the fleet sailed along a deeper waterway.
The dark, deep waters stood out sharply from the surrounding areas.
Roughly a kilometer behind the fleet, a green-skinned figure appeared on the water¡¯s surface at some point.
Li Meng locked his gaze on the fleet, iron staff in hand, preparing to throw it.
¡°Go, my iron staff!¡±
With a roar, Li Meng stepped forward, hurling the iron staff.
The moment it left his hand, a blast of air rippled outward, sweeping in all directions.
The iron staff turned into a black streak, shooting toward the fleet.
Meanwhile, on the flagship¡¯s deck of the human fleet...
¡°A mere goblin! I was actually captured by a goblin!¡±
Standing by the ship¡¯s rail, Tavier muttered under her breath.
She crossed her arms and shivered occasionally.
Nearby knights exchanged puzzled looks.
Selof, standing to one side, didn¡¯t know how to comfort the High Priestess.
After all, the High Priestess was a woman.
Falling into goblin hands was undoubtedly a humiliating ordeal.
Tavier¡¯s face was pale, her lips pressed tightly together.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
Suddenly, a piercing sound of something tearing through the air came from above.
Selof¡¯s expression changed.
In a flash, he stepped swiftly, shielding Tavier.
At that moment, a black streak shot down from the sky.
Selof grabbed it.
¡°Clang!¡±
A metallic clang rang out, sparks flying.
The massive impact forced heavily-armored Selof to slide back five or six meters.
When Tavier turned around, startled by the commotion behind her, she saw a massive iron staff inches away.
¡°Ah!¡±
Tavier let out a scream on the deck.
¡°It¡¯s it! It¡¯s back!¡±
Recognizing the iron staff, Tavier was horrified, retreating repeatedly.
It was the goblin¡¯s weapon.
Selof frowned, glancing at the iron staff in his hand.
¡°High Priestess, please calm yourself. I¡¯ll deal with it!¡±
With those words, Selof turned and strode forward, a radiant magical aura emanating from him.
¡°Boom!¡±
An explosion of air blasted forth, accompanied by a sharp sound as Selof shot into the sky.
In an instant, he crossed a kilometer, descending like a meteor onto the water¡¯s surface hundreds of meters from Li Meng.
¡°Boom!¡±
A massive water column surged skyward.
The impact created waves sweeping across the area.
When the chaos subsided, the two stood on the water two hundred meters apart.
¡°Goblin, even if I kill you here, it wouldn¡¯t violate the oath!¡±
Selof¡¯s expression turned cold as he stepped forward.
The moment his right foot touched the water, he hurled the iron staff in his hand.
¡°Boom!¡±
A blast of air rippled outward.
The iron staff turned into a black streak, shooting straight toward Li Meng.
¡°Whoosh!¡±
The piercing sound of the projectile filled the air.
Li Meng grinned, catching the iron staff hurtling toward his face.
The massive force made his large frame slide ten meters across the water before stabilizing.
Once steady, Li Meng waved the iron staff.
¡°No need to get so worked up. Here, a little gift for you!¡±
Li Meng pulled something from his beast-hide pouch and tossed it to Selof.
The object, a disk, crossed over two hundred meters and flew toward Selof.
Selof caught the item thrown by the goblin.
¡°This is... a sacrificial plate?¡±
Upon closer inspection, Selof¡¯s face changed drastically.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [DJ P], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 132: Mutual Benefit and Cooperation
Chapter 132: Mutual Benefit and Cooperation
"I don¡¯t want something like the Savage God appearing in Goblin Forest. Since your goal is to stop the Savage God¡¯s descent, why not cooperate?"
Cooperate?
Selof¡¯s expression turned strange.
The Goblin¡¯s words nearly made him laugh.
What qualifications did mere Goblins have to meddle in the matter of the Savage God?
But thinking of that Goblin warrior¡¯s extraordinary strength and intelligence, Selof suppressed his discomfort.
Selof raised his head, looking toward the Goblin in the distance.
"How do you propose we cooperate?"
Li Meng grinned, carrying a large iron club on his shoulder.
"Those in black robes are currently in the Black Mountain Tribe!"
Hearing this, Selof¡¯s face changed dramatically.
"How do you know that?" Selof questioned.
Li Meng pointed to his eyes.
"I saw it with my own eyes. This thing was given to me by the black-robed ones."
Looking down at the sacrificial plate in his hands, Selof¡¯s expression shifted repeatedly.
After a long while, he raised his head to look at the Goblin in the distance.
"Fine, we¡¯ll deal with the black-robed ones, and you¡¯ll provide us with intelligence about them!"
Although he knew the Goblin was using him, Selof felt this was mutually beneficial.
The Goblins knew Goblin Forest better than anyone else.
If Goblins served as informants, the Holy See could always track the movements of the black-robed ones in Goblin Forest.
Seeing Selof agree, Li Meng grinned.
"Good, let¡¯s exchange intelligence every 365 sunsets, right here."
"Agreed, it¡¯s a deal!"Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
A free enforcer? Why not?
Li Meng was quite pleased with striking a deal with the Holy See.
Although future conflicts with humans were inevitable, that was a matter for the future.
"Then, farewell!"
Li Meng turned and ran northeast.
Wherever he passed, the water surface was left with a long-lasting icy trail.
Watching the green-skinned figure disappearing into the distance, Selof¡¯s heart sank.
A Goblin this extraordinary had emerged in Goblin Forest.
Its immense strength and terrifying intelligence were unsettling.
Ordinary Goblins, even if capable of mental communication, couldn¡¯t converse like this.
For Goblins, life revolved around eating and reproducing, with no interest in anything else.
But this one was different.
Every action it took carried a strong sense of purpose.
"Countries near Goblin Forest are bound to face trouble in the future!"
Such a future was easy to imagine.
Such a future was certain to come.
Turning away, a flash of killing intent flickered in Selof¡¯s eyes.
If he could, Selof wanted to eliminate that Goblin right now.
To rid humanity of a future threat.
But priorities mattered. Compared to that Goblin, the Shadow Council was the Holy See¡¯s top target.
No matter how strong or clever that Goblin was, its threat to humanity was limited.
The Shadow Council, however, was entirely different.
Its goal was human extinction, turning human territories into wastelands.
Human fleets couldn¡¯t match Li Meng¡¯s speed.
Two hours later, Li Meng returned to the river.
"Yue E! Yue E!"
Standing on the river, Li Meng called for Yue E.
He lay on the ice, submerging his head into the water to look around.
"Boss, I¡¯m here!"
Before long, the enormous figure of a Swamp Crocodile King emerged from the water.
Yue E swam toward Li Meng.
Once reunited, the Swamp Crocodile King and the Goblin began their journey back.
"Boss, I need a good sleep when we get back!"
Gliding upstream, Yue E stayed close to the water surface.
Riding on Yue E¡¯s back, Li Meng curiously patted its spine.
"Yue E, what¡¯s wrong?"
Yue E¡¯s mention of sleep wasn¡¯t just about rest.
"Boss, I¡¯ve got indigestion. I need to hibernate for a while to digest the magic crystal."
Yue E¡¯s reply made Li Meng grin.
He thought something bad had happened to Yue E while he was away, but it turned out to be simple indigestion.
"Yue E, when you wake up, you should be able to master more magic, right?"
For magical beasts, hibernation was significant.
It usually only occurred when breaking through a bottleneck.
Could Yue E be advancing to the "King Tier"?
Li Meng looked down at Yue E¡¯s massive head in the water.
[Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)]
[Level: 57]
[Strength: 921]
[Defense: 987]
[Agility: 734]
[Magic: 679]
[Water Bullet: LV8]
"This isn¡¯t a bottleneck..."
Yue E¡¯s stats made Li Meng wonder.
A bottleneck only occurred at Level 100.
At Level 57, Yue E was far from that.
It seemed Yue E had just overeaten magic crystals, leading to indigestion.
"If only there were slimes to eat. I became a genius after eating one back then."
Slimes?
Li Meng remembered something.
He recalled a lake full of slimes.
"Yue E, was it a water slime?"
"Yes! Back then, I was bullied by my kind and fled to the river to hunt. While drifting, a silly slime popped into my mouth. I didn¡¯t even taste it before swallowing it. After that, I became a genius and ate all the bullies when I returned!"
Riding on Yue E¡¯s back, Li Meng grinned.
Confirming it was a water slime was enough.
Hopefully, that lake could benefit Yue E.
"Yue E, let¡¯s go. Boss will take you somewhere nice!"
"Boss, where are we going?"
"Just keep heading upstream. You¡¯ll see!"
In the river, Yue E quickened its pace.
It was curious where the boss would take it.
Over the next few days, Li Meng and Yue E hurried upstream.
They only stopped when encountering magical beasts.
Seven days later, in the morning.
The sun shone brightly over the northern marshlands¡¯ river surface.
On the western side of the Goblin River, a green-skinned figure rode a massive crocodile upstream.
Its speed left a long-lasting wake on the water surface.
"Boss, we¡¯re at the Northern Marshlands!"
The feeling of returning home made Yue E excited.
Its stomach was uncomfortable, and it could finally get some proper rest.
Riding on Yue E¡¯s back, Li Meng patted its spine.
"Keep going east. Hang in there; we¡¯re almost there."
At Yue E¡¯s speed, they could reach the slime-filled lake in a few hours.
Yue E continued east along the river.
Before long, they disappeared into the eastern river.
Five hours later, in the northern forest near Goblin River.
In the dim forest, a "rumbling" sound echoed.
Looking deeper into the woods, a massive figure was moving its body.
The figure belonged to Yue E.
Although agile in water, Yue E was clumsy on land.
"We¡¯re here! Yue E, quiet down!"
Leading the way, Li Meng suddenly cautioned Yue E.
A Goblin and a crocodile moved stealthily through the forest.
Chapter 133: The Lake and Its Ecosystem
Chapter 133: The Lake and Its Ecosystem
Li Meng hid behind a large tree, spying on the lake outside.
The lake still shone brightly.
The scorching sunlight reflected dazzling radiance on the water''s surface.
Various sizes of water slimes were frolicking in the water.
They hopped around, appearing peaceful and leisurely.
¡°Yue E, is it those things?¡±
Behind Li Meng, Yue E poked out her massive head.
¡°Boss, so many slimes! Yes, it¡¯s them!¡±
Li Meng grinned and pointed towards the lake.
¡°Yue E, charge!¡±
¡°Yes, Boss!¡±
Yue E stomped her massive steps toward the lake.
For a moment, rumbling noises echoed through the forest.
The huge commotion startled the water slimes in the lake, scattering them like frightened birds and beasts.
From deep within the forest, a massive shadow emerged.
Yue E''s gigantic body rumbled out of the forest and plunged into the lake.
¡°Splash!¡±
A loud crash resounded as water sprayed everywhere.
Yue E''s enormous figure half-submerged in the water, thrashing about.
¡°Boss! Boss! This is the taste!¡±
After a while of stirring, Yue E settled down comfortably in the water.
Li Meng stepped out of the dim forest.
His tall figure bathed in the sunlight.
¡°Yue E, do you like it here?¡±
On the shore, Li Meng shouted towards Yue E in the water.
Yue E turned her enormous body around.This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
¡°Boss, the water here feels really nice. I want to hibernate here.¡±
¡°Alright, then stay here.¡±
Li Meng sat down on the shore, gazing up at the blazing sun in the sky.
The sun was blinding, making his eyes sting.
But the sensation was exhilarating.
After a long while, Li Meng couldn¡¯t bear it and lowered his head.
He stayed on the shore for some time before standing up.
¡°Yue E, I¡¯m leaving. When you wake up, return to the Northern Marshlands on your own.¡±
¡°Got it, Boss!¡±
Li Meng glanced around the surrounding forest, then turned and walked back into the dim forest.
Having left the tribe for almost a month, he needed to return and check on things.
In the gloomy forest, Li Meng walked leisurely.
¡°Should I use the magic crystal to simulate life?¡±
Being decapitated and forming an alliance with Selof, the commander of the Holy Kingdom''s Knights Templar, were two events enough to alter the future¡¯s course.
¡°Forget it. I¡¯ll wait another half month. The magic crystal is for Yue E!¡±
With this decision in his heart, Li Meng grinned.
His figure flickered as he sprinted through the dark forest.
Moments later, in the forest north of the Goblin River.
A slight commotion arose in the forest.
In the next moment, a green-skinned figure darted out of the dim woods and leapt at the riverbank.
Spanning a distance of tens of meters, it landed with a ¡°bang¡± on the water¡¯s surface.
On the river, Li Meng looked down at the ice layer beneath his feet, pondering.
After a while, he grinned, kicking off and sprinting across the ice-covered river.
In mere breaths, he had crossed hundreds of meters and dashed into the forest on the northern bank.
Hours later, at the east gate of the Throne Tribe.
¡°The Boss is back! The Boss is back!¡±
The commotion in the forest caught the attention of the goblins on the wooden walls.
When they saw it was the Boss emerging from the woods, cheers erupted on the wall.
The tightly shut western gate creaked open.
After more than half a month, Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe.
Compared to when he left, the tribe hadn¡¯t changed much.
The Throne Tribe wouldn¡¯t expand further.
Branch tribes would increase as the goblin population and hunting zones expanded.
Each branch tribe managed a hunting area.
¡°Where¡¯s Bai Ling? Where is she?¡±
Returning to the Throne Cave Dwelling, Li Meng saw a group of female lizardmen.
The sun was gradually setting.
At this time, the female lizardmen had all returned to the tribe.
Li Meng¡¯s inquiry caused fear to flash across the faces of the lizardwomen in the wooden house.
Gray Lili stepped forward, mustering her courage.
She knelt on the ground, lowering her head.
¡°Master, the chief returned to the Yue Clan tribe not long ago!¡±
Li Meng grabbed Gray''s arm, pulling her up.
Then, carrying her, he strode toward the bed.
The goblins¡¯ nightlife was simple.
Aside from making little goblins, there wasn¡¯t much else to do.
The battle with the Irisis Principality¡¯s expeditionary force had caused significant losses.
For the next year, all high-ranking goblins were required to stay in the Throne Tribe.
That night, the Throne Cave Dwelling was lively and noisy.
Outside the door, Benben was startled awake by the commotion inside the wooden house.
It got up, glanced back, then lay down and snored away.
At dawn the next morning, Li Meng left the tribe again.
He exited through the eastern gate, disappearing into the forest to the east.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task: investigating the habits and reproduction cycles of the forest¡¯s creatures.
Another new day arrived.
In the northern forest near the Goblin River.
The dark forest was eerily silent.
It seemed quiet, but countless sounds hid within.
Deep in the forest, among lush shrubs, a group of figures stood.
These were forest deer, each with a shoulder height of 1.5 meters and a sturdy build.
They were scattered throughout the forest, nibbling on shrubbery.
Occasionally, they raised their heads to look around vigilantly.
Not far from the deer herd, a pair of eyes watched them.
Behind a large tree, Li Meng observed the forest deer.
¡°So cute!¡±
The soft-furred forest deer charmed Li Meng.
But they looked a bit dumb.
Like oversized roe deer.
¡°The meat must be delicious!¡±
Li Meng grinned, greed flickering in his eyes.
Although tempted to taste deer meat, he restrained himself.
He wasn¡¯t here to hunt but to address the food problem.
Mass farming of ground mice and wild boars wasn¡¯t realistic.
This world had diseases and viruses.
While magic might cure them, the Throne Tribe lacked such resources.
Cluster farming could lead to mass deaths.
Thus, protecting the forest¡¯s ecosystem was crucial.
Different prey species had different breeding seasons.
Prohibiting hunting during breeding periods would ensure the population of each species.
This would prevent species from being overhunted and eventually wiped out.
Goblin hunting was somewhat excessive.
After leaving the Throne Tribe, Li Meng headed east.
What he saw along the way was alarming.
The forest within a 20-kilometer radius of the Throne Tribe had become a dead zone.
Although some common ground mice and forest rabbits were still spotted, their numbers were scarce.
If this uncontrolled hunting continued, one day, the goblin forest¡¯s creatures would be entirely consumed.
To ensure the goblins had an endless food supply, protecting the forest¡¯s ecosystem was essential.
A Special Thank You!:
I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Trevor Standifer], for supporting me on Patreon!
Chapter 134: Goblin Codex and a Score of 300
Chapter 134: Goblin Codex and a Score of 300
''System, start the Life Simulation!''
Calculating the time, it had been a month since the last Life Simulation.
With some free time on hand, it was the perfect opportunity to use this month''s simulation.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You are in a dim forest, observing forest deer.]
[You traverse mountains and investigate the habits of magical beasts and animals.]
[One day, you return to the Throne Tribe and summon all the upper goblins.]
[You issue the Goblin Codex.]
[Your tribe thrives and flourishes.]
[Your hunting team begins to approach human territory.]
[One day, the ghost beastman Ghost Hand finds you and challenges you.]
[You refuse Ghost Hand''s challenge.]
[Ghost Hand becomes furious, loses patience, and declares he will lead an army to attack you.]
[You kill Ghost Hand.]
[Your tribe thrives and flourishes.]
[The three-year limit arrives.]
[As a transmigrator, the Goblin Codex you created changes the goblins and this world. Your actions have had a massive impact on this world, intertwining countless future timelines because of you.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 300.]
[Choose one of the following rewards:]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level.]
[Consume 1 point for +1 attribute.]
[Consume 20 points for +1 Luck.]
[Consume 20 points for +1 level in the "Iron Skin" skill.]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in the "Wind Blade" skill.]
You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
[Consume 20 points for +1 level in the "Undying Body" skill.]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in the "Limb Strengthening" skill.]
[Consume 100 points for +1 level in the "Elemental Affinity" skill.]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in the "War Stomp" skill.]
[Consume 10 points for +1 level in the "Stone Bullet" skill.]
The triple score startled Li Meng.
Moreover, all skills except for the sealed Savage God skill were available.
''The highest score for the timeline with the least events?''
Li Meng thought of the Goblin Codex from the future timeline.
He hadn''t expected that just a few simple rules would have such a profound impact on the world.
Li Meng grinned broadly, feeling a wave of delight.
However, the next reward options made him frown.
The skill that would provide the most significant power boost was undoubtedly Iron Skin.
But levels were also critical.
If he could level up 30 times in one go, he would evolve into a Goblin Chief.
Although becoming a Goblin King was still far off, reaching level 30 would significantly shorten the time required.
Glancing down at the massive iron rod beneath him, Li Meng''s face darkened.
He suddenly remembered an issue he had been neglecting¡ªhis increasing size.
If his body continued to grow, he would no longer be able to reproduce.
At least female lizardmen were already unsuitable for his size.
He would need a mate as large as an ogre.
Thinking about ogres, Li Meng shuddered.
Although Benben was well-behaved, he would never mate with an ogre, not even if it killed him.
''Forget it. I''ll wait until I acquire a skill to reduce my size before considering leveling up.''
As the leader, he couldn''t miss out on the tribe''s reproductive responsibilities.
Without his genes, the quality of goblins could never improve.
''Increase the level of Iron Skin!''
[Consume 100 points. Iron Skin skill level +5.]
[Iron Skin skill maxed out. Automatically advanced to Iron Body.]
[Consume 200 points. Iron Body skill level +4.]
Severe pain struck again.
Behind a large tree, Li Meng''s body began to crackle and pop.
The surrounding space distorted.
His bones felt as though they were being crushed, and his face contorted into a grimace.
The sharp noises startled nearby forest deer, sending them fleeing deeper into the woods.
When the transformation ended, Li Meng''s entire body had grown sturdier.
His limbs were now proportionate to his body, and his previously hideous face became slightly more bearable.
Li Meng glanced down at his body behind the tree.
At this moment, he could feel explosive power coursing through him.
''Hah!''
With a shout, he turned and punched the tree behind him.
Boom!
A deafening crash erupted, and wood splinters flew everywhere.
The massive tree, requiring three people to encircle, snapped in half and toppled over, crashing into other trees.
Li Meng stared at the enormous stump before him, dumbfounded.
He hadn¡¯t even used much strength, yet the impact was so terrifying.
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 35]
[Strength: 9217]
[Defense: 9146]
[Agility: 4497]
[Magic: 2399]
[Charm: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring magical beasts¡¯ flesh may grant their skills.]
[Iron Body: LV5 (Strength +5000, Defense +5000, Agility +2500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Undying Body: LV2]
[Mind Speech: LV1]
[King of Ice Elements: LV1]
[Savage God (Sealed): LV1]
[Limb Strengthening: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
[Stone Bullet: LV1]
The terrifying panel attributes filled Li Meng with excitement.
His defense and strength were nearing 10,000.
Considering he was only a level 35 Goblin Warrior, his stats were already over a hundred times that of an ordinary Goblin Warrior.
It took him a while to calm himself down.
''Time to continue investigating!''
With a flash, Li Meng¡¯s figure disappeared from the tree stump, darting like an arrow through the dark forest.
The wind howled past his ears, and the scenery on both sides blurred as it sped by.
The sensation of moving at such speed thrilled Li Meng.
His heightened attributes seemed to have enhanced his senses as well.
He could hear, see, and smell farther than ever before.
Sounds from all directions flooded his ears, but he effortlessly filtered out the noise.
''Strange, why is the Holy Nation so inefficient?''
Racing through the forest, Li Meng mused.
Three whole years had passed without any major movements.
And what about the agreement to exchange information annually?
Why was there no mention of such events in the future timeline?
''Should I challenge the Black Robe?''
His skyrocketing strength filled Li Meng with confidence.
Perhaps now he had the ability to face the Black Robe in battle.
''Better not!''
Despite his thoughts, the idea of actually doing it made him uneasy.
Skills and magic played a significant role in determining strength.
Take Carlos, the Sword King of the Southern Border of the Irisis Principality, for example.
Li Meng doubted he could gain an advantage against him now.
The last time, he had used an all-or-nothing strategy to catch Carlos off guard.
If they faced off again, the same tactic would be useless.
In the dim forest, Li Meng¡¯s figure gradually faded into the distance.
Chapter 135: A Year Later with the Ratmen Tribe
Chapter 135: A Year Later with the Ratmen Tribe
A year later.
North Bank Forest of Goblin River.
Throne Tribe, morning.
"The boss is back!"
"It''s the boss!"
"That''s great!"
Early in the morning, Li Meng returned to the tribe amidst the cheers of the goblin underlings.
Although he hadn''t returned to the Throne Tribe for a year, not much had changed. The goblins were still the same goblins. The newborn goblins that had grown up did not stay in the Throne Tribe but followed their boss to establish new branch tribes elsewhere.
When the familiar Throne Cave Dwelling came into view, Li Meng stopped in front of the gate.
"Gather all the higher goblins to see me!"
The goblin guarding the gate hurriedly ran off into the depths of the forest.
"Benben, what''s wrong?"
Seeing Benben lying on the ground, staring at him intently, Li Meng asked with some confusion.
Could it be that Benben didn''t recognize him anymore? Impossible. Ogres weren''t fish.
"Boss, you feel... strange."
Benben scratched his head and muttered gloomily.
"Strange feeling?"
Li Meng grinned and flexed his arm muscles.
"Maybe it''s because your boss has gotten stronger again."
Benben sat down heavily on the ground to the right of the gate, occasionally glancing at the boss.
Before long, the tribe became noisy.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Hundreds of higher goblins gathered at the entrance of the Throne Cave Dwelling.
"What I''m about to say must be remembered. If anyone doesn''t listen, I''ll eat them!"
Faced with their boss at the gate, the higher goblins all shrank their necks. After a year, the boss''s oppressive presence was even more intense, as if a terrifying beast was standing before them, its monstrous jaws open wide, ready to swallow them at any moment.
"First, from February to April, Ground Mouse hunting is prohibited!"
"Second, from July to December, Sow hunting is prohibited."
"Third, from May to September, forest deer hunting is prohibited."
"Fourth, from April to July, Gale Rabbit hunting is prohibited."
"Fifth, from January to April, Ground Dragon hunting is prohibited."
"Sixth, ..."
For the next half-hour, Li Meng''s voice echoed throughout the tribe. The higher goblins grew increasingly dazed as they listened. Finally, Li Meng stopped.
"Did you all understand?"
Faced with the boss''s fierce glare, the goblins looked at each other nervously. If they said they understood, wouldn''t they be lying? And if the boss asked later, wouldn''t they get eaten?
Gobu Tian shook his head vigorously, and the other goblins followed suit.
Their reaction made Li Meng grin.
"Good. Not knowing is not knowing. You can learn if you don''t know. But if you lie to me, you won''t get a second life."
The boss''s menacing smile sent shivers down all the goblins'' spines.
"Later, Gobuge will deliver the ''Goblin Codex'' to you. You must follow the rules in it. If you don''t understand me, I won''t blame you, but if you can''t figure out the codex, you might as well eat dung."
Although goblins had their own language, they lacked a written script. Thus, the Goblin Codex consisted of animal illustrations. Li Meng had already taught the higher goblins Arabic numerals and how to read a calendar. The higher goblins would relay commands verbally to the lower goblins.
"Boss, we understand, we understand!"
The higher goblins nodded vigorously.
"Go back and wait. You have three days to understand the contents of the Goblin Codex. If you have any questions, come ask me. Five days later, the tribe leaders can return. Higher goblins with over two hundred underlings should come see me in seven days."
After being away for a year, the tribe needed a new round of development. There was much to do, and it would proceed step by step.
"Dismissed!"
The higher goblins outside the Throne Cave Dwelling scattered, running off in all directions. The large and small green figures disappeared into the depths of the forest.
"Benben, go find some yellow clay and water!"
Benben stood up, his massive frame thudding as he walked into the forest. He had done this before and knew where to find yellow clay.
Watching Benben''s towering figure disappear, Li Meng turned and entered the wooden house.
Inside, the thirteen female Lizardmen were still present. Li Meng neither knew nor cared about their status in the Yue Clan Tribe. To him, they were simply tools for reproduction.
The arrival of Li Meng caused the female Lizardmen to show expressions of fear, but Li Meng ignored them and went straight to the sand table.
Sitting by the sand table, Li Meng stared at it intently. A year had passed, and it was time to expand the map.
Over the past year, aside from investigating the ecology of the Goblin Forest, Li Meng had traveled to every corner of it, gaining a general understanding of its geography.
The Goblin Forest was located in the southeastern corner of the continent. To the south and southeast lay coastlines, while the northeast ended in a wasteland, from where the Pigmen originated. To the west were steep, barren mountains.
The Goblin Forest spanned about 700 kilometers from north to south and over 1,100 kilometers from east to west. The source of Goblin River was in the western mountains, with two branches at the estuary: one at the northeastern wasteland boundary and another near the southwestern mountains.
Besides magical beasts, Li Meng also discovered the Savage Tribe.
"Those things are truly ugly, even more so than goblins!"
Li Meng recalled a Savage Tribe he had encountered beyond the western mountains. They resembled giant upright rats, as if mice had been enlarged and stood upright.
The system identified them as "Ratmen."
Their individual attributes were slightly stronger than goblins, averaging between 10 and 20, with some particularly strong mutated individuals being rarer.
After discovering the tribe, Li Meng secretly observed them for half a month before leaving. The Ratmen not only looked like mice but also shared their penchant for digging. Their lairs were underground, making their settlements invisible on the surface. They only emerged for hunting.
Unlike goblins, who ate only meat, Ratmen were omnivorous, consuming meat, plant roots, leaves, and fruits.
"Strange, where did those tribes go?"
Li Meng furrowed his brows, his eyes flashing with confusion.
In addition to the Ratmen, Li Meng had noticed something odd. Over the past year, many Savage Tribes had been discovered in the Goblin Forest, but all of them had been abandoned for a long time, leaving only ruins and signs of their presence.
Furthermore, the further west he ventured, the more it seemed that goblins scattered across the Goblin Forest had disappeared.
Chapter 136: Fire Crystal Stone
Chapter 136: Fire Crystal Stone
Li Meng discovered many caves that once housed goblins.
Inside, they were empty with nothing left behind.
Not even a complete bone could be found, only some scattered bone fragments.
"Could it be the nomadic Savage Tribe?"
Lowering his gaze to the sand table, Li Meng pondered.
Something felt off, very off!
However, Li Meng couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what was wrong.
After all, the timeline ahead promised three peaceful years without major events.
If it were the nomadic Savage Tribe, they wouldn¡¯t have left for such a long time.
The ruins of those Savage Tribe settlements were clearly abandoned years ago.
"Forget it. It''s better to focus on the tribe''s current development!"
Shaking his head, Li Meng dismissed his wild thoughts.
The disappearance of the Savage Tribe wasn¡¯t necessarily a bad thing.
Without competition, the tribe¡¯s growth would proceed much more smoothly.
After all, wars consume a great deal of population, and recovering from such losses takes time.
Two hours later, Benben returned.
It brought back yellow clay and water.
Li Meng resumed expanding the sand table in the Throne Cave Dwelling.
During the day, he expanded the sand table. As for the nights, naturally, he worked on propagating the next generation.
A new batch of tribute creatures finally tasted the might of the iron rod that night, marking the end of their peaceful days.
Time passed bit by bit, day after day.
On the fifth day, the tribal leaders began leaving the Throne Tribe one after another.
They were returning to their respective tribes.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Sometime in the following year, they would return to the Throne Tribe.
They would bring back some upper-tier goblins to receive the leader¡¯s rewards.
Two months later, they would depart again with adolescent goblins.
Their offspring would lead these adolescent goblins to establish new sub-tribes elsewhere.
This was the development model set by Li Meng.
---
A new day began in the morning.
In the Throne Tribe, Throne Cave Dwelling:
"Gobu Mo, have there been any Ghost Beastmen showing up this year?"
Inside the wooden house, Li Meng was busy working on the sand table.
His tall figure sat next to the sand table, hands continuously kneading clay.
Gobu Mo obediently knelt at the doorway.
"Leader, no Ghost Beastmen have been seen!"
Gobu Mo''s response was as expected by Li Meng.
In the future timeline, the appearance of "Ghost Hands" happened much later, at least another year and a half from now.
"Have all the Goblin Warriors assembled?"
Though inside the wooden house, Li Meng could hear the clamor outside.
The noise outside was chaotic and rowdy.
Gobu Mo nodded vigorously.
"Leader, they¡¯re all assembled!"
Li Meng stood up and walked outside.
At the door, Gobu Mo''s tall figure quickly moved aside.
In just one year, Gobu Mo had evolved into a Goblin Warrior, its height only half a head shorter than Li Meng''s.
Not until the leader stepped outside did Gobu Mo quickly stand up.
"The leader is out!"
"Shh, quiet!"
Upon seeing the leader emerge from the doorway, hundreds of Goblin Warriors outside immediately fell silent.
They gazed with fervent admiration at the tall figure at the door.
Although many Goblin Warriors had never seen the leader before, they had heard stories of his might.
Now, finally seeing the leader in person, his majestic form and intimidating gaze sent shivers down their spines.
Looking at the sea of Goblin Warriors outside, Li Meng grinned.
That grin made all the goblins lower their heads in fear.
"From today onward, your only task is to prepare two months¡¯ worth of dry rations!"
The leader¡¯s words caused the Goblin Warriors, heads still lowered, to beam with joy.
Although dried meat wasn¡¯t tasty, preparing dry rations meant a battle was coming.
This was great news!
Behind Li Meng, Gobu Mo also looked thrilled.
Over the past year, it had been stationed in the Throne Tribe.
The monotonous daily routine had long bored it.
"Go now! You have half a month!"
The upper-tier goblins outside the Throne Cave Dwelling scattered in all directions.
Nearly 300 Goblin Warriors rushed into the depths of the forest.
"Leader, leader, who are we fighting this time?"
Gobu Mo eagerly approached to ask.
"We¡¯re not fighting anyone!"
Li Meng turned and returned to the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Standing at the door, Gobu Mo scratched its head, puzzled at the leader¡¯s response.
If they weren¡¯t going to fight anyone, why prepare two months of dry rations?
Disappointed, Gobu Mo left.
Before long, Li Meng left the Throne Cave Dwelling, hurrying out of the tribe¡¯s northern gate.
---
Half an hour later, in the Iron Cavern:
"Mine as much of this ore as possible and set it aside. It¡¯ll be useful later."
Standing by the underground river, Li Meng examined the white-glowing ore in the water.
Gobu Ge thought the glowing ore in the water looked beautiful.
So, it had mined some and dumped them into the underground river.
This turned the river into a shimmering silver stream.
"Understood, leader! I¡¯ll have the Lizardmen mine more of it."
"Leader, leader! I found some more glowing stones in the cavern. Do you want to see?"
Another peculiar ore?
Li Meng grew interested.
"Show me!"
Gobu Ge dashed deeper into the cavern.
Before long, it returned holding a large, fiery-red crystal.
[Fire Crystal Stone]
[Fire Element Magic:]
The system unexpectedly provided information!
"Leader, leader, it¡¯s this one!"
Li Meng took the Fire Crystal Stone from Gobu Ge.
Looking down at the stone, Li Meng pondered.
This item was similar to human crystals.
However, human crystals lacked defined attributes, while this one had a fire element.
"Leader, this thing glows and heats up when it touches water. It¡¯s scorching!"
It glows and heats up when in contact with water?
Li Meng''s eyes lit up as he hurried to the water¡¯s edge.
He threw the Fire Crystal Stone into the water.
"Plop!"
With a splash, water splattered everywhere.
The Fire Crystal Stone submerged, emitting an orange fiery glow.
Steam billowed from that section of the water.
Before long, the surface began to boil.
The Fire Element Magic value on the stone started to decrease.
However, the rate of decline was slow¡ªonly dropping slightly every few seconds.
"Interesting!"
The Fire Crystal Stone¡¯s reaction to water made Li Meng smile.
This was a valuable find.
Perhaps with this, a steam engine could be developed.
Although a steam engine''s structure was relatively simple, actually building one required time for experimentation.
"Gobu Ge, have you tried putting it in fire to see what happens?"
The Fire Crystal Stone reacted to water. What about fire?
Chapter 137: The Father
Chapter 137: The Father
Gobu Ge shook his head.
"Boss, I¡¯ve never tried!"
"Then go and try it!"
Gobu Ge nodded, turned, and ran into the depths of the cavern.
"Don''t use the high furnace, use the campfire!"
"I know, Boss."
Watching Gobu Ge''s retreating figure, Li Meng muttered to himself.
Will it explode?
If it does, I wonder how powerful it would be.
At this moment, Li Meng felt both anticipation and a bit of nervousness.
Soon, Gobu Ge returned, holding another fire crystal in his hands.
Since the Boss liked glowing things, Gobu Ge was especially attentive to anything that shone. He collected them regardless of their usefulness.
Reaching the campfire, Gobu Ge threw the fire crystal into the flames.
"Woosh!"
As soon as the fire crystal entered the campfire, the flames turned an eerie blue.
"Ah!"
The intense heat rushed toward Gobu Ge, forcing him to scream in pain. He tumbled away from the campfire and ran into the river, yelling as he went.
The surrounding goblins were also startled by the blue flames. They all quickly distanced themselves from the center of the scorching heat.
"Blue flames?"
Unlike the frightened goblins, Li Meng, standing a bit farther away, looked ecstatic.
Blue flames signified an ultra-high temperature, at least 2500-3000 degrees Celsius.
With fire crystals, the efficiency of iron smelting would increase several times over. Tempering and refining would also become much easier.
And perhaps even the silver ore could be smelted.
Just as Li Meng was reveling in excitement, the campfire suddenly extinguished.
It went out abruptly.A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
One moment it was burning fiercely, and the next, the flames disappeared, as if doused by water.
Li Meng frowned and quickly approached the campfire.
Upon closer inspection, he understood what had happened.
The extreme heat had instantly turned the firewood into ash.
Without flames to ignite it, the fire crystal ceased to release its magic.
"Looks like charcoal isn¡¯t suitable as an ignition source for fire crystals."
A hint of disappointment flashed in Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
He had initially thought the fire crystals would greatly improve smelting efficiency, but now it seemed he had overestimated them.
Charcoal wasn¡¯t enough, and even coal was unqualified to ignite fire crystals.
The only suitable ignition source might be magical alchemy.
Magic could create fire out of thin air.
As long as magical flames could burn steadily, they could be used to ignite fire crystals.
"We¡¯ll still need to steal some people!"
Li Meng shook his head and walked out of the cavern.
Alchemy was a human skill, so they would have to take it by force.
"Boss! Boss! Should we mine more fire crystals?"
As Li Meng left, Gobu Ge, still in the water, called out loudly.
"Prepare some, but not too much."
"Got it, Boss!"
After leaving the Iron Cavern, Li Meng hurried back to the Throne Tribe.
In the following days, Li Meng busied himself with crafting the sand table.
Seven days later, at the Throne Tribe.
Morning, in the Throne Cave Dwelling.
"It¡¯s finally done!"
Looking at the sand table before him, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.
The sand table hadn¡¯t grown larger; its footprint was still over ten square meters. However, the models inside had been miniaturized.
Compared to the previous sand table, this one was much more detailed.
The previous sand table only included a small section of Goblin River''s banks.
Now, the sand table displayed the entire Goblin Forest map.
Looking into the sand table, mountains, forests, and rivers were lifelike.
Tiny watchtowers stood upright throughout the map.
Each watchtower represented a sub-tribe.
At a glance, watchtowers were scattered all across Goblin Forest.
The distance between each watchtower was nearly identical.
Small flags of red and blue adorned the watchtowers, made from leaves.
Blue represented established tribes, which were few¡ªonly 21. They were mainly concentrated in the forests along the Goblin River.
The rest were yet-to-be-constructed tribes.
Each tribe had a population cap of 1,000, with a maximum of 1,500.
When a tribe¡¯s population grew to 1,500, they could apply to the Throne Tribe to build a new one.
At that point, the extra 500 goblins could move to a new location to establish a new tribe.
The leaders of each tribe held fixed titles but were not fixed individuals.
Whoever was strongest would rise to the top.
When a new leader emerged, they would inherit the title.
Take the Gobu Di Tribe, for example.
If Gobu Di were ever defeated by a subordinate, he would lose the name Gobu Di.
The new leader would inherit the name.
If Gobu Di survived, he would take on the previous name of the new leader.
"Go call Gobu Mo!"
Li Meng shouted toward the cave entrance.
The goblin guarding the entrance shuddered and quickly sprinted into the forest.
"Boss! Boss!"
Before long, Gobu Mo¡¯s voice echoed from outside the cave.
He trotted into the Throne Cave Dwelling, sliding to his knees and bowing behind Li Meng.
"Boss, you called me?"
"Come here!"
Gobu Mo hurriedly crawled toward the sand table.
Li Meng pointed at a section of the southern riverbank on the sand table with a large iron rod.
"Which direction is this?"
Gobu Mo looked down at where the iron rod pointed.
He scratched his head before uncertainly pointing southward.
"And this?"
Li Meng pointed to the Gobu Tian Tribe.
"Boss, I know! It¡¯s over there!"
Gobu Mo pointed eastward.
Li Meng was satisfied with Gobu Mo¡¯s response.
Being able to recognize directions meant he could read a map.
As expected of his descendant, he was smarter than the other goblins.
"Gobu Mo, remember these mountains. They are the most obvious landmarks!"
Gobu Mo nodded.
"Your task is to lead the goblin army southward to expand the hunting grounds and build sub-tribes in this area."
Li Meng¡¯s iron rod pointed toward a deep forested region to the south.
This expansion would extend 500 kilometers into Goblin Forest.
Gobu Mo would lead about 8,000 goblins to establish sub-tribes there.
If all went well, that region would be teeming with goblins by the same time next year.
"If you encounter other goblin nests along the way, eliminate them!"
Gobu Mo nodded enthusiastically. Fighting was his favorite thing.
This expedition was just too exciting.
"Take a few triple-bow ballistae with you. They¡¯ll reduce losses when facing strong magical beasts."
The triple-bow ballistae were powerful.
They could kill most ¡°elite¡± magical beasts with one shot.
Even Yue E would find it difficult to withstand a direct hit from a triple-bow ballista.
Only "king-tier" magical beasts could rely on their tough bodies to resist its attacks.
"Got it, Boss!"
"Bring all the tools you can. The more, the better."
"Make sure to stock up on bolts and bowstrings."
"Once you¡¯re far from the Throne Tribe, it¡¯ll be hard to resupply these items."
"Leave the female Lizardmen behind, as usual!"
"If you encounter a powerful enemy and suffer heavy losses, retreat."
Li Meng, like a father, gave detailed instructions to Gobu Mo.
Gobu Mo knelt obediently, nodding his large head in acknowledgment.
Chapter 138: Goblins, Southward Expansion, Departure!
Chapter 138: Goblins, Southward Expansion, Departure!
"Bring Gobu Gao, Gobu Yi, and Gobu Zhang. Gobu Sheng will stay to guard the Throne Tribe!"
"When we leave, stop by Gobu Qiang''s Tribe and bring the 3,000 goblin boar cavalry."
A year had passed.
The number of goblin boar cavalry in Gobu Qiang''s Tribe had grown to 4,000.
The population had already exceeded the 1,000 limit.
Establishing a new goblin boar cavalry tribe was urgently necessary.
"Go ahead, start as soon as you''re ready."
Gobu Mo nodded enthusiastically, got up, and dashed outside.
As the sound of footsteps faded into the distance, Li Meng showed a pensive expression.
This marked another step forward in the tribe¡¯s development.
The three peaceful years without major incidents had to be utilized wisely.
Li Meng had a strong premonition.
Something significant might soon happen in the Goblin Forest.
This event would not involve the Black Mountain Tribe in the Black Mountain Marshlands.
Instead, it would be another major event closely tied to him.
Even if it was just a hunch, he had to prepare.
"Next time, I''ll ask the contact about the identity of the one in the black robe."
Before returning to the tribe, Li Meng visited the Black Mountain Marshlands.
At the agreed meeting place, he spotted a human sailboat.
Although no useful intelligence was gained,
Li Meng still reported his discoveries in the Goblin Forest to the contact.
Li Meng thought the contact might know something.
However, the Papal State was cautious.
The contact was just an ordinary person who knew nothing.
Seeing the contact almost wetting himself,
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Li Meng angrily ordered the man to relay a message to the Papal State.
If they sent another clueless person, he would terminate their cooperation.
Time flew by, quietly slipping away day by day.
Seven days later, the Throne Tribe was bustling with activity.
Early in the morning, a commotion erupted outside the southern gate.
Nearly ten thousand goblins gathered on the wasteland outside the Throne Tribe.
The green-skinned figures formed a dense, endless mass.
The goblins, big and small, were murmuring amongst themselves.
Each one was clad in simple armor and armed with various weapons.
The light of dawn shone upon the green-skinned figures on the wasteland.
Even the weakest goblin could exude boundless momentum.
"The boss is here!"
"Where? Where?"
"There! Over there!"
Cheers erupted among the goblins.
Atop the watchtower to the left of the southern gate,
a tall green-skinned figure appeared.
Its presence instantly silenced the noisy goblins.
The clamor disappeared quickly.
Every goblin looked fervently at the towering green figure on the watchtower.
Li Meng, standing on the watchtower, hoisted a large iron rod onto his shoulder.
"Goblins, march south! Depart!"
Li Meng''s roar echoed grandly across the land.
"Southward! Southward!"
The goblins turned and raised their weapons in unison, shouting loudly.
Amid their cheers, the massive formation surged into the southern forest.
Their deafening cries reverberated across the land.
Even powerful magical beasts fled before the overwhelming momentum.
On the watchtower, Li Meng leaped.
His towering figure jumped down from the watchtower.
As soon as he landed, Li Meng dashed forward.
His speed was so swift that he disappeared into the southern forest in the blink of an eye.
Before long, on the northern bank of the Goblin River,
a tall green figure emerged from the forest.
"Freeze!"
Li Meng, gazing at the vast water surface, focused his thoughts.
Rolling ice mist surged out.
The surrounding forest was instantly covered in frost.
A 500-meter section of the river froze in an instant.
The once vast water surface was quickly sealed by a thick layer of ice.
After completing this, Li Meng turned and disappeared into the forest again.
Soon, the rustling of leaves broke the silence.
A large number of goblins swarmed out from the riverside forest.
"It''s the boss''s magic!"
"I know, I know!"
"I''ve seen it too!"
"I wish I were as strong as the boss."
"You piece of trash who eats filth can only dream of licking the boss''s toes!"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"You garbage, even as a Great Goblin, you''re not worthy to lick the boss''s toes."
"Great Goblin or not, I''m still stronger than you!"
"Stronger? You can''t even lick the boss''s fingernails!"
The goblins cheered as they rushed onto the ice bridge created by their leader¡¯s magic.
The dense green-skinned figures swarmed the ice layer like a tide.
In no time, the ice bridge was packed with goblins.
Some goblins stumbled clumsily, eliciting laughter from their companions.
The goblin boar cavalry fared worse.
The boars'' hooves couldn''t stay stable on the ice.
Every time they stood, they fell back down.
The goblins had to push the boars across the ice.
From a short distance away, on the black riverbank, Li Meng watched his goblin followers leave.
Most of those goblins were descendants of his bloodline.
That is, they were the descendants of his descendants.
His direct descendants, however, were fewer in number.
Most of the first generation had evolved into goblin warriors.
A small number had even become goblin champions.
In the entire Throne Tribe, there were now 47 goblin champions.
Apart from Gobu Tian, Gobu Di, and Gobu Shi,
all the goblin champions were his direct descendants.
In just over two years, they had evolved from weak goblins into goblin champions.
Moreover, their attributes far surpassed those of other goblin champions of the same rank.
This showed how closely the potential of goblins was tied to the strength of their fathers.
The next generation of newborns would have even greater potential.
Time continued to pass quietly.
An hour later, the Goblin River¡¯s banks finally quieted down.
The goblin army had vanished into the southern forest.
Over the next month, they would advance steadily southward.
Having sent off his goblin followers to expand south,
Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe.
The next morning, Li Meng left the Throne Tribe and headed west.
Northern Marshlands, Morning.
Yue Clan Tribe.
"Yue E! Yue E!"
In the deep waters north of the Yue Clan Tribe,
a long ice path appeared on the water¡¯s surface.
At the end of the icy trail stood a tall goblin.
It had green skin and a robust, towering frame.
That goblin champion was Li Meng.
Standing on the ice, Li Meng shouted loudly.
His cries of "Yue E" echoed across the land.
"Is that the goblin leader?"
"No, it¡¯s a goblin champion."
"I meant, is it the leader of the goblins?"
"No, it¡¯s a goblin champion."
"What I¡¯m asking is, is it the goblins¡¯ boss?"
"Why didn¡¯t you say so earlier? Of course, it¡¯s obvious! It¡¯s definitely their boss!"
From the wooden walls, the lizardmen watched the goblin champion with curiosity.
"Can you understand what it''s saying?"
"No, but I¡¯ve heard it has the ability to communicate with other species, just like our chief."
"Does that mean we can only understand it if it wants us to?"
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Chapter 139: Boss, Ive Grown Stronger
Chapter 139: Boss, I''ve Grown Stronger
"That should be the case."
"Shh, keep your voice down. Don¡¯t let it be drawn to the tribe."
"If it comes, we won''t be able to stop it anyway."
At this moment, there was a commotion in the distant waters.
The once calm surface of the water suddenly splashed violently.
A massive Swamp Crocodile King emerged from beneath the surface.
Its enormous body moved through the water like a small island.
Standing on the ice, Li Meng gazed at Yue E approaching from a distance.
Yue E had grown!
In the past, Yue E was only long, not large.
Now, Yue E was both long and massive.
It had grown to an astonishing length of sixty meters.
Its body had also become much sturdier, resembling a mountain of flesh.
Even when crawling on land, its shoulder height was nearly seven meters.
[Swamp Crocodile King (King)]
[Level: 4]
[Strength: 2137]
[Defense: 2397]
[Agility: 1917]
[Magic: 2719]
[Water Cannon: LV1]
The stats on Yue E''s panel made Li Meng''s eyes light up.
After a year, Yue E had advanced.
Its stats had doubled.
Its magic attribute had even quadrupled.
The sudden surge in Yue E''s magic was unusual.
Could it have something to do with that Water Slime Lake?
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"Boss, boss, you''re so small!"
Yue E swam to the boss''s side, its enormous eyes almost half the size of Li Meng himself.
Li Meng grinned, opening the bag on his shoulder.
Yue E instinctively opened its ferocious mouth.
Li Meng poured the magic crystals from the bag straight into Yue E''s mouth.
"Yue E, how did it feel staying in the Water Slime Lake?"
Yue E swallowed hundreds of magic crystals in one gulp.
It shook its enormous head.
"At first, it felt very comfortable. Later, it became uncomfortable. My body felt bloated, and my scales cracked. So, I left and returned to the Northern Marshlands. Boss, I think I¡¯ve grown stronger!"
Yue E joyfully swam around the boss.
Although it moved slowly and gently, the surrounding waters rippled violently.
Li Meng held his large iron rod and pointed eastward.
"Yue E, cast a spell in that direction!"
Yue E followed the direction of the iron rod.
"Boss, my magic is really powerful now!"
Yue E got into position, facing east.
It opened its ferocious mouth.
A blue magical glow shone in its mouth.
A massive water sphere shot out.
The moment it left its mouth, a wave of air burst forth.
The five-meter-wide water sphere tore through the sky.
It traveled a kilometer in an instant.
The massive water sphere struck the water''s surface nearly in a straight line.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion echoed.
A kilometer away, a massive water column rose.
The towering water column resembled a fiery mushroom cloud from an explosion.
Shockwaves visible to the naked eye swept outward.
Waves rolled in all directions.
Its power surpassed even a 460mm naval shell.
"Boss, boss, am I amazing?"
Looking at the spectacular water column in the distance, Li Meng grinned.
"Not bad, very strong!"
The Water Cannon skill was leagues ahead of the Water Bullet.
In comparison, the Water Bullet¡¯s power was akin to a water gun.
The difference between the two was night and day.
If Yue E were to attack a human fleet now, it would be quite the spectacle.
A single Water Cannon could completely destroy a human sailing ship.
"What¡¯s happening?"
"It¡¯s the sacrificial beast casting magic!"
"What powerful magic!"
The commotion in the distance caught the attention of the Yue Clan Tribe.
On the eastern wall, the Lizardmen watched in terror as the massive water column rose into the sky.
"Yue E, go play on your own. I¡¯ll come visit you again sometime!"
"Boss, boss, when can we go on another journey?"
Yue E approached the boss, its enormous eyes eagerly watching him.
It loved going on adventures with the boss.
Hunting and fighting together with the boss was far more fun than staying in the Northern Marshlands.
Li Meng grinned, patting the scales on Yue E¡¯s face.
"There will be a chance. In some time, we¡¯ll need to head to the Black Mountain Marshlands again."
"Great! Boss, I¡¯m going to sunbathe now!"
Yue E joyfully swam toward the shallow waters in the distance.
Watching Yue E¡¯s massive figure leave, Li Meng grinned.
The stronger Yue E became, the more helpful it would be to him.
The Goblin race lacked true powerhouses.
In the future, he couldn¡¯t be the only one.
It was necessary to cultivate powerful magical beast underlings.
Unfortunately, the Goblin Forest didn¡¯t have any magical beasts with extraordinary talent.
Magical beasts above the fifth tier were even rarer.
Thinking of this issue, Li Meng frowned slightly.
Over the past year, the Goblin Forest had felt very strange to him.
Despite its vastness, he had not encountered a single magical beast above the fifth tier.
In terms of magical beast ranking, those below the fifth tier were ordinary.
The fifth tier corresponded to the elite level.
The sixth tier was the king level, and so on.
The Swamp Turtle King he encountered a year ago was an eighth-tier magical beast.
This was extremely unusual.
Logically, the deeper one ventured into the Goblin Forest, the stronger the magical beasts should become.
Yet the opposite was true.
The deeper he went, the fewer magical beasts there were.
Ordinary animals, however, were everywhere.
Li Meng even discovered over ten herds of forest deer and barbarian cattle, each numbering over a thousand.
This indicated that the animal ecosystem in the forest¡¯s depths was thriving.
Li Meng considered whether the Swamp Turtle King was the cause.
After all, some magical beasts had a strong territorial sense and wouldn¡¯t tolerate other powerful magical beasts in their domain.
If the Swamp Turtle King regarded the Goblin Forest as its territory, then higher-tier magical beasts might have been forced to leave.
Whether this was true, Li Meng couldn¡¯t confirm.
It was merely a hypothesis, and the likelihood was low.
When he encountered the Swamp Turtle King, Yue E had already been a fifth-tier magical beast.
If the Swamp Turtle King truly had territorial awareness, it wouldn¡¯t have ignored Yue E.
"Ah!"
Li Meng took a deep breath, forcing himself to abandon such thoughts.
Some things couldn¡¯t be resolved by overthinking.
All he could do was wait for developments.
Standing on the ice, Li Meng turned and walked toward the Yue Clan Tribe.
"It¡¯s coming!"
"Quick, inform the chief!"
"Should we open the eastern gate?"
"Of course! Do you think you can keep it out?"
Seeing the Goblin approach, the Lizardmen on the wooden walls became flustered.
Some ran toward the tribe.
Others hurried to open the eastern gate.
With the creaking sound of wood, the eastern gate slowly opened.
Outside the gate, Li Meng stepped onto the shore from the water.
A long trail of ice was left behind him on the water''s surface.
Under the reverent gazes of the Lizardmen behind the gate, Li Meng entered the tribe at an unhurried pace.
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Chapter 140: Slaves and Subordinates
Chapter 140: Slaves and Subordinates
Although he came alone.
In Li Meng''s eyes, the Yue Clan was nothing more than ants.
Not to mention his current self.
Even his self from a year ago could have annihilated the Yue Clan alone.
Hearing the unhurried sound of footsteps,
The Lizardmen behind the gate lowered their heads.
Their fists clenched tightly, faces full of unwillingness and humiliation.
But as Li Meng approached, the expressions of the Lizardmen changed.
Even without looking up to directly face the Goblin,
The Lizardmen behind the gate still felt an oppressive force that suffocated them.
"Thud!"
A Lizardman couldn''t bear the pressure and collapsed.
Its body went limp, kneeling on the ground.
With this one kneeling, the other Lizardmen quickly followed, collapsing to their knees.
Looking at the group of Lizardmen kneeling in submission, a trace of ridicule flashed in Li Meng''s eyes.
Even at this point, they still refused to give up their tiny shred of dignity.
If it weren¡¯t for the Yue Clan¡¯s already limited population,
He would have already made an example of them, breaking their spirits entirely.
At this moment, hurried footsteps sounded from within the tribe.
Bai Ling, accompanied by a group of Lizardman elders, approached.
Seeing the tribesmen kneeling behind the gate, Bai Ling frowned slightly.
She moved forward without a word and knelt on the ground.
The elders behind her quickly followed suit, kneeling as well.
"Master!"
Bai Ling lowered her head and called softly.
Looking at Bai Ling kneeling at his feet, Li Meng grinned.
Grabbing Bai Ling¡¯s hand, he pulled her up.
Then, holding Bai Ling''s hand, he walked toward the chieftain''s wooden hut.
After the two walked away, the Lizardmen behind the gate finally stood up.
Watching the departing figures of their chieftain and the Goblin,
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All the Lizardmen wore complex expressions on their faces.
There was unwillingness, despair, and numbness.
"Bai Ling, what must I do for you all to willingly submit to me?"
Inside the chieftain''s wooden hut, Li Meng asked with a tone of uncertainty.
This question caused Bai Ling and the Lizardman elders to change their expressions drastically.
Bai Ling hurriedly knelt, bowing to the ground.
"Master, we have already submitted to you. This is an irreversible fact!"
The other Lizardmen broke into cold sweats in fright.
They quickly prostrated themselves, bowing deeply.
Sitting on the animal hide, Li Meng grinned.
"Is that so? Why do I not feel your submission? Perhaps I should have Yue E devour half of your people. That way, you will face reality honestly, accept being my slaves obediently, and become my possessions."
As he finished speaking, Li Meng reached out and pinched Bai Ling''s chin.
He forced her to raise her head and meet his gaze.
Bai Ling''s pale face turned even whiter.
Her eyes were filled with fear and pleading.
Her body trembled slightly.
Meanwhile, the other Lizardman elders pressed their faces to the ground.
Their faces were full of terror.
From the Goblin¡¯s words, they could sense killing intent.
The Goblin¡ªno, the Master¡ªwas serious.
If they did nothing and said nothing, the Master would definitely carry out his words.
"Mas¡ Master, please don¡¯t do this!"
Li Meng released Bai Ling''s chin.
"Give me a reason!"
Faced with the Master¡¯s expressionless gaze, Bai Ling trembled in her heart.
She bit her lip tightly and stood up.
Turning around, she looked at the kneeling elders with an emotionless face.
"Gray Scales and Black Scales, immediately execute the tribesmen stationed at the East Wooden Wall today. Announce to all tribesmen that from now on, anyone who dares disrespect the Master or speak ill of him shall be executed on the spot without mercy!"
Hearing the clan chief¡¯s words filled with killing intent.
The robust bodies of the Gray Scales and Black Scales trembled.
They deeply understood that at this moment, they could not hesitate even for a second.
Otherwise, half of their clan would be slaughtered.
The Gray Scales and Black Scales stood up.
They lowered their heads, turned around, and hurriedly ran outside.
Just as the two reached the doorway,
Li Meng¡¯s voice rang out from within the wooden house.
¡°Enough, come back!¡±
As soon as Li Meng said this,
The Gray Scales and Black Scales at the doorway collapsed to the ground.
They immediately crawled back into the wooden house.
Bai Ling¡¯s body also softened,
Her graceful figure slumping to the ground,
Her entire body drenched in cold sweat.
Looking at the Lizardmen before him, who appeared relieved of a heavy burden, Li Meng grinned.
It was good that they were frightened.
At least it showed that they were genuinely afraid.
¡°My underlings are numerous¡ªGoblins, Ogres, and the Swamp Crocodile King¡ªthey are all my underlings. From now on, you are also my underlings. Call me Boss instead of Master!¡±
Compared to being called Master, Li Meng preferred being addressed as Boss.
He liked having subordinates more than slaves.
Slaves were merely objects.
You could never gain the loyalty of an object.
Because slaves were living dead things.
Li Meng had no need for such things.
Such things were utterly worthless to him.
Li Meng reached out and lifted Bai Ling¡¯s chin again.
Facing Bai Ling, whose expression was complicated, Li Meng grinned viciously.
¡°If you can¡¯t even be a proper subordinate, then you¡¯re not even qualified to be slaves.¡±
Under her master¡¯s menacing gaze, Bai Ling nodded lightly.
Her lips parted slightly, and a blush flashed across her face.
¡°B-Bo¡ Boss!¡±
She had never called anyone Boss before.
This made Bai Ling feel a bit awkward for the moment.
But the other Lizardmen seemed accustomed to it.
¡°Boss!¡±
As the clan chief spoke, the Lizardman elders followed suit and shouted in unison.
¡°Very good. Sit up straight now. It¡¯s time to discuss important matters.¡±
Hearing this, the Lizardman elders straightened their postures.
Bai Ling let out a sigh of relief.
She looked at her¡ her Boss with a mix of emotions.
¡°To improve your fishing efficiency, I¡¯ve made some fishing tools for you.¡±
Li Meng had initially planned for the Yue Clan to handle aquaculture.
But after some thought, he decided against it.
The aquatic ecosystem of the Goblin River was extremely abundant.
With good fishing tools, a single cast of the net could catch over a dozen fish.
There was no need for aquaculture.
Moreover, feeding farmed fish was a significant problem.
In short, the conditions for aquaculture were absent.
¡°Fishing tools?¡±
Bai Ling looked at the Boss with confusion.
She had no concept of the fishing tools her master mentioned.
¡°In a few days, the fishing tools will be delivered. You¡¯ll see them then!¡±
In the following time, the conversation in the wooden house continued.
It lasted for two hours before the Lizardman elders left the clan chief¡¯s wooden house.
Time flew, and the sun set in the west.
Night fell, and the Yue Clan settlement became quiet.
¡°Boss, no¡ no, it¡¯s not okay. If I get¡ get¡¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s soft moan echoed in the clan chief¡¯s wooden house.
In the darkness, Bai Ling¡¯s graceful figure sat in her Boss¡¯s embrace.
Bai Ling was pleading, begging the Boss for mercy.
¡°Giving birth to Goblins is as simple as relieving yourself. You must adapt to it.¡±
¡°But¡¡±
¡°No buts. There¡¯s a first time for everything. After the first time, there¡¯ll be a second. Do it a few more times, and you¡¯ll get used to it. Once you¡¯re used to it, nothing will be unacceptable. If you want to be my proper underling, you must adapt.¡±
¡°Boss¡ I¡ I understand¡ Ah!¡±
Bai Ling suddenly let out a sharp cry in the darkness.
The commotion in the wooden house did not cease because of Bai Ling¡¯s cry.
Instead, it grew louder.
It wasn¡¯t until the late night, under the high silver moon,
That the noise in the clan chief¡¯s wooden house gradually subsided.
In the darkness, Bai Ling lay panting on the bed.
Next to her was the Boss, who had fallen asleep instantly.
The silver moonlight streamed in through the window, illuminating Bai Ling¡¯s face.
A few crystal-clear tears flowed from Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
Her gaze no longer held resentment or humiliation.
She quietly wiped away her tears.
Turning around, she hugged the Boss¡¯s arm and drifted into a peaceful sleep.
For the sake of the clan¡¯s future, both she and her people had to look forward.
All the past had to be abandoned.
Only by starting a new life could there be hope.
Chapter 141: Harpoon Gun and Fishing Net
Chapter 141: Harpoon Gun and Fishing Net
Over the next few days, Li Meng stayed in the Yue Clan and didn¡¯t go anywhere else.
During the day, he played with Yue E, and at night, he spent time with Bai Ling.
On the third day, a goblin team appeared in the waters east of the Yue Clan.
The team was made up of over a hundred goblins.
They approached on bamboo rafts from the eastern waterway and landed on the shore.
By noon, the eastern gate of the Yue Clan was bustling with noise.
¡°Boss, what are these?¡±
Bai Ling looked confused as she watched the goblins unloading goods from the rafts.
Those goods appeared to be some kind of long-pole weapons.
The tips were spearheads shaped like a trident.
Li Meng picked up one of the harpoon guns.
¡°This is a harpoon gun. It can be used for fishing and also as a weapon.¡±
Although the harpoon gun was entirely forged from metal, its shaft was hollow, so it wasn¡¯t very heavy.
Holding the harpoon gun, Li Meng strode toward the water¡¯s edge.
When he reached the shore, he gripped the harpoon gun and stared at the water''s surface.
After a while, a dark shadow flashed beneath the water.
Li Meng reversed his grip on the harpoon gun and stabbed it into the water.
The harpoon gun splashed into the water with a ¡°whoosh.¡±
When he pulled it out, the harpoon head had speared a plump green catfish.
This scene made the eyes of the lizardmen elders behind him light up.
Li Meng removed the catfish from the harpoon head and tossed it to the lizardmen elders.
Gray Scales quickly caught the fish.
¡°To catch live ones, we need another tool.¡±
At this moment, goblins carried down bundles of spider silk from the rafts.
Li Meng turned and pointed at the spider silk while addressing the lizardmen elders.
¡°In the next half month, I will teach you how to weave fishing nets!¡±
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
The bustle outside the eastern gate continued for a long time.
It wasn¡¯t until the afternoon that the goblins, having delivered their goods, pushed their bamboo rafts back into the water and departed.
In the days that followed, Li Meng began teaching the Yue Clan how to weave fishing nets.
There were many types of nets: casting nets, surrounding nets, and drag nets.
For the lizardmen, these three types of nets were the most suitable.
Compared to the goblins, the lizardmen were far more intelligent.
Not only did they learn quickly, but they also thought critically about the new techniques they were learning.
Half a month later, one afternoon.
Outside the eastern gate, it was bustling once again.
Hundreds of lizardmen had gathered in the shallow waters.
From a distance, it looked like a dense, dark crowd.
¡°A dozen of you will handle the drag nets. Maintain your speed; once you enter the water, don¡¯t stop!¡±
Facing Li Meng¡¯s gaze, a dozen lizardmen nodded nervously.
Li Meng turned to another group of lizardmen.
¡°You are responsible for dragging the fishing nets from both sides. Make sure the nets don¡¯t snag on the bottom.¡±
That group of lizardmen quickly nodded in response.
¡°And you will drive the fish!¡±
Thus, Li Meng carefully assigned tasks to each team of lizardmen.
¡°Start, move out!¡±
The lizardmen responsible for dragging the nets tied the ropes to their shoulders.
They dove into the deep waters.
The drag nets were pulled from the shallow waters into the deeper areas with a ¡°splashing¡± sound.
The other two groups of lizardmen quickly followed, jumping into the water.
On the surface, the lizardmen swam vigorously.
Underwater, the enormous drag nets loomed like a massive, devouring mouth.
Onshore, other lizardmen watched the fishing team curiously as they disappeared into the water.
Within a kilometer-wide water area, the fishing team moved back and forth.
From the sky, one could see lizardmen chasing schools of fish in the water.
Although the fish darted back and forth, they sometimes inadvertently swam into the drag nets.
After less than half an hour, the lizardmen pulling the drag nets began to look exhausted.
The fishing team had no choice but to return to shore.
¡°They¡¯re coming up, they¡¯re coming up!¡±
Seeing the lizardmen dragging the nets ashore, the lizardmen on the bank quickly rushed to help.
Dozens of lizardmen worked together to haul the drag nets onto the shore.
¡°It¡¯s fish! So many fish!¡±
Even before the nets were completely out of the water, splashes erupted within them.
Various kinds of fish crowded the nets.
The surrounding lizardmen watched in amazement.
They had never imagined that fishing could be so simple.
In the past, catching fish had been very difficult for them.
Fish were far faster and more agile in the water than they were.
Their method of fishing involved driving the fish into shallow waters, then using stone cleavers to stun them.
¡°Boss, did¡ did you come up with this idea?¡±
With his round belly, Bai Ling looked at the boss beside her in disbelief.
Although the boss had previously explained how the three types of fishing nets worked, Bai Ling hadn¡¯t truly believed it.
Because the drag net didn¡¯t have a sealed end, Bai Ling thought that even if fish swam into it, they could easily escape.
But reality proved that they were completely wrong.
The lizardmen elders nearby were equally astonished.
Just a single net had captured those fish so easily?
The efficiency of this method was astonishing.
This single haul was enough to feed the tribe for several days.
Li Meng grinned and pointed at his head.
¡°I told you, I¡¯m a smart goblin!¡±
Bai Ling stared blankly at her boss.
She had always thought he was a special and intelligent goblin.
But today, she realized she had still underestimated his wisdom.
In the days that followed, the noise outside the eastern gate continued for a long time.
Li Meng also taught the lizardmen how to use surrounding nets and casting nets.
Drag nets were suitable for deep waters, while casting and surrounding nets worked better in shallow areas.
For several days in a row, the waters around the Yue Clan were bustling.
The lizardmen were learning how to skillfully use harpoon guns and fishing nets.
Half a month later, one night, Bai Ling gave birth.
For the first time, Li Meng saw how females gave birth to small goblins.
Another new day arrived, in the morning.
Inside the chieftain¡¯s wooden house, chaos filled the air.
More than a dozen small goblins, like little rabbits, were running around and playing noisily.
¡°You little brats, quiet down and sit!¡±
Unable to tolerate it anymore, Li Meng roared.
The noisy little goblins froze in fright.
They quickly scrambled into a straight line, obediently sitting down.
Their little eyes darted curiously at the lizardmen elders inside the room.
Seeing the little goblins finally quiet down, the lizardmen elders heaved a sigh of relief.
Although the little goblins were only newborns, their claws and teeth were exceptionally sharp.
It was easy to get scratched by them.
Seated on animal hides, Li Meng looked around at the lizardmen elders.
¡°It¡¯s been nearly a month. It¡¯s time for me to leave.¡±
The boss¡¯s words caused the lizardmen elders¡¯ expressions to shift slightly.
¡°Teaching you how to weave fishing nets was to improve your fishing efficiency. In the future, you will need to provide a certain portion of military rations.¡±
The lizardmen elders nodded repeatedly.
The boss had already explained what military rations were.
It was simply preparing some dried fish for the goblins.
This task was simple and not difficult at all.
Li Meng stood up and strode toward the exit.
¡°Let¡¯s go, you little brats!¡±
The boss¡¯s shout made the little goblins jump up happily and run toward him.
Like geckos, they climbed onto Li Meng¡¯s body.
Some clung to his shoulders.
Others grabbed onto his hide clothing.
Bai Ling and the lizardmen stood up to see them off.
Chapter 142: Ghost Beastman Reappearance
Chapter 142: Ghost Beastman Reappearance
"Boss, boss, I like that white female."
"Yeah, yeah, I like her too. She smells really good."
"Her meat must be delicious!"
"Boss, boss, can we eat her?"
In the tribe, Li Meng and a group of Lizardmen were walking toward the eastern gate.
The little Goblins on Li Meng were noisily shouting.
They were extremely rowdy and loud.
The Lizardman elders couldn¡¯t understand what the little Goblins were saying.
But Bai Ling could.
The trace of maternal tenderness in Bai Ling¡¯s gaze completely disappeared.
"You can¡¯t eat her; she is your mother!"
"Mother? Boss, what¡¯s a mother? Can we eat it?"
"No! Shut up, all of you. If anyone makes another noise, I¡¯ll eat them instead."
The little Goblins behind Li Meng instantly fell silent.
They stared curiously and greedily at the white Lizardman following their boss.
She smelled so good!
At the Yue Clan tribe¡¯s eastern gate.
"Bai Ling, I¡¯m leaving!"
Near the water¡¯s edge, Li Meng waved his hand back.
His figure flashed, and he ran straight into the water.
Where he passed, a long path of ice remained on the water¡¯s surface.
"Boss, I¡¯m about to fall!"
"Boss, boss!"
"Shut up! If you fall, go feed the fish."
Amid Li Meng¡¯s scolding voice.
In the blink of an eye, Li Meng and the little Goblins disappeared on the water¡¯s surface.
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On the shore, Bai Ling and the group of Lizardman elders watched their boss leave.
"Chief!"
Behind Bai Ling, Gray Scales hesitated to speak.
Bai Ling raised a hand to stop Gray Scales from continuing.
"From now on, our master is not the Goblins, but the boss. Do you all understand?"
The Lizardman elders behind Bai Ling straightened their expressions.
They lowered their heads in unison.
"Yes, our master is the boss, not the Goblins!"
Perhaps it was self-deception.
But they had to find a reason to justify following the boss loyally.
---
Time flew by, and months passed unnoticed.
After returning to the Throne Tribe from the Yue Clan, Li Meng became busy.
He devoted himself fully to developing the tribe.
He began optimizing the carpentry workshop.
He created tools to improve efficiency.
He also strengthened and simplified the production process of the triple-bow ballista.
The blast furnace at the Iron Cavern was also upgraded.
Additionally, water-powered bellows were invented, freeing up a lot of labor.
The iron-making process was upgraded to steel-making.
Using the steel-pouring method, steel began to be mass-produced.
Charcoal production evolved from campfires to charcoal kilns.
Output increased dozens of times.
Unknowingly, half a year passed silently.
It was another new day in the afternoon.
"Goblins, do you dare to come out and fight!"
Suddenly, a thunderous roar echoed from the east of the Throne Tribe.
On the wasteland outside the eastern wooden wall.
A tall figure emerged from the forest.
It had dark brown skin.
Two horns protruded from its forehead.
It was about two meters tall and carried a large sword on its shoulder.
"Who is that?"
"Who¡¯s it talking about?"
"I don¡¯t know. Is it tasty?"
"It looks really strong!"
"What is it saying?"
"I don¡¯t know!"
The appearance of the Ghost Beastman stirred chatter among the Goblins on the wooden wall.
They curiously and greedily watched the Ghost Beastman stepping out of the forest.
"Shoot it! Shoot it!"
On the watchtower, Goblins excitedly prepared to fire.
Two-meter-long ballista bolts were loaded into the grooves.
"Goblins, come out, come out!"
The "Ghost Hand" shouted loudly from outside the forest.
Its voice was loud and piercing.
Its gaze swept across the green-skinned Goblins on the wooden wall.
A trace of disdain flashed in Ghost Hand¡¯s eyes.
Although there were many Goblin warriors.
They were all trash; it could squash them with a single finger.
"Shut up! You¡¯re so noisy!"
At that moment, a voice full of impatience suddenly sounded behind Ghost Hand.
This startled Ghost Hand greatly.
It jumped backward, leaping over twenty meters before landing firmly on the ground.
Once it landed, Ghost Hand looked warily at the green-skinned figure stepping out of the forest.
It hadn¡¯t noticed that this guy was right behind it?
At this moment, Ghost Hand was utterly shocked.
Looking at Ghost Hand in the distance, Li Meng grinned.
"You came at just the right time. I¡¯ve been following you for a while now."
Gobu Da had already moved out of the Throne Tribe.
A new tribe was built about ten kilometers east.
That place also housed the new carpentry workshop.
When Ghost Hand passed by the forest near the carpentry workshop.
Li Meng, who had been preparing to leave, happened to spot it.
He then quietly followed the Ghost Beastman.
Only when they reached the Throne Tribe did Li Meng reveal himself.
"This¡ this is impossible!"
Ghost Hand¡¯s face changed dramatically as it stared at the Goblin with uncertainty.
For some reason, it actually felt oppressed by this Goblin.
It was a centurion of the demon race.
How could a mere Goblin warrior make it feel this kind of pressure?
Compared to their last battle, the Goblin seemed even stronger.
Li Meng pointed his large iron club at the Ghost Beastman.
"Ghost Beastman, I¡¯m tired of your harassment. Let¡¯s fight! If I win, you¡¯ll leave the Goblin Forest and never step foot here again. If I lose, I will submit to you!"
If not for the fact that it wasn¡¯t time to provoke the demons yet.
Li Meng wouldn¡¯t have bothered talking so much.
He would¡¯ve smashed it with his club already.
In the future timeline, he did kill the Ghost Beastman.
But that timeline clearly triggered a series of follow-up events.
Until he fully controlled the Goblin Forest, Li Meng wouldn¡¯t provoke the demons.
"Ha ha! Good, it¡¯s a deal!"
Ghost Hand laughed wildly, staring fiercely at Li Meng.
It straightened its body.
With a *thud*, its large sword stabbed into the ground.
"Then let¡¯s settle this in one move. Do you dare?"
Facing the Ghost Beastman¡¯s provocative gaze, Li Meng frowned.
He looked up and down at the Ghost Beastman.
[Ghost Beastman (Elite)]
[Level: 71]
[Strength: 2234]
[Defense: 2161]
[Agility: 2611]
[Magic Power: 1971]
[Demon King¡¯s Contract: LV2 (Immune to mental magic)]
[Berserk: LV4]
[War Roar: LV4]
[Super Physique: LV3 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +600)]
[Charged Strike: LV5]
[Super Leap: LV3 (Agility +600)]
[Instant Flash Assault: LV3]
[Ancestor¡¯s Blessing: LV5 (All attributes +500)]
[Ancestor¡¯s Protection: LV3]
[Demonic Physique: LV2 (All attributes +200)]
[Note: Consuming skills will establish a master-servant contract with the Demon King.]
In the nearly two years they hadn¡¯t met, it had grown stronger.
Its level had increased by two.
The Berserk and Charged Strike skills each leveled up once.
Chapter 143: You鈥檙e Just Like a Ground Mouse
Chapter 143: You¡¯re Just Like a Ground Mouse
¡°Since we¡¯re going to fight, let¡¯s do it thoroughly. What¡¯s the point of deciding victory with just one move?¡±
Li Meng wasn¡¯t stupid¡ªhow could he fall for such a trick?
How could Li Meng not see through the little schemes of the Ghost Beastman?
It was nothing more than attempting to use "Berserk" and "Charged Strike" to settle the fight in one move.
Hearing this, Ghost Hand¡¯s brows furrowed.
It didn¡¯t expect that this Goblin wouldn¡¯t take the bait.
¡°Haha, Goblin, are you scared or something?¡±
Ghost Hand laughed loudly, taunting with a look of ridicule.
Li Meng grinned and once again rested the heavy iron club on his shoulder.
¡°Ghost Beastman, you¡¯re just like a female Ground Mouse being ridden by a Goblin¡ªwhining and annoying!¡±
At these words, Ghost Hand¡¯s face froze.
Then it roared with fury, its expression turning ferocious.
¡°Goblin, the one who will kill you is the demon centurion *Ghost Hand*! Ah!¡±
Ghost Hand let out a furious roar, its eyes glowing red.
Surging blood energy erupted from its body.
Its tall frame began to crack and creak.
Muscles bulged, and its body swelled in size.
The originally dark brown skin turned reddish-brown.
Blood-colored veins spread across its body, resembling a spider web.
¡°Boom!¡±
Ghost Hand¡¯s figure suddenly flashed.
The ground beneath its feet collapsed with a loud boom.
Its massive figure shot forward like an arrow.
The speed was so quick it carried the sound of the air being torn apart.
¡°Now this is more like it!¡±
Li Meng grinned as his figure also flashed.
A burst of air exploded around them.
The two figures collided in an instant.
¡°Clang!¡±
The sharp sound of metal colliding echoed.
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A shockwave rippled outward, sweeping in all directions.
The weapons in their hands struck against each other.
The immense rebound force sent both sliding backward.
They slid over ten meters before stabilizing themselves.
¡°Roar!¡±
Ghost Hand¡¯s eyes were bloodshot.
Just as it regained its footing, it charged toward Li Meng again.
When it was less than twenty meters away from Li Meng¡ª
Its figure flashed, turning into a blur and disappearing.
In the next instant, it suddenly appeared on Li Meng¡¯s left side.
The greatsword in its hand swung in a horizontal slash.
Li Meng turned, holding the iron club in both hands to block in front of him.
¡°Clang!¡±
The greatsword struck the iron club, sending sparks flying.
The immense force caused Li Meng¡¯s body to slide back another ten meters.
Before he could stabilize himself, the enraged Ghost Beastman pressed forward again.
The greatsword slashed down once more.
¡°Hmph, you¡¯re asking for death!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s face turned slightly cold, his eyes filled with killing intent.
Although he didn¡¯t want to kill the Ghost Beastman and attract the attention of the demons¡ª
Once the fight started, he couldn¡¯t afford to hold back.
The Ghost Beastman had now entered its Berserk state.
It had to be killed; otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t stop.
The Berserk Ghost Beastman was indeed strong.
Its stats had multiplied several times over.
Li Meng swung the iron club, deflecting the Ghost Beastman¡¯s greatsword.
The two figures weaved and clashed, advancing and retreating.
The weapons in their hands moved so fast they were mere blurs.
Their weapons collided over and over.
The sound of metal striking metal echoed throughout the surroundings.
Shockwaves burst open repeatedly, sweeping across the battlefield.
¡°Clang!¡±
In another direct clash, their weapons collided.
Both figures separated, sliding back over ten meters.
¡°Roar!¡±
Ghost Hand let out another furious roar, its bloodshot eyes burning with anger.
Its muscular arms swelled to twice their size.
It lifted its right foot and stomped forward.
¡°Boom!¡±
The ground beneath its foot collapsed.
Ghost Hand¡¯s figure shot forward once again.
As it lunged forward, its body flickered and vanished.
In the next moment, it suddenly appeared right in front of Li Meng.
Raising the greatsword high with both hands, its face twisted in fury as it slashed down.
This strike caused the blade to be enveloped in visible waves of wind.
Li Meng had been guarding against the Ghost Beastman¡¯s ¡°Shadow Charge¡± skill all along.
Although he was surprised the Ghost Beastman had chosen a frontal attack¡ª
The moment the Ghost Beastman appeared, Li Meng reacted.
With a stomp of his foot, Li Meng¡¯s body shot backward.
The sharp edge of the greatsword barely missed him, slicing into the ground.
¡°Boom!¡±
A deafening explosion sounded.
Dust flew everywhere as the ground caved in.
Ghost Hand¡¯s strike had carved a massive crater into the earth.
¡°A Charged Strike really is powerful!¡±
If that hit had landed, it would¡¯ve been fatal.
As Li Meng soared backward, he waved his right hand.
Earth-colored magical energy surged forth.
A stone bullet, the size of half a fist, rapidly formed and shot forward.
The stone bullet hurtled toward the Ghost Beastman like a bullet.
The Ghost Beastman seemed to sense something.
It slashed its greatsword in front of itself.
With one strike, it shattered the incoming stone bullet.
¡°Magic really isn¡¯t suited for close combat!¡±
Instant-cast spells were too weak.
And more powerful spells required too much casting time.
¡°Goblin, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±
The Ghost Beastman let out a furious howl.
Its figure flashed again, launching a crazed charge.
Li Meng grinned, resting the iron club on his shoulder.
The moment his feet touched the ground, his figure flickered.
An air explosion burst open once more.
He charged toward the incoming Ghost Beastman.
This time, Li Meng didn¡¯t meet the attack head-on.
Facing the Ghost Beastman¡¯s strike, he suddenly dodged to the left.
The descending greatsword narrowly missed Li Meng¡¯s body.
¡°I¡¯ll kill you! I¡¯ll kill you!¡±
The Ghost Beastman furiously swung its greatsword.
One strike after another slashed toward Li Meng.
But Li Meng moved like an eel, circling around the Ghost Beastman.
Every strike of the Ghost Beastman missed.
The more furious the Ghost Beastman became, the more enraged it grew.
Reddish-brown steam began to rise from its swelling body.
Its massive frame gradually started to shrink.
The Ghost Beastman¡¯s attacks also slowed considerably.
¡°Looks like it¡¯s reaching its limit.¡±
Stepping back, Li Meng easily dodged another strike.
The changes in the Ghost Beastman¡¯s body were clear to him.
¡°Not even three minutes and you¡¯re already spent. Tsk tsk!¡±
Seeing the Ghost Beastman¡¯s attacks grow weaker¡ª
Li Meng smirked with a hint of boredom in his eyes.
From the very start, Li Meng hadn¡¯t seen the Ghost Beastman as a threat.
After all, the Ghost Beastman¡¯s strongest asset was its physical prowess.
Even in Berserk form, its stats still fell slightly short compared to his.
Moreover, the Ghost Beastman had no particularly powerful attack skills.
While ¡°Shadow Charge¡± and ¡°Charged Strike¡± worked well together¡ª
¡°Shadow Charge¡± was only effective for sneak attacks.
It could only deliver a one-hit kill if the opponent was unprepared.
Once the opponent was on guard¡ª
The ¡°Shadow Charge¡± skill became far less useful.
And ¡°Shadow Charge¡± wasn¡¯t a teleportation skill.
It merely explosively increased the speed of the user¡¯s legs.
It looked like teleportation but was far from it.
Anyone with some strength could sense the direction of the attack.
¡°How is this possible? Impossible, impossible!¡±
At this moment, the Ghost Beastman snapped out of its Berserk state.
Seeing Li Meng completely unharmed¡ª
Ghost Hand¡¯s face turned pale, and it stumbled backward.
Its eyes were filled with disbelief as it stared at Li Meng.
What on earth was this Goblin?
Why was it so powerful?
It was just a Goblin¡ªhow could it be?
A flash of killing intent passed through Ghost Hand¡¯s eyes.
If this Goblin was allowed to grow¡ª
One day, it would threaten the demons.
It had to survive.
It had to report this Goblin¡¯s existence to the Demon General.
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Chapter 144: The Black Robe and the Elf
Chapter 144: The Black Robe and the Elf
"Goblin, you win. I... I will keep my promise!"
The Ghost Hand''s hand holding the greatsword trembled.
The side effects of berserk mode were severe.
For a period of time, he would be in a state of extreme weakness.
At this moment, the Ghost Hand could feel his body was very weak, almost lacking the strength to even hold his weapon.
"Is that so?"
Li Meng grinned hideously and took a step forward.
His figure flashed as he charged toward the Ghost Beastman.
The Ghost Beastman¡¯s face changed as he swung the greatsword with his last bit of strength.
"Clang!"
The greatsword was struck flying by Li Meng''s iron club the moment it was raised.
A sharp metallic sound echoed.
The greatsword flew out of the Ghost Beastman¡¯s hand and soared over fifty meters before embedding itself into the ground with a "shing."
Li Meng stretched out his left hand and grabbed the Ghost Beastman''s neck.
Facing Li Meng, who stood at 2.5 meters tall, the Ghost Beastman in his grasp looked like a small chick.
"Goblin, I am a centurion of the Demon Race. If you kill me, the Demon Race will never let you go!"
Even at this point, the Ghost Beastman remained arrogant.
Its eyes glared angrily, its powerless body struggling feebly.
The Ghost Hand was certain that the goblin before him wouldn¡¯t dare kill him.
Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have let him leave the last time.
Faced with the Ghost Beastman¡¯s threat, Li Meng grinned widely.
"Let me guess, you didn¡¯t tell your kin about my existence, did you?"
Seeing the goblin¡¯s sinister smile, the Ghost Hand¡¯s face twitched slightly.
Indeed, he hadn¡¯t reported this unique goblin to the higher-ranked Demon Generals.
He originally planned to subdue this goblin alone and then report his success to the Demon General to claim the credit.
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This was to prevent the higher-ranked centurion from stealing his achievement.
But he never expected this goblin to be so powerful, completely unlike a typical, foolish goblin.
"Goblin, I can¡ª"
"Crack!"
Before the Ghost Beastman could finish his sentence, Li Meng squeezed his hand suddenly.
With a sharp "crack," the Ghost Beastman¡¯s head tilted.
His neck was snapped by Li Meng.
The Ghost Beastman¡¯s blood-red eyes glared at Li Meng even in death.
Looking at the corpse, which gradually lost its warmth, Li Meng grinned in satisfaction.
With the large iron club slung over his shoulder, he dragged the Ghost Beastman¡¯s corpse back to the tribe.
"Boss is back!"
"Boss is amazing!"
"Waah!"
The goblins on the wooden wall cheered excitedly.
Their boss was simply too powerful.
He had crushed that seemingly formidable enemy effortlessly.
In front of their boss, the Ghost Beastman was nothing.
"Take the corpse to Gobuge!"
Outside the eastern gate, Li Meng tossed the corpse to the ground.
"Boss, boss, I want to eat it!"
"Boss, I want some too!"
"Boss, boss, me too!"
Seven goblins stared at Li Meng eagerly, drooling as saliva flowed freely from their mouths.
"The legs and arms are yours. Send the rest to Gobuge."
Li Meng grinned and strode into the tribe.
"Great!"
"Boss, you¡¯re so kind!"
"Meat, meat!"
The goblins behind him threw themselves onto the Ghost Beastman¡¯s corpse, gnawing at it voraciously.
The sound of chewing echoed through the air.
Thus, the Ghost Beastman matter was resolved.
"System, start the Life Simulation!"
Walking slowly through the forest in the tribe, Li Meng muttered.
Three years had already passed halfway.
In other words, he now had a year and a half of simulation time.
Even if the score wasn¡¯t high, Li Meng would accept it.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You killed the Ghost Beastman ¡°Ghost Hand.¡±]
[Your tribe flourishes.]
[You traveled to the Black Mountain Marshlands to meet with a contact from the Holy Nation.]
[The contact from the Holy Nation sarcastically humiliated you.]
[You killed everyone.]
[You assembled a Goblin army and marched to the Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[You led the Goblin army to the gates of the Black Mountain Tribe.]
[You launched an attack on the Black Mountain Tribe.]
[You tried to stop the Black Mountain Tribe from summoning the Savage God ¡°Akuya,¡± but the Black Robe appeared to stop you.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe successfully summoned the Savage God ¡°Akuya¡± with a full tribal sacrifice.]
[Enraged, you fought the Black Robe and discovered the Black Robe''s identity as an ¡°Elf.¡±]
[The Black Robe humiliated you and escaped.]
[Unable to defeat the Savage God, your Goblin army suffered heavy casualties and retreated in disarray.]
[Due to your failure, the Goblin Forest began its descent into desolation.]
[One day, a Ratmen army attacked the Gobuchai Tribe at night.]
[The Gobuchai Tribe was destroyed.]
[The Ratmen army invaded on a large scale, and the southern tribes sounded the alarm.]
[A hero squad composed of human powerhouses arrived in the Black Mountain Marshlands to defeat the Savage God.]
[The hero squad successfully defeated the Savage God ¡°Akuya.¡±]
[The Gobutian Tribe was attacked as the Demon army launched a massive invasion.]
[Please choose one of the following options:]
[1. Assemble the Goblin army to fight the Demon army.]
[2. Gather the Goblin army and march south.]
[3. Retreat to the southern tribes and gather all forces to fight the Demon army.]
[4. Retreat from the northern bank of the Goblin River and advance south.]
"Why did I attack the Black Mountain Tribe?"
Walking through the forest, Li Meng muttered in confusion.
A hint of doubt and puzzlement flashed through his eyes.
Sometimes, the future paths predicted in the simulation made his actions seem incomprehensible.
He clearly knew the Black Robe guarded the Black Mountain Tribe.
Why did he still take the risk to attack the Black Mountain Tribe?
"Could it be to obtain more female Lizardmen?"
Li Meng could only think of this reason.
With the Goblins advancing south on a large scale, 300 female Lizardmen were no longer enough.
Although he could forcibly collect more female Lizardmen from the Yue Clan, the Twelve Tax policy could not be easily changed.
Plundering and subjugation were two different concepts.
Seeking only short-term gains at the cost of long-term rule was foolish.
Also, the Black Robe turned out to be an ¡°Elf¡±?
"Heh heh!"
Thinking of elves, Li Meng grinned wickedly, saliva almost dripping from his mouth.
If the opportunity arose in the future, he would have to collect a few for himself.
"Hopefully, they aren¡¯t those ugly elves."
Generally, elves were beautiful and noble beings.
But some elves depicted in films were quite ugly.
Without seeing them personally, who knew what this world¡¯s elves looked like?
"Option Three!"
Among the four options, only the third had the highest chance of success.
The threat of the Ratmen could wait.
As long as he retreated to the southern tribes, large-scale conflict with the Ratmen could be avoided for the time being.
This would also effectively prevent the risk of a two-front war.
[You chose to retreat to the southern tribes to fight the Demon army.]
[You expanded the Throne Tribe and reinforced its defenses.]
[The Demon army arrived, and the Throne Tribe defense battle began.]
[The three-year limit has been reached.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 50.]
[Please choose one of the following rewards:]
[+1 Level per 10 Score]
[+1 Attribute per 1 Score]
[+1 Charm per 10 Score]
[+1 "Wind Blade" Skill Level per 10 Score]
[+1 "Mind Speech" Skill Level per 10 Score]
[+1 "Body Reinforcement" Skill Level per 10 Score]
Chapter 145: Let鈥檚 Head to the Black Mountain Tribe
Chapter 145: Let¡¯s Head to the Black Mountain Tribe
As expected, it¡¯s only half!
Half the time, half the score!
¡°Upgrade the ¡®Limb Enhancement¡¯ skill level!¡±
[Consumes 50 score, ¡®Limb Enhancement¡¯ skill level +5]
¡°Killing the Ghost Beastman will indeed attract the Demon Army!¡±
Li Meng shook his head speechlessly.
The future line involving the Ghost Beastman had already entered a dead end.
Whether or not he killed the Ghost Beastman, the outcome was the same.
The only difference was the timing of the Demon Army¡¯s appearance.
If the Ghost Beastman were allowed to escape, it would likely return months later, leading the Demon Army to attack.
Killing the Ghost Beastman delayed the Demon Army by a year.
¡°What¡¯s with the Ratmen Tribe?¡±
Thinking of the Ratmen Tribe, Li Meng, walking slowly through the forest, frowned deeply.
The Ratmen Tribe¡¯s area of activity was over a thousand kilometers south, at least five or six hundred kilometers away from the southern tribes.
With such a distance, what reason did the Ratmen Tribe have to attack the Goblin Tribe?
¡°Could the Ratmen Tribe be the hidden big boss?¡±
Li Meng was startled by his own guess.
It might just be true.
The Ratmen Tribe could be responsible for the disappearance of the savage tribes in the Goblin Forest.
After all, rats were fond of digging tunnels.
Their strongholds were underground, making it difficult to track them on the surface.
Perhaps, unknowingly, the Ratmen Tribe had already dominated most of the Goblin Forest.
The high-tier magical beasts that had disappeared in the Goblin Forest could also be the work of the Ratmen Tribe.
Without high-tier magical beasts, animals in the forest would undoubtedly proliferate.
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To the Ratmen Tribe, the Goblin Forest was their pasture.
When the Ratmen Tribe discovered a group of Goblins had invaded their pasture, they would naturally launch an attack to eliminate the intruders.
¡°The Goblin Forest is mine, mine!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s expression turned cold, his eyes filled with killing intent.
In the forest, Li Meng quickened his pace.
A new future line had appeared.
The next step was to find a way to make the future develop in a better direction.
The next morning, Li Meng left the Throne Tribe in haste.
By mid-morning, in the Northern Marshlands.
At the Yue Clan Tribe, inside the chief¡¯s wooden hut.
A group of Lizardmen elders hurried to the chief¡¯s wooden hut.
They sat cross-legged on animal hides, whispering to each other.
After half a year, their boss had reappeared.
No one knew what the boss would bring them this time.
On the main seat, Li Meng sat cross-legged.
Bai Ling knelt quietly beside him.
In the wooden hut, Li Meng¡¯s voice rang out.
¡°This time, I¡¯m here to send you to the Black Mountain Tribe!¡±
Send them to the Black Mountain Tribe?
The Lizardmen elders froze at these words.
Bai Ling¡¯s eyes also flashed with surprise.
¡°Boss, do you want us to persuade the Black Mountain Tribe to surrender?¡±
Li Meng nodded, then shook his head.
¡°Yes and no. If they surrender, that¡¯s good. If not, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡±
The elders were confused by this statement.
Li Meng¡¯s voice continued in the wooden hut.
¡°I received news that the Black Mountain Tribe obtained a Sacrificial Plate from some mysterious force. If they recklessly summon the Savage God, it might lead to a blood sacrifice of their entire tribe. Your first goal is to make the Black Mountain Tribe aware of the dangers of the Sacrificial Plate.¡±
Saying this, Li Meng turned to Bai Ling beside him.
¡°Bai Ling, your identity is special. You¡¯ll lead this mission. I¡¯ll secretly follow you. If the Black Mountain Tribe tries to detain you by force, I¡¯ll have Yue E unleash havoc until she¡¯s completely drained!¡±
Although the Black Mountain Tribe had tens of thousands of people, they had no notable strong warriors.
After all, the Marsh Lizardmen were not a particularly powerful race.
Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have been confined to the Goblin Forest.
They were powerless against a King-rank magical beast like the Swamp Crocodile King.
While Yue E might not be able to kill all the Marsh Lizardmen even if she exhausted her magic, her mere presence was a deterrent.
¡°Also, inform the Black Mountain Tribe that the reason the Holy Temple Knights of the Human Theocracy retreated last time was that I ambushed and captured the High Priest of the humans. If they submit to me, I can resolve the threat of the Theocracy for them!¡±
The Holy Temple Knights of the Theocracy attacked the Black Mountain Tribe?
This news surprised the Lizardmen elders in the hut.
Although they knew nothing about the Theocracy or its Holy Temple Knights, they were no strangers to humans.
Bai Ling was equally stunned.
He hadn¡¯t expected the boss to have done so much without them knowing.
This reminded Bai Ling of a long-past event when the boss had asked him for the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s location.
¡°Prepare for the journey this afternoon. Set out tomorrow!¡±
And so, the Yue Clan Tribe began preparations for their journey.
Li Meng didn¡¯t idle either. In the afternoon, he went to play with Yue E.
In the shallow waters east of the Yue Clan Tribe.
Yue E lay in the water, basking in the sun.
Her originally dark scales had turned a light red.
¡°Boss, the sun feels so good!¡±
Yue E squinted her eyes, looking lazy and content.
Li Meng lay on Yue E¡¯s back, also basking in the sun.
¡°Yes, it does feel great!¡±
The blazing sunlight hung high in the sky.
The prickling sensation across his body made Li Meng close his eyes contentedly.
¡°Boss, do humans taste good?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. I¡¯ve never eaten one.¡±
¡°Yue E, you¡¯ve never eaten a human?¡±
¡°Never. Last time, the humans who fell into the water were wearing armor. I couldn¡¯t bite through.¡±
The Northern Marshlands were vast, so it made sense Yue E hadn¡¯t seen humans before.
After all, humans wouldn¡¯t enter the dangerous marshlands without reason.
Besides, the Northern Marshlands were quite deep into the Goblin Forest.
Although adventurers occasionally appeared, they rarely ventured into the marshes.
¡°There will be opportunities. When the time comes, let¡¯s try human flesh together.¡±
¡°Okay, okay! Humans must taste delicious!¡±
¡°Haha, let¡¯s hope their meat is tasty.¡±
For a while, the area echoed with the sounds of a crocodile¡¯s gurgling and a Goblin¡¯s chattering.
Time flew by, and the day passed quickly.
The next morning, the Yue Clan Tribe was bustling.
A hundred-person team set out from the southern gate, wading through the water and gradually disappearing into the distance.
---
Black Mountain Marshlands
On the southern shore of the Black Mountain, the Black Mountain Tribe.
By afternoon, the Black Mountain Tribe was, as usual, basking in the sunlight.
Time passed quickly. Unknowingly, it had been nearly two years since the human invasion.
Since migrating to the Ancestor Tribe, the Black Mountain Tribe had not returned.
All the outer tribes were abandoned.
Nearly thirty thousand Lizardmen crowded into the small Ancestor Tribe.
At this time, in the largest wooden hut within the tribe.
¡°Chief, the waters near the Black Mountain are unsuitable for survival. The tribespeople are starving. We must move back!¡±
¡°No, the humans could attack again at any time. We cannot afford any more losses.¡±
¡°Staying in the Ancestor Tribe forever isn¡¯t a solution. The tribespeople will scatter sooner or later.¡±
Chapter 146: The Return of the Black Cloak
Chapter 146: The Return of the Black Cloak
The debate inside the room had lasted a very long time.
This left Scarface, sitting in the primary seat, with a terrible headache.
The elders all made valid points.
But who should he listen to?
¡°Survival is the most pressing issue now. We must relocate!¡±
¡°That¡¯s right. If the humans come again, we can retreat to the Ancestor Tribe.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not that simple. Humans won¡¯t make the same mistake twice.¡±
¡°Bang!¡±
At this moment, the door was violently pushed open.
A group of male Lizardmen hurriedly ran in.
¡°Chief, Chief, the High Priest of the White Scales Tribe from the Northern Marshlands has arrived!¡±
This news left the elders visibly stunned.
Did they hear that correctly?
The High Priest of the White Scales Tribe from the Northern Marshlands had arrived?
¡°Wait, what did you say?¡±
Scarface was also bewildered.
He quickly confirmed again.
¡°It¡¯s the High Priest of the White Scales Tribe. She has arrived with a group of about a hundred people!¡±
After confirming the news, Scarface abruptly stood up.
He hurriedly walked outside.
The Lizardman elders quickly stood and followed behind him.
At the same time, the southern shore of the Ancestor Tribe was bustling with noise.
¡°It¡¯s the High Priest!¡±
¡°The High Priest¡¯s clan has returned!¡±
The arrival of Bai Ling drew the attention of the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen.
Many Lizardmen, their faces full of excitement, gathered around.
Their gazes toward Bai Ling were filled with nothing but reverence.
¡°High Priest, you¡¯re finally back!¡±
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¡°High Priest, are you here to save us?¡±
Standing on the shore, Bai Ling looked around at the gathering Lizardmen.
Her eyes fell upon one emaciated Lizardman after another.
Many of them were so thin that the outlines of their bones were visible.
At this moment, Bai Ling realized that the leader¡¯s words were true.
If not for the human invasion, the Black Mountain Tribe would not have retreated to the Ancestor Tribe.
Faced with the hopeful gazes of the Lizardmen, Bai Ling was speechless.
It seemed the situation of the Black Mountain Tribe was dire.
The news of the High Priest¡¯s return quickly spread throughout the entire tribe.
In no time, the shoreline was packed with people.
More Lizardmen were gathering on the southern shore.
¡°Chief, why don¡¯t we return to the water for now?¡±
Gray Scales and Black Scales, leading the chiefs, formed a human wall to keep the Lizardmen outside from getting too close.
Although over a hundred years had passed, Gray Scales and Black Scales were well aware of the High Priest¡¯s clan¡¯s prestige among the swamp-dwelling Lizardmen.
Such a scene was within their expectations.
However, they hadn¡¯t expected the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s situation to be this terrible.
It was apparent from the spirits of the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen.
Some Lizardmen could even be described as skin and bones.
¡°Make way, make way!¡±
At this moment, there was a commotion deep within the tribe.
Scarface led a group of Lizardmen toward the commotion.
Wherever they went, the crowd was forcibly parted.
At the same time, in a nearby body of water, a green head surfaced above the rippling water.
The owner of the head was Li Meng.
Li Meng vigilantly scanned the water¡¯s surface.
He had not forgotten the grudge from the last time he was nearly beheaded.
It was possible that the Black Cloak had already discovered him.
Perhaps it was stealthily approaching him at this very moment.
¡°Boss, something is approaching from the right!¡±
Yue E¡¯s warning caused Li Meng¡¯s expression to change slightly.
At the instant Yue E spoke, he too sensed it.
Though he couldn¡¯t see it, there were faint ripples on the water¡¯s surface.
¡°Splash!¡±
Li Meng leaped from the water.
The small patch of water beneath his feet instantly froze into ice.
Li Meng stood firmly on the ice.
¡°Yue E, hide underwater!¡±
Beneath the surface, Yue E¡¯s massive body swam deeper into the water.
¡°Goblin, you didn¡¯t die after all?¡±
On the water¡¯s surface, a cold voice suddenly echoed from not far away.
Perhaps realizing that the Goblin had detected its presence, the Black Cloak dispelled its invisibility.
The surrounding space warped.
In the next moment, the Black Cloak¡¯s figure appeared out of nowhere on the water¡¯s surface.
The two stood a hundred meters apart, facing each other.
Li Meng grinned, resting a massive iron rod on his shoulder.
¡°Elf, how could I die before avenging the attempt to decapitate me?¡±
The word ¡°Elf¡± made the Black Cloak shudder.
¡°Then I¡¯ll decapitate you again!¡±
With a cold snort, the Black Cloak¡¯s figure flashed.
Amidst splashing water, the figure shot toward Li Meng like an arrow.
The speed was incredible, closing in on Li Meng instantly.
¡°You think I¡¯m afraid?¡±
Li Meng roared angrily, swinging the massive iron rod toward the approaching Black Cloak.
Just as the iron rod was about to strike the Black Cloak, its body eerily dodged backward.
After several nimble backflips, it distanced itself from Li Meng.
Suddenly, a cold blade gleamed behind Li Meng¡¯s head.
Sensing the chill behind him, Li Meng sneered grimly.
Twisting his body, he swung a fist backward.
¡°Boom!¡±
A muffled impact rang out.
Li Meng¡¯s fist solidly struck something.
Another Black Cloak figure appeared out of nowhere, holding a short blade.
The figure flew backward like a launched cannonball.
As it flew, a visible shockwave rippled through the air.
It tumbled dozens of meters before plunging into the water.
A massive column of water shot skyward.
¡°Now I understand why you fled in the future vision!¡±
Li Meng glanced disdainfully at the Black Cloak he had just struck.
From that first contact, he had realized the Black Cloak¡¯s power was deceptive.
Their strength relied on the cloaks they wore.
The short blades they wielded were also extraordinary.
Before the blade even reached him, his neck already felt a stinging pain.
If one couldn¡¯t detect their presence, they could silently approach their target for an assassination.
Even against a powerful imperial-level expert, they could achieve a one-hit kill.
After all, even the strongest imperial-level expert had moments of vulnerability.
¡°Boom!¡±
At that moment, a loud explosion resounded.
Nearby, a water column rose again.
Yue E¡¯s massive tail struck out from the water.
The Black Cloak that had just plunged into the water was flung into the air like a rag doll, soaring hundreds of meters high.
¡°Oh, how high!¡±
Watching the Black Cloak soar, Li Meng grinned.
¡°Yue E, steady yourself and fire a water cannon!¡±
Li Meng shouted in Yue E¡¯s direction.
Yue E¡¯s colossal body dived into the water.
A moment later, with a loud splash, Yue E¡¯s massive form leaped out.
Opening its fearsome jaws, Yue E unleashed a burst of blue magical energy.
A massive water ball shot toward the falling Black Cloak.
¡°Vanessa!¡±
Another Black Cloak, seeing this, let out a sharp cry.
Its figure disappeared into thin air.
Ripples spread across the water¡¯s surface as it headed toward Yue E.
¡°Hmph, not a chance!¡±
Li Meng snorted coldly.
Swinging the iron rod, he unleashed a freezing mist.
A towering ice wall rose from the water, blocking the Black Cloak¡¯s path.
¡°Goblin, I¡¯ll kill you!¡±
A furious yet terrified scream echoed in the air.
At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted in the sky.
The massive water ball struck the Black Cloak with precision.
The water ball shattered.
The cloak on the Black Cloak was torn to pieces by the cascading water.
A dark purple, delicate figure fell toward the water¡¯s surface.
Below, Yue E had already opened its massive jaws, ready to savor the Elf¡¯s flesh.
Chapter 147: Why Are You Playing Melee as a Ranged Fighter?
Chapter 147: Why Are You Playing Melee as a Ranged Fighter?
"Yue E, don''t eat it! Save it to give me little Goblins!"
Li Meng initially thought the other figure in the black robe would rush up to engage him in a deadly battle.
Unexpectedly, that person directly ran away.
As the distance grew, its figure disappeared from sight.
Squinting his eyes, Li Meng looked up at the black shadow falling not far away.
She had reddish-brown, slightly dark skin.
Her body was slender, with beautiful curves.
Her long and pointed ears fit the stereotype of an "elf."
Her towering chest was at least twice the size of Bai Ling''s.
She also had waist-length, stark white hair.
In Li Meng''s view, the female elf fell into the water with a splash.
Li Meng grinned and dashed over.
"Boss, it seems like she''s dead?"
Looking at the elf floating face-down on the water, Yue E muttered.
Li Meng, who had rushed over, hurriedly fished the elf out of the water.
Then, he carefully laid her flat on the ice.
"Boss, let me eat her! She smells so delicious!"
Yue E''s enormous eyes stared fixedly at the elf, her greed completely unconcealed.
"Yue E, where''s her dagger?"
Yue E opened her ferocious mouth.
The dagger lay inside Yue E''s mouth.
Li Meng reached out and retrieved the dagger from Yue E''s mouth.
The dagger wasn''t very large, only about twenty centimeters long.
Its blade was barely two fingers wide.
The hilt was made of some kind of bone, while the blade was bright silver.
Holding the dagger, Li Meng made a cut on the palm of his left hand.
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A wound immediately appeared on his palm.
Li Meng crouched down and pried open the elf''s mouth.
His flowing blood dripped into the elf''s mouth.
In just a few seconds, the blood stopped flowing.
Looking at his palm, the wound had already healed.
It was only then that Li Meng carefully examined the elf.
[Dark Elf (Queen)]
[Level: 57]
[Strength: 2174]
[Defense: 1781]
[Agility: 5117]
[Magic: 2491]
[Shadow Arrow: LV7]
[Shadow Goodwill: LV4]
[Charged Strike: LV3]
[Shadow Burst: LV6 (All Attributes +1200)]
[Shadow Cluster Arrow: LV5]
[Shadow Step: LV4 (Agility +2000)]
[Spider God Contract (LV4)]
[Note: Devouring this skill will form a master-servant contract with the Spider Goddess "Lolth."]
"Why are you playing melee as a ranged class?"
The elf''s stats made Li Meng shake his head in disbelief.
All seven of her skills were ranged attacks or support abilities.
If she hadn''t tried playing melee, taking her down wouldn''t have been easy.
"With the black robe on, you''re at the Saint rank; without it, you''re at the Queen rank?"
Looking down at the Dark Elf lying before him, Li Meng thought to himself.
After shedding her black robe, the Dark Elf''s power not only dropped a full rank but also lost the identity of being a God''s Apostle.
"She''s so beautiful!"
Scanning the Dark Elf''s voluptuous figure, Li Meng smirked wickedly.
Although the Dark Elf''s skin was a bit dark,
its slightly purplish hue made her incredibly alluring.
"Boss, she''s alive again!"
After drinking Li Meng''s blood, the Dark Elf''s body started to change.
Her previously still heart began beating powerfully once more.
Standing nearby, Yue E appeared a little anxious.
If the elf woke up, things could get tricky.
"Don''t worry, she won''t wake up just yet!"
The Dark Elf had taken a direct hit from the water cannon.
There was no way she could recover that quickly.
Without the protection of the black robe, the body would have long been torn apart.
The water cannon was a kinetic attack.
Its power was no less than a supersonic boulder smashing into a person.
With a grin, Li Meng sat down beside the Dark Elf.
His gaze was fixed on the distant Black Mountain Tribe.
The commotion here had already caught the attention of the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen.
However, they only dared to watch the battle between the strong from a distance.
Black Mountain Tribe, the Chief''s wooden house.
"Chief, Chief, something¡¯s wrong!"
The two sides inside the wooden house were about to start their discussion.
A Lizardman hurriedly ran in.
¡°There¡¯s movement in the southern waters. The black robe from before seems to have been captured by Goblins!¡±
This news caused the expressions of everyone in the wooden house to change slightly.
Scarface looked both shocked and uncertain.
The elders of the Black Mountain Tribe were utterly bewildered.
In their eyes, the black robe was incredibly mysterious and powerful.
How could it be defeated by mere Goblins?
The Lizardmen of the Yue Clan Tribe, however, brightened up.
Bai Ling frowned slightly, her gaze falling on Scarface.
Inside the wooden house, Bai Ling¡¯s clear and ethereal voice rang out.
¡°Chief Scarface, you should already understand the situation with the northern swamp¡¯s Lizardmen. I won¡¯t elaborate further. Hand over the Sacrificial Plate. It is a disaster-bearing item. Once it¡¯s used, it requires the blood sacrifice of the entire tribe to summon the Savage God. This is utterly meaningless.¡±
Blood sacrifice of the entire tribe?
Bai Ling¡¯s words caused the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen elders to look at one another in dismay.
Scarface¡¯s expression darkened, and he immediately retorted.
¡°That¡¯s impossible! The black robe said that as long as we have devout faith, we can activate the plate and summon the Savage God, Akuya!¡±
Bai Ling maintained an impassive face, meeting Scarface¡¯s gaze.
A faint trace of ridicule flashed through her eyes, difficult for others to detect.
How foolish. Just as foolish as always.
They dared to treat an unknown and dangerous object as their ultimate trump card.
¡°Chief Scarface, why would the black robe help the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
¡°What does this mean to them? What benefit do they gain?¡±
¡°Why are they hiding in the shadows, watching the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
¡°Is it to protect the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
¡°Or to ensure that the Black Mountain Tribe summons the Savage God, Akuya?¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s successive questions caused the expression on Scarface¡¯s face to shift.
In truth, he was willing to believe her words.
Because the black robe indeed gave him an uneasy feeling.
¡°Hand over the Sacrificial Plate and surrender to the Boss. The Boss will deal with the humans invading the Black Mountain Marshlands!¡±
Surrender to Goblins?
Scarface¡¯s face turned cold.
He sneered at Bai Ling, the High Priest of the Yue Clan Tribe, in front of him.
¡°High Priest Bai Ling, even if the Black Mountain Tribe faces extinction, we will never lick the Goblins¡¯ behinds. That disgusts me!¡±
The chief¡¯s words made the Black Mountain Tribe elders nod repeatedly.
They were swamp Lizardmen.
How could they submit to such ugly creatures like Goblins?
Scarface¡¯s undisguised ridicule made the Yue Clan Tribe¡¯s elders glare angrily.
Facing Scarface¡¯s mockery, Bai Ling let out a sigh.
¡°You haven¡¯t changed at all. For power, for the privilege of being served by your clansmen, you remain just as savage and ignorant as ever, treating your clansmen like ants!¡±
Bai Ling stood up.
She looked down at Scarface from above.
¡°My ancestors cowardly fled from here, but I will not!¡±
With those words, killing intent surged in Bai Ling¡¯s eyes.
Rolling icy mist erupted around her.
It surged like a storm, engulfing the entire wooden house.
Outside, frost burst through the chief¡¯s wooden house doors and windows.
The cold air made the Lizardmen gathered outside shiver.
Chapter 148: The Clamor of the Black Mountain Tribe
Chapter 148: The Clamor of the Black Mountain Tribe
The return of Bai Ling, the High Priest, attracted the attention of all the Lizardmen in the Black Mountain Tribe.
At this moment, the area outside the Chief¡¯s wooden house was packed with people.
The Chief¡¯s wooden house stood like a solitary island amidst a sea of people.
¡°What happened?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±
The icy mist emanating from the Chief¡¯s wooden house stirred discussions among the Lizardmen outside.
Not long after, under the watchful eyes of everyone,
a white figure emerged from the door.
¡°It¡¯s the High Priest!¡±
¡°It¡¯s really the High Priest!¡±
¡°The High Priest has returned!¡±
The snowy-white figure confirmed Bai Ling¡¯s identity as the High Priest.
This was because only members of the High Priest lineage had bodies as white as snow.
For a moment, the crowd outside erupted in excitement!
But when they saw what the High Priest was holding,
the expressions of the Lizardmen outside changed drastically.
¡°It¡¯s the Chief! It¡¯s the Chief!¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Chief¡¯s head!¡±
¡°Ah!¡±
Terrified screams echoed through the crowd.
The Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s Lizardmen warriors stationed outside appeared at a loss.
Facing the massive crowd of their kin outside,
Bai Ling expressionlessly raised the scarred head in her hand high.
¡°I am Bai Ling, the sole survivor of the High Priest lineage. I will save you. I will ensure you will no longer suffer hunger and slaughter. Follow me, or continue to follow the Elder Council. The choice is yours!¡±
¡°Seize them!¡±
At this moment, the Black Mountain Tribe Lizardmen warriors outside came to their senses.
This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
They realized what must have occurred inside the wooden house.
Hundreds of Black Mountain Tribe warriors began to surround the area.
¡°Hold them back!¡±
The elders of the Yue Clan hurriedly rushed out of the wooden house.
The Yue Clan¡¯s Lizardmen warriors stationed outside quickly formed a defensive line.
Both sides faced off outside the Chief¡¯s wooden house.
¡°We cannot allow the Elder Council to continue persecuting the High Priest!¡±
¡°Do not harm the High Priest!¡±
¡°They must not harm the High Priest!¡±
The crowd outside was agitated.
They had had enough of the Elder Council¡¯s rule.
They believed the High Priest could bring them a better life.
¡°Stop! Step back!¡±
The surging crowd was loudly scolded by the Black Mountain Tribe warriors stationed outside.
But the crowd was unmoved, inching closer step by step.
Some of the Lizardmen warriors revealed a murderous aura,
raising their stone machetes, ready to charge forward.
¡°Shan Ben, what are you doing? Get back!¡±
Shan Ben remained unmoved, raising his stone machete high.
¡°If anyone dares to take another step, I¡¯ll kill them! The Black Mountain Tribe belongs to the Elder Council, not some High Priest!¡±
Facing Shan Ben¡¯s fierce expression,
the approaching Lizardmen commoners showed signs of fear.
¡°Ah!¡±
A frail Lizardman roared.
Though fear flickered in his eyes, there was more determination.
Suddenly, he lunged forward, crashing into Shan Ben.
Unfortunately, he was too weak.
Even with all his strength, he only managed to push Shan Ben back a few steps.
¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡±
An enraged Shan Ben smashed his fist into the back of the Lizardman¡¯s head.
The Lizardman immediately collapsed to the ground.
¡°You filthy trash, fit only to live in a cesspit!¡±
In his rage, Shan Ben kicked and cursed the fallen Lizardman.
The crowd watching this scene fell silent as death.
¡°Shan Ben, stop!¡±
Noticing the shift in the crowd¡¯s mood,
a Lizardman warrior behind Shan Ben tried to stop him.
But Shan Ben, consumed by anger, ignored them.
He kicked even harder.
¡°Ah!¡±
A Lizardman commoner roared and charged at Shan Ben.
With a powerful leap, he collided with Shan Ben.
Shan Ben staggered backward.
¡°You! Courting death!¡±
Shan Ben glared angrily,
raising his stone machete to slash at the Lizardman commoner.
¡°Ah!¡±
At this moment, the crowd erupted with furious roars.
One after another, the Lizardman commoners rushed out.
Before Shan Ben could swing his machete, he was knocked to the ground.
Several Lizardmen pinned him down,
furiously punching his head.
Shan Ben¡¯s face was soon a bloody mess.
¡°What are you doing? Step back!¡±
Seeing this, his companions rushed forward to stop them.
¡°Kill them!¡±
At that moment, a roar erupted from the crowd.
¡°Kill them!¡±
Another roar followed.
¡°Kill them!¡±
In an instant, the cries for blood echoed across the land.
The enraged Lizardmen commoners outside swarmed the warriors of the Black Mountain Tribe like a tidal wave.
¡°Exterminate the Elder Council and welcome back the High Priest!¡±
The Lizardmen commoners shouted loudly.
Their voices grew louder and louder,
igniting the suppressed anger within those who had long resented the Elder Council.
The furious and frail Lizardman commoners formed groups and charged in all directions.
They stormed into the tall, spacious wooden houses,
venting their anger at any Lizardman associated with the Elder Council.
¡°There¡¯s food! So much food!¡±
When the Lizardman commoners entered the grand wooden houses,
they found them filled with various types of food.
This discovery only fueled their rage.
They were starving while the elders feasted endlessly.
For a time, chaos engulfed the Ancestor Tribe.
Every upper-class Lizardman became a target of the commoners¡¯ cleansing.
The once-arrogant upper-class Lizardmen were dragged out of their wooden houses by the furious commoners,
executed under the watchful eyes of thousands of Lizardmen.
The thick scent of blood quickly permeated the entire Ancestor Tribe.
At the Chief¡¯s doorway, Bai Ling watched coldly.
¡°Chief, should we stop them?¡±
Hei Lin, standing behind Bai Ling, felt a pang of pity.
If the Chief intervened, the rampaging Lizardmen commoners would surely calm down.
Bai Ling listened expressionlessly to the screams and roars coming from all directions.
¡°There¡¯s no need. Prolonged pain is worse than short-term suffering. The Elder Council must be completely eradicated!¡±
Bai Ling¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly, a murderous intent gleaming in them.
No one understood the Elder Council¡¯s nature better than Bai Ling.
As long as the Elder Council existed, the Black Mountain Tribe would never truly submit to their boss.
Even if they did, it would only be temporary.
Rather than waiting for the Black Mountain Tribe to rebel and be annihilated by their boss,
it was better to root out the Elder Council now.
This way, the Yue Clan and the Black Mountain Tribe could unite.
And Bai Ling could lead the swamp Lizardmen to grow stronger.
With the fishing tools taught by their boss,
the swamp Lizardmen would no longer go hungry.
Once food was abundant, their population would explode.
One day, the swamp Lizardmen could become a powerful race.
Meanwhile, in the southern waters...
¡°How lively!¡±
Standing on the ice, Li Meng gazed toward the direction of the Black Mountain Tribe.
Although it was a bit far, Li Meng could hear the commotion from the Black Mountain Tribe.
¡°It seems Bai Ling succeeded!¡±
Li Meng grinned, sitting leisurely on the ice.
All that was left was to wait patiently.
Chapter 149: The Beautiful Dark Elf
Chapter 149: The Beautiful Dark Elf
"Yue E, is it still nearby?"
Yue E''s enormous body swam leisurely in the surrounding waters.
"Probably not. I can''t sense it anymore!"
Li Meng lowered his head and looked at the Dark Elf beside him.
He reached out and poked her face.
It was a little smooth and slightly soft.
Time ticked by as the noise from the Black Mountain Tribe continued for a long while.
It wasn''t until the sun set that the Black Mountain Tribe finally quieted down.
---
The next morning, in the southern waters of the Ancestor Tribe.
A flash of white flickered beneath the shimmering water''s surface.
Looking southward over the water, one could see a layer of pure white ice.
A massive Swamp Crocodile King was sunbathing on the ice.
At the edge of the ice sat a tall, green-skinned figure.
"Ah!"
Li Meng yawned, his sturdy legs splashing the water.
The previous night was peaceful; the black-robed figure who fled did not return to rescue their companion.
The Black Mountain Tribe remained silent as well.
Lowering his head slightly, Li Meng gazed into the water in front of him.
A white silhouette flickered beneath the surface.
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A round, white lizard head emerged from the water.
"Boss, it¡¯s done!"
Li Meng looked toward the distant Black Mountain Tribe.
"After this mess, their population shouldn''t be much left."
Bai Ling nodded lightly.
"At its peak, the Black Mountain Tribe had around sixty thousand people, with numerous camps scattered across the Black Mountain Marshlands. Now, fewer than thirty thousand remain. Yesterday''s chaos claimed the lives of nearly three thousand Lizardmen in the turmoil."
Standing up, Li Meng stretched his stiff waist.
"Bai Ling, I''ll leave things here to you. There''s no rush for the tribute; send it over in half a year."
The Throne Tribe couldn''t accommodate three thousand female Lizardmen all at once.
Half a year was needed for large-scale expansion projects.
Although the number was a bit much, a surplus wouldn¡¯t hurt.
Not all of the three thousand Lizardmen would be used for breeding.
Some could be tasked with weaving bowstrings, a meticulous job suited for females.
As for the three thousand male Lizardmen, their roles were simpler.
Some would be sent to the Iron Cavern, while the rest would fish and prepare military rations.
"Boss, are you heading back?"
From his words, Bai Ling could sense his intention.
Li Meng turned and walked toward Yue E.
Climbing onto Yue E¡¯s back, Li Meng hoisted the Dark Elf onto his shoulder.
Then, carrying the nude Dark Elf, he leapt off Yue E¡¯s back.
"Bai Ling, Yue E will stay here. If you encounter uncontrollable danger, leave with Yue E."
Bai Ling nodded lightly, understanding the implications of his words.
Apart from himself, the boss didn''t really care about the lives of other tribespeople.
If necessary, he would let Bai Ling abandon the tribe and escape.
"Any news, have Yue E inform me. She''s fast. When Yue E isn''t here, be vigilant. You''re a Lizardman; the deep waters around Black Mountain make it easy to dive and escape."
Li Meng turned to Yue E.
"Yue E, Bai Ling is in your hands!"
Yue E waved her short, stout arm.
"Boss, don''t worry, I¡¯ve got this!"
Grinning, Li Meng said no more.
Bai Ling was a very special Lizardman.
It would be a pity if she died due to negligence.
After leaving some instructions, Li Meng departed.
Running north, he left a long trail of ice on the water''s surface.
Watching the boss''s receding figure, Bai Ling remained silent.
"Hey, little one, the boss is impressive, isn''t he?"
Yue E muttered, scratching her scaly skin with her stubby hand while gazing at the distant figure.
"Uh¡ I guess!"
Bai Ling smiled awkwardly, unsure how to respond to the totem beast.
"Why would the boss take a liking to you weak Lizardmen? I just don''t get it!"
Yue E yawned, flipped over, and continued basking in the sun.
The totem beast¡¯s disdain left Bai Ling speechless.
Compared to humans, swamp Lizardmen were indeed weak.
In the past, Goblins were considered the weakest among the savage tribes, barely stronger than beasts.
But now, Goblins could no longer be called weak.
"The boss asked me to look after you, so I¡¯ll help you out. If there''s danger, just shout ''Yue E.'' Remember to pronounce it in Goblin language, or I won¡¯t understand."
"I¡ I understand!"
Bai Ling turned and dove into the water.
Her graceful figure swam toward the tribe''s direction.
Thus, with Bai Ling¡¯s help, Li Meng once again altered the future.
---
Goblin River''s northern forest.
Throne Tribe.
Early in the morning, Li Meng emerged from the southern forest of the Throne Tribe, carrying the Dark Elf on his shoulder.
"It¡¯s the boss! The boss is back!"
The Goblins on the wooden wall spotted him coming out of the forest.
A commotion erupted along the wall.
All the Goblins stared fanatically at the tall, green-skinned figure outside, as though seeing their savior after months of absence.
"What''s that on the boss''s shoulder?"
"No idea!"
"Looks dark and doesn¡¯t look tasty!"
---
Upon reaching the wooden fort, Li Meng marched straight to the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Inside a wooden house, he threw the Dark Elf onto a bed roughly.
"Take good care of her. Don''t wake her up. I''ll be back soon!"
The female Lizardmen in the room nodded hurriedly.
Several of them approached the unconscious Dark Elf carefully.
Li Meng left the wooden house in large strides.
Stopping briefly outside, he asked, "Where''s Benben?"
"Boss, Benben is at the Iron Cavern. He¡¯s been there these days."
Benben at the Iron Cavern?
Li Meng said no more and left quickly.
After leaving the village, he returned two hours later with a large bamboo bucket in hand.
Chapter 150: Good Stuff, Drink More
Chapter 150: Good Stuff, Drink More
Li Meng hurriedly walked into the Throne Cave Dwelling with a bamboo bucket in his arms.
¡°You, you, you! Smash the berries in the bucket and squeeze out the juice!¡±
Li Meng ordered three female Lizardmen to help with the task.
The three female Lizardmen immediately came forward and took the large bamboo bucket from their leader.
They grabbed a few sturdy wooden sticks from the corner and started pounding the berries.
Li Meng, meanwhile, took off the spider silk rope he had gotten from Gobuge.
He strode over to the bed and crouched down, roughly flipping over the Dark Elf¡¯s body.
Then, he used the spider silk rope to bind her hands.
¡°You, come over here and prop her up!¡±
The female Lizardmen didn¡¯t know what their leader was doing, but they weren¡¯t about to ask any questions.
Two of them stepped forward and propped up the Dark Elf.
Li Meng tied her up in an elaborate manner, taking over half an hour to finish.
¡°Good, this should do!¡±
Looking at the Dark Elf in front of him, Li Meng nodded repeatedly.
At this moment, the Dark Elf¡¯s entire body was suspended. Her hands were tied, and the rope¡¯s other end was fastened to a beam.
Her long legs were also tightly bound with spider silk ropes.
Two more ropes were tied to the support pillars, pulling her to arch her body forward at a 70-degree angle.
¡°Is the juice ready?¡±
Upon hearing this, one of the female Lizardmen quickly handed over a bamboo tube filled with juice.
Li Meng grinned as he took the bamboo tube.
He walked over to the Dark Elf, pinched her mouth open, and said, ¡°This is good stuff. Drink more, drink more!¡±
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Li Meng began pouring the black juice into the Dark Elf¡¯s mouth.
As she drank, the Dark Elf suddenly furrowed her brows.
She was waking up!
Her tightly closed eyes slowly opened.
¡°Ugh!¡±
The slightly foul-smelling juice made the Dark Elf let out a muffled groan.
She shook her head and broke free from Li Meng¡¯s hand.
¡°It¡¯s not enough yet. You need to finish it!¡±
Li Meng grinned and forcibly grabbed the Dark Elf¡¯s chin again, pouring the remaining juice into her mouth.
The Dark Elf struggled, only to find that her entire body was powerless.
Not until the juice was finished did Li Meng release her chin.
¡°Goblin, what... what did you make me drink?¡±
The Dark Elf glared at him, panting heavily.
Li Meng scanned the Dark Elf up and down and nodded repeatedly.
[Dark Elf (King)]
[Level: 57]
[Strength: 2174]
[Defense: 1781]
[Agility: 5117]
[Magic Power: 2491]
[Shadow Arrow: LV7]
[Shadow Kindness: LV4]
[Charged Strike: LV3]
[Shadow Burst: LV6 (All Attributes +1200)]
[Shadow Cluster Arrow: LV5]
[Shadow Step: LV4 (Agility +2000)]
[Spider Goddess Contract (LV4)]
[Note: Consuming this skill will sign a master-servant contract with the Spider Goddess ¡°Lolth.¡±]
[Abnormal Status: Paralysis]
The poisonous mushrooms still proved useful¡ªat least the Dark Elf wasn¡¯t immune to toxins.
¡°Goblin, my... my people won¡¯t let you get away with this!¡±
Vanessa¡¯s eyes flashed with a trace of confusion.
Her gaze was scattered, unable to focus.
In her eyes, the Goblin before her multiplied into several figures.
That ugly face looked especially vivid.
Li Meng grinned and took a step forward.
He bent down, resting his head near her ear.
¡°Before that, you¡¯re going to give me ten thousand little Goblins!¡±
Vanessa¡¯s pupils contracted, but only for a moment before becoming unfocused again.
Her lips parted slightly as a look of struggle appeared on her face.
¡°No, no... no way!¡±
¡°This isn¡¯t up to you!¡±
Li Meng straightened up and coldly looked down at the Dark Elf.
¡°Ah!¡±
Not long after, a scream filled the wooden house.
The following noises reverberated through every corner of the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Inside the wooden house, the female Lizardmen appeared uncomfortable.
They sat on the bed, occasionally sneaking glances at their leader.
The sounds continued for a long time.
From morning to afternoon, then into the evening.
It wasn¡¯t until the following afternoon that the wooden house finally quieted down.
¡°Goblin, I... I will definitely kill you!¡±
Suspended in the wooden house, Vanessa¡¯s hair was a disheveled mess.
Her face was full of hatred as she glared at the Goblin behind her.
*Slap!*
Li Meng raised his hand and slapped her waist, making Vanessa¡¯s body tremble.
She glared at him in anger.
Li Meng smiled tiredly and yawned, letting go of her waist.
He turned around and walked toward the bed.
Lying down, Li Meng muttered as he closed his eyes, ¡°Once a day. Even if she doesn¡¯t drink, force it down!¡±
Hearing this, the two female Lizardmen got up quickly.
They grabbed another bamboo tube and walked toward the Dark Elf.
¡°You dare! You pathetic traitors groveling under Goblins, ugh!¡±
As the Dark Elf cursed, the two Lizardmen forced the black juice down her throat.
Li Meng slept for an entire day.
It wasn¡¯t until the next morning that he finally woke up.
Seeing the Dark Elf sleeping on the ground, Li Meng grinned.
Without waking her, he walked past and stepped outside.
Stretching outside, Li Meng said, ¡°Go bring Gobu Sheng over!¡±
One of the Goblins outside immediately ran into the depths of the forest.
Before long, Gobu Sheng¡¯s large figure came running over eagerly.
¡°Boss, boss! You called me?¡±
Standing before Li Meng, Gobu Sheng bowed obsequiously.
Li Meng pointed to the south.
¡°Clear the entire forest within a kilometer radius of the Throne Tribe.¡±
¡°Build bigger and taller wooden walls extending all the way to the riverbank!¡±
¡°Notify the nearby tribes to send their surplus manpower here to expand the tribe.¡±
¡°Go now. Start immediately; we don¡¯t have much time!¡±
Gobu Sheng nodded repeatedly.
Excited, he turned and ran into the forest.
Although he didn¡¯t know why his leader wanted to expand the tribe, Gobu Sheng felt that something exciting was about to happen.
Watching Gobu Sheng¡¯s retreating figure, Li Meng¡¯s face was thoughtful.
A battle with the Demons was inevitable.
Fortifying the Throne Tribe into a fortress was essential.
To accommodate more defensive forces, expanding the Throne Tribe couldn¡¯t wait any longer.
No matter what, a defensive battle would be far easier than a field battle.
Chapter 151: Throne Tribe Fortress Transformation
Chapter 151: Throne Tribe Fortress Transformation
Li Meng raised his head slightly and looked toward the south.
¡°Do we really have to withdraw the southern tribes?¡±
A trace of reluctance flashed in Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
Withdrawing the southern tribes was to avoid fighting on two fronts.
This could effectively delay the war with the Ratmen Tribe.
However, deep in his heart, Li Meng was unwilling to withdraw the southern tribes.
It was hard to establish a foothold in the south.
If they withdrew now, it would not be easy to return in the future.
Once the goblins withdrew, the Ratmen would surely expand northward.
At that time, both sides would engage in a protracted tug-of-war in the Goblin Forest.
Neither side could easily locate the other¡¯s main camp.
Even if the main camp was conquered, it would be difficult to annihilate the enemy completely.
Li Meng did not hope to eliminate the Ratmen Tribe entirely.
Instead, he wanted to wage a war of attrition, destroying the Ratmen Tribe''s active forces so they wouldn¡¯t dare attack again in the short term.
¡°Then we¡¯ll mass-produce soldiers!¡±
Li Meng grinned ferociously and stood up.
Once the tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe arrived, the three thousand female Lizardmen would allow the tribe to mass-produce soldiers.
Within half a year, they could produce seventy to one hundred thousand goblins.
¡°Looks like I can¡¯t relax!¡±
Outside the door, Li Meng strode toward the depths of the northern forest.
In the following days, the Throne Tribe was bustling.
As more and more goblins arrived at the Throne Tribe, a new round of expansion began.
On the first day, nearly a thousand goblins were cutting down trees in the forest surrounding the Throne Tribe.
By the third day, the number increased to two thousand.
By the fifth day, it had grown to five thousand.
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Half a month later, the goblins numbered ten thousand.
The forest around the Throne Tribe became a hive of activity.
The forest was disappearing at a visible rate.
The sound of trees being felled echoed twenty-four hours a day.
Goblins would sleep when tired, eat when hungry, and continue working when full.
Li Meng was also not idle. At the Iron Cavern, he tried every method to increase production.
Another new day arrived, in the afternoon.
At the underground riverbank of the Iron Cavern.
The cavern bustled with activity.
The constant clanging of ironwork filled the air.
Looking toward the underground river, water-powered bellows stretched as far as the eye could see.
Each water-powered bellow was connected to a blast furnace.
The blast furnaces, towering nearly ten meters high, radiated astonishing heat.
Each had a spiral staircase leading to the top.
Like the bellows, they stretched into the distance.
Nearly three thousand goblins were toiling throughout the cavern.
Some were forging iron, while others bustled around the blast furnaces.
Beside each furnace was a square pond.
The molten pig iron from the blast furnaces flowed into these ponds.
Through rapid stirring, oxidation, and decarburization, steel could be obtained.
The key to producing low-carbon and high-carbon steel lay in the stirring time.
To pinpoint the exact time, Li Meng experimented for several months before finding a method.
The stirring rods in the goblins¡¯ hands were made from specially selected wood.
Each few rotations would burn off a segment.
The number of burned segments was used to precisely measure time.
¡°Prioritize the production of weapons and arrowheads. Armor can wait for now.¡±
Wiping the sweat from his face, Li Meng headed toward the cave entrance.
¡°Boss, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ve got it covered,¡± said Gobuge, who was trailing behind with a fawning expression.
¡°And stock up on as many arrowheads as possible. The more, the better.¡±
With war approaching, military supplies were the most important.
Having soldiers without weapons was useless.
Goblins were simply too weak.
Without quality weapons, no matter how large their numbers, they would be of little use.
¡°Boss, are we going to war?¡± Gobuge could sense this from Li Meng¡¯s words.
Since learning to forge iron, Gobuge seemed to have grown much smarter.
Things that were once hard to remember now came easily.
¡°Yes, we¡¯re going to war!¡±
After consuming a Ghost Beastman, Gobuge had changed significantly.
Not only had it evolved into a Goblin Warrior, but it was also just one step away from becoming a Goblin Champion.
Its once small and thin frame had grown into a hulking figure.
It was now nearly 2.4 meters tall.
¡°Benben, come back with me. You¡¯re not needed here!¡±
For over a month, Benben had been helping Gobuge with odd jobs in the Iron Cavern.
Trailing behind the two, Benben lowered its head and looked at the helmet in its hands.
¡°Boss, I want to go into the mountains!¡±
Walking out of the cave entrance, Li Meng bathed in the scorching sunlight.
He turned and looked at Benben.
¡°Will it be dangerous?¡±
Benben shook its big head and donned its helmet.
It patted its chest armor with its massive hand.
¡°Boss, I¡¯m strong!¡±
Li Meng grinned and waved his hand.
¡°Then go. Remember what I told you.¡±
¡°I remember: If I can¡¯t win, run. If I¡¯m tired, run. If I¡¯m out of mana, run!¡±
Satisfied, Li Meng nodded.
¡°Come back soon!¡±
Benben hefted its massive wolf-tooth club onto its shoulder and strode into the forest.
To the north were mountains, where Benben¡¯s subordinates had been found.
Watching Benben¡¯s large figure disappear into the forest, Li Meng stood silently.
It was hard to say when Benben would return.
Not until Benben¡¯s towering figure vanished into the depths of the forest did Li Meng look away.
At the cave entrance, Gobuge also watched Li Meng leave.
Only after Li Meng¡¯s figure disappeared into the forest did Gobuge turn back to the Iron Cavern.
As the boss of the Iron Cavern, Gobuge could not leave for even a moment.
Otherwise, the underlings would slack off.
It had to supervise them to fulfill the tasks given by the boss.
Time passed quickly. Before long, more than half a month had gone by.
Not long after entering the forest, Li Meng heard sounds of commotion up ahead.
¡°It¡¯s the boss!¡±
¡°Boss! Boss!¡±
Soon, Li Meng saw the goblins chopping down trees in the forest.
The arrival of the boss excited the goblins.
They looked at Li Meng¡¯s tall figure with both fanaticism and fear.
Li Meng grinned and waved his hand.
¡°Boys, keep working hard. Soon, I¡¯ll let you eat Pigmen!¡±
These words sent the goblins into a frenzy, cheering loudly.
Pigmen meat was delicious.
It was even greasier than forest boar meat.
One bite and their mouths would be full of oil.
Many of these goblins had never tasted Pigmen meat before.
But they had heard stories from other goblins who had.
The goblins enthusiastically continued chopping wood, drooling at the thought.
Leisurely, Li Meng continued walking toward the tribe.
By the time Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe, half an hour had passed.
On the way, Li Meng climbed the wooden walls and observed the logging work outside.
The initial phase was simple.
It was merely about clearing all the trees in designated areas.
The second phase would use the felled trees to build wooden walls.
Once the walls stood at the outermost boundary, construction of internal buildings would begin.
¡°Goblins!¡±
As Li Meng stepped through the gates of the Throne Cave Dwelling, he heard the dark elf¡¯s resentful cry.
Inside the wooden house, the dark elf was no longer hanging.
She was tied to the bed in a cross-like position.
Her belly was round and full; it wouldn¡¯t be long before she gave birth.
Facing the dark elf¡¯s hateful gaze, Li Meng grinned.
Chapter 152: Sooner or Later, I Will Kill You
Chapter 152: Sooner or Later, I Will Kill You
Without hesitation, he came to the side of the Dark Elf.
Once again, he sat down beside the Dark Elf.
Reaching out his right hand, Li Meng''s thick hand gently stroked the Dark Elf''s bulging belly.
"I remember now, your name is Vanessa. Another black-robed figure called you that!"
Vanessa glared angrily at him.
The hatred in her eyes seemed as if she wanted to tear the Goblin in front of her to pieces.
"I originally wanted to ask you some things, but I guess you won''t tell me now!"
Vanessa''s face showed a look of mockery.
She let out a cold snort, her face full of disgust.
"Goblin, don¡¯t think you can get any information from me."
Li Meng was not angry.
He grinned, his big head leaning forward to lick Vanessa¡¯s cheek.
"Ah!"
Vanessa let out a sharp scream.
Her head swayed helplessly as she struggled.
"Get off me, you ugly, disgusting monster!"
"I will kill you, I will definitely kill you!"
"One day, I will skin you alive and slaughter all Goblins!"
Vanessa¡¯s face turned deathly pale.
She wanted to vomit but couldn¡¯t.
Her delicate body trembled with anger.
"Wa hahaha!"
The sound of Li Meng¡¯s hearty laughter echoed in the wooden hut.
Li Meng looked at Vanessa, who was helplessly furious beneath him, with great pleasure.
"Don¡¯t worry, Vanessa, it won¡¯t just be you. One day, I¡¯ll make all Dark Elves taste the might of my iron rod."
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"And you!"
Li Meng grabbed Vanessa¡¯s face with his right hand.
He forcibly made her look at his face, which was considered handsome among Goblins.
"One day, you will call me Boss!"
"Delusional!"
Vanessa glared angrily.
She opened her mouth and bit down hard on Li Meng¡¯s face.
Li Meng didn¡¯t dodge, letting her bite him.
But his skin was too thick.
Vanessa¡¯s teeth couldn¡¯t even break the skin.
To the female Lizardmen in the hut, it looked like the originally furious Dark Elf had given their boss an intimate kiss on the cheek.
"Wa hahaha, so soft!"
Li Meng laughed loudly as he stood up and walked outside.
"Goblin, if you have the guts, just kill me. Otherwise, one day I will make you pay the price!"
Listening to Vanessa¡¯s furious shouting from inside the hut, Li Meng grinned and waved his hand.
"I¡¯ll be waiting. Until then, you better give birth to lots and lots of little Goblins for me!"
"Goblin!"
This remark seemed to trigger Vanessa.
Vanessa¡¯s angry and shrill scream echoed in the wooden hut.
"So refreshing!"
At the doorway, Li Meng sat comfortably on the steps.
Vanessa¡¯s helpless rage left him thoroughly satisfied.
It even gave him goosebumps.
If this happened a few times every day, wouldn¡¯t life be heavenly?
"Boss, Boss, what¡¯s that black thing inside?"
A Goblin guarding the door asked curiously.
Its gaze occasionally darted toward the inside of the hut.
Its strong curiosity overcame its fear of the Boss.
"Dark Elf, a race that looks a lot like humans!"
Humans?
The Goblin¡¯s eyes lit up with greed.
Drool almost dripped from its mouth as it looked toward the hut.
"Boss, Boss, is it tasty?"
"I don¡¯t know, I haven¡¯t eaten one!"
Human hearts were pretty tasty.
But Li Meng had never actually tried human meat.
As for Dark Elves, who looked similar to humans, Li Meng wasn¡¯t interested in killing Vanessa to find out.
Getting up, Li Meng walked outside with big strides.
Time passed bit by bit, and the expansion of the Throne Tribe continued in an orderly fashion.
In less than a month and a half, the forest around the Throne Tribe had completely changed.
The forest within a 1.5-kilometer radius had been completely cleared.
The layers of stacked wood began to be processed further by the Goblins.
Through this secondary processing, they obtained timber, branches, and bark ropes.
By the third month of the expansion, large-scale construction of wooden walls and houses began.
A taller and larger wooden wall began to rise in the north.
The outer wooden wall would reach an astonishing height of 15 meters and a width of 10 meters.
Under Li Meng¡¯s guidance, the foolish and weak Goblins erupted with astonishing strength.
Another new day, in the morning.
Throne Tribe, Throne Cave Dwelling.
"Goblin, Goblin!"
In the morning, Vanessa¡¯s scream echoed from the wooden hut as usual.
But this time, her scream had a tinge of sobbing.
The hut was in chaos.
Female Lizardmen occasionally rushed out in a hurry.
They carried two small Goblins in their hands.
Although the little Goblins struggled, as long as they grabbed their feet and held them upside down, they wouldn¡¯t get hurt.
Newborn Goblins were in a weakened state.
It would take a few hours before they would become lively and energetic.
It wasn¡¯t until two hours later that the hut finally quieted down.
"Not bad, there should be 18 of them!"
Seeing another female Lizardman carrying out two small Goblins, Li Meng grinned and clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Truly a fertile female!"
Last time, Vanessa had given birth to 13 little Goblins.
This time, she did even better.
"Boss, there¡¯s no more!"
At this moment, a female Lizardman hurried out.
She also had a big belly.
Though it wasn¡¯t as big as Vanessa¡¯s yet.
"Why isn¡¯t she making any noise?"
Li Meng curiously asked when he noticed the hut had gone silent.
The female Lizardman glanced back at the hut.
"She¡¯s probably tired."
"Did she drink the fruit juice today?"
The female Lizardman shook her head.
"Make her drink it. She¡¯s a strong one. If she regains her strength, she could kill all of you in an instant."
Hearing this, the female Lizardman¡¯s face paled.
She turned to head back into the hut.
"What happened to your hand?"
The smell of blood on the female Lizardman caught Li Meng¡¯s attention.
The female Lizardman¡¯s body trembled, and she hurriedly hid her hand behind her.
"Boss, I... I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t... don¡¯t eat me."
The female Lizardman¡¯s face was filled with fear.
She was injured. What if the smell of blood triggered the Boss?
Li Meng grinned and beckoned her over.
"Your meat doesn¡¯t taste good. I won¡¯t eat you."
"Re... really?"
The female Lizardman was still afraid.
Li Meng nodded.
The female Lizardman cautiously walked forward.
She revealed the hand she had been hiding behind her.
There were four deep bite marks on her arm.
Blood continued to ooze from the wounds.
"It must have been a newborn Goblin that bit you."
Goblins had very sharp teeth.
Even newborn Goblins had strong, hard teeth.
The female Lizardman nodded.
Li Meng extended his left hand.
Using the claw of his right index finger, he sliced his own arm.
A thin cut appeared, and a few drops of blood oozed out.
Just a few drops¡ªvery little.
As soon as the blood emerged, the wound healed.
"Drink the blood!"
Li Meng held his arm up to the female Lizardman¡¯s mouth.
Chapter 153: "Heart Words" Advances to "Word Spirit"
Chapter 153: "Heart Words" Advances to "Word Spirit"
The female Lizardman raised her head and looked at her leader''s ferocious face.
This was an order from her leader; she had to obey.
She leaned forward, stuck out her tongue, and licked the blood on her arm into her mouth.
A strange scene occurred.
Hei Nana only felt a warm current rushing to her wound.
The four bloody holes on her arm began to heal at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Within just a few breaths, the holes had completely disappeared.
This miraculous scene left Hei Nana with an expression of disbelief.
She never thought her leader¡¯s blood would possess such abilities.
This was too magical!
"Stop standing there in a daze. Go back and rest."
Li Meng reached out and slapped the female Lizardman''s plump buttocks.
Hei Nana, embarrassed, turned around and entered the house.
Watching the curvy back of the female Lizardman, Li Meng grinned.
The scales on her waist and hips were still very smooth.
Although they weren¡¯t as delicate as the Dark Elves, the touch wasn¡¯t bad.
Li Meng turned around and sat back on the steps.
"Bring Gobu Sheng to see me!"
A Goblin guarding the door quickly ran into the depths of the forest.
The day for exchanging intelligence with the Theocracy was approaching.
Whether they could avoid the Theocracy''s surveillance line depended on this intelligence exchange.
"System, start life simulation!"
The previous future line had already been altered.
Li Meng originally intended to simulate life again once the cooldown was over.
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However, returning to the Throne Tribe made him forget.
But now, it wasn¡¯t too late.
[Life Simulation Begins]
[You sit at the entrance, thinking about what to do in the future.]
[You leave the Throne Tribe and head for the Black Mountain Marshlands.]
[You make contact with the agents of the Theocracy.]
[The Black Mountain Tribe''s tribute arrives at the Throne Tribe.]
[At your request, the Throne Tribe enters a war-breeding mode.]
[One day, you receive news of the Demon Army¡¯s invasion.]
[A Demon Army composed of Pigmen and Beastmen flows into the Goblin Forest from the Southern Wasteland.]
[One day, you receive news from the southern tribes that the Ratmen Tribe is launching a large-scale invasion.]
[The Demon Army is at the gates.]
[You challenge the Demon Army¡¯s commander, "Iron Face," but Iron Face refuses, greatly demoralizing the Demon Army.]
[Faced with the heavily fortified Fortified Tribe, the Demon Army cannot break through.]
[Due to heavy losses, Iron Face chooses to retreat.]
Please make a selection:
1. Pursue the retreating Demon Army and eliminate their forces.
2. Do nothing and let the Demon Army leave.
3. Seek a truce with the Demon Army.
"Option three!"
Among the three options, the third was clearly the most reliable.
[You shout loudly and stop the Ghost Beastman "Iron Face."]
[On the barren land outside the tribe, you have a conversation with the Ghost Beastman "Iron Face."]
[From Iron Face, you learn some intelligence about the Southern Wasteland.]
[The Demon Army''s main base is in the northern continent, and the Southern Wasteland is merely a forward base.]
[Iron Face agrees to cooperate with you to jointly defend against the threat of humanity.]
[The Demon Army retreats. Using your wisdom, you eliminate the threat from the east.]
[The southern tribes send urgent calls for help. Many tribes have been destroyed by the Ratmen Tribe''s army.]
[You lead an army of 100,000 Goblins south to intercept the Ratmen Tribe.]
[In the vast forest, you lead the Goblin army in a decisive battle against the Ratmen Tribe.]
[The Ratmen Tribe is defeated and flees underground.]
Please make a selection:
1. Pursue the Ratmen Tribe into the underground tunnels and eliminate as many as possible.
2. Enjoy the fruits of victory and do nothing.
"Option one!"
The Ratmen Tribe loved to burrow tunnels.
The underground beneath the Goblin Forest likely had a complex network of tunnels.
If they allowed the Ratmen Tribe to flee underground, they would constantly harass the southern tribes with raids.
[You choose to pursue the Ratmen Tribe. The Goblin army floods into the underground tunnels.]
[You continue sending more troops into the Goblin Forest¡¯s underground tunnels.]
[In a long pursuit, the Ratmen Tribe retreats westward.]
[Three years pass.]
[Life Simulation Ends. Score: 100]
Please make a selection:
- Each 10 points can be used to increase level by 1.
- Each 1 point can improve an attribute by 1.
- Each 20 points increases Luck by 1.
- Each 10 points upgrades the "Stone Bullet" skill by 1 level.
- Each 10 points upgrades the "Heart Words" skill by 1 level.
- Each 10 points upgrades the "War Stomp" skill by 1 level.
"What is the advanced skill of ''Heart Words''?"
Li Meng had never upgraded "Heart Words" because level 1 was enough.
Other than communicating telepathically, he couldn¡¯t think of another use for the skill.
"Upgrade ''Heart Words''!"
[You consume 90 points. ''Heart Words'' skill level increases by 9.]
["Heart Words" has reached max level and automatically advances to "Word Spirit."]
"''Word Spirit''? What does it do?"
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 35]
[Strength: 9467]
[Defense: 9146]
[Agility: 4747]
[Magic Power: 2399]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Has a chance to obtain the skills of devoured monsters.]
[Iron Body: LV5 (Strength +5000, Defense +5000, Agility +2500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Physical Regeneration - Undying Body: LV2]
[Word Spirit: LV1]
[King of Ice Elements: LV1]
[Mad God: LV1]
[Limb Reinforcement: LV6 (Strength +300, Agility +300)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic Power +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
[Stone Bullet: LV1]
At the moment he opened the character panel, Li Meng understood what "Word Spirit" was.
"Word Spirit" was a mental skill.
It imbued words with a hypnotic magic that compelled belief.
Like hypnosis, it could even alter someone¡¯s memory.
It could implant nonexistent memories directly into someone¡¯s mind.
Unless they were mentally immune, like Benben, they would struggle to resist its influence.
"This is perfect for testing on Vanessa!"
Li Meng grinned. Just as he was about to stand up¡ª
Gobu Sheng came running from the depths of the forest.
"Boss, Boss, you called me?"
The Goblin ran up to his leader with a flattering expression.
"Prioritize building cave dwellings. A group of female Lizardmen will arrive soon; they need housing."
Based on the timeline, less than two months remained of the six-month deadline.
Soon, the Black Mountain Tribe''s tribute would depart for the Throne Tribe.
Proper housing must be arranged before the female Lizardmen arrive.
Gobu Sheng¡¯s eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly.
Chapter 154: False Memories and True Emotions
Chapter 154: False Memories and True Emotions
"Boss, I understand! I''ll get the boys to build the cave dwellings right away!"
The cave dwellings refer to the houses, which are wooden houses meant for living.
"Go ahead and get to work!"
Getting up, Li Meng returned to the wooden house.
Meanwhile, Gobu Sheng ran happily towards the depths of the forest.
As Li Meng entered the wooden house, he saw the Lizardmen feeding Vanessa some juice.
The juice had quite a few effects.
It would make a person¡¯s mind scatter, unable to focus.
It also made them weak and numb.
Using "Word Spirit" on someone in such a state would be doubly effective.
"Go... Goblin, I... I will kill you!"
The Dark Elf''s gaze was still full of hatred.
She wished she could peel Li Meng''s skin off and pull out his tendons.
Li Meng smiled broadly and slowly approached Vanessa.
For the convenience of administering medicine and giving birth,
Vanessa was once again suspended.
If left to her own devices, she would struggle.
During the birth of the little goblins, she could even injure them.
Facing Vanessa¡¯s resentful gaze, Li Meng smiled at her.
He reached out his right hand and forcibly grabbed her chin.
In her weakened state, Vanessa was powerless to resist.
Li Meng lifted Vanessa''s head, making her look at him.
With a thought, Li Meng activated "Word Spirit."
An eerie scene unfolded.
Li Meng¡¯s originally green pupils disappeared.
They turned into a deep, endless darkness.
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Vanessa¡¯s pupils constricted, and her face became numb.
In the wooden house, the sound of Li Meng¡¯s voice, like that of a demon, filled the air.
"In a lush green forest, you see a weak little goblin, its name is Gobu Meng. It is very weak and is bullied by other goblins. It gets knocked down again and again, but always stands up. You find it interesting and secretly observe it."
"You watch it grow stronger and stronger, eventually becoming the little boss, and then the big boss."
"One day, it leaves the goblin nest with its subordinates and heads to the goblin north shore to establish a new tribe."
"It grows stronger, and the tribe gradually grows as well. You are not satisfied just watching from the shadows."
"One day, you deliberately expose yourself to it."
"It notices you, and you run while it chases you."
"In the depths of the forest, you purposely slow down to let it catch up to you."
"It sees you for the first time, and you finally face it."
"To your surprise, it has always known of your existence."
"Although it could not see you, it could smell your scent."
"It feared you might leave, so it pretended not to notice you."
"Knowing this, you feel comforted."
"Although it is just a goblin, it is a very smart and special goblin."
"You meet, and become friends."
"You often meet in the depths of the forest."
"Being a goblin, it occasionally casts a greedy glance at you."
"But every time, it suppresses its desire."
"Seeing the goblin beside you struggling to suppress its instincts, you feel an unusual emotion."
"One day, it suddenly disappears, without a trace. No matter how hard you search, you can''t find it."
"You panic and search for it, but to no avail."
"Just when you''re about to give up, it suddenly returns to the tribe, safe and sound."
"That night, you meet under the moonlight."
"Leaning against a big tree, the two of you sit silently, facing each other."
"You hold its hand, and it throws itself on you!"
"You don''t refuse or resist, and under the moonlight, the two of you become one."
"From that point on, you live happily together."
"Although frequent pregnancies make you frustrated, you gradually come to enjoy the feeling."
"But the good times don¡¯t last long. One day, your people appear."
"Seeing that you don''t want to leave, your people forcibly erase your memories of it."
"It gets furious and drives your people away."
Li Meng narrated slowly, like telling a story.
"It binds you, hoping that one day you will regain your memories."
"To help you regain your memories, it uses all kinds of methods to stimulate you."
As he finished, a strange expression appeared on Li Meng''s face.
Although the plot was somewhat clich¨¦, would it really work?
This story wasn¡¯t just made up.
It was carefully considered from many angles.
The black robe had been active in the Goblin Forest.
It had definitely been active for quite some time.
The timeline aligned perfectly with Vanessa''s memories.
With a thought, Li Meng¡¯s pupils returned to normal.
Vanessa stared blankly at the goblin in front of her.
After a long while, her eyes gradually regained clarity.
"Ah!"
Vanessa¡¯s face twisted in pain.
Suddenly, she let out a tragic scream.
This startled Li Meng.
"Vanessa... Vanessa, are you... okay?"
Li Meng hurriedly released her chin.
Looking at the painful expression on Vanessa¡¯s face, Li Meng seemed a little at a loss.
After a while, the painful look on Vanessa¡¯s face disappeared.
She glared angrily at the goblin in front of her.
But in the next moment, her gaze softened and became gentle.
Within seconds, the loving look changed to resentment.
Just like that, in Li Meng¡¯s eyes, Vanessa''s expressions were incredibly complex.
"Stop thinking about it, stop thinking about it!"
Suddenly, Li Meng opened his arms and hugged Vanessa.
The sorrowful sound coming from his mouth didn¡¯t seem to be fake.
Vanessa, suddenly embraced by the goblin, looked dazed.
After a while, she slightly parted her lips and exhaled softly.
She tenderly embraced the goblin''s bear-like waist.
"Gobu Meng, I remember now, I remember everything!"
Vanessa smiled blissfully, feeling the warmth of Gobu Meng''s chest.
Although falling in love with a goblin was a bit strange,
The strange yet happy feeling wasn¡¯t bad.
Vanessa''s reaction caused Li Meng to look puzzled.
This "Word Spirit" skill was too powerful.
Vanessa had turned the story he told her into real memories.
The female Lizardmen in the wooden house stared at the scene in astonishment.
They had no idea what had happened.
Just moments ago, the Dark Elf wanted to peel the boss¡¯s skin off,
And now, she was clinging to him like a partner?
The look of happiness and gentleness on her face was certainly not fake.
Li Meng, with a delighted expression, released Vanessa.
"Really, Vanessa, you weren¡¯t lying to me, right?"
Vanessa smiled and nodded.
She gently cupped Li Meng''s face with both hands.
"Yes, I remember it all!"
Facing the tender and affectionate Vanessa, Li Meng still felt somewhat uncomfortable.
But the joy on his face was unmistakable.
"Great, great!"
Li Meng hurriedly began to untie Vanessa¡¯s ropes.
"Sorry, Vanessa, I... I didn¡¯t mean to hurt you."
Although he said this, Li Meng was observing Vanessa''s condition.
If her paralysis state was no longer present, he wouldn¡¯t have been so quick to untie her.
Perhaps Vanessa''s tenderness and affection were just an act.
Seeing Li Meng¡¯s apologetic face, Vanessa shook her head.
After a while, Li Meng finally untied the ropes from Vanessa¡¯s hands and feet.
He then scooped her up and walked briskly towards the bed.
When he reached the bed, Li Meng carefully laid Vanessa down on it.
Chapter 155: Humans, Heaven, and the Catastrophe of World Destruction
Chapter 155: Humans, Heaven, and the Catastrophe of World Destruction
"Vanessa, you... you won''t leave me again, will you?"
Li Meng, sitting by the bedside, looked at Vanessa with hopeful eyes.
Vanessa weakly shook her head.
"I won¡¯t leave you. I won¡¯t give Olivia another chance!"
It turned out that the other figure in the black robe was called "Olivia."
From the name, it seemed to be a female.
"Vanessa, why are you crying?"
As they talked, tears suddenly began to fall from Vanessa''s eyes.
Clear, crystalline tears streamed down her cheeks.
Li Meng became anxious, unsure of what to do.
When it came to playing the role of a partner, Li Meng was certainly doing his best.
Vanessa shook her head, both crying and laughing.
"I... I don¡¯t know either. Thinking of the days when we first met and got to know each other makes me feel so warm. It¡¯s like everything just happened yesterday. But the thought of losing these memories at any moment terrifies me!"
Vanessa reached out and tightly held Li Meng¡¯s right hand.
"Gobumeng, if one day I suddenly forget you again, you must tie me down. Don¡¯t let me leave you. If one year isn¡¯t enough, then two years; if two years aren¡¯t enough, then ten years. You must live well and never let me wake up only to lose everything."
Faced with Vanessa¡¯s heartfelt plea, Li Meng fell silent.
All he wanted was a strong subordinate.
But how should he respond to Vanessa¡¯s genuine feelings?
Li Meng reached out his right hand and gently caressed Vanessa¡¯s face.
"Vanessa, I won¡¯t let you leave me again."
Vanessa happily nuzzled her face against Li Meng¡¯s hand.
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With Gobumeng¡¯s promise, she felt at ease.
It wasn¡¯t until two hours later that Li Meng finally left the wooden hut in a daze.
Standing at the door, he looked up and let the sunlight bathe his face.
"I¡¯ll just treat her better from now on!"
With a grin, Li Meng leisurely walked toward the warehouse.
He wasn¡¯t twisted enough to torture a woman who loved him, even if that love wasn¡¯t entirely real.
About half an hour later, Li Meng returned.
In his arms was a pile of clothing he had found in the warehouse.
These clothes had been stripped from adventurers.
In the battle against the Irisis Public Pioneering Corps, many adventurers had perished.
The iron armor and weapons had already been melted down and reforged.
The cloth and silk had been collected and stored in the warehouse.
"Here are some clothes I found in the warehouse. Pick something you like to wear."
Li Meng placed the clothes on the floor next to the bed.
Vanessa, her bare body glistening, sat up.
She looked gently at the tall and ugly goblin before her.
Her dark red skin revealed seductive curves.
Li Meng sat cross-legged by the bedside.
"Vanessa, why did the Dark Elf race summon the Savage God?"
Whether Vanessa was willing to tell him, Li Meng didn¡¯t know.
But how she answered was very important.
Even now, Li Meng couldn¡¯t be sure if Vanessa was pretending.
Vanessa leaned forward and snuggled into Li Meng¡¯s arms.
Li Meng instinctively held her smooth, soft waist.
Inside the wooden hut, Vanessa¡¯s voice began to rise.
"Ammon, do you know the origins of humanity?"
The single word "Ammon" sent shivers down Li Meng¡¯s spine.
"No, after all, in your eyes, I¡¯m just a goblin who hasn¡¯t been alive for long."
Vanessa chuckled.
Compared to her nearly eternal lifespan, Ammon was indeed very young.
"Three thousand years ago, humans on the Augus Continent were still very weak. They were the favorite slaves of the dragonkin. But one day, humans living on the Central Continent rose in rebellion against the dragonkin. They slaughtered their masters and fled southward, eventually establishing themselves in the southern borderlands of the continent, where they thrived."
"After arriving in the southern borderlands, humans suddenly became exceptionally strong overnight. They developed their own system of power, ''Crystal Magic,'' and used it to repel numerous invasions from other races."
"For two thousand years, many races have tried to investigate the origin of human crystals, but all have come up empty-handed."
"Two thousand five hundred years ago, the Sea of Death appeared out of nowhere and began to expand rapidly."
"Where it spread, all life perished, and nothing grew. That is the Sea of Death."
"Fifteen years ago, a very strange being came to our chieftain. It was neither fully human nor inhuman, with a pair of pure white wings of light. It claimed to be an angel from Heaven and said that the crystals were a product of Heaven, while humans were a race favored by Heaven."
"The angel told the chieftain that the crystals worshiped by humans were slowly consuming the planet¡¯s life energy. If the crystals weren¡¯t destroyed, the Sea of Death would engulf the entire world within a thousand years."
"Upon hearing this, the chieftain began secretly plotting to use the Savage God¡¯s power to destroy humanity."
"Olivia and I came to the Goblin Forest because of this."
"The Goblin Forest is very close to the human world and is home to many savage tribes. It¡¯s the perfect place to summon the Savage God."
"And then I met you, Ammon!"
At the end of her story, Vanessa looked up at Ammon with deep affection in her eyes.
Faced with Vanessa¡¯s tender gaze, Li Meng smiled awkwardly.
Earlier, he had suspected that Vanessa might be faking her emotions.
Now Li Meng realized the power of "Word Spirits."
Vanessa had truly accepted those false memories.
Imagined memories were the most deeply ingrained.
Holding Vanessa¡¯s soft waist, Li Meng¡¯s expression turned contemplative.
He hadn¡¯t expected to learn such a world-destroying secret from Vanessa.
"Could my purpose in coming to this world be to destroy the crystals?"
The apocalyptic disaster made Li Meng wonder.
But he didn¡¯t have the time to dwell on such chaotic thoughts now.
Looking down at Vanessa¡¯s delicate and supple body, Li Meng grinned.
Vanessa¡¯s body was indeed soft.
It also smelled fragrant, incredibly enticing.
"Vanessa, how do those ships flying in the sky manage to stay afloat?"
Whether the world ended or not, Li Meng didn¡¯t care.
Satisfying his curiosity was far more important.
Li Meng had always been curious about how flying ships worked.
Vanessa, being a Dark Elf with vast knowledge, must know the answer.
Seeing Ammon¡¯s curious expression, Vanessa smiled.
"That¡¯s primal rune magic, originating from the dwarves. It allows magic to be engraved into enchanted materials using runes, making magic power more efficient. The dragon bones of flying ships are inscribed with numerous flight runes. When activated, these runes enable the ship to fly. By adjusting the amount of magic input, one can control the ship¡¯s ascent and descent. The sails are inscribed with hurricane runes that generate wind to propel the ship."
Vanessa¡¯s explanation made Li Meng¡¯s eyes light up.
So the principle behind flying ships lay in "primal rune magic."
Chapter 156: Crystal Rune Magic
Chapter 156: Crystal Rune Magic
¡°Vanessa, do humans also have the ability to build floating ships?¡±
Vanessa smiled softly and nodded.
Vanessa knew Ammon must be interested in the humans.
¡°Humans indeed have the ability to build floating ships. However, the rune magic humans use is slightly different from the original rune magic. It has been modified into crystal rune magic to adapt to crystal energy. Human rune magic consumes more crystal energy to operate, but compared to original rune magic, crystal rune magic is more versatile.¡±
¡°Human crystal rune magic and original rune magic achieve the same goal by different means. Crystal rune magic can also be powered by elemental crystals. Ammon, if you want to acquire crystal rune magic technology, you¡¯ll need to visit larger human towns to find it.¡±
Li Meng grinned and nodded.
Crystal rune magic technology was indeed a valuable asset.
Floating ships were a weapon of war.
No matter what, he had to seize the crystal rune magic technology from the humans.
¡°Vanessa, what is this?¡±
Li Meng took a silver ore out of the beast-hide pouch at his waist.
¡°This is¡ mithril ore?¡±
Vanessa¡¯s exclamation echoed in the wooden hut.
Vanessa¡¯s surprise made Li Meng suspicious.
So, this world really had "mithril ore."
¡°Vanessa, what is this thing used for?¡±
Vanessa took the mithril ore from Ammon''s hand.
She carefully examined it up close.
¡°Ammon, mithril is indestructible and is the best material for magical devices. Rune inscriptions also require mithril as an engraving material. On the Augus Continent, mithril is a strategic resource for all races, and many wars among the continent''s races have been waged over mithril mines.¡±
Li Meng took the silver ore back from Vanessa''s hand.
¡°Vanessa, if mithril is indestructible, how is it smelted?¡±
The prerequisite for being an engraving material was liquefaction.
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If mithril was indestructible, how could it be liquefied?
In the wooden hut, Vanessa answered Ammon¡¯s question.
¡°Ammon, although mithril is indestructible, magic essence can liquefy mithril!¡±
¡°Magic essence? What¡¯s that?¡±
What kind of thing could liquefy indestructible mithril?
Li Meng was very curious about the magic essence Vanessa mentioned.
Vanessa smiled softly and answered Ammon¡¯s question.
¡°Magic essence is the mucus of water slimes. All races raise water slimes to obtain magic essence.¡±
Water slime mucus?
Li Meng thought of the lake of water slimes in the southern forest.
Could those lake waters be water slime mucus?
¡°Vanessa, I¡¯ll have to leave for a few days. You stay here and rest.¡±
The agreed date with the Holy Church was approaching, and he needed to set out.
Hearing that Li Meng was leaving, Vanessa became anxious.
She quickly grabbed Li Meng''s hand.
¡°Ammon, I want to go too!¡±
Li Meng grinned and patted Vanessa¡¯s shoulder.
¡°This time, I¡¯m dealing with humans. It¡¯s not convenient for you to show up. Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be back in at most half a month.¡±
Although Vanessa was very agile, her stamina was obviously not great.
The Throne Tribe was at least 700 kilometers from the Black Mountain Marshlands.
If he went alone, he could reach it in a day.
¡°I¡¯ll stay in the distance and won¡¯t show myself!¡±
Faced with Vanessa¡¯s pitiful expression, Li Meng felt a headache.
Could it be he had gotten himself a tagalong?
¡°Fine. Rest for a day, and we¡¯ll set out tomorrow!¡±
Taking her along wouldn¡¯t waste much time anyway.
Leaving Vanessa in the tribe made Li Meng uneasy.
After all, there was another figure in a black robe lurking in the shadows.
If he wasn¡¯t around, Vanessa might interact with that person and awaken.
Vanessa¡¯s paralyzed state was still ongoing.
She had to stay that way until it ended before he could leave.
¡°Great! Ammon, you¡¯re the best!¡±
Vanessa happily hugged Li Meng''s neck, clinging to his arms.
Her face reddened slightly, and Vanessa lowered her head in embarrassment.
¡°Ammon, you can¡¯t bully me tonight. Goblins have a short gestation period, and I¡¯ll get a big belly in a few days. It¡¯ll be inconvenient.¡±
Li Meng grinned and lightly patted Vanessa''s waist.
¡°Alright, I won¡¯t bully you!¡±
The female lizardmen in the hut looked at the pair with strange expressions.
They didn¡¯t understand what was going on.
Why had the dark elf who had once been hostile to their leader suddenly become so close to him?
Had their leader been deceived by this dark elf?
Time passed quickly, and the day flew by.
The next morning, at the Throne Cave Dwelling:
¡°Ammon, how does this look?¡±
In the wooden hut, Li Meng stared blankly at Vanessa.
She was as beautiful as a legendary elf.
No, Vanessa was an elf.
Vanessa¡¯s tall figure was clad in an adventurer''s leather armor.
Her slender waist and legs were exposed, fully showcasing her curvaceous figure.
¡°You look great, Vanessa. You¡¯d look good in anything.¡±
Faced with Ammon¡¯s greedy gaze, Vanessa smiled softly.
She picked up an adventurer''s longbow from the ground and waved it.
¡°Ammon, let¡¯s set out!¡±
¡°Alright!¡±
Li Meng grinned, carrying his massive iron club as he stepped outside.
The two walked out of the Throne Cave Dwelling one after another.
In the tribe, they walked side by side.
¡°Vanessa, is your body recovered?¡±
Vanessa smiled faintly, hanging her bow and arrows on her back.
¡°Ammon, I¡¯m fine!¡±
Li Meng glanced at Vanessa by his side.
The paralysis abnormality still hadn¡¯t faded.
The two exited the tribe¡¯s southern gate, entering the bustling construction site outside.
¡°It¡¯s the boss!¡±
¡°Who¡¯s the female with him?¡±
¡°So ugly. Not as good-looking as lizardmen.¡±
¡°Yeah, I agree.¡±
¡°Benben is prettier.¡±
¡°Benben is way prettier than her.¡±
Hearing the noisy goblins, Vanessa frowned.
Without her black robe, she couldn¡¯t understand what the goblins were saying.
But their expressions while looking at her seemed strange.
She guessed they weren¡¯t saying anything good.
¡°Ammon, what are they saying?¡±
¡°Well¡ haha, they¡¯re saying you¡¯re really beautiful.¡±
Li Meng laughed awkwardly, his gaze wandering.
His goblin followers had a strange sense of aesthetics.
Vanessa was far more attractive than Benben.
Could goblin aesthetics be tied to skin color?
But Benben¡¯s skin color wasn¡¯t particularly appealing either.
¡°Really?¡±
Vanessa looked skeptical.
The goblins¡¯ expressions didn¡¯t seem like they were complimenting her.
¡°Of course it¡¯s true. I wouldn¡¯t lie to you!¡±
¡°I see!¡±
Vanessa smiled faintly and didn¡¯t press further.
Before long, the two reached the riverside.
¡°Vanessa, get on. I¡¯ll carry you!¡±
With that, Li Meng bent down and lifted Vanessa onto his shoulders.
Li Meng¡¯s shoulders were broad enough for Vanessa to sit.
¡°Ammon, won¡¯t this tire you out?¡±
Li Meng grinned and stepped onto the river.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have plenty of strength!¡±
Vanessa blushed slightly.
She knew better than anyone how much strength Ammon had.
¡°Hold on tight, I¡¯m about to run!¡±
Vanessa quickly grabbed Ammon¡¯s head.
Li Meng started running across the river.
Where he passed, a long trail lingered on the river''s surface.
Chapter 157: You Will Be Ridiculed
Chapter 157: You Will Be Ridiculed
"Vanessa, do you still remember what happened in the Black Mountain Marshlands?"
On the river''s surface, Li Meng was carrying Vanessa as he sprinted madly.
While running, he casually chatted with Vanessa.
"I do remember, Ammon. How did you survive back then?"
Vanessa curiously touched Ammon''s neck.
She vividly recalled personally beheading Ammon.
However, even though his head was severed, Ammon hadn''t died.
Not long after, he reappeared, lively as ever.
"My self-healing ability is incredibly strong; killing me isn''t that easy."
Ammon''s explanation made Vanessa roll her eyes.
This was not something that could be explained away with a mere claim of strong self-healing.
Even among dragonkin renowned for their regenerative capabilities, decapitation was fatal.
Although she was puzzled, Vanessa didn¡¯t ask further.
At that moment, Vanessa''s brow slightly furrowed.
She turned her head slightly to look toward the southern shore.
"Ammon, I sense the presence of the Black Robe."
Hearing Vanessa''s words, Li Meng''s expression shifted slightly.
Without stopping, he continued dashing across the water''s surface.
"Vanessa, what is the Black Robe?"
Vanessa mentioned sensing the Black Robe''s aura instead of Olivia''s, which piqued Li Meng''s curiosity.
"The Black Robe is a semi-divine artifact woven from the silk of the goddess Lolth. It conceals the aura of dark elves, enhances the body in all aspects, and is exclusive to dark elves. It has no effect when worn by other races."
"Semi-divine artifact? It¡¯s so fragile that it can be destroyed so easily!"
Indeed, Yue E''s water cannon magic was strong, but not to the extent of destroying a semi-divine artifact.
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"Well... the goddess Lolth fears water!"
Hearing this, Li Meng showed a look of realization.
So it was due to a weakness.
If the goddess Lolth feared water, then naturally, her silk would as well.
No wonder Vanessa''s Black Robe had been so easily damaged.
"Is it Olivia?"
"It should be her."
Li Meng furrowed his brow, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.
Wasn''t this expected?
After he had taken Vanessa, it was natural for Olivia to keep pestering him.
"Ammon, capture her!"
Vanessa looked toward the southern forest with an expressionless face.
"Are you sure?"
Li Meng turned to glance at Vanessa, who was perched on his shoulder.
A trace of surprise flickered in his eyes.
After all, Olivia was Vanessa''s clanswoman.
The fact that Vanessa had come to the Goblin Forest with her suggested their relationship couldn¡¯t have been too strained.
"Luckily, she¡¯s here. If she returns to the clan, Ammon, you¡¯ll be in big trouble!"
How could Li Meng not understand the implications of Vanessa¡¯s words?
The dark elves were likely a major power on the Augus Continent.
If Olivia called for reinforcements, he would undoubtedly face grave consequences.
"I¡¯ll deal with her later. Let¡¯s focus on the main task first."
Once Olivia was captured, everything else would be easier to handle.
With the "Word of Command" skill, she would eventually submit.
If not the first time, then the second. If not the second, then the third.
Even the strongest will would eventually crumble.
"Mm, since she¡¯s followed us this far, she likely won¡¯t leave easily."
On the vast river¡¯s surface, the two rapidly disappeared into the distance.
Shortly after they left, on the southern shore of the Goblin River, a certain spot began to distort.
In the next moment, a figure cloaked in black appeared out of thin air on the riverbank.
"Vanessa... why?"
The voice from under the Black Robe was filled with confusion and doubt.
After a while, the black-cloaked figure disappeared silently once more.
That night, deep within the eastern forest along a tributary of the Goblin River, a campfire crackled.
By the fire sat two figures, one large and one small.
The larger was a green-skinned goblin, standing 2.5 meters tall.
The smaller was a dark elf, petite and exquisitely shaped, with graceful curves.
Vanessa nestled in Li Meng¡¯s embrace, staring blankly at the fire.
"Vanessa, what are you thinking about so deeply?"
Vanessa lightly shook her head.
"Ammon, I¡¯m sorry. It seems I¡¯ve forgotten many memories about you. They¡¯re always blurry yet profoundly etched."
Hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s heart tightened.
It seemed the "Word of Command" skill wasn¡¯t high-level enough.
Would Vanessa regain her clarity?
Li Meng reached out, pressing his palm against Vanessa¡¯s forehead.
"It¡¯s okay, Vanessa. We¡¯ll always be together, creating countless memories for the future!"
Li Meng¡¯s words struck a powerful chord with Vanessa.
She turned to gaze at Ammon''s strangely handsome yet ugly face.
"Ammon, you¡¯re right. I won¡¯t overthink anymore!"
Li Meng reached out and ruffled Vanessa¡¯s hair.
"It¡¯s late. Let¡¯s get some rest!"
Vanessa smiled softly and nodded.
That night, as the hours passed, the campfire began to die out.
Nestled in Li Meng¡¯s embrace, Vanessa suddenly opened her eyes.
A glint of sharp light flashed through them.
Carefully, she removed Ammon¡¯s arm, slipped out of his embrace, and stood up.
By the fire, Vanessa glanced around cautiously.
Then, she headed into the depths of the forest.
Not long after Vanessa left, the sleeping Li Meng opened his eyes.
He remained motionless, quietly listening to the sounds of the forest.
---
A hundred meters away from the campfire, Vanessa came to a stop deep in the forest.
Her expression turned cold as she scanned her surroundings.
"Olivia, come out. I know it¡¯s you!"
As her words fell, a black-cloaked figure appeared beside her out of thin air.
The figure reached out, grabbing Vanessa¡¯s hand, and attempted to pull her away.
"Vanessa, let¡¯s go. We must leave before he wakes!"
Olivia tried to drag Vanessa away from this place of trouble.
But she found she couldn¡¯t move Vanessa.
Vanessa¡¯s expression turned colder as she shook off Olivia¡¯s hand.
"Olivia, no matter what you say, I won¡¯t leave Ammon¡¯s side!"
"Ammon? Who¡¯s that?"
Olivia, startled, pulled back her hood to reveal her face.
"Ammon is my lover. I¡¯ll never leave him."
"Vanessa, what¡¯s happened to you? Since when did you have a lover?"
Olivia looked incredulous.
For a thousand years, Vanessa had been alone.
Even during her centuries of wandering the continent, she had never found a partner.
And now, in just five years in the Goblin Forest, she had found a lover?
What race in the Goblin Forest could possibly catch Vanessa¡¯s eye?
Could it be a goblin?
"Vanessa, stop joking. Let¡¯s leave this place first."
Once again, Vanessa slapped away Olivia¡¯s hand.
"Ammon is right there. I¡¯m not leaving."
Hearing this, Olivia froze.
She stared blankly toward the faintly glowing embers of the distant campfire.
"Van¡ Vanessa, the lover you¡¯re talking about... it¡¯s not a goblin, is it?"
Vanessa looked expressionlessly at Olivia, whose face was filled with disbelief.
"Impossible. Absolutely impossible. By the goddess Lolth¡ Vanessa, you¡ will be ridiculed by the clan."
Chapter 158: Olivia, Who Nearly Laughed Herself to Death
Chapter 158: Olivia, Who Nearly Laughed Herself to Death
Olivia looked speechlessly at the serious Vanessa.
Although dark elves were not xenophobic, and many of them would form romantic relationships with other races during their centuries-long travels, it was Olivia''s first time seeing a dark elf fall in love with a goblin.
And it wasn¡¯t just any random person¡ªit was her best friend, Vanessa.
¡°Vanessa, are you out of your mind?¡±
Olivia reached out to touch Vanessa''s forehead.
Vanessa expressionlessly brushed Olivia¡¯s hand away.
¡°Hahaha!¡±
When Olivia realized Vanessa was serious, she burst out laughing.
Her laughter was uncontrollable, shaking her whole body as she doubled over, tears almost coming out of her eyes.
¡°Vanessa, spare me! It hasn¡¯t even been that long, and you¡¯ve already¡ pfft¡ fallen for a goblin!¡±
Vanessa remained silent, watching Olivia laugh uncontrollably while clutching her stomach.
¡°Alright, alright!¡±
Wiping away the tears from the corners of her eyes, Olivia calmed herself.
¡°Vanessa, whatever your tastes are, it¡¯s none of my business. That¡¯s your freedom. But don¡¯t forget about our mission.¡±
Vanessa¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, her expression conflicted.
How could she not understand the importance of their mission?
¡°Amon will never allow us to summon the Savage God.¡±
Olivia¡¯s face turned cold, her killing intent palpable.
¡°Then¡¡±
Before Olivia could finish her sentence, she felt Vanessa¡¯s killing intent.
This left Olivia puzzled.
She couldn¡¯t understand how Vanessa could fall in love with such an ugly goblin.
Even if this goblin was indeed special, it didn¡¯t change the fact that it was still a goblin.
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Could goblins even comprehend something like love?
¡°As long as Amon can grow strong, he¡¯ll be a greater threat to humanity than the Savage God.¡±
Vanessa¡¯s words made Olivia pause, deep in thought.
In the Goblin Forest, there existed such an extraordinary goblin.
Regardless of whether Vanessa¡¯s lover was willing to stand against humanity, humans with ambitions for territorial expansion wouldn¡¯t let it live peacefully.
In the future, goblins and humans were destined to become mortal enemies.
¡°I¡¯ll return to the Darkwood Forest and inform the chief of your decision. As for your lover, I¡ I won¡¯t mention anything about it.¡±
Olivia held her hand over her mouth, barely suppressing her laughter.
The thought of Vanessa¡¯s lover being a goblin gave her an uncontrollable urge to laugh.
¡°There¡¯s no need to hide it. Now or in the future, Amon will always be my only love.¡±
Vanessa was utterly indifferent to the fact that her partner was a goblin.
¡°Phew!¡±
Taking a deep breath, Olivia shook her head helplessly.
¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s going on in your little brain. Well, since it¡¯s a done deal, I¡¯ll have to accept it. Enjoy your time here in the Goblin Forest with your lover. I¡¯m heading back!¡±
Waving her hand, Olivia walked toward the depths of the forest.
As she walked, she pulled up her hood, and her figure disappeared into thin air.
In the depths of the forest, Vanessa stood alone for a long time before turning back to the campfire.
She once again nestled into Amon¡¯s embrace, closing her eyes with a satisfied expression.
However, Vanessa didn¡¯t realize the person behind her had already opened his eyes.
Initially, he had planned to capture Olivia.
But now, that plan was impossible.
¡°Sleep.¡±
Li Meng wrapped his arm around Vanessa¡¯s waist.
Vanessa murmured softly.
Their breathing echoed through the forest¡¯s depths.
Time passed bit by bit, and the night grew deeper.
---
At dawn the next morning, the two of them returned to the riverbank.
---
The Goblin Forest.
Black Mountain Marshlands.
In the endless expanse of water, a lone sailboat floated.
Its sails were down, and its anchor rested at the bottom of the water.
¡°Damn goblins should rot in their stinking swamps. Commander Selof must have lost his mind to cooperate with goblins. If this gets out, the Papal State will be a laughingstock for a thousand years.¡±
On the deck of the ship, a priest dressed in a luxurious white robe stood by the railing, muttering curses.
The knights of the temple behind him exchanged awkward glances.
Despite being a clergyman, his temper was fiery.
How did this guy even rise to the rank of White-Robed Archbishop?
¡°Ugh, what bad luck! Making a dignified priest come to this filthy swamp¡ disgusting.¡±
Let him rant¡ªit was best to pretend they didn¡¯t hear.
The knights on the deck glanced at each other knowingly and discreetly moved away.
¡°They¡¯re here! Goblins spotted!¡±
Suddenly, the sailor in the lookout tower shouted.
The knights on the deck turned serious, assembling into formation and preparing for action.
¡°Finally, they¡¯re here. Lower the small boat¡ªI want to see what this ugly goblin looks like!¡±
Meanwhile, in the northeastern waters near the sailboat, a trail of ice extended rapidly over the water.
In no time, the icy path stopped about three hundred meters from the ship.
Standing on the ice, Li Meng gazed at the human vessel in the distance.
On the ship, a small boat was being lowered.
The small boat carried two temple knights clad in heavy silver-white armor, a plump priest, and two rowers.
The plump priest wasn¡¯t extremely fat, but he was greasy enough to be revolting.
His chubby face was particularly off-putting.
The small boat moved slowly toward the ice path.
¡°By the Crystal above, it¡¯s a huge one!¡±
As the boat drew closer, the plump archbishop got a clearer look at the goblin on the ice.
It was incredibly strong, its muscles bulging all over.
Though its face was ugly, its oppressive aura was suffocating.
Clad in simple animal skins, 80% of its body was exposed.
¡°Stop! Don¡¯t come any closer!¡±
When they were within thirty meters of the goblin, one of the temple knights ordered the rowers to halt.
They rested their hands on their swords, watching the goblin warily.
The plump archbishop stood up, glaring disdainfully at the goblin in the distance.
So what if it was strong? A goblin was still trash.
Even a goblin king was no match for a senior swordsman.
¡°Hey, human fatty! If you dare speak a word, I¡¯ll kill all of you!¡±
Li Meng hadn¡¯t forgotten what happened in the timeline where he had first interacted with the Papal State¡¯s envoy.
To prevent these humans from enraging him to the point of no return, he needed to silence this greasy priest.
The plump archbishop froze, his face filled with anger, about to speak.
A temple knight rushed forward to cover his mouth.
¡°Mmph, mmph!¡±
Struggling under the knight¡¯s grasp, the archbishop glared in frustration.
¡°My lord, please don¡¯t provoke the goblin¡ªit¡¯s powerful, a monster among its kind.¡±
The knight¡¯s reminder made the archbishop roll his eyes before reluctantly nodding to show he understood.
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Chapter 159: Tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe
Chapter 159: Tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe
The temple knight released the chubby bishop¡¯s mouth.
The newly freed bishop gasped for air desperately, breathing heavily.
He turned around angrily, glaring at the temple knight who had covered his mouth.
Sensing the tension, the temple knight took a step back and lowered his head.
"Hey, human fatty, catch this!"
Li Meng reached into the cloth bag at his waist and pulled out the Sacrificial Plate, throwing it toward the greasy chubby bishop.
This Sacrificial Plate had been given to Li Meng by Bai Ling before he left the Black Mountain Tribe.
Seeing something flying toward him, the chubby bishop hurriedly reached out to catch it in a fluster.
"This is what you wanted. From now on, the Black Mountain Tribe is under my protection. I won¡¯t allow the Savage God to appear in the Goblin Forest. Tell Selof that the Goblin Forest now has a new master, and he¡¯d better not come back again. Otherwise, he¡¯ll never be able to rescue that Tavier woman again."
"Ha ha ha!"
At the end of his statement, Li Meng burst into loud, manic laughter.
The sinister laugh caused the expression on the chubby bishop''s face to shift repeatedly.
"Alright, you can leave now. But if you come back next time, you won¡¯t be able to leave!"
The laughter abruptly stopped as Li Meng narrowed his eyes at the group on the small boat.
Far away, a large ship concealed several powerful humans.
Li Meng could sense their presence.
In the timeline of the previous iteration, he had wiped out everyone on the ship.
This proved that those human experts were not strong enough¡ªnot even capable of protecting themselves, let alone others.
And so, the humans left without exchanging a single word.
As the small boat was hauled back aboard the large ship, the deck erupted in noise.
Sailors climbed the masts and unfurled the sails.
Meanwhile, the lower-deck crew rowed the oars.
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The massive ship gradually disappeared into the distance under Li Meng¡¯s watchful gaze.
Only after the ship was no longer visible on the water did Li Meng turn and leave.
Walking briskly along the icy path, Li Meng appeared to be deep in thought.
"I wonder if this thread of the Holy Kingdom¡¯s story has changed."
Even though he had given them the Sacrificial Plate, the Holy Kingdom might not believe him.
However, the Holy Kingdom was unlikely to dispatch a large army to invade the Goblin Forest.
If they merely sent an adventurer team to observe in secret, Li Meng could tolerate that.
For now, Li Meng didn¡¯t want to see humans causing him trouble before he could create trouble for them.
"I hope nothing problematic happens here."
In this timeline, the Black Mountain Tribe wasn¡¯t supposed to encounter any major events.
But sometimes, Li Meng doubted the accuracy of the future lines.
While future timelines that remain unchanged are inherently accurate, deviations might still occur.
"Ammon, is something bothering you?"
Seeing the worried look on Ammon''s face, Vanessa couldn¡¯t help but express concern.
Li Meng grinned and shook his head.
Approaching Vanessa, he crouched down and skillfully hoisted her onto his shoulders.
"Let¡¯s go! Time to head back!"
With that, Li Meng broke into a run along the icy path.
Originally, he had planned to visit the Black Mountain Tribe.
But after some thought, he decided against it.
It was better not to appear in front of the Lizardmen unnecessarily, as there was no point in seeking attention.
Time passed little by little, day by day.
Three days later, in the afternoon, Li Meng and Vanessa returned to the Throne Tribe.
It was a new day, in the morning.
At the southern gate watchtower of the Throne Tribe, Li Meng surveyed the bustling construction scene in the distance.
"Boss, we can¡¯t speed up anymore. If we do, there won¡¯t be enough food to go around!"
Outside the inner walls, on the desolate plains, wooden huts and cave dwellings stood in rows.
More such dwellings were being constructed in an orderly fashion.
Over ten thousand goblins were laboring for the Throne Tribe, their food supplied by hunting teams.
Every day, hundreds of carts transported large quantities of carcasses between the various sub-tribes and the Throne Tribe.
The southern sub-tribe used bamboo rafts to send food downstream to the Throne Tribe.
Feeding these ten thousand goblins required the continuous efforts of thirty thousand goblins hunting day and night.
Fortunately, goblins didn¡¯t reject foul-smelling, rotting carcasses.
Otherwise, food preservation would have become a significant issue.
After all, it took time for prey to be hunted and then transported to the Throne Tribe.
And the warm climate of the Goblin Forest caused carcasses to start rotting within hours.
"Then focus on building houses. The wooden walls can wait."
The Demon Army¡¯s attack was still at least half a year to a year away.
There was no need to rush the construction of the wooden walls.
But the tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe was about to arrive.
"Gobusheng, send word to all the tribe leaders. Tell them to come to the Throne Tribe immediately to reproduce!"
Hearing this, Gobusheng¡¯s eyes lit up.
He quickly climbed down from the watchtower and hurried toward the tribe''s tallest signal tower.
Before long, the urgent, resonant sound of horns echoed throughout the tribe.
Three long blasts followed by a short one swept across the land.
Soon, echoing responses could be heard from distant directions around the Throne Tribe.
The horns were passed along from one sub-tribe to another, carrying the message.
Eventually, all the tribes would receive the order from the Throne Tribe.
This was Li Meng¡¯s "Horn Messaging" system.
Using horn sounds, messages could be quickly transmitted between tribes.
The Throne Tribe could send orders to sub-tribes, and sub-tribes could send messages back to the Throne Tribe.
Goblins were very sensitive to sounds.
Even ten kilometers away, they could hear the horns.
The distance between tribes ranged from 8 to 10 kilometers.
A month later, in the afternoon, the tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe finally arrived.
The calm waters of the Goblin River suddenly began to churn.
One by one, Lizardmen disembarked at the dock on the southern shore.
The Lizardmen nervously gazed at the tall wooden walls and docks on the riverbank.
Following a white-scaled figure at the forefront, they flowed through the only gate into the tribe.
White Scales, entering through the southern gate, looked around in astonishment at the dramatically transformed tribe.
Fifteen-meter-high wooden walls and neatly arranged houses.
Everything appeared orderly and well-structured.
Ahead was a wide avenue leading directly to the inner walls.
The ground had been leveled and paved with gravel and sand.
All this was far beyond the intelligence one would expect from goblins.
On both sides of the avenue, armored Great Goblins stood solemnly at attention.
They formed two rows, one on the left and one on the right, welcoming the arrival of the tribute.
Though every goblin¡¯s face showed a greedy expression, they stood motionless like statues.
The Lizardmen following White Scales formed a stream of bodies flooding into the tribe.
On the avenue ahead, a group of female Lizardmen awaited White Scales.
"Chief!"
The leading female Lizardman bowed deeply to White Scales.
"Chief, this area is designated for the male Lizardmen. Their task will be fishing to provide food for the tribe. The female Lizardmen will be assigned to other areas. Chief, please follow me!"
Chapter 160: Explosive Reproduction Mode
Chapter 160: Explosive Reproduction Mode
At the same time, in a certain watchtower within the inner wall.
¡°So many of them!¡±
Li Meng stood atop the watchtower, gazing at the Lizardmen on the main road.
The Lizardmen, entering the tribe through the main gate, formed a long line.
At the crossroads, the dense crowd split into three.
A portion remained at the original location¡ªthese were the male Lizardmen.
The female Lizardmen, however, split to the left and right.
From a bird''s-eye view, the area near the dock was separated by wooden walls on the east and west sides.
This area covered roughly one-sixth of the entire outer ring.
Li Meng grinned, feeling a sense of joy in his heart.
With the arrival of tribute, the tribe¡¯s population would grow explosively.
The male Lizardmen would also effectively ensure the tribe''s food supply.
The arrival of the tribute brought a clamor throughout the tribe.
The uproar lasted a long time, continuing well into the night before finally quieting down.
But it was only relatively quiet.
In the darkness, the movement within the wooden houses of the outer ring was far from subtle.
The female Lizardmen, experiencing their first time as tribute, were still somewhat unaccustomed.
From the dark came chaotic cries and sobs.
But by the latter half of the night, the cries and sobs had disappeared.
They were replaced by soft, pleasurable murmurs.
That night, the Throne Cave Dwelling was equally noisy.
In the dark, Li Meng lay on the bed, grinning with satisfaction.
Even with his eyes closed, he could feel Bai Ling¡¯s softness.
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The inner ring had now become his palace.
The female Lizardmen no longer needed to crowd into a single house.
Each female Lizardman now had her own wooden house.
At night, they could return to their own homes.
Still, on most nights, Li Meng preferred to summon all the female Lizardmen to the main house.
With his stamina, one female Lizardman alone wouldn¡¯t suffice.
¡°Boss, I¡I brought all the tribute!¡±
In the wooden house, Bai Ling¡¯s cheerful voice suddenly rang out.
In the dark, Li Meng reached out a hand and patted Bai Ling¡¯s head.
Instinctively, Bai Ling rubbed against his hand, much like a small, spoiled puppy.
¡°Mm, well done. How¡¯s the Black Mountain Tribe?¡±
¡°They¡¯re doing well. I spent two months restoring their starved bodies and another month ensuring they accepted your rule. After that, I led the tribe members here!¡±
¡°Making them accept my rule couldn¡¯t have been easy.¡±
If it were another race, it might have been easier.
But for Goblins to become their rulers, 99% of other races would likely find it unacceptable.
Though Goblins were part of the Savage Tribe and had their own language and society, most other races regarded them as communal monsters.
¡°It wasn¡¯t too hard, but not exactly easy either.¡±
In the dark, Bai Ling rested her hands on the boss¡¯s chest.
¡°Boss, most Lizardmen are just followers. They don¡¯t care who rules over them. They¡¯re blind and easily manipulated. Once you deal with a few troublemakers, the rest quickly fall in line.¡±
Even so, Li Meng didn¡¯t think it was an easy task.
Bai Ling had likely done a lot to make the Black Mountain Tribe obedient.
¡°Boss, now that we have the Black Mountain Tribe, we¡¯re running out of spider silk rope!¡±
¡°Take it, take it! As much as you need!¡±
The clamor in the wooden house continued for a long time.
Eventually, a sharp cry from Bai Ling broke through the noise.
Shortly after, the house fell silent.
As time passed, the night deepened.
With the tribute from the Black Mountain Tribe now here, the Throne Tribe entered explosive reproduction mode.
All the upper-level Goblins had only one task: to breed as much as possible.
This was the Goblins¡¯ time of revelry.
A dense, intoxicating aura of desire filled every corner of the tribe.
---
The next day, morning.
The lively cries from the nursery area echoed across the land.
Unknowingly, the first batch of baby Goblins had already been born.
Inside the wooden houses of the breeding area, the joyful babbling of the baby Goblins rang out.
At the dock, the male Lizardmen diligently worked.
Compared to the back-breaking labor of the Iron Cavern, this new batch of tribute was undoubtedly lucky.
Fishing was a part of daily life for the Lizardmen and a relatively easy task.
For the male Lizardmen, it was just a change of residence.
As long as they completed the daily fishing quota, the Goblins stationed on the wooden walls wouldn¡¯t interfere in their lives.
¡°Vanessa, is it hard for you to adapt to Goblin society?¡±
In the watchtower of the northern wall in the inner ring, Li Meng stood shoulder to shoulder with Vanessa.
The two of them watched the bustling nursery area.
Numerous female Lizardmen hurriedly walked out of wooden houses carrying baby Goblins.
Those female Lizardmen, still pregnant, carried large bellies as they moved about.
Vanessa lowered her head to look at her own swollen belly.
She smiled faintly and shook her head.
¡°Ammon, on the Augus Continent, there are many races, each with different customs. If it¡¯s just about lending their wombs, most races won¡¯t care too much. Many races don¡¯t actually hate the Goblins¡¯ strong reproductive instincts; they loathe their indiscriminate breeding. After all, no race would willingly mate with a Ground Mouse. To any race, that¡¯s unthinkable.¡±
Vanessa¡¯s words made Li Meng chuckle awkwardly.
After all, the Goblins¡¯ indiscriminate breeding habits were indeed revolting.
Even he couldn¡¯t accept it.
Since acquiring the Lizardmen, Li Meng had forbidden such behavior.
Rather, he hadn¡¯t even given the Goblins an opportunity to mate with Ground Mice.
Li Meng reached out, wrapping his arm around Vanessa¡¯s waist, while his other hand gently stroked her round belly.
Vanessa leaned against Ammon with a look of contentment.
Vanessa was happy, but Li Meng was pondering another matter.
Something important, yet not entirely urgent.
---
The Augus Continent.
Southern Wasteland.
Although called a wasteland, it wasn¡¯t barren.
The Southern Wasteland was a vast savanna dotted with sparse trees.
It was home to abundant wildlife and magical beasts, preserving a rich, natural landscape.
It was also inhabited by numerous nomadic Savage Tribes.
In the afternoon, the scorching sun baked the land, making the savanna unbearably hot.
But in a particular area, there was a bustling commotion.
Billowing clouds of dust rolled from east to west.
Looking toward the source of the dust, one could see an enormous marching army.
The long procession stretched for kilometers, forming a dragon-like shape across the flat savanna.
The Pigmen soldiers, clad in iron armor and wielding large sabers, marched in unison.
Despite sweating profusely, their spirits were high.
The rhythmic thunder of their footsteps made them forget their exhaustion.
In addition to the Pigmen, there were also mounted cavalry advancing at a steady pace.
Chapter 161: The Demon Army and the Centaurs
Chapter 161: The Demon Army and the Centaurs
The cavalry was very peculiar.
They had the bodies of horses with human upper torsos.
This was a cavalry unit made up of Centaurs.
They accompanied the army, numbering no less than 5,000.
Each Centaur wore leather armor and carried a bow and arrows.
Besides the Pigmen and Centaurs, there were also some green-skinned Orcs.
They had sturdy physiques, bulging muscles, and thick limbs.
Each Orc stood no less than 2.1 meters tall.
Clad in heavy iron armor, they wielded a variety of weapons.
Their numbers were fewer compared to the Pigmen, totaling less than 10,000.
At the forefront of the marching army, there was a tall figure riding a Savage Bull Beast.
It had dark brown skin, a pair of horns on its head, and bright golden eyes.
Behind it were Ghost Beastmen riding various mounts.
However, their auras were significantly weaker than the leading Ghost Beastman.
"Sir, why mobilize such a large force just for mere Goblins?"
A Ghost Beastman following behind the iron-faced leader asked with a puzzled expression.
The question echoed the thoughts of the other Ghost Beastmen.
When they learned that the target of their commander was Goblins, they couldn¡¯t believe it.
Some even thought they had misheard.
"Mere? Do you dare underestimate an enemy that caused the loss of the Ghost Hand in the Goblin Forest?"
The iron-faced leader¡¯s tone turned cold as he swept his gaze over his subordinates.
All the Ghost Beastmen¡¯s expressions changed slightly as they lowered their heads.
"I never underestimate any enemy, not even a mere Goblin!"
The Ghost Beastmen dared not speak further.
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It wasn¡¯t until the iron-faced leader withdrew his gaze that they finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"The Demon Tribe¡¯s foothold on the Southern Continent wasn¡¯t easily secured. We must act cautiously and await the arrival of the main forces."
"Sir, when will the reinforcements arrive?"
"Unknown. The war on the Northern Continent has not yet ended."
"It¡¯s been ten years. If we wait any longer, the humans might react."
"Recently, many human spies have appeared in the Southern Wastelands. We must stay vigilant."
"Then let¡¯s launch a few feigned attacks to scare the humans and keep them from acting rashly."
"We¡¯ve already used that trick three times. Will it still work?"
"Humans fear us. Even if we use it ten times, it will work."
On the vast grasslands, the marching army gradually disappeared into the distance.
Half a Month Later, Goblin Forest
On the northern bank of the Goblin River, within Gobu Tian¡¯s Tribe.
"They¡¯re here! They¡¯re here! The Demons have appeared!"
Early in the morning, a group of Goblins rushed out of the eastern forest.
Panicking, they fled towards the tribe¡¯s eastern gate.
"Boss, Boss! A lot of fat and greasy Pigmen are coming!"
A Goblin outside the door burst in, tumbling and scrambling to the side of their still-sleeping boss.
On the bed, Gobu Tian opened his eyes.
He tiredly got up and stood.
Looking down at the Goblin crawling on the ground, he asked, "Are they really here?"
The Goblin nodded vigorously.
Frowning slightly, Gobu Tian strode out.
Standing at the door, he shouted, "Boys, let¡¯s move out! Head to the Throne Tribe!"
A flash of fear passed through Gobu Tian¡¯s eyes.
After staying at the Throne Tribe for six months, his body had nearly given out.
It was only with an excuse that he managed to escape back to his tribe.
Even after two months, his body still felt fatigued.
The thought of female Lizardmen made Gobu Tian nauseous.
But he had no choice but to head to the Throne Tribe.
Staying here would mean death at the hands of the Demons.
The tribe became chaotic in an instant.
Nearly a thousand Goblins hurriedly left through the western gate.
They vanished into the forest without looking back.
A glance at the watchtower revealed that the Triple-bow Ballistae were gone.
Half a month ago, the Ballistae on the watchtower had already been dismantled.
The dismantled Ballistae were buried in the forest.
Not long after Gobu Tian and his underlings left the tribe, chaos erupted in the eastern forest.
Moments later, a massive number of Pigmen emerged from the eastern forest.
"Sir, it seems the Goblins have fled upon hearing the news!"
Standing outside the forest, the iron-faced leader and the Ghost Beastman Centurions looked at the wooden stockade in the distance.
The gate of the stockade was wide open.
The wooden walls and watchtowers were devoid of anyone.
Looking past the gate, the interior of the stockade was similarly empty.
"Have you ever seen Goblins build wooden stockades?"
The leader¡¯s question left the Centurions glancing at each other.
Goblins could be found everywhere across the continent.
No matter how remote, Goblins could always be seen.
No one was unfamiliar with them.
But none had ever heard of Goblins having a habit of constructing dwellings.
Goblins typically used naturally formed caves as their lairs, like wild beasts.
"Order the entire army to continue advancing westward!"
The iron-faced leader patted the Savage Bull Beast beneath him.
The creature turned westward and advanced.
The Ghost Beastmen quickly followed.
---
Goblin Forest, Northern Bank of the Goblin River, Throne Tribe
"Boss! Boss!"
Before dawn, Li Meng and Vanessa were awakened by loud knocking.
In the spacious Throne Hall, there was a bed in one corner.
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Li Meng sat up and stretched, yawning.
Glancing down at the beautiful, voluptuous figure beside him, Li Meng smiled.
"Still early. Sleep a bit more."
Vanessa had already woken up but didn¡¯t move.
Lazily sprawled on the bed, she murmured, "Mm!"
Vanessa responded softly and stayed put.
Li Meng turned and walked towards the door.
Opening it, he found Gobu Tian panting at the entrance.
Seeing Gobu Tian, Li Meng realized what was happening.
"They¡¯ve come?"
Gobu Tian nodded.
"Go."
Gobu Tian took a deep breath, then hurriedly left.
Li Meng stretched again and returned to the Throne Hall, intending to take another nap.
What was bound to happen would happen, no need to worry too much.
Since the completion of the Throne Tribe¡¯s expansion, the Goblins had been frantically stockpiling food.
To date, the tribe had stored enough food to feed 100,000 Goblins for two months.
This war with the Demons wouldn¡¯t be a prolonged one.
The food reserves were prepared for future southern advances.
"Ammon, what¡¯s going on?"
Li Meng lay back down beside Vanessa.
Naturally, his right hand wrapped around Vanessa¡¯s waist.
Vanessa shifted slightly, snuggling contentedly into Ammon¡¯s arms.
Although Ammon was a Goblin, he didn¡¯t have the stench typical of others of his kind.
"The Demon army is attacking. They should arrive in a couple of days."
"What?"
Vanessa sat up in shock.
Her expression fluctuated as she looked at Ammon beside her.
Yawning, Li Meng pulled Vanessa back into his embrace.
"It¡¯s fine. Let them come. If it¡¯s fate, we can¡¯t avoid it."
"Ammon, those are Demons!"
Seeing Ammon so calm, Vanessa grew anxious.
Chapter 162: The Demon Army Attacks
Chapter 162: The Demon Army Attacks
Vanessa believed that Ammon had no understanding of the demons.
"Vanessa, are demons really powerful?"
When Li Meng said this, Vanessa sighed helplessly.
Ammon truly didn''t know about demons.
"Of course they''re powerful. Beastmen are one of the strongest races on the continent, especially the noble Ghost Beastmen among them. They possess incredible strength and form the backbone of the demon race."
"The demon army has waged war across the continent for a thousand years, harboring deep hatred for heroes and gods."
"Two-thirds of the northern continent is already under demon occupation."
"Ammon, against such powerful demons, your only choice now is to run. Come with me."
Vanessa tried to stand up but found her body unable to move.
This was because the hand around her waist firmly held her down.
Li Meng grinned, reaching out to poke Vanessa''s forehead.
"Vanessa, this is the southern continent!"
The meaning behind Ammon''s words was clear to Vanessa.
"Ammon, ten years ago, the demons already conquered the Wasteland Slaves and Centaurs of the southern wilderness. Even if the invading demon army isn''t their main force, it''s not something you can handle right now."
Vanessa was genuinely anxious.
She hadn''t expected the demons to come so suddenly.
She had believed that Ammon''s tribe could grow rapidly and become an indispensable force to wipe out humanity in the future.
But the demons'' arrival shattered all her illusions.
Li Meng smiled, his large hand gently caressing Vanessa''s face.
"Don''t worry, Vanessa. I''ve long known that the demons would launch a massive invasion."
Vanessa''s expression froze upon hearing this.
Ammon already knew about the demons'' invasion?
The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Could there be some connection between Ammon and the demons?
There must have been some kind of interaction between Ammon and the demons.
With these thoughts in mind, Vanessa was forcibly held by Li Meng as they both went back to sleep.
---
The arrival of the demon army threw the Throne Tribe into a frenzy.
Early in the morning, a deep horn sound echoed through the tribe.
Hunting parties scattered throughout the Goblin Forest began gathering toward the Throne Tribe.
A month ago, the Throne Tribe had ceased large-scale hunting operations.
In the military camps of the northern and eastern sectors, nearly 80,000 goblins were stationed.
To improve the goblins'' combat effectiveness, higher-ranked goblins started training their subordinates in fighting techniques.
Today, both the northern and eastern sectors remained lively.
The goblins were sweating as they underwent rigorous training.
The commotion of the day quietly subsided as night fell.
---
The next afternoon...
In the forest east of the Throne Tribe, a small team of goblin boar riders suddenly burst out from the woods.
The buffer zone outside the wooden walls had grown to a width of over 700 meters, significantly expanded from the original 500 meters due to the tribe''s need for lumber during its construction.
"They''re coming! They''re coming!"
The boars snorted as they rushed toward the eastern gate.
The goblins on their backs screamed loudly.
"Whooo!"
Before long, the deep sound of a horn resounded within the tribe.
The horn''s call threw the Throne Tribe into chaos.
"Boys, get up on the wooden walls!"
"Move it, you lazy bums!"
Under the leader''s scolding, goblins from the eastern and northern sectors rushed toward the northern and eastern walls.
The thunderous sound of footsteps echoed throughout the tribe.
The goblins, charging in different directions, formed a green tide.
In no time, the tall walls were bristling with spears.
Goblins filled every inch of space on the wooden walls, and shadows bustled within the inner areas of the walls as well.
The 15-meter-tall wooden walls were not solid but hollow.
The interior space was divided into three levels, each riddled with shooting holes for goblin crossbowmen to fire at enemies safely.
Though goblins were weak, crossbows made them formidable.
The chaos in the tribe lasted only a short while.
In less than half an hour, the Throne Tribe fell into a deathly silence.
The goblins on the walls curiously watched the eastern forest, their eyes filled with anticipation and excitement.
The sheer number of their kind gave them courage.
The presence of their leader instilled in them an unshakable belief in victory.
Time passed, minute by minute, second by second.
Suddenly, the eastern forest stirred.
A group of towering figures, riding various mounts, slowly emerged from the woods.
Seeing the towering wooden walls in the distance, the Ghost Beastmen centurions narrowed their eyes.
Though they had come across many goblin tribes during their journey, none could compare to the grandeur of the one before them.
It had not only towering wooden walls but also countless watchtowers.
Every 25 meters, a 30-meter-tall watchtower stood guard.
"Lord Iron Mask, you were right!"
A Ghost Beastman behind Iron Mask wore an ugly expression.
The Ghost Beastmen all stared in disbelief at the distant tribe.
Goblins had managed to build such an impressive wooden stronghold.
"It''s just a wooden wall. How could it stop us?"
A Ghost Beastman snapped out of its shock, sneering with a look of disdain.
In the face of the strong, unless enchanted stone walls were used, all else was like paper, easily destroyed in a single strike.
Just then, the forest behind them erupted in noise.
Large numbers of Pigmen and Beastmen poured out from the trees, their dense footsteps shaking the ground.
Before long, the demon army stretched out like an unbroken wave outside the kilometer-long forest.
A dark, oppressive mass of figures seemed poised to unleash destruction.
Sitting atop a Savage Bull Beast, Iron Mask raised his hand and pointed forward.
"Pigmen, advance!"
"Beastmen, advance!"
"Centaurs, attack!"
The vast plains echoed with the roars of commanders from various races.
The Pigmen and Beastmen marched forward in unison.
A dark wave surged toward the eastern walls of the Throne Tribe.
The Centaurs broke into a gallop, their shadowy forms sweeping across the wooden walls like storm clouds.
The thunderous sound of hooves shook the heavens and earth.
Just then, a sharp sound tore through the sky.
A massive sword spun through the air and struck the ground 100 meters away with a thud.
"Everyone, there''s no need to rush!"
A thunderous roar echoed from within the tribe.
The voice was so loud it drowned out the sound of the demon army''s advance.
Iron Mask furrowed his brow and raised his hand.
Behind him, a Ghost Beastman removed a horn from its waist and blew it.
"Whooo!"
The urgent horn calls echoed across the battlefield.
The advancing Beastmen and Pigmen stopped in their tracks.
The Centaurs, who had charged ahead, quickly turned and circled back.
At this moment, atop a watchtower on the eastern wall...
"Vanessa, provide cover for me. I''ll deal with them!"
Vanessa, clad in tight leather armor and holding a longbow, nodded solemnly.
Chapter 163: Agatha
Chapter 163: Agatha
"Ammon, be careful with everything!"
Li Meng grinned and took a step forward.
A "bang" sound echoed as his figure flashed.
The thick wooden planks beneath him creaked.
Li Meng''s tall body leapt off the watchtower.
He soared a distance of dozens of meters and landed steadily on the ground.
Looking at the vast, dark army of demons in the distance, Li Meng showed no fear.
He strode forward, not too fast nor too slow.
Li Meng''s sudden appearance caused a subtle change in the expressions of the Ghost Beastmen far off.
Although his stature resembled that of an ordinary Goblin Warrior,
the oppressive aura radiating from this Goblin was palpable.
It was the kind of presence that only appeared on the strong.
¡°Master, that guy¡¡±
A Ghost Beastman stepped forward, his expression filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Iron Mask halted the Ghost Beastman from continuing.
¡°A Goblin capable of killing Ghost Beastmen is not to be underestimated!¡±
And so, the demon army watched as a single Goblin slowly approached their forces.
Step by step, Li Meng eventually stopped.
He was now less than two hundred meters away from the demon army.
Looking at the densely packed demon army not far away, Li Meng grinned.
With a giant iron club resting on his shoulder, his thick left hand pointed at himself.
¡°My name is Gobumeng. Who dares fight me?!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s roar caused an uproar in the demon army.
It was best for Goblins to appear a little foolish.
They couldn¡¯t be both powerful and smart¡ªbeing reckless and clumsy made for an excellent disguise.
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The Pigmen and Beastmen looked at each other.
Did they hear wrong?
A mere Goblin dared to challenge the Ghost Beastmen?
¡°Haha!¡±
Laughter erupted from the Pigmen and Beastmen ranks.
Everyone stared mockingly at the Goblin Warrior who seemed intent on seeking death.
However, on the wooden walls of the tribe, the Goblins erupted in cheers.
¡°Gobumeng! Gobumeng!¡±
The Goblins in the tribe shouted wildly.
The synchronized roar of over eighty thousand Goblins created an earth-shaking momentum.
The deafening cheers from the Goblin tribe silenced the laughter of the demon army.
All of them looked in disbelief at the Goblin tribe.
How many Goblins were inside that wooden stronghold to create such a massive roar?
Li Meng grinned and raised his left hand.
The cheers within the stronghold gradually subsided.
Holding the giant iron club, Li Meng pointed it directly at Iron Mask.
¡°What? Have you all turned into cowards? That Ghost Hand guy was stronger than all of you. At least before I crushed his neck, he still threatened me. Come on, fight me properly!¡±
While taunting, Li Meng observed the status panels of the Ghost Beastmen.
Aside from Iron Mask, the other Ghost Beastmen were much weaker.
Their stats were significantly lower than Ghost Hand¡¯s.
However, they all possessed "Elite" strength.
As for Iron Mask, he was at the ¡°King Tier.¡±
His attributes were much higher than Ghost Hand¡¯s.
But his level was quite low¡ª27.
Li Meng also discovered something interesting.
All the Ghost Beastmen possessed identical abilities.
¡°It seems that the Demon King¡¯s Contract is something that can mass-produce strong warriors!¡±
The uniform stats of the Ghost Beastmen made Li Meng realize this fact.
Faced with the Goblin¡¯s provocation, the Ghost Beastmen glared with anger.
¡°A mere Goblin? Master, let me deal with him!¡±
One Ghost Beastman couldn¡¯t tolerate the Goblin¡¯s taunting any longer.
He yanked the reins of his mount, ready to charge forward.
Iron Mask raised his hand, stopping his subordinate¡¯s rash action.
¡°Do not! Don¡¯t fall for his trick!¡±
¡°Master, if we do not respond, the morale of the army will surely plummet!¡±
They were Ghost Beastmen, the strongest race of the demon clan.
How could they refuse a Goblin¡¯s challenge?
If word of this spread back to the tribe, where would their dignity go?
¡°What an interesting Goblin. Iron Mask, let me go!¡±
At this moment, a light and melodious voice sounded from behind.
The sudden voice made the Ghost Beastmen furrow their brows.
They turned to look, and a graceful figure emerged from the army.
She was a Ghost Beastman¡ªa female Ghost Beastman.
Her dark red skin glistened, and her curvy figure was mesmerizing.
Her massive chest resembled two mountains,
threatening to burst through her beast hide top at any moment.
Her plump, round hips swayed seductively as she walked.
Her entire being exuded a seductive aura.
Wherever she passed, the Beastman warriors moved aside.
Watching that graceful figure, the Beastman warriors lowered their heads slightly.
¡°Why is that woman here?¡±
Looking at the graceful figure from behind, Iron Mask felt a headache coming on.
¡°I preferred that Ghost Hand kid. Now that he¡¯s dead, I must avenge him in any case!¡±
The female Ghost Beastman walked leisurely past Iron Mask.
As she passed, she deliberately brushed her slender hand against his thigh.
Iron Mask grabbed Agatha¡¯s delicate hand.
¡°Agatha, if you die here, I won¡¯t be able to explain it to the Demon General!¡±
Agatha¡¯s expression turned cold as she flung Iron Mask¡¯s hand away.
Her plump hips swayed rhythmically as she continued forward.
¡°Iron Mask has truly become more cowardly!¡±
A trace of regret flashed through Agatha¡¯s eyes.
In the past, Iron Mask had been brave and full of wisdom.
Among the Ghost Beastmen, aside from Iron Mask, her favorite had been Ghost Hand.
Ghost Hand was like a younger version of Iron Mask.
Not only was he talented, but he also possessed excellent military acumen.
Now, the younger one was dead at the hands of a Goblin,
and the older one had become hesitant and timid.
The two men she had admired and loved had become so disappointing.
¡°Was my judgment that bad?¡±
Agatha stopped and muttered to herself.
¡°A female Ghost Beastman?¡±
The appearance of the female Ghost Beastman left Li Meng puzzled.
As the female Ghost Beastman examined him,
Li Meng also studied her.
¡°Horns, dark red skin, golden eyes, and hooves¡ªis she a Succubus?¡±
The beautiful and enticing figure of the female Ghost Beastman made Li Meng complain inwardly.
[Ghost Beastman (King)]
[Level: 77]
[Strength: 7147]
[Defense: 6174]
[Agility: 8174]
[Magic: 5741]
[Demon King¡¯s Contract: LV5 (Immune to mental magic)]
[Berserk: LV5]
[War Roar: LV6]
[Super Physique: LV5 (Strength +1000, Defense +1000, Agility +1000)]
[Charged Strike: LV6]
[Super Jump: LV6 (Agility +1200)]
[Instant Dash: LV5]
[Ancestor¡¯s Blessing: LV6 (All Attributes +600)]
[Ancestor¡¯s Protection: LV5]
[Demonic Physique: LV6 (All Attributes +600)]
[Note: Swallowed skills will form a master-servant contract with the Demon King.]
¡°This female Ghost Beastman is actually a King-Tier powerhouse?¡±
A trace of surprise flashed through Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
He hadn¡¯t expected the female Ghost Beastman to be stronger than Iron Mask.
At that moment, the female Ghost Beastman suddenly smiled faintly.
¡°I understand now why Ghost Hand fell to you. Goblin, you are not ordinary.¡±
Chapter 164: World-Class Artifact?
Chapter 164: World-Class Artifact?
Agatha''s eyes narrowed slightly, her face exuding a charming expression.
But a fleeting killing intent flashed across her eyes.
The aura emanating from this Goblin was unusual.
This kind of aura was something she had only ever sensed from her brother.
How could a mere Goblin possess such a powerful aura?
¡°Goblin, if I win, how about you become my mount?¡±
Agatha looked at the Goblin not far away with a smile.
Although the Goblin was strong, Agatha did not think she would lose.
Hearing this, Li Meng frowned slightly.
What was going on?
In the future timeline, Iron Mask refused its duel challenge.
And Iron Mask''s refusal led to a sharp drop in the morale of the Demon Army.
The cause and effect of the Demon Army¡¯s morale collapse had already appeared.
Even if the Life Simulation System''s predicted future information was incomplete,
The female Lizardman in the future timeline shouldn¡¯t exist.
¡°Could it be that the future has already changed without me realizing it?¡±
Recalling his experiences over the past year, Li Meng wore a contemplative expression.
He hadn¡¯t done anything this year.
Since returning from the Black Mountain Marshlands, he had stayed in the Throne Tribe.
Although he had visited the Water Slime Lake,
He hadn¡¯t done anything.
¡°System, begin Life Simulation!¡±
[Life Simulation begins]
[Ghost Beastman ¡°Agatha¡± has accepted your challenge]
[You defeated Agatha and gained the recognition of the Demon Race]
[The Demon Race hopes to form an alliance with you to face the human threat together. You agreed.]
[Your tribe thrives, and your territory expands to the entire Goblin Forest.]
You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
[One day, a centaur messenger arrives at the Throne Tribe.]
[You travel to the Southern Wasteland Demon Race headquarters to attend the council.]
[Please make the following choice]
[1. Agree to join the Demon Race in invading the Irisis Principality.]
[2. Refuse the Demon Race¡¯s proposal.]
It changed. The future timeline had completely changed!
Where was the Ratmen Tribe''s threat?
Could it be that the Ratmen Tribe no longer existed in the future timeline?
A trace of confusion flashed through Li Meng¡¯s eyes.
What was going on?
Why had the future timeline changed inexplicably?
The brand-new future timeline left Li Meng a little at a loss.
Only now did Li Meng realize something important.
That was, his understanding of the Life Simulation System was not as complete as he had thought.
¡°Option one!¡±
Li Meng had no interest in destroying humanity.
But the humans¡¯ crystals must be destroyed.
This world was beautiful, and Li Meng did not want it to collapse within a thousand years.
Though he might not live that long,
Some things had to be done from the very beginning.
[You accepted the Demon Race''s proposal and mobilized to attack the Irisis Principality.]
[You returned to the tribe and began preparations for the invasion of the Irisis Principality.]
[One day, you received a message from the Demon Race.]
[The Demon Army has already assembled and will attack the Irisis Principality from the Ogre Mountain Range.]
[You gathered the Goblin army, sailed downriver, and landed in the Twilight Forest.]
[You attacked Twilight Town.]
[You successfully captured Twilight Town, plundering many humans.]
[You led the Goblin army further north.]
[You advanced with the Goblin army into the Dusk Mountain Range.]
[You besieged the Dusk Valley fortress ¡°Cross Fortress.¡±]
[You died. Your Goblin army was completely annihilated.]
[Life Simulation ends, score: 80]
¡°What? I died just like that?¡±
What was the cause of death?
Did human reinforcements arrive?
Or did some strong individual appear?
The extremely fragmented information made Li Meng¡¯s mouth twitch.
At least in previous death crises, the reason for death was given.
This time, he just died out of nowhere.
[Due to the influence of a world-class artifact, the predicted future timeline will be full of variables.]
Another message popped up.
It was delayed for over ten seconds before appearing.
¡°World-class artifact?¡±
Li Meng frowned slightly, muttering to himself.
Could it be some kind of powerful magical equipment?
[Please make the following reward choice]
[10 points consumed per +1 level increase]
[1 point consumed per +1 attribute point]
[20 points consumed per +1 Luck increase]
[10 points consumed per +1 ¡°Stone Bullet¡± skill level]
[100 points consumed per +1 ¡°Elemental Affinity¡± skill level]
[10 points consumed per +1 ¡°War Stomp¡± skill level]
¡°Increase the level!¡±
[80 points consumed, level +8]
The familiar searing pain struck again.
Right before Agatha¡¯s eyes, the Goblin¡¯s body suddenly swelled.
It looked as if he had entered a berserk state.
His muscles bulged, his whole body crackling with sounds.
His physique expanded by an entire circle before finally stopping.
But the pain subsided, and Li Meng grinned.
He pointed at Agatha with the large iron rod in his hand.
¡°Alright, if I lose, I¡¯ll be your slave. But if I win, you have to bear me a baby Goblin!¡±
This female Ghost Beastman¡¯s status within the Demon Race was not simple.
If he made her a slave, the subsequent alliance might cease to exist.
This was probably what the system meant when it said the future timeline was full of variables.
And the variable was himself.
At some turning points that could change the future timeline, he had to make the right decisions.
¡°Pfft!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s demand made Agatha laugh uncontrollably.
She stepped forward a few steps and drew a massive ghost-hand sword from the ground.
¡°Alright, it¡¯s a deal!¡±
As soon as she finished speaking, Agatha¡¯s face turned cold.
Her aura surged, and her right hoof stomped forward.
With a ¡°boom,¡± a shockwave burst forth.
Agatha¡¯s figure flashed and vanished instantly.
¡°So far away?¡±
Agatha¡¯s sudden disappearance startled Li Meng.
To use the ¡°Instant Flash Charge¡± skill at such a distance¡
¡°Where is she?¡±
Suddenly, a strong gust of wind came from the right.
Agatha¡¯s figure appeared suddenly.
The massive sword in her hand slashed toward Li Meng in a sweeping arc.
Li Meng grinned and planted his large iron rod firmly into the ground.
¡°Clang!¡±
A metallic clang resounded.
Agatha¡¯s sword was effortlessly blocked by Li Meng.
The massive sword left no mark on the iron rod.
To be precise, the iron rod in Li Meng¡¯s hand was no longer just an iron rod.
It was a Mithril Rod, forged from mithril.
Since returning from the Black Mountain Marshlands, Li Meng had taken some mithril ore to the Water Slime Lake to conduct a few experiments.
The experiments proved that the silver ore discovered in the Iron Cavern was indeed mithril.
Extracting and shaping mithril was incredibly simple.
Just submerge the ore in water, and the mithril could be easily broken apart.
Then, create a sealed mold and pour the liquid mithril into it.
After using fire to dry the Water Slime¡¯s mucus, the liquid mithril would harden.
And so, a massive iron rod weapon was formed.
The enormous recoil made Agatha¡¯s expression change.
She hadn¡¯t expected the Goblin¡¯s reaction to be so fast.
And his strength was truly astonishing.
The iron rod, merely planted on the ground, could easily block her strike.
Agatha retreated a step and swung her sword again.
Li Meng also swung the iron rod to block once more.
For a while, the two of them wildly swung their weapons at each other in front of the two armies.
Chapter 165: Agatha the Seductive Hoof
Chapter 165: Agatha the Seductive Hoof
The moves were so fast that they were impossible to see with the naked eye.
Sparks burst out as weapons clashed.
The metallic sounds of weapons colliding resounded through the heavens and earth.
Agatha was on the offense, while Li Meng was defending.
"Your strength is not bad, but it¡¯s still lacking a bit!"
Li Meng grinned, increasing his strength and swinging his club.
"Clang!"
The ear-piercing metallic clash rang out again.
This collision made Agatha¡¯s expression shift slightly.
She felt an immense force transmitted from the greatsword in her hands.
Her greatsword almost flew out of her grasp.
She had to use her body to dissipate the force.
On the battlefield, the two suddenly separated.
Agatha slid back dozens of meters before coming to a stop.
Her hooves left two deep marks on the ground.
After stabilizing her stance, Agatha¡¯s face showed excitement.
She licked her lips with her long tongue.
"Goblin, you¡¯re truly something else. Come again!"
Agatha shouted, stepping forward.
With a loud "boom," a shockwave exploded around her.
Agatha leaped forward like a cannonball, flying low to the ground.
In an instant, she closed the distance to Li Meng.
The sharp greatsword, empowered by her speed, slashed toward Li Meng.
Li Meng grinned, swinging his club.
"Clang!"
The sharp metallic sound rang out once more.
A visible shockwave exploded between them.
The massive force sent Agatha flying backward again.
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Agatha flipped mid-air, landing nimbly on the ground.
The moment she landed, she charged out again.
Once more, she swung her sword toward Li Meng.
"Clang!"
This strike was once again effortlessly deflected.
Agatha twisted her body to dissipate the force.
At the same time, her right leg kicked backward.
Her long hoof was about to strike Li Meng¡¯s waist.
Suddenly, Li Meng¡¯s left hand shot out, grabbing Agatha¡¯s ankle.
Agatha¡¯s expression changed slightly. She reversed her grip on the sword and stabbed down at Li Meng.
Li Meng grinned, using his left hand to fling Agatha away.
Agatha was sent flying.
She flew a full hundred meters before rolling to the ground.
She slid dozens more meters before finally stopping.
This scene made the ghost beastmen behind her pale slightly.
From the start of the battle until now, that goblin hadn¡¯t moved a single step.
The gap between the two was obvious.
The goblin had been passively defending the entire time.
Every one of Agatha¡¯s attacks was easily neutralized.
"This woman¡¯s combat experience isn¡¯t bad!"
Looking at the female ghost beastman he had thrown, Li Meng mused inwardly.
Is combat experience important?
Are combat techniques important?
Of course, they¡¯re important¡ªextremely important.
But improving physical attributes also enhances the five senses.
No matter how fast the female ghost beastman swung her sword, in Li Meng¡¯s eyes, it was like slow motion.
Only unexpected attacks could possibly harm him.
With his powerful stats, Li Meng feared melee battles the least.
Only the chaotic skills of humans posed any real threat to him.
"Goblin, I admit you¡¯re strong, but I won¡¯t lose!"
Agatha stood up, looking slightly disheveled.
Her pale gold eyes stared firmly at the towering goblin.
Agatha couldn¡¯t comprehend how a goblin could be this strong.
So strong that it made her feel an urge to flee.
But as a ghost beastman, her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to accept defeat at the hands of a goblin.
"Goblin, fight me!"
Agatha¡¯s lips curled into a smile, and she let out a roar.
In that instant, the space around her twisted.
A wave of blood energy burst from her body.
"Agatha, stop!"
At that moment, Iron Mask roared.
The thunderous shout made Agatha¡¯s body tremble, bringing her back to her senses.
The surging blood energy dissipated instantly.
Agatha¡¯s expression changed, and she bit her lip lightly.
Facing a goblin, she had almost lost herself to berserk mode?
Seeing Agatha calm down, Iron Mask sighed in relief.
Using berserk mode on a battlefield was a foolish move.
Once in berserk mode, one would lose all reason.
They would instinctively attack any moving target nearby.
In other words, if Agatha went berserk, she wouldn¡¯t necessarily attack the goblin.
She might directly attack the demon army.
If such a scene occurred, it would be a huge problem.
Moreover, the injuries sustained during berserk mode would be felt afterward when the body was in a weakened state.
Even minor wounds could turn fatal.
Iron Mask didn¡¯t want to see Agatha die here.
"Iron Mask, as long as we kill him, Agatha doesn¡¯t have to fulfill the wager!"
"That¡¯s right. No matter how strong he is, he¡¯s alone!"
The ghost beastman centurions grew restless.
With nearly forty thousand troops present, there was no need for this duel with a goblin.
This was just a duel between Agatha and the goblin.
They could order a full charge at any time.
Iron Mask raised his hand, pulling on the reins.
The massive Savage Bull Beast moved forward.
Iron Mask stopped about fifty meters from the goblin.
"Goblin, you are strong enough to earn the respect and recognition of the demon race!"
Li Meng grinned, resting his massive iron club on his shoulder.
"The duel isn¡¯t over yet. Isn¡¯t it a bit improper for you to step in now?"
"I concede!"
At that moment, Agatha¡¯s voice rang out.
Not far away, Agatha leaped up.
She crossed a hundred-meter distance and landed with a "boom."
A large crater formed beneath her hooves.
Agatha swayed her waist and hips as she walked toward Li Meng.
She casually tossed the greatsword in her hand toward Iron Mask.
Iron Mask caught the ghost beastman "Centurion Greatsword."
"Iron Mask, retreat the army. Come back in a month. I¡¯ll explain this to my brother later."
With those words, Agatha smiled seductively.
Her graceful figure leaned into Li Meng¡¯s arms.
Agatha looked up at the goblin¡¯s hideous face.
"Goblin, even if you die, it will have to wait until I fulfill my wager!"
Looking at the alluring female ghost beastman in his arms, Li Meng grinned.
His left hand wrapped around her waist.
"Good. I like females who keep their word!"
Oh my, this female ghost beastman¡¯s waist and hips were really soft and smooth.
She also carried a faint fragrance.
Watching Agatha nestled in the goblin¡¯s arms, Iron Mask looked speechless.
That¡¯s a goblin! Isn¡¯t Agatha¡¯s taste a bit extreme?
Li Meng bent down, hoisting Agatha onto his shoulder.
Amid Agatha¡¯s playful laughter, he turned and walked toward the eastern gate.
"Wait, goblin!"
Seeing Li Meng about to leave, Iron Mask quickly spoke.
Li Meng, carrying Agatha, turned to look at Iron Mask.
His face showed obvious impatience.
It seemed to say, ''I need to go back to the tribe to make baby goblins. Speak quickly!''
Iron Mask hung the greatsword onto the Savage Bull Beast¡¯s back.
"Since Ghost Hand died in a duel, there is no grudge between you and the demon race. Currently, humans dominate the southern continent, and the survival space of the savage tribes is being gradually compressed. In the past, the savage tribes of the Southern Wastelands fought independently, unable to resist the human threat. It was only after the arrival of the demon race that this situation changed. You are unique and intelligent. Goblin Forest is fertile land. You should understand that humans will never give up Goblin Forest. They will invade again and again until they completely occupy it."
Chapter 166: Only Female Centaurs?
Chapter 166: Only Female Centaurs?
Li Meng put Agatha down from his shoulder.
Nestled in Li Meng''s arms, Agatha looked disinterestedly at Iron Mask.
Agatha knew that Iron Mask was about to employ its diplomatic skills again.
The Centaurs and Pigmen were both subdued through its diplomatic strategies, achieving submission at the smallest cost.
¡°I¡¯m not interested in being your Demons¡¯ dog!¡±
Li Meng¡¯s words made Agatha¡¯s eyes light up.
For a mere Goblin, his ambition wasn¡¯t small.
Most of the Savage Tribes wouldn¡¯t resist the Demons'' rule.
That¡¯s because the Demons could protect them from being annihilated by stronger races.
In the eyes of the Demons, Goblins were nothing but disgusting magical creatures.
Iron Mask shook its head.
¡°It¡¯s cooperation and alliance, not vassalage!¡±
Hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly.
At least for now, Iron Mask was still the same Iron Mask from the future.
It was proposing an alliance with him.
Li Meng slapped Agatha¡¯s plump waist and hips with his left hand.
He pushed her away from his embrace.
¡°Fine, then cooperation it is. I agree!¡±
Seeing the Goblin push her away, a hint of dissatisfaction flashed in Agatha¡¯s eyes.
Weren¡¯t Goblins supposed to pounce on any female they saw?
Why was there no greed in this Goblin¡¯s gaze?
¡°Agatha, we should head back!¡±
Iron Mask held the reins.
The massive Savage Bull Beast turned and began heading back the way they had come.
Agatha looked regretfully at the hulking Goblin.
The Goblin was so massive.
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She really did want to experience it.
And also complete the bet between them.
¡°Goblin, I didn¡¯t break the wager¡ªit¡¯s you who rejected it, so don¡¯t regret it later!¡±
Saying this, Agatha threw Li Meng a flirtatious glance.
Then she turned, swaying her hips as she left.
Watching Agatha¡¯s graceful departing figure, Li Meng appeared contemplative.
Li Meng had thought about taking Agatha for himself.
Just like Vanessa, making her his possession.
But Agatha was immune to mental magic due to the Demon King Contract.
His ¡°Word Spirit¡± skill likely wouldn¡¯t work on Agatha.
Li Meng thought again about Vanessa¡¯s God Contract.
The God Contract didn¡¯t have the same immunity to mental magic as the Demon King Contract.
¡°I didn¡¯t expect there to be Centaurs in this world!¡±
Slightly turning his gaze, Li Meng looked at the Centaurs on the left flank of the Demon Army.
They were called horses, but they only had a horse-like form.
The lower body was covered in leather armor, but the exposed skin looked no different from a human¡¯s.
The upper body resembled that of an elf.
They had pointed ears, though not as long as an elf¡¯s.
The legs of the horse body were more like a human¡¯s thick thighs.
Just much sturdier.
Below the thighs were horse-like hooves.
Judging by appearances, the Centaurs seemed to all be female.
At least, their upper bodies had obvious female characteristics.
Their faces also leaned towards femininity.
[Centaur]
[Level: 34]
[Strength: 51]
[Defense: 45]
[Agility: 137]
[Magic: 7]
The Centaurs¡¯ levels were between 30 and 40.
Their stats weren¡¯t particularly strong.
But they were much stronger than weaklings like Goblins.
¡°Wooo!¡±
Not long after, a deep horn sounded within the Demon Army.
The sound of the horn caused a commotion outside the forest.
The black tide of the Demon Army began to turn and gradually withdrew into the forest.
It took over ten minutes for the Demon Army¡¯s kilometer-long front line to retreat into the forest.
A force of hundreds of thousands had gathered in such a small place, yet no battle occurred.
The Demon invasion incident was truly dramatic.
Grinning, Li Meng turned and leisurely walked toward the East Gate across the wasteland outside the wooden stronghold.
From this moment on, the Goblin Forest was his.
Although he didn¡¯t know why the Ratmen Tribe had abandoned their northern advance.
Li Meng didn¡¯t have the time to figure it out either.
When the Ratmen made a move, he¡¯d deal with it then.
¡°Amon, you... you evolved into a Goblin Leader?¡±
At the East Gate, Li Meng saw Vanessa waiting for his return.
Looking at Amon¡¯s massive body, fear flashed in Vanessa¡¯s eyes.
The previous Amon had already been difficult for her to endure.
Would she have to settle for a spiritual relationship with Amon in the future?
The thought of such a future filled Vanessa¡¯s eyes with regret.
She liked Amon¡¯s roughness.
She liked his roar of conquest.
It made her feel Amon¡¯s love for her even more deeply.
¡°Vanessa, what¡¯s wrong?¡±
Seeing Vanessa lost in thought again, Li Meng flicked her forehead.
Coming back to her senses, Vanessa gently shook her head.
¡°Wahaha!¡±
Li Meng let out a hearty laugh, bent down, and hoisted Vanessa onto his shoulder.
¡°Vanessa, wasn¡¯t I cool just now?¡±
¡°Mm, Amon was so cool!¡±
¡°Of course! A single Ghost Beastman? Forget one¡ªI¡¯d knock down three of them just as easily.¡±
¡°Amon, aren¡¯t you exaggerating?¡±
¡°Exaggerating is no big deal. Forget one bull¡ªI could blow two bulls up to the heavens.¡±
Carrying Vanessa, Li Meng strode toward the inner district.
Everywhere he passed, the Goblin underlings looked at him with fervent admiration.
On the wooden walls, the Goblins had long been shocked by their leader¡¯s strength.
They finally realized that even Goblins could become this powerful.
At this moment, the Goblins were filled with hope and confidence for the future.
If their leader could become so strong, so could they.
After returning to the inner district, Li Meng summoned all the Goblin commanders.
The Goblin commanders were those ranked Goblin Warriors and above.
To make command easier, Li Meng divided the Goblins into new ranks.
Ordinary Goblins were Lower Goblins.
Big Goblins became Middle Goblins.
Goblin Warriors were Upper Goblins.
Goblin Champions were Commander Goblins.
Goblin Leaders became Legion Goblins.
Goblin Kings were now Warlord Goblins.
Once a Goblin reached the rank of Commander Goblin.
They would command a Goblin army of no less than five thousand troops.
Legion Goblins commanded ten times the forces of Commander Goblins.
As the Throne Tribe expanded, the Throne Cave Dwelling was also renovated.
Although the inner district was still covered in forest.
From afar, it looked like a massive tree stood at the center of the tribe.
But the towering trees didn¡¯t obstruct the expansion of the Throne Cave Dwelling.
Instead, they served as pillars of support.
The Throne Cave Dwelling was now renamed the Throne Palace.
No Goblin doubted that their leader would stop at the rank of Goblin Champion.
Now, the Throne Palace resembled a wooden fortress.
It spanned an area of five thousand square meters.
Li Meng personally designed its internal structure.
It had three levels: lower, middle, and upper.
The lower level was the spacious Throne Hall.
The middle level housed the Throne Warehouse and the maids¡¯ quarters.
Yes, maids¡ªLizardmen maids.
The upper level contained the Throne Harem and the Throne Treasury.
Since it had just been completed, the maids and ¡°queen consorts¡± had yet to move in.
So Li Meng still slept in the Throne Hall on the first floor.
Chapter 167: Throne Palace and "princess"
Chapter 167: Throne Palace and "princess"
In the spacious throne hall, nearly a hundred Goblin warriors gathered together.
They stood on both sides of the central path.
Their eyes burned with fanaticism as they looked at the tall figure on the throne.
Faced with the fervent gazes of his underlings, Li Meng grinned widely.
These Goblin warriors were mostly his offspring.
Only his bloodline offspring could easily evolve into Goblin warriors.
However, not all of his bloodline offspring could evolve into Goblin warriors.
Even his bloodline would sometimes produce Goblins with low potential.
It was just that the probability was much lower compared to other Goblins.
Of course, low potential referred to a lower ceiling.
But the baseline would never drop below that of a Goblin soldier.
"The demon army has retreated. Tomorrow, you will return!"
Upon hearing this, all the Goblins'' eyes lit up.
They had long wanted to return.
It wasn¡¯t that the Throne Tribe was bad.
It was that their bodies could no longer take it.
Many upper-level Goblins would rather sleep on the streets than in the wooden houses.
They had never imagined a day would come when they would grow to loathe females from the bottom of their hearts.
This time, it would take at least a few years to recover.
Seeing his underlings sigh in relief, Li Meng grinned again.
"Why don¡¯t you stay in the Throne Tribe a bit longer? Bring back more offspring!"
The faces of the Goblins changed slightly, and they quickly shook their heads vigorously.
Gobu Tian even smiled obsequiously, bowing as he spoke.
"Boss, I already have enough offspring. This time, I still have to help establish branch tribes when I go back."
Gobu Tian¡¯s excuse made the other Goblins quickly nod in agreement.
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"Alright, I won¡¯t keep you then!"
Hearing this, the Goblins¡¯ faces lit up with joy.
Great, they could finally go back to eating and sleeping without worries.
Li Meng turned his gaze to Gobu Mo, who was at the front.
"Gobu Mo, you need to focus on the development of the southern tribes. Quickly incorporate the entire Goblin Forest into our territory!"
Gobu Mo nodded his head.
Li Meng¡¯s gaze swept across the Goblins in the hall.
"You must memorize the contents of the Goblin Codex. Violating any rule will not be forgiven!"
By the end, Li Meng¡¯s face turned fierce and intimidating.
Faced with their boss¡¯s menacing gaze, all the Goblins shrank their necks.
They showed expressions of fear and lowered their heads.
Li Meng was very satisfied with his Goblin underlings¡¯ reactions.
Goblin creatures needed the intimidation of a boss to remain obedient.
Li Meng leaned back and waved his hand slightly.
"Go now!"
Upon hearing this, the Goblins quickly withdrew.
Soon, the leader Goblins poured out of the throne hall like a swarm.
Once they left the Throne Palace, the leader Goblins scattered.
There was no friendship between the leader Goblins.
Without the boss, they were competitors.
The kind of competitors who wanted to take each other¡¯s heads off.
Listening to the footsteps gradually fading outside, Li Meng turned to look at Vanessa beside him.
Vanessa had been standing quietly at the side.
She couldn¡¯t understand what Amon was saying.
But the obedience and order displayed by the Goblins astonished her.
The Goblins under Amon¡¯s rule were completely different from what she knew.
"Vanessa, come here!"
Li Meng patted his thigh.
Vanessa smiled gently, swaying her hips as she walked over.
Arriving in front of Li Meng, Vanessa naturally sat on his lap.
Li Meng grinned widely, lightly wrapping his arm around Vanessa¡¯s waist.
At this moment, Li Meng felt a sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu.
Sitting on the throne, holding a beauty in his arms.
In this otherworld, he had finally become the protagonist of the painting.
"Vanessa, how about you manage my harem?"
The Throne Palace was so large that it needed someone to manage it.
And Li Meng thought Vanessa was perfect for the job.
The Lizardman "princesses" were merely temporary tools for reproduction.
Giving them the title of "princess" also served as a symbolic gesture.
In the future, selecting princesses from among the Lizardmen would be done with great fanfare.
The families of the chosen Lizardmen would receive benefits.
In this way, the Lizardmen would view being a "princess" as an honor.
Over time, the Lizardmen¡¯s mindset would change.
They would no longer reject becoming tributes.
If they further spread propaganda about the greatness of their Goblin King,
then becoming a tribute would no longer be a shackle on the Lizardmen.
Instead, it would be the key to a pilgrimage.
Currently, the Lizardmen were already developing in this direction.
Because everyone knew that the fishing tools were invented by their Goblin King.
And the fishing tools ensured that the Lizardmen were no longer hungry.
They could reproduce freely and without worry.
Every day, they had ample time to enjoy life.
And such a life was brought to them by the great Goblin King.
"Amon, I..."
A flicker of hesitation flashed in Vanessa¡¯s eyes.
As a Goblin, Amon had the responsibility to reproduce offspring.
Therefore, Vanessa never thought Amon would belong solely to her.
She had never dared to hope for such a thing.
"Well then, it seems the position of queen can only go to someone else."
"I... I... I want it!"
Vanessa panicked, pressing both hands against Li Meng¡¯s chest.
"Wahahaha!"
The throne hall echoed with Li Meng¡¯s joyful laughter.
Meanwhile, Vanessa, sitting in his lap, blushed and lowered her head.
Although she didn¡¯t mind Amon having other females,
in Amon¡¯s heart, she had to be the most important woman.
"Amon, stop laughing!"
Vanessa pouted, lightly hammering her fists on Li Meng¡¯s chest.
"Alright, alright, I won¡¯t laugh!"
Li Meng stopped laughing, patting Vanessa¡¯s waist and hips.
"Tomorrow, bring the princesses into the palace. Choose some clever Lizardmen to serve them."
A luxurious lifestyle was necessary.
Once those Lizardmen returned, they would spread their experiences to the others.
One tells ten, and ten tell a hundred. Soon, all the Lizardmen would know what the Throne Tribe was like.
The desire for a better life was innate in all creatures.
Time passed little by little, and soon a day had gone by.
That night, the Throne Tribe was lively.
The eastern and northern districts of the Goblins were celebrating the victory from earlier in the day.
Clusters of bonfires burned in the camp,
making the Throne Tribe appear like a beacon in the dark night.
In one of the rooms in the harem behind the Throne Palace, the scene was equally lively.
On the massive bed lay a giant Goblin.
Sitting atop him was a beautiful Dark Elf.
The Dark Elf had purple-red skin.
Her white, waist-length hair cascaded casually down her shoulders.
It swayed along with her graceful movements.
Her charming figure had incredibly alluring curves.
Her full waist and hips were especially enticing.
Vanessa¡¯s hands pressed against Amon¡¯s chest, her eyes brimming with affection.
"Amon, you... your size cannot get any bigger."
Vanessa could already feel that this was her limit.
If Amon¡¯s body grew any larger,
she wasn¡¯t sure if she could continue to bring him pleasure.
Li Meng grinned, his hand gently caressing Vanessa¡¯s face.
Vanessa smiled happily, rubbing her face against Li Meng¡¯s hand.
Li Meng also realized that his size was no longer suitable for Vanessa.
If he grew any larger, it would hurt Vanessa and the princesses.
Chapter 168: The Misty Mountain Range
Chapter 168: The Misty Mountain Range
Time passed bit by bit.
No one knew how much time had gone by before the room finally quieted down.
On the bed in the room, Vanessa lay lazily in Ammon¡¯s embrace.
Li Meng gently held Vanessa''s slender waist.
The two quietly felt each other''s warmth.
"Vanessa, do you know about the Ratmen Tribe?"
Vanessa snuggled into Li Meng''s arms, finding a comfortable position.
"Yes, they are a cave-dwelling savage tribe that lives underground. Their favorite thing to do is digging tunnels. It¡¯s said that the Ratmen Tribe''s underground caverns spread across the entire continent, even reaching deep under the sea."
Li Meng had originally thought the disappearance of the Ratmen Tribe was related to the Dark Elves.
But now it seemed he was overthinking it.
If the Dark Elves had a close relationship with the Ratmen Tribe, Vanessa wouldn¡¯t have described them this way.
From Vanessa¡¯s explanation, it was clear she didn¡¯t know much about the Ratmen Tribe either.
"What kind of tribe are they?"
What kind of tribe?
Vanessa pondered for a moment.
After a while, Vanessa''s voice echoed in the room.
"A savage tribe with the strongest desire for food. When they¡¯re hungry, they invade the surface, targeting other races with specific goals. Wherever they go, they eat everything that can be eaten."
Eat everything that can be eaten?
A trace of doubt flashed in Li Meng''s eyes, and he looked pensive.
The Ratmen Tribe he had seen in Goblin Forest wasn¡¯t like that at all.
"Vanessa, do the Ratmen have habits of herding livestock? For example, eliminating powerful magical beasts in the forest, leaving only non-predatory ones, selectively hunting some creatures to maintain population balance?"
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"No, I don¡¯t think so. The Ratmen Tribe wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. When they invade the surface on a large scale but don¡¯t find enough food, they even gnaw plants down to the roots."
Hearing Vanessa say this, Li Meng realized something.
What the Ratmen Tribe did in Goblin Forest was shockingly similar to his own methods.
The only difference was that he hadn¡¯t intentionally hunted powerful magical beasts.
"Ammon, why did you suddenly ask about the Ratmen Tribe?"
Li Meng grinned and shook his head lightly.
"Nothing, I was just curious about this tribe."
Time continued to pass, and the night deepened.
As the full moon hung high in the sky, the Throne Tribe also gradually quieted down.
That night was peaceful.
---
The next morning, the Throne Tribe was bustling with activity.
Goblin leaders and their underlings left through the various gates of the Throne Tribe.
The dark, dense columns of marching goblins formed long lines.
The goblins joked and played as they walked.
Only when their bosses shouted reprimands did they obediently follow the formations.
------
To the west of Goblin Forest lay a range of mountains.
This range was called the Misty Mountain Range.
To any tribe near the Misty Mountain Range, it was an extremely mysterious existence.
People who wandered into it often disappeared mysteriously.
Those who went looking for them would also vanish without a trace.
Over time, the Misty Mountain Range became a feared land of death.
Deep within the Misty Mountain Range, there was a place surrounded by dense fog.
Within the fog lay a massive valley.
In the center of the valley was a gigantic rift.
Within that rift stood a colossal black castle.
The castle occasionally emanated green light.
"Mirror, mirror¡"
Suddenly, a deep voice echoed in the upper levels of the castle.
It sounded like an incantation, bubbling and gurgling.
At this moment, in a room in the upper levels of the castle¡
A hunched figure stood before a massive black mirror.
The black mirror seemed to possess a magical power.
Just looking at it made it impossible to look away.
"Stop calling me! Can you filthy, stinking rats stop bothering me every day?!"
A rough voice suddenly cursed from within the black mirror.
"You flea-ridden rats should go worship your Rat God or something. Isn¡¯t it supposed to be almighty?"
"Speak quickly. Once you ask your question, don¡¯t bother me for the next year. Otherwise, I¡¯ll curse you mangy rodents."
"If you must bother me, you¡¯ll need to pay me triple."
Faced with the mirror¡¯s vulgar words, the Ratman in front of it was already accustomed to this.
It bowed respectfully to the mirror.
"And another thing¡ªI don¡¯t want your Rat God¡¯s Dimension Crystals anymore. I¡¯m sick of them!"
The Ratman grinned, pulling a crystal with a faint blue glow from its robes.
"A Water Element King Crystal? Heh, at least you flea bags have some sincerity this time."
The Ratman carefully tossed the blue crystal towards the black mirror.
As the crystal touched the mirror''s surface, ripples spread across it.
The Water Element King Crystal sank into the mirror.
"Great Mirror God, can you tell me who caused the Ratmen Tribe¡¯s eastern expedition to fail?"
"Heh, Skaven, why are you so foolish today? You asked a pointless question. But fine, seeing that you brought the Water Element King Crystal, I¡¯ll mercifully explain a little more. There¡¯s something in Goblin Forest I don¡¯t know. Whether or not the Ratmen Tribe can succeed in their eastern expedition, I also don¡¯t know, because Goblin Forest contains a Power God on par with me. Our powers interfere with each other, and our destinies are intertwined. Therefore, I cannot foresee matters connected to it."
"Alright, you can scram now. I¡¯m tired and need to sleep for a few years. You rats better keep quiet for a while. The human world in the southern continent has already become a mess. I don¡¯t know which Power God caused such chaos, but its influence is vast. Heh, Skaven, if your goal is the human world, you might as well take advantage of the chaos. But I can¡¯t guarantee you¡¯ll have a good ending. Good luck! I¡¯m out."
Before long, the eerie aura surrounding the mirror disappeared.
The Ratman Skaven stood before the mirror, his expression uncertain.
He had thought that humans in the southern continent would be easy prey.
He had thought the Goblin Forest would be an easy base to seize for the Ratmen Tribe¡¯s future invasion of the southern continent.
He hadn¡¯t expected a Power God to appear in Goblin Forest.
"Could it be the Demons?"
The Southern Wilderness had been occupied by the Demons ten years ago.
Recently, there had indeed been signs of Demons appearing in Goblin Forest.
"Heh, then let¡¯s observe for a while!"
The room echoed with the chilling laughter of the Ratmen Tribe.
------
Goblin Forest.
Throne Tribe, Throne Palace.
Time flew by. It had unknowingly been two months since the Demon incident.
After the goblins gathered at the Throne Tribe dispersed, the tribe quickly resumed its rapid development.
In the south, the goblins were expanding their territory at a rapid pace.
One sub-tribe after another sprang up.
More sub-tribes were needed to absorb the exploding population.
Chapter 169: Skurg
Chapter 169: Skurg
In less than two years, the entire Goblin Forest will become part of the tribe''s territory.
Since the end of the Demon Clan incident, Li Meng hadn¡¯t been idle.
He began to develop the textile industry.
Ghost Spider Silk was a good material, and the fabric woven from it was comparable to silk.
The tribe might be barbaric, but Li Meng hoped that it would also become more civilized.
At the very least, their clothing should not be so primitive.
The idle female Lizardmen finally found something to do.
In the Throne Hall, a simple loom was clanking and creaking as it worked.
A female Lizardman was fumbling awkwardly in front of the loom, weaving fabric.
"Well, it¡¯s not bad. Gobuda, you did a good job!"
The leader¡¯s praise made Gobuda grin obsequiously.
"Boss, what¡¯s this thing for?"
Gobuda curiously examined the loom, its wheel spinning steadily.
"It¡¯s for weaving cloth. Soon, you¡¯ll be able to wear comfortable clothes."
Armor alone was actually not very comfortable to wear.
It would rub against the skin.
Over time, it would cause injuries.
So, the Goblins stuffed animal hides beneath their armor.
Although the hides prevented the armor from chafing their skin, they were very uncomfortable and hot to wear.
"Boss, what¡¯s ''clothes''?"
"Clothes are something you wear, made of fabric. They¡¯re lighter, thinner, and more comfortable than animal hides."
Gobuda''s eyes lit up.
He committed the word ¡°clothes¡± to memory.
"Go now, and make a thousand more looms like this one!"
Gobuda did some mental math.
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One loom was one loom, ten looms were ten, ten sets of ten made a hundred looms.
A thousand looms would be ten sets of a hundred!
Gobuda''s face fell, and he turned to leave with a mournful look.
This thing was too hard to make.
Some were assembled so loosely that they had to be remade.
"Vanessa, your Elves have similar things, don¡¯t they?"
Vanessa, standing beside Li Meng, looked at the small loom in awe.
She nodded, her face full of admiration as she gazed at Ammon.
"Ammon, you¡¯re so clever. You actually managed to make such a simple and compact loom. The Elves do have something similar, but ours isn¡¯t this small or convenient. How did you think of this?"
Li Meng grinned and tapped his head.
"Who knows? I just figured it out after a bit of thought."
Ammon¡¯s response made Vanessa smile knowingly.
Of course, she knew he was just brushing her off.
But there was no need to dig into it.
"Alright, put this thing away and let the Princesses consorts play with it when they¡¯re bored."
Hearing this, the female Lizardman quickly stopped working.
She picked up the loom and hurriedly left.
Stretching lazily, Li Meng strode outside.
Exiting through the main gate, he stood outside, bathed in the scorching sunlight.
"Vanessa, I¡¯m going to the Ogre Mountains. Do you want to come with me?"
Although in the future timeline, he hadn¡¯t gone to the Ogre Mountains, Benben had been gone for a year, and Li Meng couldn¡¯t wait any longer.
He had to go to the Ogre Mountains to see for himself.
Maybe Benben was in danger and waiting to be rescued.
Vanessa stepped out of the gate behind Li Meng.
"I¡¯ll go with you. The Princess consorts can look after things here."
The Princess consorts in the Lizardman tribe all had significant identities.
They were either elders¡¯ companions or elders¡¯ relatives.
Their status allowed them to manage the female Lizardmen of the Throne Tribe very well.
"Alright, we¡¯ll leave tomorrow!"
Time passed bit by bit, and soon the day was over.
The next morning, Li Meng set out with Vanessa, leaving the Throne Tribe.
The two traveled north toward the Ogre Mountains.
---
In the afternoon, among the rolling mountains.
In a valley, two figures could be seen running¡ªone large and one small.
The large figure had green skin and a tall, muscular build.
The smaller one was tall and agile.
The two were Li Meng and Vanessa.
After entering the Ogre Mountains, they traversed peaks and ridges.
Both were strong, so the steep terrain wasn¡¯t an obstacle.
"Woof woof!"
Just then, a sound resembling a dog¡¯s bark echoed ahead.
The two instinctively stopped.
Slowing their steps, they approached the source of the sound.
As they got closer, they hid behind a large boulder.
"Ammon, it looks like Skurgs!"
Peeking out from behind the boulder, they watched the scene ahead.
In a flat area within the valley, two round, red creatures were biting at each other.
They looked like chubby meatballs, about half a meter in diameter.
They had two legs and ran like dinosaurs.
Their bodies were mostly mouths.
The two Skurgs would sometimes pull apart and then slam into each other.
[Skurg]
[Level: 14]
[Strength: 21]
[Defense: 27]
[Agility: 97]
[Magic: 31]
[Metamorphosis: LV4]
"Woof woof!"
At that moment, one of the Skurgs let out a roar.
It turned and began repeatedly smashing itself against the rocks at the edge of the platform.
After three strikes, something strange happened.
The Skurg seemed to become enraged.
Its entire body turned redder.
Its round body suddenly swelled like a balloon.
Each time it smashed itself, it expanded further.
From half a meter, it grew to two meters tall.
The other Skurg wasn¡¯t willing to lose out.
It also began smashing itself against a rock.
After a few strikes, it too grew several times larger.
Seeing this, Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up.
Wasn¡¯t this the skill he¡¯d been dreaming of?
Li Meng stepped out from behind the boulder and revealed himself.
"Hey, woof woofs! Come over here, come on!"
Li Meng clicked his tongue, calling them as if summoning dogs.
His sudden appearance startled the Skurgs.
They looked at Li Meng in unison, then became furious and roared.
The arrival of a third party made the Skurgs abandon their fight with each other.
The two two-meter-tall Skurgs charged at Li Meng aggressively.
Seeing them approach, Li Meng grinned.
"Good boys, come here, woof woofs!"
Li Meng walked forward, opening his arms.
Vanessa smiled behind him.
How could mere Skurgs be a match for Ammon?
One Skurg bounced closer to Li Meng.
It opened its giant, tooth-filled mouth and chomped down on Li Meng¡¯s upper body.
"Woof woof, your mouth stinks!"
With Li Meng¡¯s upper body in its mouth, he held his nose in disgust.
The Skurg¡¯s teeth clamped onto Li Meng, but they didn¡¯t hurt him at all.
The Steel Body skill had toughened his skin.
It wasn¡¯t easy to break through his defenses.
Li Meng grabbed the Skurg¡¯s teeth with both hands.
He pried its mouth open effortlessly.
Then he kicked it in the belly with his right foot.
"Argh!"
With a loud thud, the Skurg flew through the air, howling as it went.
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Chapter 170: The Undead Clan
Chapter 170: The Undead Clan
¡°Woof woof!¡±
Another Skurg charged forward with a fierce glare.
Li Meng swung a punch.
His massive fist struck the Skurg''s jaw solidly.
With a "boom," the Skurg was sent flying.
It flew dozens of meters before slamming into a boulder.
As the Skurg hit the boulder, it crashed heavily to the ground.
At this moment, the Skurg''s stats changed again.
[Skurg]
[Level: 54]
[Strength: 71]
[Defense: 83]
[Agility: 109]
[Magic: 71]
[Shapeshift: LV4]
¡°Using shrinking to disguise itself?¡±
Its enlarged form must be the Skurg''s true strength.
At this moment, the Skurgs stood up again.
¡°Hey, little guys, follow me, and I¡¯ll make sure you live the good life!¡±
Li Meng grinned and called out to the Skurgs.
The Skurgs barked in excitement.
¡°Food, food, food, I want food!¡±
One Skurg bounced over happily.
Like a puppy, it ran up to Li Meng, hopping and jumping around him.
Its long tongue flopped around, drooling everywhere.
Another Skurg craved freedom.
It turned and bounced away toward the distance.
But at the end of the road to freedom lay "death."
Li Meng flicked his wrist, quickly forming a stone bullet.
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With a ¡°whoosh,¡± the stone shot out.
The dozens of meters distance was covered in an instant.
¡°Pfft!¡±
Blood splattered as the stone pierced through the Skurg''s round body.
The wounded Skurg''s body rolled along the ground.
It rolled for dozens of meters before finally stopping.
Watching the Skurg running circles around him, Li Meng smiled faintly.
He pulled a small dried fish from the food pouch at his waist and tossed it to the Skurg.
The Skurg opened its giant mouth and caught the dried fish.
¡°Woof woof!¡±
Just after swallowing the fish, the Skurg''s face turned fierce.
It turned and barked aggressively at the approaching Vanessa.
¡°Stop barking, we¡¯re on the same side!¡±
Li Meng grinned, patting the Skurg''s round body.
The Skurg turned back and rubbed against Li Meng affectionately.
¡°Wangwang, shrink down!¡±
Just like that, the Skurg received a new name.
It seemed to understand Li Meng''s words.
Its body deflated like a balloon.
With a series of "crackling" sounds, its massive form shrank to half a meter.
Looking at the now-small Skurg beside him, Li Meng grinned again.
Then he turned and walked toward the stone where the other Skurg had landed.
Reaching the corpse, Li Meng crouched down and began to eat.
This scene made Vanessa frown slightly.
If possible, she hoped her Ammon wouldn''t be as savage as the Goblins.
[Devour skill activated. Acquired "Shapeshift" skill.]
¡°Pah!¡±
Spitting out the flesh in his mouth, Li Meng stood up.
He wiped the blood at the corner of his mouth with his hand.
¡°Vanessa, let¡¯s go!¡±
After finishing, Li Meng acted like nothing had happened.
He called Vanessa and continued forward.
And so, the two-person team in the valley became a trio.
Although Skurg wasn''t a "person."
At least Li Meng and Vanessa could still be called "people."
After all, "people" referred to all intelligent races.
Even Goblins were a type of sub-human species.
¡°Wangwang, have you seen a really big Ogre?¡±
The Skurg beside Li Meng barked in response.
¡°Where did it go?¡±
¡°Woof woof!¡±
The Skurg darted off toward the mountain.
¡°Vanessa, let¡¯s go. Follow it!¡±
Follow the Skurg?
Vanessa glanced at Ammon and then at the Skurg.
She smiled, her tall and slender figure moving gracefully as she began running.
About half an hour later, the two followed the Skurg to the top of a mountain.
¡°Woof woof!¡±
The Skurg barked in a certain direction.
As it barked, it bared its teeth and growled.
¡°What... is that?¡±
From the mountaintop, the two looked uneasily toward the northern sky.
In that direction hung an unusually low, dark cloud.
The thick clouds shrouded the land in darkness.
Even the mountains had turned black.
From the clouds, Li Meng could feel an icy, bone-chilling aura.
It felt like something was pulling at his soul.
¡°Ammon, that¡¯s a Death Cloud!¡±
Vanessa¡¯s face grew solemn as she stared at the distant sky.
¡°Vanessa, that¡¯s not a natural phenomenon, is it?¡±
Vanessa nodded, worry flickering in her eyes.
¡°It¡¯s a dark magic cast by the Undead Clan!¡±
The Undead Clan?
Li Meng''s face revealed a thoughtful expression as he murmured internally.
Could it be the undead, like those in fantasy novels?
Vanessa turned to look at Ammon, who was gazing at the distant sky.
¡°Ammon, to release a Death Cloud of this scale, the other side must be a Deathspeaker Archmage from the Undead Clan!¡±
¡°Are they strong?¡±
Li Meng looked back at Vanessa.
Vanessa¡¯s expression grew more serious as she nodded.
¡°They¡¯re very strong¡ªequivalent to the Saints of all races!¡±
Saint-level powerhouses?
Hearing this, Li Meng frowned deeply.
He turned again, staring at the distant sky.
If it really was a Saint-level powerhouse, it wouldn''t be easy to handle.
But Benben might be in those mountains shrouded by dark clouds.
Perhaps Benben had already...
¡°Huff!¡±
Taking a deep breath, Li Meng''s eyes flashed with killing intent.
Benben was the monster he liked most in this world.
Li Meng loved Benben¡¯s carefree, silly nature.
He loved how Benben would call him "boss" in its gruff voice.
If Benben had really died at the hands of the Undead Clan...
He would make those undead taste death once more.
¡°Vanessa, stay here. I must go check it out!¡±
¡°Ammon, what exactly are you looking for?¡±
¡°I¡¯m looking for Benben, an Ogre underling of mine!¡±
Saying that, Li Meng bolted down the mountain.
¡°Woof woof!¡± The Skurg barked and followed.
¡°Wangwang, it¡¯s dangerous there. Stay here and wait for me!¡±
¡°Woof woof!¡±
The Skurg barked again.
Li Meng grinned, leaping into the air.
¡°Alright, then let¡¯s go cause some trouble for the Undead Clan!¡±
The Skurg said it remembered the Ogre¡¯s scent.
It could lead him to the Ogre.
¡°Ammon, I¡¯m coming too!¡±
Vanessa on the mountaintop chased after Ammon.
¡°Vanessa, it¡¯s fine. With my strength, I can leave if things get too dangerous.¡±
Vanessa¡¯s face turned cold, and she shook her head.
¡°Ammon, I¡¯m an archer. Even against a Deathspeaker Archmage, I have a chance for a lethal strike. The emergence of the Death Domain is both a disaster and a curse. If we don¡¯t deal with the Undead Clan, the Goblin Forest will never know peace. Let¡¯s tackle this together today.¡±
Seeing Vanessa¡¯s resolute expression, Li Meng laughed loudly.
¡°Alright, then let¡¯s all go meet the Undead Clan!¡±
With that, Li Meng wrapped one arm around Vanessa¡¯s waist.
With his other hand, he grabbed the Skurg¡¯s teeth.
As he leaped down the mountain, the ground beneath him cracked with a "boom."
A shockwave exploded outward.
Li Meng shot forward like an arrow, soaring for hundreds of meters before landing heavily in the valley below.
Chapter 171: Death Scourge
Chapter 171: Death Scourge
"Boom!"
Li Meng fell from the sky and crashed onto the ground with a "thud."
The ground beneath him immediately sunk into a large pit.
The moment he landed, Li Meng¡¯s figure flashed and shot out like a cannonball.
Carrying Vanessa and holding Wangwang, he sprinted wildly through the valley.
From time to time, he leaped into the air, crossing obstacles.
He soared hundreds of meters and then landed heavily back on the ground.
He looked just like the Hulk in Earth movies.
In less than half an hour, the Death Domain was already close at hand.
¡°Ammon, go up the mountain!¡±
The moment Li Meng charged into the Death Domain, he shivered.
A bone-chilling cold wrapped around his entire body.
That cold wasn¡¯t physical; it was a cold that struck his soul.
The surrounding space instantly turned black and white.
Everything gave off an ominous and eerie sensation.
Vanessa¡¯s reminder made Li Meng turn and run up the mountain.
The rugged terrain could not stop Li Meng¡¯s footsteps.
At times he ran, at times he leaped upward to reach even higher ground.
¡°Ammon, put me down!¡±
On the summit of a great mountain, Li Meng set down Vanessa from his shoulders.
He also dropped Wangwang from his hand.
¡°Woof! Woof!¡±
Wangwang landed on the ground, happily barking at Li Meng.
It seemed to enjoy being carried while running.
¡°Ammon, look over there!¡±
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Vanessa walked a few steps forward and approached the cliff edge.
Li Meng also took two steps forward, coming to Vanessa¡¯s side.
A large and small figure stood side by side, gazing into the distance at the vast canyon.
In the canyon, a wave of green ghost fire surged like a tide.
The owners of the ghost fire were undead creatures of various strange shapes.
There were human skeletons and Pigmen skeletons.
There were Beastmen skeletons and Centaur skeletons.
Aside from skeletons, there were some corpses that hadn¡¯t fully decayed into skeletons.
Their heads burned with clusters of green soul fire.
Countless clusters of green flame formed a long dragon sweeping toward the distance.
The countless undead creatures of various forms formed an undead army.
¡°Ever since the Demons invaded the Southern Continent and occupied the Southern Wastelands, there have been many wars over the past ten years in the Ogre Mountains between humans and other races. Death becomes nourishment for the God of Death. When the God of Death laughs as he feasts upon souls, his power spills out, and the dead are revived. Ammon, this is both a scourge and a disaster caused by man.¡±
Vanessa¡¯s voice rang beside Li Meng.
She gazed expressionlessly at the sea of green fire in the distant canyon.
She was already over two thousand years old and had seen much life and death.
She had also witnessed countless wars between different races.
On the Augus Continent, countless lives perished every day.
Some died in war, others of natural causes.
The God of Death¡¯s power was omnipresent; the Death Scourge was always brewing.
¡°System, begin Life Simulation!¡±
A new event had been triggered; the future was already changing.
This was the perfect opportunity for a life simulation.
[Life Simulation Started]
[You and Vanessa entered the Ogre Mountains searching for Benben, but you accidentally discovered the outbreak of the ¡®Death Scourge.¡¯]
[You and Vanessa continued deeper into the Ogre Mountains.]
[Wangwang caught Benben¡¯s scent.]
[Under Wangwang¡¯s lead, you discovered a battlefield.]
[You found Benben leading the Cave Ogres to fight against the Undead Army.]
[Please make a choice:]
[1. Return to the tribe, gather the Goblin army, and wipe out the ¡®Undead Scourge.¡¯]
[2. Support Benben and look for an opportunity to assassinate the Deathspeaker Archmage.]
[3. Inform the Demons about the Death Scourge in the Ogre Mountains and seek their support.]
¡°Option Two!¡±
Returning to the tribe to gather the army would take too much time.
Benben might not have that much time left.
The third option was no different from the first.
Even though the battlefield was close to the Southern Wastelands, traveling back and forth would still take significant time.
Li Meng wouldn¡¯t gamble Benben¡¯s life on ¡°luck.¡±
[You chose to join the battle and support Benben.]
[Because of your presence, the Undead Army could not breach the cave.]
[The long battle left you feeling exhausted.]
[Faced with the endless undead, a sense of powerlessness welled up within you.]
[Just as you decided to flee with Benben, the Deathspeaker Archmage appeared.]
[Vanessa shot an arrow and killed the Deathspeaker Archmage.]
[Without their leader, the undead wandered aimlessly through the mountains.]
[As the death cloud dispersed, the undead were reduced to ash under the sunlight.]
[You claimed victory and gained the allegiance of the Cave Ogres.]
[You returned to the tribe, and the tribe grew stronger.]
[One day, a Centaur messenger arrived at the Throne Tribe.]
[Demon General Douglas invited you to attend an important military conference.]
[You followed the Centaur messenger to the Southern Wastelands.]
[On the journey, you met the Centaur Queen, Margarita.]
[Curious about Centaur anatomy, you made an inappropriate request to Queen Margarita.]
[Queen Margarita was enraged, and you subdued her.]
[You used ¡®Word Spirit¡¯ on Queen Margarita.]
[Queen Margarita looked at you meaningfully.]
[You and Queen Margarita arrived at the Demon stronghold fortress.]
[You made another inappropriate request to Queen Margarita.]
[Queen Margarita looked at you meaningfully and refused.]
[You used ¡®Word Spirit¡¯ on Queen Margarita again.]
[You met Demon General Douglas.]
[Douglas invited you to join the attack on the Irisis Principality.]
[You agreed to the Demon¡¯s proposal to send troops together.]
[As you left the fortress, Queen Margarita stopped you.]
[Queen Margarita invited you to her tribe as a guest.]
[You made another inappropriate request to Queen Margarita.]
[Queen Margarita looked at you meaningfully and refused.]
[Growing impatient, you subdued Queen Margarita.]
[On the plains, you used ¡®Word Spirit¡¯ and told Queen Margarita a small story.]
[Queen Margarita fell madly in love with you.]
[You made another inappropriate request to Queen Margarita.]
[Queen Margarita gladly agreed.]
[In the thick grass, Queen Margarita removed her bindings.]
[You satisfied your curiosity and were amazed by the Centaur¡¯s body structure.]
[You returned to the tribe.]
[You gathered your army and marched downstream into the Twilight Forest.]
[Your Goblin army swept through the Twilight Forest, plundering many humans.]
[You surrounded Twilight Town and broke through its defenses.]
[You occupied Twilight Town but stopped advancing.]
[One day, a Demon messenger came to find you.]
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Chapter 172: 500 Score
Chapter 172: 500 Score
[The Demon General "Douglas" requests you to attack the Cross Fortress in Twilight Valley. After capturing Cross Fortress, meet in Eras Forest to attack the Irisis Principality''s main city, "Aubenlo"]
[You refused the Demon General "Douglas"''s request and informed him that a human army is ambushed in Twilight Valley]
[The Demon General "Douglas" believed you and instructed you to hold back the ambushing human army in Twilight Valley]
[You gladly agreed]
[The demon army launched a surprise attack on Irisis Principality''s main city, "Aubenlo"]
[Aubenlo City was breached by the demon army, and the crystal was destroyed]
[Due to the influence of the world-class artifact, the simulation failed]
[As a transmigrator, you quelled the "Death Scourge" due to a chance discovery. Tens of thousands of lives had their futures altered because of your existence. Your life is destined to be filled with legendary deeds.]
[The life simulation ends. Score: 500]
[Please select one of the following rewards]
[Consume 10 score: Level +1]
[Consume 1 score: Attribute +1]
[Consume 50 score: Luck +1]
[Consume 10 score: "Wind Blade" skill level +1]
[Consume 100 score: "Elemental Affinity" level +1]
[Consume 10 score: "Stone Bullet" skill level +1]
[Consume 10 score: "Transformation" skill level +1]
Li Meng was startled by the incredible score of 500.
This was the highest score he had achieved over the years.
The last "Goblin Codex" simulation only earned 300 points.
This time, the reward had skyrocketed to 500.
"Increase my level!"
With the transformation skill in hand, leveling up was now a priority.
Becoming the Goblin King was the most immediate goal.
[Consume 500 score: Level +50]
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An unbearable pain struck him once again.
"Ah!"
At the cliff''s edge, Li Meng suddenly roared towards the sky.
His massive body crackled and creaked.
"Ammon, what¡ is happening to you?"
Vanessa was startled by Ammon¡¯s sudden cry.
When she turned to look, her face changed dramatically.
Ammon¡¯s body was twisting and expanding.
She could feel an endless stream of power pouring into Ammon¡¯s body from the earth.
That power was tearing at Ammon¡¯s body.
"Ssshhh!"
The blood vessels on Li Meng¡¯s body suddenly burst open.
Blood sprayed in all directions.
Enduring the agony, Li Meng quickly tore off the cloth from his waist and used it to shield Vanessa.
The splattering blood stained the cloth red.
Amidst Li Meng¡¯s agonized screams, his body underwent a shocking transformation.
His large frame swelled, grew, and continued to expand.
The blood vessels that had burst began to rapidly heal.
The blessing of his immortal body accelerated his recovery speed.
From 3 meters to 4 meters, then to 5 meters.
When his body was just a step away from 5 meters tall, the twisting and swelling finally stopped.
"Huff!"
As the pain subsided, Li Meng¡¯s enormous body fell to his knees, powerless.
Lying on the ground, Li Meng gasped for breath.
The agony brought by the sudden level-up was too intense.
His entire body was drenched in sweat.
"Ammon!"
Vanessa threw away the animal cloth she had been holding.
Standing in front of Ammon¡¯s gigantic body, she let out a cry of astonishment.
After her initial shock, Vanessa quickly came back to her senses.
She rushed forward and grabbed Ammon¡¯s massive arm.
"Ammon, you¡ what happened to you?"
Looking at the panting Ammon before her, Vanessa was filled with confusion.
She could not comprehend what had just happened to Ammon.
Why had Ammon suddenly evolved?
Judging by Ammon¡¯s enormous size, he was now likely only a step away from becoming the Goblin King.
No, at this moment, Ammon might already have evolved into the Goblin King.
Li Meng turned his head and grinned at Vanessa.
"I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m doing great!"
As he spoke, Li Meng stood up.
"Ah!"
When Li Meng stood up, Vanessa let out a shriek.
She stared blankly at the gigantic figure before her.
Terrified, she backed away repeatedly and quickly turned around.
"My God, what is that?"
Vanessa could feel her heart pounding violently.
Her face flushed with heat.
The images in her mind refused to fade.
Vanessa covered her face and shook her head vigorously.
"No, I can¡¯t think about it! I can¡¯t think about it!"
But the more she tried to stop herself, the clearer the images became in her mind.
Vanessa¡¯s overreaction made Li Meng look down.
When he saw the situation, Li Meng grinned.
No wonder Vanessa had been so shocked and reacted so strongly.
Forget Vanessa¡ªeven a Centaur would have fled in panic.
Looking around, Li Meng rubbed his bald head in frustration.
His body had suddenly become so massive that even the animal hides no longer fit.
After a while, Vanessa finally calmed down.
She took a deep breath, turned around, and looked at Ammon.
As soon as she turned, the giant figure was right before her, close enough to touch.
Vanessa¡¯s eyes rolled back, and she fainted.
Her graceful figure fell backward toward the ground.
"Vanessa!"
Seeing Vanessa suddenly faint, Li Meng was shocked.
He hurriedly reached out and caught her, his hands fumbling in panic.
Looking at the unconscious Vanessa in his hands, Li Meng was helpless.
She was a King-ranked powerhouse, yet she fainted so easily.
"What should I do now?"
Li Meng looked down in frustration.
He couldn¡¯t just run around naked, could he?
When he first met Benben, even Benben had been wearing a pair of underpants.
Wait, underpants?
Li Meng glanced at the cloth lying nearby and smiled.
Time passed bit by bit, and the mountaintop fell quiet.
Wangwang bounced around, running back and forth on the mountaintop.
"Wha¡ what happened to me?"
About half an hour later, Vanessa woke up.
The moment she opened her eyes, she saw Ammon¡¯s gigantic face.
The enormous, ugly, yet oddly handsome face reminded her of everything.
She closed her eyes again.
"Ammon, let me rest for a moment!"
Sitting cross-legged on the cliff, Li Meng looked down at Vanessa, who lay in his arms.
Li Meng grinned and used his giant finger to poke Vanessa¡¯s forehead.
"Vanessa, were you scared by me, or were you scared by what was underneath me?"
At these words, Vanessa opened her eyes and glared at Ammon in frustration.
Vanessa stood up, jumped out of Ammon¡¯s embrace, and looked down.
It was then that she realized Ammon was now wearing a pair of animal-hide underpants.
Though small and ill-fitting, they still managed to cover what needed to be covered.
Li Meng stood up, his gaze sweeping toward the distant "Death Scourge."
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 93]
[Strength: 24337]
[Defense: 22197]
[Agility: 18147]
[Magic: 11911]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts has a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Body: LV5 (Strength +5000, Defense +5000, Agility +2500)]
[Wind Blade: LV1]
[Undying Body: LV2]
[Word Spirit: LV1]
[Ice Element Control - King of Ice Elements: LV1]
[Mad God (Sealed): LV1]
[Physical Enhancement: LV6 (Strength +300, Agility +300)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic Power +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
[Stone Bullet: LV1]
[Transformation: LV1]
Chapter 173: Battlefield of the Great Canyon
Chapter 173: Battlefield of the Great Canyon
The exaggerated stats left Li Meng silent.
Once he became the Goblin King, it would probably be difficult to level up.
Li Meng had a strong feeling about this.
After becoming the Goblin King, the score required to level up would likely multiply several times over.
¡°Vanessa, let¡¯s go!¡±
Li Meng squatted down and stretched out his hand.
Vanessa stepped forward onto Amon¡¯s palm.
Then, following Amon¡¯s arm, she climbed up to his shoulder.
¡°Wangwang, come here!¡±
¡°Wangwang!¡±
Wangwang bounced and ran toward Li Meng.
Its round body leapt into the air and jumped into Li Meng¡¯s hand.
¡°Vanessa, hold on tight!¡±
On the mountaintop, Li Meng planted his feet and began running.
After a quick sprint, he took a step forward and leapt.
¡°Boom!¡±
A loud crash echoed.
The rocky ground cracked.
A shockwave exploded under Li Meng¡¯s feet.
His massive body soared into the sky.
This leap was shockingly high, sending him hundreds of meters into the air.
His enormous body began to descend toward another mountain peak.
Sitting on Li Meng¡¯s shoulder, Vanessa was stunned.
She could feel the explosive power within Amon¡¯s body.
She couldn¡¯t comprehend why Amon had suddenly become so strong.
¡°Amon, what just happened?¡±
Facing the rushing wind, Vanessa asked into Amon¡¯s ear.
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At that moment, Li Meng landed heavily on the mountainside.
Amidst the rumbling impact, he leapt once more.
Li Meng had truly transformed into a green giant.
¡°I don¡¯t know either. When I saw the undead calamity, I think I got scared. Then I thought, ¡®If only I could get stronger,¡¯ so I could charge into the mountains and rescue Benben. Then, I evolved!¡±
Just like that?
Vanessa sat speechless on Amon¡¯s shoulder.
Her expression shifted as though she had thought of something.
¡°Could it be that a god has been born among the goblins?¡±
Amon had been chosen by the gods to become a hero.
Could that be the case?
Vanessa wasn¡¯t certain.
After all, aside from possessing great strength, heroes didn¡¯t have any distinct characteristics.
Only a few powerful individuals could sense divine energy within a hero.
During the following time, Li Meng continued bounding across mountains.
Like a flea, he leapt from one peak to the next.
¡°Wangwang!¡±
Just as Li Meng landed heavily on a small mountain¡¯s summit, Wangwang barked loudly in his hand.
¡°Wangwang, which direction?¡±
Wangwang said it could smell the ogre¡¯s scent.
¡°Wangwang!¡±
Wangwang barked again in Li Meng¡¯s hand.
Li Meng grinned and began running once more.
His massive body leapt into the air again, bounding quickly into the distance like a flea.
---
Ogre Mountain Range
Deep within the Death Cloud lay a vast canyon.
At the canyon¡¯s depths, a battlefield stretched far and wide.
Across the canyon, green flames burned in an endless blaze.
Amidst the sea of fire was an unending ocean of white bones.
At the far end of the canyon stood an almost vertical cliff wall.
Beneath the cliff was a massive cave entrance.
Outside the cave, it was chaos. Roars echoed everywhere.
Gigantic figures were fighting fiercely with the undead creatures.
These were cave ogres, each standing nearly three meters tall.
They were similar to ogres¡ªsubspecies of the ogres.
They were smaller in stature and leaner in build.
Their figures resembled humans more, lacking the ogres¡¯ burly bulk.
¡°Roar!¡±
Amidst nearly a hundred cave ogres, there was one even larger figure.
It wore iron armor and wielded a spiked club.
Every swing of the giant spiked club shattered several undead creatures.
But the number of undead was simply overwhelming.
Skeletons surged forward, crawling onto the giant ogre¡¯s body from behind, the left, and the right.
The giant ogre roared angrily, swinging its club once more.
Another batch of skeletons was smashed to pieces.
It used its left hand to slap at the undead crawling over its body like ants.
But more and more undead creatures climbed onto the giant ogre.
From a distance, it seemed as though the giant ogre¡¯s massive body was about to be swallowed.
¡°Roar!¡±
Seeing this, the cave ogres nearby charged forward.
They swung their stone hammers, smashing undead creatures with every strike.
But the number of undead was too great.
Some cave ogres were even dragged to the ground by the undead.
Once a cave ogre fell, its death was certain.
The undead would swarm it, attacking with their weapons relentlessly.
¡°Whooo!¡±
At that moment, the sound of an urgent horn echoed from the cave.
Furious roars followed closely behind.
Silhouettes surged from the dim cave entrance.
One after another, cave ogres roared as they charged out.
Among them were weak ones and strong ones.
There were small ones and large ones.
Hundreds of cave ogres fearlessly charged into the sea of white bones.
Their massive bodies were like heavy tanks.
Wherever they passed, bones shattered.
Hundreds of cave ogres launched an unstoppable charge.
They charged all the way to the giant ogre surrounded by undead.
The cave ogres swung their stone hammers, preventing the undead from approaching.
With the help of the cave ogres, the giant ogre quickly cleared the undead from its body.
However, their position had pushed too deep into the sea of undead bones.
Although the cave ogres had reached the giant ogre, their retreat was now cut off.
From all directions, countless undead creatures surrounded the cave ogres.
On the battlefield outside the cave, the cave ogres fought like an isolated island.
Each cave ogre fought desperately.
With every hammer swing, bones flew in all directions.
But the endless undead were slowly compressing the cave ogres¡¯ fighting space.
More and more cave ogres were falling.
Amidst wails, their bodies were torn open and killed piece by piece.
In the center of the battlefield, Benben¡¯s massive figure stared helplessly at the endless sea of undead.
The green flames filled every inch of the canyon.
It was tired¡ªso very tired.
After days of battle, the spiked club in its hand felt unbearably heavy.
Every swing of its arms was painful.
But it couldn¡¯t stop.
If it stopped, the skeletons would overwhelm it.
¡°Roar!¡±
Benben let out a roar.
It lifted the spiked club and swung it horizontally at the human skeletons before it.
The moment it swung, its grip loosened.
The spiked club fell from Benben¡¯s hand, crashing to the ground.
Benben¡¯s body stiffened.
It lowered its head, staring blankly at the spiked club on the ground.
¡°Benben, pick up the spiked club!¡±
At that moment, a thunderous voice echoed from the sky.
The familiar sound made Benben¡¯s body tremble.
It raised its head to look toward the sky.
Above the battlefield, a massive ice spear came hurtling down.
It was enormous¡ªover two hundred meters long and more than thirty meters in diameter.
Standing atop the ice spear was a tall, green-skinned figure.
That figure was none other than Li Meng.
Chapter 174: Sea of Deathly Bones
Chapter 174: Sea of Deathly Bones
The wild wind blew against his face as Li Meng carried a small iron rod on his shoulder and grinned.
Li Meng stomped his foot, his body leaping into the air.
The immense power caused the flying ice spike in the sky to suddenly plummet toward the ground.
¡°Boom!¡±
The giant ice spike smashed into the sea of green flames.
The powerful impact shattered the ice spike into pieces.
Countless shards of ice swept across the surroundings.
A mist of ice expanded outward.
Wherever it passed, everything was frozen.
Everything within a five-hundred-meter radius was frozen solid.
Thousands of undead creatures were turned into statues of ice.
The smaller shards of ice smashed entire waves of undead creatures.
¡°Boom!¡±
Li Meng, falling from the sky, crashed into the ground like a missile.
The ground cracked open, and a shockwave spread out.
Nearby undead creatures were instantly blown away.
Those closer to him were directly shattered into pieces of bone.
¡°Boss?¡±
The gigantic goblin gave Benben quite a scare.
That familiar voice and scent were the only things that confirmed it was the boss.
The massive goblin in front of him was indeed his boss.
Li Meng grinned, planting the large iron rod into the ground.
A rolling mist of ice surged out.
Dense, crystalline ice shards formed around Li Meng¡¯s body.
The ice shards then condensed into small ice spikes.
Li Meng pointed his left hand forward.
Countless ice spikes shot out like bullets.
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Undead creatures in a straight line were instantly pierced through.
With a sweeping motion, Li Meng shattered waves of undead creatures in front of him.
¡°Benben, take your little brothers to guard the cave!¡±
¡°Crack, crack!¡±
Over ten human corpses ran from the left side.
Their rotting flesh had almost fallen off completely.
In just a few days, they would turn into skeletons.
Li Meng swung the iron rod, sweeping it across the corpses.
The half-skeletal bodies were smashed into pieces by the giant iron rod.
¡°Benben, leave the spiked club!¡±
The iron rod in his hand was no longer suitable for his nearly five-meter-tall body.
When he returned, he would have to forge an even larger iron rod.
¡°Boss, catch!¡±
Benben picked up the spiked club on the ground and hurled it toward his boss¡¯s direction.
The giant spiked club spun through the air toward Li Meng.
Li Meng turned and caught the enormous spiked club with one hand.
¡°Wahaha! You bone scraps! Let me smash your bones to pieces!¡±
Li Meng held the iron rod in his right hand and the spiked club in his left, spinning them around.
The spinning weapons created a blade storm.
Wherever he passed, it was like a meat grinder shredding undead creatures.
Bones flew, and rotting flesh splattered everywhere.
¡°Return to the cave! Follow me!¡±
Benben obediently let out a roar.
He took giant strides, rushing toward the cave entrance.
The other Cave Ogres heard Benben¡¯s roar.
Seeing him charging toward the cave, they all gathered around him.
Benben was like a heavy tank, plowing through the sea of bones.
Wherever he passed, numerous skeletons were trampled and smashed aside.
The Cave Ogres roared as they followed behind Benben.
They charged into the cave with unstoppable momentum.
¡°Guard the cave entrance! Don¡¯t let any of those bones come in!¡±
Benben¡¯s body was simply too massive.
He couldn¡¯t move freely in the narrow cave entrance.
This was why Benben fought outside.
The Cave Ogres had already been guarding the entrance for over half a month.
Every Cave Ogre was exhausted.
Only then had Benben been forced to charge out and give the Cave Ogres time to rest.
¡°Boss, he¡¯s so strong!¡±
About two hundred meters away from the cave entrance in the valley.
A massive goblin was slaughtering his way through the undead.
He was like an isolated island in the sea of bones.
No matter how many waves of skeletons surged forth, none could get close.
Since the undead were all attracted by the massive goblin outside, the undead at the cave entrance didn¡¯t advance.
The Cave Ogres watching from the cave entrance looked on with awe.
¡°Of course, that¡¯s my boss!¡±
Benben plopped down at the entrance of the cave.
He sat like a giant metal mountain blocking the cave entrance.
¡°That¡¯s the boss¡¯s boss?¡±
¡°The boss can have a boss too?¡±
¡°Then does the boss¡¯s boss have a boss as well?¡±
¡°No, the boss is the strongest.¡±
Inside his helmet, Benben looked at his boss in the distance with admiration.
The boss had grown even stronger.
His small body had grown much, much bigger.
At that moment, outside in the valley, Li Meng was slaughtering through the undead.
With weapons in both hands, the space around him became an empty zone.
The iron rod and spiked club swept through every direction.
Undead creatures in the 360-degree radius around him were wiped out.
¡°Is the Army of Death only made up of these weaklings?¡±
Even as he fought, Li Meng still had the leisure to observe the undead.
Most of the undead were low-level trash, barely single digits in level.
They didn¡¯t even have decent weapons.
Only a small number of skeletons exceeded level twenty.
Those skeletons held relatively fine bone shields and bone swords.
¡°Do skeletons need time to evolve?¡±
The bone swords and shields were clearly generated by the undead themselves.
This made Li Meng suspect something about the ¡°Death Scourge.¡±
The ¡°Death Scourge¡± likely grew stronger over time.
If left unchecked for too long, its strength would grow exponentially.
¡°Where is the Deathspeaker Archmage?¡±
Li Meng looked around, but all he could see was the green sea of flames.
White skeletons filled every inch of space in the valley.
The staggering numbers were a grim reminder of how brutal the battles between humans and demons must have been.
While Li Meng slaughtered through the valley...
A graceful figure stood on a distant mountain.
Vanessa held her bow as she scanned the battlefield in the valley.
The number of undead creatures in the valley was overwhelming.
There were no fewer than 150,000 of them, likely even more.
Finding the Deathspeaker Archmage among the countless undead was not an easy task.
When her gaze landed on Ammon, who was slaughtering through the undead, a hint of worry flashed in Vanessa¡¯s eyes.
Ammon was indeed powerful, with strength comparable to a Saint-tier warrior.
But even the strongest warriors grew tired.
Even the most powerful mages would eventually run out of mana.
Even the bravest heroes from all races were often worn down by enemies.
¡°Huff!¡±
Vanessa took a deep breath.
She shifted her gaze away from Ammon.
She had to find the Deathspeaker Archmage as quickly as possible.
Only then could she help Ammon on the battlefield.
Time passed little by little, and the chaos on the battlefield continued.
¡°So this is the sense of powerlessness when facing absolute numbers?¡±
In the sea of bones, Li Meng mechanically swung his spiked club and iron rod.
Each swing carried the momentum of sweeping through armies.
But no matter how many he killed, the area around him was still filled with dense hordes of undead.
At that moment, Li Meng realized that even the strongest had their limits.
In large-scale battles, strong warriors often didn¡¯t participate directly.
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Chapter 175: Deathspeaker Archmage
Chapter 175: Deathspeaker Archmage
It would only engage when strong enemies appeared.
This was to minimize their own army''s casualties.
Li Meng had no idea how long he had been fighting.
He only felt a faint soreness in his hands.
His hands were no longer as strong as when he had first joined the battle.
"Time to leave, time to leave!"
Feeling overwhelmed, Li Meng turned around, sprinting toward the cave entrance.
With a running start, he leapt with all his might.
His massive body soared into the air, reaching a height of nearly a hundred meters.
He crossed over a hundred meters before landing with a loud thud at the cave entrance.
As soon as he landed, Li Meng quickly dashed into the cave.
The moment he entered the cave, he turned and waved his hand.
A white ice mist emerged.
With a crack, a thick wall of ice rose up, blocking the cave entrance.
Having done all this, Li Meng plopped down onto the ground.
"Boss, are you alright?"
Seeing the boss sitting on the ground panting heavily, Benben walked up.
Li Meng waved his hand and took a deep breath.
"I''m fine, just a little tired!"
At that moment, the undead outside charged at the cave entrance.
The green tide crashed against the ice wall.
The undead attacked the ice wall frantically with various weapons in their hands.
For a moment, a loud clanging echoed in the cave.
"Benben, does the cave have any other exits?"
Benben turned around and looked at the nearby Cave Ogres.
One of the Cave Ogres hurried forward.
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"Boss¡¯s boss, there are no other exits in this cave."
Hearing this, Li Meng understood.
It seemed Benben and the Cave Ogres were trapped here.
Li Meng turned around and glared at Benben beside him.
"Benben, what did I tell you?"
Benben scratched his bald helmet.
"Boss, they''re my little brothers, I... I had to protect them!"
"So you entered the Ogre Mountain Range just for them?"
Li Meng turned his head again and glanced at the Cave Ogres in the cave.
Cave Ogres were a subspecies of Ogres.
Although they weren¡¯t as large as Ogres,
their average height was no less than three meters.
And their numbers were far greater than that of the Ogres.
Just at the cave entrance, there were no fewer than a hundred Cave Ogres.
Benben shook his head.
"Boss, there''s a big guy in the Ogre Mountain Range. It''s super despicable. I wanted to fight it, but it got its little brothers to gang up on me. I couldn¡¯t win, so I ran, and on my way back, I ran into these little guys."
A big guy in the Ogre Mountain Range?
If Benben called it a big guy, it was definitely no simple opponent.
That meant this big guy was an Ogre bigger than Benben.
"Benben, was that big guy an Ogre?"
Benben nodded, then shook his head.
"It''s a little weird. Although it¡¯s an Ogre, the aura on its body is disgusting!"
A disgusting aura from an Ogre?
Li Meng''s expression turned thoughtful, his face showing contemplation.
It seemed that within the Ogre Mountain Range, there was a force led by an Ogre.
That force had refused Benben¡¯s challenge.
This meant that Ogre was special and smart.
"Boss, there was a time when you had that same aura on you."
Benben''s words startled Li Meng.
"Benben, are you sure?"
Benben nodded firmly.
"Yes, during the battles with the humans, Boss, you had that aura. It was faint, but it disappeared quickly."
A battle with humans?
Li Meng frowned, deep in thought.
The battle with humans must refer to the last skirmish against the Irisis Principality¡¯s expansion corps.
Did he do anything before the ambush began?
Could it be... Ghost Hand?
Li Meng recalled the Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand.
Before heading to the ambush site, he had fought with the Ghost Beastman Ghost Hand.
It was normal for some of its aura to linger on him.
"So that Ogre is related to the Demonic Race?"
The aura Benben mentioned must have been from a Demonic King Contract.
Whether it was Ghost Hand or Agatha, they both had a foreboding aura about them.
"The Demonic Race is indeed not to be underestimated!"
Li Meng grinned ferociously and stood up.
It seemed Benben had come a step too late.
The Demonic Race had long set their sights on the Ogres'' and Cave Ogres'' immense combat strength.
Years ago, they must have already subjugated the Ogres and Cave Ogres in the Ogre Mountain Range.
"It¡¯s okay, Benben. Next time, I¡¯ll help you settle the score!"
Since that big guy refused Benben''s challenge,
then Li Meng could do whatever he wanted.
Benben hurriedly nodded.
"Boss, when the time comes, you really have to give it a beating! It''s super despicable!"
"Alright, I¡¯ll beat it so bad it kneels down and begs¡ª"
Before he could finish, Li Meng''s face suddenly changed.
His gaze sharply turned toward the outside.
"Ha ha ha, there you are!"
Li Meng¡¯s figure flashed, and he laughed loudly as he charged toward the ice wall.
His massive body crashed into the ice wall like a wild bull.
Boom!
A deafening boom echoed.
The thick ice wall shattered with a crash.
The scattered ice fragments swept across a large swath of undead outside the cave.
At the very moment Li Meng burst out of the cave entrance,
a giant bone spear whistled toward him from the distance.
The enormous bone spear was nearly thirty meters long and no less than twenty centimeters in diameter.
Its target was the ice wall at the cave entrance.
Li Meng grinned, gripping his massive iron rod and swinging it toward the bone spear.
Boom!
At the moment the iron rod struck the bone spear,
With a loud crack, a visible shockwave exploded outward.
The massive bone spear shattered.
The bone fragments scattered in all directions, piercing through a large number of skeletons like bullets.
Looking carefully, Li Meng¡¯s gaze turned toward the direction the bone spear had come from.
In that direction, Li Meng could sense a powerful aura.
"Found you!"
Amid the sea of white bones, Li Meng found his target.
It was a figure clad in a black robe.
It blended into the sea of white bones.
If it hadn¡¯t cast a spell, it would have been almost impossible to spot.
Its body was large, standing nearly three meters tall.
The massive black-robed body floated half a meter off the ground.
Logically, with such a size, it should have been very conspicuous in the sea of bones.
After all, undead creatures weren¡¯t particularly large.
But despite the long battle, it had remained hidden.
"Ha ha, seize the leader to defeat the army!"
Li Meng laughed wildly, his massive figure charging forward like a missile.
With a running leap,
his massive green body soared into the sky.
In the air, Li Meng pointed his massive iron rod toward the target.
A mist of ice spread from Li Meng¡¯s body.
It quickly condensed into a giant ice spike overhead.
The fifty-meter-long ice spike shot forward.
It arced toward the black-robed figure in the sea of bones.
Faced with the incoming ice spike, the Deathspeaker Archmage moved.
A pale, bony hand stretched out from the black robe.
The ground trembled, and a massive bone wall rose from the earth.
The bone wall covered the Deathspeaker Archmage like an upside-down bowl.
The ice spike roared through the sky, crashing into the bone wall.
Chapter 176: Magical Collision
Chapter 176: Magical Collision
¡°Boom!¡±
A loud explosion rang out as a massive ice spike shattered into countless pieces.
The flying shards of ice swept through the surrounding undead creatures like bullets, shattering their bodies.
A wave of icy mist spread outward, freezing both the bone wall and nearby undead creatures.
In that cold, white world, hundreds of undead were turned into ice sculptures.
¡°Crack!¡±
Suddenly, the bone wall broke apart.
The layer of ice covering the bone wall also fractured.
The bone wall cracked like a spiderweb, eventually collapsing with a thunderous crash.
From within the collapsing bone wall, a figure in a black robe soared into the sky.
¡°He can fly?¡±
Li Meng, who had landed heavily in the sea of bones hundreds of meters away, was startled to see the Deathspeaker Archmage flying higher and higher.
Eventually, the Archmage hovered approximately 200 meters above the ground.
[Deathspeaker Archmage (Saint Rank)]
[Strength: 107]
[Defense: 75]
[Agility: 57]
[Magic Power: ???]
[Reaper¡¯s Blessing: LV5]
[Domain of Death: LV4]
[Note: Undead creatures cannot be devoured]
Although the Deathspeaker Archmage only had two skills, his terrifying magic power made it clear to Li Meng that these skills were far from simple.
They were similar to his skill, ¡°King of Ice Elements,¡± allowing him to freely manipulate the power of frost without relying on fixed spells.
At this moment, the Archmage in the sky extended a pale, skeletal hand once more.
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The dark clouds above churned violently.
The next instant, countless bone spears rained down from the clouds like droplets of water.
Their target was none other than Li Meng, who was in the sea of bones.
Seeing this, Li Meng felt a chill run down his spine. He immediately broke into a run.
¡°Boom!¡±
Bone spears, each about 20 meters long, crashed into the ground one after another.
In the sea of bones, Li Meng darted left and right, dodging the incoming attacks.
¡°So, this is the power of magic?¡±
In the canyon, Li Meng scurried around in a panic, while the whistling sound of falling bone spears echoed in waves from the sky.
The countless bone spears descended like a torrential downpour, bombarding Li Meng.
As he sprinted forward, Li Meng dove to the ground.
A massive bone spear slammed into the spot where he had been standing moments before with a deafening crash.
As he rose to his feet, Li Meng swung his arm, sending a visible wind blade shooting into the air.
With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the wind blade collided with a bone spear above, shattering it.
The wind blade dissipated shortly afterward.
¡°Rise!¡±
Using his iron staff, Li Meng swept aside the surrounding undead creatures and roared.
White icy mist surged out like a tidal wave.
With a series of cracking sounds, massive ice walls rose around him, forming an inverted bowl that shielded him.
This move was one Li Meng had learned from the Deathspeaker Archmage.
¡°Shhh!¡±
Bone spears rained down on the ice walls, some shattering on impact, while others embedded themselves deeply.
Before long, the surface of the ice wall facing the sky resembled a porcupine, covered in protruding bone spears.
Although the bone spears continued to fall relentlessly, the ice wall began to shake and crumble.
¡°Bang!¡±
As the ice wall was breached, Li Meng smashed through it and charged out.
The moment he emerged, the ice wall collapsed entirely behind him.
At this point, the sky finally ceased its bombardment of massive bone spears.
Li Meng barely had time to catch his breath when he noticed the Deathspeaker Archmage in the sky moving again.
The Archmage extended another pale skeletal hand from beneath his black robe, raising both hands high as if chanting.
The dark clouds churned violently once more, with green ghostly flames flickering within them.
The next moment, massive green fireballs descended from the clouds.
¡°Is it endless?¡±
The sight gave Li Meng a jolt.
He immediately stopped, gripping his iron staff, and pointed it at the sky.
White icy mist surged forth, sweeping through the surrounding area.
A massive ice spike formed in an instant and shot toward the sky.
Faced with the incoming ice spike, the Deathspeaker Archmage pointed downward with his left hand.
A black beam shot out, heading straight for the ice spike.
The black beam moved with astonishing speed, reaching the ice spike in an instant and staining it black.
The massive ice spike shattered with a loud explosion, leaving Li Meng¡¯s expression grim.
Hesitating briefly, Li Meng planted his iron staff into the ground, unleashing another wave of icy mist.
With cracking sounds, another massive ice wall rose, forming a protective dome over him.
¡°Still not enough!¡±
The icy mist spread outward, creating yet another layer of ice walls atop the first.
The sounds of cracking continued as a third ice wall formed.
¡°Hmph!¡±
Inside the ice walls, Li Meng swayed as intense pain shot through his head, making his face contort in agony.
¡°Out of magic power?¡±
Realizing this, Li Meng knelt on one knee, panting heavily.
He hadn¡¯t expected his magic to deplete so quickly.
Looking up at the ice layers above him, a trace of worry flickered in his eyes.
Just then, the ice above suddenly turned green, followed by violent tremors.
Outside, a three-meter-wide green fireball crashed into the ice wall.
A deafening explosion echoed through the canyon as a bright green mushroom cloud of flames slowly rose into the air.
And it wasn¡¯t over yet.
The second green fireball struck the ice wall immediately after, causing another booming explosion to reverberate through the canyon.
The third, fourth¡
The green fireballs kept falling, each creating a fiery mushroom cloud.
The entire area was dyed green by the flames.
Meanwhile, on a mountain one kilometer away¡
¡°Woof! Woof!¡±
Wangwang barked anxiously, running back and forth while occasionally barking toward the battlefield.
Vanessa, standing on the edge of the cliff, took a deep breath.
¡°Calm down, we only have one chance!¡±
Though she spoke calmly, her trembling hands on the bowstring betrayed her nerves.
Her gaze was fixed on the black-robed figure in the sky.
She was waiting¡ªfor the perfect moment to strike.
At that moment, the black robe moved again, raising its hands high once more.
¡°Now!¡±
Vanessa roared internally.
Purple-black magic erupted from her body, distorting the surrounding space.
A shockwave burst forth, sweeping the area and sending Wangwang flying.
Vanessa pulled back her bowstring.
As the string was drawn, purple-black magic gathered, forming a shadow arrow.
Releasing her grip, the shadow arrow shot forth.
The small arrow expanded rapidly upon release, growing into a five-meter-long shadow arrow.
It made no sound as it traveled, transforming into a black streak that shot upward, crossing the kilometer distance in an instant to strike the Deathspeaker Archmage.
Chapter 177: The Event Ends
Chapter 177: The Event Ends
"Shhh!"
In an instant, a massive Shadow Arrow pierced through the Deathspeaker Archmage''s body from behind.
A gaping hole appeared in the Deathspeaker Archmage''s body.
The huge figure was nearly cut in half.
The Shadow Arrow continued its trajectory, shooting towards the sky.
Eventually, it plunged into the dark clouds.
Within less than two seconds, the Deathspeaker Archmage floating in the air disintegrated into black mist and vanished.
Out of control, the green fireballs rained down upon the land like a storm.
Mushroom clouds of green flames erupted across the canyon.
A large number of undead creatures turned to ashes in the green flames.
The deafening sound of explosions resounded without pause.
Even the dark clouds in the sky began to dissipate visibly.
In no time, scorching sunlight flooded the canyon.
The undead creatures under the sunlight scurried about, with rolling black mist emanating from their bodies.
Soon, the soul flames within their skulls were extinguished.
Their skeletal bodies collapsed into heaps of broken bones.
In less than two minutes, the canyon fell silent.
The endless sea of green flames vanished.
Only scattered piles of white bones remained in the canyon.
"Huh, the undead''s presence has disappeared?"
Li Meng¡¯s eyes brightened as the light outside the ice layer suddenly grew bright.
He stretched out his right hand, pressing his palm against the ice wall.
The next moment, the ice wall shattered with a loud crash.
Ice crystals drifted down to the ground.
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The scorching sunlight shone on Li Meng, causing him to squint slightly.
Looking around, he saw nothing but scattered white bones on the ground.
Turning around, Li Meng gazed at a distant mountaintop.
Though far away, he could still spot Vanessa on the mountaintop.
Li Meng grinned and waved at Vanessa.
On the mountaintop, Vanessa smiled softly.
Sometimes, Ammon''s behavior seemed nothing like a goblin''s.
"Finally, it''s over. Haha, it''s all thanks to Vanessa!"
Striding across the canyon, Li Meng made his way toward the cave.
Without Vanessa, eliminating the Deathspeaker Archmage would have been no easy feat.
The Deathspeaker Archmage could fly, while he could not.
As a melee fighter, he would have been at a severe disadvantage.
Although he could use magic, ice-element magic lacked offensive power.
It was effective against groups of cannon fodder but insufficient to deal with powerful foes.
"Follow me, and you¡¯ll all have good food and drink in the future!"
Inside the cave, Li Meng got straight to the point.
The space in the Iron Cavern was vast, easily accommodating these big figures.
Ogres'' strength was second only to that of ogres.
On the battlefield, they were a force to be reckoned with.
In their leisure time, they could assist Gobuge with chores.
The ogres in the cave looked at each other.
One of them, the leader, stepped forward.
"From now on, you¡¯ll be the boss of our boss!"
Li Meng grinned and glanced at Benben beside him.
Under the boss''s gaze, Benben scratched its head.
"Benben, let¡¯s head back!"
With that, Li Meng turned and strode out of the cave.
Benben quickly followed behind the boss.
The group of ogres followed behind their boss, Benben.
And so, the ogres followed their boss¡¯s boss out of the cave.
Outside the canyon, a long line of figures marched southward.
"Boss, your underwear is so small, hoo hoo!"
From within its helmet, Benben¡¯s laugh boomed out.
Li Meng turned his head and glared at Benben beside him.
"I only ended up in such a sorry state because I was looking for you!"
The boss''s words abruptly silenced Benben''s laughter.
Benben touched its shiny helmet, unsure of how to respond to the boss.
"Boss, I¡¯m sorry. How about I give birth to some little goblins for you?"
"Uh¡ no, no need¡ you¡¯re not wrong!"
"Not wrong?"
Benben lowered its head, looking at the boss beside it.
It thought it had done something wrong.
It shouldn¡¯t have ventured alone into the ogres'' mountain range.
"You¡¯re not wrong; you just wanted to help me as your boss!"
Li Meng fully understood Benben¡¯s intentions.
Benben wanted to bring back more ogres to strengthen the tribe''s combat power.
Even if Benben had made a mistake, now was not the time to say so.
Otherwise, Benben might actually try to give birth to little goblins for him.
"Benben, you might be considered beautiful by ogres, but my standards are different from theirs."
Walking forward, Li Meng muttered to himself.
These thoughts were something he absolutely couldn¡¯t say out loud.
After all, Benben was female.
If he said she wasn¡¯t to his taste, she¡¯d think she was ugly.
That would lead to even more trouble.
As they walked, two figures¡ªone large, one small¡ªappeared ahead.
One was Vanessa, and the other was Wangwang.
"Boss, what an ugly little thing!"
Benben also noticed Vanessa blocking the path ahead.
Pointing at Vanessa, Benben¡¯s loud laughter echoed, "Hoo hoo!"
The laughter was filled with joy, as though it had seen something hilariously funny.
Li Meng glanced helplessly at the laughing Benben.
He truly didn¡¯t understand ogres'' sense of aesthetics.
"Her name is Vanessa. She¡¯s one of us!"
Hearing the boss say that the small figure ahead was one of them, Benben stopped laughing and shouted a few words to the ogres behind.
The previously wary ogres relaxed.
"Vanessa, come here!"
As Li Meng approached Vanessa, he extended his right hand.
Vanessa smiled softly and leaped lightly.
With agile movements, she climbed onto Ammon¡¯s hand.
Then, she sat on Ammon''s broad shoulder.
"Vanessa, how did you kill the Deathspeaker Archmage?"
Li Meng had been behind the ice wall when the Deathspeaker Archmage was eliminated.
Thus, he hadn¡¯t seen how it was killed.
Vanessa''s voice came softly to Li Meng''s ears.
"At that time, the Deathspeaker Archmage¡¯s attention was entirely on you. I seized the opportunity to strike with a Shadow Arrow. Shadow energy is silent, and by the time it realized, it was too late."
This was the power of an archer.
They could snipe targets from an extremely long distance.
Archers were rightly called the nemesis of mages.
In one-on-one combat, a mage of the same tier had zero chance.
Even archers a level lower could easily kill mages.
However, mages never acted alone.
Whether adventurers or nobles, mages always had knights as their protectors.
"Ammon, are we heading back now?"
"Yes, we¡¯re heading back. Vanessa, this big fellow next to me is Benben!"
Hearing this, Vanessa looked curiously at Benben.
Benben¡¯s size was indeed remarkable, much taller than ordinary ogres.
"Hoo hoo!"
Under Vanessa¡¯s gaze, Benben laughed again.
Its massive body shook with each laugh.
"Ha ha ha!"
Seeing Benben laugh, Li Meng couldn¡¯t help but laugh too.
He couldn¡¯t stop laughing at the thought of how Vanessa must look like an ugly duckling to Benben.
Chapter 178: Call Me King
Chapter 178: Call Me King
For a moment, the place was filled with the cheerful laughter of Li Meng and Benben.
Vanessa and the Ogres behind her wore puzzled expressions.
Although they had no idea why Ammon was laughing, seeing his unrestrained joy, Vanessa couldn''t help but smile slightly as well.
"Woof woof!"
Wangwang also opened its mouth and barked happily, running circles around its leader with delight.
As Li Meng and Benben¡¯s laughter echoed throughout the canyon, several kilometers away, on a high mountain peak, five figures stood at the edge of a cliff.
Leading them was a burly Ghost Beastman clad in black armor.
To his left and right stood Agatha and Iron Mask.
"Years of preparation gone in an instant, all because of those wretched goblins!"
Iron Mask scowled as he gazed at the distant canyon.
The annihilation of the "Death Scourge" had turned the demon race''s plans to ashes.
How could Iron Mask not be furious and frustrated?
His fists clenched tightly, and his eyes were filled with killing intent.
If he had known earlier, he would have paid any price to kill that goblin.
Next to him, Agatha looked toward the distant canyon with keen interest.
"That goblin is truly extraordinary, hiding its strength. How intriguing!"
The goblin she fought last time was just a goblin leader.
But the goblin appearing now was a Goblin King, standing nearly five meters tall¡ªa truly imposing figure.
Although she had only observed from a distance, Agatha was certain this was the same goblin she had fought not long ago.
Agatha turned to look at her brother.
"Brother, I think that goblin is far more useful than the uncontrollable ''Death Scourge.''"
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The "Death Scourge," while terrifying, was uncontrollable.
Once unleashed into human territory, it would undoubtedly cause chaos.
However, its effects might not be as catastrophic as anticipated, and allowing it to grow unchecked would create significant challenges in cleaning up afterward.
Agatha''s words made Douglas''s lips curl into a faint smile, his deep crimson face showing a meaningful expression.
"Iron Mask, your efforts in the Goblin Forest were commendable!"
Iron Mask froze upon hearing this.
He immediately realized that Lord Douglas had accepted Lady Agatha''s suggestion.
Iron Mask hurriedly dropped to one knee.
"As long as it brings victory to Lord Douglas, Iron Mask will give his life without hesitation!"
Douglas spread his arms wide, slightly tilting his head to bask in the sunlight.
"Let this world become more entertaining. The demon race will surely rise again!"
The others knelt on one knee.
"The demon race will surely rise again!"
They shouted in unison, echoing Douglas''s final words.
---
In the Ogre Mountains, within a certain canyon, Li Meng suddenly stopped walking, turning to look at the distant mountain range.
"Ammon, what¡¯s wrong?"
Li Meng frowned slightly as he gazed at the distant peaks.
"Nothing!"
Li Meng turned back and continued walking.
"Was it just an illusion?"
He muttered to himself as he walked.
A strange feeling of being watched had come over him briefly.
Shrugging off the thought, Li Meng pushed it out of his mind.
In the days that followed, Li Meng led the group of Ogres southward.
It wasn¡¯t until the fifth day that they finally left the Ogre Mountains.
---
That afternoon, outside the Iron Cavern.
"Benben, take them inside. Teach them how to forge when you have time!"
Under his guidance, Benben had long since become a competent blacksmithing ogre.
With Benben''s instruction, the Ogres would quickly learn a new skill.
Benben nodded, roaring at the Ogres before leading over a hundred of them into the Iron Cavern.
Watching the Ogres file into the cavern, Li Meng grinned.
This trip to the Ogre Mountains wasn¡¯t fruitless after all.
If these hundred or so Ogres could be armed, their combat power would surpass that of ten thousand goblins.
---
"My heavens, Boss, oh Boss, you¡ you¡¯ve become a ''King''?"
The commotion at the Iron Cavern caught Gobuge''s attention.
Sticking close to the wall, he ran out nervously, only to be shocked at the sight of the massive goblin outside the cavern.
But the familiar aura surrounding the leader quickly helped Gobuge recognize him.
"Boss, you¡¯re amazing!"
Gobuge ran toward his leader with feverish excitement.
Sliding on his knees, he stopped at Li Meng''s feet, bowing low and kissing the top of his foot fervently.
"King! King! King!"
Gobuge trembled with excitement, his eyes rolling back as he fainted in a frenzy, his body twitching as he muttered gleefully.
Li Meng looked down at Gobuge, lying there like a dead pig, and felt at a loss for words.
Vanessa, perched on Li Meng''s shoulder, chuckled softly.
The goblin¡¯s reaction was truly over the top.
Shaking his head, Li Meng turned and strode toward the direction of the tribe.
---
Ten minutes later, in the northern forest of the Throne Tribe.
Li Meng emerged from the forest, a red-skinned Skurg following behind him.
"It¡¯s the boss! The boss is back!"
"No¡ that¡¯s not the boss!"
The sight of their leader caused a ruckus among the goblins on the wooden wall.
The massive figure left them all slack-jawed.
"It¡¯s the boss! It¡¯s the boss!"
"No, it¡¯s not the boss¡ªit¡¯s the King, the Goblin King!"
"It¡¯s the boss¡ªit¡¯s the Boss King!"
"Right, right! The Boss King!"
"The Boss has become the Boss King!"
"That¡¯s wonderful! Boss King! Boss King!"
The goblins on the wooden wall cheered enthusiastically.
The commotion drew the attention of more goblins within the tribe, who swarmed onto the wooden wall.
Seeing the towering green figure approaching the northern gate, they all joined in the chant.
"Boss King! Boss King!"
The unified chant grew louder and louder.
In the southern area, the male Lizardmen looked northward in confusion, unsure of what had sparked such uproar among the goblins.
Under the watchful eyes of all, Li Meng entered the tribe through the northern gate.
At the sight of their Boss King up close, the goblins trembled, kneeling in unison with fervent gazes fixed on the massive, imposing green figure.
"Boss King?"
The title made Li Meng frown slightly.
Realizing something, he grinned.
"Call me King!"
Li Meng roared, his voice thunderous as it echoed through the tribe.
The goblins erupted like a tidal wave.
"King! King!"
They shifted their chant, shouting "King! King!" with great enthusiasm.
Grinning broadly, Li Meng strode down the main path into the inner district.
Chapter 179: Surprise and Gift
Chapter 179: Surprise and Gift
At this moment, the Throne Tribe could truly be called the Throne Tribe.
Although he had not yet become the true Goblin King, in the eyes of the goblins, he had already evolved into the legendary "Goblin King."
It wasn¡¯t until Li Meng returned to the Throne Palace that the shouting outside gradually subsided.
In front of the Throne Palace:
"Ammon, isn''t it time to expand the Throne Palace again?"
Looking at the palace before him, Li Meng¡¯s eyes showed a hint of helplessness.
Originally, he wanted to give Vanessa a surprise.
Now it seemed that the surprise could only be given earlier than planned.
Looking down at Vanessa beside him, Li Meng grinned.
"Vanessa, I want to give you a gift!"
Gift?
Vanessa''s eyes lit up, her face full of expectation.
With a sly smile, Li Meng silently used the Transformation Spell.
Under Vanessa''s expectant gaze, a strange scene unfolded.
Ammon¡¯s body began to twist.
Accompanied by cracking sounds, muscles, bones, and skin contracted inward.
The originally tall body shrank rapidly, visible to the naked eye.
In just a short while, it had reduced to a height of two meters.
"How about it? Isn¡¯t this gift interesting?"
Li Meng examined himself from top to bottom, very satisfied with his two-meter-small stature.
Originally, goblins of this size tended to have potbellies.
But at this moment, he did not have one.
His body looked extremely muscular and powerful, like a strong warrior.
Looking at Vanessa, who was staring at him in astonishment, Li Meng grinned again.
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Taking a few steps forward, he spread his arms and embraced her plump body tightly.
With their similar statures, for the first time, Li Meng felt the fleshiness of Vanessa¡¯s voluptuous figure.
"Vanessa, it feels much better to hold you like this!"
Ammon¡¯s voice by her ear snapped Vanessa back to reality.
"Ammon, do you have the ability to devour other creatures¡¯ powers?"
Ammon¡¯s sudden shrinking reminded Vanessa of Skurg.
Skurg could freely shift between large and small forms.
Connecting this to Ammon''s consumption of Skurg, the association wasn¡¯t difficult to make.
Li Meng lowered his head, gazing at Vanessa¡¯s beautiful face.
"Vanessa, don¡¯t you like me this way?"
Vanessa gently shook her head.
She gazed at Ammon¡¯s ugly yet charming face with admiration.
"No matter what you look like, I like you all the same!"
Upon hearing this, Li Meng lowered his head and kissed Vanessa on the lips.
A trace of shyness flashed through Vanessa¡¯s eyes.
This was her first kiss with Ammon.
Unconsciously, she stretched her hands to embrace Ammon¡¯s neck.
It was also Li Meng¡¯s first kiss since coming to this other world.
Even though there were many females around him, the female Lizardmen were not suitable for kissing.
After all, the head structure of Lizardmen was vastly different from goblins.
Vanessa, however, was different.
Both goblins and Dark Elves had head and facial structures similar to humans.
Kissing was a natural thing.
After a while, Li Meng released Vanessa, who was panting softly.
Vanessa shyly lowered her head.
With Ammon now smaller, their way of interacting also had to change.
Things that were previously impossible were no longer regrets.
"Haha, let¡¯s go home!"
Laughing heartily, Li Meng wrapped his arm around Vanessa''s waist and walked toward the doors of the Throne Palace.
"Bo... Boss?"
As soon as they entered the Throne Palace, exclamations of surprise echoed from the main hall.
The female Lizardmen cleaning the hall lowered their heads shyly.
Although they didn¡¯t know why the boss had become smaller, they could still smell the boss¡¯s scent.
But the boss entering the hall was completely naked.
The reaction of the female Lizardmen caused Li Meng''s face to change slightly.
It was only then that he realized the chill below.
"From now on, call me King!"
Li Meng let go of Vanessa¡¯s waist.
He ran up the stairs leading to the second floor.
Watching Ammon, who seemed a bit embarrassed, Vanessa covered her mouth with a smile.
She had wanted to remind Ammon earlier.
But seeing his nonchalant attitude, she decided not to say anything.
After all, the female Lizardmen in the Throne Palace were just tools for reproduction.
If they saw it, so be it.
However, judging by Ammon¡¯s current appearance, he clearly still cared.
Leaving the first-floor hall, Li Meng hurried up to the third-floor harem quarters.
"Boss?"
At the doorway of his bedchamber, Li Meng encountered a female Lizardman.
He didn¡¯t know her name.
Grabbing her hand, Li Meng pulled her into the chamber.
Once inside, Li Meng quickly pulled the female Lizardman to the bedside and slipped under the covers.
"Go fetch me some clothes, ones that fit this size now!"
The female Lizardman smiled slightly.
Although she didn¡¯t know why the boss had shrunk, or why he had returned naked, she didn¡¯t ask.
She turned and quickly left.
Once she was out the door, Li Meng lay flat on the bed.
"Huh, what¡¯s this!"
It wasn¡¯t until he lay down that Li Meng noticed the changes in his chamber.
The previously empty room now had some decorations and fabrics.
White curtains were added, and the bed was covered with a soft, silky spider silk blanket.
Lizardmen were quite smart.
As long as they were given an idea, they could think like humans.
The intelligence of Lizardmen was not inferior to humans.
With spider silk, they began crafting textiles based on their needs.
"Still, the colors are a bit dull!"
Looking at the overwhelming white, Li Meng thought to himself.
He didn¡¯t like white.
Compared to white, he preferred red and black.
But under the current conditions, white wasn¡¯t unacceptable.
It was still better than nothing.
Before long, three female Lizardmen entered with a stack of spider silk fabric.
"King, let us take your measurements!"
Li Meng stepped out of bed, naked, and stretched out his arms, letting the female Lizardmen do their work.
The female Lizardmen blushed slightly as they measured the King¡¯s body.
One of them approached with a measuring tape and began taking his dimensions.
The measuring tape was another tool Li Meng had taught the Lizardmen to use.
Slightly turning his head, Li Meng observed the maids'' attire.
In less than half a month, the maids¡¯ clothing had completely switched to spider silk dresses.
The style was no different from their previous leather garments.
The upper body consisted of a top that only covered the chest, leaving the waist exposed.
The lower body was a short skirt, somewhat reminiscent of ancient Egyptian clothing.
It wasn¡¯t unattractive and suited the climate of the Goblin Forest well.
The Goblin Forest was hot, with little temperature variation throughout the year.
When temperatures dropped slightly, heavy rain would follow.
Then the Goblin River would enter its flood season, typically occurring in March and April each year.
"King, please wait!"
After taking the measurements, two of the female Lizardmen turned and left quickly.
Only one female Lizardman stayed behind.
Chapter 180: New Clothes and the Great King
Chapter 180: New Clothes and the Great King
Li Meng sat by the bedside.
His gaze fell upon the female Lizardman.
¡°Where is Vanessa?¡±
Faced with the king¡¯s gaze, the female Lizardman shook her head.
¡°I... I don¡¯t know!¡±
Li Meng didn¡¯t press further.
He lay back on the bed and patiently waited.
Staring at the ceiling, Li Meng¡¯s expression carried a hint of contemplation.
The next event in the timeline involved the arrival of a messenger from the Demonic Race.
The arrival of the messenger would trigger the event of traveling to the Demonic Race¡¯s stronghold fortress.
Following that would be cooperation with the Demonic Race to attack the Irisis Principality.
The Demonic Race¡¯s goal also seemed to be the human crystal.
After all, the timeline¡¯s final outcome ended with the destruction of the crystal.
¡°If the Demonic Race¡¯s target is the ¡®crystal,¡¯ cooperating with them might be worth considering,¡± Li Meng mused inwardly.
If humanity was indeed the culprit behind the emergence of the ¡°Sea of Death,¡± Li Meng didn¡¯t intend to remain idle.
When he gained enough strength, he would act.
He would launch a war aimed at destroying the ¡°crystal.¡±
Humans could survive, but the crystal had to be destroyed.
This world was beautiful and worth protecting.
Slightly turning his head, Li Meng glanced at the female Lizardman by the bedside.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡±
Seeing the king suddenly look at her, the female Lizardman quickly lowered her head.
¡°Great King, my name is Hei Lili!¡±
The Lizardmen¡¯s naming convention was indeed peculiar.
Male names consisted of two characters.
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Female names, however, had three.
¡°Are you from the Black Scales Tribe?¡±
Hei Lili shook her head.
¡°Reporting to the Great King, I am from the Black Mountain Tribe!¡±
Hei Lili¡¯s response was within Li Meng¡¯s expectations.
After all, the Black Mountain Tribe¡¯s tribute population was incredibly vast.
Eighty percent of the tribute in the Throne Tribe came from the Black Mountain Tribe.
In the following time, Li Meng chatted casually with Hei Lili.
He asked about the Black Mountain Tribe.
He also inquired about the lives of the tribute in the Throne Tribe.
To put it simply, the Goblins of the Throne Tribe were now his bloodline descendants.
Smarter, stronger, and more obedient.
The tribute lived relatively safely in the Throne Tribe.
Although Goblins had an innate desire to reproduce.
The survival-of-the-fittest instinct was deeply ingrained in them.
Ordinary Goblins, even if a female was placed before them.
Would not have thoughts of reproduction but would greedily devour the female instead.
The reproductive desire of Great Goblins was also low.
Only Goblin warriors exhibited a strong desire to reproduce.
Because of the rules set by their leader, the Goblins of the Throne Tribe wouldn¡¯t harm the tribute.
As long as they stayed within the Throne Tribe, the tribute enjoyed relative freedom.
The tribute¡¯s managers weren¡¯t Goblins either.
Instead, they were selected female Lizardmen from the tribute to handle management.
After all, Lizardmen and Goblins couldn¡¯t communicate effectively.
In summary, as long as the tribute conducted themselves properly, their lives weren¡¯t at risk.
When the rotation period arrived, 99% of the tribute would return home.
The remaining 1% were female Lizardmen who died from various causes.
After all, most living beings couldn¡¯t escape the curse of aging, illness, and death.
Before nightfall, Vanessa finally appeared.
¡°Ammon, try the clothes I¡¯ve prepared for you!¡±
Vanessa walked into the bedchamber with a group of female Lizardmen.
Li Meng curiously got out of bed.
Seeing the king rise, the female Lizardmen dared to approach.
Vanessa smiled as she stepped forward to dress Ammon.
After a while, Li Meng, who had been stark naked, was finally clothed.
¡°Ammon, how is it? Do you like it?¡±
Li Meng lowered his head to examine himself.
He spread his arms and turned in a circle.
A long robe made of spider silk, paired with a pair of shorts.
There was no denying it¡ªthe outfit felt extremely comfortable to wear.
The smooth spider silk fabric brought a cool sensation to the skin.
¡°Snap!¡±
Li Meng snapped his fingers.
A two-meter-tall ice wall rose before him.
Looking at his reflection in the ice wall, Li Meng grinned.
The style of the robe was decent.
However, seeing a Goblin in such attire felt odd.
After all, Goblins were typically seen bare-chested and bare-bellied.
Such a sudden shift to civility naturally felt a bit strange.
¡°Hmm, not bad!¡±
Li Meng snapped his fingers again.
The ice wall shattered into crystalline fragments that fell to the ground.
¡°Vanessa, do you have equipment that can freely resize itself?¡±
Li Meng turned to Vanessa, inquiring with interest.
Vanessa understood what Ammon wanted.
She smiled softly and nodded.
¡°Ammon, the Dwarves possess such technology. They can shrink Mithril equipment but can¡¯t enlarge it. It¡¯s said that a certain type of rune grants the ability to shrink items.¡±
Hearing this, Li Meng¡¯s eyes lit up.
If he had equipment that could freely shrink, he could transform at will.
¡°Vanessa, where are the Dwarves?¡±
Seeing Ammon¡¯s expectant expression, Vanessa hesitated.
Her reaction caused Li Meng¡¯s brow to furrow slightly.
¡°Is it far?¡±
Li Meng asked uncertainly.
Vanessa nodded lightly.
¡°Most Dwarves are concentrated in the Storm Mountains, located at the northwest edge of the Augus Continent. Even aboard the fastest floating ship, it would take more than half a month to reach.¡±
Traveling on a floating ship for over half a month?
At that moment, Li Meng realized just how vast the Augus Continent was.
Even at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour, the slowest floating ship covered over 1,440 kilometers a day.
Over half a month meant nearly 30,000 kilometers.
Li Meng sensibly dismissed the impractical idea.
He had initially thought of sneaking into the Storm Mountains to abduct some Dwarves.
But such a long round trip might take years.
He wasn¡¯t foolish enough to undertake such a venture.
¡°Vanessa, let¡¯s sleep!¡±
With that, Li Meng stepped forward and scooped Vanessa into his arms.
Vanessa blushed lightly and gave Ammon¡¯s chest a soft punch.
¡°Ammon, it¡¯s not dark yet!¡±
Li Meng grinned, placing Vanessa on the bed.
¡°No problem. When we wake up, it¡¯ll be light again!¡±
Having traveled tirelessly through the Ogre Mountain Range for days, both were physically and mentally exhausted.
From Vanessa¡¯s face, Li Meng could discern a trace of fatigue.
When he said sleep, he meant it.
On the bed, Li Meng didn¡¯t trouble Vanessa.
Instead, he held her soft, delicate body and fell into a deep sleep.
Being held by Li Meng, Vanessa turned slightly, gazing at Ammon¡¯s face up close.
Although Ammon had shrunk his body, he hadn¡¯t reverted to a Great Goblin¡¯s physique.
He lacked the sharp, oversized nose of Great Goblins.
Nor did he have their pot belly.
While his face remained ugly, it was far more tolerable than a Great Goblin¡¯s.
As she watched, a hint of bewilderment flickered in Vanessa¡¯s eyes.
Chapter 181: Journey to the Slime Lake
Chapter 181: Journey to the Slime Lake
Her story with Ammon was beautiful.
Yet it left her with a surreal feeling, as if it were a dream¡ªone too real to believe.
When the dream ended, she feared losing everything, returning to the solitude of her past.
¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±
At that moment, Li Meng opened his eyes.
He had intended to sleep, but Vanessa had been silently staring at him.
Unable to ignore her gaze, Li Meng finally opened his eyes.
Vanessa smiled softly and shook her head.
¡°Sleep. Have a good rest. All your troubles will disappear after a nap!¡±
Saying this, Li Meng pulled Vanessa into his arms with the hand around her waist.
Vanessa nestled into Li Meng¡¯s embrace.
She shifted slightly, finding a comfortable position before closing her eyes.
Time passed slowly, and the palace grew quiet.
Soon, the setting sun disappeared, and darkness enveloped the land.
Night deepened, and the silence lasted until dawn.
Even the longest night must come to an end.
As morning light broke in the eastern sky, a new day was proclaimed.
Early in the morning, Li Meng rose from bed.
¡°Boss! Bo¡ Great King!¡±
Just as Li Meng walked out of the throne hall, Gobu Sheng came running over in haste.
Seeing the diminutive figure of his king emerge from the gates, Gobu Sheng was startled.
His tall frame staggered, nearly causing him to fall.
¡°Great King, didn¡¯t you evolve into a Goblin King? How did you become so small?¡±
Standing at the entrance, Li Meng stretched lazily.
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He glanced down at Gobu Sheng, whose face was full of confusion.
¡°Big size is inconvenient, so I shrank!¡±
Gobu Sheng looked toward the throne hall, recalling the rumors from his subordinates that the king had grown nearly five meters tall¡ªlike a massive ogre.
Yesterday, when the king returned, Gobu Sheng had been at the Gobuda tribe, so he missed witnessing the king¡¯s towering form.
This morning, he had been waiting outside the throne hall, only to be disappointed.
Not only had the king not grown taller, but he had shrunk significantly.
If it weren¡¯t for the unchanged scent of the king, Gobu Sheng wouldn¡¯t have recognized the goblin before him as their ¡°Great King.¡±
¡°Great King, is this your ability?¡±
¡°Sort of.¡±
Yawning, Li Meng began walking away.
Gobu Sheng quickly followed with a flattering expression.
¡°Great King, can you show us your majestic form?¡±
¡°No way. If I grow, my clothes will tear!¡±
Leaving through the northern gate of the inner district, Li Meng exited the area.
¡°Why has the Great King shrunk?¡±
Wherever he passed, goblins looked on in surprise.
Just yesterday, the king had been enormous.
Why was he suddenly so small today?
¡°Great King, I¡ I want to challenge you!¡±
A goblin warrior abruptly blocked Li Meng¡¯s path, nervously raising its spiked mace.
The diminutive size of the Great King gave the goblin an illusion of weakness.
Li Meng glared at the goblin warrior.
With just one look, the goblin warrior¡¯s legs gave out, and it fell to its knees.
¡°Scram. Don¡¯t block the way!¡±
The goblin warrior scrambled away in a panic, drawing laughter from the surrounding goblins.
¡°Gobu Sheng, go handle your tasks. I¡¯m heading to the Iron Cavern.¡±
With that, Li Meng¡¯s figure blurred as he sped off.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared a hundred meters away.
¡°Boom!¡±
The ground beneath his feet cracked as he leaped into the sky.
A shockwave rippled outward as he soared upward.
In moments, he became a small black dot, vanishing from sight.
¡°The Great King is flying!¡±
¡°Where? Where?¡±
The goblins gawked at the sky in astonishment.
How could the Great King suddenly fly?
Even Gobu Sheng was stunned, a relieved look crossing his ugly face.
Earlier, seeing the king so small, he had felt an urge to challenge him.
Luckily, he resisted the temptation.
If the king had gotten angry, Gobu Sheng would likely already be dead.
At that moment, a thousand meters above the ground¡
¡°Can I jump this high?¡±
Li Meng was also startled by his incredible leap.
He hadn¡¯t expected to ascend straight into the skies.
However, recalling his exaggerated stats, he quickly came to terms with it.
Though he had shrunk, his stats remained unchanged.
The difference in size only affected the application of his strength and agility.
In his larger form, he could exert 200% of his strength, whereas his smaller form capped it at 100%.
Conversely, agility increased in his smaller form, as larger sizes required greater agility to maintain balance.
***
Morning. Outside the Iron Cavern.
¡°Boom!¡±
With a loud crash, a shadow fell from the sky, slamming into the ground outside the cavern.
The dark ground cracked, forming a large pit.
¡°My legs feel a bit numb!¡±
Li Meng shook his numb legs and stepped out of the pit.
Hearing the commotion within the Iron Cavern, Li Meng grinned and leisurely walked inside.
¡°Bo¡ Boss?¡±
Gobu Ge approached cautiously, sniffing the air.
After confirming the familiar scent, Gobu Ge broke into a fawning smile.
¡°Boss, why are you so tiny again?¡±
¡°Smaller size is more convenient. Gobu Ge, how much mithril do we have in storage?¡±
Gobu Ge turned and pointed toward the underground river.
¡°Boss, it¡¯s all over there!¡±
Looking toward the shallower section of the underground river, Li Meng saw a stretch of silvery light spanning hundreds of meters, resembling a brilliant Milky Way.
The sight of the riverbed littered with mithril ore came to mind.
¡°Gather it all. Assemble a team to accompany me. We leave tomorrow!¡±
Heading to the demon stronghold carried certain risks, so crafting a full set of mithril equipment was necessary.
Even if the ghost beastmen harbored ill intentions, mithril armor would improve his survival odds.
¡°Boss, I understand. I¡¯ll prepare everything.¡±
¡°Call me Great King!¡±
While he appreciated being called ¡°Boss,¡± Li Meng preferred the title ¡°Great King.¡±
¡°Yes, yes, Great King, Great King!¡±
Gobu Ge¡¯s face was plastered with a flattering smile.
A title was just a name, after all¡ªwhat did it matter?
Having seen the king¡¯s true form, Gobu Ge felt that calling him ¡°Great King¡± was more than fitting.
Li Meng didn¡¯t linger in the Iron Cavern. Turning, he left.
Back at the throne hall, Li Meng entered the rear palace, beginning another round of progeny propagation.
For a time, the palace bustled with excitement following the king¡¯s return.
The next morning, Li Meng departed for the Iron Cavern once again.
Outside the cavern, a goblin cart team was already on standby.
The carts were loaded with mithril ore of various sizes, along with molds packed into two other carts.
¡°The Great King is here! The Great King is here!¡±
When Li Meng emerged from the forest, the cart team erupted in excitement.
Standing at the cavern entrance, Gobu Ge¡¯s eyes lit up, and he rushed toward the king.
Chapter 182: Crafting Mithril Equipment
Chapter 182: Crafting Mithril Equipment
¡°Great King, all the mithril ore is here!¡±
Li Meng glanced at the convoy of carriages.
There were more than ten of them, forming a rather grand procession.
Each carriage was drawn by two massive wild boars.
¡°Go and call Benben out!¡±
Gobu Ge quickly turned and ran deep into the Iron Cavern.
Before long, a massive figure emerged from the cavern.
¡°Benben, let¡¯s go. The boss is taking you to a place.¡±
Li Meng was the king of the goblins, but to Benben and Yue E, he was their leader.
Hearing this, Benben quickened its steps as it emerged from the Iron Cavern.
¡°Boss, boss, where are we going?¡±
¡°To the Slime Lake!¡±
With that, Li Meng prepared to board one of the carriages.
As soon as he stepped onto the footboard, a loud ¡°crack¡± echoed.
The footboard broke under his weight, leaving Li Meng with an awkward smile.
Although his body had shrunk in size, his weight had not decreased.
The transformation skill not only reduced his size but also increased his body¡¯s density.
Shaking his head helplessly, Li Meng waved his hand.
¡°Let¡¯s move!¡±
At his command, the convoy set off.
There were three roads outside the Iron Cavern: one leading west, one east, and one south.
To prosper, one must first build roads.
As a transmigrator, Li Meng understood the importance of infrastructure.
Roads not only improved travel efficiency but also accelerated the mobilization of goblin troops between settlements.
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The long convoy headed east along the road, with Li Meng and Benben following behind.
Time passed as the convoy continued eastward.
That Night
The forest was quiet.
The creaking sound of wooden wheels echoed along the forest path.
A full moon hung high in the sky, its silvery light softly illuminating the darkness of the road.
On this forest path, the convoy steadily advanced.
At the rear of the convoy, Li Meng looked up at the full moon in the sky.
This world¡¯s moon was almost identical to Earth¡¯s, only slightly larger.
The serene night and the sight of the moon made Li Meng drift into thought.
Memories from Earth flashed through his mind, from childhood to adulthood.
¡°Whew!¡±
Under the moonlight, Li Meng exhaled deeply.
¡°It seems like I can¡¯t afford to stay idle!¡±
With a grin, he brushed away his thoughts and refocused.
The Next Afternoon
A wide ice bridge suddenly appeared over the Goblin River.
The convoy was crossing the river via the ice bridge.
At the front, goblins were scattering river sand onto the ice.
¡°Spread more! Spread more!¡±
¡°Don¡¯t overdo it. Carrying the sand is tiring!¡±
¡°Hurry up, you lazy fools!¡±
Under their leader¡¯s scolding, the goblins on the ice bridge scrambled to work.
Despite the sand layer, the wild boars pulling the carriages occasionally slipped on the ice.
It took over an hour for the convoy to successfully cross the river.
On the southern bank stood a makeshift dock.
Nearby, bamboo rafts lined the shore, and idle goblins could be seen loitering around the dock.
The dock facilitated the transport of goods between the northern and southern settlements.
As the convoy disappeared into the forest, the goblins at the dock sniffed the air.
¡°I think I smell the boss¡¯s boss!¡±
¡°Me too!¡±
¡°I saw Benben, but not the boss¡¯s boss.¡±
¡°Neither did I.¡±
The goblins¡¯ noses were highly sensitive, able to identify companions from afar.
The Following Day
By midday, the convoy arrived at Slime Lake.
The usually tranquil lake became bustling with activity as the convoy approached.
The carriages stopped just five meters from the water¡¯s edge.
Nearly a hundred goblins efficiently unloaded the mithril ore, carefully piling it on the shore.
And so, Li Meng began crafting mithril equipment.
Busy Days
The hustle and bustle at Slime Lake continued for several days.
One morning...
¡°Boss, can this stuff really make armor?¡±
By the lakeside, Benben stood before a massive wooden basin, kneading the soft, silvery liquid within.
¡°No, but it can make inner armor to wear underneath.¡±
Mithril¡¯s nemesis was water slime mucus, making it unwise to craft pure mithril armor.
Most mithril equipment was coated with an iron layer, serving as both protection and disguise.
However, such iron-plated mithril equipment was fragile.
Moreover, mithril was exceptionally dense and heavy, making it impractical for full armor.
Typically, mithril was best suited for weapon crafting.
Looking across the lakeshore, numerous furnaces could be seen, surrounded by goblins hard at work.
They retrieved iron molds from the furnaces, preparing to shape the mithril.
Mithril was water-reactive, liquefying in water slime mucus.
Thus, iron molds were essential for shaping it.
By pouring liquid mithril into iron molds and then baking them in the furnaces, the mucus would evaporate, and the mithril would solidify.
Mithril¡¯s density far exceeded steel¡¯s, making the two materials incompatible.
The furnace¡¯s temperature wasn¡¯t sufficient to melt steel, allowing the solidified mithril to be easily removed from the molds.
Upon discovering mithril¡¯s liquefaction in water slime mucus, Li Meng experimented with various methods to shape it.
¡°Boss, what is inner armor?¡±
Li Meng picked up a small mithril ring from a nearby basin.
The ring was tiny, with a diameter of less than two centimeters.
When thousands of these rings were interlinked, they formed a nearly indestructible inner armor.
¡°This is it, Benben. Don¡¯t worry, you¡¯ll see soon enough.¡±
The purpose of bringing Benben was to craft inner armor for it as well.
Otherwise, Li Meng wouldn¡¯t have transported all the mithril ore here.
¡°Benben, where¡¯s Wangwang?¡±
When Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe, he had left Wangwang with Benben.
Wangwang enjoyed hot environments, evident from its reddish skin.
¡°Wangwang ate fire crystal stones and fell asleep!¡±
Wangwang ate fire crystal stones?
Li Meng was taken aback.
Fire crystal stones weren¡¯t magic crystals¡ªcould they even be eaten?
¡°Benben, has anything unusual happened to Wangwang?¡±
¡°Unusual?¡±
Benben scratched its smooth helmet-like head. After a while, it nodded.
¡°Wangwang spat fire and then fell asleep!¡±
Spat fire?
Li Meng¡¯s expression turned thoughtful.
It seemed Skurg could consume fire crystal stones to evolve.
Grinning, a spark of anticipation gleamed in his eyes.
Once he returned, he¡¯d check on Wangwang.
What kind of stats would Wangwang have after evolving?
Changes at Slime Lake
Time passed day by day.
For the water slimes in the lake, life had drastically changed since the goblins arrived.
Their once carefree days were gone.
Adding insult to injury, the goblins had even lit fires on the lakeshore, making the slimes restless.
Many slimes wanted to flee their homes, but they didn¡¯t dare leave the lake.
Outside the water, they became extremely vulnerable.
Chapter 183: Life Sharing Contract
Chapter 183: Life Sharing Contract
"Why don''t we have a talk? You can''t hide forever, can you?"
It was nighttime, and the dazzling moonlight made the Water Slime Lake resemble a fairyland.
The water''s surface, like a mirror, emitted a bluish glow.
Standing on the shore, Li Meng gazed at the moonlit lake view before him.
The oven by the lakeside had already been extinguished.
This indicated that the mithril inner armor had been completed.
In the forest, the goblins were sound asleep.
By tomorrow, the convoy would set off to return to the Throne Tribe.
Ever since "Heart Speech" had evolved into "Word Spirit," the range of beings Li Meng could communicate with telepathically was no longer limited to intelligent creatures.
He could converse with an ant, an insect, or a bird. He could even have peculiar interactions with trees.
At this moment, a semi-transparent slime emerged from the calm water surface.
A second, and then a third, followed closely behind.
"Goblin, I hate you!"
"I hate you too!"
"We all hate you!"
"Hate you!"
"Hate you!"
The lake was tranquil, and the Water Slimes couldn''t produce sound.
Yet, Li Meng could hear their voices.
Their chirping echoed in his mind.
"Why do you hate me?"
Li Meng sat down by the water''s edge.
"You threw stones at us!"
"Yes, you threw stones at us!"
"And you littered our home!"
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"Yes, those glowing stones are so annoying."
"Bad goblin, you''re a bad goblin!"
"Lighting fires, lighting fires!"
"There''s fire, there''s fire, bad goblin!"
"Bad goblin, bad goblin!"
More and more Water Slimes appeared on the water''s surface, until it was teeming with them.
The cacophony of voices in his mind grew louder.
"How about becoming my underlings? I won''t bother you anymore!"
Li Meng grinned, trying to entice the Water Slimes.
"Goblin boss?"
"No, I don''t want a goblin boss!"
"No, I don''t want a contract with a goblin."
"Me neither, goblins are too ugly."
"Exactly, exactly!"
Sitting by the water, Li Meng''s mouth twitched.
Admittedly, goblins were indeed ugly.
But in goblin terms, his appearance was considered quite handsome.
These Water Slimes clearly lacked taste.
Where did they even get the confidence to criticize others?
They themselves were just blobs of sticky, unattractive goo.
"So, there''s no room for negotiation?"
Li Meng grinned wickedly, glaring at the slimes in the lake.
"Scary goblin!"
"Scary, so scary!"
The Water Slimes'' chattering grew chaotic again.
"By the way, what''s this about a contract?"
Li Meng caught a few Water Slimes mentioning something about a contract.
"The goblin is so dumb, doesn''t even know this."
"Exactly, that''s why I hate goblins. They''re so stupid."
"Should we tell him?"
"I''ll do it, I''ll do it!"
One of the Water Slimes cautiously approached Li Meng.
"We slimes are a subspecies of spirits, naturally capable of forming Life Sharing Contracts with other beings. Slimes provide magic power and elemental magic, while the host shares their life force with us."
Providing magic power and elemental magic?
Li Meng''s eyes lit up, his heart skipping a beat.
His gaze toward the Water Slimes grew greedy.
Magic was a precious resource, and magic power even more so.
"Sharing life force? So, does that mean you''ll consume the host''s vitality?"
He suspected "life sharing" wasn''t as simple as sharing joys and sorrows.
"Yes, yes, slimes have very short lifespans and need to extend them through a host."
The Water Slime''s response confirmed Li Meng''s speculation.
Li Meng grinned, flexing his muscular arm.
"Form a contract with me. I''m strong."
Though goblins weren''t known for their longevity, their lifespan wasn''t short either.
Ordinary goblins lived around 50 years.
By consuming high-grade magical beast flesh, they could extend their lifespan.
However, due to their inherent weakness, goblins rarely died of old age.
Great Goblins could live for about a century.
Goblin Warriors had a lifespan of around 150 years.
Goblin Champions lived roughly 200 years.
Goblin Leaders could live up to 300 years.
As for how long Goblin Kings lived, it was unknown.
None had ever died of old age, as Goblin Kings always fell to unnatural causes.
"Should we form a contract with him?"
"He''s so small, he must be weak."
"No, I don''t want to. He''s too weak."
"Exactly, exactly, I don''t want to either!"
Hearing the Water Slimes dismiss him as weak, Li Meng stood up and removed his clothes.
"What is he doing?"
"We''re slimes, after all!"
"Goblins are just like this, aren''t they?"
"Exactly, exactly!"
"Not that it matters; he can''t do much."
"Our bodies are soft and squishy. Perverts love that."
"No, I don''t want to!"
"The goblin''s going crazy. Run away!"
Li Meng''s act of disrobing frightened the Water Slimes.
They dispersed, melting back into the water.
Their accusations made Li Meng roll his eyes.
These little blobs sure had wild imaginations.
"Don''t run! I told you, I''m strong!"
Li Meng grinned as he discarded his large shorts.
His green-skinned body suddenly swelled and twisted.
The sound of bones creaking echoed in the air.
In the blink of an eye, Li Meng''s two-meter frame expanded into a five-meter giant.
"How about now? Pretty strong, right?"
By the water''s edge, Li Meng performed a few stretches.
His bulging muscles and massive build left the Water Slimes in awe.
The water''s surface stirred once more.
One by one, the Water Slimes reappeared.
"He''s really strong!"
"Yeah, so strong! His vitality is incredible!"
One slime approached the shore.
"Goblin, I''ll form a contract with you!"
Revealing his true form, Li Meng had finally won over some Water Slimes.
Li Meng sat cross-legged by the water.
"How do we form a contract?"
A round, jelly-like Water Slime bounced onto the shore.
Its soft, elastic body resembled a jiggling jelly.
The Water Slime that came ashore was quite large, with a diameter of about half a meter.
It approached Li Meng and extruded a bluish crystal from its body.
[Water Slime Contract Origin Crystal]
[Magic Power: 3132]
"Goblin, eat it!"
Li Meng pinched the Water Slime''s Contract Origin Crystal.
As soon as the crystal separated from the slime, its magic power attribute changed.
From 6264, it dropped to 3132.
In other words, the Water Slime had shared half of its magic power with him.
The Contract Origin Crystal was small, about half the size of an average human fist.
"Are you sure there won''t be any side effects from eating this?"
Despite his doubts, Li Meng''s body acted honestly.
He took the crystal and put it into his mouth.
Chapter 184: A Million Mana
Chapter 184: A Million Mana
[Do you wish to form a Life Sharing Contract with the Water Slime?]
As soon as the Source Crystal entered his mouth, the system prompt appeared.
¡°Yes!¡±
Li Meng felt a cool and peculiar sensation traveling down his throat straight to his core, then spreading throughout his entire body.
[Successfully formed a Life Sharing Contract with the Water Slime. Mana +3132.]
[Activated symbiotic innate skill "Spirit of Water Elements."]
¡°Yay, such vibrant life energy! Everyone, come join in!¡±
The Water Slime, having successfully contracted with Li Meng, seemed overjoyed. It hopped around on the shore, beckoning its companions in the water.
¡°Really?¡±
¡°Me too! Me too!¡±
¡°I want to join too!¡±
One Water Slime after another approached Li Meng, hopping excitedly onto the shore.
Before long, hundreds of Water Slimes had gathered before him¡ªhalf on the shore and half in the water, eagerly gazing at him.
¡°Um... will contracting with so many cause any problems?¡±
After all, Water Slimes would consume his life force, and Li Meng didn¡¯t want to end up with a shortened lifespan.
¡°I don¡¯t know!¡±
¡°No idea!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know either!¡±
¡°We all don¡¯t know!¡±
Li Meng looked helplessly at the cheerful Water Slimes in front of him.
¡°Haha! Fine, let¡¯s form contracts together!¡±
Under the moonlight, the lakeside echoed with Li Meng¡¯s hearty laughter.
Li Meng swallowed one Source Crystal after another. Each time a Water Slime Source Crystal entered his stomach, his tall frame would tremble slightly, the icy energy spreading inside him bringing a peculiar sense of comfort.
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The lively scene by the lakeside lasted a long, long time, only quieting down deep into the night.
¡°Are there any more? Anyone else want to form a contract?¡±
Under the moonlight, thousands of Water Slimes had gathered around Li Meng. His tall frame had also quietly undergone a transformation¡ªhis originally green skin had turned a deep blue.
Seeing no further response from the Water Slimes, Li Meng grinned. Although forming contracts with thousands of Water Slimes posed significant risks, the rewards were equally astonishing.
Satisfied, Li Meng stood up and looked down at his body. The change in his skin color was something he had already noticed¡ªit was likely linked to the icy energy coursing through his body.
With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel.
[Name: Gobumeng]
[Race: Goblin]
[Level: 93]
[Strength: 24337]
[Defense: 22197]
[Agility: 18147]
[Mana: 2741741]
[Charisma: 0]
[Luck: 11]
[Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts grants a chance to acquire their skills.]
[Iron Body: LV5 (Strength +5000, Defense +5000, Agility +2500)]
[Wind Blade Technique: LV1]
[Undying Body: LV2]
[Word Spirit: LV1]
[King of Ice Elements: LV1]
[Rampaging God (Sealed): LV1]
[Limb Reinforcement: LV6 (Strength +300, Agility +300)]
[Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Mana +1000)]
[War Stomp: LV1]
[Stone Bullet: LV1]
[Transformation: LV1]
[Spirit of Water Elements (Symbiotic Innate Skill)]
The terrifying mana values filled Li Meng¡¯s heart with joy. This was the benefit of forming Life Sharing Contracts with over a thousand Water Slimes.
Although the Water Slimes would consume his life force, Li Meng didn¡¯t feel as though his life force was depleting rapidly. This meant he had not yet reached his limit.
Turning around, Li Meng gazed into the depths of the forest. He stretched out his thick right hand, palm facing outward. Without any glow of mana, a stream of water appeared out of thin air, gathering into a water sphere in front of his palm.
The water sphere spun and expanded rapidly. In the blink of an eye, it had grown to a diameter of three meters. In that instant, the enormous sphere shot forward, accompanied by a surge of air pressure.
The spinning water sphere tore into the forest. A massive tree that required three people to encircle was struck.
¡°Boom!¡±
A loud cracking sound followed. The rotating water sphere shredded the thick trunk, its momentum unchecked as it crashed into another large tree.
Another thunderous boom echoed, accompanied by the sound of trees toppling. In the forest, a series of crashes rang out as trees along the trajectory of the sphere fell one after another, their trunks split apart.
¡°Boom!¡±
The water sphere traveled several hundred meters into the forest before slamming into the ground. The splashing water morphed into countless sharp water blades, slicing through everything around it. In a hundred-meter radius, trees were completely obliterated, woodchips flying everywhere. The deafening sound of collapsing trees reverberated through the area.
¡°So powerful!¡±
Li Meng was pleased as he watched the scene. The power of this casual attack was immense, and the water sphere required very little charge time.
¡°Phew!¡±
Taking a deep breath, Li Meng focused his mind. A magical transformation occurred¡ªhis blue skin began to fade, reverting to its original green hue within moments.
Rubbing his stomach, Li Meng chuckled. This was a new discovery while using water-based magic. He could gather the icy energy within his body and concentrate it at a single point.
Li Meng looked down at his stomach, where a faint blue mark resembling a crudely drawn rune had appeared. He extended his hand, and with a thought, a stream of water materialized in the air, forming a spinning water sphere above his palm.
Staring at the water sphere, Li Meng¡¯s face took on a contemplative expression. The responsiveness of the water element wasn¡¯t as smooth as it had been earlier¡ªit felt obstructed, like a lag in a game.
Li Meng withdrew his hand, letting the sphere fall to the ground with a splash. Looking around at the Water Slimes, he asked, ¡°Do you want to stay here, or follow me?¡±
¡°Boss, I¡¯m staying!¡±
¡°Boss, I¡¯ll stay here!¡±
¡°Boss, I¡¯m not going!¡±
The Water Slimes unanimously expressed their desire to stay. This was their home, and they didn¡¯t want to leave. Considering their lack of combat power, Li Meng didn¡¯t press the matter.
¡°Alright, you all stay here and take care of yourselves.¡±
With a grin, Li Meng turned and headed into the forest. After walking a few steps, he stopped abruptly, turning back to look at the Water Slimes.
¡°If you die, I won¡¯t die along with you, right?¡±
¡°No, Boss. If we die, we can revive by your side!¡±
The Water Slimes¡¯ reply put Li Meng at ease. It seemed the Source Crystal functioned like a life anchor for the Water Slimes¡ªas long as it wasn¡¯t destroyed, they wouldn¡¯t die.
¡°Then if I die, will all of you die as well?¡± Li Meng asked, realizing the potential issue.
¡°Yes! Yes, we¡¯ll die! We¡¯ll die!¡±
¡°That¡¯s right, we¡¯ll die!¡±
¡°Oh no, if Boss dies, won¡¯t we go extinct?¡±
¡°That¡¯s true! Yay!¡±
¡°If we all die together, I won¡¯t be scared!¡±
¡°Me too! I¡¯m not scared anymore!¡±
What an adorably silly bunch.
Chapter 185: The Flame Skurg
Chapter 185: The Flame Skurg
The cheerful, bouncing movements of the slime made Li Meng internally remark sarcastically.
Without asking further, Li Meng turned and left.
Only after Li Meng disappeared deep into the forest did the noise around the lake gradually subside.
Time ticked away bit by bit, and the night deepened.
Even the longest nights eventually welcome the dawn.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, the convoy departed from the lake.
After more than three months, they were finally embarking on their return journey.
On the forest path, Li Meng and Benben still followed behind the convoy.
"Benben, how is it? Is it comfortable to wear?"
As they walked, Li Meng glanced at Benben beside him.
Benben nodded, carrying a massive spiked club on his shoulder.
"Very comfortable, cool and breezy!"
Though it wasn¡¯t visible, the inner armor made for Benben was already worn underneath.
Benben''s inner armor was custom-made and fit perfectly without any issues.
Li Meng turned his gaze toward the carriage ahead.
His own inner armor was also finished and stored in the carriage.
It consisted of a top, pants, and a hood.
Time had passed quickly; more than three months had gone by without notice.
"Benben, when we get back, let''s forge iron together with the chief."
Hearing this, Benben looked down at his leader beside him.
A rumbling laugh echoed from inside Benben''s massive helmet.
"Leader, I like forging iron with you."
The leader was strong, and Benben was strong too.
Benben enjoyed the rhythmic sound of hammering iron.
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Even more, he liked seeing the leader dripping with sweat while working.
The leader looked impressive while forging in the past.
Now, he only looked more imposing when doing so.
"Alright, then. Let''s work up a sweat when we return. Wahaha!"
"Hohoho!"
The sound of Li Meng and Benben¡¯s laughter echoed behind the convoy.
This caught the attention of the goblins ahead.
They looked puzzled at the laughing Benben and their leader.
Time moved on, and the convoy gradually disappeared into the forest depths.
Soon, it was the fifth day.
Afternoon, outside the Iron Cavern.
"Deliver the mithril inner armor to the Throne Palace!"
"Yes, Your Majesty! I¡¯ll deliver it immediately!"
After a brief pause, the convoy resumed its journey toward the southern forest.
Outside the Iron Cavern, Li Meng watched the convoy depart.
Only after a long while did he turn and enter the cavern.
"Leader, Wangwang is over there!"
Guided by Benben, Li Meng found Wangwang.
Wangwang was in a cave near the underground river at the cavern¡¯s depths.
The cave wasn¡¯t very deep, only about 20 meters.
At the end of the cave, Li Meng saw Wangwang lying on the ground.
The cave was filled with a large number of fire crystals, forming a thick layer.
[Flame Skurg (Elite)]
[Level: 4]
[Strength: 119]
[Defense: 107]
[Agility: 217]
[Magic: 317]
[Flame Breath: LV1]
Had Wangwang become a magical creature?
Not only had it advanced, but it had also mastered a magical skill.
Standing at the cave entrance, Li Meng grinned.
Wangwang was sleeping, and its level would likely be even higher upon waking.
"Leader, what''s wrong with Wangwang?"
Li Meng didn¡¯t enter the cave to disturb Wangwang.
He turned toward the underground riverbank instead.
"Wangwang is fine. Benben, let¡¯s go. We¡¯ve got plenty of work ahead!"
Thus, Li Meng and Benben began their blacksmithing journey.
Benben removed his armor and inner armor.
Many ogres and trolls gathered around them to assist.
Li Meng didn¡¯t rush into forging armor.
He started by designing the armor¡¯s style, then crafted molds for the various pieces.
Time flew by as one day passed after another.
With Li Meng¡¯s arrival, the Iron Cavern was livelier and noisier than ever before.
To impress their leader, Gobuge and his followers worked tirelessly.
Meanwhile, Li Meng focused on all the preparatory tasks before forging iron.
The armor design alone took nearly half a month.
Crafting the molds took another half a month.
It wasn¡¯t until a month later that they began smelting iron.
"Benben, put in more effort!"
Afternoon, in the Iron Cavern.
By the underground riverbank, near a massive iron anvil.
Li Meng wielded a giant iron hammer, striking the glowing red armor piece on the anvil repeatedly.
Each strike sent sparks flying, and the cavern echoed with the resounding clanging of metal.
Benben used large tongs to adjust the position of the armor piece.
Not far away, Gobuge watched the scene in awe.
The sight of their leader and Benben working together was truly spectacular.
Even if he watched for a hundred years, Gobuge would never grow tired of it.
The booming hammer strikes filled the goblin with excitement.
"Ammon is so cool!"
Behind a large rock near the cave entrance, Vanessa was secretly watching.
Though the distance was a bit far, she could see Ammon sweating by the riverbank.
That figure, clad only in a pair of large shorts, was so imposing and majestic.
The sight made Vanessa¡¯s heart race.
"What¡¯s she doing?"
"No idea, but she¡¯s been here many times, hasn¡¯t she?"
"Seems like she¡¯s one of the females close to the leader."
"Not seems like¡ªshe *is* close to the leader."
Passing goblins noticed the sneaky Vanessa.
They all recognized her as one of the dark elves close to their leader.
Vanessa couldn¡¯t understand the goblins¡¯ chatter.
Nor did she pay attention to them.
"When will Ammon return?"
Ammon had been away from the Throne Tribe for several months.
In his absence, Vanessa often had nightmares.
She repeatedly dreamed about the time when Olivia erased her memories.
Olivia was her friend¡ªher best friend.
But Vanessa didn¡¯t recall Olivia possessing memory-erasing abilities.
Not even the goddess Lolth could erase someone¡¯s memories.
For over a month now, Vanessa had been pondering this mystery.
She had been waiting for Ammon to return, hoping to learn the answers she sought.
Time passed quickly as days turned into weeks.
On another afternoon, Vanessa visited the Iron Cavern as usual.
Familiar with the place, she snuck behind a boulder by the underground riverbank.
"Vanessa, what are you doing?"
As Vanessa peered over the rock, watching the riverbank, a large green hand suddenly rested on her shoulder.
Startled, Vanessa jumped.
Before she could turn around, a strong hand wrapped around her waist.
Li Meng embraced Vanessa¡¯s soft, delicate body from behind.
The familiar voice made Vanessa blush slightly.
"N-Nothing, Ammon. I just wanted to see you."
"If you wanted to see me, you could¡¯ve come directly. Why sneak around?"
Li Meng buried his head in Vanessa¡¯s neck, licking her earlobe with his tongue.
Vanessa shivered, her body weakening in Li Meng¡¯s embrace.
"I¡ I didn¡¯t want to disturb you, Ammon."
Li Meng grinned, releasing Vanessa and gently patting her rounded waist.
Chapter 186: Vanessas Departure
Chapter 186: Vanessa''s Departure
"Let''s go back!"
As he spoke, Li Meng took Vanessa''s hand and led her out of the Iron Cavern.
"Ammon, can we go back now?"
Outside, Li Meng held Vanessa''s hand as they left the Iron Cavern. The two walked leisurely into the forest.
"Yes, the matters here at the Iron Cavern are done."
After over two months of effort, his exclusive armor was finally completed.
Due to its immense size and intricate design, wearing it was an extremely cumbersome process.
It required the help of the Ogre and the Goblin blacksmiths to properly don the armor.
In the dim forest, the two walked in single file.
Vanessa glanced at Ammon beside her, wanting to speak but hesitating.
"Vanessa, if you have something to ask, just ask. I''ll tell you whatever I know."
Vanessa, a dark elf, was never good at hiding her thoughts.
Her expression made it clear what was on her mind.
"Ammon, when did we first meet?"
Although Li Meng wasn''t sure why Vanessa brought this up, he didn''t overthink it.
"It was in the Throne Cave Dwelling, wasn''t it? Back then, the dwelling was so small¡ªit was just a little wooden hut. One day, you suddenly appeared and gave me a sacrificial plate. Your voice was a bit neutral back then, but from the scent..."
Before he could finish, Li Meng''s voice abruptly stopped.
Vanessa suddenly halted in her tracks.
Her face was blank, her eyes filled with confusion.
"Vanessa, what''s wrong?"
Li Meng turned to look at Vanessa behind him.
The confusion in Vanessa''s eyes gradually faded.
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When her gaze refocused on Li Meng, her expression turned hostile.
"Goblin, I''ll kill you!"
Vanessa let out an angry scream, the affection in her eyes replaced with hatred.
Dark magic surged out of her body.
In a flash, a wave of air exploded around her.
Drawing a dagger from her waist, Vanessa charged at Li Meng.
In an instant, she was upon him, aiming the dagger at his chest.
Vanessa''s speed was quick, but Li Meng''s reaction was quicker.
With lightning-fast reflexes, his right hand caught Vanessa''s wrist.
No matter how hard she struggled, she couldn''t break free.
Frustrated, Vanessa slapped her left hand toward the Goblin''s ugly face.
Slap!
Li Meng didn''t dodge.
Vanessa''s slap landed squarely on his face, the crisp sound echoing through the dim forest.
Faced with Vanessa''s resentful and hateful gaze, Li Meng was at a loss for words.
It was true¡ªthose who tampered with memories would eventually face retribution.
Vanessa''s affection for him had made him want to forget the fact that it was all based on a fabricated memory.
"Leave. Don¡¯t show up again, or you¡¯ll die!"
As he spoke, Li Meng released Vanessa''s wrist.
No matter what, Vanessa had brought him happiness.
At least for now, he wouldn¡¯t kill her.
Vanessa came to her senses.
Revenge could wait; for now, she needed to escape.
After spending so much time with this Goblin, she knew just how terrifying his strength was.
"Goblin, I will return for you!"
Vanessa sheathed her dagger and walked emotionlessly into the depths of the forest.
Li Meng stood silently in the dim forest, watching her graceful figure fade into the distance.
Even after she disappeared into the forest, his gaze remained fixed in that direction.
After a long while, a sigh escaped from the forest.
With a self-deprecating smile, Li Meng resumed walking forward.
The unexpected turn of events had cost him Vanessa.
But he also learned the limitations of the "Word Spirit" skill.
No matter how real the memory, it could never alter the false nature of its foundation.
Someday, those who were implanted with false memories would awaken.
"What a pity," Li Meng murmured, a trace of regret flashing in his eyes.
Vanessa''s affection had made him develop a slight liking for her.
Though that affection was shallow and based on her appearance, Vanessa had a charm that drew him in.
Li Meng had thought Vanessa would stay by his side forever.
But it seemed that the Goddess of Fate had played another trick on him.
"It seems the harem''s forest suits me better!"
With a grin, Li Meng''s regret vanished.
Although Vanessa had left, his future remained bright.
He would gradually enrich his harem, making it more lively.
Deep in the forest, Li Meng quickened his pace.
Time passed slowly, day by day.
After returning to the Throne Tribe from the Iron Cavern, Li Meng''s life became monotonous.
His only joy each day came from teasing the Princesses in his harem.
The tribe''s development continued in an orderly fashion.
More and more branch tribes were springing up across the vast Goblin Forest.
Every month, large numbers of Goblins were sent to these branch tribes.
Another day dawned.
In the morning, within the Throne Palace¡¯s grand hall:
"Mm, this tastes pretty good!"
Seated on the spacious throne, Li Meng was enjoying sashimi.
On the table before him were four plump Black Rock Fish.
Two female Lizardmen were slicing the fish with knives.
The slices couldn''t be too thick, as they wouldn''t absorb the seasoning well.
Nor could they be too thin, as it would affect the texture.
Two other female Lizardmen stood on either side of Li Meng, attending to him.
Holding a small knife, Li Meng speared a slice of fish dipped in seasoning and chewed on it.
The seasoning was made from plants with unique aromas.
With a smile, he wrapped an arm around the waist of the Lizardwoman to his right, pulling her onto his lap.
"Here, feed me!"
The Lizardwoman''s tail swayed nervously as she carefully speared a slice of fish, dipped it in the seasoning, and fed it to the Goblin King.
"Report!"
At that moment, a heavily armored Great Goblin rushed in.
Entering the throne hall, the Great Goblin knelt to the ground.
"My king, the elders of the southern Lizardmen have arrived!"
The southern Lizardmen had been authorized by Li Meng to form a governing body known as the "Council of Elders."
The Council of Elders reported directly to him.
It consisted of seven members, with a designated leader.
Li Meng waved a hand, swallowing the fish slice fed to him by the Lizardwoman.
The Great Goblin quickly rose and ran out.
Soon, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed outside.
Seven male Lizardmen entered swiftly, bowing and kneeling in the hall.
"My king, why have you summoned us?"
The leading male Lizardman asked.
The others glanced up secretly but quickly lowered their heads when the Goblin King''s gaze swept over them.
"It''s nothing major. Starting today, increase the military rations reserve from one month to six months."
Military rations for six months?
"My king, military rations cannot be stored for half a year!"
Chapter 187: The Demon Tribe Messenger
Chapter 187: The Demon Tribe Messenger
Most of the military provisions were made from dried fish.
However, dried fish couldn¡¯t last as long as half a year.
At most, it would start to spoil and rot within one or two months.
¡°The ice cellar is currently being excavated. Once operational, it will extend the shelf life of the military provisions.¡±
Ice cellar?
These words from Li Meng reminded the elders of the recent activities in the southern district over the past half month.
A large number of Goblins had been digging something in the southern district for the past two weeks.
Every day, vast amounts of soil were transported out.
It turned out that Li Meng was digging an ice cellar.
¡°Yes, my King!¡±
Li Meng waved slightly, dismissing the Lizardmen elders.
The male Lizardmen elders tactfully turned and left.
Watching their retreating backs, Li Meng¡¯s face showed a contemplative expression.
¡°It seems Bai Ling needs to find a mate!¡±
Bai Ling was a special member of the High Priest lineage among the Lizardmen.
Currently, Bai Ling was the only remaining descendant of the High Priest lineage.
It would be a great loss if the High Priest lineage ended with Bai Ling.
The lifespan of the Marsh Lizardmen was only about seventy years.
Bai Ling was already in her thirties.
If she remained single, the High Priest lineage might truly go extinct.
Li Meng didn¡¯t particularly care about the extinction of the High Priest lineage.
What he cared about was the abilities of the High Priest lineage.
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As the king, he couldn¡¯t become a tool for making ice.
And entrusting the role of ice-making to the High Priest lineage was undoubtedly the best option.
The thought of a large group of white Lizardmen offspring frolicking around Bai Ling made Li Meng chuckle mischievously.
His desire to have Bai Ling reproduce offspring grew even stronger.
Although Bai Ling had already borne a Goblin for him, their aesthetics were too different.
He could tolerate it, but there was no sense of possessiveness whatsoever.
To him, Bai Ling was more like a tool¡ªa tool to rule over the Lizardmen.
¡°Do you know Bai Ling?¡±
Li Meng suddenly asked the female Lizardmen beside him.
This was a redundant question.
Bai Ling was now the supreme leader of the Marsh Lizardmen.
How could these female Lizardmen not know her?
The female Lizardmen at the dining table all nodded in unison.
¡°How did the High Priest lineage reproduce in the past?¡±
The number of High Priests had always been too few.
At its peak, the Marsh Lizardmen population in the Goblin Forest exceeded 100,000.
Even if the High Priest lineage declined, there shouldn¡¯t be only Bai Ling left as the sole descendant.
The female Lizardman to Li Meng¡¯s left lowered her head slightly.
¡°My King, the High Priest lineage does not rely on reproduction for inheritance. Among the newborns of the Marsh Lizardmen, a High Priest might emerge. Once such a newborn is born, they are taken in by the High Priest lineage.¡±
Hearing this, Li Meng was taken aback.
He had assumed the High Priest lineage was a special bloodline among the Marsh Lizardmen.
Unexpectedly, the High Priest lineage turned out to be merely a mutation within the Marsh Lizardmen.
Even if Bai Ling found a mate, their offspring would most likely be ordinary Lizardmen.
Awkwardly laughing, Li Meng gave up on the idea of finding a mate for Bai Ling.
No wonder the High Priest lineage was reduced to Bai Ling as the sole descendant.
It seemed the probability of Marsh Lizardmen producing a mutated individual was extremely low.
Feeling somewhat dejected, Li Meng nibbled on some raw fish.
Fine, it seemed he would have to become the ice-making tool himself in the future.
Although Bai Ling could also take on this role, she had her own tasks to handle.
Making her an ice-making tool would be a waste.
---
Time flew by, and months passed in the blink of an eye.
Morning, the Throne Palace.
¡°My King! My King!¡±
In the bedchamber, a female Lizardman maid called softly.
The scene on the bed caused a hint of shyness to flash in her eyes.
On the bed were not only the Princess consorts but also the maids.
At a glance, there were at least five Lizardmen.
The intense scent lingering in the air spoke volumes about the previous night¡¯s activities.
The maid¡¯s voice caused the Princesses and maids to gradually open their eyes.
The maids hurriedly got up and began searching for their scattered garments on the bed.
Last night, they had been on duty outside but were summoned into the room at some point.
Compared to the slightly flustered maids, the two Princesses were much more composed.
They lazily got out of bed, exuding an air of indifference.
Li Meng, still on the bed, sat up and turned his head.
¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±
He looked at the hesitant maid standing by the bed.
Upon hearing his question, the maid quickly explained.
¡°My King, a Goblin is waiting for you in the throne hall.¡±
Li Meng threw off the silk blanket made of spider threads and got out of bed.
Two maids quickly approached to assist him.
¡°My King, we will take our leave for now!¡±
While Li Meng was being helped with his attire, the two Princesses had already finished dressing.
Li Meng grinned and nodded.
¡°Go ahead, we¡¯ll play again tonight!¡±
Faced with his predatory gaze, the Princesses chuckled softly, swaying their hips as they walked out.
Before long, Li Meng left the bedchamber and headed to the throne hall.
In the throne hall.
As soon as the king appeared, the large Goblin, who had been waiting with little enthusiasm, knelt down.
¡°Speak, what¡¯s the matter?¡±
Li Meng yawned as he sat on the throne.
He had been up all night with the Princesses and had barely slept for four hours.
¡°My King, there is a Centaur messenger from the Demon Tribe!¡±
A Centaur messenger?
The report piqued Li Meng¡¯s interest.
At last, something important had arrived.
He had grown tired of waiting.
¡°Bring them in!¡±
¡°Yes, my King!¡±
The large Goblin quickly ran off.
At the same time, outside the eastern gate of the Throne Tribe¡¯s inner district, a tall and slender Centaur woman was waiting.
She was dressed in relatively exquisite brown leather armor, covering her entire body.
Her coffee-colored hair cascaded loosely over her shoulders, and her pointed ears made her resemble an elegant elf.
¡°What an ugly monster!¡±
¡°Yeah, terrifying!¡±
¡°Is she a beast or a person?¡±
¡°What a horrifying hybrid!¡±
The presence of the Centaur drew murmurs from the Goblins, who were watching curiously, fearfully, and disdainfully.
Unperturbed by their chatter, the Centaur gazed thoughtfully at the structures and main road of the outer district.
Chapter 188: First Time Wearing Armor
Chapter 188: First Time Wearing Armor
She had been here before but had never entered the tribe.
Upon entering the tribe, Margarita discovered that the interior was far more magnificent than it appeared from the outside.
Was this really a goblin tribe?
Everything in front of her was so unexpected that Margarita could hardly associate it with goblins.
"Clack, clack!"
At that moment, the eastern gate slowly opened.
A large goblin walked out from the gate.
It yelled incomprehensibly toward the centaur outside the gate.
Though Margarita couldn''t understand, she could guess what the large goblin was saying.
She stepped forward, her hooves clopping as she entered through the gate.
Throne Palace, Throne Hall.
"You''re here!"
In the throne hall, Li Meng was seated on a wide throne.
The sound of hooves outside the door caught Li Meng''s attention.
Soon, a tall figure appeared at the doorway.
In Li Meng''s eyes, a centaur slowly walked in.
Compared to the large goblin beside her, she was indeed much bigger.
Was this the Goblin King?
Looking at the small goblin on the throne, Margarita frowned slightly.
Judging by its size, it was just a goblin warrior.
After entering the tribe, she had seen goblin champions.
How could such a small goblin warrior ascend to be the Goblin King?
Despite her doubts, Margarita maintained her decorum.
She bent down and placed her hand on her chest in salute to the goblin on the throne.
"Honorable Goblin King, I am a messenger from the Demon Clan. Demon General Douglas invites you to the demon camp to discuss an alliance and plot major plans together!"
Li Meng, seated on the throne, looked Margarita up and down.
If one ignored her horse-like lower body, she was indeed beautiful.
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At least, she matched his aesthetic preferences.
Li Meng grinned and stood up.
"Alright, let''s go!"
Hearing this, Margarita froze in surprise.
The goblin was just going to follow her like that?
Shouldn''t he at least gather an army to head to the Southern Wasteland?
Having an army and not having one were completely different concepts.
An army not only intimidated allies, preventing them from underestimating him, but also provided effective protection.
Though goblin armies were weak, very weak, having one was better than none.
Goblins were far too feeble as creatures.
Without an army, they wouldn''t earn the respect of the Demon Clan.
Moreover, just as the Demon General had said, the goblin before her indeed had the ability to communicate with other races telepathically.
Even though she didn''t understand the goblin language, she could converse with him without any barriers.
"Uh... alright, are we leaving now?"
Li Meng grinned and walked past Margarita.
"We''re leaving now, but I need to stop by somewhere first!"
Margarita turned and followed the small goblin.
Within the forest in the inner area of the Throne Tribe, the two walked side by side.
"If you''re allied with the Demon Clan, you should lead an army to the Southern Wasteland for the meeting!"
"Why?"
Li Meng turned his head to look at the tall and slender centaur beside him.
Faced with the goblin''s gaze, Margarita was speechless.
Goblins were truly foolish; they couldn''t even grasp such a simple concept.
"The Demon Clan respects the strong. Without great strength, you need an army to make up for it!"
Hearing this, Li Meng appeared to understand.
"Oh, I see. Then I won¡¯t bring an army. I¡¯m just a goblin; even if I brought a large goblin force to fill the scene, they wouldn¡¯t respect me. Why bother doing something so redundant?"
Margarita was left speechless by his words.
It was true.
No matter what goblins did, the Demon Clan wouldn¡¯t regard them highly.
Goblins¡¯ current plight was probably no different from that of the centaur race.
For the rest of the journey, Margarita remained silent.
The two walked unhurriedly out of the tribe''s northern gate.
Half an hour later, outside the Iron Cavern.
"Wait here. I¡¯ll be right back!"
Leaving behind these words, Li Meng entered the Iron Cavern without looking back.
Basking in the sunlight, Margarita curiously watched the Iron Cavern.
She could hear clanging sounds from inside the cavern.
But what were those sounds? For a moment, she couldn¡¯t figure it out.
"King, King, what brings you here?"
Inside the Iron Cavern, Gobuge trotted up eagerly to greet the king.
Li Meng strode deeper into the cavern.
"Prepare the armor!"
Hearing this, Gobuge¡¯s eyes lit up.
With the king''s arrival, the Iron Cavern burst into activity.
By the underground riverbank deep within the cavern, Benben and a group of ogres were busy working.
The ogres were fitting inner armor onto their leader.
The inner armor wasn¡¯t a single piece but composed of dozens of parts.
Li Meng stood by the riverbank with his arms outstretched.
His towering five-meter frame resembled a majestic mountain of flesh.
Many goblins climbed onto Li Meng, hammering and stitching the inner armor in place.
Piece by piece, the inner armor gradually covered Li Meng¡¯s massive body.
Finally, his entire body, except for his face, was encased in the inner armor.
It took over half an hour to finish putting on the inner armor.
Next came the heavy outer armor.
First, the thick chest and back plates.
Then, the hip and leg armor.
Lastly, the arm guards and auxiliary joints for the limbs.
Numerous goblins hammered at the armor on their king.
It took an hour and a half to fully don the armor.
Holding a massive barrel-shaped helmet in his hands, Li Meng grinned.
Being cautious wasn¡¯t a bad thing.
With this thought, Li Meng placed the massive helmet on his head.
Once the helmet was on, Li Meng''s appearance completely transformed.
He became an ironclad figure like Benben, but his armor was more exquisite, offering superior protection.
The joint structures were also more intricate.
Compared to the armor on the ogres, his was significantly heavier.
Li Meng moved his limbs and spun around.
"Not bad, very good!"
Li Meng was very satisfied with the armor.
His range of motion wasn¡¯t hindered.
Though the inner and outer armor together weighed nearly fifteen tons, Li Meng felt no discomfort.
The armor fit his body well, moving seamlessly with his motions.
"Boss, here¡¯s your iron club!"
Benben struggled to carry a massive iron club forward.
The iron club was about six meters long, with a diameter of fifteen centimeters.
It was entirely iron-gray, wrapped in a layer of high-carbon steel.
Li Meng took the iron club from Benben.
"Benben, Wangwang, watch closely. The boss is leaving now!"
With that, Li Meng shouldered the iron club and walked out.
The iron club was heavy, even heavier than his inner and outer armor combined.
Altogether, his gear weighed around forty to fifty tons.
Moments later, outside the Iron Cavern.
"Ogre¡ Ogre?"
Seeing a massive ironclad figure emerge from the cavern, Margarita was startled.
She retreated repeatedly, her face filled with fear.
Judging by its size, it was easy to mistake it for a cavern ogre with a massive frame.
"Let¡¯s go, time to set off!"
The familiar voice startled Margarita.
Though the voice was louder, it was still the same voice.
"You¡ you¡¯re the Goblin¡ King?"
Could he truly be the Goblin King?
Perhaps only the legendary Goblin King could possess such an enormous frame.
"I was small before; now I¡¯m big!"
Margarita took a deep breath.
She bowed, saluting the massive Goblin King with her hand over her chest.
The two, one big and one small, walked deeper into the forest.
In the dim forest, they walked side by side.
Looking at the giant Goblin King beside her, Margarita felt a tinge of fear in her eyes.
From the goblin, she could sense a suffocating aura of oppression.
It was then Margarita realized the rumors were true.
Chapter 189: I want to see your body
Chapter 189: I want to see your body
Before coming here, she had heard that the demon centurion "Ghost Hand" had died at the hands of a goblin.
She had assumed it was a rumor.
After all, a demon centurion was a formidable warrior capable of fighting a thousand foes.
How could they die at the hands of a weak goblin?
Only upon seeing the Goblin King''s true form did Margarita realize that "Ghost Hand''s" death was not a rumor.
---
[Centaur]
[Level: 51]
[Strength: 71]
[Defense: 64]
[Agility: 207]
[Magic: 17]
The centaur was spying on Li Meng.
Li Meng was also observing the centaur.
The centaur''s stats made Li Meng''s expression grow contemplative.
Every race should have unique individuals.
For example, there was Bai Ling among the swamp lizardmen.
The leader of the pigmen who possessed "War Stomp."
How did their powers awaken?
"I think I saw you during the demon siege."
Li Meng suddenly broke the silence between them.
Hearing this, Margarita was stunned.
She never expected the Goblin King beside her to recognize her identity.
A trace of doubt flickered in Margarita''s eyes.
During the last demon siege, she was indeed among the demon army.
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But she had remained in the forest, observing the battle.
How did the Goblin King discover her?
Margarita bowed to the Goblin King with a chest-covering salute.
"My name is Margarita, Queen of the Centaur Tribe in the Southern Wastelands!"
Li Meng looked down at Margarita.
"Why hide your identity? Why act as a messenger to my tribe?"
Facing the Goblin King''s question, Margarita smiled faintly.
"Just out of curiosity, no other reason!"
"I see."
Li Meng believed her, though not completely.
However, whether he believed or not, he decided not to probe further.
"Last time, I saw your people. They all seemed to be female. Where are the male centaurs?"
Li Meng did not think centaurs were like goblins.
Goblins were all male and needed females of other races to reproduce.
Centaurs, unlike succubi, were not such beings.
Li Meng''s question made Margarita''s smile disappear.
She lowered her head, her face tinged with sorrow.
"Ever since the demons arrived, they swiftly dominated all the tribes of the Southern Wastelands. Over the past decade, they fought five wars with humanity. In the first three, centaurs suffered heavy losses. Nearly all the men were killed. To ensure our race''s survival, the women had no choice but to take up bows and continue the fight against humanity, battling to this day."
They fought to protect the males?
That was a brutally harsh reason.
When a race needed women to take the battlefield, it meant the race was on the brink of extinction.
---
"Augus Continent is vast. Why join the war?"
As nomadic barbarians, centaurs had no need to engage in the war.
They could have fled far away.
No race could catch up to fleeing centaurs.
Margarita shook her head bitterly.
"The Southern Wastelands are too enclosed. To the east lies the sea. To the west is the Goblin Forest. To the north are the Ogre Mountains. We can''t cross the sea or enter the forest. Crossing the Ogre Mountains into human territory would be foolish. We had no choice. The Southern Wastelands are the only place we can survive."
Margarita''s words made Li Meng understand the centaurs'' plight.
The demons'' arrival forced humanity to cross the Ogre Mountains into the Southern Wastelands.
This compelled the various barbarian tribes of the wastelands to fight for their homes under the demons'' coercion.
---
Over the next few days, Li Meng and Margarita traveled eastward.
Vanessa''s departure made Li Meng give up on using "Words of Power" on Margarita.
He was a goblin, a being despised by all races.
He did not need anyone''s love.
If he wanted something, he would take it.
---
Three days later, in the Southern Wastelands.
On an endless golden plain stood a tribe.
The tribe covered an area of over ten square kilometers.
Large and small animal-skin tents stretched in all directions.
In the afternoon, under the blazing sun, two figures¡ªone large, one small¡ªappeared several kilometers south of the tribe.
"That is the demon encampment in the Southern Wastelands!"
Li Meng looked in the direction Margarita pointed.
In the distant withered grasslands, an expanse of animal-skin tents came into view.
"The scale is not small."
Looking at the distant encampment, Li Meng thought to himself.
The demons had brought fewer than 20,000 beastmen from the north.
They ruled three vassal races in the Southern Wastelands.
The pigmen, centaurs, and gnolls.
Among them, the pigmen had the largest population.
Despite five wars with humanity and the demons, they still had nearly 200,000 members, occupying the southwest region of the wastelands.
The gnolls were next, with a population of about 100,000, occupying the northern region of the wastelands.
The centaurs had the smallest population, with fewer than 20,000, occupying the eastern region of the wastelands.
The two beastmen were supported by the three tribes.
As they neared their destination, Li Meng looked down at Margarita.
"Queen Margarita, I want to see your body!"
The Goblin King''s sudden request startled Margarita.
The sudden request from the Goblin King startled Margarita.
Margarita raised her head in astonishment, looking at the burly figure beside her.
Over the past few days of conversation, Margarita had gained some understanding of the Goblin King next to her.
This Goblin King was indeed a very unique goblin.
It was intelligent and did not exhibit the usual greed seen in ordinary goblins when encountering female creatures.
¡°Wh-why?¡±
Although the Goblin King¡¯s request was outrageous, Margarita didn¡¯t think the Goblin King wanted to mate with her.
¡°I¡¯m a bit curious about the body structure of centaurs!¡±
Hearing this, Margarita¡¯s face turned slightly red.
As a centaur, she didn¡¯t find anything unusual about her own body. However, the body structure of centaurs did arouse the curiosity of many races.
¡°No¡ no way! A female¡¯s body can¡¯t be seen so casually.¡±
¡°Is that so? Then I¡¯ll just go and snatch a centaur!¡±
¡°No, you can¡¯t do that!¡±
Margarita became anxious.
All the centaurs in the southern wastelands were her people. How could she turn a blind eye to the Goblin King¡¯s act of raiding centaurs?
¡°Why not? If you won¡¯t let me see, and I can¡¯t force you, then I¡¯ll have to snatch another centaur.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t force me, nor can you force any other centaurs!¡±
¡°No way! I¡¯ll do whatever I want.¡±
¡°Then why can¡¯t you force me?¡±
¡°Because you are a Demon Clan envoy.¡±
¡°My people are also part of the Demon Clan. You¡ you can¡¯t raid them either!¡±
¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the Demon Clan. If they dare to stop me, I¡¯ll smash them!¡±
Chapter 190: Arrival at the Demonic Tribes Camp
Chapter 190: Arrival at the Demonic Tribe''s Camp
Margarita glanced at the massive iron rod on the Goblin King''s shoulder.
The enormous rod was clearly extremely heavy at first glance.
Over the past few days, she had seen the Goblin King set it down.
Whenever he picked it up, the ground would form a large pit.
"The Demonic Tribe is very powerful. Provoking them is not a wise move," Margarita said, hoping to use the Demonic Tribe to dissuade the Goblin King.
"I''m not afraid!"
A trace of helplessness flashed in Margarita''s eyes.
From the Goblin King''s words, she could sense his determination.
If she didn¡¯t show him what he wanted, he might truly plunder her people.
Expressionless, Margarita stared at the Goblin King beside her.
"I''ll show you, but on one condition!"
"No way. If you won¡¯t show me, I¡¯ll find it myself. Why should I agree to your condition?"
It¡¯s just a glance at her body, so why set conditions?
What on earth was this centaur woman thinking?
It¡¯s not like her body was made of gold¡ªwhat value could it possibly have?
Margarita froze for a moment, glaring angrily at him.
"You... do you think you can look for free?"
"I''m strong. Why not look for free?"
Li Meng replied seriously, leaving Margarita nearly breathless with anger.
After a long pause, she lowered her head in frustration.
She had come to understand something¡ªthis Goblin King beside her had no concept of equivalent exchange.
"Huff!"
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Margarita took a deep breath to calm herself down as much as possible.
She raised her head again, looking at the massive helmeted head of the Goblin King.
"I''ll show you, but you must promise not to plunder my people!"
"No way. You already set a condition!"
"What do you want, then?"
"I want to see your body!"
"Then you can¡¯t see it for free! Do you expect me to do whatever you say?"
"Then I won¡¯t look at you!"
"You¡¯re not allowed to plunder my people!"
"Why should I listen to you?"
Along the way to the Demonic Tribe''s camp, the two bickered endlessly.
As they neared the camp, Margarita grew anxious.
If she couldn¡¯t dispel the Goblin King¡¯s idea of plundering her people, she had a very strong premonition that he would soon act to satisfy his curiosity.
"What¡¯s that?"
"I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s massive!"
Ultimately, Margarita failed to persuade the Goblin King before they entered the camp.
On one of the main paths in the settlement, the two walked side by side, attracting the attention of the orcs in the camp.
The sight of Li Meng¡¯s colossal armored body stirred much discussion among the orcs.
"There are many clans among the orcs. You can tell from the flags on their hide tents. The orcs¡¯ status isn¡¯t much better than ours; they¡¯re also vassals of the Ghost Beastmen. Actually, the Ghost Beastmen and orcs share no blood ties," Margarita said as they walked.
Faced with the orcs¡¯ gazes, a trace of mockery flashed in her eyes.
The orcs were clearly strong, a major race on the Augus Continent, yet they willingly became slaves to the Ghost Beastmen.
The centaurs had submitted to the Demonic Tribe due to circumstances, but the orcs had served the Ghost Beastmen for thousands of years.
The Ghost Beastmen weren¡¯t superior orcs?
Li Meng thought about the Ghost Beastmen¡¯s appearance.
Judging by their looks, the two were indeed vastly different.
The Ghost Beastmen resembled "demons" with their dark brown skin and horned heads.
The orcs, on the other hand, appeared much more normal.
As time passed, the two ventured deeper into the camp.
Eventually, they arrived before the largest tent in the camp.
The wooden support structure was decorated with numerous bone ornaments, including a large skull and tusks from some massive creature.
"Hey, what are you two doing here?"
A Ghost Beastman blocked their way in front of the tent.
Upon seeing this, Margarita quickly stepped forward and performed a chest-covering salute.
"Honorable sir, I am a messenger of the Demonic Tribe. Behind me is the Goblin King, who is here by the invitation of Lord Douglas."
"The Goblin King?"
The Ghost Beastman sneered as he looked disdainfully at the massive figure behind the centaur messenger.
A mere Goblin King came to see Lord Douglas in full armor?
"Wait here. Lord Douglas is napping. Don¡¯t be rude!"
Margarita¡¯s expression grew troubled.
The figure behind her was not someone to be trifled with.
"But¡ª"
"Your task is done. Now scram!"
The Ghost Beastman waved his hand impatiently, giving Margarita no chance to say more.
"The Goblin King is Lord Douglas¡¯s most important guest. Please inform him quickly!"
Margarita didn¡¯t back down, performing another chest-covering salute.
Her defiance made the Ghost Beastman sneer maliciously.
"Centaur, who gave you the guts to defy me?"
The Ghost Beastman drew a whip made of bull tendon from his waist and cracked it loudly.
With a resounding "snap," the whip lashed down toward Margarita.
Although Margarita was the Centaur Queen, she was currently acting as a mere centaur messenger.
As the whip descended, Margarita shuddered, gritted her teeth, and closed her eyes.
Just as the whip was about to strike her, a sudden gust of wind rushed from behind her.
"Boom!"
A deafening crash followed, shaking the ground.
When Margarita opened her eyes, she was greeted by a horrifying sight.
The Ghost Beastman before her had been smashed into pulp by a massive iron rod.
A large pit had formed beneath the rod, filled with a mangled mess of flesh.
The sudden turn of events startled the surrounding orcs, who hadn¡¯t even seen the giant figure move.
By the time they reacted, the Ghost Beastman was already dead under the iron rod.
"What did you do?"
The orcs standing guard outside the tent quickly surrounded them, staring in fear at the massive figure encased in iron armor.
A Ghost Beastman had been killed in a single strike.
"Goblin, you¡¯re courting death!"
From afar, a loud roar erupted.
A Ghost Beastman leaped several hundred meters into the air, hurtling toward Li Meng.
Dark energy erupted from the Ghost Beastman, combining with a "Charging Strike."
Even before the Ghost Beastman landed, the air pressure was already palpable.
Like a meteor crashing to earth, the Ghost Beastman struck Li Meng¡¯s massive body.
Li Meng didn¡¯t dodge. His enormous left hand clenched into a fist and swung upward.
In an instant, the fist collided with the Ghost Beastman¡¯s foot.
"Ah!"
A scream echoed as the Ghost Beastman¡¯s right leg was shattered.
The Ghost Beastman flew through the air like a baseball, soaring into the sky.
This time, it flew even higher, vanishing into the clouds.
"Pretty tough body," Li Meng muttered, gazing up at the sky.
Chapter 191: "I Didnt Hear That Clearly"
Chapter 191: "I Didn''t Hear That Clearly"
It was just a broken leg, along with being sent flying.
If it were an ordinary person, this punch would have reduced them to a bloody pulp.
Margarita stood to the side, looking incredulously at the towering figure of the Goblin King.
She knew the Goblin King was strong.
But she hadn¡¯t expected him to be this strong.
Two ghost beastmen, formidable as they were, had been annihilated in an instant.
The overwhelming power made it hard to believe he was merely a Goblin King.
¡°Hey, stop wasting my time. If you want to fight me, come at me all at once. Let¡¯s see how I crush you all!¡±
Li Meng, wielding his massive iron rod, pointed towards the tent.
The tent was enormous, filled with numerous powerful ghost beastmen.
The two ghost beastmen he had just killed were elite-level ones.
¡°Goblin, this is a demon camp. Aren¡¯t you afraid we¡¯ll make sure you stay here forever?¡±
At that moment, a cold voice rang out from inside the tent.
The voice¡¯s appearance caused the beastmen outside to pale and retreat quickly, dispersing in all directions.
Li Meng grinned beneath his helmet, his iron rod resting on his shoulder.
¡°I came here, and I¡¯ll leave whenever I want. If you want to try me, I¡¯m game!¡±
The inside of the tent fell silent.
After a long pause, the door curtain was lifted from within.
A graceful figure swayed out, every movement exuding an alluring charm.
It was Agatha, the seductive female ghost beastman who resembled a succubus.
¡°Well, well, it seems you¡¯ve gotten even stronger since we last met!¡±
Agatha approached Li Meng with a smile, curiosity lighting her face as she tapped on the armor covering his leg.
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She raised her head to look at the Goblin King¡¯s helmet, which resembled a large iron barrel.
Agatha chuckled softly, her laughter shaking her shoulders like blooming flowers.
¡°Goblin, dressing so heavily, are you afraid of us?¡±
Li Meng grabbed Agatha by the waist, lifting her into the crook of his arm, then strode towards the entrance of the tent.
Agatha smiled coyly, naturally wrapping her arms around Li Meng¡¯s arm. She gestured with her delicate hand, signaling the beastmen outside to make way.
The beastmen quickly stepped aside.
Watching the imposing figure of the Goblin King, Margarita¡¯s eyes sparkled with admiration.
She had never imagined that a mere Goblin King could confront ghost beastmen with such composure.
The overwhelming power he displayed was beyond belief.
Margarita could feel her heart racing.
Meanwhile, inside the tent.
As soon as Li Meng entered, he was met with powerful presences rushing towards him.
Compared to outside, the tent was dimmer but far more spacious.
Inside, more than a dozen ghost beastmen sat cross-legged, their unfriendly gazes fixed on the massive goblin at the entrance.
¡°Put down Agatha!¡±
Upon seeing Agatha perched on the Goblin King¡¯s arm, one of the ghost beastmen couldn¡¯t help but shout angrily.
Li Meng grinned, striding forward.
As he passed by the shouting ghost beastman, he paused, then turned to look down at it from above.
¡°Ghost beastman, what did you just say? I didn¡¯t hear that clearly!¡±
Faced with the Goblin King, the ghost beastman broke into a cold sweat. It felt an overwhelming pressure that made breathing difficult.
Yet its pride forced it to meet the Goblin King¡¯s gaze head-on.
¡°All right, stop bullying it!¡±
Agatha, sitting in Li Meng¡¯s arm, laughed softly, her hand tapping on Li Meng¡¯s chest plate, resolving the ghost beastman¡¯s predicament.
Li Meng turned away silently and continued forward.
As he walked away, the ghost beastman breathed a sigh of relief. It wanted to gasp for air but managed to hold back.
After that encounter, all the ghost beastmen silently watched the massive Goblin King. None of them spoke.
They had never imagined they would feel such suffocating power from a Goblin King. This aura seemed even stronger than that of Lord Douglas.
Could that be possible?
No, it couldn¡¯t be. He was just a Goblin King, after all.
Li Meng strode forward and sat cross-legged across from the main seat.
Agatha naturally slid into his lap.
In the tent, one large figure and one smaller one locked eyes.
Li Meng sized up the ghost beastman seated in the main position.
This must be Douglas.
To Li Meng, most ghost beastmen looked the same.
This one just seemed slightly stronger than the others.
¡°Huh, information is hidden?¡±
Li Meng attempted to view Douglas¡¯ stats, only to find they were all question marks, just like when Vanessa wore her black robe.
¡°Could this guy also have some kind of artifact?¡±
While Li Meng scrutinized Douglas, Douglas was also evaluating Li Meng.
For a long time, the two stared at each other in silence.
Finally, Douglas broke the silence, his voice resonating within the tent.
¡°Welcome to the demon camp. I am Douglas, commander of the demons!¡±
¡°I¡¯m Gobumeng!¡±
¡°Pfft!¡±
Agatha burst into laughter at the name, her body shaking with mirth.
It certainly was a fitting name for a goblin.
¡°Do you still remember the alliance you made with Iron Mask?¡±
¡°Of course I remember. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have come to your demon stronghold!¡±
Hearing this, Douglas smiled. Beside him, Iron Mask also let out a sigh of relief.
It was good that the goblin acknowledged the alliance. That would simplify matters.
¡°In recent years, humans have been restless. They seem intent on expanding southward and fully dominating the southern continent. Although you defeated the Irisis Principality¡¯s expansionary army two years ago, that loss barely affected them.
¡°We¡¯ve received news that the Papal State is persuading human nations to launch a crusade against the outer realms. Once the crusade army is assembled, it will wipe out all the barbarian tribes in the outer realms.
¡°At that time, every barbarian tribe in the outer realms will face annihilation. Perhaps your goblins could survive by hiding, but I doubt a life of running and hiding is the ending you desire.¡±
Outer realms?
Crusade army?
Inside his helmet, Li Meng¡¯s expression turned contemplative as he quickly absorbed the information in Douglas¡¯ words.
The outer realms likely referred to the southern lands outside human control.
The crusade army seemed to be a coalition of human nations, akin to the Crusades of Earth¡¯s medieval period.
If the news was true, then the barbarian tribes in the outer realms indeed faced the threat of extinction.
¡°What do you intend to do?¡±
Douglas smiled faintly, uttering three words:
¡°Go to war.¡±
War?
Inside his helmet, Li Meng¡¯s expression grew thoughtful.
Proactive offense was indeed better than passive defense.
While it wasn¡¯t certain the Papal State could succeed in rallying the nations to form a crusade army, what if they did?
Douglas¡¯ voice continued.
¡°Human power comes from crystals. If we destroy the Irisis Principality¡¯s crystal, human strength will weaken. By then, the outer realms will be safe, at least from this human threat.¡±
A war merely for self-preservation?
Queen
Li Meng squinted as he looked at Douglas.
Something told him the demons¡¯ reasons for targeting the crystal weren¡¯t so simple.
It couldn¡¯t possibly be just for survival.
Chapter 192: Cooperation and Offensive
Chapter 192: Cooperation and Offensive
Douglas nodded toward the Ghost Beastman Centurion beside him.
The Centurion stepped forward and spread out a massive goatskin map on the ground.
The map displayed the Irisis Principality.
"We will launch a two-pronged attack. The Demon Army will invade the eastern border of the Irisis Principality through the Ogre Mountain Range!"
With a wave of his hand, Douglas placed an oak chess piece on the Ogre Mountain Range.
In the mountain range was a canyon that directly led to the eastern border of the Irisis Principality.
At the canyon''s strategic point, there was a fortress.
"This is the Eastern Border Fortress of the Irisis Principality, ''Garrison Fort.'' The Demon Army will conquer it."
With another wave of his hand, Douglas placed another chess piece on the southern border of the Irisis Principality.
"The Goblin Army will follow the Goblin River downstream, invading the southern border of the Irisis Principality, sweeping through the Twilight Forest. This will draw the attention of the Irisis Principality, effectively dividing their forces. Once the Demon Army conquers Garrison Fort, we will advance northward on two fronts to take the capital city, ''Obenlo''!"
"I will send Centaur couriers to maintain communication between the two armies!"
Looking down at the map before him, Li Meng''s face showed a pensive expression.
What Douglas laid out was only the initial plan.
The key point lay in Garrison Fort within the Ogre Mountain Range.
If the Demon Army failed to conquer Garrison Fort and returned empty-handed, the Goblins in the Goblin Forest would become a thorn in the Irisis Principality''s side.
After all, the southern border of the Irisis Principality and the Goblin Forest had no natural barriers, making access via waterways very easy.
"Alright, I agree!"
Regardless of whether there were demons involved, some things wouldn''t change.
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Rather than waiting for humans to bring the fight to them, it was better to take the initiative and test the sharpness of human blades.
Thus, Li Meng reached an agreement with the Demon Army.
Less than an hour after entering the tent, Li Meng''s massive steel frame left again.
Without lingering in the Demon Camp, Li Meng headed toward the outside.
Only Agatha came to see him off.
The two walked side by side along the main path of the camp.
"Hey, Goblin, are you really not interested in that bet?"
Looking up at the big figure beside her, Agatha winked flirtatiously.
Li Meng glanced at her, expressionless.
"You''re too small; you''d die."
Li Meng had no intention of letting Agatha die beneath him.
After all, Agatha was Douglas''s sister.
Agatha giggled, her laughter shaking her body like a flower in the wind.
"How would you know without trying?"
Was she serious?
Li Meng wondered inwardly as he glanced at Agatha beside him.
"Then come back to my tribe with me."
Agatha smiled coyly, winking at Li Meng.
"That''s not possible. Follow me!"
With that, Agatha leaped up gracefully, her slender figure landing atop Li Meng''s shoulder.
"That way!" she directed, pointing northward.
"No, if I take off my armor, I can''t put it back on."
Agatha looked regretful.
"I see. Then I''ll escort you out!"
As they walked through the camp, the two continued their conversation.
Agatha wasn''t a succubus but seemed very much like one, with two out of every three sentences relating to "sex," constantly teasing Li Meng.
"Do I smell good?"
"Yes, good enough to eat in one bite."
Sitting on Li Meng''s shoulder, Agatha giggled. She extended her delicate hand to knock on Li Meng''s helmet.
"Women aren''t for eating!"
Amidst Agatha''s laughter, Li Meng walked out of the camp.
Seeing the golden wilderness, Agatha stretched lazily. She leaned slightly against Li Meng''s helmet.
"Let''s go. I''ll return with you."
Although Li Meng didn¡¯t know why Agatha suddenly changed her mind, he didn¡¯t dwell on it.
It was just bringing a woman back.
Agatha wasn''t unattractive; she was a beautiful young lady.
A woman offering herself was not something to refuse.
"Goblin King, wait!"
As Li Meng prepared to run, hoofbeats approached from behind, along with Margarita''s voice.
Turning around, Li Meng saw Margarita running out from the camp.
"You... you?"
Seeing the graceful figure on Li Meng''s shoulder, Margarita''s expression shifted. Her face showed a mix of emotions before she continued running forward.
Stopping in front of Li Meng, Margarita took a deep breath, her gaze meeting his. She nodded slightly before turning to run into the golden wilderness.
What did that mean?
Li Meng watched Margarita''s retreating figure, puzzled.
She called out to him but said nothing.
Could it be...
Inside his helmet, Li Meng grinned.
It seemed Agatha''s presence had deterred Margarita from saying more.
Nodding as she did likely meant something specific.
"She looks familiar. Who is she?" Agatha asked curiously, watching Margarita disappear into the distance.
Apparently, Agatha didn¡¯t recognize Margarita¡¯s identity.
Li Meng wasn¡¯t about to foolishly reveal that Margarita was a queen in disguise.
If the Ghost Beastmen found out, who knew what they''d think?
"She was the Centaur courier who guided me to the Demon Camp."
Agatha nodded in understanding.
She smiled, knocking on Li Meng''s helmet again.
"Big guy, let¡¯s go!"
"Hold on tight!"
With that, Li Meng broke into a run. His massive frame sped across the wilderness like an arrow.
Three days later, in the afternoon.
Goblin Forest, Throne Tribe.
Before sunset, Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe.
That night, the Throne Tribe was quiet.
The vast tribe was illuminated by only a few campfires.
In the bedchamber behind the Throne Palace, flames flickered in a brazier, driving away the darkness.
On the bed, two figures sweated together.
The creaking wood made the maids outside blush.
Agatha, breathless and with eyes full of allure, gazed at the Goblin atop her.
Although the Goblin was ugly, he had a certain charm.
Among Goblins, he was undoubtedly a handsome figure.
Though not aligned with her aesthetics, he was incredibly strong¡ªstronger than any man she had encountered.
As her feelings deepened, Agatha couldn''t help but embrace Li Meng''s chest and waist.
"Do you like it?"
Li Meng grinned, looking at Agatha''s beautiful face. Their noses were nearly touching.
Agatha tilted her head and lightly kissed Li Meng''s lips.
Chapter 193: War Preparations
Chapter 193: War Preparations
"Love it, love it very much, absolutely love it!"
"Ha ha ha, as long as you like it!"
The sound of Li Meng''s hearty laughter echoed through the royal bedchamber.
The lively commotion in the bedchamber continued for a long, long time.
Even when the night grew quiet and deep, it did not cease.
As dawn broke in the eastern sky, the activity within the bedchamber persisted.
"The king is truly incredible!"
"That Ghost Beastman is amazing too."
"Indeed, if it were us, we''d have been worn out by now."
By midday, a group of Lizardman maids had gathered outside the doors of the royal bedchamber.
Listening to the ongoing sounds from within, their faces were flushed with shyness.
While marveling at the king''s boundless energy, they also admired the endurance of that Ghost Beastman.
"The king must be hungry, right? Should we... should we bring something in?"
"But it wouldn''t be good to interrupt the king''s mood."
"That kind of activity must take a lot of energy. The king must be starving."
As the Lizardman maids hesitated about whether to deliver lunch, one of them mustered the courage.
"I''ll go!"
Gently pushing open the door to the royal chamber, she took a deep breath and stepped inside.
The maid walked softly as she entered, and when the bed came into view, the sight before her caused her to tremble.
She immediately knelt on the ground, bowing her head deeply.
What she had just seen seemed to have made a significant impact on her.
Her heart pounded wildly, and she could feel it racing.
She was beautiful¡ªthe figure sprawled on the bed had graceful, alluring curves.
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The king was pressed against her back, their forms entwined.
"Y-Your Majesty, should I bring lunch inside?"
Li Meng, lying on the bed, turned his head to glance at the kneeling Lizardman maid.
He leaned close to Agatha''s ear, whispering softly.
"Are you hungry?"
Agatha lazily nodded, her face flushed, lightly biting her lip.
"Bring it in."
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!"
The maid quickly got up and hurried out.
Soon, a group of Lizardman maids entered the bedchamber, and the room quieted down.
The familiar scent lingering in the room made their faces flush even more.
Their legs felt weak as they moved about.
"How is it? Delicious?"
The two on the bed, completely at ease, began dining right there.
The maids served on either side.
Agatha, with a satisfied expression, chewed on a slice of sashimi.
"Mmm, it tastes wonderful. Really delicious."
Li Meng gnawed on what appeared to be the heart of some animal.
Glancing downward, Agatha looked at her belly.
"The Goblin bloodline is truly strong. In just one night, my belly now carries more than ten Life Essences."
Agatha''s words piqued Li Meng''s curiosity, and he glanced at her stomach.
"You can already sense it?"
Agatha smiled faintly, nodding lightly.
"It''s one of the innate abilities of us Ghost Beastmen."
Isn''t this a bit too fast?
Although it was common for females to show signs of pregnancy within a few days, giving rise to Life Essences after just one night seemed a little extreme.
After eating and drinking their fill, the Lizardman maids left the chamber.
The bedchamber soon grew lively once again.
In the days that followed, Li Meng and Agatha spent most of their time on the bed.
One day, two days, three days, four days...
Finally, on the afternoon of the fifth day, the bedchamber quieted down.
*Creak!*
The doors of the chamber suddenly opened from within.
This caught the attention of the maids waiting outside.
To their astonishment, Li Meng emerged, yawning.
"What¡¯s going on?"
Seeing the Lizardman maids staring at him, Li Meng asked, puzzled.
The maids quickly lowered their heads.
"She¡¯s a distinguished guest. Be sure to take good care of her."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
A distinguished guest brought to the bed by the king?
Li Meng chuckled, leisurely making his way to the lower levels.
After days with Agatha, Li Meng had experienced pleasures unlike any before.
He even began to suspect that Agatha might be a demon straight out of a western fantasy novel.
She was the perfect companion in bed.
---
### Throne Palace, Throne Hall
Sitting on the throne, Li Meng gazed at the open doors, deep in thought.
The Demon Army was set to attack in three months.
This meant he had three months to prepare.
Li Meng tapped his fingers on the table.
The rhythmic *tap-tap* echoed throughout the hall.
Before long, a Great Goblin hurried in.
"Your Majesty!"
It knelt on the ground, calling out.
"Summon Gobu Sheng."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Great Goblin stood up and quickly left.
Soon, hurried footsteps sounded outside the door.
Gobu Sheng''s towering figure rushed in.
"Your Majesty, I''m here!"
Gobu Sheng knelt, bowing deeply.
"Gobu Sheng, immediately notify the leaders of all tribes. Have them bring one-third of their offspring to the Throne Tribe to prepare for war!"
Prepare for war?
Hearing this, Gobu Sheng''s face lit up with joy.
He loved war¡ªabsolutely loved it.
He relished the sound of enemies screaming, tearing them apart, and devouring them in their agony.
But realizing he would likely be left behind to guard the Throne Tribe, the excitement in Gobu Sheng''s eyes faded. His expression turned sullen.
"Your Majesty, who are we fighting?"
Cautiously raising his head, Gobu Sheng looked at the king.
Li Meng grinned and leaned back in his seat.
"Humans."
The king was planning to attack humans?
Gobu Sheng''s face showed greed.
He had heard that human meat was delicious.
Finally, he would have the chance to taste it.
Lost in thought, Gobu Sheng began drooling.
"Go. Inform them that they must arrive at the Throne Tribe within two months."
"Yes, Your Majesty! I¡¯ll make arrangements right away!"
Gobu Sheng stood up and quickly left.
With Goblin Boar Riders serving as messengers between tribes, the flow of information had become swift.
Each tribe had a "relay station," and every tribe maintained its own squad of Goblin Boar Riders.
Thus, five days after returning to the tribe, Li Meng began making preparations for war.
Early the next morning, he left the Throne Tribe, heading eastward toward Gobu Da''s Tribe.
"Your Majesty, what brings you here?"
As soon as Li Meng entered the western gate, Gobu Da, having heard the news, rushed over.
Seeing the nearly two-meter-tall Goblin, Li Meng felt speechless.
"Gobu Da, why are you still a Great Goblin?"
The king¡¯s words made Gobu Da bend down with a flattering grin.
"Your Majesty, I... I don¡¯t know either."
Seeing Gobu Da¡¯s obsequious demeanor, Li Meng shook his head helplessly.
It seemed Goblins were inherently difficult to evolve into Goblin Warriors.
After all, they were born from Ground Mice.
Even with a diet of high-grade magical beast meat, evolution remained a challenge.
Chapter 194: Bamboo Rafts and Bamboo Forests
Chapter 194: Bamboo Rafts and Bamboo Forests
¡°There¡¯s a mission!¡±
Hearing this, Gobu Da¡¯s eyes lit up.
He nodded vigorously, his face filled with flattery.
¡°From today onward, you need to assign some people to make large bamboo rafts!¡±
¡°Great King, how many bamboo rafts should we make?¡±
Making bamboo rafts wasn¡¯t difficult; it was very simple.
Li Meng did some calculations in his head.
This time, it was an offensive rather than a defensive operation.
The main force of the war was the demons, not the goblins.
Thus, there was no need to send everyone.
Dispatching fifty thousand troops would be sufficient.
For fifty thousand troops, approximately 700 bamboo rafts would be needed.
¡°We need 1,000 bamboo rafts. The task must be completed within two months!¡±
Hearing this, Gobu Da felt a jolt in his heart.
He began counting on his fingers.
Ten ones make ten, ten tens make a hundred, ten hundreds make a thousand.
Gobu Da¡¯s body trembled, and he gave an awkward smile.
¡°Great King, that¡¯s too many. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t finish it.¡±
¡°What do you mean you can¡¯t finish? Making bamboo rafts isn¡¯t difficult.¡±
Bamboo rafts were arguably the simplest type of vessel.
As long as there was enough bamboo, however many were needed could be made.
Facing the Great King¡¯s gaze, Gobu Da shrank his neck.
Hesitantly, he nodded.
¡°Alright... alright, I¡¯ll make sure to complete the task.¡±
In the days that followed, Li Meng didn¡¯t return to the Throne Tribe.
Instead, he went to inspect a few bamboo forests.
There were large patches of bamboo forests on both sides of the Goblin River.
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The bamboo forests varied in size.
Since the shafts for crossbow bolts were made from bamboo, and many daily necessities were also made from bamboo, the tribe consumed a great deal of it.
In just a few short years, much of the bamboo forest had been depleted.
Fortunately, bamboo grew very quickly.
Several large patches of bamboo forest were still thriving.
By afternoon, Li Meng had arrived at a particular bamboo forest on the southern bank of the Goblin River.
¡°Hmm, the scent of bamboo is truly pleasant!¡±
Walking amidst the bamboo forest, Li Meng took a deep breath.
Everything in this world was enormous.
Even bamboo was more than ten times larger than on Earth.
Some bamboo was so thick that a single person couldn¡¯t wrap their arms around it.
As he walked through the bamboo forest, Li Meng was filled with amazement.
If not for the smell of feces and urine, the natural environment would be truly mesmerizing.
Being surrounded by it brought a sense of joy and relaxation.
¡°Great King, I want to go back!¡±
Trailing behind Li Meng, Gobu Da looked around the dim surroundings with a wary expression.
The bamboo forest was extremely dense.
The thick branches and leaves blocked out sunlight.
Gobu Da didn¡¯t like this environment because there was a type of venomous insect in the bamboo forest.
These insects fed on bamboo worms.
If one wasn¡¯t careful, they¡¯d get bitten.
Though not fatal, the bites caused unbearable itching.
The bamboo forest was not quiet.
Not far away, there was a logging site.
A large number of goblins were cutting down bamboo.
Some of the bamboo was processed further and transported away by carts.
Other bamboo was bundled together in full lengths and dragged off by wild boars.
Li Meng, walking ahead, turned to look at Gobu Da.
¡°Gobu Da, there¡¯s a bug on your instep.¡±
Hearing this, Gobu Da froze, his face stiffening.
Terrified, he looked down at his foot.
What he saw made his pupils contract.
On the back of his foot was a large bug resembling a centipede.
¡°Great King, save me! I don¡¯t want to itch!¡±
Gobu Da panicked, cold sweat dripping from his forehead.
¡°Gobu Da, is the itching bug really that scary?¡±
Goblins naturally had strong immunity.
No matter how venomous something was, it couldn¡¯t kill a goblin.
At most, it would cause discomfort for a few days.
Gobu Da nodded vigorously.
Li Meng grinned and flicked his fingers.
A small ice arrow shot through the air.
The ice arrow struck the bug on Gobu Da¡¯s foot, sending it flying.
The bug was pinned to the ground by the ice arrow.
It struggled for a while before finally going still.
¡°Ahhh!¡±
Gobu Da let out a strange cry.
He shivered and quickly ran away.
Only after retreating more than ten meters did he look back at the bug on the ground with lingering fear.
Li Meng stepped forward a few steps and crouched beside the bug curiously.
It wasn¡¯t an animal but a type of magical creature.
A high-level yet extremely weak entity.
[Red Centipede Dragon (Elite)]
[Level: 57]
[Strength: 3]
[Defense: 2]
[Agility: 4]
[Magic Power: 0]
[Maggot Dragon¡¯s Curse: LV1]
¡°What is this thing?¡±
It had skills, but its magic power was zero.
And it was even classified as an elite magical beast.
¡°The weakest elite magical beast?¡±
Li Meng bit his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto the Red Centipede Dragon.
The wounds on the Red Centipede Dragon healed at a visible speed.
Li Meng picked it up from the ground and held it in his hand.
¡°Hey, little one, wake up!¡±
Li Meng shook the Red Centipede Dragon vigorously.
¡°Stop... stop shaking me!¡±
After a while, the Red Centipede Dragon finally woke up.
It opened its blood-red eyes.
Li Meng stopped shaking it.
¡°Little one, why are you so weak?¡±
Li Meng stared curiously at the Red Centipede Dragon in his hand.
¡°Why can I hear your voice in my head?¡±
¡°Nonsense! Can¡¯t you see I¡¯m talking to you?¡±
Li Meng shook the Red Centipede Dragon again.
¡°You... you¡¯re just a goblin.¡±
¡°So what if I¡¯m a goblin? I didn¡¯t ask your mom to give birth to little goblins for me.¡±
¡°What¡¯s a mom?¡±
¡°It¡¯s your mother!¡±
¡°I don¡¯t have a mother!¡±
¡°Were you born from a crack in a stone?¡±
Li Meng rolled his eyes.
Even a little bug dared to lie.
¡°I¡¯m not lying.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t believe you!¡±
¡°It¡¯s true. We can only split ourselves; we can¡¯t reproduce offspring.¡±
¡°Split? You¡¯re just a bug.¡±
Li Meng held the Red Centipede Dragon up high and examined it closely.
It looked like a centipede, nothing more.
No matter how he looked, it didn¡¯t seem like an animal capable of splitting.
¡°The Red Centipede Dragon is merely our host. Our true identity is the Maggot Dragon!¡±
¡°What¡¯s a Maggot Dragon?¡±
Li Meng thought of the skill ¡°Maggot Dragon¡¯s Curse¡± on the Red Centipede Dragon.
¡°The Maggot Dragon is also called the Ancestor Dragon. ¡®Maggot Dragon¡¯ is a slur given to us by the Dragon God. We were originally the ancestors of the dragon race, evolved over tens of millions of years by parasitizing powerful magical beasts to create the dragon lineage.¡±
The Red Centipede Dragon¡¯s explanation left Li Meng stunned.
When had his luck become so good?
He had merely visited a bamboo forest on a whim and encountered an ancient magical beast?
If the Maggot Dragon truly was the ancestor of the dragon race, its identity was extraordinary.
¡°You¡¯re not fooling me, are you?¡±
¡°I have no reason to lie to you.¡±
¡°If you¡¯re so powerful, why are you parasitizing such a weak bug?¡±
¡°This is the Dragon God¡¯s curse. It rendered us extremely weak, requiring us to parasitize living creatures to absorb magic and life force to survive. The curse also took away our ability to speak.¡±
¡°Well, you¡¯re pretty useless!¡±
Even though the Maggot Dragon¡¯s origin was impressive, it had truly turned into a maggot now.
Li Meng raised his hand, ready to throw the Red Centipede Dragon away.
Chapter 195: Ancestor Dragon and Maggot Dragon
Chapter 195: Ancestor Dragon and Maggot Dragon
¡°Wait, wait!¡±
¡°What now? I¡¯m busy, no time to chat with you.¡±
¡°I can feel the abundant magic power and vitality within you. If you agree to sign a pact with me...¡±
¡°Forget it, I don¡¯t want bugs in my head.¡±
Li Meng had no interest in becoming a host for a parasite.
¡°I can make you stronger, give you a more robust body!¡±
¡°No need, I¡¯m already strong.¡±
¡°We could sign a life-sharing contract. I can use magic to enhance your body.¡±
Li Meng, a bit annoyed, placed the Red Centipede Dragon on the ground.
¡°Go on, go on. I won¡¯t kill you since you look so pitiful.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll take a step back. Let¡¯s sign a blood contract.¡±
¡°What¡¯s a blood contract?¡±
Curious, Li Meng asked.
¡°You live, I live. You die, I live. If I die, you don¡¯t die.¡±
Li Meng waved dismissively, feeling uninterested.
¡°That¡¯s no different from the life-sharing contract.¡±
¡°No, no, I¡¯m leaving now!¡±
Li Meng stood up and started walking away.
¡°Gobu Da, let¡¯s go!¡±
Gobu Da, who had been watching the interaction, was dumbfounded. The king was actually chatting with a bug.
¡°Wait, a master-servant contract! I¡¯m willing to sign a master-servant contract with you!¡±
The Red Centipede Dragon became anxious and quickly crawled onto Li Meng¡¯s foot.
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¡°King, a bug, a bug!¡±
With a sharp scream, Gobu Da bolted away in fear.
Li Meng bent down and grabbed the Red Centipede Dragon in one swift motion.
¡°Maggot Dragon, you¡¯re really annoying. I¡¯ve made myself clear already.¡±
¡°Master, you are strong, but your people are weak. You need powerful servants to serve you. Only then can you survive in this world. Otherwise, one day, you¡¯ll encounter enemies you can¡¯t defeat alone.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know why Master has such abundant vitality. Even after forming contracts with over a thousand slimes, it hasn¡¯t affected you in the slightest. Your vitality gives you an endless supply of magic power.¡±
¡°If Master signs a contract with me, I can split into more individuals to parasitize the dragon descendants. I can use your magic to enhance the hosts'' physiques and gradually assimilate their spirits to ensure their loyalty to you!¡±
The Maggot Dragon had already started calling him ¡°Master¡± even before the master-servant contract was signed.
Its words tempted Li Meng. Right now, he indeed lacked high-level combat power.
Although his offspring and descendants were stronger than ordinary goblins, even the strongest goblins couldn¡¯t break past the racial limits.
After all, even the legendary Goblin King was merely a creature of the elite class.
¡°Master, I won¡¯t parasitize your brain. I¡¯ll just make a home within your body.¡±
Standing in the dim bamboo forest, Li Meng¡¯s expression shifted. Today¡¯s experience had been bizarre. How had he ended up meeting a dragon ancestor?
¡°Fine, but don¡¯t deceive me. Otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t. I never lie!¡±
Li Meng didn¡¯t believe the Maggot Dragon¡¯s words, but its abilities were undeniably useful to him.
¡°Master, this is my soul spirit. Please take it!¡±
A small white ball of light emerged from the Red Centipede Dragon¡¯s body. It moved swiftly and entered Li Meng¡¯s forehead in the blink of an eye.
[Captured soul spirit. Do you want to sign a master-servant contract?]
The system¡¯s notification followed immediately.
¡°Yes!¡±
[Master-servant contract successfully bound.]
¡°Master, eat me. Don¡¯t chew.¡±
Looking at the Red Centipede Dragon in his hand, Li Meng frowned. At this point, he had no choice but to eat it.
Li Meng opened his fierce mouth, closed his eyes, and tossed the Red Centipede Dragon into his mouth. Without chewing, he forced it down his throat.
¡°Master, I¡¯ve arrived home!¡±
The Maggot Dragon¡¯s voice echoed in his mind, likely a form of mental communication enabled by the master-servant contract.
¡°Gobu Da, you coward!¡±
Seeing Gobu Da hiding far away, Li Meng glared at him.
Gobu Da¡¯s face showed fear. The king¡ the king actually ate the bug?
Gobu Da shrank his neck and quickly ran over, fawning.
¡°King, you¡¯re amazing!¡±
Li Meng didn¡¯t bother arguing with Gobu Da and turned to leave the bamboo forest.
¡°Let¡¯s go. We¡¯re heading back!¡±
¡°Yes, King!¡±
On the way back to the tribe, Li Meng conversed with the Maggot Dragon.
¡°Maggot Dragon, does this mean all your split entities are you?¡±
¡°Yes, it¡¯s my innate ability to split my body and consciousness.¡±
¡°You¡¯re pathetic. Fighting against yourself, what a joke!¡±
If the Maggot Dragon was truly a dragon ancestor, then the Dragon God must also be one of its split entities.
In other words, one of its splits had developed its own will, escaped its control, and cursed the Maggot Dragon.
¡°Master, it¡¯s not like that. Back then, I had no self-awareness. Splitting and parasitizing were merely survival instincts. Over time, some split entities fused their spirits with their hosts, gaining sentience. They learned to think, grow stronger, and sense other splits. Eventually, they became aware of my chaotic consciousness as their origin¡ªme.¡±
¡°When I gained sentience, the dragons had already risen to dominance, ruling the skies and land. They mastered the primordial magic of the world¡¯s natural forces.¡±
¡°When the dragons realized I had awakened, they sacrificed themselves to create the most powerful god¡ªthe Dragon God. The Dragon God severed my connection with the splits and cursed me with the vile ¡®Maggot Dragon Curse.¡¯¡±
¡°The curse deprived me of active communication with other beings. I¡¯ve been forced to continually absorb magic and vitality from hosts just to survive. If I fail to absorb enough, the splits will die.¡±
Walking through the dim forest, Li Meng and Gobu Da marched in single file.
¡°Maggot Dragon, where is your true body?¡±
¡°Master, every split can be my true body.¡±
Li Meng chose not to delve further into this topic, fearing the answer would be too complex.
¡°Maggot Dragon, what are dragon descendants?¡±
¡°Dragon descendants are hybrids of humans and magical beasts!¡±
Humans and magical beasts?
The Maggot Dragon¡¯s answer confused Li Meng.
¡°Maggot Dragon, explain further!¡±
¡°Master, all magical creatures on the Augus Continent are descendants of dragons. They are the offspring of dragons and ancient creatures. Through generations of evolution, they created the current ecosystem.¡±
¡°Humans refer to all intelligent species, whether human or demi-human. Magical beasts are all creatures with magical potential on the Augus Continent.¡±