《Are You Completely Ignoring the Game's Conventional Path?》 Chapter 1 In a dim forest! "Get lost, you piece of trash only fit to eat dirt!" A loud shout and a shove snapped Li Meng back to reality. 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 bellies. Though they had limbs, their proportions were extremely unbalanced. Their ears were pointy, and their faces looked like clowns. Their teeth were unusually sharp, with an incredible bite force. They could tear off a large chunk of meat from a wild boar in one bite. They could even crunch through bones with ease! "What is going on here?" The creepy chewing sound made Li Meng''s scalp tingle. How did he end up in this creepy place after just going to the bathroom? Li Meng looked down at his own hands. What he saw gave him a shock. They were also green and as skinny as a rake. He... he had turned into a monster? "What are these details?" When he looked again at the ugly green-skinned creatures. Li Meng finally noticed some information above their heads. The digital information gave the impression of being in a game world. [Name: Gobu Da] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 4] [Strength: 7] [Defense: 4] [Agility: 6] [Magic: 0] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 2] "Could it be that I''ve crossed into another world?" The thought in his mind gave Li Meng a fright. He quickly forced himself to calm down. Li Meng took a deep breath, and with a thought! Sure enough, a mysterious presence responded to him. A pale golden character panel appeared before him. Li Meng reached out to touch it, but felt nothing.Stolen story; please report. The character panel existed only in his eyes. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 1] [Strength: 4] [Defense: 6] [Agility: 5] [Magic: 3] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills from devoured magical beasts] [Life Simulation System Activated] [Current Life Simulation Attempts: 1, can simulate life once a month] [Current Character Level: 1, can spend 10 first-tier magic crystals for an extra life simulation] [Life Simulation Attempts Monthly Limit: 2] [Choose rewards based on score at the end of life simulation] [Start Life Simulation?] Beside the character panel, there was also a log panel. "Life Simulation System? Is this my ability?" Looking at the goblins devouring their food, Li Meng had a strange expression. He felt a bit bewildered by his current situation. Since he was here, he might as well make the best of it. Li Meng didn''t break down because he was in an unfamiliar environment. His survival instinct quickly made him accept everything. "Hold on a second!" Now was not the time for life simulation. The goblins in the forest were busy eating. Although their ravenous eating was a bit disgusting. Li Meng found himself almost drooling at the sight. His body''s instincts urged him to join in the feast. But his human consciousness made him resist. "Gobu Meng, here, intestines are delicious!" Just then, footsteps approached. A goblin came over holding a piece of foul-smelling intestine. The intestine was bulging, with greenish contents inside. The strong smell could be detected from afar. His name was Gobu Da, a weak goblin. "I''m... I''m not hungry!" Li Meng backed away repeatedly, swallowing hard. Although the smell was indeed as tempting as stinky tofu. Li Meng still couldn''t bring himself to accept it. He turned and ran off. Gobu Da looked puzzled at Gobu Meng running into the depths of the forest. Wasn''t Gobu Meng usually the one who loved intestines the most? What was going on today? Gobu Da didn''t bother thinking about things he couldn''t understand. He tore off a big piece of intestine. Chewing it along with the greenish contents inside, he swallowed it with satisfaction. *** 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 finally accepted the reality of crossing into another world. "System, start life simulation!" [Life Simulation Begins!] [You wake up in the forest, realizing you are in another world] [You return to the goblin nest with the hunting team] [You meet the goblin leader "Gobu Ba", and are intimidated by its power] [As a transmigrator, you have high ambitions and are eager to become stronger. You think devouring magical beast flesh to gain their skills is a good way to grow stronger, so you leave the goblin nest and head into the forest depths] [You discover a lowland dragon, and its skills make you drool] [Please make a choice] [1. You charge out to fight the lowland dragon] [2. You feel weak and plan to set a trap to kill the lowland dragon] [3. You have a boss, seek Gobu Da''s help] Which option should he choose? Under the tree, Li Meng fell into deep thought. The first option was definitely out. A lowland dragon with magical skills must be strong. But with his current small frame, fighting alone was suicide. The second option seemed like a plan, but it was actually a big pitfall. Without handy tools, traps weren''t easy to set. And it needed bait to lure the lowland dragon into the trap. That bait would most likely be him. The risk was too great. "Choose three!" Among the three options, only the third had a chance of success. [You choose to return to the nest to seek Gobu Da''s help. Gobu Da punches you, telling you not to daydream. A first-tier earth-attribute magical beast like the lowland dragon requires the entire hunting team''s strength to hunt. Just the two of you would be like throwing buns to a dog, never to return] [As a proud transmigrator, you are unwilling to do nothing. You cleverly flatter Gobu Da, making the foolish goblin think it''s strong. Gobu Da is convinced by you, and the two of you head into the forest depths] [You engage in battle with the lowland dragon, and you fail, returning to the nest heavily injured] [The failed hunt leaves you very depressed, and you and the boss lick your wounds in the nest] [Due to severe injuries and inability to get food, your condition worsens] [Gobu Da dies from severe injuries, and its body becomes a feast for other goblins] [The bloody and foul-smelling you become a delicious piece of meat in the eyes of your kind] [One night, a group of goblins pounce on you, and you die, ending a foolish and short life] [Life Simulation Ends, Score: 20] [Please choose one of the following rewards] [1. Consume five score points to increase one level] [2. Consume five score points to increase five attribute points] [3. Consume five score points to increase one luck point, luck can increase key node options and end rewards in life simulation] This death was too ridiculous! "It seems the life simulation system predicts future lines, I can''t choose recklessly!" Li Meng thought to himself, showing a contemplative expression. Although the death was rather ridiculous, it gave Li Meng a better understanding of the life simulation system. He glanced sideways at the direction of the goblins. "This future line can''t be followed." Life simulation is a prediction of future development directions. His every move can change the future development direction. If he follows the predicted future direction, the same thing will definitely happen. Although the first life simulation failed. It wasn''t all for nothing. At least Li Meng understood the ability of the life simulation system. The rewards from predicting the future in the life simulation system are a way to become stronger. But more importantly, it''s the predicted future line. Predicting the future is like trial and error. It allows him to gain some future information in advance, avoiding danger. The key choice in the predicted future must be made cautiously. "Gobu Meng, are you sick?" Just as Li Meng was contemplating how to choose a reward, Gobu Da came over. Seeing Gobu Meng sitting under the tree, a hint of greed flashed in Gobu Da''s eyes. A sick goblin is just a piece of meat in the eyes of its kind. Li Meng noticed the greed in Gobu Da''s eyes, and his heart tightened. Goblins truly lived up to their reputation as ugly and savage creatures. Savage and greedy, they would eat anything that was meat. Even their kind were just backup food. "Consume all score points, add to strength attribute." [Consume 20 score points, +20 strength attribute points] Li Meng suddenly felt a warm current surge through his body. His skinny body crackled and popped. His previously skinny body swelled up significantly. Feeling the strength surging through his body, Li Meng grinned menacingly. He swung his fist at the approaching Gobu Da. His fist landed squarely on Gobu Da''s face. "Ouch!" Gobu Da let out a miserable cry, flying through the air. It flew several meters before rolling to the ground. "Gobu Da, from now on, I''m your boss!" Li Meng grinned menacingly at Gobu Da, waving his fist. Gobu Da, who was sprawled on the ground, looked bewildered. When it saw Gobu Meng waving his fist, a hint of fear flashed in its eyes. It quickly got up, nodding and retreating. Goblins respected the strong, whoever was strong was the boss. Chapter 2 "The hunt is over for today, boss. The tribe members are returning to the nest." Although Gobu Meng''s sudden strength was puzzling, Gobu Da''s small brain wasn''t capable of pondering such complex matters. The beating he took earlier seemed like it never happened. Gobu Da grinned, trotting over with a demeanor more exaggerated than a dog that hasn''t been seen in months. "Let''s head back then, lead the way!" "This way, boss, this way!" Gobu Da cheerfully led the way, with Li Meng following closely behind. Before long, Li Meng and Gobu Da caught up with the tribe in the forest. The movement of nearly a hundred goblins through the forest was quite loud. Goblins are short, weak, and ugly creatures. Their weapons are very rudimentary, either wooden clubs or stone axes. It''s absolutely impossible to hunt forest boars with such tools. Some of the larger goblins wielded iron weapons. There were knives, swords, and maces, a diverse assortment. Some goblins even wore ill-fitting leather armor. The larger goblins were the small bosses of the tribe. Each small boss was followed by more than a dozen goblins. They were the main force in hunting forest boars. Gobu Da, as a boss, was just a small boss under another small boss. *** After about four hours of walking, they reached the nest. The goblin nest was located in a cave at the foot of a large mountain. From afar, Li Meng could smell a foul stench. Bones were piled up outside the cave, almost forming a mountain. There were skeletons of various magical beasts and goblins.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Li Meng even saw many skeletons resembling humans. Though the cave was pitch black, it didn''t affect the goblins at all. Goblins naturally preferred damp and dark environments. Their eyes had night vision capabilities. "Who am I? Tell me, who am I?" At the end of the cave was a massive space. On a giant stone platform sat a huge, burly figure. Though it was also green all over, its physique was enormous, standing three meters tall. In front of ordinary goblins, it was like a small giant. "Gobu Ba, Gobu Ba!" The goblins in the cave raised their weapons and shouted loudly. Every goblin looked at the massive figure on the stone platform with admiration and excitement. Upon entering the cave, Li Meng witnessed this lively and noisy scene. It was then that Li Meng realized that the goblins he traveled with were just a hunting party. This was the main base of the goblin nest. The number of goblins in the cave was no less than a thousand. [Name: Gobu Ba] [Race: Goblin Leader] [Level: 54] [Strength: 195] [Defense: 106] [Agility: 101] [Magic: 37] [Limb Enhancement: LV3] [Berserk: LV1] The terrifying attributes of the goblin leader made Li Meng shudder. With his current strength, the goblin leader could kill him with just a finger. Besides the goblin leader, Li Meng also saw many Big Goblins and Goblin Soliders in the cave. Near the giant stone under the goblin leader were a few goblin champions. Ordinary goblins were about 1.3 meters tall. Big Goblins were taller and stronger, close to 1.7 meters in height. Goblin Warriors were even more robust, standing around 2 meters tall. Goblin Soliders'' physiques were second only to the goblin leader, standing about 2.5 meters tall. On the cave walls on both sides were many small holes. Those were prisons, places where female creatures were held. Goblins had no females and relied on other female creatures to reproduce. Goblins had no reproductive isolation with any race. As long as the size was suitable, they could be used as breeding tools. The prisons held many female groundhogs and wild boars. The size of female groundhogs was suitable for mating with ordinary goblins, with each litter bearing about ten. Goblin Soliders and above would mate with forest wild boars, with each litter bearing no less than twenty. The gestation period for any creature mating with goblins was only one month. The growth cycle of goblins was also short. With enough food, they could reach adulthood in a month. This terrifying reproduction speed made goblins as hard to eradicate as rats. At the innermost part was the breeding room, where pregnant female creatures were sent. Seeing the live spring palace scene in the crude prison, Li Meng rolled his eyes. "How did I become such a wretched thing?" Li Meng sighed deeply in his heart, filled with confusion about his future life. "Huh, what''s that?" At this moment, something sparkling on the rock wall caught Li Meng''s attention. Although the light was faint, he could see some crystals on the rock wall. The colors emitted by the crystals varied. The presence of these faintly glowing crystals slightly dispelled the darkness in the cave. Upon closer inspection, those glowing crystals were indeed magic crystals. Li Meng''s eyes lit up, and he quietly moved closer to the rock wall. In a corner, Li Meng leaned against the rock wall. His hands were busy prying magic crystals from the wall. In no time, Li Meng had pried off ten magic crystals. Li Meng didn''t take too many, as he had no more room to store them. "Boss, what are you doing with those shiny stones?" Although Li Meng was careful, Gobu Da still noticed. Looking at Gobu Da in front of him, a flash of killing intent crossed Li Meng''s eyes. If Gobu Da started shouting, he''d be finished. "Nothing... nothing, these glowing stones look nice, I want to collect some." Fortunately, Gobu Da''s intelligence didn''t extend beyond thinking about food. Gobu Da didn''t mind his boss prying magic crystals from the wall. "Let''s go, let''s find a place to sleep." The sky outside was gradually darkening. Many goblins in the cave began to sleep on the ground. In the following days, Li Meng lived the daily life of a goblin. With the lessons from simulated life, Li Meng had no choice but to behave. Leaving at dawn and returning at dusk, his daily task was to hunt outside. Even if he couldn''t fill his stomach, he had to bring back enough food. Otherwise, he''d be punished, whipped. Exceeding the task might earn him the right to mate if he was lucky. Goblin offspring were absolutely loyal to their fathers. Goblins could identify their fathers by scent. Once granted mating rights, they could form a team within the tribe. On the afternoon of the fifth day, about ten kilometers from the goblin nest in the forest. Following the team, Li Meng quietly approached a goblin. Then he knocked it out with a punch. "From now on, I''m your boss, got it?" The goblin on the ground nodded fearfully. "Good, follow me!" Watching the goblin walking ahead, Li Meng approached it. Coming up behind the goblin, Li Meng patted its shoulder. The goblin turned around, looking at Li Meng with confusion. Chapter 3 "From now on, I''m your boss. Got it?" The goblin didn''t understand and clearly wasn''t convinced, glaring angrily. It raised its wooden club and charged at Li Meng with a loud cry. Li Meng punched out, hitting the goblin square in the face. With a scream, the goblin flew several meters before crashing to the ground. Its scream caught the attention of the goblins ahead. But seeing it was just a fight among their own, they paid no mind. The leading Big Goblin didn''t even bother to turn around. "Follow me!" Li Meng pointed behind him, speaking arrogantly to the goblin on the ground. The goblin quickly got up and obediently followed behind Gobu Meng. Just like that, Li Meng picked up over a dozen followers along the way. When the number of goblins behind him reached thirteen, Li Meng stopped forcibly recruiting more. Any further and the leading small chiefs might notice. Seeing the time was right, Li Meng gave his followers a signal. Intimidated by Li Meng''s power, the goblin followers could only slow their pace. In a dense forest area, Li Meng led the goblin followers away from the main group. "Boss, if the boss''s boss finds out, we''ll be eaten." In the forest, Li Meng jogged with a group of goblin followers. With no destination, they simply wanted to get away from the hunting party. A goblin came up, trembling with fear at leaving the group. "What are you afraid of? I''ll soon become the boss''s boss." Though Li Meng was just making empty promises, the goblin believed him. The fear on its face vanished.Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" It shouted joyfully, raising its club high. Goblins seemed to have a pack-like nature. As it shouted, the other goblins couldn''t help but join in loudly. "Stop, don''t shout. If you attract powerful magical beasts, we''re done for." Li Meng didn''t know how vast the forest and mountains outside the goblin lair were. In recent days, the farthest the hunting party had gone was no more than ten kilometers. The magical beasts encountered were mostly first-tier groundhogs and forest boars. Occasionally, they would encounter wind rabbits capable of magic, but they were too fast and formidable. Every time they encountered wind rabbits, the goblin hunting party suffered heavy losses. Fortunately, wind rabbits were timid and would flee after a panicked attack. If the wind rabbits kept fighting, the hunting party would be wiped out. The goblins quickly shut their mouths, silently following Li Meng. As they walked, the sound of rushing water suddenly came from ahead. A small stream blocked Li Meng''s path. "Rest for a while, wait here!" Li Meng left these words on the riverbank and walked towards the water. "Should I look?" Staring at the crystal-clear river, Li Meng stopped five meters from the water''s edge. Goblins didn''t have a great need for water. They could replenish fluids from the blood of the food they ate raw. Li Meng was well aware of his appearance. He had been avoiding it these past few days. Though avoiding it, he knew he had become a goblin. He took pleasure in fighting other goblins for food. The stench of blood and flesh was so sweet as he chewed. Finally, Li Meng on the riverbank moved his feet forward. Kneeling by the water, Li Meng looked down at his reflection. Staring at the green-skinned, ugly creature in the water, Li Meng fell into deep thought. "Motherf**k!!!" Kneeling by the water, Li Meng muttered softly. Li Meng stood up, his face full of hostility. "If goblins are the only intelligent species in this world, then goblins are the new humans!" Reborn as a goblin, this was now a fact. Even if there were humans in this world, they were the aliens. In any game or novel, goblins were always weak. "System, start the Life Simulation!" Li Meng wouldn''t risk his life recklessly. The Life Simulation System could simulate his life. He could use the Life Simulation System to trial and error his future life. Predicting potential dangers in advance. [Consumes 10 first-tier Magic Crystals] [Starting Life Simulation] [To become stronger, you formed a team. At the river, you were very frustrated, realizing you had become an ugly monster. You were very angry, but you accepted reality and your fate. In the future, you will become the nightmare of all intelligent species. You began a new life, leading your team away from the river. Please make the following choice:] [1. Head north to find magical beasts] [2. Head west to find magical beasts] [3. Head east to find magical beasts] [4. Head south to find magical beasts] [5. Do nothing, wait for a chance] The goblin lair was to the south, so the fourth option was out. The hunting party went north, so the first option was not considered. Only east and west were left. After some thought, Li Meng randomly chose one. "The third option!" [You led your team eastward. A giant Earth Magic Bear suddenly appeared. You escaped quickly, narrowly avoiding danger. Three goblins died on the spot, becoming food for the Earth Magic Bear. Please make the following choice:] [1. Realizing your weakness, you find it hard to hunt magical beasts after leaving the hunting party. You decide to return to the hunting party] [2. You think you were just unlucky to encounter a second-tier magical beast, the Earth Magic Bear. The team continues to search for weaker magical beasts] [3. You think the Earth Magic Bear is clumsy and could be hunted, so you decide to take a risk] High risk, high reward, go for it! "The third option!" [As a transmigrator, you consider yourself smart, thinking you''re the protagonist and won''t fail at anything. You decide to hunt the Earth Magic Bear. You and your followers start digging a trap, spending three days to dig a large enough pit. You succeed, the clumsy Earth Magic Bear falls into the trap, but to your despair, you can''t kill it by any means.] [Deviously, you think of using poison. You feed the Earth Magic Bear a groundhog stuffed with poisonous mushrooms, successfully killing it.] [You devour the Earth Magic Bear, gaining the skill "Iron Bones."] [You return to the hunting party to challenge the Big Goblin, becoming a small chief.] [You lead the successful hunting party back to the goblin lair.] [You receive a reward from "Gobu Ba," gaining mating rights.] [A female wild boar is brought before you. Completing the first mating in front of the tribe is an honor.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Mate with the wild boar, gain honor] [2. Refuse to mate with the wild boar] [3. Give the credit to the former small chief of the hunting party] These three options made Li Meng by the water look conflicted. The first option was repulsive and absolutely not an option. If the partner were human, Li Meng might consider it. But with a wild boar, he''d rather die than choose it. Chapter 4 Although it''s just a simulation of life, you can choose any option. But since it involves the future, you can''t choose recklessly. The second option is obviously a trap. You must know that completing mating in front of the tribe for the first time is an honor. If he refuses, who knows what might happen. "The third option!" [You chose to give the credit to the former small chief . Gobu Ba was furious, believing you desecrated the goblin''s honor. You were skinned and tied at the cave entrance as a warning. After three days of painful struggle, you died, and your corpse was devoured by your former underlings. Your head was kept by Gobu Da, and it was soaked in urine every day.] "Gobu Da!!!" Li Meng roared angrily at the water''s surface. He turned around and glared fiercely at Gobu Da. What kind of grudge made Gobu Da use his head as a urinal?? Li Meng''s roar startled Gobu Da. Facing the boss''s angry gaze, Gobu Da shrank his neck. He quickly ran towards Li Meng like a frightened puppy. "Boss, boss, I''m here!" Li Meng raised his fist, wanting to vent his anger. Gobu Da looked terrified, collapsing to the ground. In the end, Li Meng didn''t throw the punch. Why bother with a goblin? A goblin is just a creature that bullies the weak and fears the strong. Even if you''re the boss, if you get injured, you might be killed and eaten by your underlings. Li Meng gave Gobu Da a glare and ignored him. [As a transmigrator, the goddess of fate did not favor you. Your life was as short as a raindrop. Your death was worthless, merely a joke. You were the first goblin in history to die for refusing honor, becoming a joke among goblins. Even thousands of years later, you remain the funniest joke in goblin history, laughed at even by humans.] [Simulation of life ends, score: 35] This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. [Please choose a reward from the following] [1. Consume 5 score points for +1 level] [2. Consume 5 score points for +5 attributes] [3. Consume 10 score points for +1 luck] Right now, strength is the most important. Luck is important, but not that crucial. After all, luck only affects the simulation of life. "Increase level!" [Consume 35 score points, level +7] Li Meng felt a warm current surge through his body. His bones crackled, feeling both sore and painful. His vision seemed to rise significantly, and his hands became more robust. Li Meng quickly opened the character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 8] [Strength: 32] [Defense: 13] [Agility: 11] [Magic: 5] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to gain the opponent''s skills by devouring magical beast flesh] Goblins are indeed a weak race; even at level seven, the attributes improved only slightly. Looking at the underwhelming attributes on the character panel, Li Meng deeply regretted it. Had he known, he would have used all the score points on attributes. "Boss... are you... are you about to evolve?" Seeing the boss looking taller, the fear in the goblins'' eyes intensified. Li Meng looked at Gobu Da, and his expression froze. Goodness, why did Gobu Da seem so short now? No, it''s not that Gobu Da became shorter; it''s that he grew taller. Li Meng quickly turned around and looked down at his reflection in the water. Indeed, he had grown taller. He also looked more handsome than an ordinary goblin. He had grown from 1.3 meters to a full 1.5 meters. It seems that leveling up isn''t entirely useless. At level 10, he should be able to evolve into a Big Goblin. Although this simulation of life only lasted seven days, it wasn''t without gains. "Let''s go, move out!" Li Meng shouted spiritedly. This startled the goblin underlings into a shock. Then Li Meng led the goblin underlings to cross the river. "You, you, you, walk in front!" The stream wasn''t very wide, and the water was shallow. After successfully crossing the river, Li Meng assigned three goblin underlings to walk ahead. Since three goblin underlings were destined to die, not one could be spared. The simulation of life predicted the future line. To achieve a good outcome, this part of the future line before hunting the Earth Magic Bear must not change. The three goblins exchanged glances. Being weak goblins, they naturally didn''t want to walk in front. But under the boss''s intimidation, they had no choice but to obey. With Li Meng''s urging, the team left the riverbank and ventured into the forest. Two hours later, in a certain forest in the east. The forest was quiet and dim. Walking in the forest, Li Meng observed his surroundings with a vigilant expression. Although the future line showed he wouldn''t die under the Earth Magic Bear''s claws. But in the known future line, if you actively seek death, you will still die. That would mean the future line has already changed. Roar -!! The unexpected came suddenly, a beast roar echoed in the forest. The sound was very close, coming from the left. The beast''s roar made Li Meng''s eyes light up. At this moment, he finally confirmed that the simulation of life could foresee his future. A massive black shadow suddenly charged out from the dense forest on the left. It was a bear, a bear larger than three adult brown bears combined. Though chubby, its running speed was incredibly fast. Its target was the goblins, its prey. "Ah!" A goblin walking in front screamed. The enormous shadow of the Earth Magic Bear terrified the goblins. The goblins wanted to flee, but it was too late. The Earth Magic Bear opened its huge, ferocious mouth and bit a goblin. With a swing of its massive paw, the sound of bones breaking echoed chillingly. Two goblins were flung away like ragdolls. They flew over ten meters before crashing into a tree. "Run!" Li Meng screamed and dashed in the direction they came from. Seeing this, the other goblins panicked and fled in a hurry. They ran and ran! After half an hour of running, Li Meng finally stopped. Under a big tree in the forest, Li Meng leaned against the trunk, panting heavily. "A second-tier magical beast is indeed terrifying!" Even though the target wasn''t him, Li Meng felt the oppressive sense of death. Fortunately, the Earth Magic Bear didn''t have magical skills; otherwise, none of them would have escaped. "Boss, boss!" Soon after, the underlings followed the boss''s scent and found him. The encounter with the Earth Magic Bear left the goblins utterly terrified. Their ugly faces twisted into a mess. Some goblins were even trembling. "Don''t be afraid, do you want to eat bear meat?" Hearing about eating, the goblin underlings'' eyes lit up. They quickly nodded, the previous terror vanished. "If you want to eat, you have to listen to me. Gobu Da, Gobu Ta, Gobu Ke, you three go catch groundhogs. Don''t eat them; I want them half-dead. Also, gather some of the most poisonous mushrooms and bring them to me. Go." Gobu Da, Gobu Ta, and Gobu Ke turned and dashed into the depths of the forest. Groundhogs aren''t very big and are the easiest prey to catch. Goblins'' staple food is groundhogs because they''re everywhere in the forest. As long as you see a hole, there''s usually a nest of groundhogs inside. Chapter 5 "Follow me!" With Gobu Da leaving, only nine goblin underlings were left. Li Meng led the underlings back in the direction they had fled from earlier. "B-Boss, there''s an Earth Magic Bear over there, it''s d-dangerous!" Seeing their boss leading them towards where the Earth Magic Bear was, the goblins all looked terrified. One goblin timidly stepped forward and stammered. "With me in front, what are you afraid of? Don''t you want to eat bear meat?" Hearing the boss say this, it seemed to make sense. Even if the Earth Magic Bear appeared, it would only attack the boss in front. If the boss got eaten, they could return to the hunting party. That would be great! The goblins, who were initially a bit scared, became excited again. Seeing these silly goblin underlings, Li Meng rolled his eyes. Before long, Li Meng led the underlings to crouch behind some bushes. "Hmm, we''re close!" With their keen sense of smell, Li Meng could already detect the foul stench of the Earth Magic Bear. And the scent of goblin flesh. This indicated that the Earth Magic Bear wasn''t far from here. Li Meng felt the soil on the ground, it was soft. "Dig a pit here, a big one!" The bushes could obscure the view, and that dumb bear would definitely fall for it. The goblins exchanged glances, wondering why the boss wanted them to dig a pit. "Dig, don''t you want to eat bear meat?" At the mention of bear meat, the goblins started drooling. They quickly used their wooden sticks and hands to dig into the soil. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. "Keep it quiet, don''t make too much noise!" Under Li Meng''s command, the goblin underlings diligently dug the pit. Time ticked by, and the pit gradually became deeper and larger. "Boss, I''m back!" Five hours later, Gobu Da and two others returned. Each carried a groundhog the size of a small dog. "Put them here, and keep catching more!" The goblins'' efficiency in digging was too low. The Earth Magic Bear was a massive creature. To trap it, the pit had to be big enough. It takes three days in simulation, and that seems true. "Alright, alright!" Seeing their digging companions, a hint of schadenfreude flashed in Gobu Da''s eyes. Catching groundhogs was much easier than digging. "Boss, I''m off!" The three of them dashed back into the depths of the forest. Li Meng, meanwhile, carried a groundhog and stealthily approached the Earth Magic Bear''s location. The trap would take three days to complete. He couldn''t let the Earth Magic Bear leave; he had to keep it nearby. And food was the biggest lure for a brainless magical beast like the Earth Magic Bear. After venturing several miles into the forest, Li Meng finally stopped. "This distance should be about right!" Looking around, Li Meng tore open the groundhog''s belly with a swipe. The scent of blood immediately filled the air. Li Meng tossed the groundhog away and quickly turned to hide in the nearby bushes. Moments later, there was movement in the forest. A massive Earth Magic Bear followed the scent of blood and approached. Its enormous body cast a huge shadow in the dim forest. Seeing the gigantic Earth Magic Bear from the bushes, Li Meng''s face showed a look of shock. The oppressive presence of such a large magical beast was overwhelming. It approached the groundhog''s corpse and sniffed. The fresh blood excited the Earth Magic Bear, and it opened its menacing maw. With one bite, it devoured the entire groundhog, chewing it. The cracking sound of bones made Li Meng''s scalp tingle. After finishing the groundhog, the Earth Magic Bear lay down and fell asleep. [Earth Magic Bear] [Level: 24] [Strength: 51] [Defense: 57] [Agility: 27] [Magic: 7] [Steel Muscles and Iron Bones: LV1 (Strength +20, Defense +20, Agility +5)] Such terrifying attributes at level 24, Steel Muscles and Iron Bones is indeed a great skill. Against such a monster, poison was the only way to kill it. Fortunately, goblins were resistant to poison; no one had ever heard of a goblin being poisoned to death. "Sleep, sleep, in three days, it''ll be your end!" Li Meng quietly crawled out of the bushes. Then he stealthily left. In the following days, Li Meng periodically scattered bait in the forest. While the Earth Magic Bear enjoyed the feast delivered to its mouth, its day of doom was drawing closer. *** Three days later, in the forest where the trap was set. "It should... be ready, right?" Looking at the large pit before him, Li Meng murmured to himself. The trap was ten meters long and wide, and twenty meters deep. To prevent the Earth Magic Bear from climbing up the dirt walls. The trap was structured to be narrower at the top and wider at the bottom. The dirt walls sloped outward, making it difficult for the Earth Magic Bear to climb up. "Go hide around!" At this critical moment, Li Meng didn''t hesitate. The exhausted goblin underlings quickly scattered into the bushes. Li Meng carried three groundhogs and ran towards the Earth Magic Bear''s location. About five hundred meters from the trap, Li Meng dropped a gutted groundhog. After dropping it, Li Meng sprinted back. He dropped another groundhog about three hundred meters from the trap. The last groundhog was dropped less than a hundred meters from the trap. After tossing the last groundhog, Li Meng quickly hid behind a large tree, patiently waiting. Time slowly passed, and the forest was silent. Hiding behind the tree, Li Meng was extremely nervous. He was a hundred meters from the trap, and although the Earth Magic Bear was clumsy, it wasn''t slow. If he slipped up, he''d be done for. Crack! Suddenly, the sound of a breaking branch echoed in the forest. Li Meng''s heart tightened, and he looked tense. It''s coming, it''s coming! Yes, the Earth Magic Bear was coming. The massive shadow gradually emerged from the depths of the forest. Following the scent of blood, it found the groundhog and began to chew. "Let''s do this, now''s not the time to chicken out." With a determined expression, Li Meng leaped out from behind the tree. "Hey, big dumb bear! F**k you!!" Li Meng shouted at the Earth Magic Bear. He even gave it the middle finger, an international gesture. The appearance of a goblin startled the Earth Magic Bear. But seeing it was just a tiny creature, a hint of mockery appeared in its blood-red eyes. Li Meng turned and sprinted into the depths of the forest. Seeing its prey run, the Earth Magic Bear let out a roar. Roar! The beast''s roar echoed through the forest, startling a flock of birds. Driven by its hunting instincts, the Earth Magic Bear chased after Li Meng. Its massive body made the ground shake as it ran, like a heavy tank charging through. Hearing the approaching noise behind him, Li Meng broke out in a cold sweat. Faster, faster. Li Meng ran recklessly, diving into the bushes with a leap. Chapter 6 "Hey, big dumb bear! F**k you!" Li Meng emerged from the bushes, shouting at the Earth Magic Bear. Roar! The Earth Magic Bear let out a roar, panting heavily as it charged towards Li Meng. Its massive body crashed into the bushes like a heavy tank. Li Meng quickly ducked back into the bushes. Suddenly, the ground beneath the charging Earth Magic Bear gave way. The bear tried to stop, its hind legs gripping the ground desperately, but it was too late. The momentum sent the Earth Magic Bear tumbling headfirst into the trap. "It''s done, it''s done!" Li Meng emerged from the bushes, running joyfully to the edge of the trap. The Earth Magic Bear lay on its back, having fallen awkwardly. It flipped over clumsily, roaring at Li Meng above. It tried to climb out but couldn''t find any leverage. "Bear meat, bear meat!" The goblin minions cheered as they ran out from their hiding spots. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" They shouted loudly by the trap, eyes greedily fixed on the Earth Magic Bear inside. Though the Earth Magic Bear was terrifying, at this moment, it was just a piece of meat in the goblins'' eyes. "Throw in the groundhogs stuffed with poisonous mushrooms!" At Li Meng''s command, the goblin minions quickly complied. Each carried two bloody groundhogs and tossed them into the trap. One, two, over a dozen groundhogs were thrown in. The Earth Magic Bear was cautious, ignoring the food that was right in front of it. It paid no attention to the bloody groundhogs, struggling to climb out of the trap.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. "Boss, what if it doesn''t eat?" Li Meng sneered coldly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. A beast without intelligence couldn''t be that smart. "It will eat, let''s go!" Li Meng turned and walked away. The goblin minions, somewhat confused, followed behind him. Were they really going to give up the bear meat just like that? Li Meng left, but not completely. He stopped with the goblin minions under a large tree about fifty meters from the trap. "Stay quiet, and wait patiently!" Li Meng sat down under the tree, instructing the goblin minions. The goblin minions exchanged glances and lay down to sleep soundly. After three days of hard work, they were exhausted. Looking in the direction of the trap, a glint of excitement flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. In less than an hour, the sound of the Earth Magic Bear''s painful roar suddenly echoed from the direction of the trap. The sound was extremely miserable, the wailing resounding through the forest. The pitiful wailing woke the sleeping goblins. The struggle lasted for more than half an hour before the wailing in the trap ceased. "It''s done, let''s go over!" Li Meng stood up and ran towards the trap. The goblin minions scrambled to follow behind. When Li Meng reached the trap, he saw the lifeless Earth Magic Bear. The information showed that the Earth Magic Bear was dead. "Don''t eat the organs!" Goblins have strong resistance to poison, but it would still make them uncomfortable for a few days. Li Meng leaped into the trap, landing on the Earth Magic Bear''s belly. He raised his claws and began tearing furiously at the bear''s hide. The other goblins quickly jumped down, pouncing on the bear''s body to feast. The trap couldn''t hold the goblins. The soil was soft enough for their claws to dig in. With their claws, goblins could easily climb out. This was why Li Meng dared to jump down directly. In no time, the Earth Magic Bear was gutted by the goblins. Li Meng pulled out the bear''s massive heart and began devouring it. "Boss, here, this is the shiny stone you like!" Gobu Da came over with a magic crystal the size of half a fist. The magic crystal was brown, indicating it was earth-attribute. Li Meng took the magic crystal and put it away. "Gobu Da, is the bear meat tasty?" Gobu Da nodded eagerly. "Delicious, I''ve never tasted such wonderful meat." "Then go eat, eat until you''re full." Gobu Da quickly turned and pounced back on the carcass to eat. For a moment, the trap was filled with a strong scent of blood. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones"] [Steel Muscles and Iron Bones: LV1 (Strength +20, Defense +20, Agility +5)] Li Meng felt a warm current suddenly surge through his body. His entire body crackled with a "snap, crackle, pop." Li Meng swung his arms, a look of excitement on his face. He had grown stronger again! "Boss, I... I can''t eat anymore!" In less than two hours, the goblin minions were all stuffed with big bellies. Looking into the trap, less than a fifth of the Earth Magic Bear''s body had been eaten. Gobu Da, holding his big belly, approached the boss. "Boss, there''s still so much meat, let''s stay here for a few days." The greatest wish of goblins is to fill their bellies. Eat and sleep, sleep and eat, that''s the life all goblins long for. And today, under the boss''s lead, they could finally eat their fill. Moreover, they enjoyed the Earth Magic Bear meat, which was hard even for goblin hunters to come by. At this moment, all the goblins looked at Li Meng with nothing but admiration. "No, the blood scent from the Earth Magic Bear''s body will attract other powerful magical beasts. Eat your fill and let''s go!" Bear meat was good, but the blood scent was too strong. Even in these few hours, Li Meng was on edge. Afraid that a powerful magical beast might suddenly appear from the forest. "Boss, let''s cut off some good meat to take with us!" "No taking, if the leader finds out we hunted an Earth Magic Bear and ate it first, we''re done for." Li Meng''s words made the goblin minions shrink their necks. Yes, the Earth Magic Bear was a treasure. If they took the leftover meat back, the leader would surely eat them all. "Let''s go find the hunting party!" Li Meng turned and swiftly climbed out of the trap. The other goblin minions dared not linger, struggling to follow closely. The goblins climbing out of the trap looked back at the body with greed. But their fear of the leader overcame their greed. "Hurry up, keep up!" Under Li Meng''s urging, the goblin minions reluctantly left the trap. In the following days, Li Meng was single-mindedly searching for the hunting party. The hunting party''s outings didn''t have a fixed schedule. But generally, they wouldn''t be out for more than half a month. If they stayed out too long, it would displease the leader. If they stayed out too long without results, the head of the hunting party would be replaced. Fortunately, goblins had a keen sense of smell, allowing them to avoid dangerous magical beasts in advance. The journey went smoothly, and by the second day, they finally found some traces of the hunting party. "Boss, boss, I smell it, it''s goblin poop!" Walking through the forest, Gobu Da suddenly jumped up and down, pointing north. He looked at Li Meng, seeking approval. Chapter 7 "Let''s go check it out!" The goblins in the forest quickened their pace and started jogging. Soon, Li Meng heard the clamor of goblins from the forest ahead. In a clearing within the forest, a group of goblins was enjoying a feast. Each goblin was gnawing on a piece of meat with fur still attached. "Who??" One goblin seemed to have noticed something. It stood up alertly and shouted loudly. Its warning drew the attention of the nearby goblins. The goblins who were dining quickly grabbed various weapons and stood up. "It''s me, it''s me!" Under the watchful eyes of the goblins, Li Meng emerged from the bushes with a group of goblin followers. Seeing their own kind appear, the goblins put down their weapons. "What have you guys been up to these days?" At that moment, a rough voice came from behind. A tall Big Goblin holding a spiked club walked over. It glared angrily at Li Meng and his group of goblins. This was Gobu Qiang, the leader of this hunting party. Seeing Gobu Qiang approaching, the goblin followers behind Li Meng shrank their necks. Their bodies retreated repeatedly, faces filled with fear and unease. Li Meng remained unfazed, pointing his club at Gobu Qiang. "Gobu Qiang, I challenge you!" This guy wasn''t strong; although he was a Big Goblin, his attributes were that of a weakling. [Name: Gobu Qiang] [Race: Big Goblin] [Level: 16] [Strength: 26]This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it [Defense: 24] [Agility: 21] [Magic: 6] "Haha, Gobu Meng, have you eaten too much crap to dare challenge me?" Gobu Qiang laughed heartily, as if he had heard the funniest joke. The goblins behind him also burst into laughter. They laughed so hard they waved their arms and legs, some even rolling on the ground clutching their stomachs. "What, are you scared?" Li Meng grinned, a mocking expression on his face. Seeing that Li Meng was serious, the smile on Gobu Qiang''s face disappeared. It grinned viciously, looking greedily at Li Meng. "Gobu Meng, with your tender skin, I''m going to eat you today! Roar-!" With a roar, Gobu Qiang charged at Li Meng with his spiked club. He swung the club down towards Li Meng''s head. If it hit, his head would likely burst like a shattered watermelon. Gobu Qiang grinned viciously, his face filled with excitement and greed. He could already imagine the scene of Gobu Meng''s head shattering. Then, just as the club was about to smash onto Li Meng''s head. Li Meng moved, his right hand suddenly reaching out, grabbing the spiked club. With a "bang," Gobu Qiang''s club was firmly caught in Li Meng''s hand. Although the spikes on the club made Li Meng''s hand bleed profusely. Gobu Qiang''s strike was firmly caught by Li Meng. "No... impossible!" Gobu Qiang screamed, frantically pulling at the club. But in Li Meng''s hand, the club was like a mountain, unmoving no matter how hard Gobu Qiang tried. "Boss, it''s my turn!" Seeing the panicked Gobu Qiang, Li Meng grinned. With a swing of his hand holding the club, he easily broke free from Gobu Qiang''s grip. Then swung it down again! The handle of the club struck Gobu Qiang''s face with a "bang." Gobu Qiang''s entire face twisted, and his body flew out. He flew over five meters before rolling to the ground. "The boss... the boss lost?" The goblins watching were dumbfounded. "The boss won, the boss won!" The goblin followers behind Li Meng jumped and cheered. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" Gobu Da shouted excitedly. The other goblin followers also followed suit, shouting in unison. Amidst the chorus of shouts, the other goblins also joined in. For a moment, the forest echoed with the chants of "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng." Facing the goblins'' reverent gazes, Li Meng grinned. Great, with this, the hunting party was now his. Of course, to avoid a simulated life ending, the process had to change. Li Meng raised the spiked club, and the shouts in the forest came to an abrupt halt. In the forest, Li Meng walked towards Gobu Qiang with the club in hand. Seeing Li Meng approaching, Gobu Qiang, who was struggling to get up, changed his expression. He retreated repeatedly, looking at the approaching Li Meng with a face full of fear. "Gobu Meng, you won, from now on, you''re the boss!" Li Meng approached Gobu Qiang with a smile. "Do you submit?" Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. "I submit, I submit!" Li Meng nodded in satisfaction, grinning at Gobu Qiang. This smile made Gobu Qiang''s heart tremble. "Here, it''s yours!" Li Meng handed the spiked club to Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang looked at the club in the boss''s hand, then at the boss. A hint of hesitation flashed in Gobu Qiang''s eyes, but he finally forced a flattering smile. "Boss, let the club be my tribute to you." "I don''t need this!" Li Meng tossed the club to Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang hurriedly caught the club, holding it like a treasure. "From now on, you''re still the boss, the leader of the hunting party, but you have to listen to me, understand?" Although Gobu Qiang didn''t understand why Gobu Meng was doing something that goblins couldn''t comprehend. He didn''t think much about it and nodded. "The magic crystals, give them all to me!" Gobu Qiang quickly pulled a pouch made of animal hide from his waist. Li Meng weighed the pouch in his hand. It was quite heavy, indicating Gobu Qiang had collected quite a few magic crystals over time. But magic crystals were of little use to goblins. To goblins, magic crystals were just stones that could emit light. "Boss, we should head back, we can''t carry any more prey." Nearly ten days of hunting had yielded a bountiful harvest for the hunting party. Although most of the prey were groundhogs, groundhog meat was the staple food for goblins. Without groundhog meat, the goblin nest couldn''t support so many goblins. "Let''s head back!" The cooldown for the simulated life was still half a month. In this half month, Li Meng planned to be an obedient, weak goblin. This world was too dangerous; the more you did, the more likely you were to die suddenly. Without the future predictions of the simulated life, it was simply too dangerous. "Stop eating, let''s move, return to the nest!" Under Gobu Qiang''s orders, the hunting party began their journey back. When they set out, there were 87 goblins in the hunting party. By the time they returned, only 64 remained. "Boss, boss, I... I seem to have grown taller and stronger." In the dim forest, a group of goblins was on the move. The long line stretched for hundreds of meters. Gobu Da came up to Li Meng, waving his fists excitedly. Li Meng glanced at him. With that glance, Li Meng noticed Gobu Da had leveled up. All his attributes had increased slightly. Li Meng looked at the other goblin followers. Those who had eaten the Earth Magic Bear''s meat had all leveled up. It seemed that goblins consuming high-tier magical beast meat could accelerate their evolution. This made Li Meng''s expression change as he recalled the bodies in the trap. Chapter 8 "It''s been so many days, the body should be gone by now." Groundhogs are known as scavengers in the forest. Though they usually eat plants, they won''t pass up any meat they can find. "What a pity, such a large corpse could have fed all the goblins here." But Li Meng didn''t dwell on it too much. There would be plenty of opportunities to hunt even stronger magical beasts in the future. As for himself, it seemed he had lost the ability to evolve because of the Life Simulation System. His strength came from the Life Simulation System. This body had already been twisted and enhanced by the power of the system. It wasn''t surprising that he had lost some of the goblin''s original abilities. Compared to the ability to evolve by devouring magical beasts, absorbing their Skills was undoubtedly more powerful. The former had too low a ceiling, easily limited by one''s innate talent. Most goblins, even if they devoured a dragon, would only become goblin warriors. Even if their bloodline was twisted and enhanced by a powerful foreign race, they wouldn''t become much stronger. But the power of Skills had no upper limit. *** "You''ve grown a bit, what, planning a rebellion?" Li Meng glared angrily at Gobu Da. Daring to wave a fist in front of him was something he couldn''t tolerate. Gobu Da shrank his neck, his face full of ingratiation. "Boss, I... I wouldn''t dare!" "Hmph, you''d better not dare!" In the following days, the hunting party traversed mountains and rivers. Hunting as they advanced towards the goblin nest. On the third day, the hunting party returned to the goblin nest. "Chief, this is my tribute to you!" In the cave, Gobu Qiang bent over with a fawning expression.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. He glanced back at his underlings, giving them a signal. The goblins of the hunting party quickly carried groundhogs and placed wild boars on the ground in front of the giant rock. In no time, dozens of groundhog corpses and dismembered wild boar meat were piled into a small mountain. Seeing the mountain of food, the surrounding large goblins showed greedy expressions. Only those who evolved into Goblin Soliders could become the chief''s personal guards. Goblin guards didn''t need to go out hunting. They only needed to wait in the cave for the hunting party to offer tributes. Gobu Ba, on the stone platform, waved his hand. Several goblin warriors jumped off the platform, carrying wild boar legs back up. Gobu Ba took a big bite of a wild boar leg. "Gobu Qiang, you''re quite good, you have the right to mate!" At that moment, a pained pig squeal echoed from the prison on the right rock wall. A Goblin Solider was driving a forest sow over. Seeing the sow being driven over, Gobu Qiang''s face was full of excitement. His mouth slightly open, drool almost dripping out. "Remember, this is an honor I bestow upon you!" Gobu Qiang couldn''t wait, pouncing excitedly. For a moment, the cave was filled with the squeals of sow. Watching Gobu Qiang''s live performance, Li Meng breathed a sigh of relief. Luckily, he was clever, and the future simulated by the system had changed. *** In less than five minutes, Gobu Qiang was done. He looked intoxicated, staggering as he walked. "Groundhog meat, pork, it''s the same thing every day, I''m sick of it." Suddenly, Gobu Ba''s disgruntled roar echoed in the cave. This startled Gobu Qiang, making him jump. His body went limp, collapsing to the ground. On the stone platform, Gobu Ba angrily threw the pig leg in his hand. The pig leg flew dozens of meters, crashing into the rock wall. The surrounding goblins shivered in fear, involuntarily stepping back two paces. "I want human meat, I want human meat, you... go catch me some humans." Gobu Ba raised his massive hand, pointing at Gobu Qiang. Being pointed at by Gobu Ba, Gobu Qiang shivered in fear. He quickly stood up, forcing a smile. "Chief, the place where humans live is far from here, going there and back will take at least... at least..." Gobu Qiang started counting on his fingers, looking confused. "Get out, bring back humans, or I''ll eat you!" Gobu Ba grinned, looking greedily at Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang was so scared that his body went stiff. "I''ll go, I''ll go!" Realizing the situation, Gobu Qiang scrambled out, rolling and crawling. The goblin underlings followed behind, faces full of panic. Li Meng was among them, his expression unusually serious. Could this be the future that happens after his death? Li Meng never expected there to actually be humans in this world. "Haha, haha!" Watching the goblins flee in panic, Gobu Ba laughed heartily. *** Meanwhile, once outside the cave, Gobu Qiang collapsed to the ground in fear. "Gobu Qiang, have you caught humans before?" Looking up at Li Meng who had approached, Gobu Qiang quickly stood up. Gobu Qiang nodded, gesturing animatedly as he spoke. "Boss, human meat is delicious, tender and fragrant, slightly salty, extremely tasty. It''s a pity the female humans are too fragile; they die after only a few breedings. Mating with humans is also the most pleasurable, hehe!" At the end, Gobu Qiang drooled. Remembering something, a trace of fear flashed in Gobu Qiang''s eyes. "There are some really powerful humans, a few of them can wipe out our entire hunting party." "Humans also like revenge; many nests on the outskirts of the goblin forest have been wiped out by humans." "Our group of goblins is said to have migrated from the outskirts too, back when the chief wasn''t Gobu Ba." "Boss, I''m scared, we might die." Gobu Qiang''s body trembled. Though humans were delicious, they weren''t easy prey. Gobu Qiang understood this better than anyone. With just their small group, they might be eaten by magical beasts on the way to human territory. "If you don''t go, the chief will eat you!" Gobu Qiang''s neck shrank, his face showing fear. The thought of becoming a piece of meat in the chief''s mouth sent a shiver down his spine, his legs trembling. "Let''s rest for the night and set off tomorrow!" It was the chief''s order, they had to go. Li Meng understood this, and so did Gobu Qiang. Otherwise, Gobu Qiang would really be eaten. Thus, Gobu Qiang accepted reality. *** Time passed quickly, and a day went by in no time. As night fell, the forest outside the nest quieted down. Early the next morning, Gobu Qiang led the hunting party towards human territory. The hunting party crossed mountains and streams, traversing one valley after another. Avoiding one powerful magical beast after another. Half a month later, on a certain high mountain. "Boss, once we cross this mountain, we''ll enter human territory." From a high vantage point, the view on the other side of the mountain was clear. The other side was still a series of mountains. But not as vast, high, or steep as the southern mountains. "Boss, we have to be careful; humans form teams to hunt in the goblin forest, and they''re formidable." Form teams to hunt? Li Meng recalled some settings from isekai novels. A world with goblins surely had adventurers. Where there are adventurers, there are bound to be mages, warriors, knights, thieves, and the like. Perhaps the humans Gobu Qiang mentioned were those people. "Let''s rest for a while!" Li Meng turned and sat on a large rock. Seeing this, the other goblin underlings quickly sprawled on the ground. "System, start Life Simulation!" The month-long cooldown was over, and he could finally simulate life again. Chapter 9 [Life Simulation Begins] [After much effort, you become the leader of a hunting party. Following the leader''s orders, you head to human territory to capture humans. You lead your team northward and successfully reach the edge of the Goblin Forest.] [Standing atop a mountain, you feel a bit lost about your future.] [A large river blocks your path, but you successfully build a raft and cross it.] [You discover a Great Wind Rabbit. Please make a choice:] [1. Hunt the Great Wind Rabbit.] [2. Detour to avoid the Great Wind Rabbit.] [3. Do nothing and scare the Great Wind Rabbit away.] "Gobu Qiang, have you ever seen a Great Wind Rabbit?" The sudden question from the leader made Gobu Qiang''s eyes light up. He quickly came over, showing a flattering expression. "Boss, the Great Wind Rabbit is an advanced form of the Wind Rabbit. It''s a Tier 2 Magical Beast, very large, and its meat is delicious. Although it''s powerful, it''s quite foolish and easily frightened, often crashing into trees to its death." An advanced form of the Wind Rabbit? Li Meng''s eyes lit up as he pondered. The Wind Rabbit has magical skills, so the Great Wind Rabbit must have even more powerful magic skills. Perhaps he could gain his first magical skill in life. "Choose the third option!" [The Great Wind Rabbit got scared and crashed into a tree to its death. You feasted on it and acquired the magical skill "Wind Blade."] [You have become stronger, and your mindset has subtly changed.] [You enter a forest full of spider webs. Please make a choice:] [1. Continue forward, ignoring everything.] [2. You sense something is wrong and choose to detour.] [3. You think spider-type magical beasts might appear, offering a chance to gain skills, so you choose to hunt unknown magical beasts.] Which option should you choose? Sitting on a large rock, Li Meng appeared deep in thought. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The first option is the most foolish. A forest full of spider webs seems off no matter how you look at it. If something feels wrong, how can you ignore it and continue on your way? Li Meng didn''t believe he would be so careless. Between the second and third options, Li Meng leaned more towards the second. Because the second option is the safest. The third option is a bit too risky. Facing unknown magical beasts, deciding to hunt them rashly is equally foolish. "Choose the second option!" [You choose to detour, but a human adventurer team ambushes you, and you die.] [Your right ear is cut off and becomes a trophy for the human adventurer team.] [Gobu Da narrowly escapes and returns to take your body after the adventurers leave.] [You are eaten by Gobu Da, who successfully evolves into a Big Goblin.] [Your skull is preserved and receives daily "nourishment" from urine.] [As a transmigrator, you are cautious, but this doesn''t change the fact that you are just a weakling. As a Goblin, you are both hunter and prey. Your death holds no value in this world, won''t be remembered by anyone, and only changes the fate of a weak Goblin. Your death holds some value, but that''s all.] [Life simulation ends, score: 30.] [Please choose a reward:] [1. Consume five score points for level +1.] [2. Consume five score points for attribute +5.] [3. Consume ten score points for "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones" level +1.] "Choose the third option!" Li Meng looked speechlessly at Gobu Da, who was gnawing on a piece of meat. Does this guy have some kind of obsession with his skull? Why is he always thinking about his skull? Is the skull being drenched in urine some kind of Goblin ritual? "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones" level +3. A familiar sensation surged through his body again. Li Meng felt as if his entire body was dislocated, crackling and popping. The intense pain from all over his body made Li Meng gasp. The muscles under his skin visibly squirmed and swelled. After a while, the abnormality in his body gradually subsided. Li Meng quickly opened his character panel to take a look. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 8] [Strength: 112] [Defense: 93] [Agility: 31] [Magic: 5] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts may grant you their skills.] [Steel Muscles and Iron Bones: LV4 (Strength +80, Defense +80, Agility +20)] Strength and defense attributes are high, but the other attributes are somewhat lacking. Li Meng remembered Gobu Ba''s attributes. As the Goblin chief, Gobu Ba only had a high strength attribute, with other attributes being more balanced. Of course, the magic attribute is not included in this. "Boss, you''re about to evolve, right?" Gobu Qiang looked at the boss with fear. Just now, the boss''s body was twisting and squirming like a monster. Although he didn''t know what happened, he knew the boss had become stronger. "Yeah, almost!" Li Meng gladly accepted the fact that he had become stronger again. He wasn''t strong enough yet; he needed to become even stronger. He was strong now, but also weak. Without the life simulation predicting the future, he wouldn''t know how many times he had died. Getting up, Li Meng dusted off the dirt from his animal hide. "Let''s go!" The Goblins who had just climbed the mountain descended again. This time, the information provided by the life simulation was somewhat lacking. It didn''t specify which direction to go after descending the mountain. It didn''t detail how to proceed after descending. Li Meng didn''t dwell on this point. No matter how he chose, it was probably within the life simulation''s predictions. *** Five hours later, a large river indeed blocked the team''s path. Looking at the river before him, Li Meng stood on the riverbank, feeling lost. Goblins can swim, and Li Meng had previously wondered why they didn''t just swim across. Now Li Meng understood why he needed to build a raft to cross. Because the river was extremely turbulent, with an astonishing flow rate, it was truly a raging torrent. The river was over six hundred meters wide. Swimming to the middle would likely leave one exhausted. "Boss, let''s look downstream for a place to cross." The sight of nature''s might filled Gobu Qiang with fear. Crossing here would surely mean death. "Go cut wood and make a raft!" If they went downstream to find a crossing, wouldn''t they miss the Great Wind Rabbit? Li Meng didn''t plan to change his future here. "Boss, what''s a raft?" Gobu Qiang looked at the boss in confusion. Li Meng then realized he had overestimated the Goblins. However, Goblins indeed had no need for raft technology. Goblins were good swimmers, and those living in the forest didn''t need rafts. "Go cut..." The words stopped abruptly. Li Meng abandoned the idea of having the Goblin underlings cut trees. Cutting trees wasn''t an easy task. With the weapons in the hands of the Goblin underlings, they couldn''t cut down trees. "Go collect some deadwood, the more and bigger, the better." Collecting deadwood was much easier than cutting live trees. Chapter 10 Although they didn''t know what the boss wanted to do, they had to listen to him. Gobu Qiang turned and pointed at a group of goblin underlings. "You guys, go find some deadwood and bring it back!" The goblin underlings looked at each other, then turned and ran into the depths of the forest. "The rest of you, use bark to make ropes." Bark ropes were something goblins commonly used. "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and get moving!" Under Gobu Qiang''s scolding, the goblin underlings shivered. They turned and dashed into the depths of the forest. In the following time, the goblins busied themselves on the shore. From time to time, goblins would drag various sizes of deadwood out of the forest. Soon, a large pile of deadwood appeared on the shore. *** "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 simulation''s explanation about human adventurers caught Li Meng''s attention. The reason goblins could survive in a forest teeming with magical beasts was their keen sense of smell. Even when upwind, they could determine if an area was safe by the lingering scent of magical beasts. It was practically impossible for humans to ambush goblins. Goblins could sense humans from afar. "It seems I need to change my route!" He couldn''t follow the future path predicted by the simulation. Otherwise, his life would be in danger. *** "Boss, is this enough?" The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Gobu Qiang approached with a fawning expression. Li Meng turned to look at the pile of deadwood on the riverbank. "Not enough, keep collecting!" There were over sixty goblins, so the raft had to be large. The river was too rapid, so the raft couldn''t be made too small. Li Meng walked toward the pile of deadwood. "You, you, you, and you, use the bark ropes to tie these pieces of deadwood together, one after another, without overlapping!" On the shore, Li Meng began directing the goblin underlings to build the raft. "You need to tie it like this to make it sturdy, got it?" "Idiot, not like that, like this." "Come here, I''ll show you again." The slow-witted goblins were very slow at learning new things. This made Li Meng feel quite exhausted. Fortunately, Li Meng was a patient person. Under Li Meng''s repeated guidance, the goblins finally learned how to tie the deadwood. Time passed bit by bit, and as the sun set, the day came to an end. On the riverbank, a raft had begun to take shape. The long night quietly passed as the goblins snored away. Early the next morning, under Li Meng''s urging, the goblin underlings continued their work. By the afternoon, the raft was finally completed. "Great, is everyone here?" Looking at the raft, about thirty meters long, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. Although it looked a bit ugly, that didn''t matter. Li Meng had only one requirement for the raft: that it floated. Gobu Qiang glanced at the goblin underlings. "Boss, everyone''s here!" "Then let''s start crossing the river!" Li Meng stepped onto the raft. "Come on, split up to the sides and push the raft into the river!" To make it easier to push the heavy raft into the water, Li Meng had chosen a gentle slope when building the raft. The goblin underlings quickly split to the sides and grabbed the pull ropes. "Pull hard!" At Li Meng''s command, the goblin underlings exerted their strength. The heavy raft trembled slightly and began to move slowly. Faster and faster. "Alright, everyone get on, quickly!" Seeing the raft sliding into the water, Li Meng hurriedly urged the goblin underlings. The goblin underlings jumped onto the raft in a bit of a panic. Fortunately, the process was smooth, and all the goblin underlings made it onto the raft. With a splash, water sprayed everywhere. The raft successfully plunged into the river. The rushing river water propelled the raft downstream. Li Meng quickly picked up a pole as thick as an arm and thrust it into the water at the front of the raft. The river was deep, reaching five meters to the riverbed. In the turbulent river, Li Meng struggled to steer the raft toward the opposite bank. Drifting several kilometers along the river, the raft finally reached the opposite bank. "Into the water!" At a calmer section of the river, Li Meng shouted. He dropped the pole and jumped into the river. The goblin underlings quickly grabbed the pull ropes and entered the water. The large raft was slowly pulled onto the shore bit by bit. It wasn''t until half of the raft was on the shore and couldn''t be pulled any further that they stopped. "Tie it securely, we''ll need it on the way back!" Not trusting anyone else, Li Meng personally tied a bark rope to a large tree on the riverbank. "Boss, you''re so smart!" Gobu Qiang had never thought of crossing the river this way. It was much easier than swimming. "Let''s go, move out!" The goblin hunting party quickly went ashore and entered the forest. Unknowingly, the group had entered a valley. "Boss, I smell something unpleasant, it''s lizardmen!" As they walked, Gobu Qiang suddenly made a new discovery. At the front, Gobu Qiang sniffed the air. At this point, the group had only ventured less than three kilometers into the forest. Li Meng also caught a faint scent of decay. "Are lizardmen strong?" Gobu Qiang looked around warily and nodded. "Very strong, they like to live in swamps, and any creature entering the swamp will be killed by them." "Sometimes they leave the swamp to hunt magical beasts. Many hunting parties have encountered them. Although they don''t like goblin meat, they''ll kill goblins on sight." The simulation''s predicted future didn''t include encountering lizardmen. This indicated they wouldn''t run into lizardmen. "Let''s go around them!" The rotten smell came from the left front. That direction should be the swamp area connected to the river. The goblin team in the forest changed direction and headed northwest. "Boss, boss, it''s a Great Wind Rabbit!" After walking a bit further, Gobu Da ran over to Li Meng with a delighted expression. "Boss, Great Wind Rabbits are delicious, let''s catch it." Gobu Da looked at the boss expectantly, drooling. Great Wind Rabbit? Li Meng''s expression changed slightly, his eyes brightening. He had been waiting for a Great Wind Rabbit. He hadn''t expected to encounter one so soon. Li Meng nodded toward Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang grinned, drool dripping from the corner of his mouth. "Hunt, hunt, Great Wind Rabbit, Great Wind Rabbit!" Though his words were disjointed, they made the goblin underlings'' eyes light up. All the goblins slowed their pace and spread out to the sides. They had already caught the scent of the Great Wind Rabbit. In the dim forest, dozens of goblins cautiously moved in a fan shape. Chapter 11 "Boss, that''s the Great Wind Rabbit!" Li Meng and Gobu Qiang crawled into a thicket. On the other side of the bushes, deep in the forest, there was a sunlit area. Golden sunlight shone down, illuminating that space in the woods. In that bright spot, a giant white rabbit was basking in the sun. Its size was enormous. Just lying there, its shoulder height exceeded two meters. [Great Wind Rabbit] [Level: 17] [Strength: 19] [Defense: 17] [Agility: 27] [Magic: 21] [Wind Blade: LV2] The attributes were average, but its magic was high. A goblin stealthily crept into the forest behind the Great Wind Rabbit. "Ha!" It suddenly leaped out with a loud shout. The Great Wind Rabbit was startled, jumping up in fright. The space in front of it twisted. In the next instant, an almost invisible wind blade shot out. "Shhh!" A large tree twenty meters away was suddenly split in two, crashing to the ground with a rumble. The Great Wind Rabbit, startled, darted around the forest like a headless fly. "Ha!" In front of the panicked rabbit, a goblin suddenly emerged from the bushes. This startled the Great Wind Rabbit again. Its massive body leapt up in fright and fled in another direction.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A large tree blocked its path, and it crashed straight into it. "Boom!" With a loud "boom," accompanied by the sound of bones breaking. The Great Wind Rabbit''s massive body fell to the ground, twitching. In no time, it was motionless. Seeing this, Li Meng was speechless. He never expected the idiom "Wait for a chance" to become a reality in this otherworld. There really was a creature dumb enough to crash itself to death. "Great Wind Rabbit, Great Wind Rabbit!" As soon as the rabbit died, the goblins rushed out from their hiding places. They shouted excitedly, drooling over the Great Wind Rabbit. "What a sharp cut, is this the power of magic?" Looking at the smooth cut on the tree stump, Li Meng clicked his tongue in amazement. A tree that required two people to hug was cut down just like that. And the tree behind it even had a half-meter deep gash. The power of the Wind Blade was truly terrifying. "Move aside!" Gobu Qiang approached the Great Wind Rabbit''s corpse. With a shout, the surrounding goblin minions scattered in fear. Gobu Qiang raised his sharp claws and began tearing at the rabbit''s belly. Soon, a strong scent of blood filled the air. Smelling the sweet scent of blood, the goblin minions looked intoxicated. Drool dripped from their mouths, their eyes filled with greed. Gobu Qiang struggled to extract a heart larger than his head. Holding the heart, Gobu Qiang ran towards the boss with a fawning expression. "Boss, boss, this is your favorite heart!" Over the days, Gobu Qiang had figured out the boss''s preferences. The boss loved eating the hearts of prey. Li Meng took the heart from Gobu Qiang and took a big bite. The warm flesh and blood slid down his throat, making Li Meng''s eyes narrow slightly. The heart was indeed delicious, perfectly suiting his current taste. "Boss, I''m going to eat the meat now!" Li Meng waved his hand. Gobu Qiang quickly turned and ran greedily towards the Great Wind Rabbit''s corpse. He leaped into the rabbit''s belly, devouring the tastiest organs. After a while, Gobu Qiang finally ate his fill and left contentedly. With Gobu Qiang gone, the goblins who had been waiting impatiently pounced. Dozens of goblins fought over the food, and the massive Great Wind Rabbit''s body was devoured at a speed visible to the naked eye. [Acquired skill "Wind Blade"] The system''s notification made Li Meng grin. The skill he had longed for was finally in his grasp. Glancing sideways, Li Meng looked at the nearby tree stump. "Wind Blade!" The space in front of Li Meng suddenly twisted. A gust of air exploded, and a visible transparent wind blade shot out. "Shhh!" Wood chips flew from the tree stump more than ten meters away. A half-meter deep gash appeared on the stump. Li Meng''s face turned pale, and the dizziness in his head made him collapse to the ground. "Could it be because my magic attribute is too low?" Struggling to sit up, Li Meng rubbed his dizzy head. He thought of his pitifully low magic attribute. The magic attribute must be closely related to magical skills. Perhaps the side effects of using magic were due to his insufficient magic power. "Boss, are you... are you okay?" Gobu Da''s voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Li Meng. Li Meng stood up and glared back at him. Gobu Da shrank his neck, retreating two steps in fear. "Are you full?" Gobu Da quickly nodded. He patted his bulging belly and wiped his mouth. Shaking his slightly dizzy head again, Li Meng swayed his head. It seemed that next time he would have to choose magic power for his reward. Without improving his magic attribute, the Wind Blade would be a useless skill. The commotion in the forest lasted less than half an hour. Half an hour later, only a bloodstain remained where the Great Wind Rabbit''s body had been. "Let''s move, go!" Urged by Gobu Qiang, the hunting party continued onward. Three hours later, in another part of the forest. The forest was dark and somewhat damp. The ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves. Due to the water beneath the leaves, stepping on them felt soft. Walking through the forest, Li Meng looked around. This forest seemed denser than the previous one. Looking up, the dense foliage overlapped, blocking out any sunlight. The air was filled with a rotten smell. "Boss, this is the territory of the Ghost Spiders, we need to leave!" Gobu Qiang suddenly noticed something, running towards Li Meng in panic. "Ghost Spiders? Are they strong?" Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. "Ghost Spiders are second-tier magical beasts, and there are many of them!" Li Meng looked towards the depths of the forest. "Tell them to stop!" Gobu Qiang quickly turned to halt the goblin minions. The goblins in the forest looked at each other, unsure why the boss wanted them to stop. Meanwhile, Li Meng approached a spider web. The web was large, connecting two trees. Judging by its color, it seemed to be an abandoned web of the Ghost Spiders, covered in dust. Li Meng touched the web with his hand. The web suddenly trembled and emitted a "buzzing" sound. The webs in the treetops also trembled, producing the same sound. The "buzzing" sound quickly spread into the depths of the forest. His expression changed slightly, and Li Meng quickly tore off a piece of the web. "Run!" Leaving those words behind, Li Meng sprinted back the way he came. Chapter 12 The other goblins didn''t know what had happened. But since the boss ran, they naturally followed suit. Li Meng wasn''t a fool; he knew exactly what was going on. His action of touching the spider web must have alarmed the Ghost Spiders deep in the forest. In the dim forest, dozens of goblins were sprinting wildly. They only stopped after running several kilometers. In the dim forest, Li Meng leaned against a big tree, panting heavily. Looking down at the spider web in his hand, Li Meng''s face showed a look of curiosity. It was a bit sticky, but incredibly tough. Glancing around, Li Meng walked towards a nearby puddle. Kneeling by the puddle, Li Meng submerged the spider web in the water. He scrubbed the spider web vigorously. Soon, the stickiness of the web was washed away. The once large mass of spider web turned into a bundle of transparent threads. Li Meng straightened the threads, holding each end with his hands, and pulled hard. The threads stretched a bit but did not break. "What a treasure!" The elasticity and toughness of the threads made Li Meng''s eyes light up. The spider web of the Ghost Spiders was simply the perfect material for making bowstrings. With the bowstring, Li Meng had no problem using his knowledge to craft a simple crossbow. If the goblins had crossbows as weapons, their combat power would definitely increase significantly. "Boss, what are you doing?" Gobu Qiang approached curiously. "You''ll find out soon enough!" This small spider silk was the key to conquering this world.Stolen story; please report. He would use his earthly knowledge to bring the goblins into the Iron Age. "Vala!" At that moment, a sudden change erupted in the forest. With a loud roar, a group of strong, tall figures charged out. They rushed at the resting goblins, swinging large machetes at them. The resting goblins were decapitated before they could react. The sudden attack frightened the goblins immensely. "It''s the Lizardmen, it''s the Lizardmen!" Facing the nearly two-meter-tall Lizardmen covered in black scales, the goblins panicked and scattered. The goblins tried to flee, but the Lizardmen were faster. Their rusty machetes cut down one goblin after another. Some goblins tried to resist, but the gap in combat power was too great. Their sticks were shattered, and the machetes nearly cleaved their bodies in half. A single kick from a Lizardman could send a goblin flying over ten meters. There were only a dozen Lizardmen, yet they chased and slaughtered the goblins in the forest. The sudden attack startled Li Meng and Gobu Qiang. A Lizardman set its sights on the two of them. Its golden pupils locked onto them as it charged with a machete in hand. [Lizardman] [Level: 22] [Strength: 37] [Defense: 31] [Agility: 33] [Magic: 5] Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen in the forest. He noticed that none of them were below level 20. They were all between levels 20 and 30. "Hmph, I''m not afraid of you!" Li Meng snatched the spiked club from Gobu Qiang, who was ready to fight, and charged forward. Seeing the small goblin daring to confront it, the Lizardman flashed a mocking smile. It grinned, leaped up, and swung its machete at Li Meng. Li Meng didn''t dodge, swinging the spiked club to meet the attack. "Boom!" The weapons clashed with a loud "boom." The Lizardman felt a massive force transmitted through its machete. Its wrist went numb, and the machete flew out of its hand. "Die!" Li Meng grinned at the incredulous Lizardman. With his left hand, he struck the Lizardman''s heart. "Shh!" The Lizardman''s heart was pierced through. The seemingly heavy Lizardman was lifted high by the small Li Meng. Li Meng flung it aside, discarding the Lizardman. In his hand was a still-beating heart. Li Meng took a greedy bite of the warm heart in his hand. "Ah, the heart of an intelligent creature is indeed delicious!" Li Meng looked satisfied, his bloodstained mouth grinning savagely. A nearby Lizardman noticed the situation and charged over, shouting. "What''s it saying? I don''t understand!" Li Meng tossed the heart aside and hurled the spiked club with force. The club spun through the air, flying dozens of meters to hit the Lizardman''s head accurately. With a "boom," the Lizardman was sent flying. The spiked club was also knocked away. The fallen Lizardman convulsed on the ground. Its head was twisted beyond recognition, and blood poured from its mouth and nose. Li Meng ran towards the nearby machete. Picking it up, he charged at the Lizardmen. "Kill them, Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" Seeing the boss instantly slay two Lizardmen, Gobu Qiang was excited. He roared and shouted. The fleeing goblins, seeing their boss''s bravery, were invigorated. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" The goblins stopped running and charged at the Lizardmen with excitement. "What are you looking at!" Li Meng swiftly closed in on a Lizardman. With a rusty machete in hand, he swung it wide at the Lizardman. The Lizardman reacted quickly, blocking with its machete. "Clang!" A metallic clash rang out, sparks flying. The immense force made the Lizardman''s face change, sliding back several meters to dissipate the force. After the block, Li Meng pressed forward, slashing down. This time, the Lizardman wasn''t so lucky. Li Meng twisted his body, and the machete sliced through the Lizardman''s chest. The tall Lizardman was split in two, its upper body flying away. Blood splattered everywhere, the pungent smell making Li Meng''s whole body restless. "Kill, kill, kill!" Li Meng, eyes red, charged at the Lizardmen like a beast. No technique, just brute force slashing. One Lizardman after another was cut down by Li Meng. Only then did the Lizardmen notice the anomaly that was Li Meng. But they couldn''t care about anything else. Because the goblins, with their morale high, surrounded them from all sides. Though strong, the Lizardmen couldn''t fight off so many. Some Lizardmen were already cut down by the goblins, beaten to death. "La la la!" Seeing the unfavorable situation, a Lizardman suddenly screamed. The remaining five Lizardmen quickly turned and fled deeper into the forest. The retreat of the Lizardmen boosted the goblins'' morale. They shouted and chased after them. "Come back!" Li Meng''s loud shout stopped the goblin underlings from pursuing. The shout intimidated the frenzied goblin underlings. All the goblin underlings were too scared to move. "Eat them all!" Hearing the boss''s words, the goblins'' eyes lit up. They eagerly rushed to the nearest corpses to feast. For a while, the dim forest echoed with the sounds of chewing. First, the Lizardmen''s bodies, then their own kind''s bodies. Chapter 13 As the goblin underlings were enjoying their feast, Li Meng returned to the puddle to wash the blood off his body. He glanced at the large machete lying on the ground beside him, a look of curiosity on his face. The machete wasn''t made of metal. Its main body was wood, with a sharp stone blade embedded in it. The stone blade was smeared with some decaying mud, making it look like rust. There were polishing marks on the stone blade, making it very smooth. This stone weapon was much better than the clubs the goblins wielded. Li Meng''s gaze shifted slightly to the water, which had turned red. The first battle had left him trembling all over. Though it was dangerous, the rush of adrenaline was intoxicating. The smell of blood ignited a fire within him. Even though he had a human consciousness, his mindset was gradually becoming more like a goblin''s. This wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. A human mindset wouldn''t survive in this world. "Boss, we''re done eating. They''ll come back, we need to leave!" Gobu Qiang ran over, looking at the boss by the puddle with admiration. The boss was still an ordinary goblin, yet so powerful it was suffocating. Even the mighty lizardmen became weak trash in front of the boss. Li Meng carefully placed the spider silk into the cloth bag at his waist. "Let''s go, back to the riverbank!" The future predicted by the simulated life had already changed. From this moment on, the future was uncertain. Li Meng didn''t plan to use the remaining simulated life immediately. At least the journey back to the riverbank should be safe.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Move out, get going!" Under Gobu Qiang''s urging, the well-fed goblins got up with their bellies full. The battle with the lizardmen had cost the hunting party dearly. In less than five minutes of fighting, over thirty goblins were killed. The entire hunting party was reduced to less than thirty goblins. "Gobu Da, are you dead or alive?" Walking through the dim forest, Li Meng suddenly shouted. A goblin ahead of him jumped in shock and ran over to Li Meng with a fawning expression. "Boss, I''m still alive!" Li Meng looked Gobu Da up and down. The goblin had grown stronger, its body larger. Its level had risen to 8, not far from evolving into a Big Goblin. After eating the lizardman corpse, the other goblins were also rapidly growing. "Follow me!" Gobu Da grinned and happily followed behind Li Meng. Staying by the boss''s side was much safer than being at the front. "Boss, if we go back like this, I''ll be eaten by the leader." Gobu Qiang approached Li Meng with a dejected look. It was full of unease and fear. Li Meng glanced at the few remaining goblin underlings. The goblins were just too weak. Over sixty goblins were cut down in an instant by a dozen lizardmen. "Gobu Qiang, why didn''t we detect the lizardmen''s presence in advance?" The lizardmen had suddenly charged out of the forest. This meant they had used some method to mask their scent and sneak up on them. "Boss, the lizardmen smeared some decaying mud on themselves, which emitted a swampy smell." Li Meng nodded in understanding. So that''s how it was; the lizardmen indeed had some black mud on them. It seemed the lizardmen knew goblins had keen senses of smell, making it difficult to approach unnoticed. That''s why they used decaying mud to mask their scent. Before long, the sky gradually darkened. To avoid the danger of the lizardmen, Li Meng led the remaining goblins back to the riverbank overnight. That night, the forest beside the darkness was silent. Silver moonlight spread across the land, slightly dispelling the darkness. Suddenly! There was some movement in the forest by the riverbank. A group of shadows darted out of the forest and stopped by the riverbank. In the moonlight, the shadows were a group of ugly green-skinned creatures. "System, start the simulated life!" For the sake of his own life, Li Meng used the second simulated life of the month. In the moonlight, Li Meng stood by the roaring river. [Start Simulated Life] [That night, you brought the goblin underlings to the riverbank, gazing at the shimmering water, contemplating your future life.] [Before dawn, you plan to do something. Please make the following choice:] [1. You decide to cross the river overnight to avoid the lizardmen threat and return to the lair.] [2. You know returning to the lair will get you eaten by the angry Gobu Ba, so you decide to go downstream to the human territory.] [3. Do nothing, rest by the riverbank for a night, and become a wandering goblin.] Again, three options, three choices for future lives. The first option was reasonable. Staying by the riverbank was dangerous; the lizardmen might be pursuing them. The hunting party suffered heavy losses, so returning to the lair was the most reasonable choice. But a reasonable choice wasn''t necessarily the right one. Returning to the lair like this, Gobu Qiang would die, and these goblins might also get implicated. The second option was more of a compromise. As long as they captured a few humans and brought them back, the crisis would be over. Although the hunting party suffered heavy losses, they could still secretly capture a few ordinary human civilians. However, the second option was also the most dangerous. It was entirely a gamble, and they might not survive. The third option, becoming a wandering goblin, was also a good choice. As long as there was enough food, the existing goblins could independently develop a new tribe. "Gobu Qiang, should we go downstream to the 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 leave the choice to Gobu Qiang. After all, these goblins might not necessarily die if they returned. But Gobu Qiang was different; if it went back, it would definitely be eaten by the angry Gobu Ba. Gobu Qiang''s ugly face twisted into a knot. The boss was letting it choose, which made it very difficult. It didn''t know what to choose. 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 Gobu Qiang''s answer, and also its choice. "Very well, then let''s wander outside and establish a new lair." Gobu Qiang''s choice was also what Li Meng wanted. Going to the human territory was too dangerous; wandering outside allowed for more freedom to grow stronger. There were too many variables in returning to the lair. Moreover, the day-to-day life of hunting for food wasn''t what Li Meng wanted. "System, the third option!" [You choose to wander outside, and a new goblin lair appears in the forest on the north bank.] [You lead the goblin underlings upstream along the river.] [You choose a dense forest as your new home, and a new species of forest goblin emerges.] Chapter 14 [To strengthen the tribe, you led the Goblin underlings to capture female creatures on a large scale.] [You discovered an Ogre and trapped it using a snare. Under your whipping and torment, the Ogre submitted.] [You found an open-air iron mine beneath a barren mountain.] [You attempted to make charcoal and succeeded. You tried to construct a blast furnace and, after multiple failures, succeeded.] [You successfully crafted your first crossbow and bolt in your life.] [You discovered traces of the Pigmen tribe. Please make the following choice:] [1. Follow the traces to find the Pigmen tribe.] [2. Do nothing, as you think this is unimportant.] [3. You sense a crisis and prepare for war, arming the Goblins.] Among the three options, the third one is clearly more reasonable and conservative. "Choose the third option!" [You decided to prepare for war urgently, making more charcoal kilns and iron furnaces.] [The thick smoke in the forest caught the attention of the Lizardmen, who launched a massive attack.] [You wanted to flee, but your display of strength led the Lizardmen to surround you, and you died.] [The short-lived Goblin Forest tribe was annihilated, disappearing into history.] [Gobu Da managed to escape, stealing your corpse and consuming you.] [Your skull became Gobu Da''s collectible, daily soaked in urine, serving as the only proof of your existence.] [Your charcoal kiln and furnace caught the attention of the Lizardmen, but they didn''t care.] [A group of Pigmen discovered the charcoal kiln and iron furnace, sparking their curiosity.] [Many years later, the Pigmen tribe rose, giving birth to the legendary Golden Pigman King.] [As a Transmigrator, you left behind some things that triggered wars in this world with your knowledge. Your death was not in vain, at least you changed the fate of a certain race.] [Simulated life ended, score: 50]Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. [Please choose the following rewards:] [1. Consume five points +1 level] [2. Consume five points +5 attributes] [3. Consume thirty points +1 charm] This time, the rewards left Li Meng somewhat disappointed. Skill level rewards are what he needs most. "Choose option two, add to magic power!" [Your magic power value has increased.] If there''s any feeling, it''s that there''s none at all. "Let''s go, we need to stay away from the swamp and head upstream!" Although Li Meng wanted to beat up Gobu Da, he ultimately gave up. Li Meng had to admit that Gobu Da was indeed very lucky. Except for dying in the first simulated life, in the other simulations, he was the last survivor. That night, the Goblins who stayed on the riverbank returned to the forest. Before long, the riverbank returned to tranquility. Only the rushing river water made a "splashing" sound. In the following days, Li Meng led the Goblin underlings upstream along the river. The terrain of the Goblin Forest is not a flat forest. Instead, it''s a landscape of intersecting mountains and valleys. Among the mountains, there are 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!" Gobu Qiang climbed up a big tree, gazing into the distance. About ten miles away, on one side of the valley, stood a barren mountain. Gobu Qiang swiftly slid down from the tree. "How far is it?" Li Meng asked Gobu Qiang, who had come down from the tree. From the future of the simulated life, many useful key pieces of information can be found. The barren mountain and the iron mine are the most important. If the iron mine can be discovered first, there will be more time for development. "It''s just ahead, we''ll be there soon!" "Let''s go, keep moving forward!" After a brief rest in the forest, the Goblins continued onward. About an hour later, Li Meng stopped in a forest. Seeing the boss suddenly stop, the other Goblins looked at each other. They had no choice but to stop, cautiously surveying their surroundings. Li Meng looked down at the ground, stepping on it. The terrain of this forest is very flat, unlike some places where rocks are scattered. The ground is also very dry, indicating that this area is higher than the river. Unlike some places that show signs of being flooded. This suggests that at some point, the river water will flood, submerging the forest. "Gobu Qiang, this will be our lair. Take ten Goblins and go hunting, remember to catch more female Groundhogs." This is the lair? Gobu Qiang glanced around the forest with some doubt. How could this place possibly become a lair? Although puzzled, Gobu Qiang didn''t think much of it. Now Gobu Meng is the boss, and the boss has the final say. "You, you, you, come with me!" Gobu Qiang selected ten strong Goblins and went hunting in the forest. Meanwhile, Li Meng also began to get busy. "The rest of you, climb the trees and strip the branches, leaving only the canopy!" Under Li Meng''s command, the remaining Goblins climbed the trees. The Lizardmen''s machetes were still very useful. Although the Goblins found them a bit cumbersome to use, they were still usable. For a while, the sound of chopping trees echoed through the forest. While the Goblin underlings were busy, Li Meng wandered around the forest. The most important thing now is to increase the tribe''s population. The Animal Pen and Breeding Room must be prioritized for construction. The Animal Pen is used to imprison female creatures, while the Breeding Room is for caring for pregnant females. "A Goblin without females can''t become the protagonist, right?" Thinking about this Goblin flaw gave Li Meng a headache. How could a Goblin, which relies on other female creatures to reproduce, possibly become the protagonist of this world? Li Meng always understood this reality. But as a Goblin, he could only rely on this species to survive in this world. No matter how disgusting the task, he had to do it. Shaking his head, Li Meng dismissed the thoughts from his mind. "Let''s choose here!" The terrain here is relatively flat, and the ground is very dry. In the following time, under Li Meng''s direction, the Goblins worked hard, sweating profusely. As the branches of a large tree were stripped away, the space beneath the tree became much more open. Under Li Meng''s guidance, the Goblins stripped suitable branches into wooden strips that could serve as fences. "Boss, I''m back!" In the afternoon, Gobu Qiang returned. The Goblin underlings were carrying three tightly bound female Groundhogs. Li Meng examined the appearance of the three female Groundhogs. They were all quite large, suitable for breeding. "Put them in the Animal Pen!" The Animal Pen had already been constructed, though it wasn''t very large. Not far behind Li Meng, in the forest, was a visible Animal Pen enclosed by wooden fences. Gobu Qiang quickly instructed the underlings to carry the female Groundhogs over. Once inside the Animal Pen, the unbound female Groundhogs scurried around wildly. Fortunately, the Groundhogs didn''t dig holes, otherwise, the Animal Pen wouldn''t be able to contain them. Chapter 15 "Gobu Qiang, you''ve done well. You have earned the right to reproduce. Go ahead!" In this place, Gobu Qiang was the only Big Goblin. The higher the evolution level of a goblin, the faster its offspring grow. To rapidly increase the population, Gobu Qiang''s genes were indispensable. Gobu Qiang''s face lit up with joy. He looked at the female groundhogs in the animal pen, drooling. "Boss, I''m... I''m going!" With a strange cry, Gobu Qiang eagerly rushed towards the animal pen. The other goblin minions watched Gobu Qiang head towards the pen with envy. Li Meng grinned and turned away leisurely. Though it was a bit hard to watch, Li Meng had gotten used to it. After all, he wasn''t entirely a goblin. Goblins were humanoid, after all. For him to accept it, the counterpart would have to be a humanoid female creature. "Everyone, follow me!" While Gobu Qiang was busy reproducing, Li Meng led the goblin minions to start building the Breeding Room. Compared to the animal pen, the Breeding Room needed to be relatively more comfortable. The forest winds were cold, and without a more enclosed environment, it was easy to freeze to death. Due to a lack of manpower, it took five days to build the Breeding Room. On the fifth day, a large wooden hut appeared in the forest. The hut was made by stacking and binding branches of various sizes. A large tree served as the main load-bearing structure. It looked like a giant barrel. The roof and outer walls were covered with dry leaves to increase insulation. "Finally, it''s done!" Looking at the somewhat crude Breeding Room, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Considering it was his first time building a wooden hut, this was quite an achievement. Though it was small, it was enough for now. More could be added as needed in the future. Moreover, with some modifications, this wooden hut could become a cozy home for the goblins. "Boss, boss!" At that moment, Gobu Qiang ran over. "What has you so excited?" Seeing Gobu Qiang''s face full of excitement, Li Meng curiously asked. Gobu Qiang chuckled, puffing out his chest proudly. "Boss, it seems all three female groundhogs are pregnant." Li Meng''s eyes lit up with interest. "Let''s go take a look!" Li Meng and Gobu Qiang then headed to the animal pen. Moments later, they arrived outside the pen. Li Meng curiously observed the female groundhogs munching on leaves inside the pen. There were quite a few, at least a dozen. [Groundhog] [Level: 4] [Strength: 4] [Defense: 2] [Agility: 3] [Magic: 0] [Status: Pregnant] Among them, the bellies of three female groundhogs were noticeably larger. It had only been five days, yet their bellies were already so prominent. If these three litters were born successfully, they could easily add over thirty goblins. "Take those three pregnant female groundhogs to the Breeding Room for proper care!" Gobu Qiang nodded and gestured to the minions behind him. More than a dozen goblins climbed over the pen walls and grabbed the female groundhogs by their ears. The groundhogs squealed and struggled as they were pulled out of the pen. "Also, take this one, this one, and this one to the Breeding Room!" Pregnant groundhogs exhibited abnormal states. The goblins grabbed four more female groundhogs by their ears and left the pen. "Gobu Qiang, is there enough food around here?" The biggest factor affecting the goblin population was food. With sufficient food supply, the goblin population could explode to tens of thousands in just a few years. Gobu Qiang nodded. "Boss, there are many groundhog burrows, and their scent is strong." Groundhogs were the most common magical beasts in the forest. In the natural world, their status was similar to that of mice on Earth. But relying on groundhogs alone for enough food was unrealistic. As the tribe''s population grew, so would the demand for food. To obtain enough food, they would have to expand their hunting grounds. And expanding the hunting grounds would inevitably lead to encounters with other tribes living in the Goblin Forest. The ultimate result would be war. In the depths of the Goblin Forest, battles between goblin nests were the most common. Many goblin nests took advantage of these battles to reduce their population. This way, the population and hunting grounds could reach a perfect balance. Although food wasn''t a concern now, it would eventually become the biggest challenge for the tribe''s development. "Boss, boss!" At that moment, Gobu Da came running over excitedly. He looked at the female groundhogs in the pen with greedy eyes. Standing before Li Meng, Gobu Da patted his chest. "Boss, I''ve evolved into a Big Goblin!" Li Meng looked Gobu Da up and down. [Name: Gobu Da] [Species: Big Goblin] [Level: 10] [Strength: 14] [Defense: 15] [Agility: 17] [Magic: 3] Not only had his attributes doubled, but his physique had also become more robust. He had grown to 1.7 meters tall, looking quite powerful. Gobu Da''s eyes were fixed on the female groundhogs in the pen, drooling. Seeing Gobu Da''s eager expression, Li Meng chuckled. Reproduction was a natural instinct for goblins. "Go ahead!" Li Meng patted Gobu Da''s shoulder, granting him the right to mate. "Great!" With a cheer, Gobu Da eagerly leaped into the animal pen. Li Meng glanced at Gobu Da, who was excitedly harassing the groundhogs, and smiled wryly before turning away. The tribe couldn''t rely solely on Gobu Qiang''s offspring. Otherwise, he, as the boss, would eventually be overthrown by his minions. The only solution was to reproduce his own offspring within the tribe. Li Meng didn''t mind having his own offspring. What he minded was the mating partner. Even if the partner wasn''t human, it had to be a humanoid creature. Beside the animal pen, Gobu Qiang looked at Gobu Da, who was grunting and venting his desires, with disdain. If he had known this guy could evolve into a Big Goblin, he would have eaten him long ago. "Hmph, I''ll eat you sooner or later!" A flash of malice crossed his eyes as Gobu Qiang turned and left. Gobu Da seemed to sense Gobu Qiang''s murderous intent. He looked puzzled at Gobu Qiang''s departing figure. But he was quickly pulled back by his desires, focusing on reproducing. --- The next morning, Li Meng started another busy day. The goblin minions were divided into three groups. One group went out hunting. Another group stayed in the tribe to build nest huts. The last group followed him, the boss, to the northern barren mountains. In the northern forest of the tribe, seven goblins walked cautiously. As they walked, they sniffed the air. Their keen sense of smell allowed them to distinguish various scents. Suddenly, one of the goblins stopped. Its sudden halt caught the attention of the other goblins. They all turned their gaze and stopped in their tracks. Li Meng crouched down and lifted a stone from the underbrush. Chapter 16 "Indeed, it''s iron ore!" The stone was gray-black, indicating a high iron content. Li Meng glanced around the ground with a slight tilt of his head. He noticed many similar stones in the nearby forest. And this place was at least a mile away from the barren mountain. Li Meng tossed the stone aside and got up to continue walking forward. He had found iron ore, but now he needed to figure out how to hide the smoke. Smelting iron required burning charcoal, which would produce a lot of smoke. The appearance of smoke would attract the attention of other intelligent races nearby. In the future information predicted by the simulated life, it was certain that there were Lizardmen and Pigmen tribes nearby. Attracting any intelligent race could spell disaster for the tribe. "If only there was a cave!" Li Meng thought to himself as he walked through the forest. Ideally, it would be a deep cave with multiple exits. A closed cave couldn''t be used, or the smoke would become a deadly poison. Although the smoke would eventually dissipate, it wouldn''t be as noticeable after being diluted by the cave. But Li Meng also knew that finding such a cave was easier said than done. In the following days, Li Meng traversed mountains, searching for a place to smelt iron. This search lasted three days. During those three days, Li Meng scoured every mountainous area nearby. "Boss, we found it! There''s a cave ahead!" On the afternoon of the third day, a Goblin came running up to Li Meng excitedly. Unknowingly, Li Meng and his Goblin followers had reached the foot of a mountain. The steep cliff rose almost vertically, several hundred meters high. Li Meng''s eyes lit up with joy. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Lead the way!" Under the Goblin''s guidance, the group of Goblins hurried forward. After about two hundred meters, a steep cliff appeared before Li Meng. At the base of the cliff, there was a cave entrance. Judging by the shape of the crack, it seemed naturally formed. It was about three meters wide and pitch black inside. Outside the cave was a barren patch of black soil. The ground was somewhat damp, with large footprints visible on it. "What a strange smell, I''ve never smelled it before!" "Neither have I!" The Goblins outside the cave were chattering. They had caught a whiff of an unfamiliar scent from the cave. Since it was a scent they had never encountered, they didn''t know what it was. Li Meng also detected a foul odor. It was the smell of excrement, mixed with other unpleasant scents. "Could it be an Ogre?" Li Meng thought of the future predicted by the simulated life. In that future, he would encounter an Ogre. "Boss, there''s movement!" At that moment, there was a commotion in the cave. It was a "thud, thud" sound, heavy footsteps. "Hide, quickly!" Sensing something, Li Meng''s expression changed slightly. He turned and ran into the depths of the forest. The other Goblins, seeing their leader run, followed closely behind into the forest. Back in the forest, Li Meng didn''t stray far from the cave. Instead, he hid in a bush outside the cave. The other Goblins did the same, hiding in various concealed vegetation. The noise from the cave grew louder. Suddenly, a massive shadow appeared at the cave entrance. Under the Goblins'' terrified gaze, a gigantic creature emerged from the cave. It had gray skin and a bald head. Its physique was incredibly robust, nearly five meters tall, larger than the Goblin leader. Its enormous body appeared rounded, with exceptionally thick limbs. Its bowl-sized eyes spun around, giving it a somewhat foolish look. [Cave Ogre] [Level: 71] [Strength: 317] [Defense: 614] [Agility: 151] [Magic: 36] [Enhanced Stone Skin: LV3 (Defense +300)] [Physical Regeneration: LV1 (Increased healing speed)] "My god!" The terrifying attributes of the Cave Ogre startled Li Meng. How could he capture such a powerful monster? With traps? Traps weren''t foolproof. How deep would a trap need to be to trap this monster? Even if it were trapped, how would he capture it? The Ogre outside the cave sniffed with its large nose. It seemed to catch a whiff of a very unfamiliar scent. But with its not-so-sharp sense of smell, it couldn''t detect the Goblins hiding in the forest. Soon, it began to walk step by step toward the forest. The Cave Ogre entering the forest was like a giant. Wherever it went, low branches and leaves were forcefully pushed aside. "Follow it!" Using the vegetation as cover, Li Meng cautiously followed it. Although the other Goblins were terrified, they still followed their leader. Soon, the Cave Ogre stopped in front of a massive fruit tree. It grabbed the trunk with both hands and shook it vigorously. Fist-sized purple fruits fell to the ground with a rustling sound. After completing this, it sat down under the tree. With practiced hands, it picked up the purple fruits from the ground and began to eat. "Is the Ogre a vegetarian?" This scene made Li Meng, hiding in the forest, wonder. Such a large creature, named Ogre, turned out to be a vegetarian. Of course, it might also be an omnivore. After all, most humanoid creatures are omnivores. Unlike Goblins, which are purely carnivorous. Time passed slowly, and the Ogre under the tree continued eating the fruits. It ate for a full two hours before stopping. Just when Li Meng thought the Ogre would return to the cave, it fell asleep under the tree. A peculiar smell wafted over, making Li Meng wrinkle his nose. "Is this... the smell of fermentation?" Looking at the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng''s eyes brightened. Could the Ogre be drunk? The fruits on the tree were clearly overripe and starting to rot. Rotting would cause the fruits to ferment, making the Ogre drunk. "With such high defense, it should be impossible to kill it, right?" Rather than subduing it, Li Meng hoped to kill it and gain its skills. Either of the two skills would greatly enhance his strength. But killing it would be a waste. Such a large creature would be the best labor force. "Gobu Ge, take all the Goblins and make bark ropes!" Li Meng instructed the Goblin beside him. It nodded and scurried away. It gathered all the Goblins and ran into the depths of the forest. Watching the sleeping Ogre, Li Meng pondered. The future predicted by the simulated life could only serve as a reference. In the current situation, there was no need to set traps. If the Ogre was truly drunk, it wouldn''t wake up easily. This was his chance, the chance to capture the Ogre. About five hours later, Gobu Ge returned with the Goblins. Each Goblin carried a bundle of bark ropes. "Come, follow me!" Li Meng, gathering his courage, left the bushes and approached the Ogre under the fruit tree. Although the Goblins were scared, they mustered the courage to follow their leader. Li Meng led the Goblins quietly to the Ogre''s side. He gestured with his hand. A Goblin quickly handed him a bark rope. Li Meng carefully tied the bark rope around the Ogre''s feet. Though it might not be effective, it was better than nothing. Chapter 17 The ogre was in a deep sleep and didn''t wake up despite Li Meng''s efforts. Li Meng used five ropes to bind the ogre''s legs, wrapping them over and over. "Come on, push it over!" The goblin underlings quickly gathered around their boss. With faces full of fear, they placed their hands against the ogre''s back. The ogre was lying on its side against the mountain, making it easy to push. "Push!" At Li Meng''s command, the goblins pushed with all their might. The ogre''s massive body flopped over limply, landing face down on the ground. Its huge breath stirred up the dust on the ground. "Quick, bring the bark ropes." Li Meng hurriedly tied the ogre''s hands behind its back. To prevent the ogre from using its strength, a good binding method was needed. Li Meng first tied the ogre''s hands together. Then he used three bark ropes to connect the hands to the neck. This way, any struggle would cause discomfort to the ogre''s neck. The more it struggled, the tighter the bark ropes around its neck would become. No matter how strong the ogre was, it couldn''t use its strength if it was bound. "No, we need an extra measure!" Li Meng used a few more bark ropes to bind the ogre''s feet to its neck. This way, if the ogre tried to break the ropes on its feet, the ropes on its neck would pull forward. With this pull, the ropes binding its hands and neck would tighten. Looking at the ogre tied up like a dumpling, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Let''s go, hide in the forest."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Whether it would work or not could only be known once the ogre woke up. Hearing they could get away from the terrifying ogre, the goblins ran back to the forest. In the following time, Li Meng patiently waited for the ogre to wake up. Time passed slowly, hour by hour. As the sun was about to set and night was falling, the ogre finally woke up. "Roar!" A panicked roar echoed through the forest, scattering the birds. Under the fruit tree, the ogre rolled around in panic. Its immense strength made the bark ropes on its body creak. The more it struggled, the stronger the choking sensation on its neck became. The ogre howled continuously in its frenzied struggle, its voice growing hoarser. After struggling for a full two hours, it lay on the ground panting heavily. By this time, a third of the bark ropes on its neck had snapped. Seeing the ogre had stopped struggling, Li Meng, hidden in the bushes, breathed a sigh of relief. If the ogre continued to struggle, the bark ropes would eventually break. "Alright, time to step in myself!" Li Meng stood up and emerged from the bushes. In his hand was a whip made from bark ropes. The whip was also entwined with some thorny vines. The vines were a poisonous plant from the forest. They had only one effect: once pricked, they caused intense pain. Though not fatal, the pain would last for days. Even goblins couldn''t resist this poison when pricked. Despite the ogre''s high defense, its body wasn''t made of steel muscles and iron bones. As soon as Li Meng appeared, the ogre spotted him. Its huge eyes locked onto Li Meng. It opened its massive mouth and let out a roar. Walking forward, Li Meng chuckled and flicked the whip. A loud "snap" echoed far and wide. Li Meng flicked the whip again, striking the ogre''s back. "Roar!" The ogre roared in pain, rolling its body towards Li Meng. Li Meng swung the whip again, striking the ogre''s rear. A bloody welt immediately appeared on its rear. Though it only broke the skin, it was enough. "Stop resisting and obediently become my underling." For a moment, the forest echoed with the "snap" of the whip. The long whip whistled through the air as Li Meng swung it. Accompanied by the pained roars. Time passed slowly, as the sun set and night fell. Even in the darkness, the sound of the whip didn''t cease. Early the next morning, in the forest near the fruit tree. "You stubborn mule, still fierce!" Looking at the ogre not far away still growling at him, Li Meng rolled his eyes. Breathing heavily, he tossed aside the misshapen whip in his hand. After whipping it all night, the ogre still looked fierce. Its gaze towards Li Meng was filled with hatred. "Again!" Beside him, Gobu Ge quickly handed over a new whip. The temporarily halted sound of the whip resumed in the forest. In the following days, Li Meng devoted himself to taming the ogre. It was a torment for the ogre and a torment for himself. On the fifth day, still under the fruit tree. "Be good, being my underling won''t be a loss. I''ll make sure you live well." Li Meng held a purple fruit, trying to entice the ogre. Though the ogre lay on the ground, barely alive and lacking spirit. Its gaze towards Li Meng was still filled with animosity. Faced with Li Meng''s offering, it let out a roar. Its massive body suddenly flipped, pressing down towards Li Meng. Li Meng frowned slightly and stepped back to avoid the ogre''s body. With a slightly cold expression, a hint of impatience flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. "Seems you''re only fit to be a piece of meat!" Li Meng tossed aside the whip in his hand and gestured to the goblin underlings behind him. "Eat it alive!" After five days of relentless taming, Li Meng was on the verge of giving up. He just wanted to end this and get a good night''s sleep. Hearing their boss''s words, the goblins were momentarily stunned. Then they showed excitement, grinning to reveal sharp teeth. With a cheer, the goblin underlings pounced on the ogre with greedy faces. The goblins on the ogre''s body frantically gnawed at its flesh. With one bite, they tore off a large chunk of meat. "Roar!" The intense pain made the ogre let out a weak roar. But the weakened ogre had lost its ability to resist. Yet a miraculous scene unfolded. The wounds caused by the goblins'' bites began to regenerate visibly. This sight greatly intrigued Li Meng. "Could it be the effect of a body regeneration skill?" With eyes brightening, Li Meng lunged onto the ogre''s body. Opening his menacing mouth, he tore a piece of flesh from the ogre''s thigh. "So tough!" The ogre''s meat was extremely unpalatable. Tough and chewy, like rubber bands. But to gain a skill, he couldn''t care about that. One bite, two bites, three bites... Li Meng devoured piece after piece of the ogre''s flesh, but the system prompt never appeared. "Could it be that eating the heart offers the highest chance of gaining a skill?" Steel Muscles and Iron Bones and Wind Blade were both skills obtained by eating hearts. Chapter 18 [Skill Devour activated successfully, acquired skill "Body Regeneration"] The system''s prompt suddenly appeared, dispelling Li Meng''s doubts. It seems that acquiring skills has nothing to do with the heart. Li Meng stopped gnawing on the ogre. "Alright, stop eating!" The boss''s order made the goblin reluctantly end its feast. Although not yet full, the goblin, with its mouth full of blood, looked satisfied. "Since you don''t want to be my underling, then you''ll become the Tang Monk meat of the tribe." The big guy in front of him was a level 70 creature. Eating its flesh would allow the goblins to evolve quickly. It had the body regeneration skill, so as long as the amount was controlled, it wouldn''t affect its life. Thus, Li Meng cruelly announced the ogre''s future fate. "Gobu Ge, give it some fruit to eat, but not too much, just enough to keep it from starving." At this moment, Li Meng had lost interest in the ogre. With a blank expression, he glanced at the ogre and then turned to walk into the forest. After wasting so many days, he had to make up for the lost time. "Woo woo!" The ogre seemed to understand its fate. The ferocity in its eyes vanished completely. It weakly whimpered at Li Meng. The ogre''s whimpering made Li Meng pause. Li Meng turned to look at the ogre behind him and grinned. "Good, it''s right to be scared!" Seeing the ogre''s pleading look, Li Meng knew he had succeeded. Li Meng walked over to the ogre.Stolen story; please report. Picking up a fruit from the ground, Li Meng fed it to the ogre again. This time, the ogre opened its mouth. Li Meng tossed the purple fruit into the ogre''s mouth. The ogre, having not eaten for days, chewed with relish. Next, Li Meng fed a few fermented fruits into the ogre''s mouth. The fact that the ogre was afraid indicated that it was an intelligent creature with rich emotions. If it were a goblin, it would be different. Goblins would either flee or fight to the death; there was no third option. "Bring all the fruits over!" The goblin underlings quickly ran to the fruit tree. In the following time, Li Meng used the fruits to soothe the ogre. The ogre, starved for five days, devoured the food ravenously. Watching the ravenous ogre, Li Meng smiled. Then Li Meng did something astonishing. He climbed onto the ogre''s body to untie the bark ropes on its hands. This scene filled the goblin underlings with fear. Their steps involuntarily retreated. When the last bark rope was untied, the ogre''s hands regained freedom. Just as the goblins were about to turn and flee, they found that the ogre did not attack the boss. The ogre, with its hands free, sat up and began picking up fruits from the ground to eat. Li Meng continued to untie the bark ropes on the ogre''s legs. Before long, Li Meng had untied the bark ropes on the ogre''s legs. The ogre, bound for five days, regained its freedom. Thus, Li Meng gained a cave ogre underling. Half an hour later, Li Meng followed his newly acquired underling into its home. "Is there wind?" The cave was quiet and pitch-black. Li Meng could feel a cool breeze brushing past his ear. The cave was an air inlet, indicating there was another exit. The space in the cave was larger than Li Meng had imagined. After delving less than thirty meters into the cave, the space became extremely wide. "Is this... moisture?" The air was very humid, and Li Meng faintly heard the sound of water. In the stalagmite-filled cave, Li Meng continued forward. The goblin underlings and the big ogre silently followed behind him. The goblins were filled with fear towards the big ogre. They followed far behind the ogre, not daring to get close. Afraid that the ogre''s giant hand would grab them and stuff them into its mouth. Compared to the goblin underlings'' fear, Li Meng remained calm. The ogre was simple-minded and couldn''t hide its emotions. Since it didn''t attack him upon regaining freedom, it would never attack him in the future. "I''ll call you Benben from now on. Benben, did you live here before?" Well, this wasn''t exactly a good place. Wind blowing into the cave would lower the temperature inside. More importantly, there seemed to be an underground river deep in the cave. Upon entering the cave, Li Meng felt a chill. Benben looked at the boss with a puzzled expression, not understanding what he was saying. It raised its sturdy right hand and pointed at the cliff wall. Li Meng looked up, and upon seeing it, his face showed understanding. It turned out Benben''s nest was in a cave on the cliff wall. The cliff wasn''t vertical but stepped. While goblins found it hard to climb, it was easy for Benben. "Let''s go, let''s see what''s ahead!" With his underlings in tow, Li Meng continued forward. After walking for a while, delving several hundred meters, an underground river appeared before Li Meng. The water flowed from a spring on the right side. The current was very rapid, forming a crystal-clear stream in the cave after years of erosion. Benben strode forward, crouching by the water, staring intently at the surface. Just as Li Meng wondered what Benben was doing. Benben suddenly thrust its hand into the water, seemingly trying to catch something. When Benben 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 eel, entirely black. Benben brought the Black Rock Fish to its mouth and took a bite. This bite split the cartilaginous fish in two. Seeing this, Li Meng chuckled. Benben wasn''t a herbivore but an omnivore. Benben offered the bitten half of the cartilaginous fish to Li Meng. Looking at the half-meter-long fish, Li Meng caught it with both hands. He opened his mouth and tore off a big chunk of fish meat. It was sticky, but the taste was quite good. "Here!" After a few bites of fish meat, Li Meng tossed the remaining fish meat to the goblin underlings. The goblin underlings swarmed to snatch the fish meat on the ground. Li Meng moved forward to the water''s edge to wash his hands. "Splash!" As soon as he squatted down, a giant creature suddenly burst from the water in front of him. A 1.5-meter-long Black Rock Fish opened its sharp mouth and lunged at Li Meng. Seeing the attacking Black Rock Fish, Li Meng rolled his eyes. He punched it, hitting the fish''s chin. The immense force sent the Black Rock Fish flying, crashing into Benben. Benben instinctively caught the Black Rock Fish. It looked at the boss beside it, then at the Black Rock Fish in its hand. Confused, it began eating the fish meat. How did this fish end up in its hand? Li Meng casually picked up a stone from the riverbank and stood up. Chapter 19 "Let''s go, we''re heading out!" The cave was vast, and there was no need to venture further in. The space here was more than sufficient. With wind and water, it was the perfect spot for iron smelting. Li Meng then led the goblin underlings out of the cave. Outside the cave, Li Meng began assigning tasks to the goblin underlings. "You, you, and you, go into the forest and gather stones like this." Li Meng showed the goblin underlings the stone in his hand. The stone was one Li Meng had picked up by the river in the cave. It was a dull gray, an iron ore. This indicated that the cave was a natural iron mine. The three goblins he pointed at hurriedly ran towards the forest. "Gobu Ge, you guys go find some deadwood!" Gobu Ge nodded and led the remaining goblins into the forest. "Benben, let''s go find some clay!" Benben obediently followed behind Li Meng. In the forest, Benben, who was following Li Meng, reached out and poked Li Meng''s back. "What''s up?" 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 with his right hand. "Benben!" Then Li Meng pointed at himself. "Boss!" Benben looked at the boss, then lowered his head to look at himself. He pointed at himself with his right hand. "Benben?" If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Li Meng nodded. Benben then pointed at Li Meng. "Boss!" Li Meng nodded again. And so, under Li Meng''s guidance, Benben learned his new name. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one thing. Preparing for the iron smelting experiment. On the fourth day, by the underground riverbank in the cave. "Boss, what are you doing?" Seeing the boss neatly stacking split wood, Gobu Ge curiously asked. "Watch carefully, you''ll be doing the same thing in the future!" After laying the firewood flat, Li Meng placed a piece of iron ore on top. "Put all these iron ores on top!" The boss''s command prompted the goblin underlings to quickly start placing the iron ore onto the firewood pile. "Just one layer, don''t stack them!" After giving the instruction, Li Meng knelt on the ground. This startled the goblin underlings. Li Meng ignored their surprise. He took the dry wood and fluff he had prepared and began to drill wood to make fire. The wooden stick made a "swish swish" sound as Li Meng rubbed it. Benben sat nearby, curiously watching the busy goblins. In less than ten minutes, Li Meng smelled smoke. Soon, thick white smoke emerged from the fluff. Li Meng quickly set down the stick and carefully blew on the fluff with both hands. Before long, a flame appeared in the darkness. "It''s fire, human fire!" The appearance of the flame made Gobu Ge let out a strange cry. "Shut up!" Li Meng glared at Gobu Ge and 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 was also startled by the fire, his massive body trembling. In a moment, the firewood pile was blazing fiercely. The rolling heat waves spread around, making the goblins look on with amazement. They never expected the boss to create human fire just by rubbing for a while. "Benben, fetch water!" Clapping his hands, Li Meng pointed to the bamboo buckets beside Benben. Li Meng had found some bamboo while searching for clay in the forest. These bamboos were enormous, requiring several people to encircle them hand in hand. Li Meng used these bamboos to make some bamboo buckets. Benben stood up, grabbed a bamboo bucket in each hand, and fetched two buckets of water from the river. Not far away, there was a pile of yellow clay. "Pour it in and mix it by hand!" Under Li Meng''s hands-on guidance, Benben used his massive hands to mix the yellow clay. Soon, the yellow clay gradually turned into clay. Seeing that the consistency was about right, Li Meng began using the clay to construct a blast furnace. "Gobu Ge, keep stacking the split wood, just like I did earlier." Seeing that the first pile of firewood was almost burned out, Li Meng instructed Gobu Ge. Gobu Ge nodded, somewhat understanding. A group of goblin underlings began clumsily stacking the firewood. In no time, a pile of firewood was haphazardly assembled. The goblins placed some iron ore on top. "Don''t use your hands, use sticks!" Seeing Gobu Ge about to pick up the charcoal from the bonfire with his hands, Li Meng reprimanded him. Gobu Ge flinched and quickly withdrew his hand. He carefully used two wooden sticks to pick up a piece of charcoal and placed it into the firewood pile. As the dry grass caught fire, the second pile of firewood began to burn. By this time, the first pile of firewood had already burned out. Only a ground full of charcoal and brittle iron ore remained. "Take those brittle iron ores and smash them into powder on the stone over there. Remember, don''t use your hands." The goblins imitated, using sticks to remove the scorching iron ore. The goblins placed the brittle iron ore on a smooth stone nearby and began smashing it with another stone. Since the iron ore had been made brittle by high heat, it shattered easily with a light tap. The small fragments were also easily crushed into powder. Once the iron ore was crushed into powder, it became iron ore powder. Since it was an experiment, the first blast furnace wasn''t large. Li Meng spent five hours constructing a 1.5-meter-high blast furnace. He then spent two more hours drying the blast furnace. "It should be ready!" Looking at the well-formed blast furnace before him, Li Meng nodded repeatedly. Although the surface wasn''t very smooth, it was his first time making a blast furnace, so some imperfections were acceptable. The blast furnace was narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. There was only a small smoke outlet and a feed inlet at the top. To supply oxygen and increase the temperature inside the furnace, there were three ventilation holes at the bottom of the blast furnace. Each ventilation hole was connected to a bamboo tube. The other end of the bamboo tube was attached to a simple bellows made from animal skin and bamboo. The bellows had a simple structure and didn''t take much effort from Li Meng. "Let''s start then, Benben, load the materials!" Benben, who had been waiting for a long time, used a bamboo bucket to pour charcoal into the blast furnace through the opening at the top. Then came the iron ore powder, followed by more charcoal on top of the iron ore powder. Finally, the feed inlet was sealed, leaving only a chimney made of bamboo. Li Meng then opened the iron outlet and used a burning piece of charcoal to ignite the dry grass at the bottom. As the dry grass caught fire, the inside of the blast furnace gradually began to burn. "What are you waiting for, start the bellows!" Li Meng quickly called the goblin underlings to operate the bellows. The goblin underlings worked in pairs, panting as they pulled the bellows. As the bellows were operated, thick smoke billowed from the chimney. Soon, the blast furnace became scorching hot. "Keep pulling, don''t stop!" To smelt iron, temperature was crucial. The temperature needed to reach at least 1300 degrees to melt the iron ore powder into molten iron. Chapter 20 "Will it fail?" Li Meng frowned slightly as he looked at the blast furnace in front of him, radiating intense heat. The larger the blast furnace, the easier it is to store heat, and the higher the pressure will be. Higher pressure can lower the melting point of iron. If the blast furnace is too small, the heat will quickly dissipate through the furnace walls. If the wind power is insufficient, it''s also difficult to quickly raise the furnace''s temperature to 1300 degrees. "Boss, is it ready?" The goblin pulling the bellows was drenched in sweat. Not only were they hot, but their hands were also sore and painful. "Keep going!" The goblins grimaced but had to continue pulling. "Boss, my hands are going to be useless!" "Don''t stop!" As the goblin minions wailed, time slowly passed. Five hours later, at the underground riverbank in the cave. The blast furnace on the bank emitted astonishing heat. Even five meters away, one could feel the rolling heat waves. Standing beside the blast furnace, Li Meng used his hand to feel the temperature without touching it. An hour ago, the temperature inside the blast furnace had stopped rising. Li Meng knew the temperature inside the furnace had reached its limit. "Then let''s open the furnace!" Looking at the blast furnace in front of him, Li Meng thought to himself. Whether it succeeds is important, but not crucial. This was just an initial experiment, and Li Meng wasn''t afraid of failure. Even if it failed, he would gain experience and wouldn''t fail next time. Li Meng took a few steps back, bent down, and picked up the mold placed beside him. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Then he placed the mold at the iron outlet. He used a stick to poke open the stone blocking the iron outlet. As the stone was moved aside, the scorching molten iron flowed out. This scene made Li Meng''s eyes light up. He hadn''t expected the first attempt at smelting iron in the blast furnace to succeed. The molten iron, like lava, continuously flowed into the mold. With pig iron, there was the possibility of making steel. Placing pig iron in a damp place to react with air and water would produce a large amount of rust. Refining rust with pig iron could yield low-carbon steel. Steelmaking isn''t limited to just one method. Pig iron can also be broken into pieces for secondary smelting, and stirring the molten pig iron to increase contact with oxygen can oxidize the carbon in the iron. By controlling the carbon content through experimentation and stopping the refining process, medium-carbon steel and high-carbon steel can be obtained. Direct refining to oxidize carbon completely can yield low-carbon wrought iron. Pouring molten pig iron onto red-hot wrought iron can produce high-carbon steel. "Strange, such a small blast furnace shouldn''t reach the melting point of iron." Watching the molten iron flowing out of the outlet, Li Meng muttered to himself. Could it be that the oxygen content in this world is different from Earth''s? Higher oxygen content means a more vigorous fire. A more vigorous fire naturally results in higher temperatures. He didn''t think much more about it; success was success, and the result was what mattered most. With the success of the first experiment, it marked a good beginning. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one thing. Teaching the goblin minions to familiarize themselves with the iron smelting process. And how to make iron, temper, quench, forge, and other iron-making knowledge. Although goblins aren''t very smart, they have strong imitation abilities. Li Meng didn''t need the goblin minions to understand the principles of iron smelting. He just needed them to follow the steps and complete each part of the iron-making process. Half a month later, at the underground riverbank in the cave. "This is an hourglass. When the sand inside runs out, it''s time to open the furnace. Understand?" On the riverbank, Li Meng held a simple hourglass made of bamboo. Goblins had no concept of time. To be precise, they had no way to measure time. The goblin minions on the riverbank nodded. "Good, from today onwards, you will build the blast furnace yourselves and smelt iron. If you can produce molten iron, it''s a success. If you succeed, each of you will earn a day''s mating rights. If you fail, you''ll never think about reproducing for the rest of your lives." Hearing that success would earn them mating rights, the goblins on the riverbank brightened up. They looked eagerly at their boss. Drool almost dripped from the corners of their mouths. Because the goblins on the riverbank had eaten the cave ogre''s meat. In just over half a month, seven goblins had evolved into big goblins. Facing the eager goblin minions, Li Meng waved his hand. "Go, you have five sunsets!" Upon hearing this, the goblin minions on the riverbank quickly turned and ran towards the cave entrance. They had to start from scratch, selecting iron ore with high iron content. They also needed to find clay to make the blast furnace and wood for charcoal. Watching the goblin minions run towards the cave entrance, Li Meng grinned. Li Meng intended to train these seven goblin minions into blacksmiths. Once they became blacksmiths, their descendants would inherit their craft. By then, the tribe would have a large team of blacksmiths. "System, start the simulated life!" Unknowingly, a month''s cooldown had passed again. Li Meng was filled with anticipation for the future development of his life. [Starting simulated life] [You began your blacksmith career, and your efforts paid off as the tribe entered the Iron Age] [You crafted your first long spear] [You crafted your first crossbow] [You began arming your tribe, and your tribe thrived] [One of your hunting parties was ambushed and wiped out by lizardmen while retrieving spider silk from the Ghost Spider Forest] [Pigmen tribe traces were discovered in the east, and a Pigmen tribe entered your territory] [Due to the rapid population growth of the tribe, the food pressure led you to decide to wage war externally] [Please make the following choice] [1. Seek revenge on the lizardmen] [2. Annihilate the Pigmen tribe that entered your territory] [3. Cross the river to advance to the south bank and expand the hunting territory] Li Meng sat down on a large rock by the riverbank. Which of the three options should he choose? Sitting on the rock, Li Meng stared at the water in a daze. The lizardmen had survived in the swamp for countless years. They were a tough nut to crack, and attacking them wasn''t wise. But the Ghost Spider Forest was near the swamp. Without eliminating the lizardmen, obtaining spider silk would become a major issue. The second option was a big pitfall. Li Meng hadn''t forgotten the future predicted by the last simulated life. In that future, the Pigmen tribe thrived and gave birth to the Golden Pigman King because of the blast furnace he built. This indicated that the Pigmen tribe was a large, social group. Annihilating the migrating Pigmen tribe might attract the attention of the larger group behind them. As for the third option, it could trigger an internal war. Crossing the river would enter Gobu Ba''s territory. Li Meng wasn''t confident enough to defeat Gobu Ba yet. If he lost in a leadership duel, he would lose everything. For him now, the third option was also a big pitfall. "Choose to seek revenge on the lizardmen!" In the end, Li Meng chose to seek revenge on the lizardmen. Chapter 21 [The Lizardmen''s ambush on the Hunting Party enraged you, and you chose to take revenge on them.] [One night, you led the Goblin army in a surprise attack on the Lizardmen tribe.] [Although the Lizardmen were prepared, they were no match for your Goblin army, and you successfully wiped out the Lizardmen tribe.] [You killed all the young and strong Lizardmen, leaving only the children and females shorter than Goblins.] [You discovered an albino female Lizardman, the high priestess of the Lizardmen tribe.] [She possessed the skill "Heart Speech," allowing her to communicate with all races.] [She communicated with you, and you found her beautiful, feeling a desire to mate for the first time.] [You took her and claimed her, and a month later, you had your own offspring.] [Her name was Bai Ling, and from her, you learned that besides the White Scale tribe, there were also the Black Scale and Gray Scale tribes in the swamp.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Continue advancing to eliminate the Black Scale tribe.] [2. Continue advancing to eliminate the Gray Scale tribe.] [3. Do nothing and lead the army back to the tribe.] "Continue advancing to eliminate the Black Scale tribe!" Although it was unclear how much the Goblin army had suffered after the battle with the Lizardmen, the third option was absolutely not an option. If the Black Scale and Gray Scale tribes learned that Bai Ling''s Lizardmen tribe had been destroyed, they might unite to cause trouble for him. The only prudent choice was to continue advancing, taking advantage of the time difference to eliminate the Lizardmen tribes one by one and unify the swamp. [You chose to advance on the Black Scale tribe.] [One night, your Goblin army launched a surprise attack on the Black Scale tribe, and the Black Scale tribe was annihilated.] [You spared the children and women, sending them to the White Scale tribe.] [The war caused many Big Goblins to evolve into Goblin Soliders, and you were challenged by Gobu Ge.]If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. [You accepted the challenge and slapped it ten meters away, your strength intimidating all the Goblins.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Continue advancing on the Gray Scale tribe.] [2. You felt the Goblin army had suffered heavy losses and temporarily gave up on attacking the Gray Scale tribe.] "Choose option one, continue attacking the Gray Scale tribe!" Having come this far, it was necessary to push forward and dominate the swamp area. [You chose to continue attacking the Gray Scale tribe.] [One night, you launched a surprise attack on the Gray Scale tribe, only to find the tribe empty.] [The destruction of the White Scale and Black Scale tribes frightened the Gray Scale tribe, and they had already fled and migrated elsewhere.] [You decided to pursue the Gray Scale tribe, but their tracks disappeared at the riverbank.] [You ruled the northern swamp, becoming the King of the Swamp.] [You instituted a twelve-tax system, requiring the White Scale tribe to contribute two-tenths of their population annually for labor rotation.] [With the female Lizardmen, the population lost in the war was quickly replenished.] [Your tribe thrived and the population surged.] [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 tribe.] [The Pigmen tribe launched a massive attack, please choose the following option:] [1. Launch an active attack.] [2. Defend passively, building wooden forts.] [3. Abandon the breeding grounds and hide in the cave.] "Why isn''t there a timeline!" Once again, faced with three troubling options, Li Meng muttered to himself. If there was a timeline, he could calculate the tribe''s strength based on time. "Choose option one, launch an active attack!" [You chose to actively attack the invading Pigmen tribe.] [Your Goblin army engaged the Pigmen tribe army in the forest.] [You achieved victory, and the Pigmen tribe army was repelled.] [You were about to pursue them when you received news from the swamp.] [The fleeing Gray Scale tribe returned with a massive Lizardmen army, and the White Scale tribe surrendered.] [Bai Ling betrayed you, and the Lizardmen army learned of your tribe''s ability to make iron tools.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Continue advancing east to completely eliminate the Pigmen tribe.] [2. Lead the Goblin army to the swamp to confront the Lizardmen army.] [3. Retreat to the tribe and build wooden forts to defend against the Lizardmen attack.] It seemed letting the Gray Scale tribe escape was a big mistake. The rapid change in the future predicted by the simulated life caught Li Meng off guard. He knew the escape of the Gray Scale tribe was a turning point in his life. At this point, no matter what he chose, it seemed unlikely to end well. The Pigmen tribe army had been defeated, and pursuing them was necessary, but not feasible. With the Lizardmen army threatening from behind, pursuing the Pigmen tribe might lead to a breach in the rear. And the third option was too passive, which Li Meng disliked. "Choose option two, confront the Lizardmen army!" [You chose to confront the Lizardmen army.] [You led the Goblin army to the White Scale tribe, only to find it deserted.] [The Lizardmen had withdrawn from the swamp, and you found traces of their retreat at the riverbank.] [You could only return to the tribe with the Goblin army empty-handed.] [You decided to continue advancing east to completely eradicate the Pigmen tribe.] [You found the Pigmen tribe, only to discover it deserted.] [One day, the Lizardmen army reappeared in the swamp.] [On that day, a massive Pigmen tribe army appeared in the eastern forest.] [Your tribe was caught in a pincer attack by the Lizardmen and Pigmen tribes.] [Bai Ling identified you, and you and Benben were surrounded by the Lizardmen and Pigmen tribes.] [Two different races joined forces against you and Benben.] [Benben died, exhausted, and you died, exhausted.] [Gobu Da survived, cutting off your head and delivering it across the river to Gobu Ba.] [Gobu Ba crushed your head and ate Gobu Da alive amidst its screams.] [As a Transmigrator, your glorious life was abruptly ended by the whims of fate. Your death contributed to the rise of two barbarian tribes. Your death was not entirely worthless, but it also held little value. You were just one of the many, with minimal impact on this world.] [Simulated life ends, score: 60] [Please choose the following reward option:] [1. Consume five points for +1 level.] [2. Consume five points for +5 attributes.] [3. Consume ten points for +1 charm.] [4. Consume ten points to increase "Wind Blade" level by +1.] "Choose option one!" Many Goblin underlings had already evolved into Big Goblins. If he remained an ordinary Goblin, it would not be conducive to ruling. [Consume 10 points, level +2.] [Consume 50 points, level +5.] [Your level has increased, current level: 15.] "Does leveling up after level 10 require ten points?" As Li Meng muttered to himself, intense pain swept over his body. Chapter 22 Sitting by the riverside, Li Meng''s body crackled with a series of "popping" sounds. His small frame began to swell, and with a "snap," the animal hide he wore was torn apart. Beside him, Benben widened his eyes in curiosity, watching as the boss rapidly grew larger. In no time, Li Meng shot up from about 1.7 meters to 1.8 meters tall. His body was no longer slender but had become exceptionally strong. "Ah!" When the intense pain subsided, Li Meng lay on a rock, panting heavily. With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 175] [Defense: 159] [Agility: 91] [Magic: 86] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire the skills of a devoured Magical Beast] [Steel Muscles and Iron Bones: LV4 (Strength +80, Defense +80, Agility +20)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV1] His attributes had increased significantly upon leveling up. Each attribute increased by 30-40 points. "It seems the stronger one''s attributes, the higher the attribute bonuses when leveling up." Li Meng was quite satisfied with his current attribute values. Even without the bonuses from "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones," his attributes were not low. After all, he was only level 15. The attributes of an ordinary Big Goblin at level 15 range between 15-25. His base attributes at level 15 were several times that of a normal Big Goblin. Whether this was true or not, Li Meng didn''t know. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. It was just a guess of his. Perhaps the attribute bonuses when leveling up were related to skills. The more skills, the higher the talent. The higher the talent, the higher the attribute bonuses when leveling up. "Boss... Boss, have you... have you evolved into a Big Goblin?" Gobu Ge, returning with a bundle of firewood, was startled by the Big Goblin by the riverside. The familiar scent allowed the goblin to recognize the boss''s identity. It had only been gone for a while, and the boss had evolved? Li Meng grinned and waved his arm. "Yes, I''ve evolved into a Big Goblin!" Gobu Ge dropped the firewood in his hands. He ran forward a few steps and slid to his knees, kissing Li Meng''s instep. "Boss, you''re amazing!" Time passed bit by bit, day by day. In the following days, Li Meng observed the goblin underlings smelting iron as an examiner. On the first day, the goblin underlings prepared various materials for smelting iron. They searched for dry wood that could be burned. They looked for clay to build a blast furnace and iron ore needed for smelting. On the second day, they began making charcoal and constructing the blast furnace. "The furnace wall is too thin, make it thicker." Though he was just observing, Li Meng would sometimes guide the goblin underlings. The underlings who were building the blast furnace quickly tore down the foundation and started over. On the third day, at Li Meng''s request, the goblin underlings built a blast furnace about five meters high. On the fourth day, the goblin underlings began smelting iron. In the afternoon, before sunset. "It''s done, it''s done!" Cheers erupted by the underground riverbank in the cave. A large group of goblins danced around, watching the molten iron flow continuously from the tap hole. Some goblins hurriedly placed forging tools and molds at the tap hole. Thus, under Li Meng''s guidance, the goblin underlings successfully mastered the skill. Li Meng wasn''t in a hurry to teach the goblin underlings how to make steel. The process of making steel was much more complicated than smelting iron. For now, pig iron was sufficient. Although pig iron is hard and brittle, making it unsuitable for weapons. But spearheads and arrowheads don''t require high-quality iron. After overcoming this crisis, it wouldn''t be too late to perfect the iron-smelting process. By then, they could use the Bessemer process to mass-produce steel. "Very well, starting tomorrow, you will take turns returning to the tribe, with a day of mating rights!" Li Meng wouldn''t go back on his promise to the goblin underlings. Hearing the boss''s words, the goblins looked excited. After teaching the goblin underlings to smelt iron, Li Meng left the cave early the next morning. Upon leaving the cave, Li Meng didn''t rush back to the tribe. Instead, he wandered through the forest. "Benben, break this tree!" Benben glanced at the boss beside him, then at the sapling in front of him. He stepped forward and slapped the tree with his palm. With a "boom," the tree was snapped in half. Li Meng stepped forward and took a piece of wood from the break. "Too soft!" Li Meng tossed the wood aside and continued deeper into the forest. In this way, Li Meng and Benben searched the forest for hardwood. "This is it!" On the fourth day, Li Meng finally found a tree suitable for making crossbow stocks and arrow shafts. In the dim forest, Li Meng looked down at the branch in his hand. Even the branch had such strong resilience. The trunk''s resilience would only be stronger. "Benben, carry it back!" Benben took a few steps forward and hugged the not-so-large hardwood tree. In the forest, there was a series of "crackling" sounds. The tens-of-meters-tall hardwood tree was uprooted by Benben. In the afternoon, Li Meng returned to the tribe with Benben, who was carrying a large tree. "It''s the boss, the boss is back!" The boss''s return excited the goblins. But Benben''s massive body also filled them with fear. In nearly half a month, the tribe had changed significantly. There were more than a dozen new wooden houses similar to the Breeding Room. "Boss, boss!" Gobu Qiang ran over with a group of goblins. "Boss, the first batch of newborns in the tribe is about to arrive!" The thought of his offspring being born made Gobu Qiang extremely excited. He glanced at the ogre behind the boss and shrank his neck. The ogre was so large that it could crush him with one step. Li Meng glanced at the Breeding Room not far away. Judging by the time, it was about right. The gestation period for pregnant female goblins was only about 3-4 weeks. "Make sure there''s enough food so they can grow quickly; the tribe needs them." Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. "Don''t worry, boss, the food needed for those newborns to grow has already been prepared." In the following days, Li Meng began researching how to make simple crossbows. Compared to bows and arrows, crossbows were easier to use. Li Meng didn''t hope for the clumsy goblin underlings to become master archers one day. Their small frames weren''t suited for using bows and arrows. On the third day after Li Meng returned 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, piles of wood shavings had accumulated in the wooden house. Various pieces of wood were scattered all over. Li Meng initially thought the structure of a crossbow was simple and not difficult to make. But as he worked, various ideas in his mind delayed the progress of his crossbow research. The more he sought perfection, the harder it was to get things done. "Boss, boss, they''re born, they''re born!" In the afternoon, Gobu Da rushed into the wooden house. Li Meng put down his tools and got up to go outside. Soon, under Gobu Da''s guidance, Li Meng arrived at a certain nursery house. The entrance of the nursery house was fenced off. Inside, a group of little goblins could be seen playing and frolicking. They were very small, like little puppies. There were quite a few of them, more than ten. Once born, the little goblins had to be separated from their mothers. Otherwise, the hungry little goblins would see their mothers as food. At that moment, a group of goblins each carrying two little goblins came over. Chapter 23 "Boss... Boss!" The goblins froze when they saw their leader at the door, walking towards them. They dared not move forward and lingered outside the wooden hut. "Wow! Wow!" The little goblins in their hands kept struggling, crying out fiercely. The adult goblins held them by the necks, making it impossible for them to break free no matter how hard they struggled, leaving them angrily wailing. Li Meng stepped aside, signaling them to continue. Only then did the goblins outside the hut quickly step forward and toss the little goblins inside. The newborn goblins were still wet, and the strong scent of the newborns stimulated the little goblins inside the hut. They looked greedily at the struggling newborns. Born less than an hour apart, the latter became food in the eyes of the former. "Behave yourselves!" The goblin guarding the door roared, startling the little goblins, who hid in the corner. The newborn goblins couldn''t speak yet. It would take two weeks before they could communicate seamlessly with adult goblins. This was the magical aspect of goblins; they naturally learned language without being taught, just by reaching a certain age. Li Meng watched for a while from outside before turning to leave. Back in the wooden hut, Li Meng continued his research on the crossbow. "Boss, does this look okay?" The next morning, Gobu Ge entered the hut with a bundle of animal skins. Gobu Ge knelt before the boss and carefully spread out the bundle. Inside were three conical spearheads, each about 20 centimeters long. Though the craftsmanship was rough, they appeared sharp after being polished. Besides the spearheads, there were more than a dozen arrowheads. Li Meng picked up a spearhead and examined it closely. "Not bad. Use this as a template to mass-produce spearheads in the future." Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. A furnace of molten iron could produce dozens of spearheads. The production of spearheads was relatively simple. After the molten iron was poured into molds and cooled, a simple forging process made them ready for use. Li Meng glanced around the hut, then walked to a corner. In the corner, he found a straight branch from a hardwood tree, a name he had given to the trees used for making crossbow materials. The branches of the hardwood tree were very straight, ideal for making spear shafts. Li Meng took the branch and sat back down, using a small knife to remove the offshoots. After some processing and sharpening, he inserted the spear shaft into the spear tube, hammering it tightly to form a spear. Goblins were small, so a spear slightly taller than two goblin heads was most suitable. Too long, and it would be unwieldy; the longer it was, the clumsier it became. Ordinary goblins were about 1.3 meters tall, and a 1.5-meter spear was ideal. Li Meng stood up and swung the spear a few times, making a "whoosh" sound. Gobu Qiang shrank his neck and quickly stepped back a few paces. After playing for a while, Li Meng grew bored and tossed the spear to Gobu Ge. Li Meng kept the arrowheads and handed the rest to Gobu Ge. "Make the finished products according to this template, go ahead." Gobu Qiang nodded quickly, holding the spear and the animal skin bundle as he hurriedly ran out of the hut. Meanwhile, Li Meng continued his research on the crossbow inside the hut. "System, start the simulated life!" Li Meng hadn''t forgotten that he still had one chance for a simulated life this month. [Consuming 20 first-tier magic crystals, the simulated life begins] [As a transmigrator, you used your knowledge to create the first crossbow] [You began to arm your tribe, and your tribe thrived] [One of your hunting parties was ambushed by lizardmen while retrieving spider silk in the Ghost Spider Forest, resulting in total annihilation] [Traces of the Pigmen tribe were discovered in the east, and a Pigmen tribe entered your territory] [Due to the population surge in the tribe, the pressure on food made you decide to wage war externally] [Please make the following choice] [1. Seek revenge on the lizardmen] [2. Annihilate the Pigmen tribe that entered your territory] [3. Cross the river and advance to the south bank to expand the hunting grounds] The future of the first stage options hadn''t changed at all, even the options were exactly the same. Last time, Li Meng chose to seek revenge on the lizardmen. This time, he naturally wouldn''t choose to seek revenge on the lizardmen again. "Choose option two, eliminate the Pigmen tribe that entered the territory!" [The Pigmen tribe''s intrusion into your territory enraged you, and you led the goblin army eastward] [The Pigmen tribe fled at the sight of you, and you returned empty-handed] [Another goblin party sent to the Ghost Spider Forest was ambushed by lizardmen, resulting in total annihilation] [The lizardmen''s ambush on the hunting party enraged you, and you chose to seek revenge on the lizardmen] [One night, you led the goblin army in a surprise attack on the lizardmen tribe] [Though the lizardmen were prepared, they couldn''t withstand your goblin army, and you successfully wiped out the lizardmen tribe] [You killed all the adult lizardmen, leaving only the children and female lizardmen who were shorter than goblins] [You discovered an albino female lizardman, the high priestess of the lizardmen tribe] [She possessed the skill "Heart Speech," allowing her to communicate with all races] [She communicated with you, and you found her beautiful, feeling the urge to mate for the first time] [You claimed her, and a month later, you had your own offspring] [She was named Bai Ling, and from her, you learned that besides the White Scale tribe, there were also the Black Scale tribe and the Gray Scale tribe in the swamp] [Please make the following choice] [1. Continue the advance, eliminate the Black Scale tribe] [2. Continue the advance, eliminate the Gray Scale tribe] [3. Do nothing, lead the army back to the tribe] It seemed to go round and round and come back to the same point. Li Meng rolled his eyes, deep in thought. It seemed that only the third choice in the first stage would affect the future. No, perhaps no matter how he chose, the overall trend of the future wouldn''t change. As long as the lizardmen existed in the swamp, they were a threat. Moreover, the intrusion of the Pigmen tribe into the territory was an unchangeable fact. In any case, the threats of the lizardmen and the Pigmen tribe were unavoidable. "Continue the advance, eliminate the Gray Scale tribe!" The Gray Scale tribe was clearly the guide for the lizardmen army. Perhaps eliminating the Gray Scale tribe would prevent the appearance of the lizardmen army. [You chose to advance on the Gray Scale tribe] [One night, your goblin army launched a surprise attack on the Gray Scale tribe, and the Gray Scale tribe was wiped out] [You left the children and women to be sent to the White Scale tribe] [The war caused many Big Goblins to evolve into Goblin Warriors, and you were challenged by Gobu Ge] [You accepted the challenge and slapped him ten meters away, your strength intimidating all the goblins] [Please make the following choice] [1. Continue the advance on the Black Scale tribe] [2. You feel the goblin army suffered heavy losses and temporarily gave up the attack on the Black Scale tribe] "Choose option one, continue the attack on the Black Scale tribe!" [You chose to continue the attack on the Black Scale tribe] [One night, you launched a surprise attack on the Black Scale tribe, only to find the tribe empty] Chapter 24 [The destruction of the White Scale tribe and the Gray Scale tribe frightened the Black Scale tribe, and they had long fled, migrating elsewhere.] [You decide to pursue the Black Scale tribe, but their tracks disappear at the riverbank.] [You have conquered the northern swamp and become the King of the Swamp.] [You establish a twelve-tax system, requiring the White Scale tribe to offer two-tenths of their population annually for rotational labor.] [With the addition of female Lizardmen, the population lost in war is quickly replenished.] [Your tribe thrives and the population skyrockets.] [To meet the demand for food, you teach the White Scale tribe farming techniques, turning the swamp into your fishery.] [Your Hunting Party ambushes a group of Pigmen.] [The Pigmen launch a massive attack. Please choose from the following options:] [1. Launch an offensive.] [2. Defend passively and build a wooden fortress.] [3. Abandon the breeding grounds and hide in the cave.] "It seems the swamp is not the turning point to change the future!" Looking down at the wooden stick in his hand, Li Meng thought to himself. No matter whether he chose to attack the Black Scale tribe or the Gray Scale tribe first, the result wouldn''t change much. "Choose option three, hide in the cave!" The other two options at this stage are certain death. The third option might offer a glimmer of hope. [You choose to retreat to the cave, avoiding the confrontation.] [The Pigmen army discovers the cave.] [Your Goblin army engages in battle with the Pigmen army inside the cave.] [You achieve victory, and the Pigmen army is repelled.] [You receive news from the swamp that the fleeing Black Scale tribe has returned with a massive Lizardman army, and the White Scale tribe has surrendered.] [Bai Ling has betrayed you, and the Lizardman army learns of your tribe''s ability to forge iron weapons.]This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. [Please make a choice:] [1. Continue eastward to completely annihilate the Pigmen tribe.] [2. Lead the Goblin army to the swamp to confront the Lizardman army.] [3. Retreat to the tribe and build a wooden fortress to fend off the Lizardman attack.] "As expected, this time the guide is the Black Scale tribe." This outcome was within Li Meng''s expectations. However, from the future predicted by the simulated life, Li Meng received a piece of information. That is, there are other Lizardman tribes in the Goblin Forest. "Choose option three, build a wooden fortress to fend off the Lizardman attack!" [You choose to build a wooden fortress to fend off the Lizardman attack.] [On a certain day, the Lizardman army reappears in the swamp.] [On that day, a massive Pigmen army appears in the western forest.] [Your tribe is caught in a pincer attack by the Lizardmen and Pigmen.] [The two different races join forces to besiege the wooden fortress.] [The fortress is breached, you die, and your tribe is completely annihilated.] [Simulated life ends.] [The future line remains unchanged, no score, no reward.] "An ineffective simulated life?" The system''s prompt made Li Meng frown slightly. After so many simulated lives, this was the first time he encountered an ineffective one. No reward if the future line doesn''t change? Li Meng recalled the past experiences. "Could it be that only by being at the turning point and making a choice can the future be changed?" If that''s the setup, Li Meng could understand. After all, he has two chances for simulated life each month. If he uses the two chances consecutively, the second simulated life won''t change much. Because the general trend of the first simulated life is already apparent. No matter how he chooses in the second simulated life, he cannot escape the general trend. Unless he is at the turning point and changes the predicted future. "Where will the turning point be?" Li Meng wasn''t too anxious. He would follow the predicted future. He would wait for the turning point to arrive and change the future line predicted by the simulated life. Time passed bit by bit, day by day. Since settling in the northern forest, the tribe has thrived. With the arrival of the first batch of newborns, the tribe finally took its first step forward. On a certain day, more than a month later, in the morning. The tribe was bustling, the chattering of Goblins echoed through the forest. In the forest, hundreds of Goblins gathered in front of the largest wooden house. The Goblin crowd was of various sizes, most of them were immature young Goblins. They were the most boisterous, laughing and playing. Only after being scolded by the adult Goblins would they quiet down for a moment. The closest to the wooden house was a group of Big Goblins. There weren''t many of them, only a dozen or so. Their sizes varied, but not by much. At this moment, a robust green-skinned Goblin appeared at the door of the wooden house. "The boss is here, shut up!" The appearance of the boss silenced the chaotic noise outside. The young Goblins, under the scolding of the adult Goblins, lay on the ground with a look of reverence. Looking at the densely packed green-skinned Goblins outside, Li Meng grinned. "All Big Goblins, come in!" After throwing out this sentence, Li Meng turned and entered the wooden house. The Big Goblins outside hurriedly ran into the wooden house. The wooden house was messy, with piles of wood shavings on the floor. In the corner was a large bundle of long spears. "These are newly forged weapons, take them and distribute them." Hearing this, the Big Goblins looked greedily at the pile of long spears in the corner. Iron weapons were much stronger than the wooden sticks they held. They had long known that the boss had sent a group of Goblins to the cave to forge iron weapons. These days, they often saw some Goblins carrying weapons into the boss''s wooden house. But without the boss''s permission, they could only watch. "Mine, mine!" As soon as Li Meng spoke, the Big Goblins rushed forward to snatch the spears. Seeing the Goblin underlings scrambling for the long spears, Li Meng sighed inwardly. These Goblins were indeed incredibly stupid. Is this how they distribute weapons when he told them to distribute? "Stop, all of you stop!" Li Meng''s shout startled the Big Goblins in the midst of their scramble. All the Big Goblins quickly dropped their weapons. Then, they bent over, looking at the suddenly angry boss with fear. "Gobu Qiang, you distribute!" Hearing the boss''s words, Gobu Qiang''s face lit up with joy. The boss letting him distribute meant that all the weapons here were his? This was great! Gobu Qiang hurried to the door. "Gobu Qiang, I told you to distribute, not to take them all for yourself." Li Meng scolded, glaring at Gobu Qiang at the door. Seeing his expression, Li Meng knew what Gobu Qiang was thinking. Fine, I''ll do it myself. Helpless, Li Meng walked toward the corner. "You come back, I''ll distribute!" In the wooden house, Li Meng began distributing weapons to his Goblin underlings. "Everyone has their share, that''s what distribution means, understand?" While distributing the weapons, Li Meng lectured his underlings on the principles of sharing. Whether they understood or not didn''t matter, they needed to have a sense of sharing. Even if they didn''t understand, the Goblin underlings still nodded instinctively. Chapter 25 "Gobu Da, you don''t need to go out hunting anymore. I have other tasks for you." When it was Gobu Da''s turn, Li Meng skipped him. Gobu Da stood aside, looking disappointed. Those weapons looked so nice, even just touching them would be great. Soon, each Big Goblin received dozens of long spears. At their call, the Big Goblins'' underlings swarmed in and took the spears. It wasn''t until more than half an hour later that the wooden house quieted down. The goblins outside dispersed as well. The young goblins returned to their nursery to continue eating and drinking. They would only join their father''s hunting party when they reached adolescence. Goblins are absolutely loyal to their father, but only if the father''s strength surpasses that of his offspring. Once the offspring''s strength exceeds the father''s, the father will be replaced. Goblins don''t have the concept of a father. Loyalty stems from bloodline, and only the strongest goblin can become the leader of that bloodline. Adult goblins continue to go out hunting with their hunting party. "Gobu Da, you don''t have your own hunting party yet, do you?" In the wooden house, Gobu Da quickly nodded. He grinned, looking ingratiating. "Boss, my offspring aren''t mature yet." Every underling that evolved into a Big Goblin was given mating rights by Li Meng. Goblins naturally have a strong reproductive ability, almost guaranteed with each attempt. Li Meng picked up a crossbow placed in the corner and walked out. "Follow me!" Gobu Da obediently followed behind the boss. The two left the wooden house and entered the forest outside. "Do you know what this is?"This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Li Meng held the crossbow with both hands, cocking it with one hand. Looking at the weapon in the boss''s hand, Gobu Da shook his head. He had never seen such a weapon before. Li Meng grinned, took a crossbow bolt from his waist, and loaded it. This was a crossbow Li Meng had spent nearly a month making. Its structure was very simple. It was like a bow combined with a block of wood. "This is a crossbow, a weapon similar to a bow!" Gobu Da, having never left the Goblin Forest in his life, naturally didn''t know what a crossbow was. Li Meng held the crossbow with both hands, aiming at a large tree fifty meters away. "Whoosh!" Li Meng pulled the trigger, and the crossbow bolt shot out. In the forest, a flash of black light streaked by. With a "thud," the crossbow bolt embedded itself in the tree trunk fifty meters away. The immense force made the tail of the crossbow bolt tremble. Li Meng walked over to the tree fifty meters away. Standing before the tree, Li Meng examined the crossbow bolt embedded in it. He found that the entire combat section of the bolt, along with an arrowhead-length shaft, had penetrated into the tree. "Boss, this... this is amazing." Gobu Da was startled by the power of the weapon in the boss''s hand. To be embedded so deeply from such a distance. If it were to hit a body, it would be fatal. Thinking of this, Gobu Da looked at the crossbow in the boss''s hand with fear. If the boss wanted to shoot him, wouldn''t he be doomed? "The power is quite impressive!" Li Meng was very satisfied with the power of the crossbow. "Let''s go, follow me back!" With the power of the crossbow confirmed, the next step was to figure out how to mass-produce them. In the following days, Li Meng began teaching Gobu Da how to make crossbows. This teaching lasted for more than a month. At first, Gobu Da was the only apprentice. As the teaching progressed, dozens of adolescent goblins joined in the wooden house. The sound of wood being carved in the wooden house became even more lively. Every day, a large amount of wood shavings and waste were swept out of the wooden house. "This... is not bad!" On another new day, Li Meng was inspecting the works of the goblin underlings in the wooden house. A large pile of unstrung crossbows was stacked in the corner. The crossbows varied in size, some larger, some smaller. The craftsmanship was extremely crude, but they were still usable. After all, they were handmade, and it was impossible for each crossbow to have uniform specifications. "The next step is to acquire spider silk for bowstrings!" Without bowstrings, these crossbows were just pieces of wood. Thinking of the Ghost Spider Forest made Li Meng feel a bit of 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. But the Ghost Spider Forest was too close to the swamp. If the goblin hunting party went to the Ghost Spider Forest, they would inevitably be watched by the Lizardmen of the White Scale tribe. "It seems we can only launch a large-scale operation once!" Looking at the mountain of crossbows before him, Li Meng thought to himself. A large-scale operation could effectively minimize losses. It could also allow them to steal enough spider silk at once. Only after eliminating the Lizardmen tribe in the swamp could the Ghost Spider Forest become a resource point for the tribe. "Gobu Da, go sound the war horn!" Gobu Da, who was panting and carving wood, looked up at the boss in confusion. Why sound the war horn? Once the war horn sounded, the hunting parties outside would rush back as quickly as possible. Was the boss planning to launch a war? Gobu Da grinned, showing an excited expression. He quickly got up and ran to the outer door. Soon after, the deep sound of a horn echoed from a watchtower nearly fifty meters high in the forest. "Woo!" The long horn sound swept across the land. The hunting parties scattered in various places all looked towards the direction of the tribe almost simultaneously. All the hunting parties abandoned their hunts without hesitation. "Hurry, return to the tribe!" In the dim forest, a group of goblins holding long spears was running wildly. At a glance, the entire forest was filled with the sight of green-skinned figures running. Among them, one goblin was particularly tall and strong. It was Gobu Qiang, urging its underlings as it ran. By the afternoon of the next day, all the hunting parties that had gone out had returned to the tribe. In the tribe, a dense crowd of green-skinned goblins gathered in front of the largest wooden house. Their figures stretched out, covering a large area of the forest. Their numbers were no less than five hundred, possibly more. Each goblin held a long spear about 1.5 meters in length. It was a forest of spears, quite imposing. "Gobu Ta, Gobu Ke, Gobu Da, your three hunting parties will come with me to the Ghost Spider Forest!" "Gobu Qi, Gobu Liang, you two stay and guard the tribe, protect the breeding grounds." "The rest of the hunting parties will continue hunting, responsible for supplying food to the breeding grounds!" Since arriving in this forest, more than two months had passed. The tribe''s population was rapidly approaching the 1,000 mark. Currently, the tribe had 11 hunting parties. The number of goblins in each hunting party varied. Some had fifty or sixty goblins, while others had only thirty or forty. However, as time passed, the number of goblins in the hunting parties would only increase. Standing at the door of the wooden house, Li Meng issued orders to the goblin underlings outside. Chapter 26 With a wave of his hand, Li Meng commanded, "Disperse! Gobu Da, Gobu Ke, Gobu Ta, let''s move!" The goblins gathered in front of the wooden hut scattered in all directions. Shortly after, Li Meng led three hunting parties westward, departing from the tribe. That night, the forest was eerily quiet. In the darkness, small shadows occasionally flitted by. This world had magical beasts as well as ordinary animals. Those with magic crystals were magical beasts; those without were just regular animals. Suddenly, a rustling sound emerged from the depths of the forest. Before long, the sound grew closer. In a moment, a large group of shadows appeared in the forest. They spread throughout the forest, moving in the same direction. The sound of dry leaves being trampled echoed through the entire forest. Among the shadows, Li Meng was conspicuously present. This time, Li Meng did not bring Benben along. Benben was too large, unsuitable for stealthy operations. Li Meng''s goal this time was to collect ghost spider webs. He needed to avoid combat as much as possible. It had been five days since they left the tribe. During these five days, the hunting party hunted while moving towards the Ghost Spider Forest. The tribe was not far from the Ghost Spider Forest, only about twenty kilometers in a straight line. If they marched quickly, they could reach the Ghost Spider Forest in a day at most. "Boss, it''s the smell of the swamp!" In the dark, Gobu Qiang found the boss by scent. Li Meng also caught the damp and decaying smell in the air. Smelling the swamp meant they were close to the Ghost Spider Forest.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. Meanwhile, in the forest near the goblin hunting party. Several shadows were hiding in the bushes. "The noise is loud, it''s the smell of goblins!" "There are too many, be careful not to be discovered by them!" "They won''t find us; we''ve smeared mud on ourselves to interfere with the goblins'' sense of smell." "What should we do now?" "A Bu, once the goblins have gone far, return to the tribe and inform the high priest of the situation here." Hiding in the bushes, A Da stared intently at the figures passing through the forest. His brother had recently died at the hands of the goblins. Though hatred filled his heart, he wouldn''t fight those disgusting creatures at night. "What about you guys?" "We''ll keep an eye on the goblins to see what they''re up to." "Understood!" Soon, the commotion in the forest gradually faded away. As the goblins left, the forest returned to silence. Suddenly, there was some movement in a patch of bushes. From the shaking bushes, a sturdy figure crawled out. "Be careful, I''m heading back." In the dark, only whispers could be heard in the forest. A Bu turned and hurried towards the depths of the forest in the direction of the swamp. "Whoosh!" After only a few steps, a sharp "whoosh" sounded. A piercing sound suddenly came from the right side of the forest. With a "thud," A Bu''s running figure suddenly halted. It was as if he had been struck by an invisible force, his body flying sideways. He flew a full five meters before tumbling to the ground. "A Bu!" The sudden change elicited a gasp from the bushes. "Don''t make a sound!" Hiding in the bushes, A Da broke out in a cold sweat. He covered his companion''s mouth with his hand. He knew they might have been discovered by the goblins. At this moment, in the depths of the forest on the other side. Li Meng stood with a long spear in hand, his gaze fixed on the depths of the forest. "Boss, it''s a lizardman!" Behind Li Meng, Gobu Qiang looked at the boss with admiration. The boss had thrown the long spear over a hundred meters, precisely hitting the lizardman. Such a distance, with so many trees in between. Even ten of him, no, twenty of him couldn''t do the same. Li Meng sniffed the air, listening to the sounds in the depths of the forest. There were definitely more lizardmen in the forest; lizardmen never acted alone. But their exact location was uncertain to Li Meng. "Let''s go!" After a long while, Li Meng turned and left. Gobu Qiang cast a mocking glance at the depths of the forest. He grinned and quickly followed the boss. One day, the lizardmen would end up as nothing more than dung in his belly. Soon after, the forest returned to complete tranquility. Half an hour later, murmurs arose from the bushes in the depths of the forest. "No more noise, have they left?" "Not sure, but they should be far away by now!" Moments later, several sturdy figures crawled out from the bushes. A Da quickly ran to A Bu''s body. "A Da, how is A Bu?" "He''s dead, pierced through by a long weapon!" A Da gripped the long spear embedded in A Bu''s chest and pulled it out forcefully. The spear was immediately extracted from A Bu''s body. "The goblins have discovered us, but they can''t pinpoint our location. Let''s go, head back!" Moments later, three lizardmen hurriedly left the forest, carrying their companion''s body. Five hours later, in the swamp. Silver moonlight bathed the land, slightly dispelling the darkness of the swamp. Compared to the forest, the swamp was vast. It was like a great plain, dotted with pools of water. Ninety percent of the land was submerged, but the water was shallow, no more than twenty centimeters deep. In the swamp, there was a small island with a cluster of thatched huts. That night, in one of the larger, roofless huts. Silver moonlight filtered through the roof, slightly dispelling the darkness inside. "High Priest, this is the weapon used by the goblins!" A Bu knelt and respectfully presented the long spear with both hands. In front of him was a grass mat. Sitting on the mat was a lizardman, entirely snow-white. Its pure white scales glistened in the moonlight. Though a lizard, its graceful curves were beautiful and alluring. It extended a delicate hand to take the spear from A Bu. The white lizard looked down at the spear, gently caressing the spearhead with its right hand. "This is iron, a weapon only humans use!" Humans? A flicker of surprise crossed A Bu''s eyes as he bowed his head. A few years ago, A Bu had encountered human adventurers on the other side of the mountain. Though they used iron weapons, they seemed different from those used by the goblins. "Though both are iron, the quality is much inferior to that of humans!" The white lizard gently set down the spear, its gaze shifting to a lizardman sitting quietly nearby. "Elder A Dao, we must not let those goblins pollute our swamp!" The white lizard''s voice was soft, but its eyes were filled with disdain. In this world, no race liked the goblins, those monstrous creatures. The sitting lizardman opened its eyes. It stood up and strode out. "Rest assured, High Priest, mere goblins are not worth worrying about!" Watching the elder''s departing figure, the white lizard''s face showed a contemplative expression. It looked down at the spear beside it, its face thoughtful. Chapter 27 Seeing Elder A Dao leave, A Da finally snapped back to reality. He quickly got up and hurried outside. Time ticked by, and the night deepened. Early the next morning, the tribe was bustling with activity. A grand procession of a hundred Lizardmen set off from the tribe, heading east. By afternoon, in a certain forest to the northeast of the swamp. A group of strong, tall figures was running through the dim woods. Each held a large machete, moving in the same direction. "Elder, up ahead is the Spider Forest!" A Da approached Elder A Dao. This forest was the most familiar to A Da, and they were nearing the Spider Forest. Elder A Dao frowned slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. The Spider Forest was a dead zone. Why would Goblins come to such a place? "Let''s take a look first, just don''t enter the Spider Forest." Since they were already here, they might as well check it out. In the dim forest, the Lizardman team continued onward. Two hours later, at the edge of the Ghost Spider Forest. The woods were silent and dark. In the damp, blackened forest, nearly a hundred Lizardmen cautiously advanced. The spider webs on the treetops told the Lizardmen exactly where they were. Each Lizardman gripped their machete tightly, warily scanning their surroundings. "Elder A Dao, the Goblin tracks disappear here!" Even if the Goblins were gone, A Da could still smell their lingering scent in the air. The smell was nauseating, yet unforgettable. Elder A Dao sniffed the air, a hint of confusion in his eyes. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. The Goblins were gone, so why was their scent so strong? It was as if the Goblins were right beside them, within reach. Yet there was no sign of Goblins in the surrounding forest. "Ah!" At that moment, a scream echoed through the forest. A long spear suddenly shot out from the dead leaves on the ground, piercing a Lizardman''s abdomen. "Wa la wa la!" A horde of Goblins shrieked as they crawled out from the dead leaves on the ground. They wielded long spears, excitedly stabbing at the Lizardmen who hadn''t yet reacted. In an instant, the dead leaves danced wildly, and the number of figures in the forest multiplied. The Lizardmen never expected the Goblins to be hiding right under their feet. Some Lizardmen even stepped on the Goblins'' bodies. The sudden attack left the Lizardmen screaming in pain. Dozens of Lizardmen were impaled by spearheads before they could even react. "It''s the Goblins, kill them!" A Dao shouted, sidestepping a Goblin''s thrusting spear. He swung his machete, cutting down a Goblin. The not-so-sharp stone blade knocked the Goblin to the ground. In the forest, the Lizardmen who had regained their composure fought back against the Goblins. Although the Goblins far outnumbered the Lizardmen, the Lizardmen''s combat prowess far exceeded that of the Goblins. Even with iron weapons, it was difficult for the Goblins to win 2-on-1 against a Lizardman. They needed a 3-on-1 advantage to have any hope of victory. The fierce battle filled the forest with noise. "Get lost!" On the battlefield, Elder A Dao was like a war god. He swung his heavy machete with such precision that it seemed impenetrable. Wherever he went, Goblins fell like chopped vegetables. His seemingly tall and clumsy body was surprisingly agile. It was as if he had eyes on the back of his head, able to dodge attacks from behind. Suddenly, a piercing sound came from the right. In the midst of battle, A Dao''s expression changed slightly, and he turned to block with his machete. A long spear shot through the air, striking A Dao''s machete. "Clang!" With a metallic clang, A Dao''s machete shattered. "Shh!" The spear continued its trajectory, piercing through A Dao''s arm. The immense force sent A Dao''s sturdy body flying backward. He flew over ten meters before crashing to the ground. "Hmm, it actually withstood it?" Not far away, Li Meng saw the fierce Lizardman withstand his attack, a hint of surprise in his eyes. The machete was shattered, and the arm was pierced by the spear. But the spearhead hadn''t reached its chest. Gobu Qiang quickly handed over a spear. Li Meng grabbed the spear with one hand, his gaze locked on the injured Lizardman. He took a step forward and forcefully threw the spear. The spear shot through the air, crossing the battlefield, heading straight for the Lizardman trying to get up. At that moment, a Goblin was accidentally knocked into the spear''s path by a Lizardman. "Shh!" The Goblin''s body was pierced through. The immense force carried the Goblin''s body forward, crashing into the Lizardman. Though the Lizardman was knocked down again, it wasn''t seriously harmed. Seeing the boss accidentally injure one of their own, Gobu Qiang chuckled awkwardly. Li Meng rolled his eyes. Throwing spears could attack from a distance, but in the chaos of battle, it was easy to hit allies. "Retreat! Retreat!" On the other side, A Dao struggled to his feet after being hit by the spear. He shouted, ordering a retreat. A Dao knew that if the battle continued, they might be completely wiped out. Looking at the two Big Goblins watching him from a distance, a hint of fear flashed in A Dao''s eyes. The Goblin that attacked him was far stronger than him. How was that possible? How did it manage that? That Goblin''s size was only slightly larger than a Big Goblin. Even a Goblin Soldier couldn''t surpass him in strength. But today, a Big Goblin''s strength far exceeded his. How could A Dao not be shocked? "Retreat, retreat!" Elder A Dao''s order snapped the Lizardmen out of their battle frenzy. The surviving Lizardmen quickly turned and ran into the depths of the forest. "Elder A Dao, are you alright?" A Da ran to Elder A Dao, quickly supporting him as they limped into the forest. A few Lizardmen ran over to cover them from behind. Seeing the Lizardmen retreat, the Goblins cheered excitedly. They chased the Lizardmen with greedy expressions. "Come back, don''t chase!" Li Meng shouted, stopping the Goblin squad from pursuing the Lizardmen. The boss''s order forced the Goblins to halt. They could only watch as the Lizardmen ran away and disappeared into the forest. "Take all the Lizardmen corpses and spears, let''s go!" It was the boss''s order, and the Goblins had to obey. Thus, as the Lizardmen retreated, Li Meng also hurriedly left with his Goblin followers. Two hours later, in the forest by the riverbank. The eerie sound of chewing echoed through the forest. Nearly a hundred Goblins were feasting on the Lizardmen''s bodies. "Boss, we''re so strong, why didn''t we kill all those Lizardmen?" Sitting on a large rock, Li Meng held a heart, taking bites from it. Gobu Qiang gnawed on a Lizardman leg. Looking at the Lizardman leg in Gobu Qiang''s hand, Li Meng thought of roasted meat. Li Meng had tried roasting raw meat to eat it cooked. How to put it, Goblins could eat cooked meat. But Goblin taste buds didn''t allow them to enjoy cooked meat. The first time he ate roasted wild boar, Li Meng almost threw up. Li Meng also tried roasting fish, but the result was the same. Chapter 28 "Deal with them later; for now, the tribe must conserve its strength!" The goblins were still too weak. Even with the advantage of a surprise attack and superior numbers, it ended in a one-for-one exchange. The Lizardmen lost half their numbers, and his goblin underlings also lost nearly half. If the battle continued, even if they defeated the Lizardmen, there wouldn''t be many goblin underlings left. Gobu Qiang glanced at the boss with a look of partial understanding. Why conserve strength? Underlings could always be replenished. Even if all the underlings were gone, they could just be reborn. After feasting on the Lizardmen''s corpses, the group continued upstream. Two days later in the afternoon, Li Meng returned to the tribe with the hunting party. Upon returning, Li Meng did only one thing. That was to strengthen the army and quickly teach the goblins how to use the crossbow. Once the goblin underlings were equipped with crossbows, the efficiency of hunting would greatly increase. Their combat power would also multiply several times. Barbarians without armor would have no resistance against crossbows. It was a new day. The weather was great today, with a clear sky and bright sunshine. In the forest where the tribe was located, the Big Goblins gathered together. "Boss, what is this?" The Big Goblins curiously examined the crossbows in their hands. "This is a crossbow, a new long-range weapon. Watch carefully!" Li Meng held the crossbow in his right hand and pulled the string with his left to load it. "Watch and do the same!" The boss''s scolding made the Big Goblins hurriedly fumble to pull the string and load the crossbow. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Although Li Meng easily loaded the crossbow, it was different for the Big Goblins. They gritted their teeth, veins bulging on their arms as they barely managed to load it. "Now load the bolt, make sure it fits snugly against the chamber wall!" Li Meng took a bolt from his waist and loaded it. The Big Goblins followed suit. "Now, aim at that big tree in the distance!" Li Meng held the crossbow with both hands, aiming at a tree thirty meters away. "The protrusion below is the trigger; press it towards your body!" With that, Li Meng pulled the trigger. With a "whoosh," the bolt shot through the air. "Thud!" In the next instant, the bolt was deeply embedded in the tree trunk. "Whoosh!" The Big Goblins clumsily pulled their triggers. Amidst the sounds of bolts flying, it was unclear where they landed. After all the Big Goblins pulled their triggers, only one bolt was stuck in the tree trunk. "Now do you know what kind of weapon this is?" The Big Goblins nodded excitedly. "Boss, you''re amazing!" "Boss, it requires too much strength; the underlings can''t pull it." Li Meng bent down and stepped on the foot loop of the crossbow with his foot. It was made from bark rope, which could be easily repaired with local materials if broken. "Watch carefully, you can also use both hands to pull!" Li Meng pulled the bowstring with both hands to load it. The Big Goblin underlings looked enlightened. If they used both hands, the goblin underlings could also use the crossbow. "From today, you must learn how to use the crossbow proficiently and teach your underlings." Faced with the boss''s instructions, the Big Goblins nodded repeatedly. "In a month, I''ll conduct random checks. It could be you or your underlings. Anyone who fails will work as a laborer in the iron cave for a year." Work as a laborer in the iron cave? The Big Goblins felt a chill and looked down at the crossbows in their hands. Though they liked the environment in the cave, being used as laborers would be torture. The Big Goblins quickly nodded. "I''ll have someone deliver the crossbows to your huts later; you figure it out." Li Meng tossed the crossbow to Gobu Qiang beside him. Gobu Qiang was startled by the boss''s action and quickly caught the crossbow. "Benben, follow me!" Li Meng turned and walked into the depths of the forest. Benben, who had been sitting obediently, stood up upon hearing the boss call. With large and heavy steps, it followed behind the boss. Half an hour later, outside the iron cave. Suddenly, the sound of "crackling" branches echoed in the forest. Moments later, the massive figures of Li Meng and Benben emerged from the forest. In just over three months, the iron cave had changed significantly. The once narrow cave entrance had been chiseled into a square doorway. As soon as he entered the iron cave, Li Meng felt a wave of heat hit him. Looking deeper into the cave, the firelight on the riverbank dispelled the darkness. Everywhere the firelight shone was a scene of bustling activity. The riverbank was dotted with bonfires of various sizes. When one bonfire went out, another would be lit. The bonfires weren''t for lighting but for burning charcoal and iron ore. Besides the bonfires, over a dozen five-meter-tall blast furnaces stood on the riverbank. The blast furnaces were lined up neatly along the riverbank. Hundreds of goblins were busy on the riverbank. Some were panting as they pulled bellows. Some were piling wood to burn charcoal and iron ore. Others were forging iron tools, the clanging sounds echoing in the cave. Some mischievously touched the furnace wall, yelping in pain and causing their companions to laugh. Others were mining iron ore deeper in the cave with pickaxes. "The boss is here, the boss is here!" Benben''s massive silhouette at the entrance caught the goblins'' attention. Someone let out a strange cry, causing all the goblins to look towards the entrance. Gobu Ge, who was busy by the blast furnace, quickly ran to the boss. "Boss, boss, why are you here?" Gobu Ge asked fawningly as he ran up to Li Meng. The boss hadn''t visited the iron cave in a long time. Why did he come today? Li Meng glanced at Benben beside him. "I plan to personally forge armor and weapons for Benben. Is the iron rust ready?" Over a month ago, Li Meng had sent someone to inform Gobu Ge to prepare some iron rust. Iron rust smelted with pig iron could produce low-carbon steel. Benben was a big guy, and armor and weapons made from pig iron would be too brittle. "Boss, everything you asked for is ready!" In the following days, Li Meng and Benben were busy. Benben was nearly five meters tall, and the armor and weapons it used were gigantic. In the first five days, Li Meng did only two things. One was measuring Benben''s body dimensions. The other was making giant molds from clay. On the seventh day, Li Meng began steelmaking. More than half a month later, in the iron cave. A nearly two-meter-tall, two-meter-wide anvil stood on the riverbank. The gigantic Benben stood in front of the anvil, wielding a large hammer to strike a glowing red piece of armor. Each strike sent a shower of sparks flying. "Here, yes, here, here!" Li Meng held a wooden stick, guiding Benben as it hammered the glowing red armor. Occasionally, he used large iron tongs to clamp the armor for tempering before continuing to forge. On the ground nearby, piles of armor pieces of various sizes were stacked together. Though somewhat rough, they would look completely different after subsequent polishing and finishing. Chapter 29 "Boss, Boss!" At that moment, Gobu Ge came running over. He didn''t dare get too close and shouted to the boss from about ten meters away. Li Meng waved his hand to signal to Benben. Benben put down the big iron hammer and plopped down on the ground. After hammering for hours, Benben was feeling a bit tired. Li Meng turned and walked towards Gobu Ge. "What''s up?" Gobu Ge gave a flattering smile. He turned and pointed to the cave entrance. "Gobu Qiang is outside, he wants to see you, Boss!" Why is Gobu Qiang here? A hint of surprise flashed in Li Meng''s eyes, and he murmured to himself. Without thinking much, Li Meng walked towards the cave entrance. Although there had been a skirmish with the Lizardmen on the edge of the Ghost Spider Forest. But that was just a minor conflict, and it shouldn''t have changed the future predicted by the simulated life. Gobu Qiang coming to find him probably wasn''t anything important. "Boss!" As soon as he stepped out of the Iron Cave, Li Meng saw Gobu Qiang outside. Seeing the boss come out, Gobu Qiang hurriedly approached. "Speak, what''s the matter?" Gobu Qiang grinned, a flash of greed in his eyes. "Boss, there''s a lingering scent of Lizardmen in the forest near the tribe recently, they''ve come looking for us!" The scent of Lizardmen near the tribe''s forest? Li Meng frowned slightly, a contemplative look on his face. It seems the future predicted by the simulated life has indeed changed a bit.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. In the predicted future, Lizardmen shouldn''t appear in the forest near the tribe at this time. "Should I use the simulated life?" After thinking it over, Li Meng decided against it. Although the future had changed slightly, the overall situation hadn''t shifted. The Lizardmen discovering the tribe wouldn''t alter the course of the future. "Gobu Qiang, how''s the crossbow usage coming along?" Hearing the boss inquire about the crossbow, Gobu Qiang nodded repeatedly. "Boss, the crossbow is amazing. We can easily hunt prey we couldn''t catch before. The amount of food the hunting party brings back is several times what it used to be, and the hunting area is rapidly expanding." It seems the Goblin underlings are making good use of the crossbows. Gobu Qiang''s words filled Li Meng with satisfaction. All his effort in creating the crossbows hadn''t been in vain. "Gobu Qiang, starting today, your hunting party doesn''t need to go out hunting. Your only task is to eliminate the Lizardmen in the forest between the swamp and the tribe. We can''t let the Lizardmen know our movements." If the Lizardmen were left unchecked, it might alert them. Fortunately, the tribe isn''t very large, with only a few dozen scattered wooden huts. It shouldn''t scare the Lizardmen, allowing the White Scale tribe to escape. The forest outpost is just a breeding ground. The hunting party doesn''t usually gather in the tribe. Even after hunting, they don''t stay in the tribe. After dropping off the prey, they continue hunting. Gobu Qiang was delighted and quickly pounded his chest in assurance. "Boss, leave it to me. I won''t let them get close to the tribe again!" The thought of Lizardman meat made Gobu Qiang almost drool. "Boss, I''m off then!" Gobu Qiang ran excitedly towards the forest. Li Meng turned and headed back to the Iron Cave. Back at the tribe, Gobu Qiang didn''t linger. He immediately led the hunting party into the western forest. As the sun set, Gobu Qiang faced his first night. The dense forest blocked the moonlight, casting the woods into darkness. But the forest wasn''t silent, with footsteps and whispers echoing. A group of shadows moved through the forest. "Boss, what are we looking for?" A Goblin underling approached Gobu Qiang to ask. Since entering the forest during the day, the boss seemed very excited. "Hehe, don''t you think this forest smells like the swamp?" "The smell of the swamp?" The Goblin underling sniffed the air. "It does a bit, Boss, what''s up?" In the darkness, Gobu Qiang grinned. "Being this far from the swamp, where would the swamp smell come from? The Lizardmen are too dumb." The Goblin underling didn''t quite understand what the boss meant. "Don''t overthink it. You''re still a Goblin. When you evolve into a Big Goblin, you''ll understand what I mean." Is that so? The Goblin underling nodded, half-understanding. "Crossbowmen, draw your strings and load!" In the darkness, Gobu Qiang let out a strange cry. The sound was so piercing that it startled a flock of birds. The Goblins scattered throughout the nearby forest paused at the boss''s voice. They quickly bent down, stepping on the foot ring rope, drawing the strings and loading. The Goblin underlings, holding crossbows, searched forward. Looking into the nearby forest, there were no fewer than a hundred Goblins. Among them, at least thirty held crossbows. Meanwhile, whispers sounded from the forest not far away. "Have we been discovered?" "Not sure, maybe it''s just a Goblin hunting party. They love hunting at night." Behind a large tree, several strong shadows were visible. At a glance, there were five of them. The five were close enough to hear each other even when speaking softly. "A Ke, what should we do?" "Hide and wait for them to pass!" "Let''s climb a tree and hide!" "No, Goblins can see at night. If we''re spotted, we won''t be able to escape." "Hide in the bushes and don''t make a sound!" The five quickly left the tree and found dense bushes to hide in. As the five hid in the bushes, the forest gradually quieted down. But soon, the noise from the east began to sweep in. Shadows surged in the forest, accompanied by the rustling of vegetation. "They''re close, don''t miss any bushes!" The Goblins in the forest were busy. They poked their long spears into the dense bushes. "Not good!" A Ke noticed the Goblins poking the bushes with their weapons. He thought it was bad, his heart tightened. Goblins acting this way clearly weren''t out hunting. It was obvious the Goblins had discovered their presence. They just didn''t know where they were, so they entered the forest to search. "A Ning, A Ba, retreat!" A Ke quietly backed out of the bushes. He lowered his voice as much as possible to notify his nearby companions. "There''s a sound over there, it''s the Lizardmen, shoot them!" Even though A Ke''s voice was low, the nearby Goblins heard it. A Goblin pointed in the direction of A Ke''s group and shouted. The nearby crossbowmen quickly pulled their triggers in the direction indicated by the Goblin. "Whoosh!" Crossbow bolts whistled through the air towards the depths of the forest. "Ah!" The next moment, a scream echoed from the forest depths. A Lizardman, just crawling out of the bushes, was hit in the back. The crossbow bolt pierced through its body, the arrowhead protruding from its chest. As it tried to stand, it stumbled and fell to the ground, unable to rise. Chapter 30 "Go!" The screams of his companions made A Ke''s heart tighten. He had just heard the sound of something slicing through the air above him. Something had flown over his head. But he didn''t know what it was. "Over there, over there, kill them!" The wails from deep within the forest made the goblins'' faces light up with excitement. Crossbowmen gathered from other places hurriedly fired blindly into the depths of the forest. For a moment, the sound of arrows whistling through the air filled the forest. Arrows shot towards the depths of the forest. The sound of arrows hitting tree trunks echoed with a "thud, thud" in the forest. "Ah!" Another scream came from deep within the forest. Of the four fleeing figures, two were hit by multiple arrows. The forest was shrouded in darkness. This left their companions clueless about what had happened. They only heard the sound of something rapidly approaching from behind. And they heard something nearby crash into a tree with a "thud." "Scatter, scatter!" A Ke was lucky, he was at the front. His companions behind him took all the attacks for him. With that, A Ke leaped into the bushes on the right. The other two Lizardmen quickly scattered to the left and right. The three of them scrambled and crawled through the forest in a panic. "Chase them, don''t let them escape!" Gobu Qiang shouted excitedly. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Charge, kill them!" "Lizardmen, delicious!" The goblins ran wildly through the forest, shouting and yelling. Over a hundred goblins began to chase the Lizardmen. The forest was filled with noise. The goblins'' shouts echoed through the forest. "That''s right, it''s the Lizardmen!" On a grassy area behind some bushes, Gobu Qiang found a Lizardman corpse. Seeing the body lying on the ground with two arrows sticking out of its back, a hint of awe flashed in Gobu Qiang''s eyes. The boss was truly brilliant. To be able to create such powerful weapons. Even though the Lizardmen were far stronger than them, they could be easily killed by crossbows. That night, the noise in the forest gradually faded away. The next day, in the morning, by the riverbank forest. "Run, run, don''t stop!" In the dim forest, three strong figures ran in a sorry state. Although Lizardmen had strong legs, they weren''t suited for long-distance running. The three of them, having fled all night, were already exhausted. Their legs ached terribly, and if they stopped, they would collapse and never get up again. The three of them staggered as they ran, exhausted. The commotion from deep within the forest behind them made A Ke''s scalp tingle. He knew the goblins were still chasing them. Though small, goblins had incredible endurance. Not long after the three of them left, a group of goblins appeared in the forest. They moved through the dense vegetation, shouting and yelling. "I see them, I see them!" A goblin climbed onto a large rock. On the rock, it jumped up and down, aiming its crossbow at the fleeing Lizardmen. Some goblins climbed trees to get a better view. "Whoosh!" The crossbowmen from high positions pulled the triggers, aiming at the fleeing Lizardmen. Arrows whistled through the air towards their targets. In the dim forest, black streaks flew past, striking the Lizardmen. "Ah!" A scream was heard. A Lizardman was hit in the thigh by an arrow. The arrow pierced through its thigh, the tip emerging from the other side. The intense pain caused the Lizardman to stumble and fall, wailing. "A Ning!" A Ke cried out in sorrow. He hurriedly stopped, wanting to run to the fallen A Ning. "A Ke, go quickly!" From behind, A Ba pushed A Ke away. "Whoosh!" The sound of something slicing through the air came. An arrow hit the back of A Ba''s head. A Ba''s head was pierced by the arrow, the tip emerging from his forehead. In A Ke''s disbelieving gaze, A Ba fell to the ground. "A Ke, go quickly, don''t worry about me, tell the High Priest what we saw!" The fallen and wailing A Ning shouted at A Ke in pain. "Ah!" A Ke let out an angry roar. With a face full of unwillingness, he turned and ran deeper into the forest. At that moment, he forgot the pain in his legs. He kept running, ignoring everything. He was lucky; the sounds of arrows slicing through the air all missed him. "Whoosh!" However, at that moment, a sound suddenly came from deep within the forest on the right. A black streak flew through the dim space of the forest, hitting A Ke''s head. With a "whoosh," A Ke stumbled and fell to the ground. When the body stopped rolling and lay on the ground, an arrow was prominently sticking through his skull. In the depths of the forest on the right, Gobu Qiang lowered his crossbow. He was very dissatisfied with this shot. He pouted slightly and tossed the crossbow to a nearby underling. Gobu Qiang had intended to hit the Lizardman''s neck to make it bleed. Unexpectedly, he shot it in the head, killing it instantly. "A Ke!" A chilling wail suddenly echoed through the forest. Seeing A Ke lying motionless on the ground not far away, A Ning''s eyes were filled with rage. "It''s down!" Seeing A Ke struggling on the ground, the strong scent of blood excited the goblins. Nearby goblins cheered and charged at A Ning. Several goblins surrounded A Ning. Looking at the ugly green-skinned creatures around her, A Ning''s eyes were filled with hatred. "Goblin..." A Ning let out a roar. Her hateful gaze seemed to curse the ugliness around her. But before she could finish her words, the goblins, with greedy faces, stabbed at her with their spears. "It''s meat, Lizardman meat!" "What is it saying?" "Don''t know!" Amid the goblins'' chatter, A Ning was stabbed into a bloody mess by the long spears. The goblins that followed swarmed over, fighting to devour A Ning. Some goblins rushed to the other two corpses. They frantically gnawed at the bodies. In less than five minutes, the three corpses were devoured by the goblins. Even the intestines'' contents were swallowed by the goblins. All that was left where the bodies fell was a pool of blood. "You guys eat fast, didn''t leave anything for your boss!" When Gobu Qiang arrived, hoping for a bite, he found nothing left. Gobu Qiang angrily kicked the goblin underlings'' butts. The nearby goblins shrank their necks and quickly ran away. Looking at the pool of blood on the ground, exuding a strong scent of blood, Gobu Qiang wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. He glared at the nearby underlings and rolled his eyes. "What are you standing around for? Keep moving. If anyone dares to snatch food again, I''ll eat them." Facing the boss''s gaze, the goblins lowered their heads in fear. Under Gobu Qiang''s fierce scolding, the goblins in the forest continued to move forward. Chapter 31 "Whoa!" The team had just set out when a long horn sounded suddenly from behind. The sound was very faint, barely audible if one didn''t listen carefully. Yet, the goblins walking in the forest all stopped in their tracks. They turned around, looking towards the direction of the tribe with expressions of surprise and uncertainty. "Boss, it''s the tribe''s horn!" The sound of the horn brought an excited look to Gobu Qiang''s face. He knew the boss planned to make a move against the lizardmen in the swamp. Meanwhile, in the goblin tribe by the riverbank forest. The war horn on the watchtower sounded again. Li Meng stood at the entrance of the wooden house, squinting at the watchtower not far away. After more than three months, it was time to deal with the threat of the swamp lizardmen. Glancing sideways, Li Meng looked at Benben, who was lying outside the wooden house, snoring away. Benben''s massive body was already clad in a set of iron-gray armor. The armor coverage reached 90%. Chest plate, back plate, hand guards, arm guards, leg guards, a total of 26 pieces of armor of various sizes covered the entire body. Except for the joints, crotch, and underarms, which were not armored. Every other part was tightly covered by armor. Even that big head was encased in a huge full-cover helmet. How to put it, Benben seemed to really like that helmet. After all, the ogre''s only weakness was its eyes. And the helmet''s visor was grid-shaped. Though it would affect vision, it could protect the eyes. Weapons like bows and arrows would find it hard to target Benben''s eyes. Wearing it while sleeping also gave Benben a sense of security.Stolen story; please report. With this set of armor on, Benben turned into a big iron man. Though it was a bit less than a fully armored knight from Earth''s Middle Ages, it wasn''t far off. Benben''s weapon was a giant spiked club. The club was entirely cast from low-carbon steel. Its length was nearly five meters, matching Benben''s height. The club was covered with sharp spikes. If it smashed down, anyone would be turned into meat paste. The armor and spiked club together weighed a terrifying 1.3 tons. A weight of over a ton was absolutely unbearable for humans. But for a giant like Benben, a ton of weight was roughly equivalent to 20 pounds for a human. Time passed bit by bit, and the sound of the war horn brought the hunting party back one after another. On the afternoon of the third day, in the forest of the tribe. In front of the largest wooden house, there was a hubbub. More than a thousand goblins made the nearby forest crowded. At a glance, a continuous stretch of green-skinned goblins could be seen. Some goblins held long spears, while others carried crossbows. "War, lizardmen, kill!" Standing at the entrance of the wooden house, Li Meng said just one sentence. As soon as he spoke, the goblins showed excited expressions. "Kill, kill!" The goblins raised their weapons high, shouting loudly. The unified shouts echoed through the forest, startling birds into flight. "Move out!" Li Meng waved his hand, giving the order to march. Over thirteen hundred goblins turned and surged towards the western forest. This movement was like a green wave sweeping through the forest. The rumbling footsteps echoed through the forest. According to the future predicted by the simulated life, Li Meng began the campaign against the swamp. Before long, the commotion in the western forest gradually faded away. The next morning, in the riverbank forest. A large group of goblins was marching through the dim forest. Countless green figures filled every corner of the forest. Under such a massive number, even the strongest magical beasts would retreat. Among the green masses was an even larger figure. Wherever it passed, the lower branches and leaves were forcibly pushed aside. Sometimes the branches would break, making a "crack" sound. "Where is the turning point?" Ahead of Benben, Li Meng was walking briskly through the forest. As he walked, he pondered. Whether this campaign against the swamp would encounter a turning point, Li Meng did not know. But if he couldn''t find a turning point in the swamp, his future would be in jeopardy. Though the worst outcome wouldn''t be death. At worst, he could lead the goblin brothers and flee the northern forest. As long as they left the northern forest, they wouldn''t clash with the Pigmen tribe. Without clashing with the Pigmen tribe, the lizardmen wouldn''t join forces with the Pigmen to attack him. Though doing so would be a bit cowardly, at least they could survive. As long as they could live, there was hope for everything. ------ That night, the swamp was quiet. Under the moonlight, the White Scale tribe was silent. The only visible activity was some lizardmen standing guard on the outer wooden walls. "What on earth is happening in the eastern forest?" "Who knows, we''ve sent out several scouting teams, and there''s still no news." "I heard goblins appeared in the eastern forest." "Goblins? Just kill those little creatures." Late at night, the lizardmen on the wooden walls gathered to chat. The tribe''s atmosphere had been off for the past few months. Once, Elder A Dao led the tribe''s warriors out, and only half returned. And Elder A Dao was seriously injured. "It''s not that easy, goblins in groups are the most troublesome." "Just little goblins, I can take on ten." "Come on, even Elder A Dao got hurt, and you think you can?" "What about me? I''ve killed at least twenty goblins." While the lizardmen warriors on the wooden walls chatted to pass the time. In the largest thatched house in the tribe. "We''ve sent out five scouting teams, and none have returned, something''s wrong!" "That''s obvious, when I came back today, there was movement in the eastern forest." Five people sat facing each other, cross-legged on grass mats. In the main seat sat a white lizardman. A Dao''s face was slightly gloomy as he looked around at the elders. "This time, the goblins we encountered are different from the ones we know. They have standardized weapons, and they''re made of iron. We can''t be careless or unprepared." "Just goblins, is it necessary to be so tense?" "So what if the goblins use iron weapons, it doesn''t change the fact that goblins are weak." Some lizardman elders still looked down on the goblins. They couldn''t understand why Elder A Dao was so cautious about the weak goblins. "Let''s quickly deal with those ugly green-skinned creatures, just like we''ve done before." "There''s movement in the eastern forest, could it be goblins?" "How is that possible, if it were goblins, then the ones we sent..." Elder A Qi''s words were abruptly cut off. The elders'' hearts sank, their expressions uncertain. If the movement in the eastern forest and the lack of news from the lizardmen scouting teams were connected, it would lead to a terrifying conclusion. All the elders turned to look at the High Priest in the main seat. Under the moonlight, the High Priest was enveloped in a layer of white fluorescence. Looking so beautiful and holy. Chapter 32 Faced with the elders'' gaze, the white Lizardman opened its lizard mouth. A gentle voice immediately filled the room. "Elder Aaron, send someone to warn the Gray Scale tribe and the Black Scale tribe immediately. Tell them that if necessary, the White Scale tribe hopes to receive their help. In this swamp, all Lizardmen are one, and only by standing together can we survive." Elder Aaron nodded. No one knew what the future held. But being prepared was never a mistake. Meanwhile, on the other side, deep within the swamp. Under the moonlight, the overgrown swamp was covered with a layer of silver gauze. In a certain knee-deep water area, a mass of dark figures was wading through the water. The figures spread across a large area of the swamp under the moonlight. The sound of water splashing echoed through the night sky. The water surface surged, forming ripples. Goblins were adept swimmers and could move freely even in the swamp. The commotion caused the swamp crabs living in the swamp to leave their water holes and flee in panic. Their speed was so fast that only a ripple was left on the water surface. In the distant waters, the heads of swamp crocodiles, nearly five meters long, emerged. The noise of the Goblins wading through the water caught their attention. But the commotion was too great, and the number of prey was too many, making them hesitant to approach. "It''s the swamp crocodiles!" The nearby swamp crocodiles also made the Goblins a bit nervous. Swamp crocodiles were second-tier magical beasts, invincible in the water. They usually lived in swamp areas and rivers. On normal days, getting close to the water''s edge could lead to an attack by swamp crocodiles. In the past, Goblins fetching water by the river were often attacked by swamp crocodiles. The legendary swamp crocodile king was a fifth-tier magical beast with magical powers.If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "What are we afraid of? We have crossbows and long spears!" "Yeah, yeah, if the swamp crocodiles dare to come close, we''ll stab them to death and shoot them dead." Thinking of the weapons in their hands, the Goblins were no longer afraid. Their gazes towards the swamp crocodiles became greedy. "Swamp crocodile meat is delicious. Let''s go hunting." "No way, tonight the Lizardmen are our main course!" "If we fall behind, the boss will be angry." "Exactly, exactly, we can''t fall behind!" Among the Goblins wading through the water, Li Meng was also present. Glancing sideways, Li Meng looked at the waters not far to the right. More and more swamp crocodiles were gathering in the waters near the Goblin army. If any Goblin fell behind, they would become their food. [Swamp Crocodile] [Level: 32] [Strength: 71] [Defense: 88] [Agility: 68] [Magic: 11] The level was high, and the attributes were high too. But magical beasts were still just beasts, unlike humans who could learn magical skills. Without the blessing of magical skills, they were just stronger animals. This was a shallow water area; if the swamp crocodiles really charged, it was uncertain who would win. Compared to the Goblins struggling to move forward, Benben seemed much more at ease. Although this was a swamp, the ground beneath the water plants wasn''t all mud. Li Meng was walking ahead to scout the path for Benben. Otherwise, he would have been sitting on Benben''s shoulder long ago. Benben also noticed the swamp crocodiles not far away. It opened its mouth, saying something like "oh woo oh woo." Its left hand pointed at the swamp crocodiles not far away. Hearing Benben''s voice from behind, Li Meng turned back with a grin. Seeing Benben''s expression, Li Meng knew it must be talking about something related to food. Li Meng shook his head and pointed towards the darkness ahead. Benben could only look regretfully at the swamp crocodiles before continuing to follow the leader. Three hours later, at the White Scale tribe. The night was deep, and the tribe behind the wooden walls was silent. Even the Lizardman warriors standing guard on the wooden walls were dozing off. "Hey, did you hear that?" On a section of the wooden wall in the south of the tribe. A dozing Lizardman suddenly woke up. It rubbed its eyes and scanned the swamp outside the gate. It patted its sleepy companion beside it. The awakened companion yawned. "It''s probably the swamp crabs; those things love digging holes by the water." The Lizardman warrior scanned the outside waters again. In the moonlight, there were only chaotic water plants and rippling water. "When did that mound appear over there?" Suddenly, the Lizardman warrior''s gaze fixed on a massive shadow. The mound wasn''t far from the shore. It was only about fifty meters from the wooden wall. Because it was too far, the Lizardman warrior couldn''t see what it was. "Let me see, huh, that wasn''t there before." The Lizardman warriors on the wooden wall looked at each other. They had been standing guard here for so long, they knew the swamp terrain outside like the back of their hand. They were sure that shadow wasn''t there before. "Could it be a swamp crocodile?" "Impossible, even if a swamp crocodile stood up, it wouldn''t be that big." "This is strange, a big rock couldn''t have fallen from the sky." "Maybe it''s a pile of water plants that drifted over from somewhere else." "Whatever, when daylight comes... whoosh!" At that moment, a sudden change occurred in the night sky. A whistling sound was heard, and streaks of black light flashed under the moonlight. The Lizardman warriors observing the swamp outside the gate suddenly froze. Both of their heads were precisely hit by crossbow bolts. Their strong bodies fell one after another, dropping from the wall to the inner side. In the moonlight outside, countless figures emerged from the water plants. "Benben, go!" A loud shout echoed. The shadow in the water suddenly moved. Benben stood up, taking giant strides towards the wooden wall. "Kill, kill!" "Meat, meat!" The Goblins in the darkness shouted loudly. They charged towards the shore alongside Benben''s towering figure. Crossbowmen continuously shot at the Lizardmen standing guard on the wooden wall. "What happened?" "Enemy attack, enemy attack!" The commotion in the darkness outside startled the Lizardman warriors on the wooden wall. But they quickly realized what was happening. For a moment, the Lizardman warriors on the wooden wall hurriedly shouted warnings. The shouts of the Lizardman warriors on the wooden wall caught the attention of the Lizardmen in the tribe. The tribe instantly became noisy, with a large number of Lizardmen rushing out of their thatched huts with machetes. "To the south, the southern wooden wall is under attack!" The Lizardman warriors who ran out of the thatched huts rushed towards the southern wooden wall. At this time, outside the southern wooden wall. Benben had already reached the shore, its massive body charging towards the wooden wall. "What is that? It''s huge!" The wooden wall of the Lizardman tribe was only five meters high. It was mainly to prevent swamp crabs and swamp crocodiles from entering the tribe. But Benben''s height was almost level with the wooden wall. In the eyes of the Lizardmen, Benben seemed like a giant. "It''s... it''s an Ogre!" A Lizardman warrior recognized Benben and exclaimed in shock. Benben, like a mountain, charged towards the wooden wall. Its massive body slammed into the wooden wall with a shoulder bash. Chapter 33 "Boom!" In the dead of night, a loud crash echoed as splinters flew everywhere. The wooden wall was smashed into a large hole by Benben. Benben''s massive body toppled to the ground, losing balance. As Benben struggled to get back up, Goblins swarmed in through the breach. "Wa la la!" The Goblins shouted excitedly, rushing in through the gap. "It''s Goblins, it''s Goblins!" The Lizardmen who came to support finally realized that it was Goblins attacking the tribe. "Why would Ogres help Goblins?" "Have they been tamed by the Goblins?" "Kill them!" Although Benben''s enormous size made the Lizardmen show signs of fear, their homes were right behind them, leaving them no choice but to fight. Hundreds of Lizardmen wielding large machetes roared and charged at the Goblins. "Whoosh!" Facing the charging Lizardmen, the Goblins screamed and rushed forward. Crossbowmen ran while firing their bolts. With so many Lizardmen ahead, there was no need to aim. The sound of bolts slicing through the air filled the night sky. Streaks of black light shot towards the charging Lizardmen. "Thud!" The Lizardman warriors at the front suddenly halted, then fell like a field of cut wheat. The fallen Lizardmen wailed in pain. The sudden collapse of their comrades startled the Lizardmen behind them. They only heard the "whoosh whoosh" of bolts flying from the front, and then their comrades fell.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. When they realized why their comrades fell, it was too late. Before even engaging in battle, a large number of Lizardmen were already dead or injured. In the tribe behind the wooden wall, Goblins clashed with Lizardmen, their cries echoing through the night. Crossbows were deadly in close combat. Once engaged, the crossbow-wielding Goblins, supported by their gun-wielding counterparts, mercilessly reaped Lizardmen lives. At close range, the crossbow bolts were even more lethal. Though many Goblins fell under the Lizardmen warriors'' large machetes, even more Lizardmen fell to the crossbow bolts. Hundreds of Lizardmen only held off the Goblins for a short while before scattering. The entire battlefield quickly spread deeper into the tribe. A group of Goblins rushed into a thatched hut. Inside, a female Lizardman clutched her child, hiding in a corner. The Goblins spotted her and excitedly charged with their weapons. "What are you doing?" A nearby Goblin suddenly slapped the head of his underling. The dazed Goblin looked at his leader in confusion. The Goblin leader grinned, eyeing the female Lizardman greedily. "The boss''s boss said, female Lizardmen can''t be eaten." The slapped Goblin''s eyes lit up. He raised his weapon again, aiming at the child in the female Lizardman''s arms. "Smack!" The Goblin leader slapped him again. "Boss, what''s wrong now?" Seeing the leader stop him again, the Goblin glared angrily. The Goblin leader glared back. "The boss''s boss said, male Lizardman children shorter than us can''t be killed either." "Why? I want meat!" The Goblin underling complained discontentedly. "No reason, what, you want to challenge the boss''s boss?" The Goblin underling shrank his neck and quickly shook his head. "Let''s go, there''s plenty of meat outside!" The Goblins rushed out of the hut again. In the following time, several more groups of Goblins entered the thatched hut. But seeing the Lizardman mother and child, none of them struck. Even those dissatisfied with the order left grumbling. "What happened, what''s going on?" In front of the largest thatched hut in the tribe''s center, the elders hurriedly gathered from their homes at the High Priest''s door. "It''s Goblins, Goblins have invaded!" A Lizardman ran over from the darkness, terrified. More Lizardmen gathered around the elders from all directions. "Goblins?" The elders looked at each other, only surprise in their eyes. Goblins dared to attack their tribe? At that moment, a group of Lizardmen ran over from the southern darkness, each with a face of terror, as if being chased by something horrifying. "Elders, we can''t hold them, the Goblins are coming!" A Dao frowned, stepped forward, and pushed aside the Lizardmen in front of him. He reached the front of the group, raising his large machete high. "Don''t be afraid, prepare for battle!" A Dao''s shout rallied his companions. Unknowingly, over two hundred Lizardmen had gathered behind A Dao. Elder A Dao''s shout gave the frightened Lizardmen a slight boost of courage. In the rear, more Lizardmen gathered from the north. But in the southern darkness, it suddenly fell silent. The previously noisy sounds of battle completely disappeared. A Dao stared intently into the darkness, gripping his large machete tightly. "Whoosh!" Suddenly, a change erupted from the darkness. The dense sound of bolts slicing through the air filled the night sky, flying in from the south. Countless black streaks shot towards the Lizardmen. "Boom!" At that moment, the door of the thatched hut behind the Lizardmen suddenly burst open. A mass of white mist rolled out, sweeping under the Lizardmen''s feet and spreading into the darkness. A miraculous scene unfolded. Ten meters ahead of the Lizardmen, the white mist transformed into an ice wall, rising up. The flying crossbow bolts were blocked by the ice wall. With a "thud thud" of impacts, ice shards flew everywhere. Bolts embedded themselves in the ice wall, turning its outer surface into a porcupine. "It''s the High Priest!" The appearance of the ice wall sparked cheers among the Lizardmen. Amidst the Lizardmen''s cheers, a white figure emerged from the thatched hut. Standing at the doorway, Bai Ling looked solemnly into the darkness. The Goblins'' massive assault tonight was beyond its expectations. It never imagined the Goblins would actively attack the tribe. And with such unstoppable force. "A white Lizardman who can use magic, could it be Bai Ling?" In the southern darkness, Li Meng observed the white figure at the thatched hut''s entrance. [Lizardman] [Level: 41] [Strength: 17] [Defense: 14] [Agility: 21] [Magic: 71] [Ice Element Control: LV4] [Heart Speech: LV3] As if realizing something, Li Meng grinned. "So, you''re the turning point!" Upon seeing the "Heart Speech" skill, Li Meng finally understood everything. Bai Ling was the true culprit behind the tribe''s downfall. The Heart Speech skill allowed Bai Ling to communicate with other Barbarians. Bai Ling was the key to the alliance between the Pigmen tribe and the Lizardmen. Chapter 34 "Benben, it''s your turn!" Benben glanced back at the boss. It raised its left hand and pounded its chest forcefully. A deep and resonant "thud" echoed. Benben then turned and dragged its spiked club towards the ice wall. "Benben, Benben!" The Goblins behind shouted excitedly. Their voices were so loud, they drowned out all other sounds. Hearing the Goblins'' unified shouts from the depths of the darkness, the Lizardmen in front of the straw hut felt a chill in their hearts. How large was the Goblin force to create such a loud noise? Standing at the doorway, Bai Ling''s heart also sank. At that moment, Bai Ling''s pupils contracted. In the darkness before the ice wall, a massive figure slowly emerged. "An Ogre?" Bai Ling exclaimed in surprise. Her body trembled, a hint of panic flashing in her eyes. The Lizardmen outside the straw hut also looked at the approaching Benben on the other side of the ice wall with fear. Benben''s massive body was overwhelmingly intimidating. "Gobu Qiang!" Seeing the frightened look on the Lizardmen behind the ice wall, Li Meng smiled secretly. The decision to keep Benben back then was the right one. Without Benben tonight, no one could handle that female Lizardman. "Boss, you called me?" Gobu Qiang hurried forward at the boss''s call. "Bring those female Lizardmen and the young ones over here!" Gobu Qiang nodded quickly, turned, and left with a group of underlings. By this time, Benben had already reached the ice wall from the darkness ahead.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. "Stop, Ogre!" Benben''s body suddenly shuddered in front of the ice wall, as if it had been startled. It turned its big head in confusion, looking around. "I''m here, the white Lizardman at the door, I''m the one communicating with you." Benben turned its head to look at Bai Ling at the door of the straw hut. "Why help the weak and disgusting Goblins attack us?" Benben turned to glance at the boss in the darkness behind it. Then it turned back to Bai Ling with a series of "ohs." "It''s just a weak Goblin, you could crush it with one slap, you are free." Benben shook its big head. "Roar!" It let out a roar at Bai Ling. Raising its spiked club with one hand, it smashed down on the ice wall. "Boom!" With a loud crash, the ice wall shattered. "Wait, I''m not your enemy, the Goblins who took your freedom are your enemies." Benben shook its head and took a big step forward. The voice in its head made Benben very angry. It didn''t like this feeling, its mind was being invaded. Seeing the Ogre unmoved, Bai Ling''s face turned cold. Billowing white mist surged from under its feet. It spread from the Lizardman''s feet, sweeping towards the Ogre. The white mist enveloped Benben''s body. "Crack!" A crisp "crack" echoed through the night sky. Benben''s advancing form paused. The white mist turned to ice, instantly freezing Benben. From the appearance of the white mist to Benben''s freezing, it happened in an instant. In less than two seconds, with a "crack," the ice shattered. The Lizardmen, who hadn''t had time to rejoice, were stunned. "Stop, don''t come any closer!" Bai Ling''s face changed slightly, raising a hand with a wave. More than ten ice arrows, each about a meter long and three feet in diameter, appeared out of thin air and shot out. The whistling sound of the arrows pierced the night sky. The ice arrows turned into streaks of white light, instantly crossing a hundred meters and striking Benben. At the moment of impact, there was a "crack." The ice arrows shattered. One after another, the ice arrows broke apart, sending ice shards flying. Looking at Benben''s chest armor, more than ten dents appeared. Seeing the attack was ineffective, Bai Ling raised her right hand above her head. Above her, white mist appeared and instantly turned to ice. A massive ice spike hovered above Bai Ling''s head. It grew larger and thicker at a visible speed. Chilling air spread from the ice spike. Where it passed, the ground was covered in frost. The cold air forced the nearby Lizardmen to retreat repeatedly. "Go!" When the ice spike above her head reached nearly ten meters in length, Bai Ling shouted. She thrust her right hand forward! The massive ice spike shot out, aiming directly at Benben not far away. Facing the incoming giant ice spike, Benben stopped. "Roar!" It roared, swinging its spiked club with both hands at the incoming ice spike. This strike hit the ice spike precisely. "Boom!" At the moment the spiked club and ice spike made contact. A powerful shockwave exploded. The ice spike shattered, the shockwave spreading in all directions. The immense impact forced Benben''s massive body to retreat repeatedly. The straw huts dozens of meters away seemed to be swept by a hurricane. Ice shards mixed in the shockwave directly blew away the straw huts. Even the nearby Lizardmen were thrown into disarray. The rolling cold air swept from where Benben stood. Where it passed, the ground was covered in ice crystals, everything frozen. "Is it really impossible?" Seeing the Ogre unharmed, a hint of despair flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. The gap in strength between the two sides was too great. And the Ogre had strong magic resistance. The Ogre alone could slaughter all the tribe members. Facing the Ogre, fleeing was the only chance of survival. But the enemies they faced were not just the Ogre. The Goblins were also eyeing them from the side. "Benben, come back!" At this moment, Li Meng''s voice came from the darkness behind Benben. Benben, who was approaching the Lizardmen, stopped. Its massive body turned to look at the darkness behind it. In the eyes of the Lizardmen, a Big Goblin slowly emerged from the darkness. "Goblin, retreat immediately, this is not a place for you!" The voice suddenly appeared in his mind. Li Meng''s expression changed slightly, he stopped and looked up at the white Lizardman at the door of the straw hut. Clearly a lizard, but it gave off a very seductive vibe. It wasn''t an illusion; its upright figure''s curves matched human aesthetics. Although the Lizardman had a lizard''s head. Its body was covered in scales, and it had a tail. But aside from the tail and head, the rest of its body was more humanoid. "Surrender, or you''ll all die!" The Heart Speech skill allowed them to communicate through thoughts. It wasn''t a language exchange, but more like telepathy. They could understand each other''s thoughts and intentions. Li Meng looked at Bai Ling in front of the straw hut with greed. This white female variant stirred his desire to reproduce. Even with a lizard''s head, it wasn''t unacceptable. At least it was better than those female Magical Beasts. Facing Li Meng''s greedy gaze, Bai Ling was full of disgust. "Dream on, the White Scale tribe will never be slaves!" Li Meng grinned, turning to wave at the darkness behind him. Footsteps rumbled in the darkness, accompanied by the cries of Lizardmen women and children. Chapter 35 A group of female Lizardmen and Lizardman children were driven out of the darkness by the Goblins. There were quite a few of them, over two hundred. 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 long spear and poked one of them. The Lizardman cried out in pain and jumped in fright. This provoked a burst of laughter from the surrounding Goblins. The driven female Lizardmen walked on, holding their children with faces full of fear. The appearance of the women and children caused a stir among the Lizardmen in front of the thatched huts. All the Lizardmen looked angrily at the Goblins driving the women and children. Facing the angry male Lizardmen, Li Meng grinned. Then he turned and beckoned to a female Lizardman not far behind him. The Goblin beside him hurriedly used a long spear to drive the female Lizardman over. The female Lizardman came to Li Meng with a face full of fear. The ugly Goblin in front of her made her legs weak, and she collapsed to the ground. Looking down at the trembling female Lizardman in front of him, Li Meng grinned. His eyes turned cold, and he reached out with his right hand, grabbing the female Lizardman by the neck. The female Lizardman, larger than Li Meng, was lifted up by him. The feeling of suffocation made the female Lizardman struggle violently. But her struggles were in vain. Li Meng held the female Lizardman''s neck, facing the group of Lizardmen. "You should know what I want to do!" Li Meng''s gaze was fixed on Bai Ling at the door of the thatched hut. Bai Ling glared angrily, her whole body trembling. "Damn Goblin, go to hell!"The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Several Lizardmen couldn''t stand seeing their kin being bullied by the Goblins like this. The leading Lizardman let out a roar. Five Lizardmen suddenly charged at Li Meng. "Come back!" A Dao was shocked by his kin''s reckless actions. He hurriedly tried to stop them, but it was too late. Benben moved, his massive body taking a few steps forward. The giant spiked club in his hand swept across. "Boom!" The giant spiked club swept across the five Lizardmen. At the moment of contact, the sound of bones cracking echoed through the night sky. The five Lizardmen flew out like discarded rags. They flew dozens of meters and crashed into the thatched hut. One wall of the hut collapsed from the impact. "Roar!" After finishing this, Benben let out a roar at the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen looked at the Ogre encased in steel with fear and retreated repeatedly. "My patience is limited!" Li Meng increased the force in his hand. The female Lizardman clutched Li Meng''s hand tightly. A large amount of saliva flowed from her mouth. Her neck made a "crack" sound, as if it would be snapped at any moment. Bai Ling gritted her teeth, glaring at Li Meng with hatred. "The White Scale tribe would rather die than be slaves!" Hearing the final answer from the female Lizardman''s mouth, Li Meng grinned. He released his grip, letting go of the female Lizardman. The Lizardman, able to breathe again, knelt on the ground, gasping for air. Li Meng pointed forward, looking at the Lizardmen with killing intent. "Kill them all, leave no one alive!" Originally planning to keep these adult Lizardmen as labor, now it seemed they all had to be killed. The leader''s order made the Goblins behind him show expressions of wild joy. "Kill, kill, kill!" The ecstatic Goblins rushed forward eagerly. The cries and shouts echoed in the sky. The sound of crossbow bolts piercing the air rang out again from the darkness. This made the Lizardmen in front of the thatched huts change their expressions slightly. "Stop them, kill!" A Dao knew that the High Priest had clearly been communicating with the Goblins just now. And the result was obvious, the talks had broken down. As the Lizardmen moved, Benben also moved. Holding the giant spiked club, he charged at the Lizardmen like a heavy tank. Just as the giant spiked club was about to sweep across the army. A mass of white mist rapidly approached from the ground, enveloping Benben''s body. The white mist quickly turned to ice, and Benben''s body was frozen once again. "Ah!" Bai Ling chose to stop Benben, but couldn''t help the Lizardmen. The crossbow bolts came through the air, falling like raindrops among the Lizardmen. The darkness was filled with wails and screams. Sharp crossbow bolts pierced through the Lizardmen''s bodies. A large number of Lizardmen at the forefront of the charge fell. A Dao was strong, a standout among the Lizardmen. But he was still flesh and blood. Charging at the forefront, A Dao received special attention from the Goblin crossbowmen. His body was filled with crossbow bolts, turning him into a porcupine. Even so, he staggered forward in the darkness. His legs gave way, and A Dao fell to his knees. "Goblin, I... I will kill..." He looked into the depths of the darkness, filled with hatred. In his eyes, countless Goblins holding long spears rushed out of the darkness. He wanted to pick up the large machete beside him and continue fighting. But his hands were already immobile, weak and powerless. The Goblins ignored him, running past him with loud cries. Before losing consciousness completely, A Dao saw and heard. He saw the countless figures continuously rushing out of the darkness. He heard the rumbling footsteps. In the darkness, A Dao fell to the ground in despair yet with a sense of relief. The night was deep, and the tribe under the moonlight was in chaos. Shouts of killing, roars, howls, and wails filled the air. The glow of magic also shone in a part of the tribe. "Don''t come any closer, don''t come any closer!" In front of the thatched hut, Bai Ling looked at the approaching Ogre with despair. The Ogre was like a wall blocking her magic. She wanted to help her kin, wanted to use magic to kill the Goblins. Even if the White Scale tribe was doomed to perish tonight, she wanted to take the Goblins down with them. But her magic was blocked by the Ogre''s massive body. She couldn''t break through the Ogre''s defense. "High Priest, save me!" In the darkness, a Lizardman covered in blood crawled to Bai Ling''s feet. Two crossbow bolts were stuck in its back, and blood gushed from its mouth. "Ah!" Having never seen blood before, Bai Ling let out a scream. She turned in fear and ran into the house. The High Priest''s reaction left a trace of confusion in the eyes of the Lizardman lying on the ground. With excessive blood loss, it closed its eyes with one last question. At this moment, in the surrounding darkness, the final slaughter was underway. It seemed like both sides were in a melee, but in reality, the Lizardmen were quickly being defeated. In the face of the crossbows, the Lizardmen had no resistance. The darkness also affected the Lizardmen''s vision. Already no match for the Goblins, the Lizardmen were being slaughtered under various factors, it was only a matter of time. "It seems 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 skills. Though Goblins were weak, their potential was clearly higher than that of the Lizardmen. Chapter 36 The Lizardmen, although possessing high potential, have individuals like Bai Ling who are rare exceptions as mages. Just by looking at Bai Ling, you can tell she''s an anomaly. As long as Goblins don''t die, evolving into Goblin Soldiers is not a problem. Lizardmen, on the other hand, don''t have such evolution. They can only enhance their strength through physical training and combat skills. Goblins, however, can grow stronger by consuming food. The former has a high baseline, while the latter has a high ceiling. When Li Meng arrived at the straw hut, the sounds of battle were gradually fading to the west. The Lizardmen around the hut had been completely cleared out. Goblins were sweeping through the entire tribe. Looking at the ground around the hut, layers of Lizardmen corpses were visible. "Uh-oh?" Benben, standing in front of the straw hut''s door, was troubled. The hut was too small for it to enter. Looking down at the boss who had arrived beside it, Benben pointed at the hut. Li Meng grinned and patted Benben''s leg. "Benben, leave the rest to me, your boss." Glancing at the open door of the straw hut, Li Meng smirked wickedly. For months, he had been resisting the urge to procreate. Tonight, he decided not to resist his body''s primal desires any longer. With that, Li Meng swaggered into the straw hut. He had seen Bai Ling run into the hut earlier. Her mental state had collapsed. Having always held a high position in the tribe, she had never experienced death. Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. How could she know the terror of it? "You... you stay away!" The straw hut wasn''t dark. Moonlight spilled through the skylight, slightly dispelling the darkness. Inside the hut, Li Meng saw Bai Ling curled up in a corner. "Those young Lizardmen died because of you. Do you want the women and children to die because of you too?" Bai Ling''s face froze, staring blankly at the approaching Li Meng. Li Meng stood before Bai Ling, looking down at her. Reaching out, he grabbed Bai Ling''s hand. Then he forcibly pinned Bai Ling beneath him. "Live with this guilt. As long as you live, your people can live too." With a sinister grin, Li Meng tore off the beast skin covering Bai Ling''s chest. The twin peaks, resembling those of a human, were exposed to Li Meng''s eyes. Li Meng gazed greedily at Bai Ling''s chest, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He had thought Lizardmen were oviparous, but it seemed he was wrong. Lizardmen, like humans, were viviparous; otherwise, they wouldn''t have these two peaks. Bai Ling didn''t resist, staring blankly at the round moon. She let the ugly Goblin tear off her beast skirt. Before long, a suppressed scream echoed in the hut. What followed were grunts and groans. Under the full moon, the swamp was anything but calm tonight. Two hours later, the noisy White Scale tribe gradually quieted down. In the darkness, the sound of chewing echoed throughout the tribe. After hours of fighting, the Goblins were ravenous. Big and small Goblins climbed over the corpses, gnawing at them. The thick scent of blood gradually enveloped the entire tribe. The chewing was loudest around the largest straw hut. Many Goblins greedily devoured the Lizardmen corpses. Not far away, the Lizardmen women and children watched in terror as the Goblins feasted on their kin. "Ah!" At that moment, a scream suddenly came from the straw hut. This caught the attention of the Goblins feasting on the Lizardmen corpses nearby. With blood-stained mouths, the Goblins looked up at the straw hut. In the Goblins'' eyes, the boss emerged from the doorway. He held a thick white tail, tearing off a large chunk of meat with a bite. "Hmm, not bad!" The flavor of the meat surprised Li Meng. Bai Ling''s tail meat was tastier than any meat he had ever eaten. It was chewy, with a faint milky aroma. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Heart Speech"] The system''s notification made Li Meng grin. For Bai Ling to survive, she had to offer her tail to him. Otherwise, Bai Ling had no choice but to die. Lizardmen could regenerate their tails, so losing it wouldn''t affect Bai Ling much. In at most half a year, Bai Ling''s tail would be as good as new. Standing at the doorway, Li Meng continued to savor Bai Ling''s tail. Bai Ling''s other skill, "Ice Element Control," was a valuable asset. If one tail wasn''t enough to acquire it, he would wait for Bai Ling to grow a new tail and continue eating. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Ice Element Control"] Before he had even finished half, the system''s notification appeared again. "Not bad luck. Here, a reward for you!" Seeing how quickly he acquired another skill, Li Meng was in a good mood. He casually tossed the tail to a nearby Goblin underling. The nearby Goblin underlings scrambled to grab it. Looking up at the full moon, Li Meng squinted. With the lessons from the simulated life predicting the future, Bai Ling couldn''t stay in the White Scale tribe. If she stayed, she would 100% betray him. Li Meng didn''t believe that after being with him, Bai Ling would fall in love with him. Such things only happened in illogical novels. He was a Goblin, a creature despised and hated by all races. Bai Ling would only see it as a disgrace and wait for a chance to take revenge. "Who cares?" A hint of disdain flashed in Li Meng''s eyes as he reached out to grasp the moon. As a Goblin, Li Meng wouldn''t do anything good in the name of being a Goblin. Since Goblins were despised by all intelligent races, he would use this body to trample on the pride and dignity of those races. "No matter who you are, watch closely. I''ll make sure to torment this world!" Li Meng grinned wickedly, clenching his fists. His demeanor seemed to challenge some existence. After a while, Li Meng lowered his hands. Glancing sideways, Li Meng looked at Benben sitting in front of the straw hut. "Benben!" The sudden voice in his mind startled Benben. Benben''s massive body trembled, shaking its big head. "It''s me, your boss!" Benben looked down at the boss beside it. It extended a huge right hand to point at the boss. "Yes, it''s me!" "Boss, how did you get into my head?" Benben knocked on its helmet. "I''m not in your head; I''m using magic to communicate with you." "Magic? The voice in my head is magic?" "Yes, it''s magic!" "Oh, I see. Benben understands!" Li Meng sat down at the doorway, moonlight illuminating the two figures, one large and one small. "Benben, do you have any family?" "I do. Long, long ago, they and I lived in a cave, but one day they suddenly disappeared." "Suddenly disappeared? Benben, did you look for them?" "Boss, why would I look for them?" Chapter 37 Li Meng''s face froze for a moment, and he understood what was going on in his heart. It seems that once an Ogre reaches adulthood, the parents separate from their children. Most Magical Beasts would drive their offspring away. But Ogres choose to leave themselves, leaving the nest to their children. "Benben, have you ever encountered other Ogres?" Benben nodded its massive head. Then it tapped its helmet with its hand. The boss''s magic in its head made it feel a bit uncomfortable. "I met them in the mountains, they were fierce, Benben didn''t like them." "Them? Was it an Ogre family?" "Don''t know, Benben fought with them. They were strange, turning to stone when seen by something hot from the sky." Turning to stone when exposed to sunlight? Li Meng''s expression was thoughtful as he looked Benben up and down. It seems Benben is an anomaly among Ogres. Is it because of the "Hardened Stone Skin" skill? Time ticked away, and the night deepened. The chewing sounds in the tribe continued for a long time. It wasn''t until dawn that the tribe finally quieted down. The Goblins, full and satisfied, fell asleep on the spot. As for the female Lizardmen and the young, they were driven back to the huts. The Goblins have a strict hierarchy, and mating rights are held by the higher-ranking Goblins. No matter how strong the desire to mate, they would not breed offspring privately. Ordinary Goblins don''t even have the desire to actively seek mating rights. Because the genetic information imprinted in Goblins suppresses their mating desires. It''s a form of natural selection in biological evolution.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. The offspring of the higher-ranking ones have greater potential. Only the higher-ranking ones breeding offspring can strengthen the tribe. While ordinary Goblins breeding offspring would only weaken the tribe. As the morning light rose in the eastern sky, the traces of last night''s battle had disappeared. The tribe was filled only with Goblins sleeping soundly. Both the Goblin and Lizardman corpses had vanished. As for where they went, naturally, they ended up in the Goblins'' stomachs. Looking at the Goblins sleeping soundly, each Goblin''s belly was round and full. "What... what do you plan to do with us?" The morning sun was bright, and the tribe was silent. Bai Ling walked weakly out of the hut''s door. The pain of her severed tail made her voice tremble. Bai Ling looked with resentment at the Goblin sitting at the door, lost in thought as it gazed at the blue sky. Li Meng turned to glance at Bai Ling, who was leaning against the door frame. Bai Ling was still Bai Ling, only the tail under her beast skirt was gone. She had lost more than just her tail; there were other things too. After a glance at Li Meng, she withdrew her gaze and continued to look at the blue sky. "I am a smart Goblin. I won''t let you become breeding tools, used until death and then eaten. Every 365 sunsets, tribute ten percent of your population, half male and half female, and rotate every 365 sunsets." A steady flow is the best way to maximize the value of the Lizardmen. Goblins have inherent flaws. To reproduce, they must rely on other races. So, the future tribe must have its own vassal race. "What difference does it make?" Despair flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. How could she not know the difference? The former is a moment of pain, the latter a lifetime of suffering. "The difference is huge. At least you can live, reproduce, and grow stronger, providing us with more females and labor!" "You... you demon!" Bai Ling''s face showed sorrow, feeling despair for the tribe''s future. Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling at the door, grinning fiercely. "Goblins are far scarier than demons!" With that, Li Meng stood up. "Once I wipe out the Gray Scale tribe and the Black Scale tribe, all the Lizardmen in the swamp will be under your rule. If you don''t want your people to suffer, work well for me, or else you''ll only be fit to become food." Saying this, Li Meng patted the armor of Benben, who was sleeping soundly. Benben stirred and stood up. "Roar!" Benben let out a great roar. The massive roar echoed from the helmet, sweeping across the land. The Goblins in the tribe, who were sleeping soundly, were startled awake. "Take me with you. I can help you subdue the Gray Scale tribe and the Black Scale tribe at a lower cost!" Li Meng turned to Bai Ling, grinning. "Then keep up, I''m looking forward to it!" How could Li Meng not see through Bai Ling''s little schemes? She merely wanted to preserve the Lizardmen''s living strength for the future. At noon, under the blazing sun, Li Meng led the Goblin army away from the White Scale tribe. With Bai Ling as the guide, the Goblin army advanced straight towards the Gray Scale tribe. Two days later, in the swamp, the Gray Scale tribe. In a shallow water area stood a dense cluster of wooden houses on stilts. The endless water surrounding the tribe provided an extremely open view. Due to the geographical environment, the Gray Scale tribe had not built wooden walls to protect the tribe. As the afternoon approached, in the largest wooden house of the tribe. "Gray Scale Chief, the Goblin army is attacking, the White Scale tribe''s stronghold has already been breached!" This sudden news left the elders in the wooden house with astonished expressions. The White Scale tribe''s population was close to a thousand, and its strength was not weak among the three tribes. Moreover, with Bai Ling the High Priest holding the fort, how could it be breached by mere Goblins? The elders kneeling in the wooden house looked at each other in disbelief. The Gray Scale chief sat expressionless, looking at the Lizardman who came to warn them. "Nonsense, the White Scale tribe has Bai Ling the High Priest. How could mere Goblins shake them?" Gray Scale found it hard to believe that the White Scale tribe could be breached by Goblins. He had witnessed the powerful magic possessed by Bai Ling the High Priest. How could mere Goblins be a match for Bai Ling the High Priest? The High Priest could easily wipe out hundreds of Goblins with a single spell. Seeing the Gray Scale chief''s disbelief, the Lizardman from the White Scale tribe became anxious. It quickly knelt on the ground. "Gray Scale Chief, every word I say is true. When I left the tribe, the outer wooden walls had already been breached. The High Priest sent me to the Gray Scale tribe and the Black Scale tribe to issue a warning!" Could it be true? The White Scale tribe, with Bai Ling the High Priest, was breached by Goblins? Looking at the Lizardman kneeling on the ground, Gray Scale''s expression changed. The other elders were also filled with doubt and uncertainty. If the White Scale tribe was indeed breached by Goblins. Then how powerful must the invading Goblin army in the swamp be? "Chief, Chief, something bad has happened!" At this moment, a Lizardman rushed in. "It''s the Goblins, the Goblin army is attacking!" The Lizardman who ran into the wooden house reported loudly, panic-stricken. "What?" "How is that possible, so soon?" The people from the White Scale tribe had just arrived, and the Goblin army appeared? Chapter 38 At this moment, everyone in the wooden house realized the gravity of the situation. The Goblin army''s attack meant that the White Scale tribe was finished. Gray Scale stood up and strode outside. "Inform all the tribe members to follow me and face the enemy!" Meanwhile, in the vast waters to the east of the tribe. Under the blazing sun, a dense mass of green-skinned figures waded through the water. Their numbers were so great that they covered a large area of the water. Among the many smaller green figures was an even larger figure. It moved through the water like a mountain. Wherever it passed, water splashed everywhere. On its shoulders sat two figures, one on the left and one on the right. 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 houses stood on the water''s surface. The scene of water and sky blending together was quite spectacular. "This Gray Scale tribe sure knows how to pick a location!" The surrounding waters were clear, and the depth was no more than a meter. Anything approaching could be spotted from afar. As an amphibious intelligent species, this environment was more conducive to Lizardman combat. At this moment, there was movement within the tribe. A swarm of Lizardmen rushed out of the tribe. With a fierce dive, they plunged into the deeper waters like dumplings. Ripples spread across the water''s surface, heading towards the Goblin army. "Stop!" Li Meng shouted from Benben''s shoulder. The wading Goblin army came to a halt.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. The rippling water made it difficult for the Goblins to stand steady. "How did I defeat the Gray Scale tribe?" Li Meng thought to himself as he looked at the Goblin underlings struggling to stand in the water. In this environment, the crossbow was of little use. The Lizardmen''s agility in water far surpassed that of the Goblins. Fighting the Lizardmen in water, his Goblin army couldn''t possibly win. Even if they could win, their losses would be significant. Conquering the last Black Scale tribe would be impossible. With a leap, Li Meng jumped off Benben''s shoulder. Just as he was about to fall into the water, white mist surged beneath his feet, and the water surface quickly froze. Li Meng ran forward on the water''s surface. Wherever he passed, the water beneath his feet froze. This scene left Bai Ling, sitting on Benben''s shoulder, in disbelief. "How is this possible!" She exclaimed in shock. A Goblin could use ice magic like her? The Goblins looked at their leader running on the water with astonishment. The leader could use magic? Li Meng reached the front of the group, extended his right hand, palm outward. "Freeze!" Billowing white mist surged forward, spreading to the sides. Wherever the white mist passed, the water surface quickly froze. In no time, a massive ice sheet appeared in front of the Goblin army. The white mist gradually dissipated after spreading several hundred meters. "Magic is indeed useful!" Li Meng was very satisfied as he looked at the vast ice sheet before him. Now Li Meng understood why he could defeat the Gray Scale tribe. In the simulated life''s prediction, he also gained the skill of ice element control from Bai Ling. However, the future predicted by the simulated life did not explicitly state this. "Onto the ice, prepare for battle!" Li Meng climbed onto the ice and shouted. The appearance of the ice sheet excited the Goblins. All the Goblins looked at their leader on the ice with reverence. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" Someone shouted, and all the Goblins climbed onto the ice, chanting "Gobu Meng." The appearance of the ice also startled the approaching Lizardmen. The Lizardmen, originally charging underwater, stopped. The Lizardmen, rising from the water, looked at the distant ice sheet with suspicion. "This is ice magic. Why would Bai Ling, the High Priest, help the Goblins?" "It''s the High Priest Bai Ling. I saw her, she''s there!" "What is that huge thing?" Benben''s massive figure was quite conspicuous. Though distant, many Lizardmen saw the High Priest Bai Ling sitting on the giant''s shoulder. The white scale armor of the High Priest Bai Ling was too eye-catching. It was recognizable at a glance. "An Ogre? How could an Ogre be with the Goblins?" "Damn it, the High Priest Bai Ling has been coerced!" Many Lizardmen realized what had happened and began to discuss. They understood what was going on. The Goblins must have coerced the High Priest Bai Ling. That''s why the High Priest Bai Ling had to help the Goblins. "Damn Goblins!" Gray Scale, like the rest of the tribe, watched the Goblins climbing onto the ice from a distance. The High Priest Bai Ling being held captive made him angrily slap the water. "Chief, what should we do now?" A group of elders approached Gray Scale. "Charge forward and rescue the High Priest Bai Ling!" A Lizardman elder clenched his fists, his gaze fixed on the white figure on the giant''s shoulder. The High Priest Bai Ling was the dream lover of all male Lizardmen. Almost all the elders had pursued the High Priest Bai Ling in their youth. Though they failed, the High Priest Bai Ling belonged to all Lizardmen, not just one. "No, if I''m not mistaken, the giant under the High Priest Bai Ling is an Ogre!" Gray Scale''s words left the elders stunned. "An Ogre? How... how is that possible!" "No wonder the High Priest Bai Ling was captured. If it''s an Ogre, it makes sense." Ogres had strong anti-magic abilities. Magic had little effect on Ogres. The only weakness of an Ogre was its eyes, 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 a tail, Bai Ling''s back looked more human. Her swaying waist and hips were alluringly seductive. "Strange, how can a Lizardman be so sexy?" Bai Ling''s graceful figure made Li Meng wonder if he had some perverse 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 soon as her foot touched the water, it froze. Bai Ling walked on the water''s surface, step by step, towards the Lizardmen. Seeing this, Gray Scale dove into the water and swam towards the High Priest Bai Ling. Soon, the two stopped about a hundred meters from the ice. "High Priest Bai Ling, your tail?" Gray Scale, rising from the water, looked furious. The High Priest Bai Ling''s tail was gone? Though Lizardmen could regenerate their tails, the pain of losing a tail was unbearable even for male Lizardmen. Bai Ling shook her head, looking calmly at the Gray Scale chief in the water. "Chief Gray Scale, surrender!" About a hundred meters from the ice, the two conversed about something unknown. In the water, Gray Scale shook his head and slapped the water, occasionally casting a vengeful glance at the Goblins on the ice. Chapter 39 "The future should have changed, right?" Watching the two people conversing not far away, Li Meng muttered to himself. "System, start the simulated life!" With nothing else to do, he decided to use this month''s simulated life attempt. [Simulated Life Begins] [You lead the Goblin army to advance on the Gray Scale tribe] [Persuaded by Bai Ling, the Gray Scale tribe chooses to surrender to you and is willing to act as an envoy to convince the Black Scale tribe to submit to you] [The Black Scale tribe submits to you, and you successfully conquer the swamp] [You lead the Goblin army back to the tribe with the spoils of war] [Your tribe thrives, and the hunting area expands explosively] [Bai Ling gives birth, and you have offspring with your bloodline] [One day, a Pigmen tribe appears in the eastern forest, and you choose to ignore them] [One day, a person in a black robe, whose face is indistinguishable, appears in the tribe and finds you] [You obtain a sacrificial disk to summon the "Barbarian God" from the black-robed person] [Please make the following choice] [1. To gain powerful strength, you choose to summon the "Barbarian God"] [2. You decide to seal the Barbarian God sacrificial disk, maybe it will be useful later] [3. As soon as the black-robed person leaves, you smash the Barbarian God sacrificial disk] "Barbarian God?" A trace of doubt flashed in Li Meng''s eyes, and he muttered to himself. What is this thing? Could it be some kind of summoning magic? "Choose three!" Something summoned that is related to a god must be ominous. Li Meng wouldn''t go for something that obviously has issues.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Compared to the second option, Li Meng preferred the third one. [You destroyed the Barbarian God sacrificial disk] [A large number of Pigmen are discovered in the eastern forest, and you choose to retreat] [Goblins are spotted on the southern shore] [A Lizardman army from the west arrives at the swamp] [The Lizardman tribe in the swamp initiates a rebellion on the day of rotation, and Bai Ling betrays you] [The Lizardman army leaves the swamp and advances on your tribe] [You lead the Goblin army to confront the Lizardman army, encountering them in the eastern forest] [You achieve victory, with less than one-tenth of the Lizardmen surviving] [You lead the Goblin cavalry to catch up with Bai Ling and capture her] [You lead the Goblin army to advance on Black Mountain Swamp] [The Black Mountain tribe summons the Barbarian God "Aqua"] [Black Mountain Swamp is polluted by the Barbarian God, becoming the Great Wasteland, and all life is refined into wasteland slaves] [You choose to retreat and lead the Goblin army back to the tribe] [Three-year limit reached] [As a Transmigrator and a Goblin, you cautiously and gradually strengthen your tribe, and your efforts have paid off, your life is just beginning] [Simulated life ends, score: 100] [Please choose the following reward] [1. Consume ten score levels +1] [2. Consume one score attribute +1] [3. Consume ten score charm +1] [4. Consume ten score "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones" skill level +1] [5. Consume ten score "Wind Blade" skill level +1] "Great Wasteland, wasteland slaves?" For some reason, the future predicted by the simulated life gave Li Meng a chill down his spine. The appearance of the black robe, the sacrificial disk that can summon the Barbarian God, the Great Wasteland, wasteland slaves... Everything happened too suddenly. It was as if a bomb suddenly dropped from the sky on an otherwise peaceful day. That thunderous explosion caused everything to change drastically. Also, Li Meng didn''t expect the simulated life could only predict the future within three years. "Choose four!" [Consume 60 score, "Steel Muscles and Iron Bones" skill level +6] ["Steel Muscles and Iron Bones" skill has reached max level, advancing to "Steel Skin"] [Consume 40 score, "Steel Skin" skill level +2] [Your attributes have increased] "Hmph!" Li Meng suddenly let out a muffled groan, his face showing pain. His hands tightly gripped his thighs, veins bulging on the back of his hands. His whole body crackled with sound. The intense pain made Li Meng feel as if the bones in his body were being crushed. The severe pain lasted for several minutes before gradually subsiding. When the pain disappeared, Li Meng was drenched in sweat. "Boss... are you okay?" Gobu Qiang, standing behind Li Meng, took a fearful step back. For some reason, Gobu Qiang felt that the boss in front of him had changed. Just standing behind the boss, he felt a suffocating pressure. His legs were trembling, and he felt like kneeling at the boss''s feet. "I''m fine!" Taking a deep breath, Li Meng focused his thoughts. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 775] [Defense: 759] [Agility: 291] [Magic: 86] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Devouring the flesh of Magical Beasts has a chance to acquire their skills] [Steel Skin: LV2 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +200)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV1] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] My god, what happened? The terrifying attributes left Li Meng dumbfounded. He never expected the attribute bonuses after skill advancement to be so ridiculously high. His current attributes have completely surpassed Benben. Although he looks small, his body contains astonishing power. "This feeling is amazing!" Li Meng excitedly clenched his right fist. From this moment on, Gobu Ba was no longer a threat to him. He could crush Gobu Ba with just one finger. "Boss, she''s back!" At this moment, Bai Ling finished her negotiations with the Lizardmen. She turned and walked over. Looking at Bai Ling approaching, Li Meng''s face was filled with greed. There''s still time, there should be time. With his current powerful physical attributes, mating with Bai Ling could produce offspring with even greater potential. Facing Li Meng''s greedy and lecherous gaze, Bai Ling frowned slightly. Returning to Li Meng, a trace of disgust flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. She slightly lowered her head and reported the negotiation details with the Gray Scale tribe leader to Li Meng. "The Gray Scale tribe is willing to submit to you, willing to tribute two-tenths of their population, and willing to act as envoys to convince the Black Scale tribe to submit to you, but the Gray Scale tribe has two demands." Two demands? Li Meng glanced at the Lizardman standing in the water not far away. Facing Li Meng''s gaze, the Gray Scale tribe leader lowered his head in humiliation. This was a gesture of submission. "Speak, what are the demands?" Seeing this, Li Meng turned back to Bai Ling in front of him. "First, the Goblins must ensure the safety of the tributed population and not treat the Lizardmen as food." "Second, there must be no Goblins in the tribe!" "Alright, I agree!" Li Meng agreed to the two demands of the Gray Scale tribe without hesitation. Chapter 40 "Bai Ling, tell them to send the tribute population to the White Scale tribe in three days." Bai Ling nodded and turned to walk towards the Gray Scale tribe leader. The two exchanged a few more words. Soon after, the Lizardman turned and dove into the water, swimming away into the distance. "Gobu Qiang, retreat!" Taking two steps forward, Li Meng grabbed Bai Ling''s hand as she returned to his side. He pulled her onto Benben''s hand. Benben stood up and lifted the leader onto his shoulder. Sitting on Benben''s shoulder, Li Meng forcibly pulled Bai Ling into his embrace. His hands tightly grasped Bai Ling''s waist and hips. "What... are you trying to do?" Bai Ling looked panicked, struggling. But to her despair, she couldn''t move. The hands on her waist and hips held her body firmly in place. "No, please, not here!" The strange sensation beneath her beast skirt made Bai Ling realize what the Goblin in front of her intended to do. Bai Ling''s face showed a pleading expression. Her kind was watching not far away. As the High Priest, how could she endure such humiliation? "Withdraw, return to the White Scale tribe immediately!" Under Gobu Qiang''s command, the Goblins on the ice began to turn and retreat. Watching the leader bullying the female Lizardman on Benben''s shoulder, the Goblins looked on with greed. Some Goblins even drooled. "Ah!" A sharp scream echoed as Bai Ling, sitting astride Li Meng''s lap, was filled with resentment. Li Meng buried his ugly head into Bai Ling''s soft bosom. "How could this be, damn it, hateful!"This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The Lizardmen not far away witnessed everything. Gray Scale let out a mournful cry, filled with rage. His face twisted with hatred, reaching its peak. The surrounding elders clenched their fists, their bodies trembling. Their High Priest had become a breeding tool for the Goblins. "Damn it, damn it!" Many Lizardmen lowered their heads, not daring to look directly. Some Lizardmen slapped the water in frustration, venting their anger. "Leader, let''s fight them!" "Yes, fight them!" The Lizardmen, filled with righteous indignation, looked towards the Gray Scale tribe leader. Faced with the angry and expectant eyes of the young tribe members, Gray Scale hesitated. Finally, his face darkened, and he expressionlessly waded towards the direction of the tribe. "Everyone, return!" "Leader!" Some Lizardmen wanted to say more, but were silenced by Gray Scale''s glare. The leader''s authority made the Lizardmen reluctantly follow in silence. The elders also hesitated to speak. Although they didn''t know what the leader and Bai Ling the High Priest had discussed. The Goblins'' retreat gave them a sense of relief. Soon after, in the Gray Scale tribe leader''s wooden house. "What? I don''t agree, I absolutely don''t agree, leader, you''re sending our people to the Goblins as breeding tools." The elders looked at the leader in disbelief. They couldn''t believe the leader would agree to submit to the Goblins. Elder Hui Gu roared at Gray Scale. Gray Scale faced the elders'' angry eyes with an expressionless face. "Do you think the Gray Scale tribe is stronger than the White Scale tribe?" Gray Scale''s question left the elders speechless. Among the three major tribes in the swamp, the White Scale tribe was the strongest. Not only did they have a large population, but they also had Bai Ling the High Priest. "The White Scale tribe was overrun by the Goblins, what do we have to fight them with?" Faced with the leader''s gaze, the elders lowered their heads. Elder Hui Gu wanted to say something, but couldn''t bring himself to speak. "Bai Ling the High Priest personally told me, in last night''s battle, the young and strong of the White Scale tribe were all killed by the Goblins, leaving only women and children. If we want revenge, we must temporarily avoid the edge, pretend to submit to the Goblins, and buy time to seek help from the Black Scale tribe. A forced battle will only lead to the same fate as the White Scale tribe. We will have our revenge, but not now. We must preserve our living strength to prepare for future revenge." Revenge! Gray Scale''s words made the elders clench their fists. Their eyes were filled with hatred for the Goblins. For revenge, they could only humiliate themselves by submitting to the Goblins. "Leader, the tribespeople might find it hard to accept!" Hui Yuan looked worried, knowing how much of a stir this news would cause. Gray Scale looked apologetically at his wife sitting beside him. "I will lead by example and become the first batch of tribute!" These words caused the elders'' expressions to change. Elder Hui Gu shook his head with a bitter smile. "That''s all we can do. If we don''t become tributes, we can''t explain it to the tribespeople." The elders exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. "Leader, let us bear this sin together." Faced with the elders'' determined gazes, Gray Scale felt comforted. If only he became a tribute, the elders would become the target of the tribespeople''s resentment. But if both the elders and the leader became tributes, the tribespeople would surely understand their intentions. Soon after, Gray Scale led the elders straight towards the direction of the Black Scale tribe. ------ Three days later, at the White Scale tribe. It was noon, and the sun shone brightly over the swamp. Compared to the morning''s hustle and bustle, the White Scale tribe was much quieter. Looking into the tribe, many Goblins could be seen playing and frolicking on the wooden walls. Behind the wooden walls, the tribe was relatively calm. Early in the morning, nearly half of the Hunting Party had gone out to hunt. Goblins didn''t have the habit of storing food; they ate wherever they went. Goblins didn''t consume much either; once full, they wouldn''t be hungry for three days. In front of the largest thatched hut in the tribe. Gobu Qiang looked obsequiously at Benben, who was sitting in front of the door. "Um... I want to see the boss!" Hearing the noises from inside the hut, a hint of envy flashed in Gobu Qiang''s eyes. Benben looked down at Gobu Qiang, just staring. Sensing Benben''s gaze, Gobu Qiang gave a sheepish smile. He stepped back two steps and sat obediently on the ground to wait. Meanwhile, in the corner of the room, two figures, one green and one white, were intertwined. Bai Ling was pinned beneath Li Meng, unable to move. Her hands tightly gripped the wooden planks, her eyes filled with only humiliation and hatred. At that moment, Li Meng''s body suddenly trembled. Then he collapsed weakly onto Bai Ling. After a while, Li Meng got up from Bai Ling and sat beside her. Li Meng looked down at her belly. Reaching out with his right hand, Li Meng gently caressed Bai Ling''s slightly bulging belly. "Looks like you''re pregnant!" Li Meng''s voice wasn''t loud, but Bai Ling heard it. Although Bai Ling couldn''t understand the Goblin language. Through the "Heart Speech" skill, she knew what the sentence meant. Her body trembled, and a flash of fear appeared in her eyes. "Giving birth to a Goblin is relatively easy, it won''t hurt." The size of a Goblin baby is closely related to the size of the mother. If the mother is a Groundhog, the Goblin born will be very small. This makes it easier for the mother to give birth, preventing the Goblin from dying in the womb. Chapter 41 The goblins'' potential is closely tied to their paternal bloodline. Meanwhile, their limitations are tightly connected to the maternal body. Goblins born from groundhog mothers have the lowest potential. If the mother is a dragon, the goblin born would not only have extraordinary attributes from birth. Once it reaches adulthood, it might even evolve into a Goblin King. Additionally, it would carry dragon lineage traits, gaining some powerful skills. Of course, dragon-blooded goblins probably don''t exist in this world. After all, goblins are at the very bottom of the food chain here. Although they can hunt some powerful magical beasts through teamwork, there are also many magical beasts in the forest that prey on goblins. Dragons, on the other hand, are at the top of the pyramid. The two have no intersection, and even if they did, goblins would be the ants. Facing Li Meng''s comfort, Bai Ling turned her head expressionlessly. With a grin, Li Meng got up and walked out, unconcerned. Li Meng didn''t care what Bai Ling thought. In the coming year, Bai Ling had to bear offspring for him. "Boss, boss!" Outside, the door suddenly opened, waking Gobu Qiang from his wait. Gobu Qiang quickly got up and greeted with a fawning smile. Li Meng, standing at the door, stretched lazily. Then he looked up at the clear, cloudless sky. "What is it now?" Gobu Qiang looked greedily inside the room. "Boss, give me a female!" Li Meng''s face turned slightly cold, and he looked at Gobu Qiang expressionlessly. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. "Gobu Qiang, you''re the first goblin to actively ask me for mating rights." Facing the boss''s soul-piercing gaze, Gobu Qiang turned pale. He was so frightened that he fell to his knees, kowtowing repeatedly. "Boss, I was wrong, I was wrong, I won''t dare again!" Seeing Gobu Qiang kneeling and begging for mercy, Li Meng waved impatiently. "Don''t let it happen again, scram!" Gobu Qiang quickly turned and scrambled away. "Hmph, serves him right!" This scene was witnessed by nearby goblins. Some goblins looked on with schadenfreude. "That old man keeps hanging around the boss, he should have stepped down long ago!" "Gobu De, you should challenge Gobu Qiang." "Get lost, I left his hunting party long ago, if there''s a challenge, it''s to the little boss." Hearing the mocking voices of his kin, Gobu Qiang glared angrily. He clenched his fists, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. "Just wait, once I evolve into a Goblin Soldier, I''ll deal with you all!" Just then, a goblin hurried over from the front. Gobu Qiang grabbed it. "What happened?" "A group of lizardmen is approaching the tribe from the northwest." A group of lizardmen is approaching? Gobu Qiang''s eyes lit up, and he turned to run towards the boss. "Leave this to me!" "Boss, boss!" Having just run off, Gobu Qiang came scurrying back. He slid to a stop, kneeling steadily before Li Meng. "Boss, the tribute has arrived!" Hearing this, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. He was about to go see, but thought better of it. "Let them in, bring a few leaders to see me!" Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. It was great that the boss entrusted him with this task. It showed that the boss still trusted him. His status in the boss''s eyes wasn''t something those foolish goblins could shake. Gobu Qiang quickly got up, full of pride, and ran off into the distance. Meanwhile, in the swamp northwest of the tribe. A group of lizardmen was approaching the tribe along a shallow waterway. Their figures were densely packed. There were at least four to five hundred of them. The lizardmen wading through the water wore expressions of fear. Even those at the front looked grim. The appearance of the fortress ahead made everyone''s hearts tighten. Reaching here meant there was no turning back for them. "Gray Scale tribe leader, I hope your decision with the White Scale tribe is correct." In the crowd, Gray Scale supported his wife as they waded through the water. Regarding the words of the Black Scale tribe leader beside him, Gray Scale gazed towards the distant White Scale tribe. "I''ve sent people to the Black Mountain Swamp to seek help from the Black Mountain tribe. You know how precious the High Priest''s bloodline is, the Black Mountain tribe won''t refuse. Once reinforcements arrive, it will be our day of revenge!" Black Scale turned to look at his slightly anxious wife. He sighed, saying nothing more. The more comforting words he spoke, the more fragile his wife would become. He had no choice, nor did his people. Either survive or become food for the goblins. Half an hour later, the lizardman tribute team landed from outside the wooden wall to the northwest. Then they entered the tribe through the north gate. Goblins looked greedily at the lizardmen entering through the north gate. The lizardmen being watched by the goblins either glared angrily or trembled in fear. The elders of the Gray Scale and Black Scale tribes looked tense. Entering the tribe empty-handed, if the goblins attacked, they would all die. Fortunately, the goblins around them only stared at them with greedy eyes. "Gray Scale tribe leader, those weapons in the goblins'' hands seem to be human bows and arrows!" Since entering the White Scale tribe, Black Scale had been observing the goblins in the tribe. The weapons in the goblins'' hands caught Black Scale''s attention. Gray Scale also noticed that the goblins'' weapons seemed to be iron. "They look a bit like it, but bows and arrows aren''t like that!" "Where did these goblins get iron weapons?" Only on this point was Gray Scale puzzled. "We''ll find out!" Slightly raising his head, Black Scale looked at a goblin blocking their path. "Follow me!" The goblin blocking the way was Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang gestured to the lizardmen in front of him. Though the languages were different, his gestures conveyed his meaning to the lizardmen. With that, Gobu Qiang turned and walked deeper into the tribe. The group of lizardmen followed Gobu Qiang. Soon, Gobu Qiang led the lizardmen to the largest thatched hut. Li Meng still sat at the entrance, with Benben snoring away. Bai Ling stood at the entrance, quietly watching the approaching lizardmen. "It''s the High Priest Bai Ling!" The sight of Bai Ling at the entrance caused a small commotion among the lizardmen. All the lizardmen looked at the High Priest Bai Ling with complex expressions. They hadn''t expected the High Priest Bai Ling to also become a prisoner of the goblins. The lizardmen stopped about twenty meters from the thatched hut. Gobu Qiang scurried over to Li Meng. "Boss, I''ve brought the tribute!" Li Meng glanced over the lizardmen. There were quite a few, at least several hundred lizardmen. Li Meng pointed to the two leading lizardmen. They had the highest levels, reaching level 47. This indicated that these two lizardmen held significant positions in their tribe. Chapter 42 Seeing the Big Goblin sitting at the entrance pointing at himself, Gray Scale and Black Scale exchanged glances and looked towards Bai Ling, the High Priestess. Facing their gazes, Bai Ling, standing at the entrance, nodded slightly. Seeing this, the two of them strode towards the thatched hut. "Bai Ling, who are those two Lizardmen?" Gobu Ge''s question made Bai Ling frown slightly. She lowered her head slightly and answered Li Meng truthfully. "They are the tribe leaders of the Gray Scale tribe and the Black Scale tribe!" Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. "A tribe leader acting as a tribute, that''s quite bold. The leaders of those Lizardmen must not be simple either." "Yes, they are the elders and the wives of the elders from both tribes." With a grin, Li Meng understood what was happening. If those in power do not lead by example, how can they convince their people? Submitting to the Goblins is a great humiliation for any intelligent race. Once the fire of anger is ignited, both tribes would fight to the death. The upper echelons of the two tribes sacrificed themselves to preserve the tribe. Gray Scale and Black Scale stopped less than five meters away from Li Meng. With heads lowered, they knelt on the ground in humiliation. Li Meng was quite satisfied with their submissive posture. Although these Lizardmen were only pretending to surrender to buy time, Li Meng didn''t care about their little tricks. After all, time was on his side. "Bai Ling, tell them that from now on, the male Lizardmen will be under their control, and the female Lizardmen under yours. We leave for the tribe tomorrow!" Bai Ling spoke a few words in Lizardman language to the two kneeling outside. The two looked up at Bai Ling at the entrance and nodded. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. With the Heart Speech skill, Li Meng knew what the three were discussing. He was just pretending not to understand. Shortly after, the two got up and left. The Lizardmen gathered in front of the thatched hut were also taken to other places to settle. Time passed bit by bit, and the sun gradually set in the west. Before nightfall, the hunting parties that went out returned to the tribe one after another. They also brought back a large number of swamp crabs and swamp crocodile corpses. That night, the White Scale tribe was bustling. Moonlight spilled from the sky, slightly dispelling the darkness. A certain thatched hut was crowded with Lizardmen. More than a dozen were gathered together, whispering. "Those Goblins seem different from the ones we encountered before." "Indeed, they are too rational." "The Goblins we knew before were more like beasts, but today those Goblins are truly intelligent beings." "Is it because of that Goblin?" What they saw and heard during the day surprised everyone greatly. They were prepared to be humiliated. Although the Goblins greedily eyed the females, they restrained their desires. Are these the Goblins they knew? Moreover, the atmosphere of that Goblin group was extraordinary. "For now, we can only wait and see. Let''s disperse and not alarm the Goblins." Gray Scale didn''t let the topic continue. Then, the group gathered in the darkness dispersed and lay down to sleep. Time passed bit by bit, and the night deepened. Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, the White Scale tribe became lively. Goblins rudely pushed open the doors of the thatched huts, waking the sleeping Lizardmen. They drove the Lizardmen out of the huts. A massive procession marched out from the west gate, heading west. By the afternoon of the second day, the procession left the swamp and entered the forest. The massive procession hunted as they moved upstream. On the afternoon of the fifth day, the procession returned to the tribe. "Is this the Goblins'' lair?" Looking at the scattered wooden houses in the forest, Gray Scale thought to himself. Black Scale beside him was also full of surprise. The Goblin army that broke through the White Scale tribe was not small. There were at least over a thousand Goblins. How could such a small place accommodate so many Goblins? Could it be that these thousand Goblins were all the Goblins'' strength? Shortly after, the massive procession gathered in front of the largest wooden house. A dense crowd spread across the forest. Li Meng stood at the entrance of the wooden house like a "king." Outside were a group of Big Goblins. After devouring a large number of Lizardman corpses, more than twenty Goblins successfully evolved into Big Goblins. Several Big Goblins even showed signs of evolving into Goblin Soldiers. Even among the Big Goblins, they were massive. "Boss, boss!" At this moment, Gobu Ge led a group of Goblins running out of the forest. Breathless, he joined the ranks of the Big Goblins in front of the wooden house. Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling beside him. "Separate them, females on the right, males on the left!" Bai Ling silently walked towards the Lizardman group. In front of the Lizardman group, Bai Ling loudly said something to the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen looked at each other, fear on their faces. Some female Lizardmen clung tightly to the male Lizardmen for comfort. Seeing the Lizardmen hesitating to separate, a hint of impatience flashed in Li Meng''s eyes as he stood at the wooden house entrance. He didn''t have time to waste with the Lizardmen here. Li Meng nodded to the Goblins surrounding the Lizardmen. The Goblins, always attentive to their leader, grinned. They charged at the Lizardmen with their spears. "Male on the left, female on the right, separate, separate!" The Goblins shouted, poking the Lizardmen with spearheads. Although the Lizardmen didn''t understand what the Goblins were saying, they knew it was related to what Bai Ling had said. Under the Goblins'' forceful expulsion, the Lizardmen finally split into two groups. "Gobu Ge, the male Lizardmen are yours. Have them help you with some hard labor, and remember, they are not food." Gobu Ge''s eyes lit up, and he nodded quickly. "Uh... boss..." Gobu Ge chuckled, hesitating to speak. He turned to look at the female Lizardmen, a greedy look on his face. What Gobu Ge wanted wasn''t the male Lizardmen. "Come see me later!" Hearing this, Gobu Ge was overjoyed and quickly ran towards the male Lizardmen. "You, come with me!" And so, Gobu Ge led the male Lizardmen into the depths of the forest. The departing male Lizardmen looked back with every step. They didn''t know what awaited them. Only when the male Lizardmen disappeared into the forest did Li Meng begin to allocate the female Lizardmen. "These are the mates of the elders from the three tribes. They rightfully belong to you!" Bai Ling returned to Li Meng with more than ten female Lizardmen. Looking at the female Lizardmen behind Bai Ling, Li Meng gave a lecherous smile. In a few months, he would have his own bloodline descendants. By then, he could truly control the tribe. "Take them inside!" Bai Ling turned and spoke to the tribeswomen behind her. A total of thirteen female Lizardmen followed Bai Ling into the house. Chapter 43 Although Li Meng couldn''t tell whether the Lizardmen were attractive or not, the elders'' companions were all quite voluptuous. They differed slightly from other ordinary female Lizardmen, at least in terms of their fuller and more graceful curves. Their levels were also significantly higher. Ordinary female Lizardmen were around level 20, while the elders'' companions were all above level 30. "Bai Ling, you should call me Master!" As he walked past Li Meng, he coldly said this. Bai Ling trembled and lowered her head slightly. "Master!" This call of "Master" made Li Meng grin, and he reached out to give Bai Ling''s plump rear a slap. With a face full of embarrassment and anger, Bai Ling led her people into the house. Bai Ling did not enter the house but stood behind Li Meng. "Gobu Qiang, you performed bravely this time. I''ll reward you with ten female Lizardmen. Remember, they are not food. Before the rotation period ends, you must return them to me intact. If any are missing, you owe me an explanation, and I''ll punish you based on that explanation." Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously, dropping to his knees with a fawning expression. "Boss, I won''t eat them, I swear!" Li Meng waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over the female Lizardmen. "Go pick ten female Lizardmen." Gobu Qiang quickly got up and happily ran towards the female Lizardmen. "You, you, you..." In no time, Gobu Qiang had selected ten female Lizardmen and cheerfully led them to his wooden house. The other Big Goblins looked on enviously as Gobu Qiang left with the ten female Lizardmen. "Gobu Ta, Gobu Ke, Gobu Qi, Gobu Liang, you all performed well in this battle. Each of you will receive five female Lizardmen." The four Big Goblins ran towards the female Lizardmen at the call. Looking at the group of female Lizardmen, the Big Goblins showed greedy expressions, while the female Lizardmen trembled in fear.If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Gobu De, Gobu Bu, Gobu Ge, each of you pick three females." Two of the three Big Goblins ran greedily towards the female Lizardmen. Only Gobu Ge did not move. "I''m not satisfied, Gobu Meng, I challenge you!" Gobu Ge looked greedily at Bai Ling behind Li Meng. He fearlessly stared directly at Li Meng, provocatively pointing at him with his right hand. Gobu Ge''s challenge to the boss startled the surrounding Goblins, but it was soon followed by excited cheers. "Gobu Ge, Gobu Ge!" All the Goblins in the forest shouted loudly, cheering for Gobu Ge. The law of the jungle has always been the truth Goblins adhere to for thousands of years. Challenging the boss is an honor worthy of respect among Goblins. Even Gobu Qiang, who had walked far away, ran back, shouting "Gobu Ge" to cheer him on. The cheers and support from his companions made Gobu Ge''s face light up with excitement. "Ah!" He roared to the sky. An astonishing scene unfolded as Gobu Ge began to evolve. His body crackled and expanded at a speed visible to the naked eye. Originally nearly 1.8 meters tall, he instantly grew to 2 meters. His body also appeared more robust and towering. "Gobu Ge, Gobu Ge!" This scene sent the Goblins into a frenzy, roaring and shouting with all their might. "Gobu Meng, I am the boss now!" The powerful force surging from within Gobu Ge made him roar. His strong, muscular body charged towards Li Meng with a roar. And at this scene, Bai Ling, standing behind Li Meng, had a face full of schadenfreude. Goblin challenges shouldn''t involve magic, right? If magic couldn''t be used, as just a Big Goblin, he was doomed. "Benben, don''t intervene!" Benben, standing nearby, grabbed the spiked club at his side. If he swung it, even ten Gobu Ge wouldn''t be enough. Watching Gobu Ge charge, Li Meng''s eyes narrowed slightly. In the future predicted by the simulated life, Gobu Ge had also challenged him. Li Meng thought the future had changed, but now it seemed not. His future had changed, but Gobu Ge evolving into a Goblin Solider to challenge him had not. "Gobu Meng, die!" Gobu Ge''s strong body, like a heavy tank, closed in on Li Meng. A massive fist swung towards Li Meng''s head. Seeing the boss so close, Gobu Ge''s face showed excitement. As long as he killed the boss, he would become the boss. Then, he would have everything the boss had. Just as the fist was about to hit Li Meng''s face, Li Meng moved. His left hand suddenly swung up, striking Gobu Ge''s arm with lightning speed. The immense force directly deflected Gobu Ge''s fist. This strike left Gobu Ge''s front wide open. Li Meng''s right hand turned into a palm, stepping forward, and struck Gobu Ge''s chest with a palm. Defense and attack, the two moves were executed by Li Meng with seamless fluidity. "Boom!" With a "boom," a wave of air exploded. Gobu Ge''s massive body flew out like a cannonball, soaring tens of meters away, and slammed into a large tree with a "boom." "Crack!" A large dent appeared in the tree trunk. And Gobu Ge, who had been struck hard, like a watermelon smashed into pieces by a giant hammer. In an instant, blood and flesh flew everywhere, staining that space red. This terrifying scene abruptly silenced the Goblins'' cheers. All the Goblins looked at the boss at the wooden house door with faces full of fear. Bai Ling, standing behind Li Meng, was even paler. Only she could sense the immense power contained within the small body of the Goblin in front of her, unable to believe how a Big Goblin could possess such terrifying strength. Standing at the wooden house door, Li Meng coldly surveyed his Goblin underlings. The Goblins, swept over by Li Meng''s gaze, all lowered their heads in reverence. "The remaining Big Goblins, each pick three female Lizardmen!" The boss''s sudden voice startled the Big Goblins, and over a dozen Big Goblins instinctively knelt. Upon hearing the boss''s words, they quickly got up and excitedly ran towards the female Lizardmen. After all the Big Goblins had chosen their mates, there were still over a hundred female Lizardmen left. Many ordinary Goblins were about to evolve into Big Goblins, so some female Lizardmen needed to be reserved for them. "Bai Ling, arrange for the remaining ones to take care of the pregnant female Lizardmen." Hearing this, Bai Ling silently walked towards her people. Everything the Goblins did behind her left Bai Ling in shock and fear. He was too clever, making it hard to believe he was a Goblin. Rationally distributing the female tribesmen was not something a Goblin would do. Soon, the Goblins gathered in front of the wooden house dispersed. Before dark, Gobu Ge returned to the tribe. "Benben, is the boss inside?" Gobu Ge looked enviously at the tightly closed door. He heard the soft noises coming from inside. Clearly, the boss was in there. Chapter 44 Benben, who had been snoring away, sat up. It looked down at the little Gobu Ge. Then it lay back down and resumed its snoring. Gobu Ge gave an awkward smile and patiently waited. Meanwhile, inside the hut, Li Meng was venting his energy on a female Lizardman. The other female Lizardmen were huddled fearfully in the corner. Among all the female Lizardmen, only Bai Ling remained calm. She sat by the door, hugging her knees, pretending to sleep with her eyes closed. She seemed indifferent to the enticing view beneath her beast skirt. "Ah!" The female Lizardman beneath Li Meng suddenly let out a sharp scream. Her strong hands wrapped tightly around Li Meng''s chest and waist. Even with a lizard head, the desire in her eyes was evident. Seeing the alluring expression on the female Lizardman''s face, Li Meng smiled secretly. To increase the chances of conception, the Goblin''s thing had an aphrodisiac effect. No matter how much Bai Ling hated him, once in the state, she would fall into a pit of desire. At that point, Bai Ling wouldn''t just resist; she might even take the lead. It was precisely because of this ability that creatures mated by Goblins often went insane. The intertwining of pleasure and disgust day after day could easily lead to a mental breakdown. No one knew how long it took before the sounds inside the hut finally quieted down. Inside, Li Meng climbed off the female Lizardman. Standing up, Li Meng opened a window on one side. With the window open, the room became much brighter. "Bai Ling, why don''t they escape?" Stolen story; please report. Li Meng had always wondered about the Black Scale tribe''s submission. The swamp was so vast that if the Black Scale tribe chose to flee, Li Meng wouldn''t bother to chase them. Not just the Black Scale tribe, even if the Gray Scale tribe abandoned their fortress and fled, Li Meng wouldn''t pursue them. Because the swamp was the Lizardmen''s home ground. Lizardmen moved much faster in the swamp than Goblins. Even if he wanted to chase them, he couldn''t catch up. Bai Ling, sitting by the door, opened her eyes, revealing pale golden pupils. She looked up at her master standing naked by the window. "Master, we swamp Lizardmen love humid environments and can''t live without water. If our bodies don''t get moisture for a long time, our skin will crack, and our scales will shatter. In the Goblin Forest, there are only two places suitable for swamp Lizardmen to live: one is the Black Mountain Swamp, and the other is the northern swamp where we are. Our roots are here; once we leave the northern swamp, we cannot survive." "Why not choose to return to the Black Mountain Swamp?" Standing by the window, Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling sitting by the door. His gaze slightly lowered, revealing the private parts beneath Bai Ling''s beast skirt. Seemingly aware of where her master''s gaze was, Bai Ling slightly turned and lowered her legs. In the wooden hut, Bai Ling''s voice rang out again. "The Black Mountain Swamp is deep within the Goblin Forest, very far from the northern swamp. If we migrate with the entire tribe, the risk is too great. Besides the young and strong, most women and children would likely die on the way. Although we are good with water, we can''t catch agile fish in deep water, and we are not agile enough on land to catch weak Magical Beasts and animals." Bai Ling''s words made Li Meng suddenly understand. No wonder the Black Scale tribe preferred to submit to him rather than migrate with the entire tribe. Thinking about it carefully, one could understand the Black Scale tribe''s choice. Catching Magical Beasts was not an easy task. Low-level Magical Beasts were not much different from ordinary animals. Even when faced with weaker opponents, they would choose to run away first. And the Magical Beasts that didn''t run often possessed great strength. Swamp Lizardmen were not agile on land, and their success rate in hunting low-level Magical Beasts was very low. Swamp Lizardmen, unlike Goblins, didn''t have powerful claws. Even without tools, Goblins could dig out groundhogs hidden in burrows. Goblins were also small enough to crawl into groundhog holes and drive them out. Moreover, Goblins had the ability to see at night. This made Goblins very successful hunters. But swamp Lizardmen had no advantage in hunting. In terms of survival ability in the forest, Goblins far surpassed swamp Lizardmen. Without enough food on the migration route, it would be a disaster. Turning away from the window, Li Meng walked towards the door. With a creak, the door that had been closed for several hours opened again. "Boss, boss!" The sound of the door opening startled Gobu Ge, who was dozing off by the door. It jumped up in surprise and quickly turned to look at the door. In Gobu Ge''s eyes, the boss walked out of the hut. Gobu Ge hurriedly went up with a fawning expression. Li Meng, stepping out of the hut, stretched lazily. "Bai Ling, take Gobu Ge to select five female Lizardmen." Hearing the boss''s words, Gobu Ge''s face lit up with joy. Bai Ling, now dressed in her beast skirt, walked out of the hut. She glared at Gobu Ge with disgust. Then she headed towards the direction where the female Lizardmen were housed. "Gobu Ge, hand over half of the male Lizardmen to Gobu Qiang. Go." Gobu Ge quickly nodded and chased after Bai Ling. Watching the backs of Gobu Ge and Bai Ling as they left, Li Meng glanced around the tribe. The tribe was still too small, and the wooden huts were neither enough nor big enough. The buildings of the White Scale tribe and the Gray Scale tribe were well constructed. It was just right to have the Lizardmen expand the tribe. To build more and larger wooden huts. "You, go find Gobu Qiang and have him come see me." The Big Goblins should all be in the tribe now, making babies. Li Meng said to a Goblin standing guard at the door. The hunting party of the tribe wouldn''t all be sent out to hunt. Two hunting parties would be left to protect the tribe''s safety. Besides some patrols, some important places would also have Goblins standing guard. "Yes, boss!" The Goblin on guard quickly ran towards the direction of Gobu Qiang''s hut. About ten minutes later, Gobu Qiang arrived at the hut before Bai Ling. "Boss, you called me!" Gobu Qiang came running over, panting slightly. Looking at the somewhat breathless Gobu Qiang in front of him, Li Meng glanced slightly towards the depths of the forest. In that direction, Bai Ling was walking over. "Soon, Gobu Ge will assign you some male Lizardmen. You don''t need to go out hunting anymore. Your next task is to lead the male Lizardmen to expand the tribe and build more and larger wooden huts. Do you understand?" Expand the tribe? Gobu Qiang''s eyes lit up, and he quickly nodded. "Boss, leave it to me." Its wooden hut was really too small. A big wooden hut would provide a more comfortable space. Gobu Qiang felt excited. Soon, it would have a big wooden hut. "Go!" Gobu Qiang turned and ran towards the depths of the forest. As Gobu Qiang left, Bai Ling also returned to Li Meng''s side. Chapter 45 Li Meng yawned and turned to wrap his arms around Bai Ling''s waist. Then, holding the expressionless Bai Ling, he entered the house. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task. That was to create little goblins, not humans. The other Big Goblins stayed in the tribe for two days before leading their respective hunting parties out to hunt. The male Lizardmen began their lives as slaves. Chopping wood, building wooden houses, mining, transporting clay¡ªall the hard labor was done by the Lizardmen. Iron Cave, underground riverbank. "What are you looking at? Keep moving!" The bustling scene on the underground riverbank caught the attention of the passing Lizardmen. Gray Scale wanted to get closer for a look but was blocked by a Goblin. Gray Scale had no choice but to continue walking forward with a basket of clay on his back. There were many burning mounds of earth on the riverbank. The source of the heat waves was those mounds. Around the mounds, a large number of Goblins were hard at work. Some Goblins were stepping on something, moving up and down. Others were hammering away at something fiery red, making a "ding ding dang dang" sound. "Chieftain, what are the Goblins doing?" The elder following behind Gray Scale asked. "I don''t know, it''s too far to see clearly." The swamp Lizardmen knew about human iron tools but didn''t know how they were made. Even if they got closer, they wouldn''t understand that the Goblins were smelting iron. Meanwhile, another group of male Lizardmen was also laboring in the tribe. Looking towards the tribe, a large number of Lizardmen were building wooden houses. The sound of "thud thud" from the distant forest had been ongoing for more than ten days. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. 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, with more comfortable and ample space inside. "Hei Nana?" In the tribe, a familiar figure appeared, causing Black Scale, who was carrying wood, to pause. He hurriedly dropped the wood from his shoulder and rushed towards his wife. "Stop!" The Goblin guarding in front of the female Lizardman snarled at Black Scale, baring its teeth. The long spear and crossbow in its hands were pointed at Black Scale. Black Scale had to stop five meters away from his wife. Hei Nana, with a big belly, shook her head at Black Scale. "Are you... are you okay?" Looking down at his wife''s round belly, Black Scale clenched his fists. His eyes were filled with humiliation and anger. Hei Nana nodded, following her husband''s gaze with a look of disgust at her own belly. "I''m fine, Black Scale, I just wanted to see you!" Their eyes met, and everything was understood without words. "I will end these humiliating days, please endure!" Their meeting and exchange were observed by a Goblin not far away. To be precise, it was a Big Goblin. And this Big Goblin was Li Meng. "Boss, what do you think?" Beside a huge animal pen, Gobu Qiang asked with a flattering expression. Li Meng withdrew his gaze and glanced around the forest. There were many animal pens like this in the forest. "Gobu Qiang, are you interested in raising pigs?" Raising pigs? Gobu Qiang looked at his boss with a face full of questions. With a slight turn of his head, Li Meng looked at the animal pen with wild boars. "Go bring a wild boar over, make sure it''s a male!" Although he didn''t know what the boss wanted with a wild boar, Gobu Qiang didn''t ask further. He quickly ran towards the animal pen with wild boars. Then, with more than ten Goblin underlings holding bark ropes, he entered the pen. All that could be heard was the "oink oink" of pigs. A male wild boar was dragged over by more than ten Goblins. The male wild boar was quite large. Its shoulder height was about 1.3 meters, just a bit shorter than a Goblin. It was also very strong, and more than ten Goblins could barely hold it. With a slight struggle, the wild boar could make the Goblins on one side stumble. "Boss... the... the wild boar is here!" Gobu Qiang struggled to pull the bark rope. The wild boar was struggling fiercely, constantly retreating. With brute force, more than ten Goblins could move the wild boar. Li Meng stepped forward and approached the wild boar. "Boss, it''s dangerous!" Seeing the boss walk directly towards the wild boar, Gobu Qiang quickly warned. Li Meng didn''t stop. A miraculous scene unfolded. As Li Meng approached the wild boar, it suddenly calmed down. Its large eyes stared intently at Li Meng. Li Meng came to the wild boar''s side and stroked its neck. The wild boar seemed to enjoy Li Meng''s touch, snuggling into his embrace. This scene left the surrounding Goblins astonished. The male wild boar was usually so fierce, how could it be so calm in front of the boss? "Bring the stuff over!" After stroking for a while, Li Meng called to a few Goblin underlings not far away. The Goblin underlings hurriedly carried over a pig saddle made of animal hide. Li Meng moved around the wild boar, fitting it with the pig saddle. Although the pig saddle was simple, it was usable. "What''s the boss doing?" Seeing the boss fitting the wild boar with animal gear, Gobu Qiang muttered. After tying the last piece of animal hide rope, Li Meng pushed the pig saddle. It was stable and solid! Patting the wild boar''s back, Li Meng swung onto it. "Oink oink!" The weight on its back made the wild boar a bit uncomfortable. It shook its head and oinked a few times before calming down. "Go!" Li Meng shouted. The wild boar shot out as if startled. Oinking and panting, it ran through the forest. Its speed was extremely fast, darting into the forest in a flash. Riding on the wild boar''s back, Li Meng leaned slightly forward, grabbing the wild boar''s left ear. With a pull to the left, the wild boar running in the forest turned left. Gobu Qiang only saw the boss riding the wild boar into the depths of the forest. Soon, the boss rode the wild boar back. Under Li Meng''s control, the wild boar carrying him dashed around the tribe. "Get out of the way!" Seeing the wild boar charging over, a few Lizardmen carrying wood hurriedly fled. Just as the wild boar was about to hit them. The wild boar suddenly turned and ran past them, panting. "What''s the boss doing?" The Goblins in the tribe looked curiously at the boss riding the wild boar around the tribe. The Lizardmen were also baffled. Only Bai Ling, standing at the door of a wooden house, had a look of uncertainty on her face. After playing for a while, Li Meng returned to the animal pen. Dismounting from the wild boar, Li Meng patted its neck. "Gobu Qiang, what do you think, want to fight riding wild boars?" Gobu Qiang''s eyes lit up, nodding vigorously. The boss riding the wild boar looked so cool. With the wild boar''s speed, they could hunt those fast-running forest deer in the future. "Then let''s raise pigs. Male wild boars have more strength and endurance. You need to build a bond and understanding with the wild boars from a young age." If it weren''t for the Heart Speech skill, the wild boar wouldn''t have let him ride it. In the future predicted by the simulated life, he would form a wild boar cavalry. Forming a wild boar cavalry was also in line with the future. Chapter 46 "Boss, I know what to do. Once the piglets are weaned, I''ll make sure each of the brothers has one to raise." With a grin, Li Meng turned around and untied the wild boar saddle from the boar. After removing the saddle, Li Meng patted the sturdy body of the boar. "This boar has good genes. Let''s use it for breeding." And so, Li Meng''s goblin army gained a new unit of wild boar cavalry. However, training wild boar cavalry isn''t something that can be accomplished quickly. The gestation period for wild boars is over two months. It takes another three months for the piglets to mature. In other words, it will be six months before the first batch of piglets can become mounts. Watching the boss''s departing figure, Gobu Qiang was full of admiration. The boss is really smart, not like a goblin at all. Back at the wooden cabin, Li Meng sat down at the entrance. Looking at Benben, who was snoring away nearby, Li Meng smiled faintly. Benben was almost becoming his guardian deity. Li Meng slightly raised his head and looked at the dense canopy. Goblins don''t like staying under the sun for long periods. Therefore, the tribe''s construction didn''t involve cutting down trees. The wooden cabins were built using trees as the supporting structure. "I wonder when the Black Robe will come!" Li Meng thought of the Black Robe that appeared in the future predicted by the simulated life. And what exactly is the sacrificial disk that can summon the Barbarian God? But what is the Barbarian God? A deity of this world? "Bai Ling, what is the Barbarian God?" The door behind him was open.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. Bai Ling was sitting in the corner behind the door. Although he couldn''t see her, Li Meng knew Bai Ling was there. "Every race has a deity they worship. The deity worshipped by the Barbarians is called the Barbarian God." Could it be that deities really exist in this world? "Why don''t goblins have a Barbarian God to worship?" During his time in the goblin lair, Li Meng had never heard of anything like a Barbarian God. "Goblins are an ignorant and savage race. Their ugly nature makes them think of nothing but eating and mating." Bai Ling''s disdain for goblins was undisguised. Sitting at the door, Li Meng grinned and didn''t take it to heart. As Bai Ling said, goblins are indeed savage and ignorant. Anything beyond eating and mating is superfluous. The reason his tribe seemed relatively normal was because of his presence as the boss. Standing up, Li Meng dusted off the dirt from his body. "I''ll be leaving the tribe for a while. Bai Ling, you must take good care of my bloodline descendants. If you harm them out of hatred for me, believe me, I will make all the Lizardmen wish for death but be unable to die!" Faced with Li Meng''s threat, Bai Ling''s face turned pale behind the door. The goblin''s voice was calm, but Bai Ling knew he was serious. This wasn''t just an empty threat. "Master, where are you going?" The goblin didn''t respond to her, and Bai Ling only heard the gradually fading footsteps. Half an hour later, at the southern riverbank of the tribe. A shadow flashed through the forest, and a figure darted out. The figure emerging from the forest was Li Meng. "Looks like the flood season is over!" Looking at the calm water surface, Li Meng thought to himself. Compared to the turbulent waves when he crossed the river a few months ago, the river''s flow was now very slow. The water level had also dropped significantly. "If I cross the river, the future should change." In the future predicted by the simulated life, he hadn''t crossed the river to return to the goblin lair. Yes, Li Meng planned to return to the goblin lair to challenge Gobu Ba. With his current strength, Gobu Ba was no longer his match. His bloodline also belonged to Gobu Ba''s lineage. Therefore, he was qualified to challenge Gobu Ba. Once he killed Gobu Ba, he would gain dozens of upper-level goblins. With these upper-level goblins joining, the tribe''s strength would grow several times over. Without hesitation, Li Meng leaped forward and jumped into the river. A miraculous scene unfolded. Instead of sinking to the bottom, Li Meng ran on the water''s surface. Wherever he passed, the water beneath his feet instantly froze. Li Meng crossed the several hundred meters wide river in one breath. Once he reached solid ground, Li Meng stopped on the riverbank. Looking back at the ice path spanning the river, Li Meng grinned. Magic is truly a wonderful thing, very practical. Under the river''s current, the ice path quickly cracked and melted away downstream. "System, start the simulated life!" [Consuming 10 second-tier Magic Crystals, the simulated life begins] [You crossed the river and returned to the goblin lair] [You met Gobu Ba and issued a challenge to the goblins] [You killed Gobu Ba and devoured his flesh] [Your territory expanded rapidly, and your tribe thrived] [A human airship appeared in the sky above the forest near the goblin lair] [Please make the following choice] [1. You are curious about the airship and choose to observe] [2. You are curious about the airship''s structure and decide to capture one for research] "Choose two!" He had never seen humans until now. Li Meng was eager to see what human tools looked like. [You watched the airship gradually disappear and decided to create a weapon capable of capturing it] [After some research, you successfully created a giant crossbow] [One day, a mysterious figure in a black robe appeared in the tribe and found you] [You obtained the sacrificial disk to summon the Barbarian God and smashed it in front of the Black Robe] [The Black Robe was furious, and you died] [As a transmigrator, all your efforts were in vain due to your arrogance. As the saying goes, weakness and ignorance are not obstacles to survival, but arrogance is. Keeping a low profile will allow you to live longer] [The simulated life ends, score: 40] [Please make the following reward choice] [1. Consume ten scores to increase level by +1] [2. Consume one score to increase attribute by +1] [3. Consume ten scores to increase luck by +1] [4. Consume ten scores to increase "Physical Regeneration" skill level by +1] "Choose four!" [Consuming 40 scores, "Physical Regeneration" skill level +4] Li Meng sat down on the riverbank, staring blankly at the sky. "What could have made me act so arrogantly in front of the Black Robe?" Smashing the sacrificial disk in front of the Black Robe didn''t seem like something he would do. No matter how arrogant he was, there was no reason to do that. "Am I really that stupid?" Li Meng stood up, muttering to himself. Could it be that the goblin body was making him dumber? "What a pity, the future of the airship is gone!" Thinking about the airship made Li Meng itch with curiosity. In this world, anything that could fly must be a good thing. Even if he couldn''t replicate it, Li Meng wanted to find out how the airship flew. "I''ll have to wait for next month''s simulated life!" Knowing that angering the Black Robe would lead to death, changing the future wouldn''t be difficult. Chapter 47 Li Meng on the riverbank turned and ran into the forest. The forest was immediately filled with startled birds scattering. The commotion spread deeper into the forest. In the following days, Li Meng headed south. Although he encountered some of Gobu Ba''s hunting parties along the way, Li Meng avoided contact with them. What would normally take over half a month, Li Meng completed in just five days to reach his destination. It was a new day, in the morning. In the forest outside the Goblin cave. In the dim forest, a shadow flashed by. So fast, it disappeared into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye. Moments later, in the forest outside the Goblin nest. Li Meng leisurely walked out. "It''s Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng has returned!" Li Meng''s appearance caught the attention of the Goblins playing at the cave entrance. Seeing Gobu Meng return, they all looked surprised. Gobu Qiang''s hunting party had been missing for a long, long time. Unexpectedly, Gobu Meng returned today. "Gobu Meng, where''s Gobu Qiang?" A Big Goblin approached Li Meng. "None of your business, get lost!" Li Meng''s blunt rebuke left the approaching Big Goblin stunned. Its body instinctively stepped aside. It wasn''t until Li Meng walked past that it reacted. "Gobu Meng, you''ve been gone so long, the boss won''t let you off." The Big Goblin glared angrily, roaring. "Hmph, perfect, I won''t let him off either!" Li Meng''s words left the Big Goblin dumbfounded, with a mocking expression.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. A mere Big Goblin daring to challenge the boss. It was simply courting death. Under the watchful eyes of the Goblins outside the cave, Li Meng entered the dim entrance. The familiar environment and that familiar stench made Li Meng frown slightly. Goblins might like this environment, but he certainly didn''t. "Gobu Meng, how dare you come back?" Just as he entered the cave, a Goblin Soldier strode out. It held a stone axe in its hand, glaring angrily. The disappearance of Gobu Qiang''s hunting party had made the boss extremely angry. They, the underlings, had suffered greatly. Three Goblin Soldiers had been eaten alive by the boss. How could Gobu Yuan not be angry? "Haha, isn''t this Gobu Meng? You finally returned!" At this moment, a voice filled with excitement echoed from the depths of the cave. The sound made Gobu Yuan''s body tremble. It quickly stepped aside, clearing the path. On a stone platform not far away, Gobu Ba remained high and mighty. Its gaze towards Li Meng was filled with excitement. "Quick, tell me, did you bring the humans back for me?" Standing before the stone platform, Li Meng looked up at the towering Gobu Ba. Months ago, when he first saw Gobu Ba, Li Meng was almost scared to death. Now, seeing Gobu Ba again, he felt nothing. Li Meng''s direct gaze made Gobu Ba frown, his eyes filled with anger. "Gobu Meng, how dare you look directly at me, you trash born from a groundhog''s belly, kneel before me!" Gobu Ba roared, glaring angrily. The surrounding Goblins were so frightened they retreated repeatedly. Even the Goblin Soldiers were scared into kneeling on the ground. Facing Gobu Ba''s furious roar, Li Meng grinned. "Gobu Ba, today this trash is going to challenge you!" These words left Gobu Ba stunned. "Haha!" Gobu Ba''s wild laughter echoed in the cave. The Goblins in the cave also burst into laughter. Some Goblins even clutched their stomachs, rolling on the ground in laughter. All the Goblins looked at Li Meng as if he were an idiot. The boss was the Goblin leader, and a mere Big Goblin dared to challenge the Goblin leader. "Haha, it seems that going out has made you trash born from a groundhog''s belly even dumber." Gobu Ba laughed, pounding his chest. Tears even flowed from his huge eyes. "Gobu Ba, do you dare to fight me?" Li Meng shouted. His voice was so loud, it was like a thunderclap, deafening. The laughter in the cave came to an abrupt halt. All the Goblins looked at Li Meng under the stone platform with uncertainty. "Interesting, very interesting, Gobu Meng, I will make you pay for your stupidity." Gobu Ba grinned hideously, truly enraged. A mere Big Goblin dared to challenge him recklessly. Gobu Ba picked up a giant stone axe beside him. His massive body leaped off the stone platform. "Boom!" With a "boom," the ground shook. Gobu Ba''s huge body landed steadily on the ground before Li Meng. In front of Gobu Ba, Li Meng was just a tiny figure. "Die!" Gobu Ba roared, raising the stone axe with both hands and slashing down at Li Meng. Before the axe arrived, the gust of wind did. Gobu Ba''s face was twisted with ferocity. He could already imagine the scene of Gobu Meng being split in two by his stone axe. Li Meng didn''t dodge, looking expressionlessly at the descending axe. This strike, the giant stone axe struck heavily on Li Meng''s shoulder. "Boom!" At the moment the stone axe struck Li Meng''s shoulder. The giant stone axe shattered with a bang, sending fragments flying everywhere. The immense force made Li Meng''s body sink downward. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and Li Meng''s feet were already embedded in it. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Seeing Li Meng unharmed, while the stone axe in his hand was reduced to a wooden stick. Gobu Ba was dumbfounded, utterly incredulous. He couldn''t imagine how Gobu Meng had withstood his full-force axe. Gobu Ba, looking as if he''d seen a ghost, retreated repeatedly. The surrounding Goblins were also stunned. "What, trying to escape already?" Li Meng still looked expressionlessly at the retreating Gobu Ba. "Gobu Meng, you''re courting death!" Gobu Ba was enraged, throwing away the wooden stick in his hand. Then he raised his massive fist and charged at Li Meng with a few strides. The huge fist swung, punching towards Li Meng. "Die!" Li Meng snorted coldly. His right foot stepped back, stabilizing his body. His right hand clenched into a fist, simply punching to meet Gobu Ba''s fist. At the moment of punching, a wave of air exploded from in front of Li Meng. "Boom!" The two fists collided heavily. "Crack!" With a "crack" sound. At the moment of impact, Gobu Ba''s hand twisted out of shape. The tendons and bones shattered and broke instantly. "Ah!" Gobu Ba let out a miserable scream. The immense force not only shattered Gobu Ba''s body. It also sent Gobu Ba''s huge body flying. It flew dozens of meters before crashing onto the stone platform with a "boom." Li Meng followed closely, leaping up. His body shot towards Gobu Ba like an arrow. "Die!" With a shout, Li Meng punched straight at Gobu Ba''s heart. "Shh!" Li Meng''s punch directly pierced through Gobu Ba''s chest. Most of his arm was embedded in Gobu Ba''s chest. With a pull, a giant heart was grasped in Li Meng''s hand. Before the stunned Gobu Ba could regain consciousness, Li Meng had already taken his life. Chapter 48 The massive body slowly slid to the ground. Li Meng stood atop Gobu Ba''s enormous body, holding a heart in his hand. His gaze was cold and expressionless 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 retreated repeatedly. "Come on, I accept your challenge!" Li Meng grinned and roared with all his might. The thunderous roar sent a shiver through the goblins in the cave. "Gobu Meng! Gobu Meng!" The weakest of the Big Goblins was the first to submit. With a thud, it knelt on the ground, shouting loudly. Once one goblin led, the others quickly followed suit, bowing down. Next were the Goblin Soldiers, followed by the Goblin Warriors. All the goblins knelt down, shouting in unison. The sound was deafening, echoing through the cave. Faced with the worship of the goblins, Li Meng gave a sinister smile. Good, with this, the higher goblins here were as good as his. Li Meng opened his sharp mouth and tore off a large piece of heart meat. Standing on Gobu Ba''s corpse, Li Meng gnawed on the heart while enjoying the goblins'' cheers. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Berserk"] The system''s notification made Li Meng look down at Gobu Ba beneath him. Gobu Ba was too careless. He didn''t even have time to use the Berserk skill before being killed. Perhaps Gobu Ba was just like him when he was killed by the Black Robe. Arrogance and confidence often lead to one''s downfall.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. With a leap, Li Meng jumped off Gobu Ba''s body. "The body is yours!" Upon hearing this, the surrounding goblins showed greedy expressions. In a frenzy, they rushed towards Gobu Ba''s body. Even the weakest Big Goblins dared to compete with Goblin Warriors for the leader''s corpse. Nearly a hundred goblins scrambled madly over Gobu Ba''s body. Li Meng climbed onto a stone platform and sat down at the edge. He watched the chaotic and bloody scene below with great interest. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Limb Enhancement"] With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 825] [Defense: 759] [Agility: 341] [Magic: 86] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills from devoured magical beasts] [Steel Skin: 2 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +200)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] Seeing the magic attribute value gave Li Meng a headache. The magic value was really hard to improve. So many skills, yet none related to the magic attribute. Using points to increase the magic attribute seemed wasteful. Shaking his head, Li Meng sighed and casually tossed the heart aside. The goblins below scrambled for it again. It took over half an hour for Gobu Ba''s body to be completely devoured by the goblins. "You, you, you, come here!" The three Goblin Warriors named by Li Meng looked at each other. They took a few steps forward with their massive strides, approaching the stone platform. Goblin Warriors were the upper echelon goblins, second only to the Goblin Leader. They were huge, standing at 2.5 meters tall. Their physique was robust, like a bear. Muscles bulged all over, clearly indicating their strength. "Gobu Tian, go sound the war horn, recall all the hunting parties outside!" Gobu Tian looked at the small Li Meng on the stone platform with fear. It nodded and turned to stride out of the cave. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, take all the goblins here and follow me!" The ones left in the cave were all upper echelon goblins. At the very least, they were Big Goblins. If this batch of upper echelon goblins was brought back to the tribe, the population would increase several times over within half a year. The potential of the newborns would also be greater. "Boss, where are we going?" Gobu Di asked from below the stone platform. Li Meng leaped down from the stone platform, landing steadily on the ground. "Back to the tribe!" Li Meng strode towards the cave exit. Wherever he passed, the goblins stepped aside in awe. Gobu Di and Gobu Shi exchanged glances. Now Gobu Meng was the new boss, and the boss''s orders had to be followed. The two Goblin Warriors followed behind Li Meng. The other goblins followed behind Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. Li Meng led the group of upper echelon goblins out of the cave in a grand procession. On the mountaintop outside the cave, Li Meng heard the long horn sound. He also saw Gobu Tian approaching. "Gobu Tian, you stay and guard the goblin nest. Tell the hunting parties who the new boss is when they return. I''ll be back soon." Gobu Tian nodded and stepped aside. Under Gobu Tian''s watchful gaze, Li Meng led a group of goblins into the depths of the forest. It took Li Meng five days to arrive. But it took over half a month to return. The group of nearly a hundred upper echelon goblins traveled intermittently. Hunting as they went. It wasn''t until the afternoon of the seventeenth day that they reached the riverbank. "Keep up, cross quickly!" Li Meng didn''t stop at the riverbank and stepped directly into the river. As his foot touched the water, the surface instantly froze. This miraculous scene left the upper echelon goblins behind him dumbfounded. The boss could use magic? Seeing that small figure, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi''s faces showed fervor. That was magic, a power that only the legendary Goblin King had a chance to awaken. Yet the magical power of the Goblin King appeared in the small Big Goblin. "What are you standing around for? Keep up!" Seeing his goblin underlings staring blankly at the riverbank, Li Meng''s shout snapped them back to reality. A mass of goblins hurriedly rushed onto the ice path, following behind the boss. Thus, Li Meng led his upper echelon goblin underlings across the river smoothly. Half an hour later, in the forest tribe. A large group of upper echelon goblins emerging from the forest caught the attention of the goblins in the tribe. "It''s the boss, the boss is back!" When they saw that the leader was the boss, the goblin underlings erupted in cheers. The upper echelon goblins following Li Meng curiously observed everything in front of them. From the goblins, they could sense the aura of bloodline descendants. This indicated that the goblins here shared the same bloodline as them. "Isn''t that Gobu Di and Gobu Shi?" "Yeah, how did they end up here?" "Oh no, did Gobu Ba attack?" There were many goblins in the tribe from Gobu Qiang''s hunting party. Naturally, they recognized Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. Chapter 49 "Boss, boss!" Just then, Gobu Qiang came running over excitedly. When he saw the group of higher-ranking goblins behind the boss, Gobu Qiang stumbled and almost fell to the ground. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi?" The appearance of the two Goblin Warriors made Gobu Qiang''s face turn pale. With Gobu Di and Gobu Shi here, it meant... The thought in his mind filled Gobu Qiang with terror, and he collapsed to the ground. "Gobu Ba has been killed by me. Now I am the leader of the Bloodline Tribe!" Gobu Ba has been killed by the boss? Gobu Qiang, who was lying on the ground, was momentarily stunned. Then, he showed a look of wild joy and crawled over to Li Meng. He lay on the ground, kissing Li Meng''s feet. "Boss, you''re mighty! Boss, you''re amazing!" The goblins gathered around, hearing this news, also shouted with fervor. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" For a moment, the loud chants of the goblins echoed throughout the tribe. This caught the attention of some female lizardmen in the wooden huts. Many doors and windows were pushed open. Lizard heads peeked out one by one. After a while, the goblins'' shouts finally subsided. In just over a month, the tribe had changed dramatically. Larger wooden huts spread throughout the forest, stretching as far as the eye could see. "Boss, the new throne cave has been built. Bai Ling and those female lizardmen have already moved in." In the tribe, Li Meng led a group of higher-ranking goblins, following behind Gobu Qiang. As they ventured deeper into the tribe, they soon saw a massive wooden hut.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. The hut was built around a towering giant tree. It looked like a mushroom. Its diameter was over fifty meters. At the entrance of the hut, Bai Ling stood obediently. In nearly a month, Bai Ling''s big belly had disappeared. This indicated that during his absence, Bai Ling had given birth. "Gobu Qiang, arrange them all, then come see me!" After leaving this instruction, Li Meng strode towards the wooden hut. Gobu Qiang, on the other hand, faced the group of higher-ranking goblins with a look of fear. "Uh... follow me!" The appearance of so many higher-ranking goblins gave Gobu Qiang a sense of crisis. He had to do everything the boss ordered. Otherwise, there would be no place for him by the boss''s side. At the entrance of the hut, Bai Ling stared intently at the departing higher-ranking goblins. Her face was very unpleasant. That Big Goblin had been gone for more than half a month. Unexpectedly, he returned with so many higher-ranking goblins. There were even two Goblin Warriors. The arrival of these higher-ranking goblins made Bai Ling realize the seriousness of the situation. "Master!" Seeing her master approaching, Bai Ling''s expression shifted slightly. She placed her hands on her lower abdomen and bowed respectfully. Li Meng grinned and circled around Bai Ling. "Hmm, the tail has grown out!" Li Meng curiously looked at the short tail emerging from the beast skirt. He reached out and grabbed Bai Ling''s short tail. It was a bit cool and soft, almost boneless. "Hmph!" Bai Ling''s body trembled, and she let out a soft hum. "Master, no... don''t grab my tail." Bai Ling''s eyes were filled with allure, a flash of disgust passing through them. Seeing Bai Ling''s trembling body, Li Meng grinned. "What, is it very sensitive?" Bai Ling clutched her beast skirt tightly and nodded slightly. With a wicked smile, Li Meng reached out and slapped Bai Ling''s plump buttocks. "Go, bring all the unassigned female lizardmen here!" Bai Ling''s face changed slightly, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes. Those tribesmen ultimately couldn''t escape the fate of becoming breeding tools. Watching Bai Ling''s departing figure, Li Meng grinned. He enjoyed seeing Bai Ling''s look of humiliation and reluctance. Li Meng sat down on the steps at the entrance. His gaze fixed on Bai Ling''s retreating figure. Admiring her voluptuous body. Before long, Gobu Qiang returned with a group of higher-ranking goblins. "Boss, their caves have all been arranged!" Li Meng''s gaze swept over the group of higher-ranking goblins outside the wooden hut. His eyes finally settled on Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. "From today on, the task of the Goblin Soldiers and Goblin Warriors is only one: to reproduce." Reproduce? The boss''s words made the group of higher-ranking goblins show expressions of greed and excitement. Reproduction was a trait ingrained in the goblins'' genes. In the past, goblins could only fight for mating rights through force. "It''s the lizardmen, the female lizardmen!" At this moment, Bai Ling returned with a group of female lizardmen. Seeing those female lizardmen, the group of higher-ranking goblins was extremely excited. Their eyes greedily examined the female lizardmen. Facing the goblins'' greedy gazes, the female lizardmen showed expressions of fear. "You all can gain mating rights. Remember, take good care of them. If even one is missing, be prepared to be smashed into meat paste by Benben." These goblins came from the Goblin Nest. Under Gobu Ba''s influence, they had become quite brutal. Especially towards female creatures, they were extremely cruel. Often, they would eat the female creatures during mating due to their perverse desires. To deal with these brutal goblins, mere admonishment wasn''t enough; they needed to be intimidated. Benben stood up beside them. Holding a spiked club in both hands, he smashed it onto the ground with a "bang." A huge pit appeared on the ground. All the goblins looked at Benben with fear. They had long noticed the big guy sitting at the entrance of the wooden hut. Since Benben was fully armored, the goblins didn''t know what he was. Only now did the goblins recognize Benben as an ogre. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, did you understand what I said?" Facing the boss''s expressionless gaze, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi couldn''t help but take a step back. The two Goblin Warriors nodded vigorously. "Boss, I... I understand. I won''t eat them." Looking at the huge spiked club in Benben''s hand, Gobu Di swallowed hard. If he got hit, he would definitely die. Gobu Shi quickly patted his chest to assure. "Boss, I... I''ll listen to you." Slightly turning his head, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling. "Bai Ling, come here!" Bai Ling silently stepped forward and stood beside Li Meng. At this point, Li Meng began assigning the female lizardmen to the goblins. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, each of you choose ten female lizardmen to take back to your caves!" Gobu Di and Gobu Shi''s eyes lit up. They quickly turned and walked towards the group of female lizardmen. Facing the approaching Goblin Warriors. The massive bodies made the female lizardmen panic and retreat repeatedly. After a commotion, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each took ten female lizardmen away. Chapter 50 The female Lizardman followed behind the two Goblin Warriors with a look of despair. The stronger the Goblin, the more ferocious they are. Their journey might not end well. Standing beside Li Meng, Bai Ling also looked at the tribespeople following the Goblin Warriors with a face full of reluctance. Her fists were clenched tightly, her sharp nails almost piercing through her scales. In front of the wooden house, the allocation continued. The number of female Lizardmen that could be allocated was divided according to the strength of the Goblins. Goblin Warriors could be allocated ten female Lizardmen. Goblin Soldiers could be allocated five female Lizardmen. Big Goblins could be allocated three female Lizardmen. Due to the insufficient number of female Lizardmen, the number allocated to Big Goblins was reduced to two. In no time, over a hundred female Lizardmen were divided up. Every Goblin left the front of the wooden house excitedly with their allocated female Lizardmen. Standing up, Li Meng dusted off his clothes. With a slight glance, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, who was expressionless beside him. "You should be grateful you met me, otherwise, you Lizardmen would just be meat!" Although it was hard to discern the changes in the Lizardman''s expression, Li Meng could still see something in Bai Ling''s eyes. "You know better than I do how ferocious Goblins are. Would they obey just because of your words?" With a grin, Li Meng forcibly picked up Bai Ling by the waist. Bai Ling did not struggle, her gaze fixed intently on Li Meng. "I am their leader, they will listen to me, that''s what Goblins are!" Li Meng''s words left Bai Ling silent. Thinking back now, it seemed that indeed no tribespeople had died from Goblin harm. Not only had no female Lizardmen died at the hands of Goblins, but they could also leave the wooden house to wander in the forest.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. If they wanted to bathe in the river, the Goblins did not stop them. Even if the Goblins'' gazes were greedy, they wouldn''t forcefully mate with them. "Goblins are indeed ferocious, they don''t think about anything other than eating and mating. But precisely because of this, as their leader, I can better restrain them. In the strictly hierarchical Goblin society, my orders are even above their lives." This statement is both true and false. If the leader''s orders were above life, Gobu Qiang wouldn''t have betrayed Gobu Ba. This premise needs an addition, which is the direct bloodline descendants. Gobu Qiang''s bloodline came from Gobu Ba''s paternal line. Therefore, his loyalty to Gobu Ba wouldn''t be above his life. Li Meng''s ability to restrain the Goblins in the tribe relied on strength. Great power could also earn the Goblins'' loyalty. Though this loyalty wouldn''t be above life, the Goblins dared not disobey Li Meng''s orders. As he spoke, Li Meng carried Bai Ling into the wooden house with large strides. Upon entering the wooden house, the layout made Li Meng roll his eyes. Such a large wooden house, yet the space inside wasn''t divided into rooms. Just a couple of pillars, with a bed behind each pillar. At the far end opposite the door was a large bed. Calling it a bed was a stretch, as it was just a layer of animal hide spread on the ground. Seeing this, Li Meng sighed inwardly. It seemed he needed to study carpentry well. Li Meng''s arrival startled the female Lizardmen inside the house. Many female Lizardmen hurriedly put on their animal hide bras. Holding Bai Ling, Li Meng sniffed the air with his nose. A rich milky fragrance filled the room. A female Lizardman sitting on the bed caught Li Meng''s attention. She looked panicked, hiding something behind her back. "What are you hiding? Show it!" Li Meng''s words made Bai Ling''s delicate body tremble. Her expression shifted, and she nodded to the female Lizardman. Only then did the female Lizardman nervously take out a bamboo tube from behind her back. Li Meng put Bai Ling down and walked over to the female Lizardman. Standing beside her, Li Meng took the bamboo tube from her hand. There was water inside the bamboo tube, Li Meng felt it sloshing. Glancing at the female Lizardman with her head lowered, Li Meng opened the stopper. As soon as the stopper was opened, a rich milky fragrance wafted into his nose. Li Meng looked into the wooden tube. He found that the water inside was white. Li Meng understood what it was. Putting the stopper back, Li Meng returned the wooden tube to the female Lizardman. "Bai Ling, who did you give yours to?" With a slight glance, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling''s towering chest. Only then did Li Meng notice that the animal hide bra on Bai Ling''s chest was already wet. Bai Ling slightly lowered her head, answering Li Meng expressionlessly. "To the tribespeople who needed it!" With a grin, Li Meng grabbed Bai Ling''s hand. Then he led Bai Ling towards the main bed. The main bed was slightly elevated. There were four steps, about a meter high. Li Meng lay back on the bed, hands behind his head. "I approve of this, no need to hide it, the tribe needs strong labor." Young Goblins have no nursing period; they can eat meat right after birth. The milk of female Lizardmen given to male Lizardmen is a good use of resources. After all, male Lizardmen do all the hard labor. With milk to supplement their nutrition, male Lizardmen can have more strength for work. Looking at the master lying on the bed, a flash of surprise crossed Bai Ling''s eyes. She didn''t expect the master to agree to them giving milk to the male Lizardmen. With the master''s approval, they no longer needed to do this secretly. Bai Ling turned and spoke a few words in Lizardman language to the female Lizardmen in the room. The female Lizardmen looked delighted, glancing at the master with surprise. Then each female Lizardman took out their hidden wooden tubes. They removed their bras and started squeezing in front of Li Meng. Li Meng watched with interest. Due to the short gestation period of Goblins, female Lizardmen would be in a nursing period throughout the year. There are pros and cons. The pros are for the male Lizardmen, while the cons require providing more food to the female Lizardmen. Without sufficient nutritional supplements, being in a long-term nursing period would only weaken the female Lizardmen''s bodies. Although he was just a Goblin now, he valued promises. In non-essential situations, he would keep his promises. "Bai Ling, come!" Lying on the bed, Li Meng looked lecherously at the voluptuous Bai Ling. Facing the master''s disgusting gaze, Bai Ling frowned slightly. Resigned, she removed her animal hide bra and skirt. Before long, the wooden house was filled with noise. The female Lizardmen inside the wooden house secretly glanced at the master and Bai Ling, the High Priestess. The scent filling the house made all the female Lizardmen restless. Some female Lizardmen tightly clamped their legs, writhing on the bed. Not until the afternoon of the next day did the wooden house quiet down. Inside the wooden house, Li Meng contentedly got up from a female Lizardman. Looking around, all the female Lizardmen were exhausted and asleep on the beds. "What is your name?" The sudden voice in her mind made the female Lizardman, curled up on the bed, freeze. She looked at the Big Goblin beside her with uncertainty. Could the voice in her mind be the master speaking to her? Chapter 51 "I... I''m called Hui Nana!" Li Meng grinned and gave Hui Nana''s round backside a playful slap. Then, feeling quite satisfied, he walked out. Among the many female Lizardmen in the wooden hut, Li Meng only knew Bai Ling''s name. The reason, of course, was the language barrier. But now, Li Meng felt there was no need to hide anymore. That said, he didn''t really need to know the names of the female Lizardmen. Asking Hui Nana''s name was just a whim. Hui Nana shivered as her backside was touched. She looked at her departing master with a complex expression. This Goblin in front of her was different from the Goblins she knew. His eyes lacked the usual savagery and madness of Goblins, giving off a very rational and intelligent vibe. It was already afternoon when the creaky door of the throne cave in the tribe opened. Li Meng emerged from the wooden hut, looking refreshed. Seeing Benben sleeping soundly outside the door, Li Meng smiled. Without waking Benben, Li Meng headed towards the nursery. "Boss, your bloodline descendants are over here!" Led by a Goblin, Li Meng entered a larger nursery. He didn''t go inside the wooden hut but stopped at the entrance. Inside, a group of young Goblins was playing and frolicking. There were over a hundred of them, making the hut buzz with chatter. When they noticed Li Meng at the door, the noise abruptly stopped. All the young Goblins huddled in the corner, looking at Li Meng with nothing but fear in their eyes. Young Goblins have an instinctive sense of danger when facing adult Goblins. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. After watching for a while at the door, Li Meng turned and left. Goblins have no concept of family. Even their mothers are just female creatures in their eyes. Once they reach adulthood, mothers become nothing more than breeding tools. If the female creatures don''t separate from the young Goblins in time after giving birth, they might even become food for the young ones. After leaving the nursery, Li Meng headed to the carpentry workshop. Before he even got close, he heard the sound of wood being shaved from the wooden huts. "Boss, what brings you here?" In the largest carpentry workshop, Li Meng found Gobu Da. Seeing the busy Goblins in the workshop, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. Goblins might be a bit dim-witted, but they are obedient and hardworking. While they lack creativity, their ability to mimic is even stronger than humans. "I need to make some big things, clear this place out for me!" Soon, airships would appear in the sky near the Goblin nest. Knowing this, Li Meng wasn''t planning to do nothing. The future predicted by the simulated life could serve as an important source of intelligence. In the following days, Li Meng was busy in the carpentry workshop studying large ballistae. Gobu Da and a group of Goblins assisted him. On the afternoon of the seventh day, outside the workshop, a massive ballista was carried into the forest by the Goblins. A ballista is essentially a larger version of a crossbow, with a structure not much different from the single crossbows used by Goblins. It just has an added winch to pull the bowstring. "Boss, the bolts are here!" Three Goblins carried over a bolt about 1.5 meters long, made entirely of low-carbon steel. The bolt had iron fins at the tail to help maintain balance and direction during flight. "String it up!" At Li Meng''s command, the three Goblins quickly turned the winch. With a "creak creak" sound, the bowstring was gradually drawn back. It took over a minute for the bowstring to be successfully cocked. The Goblins carrying the bolt then placed it into the ballista''s slot. "Boss, everything''s ready!" With all the pre-launch preparations complete, it was time to test the power of the ballista. Li Meng stepped forward to aim the ballista at a large tree several hundred meters away. "Whoosh!" Li Meng pulled the trigger. With a "click," a piercing whistle followed. The massive bolt shot out like a black streak, slicing through the dim forest and heading straight into its depths. "Thud!" Over two hundred meters away, there was a "boom" as the massive bolt embedded deeply into the tree trunk. The entire arrowhead was buried, and the tail was trembling violently. Seeing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. The ballista''s power was far too low, much less than he had anticipated. The bolt started losing altitude after just two hundred meters. How could such power satisfy Li Meng? "Is it a problem with the materials and structure?" Li Meng pondered as he looked at the ballista before him. The materials were already at their limit. There was no wood tougher than ironwood in the Goblin Forest. Spider silk rope was also the best material for bowstrings in terms of elasticity and toughness. "It seems I''ll have to think of a solution with the structure!" Li Meng turned and walked towards the carpentry workshop. "Take the ballista back!" Upon hearing this, the Goblin underlings quickly swarmed around, lifting the ballista and carrying it back to the workshop. In the following days, the carpentry workshop was once again filled with the sound of wood being shaved, occasionally accompanied by the "thud thud" of hammering. "Boss, boss!" One afternoon, Gobu Ke rushed into the workshop. Inside, Li Meng was meticulously refining a massive bow frame. "Boss, something''s wrong. We''ve discovered the Pigmen tribe in the eastern forest!" Gobu Ke ran to the boss''s side, panting. Hearing this, Li Meng''s heart tightened. The Pigmen tribe had indeed appeared. It had only been a little over a month. The Black Robe was supposed to appear after the airship, so the timing shouldn''t be off. "Don''t engage with the Pigmen tribe. If you encounter them, avoid them!" The simulated life predicted many future scenarios. Those futures were known intelligence. To develop the future he envisioned, he had to proceed cautiously. "Boss, can''t we eat them? Pigmen meat is much tastier than wild boar." Gobu Ke''s face was filled with greed. Remembering the taste of Pigmen, he almost drooled. "Now is not the time for war with the Pigmen tribe. Tell the Hunting Party in the eastern forest not to engage with the Pigmen. If they encounter them, avoid them. Go!" "Alright, boss, I''m on it!" Though disappointed, Gobu Ke still had to follow the boss''s orders. He turned and dashed out. The next morning. The long-silent carpentry workshop was bustling again. This time, an even larger ballista was carried out by more than ten Goblins. Compared to the previous ballista, this one was much bigger, almost twice the size of the last. Its structure was also more complex. Chapter 42 - Take good care of you Su Hua was taken aback, unable to understand why Gu Beixian suddenly wanted to kiss her, and on the lips no less. Even though it was nighttime, there were still people passing by. The village wasn''t as open-minded as the city; being seen would be quite embarrassing. Moreover, her grandmother had just been buried. Being affectionate at such a time was highly inappropriate. Su Hua reached out to push him away. But Gu Beixian held both her wrists with one hand, not letting her move. Su Hua didn''t have his strength and couldn''t push him away. She could only close her eyes and let him kiss her. His kiss was forceful, even domineering, unlike his usual gentle manner, as if he were competing with someone. Su Hua recalled the words he had just spoken into the phone; they were definitely directed at Gu Aoting. She thought he was just being spiteful towards Gu Aoting. It wasn''t until she was almost out of breath that Gu Beixian finally let her go. He wiped the moisture from her lips and said softly, "We won''t get divorced." It wasn''t a suggestion; it was a decision. Su Hua''s mind was racing. "I appreciate you considering my feelings at a time like this, but your father..." Gu Beixian said calmly, "I''ll talk to him when we get back." Su Hua remembered what Gu Aoting had said about winners and losers, her eyes dimming. "I don''t want you to be caught between me and your father." Gu Beixian cupped her face, "Stop talking and listen to me." This time, his tone was commanding, leaving no room for argument. Without further ado, he took her hand and walked towards the gate. After a few steps, Gu Beixian turned back and glanced at the woods across the pond. The man named Ah-Yao was no longer there. He curled his lips, but there was no smile in his eyes. For the first time, he realized how strong his possessiveness was. All the talk about letting go and being magnanimous¡ªhe simply couldn''t do it. After all, he was just a mortal, unable to escape the seven emotions and six desires. They returned to Grandfather Gu''s house. As soon as they entered the bedroom, Su Peilan brought in a tray of food. Four dishes and a soup, with two bowls of rice. Placing the food on the table, she warmly invited Gu Beixian, "Beixian, you must be hungry. Come eat while it''s hot. I just served it from the pot; no one else has touched it. I know you like cleanliness and won''t eat food others have handled."If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Gu Beixian paused, surprised by her sudden warmth. She had been quite cold to him in their previous encounters. After inviting him, Su Peilan turned to Su Hua, "Xiaohua, you should go back with Beixian tonight. No need to wait for your grandmother''s seven-day memorial. I''ll take care of things here." Su Hua was puzzled, "I''ve already taken leave; there''s no rush." "Go back. Your grandmother would want you and Beixian to return. She''d be happier than anyone to see you two together." Su Peilan''s eyes reddened as she smiled, "You two eat up. I''ll leave you to it." With that, she turned and left. Gu Beixian smirked, "Mother-in-law is quite unusual tonight." Su Hua thought for a moment, "Maybe she was moved by how hard you''ve been taking care of me these past few days. My mom may have a sharp tongue, but she has a soft heart." "Mother-in-law is indeed a person of character." Gu Beixian smiled faintly and handed her a pair of chopsticks. Su Hua took the chopsticks, sat next to him, and placed a piece of crispy fried meat on his rice. "This meat is delicious, very fragrant. Try it." Gu Beixian picked it up and chewed a few times, "It is quite fragrant." Normally, he wouldn''t eat such food; it was too greasy and unhealthy. But if Su Hua served it, he''d probably eat even rat meat. After dinner, Su Peilan came in to clear the dishes and urged them, "You two should leave soon. It only takes two or three hours to get home. Wash up and get a good night''s sleep. If you leave tonight, Beixian can get back to work early tomorrow. He''s been delayed long enough here; it''s affecting his work." Gu Beixian was more than willing. Staying longer would only bring more complications. He feared Su Hua would meet Ah-Yao again. Feeling uneasy was one thing, but the thought of giving her up made him realize he couldn''t bear it. He suddenly wanted to be selfish for once, to keep her by his side. Su Hua didn''t want to leave. She missed her grandmother and wanted to stay for the seven-day memorial. But she couldn''t refuse Su Peilan, who pushed her out the door and directly into Gu Beixian''s car. As the car left the village, Su Hua received a message from Su Peilan: "Daughter, I''ve realized these past few days that Gu Beixian is actually good to you. If you can avoid divorce, try not to. After a divorce, the next man may not be better than Gu Beixian. Besides, his leg''s recovery is partly thanks to you. Why should you give him up after all your hard work?" Su Hua frowned slightly and replied: "But his father doesn''t agree." Su Peilan said: "Parents can''t always go against their children. You two should try harder. If you give up without trying, you''ll regret it later." Su Hua thought for a moment and replied: "Okay." At ten o''clock that night, they arrived at their home in Riyue Bay. Su Hua went to the bathroom to wash her hair and take a shower. When she came out, she picked up the hairdryer, ready to dry her hair. Gu Beixian, having just showered in another room, came over and took the hairdryer from her, offering to help. Su Hua smiled, "My left hand is almost healed; I can do it myself." Gu Beixian, expressionless, pressed her onto the small sofa beside him and said calmly, "I just want to take good care of you." His words were so tender. Especially coming from someone with his cold and aloof demeanor, it wasn''t cloying at all; rather, it was incredibly alluring. A warm feeling surged in Su Hua''s heart. "Thank you." Gu Beixian plugged in the hairdryer and said nonchalantly, "We promised to support each other. No need to thank me." Su Hua smiled. She liked the idea of "supporting each other," which felt more solid and warm than "respecting each other like guests." Despite being a man, Gu Beixian was quite gentle when drying her hair. At first, he wasn''t sure about the pressure, but soon he was doing it better than Su Hua could herself. After drying her hair, they lay down on the bed. Having napped in the afternoon, Su Hua wasn''t very sleepy. She just closed her eyes and nestled in Gu Beixian''s arms, thinking about her grandmother. Gu Beixian knew she was sad and gently patted her, like soothing a child. Before long, Su Hua fell asleep. As her breathing became steady, he kissed her forehead and whispered, "If you dare dream about calling out to Brother Ah-Yao again, I''ll spank you." Perhaps because of the change in environment, Su Hua didn''t have any nightmares. When she woke up the next day, the first thing she saw was Gu Beixian propped up on one elbow, looking at her with gentle eyes, seemingly in a good mood. She smiled softly at him, "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Because you''re beautiful." He touched her face, his voice as gentle as moonlight. Su Hua felt something was off about him but couldn''t pinpoint what it was. After washing up, they went downstairs. The dining table was set with a sumptuous breakfast. Besides various delicate pastries, there were several nourishing soups, their aroma enticing. Gu Beixian said, "I called the hotel to have this sent over. You haven''t been eating well these past few days, so eat more." His thoughtfulness made Su Hua even more reluctant to let him go. Maybe her mother was right; if she didn''t try harder, she''d regret it later. She didn''t want to lose him. After breakfast, Gu Beixian had to go to the company. He picked up his watch and put it on his wrist. Su Hua, as usual, helped him with his tie. She was particularly skilled with her hands, tying it quickly and beautifully. After she finished, Gu Beixian suddenly pulled her into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Stay home and try not to go out. It''s chaotic outside." Su Hua felt even more that something was off. How was it chaotic outside? It wasn''t wartime. Besides, if she went out, there was a driver who also acted as a bodyguard, just a phone call away. She smiled, "The museum is waiting for me." Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow, "Didn''t you take bereavement leave?" Su Hua was speechless and could only say, "Alright then." Gu Beixian held her but didn''t let go, lowering his head to nuzzle her nose and kiss her ear. It was quite an intimate gesture, like a man deeply in love. Su Hua was a bit puzzled. He wasn''t usually this clingy. What was going on today? No, since last night, he had been acting a bit strange. She was about to ask. Gu Beixian''s lips brushed her earlobe, and he whispered, "I really wish I could shrink you down and carry you in my pocket, taking you everywhere I go." Chapter 43 - Magical brain Gu Beixian''s voice was mesmerizing¡ªdeep, magnetic, and clear, like the soothing notes of a cello, brushing past her ear and slipping into her eardrum. Su Hua''s heart betrayed her, beating erratically. It felt like a little deer was ramming its antlers against her chest. She stood there, frozen. The sweet words from someone you love can truly make your brain release dopamine. Su Hua''s eyes curved into a smile as she looked up at his charming, seductive face. "Thank you for comforting me like this. Thank you." Gu Beixian chuckled, pinching her cheek with a playful look in his eyes. "I realize you''re quite straightforward, my little straight girl." Su Hua''s expression froze slightly, and she smiled awkwardly. "I guess I''m a bit clueless about romance. Xiao Yi said the same thing about me before." Gu Beixian raised an eyebrow. "What did he say?" "He said I''m a good woman, but too good, which makes me a bit boring. He told me to learn to be a bit more wild, more playful, to be more flexible, to act coy when needed, to be weak when necessary, to be thick-skinned when required, and to use tactics when appropriate." Gu Beixian pondered for a moment. "Being playful is fine, but only in front of me. Acting coy and weak is also okay, but forget about being thick-skinned and using tactics." Su Hua obediently replied, "Okay." Gu Beixian patted her head. "Wait for me at home. What do you want to eat tonight? I''ll bring it for you." Su Hua hadn''t had much of an appetite these past few days, so she said, "I don''t really feel like eating anything." "Then I''ll decide for you. Let Sister Liu handle lunch; you don''t need to do anything." Su Hua felt like she had transformed from a maid into a princess and obediently replied, "Okay." "I''m leaving now." Gu Beixian hugged her again, picked up his briefcase, changed his shoes, and reached for the door handle. Suddenly, Su Hua ran up to him, hugging his waist from behind, and whispered, "I wish I could shrink and fit into your pocket, so I could go wherever you go." She wasn''t good at sweet talk, but she felt she had to say something in return. So she awkwardly came up with that line. Gu Beixian almost burst out laughing. Saying sweet nothings seemed to be such a challenge for her, like matching couplets. What came naturally to others took her a long time to come up with, and even then, it was so stiff. She said it so earnestly that it lost all its romantic charm.If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. He slowly turned around, cupped her face, and kissed her on the lips, unable to hold back his laughter. "Why is our Hua Hua so adorable?" Adorable? Su Hua was a bit confused. After Gu Beixian left, she went to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror for a long time. Her face was indeed pretty, but it had nothing to do with being adorable. Once Gu Beixian left, the large room felt empty, and Su Hua started missing her grandmother again. She walked to the balcony, sat on the lounge chair, and stared blankly into space. Just as she was feeling sad, her phone rang. She glanced at it and saw it was Shen Yuan calling. After answering, she said, "Su Hua, Wang Meng''s ''Retreat'' painting has started being restored. Next, we need to choose someone to continue the work. The museum has gathered a group of experts from all over the country to copy parts of it, and the best one will be selected. My brother wants you to submit a copy too." Continuing the work means filling in the missing parts of an ancient painting so that the restoration is seamless. It tests a person''s overall aesthetic sense and mastery of basic techniques. Copying is about reaching that standard with your own skills and methods, while continuing the work involves directly stepping into the artist''s role, which is more demanding. That''s why the museum gathered experts to select the best. Su Hua replied, "Okay." Shen Yuan said, "I have a photo of the entire ''Retreat'' painting on my phone. I''ll send it to you later." Su Hua casually replied, "No need, I have it memorized." "What? You have it memorized?" Shen Yuan was astonished. "That painting is so complex. You memorized the whole thing? Even the missing parts?" Su Hua responded calmly, "My grandfather trained me since I was young. No matter what kind of ancient painting it is, I can memorize it after looking at it for a few minutes. When I get back, I can recreate it exactly within half a month." Shen Yuan was stunned. "Oh my god, are you some kind of genius?" Su Hua thought to herself, I can''t even say a sweet line properly; what kind of genius is that? "Enough talking, I''ll go draw the partial painting now and give it to you tonight." Shen Yuan was even more surprised. "That fast?" "Yes." After hanging up, Su Hua walked into her study. The study was equipped with a complete set of tools for restoring ancient books and paintings. The Old Master loved collecting ancient calligraphy and paintings, which are difficult to preserve. Over the years, Su Hua had been helping to maintain and restore them. This set of tools was provided by Gu Beixian. Su Hua took a piece of Xuan paper, skillfully dyed it with black tea, and asked Sister Liu to help grind the ink. Once the paper dried, she picked up a brush and began to paint, relying on the image in her mind. Wang Meng''s paintings are rich in technique, with layered and varied brushwork. His unique methods, such as the "½âË÷ñå" and "ţëñå" techniques, use heavy ink and dense compositions, featuring multiple layers of mountains and water, creating a serene and profound scenery. Due to his deep longing for a reclusive life, his works exude tranquility, detachment, and a serene beauty, with a rich and elegant style. Under her grandfather''s guidance, Su Hua had copied many of his works since childhood. She was well-versed in his techniques and brushwork, so drawing a partial painting now was effortless. By evening, Su Hua had finished the painting and contacted Shen Yuan. Shen Yuan rushed over, took the painting, and compared it with the photo on her phone. It was an exact match. The only difference was that the missing parts of the original painting had been seamlessly filled in by Su Hua. Shen Yuan was amazed and couldn''t help but examine Su Hua''s head closely. "Hua Jie, what kind of magical brain do you have? It''s even better than a camera!" Su Hua felt a bit embarrassed by her scrutiny and gently pushed her away. "I was born a few hours later than you, so just call me Su Hua." "No, you''re my Hua Jie. ''Jie'' represents status in the community, not age." Su Hua couldn''t argue with her and let her call her whatever she wanted. Shen Yuan carefully rolled up the painting and put it in her car. "My brother went abroad for a medical exchange conference. He heard from his colleagues that your grandmother passed away and specifically called to ask me to keep you company. Where do you want to go? I''ll go with you." Having free time made Su Hua miss her grandmother, so she wanted to go out and relax. "Let''s go ride the Ferris wheel." Shen Yuan rolled her eyes. "What''s so great about that?" Su Hua felt a bit embarrassed. "I''ve never ridden one." Shen Yuan burst out laughing. "No way! You''re in your twenties and you''ve never ridden a Ferris wheel?" "Yeah, never." "Alright, let''s go." Su Hua got into Shen Yuan''s car. They had a meal together and then went to the largest amusement park in the capital. The giant Ferris wheel, over a hundred meters tall, had colorful lights installed on each cabin, making it look like a beautiful rainbow at night. Su Hua and Shen Yuan got into a cabin together. In about ten minutes, they reached the highest point of the Ferris wheel. There were binoculars in the cabin for visitors to enjoy the night view. Su Hua and Shen Yuan picked up the binoculars and looked outside, seeing the entire capital city, with its thousands of lights, dazzling and beautiful, the neon lights outlining an unparalleled night scene. Suddenly, Shen Yuan patted Su Hua''s shoulder and exclaimed, "Look! That handsome guy, Gu Beixian!" Su Hua adjusted the binoculars and looked in the direction Shen Yuan pointed. Across from them, in the parking lot of the Kyoto Grand Hotel, a man and a woman stepped out of a long luxury car. The man was tall and handsome, dressed in a dark suit, walking with long strides, exuding elegance. The woman was beautiful, fashionably dressed, and adorned with jewelry. The man was Gu Beixian. The woman was Chu Suosuo. They walked side by side towards the hotel''s main entrance, chatting as they went. The binoculars were so clear that Su Hua could even see the smile on Chu Suosuo''s face. She was smiling so happily. Su Hua''s smile froze on her face. Chapter 44 - Run into Ah-Yao Su Hua felt as if someone had taken a sharp knife and plunged it into her heart, the pain was excruciating. Her face was as pale as paper, and she could barely stand. She gripped the railing tightly, her knuckles turning white. This was the same man who had been so reluctant to part with her this morning, saying he wanted to shrink her and carry her in his pocket wherever he went. And now, he was laughing and chatting with his ex-girlfriend, walking side by side. Indeed, a man''s words are deceitful. Shen Yuan was startled by her appearance, grabbing her hand and anxiously asking, "Su Hua, what''s wrong? Are you feeling unwell? Is it because the Ferris wheel is too high and you''re afraid of heights?" Su Hua nodded numbly, her chest heaving rapidly. It took a full minute for her pale face to gradually return to normal, and she curled her lips in self-mockery. No wonder Gu Beixian didn''t want her to go out. He said it was because the world was chaotic, but it was really because he was afraid she''d see him and Chu Suosuo together. She couldn''t understand him. If he still had feelings for Chu Suosuo, why not divorce her and marry Chu Suosuo? Why hold on to her while still entangled with Chu Suosuo? Su Hua sat quietly, expressionless and silent. Shen Yuan sat next to her, touching her head, "Do you feel nauseous?" Su Hua forced a smile, "How much longer until we get down?" Shen Yuan checked her watch, "Soon, just a little longer." A few minutes later, the Ferris wheel descended. Su Hua and Shen Yuan got off together. Shen Yuan looked at her worriedly, "Feeling better? I''ll take you home." "Feeling better, take me to the Kyoto Grand Hotel." Shen Yuan realized, "You want to see your handsome guy, Gu Beixian?" Su Hua nodded. She wanted to see their intimate date with her own eyes, to make herself give up completely and leave him decisively. To avoid the endless reluctance and tangled feelings. Shen Yuan fetched the car and drove Su Hua to the Kyoto Grand Hotel. After getting out of the car, Su Hua said to her, "Thank you, you can go back now." Shen Yuan didn''t think much of it, assuming her earlier reaction was due to fear of heights, and replied, "Alright, call me if you need anything."Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Su Hua nodded and walked into the Kyoto Grand Hotel. She opened her bag, took out her phone, and dialed Gu Beixian''s number, asking calmly, "Which room are you in at the Kyoto Grand Hotel?" Gu Beixian paused and said, "Third floor, Ying Song Pavilion, why?" "Nothing." Su Hua hung up the phone. She walked to the elevator, pressed the button, and stepped inside. A few minutes later, she arrived at the door of Ying Song Pavilion and knocked lightly. A man''s deep voice came from inside, "Come in." The familiar, pleasant voice was Gu Beixian''s. Su Hua took a deep breath, pushed open the door, and saw a large round table with at least seven or eight people sitting around it, and two assistants standing. Gu Aoting and Chu Yanru sat at the head of the table. Gu Beixian sat next to Gu Aoting. Chu Suosuo sat next to Chu Yanru. Gu Beixian and Chu Suosuo were not sitting together. The assistants standing behind them held contracts, seemingly discussing business. It was a business dinner, not the imagined private meeting between a man and a woman. Su Hua''s heart, which had been in her throat, fell back into her stomach with a thud. But then she remembered seeing them get out of the same car, talking intimately, and Chu Suosuo smiling so happily. She felt bad again. After calming herself, Su Hua nodded politely to the stern-faced Gu Aoting and said apologetically, "Sorry, Uncle Gu, I entered the wrong room." Without waiting for his response, she quickly closed the door. Gu Aoting''s face was too grim, and so was Chu Yanru''s. One was more sullen than the other, and looking at them any longer would give her nightmares. Su Hua turned and left. She walked quickly towards the elevator. After taking about twenty steps, she suddenly heard Gu Beixian''s voice behind her, "Su Hua." Su Hua paused for a moment, then walked even faster, holding a grudge in her heart, angry that he and Chu Suosuo had shared a car. With so many cars in the company, they had to ride the same one. Gu Beixian took long strides and quickly caught up. Su Hua started to jog. When she turned a corner, she didn''t watch where she was going and bumped into someone. The person was very tall, with a hard chest under a thin shirt. Su Hua''s face hurt from the impact with his chest muscles, especially her nose, which ached so much that tears welled up. She quickly covered her sore nose and apologized, "I''m sorry, I''m sorry." "It''s alright, is your nose okay?" The man''s voice was a bit cold but distinctive, like a foreigner speaking Chinese, somewhat stiff. Su Hua looked up. She saw a handsome, deep face with short hair. Before she could see his features clearly, she was captivated by his eyes. They were very beautiful, dark and deep like the sea, somber and cold, with deep double eyelid creases and thick, black eyelashes. Looking into his eyes, Su Hua''s heart trembled. Those eyes were very much like Ah-Yao''s, even more so than Gu Beixian''s. Thinking of Ah-Yao, who had died saving her, her heart began to ache again. First, it was a dull pain, then after a while, it felt like a knife twisting. She clutched her chest, the pain making her lean against the wall, her face turning deathly pale. "Are you alright?" The man reached out to support her. Before his fingers could touch Su Hua''s arm, they were forcefully pushed away. A tall figure loomed over her. Gu Beixian had caught up. He pulled Su Hua into his arms, full of possessive dominance, holding her face, his expression cold but his eyes worried, asking, "Where did you get hurt?" Su Hua shook her head. When she looked again, the man was gone. She stared at the empty hallway, dazed for a moment. Gu Beixian took in her dazed expression. The man''s figure just now was very much like the one he saw in Su Village yesterday, and also resembled the man in the photo Chu Mochen had given him, almost identical in height and build. The only difference was the clothes and hairstyle. Clothes can be changed, and hairstyles can be cut. Gu Beixian''s eyes darkened, but his face remained expressionless. He asked calmly, "Do you know that man?" Su Hua answered truthfully, "I don''t know him, but his eyes seemed familiar." Gu Beixian pondered her words, as if weighing their credibility. After a moment, he nonchalantly supported her into the elevator, pressed the button for the first floor, and asked gently, "Why did you come out?" Su Hua stared blankly at the elevator buttons, absentmindedly replying, "Shen Yuan needs a partial drawing of the Retreat from Wang Meng. The museum is selecting a successor, so I drew it and brought it to her, just happened to pass by." Gu Beixian took her hand and examined it carefully, "Can your hand draw now?" Su Hua pulled her hand back and said perfunctorily, "I mainly use my right hand for drawing, it''s not much affected." "What do you want to eat? I''ll take you." "I already ate with Shen Yuan." Su Hua still didn''t look at him. Gu Beixian guessed what was bothering her and explained, "Chu Suosuo has joined her father''s company as his assistant. The Gu Group and the Chu Group have many business collaborations, so it''s inevitable we''ll meet. But don''t worry, I''ll keep my distance." Su Hua pressed her lips together and remained silent. She knew about Chu Suosuo. She had seen Chu Suosuo hugging and holding Gu Beixian several times, being very flirtatious. That woman was beautiful, delicate, good at acting coy, and bold. She had many tricks up her sleeve. Over time, what man could resist? Moreover, she was Gu Beixian''s childhood sweetheart, his ex-girlfriend of over ten years, and the future daughter-in-law approved by Gu Aoting. Su Hua, heavy-hearted, walked out of the hotel lobby with Gu Beixian. The driver saw them and immediately started the car and drove over. Gu Beixian instructed the driver, "Take Su Hua home." The driver got out, opened the back door, and respectfully said, "Madam, please get in." Su Hua thanked him and got in. She smelled a sweet, cloying perfume in the car, Chu Suosuo''s scent. She covered her nose, feeling disgusted. It felt like biting into an apple only to find half a worm inside, with the other half already swallowed. Gu Beixian watched the car leave, then returned to the hotel. Entering the lobby, he picked up his phone and instructed his assistant, "Check the surveillance on the third-floor corridor and find out the name and background of the man who bumped into Su Hua." Half an hour later, the assistant walked into Ying Song Pavilion and handed the information to Gu Beixian. Gu Beixian took it, lowered his eyes, and stared at the name section, his gaze gradually turning cold. There, in black and white, were three clear characters: Gu Jinyao. Ah-Yao. The Ah-Yao that Su Hua longed for day and night. Chapter 45 - Very faithful Gu Beixian''s grip on the documents tightened as he continued reading. Gu Jinyao is the young master of Zhengrong Auction House, and his father is Gu Zhengrong. Gu Zhengrong is the main founder and largest shareholder of Zhengrong Auction House. Zhengrong Auction House is part of the Capital Zhengrong Art Import and Export Trading Company, with an annual turnover in the billions, making it one of the largest antique auction houses in the capital. Perhaps Gu Zhengrong is too low-key or not active domestically, as Gu Beixian had never heard of him. But a family like this certainly doesn''t lack money. He stared at the documents, deep in thought. Three years ago, Su Hua didn''t choose her Brother Ah-Yao; she chose him instead. Back then, a car accident had damaged his spinal nerves, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. Apart from money, he had nothing. Su Hua married him mainly because her family needed money, so he always thought Ah-Yao was a poor guy. But looking at the documents now, this Gu Jinyao didn''t seem to lack money at all. Gu Aoting noticed him holding a stack of documents with a frown and asked, "What are you looking at?" Gu Beixian replied casually, "Nothing much, just had someone pull some information." He discreetly folded the documents and set them aside. Gu Aoting, with sharp eyes, caught a glimpse of the name "Gu Zhengrong" and said thoughtfully, "I know a bit about Gu Zhengrong. By seniority, I should call him cousin. His grandfather and my grandfather were cousins, but their branch of the family emigrated many years ago, and we''ve grown distant over time." To Gu Beixian, this sounded like a distant relative. Because of Su Hua, he didn''t want to have any ties with Gu Jinyao. Gu Aoting asked, "Why are you investigating him?" "Helping a friend," Gu Beixian found a random excuse. With business concluded and the meal nearly finished, everyone stood up to leave. Gu Aoting called out to Gu Beixian, "You should take Suosuo home." Gu Beixian frowned slightly, "When we came, you said Suosuo was near the company and asked me to pick her up. Now that we''re going home, let her take Uncle Chu''s car. They''re family, it''s more convenient." Gu Aoting''s face darkened instantly, but he couldn''t lose his temper in front of Chu Yanru and the subordinates. A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Being so bluntly refused by Gu Beixian in front of so many people, Chu Suosuo felt humiliated and disliked Su Hua even more. If it weren''t for her grandmother''s timely death, they would have divorced long ago. She cursed Su Hua and her grandmother in her heart. Outside the hotel. Gu Beixian instructed his assistant, "Check Su Hua''s recent call records and see if there are any unfamiliar numbers." The assistant was efficient. By the time Gu Beixian was almost home, he received a call from his assistant. Upon answering, the assistant said, "Mr. Gu, Madam''s call records only include a few people: family members, Shen Huai, Shen Yuan, Sister Liu, the property management company, and the courier company. No one else." Gu Beixian''s gloomy expression eased a bit. It seemed those two hadn''t been in contact privately. At home. Su Hua was sitting on the sofa reading an ancient book. Hearing the door open and smelling alcohol, she thought Gu Beixian was drunk. She quickly stood up, walked to the shoe cabinet, and bent down to get his slippers. This was something she used to do habitually. Gu Beixian held her and gently stopped her, "I didn''t drink much, and my legs are fine now. You don''t need to take care of me like before. You''re my wife, not a maid." Of course, he didn''t say the last part because Su Hua used to do maid-like tasks. Su Hua bit her lip, standing still, still holding a grudge about him riding in the same car as Chu Suosuo. Gu Beixian changed his shoes himself. Su Hua helped him take off his watch and then his suit jacket. Pretending to take off his jacket, she was actually checking for any ambiguous marks left by Chu Suosuo. As she undressed him, she discreetly checked his collar for lipstick stains and even sniffed lightly to see if there was any perfume scent, trying to determine if Chu Suosuo had hugged him and where. She thought she was hiding it well, but Gu Beixian noticed everything. He found it amusing and leaned down, rubbing his nose against hers, teasing, "Why are you sniffing around like a little puppy?" Caught red-handed, Su Hua felt embarrassed. She silently turned around and hung his jacket on the nearby coat rack. Gu Beixian guessed her little thoughts and said, "When we went to the hotel, it was my father who arranged for Chu Suosuo to get in my car. As soon as she got in, I told her I was a married man and to keep her distance to avoid unnecessary trouble. During dinner, she wanted to sit with me, but I found an excuse to avoid it. After dinner, my father asked me to take her home, and I refused. Hua, I''m very faithful. If you don''t believe me, check the car''s dashcam or ask my assistant." Since he said so, it must be true. Su Hua''s anger dissipated, and she even felt a bit touched. Touched that he would go against Gu Aoting for her. That was his father, the one who decided his future. Su Hua silently hugged him, wanting to say something affectionate to praise him, but the more she tried, the less she knew what to say. She really wasn''t good at flirting. Her grandparents'' love was very reserved, only silently being good to each other. Her parents divorced early, and her mother''s fiery personality made saying sweet words harder than taking a beating. But she was quick with comebacks, which she used against Chu Suosuo. She hugged Gu Beixian for a long time, racking her brain but couldn''t come up with a word. Gu Beixian knew her temperament, patted her head, and said softly, "It''s okay, love isn''t spoken, it''s shown." His words were easily misinterpreted, making Su Hua blush. She shyly turned and walked away. After showering, they went to bed. Gu Beixian unbuttoned Su Hua''s pajamas, kissing down her snowy shoulder. Su Hua said "no" with her mouth, but her body melted like it was electrified, going soft instantly. Her hands weakly pushed his, her head tilted to one side, her dark hair spread on the pillow like a cloud, and her cherry lips slightly parted. As he kissed, her hands, which had been pushing him, somehow wrapped around his waist. They entwined together... Afterward, Gu Beixian held her and said, "I''ve started quitting smoking and drinking these days. Let''s prepare for a baby." This was the second time he mentioned having a child. Su Hua didn''t want children. She no longer felt secure in this marriage. But thinking of her mother''s advice to try hard to avoid future regrets, she nodded and said, "Okay." Gu Beixian''s dark eyes lit up, like stars twinkling. He held her tightly, almost in disbelief, "You really want to have a child with me?" Su Hua hesitated, "Let''s give it a try." Gu Beixian kissed her hard on the lips, his fingers caressing her pale shoulder, "Let''s have a son. If the first is a boy, we won''t need a second. Childbirth is too painful." Su Hua agreed, "Okay." Gu Beixian ruffled her hair, smiling, "Then it''ll be hard on you." "It''s my duty." Su Hua snuggled into his arms, but her mind flashed to Gu Aoting''s dark, coal-like face. She feared that after having the child, Gu Aoting would tear them apart, leaving the child without a father or mother. After falling asleep, Su Hua began to dream again. She dreamt of thirteen years ago, seeing Ah-Yao for the last time in the hospital. He lay on the bed, covered in wounds, wearing an oxygen mask, looking at her with dark, melancholic eyes, his gaze heavy with sorrow. Su Hua''s heart ached, just about to walk towards him. Suddenly, Ah-Yao disappeared. She panicked, searching frantically like a headless fly, but couldn''t find Ah-Yao. Instead, Gu Beixian appeared out of nowhere. He held her, lifted her face, and kissed her gently, saying, "Come home with me, let''s have a child, I''ll treat you well." In her sleep, Su Hua instinctively snuggled into Gu Beixian''s arms, hugging his waist, and murmured, "Beixian..." Gu Beixian, who hadn''t slept, heard her soft call, and his heart, frozen with resentment, melted instantly. For the first time in three years, she called his name in her dream. Finally, it wasn''t that cursed "Brother Ah-Yao." He wrapped his arms around her, a smile playing on his lips, his eyes sparkling like stars. Chapter 46 - Finding a Bargain on Masterpieces Three days later. Shen Yuan called, excitedly saying, "Sister Hua, Sister Hua, great news, great news! After evaluation by all the experts on site, it was unanimously decided that you will be the successor for Wang Meng''s ''Retreat'', one of the ''Four Masters of the Yuan Dynasty''. Are you happy?" Su Hua replied calmly, "When do we start?" Shen Yuan was stunned, "Is that all you have to say?" Su Hua raised an eyebrow slightly, "What should my reaction be?" Shen Yuan raised her voice, "Do you know? You successfully defeated eighteen top copyists gathered from all over the country. Each of those experts is a leader in their local museums, all over forty or fifty years old. You''re only twenty-three and have already beaten so many experts. Shouldn''t you be jumping for joy, clapping your hands, and laughing with delight?" Su Hua chuckled dryly, "Is that better?" Hearing her perfunctory laugh, Shen Yuan felt a bit numb, "Your left hand is still recovering. Will it affect your work?" "It''s manageable. I use my right hand more. But you guys need to find someone to grind ink for me. I can''t use pre-made ink; it will bleed and affect the mounting." "Got it. Whatever you need, just let me know, and I''ll talk to our curator. I might as well help you grind the ink." "Sure." Once the ''Retreat'' was repaired and fully colored, it was Su Hua''s turn to take over. She worked with extreme dedication. Once she sat down and picked up the brush, she became completely immersed, detached from the world, as if in a meditative state, often forgetting to eat. Shen Yuan didn''t dare to disturb her. Because the restoration was of a more than seven-hundred-year-old artifact, irreplaceable. If she was interrupted and made a mistake, the painting would be ruined. That''s why cultural relic restorers are also known as the surgeons who save the lives of artifacts, and they can''t afford any mistakes. Ten days later, Su Hua completed her work. Her brushwork, technique, spirit, and expression perfectly matched the original artist, Wang Meng. A group of old experts, armed with magnifying glasses, scrutinized the painting for half a day, unable to find a single flaw. It must be said, Su Hua''s work was both beautiful and efficient, accomplishing in ten days what others might take months to complete. Most people in the industry spend their entire lives unable to reach her level. Effort determines the lower limit, talent determines the upper limit. She had both talent and the willingness to work hard, and she was taught hand-in-hand by her grandfather, known as the Restoration Sage. It''s hard not to be impressed.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. A cheerful old expert gave Su Hua a thumbs up, praising her endlessly, saying Su Wenmai had taught an excellent student, surpassing the master. Several other experts, who cherished talent, jointly submitted an application to award Su Hua a "Cultural Relic Restoration Expert" certificate. The museum also specially appointed her as a guest researcher at the capital museum. Next, the restored painting was handed over to the mounting room for framing. Su Hua and the old experts went to a celebration banquet. Though called a celebration banquet, it was really just a farewell meal. During the meal, several white-haired experts asked Su Hua if she had a boyfriend, eager to introduce their grandsons and great-grandsons to her. Before Su Hua could speak, the old men started arguing among themselves, each praising their own grandson. One impatient expert even called his grandson, telling him to come over quickly. Su Hua felt a bit embarrassed by their noisy chatter. Shen Yuan hurriedly intervened, saying, "Su Hua is so beautiful, she must already have a boyfriend. Thank you all for your kindness." The old experts expressed their regret and asked, "Whose lucky boy is it?" Of course, Su Hua couldn''t mention Gu Beixian, so she laughed it off and changed the subject. Previously, Su Hua didn''t like interacting with these old experts. She never attended their gatherings. But today, she found this group of old experts quite endearing, like children, each with a playful spirit. After the meal, reporters came for interviews. Due to her connection with the Gu Family, Su Hua was not comfortable appearing on camera and didn''t want her background to be deeply investigated, so she politely declined and let the charming old experts take the spotlight. With some free time, Shen Yuan insisted on taking her to the antique market, saying they might find a hidden gem. In turbulent times, gold is valued; in peaceful times, antiques are treasured. Now, in this era of peace, the antique market was booming, and finding a bargain was not easy. Good items were expensive, and cheap ones were often crafts or fakes. The antique business was a deep pool. The two of them visited several shops, finding nothing. Finally, they arrived at an antique shop with a classic and grand decor. Su Hua looked around and finally fixed her gaze on a transparent vacuum box containing a pile of old, fragmented paper, the largest piece no bigger than a child''s palm, so fragmented that its original form was unrecognizable. Seeing her staring at it, Shen Yuan curiously asked the clerk, "How much is this?" The clerk held up two fingers, "Two hundred thousand." Shen Yuan''s eyes widened, "These tattered pieces of paper for two hundred thousand? You really dare to ask, why not just rob a bank?" The clerk wasn''t annoyed, smiling as he said, "This is an ''Ink Lotus Painting'' by Zhu Da, The Sage of Eight Mountains. It wasn''t well preserved during the war. If it were intact, it would be worth at least tens of millions. If you don''t believe me, take some time to check online." Shen Yuan pouted, "But this painting is too fragmented. It''s not worth two hundred thousand." The clerk knew exactly what was going on. When they acquired it, they spent two thousand yuan, hoping to have it restored by the nation''s best ancient painting restoration expert, Su Wenmai. But he passed away from stomach cancer, and no one else could handle it, saying it was too fragmented to piece together. It was just taking up space, and they had to dust it every day. The boss had said to sell it if they could get the money. The clerk''s eyes shifted, "Then make an offer." Shen Yuan glanced at Su Hua, seeing her interest in buying it, knowing she could restore it, and held up one finger, "One hundred." Su Hua almost burst out laughing. She really dared to haggle. Fortunately, this was a civilized society; in the past, such bargaining would get you beaten. The clerk was annoyed, forcing a smile, "Do you think this is waste paper? Even if sold as waste, this is paper from the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, worth at least ten thousand." "Don''t try to fool me. Ten thousand a sheet is for complete ancient rice paper. These are fragments, too small even to patch old paintings. How about this, I''ll give you a thousand, and if not, we''ll leave." With that, Shen Yuan pulled Su Hua''s hand and started to walk out. The clerk followed, shouting, "Ten thousand, take it for ten thousand!" "One thousand, not a penny more!" Shen Yuan didn''t look back as she countered. Seeing the two about to leave, the clerk, exasperated, shouted, "Take it for a thousand." Su Hua swiftly returned, swiped her card, signed the contract, and left with the fragments. Back at Riyue Bay. She went to her study and began piecing the painting together. Afraid that Sister Liu or the part-time workers might come in unexpectedly and blow the fragments away, she hung a "Do Not Disturb" sign on the study door. When Gu Beixian returned, he didn''t see her anywhere. He went to the study and saw the "Do Not Disturb" sign on the door, knowing she was working. He gently pushed the door open a crack. He saw Su Hua sitting at the desk, focused on piecing the painting together. The warm orange light cast a glow on her delicate face, making her seem as if she were in a meditative state. This tranquil atmosphere made the study feel like a temple, silent and serene, with ancient scrolls and a green lamp, making one reluctant to disturb her. Gu Beixian quietly closed the door and left. Su Hua worked late into the night before stopping. She looked up at the clock on the wall; it was one in the morning. She put down the painting, left the study, and locked it. Not wanting to disturb Gu Beixian, she quietly went to the bathroom to wash up and then went to sleep in the guest room. But the next morning, when she woke up, she opened her eyes to see Gu Beixian lying beside her, gazing at her. Su Hua was surprised, rubbing her sleepy eyes, looking at the man''s clear and handsome face, and asked, "Why are you sleeping in the guest room too?" Gu Beixian loosely embraced her, gently touching her rosy lips with his finger, "I was afraid you''d dream of me in the middle of the night and cry if you couldn''t find me." That was so warm. Su Hua felt a sweet warmth in her heart, touched by him. She smiled, leaned in, and started kissing him, kissing his forehead, his eyes, and his nose, until she was out of breath. She kissed his handsome face until it was covered in her kisses. Chapter 47 - Go home Li Meng on the riverbank turned and ran into the forest. The forest was immediately filled with startled birds scattering. The commotion spread deeper into the forest. In the following days, Li Meng headed south. Although he encountered some of Gobu Ba''s hunting parties along the way, Li Meng avoided contact with them. What would normally take over half a month, Li Meng completed in just five days to reach his destination. It was a new day, in the morning. In the forest outside the Goblin cave. In the dim forest, a shadow flashed by. So fast, it disappeared into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye. Moments later, in the forest outside the Goblin nest. Li Meng leisurely walked out. "It''s Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng has returned!" Li Meng''s appearance caught the attention of the Goblins playing at the cave entrance. Seeing Gobu Meng return, they all looked surprised. Gobu Qiang''s hunting party had been missing for a long, long time. Unexpectedly, Gobu Meng returned today. "Gobu Meng, where''s Gobu Qiang?" A Big Goblin approached Li Meng. "None of your business, get lost!" Li Meng''s blunt rebuke left the approaching Big Goblin stunned. Its body instinctively stepped aside. It wasn''t until Li Meng walked past that it reacted. "Gobu Meng, you''ve been gone so long, the boss won''t let you off." The Big Goblin glared angrily, roaring. "Hmph, perfect, I won''t let him off either!" Li Meng''s words left the Big Goblin dumbfounded, with a mocking expression. A mere Big Goblin daring to challenge the boss.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. It was simply courting death. Under the watchful eyes of the Goblins outside the cave, Li Meng entered the dim entrance. The familiar environment and that familiar stench made Li Meng frown slightly. Goblins might like this environment, but he certainly didn''t. "Gobu Meng, how dare you come back?" Just as he entered the cave, a Goblin Soldier strode out. It held a stone axe in its hand, glaring angrily. The disappearance of Gobu Qiang''s hunting party had made the boss extremely angry. They, the underlings, had suffered greatly. Three Goblin Soldiers had been eaten alive by the boss. How could Gobu Yuan not be angry? "Haha, isn''t this Gobu Meng? You finally returned!" At this moment, a voice filled with excitement echoed from the depths of the cave. The sound made Gobu Yuan''s body tremble. It quickly stepped aside, clearing the path. On a stone platform not far away, Gobu Ba remained high and mighty. Its gaze towards Li Meng was filled with excitement. "Quick, tell me, did you bring the humans back for me?" Standing before the stone platform, Li Meng looked up at the towering Gobu Ba. Months ago, when he first saw Gobu Ba, Li Meng was almost scared to death. Now, seeing Gobu Ba again, he felt nothing. Li Meng''s direct gaze made Gobu Ba frown, his eyes filled with anger. "Gobu Meng, how dare you look directly at me, you trash born from a groundhog''s belly, kneel before me!" Gobu Ba roared, glaring angrily. The surrounding Goblins were so frightened they retreated repeatedly. Even the Goblin Soldiers were scared into kneeling on the ground. Facing Gobu Ba''s furious roar, Li Meng grinned. "Gobu Ba, today this trash is going to challenge you!" These words left Gobu Ba stunned. "Haha!" Gobu Ba''s wild laughter echoed in the cave. The Goblins in the cave also burst into laughter. Some Goblins even clutched their stomachs, rolling on the ground in laughter. All the Goblins looked at Li Meng as if he were an idiot. The boss was the Goblin leader, and a mere Big Goblin dared to challenge the Goblin leader. "Haha, it seems that going out has made you trash born from a groundhog''s belly even dumber." Gobu Ba laughed, pounding his chest. Tears even flowed from his huge eyes. "Gobu Ba, do you dare to fight me?" Li Meng shouted. His voice was so loud, it was like a thunderclap, deafening. The laughter in the cave came to an abrupt halt. All the Goblins looked at Li Meng under the stone platform with uncertainty. "Interesting, very interesting, Gobu Meng, I will make you pay for your stupidity." Gobu Ba grinned hideously, truly enraged. A mere Big Goblin dared to challenge him recklessly. Gobu Ba picked up a giant stone axe beside him. His massive body leaped off the stone platform. "Boom!" With a "boom," the ground shook. Gobu Ba''s huge body landed steadily on the ground before Li Meng. In front of Gobu Ba, Li Meng was just a tiny figure. "Die!" Gobu Ba roared, raising the stone axe with both hands and slashing down at Li Meng. Before the axe arrived, the gust of wind did. Gobu Ba''s face was twisted with ferocity. He could already imagine the scene of Gobu Meng being split in two by his stone axe. Li Meng didn''t dodge, looking expressionlessly at the descending axe. This strike, the giant stone axe struck heavily on Li Meng''s shoulder. "Boom!" At the moment the stone axe struck Li Meng''s shoulder. The giant stone axe shattered with a bang, sending fragments flying everywhere. The immense force made Li Meng''s body sink downward. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and Li Meng''s feet were already embedded in it. "Impossible, absolutely impossible!" Seeing Li Meng unharmed, while the stone axe in his hand was reduced to a wooden stick. Gobu Ba was dumbfounded, utterly incredulous. He couldn''t imagine how Gobu Meng had withstood his full-force axe. Gobu Ba, looking as if he''d seen a ghost, retreated repeatedly. The surrounding Goblins were also stunned. "What, trying to escape already?" Li Meng still looked expressionlessly at the retreating Gobu Ba. "Gobu Meng, you''re courting death!" Gobu Ba was enraged, throwing away the wooden stick in his hand. Then he raised his massive fist and charged at Li Meng with a few strides. The huge fist swung, punching towards Li Meng. "Die!" Li Meng snorted coldly. His right foot stepped back, stabilizing his body. His right hand clenched into a fist, simply punching to meet Gobu Ba''s fist. At the moment of punching, a wave of air exploded from in front of Li Meng. "Boom!" The two fists collided heavily. "Crack!" With a "crack" sound. At the moment of impact, Gobu Ba''s hand twisted out of shape. The tendons and bones shattered and broke instantly. "Ah!" Gobu Ba let out a miserable scream. The immense force not only shattered Gobu Ba''s body. It also sent Gobu Ba''s huge body flying. It flew dozens of meters before crashing onto the stone platform with a "boom." Li Meng followed closely, leaping up. His body shot towards Gobu Ba like an arrow. "Die!" With a shout, Li Meng punched straight at Gobu Ba''s heart. "Shh!" Li Meng''s punch directly pierced through Gobu Ba''s chest. Most of his arm was embedded in Gobu Ba''s chest. With a pull, a giant heart was grasped in Li Meng''s hand. Before the stunned Gobu Ba could regain consciousness, Li Meng had already taken his life. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 48 - Become the boss The massive body slowly slid to the ground. Li Meng stood atop Gobu Ba''s enormous body, holding a heart in his hand. His gaze was cold and expressionless 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 retreated repeatedly. "Come on, I accept your challenge!" Li Meng grinned and roared with all his might. The thunderous roar sent a shiver through the goblins in the cave. "Gobu Meng! Gobu Meng!" The weakest of the Big Goblins was the first to submit. With a thud, it knelt on the ground, shouting loudly. Once one goblin led, the others quickly followed suit, bowing down. Next were the Goblin Soldiers, followed by the Goblin Warriors. All the goblins knelt down, shouting in unison. The sound was deafening, echoing through the cave. Faced with the worship of the goblins, Li Meng gave a sinister smile. Good, with this, the higher goblins here were as good as his. Li Meng opened his sharp mouth and tore off a large piece of heart meat. Standing on Gobu Ba''s corpse, Li Meng gnawed on the heart while enjoying the goblins'' cheers. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Berserk"] The system''s notification made Li Meng look down at Gobu Ba beneath him. Gobu Ba was too careless. He didn''t even have time to use the Berserk skill before being killed. Perhaps Gobu Ba was just like him when he was killed by the Black Robe. Arrogance and confidence often lead to one''s downfall. With a leap, Li Meng jumped off Gobu Ba''s body. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. "The body is yours!" Upon hearing this, the surrounding goblins showed greedy expressions. In a frenzy, they rushed towards Gobu Ba''s body. Even the weakest Big Goblins dared to compete with Goblin Warriors for the leader''s corpse. Nearly a hundred goblins scrambled madly over Gobu Ba''s body. Li Meng climbed onto a stone platform and sat down at the edge. He watched the chaotic and bloody scene below with great interest. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "Limb Enhancement"] With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 825] [Defense: 759] [Agility: 341] [Magic: 86] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills from devoured magical beasts] [Steel Skin: 2 (Strength +600, Defense +600, Agility +200)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] Seeing the magic attribute value gave Li Meng a headache. The magic value was really hard to improve. So many skills, yet none related to the magic attribute. Using points to increase the magic attribute seemed wasteful. Shaking his head, Li Meng sighed and casually tossed the heart aside. The goblins below scrambled for it again. It took over half an hour for Gobu Ba''s body to be completely devoured by the goblins. "You, you, you, come here!" The three Goblin Warriors named by Li Meng looked at each other. They took a few steps forward with their massive strides, approaching the stone platform. Goblin Warriors were the upper echelon goblins, second only to the Goblin Leader. They were huge, standing at 2.5 meters tall. Their physique was robust, like a bear. Muscles bulged all over, clearly indicating their strength. "Gobu Tian, go sound the war horn, recall all the hunting parties outside!" Gobu Tian looked at the small Li Meng on the stone platform with fear. It nodded and turned to stride out of the cave. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, take all the goblins here and follow me!" The ones left in the cave were all upper echelon goblins. At the very least, they were Big Goblins. If this batch of upper echelon goblins was brought back to the tribe, the population would increase several times over within half a year. The potential of the newborns would also be greater. "Boss, where are we going?" Gobu Di asked from below the stone platform. Li Meng leaped down from the stone platform, landing steadily on the ground. "Back to the tribe!" Li Meng strode towards the cave exit. Wherever he passed, the goblins stepped aside in awe. Gobu Di and Gobu Shi exchanged glances. Now Gobu Meng was the new boss, and the boss''s orders had to be followed. The two Goblin Warriors followed behind Li Meng. The other goblins followed behind Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. Li Meng led the group of upper echelon goblins out of the cave in a grand procession. On the mountaintop outside the cave, Li Meng heard the long horn sound. He also saw Gobu Tian approaching. "Gobu Tian, you stay and guard the goblin nest. Tell the hunting parties who the new boss is when they return. I''ll be back soon." Gobu Tian nodded and stepped aside. Under Gobu Tian''s watchful gaze, Li Meng led a group of goblins into the depths of the forest. It took Li Meng five days to arrive. But it took over half a month to return. The group of nearly a hundred upper echelon goblins traveled intermittently. Hunting as they went. It wasn''t until the afternoon of the seventeenth day that they reached the riverbank. "Keep up, cross quickly!" Li Meng didn''t stop at the riverbank and stepped directly into the river. As his foot touched the water, the surface instantly froze. This miraculous scene left the upper echelon goblins behind him dumbfounded. The boss could use magic? Seeing that small figure, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi''s faces showed fervor. That was magic, a power that only the legendary Goblin King had a chance to awaken. Yet the magical power of the Goblin King appeared in the small Big Goblin. "What are you standing around for? Keep up!" Seeing his goblin underlings staring blankly at the riverbank, Li Meng''s shout snapped them back to reality. A mass of goblins hurriedly rushed onto the ice path, following behind the boss. Thus, Li Meng led his upper echelon goblin underlings across the river smoothly. Half an hour later, in the forest tribe. A large group of upper echelon goblins emerging from the forest caught the attention of the goblins in the tribe. "It''s the boss, the boss is back!" When they saw that the leader was the boss, the goblin underlings erupted in cheers. The upper echelon goblins following Li Meng curiously observed everything in front of them. From the goblins, they could sense the aura of bloodline descendants. This indicated that the goblins here shared the same bloodline as them. "Isn''t that Gobu Di and Gobu Shi?" "Yeah, how did they end up here?" "Oh no, did Gobu Ba attack?" There were many goblins in the tribe from Gobu Qiang''s hunting party. Naturally, they recognized Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 49 - Gobu Qiang in a Panic "Boss, boss!" Just then, Gobu Qiang came running over excitedly. When he saw the group of higher-ranking goblins behind the boss, Gobu Qiang stumbled and almost fell to the ground. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi?" The appearance of the two Goblin Warriors made Gobu Qiang''s face turn pale. With Gobu Di and Gobu Shi here, it meant... The thought in his mind filled Gobu Qiang with terror, and he collapsed to the ground. "Gobu Ba has been killed by me. Now I am the leader of the Bloodline Tribe!" Gobu Ba has been killed by the boss? Gobu Qiang, who was lying on the ground, was momentarily stunned. Then, he showed a look of wild joy and crawled over to Li Meng. He lay on the ground, kissing Li Meng''s feet. "Boss, you''re mighty! Boss, you''re amazing!" The goblins gathered around, hearing this news, also shouted with fervor. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" For a moment, the loud chants of the goblins echoed throughout the tribe. This caught the attention of some female lizardmen in the wooden huts. Many doors and windows were pushed open. Lizard heads peeked out one by one. After a while, the goblins'' shouts finally subsided. In just over a month, the tribe had changed dramatically. Larger wooden huts spread throughout the forest, stretching as far as the eye could see. "Boss, the new throne cave has been built. Bai Ling and those female lizardmen have already moved in." In the tribe, Li Meng led a group of higher-ranking goblins, following behind Gobu Qiang. As they ventured deeper into the tribe, they soon saw a massive wooden hut. The hut was built around a towering giant tree. Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It looked like a mushroom. Its diameter was over fifty meters. At the entrance of the hut, Bai Ling stood obediently. In nearly a month, Bai Ling''s big belly had disappeared. This indicated that during his absence, Bai Ling had given birth. "Gobu Qiang, arrange them all, then come see me!" After leaving this instruction, Li Meng strode towards the wooden hut. Gobu Qiang, on the other hand, faced the group of higher-ranking goblins with a look of fear. "Uh... follow me!" The appearance of so many higher-ranking goblins gave Gobu Qiang a sense of crisis. He had to do everything the boss ordered. Otherwise, there would be no place for him by the boss''s side. At the entrance of the hut, Bai Ling stared intently at the departing higher-ranking goblins. Her face was very unpleasant. That Big Goblin had been gone for more than half a month. Unexpectedly, he returned with so many higher-ranking goblins. There were even two Goblin Warriors. The arrival of these higher-ranking goblins made Bai Ling realize the seriousness of the situation. "Master!" Seeing her master approaching, Bai Ling''s expression shifted slightly. She placed her hands on her lower abdomen and bowed respectfully. Li Meng grinned and circled around Bai Ling. "Hmm, the tail has grown out!" Li Meng curiously looked at the short tail emerging from the beast skirt. He reached out and grabbed Bai Ling''s short tail. It was a bit cool and soft, almost boneless. "Hmph!" Bai Ling''s body trembled, and she let out a soft hum. "Master, no... don''t grab my tail." Bai Ling''s eyes were filled with allure, a flash of disgust passing through them. Seeing Bai Ling''s trembling body, Li Meng grinned. "What, is it very sensitive?" Bai Ling clutched her beast skirt tightly and nodded slightly. With a wicked smile, Li Meng reached out and slapped Bai Ling''s plump buttocks. "Go, bring all the unassigned female lizardmen here!" Bai Ling''s face changed slightly, a trace of sadness flashing in her eyes. Those tribesmen ultimately couldn''t escape the fate of becoming breeding tools. Watching Bai Ling''s departing figure, Li Meng grinned. He enjoyed seeing Bai Ling''s look of humiliation and reluctance. Li Meng sat down on the steps at the entrance. His gaze fixed on Bai Ling''s retreating figure. Admiring her voluptuous body. Before long, Gobu Qiang returned with a group of higher-ranking goblins. "Boss, their caves have all been arranged!" Li Meng''s gaze swept over the group of higher-ranking goblins outside the wooden hut. His eyes finally settled on Gobu Di and Gobu Shi. "From today on, the task of the Goblin Soldiers and Goblin Warriors is only one: to reproduce." Reproduce? The boss''s words made the group of higher-ranking goblins show expressions of greed and excitement. Reproduction was a trait ingrained in the goblins'' genes. In the past, goblins could only fight for mating rights through force. "It''s the lizardmen, the female lizardmen!" At this moment, Bai Ling returned with a group of female lizardmen. Seeing those female lizardmen, the group of higher-ranking goblins was extremely excited. Their eyes greedily examined the female lizardmen. Facing the goblins'' greedy gazes, the female lizardmen showed expressions of fear. "You all can gain mating rights. Remember, take good care of them. If even one is missing, be prepared to be smashed into meat paste by Benben." These goblins came from the Goblin Nest. Under Gobu Ba''s influence, they had become quite brutal. Especially towards female creatures, they were extremely cruel. Often, they would eat the female creatures during mating due to their perverse desires. To deal with these brutal goblins, mere admonishment wasn''t enough; they needed to be intimidated. Benben stood up beside them. Holding a spiked club in both hands, he smashed it onto the ground with a "bang." A huge pit appeared on the ground. All the goblins looked at Benben with fear. They had long noticed the big guy sitting at the entrance of the wooden hut. Since Benben was fully armored, the goblins didn''t know what he was. Only now did the goblins recognize Benben as an ogre. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, did you understand what I said?" Facing the boss''s expressionless gaze, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi couldn''t help but take a step back. The two Goblin Warriors nodded vigorously. "Boss, I... I understand. I won''t eat them." Looking at the huge spiked club in Benben''s hand, Gobu Di swallowed hard. If he got hit, he would definitely die. Gobu Shi quickly patted his chest to assure. "Boss, I... I''ll listen to you." Slightly turning his head, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling. "Bai Ling, come here!" Bai Ling silently stepped forward and stood beside Li Meng. At this point, Li Meng began assigning the female lizardmen to the goblins. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, each of you choose ten female lizardmen to take back to your caves!" Gobu Di and Gobu Shi''s eyes lit up. They quickly turned and walked towards the group of female lizardmen. Facing the approaching Goblin Warriors. The massive bodies made the female lizardmen panic and retreat repeatedly. After a commotion, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each took ten female lizardmen away. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 50 - Dont you believe me? The female Lizardman followed behind the two Goblin Warriors with a look of despair. The stronger the Goblin, the more ferocious they are. Their journey might not end well. Standing beside Li Meng, Bai Ling also looked at the tribespeople following the Goblin Warriors with a face full of reluctance. Her fists were clenched tightly, her sharp nails almost piercing through her scales. In front of the wooden house, the allocation continued. The number of female Lizardmen that could be allocated was divided according to the strength of the Goblins. Goblin Warriors could be allocated ten female Lizardmen. Goblin Soldiers could be allocated five female Lizardmen. Big Goblins could be allocated three female Lizardmen. Due to the insufficient number of female Lizardmen, the number allocated to Big Goblins was reduced to two. In no time, over a hundred female Lizardmen were divided up. Every Goblin left the front of the wooden house excitedly with their allocated female Lizardmen. Standing up, Li Meng dusted off his clothes. With a slight glance, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, who was expressionless beside him. "You should be grateful you met me, otherwise, you Lizardmen would just be meat!" Although it was hard to discern the changes in the Lizardman''s expression, Li Meng could still see something in Bai Ling''s eyes. "You know better than I do how ferocious Goblins are. Would they obey just because of your words?" With a grin, Li Meng forcibly picked up Bai Ling by the waist. Bai Ling did not struggle, her gaze fixed intently on Li Meng. "I am their leader, they will listen to me, that''s what Goblins are!" Li Meng''s words left Bai Ling silent. Thinking back now, it seemed that indeed no tribespeople had died from Goblin harm. Not only had no female Lizardmen died at the hands of Goblins, but they could also leave the wooden house to wander in the forest. If they wanted to bathe in the river, the Goblins did not stop them. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Even if the Goblins'' gazes were greedy, they wouldn''t forcefully mate with them. "Goblins are indeed ferocious, they don''t think about anything other than eating and mating. But precisely because of this, as their leader, I can better restrain them. In the strictly hierarchical Goblin society, my orders are even above their lives." This statement is both true and false. If the leader''s orders were above life, Gobu Qiang wouldn''t have betrayed Gobu Ba. This premise needs an addition, which is the direct bloodline descendants. Gobu Qiang''s bloodline came from Gobu Ba''s paternal line. Therefore, his loyalty to Gobu Ba wouldn''t be above his life. Li Meng''s ability to restrain the Goblins in the tribe relied on strength. Great power could also earn the Goblins'' loyalty. Though this loyalty wouldn''t be above life, the Goblins dared not disobey Li Meng''s orders. As he spoke, Li Meng carried Bai Ling into the wooden house with large strides. Upon entering the wooden house, the layout made Li Meng roll his eyes. Such a large wooden house, yet the space inside wasn''t divided into rooms. Just a couple of pillars, with a bed behind each pillar. At the far end opposite the door was a large bed. Calling it a bed was a stretch, as it was just a layer of animal hide spread on the ground. Seeing this, Li Meng sighed inwardly. It seemed he needed to study carpentry well. Li Meng''s arrival startled the female Lizardmen inside the house. Many female Lizardmen hurriedly put on their animal hide bras. Holding Bai Ling, Li Meng sniffed the air with his nose. A rich milky fragrance filled the room. A female Lizardman sitting on the bed caught Li Meng''s attention. She looked panicked, hiding something behind her back. "What are you hiding? Show it!" Li Meng''s words made Bai Ling''s delicate body tremble. Her expression shifted, and she nodded to the female Lizardman. Only then did the female Lizardman nervously take out a bamboo tube from behind her back. Li Meng put Bai Ling down and walked over to the female Lizardman. Standing beside her, Li Meng took the bamboo tube from her hand. There was water inside the bamboo tube, Li Meng felt it sloshing. Glancing at the female Lizardman with her head lowered, Li Meng opened the stopper. As soon as the stopper was opened, a rich milky fragrance wafted into his nose. Li Meng looked into the wooden tube. He found that the water inside was white. Li Meng understood what it was. Putting the stopper back, Li Meng returned the wooden tube to the female Lizardman. "Bai Ling, who did you give yours to?" With a slight glance, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling''s towering chest. Only then did Li Meng notice that the animal hide bra on Bai Ling''s chest was already wet. Bai Ling slightly lowered her head, answering Li Meng expressionlessly. "To the tribespeople who needed it!" With a grin, Li Meng grabbed Bai Ling''s hand. Then he led Bai Ling towards the main bed. The main bed was slightly elevated. There were four steps, about a meter high. Li Meng lay back on the bed, hands behind his head. "I approve of this, no need to hide it, the tribe needs strong labor." Young Goblins have no nursing period; they can eat meat right after birth. The milk of female Lizardmen given to male Lizardmen is a good use of resources. After all, male Lizardmen do all the hard labor. With milk to supplement their nutrition, male Lizardmen can have more strength for work. Looking at the master lying on the bed, a flash of surprise crossed Bai Ling''s eyes. She didn''t expect the master to agree to them giving milk to the male Lizardmen. With the master''s approval, they no longer needed to do this secretly. Bai Ling turned and spoke a few words in Lizardman language to the female Lizardmen in the room. The female Lizardmen looked delighted, glancing at the master with surprise. Then each female Lizardman took out their hidden wooden tubes. They removed their bras and started squeezing in front of Li Meng. Li Meng watched with interest. Due to the short gestation period of Goblins, female Lizardmen would be in a nursing period throughout the year. There are pros and cons. The pros are for the male Lizardmen, while the cons require providing more food to the female Lizardmen. Without sufficient nutritional supplements, being in a long-term nursing period would only weaken the female Lizardmen''s bodies. Although he was just a Goblin now, he valued promises. In non-essential situations, he would keep his promises. "Bai Ling, come!" Lying on the bed, Li Meng looked lecherously at the voluptuous Bai Ling. Facing the master''s disgusting gaze, Bai Ling frowned slightly. Resigned, she removed her animal hide bra and skirt. Before long, the wooden house was filled with noise. The female Lizardmen inside the wooden house secretly glanced at the master and Bai Ling, the High Priestess. The scent filling the house made all the female Lizardmen restless. Some female Lizardmen tightly clamped their legs, writhing on the bed. Not until the afternoon of the next day did the wooden house quiet down. Inside the wooden house, Li Meng contentedly got up from a female Lizardman. Looking around, all the female Lizardmen were exhausted and asleep on the beds. "What is your name?" The sudden voice in her mind made the female Lizardman, curled up on the bed, freeze. She looked at the Big Goblin beside her with uncertainty. Could the voice in her mind be the master speaking to her? Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 51 - Three-bow crossbow "I... I''m called Hui Nana!" Li Meng grinned and gave Hui Nana''s round backside a playful slap. Then, feeling quite satisfied, he walked out. Among the many female Lizardmen in the wooden hut, Li Meng only knew Bai Ling''s name. The reason, of course, was the language barrier. But now, Li Meng felt there was no need to hide anymore. That said, he didn''t really need to know the names of the female Lizardmen. Asking Hui Nana''s name was just a whim. Hui Nana shivered as her backside was touched. She looked at her departing master with a complex expression. This Goblin in front of her was different from the Goblins she knew. His eyes lacked the usual savagery and madness of Goblins, giving off a very rational and intelligent vibe. It was already afternoon when the creaky door of the throne cave in the tribe opened. Li Meng emerged from the wooden hut, looking refreshed. Seeing Benben sleeping soundly outside the door, Li Meng smiled. Without waking Benben, Li Meng headed towards the nursery. "Boss, your bloodline descendants are over here!" Led by a Goblin, Li Meng entered a larger nursery. He didn''t go inside the wooden hut but stopped at the entrance. Inside, a group of young Goblins was playing and frolicking. There were over a hundred of them, making the hut buzz with chatter. When they noticed Li Meng at the door, the noise abruptly stopped. All the young Goblins huddled in the corner, looking at Li Meng with nothing but fear in their eyes. Young Goblins have an instinctive sense of danger when facing adult Goblins. After watching for a while at the door, Li Meng turned and left. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Goblins have no concept of family. Even their mothers are just female creatures in their eyes. Once they reach adulthood, mothers become nothing more than breeding tools. If the female creatures don''t separate from the young Goblins in time after giving birth, they might even become food for the young ones. After leaving the nursery, Li Meng headed to the carpentry workshop. Before he even got close, he heard the sound of wood being shaved from the wooden huts. "Boss, what brings you here?" In the largest carpentry workshop, Li Meng found Gobu Da. Seeing the busy Goblins in the workshop, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. Goblins might be a bit dim-witted, but they are obedient and hardworking. While they lack creativity, their ability to mimic is even stronger than humans. "I need to make some big things, clear this place out for me!" Soon, airships would appear in the sky near the Goblin nest. Knowing this, Li Meng wasn''t planning to do nothing. The future predicted by the simulated life could serve as an important source of intelligence. In the following days, Li Meng was busy in the carpentry workshop studying large ballistae. Gobu Da and a group of Goblins assisted him. On the afternoon of the seventh day, outside the workshop, a massive ballista was carried into the forest by the Goblins. A ballista is essentially a larger version of a crossbow, with a structure not much different from the single crossbows used by Goblins. It just has an added winch to pull the bowstring. "Boss, the bolts are here!" Three Goblins carried over a bolt about 1.5 meters long, made entirely of low-carbon steel. The bolt had iron fins at the tail to help maintain balance and direction during flight. "String it up!" At Li Meng''s command, the three Goblins quickly turned the winch. With a "creak creak" sound, the bowstring was gradually drawn back. It took over a minute for the bowstring to be successfully cocked. The Goblins carrying the bolt then placed it into the ballista''s slot. "Boss, everything''s ready!" With all the pre-launch preparations complete, it was time to test the power of the ballista. Li Meng stepped forward to aim the ballista at a large tree several hundred meters away. "Whoosh!" Li Meng pulled the trigger. With a "click," a piercing whistle followed. The massive bolt shot out like a black streak, slicing through the dim forest and heading straight into its depths. "Thud!" Over two hundred meters away, there was a "boom" as the massive bolt embedded deeply into the tree trunk. The entire arrowhead was buried, and the tail was trembling violently. Seeing this, a hint of disappointment flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. The ballista''s power was far too low, much less than he had anticipated. The bolt started losing altitude after just two hundred meters. How could such power satisfy Li Meng? "Is it a problem with the materials and structure?" Li Meng pondered as he looked at the ballista before him. The materials were already at their limit. There was no wood tougher than ironwood in the Goblin Forest. Spider silk rope was also the best material for bowstrings in terms of elasticity and toughness. "It seems I''ll have to think of a solution with the structure!" Li Meng turned and walked towards the carpentry workshop. "Take the ballista back!" Upon hearing this, the Goblin underlings quickly swarmed around, lifting the ballista and carrying it back to the workshop. In the following days, the carpentry workshop was once again filled with the sound of wood being shaved, occasionally accompanied by the "thud thud" of hammering. "Boss, boss!" One afternoon, Gobu Ke rushed into the workshop. Inside, Li Meng was meticulously refining a massive bow frame. "Boss, something''s wrong. We''ve discovered the Pigmen tribe in the eastern forest!" Gobu Ke ran to the boss''s side, panting. Hearing this, Li Meng''s heart tightened. The Pigmen tribe had indeed appeared. It had only been a little over a month. The Black Robe was supposed to appear after the airship, so the timing shouldn''t be off. "Don''t engage with the Pigmen tribe. If you encounter them, avoid them!" The simulated life predicted many future scenarios. Those futures were known intelligence. To develop the future he envisioned, he had to proceed cautiously. "Boss, can''t we eat them? Pigmen meat is much tastier than wild boar." Gobu Ke''s face was filled with greed. Remembering the taste of Pigmen, he almost drooled. "Now is not the time for war with the Pigmen tribe. Tell the Hunting Party in the eastern forest not to engage with the Pigmen. If they encounter them, avoid them. Go!" "Alright, boss, I''m on it!" Though disappointed, Gobu Ke still had to follow the boss''s orders. He turned and dashed out. The next morning. The long-silent carpentry workshop was bustling again. This time, an even larger ballista was carried out by more than ten Goblins. Compared to the previous ballista, this one was much bigger, almost twice the size of the last. Its structure was also more complex. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 52 - Absolutely impossible thing More than a dozen Goblins carried the ballista and set it down in the clearing of the forest. This time, the ballista had three giant bow arms. The three massive bow arms were arranged with two facing forward and one backward. The ballista before him was designed by Li Meng based on the structure of a triple-bow ballista. But it was only similar; there were significant differences in many details. "String it up!" This time, the triple-bow ballista had two winches. Six Goblins hurriedly moved forward, panting as they cranked the winches. The immense tension made the bowstring and bow arms creak. With the help of the roller structure, the power of the three bow arms was concentrated together. It took over a minute for the bowstring to be fully cocked. Li Meng lifted the giant bolt, carried by three Goblins, with one hand and placed it into the loading slot. This time, the bolt was even larger, about 2 meters long. After completing the preparations for firing, the experiment officially began. Li Meng aimed the ballista at a large tree several hundred meters away. "Whoo!" Li Meng took a deep breath. His gaze was fixed on the target tree not far away. With a forceful squeeze, he pulled the trigger. "Whoosh!" The ballista shook. The piercing sound of the bowstring snapping back echoed through the forest. A black streak shot through the air, heading deep into the forest. "Boom!" Almost instantly, a loud crash resounded from deep within the forest. A large tree three hundred meters away collapsed with a thunderous crash. The bolt pierced straight through the tree, and the massive impact shattered the trunk. After penetrating one tree, the bolt continued with undiminished momentum, embedding itself into another tree a hundred meters away. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. A third of the bolt was buried in the trunk. The terrifying power left the Goblin minions dumbfounded. The commotion here caused chaos and disorder in the tribe. Li Meng was also startled by the terrifying power. A tree that would take three people holding hands to encircle was pierced straight through by the bolt. If it were fired in an arc, the range could easily exceed a kilometer. "But the bow arms need to be thicker!" Earlier, when the bowstring was being cocked, Li Meng heard the cracking sound of the bow arms breaking. With the current strength of the triple-bow ballista, the bow arms would break after only a few uses. The limit wasn''t the bowstring but the bow arms. If the bow arms were thickened, the ballista''s power would be even greater. Because the power of the crossbow is related to the tension of the bow arms. "Very good, not bad, take it back!" With that, Li Meng returned to the carpentry workshop to continue strengthening and adjusting the triple-bow ballista. Time passed little by little, and day after day went by. On the afternoon of the fifth day, in the carpentry workshop. "Boss, do you think this will work?" Gobu Ge, along with a group of Goblin minions, found the boss in the carpentry workshop. Li Meng, who was assembling the triple-bow ballista, put down his work. Li Meng took the harpoon bolt from the shoulders of three Goblins with one hand. He weighed the bolt in his hand, nodding in satisfaction. Although the harpoon tip was a bit rough, it was usable. "Very good, how many have you made?" Gobu Ge chuckled, counting on his fingers. When he reached ten, Gobu Ge looked confused. "Alright, put them all down, that''s enough!" Gobu Ge''s face lit up with joy, and he quickly instructed the minions to put down the harpoon bolts from their shoulders. Looking at the three massive ballistae in the wooden house, Li Meng grinned. With these three ballistae, they could set off 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. With Benben in tow, Li Meng headed towards the direction of the throne cave. By now, the sky was gradually darkening. "Bai Ling?" On the way back to the throne cave, Li Meng encountered Bai Ling. Bai Ling, escorted by several Goblins, was heading towards the throne cave. "Master!" Seeing the master approaching, Bai Ling slightly lowered her head. At this moment, Bai Ling was already sporting a big belly. In the second week after returning to the tribe, the female Lizardmen in the throne cave became pregnant one after another, thanks to Li Meng''s efforts. Li Meng glanced sideways at the depths of the forest behind Bai Ling. "Did you go to the Iron Cave?" The expansion work of the tribe had been completed half a month ago. Now, all the male Lizardmen were working over at the Iron Cave. Once the first lactation period began, the female Lizardmen would continue to lactate. Li Meng glanced at the bamboo tube in Bai Ling''s hand. He could smell the rich scent of milk from the bamboo tube. It was clear that Bai Ling was delivering milk. Ever since Li Meng allowed the female Lizardmen to deliver milk, it had become a routine for them. They milked in the morning and delivered the milk to the male Lizardmen in the afternoon. Before dark, they would each return to their own caves. Since the offerings were mostly couples, each male Lizardman could drink the milk of his own wife. As for whom Bai Ling''s milk was delivered to, it wasn''t hard to guess. It was certainly given to the weakest male Lizardman. Li Meng didn''t bother to interfere with the Lizardmen''s way of supporting each other. Male Lizardmen having milk to supplement their nutrition and maintain their health and strength wasn''t a bad thing. Bai Ling nodded slightly. Li Meng didn''t say much more. The two walked together towards the direction of the throne cave. "Master, is the cave for smelting iron?" As they walked, Bai Ling suddenly asked. Li Meng turned his head, looking at Bai Ling with a half-smile. "Why do you think it''s called the Iron Cave?" The master''s response made Bai Ling''s heart sink. A trace of disbelief flashed in her eyes. Bai Ling wouldn''t be surprised if any Barbarian in the Goblin Forest was smelting iron. But Goblins smelting iron was unimaginable. How could Goblins, with their intelligence, learn the iron-smelting techniques of humans? Even the swamp Lizardmen knew nothing about iron-smelting techniques. "I told you, I''m a smart Goblin. There''s nothing impossible for me." Bai Ling lowered her head slightly, not daring to meet the master''s gaze. With her head down, Bai Ling''s eyes were filled with murderous intent. The presence of the Big Goblin beside her was a disaster for all intelligent races in the Goblin Forest. Although Bai Ling kept her head down, Li Meng still sensed the killing intent emanating from her. Looking down at Bai Ling beside him, Li Meng grinned wickedly. "You can try, but if you fail, I''ll make you watch as all your kin are eaten alive!" Upon hearing this, Bai Ling, with her big belly, trembled. Her legs went weak, and she almost stumbled to the ground. Li Meng stepped to the left to support Bai Ling. "Master, Bai Ling wouldn''t dare!" Li Meng grinned without saying more. The two, each harboring their own thoughts, walked together in the tribe. In the following days, Li Meng didn''t rush to leave. The next morning, he went back into the carpentry workshop. Having the triple-bow ballista wasn''t enough; they also needed a means of transportation. Not only did the ballista need a transport tool, but the tribe''s freight transport also required a means of transport. In ancient times, there was only one best means of transport. And that was a wheeled carriage. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 53 - Waiting for a chance Although there were no horses in the tribe, they did have wild boars. The structure of a carriage is relatively simple, but the wheels are the most challenging part. While carriages aren''t ideal for use in the forest, they''re not entirely unusable either, as the forest isn''t completely impenetrable. Many areas are relatively flat, allowing carriages to pass through. As the tribe''s territory expands, building a road for quick travel becomes necessary. Five days later, at the carpentry workshop. "Making wheels is much harder than forging iron!" Looking at the rough axle in his hand, Li Meng felt powerless. To make wheels, you need some specialized tools. Relying on a hammer and a wood carving knife is time-consuming, and the results are crude. "Forget it, I''ll study it properly when I get back." Missing the airship because of researching carriage wheels would be a real loss. Getting up, Li Meng hurriedly walked out. In the afternoon, the tribe was bustling. A large group of Goblins rushed into the carpentry workshop, panting as they carried out three ballistae. Each ballista required more than twenty Goblins to transport. Over seventy Goblins were moving three ballistae. More than thirty Goblins were carrying bolts. Over twenty Goblins were carrying spider silk ropes. A team of over a hundred Goblins marched grandly southward. "What is that?" The commotion outside caught Bai Ling''s attention. Bai Ling pushed open the door of the throne cave and stepped out. As soon as she walked out, she saw the grand Goblin procession heading away in the distance. The items the Goblins were carrying piqued Bai Ling''s curiosity. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. She didn''t know what those wooden things were. But they looked heavy, requiring more than twenty Goblins to carry them together. Benben was also in the team. The master was sitting on its shoulder. Seemingly noticing Bai Ling''s gaze, Li Meng, sitting on Benben''s shoulder, turned and waved at her. Facing the master''s gaze, Bai Ling, standing at the entrance of the throne cave, lowered her head slightly. She turned and went back into the wooden house, closing the door behind her. Seeing this, Li Meng grinned. The team continued southward, leaving the tribe in grand fashion. Half an hour later, the river was bustling. "It''s slippery, the water''s coming up!" "Steady, don''t push over here!" On the ice path connecting the two banks, Goblins carefully carried the ballistae. The immense weight caused the ice path to sink slightly. River water surged onto the ice path. This made the Goblins on the ice path wobble. The commotion lasted a long time. The Goblin team on the ice path moved forward like turtles. Fortunately, the process was without incident. It took over half an hour for the Goblin team to reach the southern bank. In the following time, the Goblin team continued southward. They traveled by day, hunted in the first half of the night, and rested in the latter half. It took them more than half a month to reach the forest near the Goblin lair. By noon, at the Goblin lair. "Boss, boss!" A Goblin hurriedly crawled into the cave. It stumbled and slid to its knees at Gobu Tian''s feet. Gobu Tian, who was gnawing on a big pig head under the stone platform, looked down at the tiny Goblin at his feet and wiped the blood from his mouth. He grinned and reached out to grab the Goblin. The Goblin let out a terrified scream. "The boss''s boss is here!" Gobu Tian''s expression changed. He quickly withdrew his hand, stood up, and hurriedly walked out. Watching the boss leave, the Goblin looked relieved. It had almost become the boss''s lunch. "Boss, boss!" Before it could run out of the cave, Gobu Tian''s roar echoed from the cave entrance. Gobu Tian scurried out of the darkness at the cave entrance. As soon as he rushed out, he stopped. Seeing the Goblins panting as they emerged from the forest, Gobu Tian was full of questions. What were those things the Goblins were carrying on their shoulders? "Ogre?" At that moment, a massive figure emerged from the forest. Though it was clad in iron armor, Gobu Tian recognized Benben at first glance. Gobu Tian let out a scream of terror. That was an Ogre, the most terrifying creature in the Goblin Forest. "Is that... the boss?" On the Ogre''s shoulder, Gobu Tian saw a familiar figure. It was the boss, the one who had killed Gobu Ba not long ago. The boss was sitting on the Ogre''s shoulder. Seeing this, Gobu Tian was filled with fervor. The boss was truly amazing, having tamed an Ogre. Gobu Tian quickly ran over. "Boss, what are you doing?" Standing in front of Benben, Gobu Tian asked obsequiously. His large face was almost scrunched up. Li Meng leaped down from Benben''s shoulder. "Gobu Tian, from now on, have some Goblins spread around the Goblin lair, keeping an eye on the sky. Report to me immediately if there''s any movement. I''ll be staying here in the coming days." Though he didn''t know what the boss was planning, Gobu Tian didn''t ask further. He quickly turned and scurried back to the cave. And so, Li Meng began to wait for a chance, anticipating the appearance of the airship. To expand the observable range, he could only increase manpower as much as possible. Hundreds of Goblins, under Li Meng''s orders, spread throughout the forest around the Goblin lair. They climbed trees and mountains, watching the surrounding airspace. 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 solitary peak. Surrounded by undulating forested land. Only more than ten kilometers away could the rolling mountains be seen. In the dim forest, several Goblins were perched on treetops, watching the sky. "What are we supposed to be watching for, birds?" "I don''t know, just watch!" "Yeah, yeah, staying here is much more comfortable than hunting." "I want to go to the peak, you can see further 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 just trash. Talk about mating rights when you become a Big Goblin." "Yeah, the offspring of little trash is still little trash, haha!" The Goblins on the surrounding treetops burst into laughter. The "wahaha" laughter filled the dim forest with a cheerful atmosphere. "Hmph, when I evolve into a Big Goblin, you''ll all have to lick my boots." "You? If you can evolve into a Big Goblin, I''ll lick!" Another round of laughter erupted on the treetops. "Look, what''s that?" At that moment, a Goblin on the outskirts suddenly shouted. Perched on the treetop, it pointed towards the northwest. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 54 - Hunting Airship In that direction, a ship soared over a towering mountain. It almost skimmed the peak as it flew past. The ship wasn''t large, about thirty meters long. The two-masted sails on the deck were particularly striking. "Quick, go tell the boss!" The Goblins who witnessed this scene were filled with wild joy and excitement. "I''ll go!" "I''ll go!" "You all stay here and watch, I''ll go!" The Goblins on the treetops scrambled to slide down to the ground. "Goblin, do you dare to compete with me?" In the dim forest, several Goblins were running with all their might. One Goblin leaped forward, tackling the Goblin in front of it. With a foot on the back of the fallen Goblin, it sprinted ahead. "Goblin, I''ll eat you!" The Goblin on the ground roared in anger. The running Goblin turned its head and made a face. "Who eats who is still uncertain!" "Stop right there!" The Goblins in the forest rushed towards the Goblin nest. "Boss, boss!" The fastest Goblin, Goblin Quick, was the first to rush into the cave. It slid to its knees, bowing before the stone platform. At this moment, Li Meng was eating a wild boar''s heart on the stone. "What''s the matter, why are you in such a panic?" Goblin Quick patted its chest, panting heavily. "Boss, something is flying towards us from the sky, and it''s not a bird!" Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! Upon hearing this, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. He casually tossed aside the heart in his hand and leaped off the stone platform. "Benben, let''s go!" Li Meng''s figure flashed as he rushed out of the cave. He dashed out of the cave without stopping, heading straight into the forest. Moments later, Li Meng''s figure appeared on the treetop of a large tree deep in the forest. Standing on the treetop, Li Meng gazed into the distant sky. In that direction, an airship was flying towards them. "So this is an airship? Truly peculiar!" No wings, no visible propulsion system. Nor did it have the airbags that a blimp would require. Though the airship wasn''t very large, the fact that it could fly was a miracle. Li Meng put his fingers in his mouth and blew a whistle. "Whistle!" The loud whistle echoed between heaven and earth. "It''s the boss''s signal!" The Goblins at the cave entrance heard the whistle. They scrambled back into the cave. In no time, over a hundred Goblins, panting heavily, carried a three-bow ballista out of the cave. A dense mass of Goblins carried the three-bow ballista into the forest. The deployment positions for the three-bow ballista had long been rehearsed. There were 24 deployment positions in the forest surrounding the Goblin nest. Each deployment position had a small clearing among the trees. The Goblin team carrying the three-bow ballista split into three groups. They headed to their respective deployment positions. In the forest, three three-bow ballistae were placed in a triangular formation. Each ballista was a hundred meters apart from the others. "Faster, turn it faster!" "Make sure the spider silk rope is tied tightly, wrap it several times!" Under the Big Goblin''s orders, the Goblins at the three deployment positions began preparing for launch. The Goblins responsible for turning the winch started turning it. The Goblins in charge of the harpoon bolts tied the other end of the spider silk rope to the sturdiest tree. Some Goblins even climbed up nearby treetops to observe the airship. For a moment, the forest was bustling with noise. The Goblins'' "wah wah" cries echoed through the forest. "Great, it''s flying this way!" Seeing the airship approaching, Li Meng grinned. The airship was about seven hundred meters high and still descending. This height was already within the range of the three-bow ballista. Meanwhile, in the nearby sky, an airship was flying. The airship wasn''t fast, moving with the wind. Looking down at the deck, some soldiers in blue armor could be seen. There weren''t many, only thirteen. They leaned over the ship''s railing, observing the forest below. "Any signs of the Barbarian tribe?" An officer in more exquisite armor paced the deck. He wore a helmet with a red plume. The other soldiers'' helmets were bare on top. "The forest is very quiet, no signs of anything!" "Captain, we should be close to our destination by now." A soldier stood up, rubbing his sore neck. The officer stopped behind him and kicked him in the rear. "Don''t slack off, we''re still far from the reconnaissance boundary, at least thirty kilometers." "Captain, could the recent rumors be true?" "Impossible, the Goblin Forest is home to many Barbarians, they''re not easy to deal with." "It should have been done long ago, such beautiful mountains and rivers occupied by Barbarians is a real shame." The soldiers on the ship discussed the topic animatedly. The officer didn''t stop them, as his men needed a topic to pass the time. "Captain, possible Goblin nest sighted ahead!" At that moment, a soldier at the bow shouted a report. This caught the attention of the other soldiers. They rushed to the bow to observe the forest ahead. "There''s beast bones at the entrance, it should be a Goblin nest!" "The forest outside is too quiet, it might be an abandoned nest." "Note it down first, let the adventurers handle it!" "Scribe, record this location!" On the deck, there were not only soldiers and the officer. There were also two scribes in blue and white robes and a low-ranking priest from the temple. The scribe held a piece of parchment. It shimmered with magical light. The low-ranking priest was on the aft deck. He was controlling a crystal that emitted a blue magical glow and functioned as a ship''s wheel. Meanwhile, in the forest ahead of the airship. "Boss, boss, the creature in the sky is getting closer!" In the woods, the Goblins on the treetops constantly reported the airship''s position. At the deployment position, Li Meng controlled the three-bow ballista, aiming at the sky. Once the airship appeared in sight, he would pull the trigger. "Come on, my airship!" Looking at the azure sky, Li Meng grinned. If the hunt was successful, perhaps he could unlock airship technology. Though the possibility was slim, it was worth a try. This was a world with magic, and the airship''s ability to fly was surely related to magic. Lacking magical knowledge, Li Meng wasn''t confident he could replicate an airship just by taking one down. But regardless, it was worth a shot. Time ticked away, and Li Meng waited patiently. Moments later, an airship slowly appeared above the forest at the deployment position. "I see you!" Li Meng''s eyes lit up, and he grinned menacingly. He put his fingers in his mouth and blew a whistle. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 55 - First time seeing humans "Shhh!" A sharp, clear whistle echoed through the depths of the forest. "Whoosh!" Almost simultaneously, a piercing sound cut through the air in the forest. Three harpoon bolts, trailing long tails, shot out from the forest, soaring into the sky. In less than five hundred meters, they reached their target. One harpoon bolt missed. It grazed the bow of the airship, shooting higher into the sky. The other two harpoon bolts successfully struck the ship''s hull. "Boom!" With a loud crash, wood splinters flew everywhere. The two-meter-long harpoon bolt pierced through the ship''s body, bursting out from the deck. "Ah!" A scream echoed as wood splinters flew. An unfortunate soul on the deck was struck by the harpoon bolt that burst through. The immense impact force drove the harpoon bolt through the soldier''s body. The soldier''s body was flung over ten meters into the air before crashing heavily onto the deck. The impact caused the airship in the sky to shake violently. "What happened?" "What''s going on?" The sudden impact on the airship threw the soldiers on the deck into chaos. "We''re under attack!" The harpoon bolt that grazed the bow pierced the sail. As it fell, it tangled with the sail. The spider silk rope instantly went taut. The pull from below caused the airship to jolt violently. "Ah!" Another scream rang out. This time, the scream lasted for quite a while. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. A soldier fell off the deck. The chilling scream quickly faded into the distance. "Captain, we''re under attack!" A soldier lying on the deck saw the harpoon bolt wedged tightly into the deck. The soldier impaled by the harpoon bolt was in a horrific state. Under the immense pull, blood flowed across the deck. Since the abdomen was pierced, the soldier didn''t die immediately. He continued to struggle, pleading for help from his comrades. His internal organs were compressed, causing blood to gush from his mouth. "Lower the sails, stop moving, quickly!" The officer was the first to react. He rushed forward, throwing his long sword. The sword spun through the air, slicing through the spider silk rope. Once the rope was cut, the bow''s downward tilt corrected itself. Hearing the creaking of the ship''s body, the soldiers on the deck turned pale. If this continued, the airship would surely disintegrate. The soldiers struggled to their feet and rushed towards the mast. Meanwhile, in the forest below. Two ropes extended from the forest, connecting to the airship in the sky. It was like flying a kite. The two-finger-thick spider silk ropes strained with a "crackling" sound. At that moment, the airship''s sails suddenly lowered. The airship, having lost its propulsion, floated motionlessly in the sky. As the airship stabilized, the soldiers on the deck hurried to the ship''s edge. They scanned the forest below for enemies. It didn''t take long for them to spot the Goblins in the forest. "Captain, it''s Goblins, Goblins attacked us!" "What, Goblins?" The officer was incredulous. He quickly leaned over the ship''s edge to observe the forest below. Sure enough, he spotted the Goblins. In the forest, three small clearings had been opened. In these clearings, some Goblins were operating some kind of weapon. "Is that... a siege crossbow?" The massive object in the forest left the officer in disbelief. Siege crossbows were military siege equipment. The entire kingdom had only a dozen or so on the capital''s walls. How could Goblins possess such military-grade siege weapons? "Quick, cut the ropes!" Three soldiers hurried to their impaled comrade. He was already dead, having bled out. The entire deck was almost stained red with blood. "Priest, are you alright?" The officer shouted towards the rear deck. "Not dead yet, but the ship won''t hold much longer, hurry!" At this moment, a soldier who had rushed into the cabin found the harpoon bolt. He also saw the spider silk rope connected to the bolt. He swung his sword, attempting to cut the spider silk rope. "Bang!" But just then, wood splinters flew from underfoot. With a thunderous crash, a bolt pierced through the ship''s body. The soldier was lucky; the bolt barely grazed past his nose. But he was also unlucky. The ship''s body suddenly disintegrated beneath him, and he fell. "Ah!" The intense feeling of weightlessness caused him to scream in terror. The scream quickly faded into the distance. Soon, it vanished without a trace, never to be heard again. The bolt that struck the airship pierced through the ship''s bottom. The immense impact sent the soldiers on the deck tumbling. "Damn it, what the hell is going on?" Even for a siege crossbow, this power was too great. The airship was at least five hundred meters away. The power was still so immense at such a distance. "The last shot, let it fall!" In the forest, Li Meng, operating the massive three-bow ballista, grinned at the sky. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger. With a "whoosh," the sound of the bolt cutting through the air shot skyward. The massive bolt turned into a black streak, soaring into the sky. In less than five hundred meters, it reached its target. "Boom!" This shot directly hit the airship''s keel. With a thunderous crash, wood splinters flew everywhere. The airship in the sky suddenly disintegrated, splitting in two. The broken bow and stern plummeted towards the ground. If you listened closely, you could hear the terrified screams. If you looked closely, you could see figures falling with the wreckage. "Is that a human?" In the forest, Li Meng gazed at the sky, admiring the horrific scene. "It''s falling, it''s falling!" The airship''s descent sparked cheers among the Goblins in the forest. Goblins on the treetops danced and shouted excitedly. After falling for over ten seconds, the airship wreckage crashed into the depths of the forest. "Let''s go, check it out!" In a flash, Li Meng dashed towards the forest depths. Benben took large strides, chasing after the boss. The Goblins in the forest also swarmed towards the airship''s crash site. About seven hundred meters to the northwest, Li Meng found the airship wreckage. The wreckage of the bow and stern was over a hundred meters apart. "It''s humans, after all!" In the dim forest, Li Meng kicked over a corpse lying on the ground. As the body turned, a blond, blue-eyed man came into Li Meng''s view. He looked somewhat like a European from Earth, but only somewhat. The hair and eyes were similar, but the face was more of a mixed East-West look. The skin was also pale, with a scruffy beard. "It''s humans, it''s humans!" Figures flickered in the surrounding forest. One by one, Goblins rushed out from the forest depths. Upon seeing the bodies on the ground, they showed greedy expressions. But with the boss present, they only dared to watch from the side. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 56 - Crystal Apostle "Move all the bodies over here and put them together!" At the leader''s command, the Goblins in the surrounding forest hurriedly gathered around. Hundreds of Goblins searched the nearby forest for human corpses. In no time, more than a dozen human bodies were laid out in front of Li Meng. Looking at the line of human corpses before him, Li Meng showed a curious expression. They were all humans, but their hair colors varied. There were blondes, as well as those with black and brown hair. Their facial features were similar, indicating they were of the same race. Due to their deaths, Li Meng couldn''t see their information. "Boss, boss, there''s a human still alive!" At this moment, a Goblin rushed over. Hearing this, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. "Where? Lead the way!" "This way, this way!" The Goblin, with a fawning expression, led the way ahead. Li Meng followed the Goblin northward. After running about a hundred meters, they found a person under a large tree. A person dressed in a white robe. He was still alive, but barely hanging on. Around him, a dozen Goblins were circling. Their eyes were filled with greed as they sniffed the bloody scent emanating from him. They wanted to approach but didn''t dare, their drool almost dripping out. "The boss is here, the boss is here!" With a loud shout, the Goblins surrounding the human scattered like birds and beasts. They ran far away, looking at Li Meng with fear. [Crystal Apostle] [Level: 31] [Strength: 17] [Defense: 14] [Agility: 15] Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. [Crystal Magic Power: 267] [Crystal Magic (?)(Non-absorbable)] [Crystal Magic (?)(Non-absorbable)] [Crystal Magic (?)(Non-absorbable)] Seeing his information, Li Meng showed a strange expression. Weird, why are all his skills marked with question marks? Clearly a human, why does the system refer to him as a Crystal Apostle? "Boss, boss!" At this moment, a Goblin came running over, holding a crystal emitting a blue glow. The crystal was quite large, just slightly smaller than the Goblin''s head. "This was found among the wreckage, it''s very pretty!" Li Meng took the crystal from the Goblin''s hands. [Crystal] [Crystal Magic Power:] The information about the crystal made Li Meng''s eyes flash with surprise. The magic power contained in this crystal was astonishingly high, reaching a value of 110,000. "Could it be that the airship flies by relying on the magic power of the crystal?" Looking down at the crystal in his hand, Li Meng murmured to himself. If that''s the case, then the crystal is truly a valuable item. However, for some reason, Li Meng felt an inexplicable chill while holding the crystal. "Why does it feel like an ominous object?" Li Meng raised the crystal high, observing it carefully, murmuring softly. It was beautiful, extremely beautiful. The blue magical glow formed lovely particles of light. On Earth, this thing would be worth a fortune. "Goblin, take your filthy hands off the crystal, you... you''re not worthy!" At some point, the unconscious human had woken up. He glared angrily, his eyes filled with nothing but disdain. Li Meng looked down at him and grinned menacingly. "Eat him!" The surrounding Goblins showed expressions of wild joy. They rushed forward, shouting, and pounced on the human. One, two, three, more than a dozen Goblins pounced on the human. Using their hands and sharp teeth, they tore 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 was flung onto Li Meng''s face by the Goblins'' claws. Li Meng stuck out his tongue to lick it, grinning. Human flesh and blood were indeed delicious. Li Meng stepped forward and pulled a blood-stained cloth from the feasting Goblins. Then he wrapped the crystal in the cloth. Humans truly lived up to their name. This fabric, who knows what it''s made of. Smooth, soft, it felt very comfortable to the touch. "What a pity!" Looking at the tattered cloth in his hand, Li Meng shook his head. That human had many skills, but unfortunately, they couldn''t be absorbed. In the following time, Li Meng explored the wreckage of the airship. He searched and searched but couldn''t find any magical devices. The wreckage of the airship was just ordinary wood, nothing special about it. "Strange, there must be something special about it!" Looking at the airship wreckage before him, Li Meng was puzzled. After searching for hours, he found nothing. If he hadn''t seen the airship flying in the sky with his own eyes, He wouldn''t have believed that this pile of wood could fly. These wrecks were just ordinary wooden boats, nothing special about them. "Could it be..." His eyes lit up, and Li Meng rushed into the wreckage. He rummaged through the debris, wood chips flying everywhere. A few minutes later, Li Meng emerged holding a long, thick curved piece of wood. "Just as I thought!" Looking at the long curved wood in his hand, Li Meng grinned. This piece of curved wood was a section of a broken keel. The keel was made from some kind of purple wood. It had some very peculiar patterns carved on it, looking quite mysterious. "Forget it, it''s too complicated!" Li Meng regretfully tossed the keel aside. Clearly, the keel was the magical device. But the patterns on it were far too complex. Just one look and Li Meng knew it was impossible to replicate. Thinking about such brain-draining matters made Li Meng''s head hurt. The commotion in the forest lasted for a long time. It wasn''t until the sun set that the forest quieted down. "Gobu Tian, tomorrow take some Goblins with me back to the tribe." That night, the cave was pitch black. Gobu Tian quickly turned over and knelt on the ground below the stone platform. "Boss, I''ll go with you!" Gobu Tian knew the boss had established a new tribe elsewhere. He had also heard that there were many female Lizardmen in the tribe. "From now on, you''re the boss here. I''ll tell you what to do and what not to do!" "Boss, I... I don''t quite understand." "You don''t need to understand, just do as I say." "Boss, I understand, I''ll listen to you." Time passed bit by bit, and the night grew deeper. The quiet cave was soon filled with the snores of Goblins. Early the next morning, just as dawn broke, the Goblin cave was bustling. A large group of Goblins rushed out of the cave, flooding into the northern forest. The three three-bow ballistae were not taken by Li Meng. Instead, they were left in the Goblin cave. There were many powerful Magical Beasts in the Goblin Forest. The three-bow ballistae had great lethality against Magical Beasts below the fifth tier. If they encountered a powerful Magical Beast, they could use the three-bow ballistae to shoot it down. This way, they wouldn''t have to avoid powerful Magical Beasts like before. The Goblin nest was a good place, and Li Meng wouldn''t give it up. In the future, as the tribe''s hunting area expanded, the Goblins couldn''t gather together. They had to spread out and establish one Goblin tribe after another. Each tribe would be responsible for a hunting area. They would develop independently and gather when needed. This way, the hunting party wouldn''t waste too much time traveling back and forth. By spreading out and establishing tribes, the demand for food would also be greatly reduced. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 57 - Powerful human men and women The next day, it was already noon. In the dim forest, footsteps rumbled as figures moved. Hundreds of goblins spread throughout the forest, advancing in groups. Among the many green-skinned figures, there was one that was even larger. Benben, walking through the forest, looked like a moving metal mountain. Li Meng, sitting on Benben''s shoulder, yawned. "System, start simulated life!" The airship was shot down, indicating that the future had already changed. [Simulated life begins] [You walk through the dim forest with your goblin underlings] [You return to the tribe and patiently wait for the Black Robe to appear] [One day, the Black Robe appears] [You obtain a sacrificial disk from the Black Robe that can summon the Barbarian God] [Signs of the Pigmen tribe''s activity are discovered in the eastern forest, you choose to ignore them] [The rotation period is approaching, please choose from the following options] [1. Allow the Lizardmen of the northern swamp to rebel] [2. Gather all the goblins to intimidate the Lizardmen of the northern swamp] [3. March to the northern swamp, annihilate the Black Scale and Gray Scale tribes, and kill all male Lizardmen] [4. Summon the Barbarian God] A hint of helplessness flashed in Li Meng''s eyes as he sat on Benben''s shoulder. The future information predicted by the simulated life was too brief. Lacking details, it was easy to miss side quests that could affect the future. He had to proceed cautiously, changing the future based on known information. "What should I choose?" Li Meng focused on the four options. Options one, three, and four were not viable. Knowing in advance that the Lizardmen would rebel, he couldn''t just ignore it. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. If left unchecked, the combined male Lizardmen from the two tribes numbered over a thousand. This was a force that couldn''t be ignored. The third option went against Li Meng''s original intention of subduing the Lizardmen of the northern swamp. The fourth option was even less feasible. He''d have to be out of his mind to choose the fourth option. "Choose option two!" [You gathered all the goblins, and their massive numbers intimidated the Lizardmen] [You and Bai Ling headed to the Iron Cave] [The rotation period arrived, and Bai Ling returned to the White Scale tribe] [The Black Mountain Lizardmen tribe''s army attacked, retreating without a fight, and Bai Ling was captured] [One day, an adventurer squad appeared in the forest near the Goblin nest] [Gobu Tian was killed by the adventurer squad, and the Goblin nest was completely destroyed] [Gobu Di and Gobu Shi led the goblin army to pursue the Black Mountain Lizardmen tribe''s army] [You headed to the southern shore to confront the adventurer squad alone] [You encountered the adventurer squad in the forest where the airship wreckage was] [You achieved victory, killing all the men and capturing two female humans] [From the captives, you learned some information about the human Principality of Ilysis] [You caught up with the goblin army and continued to pursue the Black Mountain tribe''s army] [In a certain forest, you led the goblin boar cavalry and caught up with the Black Mountain tribe''s army] [You defeated the Black Mountain tribe''s army and killed them all] [The Black Mountain tribe, hearing of their army''s complete annihilation, summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua" out of fear] [The Black Mountain Swamp was polluted by the Barbarian God, becoming the Great Wasteland, and all life was refined into wasteland slaves] [You chose to withdraw the army and led the goblin army back to the tribe] [Due to the need for food, you taught the Lizardmen the knowledge of fish farming] [Your tribe thrived] [One day, a man in full armor appeared in the forest near the Goblin nest] [One day, he found the Goblin tribe] [On that day, you used a human wave tactic to kill the man, with heavy casualties to the tribe] [One day, a woman appeared in the forest near the Goblin nest] [One day, she found the Goblin tribe] [On that day, the tribe turned into a sea of fire, you died, and the tribe was completely destroyed] [As a transmigrator, no matter how cautious you are, you cannot change the fact that you are toyed with by the goddess of fate, and all your efforts ultimately turned to nothing, your life was valuable, setting the stage for the Goblin Forest to be transformed into a wasteland] [Simulated life ends, score: 60] [Please choose from the following rewards] [Consume ten score levels +1] [Consume one score attribute +1] [Consume ten score charisma +1] [Consume ten score "Berserk" skill level +1] [Consume twenty score "Steel Skin" skill level +1] [Consume ten score "Heart Speech" skill level +1] "Is this a case of the big boss coming after the small fry?" The man and woman who appeared at the end were clearly strong among humans. Otherwise, that man wouldn''t have required him to use a human wave tactic to kill him. This indicated that the man was far stronger than him. And that woman, she managed to completely destroy the tribe. Such powerful combat strength was likely at the pinnacle among humans. "Could it be that the adventurer squad had relatives of that man and woman?" Li Meng considered this possibility. The possibility was very high, extremely high. Otherwise, there was no explanation for why that man and woman appeared. "It seems that shooting down the airship triggered a chain reaction!" Li Meng frowned, his expression thoughtful. If he hadn''t shot down the airship, would that adventurer squad have appeared? Without that adventurer squad, the man and woman wouldn''t have been drawn in. "How can I avoid the worst outcome?" Li Meng pondered deeply while sitting on Benben''s shoulder. The system gave him too few options. Li Meng suspected that the frequency of options in the simulated life was related to his luck value. If options appeared more frequently, he could have more future choices. He wouldn''t be forced to follow a single future path to the end. However, this time he was lucky to have three skill option rewards. "Choose to enhance the ''Steel Skin'' skill level!" [Consume 60 score, "Steel Skin" skill level +3] Here it comes, the familiar intense pain swept through his body. Li Meng''s body crackled as he sat on Benben''s shoulder. His shinbones twisted out of shape as if crushed by some force. His entire face contorted into a mass and was forcibly pulled apart. After a while, Li Meng''s body returned to normal. Benben curiously turned to look at his boss on his shoulder. By the time Benben looked over, Li Meng''s physical changes had ended. Li Meng looked down at his hands and grinned. He had grown stronger again. Li Meng could feel the immense power hidden within his body. At this moment, Li Meng finally understood why he was so arrogant in front of the Black Robe. With a thought, Li Meng opened the character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 1675] [Defense: 1659] [Agility: 591] [Magic: 86] [Charisma: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills from devoured magical beast flesh] [Steel Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 58 - Bai Lings Plea The "Steel Skin" skill''s attribute boost was truly astonishing. As the stats on his panel became increasingly exaggerated, Li Meng realized one thing. Goblins were indeed very weak. Even the Goblin King''s stats might only be two or three hundred. "I wonder how high the stats of those two people are!" Despite having such high stats, he was still no match for that man. This indicated that the man''s strength far surpassed his own. In the following days, Li Meng led his goblin underlings, traveling intermittently. They hunted while heading north. It was only one afternoon, half a month later, that they arrived at the tribe. "Gobu Tian, stay in the tribe for a month, then return. When your offspring reach adulthood, send someone to fetch them!" In front of the throne cave, Li Meng made arrangements for Gobu Tian. Gobu Tian nodded, curiously observing the tribe. It hadn''t expected the boss''s lair to be in the forest. Nor had it expected the boss to build strange caves like the Lizardmen. "Gobu Ke, first take Gobu Tian to choose a cave, then take it to the Iron Cave!" Today, Gobu Ke was guarding the tribe. Gobu Ke quickly nodded. Then Gobu Ke led Gobu Tian and its goblin underlings away. Watching Gobu Tian''s departing figure, Li Meng sighed inwardly. The worst-case future had already appeared. Now he had to find a way to change the future. Li Meng turned to look at Bai Ling at the door. A round trip had taken more than a month. Bai Ling''s big belly had disappeared. Even at the door, Li Meng could smell a faint scent of milk. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. Looking at Bai Ling''s curvaceous figure, Li Meng thought of his bloodline offspring. The first batch of goblin children had already reached adulthood. They were learning how to hunt with the hunting party. Counting them, the number of his bloodline offspring had exceeded two hundred. In less than a year, his bloodline offspring could exceed five hundred. If there were more female Lizardmen, the growth rate of his bloodline offspring would be even faster. This was the terrifying aspect of goblins. Even the reproduction speed of groundhogs couldn''t compare to goblins. Only food could limit the number of goblins. Li Meng walked towards Bai Ling with a blank expression. He didn''t have enough bloodline offspring yet. As his panel stats increased, the potential of his bloodline offspring would only grow higher. Only his bloodline offspring could improve the quality of the tribe''s goblins. Whether he wanted to or not, he had to go all out to reproduce. As a goblin, in this world, he could only rely on goblins. Everything was just to survive! Seeing the terrifying goblin approaching, Bai Ling''s heart trembled. She quickly lowered her head, wanting to speak but hesitating. They hadn''t rested for months. She wanted to plead with the goblin in front of her to let them rest for a few months. But the pride of a High Priestess wouldn''t allow her to bow to a goblin. Li Meng strode up to Bai Ling. He wrapped an arm around her waist and led her into the wooden house. Soon, there were sounds coming from the wooden house. Listening to the sounds from the throne cave, the goblins outside were full of envy. The noises in the wooden house continued for a long time. It wasn''t until the afternoon of the third day that the tightly shut door opened again. Li Meng walked out, looking refreshed. Inside the throne cave, all the beds were pushed together. The beds were strewn with graceful figures, their beast skirts long discarded. All the female Lizardmen looked utterly exhausted. "High Priestess, are you... are you okay?" Hui Nana weakly sat up. She looked worriedly at the High Priestess lying on the bed not far away. Among all of them, the High Priestess had been tormented the most by the master. Bai Ling, lying on the bed, moved slightly. She sat up, taking a deep breath. "I''m fine, I''m perfectly fine!" At this time, the other female Lizardmen gradually recovered. They sat up one after another, searching for their beast skin skirts. Outside the door, Li Meng heard the whispers from inside the room. He grinned, leisurely walking towards the direction of the carpentry workshop. These female Lizardmen might despise him from the bottom of their hearts. But when they were lost in the depths of desire, their voices were equally wild. "Boss, boss, what brings you here?" Seeing the boss arrive, Gobu Da quickly went up to greet him. In the carpentry workshop, a group of goblins was busy working. In one corner, there was a pile of crossbows without strings. In another corner, there was an unfinished three-bow ballista. "How''s it going? Can you make the three-bow ballista?" Gobu Da shrank his neck, giving an awkward smile. He glanced at the half-finished three-bow ballista in the corner. For goblins, the steps to make a three-bow ballista were still too complex. "Alright, just keep learning from me!" Seeing the boss wasn''t angry, Gobu Da quickly nodded. In the following days, Li Meng continued teaching Gobu Da how to make the three-bow ballista. Before they knew it, 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 door, Gobu Da nodded vigorously. Without saying much, Li Meng turned and left. Watching the boss''s departing figure, Gobu Da patted his face. This time, he couldn''t forget again. Gobu Da turned to look at the group of goblin underlings inside. "Did you all get a good look?" Faced with the boss''s gaze, the goblins in the carpentry workshop exchanged glances. One goblin hesitantly nodded. Seeing this, the other goblins quickly nodded too. Whether he remembered or not didn''t matter, as long as the other goblins did. "Very good, then let''s get started!" Gobu Da smiled excitedly. Whether he remembered or not didn''t matter, as long as his underlings did. In the tribe, Li Meng walked leisurely with Benben. "Benben, wait for me in the tribe. I''ll be back soon!" As if remembering something, Li Meng dashed off towards the edge of the tribe. Watching the boss hurriedly run towards the depths of the forest, Benben shook his head. It didn''t follow but instead headed towards the throne cave. After leaving the tribe, Li Meng followed the river eastward. Occasionally, he climbed to the treetops to observe the surrounding terrain. Sometimes, he climbed high to gaze at the surrounding mountains and land. The next day, about ten kilometers north of the river, atop a mountain. Li Meng climbed a tree, gazing into the distance from the treetop. His legs clamped tightly around a branch, holding a wooden board in one hand. In the other hand, he held a piece of charcoal. From time to time, he sketched on the wooden board with the charcoal. Looking at the board, a map could be vaguely seen. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 59 - Water Slime "Let''s call it the Goblin River from now on!" From a high vantage point, the river in the forest wound its way forward, stretching all the way to the horizon. Li Meng, perched on a treetop, packed up his wooden board and swiftly slid down the tree. As soon as he landed, his figure flickered and he dashed down the mountain. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task: mapping both banks of the Goblin River. Another new day began in the forest on the southern shore of the Goblin River. Deep in the dim forest, Li Meng walked leisurely, holding a wooden map and making adjustments with charcoal. After several days of following the river upstream, Li Meng had gained a lot, memorizing the topography of the Goblin River''s banks. "This is... hmm, a scent I''ve never smelled before!" Li Meng suddenly halted in his tracks, raising his head slightly and twitching his nose, sniffing the unique scent in the air with his keen sense of smell. "Could it be a high-level Magical Beast?" he wondered, looking towards the depths of the forest. The tribe was located at the northern edge of the Goblin Forest, and encountering a high-level Magical Beast was not an easy feat. In areas inhabited by Barbarians, high-level Magical Beasts were also rarely seen, as Barbarians would consciously drive them away or hunt them. Despite their strength, the lack of intelligence was the greatest weakness of Magical Beasts, making even the strongest of them targets for hunting. "Let''s go take a look!" Driven by curiosity, Li Meng headed towards the source of the scent. After walking about three hundred meters, a sunlit clearing appeared in the forest ahead. Seeing this, Li Meng quickly hid behind a large tree, cautiously peeking out to observe. What he saw left him stunned. Outside was a forest lake, not very large, about two thousand square meters. The water was shallow and crystal clear, revealing some round, semi-transparent little creatures. This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings. [Water Slime] [Level: 1] [Strength: 1] [Defense: 1] [Agility: 1] [Magic: 3314] [Elemental Affinity: LV3] The bizarre panel attributes left Li Meng, hidden behind the tree, in disbelief. All attributes were 1, even the level was 1, yet the magic value was as high as 3314. Such a high magic attribute value without any attack magic skills was too strange. "Didn''t expect it to be Water Slimes!" Hiding behind the tree, Li Meng looked greedily at the Water Slimes in the lake. The skill of the Water Slimes was exactly what he needed. With the "Elemental Affinity" skill, the problem of insufficient magic could be perfectly solved. Li Meng glanced at the ground, bent down, and picked up a stone about half the size of his fist, weighing it in his hand. He looked towards the lake, searching for a target. "You''re the one!" Li Meng locked onto the nearest Water Slime, assuming a throwing stance from behind the tree. With a powerful throw of his right hand, the stone flew out. "Smack!" The stone crossed over twenty meters and struck a Water Slime, bursting it like a balloon with a "pop," its remnants quickly dissolving into the water. Li Meng was momentarily stunned by the sight. Meanwhile, the death of their companion startled the Water Slimes, causing them all to dissolve into water and disappear without a trace. Seeing the Water Slimes vanish, Li Meng, hidden behind the tree, was dumbfounded. "How am I supposed to catch them now?" Li Meng walked out from behind the tree, speechless, looking at the calm lake, feeling at a loss. "I don''t believe you won''t come out!" After a while, Li Meng turned away from the lakeshore and hid back in the forest. Time passed slowly, hour after hour. Three hours later, in the forest by the lakeshore. "Why is there still no movement?" Li Meng, hiding behind a tree, peeked at the lakeshore. It had been so long, yet the lake remained still. "Could it be they won''t come out?" Helpless, Li Meng continued to wait. Another hour passed... Another day passed... Three days later, at noon, in the forest by the lakeshore. "Damn it, come out already!" Li Meng, holding a huge rock, angrily walked out of the forest. The boulder was thrown with a "splash," landing in the water. "Come out, come out!" Frustrated, Li Meng picked up stones from the lakeshore and threw them into the lake, causing water to splash everywhere. The sound of splashing water echoed through the area. "Not coming out, huh? Let''s see how long you can hide!" Three days of waiting had exhausted Li Meng''s patience. He quickly approached a large boulder on the lakeshore, pulling it out of the ground with both hands. "I''ll crush you!" The several-ton boulder was hurled out, flying dozens of meters before crashing heavily into the water. With a "boom," a massive column of water shot into the sky, causing the water''s surface to ripple violently, forming small waves that slowly spread out. After venting his frustration, Li Meng lay on the lakeshore, panting heavily. "You little cuties, you really know how to waste my time!" Li Meng grumbled as he crawled to the water''s edge, gulping down lake water. "Ugh, what is this stuff, no taste at all!" After a few sips, Li Meng spat out the lake water in disgust. [Skill Devour successfully activated, acquired skill "Elemental Affinity"] The sudden system prompt left Li Meng stunned. "What the... this works?" Li Meng was shocked, feeling a mix of emotions. He had waited for three days, only to acquire the "Elemental Affinity" skill in such an unexpected way. "Could the water in this lake be made of parts of the Water Slimes'' bodies?" The water had no taste at all, clearly not ordinary water. If it wasn''t water, then what was it? With a thought, Li Meng opened his character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 15] [Strength: 1675] [Defense: 1659] [Agility: 591] [Magic: 1086] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills by devouring the flesh of Magical Beasts] [Steel Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] [Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)] The magic value indeed increased, soaring by a thousand. "Could the water in this lake be liquid formed by magic?" Realizing this possibility, Li Meng hurried back to the water''s edge and drank several large gulps of lake water. But it turned out Li Meng was overthinking it. The magic attribute value didn''t change at all. "Looks like I was overthinking!" With an awkward smile, Li Meng stood up. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 60 - Pigmen tribe "Hmph, I''ll let you go this time since I''m in a good mood." Li Meng had initially thought about freezing the lake. But since he had already gotten what he wanted, there was no need to do so. With a pleased expression, Li Meng walked deeper into the forest. In the following days, Li Meng continued upstream. He trekked over mountains and through rivers, stopping and starting along the way. Five days later, he reached the northern bank of the Goblin River. About twenty kilometers away from the Goblin River stood a large mountain. On the cliffside halfway up the mountain stood a green-skinned figure. That green-skinned figure was Li Meng. Standing high, he could see far, and the forest at the foot of the mountain was laid out before him. But the forest was not quiet; it was bustling with noise. The forest on both sides of a tributary of the Goblin River was being felled. In the forest, many pig-headed, human-bodied creatures could be seen. They wielded stone axes, panting as they chopped down trees. Their stature was much larger than that of goblins. Their average height was around 1.9 meters. They looked chubby, giving a sense of both fleshiness and sturdiness. They resembled humans more than pigs. Apart from their large noses and ears, their pig heads were more human-like. The Pigmen tribe had migrated here some time ago. On both sides of the small river stood rows of new thatched huts. Though simple in structure and somewhat crude in appearance, they were adequate shelters from the wind and rain. In the tribe, some fires could be seen smoking. The presence of the fires indicated that the Pigmen tribe knew how to use "fire." "Finally found you!" If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it. Looking at the distant Pigmen tribe settlement, Li Meng murmured to himself. Another purpose of his journey upstream was to find the Pigmen tribe. After a month, he finally found them. The Pigmen tribe was not small; the visible number alone was no less than two thousand. If Li Meng hadn''t seen some undigested waste in the Goblin River, finding the Pigmen tribe wouldn''t have been easy. Glancing slightly to the south, Li Meng looked in that direction. The end of this tributary was the Goblin River. At the confluence, the Goblin River wound southward, deep into the Goblin Forest. The Pigmen tribe''s location was about seventy kilometers from the tribe. Not too close, but not too far either. Li Meng recorded the Pigmen tribe''s location on a wooden board with charcoal. "Time to head back!" Li Meng hadn''t forgotten about the Black Robe matter. However, Black Robe shouldn''t appear so soon. Although the simulated life predicted future information was quite brief, it didn''t specify when Black Robe would appear. But some information could help predict the approximate time. Before long, the green-skinned figure by the cliff had disappeared. It had taken over a month to come, stopping and starting, sometimes going to the southern shore, sometimes returning to the northern shore. But it only took Li Meng five days to return to the tribe. On the afternoon of the fifth day, Li Meng returned to the tribe. "Boss, boss!" The return of the boss excited the goblins guarding the entrance to the throne cave. Two goblins looked at the approaching boss with fawning expressions. "Go find Gobu Ge and have him send some clay over!" Li Meng instructed the goblin underlings as he approached. One goblin quickly turned and ran in the direction of the Iron Cave. "Where''s Benben?" Li Meng looked around but didn''t see Benben. "Boss, Benben left half a month ago, and we don''t know where he went. He hasn''t returned yet." Benben left? This news surprised Li Meng. But he didn''t pay much attention and walked inside. Benben was an ogre, and his armor allowed him to roam the Goblin Forest freely. Although Li Meng didn''t know where Benben went, he believed Benben would return. "Not here either?" Entering the throne cave, Li Meng found that the female Lizardmen were not there. He knew where they had gone. They must have gone to the Iron Cave to deliver milk to the male Lizardmen. Li Meng didn''t linger in the throne cave. Seeing no one inside, he turned and left. "I wonder how Gobu Da is doing!" Walking through the tribe, Li Meng thought to himself. More than a month had passed, and he hoped Gobu Da wouldn''t disappoint him. Before long, Li Meng saw the carpentry workshop. "The boss is here, the boss is here!" Seeing the boss, the goblins at the door acted as if they''d seen a ghost. They turned and ran into the carpentry workshop, closing the door behind them. This scene gave Li Meng a bad feeling. At the door, Li Meng heard the sound of running inside the workshop. "Gobu Da, what are you up to?" Li Meng shouted, pushing the door open. The running inside the workshop came to an abrupt halt. All the goblins looked at the boss at the door with fear. Especially Gobu Da, who was tinkering with a three-bow ballista in the corner. "Not bad, very good!" Seeing the three-bow ballista in the corner, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. He walked over to Gobu Da with a look of satisfaction. Praising him generously as he walked. Gobu Da chuckled, fawning as he approached. "Boss, you... came back so soon?" "It''s been over a month, and you call that soon?" Li Meng glared at Gobu Da and approached the three-bow ballista. Gobu Da shrank his neck, worriedly looking at the ballista. Looking at the three-bow ballista in front of him, Li Meng nodded repeatedly. Although it didn''t have the bowstring, it looked like something. But the craftsmanship was truly ugly, very crude. Both the bow and the ballista''s frame were full of dents and bumps. "Not bad, not a waste of my teaching you for so long!" Li Meng was quite satisfied with what they had managed to create. Next, he would let Gobu Da and the others slowly refine their skills. Thinking of this, Li Meng reached out to adjust the slightly crooked bow. "Crash!" With that touch, the three-bow ballista suddenly fell apart. With a clattering sound, its parts scattered all over the ground. Li Meng''s outstretched right hand froze in mid-air, his gaze vacant. "Uh... boss!" Gobu Da took two fearful steps back. He wanted to run, but his body wouldn''t move. "Gobu Da, you idiot!" A thunderous roar echoed through the carpentry workshop. The massive roar sent a shock through the goblins in the tribe. They all looked in astonishment towards the carpentry workshop. In the nearby forest, a group of female Lizardmen was returning to the tribe. "High Priest, it sounds like that goblin''s voice." Hui Nana shuddered, her expression uncertain. The master had been gone for over a month. They had just given birth not long ago, and now the master was back. Frequent pregnancies had left them physically and mentally exhausted. Bai Ling''s heart sank, and she remained silent. A flicker of fear passed through the eyes of the other female Lizardmen. In the following days, Gobu Da used up all his luck. Li Meng''s scolding and the goblins'' cries echoed from the carpentry workshop from time to time. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 61 - Gods Apostle The screams lasted for five days before finally quieting down. It was another new day, and the goblins in the carpentry workshop were once again facing a day filled with fear and busyness. In the workshop, Li Meng stood in the corner, watching coldly. He held a long whip in his hand. The goblins trembled as they used carving knives to work on the wood in their hands. Occasionally, they glanced nervously at the boss in the corner. "Too thin, the sleepers need to be two fingers thicker!" With a shout, Li Meng swung the whip. With a "snap," the whip struck the back of a goblin from over ten meters away. "Ah!" The goblin screamed in pain. "Boss, I... I know I was wrong!" The goblin that was hit quickly begged for mercy. "The bow needs to be thicker, if you keep shaving it, it''ll be gone!" Another "snap" was heard. The long whip struck another goblin. Meanwhile, Gobu Da watched his underlings'' screams with schadenfreude. "Snap!" The whip''s sharp crack resounded again. The long whip lashed across Gobu Da''s body. "Ah!" Gobu Da screamed, retreating repeatedly. "Gobu Da, you''re their leader, you need to keep an eye on them, you need to guide them!" "As the leader, your responsibility isn''t to stand by and watch with glee." Li Meng swung the whip again, striking Gobu Da. Gobu Da jumped in pain, letting out a scream. "Ah!" "Boss, stop hitting, stop!" Gobu Da quickly moved forward, pretending to inspect his underlings. This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. Sweeping his gaze over the goblins in the room, Li Meng let out a sinister smile. After these few days of training, Li Meng finally understood one thing. Goblins indeed have a strong ability to imitate. But they have a nature of doing things perfunctorily. They must be forced to cram new knowledge into their heads. "Keep working, I''ll inspect when you''re done. Gobu Da, if you fail this time, see how I''ll deal with you." The boss''s fierce gaze made Gobu Da shrink his neck, smiling obsequiously. "Boss, it won''t happen again, it won''t fail again." "Hmph, it better not!" With a cold snort, Li Meng tossed the whip aside and turned to leave the carpentry workshop. Seeing the boss finally leave, Gobu Da breathed a sigh of relief. He wiped the wounds on his body, grimacing in pain. "What are you looking at, get back to work!" Gobu Da ran forward to pick up the boss''s whip. He swung it, striking the nearest goblin underling. "Ah!" The goblin underling screamed in pain. "It''s all your fault I got hit by the boss, you bunch of idiots." For a moment, the carpentry workshop echoed with Gobu Da''s furious roars and the goblins'' screams. On the other side, Li Meng, having left the carpentry workshop, returned to the throne cave. At the entrance of the throne cave, there was a pile of barren soil and several bamboo buckets filled with water. There were also some green branches and leaves. "You, come help!" Li Meng called over the goblin underlings guarding the entrance of the throne cave. Four goblin underlings quickly ran over eagerly. In the time that followed, Li Meng busied himself at the entrance. After a while, he carried two buckets of clay into the throne cave. As the afternoon arrived, today''s female Lizardmen were all present. They looked at Li Meng, who was tinkering on the ground, with curiosity and confusion. Li Meng ignored the female Lizardmen inside, focusing on his own tasks. Before long, under Li Meng''s hands, the clay turned into variously shaped mountains. He occasionally glanced at the map on the wooden board. Time passed bit by bit as Li Meng busied himself. On the third day, Bai Ling finally realized what the master was doing. "Master, are you making a map?" Looking at the lifelike map sandbox before her, Bai Ling felt a complex mix of emotions. The master was indeed an anomaly among goblins. The wisdom he possessed was beyond her understanding. His every move made it hard to imagine he was just a goblin. "Yes, this is a sandbox!" Clay was used to create mountains, to create the land. Branches and leaves were used to create forests. After three days of work, the map sandbox was 70% complete. It covered an area of about ten square meters. Although Li Meng wasn''t a perfectionist, he still pursued excellence. The mountain models were almost identical to the real mountains. Even the shapes of the peaks and some of the large rocks on the mountains were carved out. Other female Lizardmen also gathered around. They looked at the map sandbox with faces full of novelty. They had never seen anything like it before. But at first glance, they knew what it was. "Master, is this the northern swamp?" Hui Nana pointed cautiously at the patch of uneven dirt, asking. On the uneven dirt, there was also a miniature thatched hut. It was very similar to the tribe''s buildings. "Hui Nana, what are you saying? He doesn''t understand!" Seeing Hui Nana communicating with the master, Bai Ling looked speechless. The master didn''t understand the swamp Lizardmen language. And goblins found it hard to pronounce the swamp Lizardmen language. Bai Ling''s words left Hui Nana looking puzzled at the High Priest. "Yes, that area is the northern swamp!" The master''s response beside her left Bai Ling looking shocked. He... he actually understood the swamp Lizardmen language? "High Priest, the master often communicates with us, didn''t you know?" The other female Lizardmen nodded. During mating, the master had communicated with them. "This... this can''t be, do you understand goblin language?" Bai Ling looked astonished, momentarily losing her composure. The female Lizardmen looked at each other and shook their heads. "We don''t understand, but we know what the master means!" Hui Nana''s explanation reminded Bai Ling of her own ability. Since childhood, she had the ability to communicate with other creatures'' minds. Could the master have this ability too? "Heh heh, truly a clever goblin!" At this moment, a strange voice suddenly appeared in the room. The voice was neither goblin language nor swamp Lizardmen language. But everyone in the room understood it. The appearance of the voice made all the female Lizardmen look toward the door. At the doorway stood a figure in a black robe. The entire body was shrouded in the black robe, making it impossible to see the true face beneath. "You came really fast!" Without looking, Li Meng knew who the visitor would be. Li Meng just didn''t expect the Black Robe to arrive so quickly. Standing up, Li Meng turned to look at the doorway. [God''s Apostle (Holy)] [Level: 1] [Strength: 1] [Defense: 1] [Agility: 1] [Magic: 1] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] [Holy Magic (?)] The information about the Black Robe made Li Meng frown slightly. Judging by the Black Robe''s figure, it was likely a human from this world. It could also be a humanoid barbarian with a similar physique. However, what exactly was going on with the humans in this world? Why couldn''t the system detect the power they possessed? Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 62 - Playing tricks! In front of him, the Black Robe was clearly hiding his power. Could it be that his curiosity got him killed by the Black Robe? "Who are you?" Li Meng scrutinized the Black Robe and asked. The Black Robe politely placed a hand over his chest in greeting. "You don''t need to know who I am, only that I am a friend bringing you power!" "Friend?" Li Meng sneered, revealing his sharp teeth to the Black Robe. "We goblins don''t have friends!" The Black Robe stood straight, unfazed. "Whether we''re friends or not doesn''t matter. What''s important is that you will gain the power to summon a god from me!" With that, a hand emerged from the Black Robe, holding a silver disk about three centimeters in diameter. Though small, Li Meng sensed a mysterious aura from the disk. "Your faith will be answered by the gods, call out to it loudly!" A strange scene unfolded. Before everyone''s eyes, the Black Robe at the door vanished into thin air. The silver disk in his hand clattered to the ground. "Playing tricks!" Li Meng thought to himself upon seeing this. The presence of that guy was still there, indicating he hadn''t left. The disappearance must have been some magical skill or related to his robe. For his own safety, Li Meng wouldn''t act too out of the ordinary. "Fantastic!" With a grin, Li Meng excitedly ran to the door, eagerly picking up the sacrificial disk. He held it high, shouting excitedly as if he had obtained some incredible treasure. Watching their frenzied master, the female Lizardmen in the room exchanged glances. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. A hint of worry flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. The appearance of the Black Robe and the existence of the silver disk gave Bai Ling a bad feeling. Soon, Li Meng''s excited shouting abruptly stopped. With a slightly cold expression, Li Meng applied a bit of force with his hand. "Crack!" A metallic groan was heard as Li Meng crushed the disk into a metal ball. He then casually tossed it out the window. After doing all this, Li Meng returned to the map sandbox to continue working on his model, as if nothing had happened. Li Meng''s sudden change in attitude left the female Lizardmen puzzled. Their master had just been thrilled about obtaining the silver disk. Why the sudden change, destroying it? Only Bai Ling looked at Li Meng with fear. At this moment, Bai Ling realized the terrifying nature of this Big Goblin. Its intelligence sent chills down her spine. In its presence, Bai Ling felt only despair. Could they really seek revenge? "The next step is figuring out how to prevent the Black Mountain tribe from summoning the ''Barbarian God''!" Li Meng, crouching by the sandbox, pondered deeply. The adventurer team and that couple''s issue could be easily resolved. As long as they didn''t provoke the adventurer team, there wouldn''t be any follow-up events. That adventurer team was clearly here to investigate the airship crash. No matter how smart they were, they wouldn''t suspect the goblins were involved in the crash. As long as Gobu Tian avoided the adventurer team, the matter would end there. The future where the Black Mountain tribe summons the "Barbarian God" was the biggest problem. "It seems I need to avoid a large-scale war with the Black Mountain tribe!" Li Meng thought to himself, kneading a lump of clay. The Black Mountain tribe was quite far from the northern swamp. Otherwise, the Lizardman army wouldn''t take a year to reach the northern swamp. Such a distance wouldn''t lead to territorial disputes with the tribe in the short term. He didn''t need to fight to the death with the Black Mountain tribe; it could be postponed. Glancing slightly, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, who had returned to the bed. In the future predicted by the simulated life, Bai Ling''s fate was also thought-provoking. Though the Black Mountain tribe retreated without a fight, they abducted Bai Ling. This indicated Bai Ling held a special status among the swamp Lizardmen. Time passed bit by bit, day after day. The appearance of the Black Robe was just a minor episode in the tribe''s development. In the following days, Li Meng continued to refine the map sandbox. Another new day arrived, and it was already afternoon. The throne cave was empty, with only Li Meng and a few goblins busying themselves. Not long ago, Bai Ling had led the female Lizardmen to the Iron Cave. This was their routine, going there once every day. "Alright, that''s it!" Looking at the map sandbox in front of him, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Go call all the Goblin Warriors and Goblin Soldiers from the tribe!" The upper goblins from the Goblin nest had been staying in the tribe for reproduction these past months. Their bloodline offspring now numbered over a thousand. Including the juveniles, the total number was close to three thousand. "Boss, I''ll go!" A goblin turned and hurried out. "Take all this junk out and throw it away!" The remaining goblins began cleaning up the trash in the throne cave. In less than ten minutes, the sound of dense footsteps came from outside. As huge figures walked into the wooden house, Gobu Di and the goblins arrived. "Boss, you called us?" Seeing the boss inside, Gobu Di eagerly approached with a fawning expression. "Stop, don''t move!" Seeing Gobu Da rushing over, Li Meng quickly stopped him. The boss''s reprimand made Gobu Di halt immediately. Beneath its feet was the map sandbox. If Gobu Di took one more step, it would step into the sandbox. "Watch the ground, be careful not to damage it!" Only then did the goblins entering the house notice the sandbox on the ground. "Gather around, but don''t step on anything on the ground!" The upper goblins carefully gathered around. Looking at the sandbox on the ground, the goblins were filled with curiosity. Li Meng''s gaze swept over the goblin underlings around the sandbox. Two Goblin Warriors and over thirty Goblin Soldiers made the throne cave feel a bit crowded. "Gobu Di, Gobu Shi, I have a task for you!" A task? Gobu Di and Gobu Shi''s eyes lit up. They looked at the boss with eager anticipation, nodding vigorously. Having stayed in the tribe for so long, they were already bored. "Under your feet is the map sandbox. This is the Goblin River, which means the big river to the south!" Li Meng pointed to the river running through the sandbox with a stick. "Gobu Di, where do you think this is?" Li Meng pointed to a small cluster of wooden houses in the forest and asked Gobu Di. Gobu Di scratched his head. "Boss, could it be here?" Li Meng grinned, pleased that Gobu Di could understand the map sandbox. "Very good, it seems you''ve realized what the map sandbox is." The boss''s praise made Gobu Di chuckle. Gobu Shi glared angrily from the side. It quickly stepped forward, pointing to a mountain not far from the tribe in the sandbox. At the foot of the mountain was a cave, with a forest outside the cave. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 63 - Double-layer insurance and wheels "Boss, this is the Iron Cave, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, Gobu Shi looked up and provocatively glared at Gobu Di. With a massive body, he bumped into Gobu Di, pushing him aside. Gobu Di was furious and retaliated by slamming his shoulder into Gobu Shi. Gobu Shi wasn''t about to back down either. The two of them started shoving each other back and forth beside the sand table. "What are you doing? Don''t you dare break my sand table!" Seeing the two big guys clashing, Li Meng shouted sternly. This shout made Gobu Di and Gobu Shi jump in shock. They obediently separated and lowered their heads. "Gobu Di, I want you to take your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin Soldiers to establish a new tribe here." Li Meng pointed with a wooden stick at the northern forest along the 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, Gobu Di didn''t think much about it. He would do whatever the boss asked him to do. "Gobu Shi, the same goes for you. Lead your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin Soldiers to the southern shore forest to establish a new tribe." Gobu Shi rubbed his bald head. Although he didn''t understand why the boss wanted him to establish a new tribe, since Gobu Di had such a task, he should have one too. "Boss, can I take the female Lizardmen with me?" "No, all the female Lizardmen must stay in the tribe!" Li Meng rejected Gobu Shi''s request. The female Lizardmen had to be under his control. This was beneficial for controlling the population of the tribes. While a population boom had its advantages, it could also lead to various problems. "Go prepare, and set off immediately once your bloodline descendants return!" Adult goblins would learn how to hunt with the hunting party. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Gobu Di and their bloodline descendants were scattered among various hunting parties. It would take at least a week to recall all the bloodline descendants. Afterward, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each left the throne cave with their followers. Standing at the entrance, Li Meng watched the goblin followers depart. "Now we have a double insurance!" With new tribes, there were new options. From now on, his tribe wouldn''t face the risk of being completely wiped out. Survival was the most important thing; everything else could be sacrificed. As long as they survived, everything else would follow. In the following days, Li Meng stayed diligently within the tribe. Gobu Qiang''s pig farming enterprise, Gobu Da''s carpentry workshop, and Gobu Ge''s Iron Cave. These three places all needed Li Meng''s supervision. During the day, he inspected the tribe, and at night, he worked with the female Lizardmen to produce little goblins. Li Meng was quite attentive to the matter of reproduction. On the fifth day, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each left the tribe with their followers. Gobu Tian had already returned to the Goblin nest half a month ago. It was another new day, and the time had reached the afternoon. "Boss, it''s finally done, this time there''s absolutely no problem!" Outside the carpentry workshop, Gobu Da greeted the boss with a fawning smile and led him inside. The carpentry workshop was still the same as before. As soon as he entered, Li Meng saw a three-bow ballista at the entrance. It was clear that Gobu Da had deliberately placed it there. Having learned from last time, Li Meng wasn''t quick to praise Gobu Da. He walked up and began inspecting the three-bow ballista. First, he grabbed the ballista and gave it a shake. Though there was some noise, the modules were fairly solidly fitted together. Li Meng then touched the bow. Though the craftsmanship was rather crude, the quality of the bow was not low. He then turned the winch. A "creak, creak" sound echoed in the carpentry workshop. Although it was a bit loose, it didn''t hinder its use. Seeing the boss silent for a long time, Gobu Da started to panic. "Very good, not bad!" At that moment, Li Meng praised. To have achieved this was already quite impressive. The next step was to improve the goblins'' proficiency. Then, have them optimize and enhance the craftsmanship of the three-bow ballista. The boss''s praise made Gobu Da grin widely. "That''s great!" Gobu Da cheered. The goblins in the carpentry workshop also shouted excitedly. They had endured quite a few lashes from the boss these days. With the boss''s boss satisfied, maybe the boss wouldn''t hit them anymore. "But it''s still not good enough. Only when the three-bow ballista doesn''t make any noise when shaken will it truly be perfect!" The boss''s words made the excited Gobu Da''s face fall again. "Bring in a new batch of goblins, I want to teach you to make something new." Hearing that they were going to make something new, Gobu Da''s heart trembled. His brain was about to explode; he couldn''t fit anything new in there. He wanted to say this to the boss. But Gobu Da didn''t dare. He could only anxiously drive the goblin followers out of the carpentry workshop. "Get out, get out, all of you, call the goblins from the other workshops over." There were five carpentry workshops in the tribe. However, the other workshops weren''t as large as this one. The boss''s shout made the goblins in the workshop shrink their necks. They ran out as if escaping. Although the boss wasn''t holding a whip, the whip was placed not far from the boss in the corner. They didn''t want to be whipped by the boss again; it hurt a lot. Before long, another group of goblins entered the carpentry workshop. And so, Li Meng continued to immerse himself in the development of the wagon wheel. Time ticked away, day by day. The daily life of goblins was monotonous and boring. Either on the road hunting or on the way back to the tribe. It was another new day, and the time had reached the afternoon. "Boss, is this the new thing we''re going to make?" In the carpentry workshop, the first wagon wheel was successfully completed. Looking at the large wheel in front of the boss, Gobu Da was full of curiosity. He couldn''t understand what use this round thing had. Li Meng propped up the wheel, examining it up and down. The wheel''s height was nearly 1.2 meters. The outer rim of the wheel wasn''t a single piece. Instead, it was assembled from multiple modules. These modules were then fixed together with iron nails. A layer of iron was wrapped around it to reduce friction. To prevent the wheel from deforming, there were load-bearing pillars between the axle and the outer rim. The axle had a linear groove. Inside the groove were small steel balls. Some animal grease was poured inside for lubrication. The steel balls and grease effectively reduced the friction between the bearing and the axle. To make this wheel, Li Meng spent nearly two months. During this time, he constantly explored and remade it. Finally, he settled on the current design of the finished product. Just the steel balls inside the axle took Li Meng over half a month in the Iron Cave. "Very good, it''s perfect!" Li Meng was very satisfied with the finished wheel in front of him. Although it took a lot of time, it was worth it. With a sample, making the second and third wheels would be relatively easier. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 64 - Goblin Boar Riders "Gobu Da, you''re up for the second wheel!" As soon as he heard the boss''s words, Gobu Da trembled slightly. To help the goblins better learn how to make wheels, Li Meng modularized the process, teaching each goblin to make different parts, and then having them teach others. This way, teamwork would help open up those little goblin minds. Gobu Da was tasked by Li Meng to learn the final assembly. "What, after all this time teaching you, don''t tell me you still can''t do it?" Facing the boss''s cold gaze, Gobu Da took a step back in fear. "I can do it, I can do it, boss, I''ve remembered everything!" Gobu Da nodded vigorously. "I''ll check in three days!" With that, Li Meng leaned the wheel against the wall and turned to leave the carpentry workshop. Gobu Da chased after him, peeking out the door to watch the boss''s departing figure. Seeing the boss truly leave, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ran back inside the workshop. "You, you, and you, come here!" Three goblins were called over by Gobu Da. "You''ve all learned what the boss taught me, right?" The three goblins exchanged glances. Seeing Gobu Da''s fierce gaze, they could only nod. "Haha, great, the boss will definitely be satisfied." Gobu Da danced with excitement. "Don''t slack off, wheels, wheels, wheels, I need wheels!" Meanwhile, outside in the tribe. Hearing Gobu Da''s strange shouts from the carpentry workshop, Li Meng grinned. How could he not know about Gobu Da''s little tricks? While teaching Gobu Da, three goblins had been eavesdropping nearby. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Li Meng simply allowed Gobu Da''s little cleverness. For goblins, a bit of cunning wasn''t a bad thing. "Boss, boss!" Not long after leaving the workshop, the sound of hooves rumbled through the tribe. Five forest boars charged out from the western forest, heading straight for Li Meng. Each boar had a goblin riding on its back. The noise of the boars running was tremendous, and their momentum was impressive, like a mountain of flesh bearing down. Gobu Qiang, riding on one of the boars, shouted loudly. When they were about twenty meters from Li Meng, the boars suddenly stopped, their hooves skidding several meters on the ground. Looking at the five large boars in front of him, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. By his calculations, the first batch of male boars had reached maturity. Although smaller than their fathers, their shoulder height was about 1.3 meters. The longer a boar lived, the larger it grew. In another year or two, reaching a shoulder height of 1.5 meters wouldn''t be a problem. Gobu Qiang dismounted and ran up to Li Meng with a flattering smile. "Boss, you''re amazing. We''ve raised these boars from young, and they''re very obedient." Li Meng approached Gobu Qiang''s forest boar, reaching out to touch its tusks. Though classified as magical beasts, forest boars were only first-tier, with limited potential. They had magic crystals but were unlikely to learn magical skills. However, the presence of magic crystals gave the boars a physique far superior to ordinary animals. "Oink oink!" The boar being petted by Li Meng was very obedient, its eyes gently watching him, occasionally making "oink oink" sounds. "Gobu Qiang, what weapons do you prefer?" Li Meng had been considering what weapons would suit the goblin boar riders. Typically, cavalry used lances, but lances required skill to be effective. And goblins would undoubtedly struggle to master lance techniques. Moreover, long weapons were difficult to use in the forest''s narrow spaces. Goblins were better at slashing than thrusting, so equipping them with long spears was a compromise. The iron output from the Iron Cave was limited, and forging blades required much more iron than spearheads. "Boss, I like using crossbows!" Li Meng then noticed that the other four goblins each held a single crossbow, with no other weapons. Looking down at the forest boar''s tusks, Li Meng pondered. Lances were for breaking formations, a one-time-use weapon. The boar''s tusks were good for ramming, effectively replacing the lance''s role. Mounted archery could also disrupt enemy formations, allowing for flexibility between charging and shooting. A sword could complement close combat abilities. Moreover, the boar''s shoulders were broad, making it difficult for a lance to attack enemies directly in front at a 90-degree angle. Li Meng nodded and smiled. "Then use crossbows. Gobu Qiang, how many adult male boars do we have now?" Boars were quite prolific, so there should be plenty. "Boss, there are many, many adults, and even more juveniles." Gobu Qiang''s answer made Li Meng''s face darken. He realized goblins couldn''t count. They didn''t care about numbers. They didn''t care how many goblins were in the hunting party. As long as they could eat their fill while hunting, they could reproduce and bring in new members. If they couldn''t eat enough, they couldn''t reproduce. "Alright, let''s go check the beast pen!" Li Meng then headed towards the beast pen. Before nightfall, Li Meng figured out the number of forest boars. There were 137 female boars, half of which had just reached maturity. There were 481 juvenile male boars. There were 281 juvenile female boars. "Gobu Qiang, how many goblin underlings do you have now?" By the beast pen, Li Meng asked Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. He didn''t know how to answer the boss. As soon as he asked, Li Meng realized he shouldn''t have asked that question. Li Meng turned to look at the densely packed boars in the pen, all "oinking." "Gobu Qiang, how do you manage to feed so many boars?" The pen was full of unweaned piglets. Once weaned, the piglets would be adopted by goblins. As for how many adult male boars there were, Li Meng didn''t know. Gobu Qiang''s underlings were all out hunting. Only about thirty goblins had returned with him. "Boss, boars eat everything¡ªgrass, mushrooms, plant roots, berries, leaves. They eat everything except dirt and stones. They even eat meat and gnaw on bones. They''re easy to raise." Hearing this, Li Meng understood. No wonder Gobu Qiang could raise over a thousand boars without any pressure. "Looks like I''ll need to take some time to count the population!" Looking at the "oinking" boars in the pen, Li Meng thought to himself. Since the tribe''s founding, Li Meng had noticed the population boom. But he hadn''t kept track of the exact numbers. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 65 - Terrifying reproduction rate Based on the number of female Lizardmen, an estimate can be made. 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 batch. Each batch of Goblins numbers no less than ten. Even if it''s fewer, it won''t be by much. With 253 female Lizardmen, each batch can produce over two thousand baby Goblins. Four batches make nearly ten thousand. Thus, the tribe''s population is around ten thousand. Even if it''s not exactly ten thousand, it won''t be far off. "Are there really ten thousand Goblins?" Li Meng did a quick calculation in his mind. The number he came up with shocked him. With so many Goblins, how do they solve the food problem? It''s known that Goblins are purely carnivorous creatures. How many living beings must be slaughtered to fill the Goblins'' stomachs? Where does so much food come from in the nearby forest? "Gobu Qiang, has it become more difficult to obtain food recently compared to before?" Gobu Qiang didn''t quite understand what his boss meant by this. He shook his head and scratched his head. "No, hunting has become easier since we got the crossbows." "Do you have to hunt much farther away?" To this question from his boss, Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. "Boss, there are too many hunting parties around here, so we have to go farther to find more prey." Gobu Qiang''s answer confirmed Li Meng''s suspicions. No wonder Gobu Di and Gobu Shi waited in the tribe for five days before leaving. Now, the hunting parties have to travel farther to fill their bellies and bring back food. No wonder he found signs of Goblin activity in the forest near the Pigmen tribe. The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The tribe''s hunting area has expanded to more than seventy kilometers east. "Alright, you''re free to go play." Waving Gobu Qiang off, Li Meng turned and left. He didn''t overly restrict his Goblin underlings. As long as they could bring back food, they could do whatever they wanted. If they wanted to laze around the tribe for a few days, that was fine too. After all, they each had their own underlings. They could let their underlings do the work while they enjoyed themselves. As for whether the underlings would rebel, that was none of his concern. By the time Li Meng returned to the throne cave, the sky was gradually darkening. Bai Ling and the female Lizardmen had long returned to the tribe. Looking at the spot where Benben used to sleep by the door, Li Meng frowned slightly. He wondered where Benben had gone. It had been over a month, and there was still no sign of him. With a slight sigh, Li Meng pushed the door open and entered. Before long, the sound of "humming" could be heard inside the wooden house. Time passed bit by bit, and the night deepened. In the following days, Li Meng began to tally the tribe''s population and weaponry. He had only one task each day: To wait for the hunting parties to return. Half a month later, one morning. In the tribe, inside the throne cave. "Have all your underlings returned?" The five Big Goblins inside quickly nodded. "Boss, they''re all back!" Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, Gobu Sheng. These five Big Goblins were Li Meng''s bloodline descendants. Their names all came from Li Meng. They were the first batch of Goblins born. In just half a year, they evolved into Big Goblins. Each Goblin was nearly 1.8 meters tall. They were just one step away from evolving into Goblin Soldiers. Li Meng waved his hand slightly, dismissing the five Big Goblins. "Go on!" Even though they were his offspring, Goblins had no concept of familial affection. In their eyes, he was just a strong figure in the Goblin tribe. Bloodline only increased their loyalty to their paternal figure. Li Meng didn''t regard them as his children. The Goblin barbarians were simply too weak. In the future, even the Goblin Leader would just be cannon fodder. All green-skinned Goblins were expendable. The female Lizardmen inside silently watched the departing Big Goblins. To them, all Goblins looked the same. They couldn''t distinguish if any of the five Big Goblins were their children. Even if they were, they couldn''t give those Goblins motherly love. Every time they recalled the appearance of newborn Goblins, they shivered. The tiny Goblin infants were only the size of a fist. As soon as they were born, they could run around looking for food. If they couldn''t find food, they would attack their mothers. Many female Lizardmen got injured because they didn''t separate from the baby Goblins in time. Watching the backs of the five departing Big Goblins, Li Meng wore a contemplative expression. After half a month of tallying, the population and weaponry data were out. Although he couldn''t get an exact number, the difference wouldn''t exceed two digits. The tribe''s population was about 9,000 Goblins. Subtracting the juveniles, there were roughly over 7,000 adult Goblins. This was the terrifying aspect of Goblins. It took less than a year to grow from a few hundred to ten thousand. Among the adult Goblins, only 5,000 were equipped with long spears and crossbows. There was a shortage of about two thousand weapons. "Bai Ling, come with me!" With that, Li Meng walked outside. By his calculations, there were still over three months until the rotation period. Unknowingly, nine months had passed since he began ruling the swamp. Bai Ling, who was sitting on the bed, stood up. She walked forward, silently following 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 again, but not by much. "To the Iron Cave!" About half an hour later, the two appeared in the forest outside the Iron Cave. Following Li Meng, Bai Ling looked at the cave entrance not far ahead. She came here every day and was already familiar with the place. "Bai Ling, the High Priestess?" At this moment, a group of male Lizardmen carrying several logs emerged from the eastern forest. They saw Bai Ling and Li Meng outside the cave entrance. Upon seeing Li Meng, all the male Lizardmen''s faces changed. They quickly lowered their heads, not daring to speak. They hurriedly carried the logs into the cave. Although they had milk to drink every day, the male Lizardmen''s bodies appeared somewhat thin. "Bai Ling, do your swamp Lizardmen need to eat fish to maintain their strength?" The tribe''s food supply for the male Lizardmen was adequate. Even if they weren''t full, they wouldn''t go hungry. The Iron Cave had an underground river, and they were given an hour to soak before resting. But even so, the male Lizardmen''s bodies visibly thinned. Without the rotation period, the male Lizardmen would be exhausted within two years. "Fish from the water is our staple food. We also eat other magical beast meat, but not much." Bai Ling''s answer confirmed Li Meng''s suspicion. "Let''s go inside!" Li Meng noted this issue in his mind. He would solve it, but not now. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 66 - Forge your own weapon The rotation period is approaching, and a series of major events will occur in the next six months. The appearance of adventurer teams and the invasion of the Black Mountain tribe''s army. To change the worst outcome, preparations must be made early. Then Li Meng led Bai Ling into the Iron Cave. As soon as they entered the cave, a scorching heat wave rolled in. It felt like being inside an oven, making it unbearably hot. The cave was bustling with noise. The clanging of metal echoed throughout. Accompanied by the loud cries of goblins. Looking towards the underground riverbank, the cave was as bright as day. Dozens of blast furnaces, about five meters high, stood on the riverbank. Behind the blast furnaces were countless bonfires. Closest to the river were groups of goblins forging iron. They swung their hammers vigorously on the anvils. Each hammer strike sent a shower of sparks flying. Deeper in the cave, faint "thud thud" sounds could be heard. A large number of male lizardmen could be seen carrying iron ore in bamboo baskets. On the shallow banks of the river, some male lizardmen were bathing. The high temperature inside the cave made the skin of the male lizardmen prone to cracking. They needed to bathe frequently to rehydrate and alleviate this process. "Boss, boss, why are you here again?" As soon as they entered the cave, Gobu Ge, who had received the news, came running over. "What, can''t I come?" Li Meng glared at Gobu Ge. Gobu Ge shrank his neck and smiled obsequiously. "The boss can come whenever he wants." "Enough nonsense, prepare a blast furnace for me, I want to smelt iron!" Gobu Ge nodded vigorously. Then turned around to lead the way. Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Boss, boss, this way, this way!" Following Gobu Ge, Li Meng and Bai Ling ventured deeper into the cave. Finally, they stopped in front of a blast furnace. "Boss, here it is!" Li Meng took the apron made of animal skin from Gobu Ge and put it on. The apron could effectively block the splattering molten iron. And also shield against flying sparks while forging. "Bai Ling, go stay in the river!" Bai Ling couldn''t withstand the high temperature near the blast furnace. She would faint in at most two hours. Bai Ling silently walked forward and stepped into the cold river water. Then she sat down in the shallow water about a meter deep. Her head just above the water, watching the Big Goblin on the riverbank. At this time, more than a dozen goblins ran over to assist Li Meng. In the following time, Li Meng busied himself around the blast furnace. Until the afternoon of the next day, with a furnace of molten iron ready, Li Meng entered the blacksmithing mode. By the water''s edge, Li Meng held a massive hammer in one hand. Furiously hammering a long weapon on the anvil. Sometimes quenching, sometimes tempering, sometimes hammering. Each hammer strike echoed with a crisp metallic sound in the cave. The sound was the loudest, drowning out all other noises. As the saying goes, "steel is forged through a hundred refinements," to get good steel, it must be hammered a thousand times. "Is it smelting iron?" Bai Ling had been observing the goblin on the bank from the river. Since arriving at the Iron Cave yesterday, it hadn''t paid attention to her. Bai Ling was no stranger to the Iron Cave. She had been here hundreds of times. Although she could never get close to these furnaces. But from a distance, she knew what the goblins were doing. The swamp lizardmen, though barbarians, did not harbor animosity towards humans. Bai Ling had also communicated with human adventurers. She was not unfamiliar with iron tools. On the third day, the loudest metallic clanging in the cave finally ceased. "Bai Ling, what do you think of this weapon?" The call from the master on the shore made Bai Ling step out of the water. She came ashore and stood before her master. Looking at the long-handled weapon in her master''s hand, Bai Ling''s pupils contracted. "Master, this weapon... is so mighty!" The weapon in the master''s hand had a long handle and blade, almost as tall as the master. The weapon was iron-gray all over, with a very smooth surface. The sharpened blade gleamed fiercely in the firelight. Holding this weapon, the master''s aura seemed to grow stronger. "This is a Mo Dao!" Li Meng wielded the Mo Dao with both hands, swinging it a few times. In a flash, he charged towards a giant rock on the riverbank not far away. "Slash!" The distance of over twenty meters was covered in an instant. Li Meng wielded the Mo Dao with both hands, letting out a powerful shout. A standard waist-to-shoulder downward slash. "Boom!" A thunderous crash was heard. The Mo Dao sliced through the nearly two-meter-high boulder like cutting through tofu. The massive impact shattered the boulder into pieces. The commotion startled the surrounding goblins. This scene left Bai Ling utterly astonished. What a sharp weapon! It actually sliced such a large rock. Satisfied with his strike, Li Meng nodded approvingly. He picked up the Mo Dao again to inspect the blade. Upon seeing it, a trace of disappointment flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. The blade showed no chips, but it was slightly twisted. His strength was simply too great, exceeding what the Mo Dao could withstand. The phenomenon of cold weapons getting bent was unavoidable. Shaking his head, Li Meng discarded the Mo Dao. "Bai Ling, go back to the water." Bai Ling looked at her master, then at the Mo Dao discarded on the ground. She silently turned and returned to the water. On the riverbank, Li Meng began tinkering with the blast furnace again. The next morning, another furnace of molten iron was ready. On the riverbank, Li Meng began swinging the large hammer again. With each swing, sweat flew off his body. The scorching heat made Li Meng sweat profusely. In the cold underground river, a flash of white passed by. Moments later, splashes erupted on the river''s surface. Bai Ling emerged from the water. She held a Black Rock Fish frozen into an ice block. Bai Ling dragged the Black Rock Fish back to the shallows. Sitting in the water, she quietly watched the Big Goblin forging on the bank. Over the past few days, Bai Ling had come to understand. The reason her master brought her was both a deterrent and a warning. It was to show her that the goblins with iron-smelting technology were not something the swamp lizardmen could challenge. Time passed bit by bit. The daily life of the Iron Cave did not change with Li Meng''s arrival. The next day, in the afternoon. "It''s done!" On the underground riverbank, Li Meng held a large iron rod and planted it in the ground. The iron rod was about 2.5 meters long and 5 centimeters in diameter. For Li Meng now, the iron rod was a bit long and a bit thick. But once Li Meng evolved into a Goblin Soldier. The iron rod would be very handy. Looking at the large iron rod in his hand, Li Meng nodded with satisfaction. This was the weapon he forged for himself. Compared to those bladed weapons, Li Meng felt blunt weapons suited him better. Originally, Li Meng wanted to forge a long-handled mace. But after careful consideration, he decided against it. The uneven weight of a mace made it unsuitable for close combat. When fighting strong opponents, every move must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. Any slight mistake could become a fatal weakness. Against weaker foes, any weapon would suffice. Even without a weapon, he could kill enemies with his fists. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 67 - Big Iron Rod "How about calling you the Ruyi Jingu Bang?" The large iron rod in Li Meng''s hand reminded him of memories from when he was human. "Forget it, you''re not worthy. I''ll just call you Big Iron Rod." How could a mere iron rod be worthy of such a name? Even though the rod was crafted by his own hands, Li Meng felt it didn''t deserve it. "Bai Ling, let''s go, we''re heading back!" Li Meng tore off his apron, hoisted the Big Iron Rod onto his shoulder, and walked outside. Bai Ling, who was in the shallow waters of the river, stood up. She followed her master onto the shore. The two of them then left the Iron Cave. Until they returned to the throne cave, Li Meng didn''t say much to Bai Ling. It was as if taking Bai Ling to the Iron Cave was just a whim of his. That night, the throne cave was very quiet. Ever since the female Lizardman became pregnant, Li Meng hadn''t bothered them. The goblin''s sexual desire was somewhat different from that of humans. A goblin''s desire was based on the urge to reproduce. Although the body experienced pleasure, it wasn''t as intense as a human''s. Goblins wouldn''t mate just to pursue the pleasure of desire. Whenever the female Lizardman was pregnant, Li Meng would enter a "sage" state of mind. He wouldn''t have any desire to mate with the female Lizardman. But upon seeing non-pregnant female creatures, the desire to mate would erupt like a volcano. Lying on the main bed inside the room, Li Meng was lost in thought. Bai Ling lay beside him, her breathing slightly rapid. This indicated that Bai Ling was awake and not asleep. "System, start the simulated life!" Li Meng didn''t know if the future had changed. Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators! He hadn''t used this month''s simulation attempts yet, so he might as well use them. [Simulated life begins] [The night is deep, you lie on the bed inside the wooden house, lost in thought] [Your tribe is thriving, seemingly uneventful, but in reality, it''s the calm before the storm] [The rotation period has arrived, please choose from the following options] [1. Release Bai Ling back to the Northern swamp] [2. Break your promise and keep Bai Ling in the tribe] [3. March to the Northern swamp, wait for a chance, and prepare for the arrival of the Black Mountain tribe''s army] The appearance of the third option made Li Meng realize something. That the previous simulated life had become valuable information for this simulation. The system knew he wouldn''t choose the future line predicted last time. And it would change the future line based on the information. "What should I choose?" Turning slightly, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling''s snow-white, graceful figure. The third option was very tempting. But its result would likely lead to a deadly battle with the Black Mountain tribe''s army. The Black Mountain tribe was new and unfamiliar with the area. If they didn''t exchange information with the Lizardmen tribe of the Northern swamp, the Black Mountain tribe''s army might launch an attack blindly, knowing nothing. Once the battle started, it would be a fight to the death. At that point, neither side would agree to retreat. But choosing the swamp as the battlefield wasn''t a good strategy. Even if they won in the end, the losses would be significant. Without the Pigmen tribe, a larger loss wouldn''t matter much. It would be a good opportunity to clear out the goblins with less potential in the tribe. But with the Pigmen around, they must preserve their forces as much as possible to deal with the threat. Leaving Bai Ling in the tribe a year ago only changed the future line where the Pigmen and Lizardmen cooperated to attack the tribe. It didn''t mean the Pigmen threat was eliminated. The Pigmen threat still existed. It was just that the outbreak time was postponed. Li Meng ruled out the third option. "The first option?" After thinking it over, Li Meng also rejected the first option. The first option would return to the previous future line. The Black Mountain tribe''s army would retreat, and Bai Ling would be captured. If he let Bai Ling go, it might avoid conflict with the Black Mountain tribe. The Black Mountain tribe wouldn''t summon the Barbarian God. But the result would be that the Lizardmen of the Northern swamp would be gone. Without the Northern swamp Lizardmen, how could the tribe expand its forces? "Choose option two!" [The rotation period has arrived, you forcibly kept Bai Ling, angering the Northern swamp Lizardmen] [The swamp Lizardmen launched a rebellion and successfully escaped through the river] [You gathered the goblin army and marched to the Northern swamp] [Under the guidance of the Northern swamp Lizardmen, the Black Mountain tribe''s army landed on the southern riverbank of the tribe] [The Lizardmen army launched a surprise attack on your tribe, and the tribe was destroyed] [Gobu Da led the bloodline offspring into the Iron Cave] [The Lizardmen army attacked the Iron Cave] [Gobu Ge led the bloodline offspring into the depths of the cave] [Upon learning that the Lizardmen army had ambushed the tribe, you angrily withdrew your troops and returned to the tribe] [One night, Benben returned to the tribe with a group of ogres and fought with the Lizardmen army] [The Lizardmen army was repelled and took Bai Ling, hurriedly retreating through the river] [You returned to the tribe, angrily looking at the ruins it had become] [You lost the tribe and also lost Bai Ling] [Please make the following choice] [1. Continue marching to the Northern swamp for revenge] [2. Do nothing and rebuild the tribe] [3. In your anger, you charged alone into the Northern swamp] "Am I really that strong?" The third option made Li Meng''s expression turn strange. Could he really be strong enough to fight a thousand alone? With so many Lizardmen, even exhaustion could kill him. But deciding what to choose stumped Li Meng again. Option one would likely end in failure. By the time he led the goblin army to the Northern swamp, the Lizardmen would have already fled. Option two meant he suffered a significant loss. And it was a loss he had to accept. The Lizardmen who betrayed him would certainly not stay in the Northern swamp. They would likely leave the Northern swamp and merge with the Black Mountain tribe. Not seeking trouble with the Northern swamp Lizardmen for a while didn''t mean he wouldn''t seek it forever. Since he couldn''t defeat them, they had no choice but to migrate. Options one and two were both bad choices, leaving only option three. "Choose option three!" [In your anger, you charged alone into the Northern swamp] [One night, you stormed into the White Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [One night, you stormed into the Gray Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [One night, you stormed into the Black Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [You returned empty-handed to the tribe] [You began rebuilding the tribe] [You went to the Goblin nest] [One day, an adventurer team appeared in the forest near the Goblin nest] [You followed the adventurer team to the crash site of the airship] [The adventurer team headed north] [You suspected the adventurer team could sense the location of the crystal] [You returned to the tribe and threw the crystal into the Goblin River] [One day, the adventurer team found the crystal in the river] [You followed the adventurer team downstream, heading west] [One day, you were discovered] Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 68 - Unchangeable future line [Please make the following choice] [1. Avoid battle and flee] [2. Fight the adventurer team] Li Meng rolled his eyes as he lay on the bed. Goodness, the results of these three options are actually the same. How should I choose the new two options? "Option two!" He followed the adventurer team all the way west. There''s a high chance they''ve already left the tribe''s hunting area. Killing that adventurer team poses little risk afterward. Even if those two humans come, it doesn''t matter. By then, the man and woman definitely won''t find the culprit. They wouldn''t think it was a weak Goblin who killed the adventurers. The last time those two humans found the tribe, it should have been related to those two human women. Those women must have had something with a tracking function on them. [You chose to fight the adventurer team and successfully killed all the adventurers] [You devoured their hearts but did not gain any new skills] [You returned to the tribe, and the tribe thrived] [The lesson from the ambush made you decide to strengthen the tribe''s defenses] [The tribe now has walls, watchtowers, and a large number of three-bow ballistae] [One day, Bai Ling returned to the tribe with news] [The Black Mountain tribe was attacked by mysterious human male and female warriors, who summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua" to defend] [The human warriors fell, and the Black Mountain Swamp was polluted by the power of the "Barbarian God"] [The Black Mountain Swamp gradually turned into a wasteland, and all living beings were refined into wasteland slaves] [One day, you discovered the Great Wasteland was expanding, and the devoured land lost its vitality] [One day, a fleet of human ships appeared on the Goblin River, sailing upstream] This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. [The three-year limit has arrived] [As a transmigrator, you used your wisdom to survive. Although you are just a Goblin, your future is full of countless possibilities, and your rise is unstoppable] [Simulated life ends, score: 100] [Please choose the following reward] [1. Consume ten score points to increase level by 1] [2. Consume one score point to increase an attribute by 1] [3. Consume ten score points to increase luck by 1] [4. Consume ten score points to increase "Wind Blade" skill level by 1] [5. Consume ten score points to increase "Heart Speech" skill level by 1] [6. Consume ten score points to increase "Berserk" skill by 1] The three skills aren''t urgently needed for an upgrade. Let''s increase the level instead. "Choose one!" [Consume 100 score points, level +10, current level: 25] Here it comes, the familiar intense pain swept through his body once more. This time it was more painful than the previous times when upgrading levels. On the bed, Li Meng''s body was undergoing strange distortions. All his bones were dislocated, cracking and snapping. It was as if an invisible giant hand was kneading Li Meng''s body. Li Meng''s entire ugly face was twisted beyond recognition. His skull suddenly protruded outward, as if something was about to crawl out of his brain. The crisp "crack" sound startled Bai Ling, who was beside him. She turned to look at her master. At this sight, Bai Ling was stunned. Her once small master had suddenly grown. His height now exceeded two meters, and his physique was more robust. His whole body emitted rolling white steam. Some areas of his skin were fiery red. "Master, what''s happening to you?" Li Meng sat up, looking down at his enlarged hands. "I''ve evolved into a Goblin Soldier!" Power, power, Li Meng felt the immense strength within his body. He was now comparable to a muscular giant like Tyson. Of course, only in physique; in strength, even fifty Tysons couldn''t match him. Li Meng lay back on the bed. "Sleep!" With a thought, Li Meng opened the character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin Soldier] [Level: 25] [Strength: 1925] [Defense: 1859] [Agility: 871] [Magic: 1551] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts may grant their skills] [Steel Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] [Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)] "It seems the guess was correct!" The panel attributes, with hundreds of points added, confirmed Li Meng''s guess. The higher the panel attributes, the higher the attribute bonus when leveling up. Li Meng still remembered that before leveling from 1 to 10, each level only added single-digit attribute points. Staring blankly at the ceiling, Li Meng thought again about the future line predicted by the simulated life. Li Meng didn''t expect Bai Ling to return on her own in the end. And why did those two human warriors go to the Black Mountain tribe again? Could it be that the place where the adventurer team was killed was very close to the Black Mountain tribe? No, that''s absolutely impossible. Although Bai Ling didn''t tell him the exact location of the Black Mountain tribe, she said it was deep in the Goblin Forest, very far from the northern swamp. Even by water, it would take more than three months for a Lizardman to reach it. He couldn''t have followed the adventurer team for months near the Black Mountain tribe. "Strange, is it impossible to change the future where the Black Mountain tribe summons the Barbarian God?" All three future lines couldn''t change the Black Mountain tribe''s summoning of the Barbarian God. This made Li Meng deeply worried about his own future. And what was the Principality of Ilysis doing here? This is the Goblin Forest, the land of the Barbarians. The appearance of the Principality of Ilysis''s fleet in the Goblin Forest is definitely not a good thing. Perhaps that fleet is the warships of the Principality of Ilysis. "Forget it, take it one step at a time!" Receiving too much information at once gave Li Meng a headache. Too many things were happening all at once. Li Meng had no clue how to change the future. Time was ticking away, and the night grew deeper. "I''ve got it!" Early the next morning, Li Meng suddenly sat up from his sleep. His strange shout startled the female Lizardmen sleeping nearby. They all sat up, looking at their master in confusion. Li Meng got up and hurried outside. Bai Ling also woke up. She looked at Li Meng''s hurriedly departing figure with some confusion. "Bring Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao here!" Outside the door, Li Meng woke up the Goblin underlings who were snoring on the ground. The boss''s voice made the sleeping Goblins shiver. They jumped up in surprise, quickly standing up. One Goblin hurriedly picked up the long spear on the ground and rushed off. "Boss, you... you''ve evolved into a Goblin Soldier?" When they looked at the boss, all the Goblins were shocked. In just one night, the boss had evolved from a Big Goblin into a Goblin Soldier. The Goblin underlings were filled with fear. They shrank their necks, quickly standing up straight. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 69 - Offense and Defense In no time, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over. From a distance, they saw the boss standing outside the entrance of the throne cave. The boss''s tall and strong figure made the two Big Goblins exchange glances. The boss had actually evolved into a Goblin Soldier? Gobu Mo quickly sped up his pace. Gobu Gao, on the other hand, ran with little hops, overtaking Gobu Mo. "Boss, that''s great! You''ve finally advanced to a Goblin Soldier!" Gobu Gao ran up to Li Meng with a fawning expression. Gobu Mo, a few steps behind, glared at Gobu Gao. "Boss, is there something you need us for?" Gobu Mo also wore a flattering expression. However, he was smarter than Gobu Gao and got straight to the point. "Follow me!" Li Meng left the entrance of the throne cave and headed deeper into the forest. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly followed. Li Meng ventured deep into the forest. He didn''t stop until he was several hundred meters away from the tribe. "Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, your task from now on 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." Li Meng planted the Big Iron Rod into the ground. One end of the rod sank deeply into the soft soil. Then he forcefully drew a large circle. "The buffer zone must be at least five hundred meters wide!" Li Meng swung the Big Iron Rod and pointed at the large trees beside him. "About the width of ten large trees, got it?" Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao looked up at the large trees beside them. How tall were ten large trees? The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement. "Boss, how much is ten trees?" Li Meng rolled his eyes at Gobu Mo''s question. Alright, it seems I''ll have to teach these Goblin underlings how to count. They need to know what 1, 2, 3, 4 means. "First, organize the Goblins to cut down the trees. I''ll guide you on-site!" "There are axes and saws in the warehouse, go get them!" 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 as they left. He didn''t look away until they disappeared from sight. Scanning the surrounding forest, Li Meng grinned. "If attacking doesn''t work, then let''s defend!" Previously, Li Meng thought there was no need to build a wooden wall. He believed that instead of 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. Once Goblins fell into a passive defense, failure wouldn''t be far off. Now, Li Meng had changed his mindset. Why choose? Li Meng wanted both defense and offense. Soon, the tribe was bustling. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao led a large group of Goblin underlings in a grand march towards this direction. Some Goblins carried axes, while others carried saws. At a glance, the dense green-skinned figures numbered no less than five hundred. Before long, the sound of logging echoed from deep within the forest. The rhythmic sounds resonated through the forest depths. Occasionally, there was the "crash" of trees falling. In the following days, Li Meng began teaching the Goblin underlings some basic counting. By the fifth day, the forest had undergone a significant transformation. A blank area appeared several hundred meters away from the tribe in the forest. The blank area was five hundred meters wide and six hundred meters long. The bare ground was covered with wooden stakes, and layers of branches and leaves were piled up. Numerous logs were scattered haphazardly across the ground. The blank area wasn''t straight; it was curved. Soon, the blank area would encircle the tribe. "How many is this?" In a place where logs were piled in the blank area. Li Meng held three wooden sticks in his hand. Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, and a group of Big Goblins obediently sat on the ground. Some members of the hunting party, upon returning, were asked by Li Meng to join the wooden wall construction team. Now, the number of Goblins building the wooden wall exceeded a thousand. Li Meng pointed at 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 looked down at his hands. His eyes lit up, and Gobu Gao said a number. "3, it''s 3!" Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, that''s correct!" Gobu Gao grinned, very pleased. "And what does 3 mean?" Li Meng continued to question Gobu Gao. Gobu Gao glanced at the ground. He bent down and picked up three small stones. "One stone, two stones, three stones!" Gobu Gao''s answer made Li Meng very satisfied. After his teaching over the past few days, the Goblin underlings finally understood the meaning of numbers 1-10. Numbers are the foundation of intelligence. Although this couldn''t change the fact that Goblins were foolish. But in the future, he could command the Goblin underlings more effectively. "Very good, Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, you know how to build the wooden wall now, right?" A small section of the wooden wall had already been built at the edge of the blank area not far away. The wooden wall had two layers, with a hollow center. It was about 7 meters high and 5 meters wide, with a 15-meter-high watchtower built every fifty meters. The trees in the forest were very tall, with an average height of about 70 meters. The wooden wall could be built higher. But the workload for anything over seven meters was too much. Building it was also more troublesome. After all, erecting a seven-meter-high log wasn''t an easy task. Fortunately, the number of Big Goblins in the tribe was considerable. With them around, handling seven-meter-long logs wasn''t a problem. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly nodded. "Very good, I''ll leave this to you. Work hard and don''t slack off!" Faced with the boss''s gaze, the Big Goblins shrank their necks. Without saying anything more, Li Meng tossed aside the wooden sticks in his hand. Then he turned and walked towards 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 the Goblin underlings following him. One of the Goblins quickly ran towards the tribe. Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng had always stayed in the tribe. Their task was to guard the tribe. By afternoon, the sun was blazing. When Li Meng returned to the throne cave, the wooden house was empty. At this time, the female Lizardmen had all gone to the Iron Cave for fun. "Why aren''t Goblins 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 unfortunately, he couldn''t drink it. It''s not that he couldn''t drink it, but it tasted strange. "Could it be that plain milk just doesn''t taste good?" When he was human, Li Meng had heard that human milk didn''t taste good. But he had never tried it himself. After all, a grown man only had the chance to taste it after getting married and having children. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 70 - Ha ha ha! "Boss, Boss!" Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. The next moment, three towering figures burst into the room. "Boss, did you call us?" Gobu Sheng shoved Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang aside. With a fawning expression, it approached the boss. Looking at the three Big Goblins before him, Li Meng nodded. In another half month, Gobu Mo and the others should evolve into Goblin Soldiers. Li Meng''s gaze fixed on Gobu Sheng. "Gobu Sheng, go to the Iron Cave and bring all the male Lizardmen here!" Gobu Sheng grinned, nodded, and turned to trot out. Li Meng then looked at Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang. "Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, gather your underlings and prepare to follow me to the northern swamp." The boss was taking them to the northern swamp? Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang were thrilled. Finally, they could go hunting with the boss. They quickly turned and raced out, eager to be first. Watching the two Big Goblins jostling each other, Li Meng grinned wickedly. "Three more months, just in time!" Li Meng already had a plan in mind to change the future. For the tribe''s future, he absolutely couldn''t lose the Lizardmen from the northern swamp. Although Bai Ling would eventually return on her own in the future, by then, there might be very few Lizardmen left who escaped from the Black Mountain Swamp. Half an hour later, at the Iron Cave. "No way, no way, the Lizardmen are mine, all mine!" At the entrance of the Iron Cave, Gobu Ge glared angrily at Gobu Sheng. "Today, I must take all the male Lizardmen; they are mine." Gobu Sheng was not to be outdone. Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It opened its sharp mouth and roared loudly. "Gobu Sheng, when the boss took me in as a follower, you were still in the boss''s nest, and you dare to snatch things from me!" Gobu Ge grinned, looking at Gobu Sheng with disdain. "Are you giving them or not?" Gobu Sheng glared fiercely. Gobu Ge glared back just as fiercely. "No!" The Goblin underlings inside and outside the cave exchanged glances. "Fight, fight!" No one knew who shouted it first. All the Goblins'' eyes lit up, shouting excitedly. "Fight, fight!" The synchronized chants grew louder and louder. The underlings'' cheers made Gobu Sheng and Gobu Ge''s blood boil. "Ha ha ha, Gobu Sheng, come on, today I''ll make you crawl!" Gobu Ge laughed excitedly, tearing off its apron. Gobu Sheng wasn''t swayed by the underlings'' cheers. It snorted coldly, a look of mockery on its face. "Hmph, the boss sent me!" Hearing this, the excitement on Gobu Ge''s face vanished instantly. The Goblin underlings behind both sides also stopped cheering. At the cave entrance, they stared at each other. "Gobu Sheng, why didn''t you say so earlier? Just you wait, I''ll definitely tell the boss!" Gobu Ge glared angrily at Gobu Sheng. Then it turned and trotted back into the cave. Its group of Goblin underlings quickly followed. Gobu Sheng stood there with a look of disdain, listening to the commotion in the Iron Cave. "Hmph, just a little trash like you, I can take on ten!" Meanwhile, in another part of the tribe. It was already afternoon, and the tribe suddenly became noisy. A large number of Goblins gathered in the forest outside the throne cave. They had been patrolling various parts of the tribe. The boss''s order made them leave their posts and gather in front of the throne cave. "What are they up to now?" The female Lizardmen hiding in the wooden huts secretly observed outside. They saw a large number of Goblins gathering in front of the largest wooden hut. The Goblins'' chattering echoed throughout the tribe. "Boss, everyone is here!" Gobu Yi approached the boss with a fawning expression. Standing at the door, Li Meng grinned. He squinted his eyes, scanning over the dense crowd of Goblin underlings. There were nearly a thousand Goblins in sight. Forty percent of them were his bloodline descendants. Thirty percent were his grandchildren Goblins. The rest were branch bloodline descendants who had submitted to his offspring. Just then, a commotion arose on the outskirts. Bai Ling walked over, escorted by a group of Goblins. Wherever she passed, the Goblins made way. Their eyes filled with curiosity and greed as they looked at Bai Ling. "Master, what are you planning to do? Where are you taking the male Lizardmen?" The commotion at the Iron Cave made Bai Ling rush back to the tribe. With the rotation period approaching, Bai Ling had a bad feeling. She stormed over to Li Meng, full of anxiety. Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, their eyes meeting. "Slap!" Li Meng swung his hand, slapping Bai Ling across the face. The immense force sent Bai Ling flying. Her curvaceous body slammed heavily against the wooden wall. "Hmph!" Bai Ling groaned in pain, unable to get up. Blood trickled 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 fear. They sensed the boss''s anger from behind him. Li Meng grinned wickedly at Bai Ling on the ground and walked over to her. Bai Ling tried to get up, but Li Meng stomped on her head. "It seems I''ve been too lenient, and you''ve forgotten your place!" Li Meng looked down expressionlessly at Bai Ling under his foot. With a "crack," the wooden plank under Bai Ling''s face shattered. The power of Li Meng''s stomp was evident. Terror filled Bai Ling''s face as she lay under Li Meng''s foot. She sensed a murderous intent from her master. "Master, I... I was wrong, spare me!" Humiliation flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. She couldn''t die; if she did, what would happen to her people? She had to live, she must survive. Only by living was there hope. Seeing Bai Ling beg for mercy, Li Meng smiled playfully. This female Lizardman knew when to yield. Li Meng removed his foot from Bai Ling''s head. He turned to face the crowd of Goblin underlings outside. "Bai Ling, remember, I am a Goblin, and you are a slave to the Goblins. The reason you are alive is because I still need you. Don''t try to test my limits, or you won''t be slaves anymore, but meat!" "Ha ha ha!" Standing at the door, Li Meng laughed loudly. His booming voice echoed throughout the tribe. Watching the boss suddenly burst into laughter, the Goblins exchanged glances. "Ha ha ha!" Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang joined in the laughter. They were filled with excitement and joy. As if they had heard the funniest joke. "Ha ha ha!" The other Goblins also joined in. They danced and laughed loudly. For a moment, the tribe was filled with the Goblins'' laughter. For a moment, the tribe was filled with joy and laughter. But this joy and laughter belonged only to the Goblins. Other races would feel a chill upon hearing it. At this moment, figures moved in the distant forest. Gobu Sheng led a group of male Lizardmen over. Seeing the Goblins laughing in front of the throne cave, it also laughed. "Ha ha ha!" It couldn''t help but laugh loudly. Its underlings followed suit, laughing loudly. The male Lizardmen looked on in confusion at the laughing Goblins. What on earth had happened? Why were these Goblins laughing so joyously? Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 71 - Simply perfect! After a while, the echoing laughter in the tribe finally subsided. Almost instantly, all sounds vanished. Because the leader at the entrance of the throne cave stopped laughing. "Boss, boss, they''re all here!" Gobu Sheng hurried over, a flattering smile on his face. Li Meng glanced at the male Lizardmen not far away. "Have them bring all the axes and saws, let''s move out! Head to the Northern swamp!" With that, Li Meng strode forward, heading out of the tribe. Wherever he passed, the Goblin underlings made way. They looked at the towering figure of their leader with nothing but awe. Nearly a thousand Goblins followed Li Meng like a wave sweeping out of the tribe. At the gate, Bai Ling got up from the ground. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The female Lizardman who had returned with her quickly stepped forward to support her. "They''re heading to the Northern swamp?" Watching the departing Goblins, Bai Ling thought to herself. She had just heard what the master said. She was certain the master''s destination was the Northern swamp. Why was the master heading to the Northern swamp at this time? "Could it be that reinforcements from the Black Mountain tribe have arrived?" This possibility brought a hint of joy to Bai Ling''s heart. But it was quickly followed by worry. Unless the entire Black Mountain tribe attacked, there was no chance of defeating the master. "High Priest, go back and rest!" Two female Lizardmen helped Bai Ling into a wooden house. The commotion in the tribe lasted only a short while. Soon, the tribe quieted down. This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. In the following days, Li Meng led the team westward. They traveled during the day, hunted in the first half of the night, and rested in the second half. On the third day, in the forest north of the Goblin River. "Where are the Goblins taking us?" "This direction... could it be to the Northern swamp?" In the dim forest, a large group of Lizardmen moved westward. Around them were many Goblins communicating with "wa wa" sounds. Green-skinned figures of various sizes filled a large part of the forest. Gray Scale and Black Scale exchanged glances as they walked through the forest. The rotation period was approaching, giving them a sense of foreboding. Time passed bit by bit, day after day. On the afternoon of the fifth day, in the forest east of the Northern swamp. "We''re finally back!" Looking at the endless swamp before them, the Lizardmen on the shore looked at each other. After nearly a year, they had 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 dared not, and could not do so. Because their families were still in the hands of the Goblins. Because their home was in the Northern swamp. "Wa wa!" At this moment, a group of Goblins rushed over, shouting. They snatched the axes and saws from the Lizardmen. And began chopping trees in the forest by the shore. Another group of Goblins prodded the Lizardmen with long spears. Driving the Lizardmen to cut down trees. For a time, the "thud thud" of logging echoed in the forest. Occasionally, there was the "crash" of trees falling. Meanwhile, Li Meng led a group of Goblins into the swamp. In the vast swamp, Li Meng and his Goblin underlings ventured westward. On the afternoon of the third day. On the eastern shore of a piece of land not submerged by water. Li Meng and his Goblin underlings set foot on the land. "Well, this place isn''t bad!" Standing on the soft ground, Li Meng gazed into the distance. Along the way, they encountered many similar islands. But those islands were either too small or had rugged terrain. The island before them was a flat expanse. It risked being submerged at high tide. Such a place was ideal for Lizardmen to live. "This is it, we''re going to build a wooden stronghold here!" A hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng behind Li Meng. They had originally thought the boss was taking them out for a fight. They hadn''t expected to be doing hard labor. "Gobu Yi, do you know where the Gray Scale tribe is?" The map in the throne cave clearly marked the locations of the three Lizardmen tribes. Although Goblins were rather foolish. They had a great sense of direction and never forgot a place they''d been to once. Gobu Yi looked around. He pointed southwest with his right hand. "Boss, in that direction!" "Good, go, head to the Gray Scale tribe and bring all the Lizardmen here." With that, Li Meng gave a sinister smile. "If they resist, then kill them until they can''t resist anymore!" Gobu Yi grinned, resting his spiked club on his shoulder. "Alright, boss, I''ll bring them back." Then Gobu Yi hurriedly led his Goblin underlings southwest. The Goblins on the island watched as Gobu Yi departed. "Gobu Zhang, you go to the Black Scale tribe and bring all the Lizardmen here!" Gobu Zhang nodded and continued walking. The Goblin underlings quickly followed behind him. "Gobu Sheng, return to the forest immediately and transport all the timber here." Transporting timber was much easier where there was water. After all, timber floats. Gobu Sheng turned with a grim face and headed back the way they came. Once the three Big Goblin underlings left. Only a dozen Goblin underlings remained behind Li Meng. "Three months left, just enough time!" Li Meng took a deep breath. Inhaling the swamp''s air with a hint of decay, he looked pleased. The purpose of building the wooden stronghold was singular. To gather all the Lizardmen from the three tribes together. This way, the Black Mountain tribe''s army would lose the chance to contact the Northern swamp. Even if they found the wooden stronghold, it wouldn''t matter. Li Meng didn''t mind engaging in a defensive battle with the Black Mountain tribe''s army. He had enough forces to guard the Northern swamp''s wooden stronghold and the tribe. Li Meng''s goal wasn''t to annihilate the Black Mountain tribe''s army. But to make them retreat in defeat, leaving empty-handed. At the same time, he couldn''t push the Black Mountain tribe too hard. To avoid them summoning the Barbarian God "Aqua." As for the human adventurer couple, avoiding their appearance was easy. The adventurer squad line was the easiest to resolve. Let them complete their mission and leave obediently. As long as he didn''t interfere with the adventurer squad, no further events would be triggered. "Simply perfect!" Li Meng grinned with some pride. With the Life Simulation System, avoiding dangerous future lines was relatively easy. "Letting the adventurer squad go won''t trigger some unknown event, will it?" Li Meng suddenly recalled four words. The "butterfly effect." Letting the adventurer squad go didn''t mean the event was over. It might lead to a bigger event. "Just have to wait and see, solve the immediate problem first." Shaking his head, Li Meng muttered to himself. He wasn''t a perfectionist. Achieving the most perfect ending wasn''t so easy. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 72 - Wooden fortress At the moment, we can only proceed cautiously, taking one step at a time. Time trickled away, day by day. In the following days, the wooden fortress in the Northern swamp began major construction. The Lizardmen were tasked with chopping down trees in the forest on the eastern shore. The Goblins were responsible for transporting the various sizes of timber to the wooden fortress. On the island, the wooden wall construction started from the eastern shore. On the first day, only 30 meters of the wall was built. With a start made, the progress accelerated on the second day. On the second day, 50 meters were built. On the third day, 70 meters were constructed. After three days, the daily construction length of the wooden wall never fell below 70 meters. On the morning of the fifth day. "Boss, Boss, Gobu Zhang is back!" A Goblin came running up to Li Meng excitedly. At that moment, Li Meng was observing the construction efforts of the Goblin underlings from a distance. Without his supervision, Goblins loved to slack off. The report from the Goblin underling made Li Meng''s eyes light up. "Finally back!" Li Meng turned and walked towards the northwest shore. Hastily arriving at the shore, Li Meng gazed towards the distant swamp. In that direction, a massive procession was approaching. A dense mass of figures, large and small, stretched out. The small ones were Goblins, the large ones were Lizardmen. Although the number of Lizardmen far exceeded that of the Goblins, The Lizardmen obediently walked alongside the Goblins. Both sides coexisted peacefully, each going their own way. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. It took over an hour for the massive procession to reach the island. "Boss, I''m back!" Seeing the boss waiting on the shore. From afar, Gobu Zhang ran towards the boss. Gobu Zhang, panting heavily, came ashore. He shook his body vigorously, shedding the water from his animal skin. Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen team not far away. "Are they all here?" Gobu Zhang nodded and grinned. "They don''t understand what I''m saying. I gestured for a long time before they got it. Some Lizardmen didn''t want to come with us and started attacking us, so we ate them, and then they were willing to come along!" At this, Gobu Zhang laughed heartily. "Boss, those Lizardmen are so stupid, we weren''t going to eat them!" Li Meng''s gaze turned to the Lizardmen team coming ashore not far away. There were quite a few, nearly eight hundred. Most were women and children. The number of adult male Lizardmen didn''t exceed three hundred. Female Lizardmen and male Lizardmen were easy to distinguish. Female Lizardmen were much smaller than their male counterparts. "How many male Lizardmen died?" Gobu Zhang looked down at his fingers. "There... there... 3... 33!" The number Gobu Zhang mentioned made Li Meng grin. "Not bad, good job!" Only 33 male Lizardmen had died. Such a loss was within Li Meng''s acceptable range. Gobu Zhang chuckled, his gaze greedily eyeing the plump female Lizardmen. "Boss... you... look..." Seeing Gobu Zhang''s lecherous expression, Li Meng knew what was on his mind. "Now''s not the time for that. Get them to work. Gobu Zhang, take your underlings to catch fish, bring the female Lizardmen along, they''re good swimmers and can effectively assist you. As for the male Lizardmen, have them work on building the wooden fortress." With more and more Lizardmen arriving here, The demand for food would only increase. Li Meng was uneasy about letting the Lizardmen go out hunting. If they took the opportunity to escape, it would be a loss. Losing one or two didn''t matter, but a mass escape was unacceptable. Seeing Gobu Zhang''s reluctant face, Li Meng''s expression turned cold. "What, do I need to say it again?" Gobu Zhang felt a chill under the boss''s gaze. "Boss, I... I got it!" Instinctive fear made Gobu Zhang''s heart race. He took a step back in fear. Turning, he sprinted towards the team coming ashore. Under the Goblins'' orders, the Lizardmen team was forcibly split in two. The male Lizardmen wore expressions of anger. But they didn''t dare to resist too fiercely. Surrounded by Goblins, their wives and children were here too. If a fight broke out, it would affect their families. Thus, with the arrival of the Black Scale tribe Lizardmen, the island became livelier. The abundance of manpower made the island bustling. With the male Lizardmen, the Goblins started slacking off. Transforming from laborers to overseers. The next afternoon, on the busy construction site of the island. A Goblin was slacking off. It lay leisurely on a log, basking in the sun. Though Goblins didn''t like sunlight, Even the most hated sunlight was better than hard labor. A passing Big Goblin gave it a kick. The kick flipped it over, its butt in the air. "Don''t slack off, the boss''s boss is watching!" The Big Goblin scolded. This startled the Goblin, making it jump up in fright. It smiled obsequiously, kneeling at the Big Goblin''s feet. "Boss, I wasn''t slacking, I was watching these male Lizardmen work!" The Big Goblin glanced around. Indeed, there were many male Lizardmen working nearby. "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 its underling. Suddenly, it swung its right hand, slapping the Goblin''s face. "Ouch!" The Goblin cried out in pain. Its body flew several meters, rolling on the ground. "You think I''m stupid? I''m a Big Goblin, you''re slacking off, now get to work." The Big Goblin glared angrily at the fallen Goblin underling. Though its face hurt, the Goblin scrambled up in a panic. It ran towards the working team, stumbling along the way. This scene was witnessed by the surrounding male Lizardmen. They were quite pleased to see the Goblins fighting among themselves. "What are you looking at? Get to work!" Seeing the male Lizardmen watching, The Big Goblin roared. Though the male Lizardmen couldn''t understand the Goblin language, They could sense the Big Goblin''s reprimand from its demeanor. The nearby Lizardmen quickly buried themselves in work. "Yes, the Big Goblin is quite obedient." This scene was observed by Li Meng from a distance. Standing on the shore, Li Meng nodded repeatedly. He was very satisfied with the Big Goblin''s performance. The higher the rank of a Goblin, the smarter it was. Ordinary Goblins were like big fools who couldn''t focus. Though they were obedient, they were easily distracted by other things. Out of his sight, they would have a tendency to slack off. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 73 - Great Construction If you send a Goblin somewhere, it will go. But when it will arrive is uncertain. Various things along the way will delay its arrival at the destination. "Boss, boss, Gobu Yi is back!" At this moment, a Goblin hurriedly ran over. "Oh, finally back!" The wooden fortress was located north of the central part of the northern swamp. It was closer to the Black Scale tribe and farther from the Gray Scale tribe. It was normal for Gobu Yi to return later than Gobu Zhang. Meanwhile, deep in the swamp southwest of the island. A large group of figures was approaching the island where the wooden fortress was located, under the scorching sun. "What are the Goblins doing?" "It looks like they''re building a new tribe!" "Can Goblins survive in the swamp?" "I don''t know, the damp environment might be too much for them." From a distance, the Lizardmen could see the wooden structures on the island. Although not very large in scale, the construction scene was quite impressive. From afar, one could see Goblins and Lizardmen working hard. "It seems like people from the Gray Scale tribe!" The characteristics of the Lizardmen from the three tribes were still quite distinct. The Lizardmen from the White Scale tribe had scales leaning towards gray-white. The Lizardmen from the Gray Scale tribe had scales leaning towards dark gray. And the Lizardmen from the Black Scale tribe had scales leaning towards dark black. "Are people from the Gray Scale tribe here too?" This discovery caused a commotion among the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen. They had been brought here by the Goblins, their fate uncertain. The presence of the Black Scale tribe Lizardmen at least proved they were safe. This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Many anxious Lizardmen relaxed their tense expressions upon receiving this news. Half an hour later, the grand procession landed from the west shore. "Gobu Yi, you''re too slow, I came back ages ago!" As soon as it landed, Gobu Yi saw the last person it wanted to see. It was Gobu Zhang, a Big Goblin walking over with a mocking smile. "Hmph, I was farther away, what''s there to be proud of." Gobu Yi snorted coldly, ignoring Gobu Zhang. It gazed towards the flat island. "The boss is over there!" Gobu Zhang grinned, moving his body aside a bit. It had intentionally blocked the direction where the boss was. Just to make Gobu Yi unable to find the boss. As Gobu Zhang moved aside, Gobu Yi immediately found the boss. Seeing this, Gobu Yi glared at Gobu Zhang. It hurriedly ran towards the direction where the boss was. "Boss, boss, I''m back!" Gobu Yi ran up to the boss with a fawning expression. "Brought them all back!" Li Meng''s gaze turned towards the Lizardmen team not far away. Gobu Yi grinned, nodding. "Not a single one missing, brought all the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen over!" Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, well done!" It seemed that Gobu Yi''s operation went smoothly. The Lizardmen left behind in the Black Scale tribe had never seen Goblins. Their resistance was inevitable. But the Gray Scale tribe was different. The Gray Scale tribe had only submitted after the Goblins attacked their doorstep. The Lizardmen left behind in the Gray Scale tribe had all seen Goblins. They had also witnessed the Goblins'' strength firsthand. So they wouldn''t easily resist. With Gobu Yi bringing back the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen. In the following days, the island where the wooden fortress was located became even more lively. As the population increased, the demand for food grew. Although Goblins could eat once and not be hungry for three days. The Lizardmen couldn''t manage that. To meet the food needs of over two thousand people. The Lizardmen and Goblins split into two groups. The male Lizardmen were responsible for building the wooden fortress. Two-thirds of the Goblins and two-thirds of the female Lizardmen went out hunting. The remaining Goblins stayed to guard the wooden fortress. The remaining female Lizardmen were responsible for looking after the Lizardmen young. Under Li Meng''s command, everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Time passed bit by bit, day after day. It was another new day, in the morning. "Off, off, yes, that''s the spot!" On the north shore of the island, Li Meng was directing the Lizardmen to build a wooden wall. The fact that the Goblin Soldier could communicate with the Lizardmen was no longer surprising to them. Being able to communicate wasn''t a bad thing. With communication, they could know what they should do. "Boss, boss!" At this moment, a Goblin hurriedly ran over from afar. It ran while shouting loudly. The loud calls caught the attention of many Lizardmen. Soon, the Goblin, panting heavily, ran up to Li Meng. "Boss, something''s wrong, we''ve got trouble!" "Trouble? What happened?" Li Meng looked down at the panting Goblin underling beside him. 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 with interest. "Let''s go, take a look!" Li Meng grabbed the Goblin underling by the scruff. Like picking up a chick, he held the Goblin underling in his hand. Li Meng turned and dashed out, sprinting across the island. His speed was so fast, it was like a gust of wind blowing past. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the distance. "Boss, boss, my... my head hurts!" Amidst the Goblin''s loud cries. Li Meng leaped near the water''s edge, heading straight for the water. He crossed dozens of meters before landing heavily on the water''s surface. As soon as he hit the water, the surface instantly froze. On the water, Li Meng continued to sprint. His speed was so fast, the ice path on the water extended northward at a visible pace. This scene was witnessed by the Goblins on the island. "The boss is amazing!" The Goblins on the island exclaimed in awe. "Isn''t he!" A Goblin excitedly patted the shoulder of its companion. Due to using too much force, the Goblin whose shoulder was patted fell to the ground. "Damn, you hit me?" "I... I didn''t, I just patted you." "You did hit me!" "I didn''t!" "You did, Gobu Diao, you''re asking for it!" The Goblin that got up lunged, tackling the other to the ground. "No, I didn''t, you''re the one asking for it!" The two Goblins started wrestling on the ground. This caught the attention of nearby Goblins. They gathered around to watch the commotion. Three hours later, at the edge of a body of water. "The boss is here, the boss is here!" From a distance, Li Meng saw a group of Goblins on a small island. The island wasn''t large, about two hundred square meters. The highest point above the water was no more than a meter. Seeing the boss arrive, the Goblins on the island cheered. Seeing this, Li Meng ran towards the island. When he was still more than fifty meters away from the island. Li Meng leaped into the air. Like a grasshopper, he landed on the island with a "thud." Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 74 - Swamp crocodile king The towering figure exuded an overwhelming presence, causing the surrounding Goblins and Lizardmen to retreat continuously. Li Meng set down the Goblin underling in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the waters before him. There was a scent of blood! Faint, but it was the scent of Lizardman blood. "Boss, it''s in the deep water ahead. Two female Lizardmen who went in to drive the fish were eaten!" Upon hearing this, Li Meng narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze fixed on the dark waters in front of him. No wonder he could smell the faint scent of Lizardman blood. It seemed that even the swamp wasn''t an absolutely safe place for Lizardmen. Hunting outside also came with dangers. While hunting, one could also become the prey. After a while, Li Meng withdrew his gaze. He glanced at the female Lizardmen on either side. Finally, he locked onto a relatively plump female Lizardman. Li Meng walked toward it. "No, no!" The female Lizardman seemed to realize what Li Meng intended to do. It shook its head in terror, stepping back repeatedly. Li Meng grinned, advancing toward it. Reaching out with his right hand, Li Meng grabbed the shoulder of the female Lizardman. Then, with force, he threw it toward the deep water. "Ah!" A terrified scream echoed. The female Lizardman flew out. The immense force sent the female Lizardman flying over a hundred meters. "Plop!" The female Lizardman plunged into the water. A massive column of water splashed up. The female Lizardmen on the shore looked at the Goblin Soldier in fear, afraid they would become the next bait. Li Meng switched the rod to his left hand, waving the Big Iron Rod with his right. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. At this moment, the female Lizardman in the water was thrashing violently. The impact of entering the water left the female Lizardman in a semi-conscious state. Her body instinctively struggled in the water. Her struggle caught the attention of a massive creature in the water. Looking down from the sky, a gigantic shadow appeared beneath the female Lizardman. "Ha ha ha, found you!" Li Meng on the shore suddenly let out a wild laugh. His figure flashed, shooting out like a cannonball. Stepping on the water, the surface instantly froze. Running on the water, Li Meng plunged one end of the Big Iron Rod into the water and lifted it upward. White mist billowed out, rolling forward. Where it passed, the water surface froze instantly. In the blink of an eye, a hundred-meter radius centered around the female Lizardman was frozen. "Boom!" At the moment the water surface froze, the ice layer where the female Lizardman was shattered with a roar. A massive, menacing mouth broke through the ice. The female Lizardman fell into the gaping maw along with the shattered ice. "Ha ha ha, just wanted you to show yourself!" Li Meng grinned menacingly, his figure flashing. "Bang!" The immense force from his foot shattered the ice beneath him. Li Meng''s robust body shot out like an arrow. In an instant, he crossed dozens of meters, kicking the giant mouth''s chin. "Bang!" A muffled sound echoed. A wave of air exploded. The ice shattered, and a massive figure was kicked out of the water by Li Meng. It was a swamp crocodile, magnified five times¡ªthe swamp crocodile king. It was nearly forty meters long, its massive mouth capable of swallowing a small car whole. "Freeze!" Landing on the ice, Li Meng raised his right foot high and stomped down. Billowing white mist howled out, transforming into a wave that swept across a large area of water. Where the white mist passed, everything was frozen. The swamp crocodile king, kicked into the air, hadn''t yet fallen back into the water. The water surface beneath it was already frozen. Suddenly reaching out with his left hand, Li Meng caught the falling female Lizardman. Meanwhile, several dozen meters away, the massive swamp crocodile king crashed heavily onto the ice. It slid across the ice for dozens of meters before coming to a stop. [Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)] [Level: 31] [Strength: 617] [Defense: 711] [Agility: 458] [Magic: 391] [Water Bullet: LV7] "How can this guy''s attributes be so high?" The information about the swamp crocodile king left Li Meng with a look of surprise. At level 31, it had such terrifying attributes. "Could it be related to the ''Elite'' suffix?" Li Meng thought of a possibility. Perhaps after reaching level 100, one becomes elite level, and the level starts increasing from zero again. At this moment, the female Lizardman held by Li Meng woke up. She was still a bit dazed, shaking her head. Li Meng released her. "Go back to the shore!" The voice in her mind made the female Lizardman pause. She came to her senses, quickly turning and limping toward the direction of the island. At this time, not far away, the swamp crocodile king flipped over and got up. "Roar!" It turned around, opening its massive mouth to roar at Li Meng. It was angry, very angry. Its huge pupils were blood-red. Facing the swamp crocodile king''s roar, Li Meng grinned. He swung the Big Iron Rod, pointing it at the swamp crocodile king. Since coming to this world, he hadn''t had a proper fight. The swamp crocodile king wasn''t too strong, but it wasn''t weak either. It was an excellent sparring partner. "Come on, big crocodile!" The swamp crocodile king''s huge pupils narrowed. "Ugly Goblin born from a Groundhog''s belly, you''re courting death!" The swamp crocodile king roared again. Li Meng grinned menacingly, provocatively swinging the Big Iron Rod. The "Heart Speech" skill was indeed useful. Even if the magical beast didn''t have high intelligence, communication was possible. To outsiders, the swamp crocodile king was just roaring. But in Li Meng''s ears, it was a language. To be precise, the swamp crocodile king''s roar contained its thoughts. "Goblin, I''ll turn you into minced meat!" The swamp crocodile king opened its massive mouth. It seemed to be laughing, laughing at Li Meng''s overconfidence. In the swamp crocodile king''s massive mouth, blue magical light flickered. A mass of water balls surged forth. The swamp crocodile king opened its mouth and spat, a massive water ball shooting out. Its speed was so fast that it made a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. "Ha!" Facing the incoming water ball, Li Meng let out a loud shout. Swinging the Big Iron Rod, his body shot out like a cannonball. At the moment of charging out, a wave of air exploded. The ice beneath his feet cracked with a "ka" sound. Li Meng transformed into an arrow, sprinting across the ice. Swinging the Big Iron Rod, he heard a "whoosh." A transparent Wind Blade shot out. A visible wave of wind swept around. In the sky dozens of meters away, the Wind Blade collided with the water ball. The water ball shattered with a roar. Turning into countless raindrops, it fell onto the ice. This scene left the swamp crocodile king momentarily stunned. It hadn''t expected the water bullet to be broken. "Roar!" The swamp crocodile king let out an angry roar. Its massive mouth opened even wider. Finally, blue magical light flickered. One water ball after another swept toward Li Meng like machine gun bullets. "What the hell, are you kidding me!" The terrifying speed of the water bullet release startled Li Meng. His Wind Blade couldn''t be released as quickly as the swamp crocodile king''s. Running on the ice, Li Meng dove to the left. Two water bullets narrowly grazed past his feet. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 75 - Like a toothpick in the ocean "Boom!" Two water bullets collided with the ice layer one after the other. A loud "rumble" echoed. That section of ice shattered instantly. Two massive water columns shot up into the sky. "Damn, water bullets are kinetic attacks!" Li Meng rolled on the ice layer, getting back on his feet and continued running. Glancing back, the terrifying power of the water bullets gave him a fright. If he tried to block with the Big Iron Rod, it definitely wouldn''t hold. Li Meng dashed left and right on the ice layer. One water bullet after another struck the ice behind him. Water columns shot up into the sky. "Luckily, the bullet speed isn''t too fast!" While dodging the water bullets, Li Meng still had time for random thoughts. Since water bullets are kinetic attacks, their flight speed isn''t too fast. Li Meng seemed a bit disheveled on the ice layer. But in reality, he was quickly closing the distance to the swamp crocodile king. "Crack!" Li Meng stomped hard while sprinting. The ice layer shattered, sinking deeply into the water. His body shot up like an arrow, heading straight for the swamp crocodile king. Seeing Li Meng leap towards it, a hint of mockery flashed in the swamp crocodile king''s eyes. It raised its head, opening its massive mouth towards Li Meng. A water ball emerged, spinning rapidly. Facing the swamp crocodile king''s confident strike, Li Meng grinned fiercely. He hurled the Big Iron Rod with force at the swamp crocodile king. With a "boom," a shockwave exploded. The Big Iron Rod turned into a black streak, crossing dozens of meters in an instant. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. It plunged straight into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth. "Shhh!" The Big Iron Rod drove deep into the swamp crocodile king''s throat. Almost completely embedded. "Ugh!" The swamp crocodile king let out a mournful cry. It shook its head, swaying its massive body. Trying to dislodge the Big Iron Rod from its mouth. But it was futile; the Big Iron Rod was firmly lodged in its throat. "Ha ha ha, die!" Li Meng landed heavily on the ice layer. With a "crack," that section of ice shattered with a "boom." The LV1 ice element control was still too weak. This resulted in the ice layer not being strong enough. Just a bit tougher than natural ice. As soon as he landed, Li Meng dashed out again. With a quick step, he closed in on the swamp crocodile king. He swung his right fist, punching the swamp crocodile king in the face. The swamp crocodile king''s massive body staggered. The immense force sent it rolling on the ice layer. The Big Iron Rod in its throat seemed to cause it great discomfort. It couldn''t even make a sound. Li Meng waved his hand, and a shockwave exploded in front of him. A Wind Blade shot out, heading straight for the swamp crocodile king. The distance of a few meters was within reach. The Wind Blade struck the swamp crocodile king''s scales with a "shhh." The Wind Blade dissipated upon impact with the swamp crocodile king''s body. "Impressive defense!" It''s known that a single strike of the Wind Blade can cut through a tree that takes 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 massive creature before him, Li Meng felt tempted. Having the swamp crocodile king as a subordinate would make many things easier. He could roam the swamp freely. Even if the Black Mountain tribe''s army came, it wouldn''t matter. With the swamp crocodile king''s assistance, the Black Mountain tribe was nothing to worry about. "Could this be the turning point to change the future?" Li Meng grinned, feeling hopeful. But then again, something seemed off. There didn''t seem to be any information about the swamp crocodile king in the future timeline. What''s going on here? "Dream on, you monster born from a groundhog''s belly!" The swamp crocodile king got up. It endured the discomfort and pain in its throat, charging at Li Meng with its head. Alright, it seems even Magical Beasts harbor animosity towards goblins. Li Meng''s figure flickered as he leaped back. He extended his hands, grabbing the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail. "Then I''ll just have to smash you to death!" Li Meng exerted his strength, using his waist and hips. He swung the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail. The swamp crocodile king''s huge body was lifted by Li Meng. And slammed heavily onto the ice layer. "Boom!" The thick ice layer shattered into pieces. The swamp crocodile king was dazed from the impact. The Big Iron Rod in its throat seemed even more firmly lodged. Seeing the ice layer''s fragility, Li Meng grinned. He dragged the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail towards a nearby island. "See that piece of land? There''s a sharp rock on it. I''ll smash your body against that rock until you''re a bloody mess. After you die, I''ll gut you open, and the goblins will eat you clean, not even leaving the stuff in your stomach. Hmm, letting you die just like that would be too easy." Li Meng turned back, giving the swamp crocodile king a sinister smile. "How about this? I won''t let you die. I''ll make you watch as the goblins gut you open. I''ll keep you alive as long as possible, watching as your body is devoured bit by bit. Hmm, that would be quite interesting." This wasn''t a threat; it was Li Meng''s final offer for the swamp crocodile king to stay alive. Submission was best, but if not, it didn''t matter. The swamp crocodile king''s corpse was a valuable asset. Gobu Ge, Gobu Da, and Gobu Qiang had limited potential. They needed the meat of high-level Magical Beasts to evolve. Li Meng intended to nurture these three underlings. Li Meng''s intimidation finally revealed a hint of fear in the swamp crocodile king''s eyes. Death wasn''t terrifying; a fate worse than death was. "You''re strong. I can submit to you, but I have one condition!" Li Meng thought the swamp crocodile king would hold out a bit longer. After all, it''s a Magical Beast, and Magical Beasts aren''t known for their brains. If everything could be resolved through "communication," why would humans have so many wars? Unexpectedly, the swamp crocodile king didn''t resist at all. As soon as Li Meng finished his threats, it conceded. Li Meng paused, stopping his advance. Standing on the ice layer, Li Meng grinned. Having conditions was good; it meant the deal was done. "Go ahead, what''s your condition?" Li Meng released the swamp crocodile king''s tail. He turned to face the swamp crocodile king, which had regained its freedom and was lying on the ice layer. "I don''t want to mate with goblins. I don''t want to give birth to little goblins!" The swamp crocodile king turned painfully, 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 a deal. Open your mouth." What kind of condition was that? With the swamp crocodile king''s massive size, anyone would be like a toothpick in the ocean. Even the big goblin leader wouldn''t be suitable. "Boss, it''s a deal. You can''t go back on your word." "What, you don''t trust me?" "I don''t trust goblins!" Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 76 - Yuee Li Meng grinned and slapped the swamp crocodile king''s jaw. "I am indeed a Goblin, but I''m a Goblin who keeps promises!" The swamp crocodile king hesitantly opened its massive mouth. Though not very smart, it knew what it needed to do to survive. With a smile, Li Meng climbed into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth without hesitation. He crawled along its tongue and into its throat. There, he found the Big Iron Rod lodged in the sticky throat. "Ah!" The swamp crocodile king let out a pained roar on the ice. After a while, Li Meng emerged from the swamp crocodile king''s mouth, holding the Big Iron Rod. "It stinks!" The foul stench on him made Li Meng roll his eyes. Li Meng thrust the Big Iron Rod into the ice. With a "crack," the ice shattered into pieces. Li Meng lunged forward and plunged into the water with a splash. The massive body of the swamp crocodile king followed him into the water. This scene was witnessed by the Goblins and Lizardmen not far away. When they saw their boss crawl into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth, the Goblins were startled. But soon, their boss emerged from the swamp crocodile king''s mouth again. They were bewildered, not understanding what had happened over there. At that moment, the water near the shore began to ripple. A shadow appeared beneath the water. Suddenly, their boss''s head emerged from the water. First the head, then the neck, then the body, and finally the feet. And beneath his feet was the enormous swamp crocodile king. "Let''s go, it''s time to head back!" Li Meng leaped off the swamp crocodile king''s head. Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. He landed steadily on the island. The Lizardmen and Goblins on the island looked at the swamp crocodile king in terror. They retreated repeatedly, filled with fear. But the swamp crocodile king did not attack them. Its massive body crawled in the shallow water, following behind their boss. "The boss has a new underling!" Goblins may be foolish, but they''re not stupid. The Goblins quickly realized what had happened. The Goblins on the island showed excitement, cheering loudly. The female Lizardmen nearby looked on in astonishment. The swamp crocodile king actually submitted to that Goblin? The swamp crocodile king was the most terrifying lordly magical beast in the northern swamp. Though only a fifth-tier magical beast, its strength surpassed most sixth-tier magical beasts. In the northern swamp, the swamp crocodile king was the true King of the Swamp. And now, the king of the northern swamp had submitted to that Goblin soldier. Amidst the cheers of the Goblins on the island, Li Meng gradually moved away with the swamp crocodile king. "Boss, you can sit on my back, it''ll be faster, you''re too slow!" The swamp crocodile king following Li Meng let out a dissatisfied grunt. The boss''s speed was too slow, making it uncomfortable to follow. Li Meng stopped, turned around, and walked toward the swamp crocodile king. Then he climbed up its leg onto its back. As soon as Li Meng sat down, the swamp crocodile king accelerated. It crawled through the shallow water with a "splash." Water splashed everywhere as it moved. Sitting on the swamp crocodile king''s back, Li Meng looked up at the sky. The sun hadn''t set, but the half-moon was already high in the sky. "From now on, I''ll call you Yue''e." The word "e" in "Yue''e" sounds like "crocodile," and the swamp crocodile king was female. Li Meng thought "Yue''e" was a fitting name for the swamp crocodile king. "Boss, you can call me whatever you like!" And so, the swamp crocodile king got a new name. "Yue''e, can you still evolve?" Yue''e looked large, and indeed, it was! It was nearly 45 meters long, with a shoulder height of about 4 meters. But its tail accounted for almost half of its body length. "I can, consuming Magic Crystals can make me stronger!" When a magical beast in the forest dies, the Magic Crystal is the first thing to be consumed. This is a magical beast''s innate ability. "Low-tier Magic Crystals probably won''t be much use to you." Yue''e was a fifth-tier magical beast, so first and second-tier Magic Crystals likely wouldn''t have much effect. "They''re useful, just need to eat more!" Quantity leads to qualitative change? Li Meng thought of the Magic Crystals embedded in the rock walls of the Goblin nest. Though most were first-tier Magic Crystals, they were perfect for feeding Yue''e. "Yue''e, why do you only have one magic skill?" Yue''e was indeed strong, but it only had one magic skill. Li Meng instinctively thought Yue''e''s talent wasn''t great. "Boss, I''m a genius. I''ve never seen another of my kind who can use magic." Only one magic skill and it''s called a genius? Sitting on Yue''e''s back, Li Meng rolled his eyes. But then again, magical beasts with magic skills were indeed rare. Most magical beasts only had enhancement skills. Their combat style leaned more towards melee. Several hours later, at the wooden fortress island. "Not good, a big crocodile is coming!" A panicked shout suddenly rang out from the north shore of the island. A Goblin ran towards the boss as if it had seen a ghost. Nearby Goblins looked over. At a glance, the massive creature from the depths of the northern swamp made their faces change. "Not good, big crocodile, big crocodile!" A single stone stirred up a thousand waves. The Goblins were in chaos, running around the island. They wanted to flee but were afraid. They ran a distance and then ran back. More Goblins ran towards their boss. "What are you afraid of? Stay by the water!" Gobu Zhang strode over due to the commotion on the north shore. It kicked over a loudly shouting Goblin. The boss''s arrival gave the nearby Goblins a backbone. They gathered behind Gobu Zhang. "It''s not a big crocodile, it''s a big crocodile, it''s the boss''s boss, boss, it''s the boss''s boss!" A brave Goblin at the water''s edge cheered, waving its arms. "What are you talking about?" Gobu Zhang was confused by it. Looking 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, 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 hurried to the shore, shouting excitedly. The commotion on the north shore caught the Lizardmen''s attention. They looked curiously towards the depths of the northern swamp. At that sight, all the Lizardmen showed expressions of disbelief. In the depths of the northern swamp, a massive swamp crocodile was approaching. Its movements while running were loud, with water splashing everywhere. "Is that... the swamp crocodile king?" "How could the swamp crocodile king submit to a Goblin?" Only the swamp crocodile king had such a massive size. The Lizardmen living in the swamp were familiar with the swamp crocodile king. The swamp crocodile king was the sacrificial beast worshipped by the three Lizardman tribes of the northern swamp. Feeding oneself to the crocodile was the final fate of all elderly Lizardmen. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 77 - Ritual Beasts and Guardian Deities The sacrificial beast, though dangerous, is also the guardian deity of the Northern swamp. With the swamp crocodile king around, no other high-level Magical Beasts would dare enter the Northern swamp. But today, they witnessed the swamp crocodile king becoming a mount for the Goblins. "This is impossible, absolutely impossible!" "How could this happen?" The Lizardmen found it hard to accept that mere Goblins could achieve such a feat. Mere Goblins had managed to subdue the swamp crocodile king. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" As Li Meng rode Yue''e closer to the island. The Goblins on the shore excitedly shouted in unison. They looked at the boss on the back of the giant crocodile with nothing but fervor in their eyes. Hearing the unified shouts of the Goblin underlings on the shore, Li Meng grinned. He loved the fervent cheers of the Goblin underlings. Under their fervent gaze, Li Meng felt a very strong sensation. It was as if some power within him was awakening. And that power was gradually making him stronger. Amidst the attention of the crowd, Li Meng rode the giant swamp crocodile king ashore. The Goblins on the shore looked in awe at Yue''e, who resembled a mountain of flesh. Though they shouted fervently. Their instincts drove them to step back repeatedly. Li Meng stood up from Yue''e''s back. He raised the Big Iron Rod high with his right hand. "Ha ha ha!" Li Meng burst into loud laughter. His booming laughter echoed across the island. The Goblins'' shouts immediately changed. All the Goblins began laughing "ha ha ha" loudly. "Ha ha ha!" The Goblins on the shore surrounded Yue''e, laughing wildly. Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. Their laughter was so joyful, with a hint of madness. Some Goblins were so amused they rolled on the ground. Others clutched their bellies, laughing heartily. Yue''e, looking at the small Goblins around, had a trace of confusion in its eyes. It didn''t understand what these Goblins were doing. The Lizardmen not far away silently watched and listened. The size of the crocodile on the shore confirmed the identity of the swamp crocodile king. After a while, the laughter on the north shore of the island subsided. Li Meng leaped off 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 underlings, don''t harm them!" Yue''e''s enormous eyes glanced at its boss beside it. Then it turned its massive body and slowly crawled into the water. "Boss, you''re amazing!" Seeing the big crocodile leave, Gobu Zhang quickly ran forward. But Gobu Sheng was even faster. Gobu Sheng slid to his knees, bowing at Li Meng''s feet. He kissed the top of Li Meng''s foot with a fawning expression. "Boss, you''re so strong, I''m about to explode!" As he spoke, Gobu Sheng''s body suddenly shivered. Li Meng, speechless, kicked Gobu Sheng over. "Alright, get to work!" The kicked-over Goblin scrambled away. The surrounding Goblins also dispersed in a hurry. And so, the once noisy island became relatively quiet. In the following days, everything in the Northern swamp remained as usual. The construction of the wooden fortress proceeded in an orderly fashion. Every day, noticeable changes occurred on the island. The wooden walls surrounding the island grew visibly. Time passed bit by bit, day by day. Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly over the Northern swamp. In the forest on the eastern shore of the Northern swamp. A large area of trees near the shore had been felled. Many Lizardmen and Goblins were working in the forest. Though the two races couldn''t communicate verbally. Their long-term cooperation had fostered a sense of understanding. Goblins excelled at chopping, so they handled the logging work. Lizardmen, with their strong arms, managed the sawing work. Processing the fallen trees into logs. "Gray Scale, have you found out anything?" In a messy clearing, Gray Scale and Black Scale were sawing wood. The saw made a "panting" sound as they pulled it back and forth. Gray Scale glanced at the western swamp and shook his head. "The Goblins won''t let us leave here, we can''t get any news from outside." Black Scale''s face darkened, remaining silent. It had been almost a month, and even a fool could sense something was wrong. So much wood was being transported to the depths of the swamp. The Goblins were definitely up to something secretive. "Endure it, the rotation period is almost here!" Gray Scale''s reassurance made Black Scale take a deep breath. Yes, the rotation period was almost here. By then, they would be free. Once they returned to the tribe, things would be much easier. "Black Scale, do you think the Black Mountain tribe will come?" Gray Scale''s expression was complicated. He hoped the Black Mountain tribe would send an army to support the Northern swamp. Yet he also didn''t want the Black Mountain tribe to appear. The Goblins in the forest were simply too powerful. If they failed, there would be no space for Lizardmen to survive in the Goblin Forest. "They will come, they definitely will." Black Scale was certain about the arrival of the Black Mountain tribe. ------ Goblin Forest. Northern swamp, wooden fortress. Time flew by, and two months passed quietly. Two months of construction had made the island in the swamp disappear. In its place stood a massive wooden fortress. The wooden fortress stretched about nine hundred meters north to south. And about seven hundred meters east to west. A nearly seven-meter-high wooden wall stood in the swamp. Fifteen-meter-high watchtowers dotted the wooden wall. A watchtower stood every fifty meters. Looking at the wooden wall, one could see many Goblins standing guard and patrolling. Though the watchtowers were currently empty. It wouldn''t be long before a three-bow ballista was placed on them. Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly over the Northern swamp. On the watchtower of the wooden wall on the northern shore of the wooden fortress. "Gobu Yi hasn''t returned yet?" Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng gazed at the space within the wooden fortress. After two months of construction, the wooden fortress was 80% complete. Looking inside the fortress, various wooden houses stood. There were dwellings, places to live. There were warehouses, places to store miscellaneous items. To facilitate water access, two canals were dug within the fortress. Due to the humid air of the swamp, Goblins disliked such an environment. After this event, the wooden fortress wouldn''t house a large military presence. Only a small number of Goblins would be stationed there. "Boss, Gobu Yi hasn''t returned yet!" Gobu Sheng responded to the boss, glancing southward at the swamp. Gobu Sheng and Gobu Zhang stood behind Li Meng. Five days ago, Li Meng had sent Gobu Yi to the White Scale tribe. Since the White Scale tribe only had women and children left. Li Meng wasn''t in a hurry to bring the Lizardmen from the White Scale tribe over. Li Meng turned to look at the southern swamp, deep in thought. The three-bow ballista was on its way, arriving in half a month. The Black Mountain tribe''s army would take at least two to three months to arrive. The timing was still sufficient, no need to rush. The future predicted by the simulated life didn''t have time information. But the Black Mountain tribe''s arrival in the Northern swamp was after the rotation period. The timing could roughly be estimated. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 78 - Crispy rabbit head The very next afternoon, Gobu Yi returned. Accompanying him were hundreds of Lizardman women and children. The arrival of the White Scale tribe''s Lizardmen caused quite a commotion in the wooden fortress. "It''s the White Scale tribe!" "What exactly do the Goblins want by gathering us here?" A long line of Lizardmen entered the wooden fortress through the south gate. This caught the attention of the Lizardmen from the other two tribes. For a moment, the Lizardmen in the fortress were abuzz with speculation. Now that all three tribes were present, it was hard not to wonder what the Goblins'' true intentions were. "Boss, I''m back!" On the other side, Gobu Yi cheerfully climbed up a watchtower. From afar, he had already spotted the boss on the watchtower. Hearing Gobu Yi''s panting voice behind him, Li Meng grinned. "Very good, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, Gobu Sheng, I''ll leave this place to you. Keep a close watch on those Lizardmen." With the rotation period approaching, he needed to go back and make some preparations. "Boss, where are you going?" Gobu Yi asked curiously. Li Meng turned to look at the stretch of towering wooden structures within the fortress. "Of course, I''m returning to the tribe!" Li Meng had initially thought of having them stockpile more food. But after some thought, he gave up. The food brought back by the hunting party was all carcasses. At most, they could be stored for three days before starting to rot. Goblins, with their strong digestive systems, didn''t mind. Not just three days, even highly decomposed, maggot-infested meat was edible for them. In this world, Goblins were akin to Earth''s hyenas. But the Lizardmen''s digestive systems weren''t as robust. They needed fresh food. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. The methods for making jerky and dried fish would have to wait. In the future, if the tribe wanted to go on expeditions, they couldn''t afford to stop and hunt along the way. That would be too time-consuming. They needed a type of food that could be stored for a long time and was easy to carry. "I''ll be back soon!" With that, Li Meng turned and leaped down from the watchtower. The ground was soft, and Li Meng landed silently from the fifteen-meter-high watchtower. Landing steadily, Li Meng dashed into the water. Wherever he went, the water beneath his feet froze over. In no time, a path of ice stretched across the swamp''s waters, leading into the distance. Heading east, it took Li Meng less than three hours to reach the forest on the eastern shore. What took Goblins two days to traverse, Li Meng accomplished in just three hours. His speed was truly astonishing. Li Meng didn''t linger in the forest on the eastern shore, continuing upstream. In the afternoon, at the Goblin River, within the northern forest. The forest was dim and silent. In the dense Goblin Forest, survival was an art. To survive, life first had to learn to be silent. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a bush. The leaves swayed slightly. The next moment, a flash of white darted out from the bush. It was a small white rabbit. Judging by its size, the rabbit was just an ordinary animal. It hopped and stopped in front of a colorful mushroom. It sniffed with its nose. The mushroom''s enticing aroma made it drool. It opened its mouth to take a bite of the mushroom. But before it could, a shadow flashed past the rabbit in the forest. The little rabbit was lifted into the air. Before it could react, a ferocious mouth bit off its head. The sound of crunching echoed through the forest. "The bones are so crunchy!" Running through the forest, Li Meng grinned. Compared to magical beasts, ordinary animals were incredibly delicious. Even their bones were crunchy, with a delightful crispness. Hours later, in the forest west of the tribe. A tall green figure emerged from the woods. "Not bad!" Li Meng, stepping out of the forest, gazed at the distant tribe. Though distant, it was only about three hundred meters away. The open space made the tribe look like an island in the forest clearing. Behind the wooden walls, dense trees were visible. The wooden walls encircled the tribe, standing firm on the ground. Looking up at the wooden walls, one could see many green figures standing guard. Every fifty meters, a massive three-bow ballista could be seen on the watchtowers. "The boss is back, the boss is back!" Li Meng''s appearance caught the attention of the Goblins standing guard on the wooden walls. Upon closer inspection, the Goblins realized it was indeed their boss. A Goblin on the wall shouted loudly. This drew the attention of the other Goblins. The drowsy Goblins on the wall immediately perked up. Li Meng entered the tribe through the west gate. As soon as he entered, a strong smell of pig manure hit him. Walking through the tribe''s forest, Li Meng frowned slightly. "It seems Gobu Qiang needs to move out and establish a pig-raising tribe soon!" Li Meng had long planned for this. He didn''t want his main base to turn into a cesspool. Even though he had become a Goblin in this life, Li Meng still loved cleanliness. The tribe had many dry toilets. Each dry toilet was equipped with a septic tank. Though simple in structure, they effectively processed waste. They only needed to be cleaned every few years. "Boss, boss!" Before he could leave the forest, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over. "Boss, you''re back!" The two Big Goblins ran up to Li Meng with fawning expressions. "Did anything happen in the tribe while I was away?" Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly shook their heads. "Boss, everything''s fine, nothing happened." Gobu Mo replied with a flattering smile. "Very good, go inform Gobu Di and Gobu Shi to lead all the Goblins to gather at the throne tribe!" Upon hearing this, the two Big Goblins'' eyes lit up. They turned excitedly and ran out of the tribe''s forest, disappearing in no time. Compared to two months ago, the tribe hadn''t changed much. Aside from the addition of a wooden wall on the perimeter, there were no new buildings within the tribe. As Li Meng walked, he soon arrived at the throne cave. Looking at the familiar building, Li Meng grinned. He thought of Benben, who liked to guard the entrance. In the future predicted by simulated life, Benben would bring back a group of Ogres to the tribe. This indicated that Benben had gone to find its own kind. Compared to Goblins, Li Meng preferred the simple-minded Ogres. Because they were simple, they seemed pure. Once they decided on something, they wouldn''t easily change their minds. "Bai Ling, I''m back!" Li Meng kicked the door open as he reached the entrance. The door swung open with a "bang," startling the female Lizardmen inside. The female Lizardmen were gathered, chatting about something unknown. The familiar, fearsome figure sent them scattering in panic. Li Meng strode into the throne cave. His gaze swept over the female Lizardmen. Seeing them, Li Meng''s expression turned peculiar. Without the male Lizardmen, their lives seemed quite difficult. Each female Lizardman''s chest was wet. The wooden house was filled with a strong milky scent. Seeing Bai Ling on the main bed, Li Meng grinned. He walked towards her with large strides. Seeing her master approach, a trace of fear flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 79 - The future has already changed "Master, the... the rotation period is almost here." In a month, the rotation period would arrive. Bai Ling was reminding her master that time was running out. Li Meng, striding to the main bed, did not bully Bai Ling. He climbed onto the bed, turned over, and fell asleep beside Bai Ling. Watching her master sleeping soundly beside her, Bai Ling let out a sigh of relief. The pressure from the goblin before her was growing more intense. "Bai Ling, you know about the swamp crocodile king, right?" Li Meng, with his eyes closed, suddenly asked. Bai Ling looked down at her master beside her and nodded slightly. "The swamp crocodile king is the sacrificial beast we worship. It''s inherently ferocious and difficult to communicate with. I promised it various conditions before it agreed to protect the northern swamp. Once high-level Magical Beasts invade, it will fight!" Bai Ling''s answer made Li Meng''s expression change slightly. "So that''s how it is!" The northern swamp is the territory of the swamp crocodile king. Logically, there shouldn''t be any space for Lizardmen to live. Yet the swamp crocodile king coexisted with the Lizardmen. Although both sides were still in a predator-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 curvaceous Bai Ling beside him. "Not long ago, I encountered it. It''s now my little brother, named ''Yue''e''!" "That''s... that''s impossible!" Bai Ling''s exclamation suddenly echoed in the wooden house. She looked at her master beside her in disbelief. Seeing Bai Ling''s slight loss of composure, Li Meng grinned. "Nothing is impossible; it''s the truth!" Bai Ling hesitated, her expression shifting. Though she said it was impossible, Bai Ling still believed it in her heart. Because the goblin beside her had no reason to deceive her. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. It served no purpose. "Bai Ling, do you think the Black Mountain tribe will launch a large-scale invasion of the northern swamp?" Upon hearing this, Bai Ling''s face turned pale. Her voluptuous body trembled, and she seemed on the verge of collapse. Bai Ling appeared somewhat panicked, lowering her head, not daring to meet Li Meng''s gaze. Grinning, Li Meng lay flat on the bed. His hands rested behind his head. "I told you, I''m a clever goblin, I know everything!" "You must be curious why I led those male Lizardmen to the northern swamp two months ago." Bai Ling''s body trembled, and she stared intently at her master. A hint of fear flashed in her eyes. She feared hearing news from the goblin beside her that would shatter her. "They''re all alive!" Seeing Bai Ling''s expression, Li Meng knew what she was thinking. Li Meng recalled that night. The night the male Lizardmen of the White Scale tribe were hunted to extinction. That night, Bai Ling showed him despair on a Lizardman''s face. One must know that a Lizardman''s face is relatively smooth. But discerning changes in expression is still quite difficult. "Whoo!" Bai Ling took a deep breath. She weakly supported herself on the bed, panting heavily. The intense emotional change left her body limp. She had been truly frightened just now. "I built a wooden fortress in the northern swamp. The Lizardmen from the Black Scale tribe, Gray Scale tribe, and White Scale tribe have all been relocated to the wooden fortress. This is what I''ve been doing for the past two months." Bai Ling didn''t react much to this news. Bai Ling sat up straight. She leaned slightly forward, massaging Li Meng''s legs with her hands. Bai Ling''s sudden action made Li Meng grin with pleasure. After running around all day, his legs were indeed a bit sore. With Bai Ling''s soothing touch, the soreness and numbness felt incredibly comfortable. "Since the master has already 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 the power of the swamp crocodile king. If the swamp crocodile king was willing to accept the master''s command. Unless the Black Mountain tribe attacked with their entire tribe, they wouldn''t be able to do anything about the swamp crocodile king. "Does the Black Mountain tribe have any strong warriors?" Bai Ling shook her head lightly. "I''m not sure. The White Scale tribe hasn''t had contact with the Black Mountain tribe for a long time!" Since Bai Ling said she didn''t know, Li Meng didn''t ask 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 warriors, they wouldn''t have been forced to summon the Barbarian God "Aqua." If the invading Black Mountain tribe army had strong warriors, they wouldn''t have fled with Bai Ling in such a hurry. Even if there were strong warriors, their strength wouldn''t change the course of a war. Time passed little by little, day by day. In the following days, Li Meng didn''t go anywhere. He stayed honestly in the tribe. Occasionally, he would visit the carpentry workshop to teach Gobu Da more carpentry knowledge. He also visited the Iron Cave a few times. Gobu Ge needed to quickly master the knowledge of smelting high-carbon and low-carbon steel. Without the Lizardmen laborers, the iron smelting efficiency in the Iron Cave was somewhat affected. Gobu Ge had to assign his underlings to mine and chop wood to make charcoal. It wasn''t until half a month later that Gobu Di and Gobu Shi arrived at the tribe one after another. It was another new day, and the time had reached the morning. The tribe was bustling, with goblins shouting chaotically. Nearly two thousand goblins gathered outside the throne cave. A dense mass of green figures spread across a large area of the forest. In the ranks, there were not only goblins but also female Lizardmen. A year had passed, and only thirteen female Lizardmen had died. The cause of death couldn''t be said to be unrelated to the goblins, but it wasn''t entirely their fault either. Eleven of them died from illness, and there was a reason for their deaths. Due to continuous pregnancies, their bodies were worn out. This was related to the food provided by the goblins. The main diet of Lizardmen is fish. Only fish from the water can provide the nutrients Lizardmen need to survive. Just eating Magical Beast meat couldn''t meet their nutritional needs. Over time, they fell ill. One of the remaining two was drowned. She accidentally fell and hit her head on a rock while bathing in the river. She passed out immediately and was swept away by the river. By the time the goblins caught up, she had already drowned. The last female Lizardman was crushed to death by a falling boulder in the Iron Cave. Standing at the entrance, Li Meng waved his hand. "Move out!" Li Meng shouted, his voice thunderous. In an instant, the tribe echoed with the rumble of footsteps. A dense crowd of goblins swarmed around the Lizardmen, heading west. At a glance, it was a forest of long spears, with figures surging. "Bai Ling, go now. The Lizardmen in the northern swamp need your leadership!" Bai Ling silently walked forward behind Li Meng. The goblins waiting outside hurriedly followed, surrounding her as they joined the main force. Watching the goblin underlings moving away from the tribe, Li Meng grinned. "With this, it''s time to resolve the adventurer incident!" Once Gobu Di and Gobu Shi reached the wooden fortress in the northern swamp. The total garrison at the wooden fortress would reach four thousand. With Yue''e assisting from the side, it would be absolutely foolproof. "System, start the simulated life!" Li Meng spread his arms wide and took a deep breath. He believed that the future had already changed. Ever since he led the goblin underlings to the northern swamp, the future had already shifted. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have encountered Yue''e. Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 80 - Ice Element King [Simulated Life Begins] [You stand at the entrance of the throne cave, filled with confidence about the future.] [You head to the Goblin nest with a crystal, waiting for the adventurer squad to appear.] [Gobu Di and Gobu Shi lead the Goblin army to the wooden fortress in the northern swamp.] [One day, a small human boat sails upstream and lands on the southern shore.] [One day, the adventurer squad appears in the forest outside the Goblin nest.] [You follow the adventurer squad westward, watching them board a boat and sail downstream.] [The Black Mountain tribe launches a massive attack but retreats in panic.] [Your tribe thrives and grows.] [Bai Ling unifies the northern swamp Lizardmen tribes, naming the new tribe "Yue Clan."] [You withdraw your troops from the wooden fortress, which becomes the Yue Clan''s stronghold.] [Your tribe thrives and grows, and you teach the Goblins how to make jerky.] [One day, a Pigmen tribe squad attacks your hunting party, but the Pigmen squad is killed.] [One day, you receive news that the Pigmen tribe is mobilizing its entire force.] [You receive news from the Yue Clan in the northern swamp that a large human fleet is sailing upstream along the Goblin River.] [The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion is attacking.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Gather superior forces to eliminate the threat of the Pigmen tribe.] [2. Withdraw all Goblins from the sub-tribes and defend the throne tribe''s main base.] [3. Split forces to guard the Yue Clan and defend together.] [4. Gather forces to ambush the human fleet on the northern bank of the Goblin River.] The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion? Li Meng, sitting at the entrance, bent down and sat on the steps. The adventurers leaving safely caused the Principality of Ilysis''s army to appear earlier. At least a year and a half earlier than the previous predicted timeline. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. Each of the four options has its pros and cons. The first option requires taking advantage of the time difference. If the Pigmen tribe isn''t dealt with quickly, the Yue Clan won''t be able to receive timely support. Since it''s called a pioneering legion. All the Barbarians in the Goblin Forest are targets of the human pioneering legion. Li Meng can''t guarantee that the human pioneering legion won''t attack the Yue Clan. The second option is too passive. Although it can repel the Pigmen tribe with minimal losses. But option two undoubtedly abandons the Yue Clan. The third option tries to have it all. But splitting forces can easily lead to both places being inadequately defended. And the fourth option is too risky. There''s a lot of room for maneuver. Defending the main base while ambushing the human pioneering legion at a critical point. A slight mistake could lead to a complete collapse. "Choose one!" The first option is the most stable. Defeat the Pigmen tribe in one go and then proceed slowly. Whether it''s supporting the Yue Clan or ambushing the human pioneering legion, there''s still time. [You choose to concentrate superior forces to confront the Pigmen tribe.] [In a forest to the east, your Goblin army battles the Pigmen tribe.] [You achieve victory, and the Pigmen tribe is repelled.] [You lead the Goblin army to the western forest on the northern bank of the Goblin River in the northern swamp to set up defenses.] [You attack the Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion fleet.] [You achieve victory, but Benben and Yue''e die in battle, and your Goblin army suffers heavy losses, with only one-tenth surviving.] [The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion fleet is completely destroyed, shocking human nations.] [You lead the remaining Goblin army back to the tribe.] [Your tribe barely survives but is quickly recovering.] [One day, a ghost beastman claiming to be a centurion of the demon tribe appears outside the west gate of the tribe.] [It challenges you.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Accept its challenge.] [2. Refuse its challenge.] "A centurion of the demon tribe?" Li Meng, sitting at the entrance, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. Since there are demons, there must be a demon king. And where there''s a demon king, there must be a hero. Li Meng grinned, becoming interested. "Option one!" [You accept its challenge.] [You defeat it, and the demon tribe''s ghost beastman centurion flees in panic.] [Your tribe thrives and grows.] [The deaths of Benben and Yue''e make you increasingly resentful of this world, resentful of humans.] [You unleash immense power, making the female Lizardmen wail day and night.] [Your bloodline descendants expand their territory like locusts.] [Your hunting party begins to attack non-bloodline kin.] [The rapidly expanding territory gradually borders human lands.] [Your hunting party starts attacking human villages.] [One day, you receive news that the Black Mountain tribe has summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua."] [The three-year limit has been reached.] [As a transmigrator, you have gradually adapted to your new identity, starting your own life in this other world. You are well aware of the harshness of this world, and you strive to become stronger, working tirelessly towards this goal.] [Simulated Life Ends, Score: 100] [Please choose the following rewards:] [1. Consume ten score points for +1 level.] [2. Consume one score point for +1 attribute.] [3. Consume twenty score points for +1 charm.] [4. Consume ten score points to increase "Ice Element Control" skill level by +1.] [5. Consume ten score points to increase "Heart Speech" skill level by +1.] [6. Consume ten score points to increase "Berserk" skill level by +1.] "Benben and Yue''e will die?" Li Meng frowned slightly, lying on the ground at the entrance. Looking at the dense canopy, Li Meng''s expression was thoughtful. Knowing the fate of Benben and Yue''e, Li Meng naturally wouldn''t let it happen. From today, he must proceed cautiously. "What is the Black Mountain tribe up to?" Thinking of the Black Mountain tribe, Li Meng felt speechless. He originally thought he had successfully stopped the Black Mountain tribe from summoning the Barbarian God "Aqua." Unexpectedly, it all came full circle. His actions only delayed the Black Mountain tribe''s summoning of the Barbarian God "Aqua." "Could it be that the Black Mountain tribe has encountered an unbeatable enemy again?" At this moment, Li Meng realized how troublesome the Black Mountain tribe was. Sitting up, Li Meng took a deep breath. "Forget it, let''s think about which reward to choose." There are six reward options in total, and this time the luck is quite good. However, looking at the skills, Li Meng felt helpless again. Among the three skills, only "Ice Element Control" seems somewhat useful. The "Berserk" skill, although powerful. It can unleash potential, increasing strength several times in a short period. But the side effects are unacceptable to Li Meng. It causes a loss of sanity during berserk. And the first three options can''t effectively enhance strength. "Choose four!" [Consume 90 score points, increase "Ice Element Control" skill level by +9.] ["Ice Element Control" is now max level, advancing to "Ice Element King."] Hi everyone, if you like this novel and want to read more in advance, please support me on PawRead. Chapter 63 - Double-layer insurance and wheels "Boss, this is the Iron Cave, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, Gobu Shi looked up and provocatively glared at Gobu Di. With a massive body, he bumped into Gobu Di, pushing him aside. Gobu Di was furious and retaliated by slamming his shoulder into Gobu Shi. Gobu Shi wasn''t about to back down either. The two of them started shoving each other back and forth beside the sand table. "What are you doing? Don''t you dare break my sand table!" Seeing the two big guys clashing, Li Meng shouted sternly. This shout made Gobu Di and Gobu Shi jump in shock. They obediently separated and lowered their heads. "Gobu Di, I want you to take your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin Soldiers to establish a new tribe here." Li Meng pointed with a wooden stick at the northern forest along the 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, Gobu Di didn''t think much about it. He would do whatever the boss asked him to do. "Gobu Shi, the same goes for you. Lead your bloodline descendants and half of the Goblin Soldiers to the southern shore forest to establish a new tribe." Gobu Shi rubbed his bald head. Although he didn''t understand why the boss wanted him to establish a new tribe, since Gobu Di had such a task, he should have one too. "Boss, can I take the female Lizardmen with me?" "No, all the female Lizardmen must stay in the tribe!" Li Meng rejected Gobu Shi''s request. The female Lizardmen had to be under his control. This was beneficial for controlling the population of the tribes. While a population boom had its advantages, it could also lead to various problems. "Go prepare, and set off immediately once your bloodline descendants return!" You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Adult goblins would learn how to hunt with the hunting party. Gobu Di and their bloodline descendants were scattered among various hunting parties. It would take at least a week to recall all the bloodline descendants. Afterward, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each left the throne cave with their followers. Standing at the entrance, Li Meng watched the goblin followers depart. "Now we have a double insurance!" With new tribes, there were new options. From now on, his tribe wouldn''t face the risk of being completely wiped out. Survival was the most important thing; everything else could be sacrificed. As long as they survived, everything else would follow. In the following days, Li Meng stayed diligently within the tribe. Gobu Qiang''s pig farming enterprise, Gobu Da''s carpentry workshop, and Gobu Ge''s Iron Cave. These three places all needed Li Meng''s supervision. During the day, he inspected the tribe, and at night, he worked with the female Lizardmen to produce little goblins. Li Meng was quite attentive to the matter of reproduction. On the fifth day, Gobu Di and Gobu Shi each left the tribe with their followers. Gobu Tian had already returned to the Goblin nest half a month ago. It was another new day, and the time had reached the afternoon. "Boss, it''s finally done, this time there''s absolutely no problem!" Outside the carpentry workshop, Gobu Da greeted the boss with a fawning smile and led him inside. The carpentry workshop was still the same as before. As soon as he entered, Li Meng saw a three-bow ballista at the entrance. It was clear that Gobu Da had deliberately placed it there. Having learned from last time, Li Meng wasn''t quick to praise Gobu Da. He walked up and began inspecting the three-bow ballista. First, he grabbed the ballista and gave it a shake. Though there was some noise, the modules were fairly solidly fitted together. Li Meng then touched the bow. Though the craftsmanship was rather crude, the quality of the bow was not low. He then turned the winch. A "creak, creak" sound echoed in the carpentry workshop. Although it was a bit loose, it didn''t hinder its use. Seeing the boss silent for a long time, Gobu Da started to panic. "Very good, not bad!" At that moment, Li Meng praised. To have achieved this was already quite impressive. The next step was to improve the goblins'' proficiency. Then, have them optimize and enhance the craftsmanship of the three-bow ballista. The boss''s praise made Gobu Da grin widely. "That''s great!" Gobu Da cheered. The goblins in the carpentry workshop also shouted excitedly. They had endured quite a few lashes from the boss these days. With the boss''s boss satisfied, maybe the boss wouldn''t hit them anymore. "But it''s still not good enough. Only when the three-bow ballista doesn''t make any noise when shaken will it truly be perfect!" The boss''s words made the excited Gobu Da''s face fall again. "Bring in a new batch of goblins, I want to teach you to make something new." Hearing that they were going to make something new, Gobu Da''s heart trembled. His brain was about to explode; he couldn''t fit anything new in there. He wanted to say this to the boss. But Gobu Da didn''t dare. He could only anxiously drive the goblin followers out of the carpentry workshop. "Get out, get out, all of you, call the goblins from the other workshops over." There were five carpentry workshops in the tribe. However, the other workshops weren''t as large as this one. The boss''s shout made the goblins in the workshop shrink their necks. They ran out as if escaping. Although the boss wasn''t holding a whip, the whip was placed not far from the boss in the corner. They didn''t want to be whipped by the boss again; it hurt a lot. Before long, another group of goblins entered the carpentry workshop. And so, Li Meng continued to immerse himself in the development of the wagon wheel. Time ticked away, day by day. The daily life of goblins was monotonous and boring. Either on the road hunting or on the way back to the tribe. It was another new day, and the time had reached the afternoon. "Boss, is this the new thing we''re going to make?" In the carpentry workshop, the first wagon wheel was successfully completed. Looking at the large wheel in front of the boss, Gobu Da was full of curiosity. He couldn''t understand what use this round thing had. Li Meng propped up the wheel, examining it up and down. The wheel''s height was nearly 1.2 meters. The outer rim of the wheel wasn''t a single piece. Instead, it was assembled from multiple modules. These modules were then fixed together with iron nails. A layer of iron was wrapped around it to reduce friction. To prevent the wheel from deforming, there were load-bearing pillars between the axle and the outer rim. The axle had a linear groove. Inside the groove were small steel balls. Some animal grease was poured inside for lubrication. The steel balls and grease effectively reduced the friction between the bearing and the axle. To make this wheel, Li Meng spent nearly two months. During this time, he constantly explored and remade it. Finally, he settled on the current design of the finished product. Just the steel balls inside the axle took Li Meng over half a month in the Iron Cave. "Very good, it''s perfect!" Li Meng was very satisfied with the finished wheel in front of him. Although it took a lot of time, it was worth it. With a sample, making the second and third wheels would be relatively easier. Chapter 64 - Goblin Boar Riders "Gobu Da, you''re up for the second wheel!" As soon as he heard the boss''s words, Gobu Da trembled slightly. To help the goblins better learn how to make wheels, Li Meng modularized the process, teaching each goblin to make different parts, and then having them teach others. This way, teamwork would help open up those little goblin minds. Gobu Da was tasked by Li Meng to learn the final assembly. "What, after all this time teaching you, don''t tell me you still can''t do it?" Facing the boss''s cold gaze, Gobu Da took a step back in fear. "I can do it, I can do it, boss, I''ve remembered everything!" Gobu Da nodded vigorously. "I''ll check in three days!" With that, Li Meng leaned the wheel against the wall and turned to leave the carpentry workshop. Gobu Da chased after him, peeking out the door to watch the boss''s departing figure. Seeing the boss truly leave, he breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ran back inside the workshop. "You, you, and you, come here!" Three goblins were called over by Gobu Da. "You''ve all learned what the boss taught me, right?" The three goblins exchanged glances. Seeing Gobu Da''s fierce gaze, they could only nod. "Haha, great, the boss will definitely be satisfied." Gobu Da danced with excitement. "Don''t slack off, wheels, wheels, wheels, I need wheels!" Meanwhile, outside in the tribe. Hearing Gobu Da''s strange shouts from the carpentry workshop, Li Meng grinned. How could he not know about Gobu Da''s little tricks? While teaching Gobu Da, three goblins had been eavesdropping nearby. If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Li Meng simply allowed Gobu Da''s little cleverness. For goblins, a bit of cunning wasn''t a bad thing. "Boss, boss!" Not long after leaving the workshop, the sound of hooves rumbled through the tribe. Five forest boars charged out from the western forest, heading straight for Li Meng. Each boar had a goblin riding on its back. The noise of the boars running was tremendous, and their momentum was impressive, like a mountain of flesh bearing down. Gobu Qiang, riding on one of the boars, shouted loudly. When they were about twenty meters from Li Meng, the boars suddenly stopped, their hooves skidding several meters on the ground. Looking at the five large boars in front of him, Li Meng''s eyes lit up. By his calculations, the first batch of male boars had reached maturity. Although smaller than their fathers, their shoulder height was about 1.3 meters. The longer a boar lived, the larger it grew. In another year or two, reaching a shoulder height of 1.5 meters wouldn''t be a problem. Gobu Qiang dismounted and ran up to Li Meng with a flattering smile. "Boss, you''re amazing. We''ve raised these boars from young, and they''re very obedient." Li Meng approached Gobu Qiang''s forest boar, reaching out to touch its tusks. Though classified as magical beasts, forest boars were only first-tier, with limited potential. They had magic crystals but were unlikely to learn magical skills. However, the presence of magic crystals gave the boars a physique far superior to ordinary animals. "Oink oink!" The boar being petted by Li Meng was very obedient, its eyes gently watching him, occasionally making "oink oink" sounds. "Gobu Qiang, what weapons do you prefer?" Li Meng had been considering what weapons would suit the goblin boar riders. Typically, cavalry used lances, but lances required skill to be effective. And goblins would undoubtedly struggle to master lance techniques. Moreover, long weapons were difficult to use in the forest''s narrow spaces. Goblins were better at slashing than thrusting, so equipping them with long spears was a compromise. The iron output from the Iron Cave was limited, and forging blades required much more iron than spearheads. "Boss, I like using crossbows!" Li Meng then noticed that the other four goblins each held a single crossbow, with no other weapons. Looking down at the forest boar''s tusks, Li Meng pondered. Lances were for breaking formations, a one-time-use weapon. The boar''s tusks were good for ramming, effectively replacing the lance''s role. Mounted archery could also disrupt enemy formations, allowing for flexibility between charging and shooting. A sword could complement close combat abilities. Moreover, the boar''s shoulders were broad, making it difficult for a lance to attack enemies directly in front at a 90-degree angle. Li Meng nodded and smiled. "Then use crossbows. Gobu Qiang, how many adult male boars do we have now?" Boars were quite prolific, so there should be plenty. "Boss, there are many, many adults, and even more juveniles." Gobu Qiang''s answer made Li Meng''s face darken. He realized goblins couldn''t count. They didn''t care about numbers. They didn''t care how many goblins were in the hunting party. As long as they could eat their fill while hunting, they could reproduce and bring in new members. If they couldn''t eat enough, they couldn''t reproduce. "Alright, let''s go check the beast pen!" Li Meng then headed towards the beast pen. Before nightfall, Li Meng figured out the number of forest boars. There were 137 female boars, half of which had just reached maturity. There were 481 juvenile male boars. There were 281 juvenile female boars. "Gobu Qiang, how many goblin underlings do you have now?" By the beast pen, Li Meng asked Gobu Qiang. Gobu Qiang scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. He didn''t know how to answer the boss. As soon as he asked, Li Meng realized he shouldn''t have asked that question. Li Meng turned to look at the densely packed boars in the pen, all "oinking." "Gobu Qiang, how do you manage to feed so many boars?" The pen was full of unweaned piglets. Once weaned, the piglets would be adopted by goblins. As for how many adult male boars there were, Li Meng didn''t know. Gobu Qiang''s underlings were all out hunting. Only about thirty goblins had returned with him. "Boss, boars eat everything¡ªgrass, mushrooms, plant roots, berries, leaves. They eat everything except dirt and stones. They even eat meat and gnaw on bones. They''re easy to raise." Hearing this, Li Meng understood. No wonder Gobu Qiang could raise over a thousand boars without any pressure. "Looks like I''ll need to take some time to count the population!" Looking at the "oinking" boars in the pen, Li Meng thought to himself. Since the tribe''s founding, Li Meng had noticed the population boom. But he hadn''t kept track of the exact numbers. Chapter 65 - Terrifying reproduction rate Based on the number of female Lizardmen, an estimate can be made. 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 batch. Each batch of Goblins numbers no less than ten. Even if it''s fewer, it won''t be by much. With 253 female Lizardmen, each batch can produce over two thousand baby Goblins. Four batches make nearly ten thousand. Thus, the tribe''s population is around ten thousand. Even if it''s not exactly ten thousand, it won''t be far off. "Are there really ten thousand Goblins?" Li Meng did a quick calculation in his mind. The number he came up with shocked him. With so many Goblins, how do they solve the food problem? It''s known that Goblins are purely carnivorous creatures. How many living beings must be slaughtered to fill the Goblins'' stomachs? Where does so much food come from in the nearby forest? "Gobu Qiang, has it become more difficult to obtain food recently compared to before?" Gobu Qiang didn''t quite understand what his boss meant by this. He shook his head and scratched his head. "No, hunting has become easier since we got the crossbows." "Do you have to hunt much farther away?" To this question from his boss, Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. "Boss, there are too many hunting parties around here, so we have to go farther to find more prey." Gobu Qiang''s answer confirmed Li Meng''s suspicions. No wonder Gobu Di and Gobu Shi waited in the tribe for five days before leaving. Now, the hunting parties have to travel farther to fill their bellies and bring back food. Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. No wonder he found signs of Goblin activity in the forest near the Pigmen tribe. The tribe''s hunting area has expanded to more than seventy kilometers east. "Alright, you''re free to go play." Waving Gobu Qiang off, Li Meng turned and left. He didn''t overly restrict his Goblin underlings. As long as they could bring back food, they could do whatever they wanted. If they wanted to laze around the tribe for a few days, that was fine too. After all, they each had their own underlings. They could let their underlings do the work while they enjoyed themselves. As for whether the underlings would rebel, that was none of his concern. By the time Li Meng returned to the throne cave, the sky was gradually darkening. Bai Ling and the female Lizardmen had long returned to the tribe. Looking at the spot where Benben used to sleep by the door, Li Meng frowned slightly. He wondered where Benben had gone. It had been over a month, and there was still no sign of him. With a slight sigh, Li Meng pushed the door open and entered. Before long, the sound of "humming" could be heard inside the wooden house. Time passed bit by bit, and the night deepened. In the following days, Li Meng began to tally the tribe''s population and weaponry. He had only one task each day: To wait for the hunting parties to return. Half a month later, one morning. In the tribe, inside the throne cave. "Have all your underlings returned?" The five Big Goblins inside quickly nodded. "Boss, they''re all back!" Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, Gobu Sheng. These five Big Goblins were Li Meng''s bloodline descendants. Their names all came from Li Meng. They were the first batch of Goblins born. In just half a year, they evolved into Big Goblins. Each Goblin was nearly 1.8 meters tall. They were just one step away from evolving into Goblin Soldiers. Li Meng waved his hand slightly, dismissing the five Big Goblins. "Go on!" Even though they were his offspring, Goblins had no concept of familial affection. In their eyes, he was just a strong figure in the Goblin tribe. Bloodline only increased their loyalty to their paternal figure. Li Meng didn''t regard them as his children. The Goblin barbarians were simply too weak. In the future, even the Goblin Leader would just be cannon fodder. All green-skinned Goblins were expendable. The female Lizardmen inside silently watched the departing Big Goblins. To them, all Goblins looked the same. They couldn''t distinguish if any of the five Big Goblins were their children. Even if they were, they couldn''t give those Goblins motherly love. Every time they recalled the appearance of newborn Goblins, they shivered. The tiny Goblin infants were only the size of a fist. As soon as they were born, they could run around looking for food. If they couldn''t find food, they would attack their mothers. Many female Lizardmen got injured because they didn''t separate from the baby Goblins in time. Watching the backs of the five departing Big Goblins, Li Meng wore a contemplative expression. After half a month of tallying, the population and weaponry data were out. Although he couldn''t get an exact number, the difference wouldn''t exceed two digits. The tribe''s population was about 9,000 Goblins. Subtracting the juveniles, there were roughly over 7,000 adult Goblins. This was the terrifying aspect of Goblins. It took less than a year to grow from a few hundred to ten thousand. Among the adult Goblins, only 5,000 were equipped with long spears and crossbows. There was a shortage of about two thousand weapons. "Bai Ling, come with me!" With that, Li Meng walked outside. By his calculations, there were still over three months until the rotation period. Unknowingly, nine months had passed since he began ruling the swamp. Bai Ling, who was sitting on the bed, stood up. She walked forward, silently following 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 again, but not by much. "To the Iron Cave!" About half an hour later, the two appeared in the forest outside the Iron Cave. Following Li Meng, Bai Ling looked at the cave entrance not far ahead. She came here every day and was already familiar with the place. "Bai Ling, the High Priestess?" At this moment, a group of male Lizardmen carrying several logs emerged from the eastern forest. They saw Bai Ling and Li Meng outside the cave entrance. Upon seeing Li Meng, all the male Lizardmen''s faces changed. They quickly lowered their heads, not daring to speak. They hurriedly carried the logs into the cave. Although they had milk to drink every day, the male Lizardmen''s bodies appeared somewhat thin. "Bai Ling, do your swamp Lizardmen need to eat fish to maintain their strength?" The tribe''s food supply for the male Lizardmen was adequate. Even if they weren''t full, they wouldn''t go hungry. The Iron Cave had an underground river, and they were given an hour to soak before resting. But even so, the male Lizardmen''s bodies visibly thinned. Without the rotation period, the male Lizardmen would be exhausted within two years. "Fish from the water is our staple food. We also eat other magical beast meat, but not much." Bai Ling''s answer confirmed Li Meng''s suspicion. "Let''s go inside!" Li Meng noted this issue in his mind. He would solve it, but not now. Chapter 66 - Forge your own weapon The rotation period is approaching, and a series of major events will occur in the next six months. The appearance of adventurer teams and the invasion of the Black Mountain tribe''s army. To change the worst outcome, preparations must be made early. Then Li Meng led Bai Ling into the Iron Cave. As soon as they entered the cave, a scorching heat wave rolled in. It felt like being inside an oven, making it unbearably hot. The cave was bustling with noise. The clanging of metal echoed throughout. Accompanied by the loud cries of goblins. Looking towards the underground riverbank, the cave was as bright as day. Dozens of blast furnaces, about five meters high, stood on the riverbank. Behind the blast furnaces were countless bonfires. Closest to the river were groups of goblins forging iron. They swung their hammers vigorously on the anvils. Each hammer strike sent a shower of sparks flying. Deeper in the cave, faint "thud thud" sounds could be heard. A large number of male lizardmen could be seen carrying iron ore in bamboo baskets. On the shallow banks of the river, some male lizardmen were bathing. The high temperature inside the cave made the skin of the male lizardmen prone to cracking. They needed to bathe frequently to rehydrate and alleviate this process. "Boss, boss, why are you here again?" As soon as they entered the cave, Gobu Ge, who had received the news, came running over. "What, can''t I come?" Li Meng glared at Gobu Ge. Gobu Ge shrank his neck and smiled obsequiously. "The boss can come whenever he wants." "Enough nonsense, prepare a blast furnace for me, I want to smelt iron!" Gobu Ge nodded vigorously. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Then turned around to lead the way. "Boss, boss, this way, this way!" Following Gobu Ge, Li Meng and Bai Ling ventured deeper into the cave. Finally, they stopped in front of a blast furnace. "Boss, here it is!" Li Meng took the apron made of animal skin from Gobu Ge and put it on. The apron could effectively block the splattering molten iron. And also shield against flying sparks while forging. "Bai Ling, go stay in the river!" Bai Ling couldn''t withstand the high temperature near the blast furnace. She would faint in at most two hours. Bai Ling silently walked forward and stepped into the cold river water. Then she sat down in the shallow water about a meter deep. Her head just above the water, watching the Big Goblin on the riverbank. At this time, more than a dozen goblins ran over to assist Li Meng. In the following time, Li Meng busied himself around the blast furnace. Until the afternoon of the next day, with a furnace of molten iron ready, Li Meng entered the blacksmithing mode. By the water''s edge, Li Meng held a massive hammer in one hand. Furiously hammering a long weapon on the anvil. Sometimes quenching, sometimes tempering, sometimes hammering. Each hammer strike echoed with a crisp metallic sound in the cave. The sound was the loudest, drowning out all other noises. As the saying goes, "steel is forged through a hundred refinements," to get good steel, it must be hammered a thousand times. "Is it smelting iron?" Bai Ling had been observing the goblin on the bank from the river. Since arriving at the Iron Cave yesterday, it hadn''t paid attention to her. Bai Ling was no stranger to the Iron Cave. She had been here hundreds of times. Although she could never get close to these furnaces. But from a distance, she knew what the goblins were doing. The swamp lizardmen, though barbarians, did not harbor animosity towards humans. Bai Ling had also communicated with human adventurers. She was not unfamiliar with iron tools. On the third day, the loudest metallic clanging in the cave finally ceased. "Bai Ling, what do you think of this weapon?" The call from the master on the shore made Bai Ling step out of the water. She came ashore and stood before her master. Looking at the long-handled weapon in her master''s hand, Bai Ling''s pupils contracted. "Master, this weapon... is so mighty!" The weapon in the master''s hand had a long handle and blade, almost as tall as the master. The weapon was iron-gray all over, with a very smooth surface. The sharpened blade gleamed fiercely in the firelight. Holding this weapon, the master''s aura seemed to grow stronger. "This is a Mo Dao!" Li Meng wielded the Mo Dao with both hands, swinging it a few times. In a flash, he charged towards a giant rock on the riverbank not far away. "Slash!" The distance of over twenty meters was covered in an instant. Li Meng wielded the Mo Dao with both hands, letting out a powerful shout. A standard waist-to-shoulder downward slash. "Boom!" A thunderous crash was heard. The Mo Dao sliced through the nearly two-meter-high boulder like cutting through tofu. The massive impact shattered the boulder into pieces. The commotion startled the surrounding goblins. This scene left Bai Ling utterly astonished. What a sharp weapon! It actually sliced such a large rock. Satisfied with his strike, Li Meng nodded approvingly. He picked up the Mo Dao again to inspect the blade. Upon seeing it, a trace of disappointment flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. The blade showed no chips, but it was slightly twisted. His strength was simply too great, exceeding what the Mo Dao could withstand. The phenomenon of cold weapons getting bent was unavoidable. Shaking his head, Li Meng discarded the Mo Dao. "Bai Ling, go back to the water." Bai Ling looked at her master, then at the Mo Dao discarded on the ground. She silently turned and returned to the water. On the riverbank, Li Meng began tinkering with the blast furnace again. The next morning, another furnace of molten iron was ready. On the riverbank, Li Meng began swinging the large hammer again. With each swing, sweat flew off his body. The scorching heat made Li Meng sweat profusely. In the cold underground river, a flash of white passed by. Moments later, splashes erupted on the river''s surface. Bai Ling emerged from the water. She held a Black Rock Fish frozen into an ice block. Bai Ling dragged the Black Rock Fish back to the shallows. Sitting in the water, she quietly watched the Big Goblin forging on the bank. Over the past few days, Bai Ling had come to understand. The reason her master brought her was both a deterrent and a warning. It was to show her that the goblins with iron-smelting technology were not something the swamp lizardmen could challenge. Time passed bit by bit. The daily life of the Iron Cave did not change with Li Meng''s arrival. The next day, in the afternoon. "It''s done!" On the underground riverbank, Li Meng held a large iron rod and planted it in the ground. The iron rod was about 2.5 meters long and 5 centimeters in diameter. For Li Meng now, the iron rod was a bit long and a bit thick. But once Li Meng evolved into a Goblin Soldier. The iron rod would be very handy. Looking at the large iron rod in his hand, Li Meng nodded with satisfaction. This was the weapon he forged for himself. Compared to those bladed weapons, Li Meng felt blunt weapons suited him better. Originally, Li Meng wanted to forge a long-handled mace. But after careful consideration, he decided against it. The uneven weight of a mace made it unsuitable for close combat. When fighting strong opponents, every move must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. Any slight mistake could become a fatal weakness. Against weaker foes, any weapon would suffice. Even without a weapon, he could kill enemies with his fists. Chapter 67 - Big Iron Rod "How about calling you the Ruyi Jingu Bang?" The large iron rod in Li Meng''s hand reminded him of memories from when he was human. "Forget it, you''re not worthy. I''ll just call you Big Iron Rod." How could a mere iron rod be worthy of such a name? Even though the rod was crafted by his own hands, Li Meng felt it didn''t deserve it. "Bai Ling, let''s go, we''re heading back!" Li Meng tore off his apron, hoisted the Big Iron Rod onto his shoulder, and walked outside. Bai Ling, who was in the shallow waters of the river, stood up. She followed her master onto the shore. The two of them then left the Iron Cave. Until they returned to the throne cave, Li Meng didn''t say much to Bai Ling. It was as if taking Bai Ling to the Iron Cave was just a whim of his. That night, the throne cave was very quiet. Ever since the female Lizardman became pregnant, Li Meng hadn''t bothered them. The goblin''s sexual desire was somewhat different from that of humans. A goblin''s desire was based on the urge to reproduce. Although the body experienced pleasure, it wasn''t as intense as a human''s. Goblins wouldn''t mate just to pursue the pleasure of desire. Whenever the female Lizardman was pregnant, Li Meng would enter a "sage" state of mind. He wouldn''t have any desire to mate with the female Lizardman. But upon seeing non-pregnant female creatures, the desire to mate would erupt like a volcano. Lying on the main bed inside the room, Li Meng was lost in thought. Bai Ling lay beside him, her breathing slightly rapid. This indicated that Bai Ling was awake and not asleep. "System, start the simulated life!" Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. Li Meng didn''t know if the future had changed. He hadn''t used this month''s simulation attempts yet, so he might as well use them. [Simulated life begins] [The night is deep, you lie on the bed inside the wooden house, lost in thought] [Your tribe is thriving, seemingly uneventful, but in reality, it''s the calm before the storm] [The rotation period has arrived, please choose from the following options] [1. Release Bai Ling back to the Northern swamp] [2. Break your promise and keep Bai Ling in the tribe] [3. March to the Northern swamp, wait for a chance, and prepare for the arrival of the Black Mountain tribe''s army] The appearance of the third option made Li Meng realize something. That the previous simulated life had become valuable information for this simulation. The system knew he wouldn''t choose the future line predicted last time. And it would change the future line based on the information. "What should I choose?" Turning slightly, Li Meng looked at Bai Ling''s snow-white, graceful figure. The third option was very tempting. But its result would likely lead to a deadly battle with the Black Mountain tribe''s army. The Black Mountain tribe was new and unfamiliar with the area. If they didn''t exchange information with the Lizardmen tribe of the Northern swamp, the Black Mountain tribe''s army might launch an attack blindly, knowing nothing. Once the battle started, it would be a fight to the death. At that point, neither side would agree to retreat. But choosing the swamp as the battlefield wasn''t a good strategy. Even if they won in the end, the losses would be significant. Without the Pigmen tribe, a larger loss wouldn''t matter much. It would be a good opportunity to clear out the goblins with less potential in the tribe. But with the Pigmen around, they must preserve their forces as much as possible to deal with the threat. Leaving Bai Ling in the tribe a year ago only changed the future line where the Pigmen and Lizardmen cooperated to attack the tribe. It didn''t mean the Pigmen threat was eliminated. The Pigmen threat still existed. It was just that the outbreak time was postponed. Li Meng ruled out the third option. "The first option?" After thinking it over, Li Meng also rejected the first option. The first option would return to the previous future line. The Black Mountain tribe''s army would retreat, and Bai Ling would be captured. If he let Bai Ling go, it might avoid conflict with the Black Mountain tribe. The Black Mountain tribe wouldn''t summon the Barbarian God. But the result would be that the Lizardmen of the Northern swamp would be gone. Without the Northern swamp Lizardmen, how could the tribe expand its forces? "Choose option two!" [The rotation period has arrived, you forcibly kept Bai Ling, angering the Northern swamp Lizardmen] [The swamp Lizardmen launched a rebellion and successfully escaped through the river] [You gathered the goblin army and marched to the Northern swamp] [Under the guidance of the Northern swamp Lizardmen, the Black Mountain tribe''s army landed on the southern riverbank of the tribe] [The Lizardmen army launched a surprise attack on your tribe, and the tribe was destroyed] [Gobu Da led the bloodline offspring into the Iron Cave] [The Lizardmen army attacked the Iron Cave] [Gobu Ge led the bloodline offspring into the depths of the cave] [Upon learning that the Lizardmen army had ambushed the tribe, you angrily withdrew your troops and returned to the tribe] [One night, Benben returned to the tribe with a group of ogres and fought with the Lizardmen army] [The Lizardmen army was repelled and took Bai Ling, hurriedly retreating through the river] [You returned to the tribe, angrily looking at the ruins it had become] [You lost the tribe and also lost Bai Ling] [Please make the following choice] [1. Continue marching to the Northern swamp for revenge] [2. Do nothing and rebuild the tribe] [3. In your anger, you charged alone into the Northern swamp] "Am I really that strong?" The third option made Li Meng''s expression turn strange. Could he really be strong enough to fight a thousand alone? With so many Lizardmen, even exhaustion could kill him. But deciding what to choose stumped Li Meng again. Option one would likely end in failure. By the time he led the goblin army to the Northern swamp, the Lizardmen would have already fled. Option two meant he suffered a significant loss. And it was a loss he had to accept. The Lizardmen who betrayed him would certainly not stay in the Northern swamp. They would likely leave the Northern swamp and merge with the Black Mountain tribe. Not seeking trouble with the Northern swamp Lizardmen for a while didn''t mean he wouldn''t seek it forever. Since he couldn''t defeat them, they had no choice but to migrate. Options one and two were both bad choices, leaving only option three. "Choose option three!" [In your anger, you charged alone into the Northern swamp] [One night, you stormed into the White Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [One night, you stormed into the Gray Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [One night, you stormed into the Black Scale tribe, finding it deserted] [You returned empty-handed to the tribe] [You began rebuilding the tribe] [You went to the Goblin nest] [One day, an adventurer team appeared in the forest near the Goblin nest] [You followed the adventurer team to the crash site of the airship] [The adventurer team headed north] [You suspected the adventurer team could sense the location of the crystal] [You returned to the tribe and threw the crystal into the Goblin River] [One day, the adventurer team found the crystal in the river] [You followed the adventurer team downstream, heading west] [One day, you were discovered] Chapter 68 - Unchangeable future line [Please make the following choice] [1. Avoid battle and flee] [2. Fight the adventurer team] Li Meng rolled his eyes as he lay on the bed. Goodness, the results of these three options are actually the same. How should I choose the new two options? "Option two!" He followed the adventurer team all the way west. There''s a high chance they''ve already left the tribe''s hunting area. Killing that adventurer team poses little risk afterward. Even if those two humans come, it doesn''t matter. By then, the man and woman definitely won''t find the culprit. They wouldn''t think it was a weak Goblin who killed the adventurers. The last time those two humans found the tribe, it should have been related to those two human women. Those women must have had something with a tracking function on them. [You chose to fight the adventurer team and successfully killed all the adventurers] [You devoured their hearts but did not gain any new skills] [You returned to the tribe, and the tribe thrived] [The lesson from the ambush made you decide to strengthen the tribe''s defenses] [The tribe now has walls, watchtowers, and a large number of three-bow ballistae] [One day, Bai Ling returned to the tribe with news] [The Black Mountain tribe was attacked by mysterious human male and female warriors, who summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua" to defend] [The human warriors fell, and the Black Mountain Swamp was polluted by the power of the "Barbarian God"] [The Black Mountain Swamp gradually turned into a wasteland, and all living beings were refined into wasteland slaves] [One day, you discovered the Great Wasteland was expanding, and the devoured land lost its vitality] The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. [One day, a fleet of human ships appeared on the Goblin River, sailing upstream] [The three-year limit has arrived] [As a transmigrator, you used your wisdom to survive. Although you are just a Goblin, your future is full of countless possibilities, and your rise is unstoppable] [Simulated life ends, score: 100] [Please choose the following reward] [1. Consume ten score points to increase level by 1] [2. Consume one score point to increase an attribute by 1] [3. Consume ten score points to increase luck by 1] [4. Consume ten score points to increase "Wind Blade" skill level by 1] [5. Consume ten score points to increase "Heart Speech" skill level by 1] [6. Consume ten score points to increase "Berserk" skill by 1] The three skills aren''t urgently needed for an upgrade. Let''s increase the level instead. "Choose one!" [Consume 100 score points, level +10, current level: 25] Here it comes, the familiar intense pain swept through his body once more. This time it was more painful than the previous times when upgrading levels. On the bed, Li Meng''s body was undergoing strange distortions. All his bones were dislocated, cracking and snapping. It was as if an invisible giant hand was kneading Li Meng''s body. Li Meng''s entire ugly face was twisted beyond recognition. His skull suddenly protruded outward, as if something was about to crawl out of his brain. The crisp "crack" sound startled Bai Ling, who was beside him. She turned to look at her master. At this sight, Bai Ling was stunned. Her once small master had suddenly grown. His height now exceeded two meters, and his physique was more robust. His whole body emitted rolling white steam. Some areas of his skin were fiery red. "Master, what''s happening to you?" Li Meng sat up, looking down at his enlarged hands. "I''ve evolved into a Goblin Soldier!" Power, power, Li Meng felt the immense strength within his body. He was now comparable to a muscular giant like Tyson. Of course, only in physique; in strength, even fifty Tysons couldn''t match him. Li Meng lay back on the bed. "Sleep!" With a thought, Li Meng opened the character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin Soldier] [Level: 25] [Strength: 1925] [Defense: 1859] [Agility: 871] [Magic: 1551] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Devouring the flesh of magical beasts may grant their skills] [Steel Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element Control: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Limb Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] [Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)] "It seems the guess was correct!" The panel attributes, with hundreds of points added, confirmed Li Meng''s guess. The higher the panel attributes, the higher the attribute bonus when leveling up. Li Meng still remembered that before leveling from 1 to 10, each level only added single-digit attribute points. Staring blankly at the ceiling, Li Meng thought again about the future line predicted by the simulated life. Li Meng didn''t expect Bai Ling to return on her own in the end. And why did those two human warriors go to the Black Mountain tribe again? Could it be that the place where the adventurer team was killed was very close to the Black Mountain tribe? No, that''s absolutely impossible. Although Bai Ling didn''t tell him the exact location of the Black Mountain tribe, she said it was deep in the Goblin Forest, very far from the northern swamp. Even by water, it would take more than three months for a Lizardman to reach it. He couldn''t have followed the adventurer team for months near the Black Mountain tribe. "Strange, is it impossible to change the future where the Black Mountain tribe summons the Barbarian God?" All three future lines couldn''t change the Black Mountain tribe''s summoning of the Barbarian God. This made Li Meng deeply worried about his own future. And what was the Principality of Ilysis doing here? This is the Goblin Forest, the land of the Barbarians. The appearance of the Principality of Ilysis''s fleet in the Goblin Forest is definitely not a good thing. Perhaps that fleet is the warships of the Principality of Ilysis. "Forget it, take it one step at a time!" Receiving too much information at once gave Li Meng a headache. Too many things were happening all at once. Li Meng had no clue how to change the future. Time was ticking away, and the night grew deeper. "I''ve got it!" Early the next morning, Li Meng suddenly sat up from his sleep. His strange shout startled the female Lizardmen sleeping nearby. They all sat up, looking at their master in confusion. Li Meng got up and hurried outside. Bai Ling also woke up. She looked at Li Meng''s hurriedly departing figure with some confusion. "Bring Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao here!" Outside the door, Li Meng woke up the Goblin underlings who were snoring on the ground. The boss''s voice made the sleeping Goblins shiver. They jumped up in surprise, quickly standing up. One Goblin hurriedly picked up the long spear on the ground and rushed off. "Boss, you... you''ve evolved into a Goblin Soldier?" When they looked at the boss, all the Goblins were shocked. In just one night, the boss had evolved from a Big Goblin into a Goblin Soldier. The Goblin underlings were filled with fear. They shrank their necks, quickly standing up straight. Chapter 69 - Offense and Defense In no time, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over. From a distance, they saw the boss standing outside the entrance of the throne cave. The boss''s tall and strong figure made the two Big Goblins exchange glances. The boss had actually evolved into a Goblin Soldier? Gobu Mo quickly sped up his pace. Gobu Gao, on the other hand, ran with little hops, overtaking Gobu Mo. "Boss, that''s great! You''ve finally advanced to a Goblin Soldier!" Gobu Gao ran up to Li Meng with a fawning expression. Gobu Mo, a few steps behind, glared at Gobu Gao. "Boss, is there something you need us for?" Gobu Mo also wore a flattering expression. However, he was smarter than Gobu Gao and got straight to the point. "Follow me!" Li Meng left the entrance of the throne cave and headed deeper into the forest. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly followed. Li Meng ventured deep into the forest. He didn''t stop until he was several hundred meters away from the tribe. "Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, your task from now on 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." Li Meng planted the Big Iron Rod into the ground. One end of the rod sank deeply into the soft soil. Then he forcefully drew a large circle. "The buffer zone must be at least five hundred meters wide!" Li Meng swung the Big Iron Rod and pointed at the large trees beside him. "About the width of ten large trees, got it?" Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao looked up at the large trees beside them. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. How tall were ten large trees? "Boss, how much is ten trees?" Li Meng rolled his eyes at Gobu Mo''s question. Alright, it seems I''ll have to teach these Goblin underlings how to count. They need to know what 1, 2, 3, 4 means. "First, organize the Goblins to cut down the trees. I''ll guide you on-site!" "There are axes and saws in the warehouse, go get them!" 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 as they left. He didn''t look away until they disappeared from sight. Scanning the surrounding forest, Li Meng grinned. "If attacking doesn''t work, then let''s defend!" Previously, Li Meng thought there was no need to build a wooden wall. He believed that instead of 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. Once Goblins fell into a passive defense, failure wouldn''t be far off. Now, Li Meng had changed his mindset. Why choose? Li Meng wanted both defense and offense. Soon, the tribe was bustling. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao led a large group of Goblin underlings in a grand march towards this direction. Some Goblins carried axes, while others carried saws. At a glance, the dense green-skinned figures numbered no less than five hundred. Before long, the sound of logging echoed from deep within the forest. The rhythmic sounds resonated through the forest depths. Occasionally, there was the "crash" of trees falling. In the following days, Li Meng began teaching the Goblin underlings some basic counting. By the fifth day, the forest had undergone a significant transformation. A blank area appeared several hundred meters away from the tribe in the forest. The blank area was five hundred meters wide and six hundred meters long. The bare ground was covered with wooden stakes, and layers of branches and leaves were piled up. Numerous logs were scattered haphazardly across the ground. The blank area wasn''t straight; it was curved. Soon, the blank area would encircle the tribe. "How many is this?" In a place where logs were piled in the blank area. Li Meng held three wooden sticks in his hand. Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, and a group of Big Goblins obediently sat on the ground. Some members of the hunting party, upon returning, were asked by Li Meng to join the wooden wall construction team. Now, the number of Goblins building the wooden wall exceeded a thousand. Li Meng pointed at 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 looked down at his hands. His eyes lit up, and Gobu Gao said a number. "3, it''s 3!" Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, that''s correct!" Gobu Gao grinned, very pleased. "And what does 3 mean?" Li Meng continued to question Gobu Gao. Gobu Gao glanced at the ground. He bent down and picked up three small stones. "One stone, two stones, three stones!" Gobu Gao''s answer made Li Meng very satisfied. After his teaching over the past few days, the Goblin underlings finally understood the meaning of numbers 1-10. Numbers are the foundation of intelligence. Although this couldn''t change the fact that Goblins were foolish. But in the future, he could command the Goblin underlings more effectively. "Very good, Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, you know how to build the wooden wall now, right?" A small section of the wooden wall had already been built at the edge of the blank area not far away. The wooden wall had two layers, with a hollow center. It was about 7 meters high and 5 meters wide, with a 15-meter-high watchtower built every fifty meters. The trees in the forest were very tall, with an average height of about 70 meters. The wooden wall could be built higher. But the workload for anything over seven meters was too much. Building it was also more troublesome. After all, erecting a seven-meter-high log wasn''t an easy task. Fortunately, the number of Big Goblins in the tribe was considerable. With them around, handling seven-meter-long logs wasn''t a problem. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly nodded. "Very good, I''ll leave this to you. Work hard and don''t slack off!" Faced with the boss''s gaze, the Big Goblins shrank their necks. Without saying anything more, Li Meng tossed aside the wooden sticks in his hand. Then he turned and walked towards 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 the Goblin underlings following him. One of the Goblins quickly ran towards the tribe. Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng had always stayed in the tribe. Their task was to guard the tribe. By afternoon, the sun was blazing. When Li Meng returned to the throne cave, the wooden house was empty. At this time, the female Lizardmen had all gone to the Iron Cave for fun. "Why aren''t Goblins 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 unfortunately, he couldn''t drink it. It''s not that he couldn''t drink it, but it tasted strange. "Could it be that plain milk just doesn''t taste good?" When he was human, Li Meng had heard that human milk didn''t taste good. But he had never tried it himself. After all, a grown man only had the chance to taste it after getting married and having children. Chapter 70 - Ha ha ha! "Boss, Boss!" Suddenly, hurried footsteps echoed from outside the door. The next moment, three towering figures burst into the room. "Boss, did you call us?" Gobu Sheng shoved Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang aside. With a fawning expression, it approached the boss. Looking at the three Big Goblins before him, Li Meng nodded. In another half month, Gobu Mo and the others should evolve into Goblin Soldiers. Li Meng''s gaze fixed on Gobu Sheng. "Gobu Sheng, go to the Iron Cave and bring all the male Lizardmen here!" Gobu Sheng grinned, nodded, and turned to trot out. Li Meng then looked at Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang. "Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, gather your underlings and prepare to follow me to the northern swamp." The boss was taking them to the northern swamp? Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang were thrilled. Finally, they could go hunting with the boss. They quickly turned and raced out, eager to be first. Watching the two Big Goblins jostling each other, Li Meng grinned wickedly. "Three more months, just in time!" Li Meng already had a plan in mind to change the future. For the tribe''s future, he absolutely couldn''t lose the Lizardmen from the northern swamp. Although Bai Ling would eventually return on her own in the future, by then, there might be very few Lizardmen left who escaped from the Black Mountain Swamp. Half an hour later, at the Iron Cave. "No way, no way, the Lizardmen are mine, all mine!" At the entrance of the Iron Cave, Gobu Ge glared angrily at Gobu Sheng. "Today, I must take all the male Lizardmen; they are mine." Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Gobu Sheng was not to be outdone. It opened its sharp mouth and roared loudly. "Gobu Sheng, when the boss took me in as a follower, you were still in the boss''s nest, and you dare to snatch things from me!" Gobu Ge grinned, looking at Gobu Sheng with disdain. "Are you giving them or not?" Gobu Sheng glared fiercely. Gobu Ge glared back just as fiercely. "No!" The Goblin underlings inside and outside the cave exchanged glances. "Fight, fight!" No one knew who shouted it first. All the Goblins'' eyes lit up, shouting excitedly. "Fight, fight!" The synchronized chants grew louder and louder. The underlings'' cheers made Gobu Sheng and Gobu Ge''s blood boil. "Ha ha ha, Gobu Sheng, come on, today I''ll make you crawl!" Gobu Ge laughed excitedly, tearing off its apron. Gobu Sheng wasn''t swayed by the underlings'' cheers. It snorted coldly, a look of mockery on its face. "Hmph, the boss sent me!" Hearing this, the excitement on Gobu Ge''s face vanished instantly. The Goblin underlings behind both sides also stopped cheering. At the cave entrance, they stared at each other. "Gobu Sheng, why didn''t you say so earlier? Just you wait, I''ll definitely tell the boss!" Gobu Ge glared angrily at Gobu Sheng. Then it turned and trotted back into the cave. Its group of Goblin underlings quickly followed. Gobu Sheng stood there with a look of disdain, listening to the commotion in the Iron Cave. "Hmph, just a little trash like you, I can take on ten!" Meanwhile, in another part of the tribe. It was already afternoon, and the tribe suddenly became noisy. A large number of Goblins gathered in the forest outside the throne cave. They had been patrolling various parts of the tribe. The boss''s order made them leave their posts and gather in front of the throne cave. "What are they up to now?" The female Lizardmen hiding in the wooden huts secretly observed outside. They saw a large number of Goblins gathering in front of the largest wooden hut. The Goblins'' chattering echoed throughout the tribe. "Boss, everyone is here!" Gobu Yi approached the boss with a fawning expression. Standing at the door, Li Meng grinned. He squinted his eyes, scanning over the dense crowd of Goblin underlings. There were nearly a thousand Goblins in sight. Forty percent of them were his bloodline descendants. Thirty percent were his grandchildren Goblins. The rest were branch bloodline descendants who had submitted to his offspring. Just then, a commotion arose on the outskirts. Bai Ling walked over, escorted by a group of Goblins. Wherever she passed, the Goblins made way. Their eyes filled with curiosity and greed as they looked at Bai Ling. "Master, what are you planning to do? Where are you taking the male Lizardmen?" The commotion at the Iron Cave made Bai Ling rush back to the tribe. With the rotation period approaching, Bai Ling had a bad feeling. She stormed over to Li Meng, full of anxiety. Li Meng looked at Bai Ling, their eyes meeting. "Slap!" Li Meng swung his hand, slapping Bai Ling across the face. The immense force sent Bai Ling flying. Her curvaceous body slammed heavily against the wooden wall. "Hmph!" Bai Ling groaned in pain, unable to get up. Blood trickled 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 fear. They sensed the boss''s anger from behind him. Li Meng grinned wickedly at Bai Ling on the ground and walked over to her. Bai Ling tried to get up, but Li Meng stomped on her head. "It seems I''ve been too lenient, and you''ve forgotten your place!" Li Meng looked down expressionlessly at Bai Ling under his foot. With a "crack," the wooden plank under Bai Ling''s face shattered. The power of Li Meng''s stomp was evident. Terror filled Bai Ling''s face as she lay under Li Meng''s foot. She sensed a murderous intent from her master. "Master, I... I was wrong, spare me!" Humiliation flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. She couldn''t die; if she did, what would happen to her people? She had to live, she must survive. Only by living was there hope. Seeing Bai Ling beg for mercy, Li Meng smiled playfully. This female Lizardman knew when to yield. Li Meng removed his foot from Bai Ling''s head. He turned to face the crowd of Goblin underlings outside. "Bai Ling, remember, I am a Goblin, and you are a slave to the Goblins. The reason you are alive is because I still need you. Don''t try to test my limits, or you won''t be slaves anymore, but meat!" "Ha ha ha!" Standing at the door, Li Meng laughed loudly. His booming voice echoed throughout the tribe. Watching the boss suddenly burst into laughter, the Goblins exchanged glances. "Ha ha ha!" Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang joined in the laughter. They were filled with excitement and joy. As if they had heard the funniest joke. "Ha ha ha!" The other Goblins also joined in. They danced and laughed loudly. For a moment, the tribe was filled with the Goblins'' laughter. For a moment, the tribe was filled with joy and laughter. But this joy and laughter belonged only to the Goblins. Other races would feel a chill upon hearing it. At this moment, figures moved in the distant forest. Gobu Sheng led a group of male Lizardmen over. Seeing the Goblins laughing in front of the throne cave, it also laughed. "Ha ha ha!" It couldn''t help but laugh loudly. Its underlings followed suit, laughing loudly. The male Lizardmen looked on in confusion at the laughing Goblins. What on earth had happened? Why were these Goblins laughing so joyously? Chapter 71 - Simply perfect! After a while, the echoing laughter in the tribe finally subsided. Almost instantly, all sounds vanished. Because the leader at the entrance of the throne cave stopped laughing. "Boss, boss, they''re all here!" Gobu Sheng hurried over, a flattering smile on his face. Li Meng glanced at the male Lizardmen not far away. "Have them bring all the axes and saws, let''s move out! Head to the Northern swamp!" With that, Li Meng strode forward, heading out of the tribe. Wherever he passed, the Goblin underlings made way. They looked at the towering figure of their leader with nothing but awe. Nearly a thousand Goblins followed Li Meng like a wave sweeping out of the tribe. At the gate, Bai Ling got up from the ground. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth. The female Lizardman who had returned with her quickly stepped forward to support her. "They''re heading to the Northern swamp?" Watching the departing Goblins, Bai Ling thought to herself. She had just heard what the master said. She was certain the master''s destination was the Northern swamp. Why was the master heading to the Northern swamp at this time? "Could it be that reinforcements from the Black Mountain tribe have arrived?" This possibility brought a hint of joy to Bai Ling''s heart. But it was quickly followed by worry. Unless the entire Black Mountain tribe attacked, there was no chance of defeating the master. "High Priest, go back and rest!" Two female Lizardmen helped Bai Ling into a wooden house. The commotion in the tribe lasted only a short while. Stolen story; please report. Soon, the tribe quieted down. In the following days, Li Meng led the team westward. They traveled during the day, hunted in the first half of the night, and rested in the second half. On the third day, in the forest north of the Goblin River. "Where are the Goblins taking us?" "This direction... could it be to the Northern swamp?" In the dim forest, a large group of Lizardmen moved westward. Around them were many Goblins communicating with "wa wa" sounds. Green-skinned figures of various sizes filled a large part of the forest. Gray Scale and Black Scale exchanged glances as they walked through the forest. The rotation period was approaching, giving them a sense of foreboding. Time passed bit by bit, day after day. On the afternoon of the fifth day, in the forest east of the Northern swamp. "We''re finally back!" Looking at the endless swamp before them, the Lizardmen on the shore looked at each other. After nearly a year, they had 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 dared not, and could not do so. Because their families were still in the hands of the Goblins. Because their home was in the Northern swamp. "Wa wa!" At this moment, a group of Goblins rushed over, shouting. They snatched the axes and saws from the Lizardmen. And began chopping trees in the forest by the shore. Another group of Goblins prodded the Lizardmen with long spears. Driving the Lizardmen to cut down trees. For a time, the "thud thud" of logging echoed in the forest. Occasionally, there was the "crash" of trees falling. Meanwhile, Li Meng led a group of Goblins into the swamp. In the vast swamp, Li Meng and his Goblin underlings ventured westward. On the afternoon of the third day. On the eastern shore of a piece of land not submerged by water. Li Meng and his Goblin underlings set foot on the land. "Well, this place isn''t bad!" Standing on the soft ground, Li Meng gazed into the distance. Along the way, they encountered many similar islands. But those islands were either too small or had rugged terrain. The island before them was a flat expanse. It risked being submerged at high tide. Such a place was ideal for Lizardmen to live. "This is it, we''re going to build a wooden stronghold here!" A hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, and Gobu Sheng behind Li Meng. They had originally thought the boss was taking them out for a fight. They hadn''t expected to be doing hard labor. "Gobu Yi, do you know where the Gray Scale tribe is?" The map in the throne cave clearly marked the locations of the three Lizardmen tribes. Although Goblins were rather foolish. They had a great sense of direction and never forgot a place they''d been to once. Gobu Yi looked around. He pointed southwest with his right hand. "Boss, in that direction!" "Good, go, head to the Gray Scale tribe and bring all the Lizardmen here." With that, Li Meng gave a sinister smile. "If they resist, then kill them until they can''t resist anymore!" Gobu Yi grinned, resting his spiked club on his shoulder. "Alright, boss, I''ll bring them back." Then Gobu Yi hurriedly led his Goblin underlings southwest. The Goblins on the island watched as Gobu Yi departed. "Gobu Zhang, you go to the Black Scale tribe and bring all the Lizardmen here!" Gobu Zhang nodded and continued walking. The Goblin underlings quickly followed behind him. "Gobu Sheng, return to the forest immediately and transport all the timber here." Transporting timber was much easier where there was water. After all, timber floats. Gobu Sheng turned with a grim face and headed back the way they came. Once the three Big Goblin underlings left. Only a dozen Goblin underlings remained behind Li Meng. "Three months left, just enough time!" Li Meng took a deep breath. Inhaling the swamp''s air with a hint of decay, he looked pleased. The purpose of building the wooden stronghold was singular. To gather all the Lizardmen from the three tribes together. This way, the Black Mountain tribe''s army would lose the chance to contact the Northern swamp. Even if they found the wooden stronghold, it wouldn''t matter. Li Meng didn''t mind engaging in a defensive battle with the Black Mountain tribe''s army. He had enough forces to guard the Northern swamp''s wooden stronghold and the tribe. Li Meng''s goal wasn''t to annihilate the Black Mountain tribe''s army. But to make them retreat in defeat, leaving empty-handed. At the same time, he couldn''t push the Black Mountain tribe too hard. To avoid them summoning the Barbarian God "Aqua." As for the human adventurer couple, avoiding their appearance was easy. The adventurer squad line was the easiest to resolve. Let them complete their mission and leave obediently. As long as he didn''t interfere with the adventurer squad, no further events would be triggered. "Simply perfect!" Li Meng grinned with some pride. With the Life Simulation System, avoiding dangerous future lines was relatively easy. "Letting the adventurer squad go won''t trigger some unknown event, will it?" Li Meng suddenly recalled four words. The "butterfly effect." Letting the adventurer squad go didn''t mean the event was over. It might lead to a bigger event. "Just have to wait and see, solve the immediate problem first." Shaking his head, Li Meng muttered to himself. He wasn''t a perfectionist. Achieving the most perfect ending wasn''t so easy. Chapter 72 - Wooden fortress At the moment, we can only proceed cautiously, taking one step at a time. Time trickled away, day by day. In the following days, the wooden fortress in the Northern swamp began major construction. The Lizardmen were tasked with chopping down trees in the forest on the eastern shore. The Goblins were responsible for transporting the various sizes of timber to the wooden fortress. On the island, the wooden wall construction started from the eastern shore. On the first day, only 30 meters of the wall was built. With a start made, the progress accelerated on the second day. On the second day, 50 meters were built. On the third day, 70 meters were constructed. After three days, the daily construction length of the wooden wall never fell below 70 meters. On the morning of the fifth day. "Boss, Boss, Gobu Zhang is back!" A Goblin came running up to Li Meng excitedly. At that moment, Li Meng was observing the construction efforts of the Goblin underlings from a distance. Without his supervision, Goblins loved to slack off. The report from the Goblin underling made Li Meng''s eyes light up. "Finally back!" Li Meng turned and walked towards the northwest shore. Hastily arriving at the shore, Li Meng gazed towards the distant swamp. In that direction, a massive procession was approaching. A dense mass of figures, large and small, stretched out. The small ones were Goblins, the large ones were Lizardmen. Although the number of Lizardmen far exceeded that of the Goblins, The Lizardmen obediently walked alongside the Goblins. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Both sides coexisted peacefully, each going their own way. It took over an hour for the massive procession to reach the island. "Boss, I''m back!" Seeing the boss waiting on the shore. From afar, Gobu Zhang ran towards the boss. Gobu Zhang, panting heavily, came ashore. He shook his body vigorously, shedding the water from his animal skin. Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen team not far away. "Are they all here?" Gobu Zhang nodded and grinned. "They don''t understand what I''m saying. I gestured for a long time before they got it. Some Lizardmen didn''t want to come with us and started attacking us, so we ate them, and then they were willing to come along!" At this, Gobu Zhang laughed heartily. "Boss, those Lizardmen are so stupid, we weren''t going to eat them!" Li Meng''s gaze turned to the Lizardmen team coming ashore not far away. There were quite a few, nearly eight hundred. Most were women and children. The number of adult male Lizardmen didn''t exceed three hundred. Female Lizardmen and male Lizardmen were easy to distinguish. Female Lizardmen were much smaller than their male counterparts. "How many male Lizardmen died?" Gobu Zhang looked down at his fingers. "There... there... 3... 33!" The number Gobu Zhang mentioned made Li Meng grin. "Not bad, good job!" Only 33 male Lizardmen had died. Such a loss was within Li Meng''s acceptable range. Gobu Zhang chuckled, his gaze greedily eyeing the plump female Lizardmen. "Boss... you... look..." Seeing Gobu Zhang''s lecherous expression, Li Meng knew what was on his mind. "Now''s not the time for that. Get them to work. Gobu Zhang, take your underlings to catch fish, bring the female Lizardmen along, they''re good swimmers and can effectively assist you. As for the male Lizardmen, have them work on building the wooden fortress." With more and more Lizardmen arriving here, The demand for food would only increase. Li Meng was uneasy about letting the Lizardmen go out hunting. If they took the opportunity to escape, it would be a loss. Losing one or two didn''t matter, but a mass escape was unacceptable. Seeing Gobu Zhang''s reluctant face, Li Meng''s expression turned cold. "What, do I need to say it again?" Gobu Zhang felt a chill under the boss''s gaze. "Boss, I... I got it!" Instinctive fear made Gobu Zhang''s heart race. He took a step back in fear. Turning, he sprinted towards the team coming ashore. Under the Goblins'' orders, the Lizardmen team was forcibly split in two. The male Lizardmen wore expressions of anger. But they didn''t dare to resist too fiercely. Surrounded by Goblins, their wives and children were here too. If a fight broke out, it would affect their families. Thus, with the arrival of the Black Scale tribe Lizardmen, the island became livelier. The abundance of manpower made the island bustling. With the male Lizardmen, the Goblins started slacking off. Transforming from laborers to overseers. The next afternoon, on the busy construction site of the island. A Goblin was slacking off. It lay leisurely on a log, basking in the sun. Though Goblins didn''t like sunlight, Even the most hated sunlight was better than hard labor. A passing Big Goblin gave it a kick. The kick flipped it over, its butt in the air. "Don''t slack off, the boss''s boss is watching!" The Big Goblin scolded. This startled the Goblin, making it jump up in fright. It smiled obsequiously, kneeling at the Big Goblin''s feet. "Boss, I wasn''t slacking, I was watching these male Lizardmen work!" The Big Goblin glanced around. Indeed, there were many male Lizardmen working nearby. "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 its underling. Suddenly, it swung its right hand, slapping the Goblin''s face. "Ouch!" The Goblin cried out in pain. Its body flew several meters, rolling on the ground. "You think I''m stupid? I''m a Big Goblin, you''re slacking off, now get to work." The Big Goblin glared angrily at the fallen Goblin underling. Though its face hurt, the Goblin scrambled up in a panic. It ran towards the working team, stumbling along the way. This scene was witnessed by the surrounding male Lizardmen. They were quite pleased to see the Goblins fighting among themselves. "What are you looking at? Get to work!" Seeing the male Lizardmen watching, The Big Goblin roared. Though the male Lizardmen couldn''t understand the Goblin language, They could sense the Big Goblin''s reprimand from its demeanor. The nearby Lizardmen quickly buried themselves in work. "Yes, the Big Goblin is quite obedient." This scene was observed by Li Meng from a distance. Standing on the shore, Li Meng nodded repeatedly. He was very satisfied with the Big Goblin''s performance. The higher the rank of a Goblin, the smarter it was. Ordinary Goblins were like big fools who couldn''t focus. Though they were obedient, they were easily distracted by other things. Out of his sight, they would have a tendency to slack off. Chapter 73 - Great Construction If you send a Goblin somewhere, it will go. But when it will arrive is uncertain. Various things along the way will delay its arrival at the destination. "Boss, boss, Gobu Yi is back!" At this moment, a Goblin hurriedly ran over. "Oh, finally back!" The wooden fortress was located north of the central part of the northern swamp. It was closer to the Black Scale tribe and farther from the Gray Scale tribe. It was normal for Gobu Yi to return later than Gobu Zhang. Meanwhile, deep in the swamp southwest of the island. A large group of figures was approaching the island where the wooden fortress was located, under the scorching sun. "What are the Goblins doing?" "It looks like they''re building a new tribe!" "Can Goblins survive in the swamp?" "I don''t know, the damp environment might be too much for them." From a distance, the Lizardmen could see the wooden structures on the island. Although not very large in scale, the construction scene was quite impressive. From afar, one could see Goblins and Lizardmen working hard. "It seems like people from the Gray Scale tribe!" The characteristics of the Lizardmen from the three tribes were still quite distinct. The Lizardmen from the White Scale tribe had scales leaning towards gray-white. The Lizardmen from the Gray Scale tribe had scales leaning towards dark gray. And the Lizardmen from the Black Scale tribe had scales leaning towards dark black. "Are people from the Gray Scale tribe here too?" This discovery caused a commotion among the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen. They had been brought here by the Goblins, their fate uncertain. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. The presence of the Black Scale tribe Lizardmen at least proved they were safe. Many anxious Lizardmen relaxed their tense expressions upon receiving this news. Half an hour later, the grand procession landed from the west shore. "Gobu Yi, you''re too slow, I came back ages ago!" As soon as it landed, Gobu Yi saw the last person it wanted to see. It was Gobu Zhang, a Big Goblin walking over with a mocking smile. "Hmph, I was farther away, what''s there to be proud of." Gobu Yi snorted coldly, ignoring Gobu Zhang. It gazed towards the flat island. "The boss is over there!" Gobu Zhang grinned, moving his body aside a bit. It had intentionally blocked the direction where the boss was. Just to make Gobu Yi unable to find the boss. As Gobu Zhang moved aside, Gobu Yi immediately found the boss. Seeing this, Gobu Yi glared at Gobu Zhang. It hurriedly ran towards the direction where the boss was. "Boss, boss, I''m back!" Gobu Yi ran up to the boss with a fawning expression. "Brought them all back!" Li Meng''s gaze turned towards the Lizardmen team not far away. Gobu Yi grinned, nodding. "Not a single one missing, brought all the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen over!" Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. "Very good, well done!" It seemed that Gobu Yi''s operation went smoothly. The Lizardmen left behind in the Black Scale tribe had never seen Goblins. Their resistance was inevitable. But the Gray Scale tribe was different. The Gray Scale tribe had only submitted after the Goblins attacked their doorstep. The Lizardmen left behind in the Gray Scale tribe had all seen Goblins. They had also witnessed the Goblins'' strength firsthand. So they wouldn''t easily resist. With Gobu Yi bringing back the Gray Scale tribe Lizardmen. In the following days, the island where the wooden fortress was located became even more lively. As the population increased, the demand for food grew. Although Goblins could eat once and not be hungry for three days. The Lizardmen couldn''t manage that. To meet the food needs of over two thousand people. The Lizardmen and Goblins split into two groups. The male Lizardmen were responsible for building the wooden fortress. Two-thirds of the Goblins and two-thirds of the female Lizardmen went out hunting. The remaining Goblins stayed to guard the wooden fortress. The remaining female Lizardmen were responsible for looking after the Lizardmen young. Under Li Meng''s command, everything proceeded in an orderly manner. Time passed bit by bit, day after day. It was another new day, in the morning. "Off, off, yes, that''s the spot!" On the north shore of the island, Li Meng was directing the Lizardmen to build a wooden wall. The fact that the Goblin Soldier could communicate with the Lizardmen was no longer surprising to them. Being able to communicate wasn''t a bad thing. With communication, they could know what they should do. "Boss, boss!" At this moment, a Goblin hurriedly ran over from afar. It ran while shouting loudly. The loud calls caught the attention of many Lizardmen. Soon, the Goblin, panting heavily, ran up to Li Meng. "Boss, something''s wrong, we''ve got trouble!" "Trouble? What happened?" Li Meng looked down at the panting Goblin underling beside him. 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 with interest. "Let''s go, take a look!" Li Meng grabbed the Goblin underling by the scruff. Like picking up a chick, he held the Goblin underling in his hand. Li Meng turned and dashed out, sprinting across the island. His speed was so fast, it was like a gust of wind blowing past. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared into the distance. "Boss, boss, my... my head hurts!" Amidst the Goblin''s loud cries. Li Meng leaped near the water''s edge, heading straight for the water. He crossed dozens of meters before landing heavily on the water''s surface. As soon as he hit the water, the surface instantly froze. On the water, Li Meng continued to sprint. His speed was so fast, the ice path on the water extended northward at a visible pace. This scene was witnessed by the Goblins on the island. "The boss is amazing!" The Goblins on the island exclaimed in awe. "Isn''t he!" A Goblin excitedly patted the shoulder of its companion. Due to using too much force, the Goblin whose shoulder was patted fell to the ground. "Damn, you hit me?" "I... I didn''t, I just patted you." "You did hit me!" "I didn''t!" "You did, Gobu Diao, you''re asking for it!" The Goblin that got up lunged, tackling the other to the ground. "No, I didn''t, you''re the one asking for it!" The two Goblins started wrestling on the ground. This caught the attention of nearby Goblins. They gathered around to watch the commotion. Three hours later, at the edge of a body of water. "The boss is here, the boss is here!" From a distance, Li Meng saw a group of Goblins on a small island. The island wasn''t large, about two hundred square meters. The highest point above the water was no more than a meter. Seeing the boss arrive, the Goblins on the island cheered. Seeing this, Li Meng ran towards the island. When he was still more than fifty meters away from the island. Li Meng leaped into the air. Like a grasshopper, he landed on the island with a "thud." Chapter 74 - Swamp crocodile king The towering figure exuded an overwhelming presence, causing the surrounding Goblins and Lizardmen to retreat continuously. Li Meng set down the Goblin underling in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the waters before him. There was a scent of blood! Faint, but it was the scent of Lizardman blood. "Boss, it''s in the deep water ahead. Two female Lizardmen who went in to drive the fish were eaten!" Upon hearing this, Li Meng narrowed his eyes slightly. His gaze fixed on the dark waters in front of him. No wonder he could smell the faint scent of Lizardman blood. It seemed that even the swamp wasn''t an absolutely safe place for Lizardmen. Hunting outside also came with dangers. While hunting, one could also become the prey. After a while, Li Meng withdrew his gaze. He glanced at the female Lizardmen on either side. Finally, he locked onto a relatively plump female Lizardman. Li Meng walked toward it. "No, no!" The female Lizardman seemed to realize what Li Meng intended to do. It shook its head in terror, stepping back repeatedly. Li Meng grinned, advancing toward it. Reaching out with his right hand, Li Meng grabbed the shoulder of the female Lizardman. Then, with force, he threw it toward the deep water. "Ah!" A terrified scream echoed. The female Lizardman flew out. The immense force sent the female Lizardman flying over a hundred meters. "Plop!" The female Lizardman plunged into the water. A massive column of water splashed up. The female Lizardmen on the shore looked at the Goblin Soldier in fear, afraid they would become the next bait. If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Li Meng switched the rod to his left hand, waving the Big Iron Rod with his right. At this moment, the female Lizardman in the water was thrashing violently. The impact of entering the water left the female Lizardman in a semi-conscious state. Her body instinctively struggled in the water. Her struggle caught the attention of a massive creature in the water. Looking down from the sky, a gigantic shadow appeared beneath the female Lizardman. "Ha ha ha, found you!" Li Meng on the shore suddenly let out a wild laugh. His figure flashed, shooting out like a cannonball. Stepping on the water, the surface instantly froze. Running on the water, Li Meng plunged one end of the Big Iron Rod into the water and lifted it upward. White mist billowed out, rolling forward. Where it passed, the water surface froze instantly. In the blink of an eye, a hundred-meter radius centered around the female Lizardman was frozen. "Boom!" At the moment the water surface froze, the ice layer where the female Lizardman was shattered with a roar. A massive, menacing mouth broke through the ice. The female Lizardman fell into the gaping maw along with the shattered ice. "Ha ha ha, just wanted you to show yourself!" Li Meng grinned menacingly, his figure flashing. "Bang!" The immense force from his foot shattered the ice beneath him. Li Meng''s robust body shot out like an arrow. In an instant, he crossed dozens of meters, kicking the giant mouth''s chin. "Bang!" A muffled sound echoed. A wave of air exploded. The ice shattered, and a massive figure was kicked out of the water by Li Meng. It was a swamp crocodile, magnified five times¡ªthe swamp crocodile king. It was nearly forty meters long, its massive mouth capable of swallowing a small car whole. "Freeze!" Landing on the ice, Li Meng raised his right foot high and stomped down. Billowing white mist howled out, transforming into a wave that swept across a large area of water. Where the white mist passed, everything was frozen. The swamp crocodile king, kicked into the air, hadn''t yet fallen back into the water. The water surface beneath it was already frozen. Suddenly reaching out with his left hand, Li Meng caught the falling female Lizardman. Meanwhile, several dozen meters away, the massive swamp crocodile king crashed heavily onto the ice. It slid across the ice for dozens of meters before coming to a stop. [Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)] [Level: 31] [Strength: 617] [Defense: 711] [Agility: 458] [Magic: 391] [Water Bullet: LV7] "How can this guy''s attributes be so high?" The information about the swamp crocodile king left Li Meng with a look of surprise. At level 31, it had such terrifying attributes. "Could it be related to the ''Elite'' suffix?" Li Meng thought of a possibility. Perhaps after reaching level 100, one becomes elite level, and the level starts increasing from zero again. At this moment, the female Lizardman held by Li Meng woke up. She was still a bit dazed, shaking her head. Li Meng released her. "Go back to the shore!" The voice in her mind made the female Lizardman pause. She came to her senses, quickly turning and limping toward the direction of the island. At this time, not far away, the swamp crocodile king flipped over and got up. "Roar!" It turned around, opening its massive mouth to roar at Li Meng. It was angry, very angry. Its huge pupils were blood-red. Facing the swamp crocodile king''s roar, Li Meng grinned. He swung the Big Iron Rod, pointing it at the swamp crocodile king. Since coming to this world, he hadn''t had a proper fight. The swamp crocodile king wasn''t too strong, but it wasn''t weak either. It was an excellent sparring partner. "Come on, big crocodile!" The swamp crocodile king''s huge pupils narrowed. "Ugly Goblin born from a Groundhog''s belly, you''re courting death!" The swamp crocodile king roared again. Li Meng grinned menacingly, provocatively swinging the Big Iron Rod. The "Heart Speech" skill was indeed useful. Even if the magical beast didn''t have high intelligence, communication was possible. To outsiders, the swamp crocodile king was just roaring. But in Li Meng''s ears, it was a language. To be precise, the swamp crocodile king''s roar contained its thoughts. "Goblin, I''ll turn you into minced meat!" The swamp crocodile king opened its massive mouth. It seemed to be laughing, laughing at Li Meng''s overconfidence. In the swamp crocodile king''s massive mouth, blue magical light flickered. A mass of water balls surged forth. The swamp crocodile king opened its mouth and spat, a massive water ball shooting out. Its speed was so fast that it made a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. "Ha!" Facing the incoming water ball, Li Meng let out a loud shout. Swinging the Big Iron Rod, his body shot out like a cannonball. At the moment of charging out, a wave of air exploded. The ice beneath his feet cracked with a "ka" sound. Li Meng transformed into an arrow, sprinting across the ice. Swinging the Big Iron Rod, he heard a "whoosh." A transparent Wind Blade shot out. A visible wave of wind swept around. In the sky dozens of meters away, the Wind Blade collided with the water ball. The water ball shattered with a roar. Turning into countless raindrops, it fell onto the ice. This scene left the swamp crocodile king momentarily stunned. It hadn''t expected the water bullet to be broken. "Roar!" The swamp crocodile king let out an angry roar. Its massive mouth opened even wider. Finally, blue magical light flickered. One water ball after another swept toward Li Meng like machine gun bullets. "What the hell, are you kidding me!" The terrifying speed of the water bullet release startled Li Meng. His Wind Blade couldn''t be released as quickly as the swamp crocodile king''s. Running on the ice, Li Meng dove to the left. Two water bullets narrowly grazed past his feet. Chapter 75 - Like a toothpick in the ocean "Boom!" Two water bullets collided with the ice layer one after the other. A loud "rumble" echoed. That section of ice shattered instantly. Two massive water columns shot up into the sky. "Damn, water bullets are kinetic attacks!" Li Meng rolled on the ice layer, getting back on his feet and continued running. Glancing back, the terrifying power of the water bullets gave him a fright. If he tried to block with the Big Iron Rod, it definitely wouldn''t hold. Li Meng dashed left and right on the ice layer. One water bullet after another struck the ice behind him. Water columns shot up into the sky. "Luckily, the bullet speed isn''t too fast!" While dodging the water bullets, Li Meng still had time for random thoughts. Since water bullets are kinetic attacks, their flight speed isn''t too fast. Li Meng seemed a bit disheveled on the ice layer. But in reality, he was quickly closing the distance to the swamp crocodile king. "Crack!" Li Meng stomped hard while sprinting. The ice layer shattered, sinking deeply into the water. His body shot up like an arrow, heading straight for the swamp crocodile king. Seeing Li Meng leap towards it, a hint of mockery flashed in the swamp crocodile king''s eyes. It raised its head, opening its massive mouth towards Li Meng. A water ball emerged, spinning rapidly. Facing the swamp crocodile king''s confident strike, Li Meng grinned fiercely. He hurled the Big Iron Rod with force at the swamp crocodile king. With a "boom," a shockwave exploded. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The Big Iron Rod turned into a black streak, crossing dozens of meters in an instant. It plunged straight into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth. "Shhh!" The Big Iron Rod drove deep into the swamp crocodile king''s throat. Almost completely embedded. "Ugh!" The swamp crocodile king let out a mournful cry. It shook its head, swaying its massive body. Trying to dislodge the Big Iron Rod from its mouth. But it was futile; the Big Iron Rod was firmly lodged in its throat. "Ha ha ha, die!" Li Meng landed heavily on the ice layer. With a "crack," that section of ice shattered with a "boom." The LV1 ice element control was still too weak. This resulted in the ice layer not being strong enough. Just a bit tougher than natural ice. As soon as he landed, Li Meng dashed out again. With a quick step, he closed in on the swamp crocodile king. He swung his right fist, punching the swamp crocodile king in the face. The swamp crocodile king''s massive body staggered. The immense force sent it rolling on the ice layer. The Big Iron Rod in its throat seemed to cause it great discomfort. It couldn''t even make a sound. Li Meng waved his hand, and a shockwave exploded in front of him. A Wind Blade shot out, heading straight for the swamp crocodile king. The distance of a few meters was within reach. The Wind Blade struck the swamp crocodile king''s scales with a "shhh." The Wind Blade dissipated upon impact with the swamp crocodile king''s body. "Impressive defense!" It''s known that a single strike of the Wind Blade can cut through a tree that takes 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 massive creature before him, Li Meng felt tempted. Having the swamp crocodile king as a subordinate would make many things easier. He could roam the swamp freely. Even if the Black Mountain tribe''s army came, it wouldn''t matter. With the swamp crocodile king''s assistance, the Black Mountain tribe was nothing to worry about. "Could this be the turning point to change the future?" Li Meng grinned, feeling hopeful. But then again, something seemed off. There didn''t seem to be any information about the swamp crocodile king in the future timeline. What''s going on here? "Dream on, you monster born from a groundhog''s belly!" The swamp crocodile king got up. It endured the discomfort and pain in its throat, charging at Li Meng with its head. Alright, it seems even Magical Beasts harbor animosity towards goblins. Li Meng''s figure flickered as he leaped back. He extended his hands, grabbing the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail. "Then I''ll just have to smash you to death!" Li Meng exerted his strength, using his waist and hips. He swung the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail. The swamp crocodile king''s huge body was lifted by Li Meng. And slammed heavily onto the ice layer. "Boom!" The thick ice layer shattered into pieces. The swamp crocodile king was dazed from the impact. The Big Iron Rod in its throat seemed even more firmly lodged. Seeing the ice layer''s fragility, Li Meng grinned. He dragged the swamp crocodile king''s massive tail towards a nearby island. "See that piece of land? There''s a sharp rock on it. I''ll smash your body against that rock until you''re a bloody mess. After you die, I''ll gut you open, and the goblins will eat you clean, not even leaving the stuff in your stomach. Hmm, letting you die just like that would be too easy." Li Meng turned back, giving the swamp crocodile king a sinister smile. "How about this? I won''t let you die. I''ll make you watch as the goblins gut you open. I''ll keep you alive as long as possible, watching as your body is devoured bit by bit. Hmm, that would be quite interesting." This wasn''t a threat; it was Li Meng''s final offer for the swamp crocodile king to stay alive. Submission was best, but if not, it didn''t matter. The swamp crocodile king''s corpse was a valuable asset. Gobu Ge, Gobu Da, and Gobu Qiang had limited potential. They needed the meat of high-level Magical Beasts to evolve. Li Meng intended to nurture these three underlings. Li Meng''s intimidation finally revealed a hint of fear in the swamp crocodile king''s eyes. Death wasn''t terrifying; a fate worse than death was. "You''re strong. I can submit to you, but I have one condition!" Li Meng thought the swamp crocodile king would hold out a bit longer. After all, it''s a Magical Beast, and Magical Beasts aren''t known for their brains. If everything could be resolved through "communication," why would humans have so many wars? Unexpectedly, the swamp crocodile king didn''t resist at all. As soon as Li Meng finished his threats, it conceded. Li Meng paused, stopping his advance. Standing on the ice layer, Li Meng grinned. Having conditions was good; it meant the deal was done. "Go ahead, what''s your condition?" Li Meng released the swamp crocodile king''s tail. He turned to face the swamp crocodile king, which had regained its freedom and was lying on the ice layer. "I don''t want to mate with goblins. I don''t want to give birth to little goblins!" The swamp crocodile king turned painfully, 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 a deal. Open your mouth." What kind of condition was that? With the swamp crocodile king''s massive size, anyone would be like a toothpick in the ocean. Even the big goblin leader wouldn''t be suitable. "Boss, it''s a deal. You can''t go back on your word." "What, you don''t trust me?" "I don''t trust goblins!" Chapter 76 - Yuee Li Meng grinned and slapped the swamp crocodile king''s jaw. "I am indeed a Goblin, but I''m a Goblin who keeps promises!" The swamp crocodile king hesitantly opened its massive mouth. Though not very smart, it knew what it needed to do to survive. With a smile, Li Meng climbed into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth without hesitation. He crawled along its tongue and into its throat. There, he found the Big Iron Rod lodged in the sticky throat. "Ah!" The swamp crocodile king let out a pained roar on the ice. After a while, Li Meng emerged from the swamp crocodile king''s mouth, holding the Big Iron Rod. "It stinks!" The foul stench on him made Li Meng roll his eyes. Li Meng thrust the Big Iron Rod into the ice. With a "crack," the ice shattered into pieces. Li Meng lunged forward and plunged into the water with a splash. The massive body of the swamp crocodile king followed him into the water. This scene was witnessed by the Goblins and Lizardmen not far away. When they saw their boss crawl into the swamp crocodile king''s mouth, the Goblins were startled. But soon, their boss emerged from the swamp crocodile king''s mouth again. They were bewildered, not understanding what had happened over there. At that moment, the water near the shore began to ripple. A shadow appeared beneath the water. Suddenly, their boss''s head emerged from the water. First the head, then the neck, then the body, and finally the feet. And beneath his feet was the enormous swamp crocodile king. "Let''s go, it''s time to head back!" The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. Li Meng leaped off the swamp crocodile king''s head. He landed steadily on the island. The Lizardmen and Goblins on the island looked at the swamp crocodile king in terror. They retreated repeatedly, filled with fear. But the swamp crocodile king did not attack them. Its massive body crawled in the shallow water, following behind their boss. "The boss has a new underling!" Goblins may be foolish, but they''re not stupid. The Goblins quickly realized what had happened. The Goblins on the island showed excitement, cheering loudly. The female Lizardmen nearby looked on in astonishment. The swamp crocodile king actually submitted to that Goblin? The swamp crocodile king was the most terrifying lordly magical beast in the northern swamp. Though only a fifth-tier magical beast, its strength surpassed most sixth-tier magical beasts. In the northern swamp, the swamp crocodile king was the true King of the Swamp. And now, the king of the northern swamp had submitted to that Goblin soldier. Amidst the cheers of the Goblins on the island, Li Meng gradually moved away with the swamp crocodile king. "Boss, you can sit on my back, it''ll be faster, you''re too slow!" The swamp crocodile king following Li Meng let out a dissatisfied grunt. The boss''s speed was too slow, making it uncomfortable to follow. Li Meng stopped, turned around, and walked toward the swamp crocodile king. Then he climbed up its leg onto its back. As soon as Li Meng sat down, the swamp crocodile king accelerated. It crawled through the shallow water with a "splash." Water splashed everywhere as it moved. Sitting on the swamp crocodile king''s back, Li Meng looked up at the sky. The sun hadn''t set, but the half-moon was already high in the sky. "From now on, I''ll call you Yue''e." The word "e" in "Yue''e" sounds like "crocodile," and the swamp crocodile king was female. Li Meng thought "Yue''e" was a fitting name for the swamp crocodile king. "Boss, you can call me whatever you like!" And so, the swamp crocodile king got a new name. "Yue''e, can you still evolve?" Yue''e looked large, and indeed, it was! It was nearly 45 meters long, with a shoulder height of about 4 meters. But its tail accounted for almost half of its body length. "I can, consuming Magic Crystals can make me stronger!" When a magical beast in the forest dies, the Magic Crystal is the first thing to be consumed. This is a magical beast''s innate ability. "Low-tier Magic Crystals probably won''t be much use to you." Yue''e was a fifth-tier magical beast, so first and second-tier Magic Crystals likely wouldn''t have much effect. "They''re useful, just need to eat more!" Quantity leads to qualitative change? Li Meng thought of the Magic Crystals embedded in the rock walls of the Goblin nest. Though most were first-tier Magic Crystals, they were perfect for feeding Yue''e. "Yue''e, why do you only have one magic skill?" Yue''e was indeed strong, but it only had one magic skill. Li Meng instinctively thought Yue''e''s talent wasn''t great. "Boss, I''m a genius. I''ve never seen another of my kind who can use magic." Only one magic skill and it''s called a genius? Sitting on Yue''e''s back, Li Meng rolled his eyes. But then again, magical beasts with magic skills were indeed rare. Most magical beasts only had enhancement skills. Their combat style leaned more towards melee. Several hours later, at the wooden fortress island. "Not good, a big crocodile is coming!" A panicked shout suddenly rang out from the north shore of the island. A Goblin ran towards the boss as if it had seen a ghost. Nearby Goblins looked over. At a glance, the massive creature from the depths of the northern swamp made their faces change. "Not good, big crocodile, big crocodile!" A single stone stirred up a thousand waves. The Goblins were in chaos, running around the island. They wanted to flee but were afraid. They ran a distance and then ran back. More Goblins ran towards their boss. "What are you afraid of? Stay by the water!" Gobu Zhang strode over due to the commotion on the north shore. It kicked over a loudly shouting Goblin. The boss''s arrival gave the nearby Goblins a backbone. They gathered behind Gobu Zhang. "It''s not a big crocodile, it''s a big crocodile, it''s the boss''s boss, boss, it''s the boss''s boss!" A brave Goblin at the water''s edge cheered, waving its arms. "What are you talking about?" Gobu Zhang was confused by it. Looking 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, 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 hurried to the shore, shouting excitedly. The commotion on the north shore caught the Lizardmen''s attention. They looked curiously towards the depths of the northern swamp. At that sight, all the Lizardmen showed expressions of disbelief. In the depths of the northern swamp, a massive swamp crocodile was approaching. Its movements while running were loud, with water splashing everywhere. "Is that... the swamp crocodile king?" "How could the swamp crocodile king submit to a Goblin?" Only the swamp crocodile king had such a massive size. The Lizardmen living in the swamp were familiar with the swamp crocodile king. The swamp crocodile king was the sacrificial beast worshipped by the three Lizardman tribes of the northern swamp. Feeding oneself to the crocodile was the final fate of all elderly Lizardmen. Chapter 77 - Ritual Beasts and Guardian Deities The sacrificial beast, though dangerous, is also the guardian deity of the Northern swamp. With the swamp crocodile king around, no other high-level Magical Beasts would dare enter the Northern swamp. But today, they witnessed the swamp crocodile king becoming a mount for the Goblins. "This is impossible, absolutely impossible!" "How could this happen?" The Lizardmen found it hard to accept that mere Goblins could achieve such a feat. Mere Goblins had managed to subdue the swamp crocodile king. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" As Li Meng rode Yue''e closer to the island. The Goblins on the shore excitedly shouted in unison. They looked at the boss on the back of the giant crocodile with nothing but fervor in their eyes. Hearing the unified shouts of the Goblin underlings on the shore, Li Meng grinned. He loved the fervent cheers of the Goblin underlings. Under their fervent gaze, Li Meng felt a very strong sensation. It was as if some power within him was awakening. And that power was gradually making him stronger. Amidst the attention of the crowd, Li Meng rode the giant swamp crocodile king ashore. The Goblins on the shore looked in awe at Yue''e, who resembled a mountain of flesh. Though they shouted fervently. Their instincts drove them to step back repeatedly. Li Meng stood up from Yue''e''s back. He raised the Big Iron Rod high with his right hand. "Ha ha ha!" Li Meng burst into loud laughter. His booming laughter echoed across the island. The Goblins'' shouts immediately changed. All the Goblins began laughing "ha ha ha" loudly. "Ha ha ha!" The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. The Goblins on the shore surrounded Yue''e, laughing wildly. Their laughter was so joyful, with a hint of madness. Some Goblins were so amused they rolled on the ground. Others clutched their bellies, laughing heartily. Yue''e, looking at the small Goblins around, had a trace of confusion in its eyes. It didn''t understand what these Goblins were doing. The Lizardmen not far away silently watched and listened. The size of the crocodile on the shore confirmed the identity of the swamp crocodile king. After a while, the laughter on the north shore of the island subsided. Li Meng leaped off 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 underlings, don''t harm them!" Yue''e''s enormous eyes glanced at its boss beside it. Then it turned its massive body and slowly crawled into the water. "Boss, you''re amazing!" Seeing the big crocodile leave, Gobu Zhang quickly ran forward. But Gobu Sheng was even faster. Gobu Sheng slid to his knees, bowing at Li Meng''s feet. He kissed the top of Li Meng''s foot with a fawning expression. "Boss, you''re so strong, I''m about to explode!" As he spoke, Gobu Sheng''s body suddenly shivered. Li Meng, speechless, kicked Gobu Sheng over. "Alright, get to work!" The kicked-over Goblin scrambled away. The surrounding Goblins also dispersed in a hurry. And so, the once noisy island became relatively quiet. In the following days, everything in the Northern swamp remained as usual. The construction of the wooden fortress proceeded in an orderly fashion. Every day, noticeable changes occurred on the island. The wooden walls surrounding the island grew visibly. Time passed bit by bit, day by day. Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly over the Northern swamp. In the forest on the eastern shore of the Northern swamp. A large area of trees near the shore had been felled. Many Lizardmen and Goblins were working in the forest. Though the two races couldn''t communicate verbally. Their long-term cooperation had fostered a sense of understanding. Goblins excelled at chopping, so they handled the logging work. Lizardmen, with their strong arms, managed the sawing work. Processing the fallen trees into logs. "Gray Scale, have you found out anything?" In a messy clearing, Gray Scale and Black Scale were sawing wood. The saw made a "panting" sound as they pulled it back and forth. Gray Scale glanced at the western swamp and shook his head. "The Goblins won''t let us leave here, we can''t get any news from outside." Black Scale''s face darkened, remaining silent. It had been almost a month, and even a fool could sense something was wrong. So much wood was being transported to the depths of the swamp. The Goblins were definitely up to something secretive. "Endure it, the rotation period is almost here!" Gray Scale''s reassurance made Black Scale take a deep breath. Yes, the rotation period was almost here. By then, they would be free. Once they returned to the tribe, things would be much easier. "Black Scale, do you think the Black Mountain tribe will come?" Gray Scale''s expression was complicated. He hoped the Black Mountain tribe would send an army to support the Northern swamp. Yet he also didn''t want the Black Mountain tribe to appear. The Goblins in the forest were simply too powerful. If they failed, there would be no space for Lizardmen to survive in the Goblin Forest. "They will come, they definitely will." Black Scale was certain about the arrival of the Black Mountain tribe. ------ Goblin Forest. Northern swamp, wooden fortress. Time flew by, and two months passed quietly. Two months of construction had made the island in the swamp disappear. In its place stood a massive wooden fortress. The wooden fortress stretched about nine hundred meters north to south. And about seven hundred meters east to west. A nearly seven-meter-high wooden wall stood in the swamp. Fifteen-meter-high watchtowers dotted the wooden wall. A watchtower stood every fifty meters. Looking at the wooden wall, one could see many Goblins standing guard and patrolling. Though the watchtowers were currently empty. It wouldn''t be long before a three-bow ballista was placed on them. Another new day dawned, with the sun shining brightly over the Northern swamp. On the watchtower of the wooden wall on the northern shore of the wooden fortress. "Gobu Yi hasn''t returned yet?" Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng gazed at the space within the wooden fortress. After two months of construction, the wooden fortress was 80% complete. Looking inside the fortress, various wooden houses stood. There were dwellings, places to live. There were warehouses, places to store miscellaneous items. To facilitate water access, two canals were dug within the fortress. Due to the humid air of the swamp, Goblins disliked such an environment. After this event, the wooden fortress wouldn''t house a large military presence. Only a small number of Goblins would be stationed there. "Boss, Gobu Yi hasn''t returned yet!" Gobu Sheng responded to the boss, glancing southward at the swamp. Gobu Sheng and Gobu Zhang stood behind Li Meng. Five days ago, Li Meng had sent Gobu Yi to the White Scale tribe. Since the White Scale tribe only had women and children left. Li Meng wasn''t in a hurry to bring the Lizardmen from the White Scale tribe over. Li Meng turned to look at the southern swamp, deep in thought. The three-bow ballista was on its way, arriving in half a month. The Black Mountain tribe''s army would take at least two to three months to arrive. The timing was still sufficient, no need to rush. The future predicted by the simulated life didn''t have time information. But the Black Mountain tribe''s arrival in the Northern swamp was after the rotation period. The timing could roughly be estimated. Chapter 78 - Crispy rabbit head The very next afternoon, Gobu Yi returned. Accompanying him were hundreds of Lizardman women and children. The arrival of the White Scale tribe''s Lizardmen caused quite a commotion in the wooden fortress. "It''s the White Scale tribe!" "What exactly do the Goblins want by gathering us here?" A long line of Lizardmen entered the wooden fortress through the south gate. This caught the attention of the Lizardmen from the other two tribes. For a moment, the Lizardmen in the fortress were abuzz with speculation. Now that all three tribes were present, it was hard not to wonder what the Goblins'' true intentions were. "Boss, I''m back!" On the other side, Gobu Yi cheerfully climbed up a watchtower. From afar, he had already spotted the boss on the watchtower. Hearing Gobu Yi''s panting voice behind him, Li Meng grinned. "Very good, Gobu Yi, Gobu Zhang, Gobu Sheng, I''ll leave this place to you. Keep a close watch on those Lizardmen." With the rotation period approaching, he needed to go back and make some preparations. "Boss, where are you going?" Gobu Yi asked curiously. Li Meng turned to look at the stretch of towering wooden structures within the fortress. "Of course, I''m returning to the tribe!" Li Meng had initially thought of having them stockpile more food. But after some thought, he gave up. The food brought back by the hunting party was all carcasses. At most, they could be stored for three days before starting to rot. Goblins, with their strong digestive systems, didn''t mind. Not just three days, even highly decomposed, maggot-infested meat was edible for them. In this world, Goblins were akin to Earth''s hyenas. But the Lizardmen''s digestive systems weren''t as robust. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. They needed fresh food. The methods for making jerky and dried fish would have to wait. In the future, if the tribe wanted to go on expeditions, they couldn''t afford to stop and hunt along the way. That would be too time-consuming. They needed a type of food that could be stored for a long time and was easy to carry. "I''ll be back soon!" With that, Li Meng turned and leaped down from the watchtower. The ground was soft, and Li Meng landed silently from the fifteen-meter-high watchtower. Landing steadily, Li Meng dashed into the water. Wherever he went, the water beneath his feet froze over. In no time, a path of ice stretched across the swamp''s waters, leading into the distance. Heading east, it took Li Meng less than three hours to reach the forest on the eastern shore. What took Goblins two days to traverse, Li Meng accomplished in just three hours. His speed was truly astonishing. Li Meng didn''t linger in the forest on the eastern shore, continuing upstream. In the afternoon, at the Goblin River, within the northern forest. The forest was dim and silent. In the dense Goblin Forest, survival was an art. To survive, life first had to learn to be silent. Suddenly, a rustling sound came from a bush. The leaves swayed slightly. The next moment, a flash of white darted out from the bush. It was a small white rabbit. Judging by its size, the rabbit was just an ordinary animal. It hopped and stopped in front of a colorful mushroom. It sniffed with its nose. The mushroom''s enticing aroma made it drool. It opened its mouth to take a bite of the mushroom. But before it could, a shadow flashed past the rabbit in the forest. The little rabbit was lifted into the air. Before it could react, a ferocious mouth bit off its head. The sound of crunching echoed through the forest. "The bones are so crunchy!" Running through the forest, Li Meng grinned. Compared to magical beasts, ordinary animals were incredibly delicious. Even their bones were crunchy, with a delightful crispness. Hours later, in the forest west of the tribe. A tall green figure emerged from the woods. "Not bad!" Li Meng, stepping out of the forest, gazed at the distant tribe. Though distant, it was only about three hundred meters away. The open space made the tribe look like an island in the forest clearing. Behind the wooden walls, dense trees were visible. The wooden walls encircled the tribe, standing firm on the ground. Looking up at the wooden walls, one could see many green figures standing guard. Every fifty meters, a massive three-bow ballista could be seen on the watchtowers. "The boss is back, the boss is back!" Li Meng''s appearance caught the attention of the Goblins standing guard on the wooden walls. Upon closer inspection, the Goblins realized it was indeed their boss. A Goblin on the wall shouted loudly. This drew the attention of the other Goblins. The drowsy Goblins on the wall immediately perked up. Li Meng entered the tribe through the west gate. As soon as he entered, a strong smell of pig manure hit him. Walking through the tribe''s forest, Li Meng frowned slightly. "It seems Gobu Qiang needs to move out and establish a pig-raising tribe soon!" Li Meng had long planned for this. He didn''t want his main base to turn into a cesspool. Even though he had become a Goblin in this life, Li Meng still loved cleanliness. The tribe had many dry toilets. Each dry toilet was equipped with a septic tank. Though simple in structure, they effectively processed waste. They only needed to be cleaned every few years. "Boss, boss!" Before he could leave the forest, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao hurried over. "Boss, you''re back!" The two Big Goblins ran up to Li Meng with fawning expressions. "Did anything happen in the tribe while I was away?" Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly shook their heads. "Boss, everything''s fine, nothing happened." Gobu Mo replied with a flattering smile. "Very good, go inform Gobu Di and Gobu Shi to lead all the Goblins to gather at the throne tribe!" Upon hearing this, the two Big Goblins'' eyes lit up. They turned excitedly and ran out of the tribe''s forest, disappearing in no time. Compared to two months ago, the tribe hadn''t changed much. Aside from the addition of a wooden wall on the perimeter, there were no new buildings within the tribe. As Li Meng walked, he soon arrived at the throne cave. Looking at the familiar building, Li Meng grinned. He thought of Benben, who liked to guard the entrance. In the future predicted by simulated life, Benben would bring back a group of Ogres to the tribe. This indicated that Benben had gone to find its own kind. Compared to Goblins, Li Meng preferred the simple-minded Ogres. Because they were simple, they seemed pure. Once they decided on something, they wouldn''t easily change their minds. "Bai Ling, I''m back!" Li Meng kicked the door open as he reached the entrance. The door swung open with a "bang," startling the female Lizardmen inside. The female Lizardmen were gathered, chatting about something unknown. The familiar, fearsome figure sent them scattering in panic. Li Meng strode into the throne cave. His gaze swept over the female Lizardmen. Seeing them, Li Meng''s expression turned peculiar. Without the male Lizardmen, their lives seemed quite difficult. Each female Lizardman''s chest was wet. The wooden house was filled with a strong milky scent. Seeing Bai Ling on the main bed, Li Meng grinned. He walked towards her with large strides. Seeing her master approach, a trace of fear flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. Chapter 79 - The future has already changed "Master, the... the rotation period is almost here." In a month, the rotation period would arrive. Bai Ling was reminding her master that time was running out. Li Meng, striding to the main bed, did not bully Bai Ling. He climbed onto the bed, turned over, and fell asleep beside Bai Ling. Watching her master sleeping soundly beside her, Bai Ling let out a sigh of relief. The pressure from the goblin before her was growing more intense. "Bai Ling, you know about the swamp crocodile king, right?" Li Meng, with his eyes closed, suddenly asked. Bai Ling looked down at her master beside her and nodded slightly. "The swamp crocodile king is the sacrificial beast we worship. It''s inherently ferocious and difficult to communicate with. I promised it various conditions before it agreed to protect the northern swamp. Once high-level Magical Beasts invade, it will fight!" Bai Ling''s answer made Li Meng''s expression change slightly. "So that''s how it is!" The northern swamp is the territory of the swamp crocodile king. Logically, there shouldn''t be any space for Lizardmen to live. Yet the swamp crocodile king coexisted with the Lizardmen. Although both sides were still in a predator-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 curvaceous Bai Ling beside him. "Not long ago, I encountered it. It''s now my little brother, named ''Yue''e''!" "That''s... that''s impossible!" Bai Ling''s exclamation suddenly echoed in the wooden house. She looked at her master beside her in disbelief. Seeing Bai Ling''s slight loss of composure, Li Meng grinned. "Nothing is impossible; it''s the truth!" Bai Ling hesitated, her expression shifting. Though she said it was impossible, Bai Ling still believed it in her heart. The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Because the goblin beside her had no reason to deceive her. It served no purpose. "Bai Ling, do you think the Black Mountain tribe will launch a large-scale invasion of the northern swamp?" Upon hearing this, Bai Ling''s face turned pale. Her voluptuous body trembled, and she seemed on the verge of collapse. Bai Ling appeared somewhat panicked, lowering her head, not daring to meet Li Meng''s gaze. Grinning, Li Meng lay flat on the bed. His hands rested behind his head. "I told you, I''m a clever goblin, I know everything!" "You must be curious why I led those male Lizardmen to the northern swamp two months ago." Bai Ling''s body trembled, and she stared intently at her master. A hint of fear flashed in her eyes. She feared hearing news from the goblin beside her that would shatter her. "They''re all alive!" Seeing Bai Ling''s expression, Li Meng knew what she was thinking. Li Meng recalled that night. The night the male Lizardmen of the White Scale tribe were hunted to extinction. That night, Bai Ling showed him despair on a Lizardman''s face. One must know that a Lizardman''s face is relatively smooth. But discerning changes in expression is still quite difficult. "Whoo!" Bai Ling took a deep breath. She weakly supported herself on the bed, panting heavily. The intense emotional change left her body limp. She had been truly frightened just now. "I built a wooden fortress in the northern swamp. The Lizardmen from the Black Scale tribe, Gray Scale tribe, and White Scale tribe have all been relocated to the wooden fortress. This is what I''ve been doing for the past two months." Bai Ling didn''t react much to this news. Bai Ling sat up straight. She leaned slightly forward, massaging Li Meng''s legs with her hands. Bai Ling''s sudden action made Li Meng grin with pleasure. After running around all day, his legs were indeed a bit sore. With Bai Ling''s soothing touch, the soreness and numbness felt incredibly comfortable. "Since the master has already 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 the power of the swamp crocodile king. If the swamp crocodile king was willing to accept the master''s command. Unless the Black Mountain tribe attacked with their entire tribe, they wouldn''t be able to do anything about the swamp crocodile king. "Does the Black Mountain tribe have any strong warriors?" Bai Ling shook her head lightly. "I''m not sure. The White Scale tribe hasn''t had contact with the Black Mountain tribe for a long time!" Since Bai Ling said she didn''t know, Li Meng didn''t ask 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 warriors, they wouldn''t have been forced to summon the Barbarian God "Aqua." If the invading Black Mountain tribe army had strong warriors, they wouldn''t have fled with Bai Ling in such a hurry. Even if there were strong warriors, their strength wouldn''t change the course of a war. Time passed little by little, day by day. In the following days, Li Meng didn''t go anywhere. He stayed honestly in the tribe. Occasionally, he would visit the carpentry workshop to teach Gobu Da more carpentry knowledge. He also visited the Iron Cave a few times. Gobu Ge needed to quickly master the knowledge of smelting high-carbon and low-carbon steel. Without the Lizardmen laborers, the iron smelting efficiency in the Iron Cave was somewhat affected. Gobu Ge had to assign his underlings to mine and chop wood to make charcoal. It wasn''t until half a month later that Gobu Di and Gobu Shi arrived at the tribe one after another. It was another new day, and the time had reached the morning. The tribe was bustling, with goblins shouting chaotically. Nearly two thousand goblins gathered outside the throne cave. A dense mass of green figures spread across a large area of the forest. In the ranks, there were not only goblins but also female Lizardmen. A year had passed, and only thirteen female Lizardmen had died. The cause of death couldn''t be said to be unrelated to the goblins, but it wasn''t entirely their fault either. Eleven of them died from illness, and there was a reason for their deaths. Due to continuous pregnancies, their bodies were worn out. This was related to the food provided by the goblins. The main diet of Lizardmen is fish. Only fish from the water can provide the nutrients Lizardmen need to survive. Just eating Magical Beast meat couldn''t meet their nutritional needs. Over time, they fell ill. One of the remaining two was drowned. She accidentally fell and hit her head on a rock while bathing in the river. She passed out immediately and was swept away by the river. By the time the goblins caught up, she had already drowned. The last female Lizardman was crushed to death by a falling boulder in the Iron Cave. Standing at the entrance, Li Meng waved his hand. "Move out!" Li Meng shouted, his voice thunderous. In an instant, the tribe echoed with the rumble of footsteps. A dense crowd of goblins swarmed around the Lizardmen, heading west. At a glance, it was a forest of long spears, with figures surging. "Bai Ling, go now. The Lizardmen in the northern swamp need your leadership!" Bai Ling silently walked forward behind Li Meng. The goblins waiting outside hurriedly followed, surrounding her as they joined the main force. Watching the goblin underlings moving away from the tribe, Li Meng grinned. "With this, it''s time to resolve the adventurer incident!" Once Gobu Di and Gobu Shi reached the wooden fortress in the northern swamp. The total garrison at the wooden fortress would reach four thousand. With Yue''e assisting from the side, it would be absolutely foolproof. "System, start the simulated life!" Li Meng spread his arms wide and took a deep breath. He believed that the future had already changed. Ever since he led the goblin underlings to the northern swamp, the future had already shifted. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have encountered Yue''e. Chapter 80 - Ice Element King [Simulated Life Begins] [You stand at the entrance of the throne cave, filled with confidence about the future.] [You head to the Goblin nest with a crystal, waiting for the adventurer squad to appear.] [Gobu Di and Gobu Shi lead the Goblin army to the wooden fortress in the northern swamp.] [One day, a small human boat sails upstream and lands on the southern shore.] [One day, the adventurer squad appears in the forest outside the Goblin nest.] [You follow the adventurer squad westward, watching them board a boat and sail downstream.] [The Black Mountain tribe launches a massive attack but retreats in panic.] [Your tribe thrives and grows.] [Bai Ling unifies the northern swamp Lizardmen tribes, naming the new tribe "Yue Clan."] [You withdraw your troops from the wooden fortress, which becomes the Yue Clan''s stronghold.] [Your tribe thrives and grows, and you teach the Goblins how to make jerky.] [One day, a Pigmen tribe squad attacks your hunting party, but the Pigmen squad is killed.] [One day, you receive news that the Pigmen tribe is mobilizing its entire force.] [You receive news from the Yue Clan in the northern swamp that a large human fleet is sailing upstream along the Goblin River.] [The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion is attacking.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Gather superior forces to eliminate the threat of the Pigmen tribe.] [2. Withdraw all Goblins from the sub-tribes and defend the throne tribe''s main base.] [3. Split forces to guard the Yue Clan and defend together.] [4. Gather forces to ambush the human fleet on the northern bank of the Goblin River.] The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion? Li Meng, sitting at the entrance, bent down and sat on the steps. The adventurers leaving safely caused the Principality of Ilysis''s army to appear earlier. The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. At least a year and a half earlier than the previous predicted timeline. Each of the four options has its pros and cons. The first option requires taking advantage of the time difference. If the Pigmen tribe isn''t dealt with quickly, the Yue Clan won''t be able to receive timely support. Since it''s called a pioneering legion. All the Barbarians in the Goblin Forest are targets of the human pioneering legion. Li Meng can''t guarantee that the human pioneering legion won''t attack the Yue Clan. The second option is too passive. Although it can repel the Pigmen tribe with minimal losses. But option two undoubtedly abandons the Yue Clan. The third option tries to have it all. But splitting forces can easily lead to both places being inadequately defended. And the fourth option is too risky. There''s a lot of room for maneuver. Defending the main base while ambushing the human pioneering legion at a critical point. A slight mistake could lead to a complete collapse. "Choose one!" The first option is the most stable. Defeat the Pigmen tribe in one go and then proceed slowly. Whether it''s supporting the Yue Clan or ambushing the human pioneering legion, there''s still time. [You choose to concentrate superior forces to confront the Pigmen tribe.] [In a forest to the east, your Goblin army battles the Pigmen tribe.] [You achieve victory, and the Pigmen tribe is repelled.] [You lead the Goblin army to the western forest on the northern bank of the Goblin River in the northern swamp to set up defenses.] [You attack the Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion fleet.] [You achieve victory, but Benben and Yue''e die in battle, and your Goblin army suffers heavy losses, with only one-tenth surviving.] [The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion fleet is completely destroyed, shocking human nations.] [You lead the remaining Goblin army back to the tribe.] [Your tribe barely survives but is quickly recovering.] [One day, a ghost beastman claiming to be a centurion of the demon tribe appears outside the west gate of the tribe.] [It challenges you.] [Please make the following choice:] [1. Accept its challenge.] [2. Refuse its challenge.] "A centurion of the demon tribe?" Li Meng, sitting at the entrance, showed a hint of surprise in his eyes. Since there are demons, there must be a demon king. And where there''s a demon king, there must be a hero. Li Meng grinned, becoming interested. "Option one!" [You accept its challenge.] [You defeat it, and the demon tribe''s ghost beastman centurion flees in panic.] [Your tribe thrives and grows.] [The deaths of Benben and Yue''e make you increasingly resentful of this world, resentful of humans.] [You unleash immense power, making the female Lizardmen wail day and night.] [Your bloodline descendants expand their territory like locusts.] [Your hunting party begins to attack non-bloodline kin.] [The rapidly expanding territory gradually borders human lands.] [Your hunting party starts attacking human villages.] [One day, you receive news that the Black Mountain tribe has summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua."] [The three-year limit has been reached.] [As a transmigrator, you have gradually adapted to your new identity, starting your own life in this other world. You are well aware of the harshness of this world, and you strive to become stronger, working tirelessly towards this goal.] [Simulated Life Ends, Score: 100] [Please choose the following rewards:] [1. Consume ten score points for +1 level.] [2. Consume one score point for +1 attribute.] [3. Consume twenty score points for +1 charm.] [4. Consume ten score points to increase "Ice Element Control" skill level by +1.] [5. Consume ten score points to increase "Heart Speech" skill level by +1.] [6. Consume ten score points to increase "Berserk" skill level by +1.] "Benben and Yue''e will die?" Li Meng frowned slightly, lying on the ground at the entrance. Looking at the dense canopy, Li Meng''s expression was thoughtful. Knowing the fate of Benben and Yue''e, Li Meng naturally wouldn''t let it happen. From today, he must proceed cautiously. "What is the Black Mountain tribe up to?" Thinking of the Black Mountain tribe, Li Meng felt speechless. He originally thought he had successfully stopped the Black Mountain tribe from summoning the Barbarian God "Aqua." Unexpectedly, it all came full circle. His actions only delayed the Black Mountain tribe''s summoning of the Barbarian God "Aqua." "Could it be that the Black Mountain tribe has encountered an unbeatable enemy again?" At this moment, Li Meng realized how troublesome the Black Mountain tribe was. Sitting up, Li Meng took a deep breath. "Forget it, let''s think about which reward to choose." There are six reward options in total, and this time the luck is quite good. However, looking at the skills, Li Meng felt helpless again. Among the three skills, only "Ice Element Control" seems somewhat useful. The "Berserk" skill, although powerful. It can unleash potential, increasing strength several times in a short period. But the side effects are unacceptable to Li Meng. It causes a loss of sanity during berserk. And the first three options can''t effectively enhance strength. "Choose four!" [Consume 90 score points, increase "Ice Element Control" skill level by +9.] ["Ice Element Control" is now max level, advancing to "Ice Element King."] Chapter 81 - The small boat on the river surface The increase in magic skill levels doesn''t bring about any noticeable sensation. If there''s any feeling at all, it''s that there''s none. Li Meng extended his right hand, and with a thought, a white mist emerged from his palm, instantly condensing into a three-foot-long ice spike. The ice spike was a transparent white, radiating waves of cold air. "Amazing!" Every time Li Meng used magic, he found it incredible. Especially with the skill "Ice Element Control." It''s far more advanced than any magic skill like "Wind Blade." It allows direct and free manipulation of ice power. Li Meng waved his hand, flinging the small ice spike into the depths of the forest. The tiny ice spike shot out, crossing dozens of meters in an instant, and struck a large tree. "Hiss!" With a "hiss," the tree was pierced through. The ice spike, still with momentum, hit another tree. "Snap!" Sitting at the doorway, Li Meng snapped his fingers. The ice spike that pierced the second tree suddenly shattered in mid-air, turning into a mass of white mist that swept around. Everything it touched was frozen. In almost an instant, that small area was completely encased in ice. This terrifying scene left the nearby Goblins, who hadn''t yet left, looking at each other in dismay. Even from a distance, they could feel the cold air rushing towards them. Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao looked at their leader with fervor. "The power has indeed increased significantly!" Seeing this, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. He stood up, turned, and entered the wooden house. If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement. When he came out, there was a package at his waist. "Gobu Mo, Gobu Gao, continue to guard the throne tribe!" Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao quickly nodded. Without saying more, Li Meng strode out of the tribe. Watching their leader''s departing figure, Gobu Mo and Gobu Gao were filled with confusion. Why does the leader, being the leader, always leave the tribe? Wouldn''t it be better to leave things to them, his subordinates? And he always goes alone, without taking any of them. Half an hour later, on the northern bank of the Goblin River. Li Meng emerged from the dense forest at a leisurely pace. Standing by the water, Li Meng gazed at the vast Goblin River before him. "Ha ha ha, freeze!" Li Meng laughed loudly, stepping onto the water. "Crack!" With a "crack," the sound of freezing filled the air. Rolling white mist surged out, like a thousand horses galloping across the water. In the blink of an eye, a ten-meter-wide ice path appeared on the hundreds-of-meters-wide river. "It feels like something is draining from my body, could it be magic power?" Looking at the ice path across the river, Li Meng thought to himself. Without thinking much more, Li Meng grinned. He stepped onto the ice path and walked towards the opposite bank. ------ Principality of Ilysis. Border region, Goblin Forest. In the rugged mountains, the Goblin River wound forward like a long dragon. July was the height of summer. On the Goblin River, a small boat was sailing. There were five people on the boat, one steering, and the other four paddling upstream. The boat wasn''t large, about 10 meters long. Among the men, two wore armor, with swords, shields, and large axes on the boat. Another wore leather armor, with a hood on his head and a bow and arrow by his side. The two women wore robes, one white and one black. Beside them were staffs inlaid with blue crystals. "It''s too hot, Odyssey, this is the route you chose!" The scorching sun hung high in the sky, making the girls on the boat sweat profusely. The sticky feeling made the girl in the white robe glare angrily. Odyssey, steering at the stern, gave a sheepish smile. "Martha, Aileen, you can''t blame me for this. Taking the water route is the safest and most time-efficient. If we went by land, you''d be even more exhausted, and it would take nearly twice as long. Could you endure that?" Martha and Aileen, with bitter expressions, had no choice but to continue paddling. Beside them, Patience and Rachel were silently panting as they rowed. "If I''d known, I would have rented an airship from the Crystal Temple!" Ailee sighed in frustration. "Come on, we don''t have that kind of money!" Odyssey''s words drew angry glares from the four. The culprit for their lack of money was right in front of them. Facing his teammates'' gazes, Odyssey gave an awkward smile. "Um... sorry!" The four remained silent, each rowing their oars. "Captain, no matter how much money you donate, it won''t reach those children!" After a long while, Rachel was the first to break the silence on the boat. Rachel''s words made Odyssey frown slightly. "Rachel, what do you mean by that?" Odyssey looked at Rachel, who was expressionless, with confusion. A hint of hesitation flashed in Rachel''s eyes as he rowed. He wasn''t sure if he should tell the captain the truth. The captain, as a Crystal Paladin, was inexperienced and unaware of the world''s harsh realities. The other three also looked at Rachel with curiosity. They supported the captain''s sponsorship of the orphanage. After all, those children were descendants of adventurers. As adventurers themselves, how could they remain indifferent? Ultimately, Rachel decided to reveal the truth. "Captain, you should know I come from a mercenary background. During those years as a mercenary, I experienced many things, some of which you might find unimaginable. But what I''m about to say is the truth, something I witnessed with my own eyes." Rachel''s words sparked curiosity in the four. They were eager to hear what Rachel would say next. "Do you know why the orphanage in Locke Town only takes in girls?" Martha raised her hand. "I know, I know, because the boys are taken in by the militia!" The militia is a civilian military organization in human towns. It''s an armed group funded by local merchants and nobles. Although it''s an auxiliary unit of the regular army, it''s not under the jurisdiction of the local lord. It''s mainly responsible for safeguarding the safety of local towns. Rachel''s face darkened, and he rowed the oar forcefully. "That''s the official story, but secretly it''s a different matter. During my years as a mercenary, I saw girls from the Locke Town orphanage in a slave trader''s convoy. Some were adults, while others were just children!" "This... this can''t be!" Rachel''s words left the four with looks of astonishment. Martha immediately retorted, glaring angrily. "The orphanage''s head is Sister Tataru, who comes from the Crystal Temple. How could she do such a thing?" As a Crystal Priestess, Martha couldn''t tolerate anyone sullying the Crystal Temple. "Rachel, could you have been mistaken?" Odyssey also couldn''t believe that Sister Tataru would do such a thing. In Odyssey''s heart, Sister Tataru had always been a kind lady. "Perhaps!" Rachel didn''t argue with his companions. Chapter 82 - Black Mountain tribe is coming! He knew that it would be hard for his companions to believe this if he told them. Sometimes, unless you see it with your own eyes, no matter how much others say, you won''t believe it. After that, the boat fell into silence. Only the "splash, splash" of the oars cutting through the water echoed. Each of the five had their own thoughts. Although the four were somewhat skeptical of Rachel''s words. They knew very well what kind of person Rachel was. Rachel wouldn''t make things up for no reason. The four also knew that as a Crystal Demon Hunter, Rachel had far more life experience than they did. After a long while, Martha turned to look at Rachel behind her. "Rachel, I''m sorry, I''ll look into this matter thoroughly!" Hearing Martha''s words, the other three exchanged smiles. "Martha, make sure to investigate thoroughly when we get back, this matter..." Aileen''s words were abruptly cut off. She stood up, looking at the river behind the boat with a face full of uncertainty. The other four seemed to sense something as well, their expressions changing slightly. They quickly put away the oars and picked up their weapons. "Don''t move, keep rowing!" Odyssey''s face darkened as he spoke in a low voice. The four continued to row the boat without a change in expression. "Captain, what is that?" Martha seemed a bit nervous. The rhythm of her rowing was somewhat chaotic. Rachel, behind them, glanced at the fleeting shadow in the water. "It should be swamp Lizardmen!" Looking down from the sky to the river. A large number of shadows swam under the boat in groups. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. This process lasted for a full half hour. After half an hour, the commotion in the water disappeared. "Captain, did we encounter migrating swamp Lizardmen?" Patience wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Fortunately, the swamp Lizardmen had no time to bother with them. Otherwise, the five of them would be done for. With so many Lizardmen, no matter how strong they were, they were no match for the swamp Lizardmen in the water. "Captain, look over there!" At this moment, Aileen exclaimed. The four looked in the direction of the sound, all frowning. Ahead, on the northern shore, was a vast expanse of water. It was an endless swamp. At the junction of the swamp and the Goblin River, there was movement. A large number of Lizardmen were coming ashore from the deep water and wading into the swamp. A dense mass of swamp Lizardmen moved north in groups. And behind them, more swamp Lizardmen continued to come ashore from the deep water. The five on the boat watched this scene in silence. "They''re all armed Lizardmen, it doesn''t look like a migration!" "Could it be a tribal war among the Barbarians?" "It has nothing to do with us, row quickly, let''s leave this place!" Rachel was the first to react. Now was not the time to watch the excitement. Leaving this place of trouble was the wisest choice. The captain''s reminder brought the four back to their senses. They quickly rowed with all their might. The boat''s speed suddenly increased, moving upstream. As the five on the boat observed the Lizardmen in the swamp. The Lizardmen in the swamp were also observing the small boat on the river. "They''re human adventurers, Elder Red Scale, should we deal with them?" Among the Lizardmen army that had come ashore, three Lizardmen were looking at the river. One of the three Lizardmen stood out. It had a body covered in red scales. It seemed somewhat out of place with the other Lizardmen. "Human adventurers are troublesome and strong, now is not the time to create more trouble." "Let''s go, don''t forget our purpose!" Red Scale withdrew its gaze from the river without expression. Turning to follow the army forward. Seeing this, the other two Lizardmen quickly followed. Looking down from the sky to the swamp, the marching Lizardmen army was a dense mass. It was like a dark cloud moving north. Their numbers were no less than five thousand. Five days later, in the morning, at the Gray Scale tribe. The Black Mountain tribe''s army entered the tribe from the northwest. The small tribe was instantly submerged in a sea of people. "Elder Red Scale, it''s all empty, it has been vacant for a long time!" Standing in the tribe, Red Scale surveyed the surrounding stilt houses. "Elder Red Scale, could it be that the Gray Scale tribe..." The Lizardman beside Red Scale hesitated to speak. "Go to the Black Scale tribe!" Red Scale said expressionlessly, striding out of the tribe. The few Lizardmen behind quickly followed. "Elder Red Scale, should I take some people to check out the White Scale tribe?" "There''s no need. According to the information we have, the White Scale tribe was the first to be attacked by the Goblins. If something happened to the Gray Scale and Black Scale tribes, the White Scale tribe wouldn''t be any better off." "Right now, we know nothing about the situation in the northern swamp, we can''t divide our forces!" At this time, it was nearing noon. The Lizardmen army, which had just entered the tribe, continued to march northeast without stopping. The massive force left the tribe in a grand procession. The next day, at the wooden fortress in the northern swamp. By noon, the wooden fortress was basking in the bright sun. The scorching sunlight made Gobu Sheng on the watchtower feel a bit irritable. After more than a month, Gobu Sheng had successfully evolved. As a Goblin Soldier, Gobu Sheng''s height had shot up to two meters. His physique had also become more robust. His muscles bulged all over, giving him a very powerful appearance. Gobu Yi and Gobu Zhang, who were still Big Goblins, could only stand behind Gobu Sheng. Gobu Sheng had also become the boss of the wooden fortress. "Boss, boss, they''re here, they''re here!" At this moment, a Goblin scrambled up the watchtower. "Speak clearly, what''s coming?" The irritable Gobu Sheng glared. His thick right leg was about to kick out. "It''s Lizardmen, lots and lots of Lizardmen!" Upon hearing this, Gobu Sheng''s eyes lit up. The foot he was about to kick out was retracted. "Ha ha ha!" Gobu Sheng on the watchtower laughed. After a while, the laughter from the watchtower faded away. "Great, the Lizardmen really came!" "Gobu Zhang, go find that white female Lizardman, have her send all the male Lizardmen out to hunt. Oh, and let the white female Lizardman spread the news of the Lizardmen''s arrival." Gobu Zhang nodded. Then turned and climbed down the watchtower, running into the wooden fortress. Turning to gaze at the swamp outside, Gobu Sheng grinned. Although he didn''t understand why the boss wanted them to do this. Gobu Sheng couldn''t be bothered to think about it. He just needed to do as the boss said. Gobu Sheng turned to look at the three-bow ballista beside him, grinning fiercely. "Come on, let me shoot you into pieces!" Just thinking about that delightful scene made Gobu Sheng shiver with excitement. Not long after, inside the largest wooden house in the wooden fortress. Under Bai Ling''s summons, a group of tribal elders gathered. "The Black Mountain tribe has indeed come!" The news from Bai Ling, the High Priestess, left the elders looking at each other in dismay. Chapter 83 - Campfire Adventurer Squad "Revenge, revenge, this is our chance!" A Lizardman elder was filled with excitement. It clenched its right fist and slammed it hard on the wooden board. Its eyes were full of hatred and excitement. Having lost its wife, its life was now solely about revenge. The resentful voice made Bai Ling glance at it slightly. "Revenge? With what? Even the swamp crocodile king has been subdued by that Goblin!" "It''s too terrifying, we must think this through." "It''s an anomaly among Goblins, and a nightmare for all the Barbarians in the Goblin Forest. We can''t risk the tribe''s survival." "I''d rather die standing than live in humiliation." "Where was this courage before? You weren''t saying this before heading to the Goblin tribe." As they spoke, the elders in the wooden hut began to argue. "Quiet, quiet!" It was Black Scale who finally stopped the endless quarrel among the elders. Black Scale looked at Bai Ling, the High Priestess, who was seated at the head, and slightly bowed its head. "High Priestess, please say something!" As soon as these words were spoken, all the elders turned their gaze to Bai Ling, the High Priestess. Facing the elders'' gazes, Bai Ling sighed inwardly. At this moment, she had no choice. Before reaching the wooden fortress, she had already lost the courage to resist her master. Because she knew well what the outcome of resisting her master would be. They didn''t have the power for revenge. Resistance would only lead to the complete disappearance of the Lizardmen in the northern swamp. The surviving female tribespeople would become breeding tools for the Goblins. Their plight would be a hundred times more miserable than it is now. Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions. Bai Ling extended both her hands. "Those who agree to submit to the Goblins, stand on the right!" "Those who agree to revenge, stand on the left!" The elders in the room looked at each other. No one moved; everyone was waiting for others to act. Just as the elders were hesitating, Gray Scale moved. He stood up and positioned himself to Bai Ling, the High Priestess''s right. Gray Scale''s choice made the expressions on the Lizardman elders'' faces vary. Black Scale was the second to rise, moving to stand beside Gray Scale. With the two chieftains having made their choice, the elders no longer hesitated. Some Lizardman elders stood on the right. But some Lizardman elders stood on the left. The final result quickly emerged. There weren''t many Lizardman elders willing to risk the tribe''s survival. "Cowards, cowards, a bunch of cowards, I''d rather die standing than live kneeling!" There were nine Lizardman elders standing on the left. They looked at the Lizardmen on the opposite side with disdain and hatred. The leading Lizardman cursed loudly. Bai Ling, seated at the head, remained unmoved. She looked up at the Lizardman 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 swamp. If you can leave your wives and children behind, then leave during the next hunting trip and don''t come back!" Bai Ling knew well that keeping these people would be a disaster. One day, they might incite a rebellion against the master. As a Goblin, the master wouldn''t have the patience to give them a second chance. Unless one day she gained the power to obtain freedom. Otherwise, she would never risk the tribe''s survival. Rather than forcibly keeping them in the tribe, it was better to let them leave. "Hmph, Bai Ling, the High Priestess, I hope you won''t regret today''s decision!" The leading Lizardman snorted coldly. It glanced disdainfully at the tribespeople who chose to live in humiliation. Then turned and strode out. The other Lizardman elders quickly followed. But two Lizardman elders hesitated at the door. In the end, they didn''t leave the wooden hut but chose to stay. Early the next morning, the wooden fortress was bustling. Hunting parties of male Lizardmen left the tribe through the four gates to hunt. The departure of the Lizardman hunting parties quietly set some things in motion. ------ That night, in the forest on the southern shore of the Goblin River. Silver moonlight bathed the earth, blocked by dense canopies. The forest was silent and pitch black. But in the darkness, a flicker of firelight was visible. Looking deeper into the forest, a campfire was burning. Five people sat by the campfire, the adventurers. "Captain, are we almost there?" Aileen, sitting by the campfire, asked the captain out of boredom. Odyssey took out a magical map from his pocket. "Almost there, the airship''s mark disappeared in the forest not far to the southeast." Hearing this, Aileen''s eyes lit up. "Captain, does that mean we''ll find the crashed airship tomorrow?" Odyssey shook his head and put away the magical map. "That''s uncertain, we might have to search that forest for several days." "Aileen, if there are crystals nearby, you should be able to sense them, right?" Martha suddenly asked Aileen. Aileen nodded and waved her staff. "Yes, as long as they''re not too far away, I can sense them!" Martha smiled slightly and tossed a stick into the campfire. "There should be a sizable crystal on the airship." The four people''s eyes lit up at Martha''s words. The five by the campfire exchanged smiles. It seemed they would soon complete their mission. "Rachel, have you ever ventured deep into the Goblin Forest before?" Martha asked Rachel curiously. She had never ventured this deep into the Goblin Forest before. Rachel shook her head. She glanced at the dark forest behind her. Then turned back and adjusted her hood. "The Goblin Forest borders the Southern Wild Peninsula to the west, the Principality of Ilysis to the north, and is flanked by the sea to the south and east. The territory of the Principality of Ilysis was part of the Goblin Forest centuries ago." "Although I''ve never ventured deep into the Goblin Forest, I know quite a bit about it." "The most common Barbarians in the Goblin Forest are Goblins." "They''re one of the most disgusting creatures in this world, especially for women." Rachel''s words made Martha and Aileen blush. They were naturally aware of the peculiarities of Goblins. Their years as adventurers had brought them into contact with many Goblin-related missions. "Fortunately, they''re very weak, even a novice adventurer can take on ten of them." "However, don''t underestimate Goblins because of this." Rachel extended a hand. "First, Goblins usually appear in groups, don''t let yourself get surrounded." "Second, never chase Goblins into dark caves." "Third, don''t think you can eradicate Goblins once and for all, they''re impossible to completely eliminate." "Fourth, prepare plenty of mana." "Fifth, Goblin ears aren''t worth much, they''re suitable for beginners." "Sixth, the greatest mystery in the world is that humans always tend to ignore the existence of Goblins." Rachel rattled off a list of topics about Goblins. This gave the group a better understanding of Goblins. "Rachel, why do we need to prepare plenty of mana?" Aileen asked curiously. Rachel picked up a stick and tossed it into the campfire. He clapped his hands and looked at Aileen beside him. "Aileen, you''re a mage. If you''re surrounded by Goblins, what happens when you run out of mana?" Chapter 84 - All are Elites Rachel''s retort left Aileen''s face pale. She knew all too well what kind of fate awaited them. No wonder Rachel had warned them never to let themselves be surrounded by Goblins. However, the five of them were unaware that a pair of eyes was watching them from the depths of the darkness. In the heart of the forest, less than twenty meters from the group. A shadow could be faintly seen behind a large tree. The shadow hiding behind the tree was Li Meng. "This feels like a world of swords and magic from another realm!" Secretly observing the human adventurers by the campfire, Li Meng thought to himself. Two men wore armor, with swords and shields, and a large axe by their sides. They were likely of the knight and warrior professions. The last man wore brown leather armor and a hood. Beside him lay a finely crafted short bow. A small blue crystal was embedded in the bow. The other two women wore black and white robes. The white-robed mage seemed to be of a priestly profession. This was evident from the religious ornaments on her chest. The black-robed mage was probably the kind of magician common in otherworldly novels. Both of their staffs were adorned with crystals. In the forest, Li Meng secretly observed the panel information of the five. [Crystal Apostle (Elite)] [Level: 59] [Strength: 517] [Defense: 719] [Agility: 481] [Magic: 161] [Crystal Magic (?)] [Crystal Magic (?)] Stolen novel; please report. [Crystal Magic (?)] This was the panel attributes of the knight. His stats were nearly 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 formidable. [Crystal Apostle (Elite)] [Level: 71] [Strength: 214] [Defense: 171] [Agility: 811] [Magic: 887] [Crystal Magic (?)] [Crystal Magic (?)] [Crystal Magic (?)] [Crystal Magic (?)] The man in leather armor was the strongest among the five. 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 (?)] "The mage is indeed fragile!" The black-robed female mage''s panel attributes made Li Meng mutter to himself. Finally, Li Meng looked at the female priest. [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 too many skills. The priestess''s array of crystal skills made Li Meng complain inwardly. "No wonder they dared to venture deep into the Goblin Forest, they''re indeed strong!" While amazed at the strength of the five, Li Meng deeply felt the weakness of the Goblins. Among the higher Goblins, only the Goblin King was of elite rank. The rest were of ordinary rank. Above the elite rank, there must be even stronger ranks. Li Meng recalled the rank of Black Robe, "Saint." The power of the Saint rank was clearly countless times stronger than the elite rank. "Damn, how is anyone supposed to play like this?" The thought of humans stronger than the elite rank gave Li Meng a headache. "Never mind, let''s first test the humans'' combat methods!" When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a way through; for now, he could only take it one step at a time. In the future, the tribe and the pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis would inevitably clash. The human army would surely have "Crystal Apostles" akin to adventurers. Gathering combat intelligence on "Crystal Apostles" in advance was very necessary. In the darkness, Li Meng quietly retreated into the depths of the forest. Time slowly passed, and the night grew deeper. The campfire in the forest remained burning, never extinguishing. The adventurers did not all sleep at once. They took turns keeping watch. Four slept on the ground while one kept guard. Rachel, sitting by the campfire, cradled his bow and arrows. He was gently wiping the bow with a soft cloth. Suddenly, Rachel''s expression shifted slightly as he was cleaning the bow. He stood up, staring intently into the depths of the forest. Time ticked by, and the forest remained silent. "Was it a small animal?" Rachel muttered softly by the campfire. "No, something''s wrong!" Rachel''s face changed. He raised his bow and drew the string. The moment he released the string, a gust of wind exploded. A small wind blade shot out with a piercing whistle. The visible transparent wind blade surged into the depths of the forest. "Waah!" The next moment, a cry of pain echoed from the forest depths. A Goblin fell to the ground, screaming. Its entire right arm had been severed from the shoulder. The cries of their companion enraged the Goblins in the nearby forest. "Waah!" The dark forest suddenly erupted with the Goblins'' cries. "Wake up, it''s Goblins!" Hearing the familiar "Waah" roars from the forest depths. Rachel by the campfire quickly woke his companions. The four were startled awake, jumping to their feet. "Whoosh!" At that moment, the sound of countless projectiles filled the forest depths. "Captain!" Rachel shouted loudly. He rapidly drew his bow several times. One after another, magical wind blade arrows shot out, rushing into the forest depths. Several Goblins in the forest were suddenly split in two. Some Goblins were decapitated, while others were sliced in half. Wherever the wind blades passed, even the shrubs were cut in half. "I''ll handle this!" The sound of projectiles in the forest made Odyssey''s face change. He stepped forward swiftly, raising his shield. "Impenetrable Wall!" A golden light wall suddenly expanded from the shield. Forming a magical light shield five meters wide and three meters high. The appearance of the light shield dispelled the surrounding darkness. Bolts shot out from the forest, striking the light shield. The bolts that hit the light shield were deflected. "Are these... bolts?" Seeing the bolts fall to the ground, Rachel''s expression changed slightly. "This isn''t good, Martha, full defense!" Just as Rachel finished speaking. The sound of projectiles filled the depths of the forest in all other directions. Martha frantically waved her staff. Seeing there was no time, Aileen waved her staff. "Arcanum Ha!" A chant that sounded like a reprimand echoed through the forest. A whirlwind suddenly arose around the five. A visible whirlwind swirled around them. Sweeping up a large amount of dead leaves and dust. The bolts shooting in from all directions were blown away by the whirlwind. Chapter 85 - The adventurers fighting style "I''ll do it!" Rachel took a bow and aimed at the sky. A blue magical glow surged on the drawn bowstring. It quickly condensed into a sapphire water arrow. "Whoosh!" Rachel released the bowstring. With a "whoosh," a blue streak shot straight into the sky through the eye of the storm. At about five hundred meters high, the water arrow suddenly exploded. It transformed into a rain of arrows that poured down on the surrounding forest. "Crack!" The forest around them echoed with cracking sounds. The rain arrows pierced through the trees and the bodies of Goblins. "Waaah!" A series of screams erupted from the depths of the forest. The tiny rain arrows pierced through the Goblins like steel needles. The non-lethal attack caused the Goblins to scream in agony. As for the unlucky ones hit in the head or heart, they were already dead. "Martha, the wind is dispersing!" Aileen''s reminder snapped Martha back to reality. She raised her staff and chanted a sacred spell. "Aru, Koria, Alan!" A dazzling blue light shone from the crystal at the tip of her staff. The next moment, a white barrier spread out from the crystal. In an instant, it enveloped the space where the five of them stood. As soon as the barrier formed, the outside storm vanished. Without the storm''s obstruction, dozens of bolts shot through the forest from all directions. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Many bolts struck the barrier and were deflected. "Rachel, Patience, go deal with those ranged Goblins!" "Aileen, hold your fire for now, act when the time is right, and try not to make too much noise!" Aileen, being a mage, would cause a huge commotion once she acted. As the captain, Odyssey took on the responsibility of directing his team. His role was to coordinate his teammates'' abilities. Rachel and Patience nodded. The two of them dashed out of the barrier almost simultaneously. Rachel was the fastest. Her figure darted left and right, swiftly entering the forest. Patience, on the other hand, was more brute force. Wielding a large axe, he charged into the forest like a heavy tank. Bolts clanged against his armor. Sparks flew for a moment. Some bolts were deflected. But some pierced through the armor, embedding themselves in it. Once the two entered the forest, the sound of bolts whizzing through the air suddenly ceased. Only the rustling sounds echoed in the dark depths of the forest. "Rachel, Patience, don''t chase too far!" The distant commotion in the forest told Odyssey that the Goblins had fled. He quickly shouted into the dark depths of the forest. Before long, Rachel and a disgruntled Patience emerged from the darkness. "Those Goblins are no fun, they ran away just like that!" Patience sat down by the campfire. He took off his helmet, his expression full of dissatisfaction. By this time, Martha had already dispelled the barrier. "Captain, look at this." Rachel approached Odyssey with a few bolts in hand. Odyssey looked down at the bolts in Rachel''s hand. He picked one up and examined it closely. "Captain, the bolts are powerful, they easily pierced my armor!" At this, Patience spoke up from beside the campfire. This drew the attention of the other four to him. Only then did they notice that Patience was covered in bolts. "Patience, are you... are you okay?" Martha hurried over to Patience. Patience shook his head and patted his chest. "I''m fine, the bolts pierced the armor, but they couldn''t really hurt me." "Really okay?" Martha examined Patience up and down. "Really, I''m fine!" Martha pulled a bolt from Patience''s body. Seeing no blood on the tip, she was relieved. "Patience, if you''re hurt, you must tell me!" Patience grinned and nodded. At this point, the five of them returned to sit by the campfire. "Captain, should we move?" Aileen glanced warily at the depths of the forest behind them. Goblins were weak, but they were numerous. Fighting Goblins at night was very disadvantageous for them. Humans couldn''t see in the dark, but Goblins could. Odyssey shook his head and set down his shield. "If the Goblins are really targeting us, moving won''t help." "You guys rest, I''ll take the watch for the second half of the night!" Odyssey volunteered to take the night watch for the latter half. Rachel, sitting by the campfire, looked down at the bolt in his hand. The bolt in his hand gave him a bad feeling. How could "crossbows" appear in the hands of Goblins? And judging by the number of bolts, it meant the Goblins had quite a few crossbows. Meanwhile, about a hundred meters away in the depths of the forest. "Humans are indeed strong!" The adventurers'' fighting style made Li Meng''s heart race. The exquisite magic casting showed that humans had a deep understanding of magic. Which led to the creation of various magical skills. "No wonder just five people can wipe out a Goblin nest!" Looking at the firelight in the depths of the forest, Li Meng felt a bit restless. They were indeed plump, the smell of human flesh could be sensed from afar. That familiar scent stirred something within Li Meng. Li Meng wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth. The Goblin''s instincts gave him a desire to devour humans. "No!" Li Meng swung his right hand and slapped himself. "Slap!" A crisp sound echoed in the dark forest. It was strange, it wasn''t his first time seeing humans. The last time he saw humans, he didn''t have such a strong reaction. Li Meng rubbed his face and slowly disappeared into the darkness. Meanwhile, by the campfire in the depths of the forest. "Rachel, what''s wrong?" Rachel suddenly stood up by the campfire. His gaze was fixed on the eastern forest. After a moment, a flash of confusion crossed Rachel''s eyes. "Nothing, probably just the sound of a branch falling." Hearing this, Odyssey chuckled. He knew the Goblin attack had made Rachel a bit jumpy. "Just a few Goblins, no need to worry too much!" Odyssey never thought Goblins could pose a threat to the five of them. At worst, they could leave. If they wanted to leave, mere Goblins couldn''t stop them. Time passed slowly, and the night deepened. The next morning, Odyssey led his team southward. In the afternoon, in a dim forest. The five of them silently stared at the airship wreckage being gradually swallowed by vegetation. "Aileen, where is it?" "It''s in there, very close!" "I''m going in!" Rachel squeezed through a narrow gap into the cabin. After a while, some noises came from inside the cabin. Before long, Rachel emerged from the gap. He went in empty-handed and came out holding a crystal. Chapter 86 - The Lizardman Army is Coming "Captain, how do you think the airship crashed?" Odyssey took the crystal from Rachel''s hand, looking at her with curiosity. "Rachel, did you discover something?" Perhaps Rachel found something in the cabin. Rachel turned to look at the wreckage of the airship. "There are many holes in the wreckage, clearly pierced by some sharp weapon." A sharp weapon pierced the hull? Rachel''s words made the four of them scrutinize the airship wreckage. Indeed, there were many places on the wreckage that had been pierced. "A sharp weapon? Could the airship have encountered some powerful flying magical beast?" Patience thought that some flying magical beasts could also cause such holes. "Confirming the airship''s crash completes our task, let''s go!" The result of the airship crash had lost its meaning for further investigation. Several months had passed. In a place like the Goblin Forest, all traces would be erased. The people on the ship had long been devoured by the magical beasts in the forest, leaving not even bones behind. Next, Odyssey led his companions back into the depths of the forest from where they came. "Good, good, hurry up and leave, don''t come back again, next time you won''t be able to leave!" At this moment, Li Meng was secretly watching the adventurer squad from deep within the forest. Seeing the adventurer squad leave, Li Meng, hiding in the trees, grinned. If he weren''t afraid of attracting those two strong humans, he wouldn''t have let the adventurer squad leave so easily. Now, Li Meng just wanted that adventurer squad to hurry up and scram. So he could focus on dealing with the series of events that followed. Thus, for the next two days, Li Meng kept a distant tail on the adventurer squad. To avoid being discovered, he kept a very long distance. If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. On the morning of the third day, in the forest on the southern shore of the Goblin River. Odyssey and his team pushed a small boat hidden in the woods into the water. Standing on the shore, Rachel looked uncertainly into the depths of the forest. "Rachel, what''s wrong? Get on the boat!" The four were already on the boat, waiting for Rachel. "Coming!" Rachel turned and hurriedly boarded the boat. As the oars moved, the small boat gradually drifted downstream. "Captain, it seems like something has been following us in the dark these past two days!" Only when the small boat was far from the shore did Rachel take a deep breath. Something was following them in the dark? The four exchanged glances, only Odyssey had a thoughtful expression on his face. Just as the small boat gradually disappeared on the river surface. At the place where the five had entered the water, a strong green-skinned figure emerged from the forest. Watching the direction the small boat left, Li Meng grinned menacingly. "Great, those troublemakers have finally left." Li Meng had already thought of a way to change things back. As long as he sped up the timeline, he would have enough time to deal with any threat. Before long, the figure on the shore had disappeared. In the afternoon, at the Goblin Nest. Li Meng hurriedly emerged from the forest and entered the cave. "Boss, what about that group of adventurers?" Seeing the boss return, Gobu Tian quickly approached. Recalling the recent battle with the humans, Gobu Tian''s face showed a greedy expression. Human meat was so delicious. Once tasted, it was unforgettable. "They''ve already left, they''re not to be messed with, even ten of you would be courting death." Goblins were useless except for their numbers. When he first arrived in this other world, Li Meng thought Gobu Ba was strong. He should belong to the top combat power of this world. Only now did he realize that what he thought was the top was just the starting point of this world''s martial power. Gobu Tian shrank his neck, giving a sheepish smile. It had also watched the battle from afar that night. The human adventurers were indeed very strong. In just a moment, they had killed forty of its underlings. "Gobu Tian, take all the magic crystals off the wall and send them to the throne cave." Gobu Tian quickly nodded. Although he didn''t know what the boss wanted with those shiny things. But Gobu Tian didn''t ask more. After all, those things on the wall were of no use. "I have to go back, Gobu Tian, in a while, go stay at the throne tribe, the number of goblins here must be maintained at around two thousand." The hunting territory controlled by the Goblin Nest was quite large. Feeding two thousand goblins was no problem. And now, the number of goblins in the Goblin Nest was less than seven hundred. Gobu Tian nodded enthusiastically with excitement. Li Meng didn''t linger in the Goblin Nest and soon left. A few hours later, before dark, on the southern shore of the Goblin River. "Huh, it hasn''t melted yet?" When Li Meng emerged from the forest, he was surprised by the scene before him. After so many days, the ice path was still there. And showed no signs of melting. Due to the water level dropping significantly in recent days. The ice layer was suspended above the water. The two shores became the only support points. But even so, the ice path still hadn''t collapsed. "The skill upgrade is indeed powerful!" No wonder it was a skill with a "king" in its name. Grinning, Li Meng stepped onto the ice path and walked toward the opposite shore. ------ Northern Swamp. Afternoon, at the wooden fortress. With Gobu Di and Gobu Shi leading reinforcements to arrive. The goblin forces stationed at the wooden fortress reached four thousand. Plus around two thousand lizardmen. The total population of the wooden fortress reached six thousand. This made the wooden fortress become crowded. The afternoon was originally the quietest time at the wooden fortress. But just then, the goblins'' "wah-wah" cries suddenly sounded on the southern wooden wall. "Whoo!" The deep war horn followed closely. The sound of the horn made the wooden fortress erupt into chaos. Like a drop of water falling into a pot of oil. The entire wooden fortress boiled over. A large number of goblins rushed out from the various wooden huts. They cried out as they surged toward the southern wooden wall. At this time, in the depths of the southern swamp. In a relatively deep water area. A large ripple appeared on the water surface. Looking into the water, one could see fleeting black shadows. At the boundary of the deep water area. A large number of lizardmen emerged from the water. They stood up from the water, wading forward. In no time, the lizardmen on the shore appeared densely packed. At a glance, the dark mass of lizardmen continued to emerge from the water. Before long, a massive army appeared in the southern swamp of the wooden fortress. Nearly five thousand lizardmen stretched across the area. The water area of nearly a kilometer was filled with their figures. Although they didn''t have a neat formation, just standing there exuded an endless might. "They''ve finally come!" At this moment, on a watchtower on the southern wooden wall of the wooden fortress. Gobu Di grinned menacingly, excitedly watching the overwhelming army of lizardmen outside. It had been waiting for this day for a long, long time. Today, it finally awaited the arrival of the lizardman army. Chapter 87 - Not fighting is not not fighting "Elder Red Scale, this is the wooden fortress outpost!" Outside, among the Lizardman army. A group of Lizardmen gathered together, observing the wooden fortress outpost five hundred meters away. The Lizardman beside Red Scale glared angrily at the wooden fortress outpost. Hatred for the Goblins had turned it into a traitor. It even concealed the existence of the swamp crocodile king. Red Scale gazed solemnly at the distant wooden fortress outpost. It hadn''t expected the Goblins to build such a large wooden fortress in the swamp. What were they planning? Goblins couldn''t adapt to the swamp''s humid environment. Though puzzled, Red Scale felt no fear. It nodded to its companion beside it. "Attack!" The Lizardman next to Red Scale ran off at the command. "Ah la la!" They shouted, waving their stone machetes. All the Lizardmen raised their weapons, shouting "Ah la la." The overwhelming sound echoed across the land. The Lizardmen inside the wooden fortress also heard the commotion outside. The familiar shouts made all the Lizardmen leave their wooden huts. They looked expectantly at the outer wooden walls. "Shut them up, shoot them dead!" The Lizardmen''s shouting was unbearable for Gobu Di. With a roar, it picked up the war horn beside it and blew it. The urgent sound of the horn rang out again. This was the order to attack. The Goblins on the watchtower, operating the three-bow ballista, looked excited. They shouted as they aimed the ballista at the distant Lizardman army. The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Boom!" The sound of the bowstring snapping back was heard. Accompanied by the sharp whistling of bolts cutting through the air. Huge bolts flew out, heading straight for the Lizardman army five hundred meters away. "Boom!" The Lizardman formation was too dense. Over a dozen bolts crashed into the Lizardman ranks. With loud explosions, the Lizardman ranks were thrown into chaos. The massive bolts pierced through several Lizardmen, crashing into the water. Water splashed everywhere, and the Lizardmen screamed in agony. The sudden attack startled Red Scale. How could the Goblins attack them from such a distance? "Everyone, charge!" At this critical moment, there was no retreat! Red Scale raised its large machete, shouting loudly. It was the first to charge towards the wooden fortress outpost, wading through the water. "Kill them, ah la la!" With Red Scale''s movement, the surrounding Lizardmen responded. The massive Lizardman army surged towards the wooden fortress outpost like a flood from a broken dam. "Ah!" More loud explosions accompanied by screams. Huge bolts continued to crash into the Lizardman ranks. Everything in their path was destroyed. The massive impact sent anything touched by the bolts flying. The dark mass of the Lizardman army surged towards the wooden fortress outpost like a wave. "Boom!" At that moment, a deafening sound suddenly erupted from the right side of the Lizardman ranks. In the right wing of the Lizardman formation. A massive water column shot into the sky. Before the water column rose, the Lizardmen in that area were instantly torn to pieces. The rising water column flung a large group of Lizardmen into the air. But it wasn''t over; huge water bullets came from the right wing. Each water bullet landed precisely among the Lizardmen. Lizardmen touched by the water bullets were instantly torn apart. The water bullets exploded with a "boom" upon impact. The scattered raindrops pierced through Lizardmen within tens of meters like steel needles. The right wing of the Lizardman ranks was filled with screams. "It''s the swamp crocodile king!" "It''s the swamp crocodile king!" The Lizardmen on the right quickly identified the culprit attacking them. In the nearby swamp, a massive creature was staring at them. The giant creature opened its menacing mouth, spitting out water balls. Under the combined attack of the three-bow ballista and the swamp crocodile king, the Lizardmen suffered heavy casualties. They hadn''t even approached the wooden fortress outpost, and already hundreds were dead or injured. The appearance of the swamp crocodile king filled the Lizardmen with fear. They couldn''t understand why the swamp crocodile king would help the Goblins. How could Goblins exist where the swamp crocodile king was? "Damn it, what on earth is going on?" Red Scale grabbed the neck of the Lizardman who had led them there. The Lizardman, caught by Red Scale, showed no fear. It laughed maniacally. "Kill them, kill them, quickly, kill them!" The Lizardman''s madness made Red Scale frown slightly. "You lunatic!" It cursed, throwing the Lizardman aside. "Retreat, retreat, retreat!" Red Scale shouted, turning and running back the way they came without looking back. The appearance of the swamp crocodile king caught Red Scale off guard. It wasn''t fear, but the knowledge that the army lacked the means to deal with the swamp crocodile king. It hadn''t prepared for this. Continuing the fight would only lead to the futile loss of its kin''s lives. Red Scale''s retreat caused the charging Lizardman ranks to falter. The Lizardmen around Red Scale were the first to react to its order. Seeing their companions flee, the Lizardmen further away joined the retreat. And so, the charging Lizardmen were defeated. They fled in panic under the dual attack of the three-bow ballista and the swamp crocodile king. Screams echoed all the way. The sound of bolts and water bullets crashing resounded in the sky outside the wooden fortress outpost. The Lizardmen who reached the deep water boundary dove into the water. Leaving behind nearly a thousand corpses, the Lizardman army fled in disarray. "Wow wow!" Seeing the Lizardman army retreat, the Goblins on the wooden wall cheered excitedly. They danced and celebrated. For a moment, the wooden fortress outpost was filled with noise. Inside the wooden fortress, the Lizardmen looked disappointed. "Run, run!" At the entrance of the largest wooden hut. Bai Ling stood outside, gazing at the southern wooden wall. She murmured to herself, a hint of sadness in her eyes. From now on, her kin would live under the shadow of the Goblins. Before long, the fleeing Lizardman army disappeared into the swamp. "A bunch of cowards, running away so quickly, hahaha!" Seeing the Lizardman army vanish. Gobu Di and Gobu Shi on the watchtower laughed heartily. They were amused by the cowardice of the Lizardmen. And by how foolishly the Lizardmen had fallen for the trap. And by the completely unscathed outcome. The laughter on the watchtower lasted for a long time. --- The next day, inside the largest wooden hut at the wooden fortress outpost. "Didn''t you say the Lizardman army retreated without a fight?" Li Meng looked speechlessly at Gobu Di, who was eagerly reporting yesterday''s battle. "How did it turn into a fight?" Li Meng pondered, a contemplative look on his face. It seemed the "retreat without a fight" predicted by the simulated life wasn''t the kind he imagined. "At least the casualties weren''t too bad!" That was probably the only consolation. Li Meng didn''t want to see the future line winding back again. If the expeditionary force suffered too many casualties, it would prompt the Black Mountain tribe to summon the Barbarian God "Aqua." Li Meng always remembered this future line. Chapter 88 - Yue Clan Tribe Li Meng shook his head and raised his hand to stop Gobu Di from continuing his chatter. "You''ve done well with this matter, very good, I''m quite satisfied!" Gobu Di and Gobu Shi, the two big fellows, grinned widely. The boss''s praise made them very excited. Li Meng turned his head to look at Bai Ling and the group of Lizardman elders on the other side. "I give you two choices: one, each of you returns to your own tribe, and the goblins will garrison here." "Two, your three tribes merge into one, and this place will serve as the new tribe''s headquarters, and the goblins will withdraw." Since the new tribe is destined to appear, he might as well propose it to speed up the timeline. The key to changing the future lies in time. Hearing this, Bai Ling showed a look of surprise. She hadn''t expected the master to ask their three tribes to merge into one. "Master, we need some time..." Li Meng raised his hand to interrupt Bai Ling. "Discuss it here, I need an answer. Your choice will affect what I do next." Li Meng''s words made Bai Ling''s heart tighten. She dared not be careless and quickly turned to discuss with the elders. A dozen Lizardmen gathered together, whispering. This aroused the curiosity of the goblins inside the house. Before long, Bai Ling and the Lizardman elders had reached a conclusion. Bai Ling turned to face the master once again. "Master, we choose to establish a new tribe, named the ''Yue Clan''!" The words "Yue Clan" made a trace of amazement flash in Li Meng''s eyes. The future predicted by the simulated life was indeed the true future line. "Very well, prepare the tribute. I will withdraw the troops tomorrow. Also, to avoid casualties due to food issues with the tribute, from now on, you will provide the food for the tribute, and I will handle the transportation." The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Li Meng was not worried that the Yue Clan would run away. Those tributes were hostages. And the Yue Clan had nowhere else to go after leaving the northern swamp. Although the Black Mountain Swamp was an excellent choice, the Lizardmen in the northern swamp all came from the Black Mountain Swamp. The reason the Lizardmen of the northern swamp left the Black Mountain Swamp must have been due to some grievances with the Black Mountain tribe. Unless absolutely necessary, the Lizardmen of the northern swamp would not return to the Black Mountain Swamp. Bai Ling slightly lowered her head. "Yes, Master, I will prepare the tribute!" In the time that followed, Bai Ling became busy. Preparing the tribute was just a word, but implementing it would encounter many difficulties. Throughout the afternoon, the cries of Lizardmen echoed within the wooden fortress. It wasn''t until nightfall that the wooden fortress gradually quieted down. That night, the wooden fortress was silent. The weather was good, with a full moon in the sky. The silver moonlight spread across the land, slightly dispelling the darkness. At the entrance of the largest wooden house, Li Meng gazed up at the full moon. "Isn''t this a bit too perverse?" Recalling the scene of Bai Ling selecting tributes in the afternoon, Li Meng found it unforgettable. For the Lizardmen, it was a scene of utter horror. But Li Meng couldn''t empathize. Instead, he felt an indescribable excitement. The stronger the Lizardmen''s negative emotions, the more pleasure he felt. "Blame it on encountering a clever goblin!" He was now a goblin, no longer human. Li Meng had long accepted this fact. If he, as a goblin, still acted like a human, he would have ended up as a pile of dung on the ground. "At least you can live, while I am still struggling to survive!" Li Meng did not compromise with the guilt of human consciousness. Standing at the door, bathed in moonlight, he turned and entered the wooden house. Bai Ling was inside the wooden house, but Li Meng did not touch her. The only difference between Li Meng and a goblin was his strong self-control. Reproducing and releasing desire was fine, but only if necessary. Without the necessity, he would rather sleep. Time passed bit by bit, and the night gradually deepened. Early the next morning, at the break of dawn, the wooden fortress was bustling. The goblin army stationed at the wooden fortress began to withdraw in an orderly manner. The watchtowers were not dismantled and still stood on the wooden walls. But the three-bow ballistae on the watchtowers had been dismantled. The wooden fortress could be given to the Yue Clan, but the three-bow ballistae could not be left to the Lizardmen. The Lizardmen serving as tributes were also bidding their final farewells to their families. This farewell meant they would not meet again until a year later. As the morning light rose in the eastern sky, the bustle in the wooden fortress reached its peak. A massive procession exited through the east gate of the wooden fortress. Countless figures, large and small, formed a continuous mass. In the swamp, they formed a cloud moving eastward. But before long, the massive procession scattered like loose sand. Thousands of people marching together could not meet their food needs. So they had to spread out, break into smaller groups, and hunt while returning to the tribe. It wasn''t until five days later that the scattered groups gradually returned to the tribe. Thus, the northern swamp incident came to an end. The tribe''s development returned to its normal course. It was another new day, in the morning. On the second day after returning to the tribe, Li Meng became busy again. Early in the morning, Li Meng crawled out from a pile of female Lizardmen. Although Bai Ling was no longer there, the task of reproduction could not be neglected. There were thirteen beds in the throne cave. Therefore, Bai Ling had selected thirteen Lizardmen from the new batch of tributes. They were all daughters of elders. With a "click," the door of the throne cave opened. Li Meng stretched and walked out of the wooden house. "Go find Gobu Gao, have him come see me!" The goblin guarding the door quickly ran into the depths of the forest. Before long, some sounds came from inside the wooden house. The female Lizardmen inside had woken up. They silently picked up the scattered animal skin skirts and put them on. Last night had exhausted them. They felt weak all over, their limbs sore. Some female Lizardmen lay on the bed, unable to get up, their tails swinging. "Boss, boss!" Suddenly, loud cries came from outside the wooden house. Gobu Gao came running from the depths of the forest, wagging his tail. "Gobu Gao, do you remember the place where we cut down trees for timber when building the wooden fortress?" Gobu Gao quickly nodded. "Yes, boss, do we need to cut trees there again?" "Yes, take your offspring to that place and build a stronghold." The stronghold would be built by the water and have a dock. The Yue Clan would send food needed for the tribute by water to the stronghold. Then the goblins at the stronghold would deliver the food to the tribe. "The stronghold should be built by the water, with a dock for small boats..." In the time that followed, Li Meng explained to Gobu Gao what a dock was. He also instructed him on the scale and style of the stronghold. Chapter 89 - Wild Boar and Horse Cart "Boss, this is simple, leave it to me!" Li Meng nodded and waved his hand. "Go ahead, set off once you''re ready!" Li Meng was quite strict with the leaders in the tribe. Ordinary goblins could just muddle through as goblins. After all, they didn''t have strong independent thinking abilities. But the leaders were different; they had to become smarter. Otherwise, under his banner, those less intelligent leaders would eventually be eliminated. They would die outside like cannon fodder one day. Gobu Gao grinned, turned around, and scampered off into the depths of the forest. "Boss, boss!" Just as Gobu Gao left, a loud shouting came from the forest. A strong, tall figure came running over, panting. It was Gobu Yi, who had successfully evolved into a Goblin Soldier. "Boss, I''ve evolved! Do I look cool?" Gobu Yi, standing in front of Li Meng, showed off his muscles. Both hands pounded his chest like a gorilla. Li Meng looked Gobu Yi up and down. [Name: Gobu Yi] [Race: Goblin Soldier] [Level: 20] [Strength: 134] [Defense: 117] [Agility: 121] [Magic: 51] The stats were decent, almost catching up to Gobu Ba. Bear in mind, Gobu Yi was just a Goblin Soldier now. He was still one Goblin Warrior away from being a Goblin Leader. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. Truly worthy of being his descendant. The potential of goblins indeed relied on the paternal line. "Not bad, not bad!" Looking at Gobu Yi in front of him, Li Meng nodded repeatedly. Indeed, it was impressive, very impressive. His descendants had such strong stats. It showed that his method of improving the goblin quality in the tribe through his bloodline was correct. To make goblins no longer weak, they just had to keep reproducing. The boss''s praise made Gobu Yi grin obsequiously. The big guy''s hunched posture looked somewhat comically cute. "Gobu Yi, you''re just in time. Go and build a road." "Build a road?" Gobu Yi looked puzzled, a bit at a loss. "It means cutting a path through the forest that''s easy to travel." In the following time, Li Meng explained to Gobu Yi what a road was. He also taught Gobu Yi the measurement unit "meter." After more than half an hour of explanation, Gobu Yi finally grinned. "Boss, this is simple, leave it to me!" Li Meng nodded and waved his hand. "Go ahead, set off once you''re ready!" Gobu Yi turned around and scampered off. Compared to staying in the tribe, Gobu Yi preferred going out to do things. Anything would do, as long as he wasn''t idle. Watching Gobu Yi''s joyful departing figure, Li Meng grinned. Goblins might be a bit disgusting and evil. But likewise, goblin evilness was very pure. If only goblins had females. Then goblins could become a normal and strong tribe of barbarians. Until Gobu Yi''s figure disappeared into the depths of the forest, Li Meng withdrew his gaze. Then he turned to look at the goblin underling guarding outside the door. "Gobu Lun, keep an eye on the leaders returning to the tribe these days, have them stay in the tribe for now, don''t go out, wait for my orders." The goblin guarding outside the wooden house quickly nodded. Then Li Meng left the throne cave. Heading towards the direction of the carpentry workshop. Not long after, outside the carpentry workshop. "Boss, why are you here?" On the open ground outside the carpentry workshop. Gobu Da was fiddling with a bunch of wagon wheels. He held a hammer, tapping on the iron rims of the wheels. The clanging sound echoed throughout the tribe. Li Meng had heard the sound of metal clashing from afar. Seeing the boss approaching, Gobu Da quickly put down his work. He scampered over to greet him. In the following days, Li Meng stayed in the carpentry workshop. Patiently teaching Gobu Da how to make wagons. Although the wagon wheels were made. Building the wagon body was also a technical task. However, compared to the wheels, the wagon body was relatively simpler. In less than half a month, Gobu Da had learned quite well. A little better would be great, a little worse was no problem. Li Meng didn''t have high demands for goblins, as long as it worked. Another new day, in the morning. "Boss, is this a wagon?" Outside the carpentry workshop, Gobu Da looked curiously at the monster in front of him. Yes, it was a monster, an ugly monster. In the forest outside the carpentry workshop stood an ugly wagon. The wagon had four large wheels. Each wheel was slightly taller than a goblin. The body was just a simple flatbed. On top of the flatbed, cargo boxes could be made as needed. In the short term, the wagon would mainly transport aquatic products. Therefore, two water tanks resembling coffins were placed beside it. The water tanks, placed side by side on the flatbed, fit perfectly. "Yes, this is a wagon!" Li Meng originally wanted to call it a boar cart. But after thinking about it, he decided against it. It''s just a name, no need to be too particular. At this moment, a series of grunting pig sounds came from not far away. Two goblins led two wild boars over. "Boss, the wild boars are here!" Li Meng looked up and down at the two sturdy wild boars. "Little piggies, come here!" At Li Meng''s call, the wild boars obediently walked over to him. Then Li Meng guided the wild boars to the front of the wagon. "Stand here, yes, move your butts over!" After a while, under Li Meng''s guidance, the wild boars stood side by side in front of the wagon. Li Meng worked his hands skillfully to fit the wild boars with special transport saddles. After a while, everything was ready. Looking at the wagon in front of him, Li Meng nodded in satisfaction. Next was the test ride. If there were no issues, they could be mass-produced. Li Meng climbed onto the wagon, grabbed the reins. Sitting on the wagon, Li Meng grinned. He tugged the reins, flicked them up and down. In the forest, there was a "snap" sound. The two sturdy wild boars started trotting. The wagon moved, slowly driving through the tribe. Fortunately, the tribe had enough space for the wagon to move. Li Meng pulled the reins to the left, and the wild boars turned left. The front two wagon wheels also turned left under the pull of the wild boars. Actually, the main part of the wagon was the front two wheels. The rear wheels were attached to the front wheel axle disc. Without that disc, the four-wheeled wagon couldn''t turn flexibly. But likewise, with that disc, the wagon''s structure became much more complex. However, this wasn''t a problem for Li Meng. He had already simplified the wagon structure as much as possible. "Yes, very stable!" Li Meng was very satisfied with the wagon''s performance. With the wagon, transporting supplies between the tribe and the outpost would be much more convenient. Although they could follow the Goblin River for water transport. But since the tribe wasn''t on the shore, land transport was unavoidable. Chapter 90 - Storing food and jerky The Goblin River has a flood season and often overflows. This makes water and land transportation time-sensitive. Building a dock on the shore is also a big challenge. When the flood season comes, any structure will be destroyed. "What is the boss doing?" The commotion in the tribe caught the attention of the higher-ranking Goblins who had been waiting for a long time. They left their wooden huts one by one, curiously watching. In the tribe, the boss was riding a strange creature. The creature needed two wild boars to pull it to run. "Boss, boss, I want to play too!" Gobu Di chased after the carriage, bouncing along. As it chased, it shouted loudly. Li Meng glanced at Gobu Di''s massive figure. As a Goblin Warrior, Gobu Di was a giant standing 2.5 meters tall. "Climb up!" Li Meng grinned, giving permission. It was a good opportunity to test the carriage''s load capacity. Gobu Di smiled excitedly and quickly climbed onto the carriage. As Gobu Di got on, the carriage sank instantly. Wheel marks appeared on the ground. "I want to play too, I want to!" Another Goblin Soldier came running over, bouncing along. "Come on, all of you, get on!" Li Meng laughed loudly, granting permission. The Goblin Soldier quickly climbed onto the flatbed. "Boss, I want to play too!" "I want to, I want to!" Seeing the other Goblins getting on the carriage, the rest couldn''t resist. Stolen story; please report. The higher-ranking Goblins all ran towards the carriage. "Move forward, let me on!" "No space, no space!" "You''re stepping on my leg, are you looking for trouble!" "How dare you touch me?" "So what if I touch you? The boss let me on." The higher-ranking Goblins scrambled to climb onto the carriage. As they piled on, the carriage''s speed slowed down. The wild boars pulling the carriage were visibly struggling. Their bodies leaned forward, panting heavily. The carriage creaked as if it would fall apart at any moment. The noise behind made Li Meng, who was driving the carriage, turn his head. What he saw made Li Meng jump in fright. The Goblins, who had squeezed onto the carriage, had formed a mountain of flesh. Gobu Di, who was the first to get on, was crushed underneath. "Get off quickly, you''re going to break the carriage..." Before Li Meng could finish his sentence, there was a "crack." The four wheels of the carriage twisted and collapsed almost simultaneously. The carriage suddenly sank. The Goblins on the carriage tumbled off, rolling onto the ground. Fortunately, Li Meng reacted quickly and jumped off in time. Looking at the disastrous scene of the accident, Li Meng''s mouth twitched. "You fools!" Li Meng''s roar suddenly echoed through the tribe. The sound was so loud that it startled birds and beasts in a large area of the forest. The female Lizardmen watching the commotion giggled. The Goblins at that moment were truly comical. The Goblins who got up shrank their necks and smiled ingratiatingly. They backed away, their eyes wandering. As soon as the boss''s gaze moved away from them, they would immediately run away. Taking a deep breath, Li Meng grinned fiercely. "Since you''re here, let''s get things done!" "Follow me, bring some food." "Call everyone who hasn''t come, gather at the Iron Cave!" With that, Li Meng strode towards the direction of the Iron Cave. Watching the boss''s departing figure, the higher-ranking Goblins looked at each other. At that moment, they felt a bit panicked. But since the boss had said so, they had no choice but to follow. "I... I''ll go get food!" "Me too!" And so, Li Meng led a group of higher-ranking Goblins in a grand procession heading north. Half an hour later, outside the Iron Cave. Li Meng emerged from the forest, bathed in the scorching sunlight. Li Meng looked up at the glaring sun. "This is the place, bring the knife!" A Goblin quickly handed over a knife. The knife wasn''t big, resembling a kitchen knife. "Bring the meat!" There was movement in the cave. More than ten Goblins carried a wild boar carcass, panting as they approached. They set it down less than three meters from Li Meng. Holding the kitchen knife, Li Meng turned to look at the higher-ranking Goblins. There were a lot of them, nearly a hundred. Most were Big Goblins and Goblin Soldiers. "Now, I''m going to teach you how to store food!" Although Goblins eat carrion, they prefer fresh meat. They can get the necessary moisture from the meat alone. Therefore, it''s rare to see Goblins drinking water directly. Even if they do drink, they don''t drink much. Drinking too much can lead to diarrhea at best, water intoxication at worst. Making jerky is very simple. You can remove the moisture from the meat by drying and roasting it. Dried jerky can be preserved for a longer time without rotting. The next day, in the afternoon. Outside the Iron Cave. "Boss, I... I don''t like eating jerky!" Looking down at the jerky in his hand, Gobu Di had a mournful expression. "You have to eat it even if you don''t like it. It may not taste good, but it fills your stomach and gives you strength to fight. During wars with other Barbarians and humans, we can''t waste time hunting. Eat!" Since yesterday, the first batch of jerky had already dried. There were several racks on the open ground outside the Iron Cave. Strips of jerky hung from the racks. Facing the boss''s gaze, Gobu Di had no choice but to force the jerky into his mouth and chew. As he chewed, Gobu Di''s eyes lit up. His big mouth kept moving, eating with great relish. After a while, the jerky was finally chewed and swallowed. "How does it taste?" Gobu Di quickly nodded. "Boss, it''s very chewy, the more I chew, the tastier it gets!" Li Meng grinned, feeling very satisfied. It seemed Goblins could accept jerky after all. Li Meng glanced around at his higher-ranking Goblin underlings. "Remember what I taught you, this is dry food, and you must learn to prepare it yourselves!" The Goblin underlings nodded repeatedly. The process of making jerky wasn''t complicated. They had memorized it and would try it out when they returned. "Alright, disperse!" The higher-ranking Goblins scattered in a rush. They all entered the forest, heading towards the tribe. Li Meng turned and entered the Iron Cave. Benben was about to return, bringing back a large group of Ogres. Ogres couldn''t be exposed to sunlight. Therefore, they needed to be equipped with full-body armor. With armor shielding them, they wouldn''t have to fear sunlight. However, making the armor couldn''t be rushed. The sizes of the Ogres would definitely vary. If not custom-made, the armor wouldn''t be comfortable for them to wear. They could first forge the weapons needed for the Ogres. In the following days, Li Meng stayed in the Iron Cave and didn''t go anywhere. Some things outside were quietly happening. The future predicted by the simulated life could be changed. But some things were bound to happen. And Li Meng wouldn''t stop the events that triggered them. Chapter 91 - Goblin and Pigmen Tribe Another new day. In the northern forest of the Goblin lands. The forest was dim and silent, eerily quiet. Yet, beneath the seemingly tranquil surface, danger lurked. Amidst the dense forest vegetation, a group of small green figures moved stealthily. Their movements were slow and subtle. Though they brushed past flowers and grass, they made no sound. They exchanged glances and gestured to each other. The goblins, initially gathered together, dispersed to the left and right. As they moved forward, the goblin at the front suddenly crouched down. It crawled through the underbrush. The other goblins followed suit. They all lay in the grass, inching forward bit by bit. Before long, Gobuchai parted the grass blocking its view with its hand. In the clearing beyond, a herd of forest deer was grazing. The flowers, grass, and trees of the forest were their food. Gobuchai didn''t rush to act. It lay in the grass, patiently waiting. "Goo goo!" Before long, the sound of "goo goo" echoed from other directions in the forest. One call, two calls, three calls! One call represented one direction, two calls represented two directions, three calls represented three directions. The "goo goo" sounds in the forest caught the attention of the forest deer. They raised their heads warily, looking around. But their not-so-bright minds couldn''t discern the authenticity of the bird calls. When the third call sounded, Gobuchai grinned from its hiding spot in the grass. It suddenly stood up. The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. With its crossbow aimed at the nearby forest deer. At the moment it pulled the trigger, it shouted "Ah le le!" "Whoosh!" With the twang of the bowstring, the bolt shot through the air. Almost simultaneously, the sound of bolts piercing the air echoed from all directions of the forest surrounding the deer. Dozens of bolts plunged into the herd of forest deer. "Ang!" More than ten forest deer were hit instantly. Their bodies were riddled with bolts. The intense pain caused the forest deer to collapse, wailing in agony. They struggled, but the more they struggled, the faster the blood flowed. The forest deer that were lucky enough not to be hit by the bolts scattered in panic. Their massive bodies charged like heavy tanks. "Wah wah!" Seeing the fleeing forest deer about to escape the encirclement. Suddenly, some goblins wielding long spears emerged from the dense grass. They shouted excitedly, their faces full of exhilaration. The forest deer were startled by the sudden appearance of the goblins. They quickly turned to run, but it was too late. The goblins hurled their long spears like javelins at the forest deer that were within reach. "Thud!" Another few cries of anguish. The long spears pierced deeply into the bodies of the forest deer. The wounded forest deer struggled to run a few dozen meters before collapsing to the ground. Out of the herd of over twenty forest deer, only five managed to escape the hunt. Those five were pregnant does. They were intentionally spared by the goblins. "Wah wah!" A successful hunt made the goblins cheer as they emerged from the dense vegetation. Their eyes gleamed with greed as they gazed at the forest deer carcasses scattered around. Especially the still-living forest deer, which drew the goblins'' focus. "Meat, meat, let''s eat, let''s eat!" Gobuchai excitedly raised its crossbow, shouting. With the leader''s permission, the starving goblins rushed forward. They pounced greedily on the forest deer carcasses, devouring them. The still-living forest deer were also fought over by the goblins. "Don''t drop your weapons!" Gobuchai kicked a passing goblin underling. The goblin was so excited it had dropped its weapon. The kicked goblin scrambled back to retrieve its discarded crossbow before eagerly rushing toward the meat. Gobuchai''s shout made many goblins shrink their necks. They quickly tore off a piece of intestine to find their discarded weapons. "If anyone lets their weapon out of their sight again, I''ll eat them!" As a Goblin Soldier, Gobuchai was quite intimidating. Even the goblins gnawing on the forest deer looked up fearfully at Gobuchai. After intimidating the underlings, Gobuchai contentedly approached its feast. As the leader, only it had the privilege of enjoying a half-dead prey alone. While the goblins were feasting in the forest. In the depths of the eastern forest, there was some commotion. Tall, bulky figures were sprinting through the dim forest. Accompanied by panting breaths. It was the Pigmen tribe, running through the forest. There were quite a few of them, at least thirty in sight. "It''s the goblins, kill them!" The leading Pigmen spotted the goblins feasting ahead. "Oink haha!" In the dim forest, the sound of "oink oink" echoed. Dozens of Pigmen warriors charged at the goblins. The commotion from the eastern forest caught the goblins'' attention. "Not good, it''s the Pigmen tribe!" As the warning was shouted, a few Pigmen burst from the bushes first. They raised their iron large machetes. Charging at the nearest goblins. The goblins, busy eating, didn''t react in time. As they stood up, the large machetes came down. Several goblins were immediately slashed to the ground by the Pigmen. The large machetes tore through most of the goblins'' bodies. The goblins didn''t even have time to scream before they perished. "Kill them!" Fortunately, the goblins were scattered throughout the forest. Though the Pigmen slaughtered over ten goblins like chopping vegetables. The other goblins quickly reacted. They abandoned the fresh, delicious meat and joined the battle. "Wah wah!" Goblins wielding long spears rushed eagerly at the Pigmen. Crossbow goblins quickly drew their strings and loaded their bolts. When the sound of bolts piercing the air echoed through the forest again. Several Pigmen fell to the ground, unable to rise. "Ah!" The fallen Pigmen let out cries of agony. Their bodies were deeply pierced by several bolts. Some Pigmen even had their foreheads penetrated, dying instantly. In the forest, a chaotic battle erupted. Though the individual strength of the Pigmen was greater than that of the goblins. The goblins had a far superior number. Before long, the Pigmen were surrounded by over a hundred goblins. Since the Pigmen were much taller than the goblins. This gave the crossbow goblins an excellent shooting angle. They didn''t have to worry about hitting their comrades. Even if they missed, the bolts would fly upward and embed in the tree trunks. "Roar!" A Pigmen in the forest let out a roar. It wielded a large machete, facing the attack of three goblins. The three goblins circled around it. It lunged forward, slashing at a goblin. The goblin dodged to the left, avoiding the strike. The Pigmen quickly pursued, slashing again at the scrambling goblin. But the goblin behind it thrust its long spear at the Pigmen. "Ah!" The Pigmen let out a cry of pain. Two long spears, one pierced its buttocks. The other pierced its waist. Chapter 92 - King of Ogres The spearhead was plunged deep into the body. An enraged Pigman swung his blade at the neck of a Goblin scrambling to escape. The Goblin''s head flew off instantly. A bowl-sized spray of foul-smelling blood shot into the air. The injured Pigman gritted his teeth and swung his blade behind him. "Thud!" As soon as he turned, a bolt struck his head. The bolt pierced through the left side of the Pigman''s skull. The Pigman''s eyes rolled back, and his massive, fat body collapsed heavily to the ground. The battle didn''t last long. In less than five minutes of fighting, more than half of the Pigmen were down. This terrified the remaining Pigmen. They couldn''t understand how the usually weak Goblins had become so formidable. In the past, ten Pigmen warriors could easily drive away a hundred Goblins. "Oink oink!" A sharp pig squeal echoed through the dim forest. The Pigmen in battle quickly disengaged. They turned and ran into the forest without looking back. As they fled, a few more Pigmen were hit and fell to the ground. "Wow wow!" Seeing the Pigmen run, the Goblins shouted excitedly and gave chase. But soon, the Pigmen had vanished from sight. Despite their plump appearance, Pigmen were actually very agile. Moreover, their large size allowed them to outrun the short-legged Goblins. "Stop chasing, come back now!" Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author. Hearing the commotion in the forest fading away, Gobuchai shouted loudly. His voice echoed through the forest, reaching the ears of the Goblins chasing the Pigmen. The boss''s roar made the Goblins stop immediately. They turned and scampered back the way they came. It was only then that the Goblins remembered something. Their feast wasn''t finished yet. If they returned late, there would be nothing left. Hearing the noise in the forest getting closer again, Gobuchai grinned. He hadn''t forgotten the boss''s instructions. The boss had said not to engage with the Pigmen. If they encountered them in the forest, they should avoid or stay away. "The Pigmen attacked first, the boss can''t blame me!" Thinking of the boss, Gobuchai shrank his neck. Should he hide this from the boss? Gobuchai''s little brain quickly pondered. As long as the boss didn''t know, he wasn''t wrong. As long as the boss didn''t know, it would be as if nothing happened. Thinking of this, Gobuchai grinned. "I''m so smart!" Gobuchai nodded, deciding to go with this plan. After all, the boss never said he couldn''t lie. Even if he lied, he wasn''t wrong. "Listen up, don''t tell the boss about today''s fight with the Pigmen!" The boss''s words made the Goblins look at each other. "Boss, you''ll be eaten by the boss''s boss." "Yeah, yeah, you''ll definitely be eaten." "If Gobulai lies to me, I''ll smash his head." "Try it, you little trash, I can take on two of you." "Try it then, I''ve put up with you for a long time." For a moment, the forest was full of noise. "Great, if the boss is eaten, I''ll be the boss." A Big Goblin shouted excitedly. Looking at the noisy underlings, Gobuchai''s face darkened. "Shut up!" Gobuchai roared again. The Goblins in the forest quickly shut their mouths. "You trash, I''m not dead yet!" Faced with the boss''s gaze, the Goblins shrank their necks. "I wasn''t planning to deceive the boss, I meant I''ll tell him, if you try to compete with me, I''ll eat you!" The Goblins looked at each other. "I knew it, the boss wouldn''t be that stupid." "Yeah, the boss is the boss, he wouldn''t be that stupid." Gobuchai listened proudly to the Goblins'' chatter. He really was clever. With a little thought, he smoothed things over. "Keep eating, eat until you''re full, take the leftovers with you!" The Goblins'' excited shouts echoed again in the dim forest. The Goblins rushed towards the meat. There was venison and Pigmen meat. For a while, the forest was filled with the eerie sound of chewing. --- North of the Goblin River, in the forest. Throne Tribe, Iron Cave. It was night, and a full moon hung in the sky. The silver moonlight gently dispelled the darkness. Outside the Iron Cave, the forest was silent and still. Only the "ding ding" sounds from within the Iron Cave echoed through the world. Suddenly, there was a stir deep in the forest. A rustling sound. Something was brushing against the vegetation. Soon, huge figures appeared in the forest. One by one, massive Ogres emerged from the forest. Leading them was Benben. He carried a spiked club on his shoulder, and his armor was dented and misshapen. "Ah, Benben, Benben is back!" The Goblin guarding the Iron Cave entrance was startled awake by the noise in the forest. He looked closely and shouted excitedly. One Goblin even turned and ran into the Iron Cave. In the clearing outside the cave, Benben sat down to rest. The other twenty or so Ogres also sat down. They took fruits from the pouches at their waists and began to eat. Soon, Li Meng and Gobu Ge hurried out of the cave. "Benben, you finally decided to come back!" Seeing the huge figures outside, Li Meng felt relieved. Although Benben was usually a bit silly, he had a bit of cleverness. Li Meng walked over and slapped Benben''s leg. Benben looked down at his boss and whimpered. He turned to look at the Ogres behind him. Li Meng followed Benben''s gaze to the Ogres. [Ogre] [Level: 82] [Strength: 481] [Defense: 457] [Agility: 176] [Body Regeneration: LV2] Li Meng noticed the Ogres were all high-level. All above level 80, most above level 90. "Huh, Benben got stronger?" Li Meng realized Benben was bigger than a few months ago. Benben used to be five meters tall. Now he was almost seven meters tall. His armor looked like it was about to burst. The armor could no longer cover Benben''s body. Many parts were exposed to the air. The armor wasn''t worn, it was hanging on him. [Ogre King (Elite)] [Level: 11] [Strength: 1314] [Defense: 2716] [Agility: 1114] [Magic: 707] [Enhanced Stone Body: LV1 (Defense +1000) (Cannot be devoured)] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart of Stone: LV1 (Immune to all negative effects) (Requires "Enhanced Stone Body" prerequisite skill)] Chapter 93 - Event that triggers an event The sudden surge in the panel''s attributes left Li Meng dumbfounded. The Hardened Stone Skin skill not only advanced to Hardened Stone Body. It also gained a powerful skill called "Heart of Stone." The ability to be immune to all negative effects made Li Meng drool with envy. With this skill at his side, only a direct confrontation could kill him. "No wonder you could bring back so many Ogres, Benben, you''ve gotten stronger!" It was clear that in the past few months, Benben had gone back to the mountains to fight. He had become stronger through battles with his own kind. The battered armor was the best proof. Ordinary attacks couldn''t cause such damage. Only an Ogre''s fist could leave such marks. "Boss, my armor is broken, I can''t wear it anymore!" Benben looked down at the armor on his body. He reached out his right hand and poked the chest plate. With that poke, the chest plate immediately fell to the ground. Li Meng grinned, feeling quite pleased. "No worries, I''ll make you a new one. Let''s go inside!" Benben got up and stood. He turned and roared a few times at his companions behind him. The Ogres all stood up one by one. They followed the boss and the Goblins into the Iron Cave. Before long, the outside of the Iron Cave quieted down. Under the moonlight, the forest returned to its previous silence. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task. That was crafting armor tailored for Benben and his underlings. The daily life of a blacksmith began with Benben''s return. Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. From that day on, the clanging sounds of metal in the cave became even louder. It was another new day, in the afternoon. In the Iron Cave, by the underground riverbank. Li Meng stood by a massive iron anvil on the riverbank. Holding large tongs, he placed the red-hot armor parts. Benben used a specialized giant hammer to pound them repeatedly. The Ogres watched curiously from the side. Ogres liked warm environments, so they could withstand high temperatures. "Benben has become so strong yet can still be killed by humans. Humans really can''t be underestimated!" Looking at Benben''s massive body, a trace of worry flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. The Principality of Ilysis was invading the Goblin Forest to expand its territory. The future of human invasion into the Goblin Forest was inevitable. To humans, they were merely developing the wilderness. Eliminating the Barbarians was just a trivial task. The future path of conflict with humans was unavoidable. "Boss, boss!" At this moment, a Goblin Soldier came running over excitedly. When it saw the massive figures on the riverbank. The shouting Gobuchai quickly stopped in its tracks. It looked at the group of Ogres on the riverbank with a face full of uncertainty. Could it be that the Iron Cave was invaded by Ogres? Where did so many Ogres come from? "What is it?" Seeing Gobuchai hesitant to approach, Li Meng asked. The boss''s inquiry brought Gobuchai back to its senses. It looked fervently at the figure forging by the anvil. The boss was truly amazing. He had recruited so many Ogre underlings again. Gobuchai was no longer afraid and quickly approached the riverbank. "Boss, I encountered the Pigmen tribe in the eastern forest. They attacked us, but we drove them away." Gobuchai''s report made Li Meng''s expression change slightly by the anvil. The turning point predicted by the simulated life had finally appeared. This conflict led to a massive attack by the Pigmen tribe. The Pigmen tribe was probably already preparing to advance westward. "Boss, it''s not my fault. They ambushed us first!" Gobuchai shrank its neck, cautiously looking at the boss. "How far was the battle site from the Gobu Di tribe?" The Gobu Di tribe was about twenty kilometers west of the Pigmen tribe. Not too close, but not too far either. Gobuchai counted on its fingers. "About five Iron Caves'' distance from the tribe." The Iron Cave was about two kilometers from the throne tribe. Five would be over ten kilometers. "I understand, go ahead!" Seeing that the boss didn''t punish it, Gobuchai grinned. It turned and ran out of the cave excitedly. Listening to the departing footsteps, Li Meng''s face showed contemplation. It seemed the Pigmen tribe was expanding westward. "Gobu Ge!" Li Meng suddenly called out. Gobu Ge, who was cooling down by the water, shivered. It quickly got up and looked at the boss. "Boss, I''m here!" "Start mass-producing Goblin armor from today." Due to the constantly changing size of Goblins. Full-body armor was out of the question. But simple armor could be made to protect vital parts. The iron production in the Iron Cave could now support large-scale Goblin armor production. It was time to arm his Goblin underlings. With armor protection, even ordinary Goblins'' survival rates would increase several times. In the era of cold weapons, having armor and not having armor were two completely different matters. Gobu Ge''s eyes lit up, and it ran off excitedly. "Boss, I got it!" Gobu Ge, who had been forging arrowheads and spearheads every day, was already bored. Finally, it could forge something else. Li Meng looked up at Benben and grinned. "Benben, speed up. Next month, we''ll go trouble the Pigmen tribe!" Benben laughed heartily and hammered even harder. ------ Goblin Northern Forest. In the depths of the endless forest, green was the only color. A tributary split from the Goblin River and extended northward. On the riverbanks over twenty kilometers away, a tribe had appeared at some point. Wooden buildings stretched across both banks. A large area of the surrounding forest had been cut down, leaving no stumps behind. In the afternoon, the Goblin Forest was bathed in bright sunlight. In the largest wooden house of the tribe. "What a bunch of useless fools, can''t even handle a few Goblins!" An angry roar echoed in the wooden house. In the hall, over a dozen Pigmen tribe members dressed in animal skins sat on the ground. On the main seat sat a Pigmen tribe member nearly 2.5 meters tall, resembling a giant. Its chubby, robust physique was a size larger than the other Pigmen tribe members. Facing the chieftain''s gaze, all the elders lowered their heads. "Chieftain, Goblins frequently appear in the western forest. There should be a Goblin nest." "Nonsense, we''ve only been here a short while, and we receive reports of Goblin sightings almost every few days." "The Goblins we encountered this time were unusual. They seemed to deliberately avoid us." "That''s right, several times Goblins turned and ran when they saw our hunting party." "But we''re the Pigmen tribe. Isn''t it normal for Goblins to flee when they see us?" "No, foolish Goblins have never been aware of their own strength." "That''s true, as long as Goblins gather together, they would even dare to bite a dragon a few times." The elders in the hall began discussing one after another. As they talked, they seemed to forget about the still-angry chieftain. Chapter 94 - Smart Pig Dazhi As the elders seemed to ignore him, Pig Daqiang''s mouth twitched. "Shut up!" He roared, his voice deafening. The Pigmen tribe elders in the hall trembled and quickly closed their mouths. "Kill all those damned Goblins for me. There must be no Goblins in my territory!" Faced with the chief''s roar, the elders looked at each other in dismay. The Pigman sitting at the front raised his hand. "Chief, we need to wait a bit!" "No waiting!" Pig Daqiang glared angrily. Pig Dazhi sat up straight, facing the chief''s angry gaze without changing his expression. "We must wait, Chief. As the tribe''s wise one, I can''t let you act recklessly!" The Pigmen in the hall nodded repeatedly. Although the chief was strong, his mind was far inferior to the wise one. Pig Dazhi stood up. He turned to face the elders and the chief, grinning. "I asked the tribesmen who escaped back. They said the Goblins have a long-range weapon that can shoot arrows, giving the weak Goblins the ability to fight our hunting teams." "The question is, why do Goblins have long-range weapons?" Pig Dazhi smiled confidently, turning to look at the chief on the main seat. "Obviously, the long-range weapons in the Goblins'' hands were seized from humans." Faced with Pig Dazhi''s gaze, Pig Daqiang glared irritably. "Speak quickly, you chatterbox!" Pig Dazhi grinned, unconcerned. "Goblins capable of seizing weapons from humans are not simple creatures, so we must not be careless." With that, Pig Dazhi sat back in his original seat. He looked at the chief on the main seat and slightly bowed his head. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. "Chief, we need to wait a while. It''s not too late to sweep away the Goblins after all the tribesmen have migrated to their new home." In the end, isn''t the result the same? Pig Daqiang grinned. "Alright, then we''ll wait!" The Pigmen tribe elders in the hall looked at each other. Once again, they looked at the wise one with admiration. The wise one was indeed impressive; it all made sense. ------ Goblin Northern Forest. Throne Cave, Iron Cave. Another new day, in the afternoon. On the open ground outside the Iron Cave. Li Meng bathed in the scorching sunlight, facing the Iron Cave. Beside him stood a giant iron can. That iron can was Benben. The armor on Benben was thicker than before. Its weight reached a terrifying five tons. Every part of its body was covered in iron armor. Even the joints were cleverly designed not to hinder movement. The helmet was a huge bucket-like structure. The visor was a ten-centimeter-wide slit. Although wide, arrows could easily hit the eyes through the visor. But outside the visor, there was a mesh guard. During battle, it could be lowered to block arrow attacks. Usually, it could be opened for better visibility. All Ogre helmets had the same design. Due to the angle difference between the mesh guard and the visor, it effectively blocked sunlight. As long as they didn''t look up at the sun, their eyes wouldn''t be exposed to sunlight. Time passed quickly, and a month slipped by unnoticed. Today, Li Meng ended his blacksmithing career. "Don''t be afraid, come out." Li Meng shouted into the Iron Cave. Beside him, Benben also roared into the cave. Under their urging, a huge shadow in the cave entrance moved. An Ogre cautiously stepped out. It first extended its hand, exposing its arm to the sunlight. The scorching sunlight on the iron armor didn''t make the Ogre feel strange. Only then did the Ogre carefully walk out of the cave. Exposed to the sunlight, the Ogre behaved like a child. Looking around, lifting its legs, waving its arms. It looked up, searching for the thing that frightened them. With the things on their bodies, they wouldn''t fear the things in the sky anymore. "Don''t look at the sun!" Seeing the Ogre about to look up, Li Meng roared. The loud roar startled Benben beside him. The Ogre that left the cave was also startled. It quickly lowered its head. "Don''t look at the sun, don''t look up at the thing you''re afraid of, or you''ll turn to stone, understand?" Li Meng''s words were not only for the Ogre outside the cave. They were also for the Ogres hiding inside the cave. "Alright, now come out. As long as you don''t look up at the thing you''re afraid of, you won''t turn to stone." Now, Li Meng had only one task. To get the Ogres used to life under the sun. And to get them used to not looking up. Seeing their tribesmen safe in the sunlight. The Ogres inside the cave gradually came out. A total of 23, all wearing full-body armor. Looking at the massive figures in front of him, Li Meng grinned. "Great, time to trouble the Pigmen tribe!" A battle with humans was inevitable, and Li Meng had no intention of fleeing without a fight. "Benben, take them to play. I''m heading back to the tribe!" With that, Li Meng turned and hurried toward the direction of the tribe. Watching his master''s departing figure, Benben didn''t follow. As the leader, it couldn''t always follow the boss. It had to look after its tribesmen. The boss was smart, and it was smart too. But its tribesmen were foolish. Without it watching, who knows, when it returned, it might only see a pile of stones. In those months in the deep mountains, it had seen too many Ogre stones. It couldn''t imagine why its tribesmen were so foolish. Knowing they feared the sun, yet hiding in the forest where sunlight couldn''t be blocked. Half an hour later, Throne Tribe. Li Meng hurried back to the tribe and returned to the Throne Cave. "What''s your name?" At the entrance of the Throne Cave, Li Meng saw a female Lizardman. She was sitting at the entrance, lost in thought. Seeing her master return, she quickly stood up. "Master, I''m sorry, I didn''t mean to block the way." "No worries, you''re not blocking my way!" Li Meng sat down where the female Lizardman had been sitting. The female Lizardman standing behind Li Meng seemed a bit at a loss. She didn''t know whether to turn and go back inside or stay still. "Why didn''t you go to the Iron Cave with them?" Delivering milk to the male Lizardmen had become a routine for the female Lizardmen. Li Meng had tacitly accepted this. Letting the male and female Lizardmen meet wasn''t a bad thing. Social intelligent creatures had emotional needs. It was beneficial for the Lizardmen''s mental and physical health. "My name is Hui Shasha... I... didn''t!" Do Lizardmen blush? At least Li Meng couldn''t tell. Li Meng glanced back at Hui Shasha''s belly. Seeing her master looking at her belly, a hint of panic flashed in Hui Shasha''s eyes. Grinning, Li Meng said no more. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 95 - I want them all "Boss, Boss!" Soon, the sound of hooves thundered through the tribe. Gobu Qiang came panting, riding a wild boar. The sprinting boar came to a sudden halt, skidding several meters before stopping. Gobu Qiang quickly jumped off the boar''s back and ran over. "Boss, you called for me?" Gobu Qiang slid to his knees, skidding several meters before kneeling at Li Meng''s feet. "How''s the use of the lance coming along?" Li Meng had been pondering how to effectively utilize the Goblin boar cavalry. From the initial crossbow cavalry approach to the current lance cavalry. The equipped weapons had undergone multiple tests. Crossbows and javelins were suitable for hunting large creatures. The crossbow could attack from a distance, while the javelin could be thrown at short range. With the added speed, the javelin''s power was immense. But considering the primary role of cavalry was to charge into formations. Equipping a lance became very important. Thus, Li Meng designed a lance specifically for Goblins. The spearhead was designed with a cylindrical short spear structure. The tip was very short, less than ten centimeters. Behind the spearhead was a cylindrical structure. This effectively prevented the lance from penetrating too deeply and getting stuck. The target hit would be knocked away rather than pierced through. This also prevented the lance from becoming a one-time-use weapon. Between crossbow cavalry and lance cavalry, Li Meng chose to have both. He simply divided the Goblin boar cavalry into two main categories. One category was the Big Goblin boar cavalry, an all-rounder type. Equipped with a crossbow, javelin, lance, and long knife. The boar''s back had enough space to carry all four weapons. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Even the lance had a good placement position. One end was placed on the boar''s tusk, the other hung on a hook on the leg. When needed, the lance could be easily picked up, very convenient. Only Big Goblins had enough strength to use the lance. The second category was the Goblin boar cavalry. The cavalry were just ordinary Goblins. Not equipped with lances, only with crossbows, javelins, and long knives. They were a long-range and support type of cavalry. Responsible for assisting in the charge behind the Big Goblin boar cavalry. Gobu Ge smiled sheepishly and nodded. "I can hit the wooden dummy now, but Boss, the impact of the lance is too strong, my arm hurts a lot!" "Hurting is a good sign, practice more and it won''t hurt!" Li Meng was very attentive to the development of the Goblin boar cavalry. Therefore, he had strict requirements for the Goblin boar cavalry. Those who became cavalry were the best among ordinary Goblins. Timid Goblins would be eliminated before they grew up. From a young age, Goblins would start learning to use various weapons. They would also purposefully train their arm strength. Logically, Li Meng''s descendants were the best candidates for cavalry. Only strong power could better wield the lance. But the transition period for Li Meng''s descendants from Goblins to Goblin Soldiers was too short. Less than a year. Once evolved into Goblin Soldiers, they were no longer suitable for riding boars. For Goblin Soldiers, the boar''s size seemed a bit small. Gobu Qiang pulled a long face. "Boss, I''ll make sure the little brothers practice more." Riding boars was fun, but practicing with the lance was too tiring! "Very well, gather your boar cavalry, you will soon face your first battle!" Gobu Qiang was momentarily stunned. Then his face lit up with joy. "Great, Boss, are we going to fight the Lizardmen?" Last time, he didn''t go to the northern swamp with the Boss, and Gobu Qiang had always been concerned about it. Today, he could finally fight alongside the Boss. "The Lizardmen in the northern swamp are our allies, this time the target is the Pigmen tribe in the eastern forest!" Gobu Qiang nodded vigorously. He didn''t care who the enemy was. As long as he could fight alongside the Boss, that was enough. Gobu Qiang quickly got up and scampered over to the boar. He mounted the boar again. "Boss, I''ll go gather the little brothers right away!" Gobu Qiang tugged the reins, and the boar turned around on the spot, panting as it ran into the depths of the forest. Gobu Qiang''s little brothers weren''t all in the tribe. Most were out hunting. Each hunting party was generally responsible for its own food supply. They were responsible for the food of their own bloodline descendants. Each hunting party handed over a portion of their catch to support the Goblins staying in the tribe. In the following days, Li Meng focused on one thing. That was selecting hunting parties to form an army to advance on the Pigmen tribe. --- Half a month later, in the afternoon. The throne cave was bustling with noise. Inside a wooden hut, a group of upper Goblins stood around a sand table. Among the Goblins, Goblin Soldiers made up the majority. They stood closest to Li Meng. While the Big Goblins stood the farthest away. "Our target is here!" In front of the sand table, Li Meng pointed with a stick to the location of the Pigmen tribe. "This is a Pigmen tribe with a population of about three thousand!" "The existence of this Pigmen tribe has severely threatened our safety, so we must eliminate them!" The Goblins by the sand table looked excited. Their eyes greedily fixed on the spot the Boss pointed to with his stick. "Boss, I''ve never eaten Pigmen before, is it tasty?" A Goblin Soldier looked at the Boss expectantly. With this question, all the Goblins turned to look at the Boss. Facing the eager eyes of his Goblin followers, Li Meng grinned. "I haven''t either, but you''ll all get to taste it soon." The upper Goblins by the sand table nodded vigorously. Drool almost dripping from their mouths. "I''ve eaten it, I''ve eaten it, Pigmen meat is so fatty, one bite and it''s all oil, it''s delicious." Gobuchai raised his hand. Drooling, he seemed to savor the memory of Pigmen meat. The upper Goblins beside him were itching at Gobuchai''s words. Drool couldn''t help but trickle from their mouths. "Ahem, now, listen to me!" Li Meng tapped the floor with his stick, pulling the Goblins'' thoughts back. "Remember the location well, if you get separated, you can head there on your own. The Pigmen tribe is about twenty kilometers northeast of the Gobu Di tribe, you can follow this tributary to reach the Pigmen tribe." Although the chances of Goblins getting lost in the forest were almost zero. Because Goblins had a keen sense of smell. They could find the main force by scent. But there were always exceptions, it''s always better to be prepared. "From today, you need to prepare at least half a month''s worth of dry rations!" "And, take your little brothers to the Iron Cave to receive equipment." "Half a month to prepare, in half a month, the army sets out!" Standing up straight, Li Meng tossed aside the stick in his hand. His gaze swept over the Goblins by the sand table, waving his hand. "Go, make the preparations!" In an instant, the wooden hut was bustling with noise. The upper Goblins by the sand table all headed out. The Goblins leaving the throne cave scattered in all directions. In no time, they disappeared into the depths of the forest. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 96 - We are Goblins Standing at the doorway, Li Meng watched as the goblin underlings departed. This expedition to the Pigmen tribe could be considered a long-distance training exercise. It was important for the goblins to habitually stockpile provisions for emergencies. The drawbacks of hunting while traveling were too significant to ignore. Thus, over the next half month, the tribe began preparations for the expedition to the Pigmen tribe. Outside the Iron Cave, it was bustling with activity. A large number of goblins lined up to receive armor. The hunting parties also started producing a large amount of jerky. Li Meng didn¡¯t stay in the tribe; he headed to the eastern shore outpost of the northern swamp. Morning, at the eastern shore outpost of the northern swamp. "Not bad at all!" Walking through the outpost, Li Meng looked around, nodding repeatedly. Indeed, it was quite good, not much different from his plans. The outpost was built by the water, covering an area about the size of five football fields. It was surrounded by a wooden wall nearly seven meters high. There were five watchtowers, distributed in four directions. Each watchtower was equipped with a three-bow ballista. The outpost could accommodate around five hundred goblins for battle. The outpost had a west gate, and outside the west gate was a simple dock. Gobu Gao grinned at the boss''s praise. "Boss, boss!" At this moment, a goblin came running over excitedly. "Boss, the Lizardmen have brought fish!" Li Meng''s eyes lit up with interest. "Let''s go and take a look!" Li Meng then climbed the watchtower on the left side of the west gate with Gobu Gao. From the watchtower, Li Meng saw the dock outside. This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon. The dock was built by the water. Half of it was in the water, and half on the shore. The dock was located in a relatively deep water area. Not far from the dock, a group of Lizardmen was approaching. Accompanying them were more than a dozen wooden boats. The boats varied in size, with the largest being several times the size of the smallest. These boats were also made by goblins for the Lizardmen as transport tools. They were pushing the boats towards the dock. The contents of the boats seemed heavy. The gunwales were almost level with the water surface. Fortunately, the water in the swamp was calm. If it were the Goblin River, the boats would have sunk long ago. "Boss, those Lizardmen always like to deliver fish in the afternoon, and by the time they''re sent to the tribe overnight, it''s almost morning." As the boats approached, Li Meng finally saw what was inside them. It was water, with a slightly rippling surface. Faintly visible were fish of various sizes swimming inside the boats. As the Lizardmen''s team reached the dock, the outpost became lively. With a creaking sound, the west gate slowly opened. A large number of goblins rushed out with a dozen carts. Nearly a hundred goblins on the dock, along with the Lizardmen, skillfully transferred the catch. "Boss, why not have the Lizardmen make the fish into jerky? It would be much more convenient." Gobu Gao looked at the boss with a puzzled expression. Jerky might not taste great, but it could fill the stomach. Transporting live fish for the Lizardmen was indeed troublesome. It was time-consuming, and each transfer took a long time. "Jerky can be used for emergencies, but it can''t be consumed long-term." The boss''s answer made Gobu Gao nod in partial understanding. They were the same; eating jerky every day would be unbearable. After inspecting the outpost, Li Meng didn''t linger. He left early the next morning. By the time Li Meng returned to the tribe, it was already the afternoon of the next day. Back in the tribe, Li Meng stayed put and didn''t go anywhere. Time passed day by day. --- Half a month later, at the throne tribe. Another new day, in the morning. The buffer zone outside the east wall was bustling. Nearly five thousand goblins spread across a vast wasteland. The green figures formed a dense mass, almost endless. Just witnessing this scene was enough to make one''s scalp tingle. The goblins'' chaotic cries echoed through the sky. The gathering made the goblins unusually excited. They looked around, occasionally shouting. "Boss, the boss is here!" At this moment, a shout came from the dense mass of goblins. On the watchtower to the left of the east gate, Li Meng''s strong figure appeared. The boss''s appearance caused the goblins outside to erupt in excitement. Standing on the watchtower, Li Meng looked at the sea of people before him with a pleased expression. In less than two years, he had achieved this level of success. He basked in the fervent gazes of thousands of goblins. Facing countless eyes, Li Meng spread his arms wide! This gesture instantly silenced the goblins outside the wall. "Tell me, what are we?" Li Meng roared, his voice deafening. "Goblins, goblins!" The goblins outside the wall raised their weapons high, shouting loudly. The momentum was overwhelming, wave after wave. The tremendous noise startled birds and beasts in the surrounding forest. Li Meng grinned, pressing his hands downward. The thunderous shouts abruptly ceased. "We are goblins, and thus we have many enemies. Our battles will never end. We may be weak, but we will become stronger. We will show our enemies that the era of goblins has arrived, and goblins will rise!" Li Meng''s voice resonated powerfully through the heavens and earth. The sound was so loud. Every goblin heard the ambition in the boss''s voice. All the goblins looked fervently at the figure on the watchtower. Under the boss''s leadership, they would surely defeat any formidable enemy. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" Suddenly, a shout arose from the dense mass of goblins. This shout was echoed by all the goblins. The goblin army outside the wall erupted once more. They shouted the boss''s name with even greater fervor. "Gobu Meng, Gobu Meng!" The momentum was immense, wave after wave. All the goblins raised their weapons, shouting passionately. Even the boars of the goblin boar cavalry were infected by the fervent atmosphere. They grunted excitedly. Li Meng waved his hand, pointing eastward. The fervent shouts instantly ceased. "Our enemies are to the east. Forward, march!" The goblin army in the wasteland outside the wall responded and moved. The goblins in simple armor turned and surged into the forest. For a moment, the wasteland outside the tribe rumbled with footsteps. The dense mass of goblins surged eastward like a tide. The dense forest seemed like a devouring beast, continuously swallowing the goblins. "Goblin boar cavalry, move out!" Riding on a boar, Gobu Qiang let out an excited roar. Nearly a thousand goblin boar cavalry moved in unison, charging into the forest. The thunderous sound of hooves echoed through the heavens and earth. Nearly a thousand goblin boar cavalry charged into the dense forest like a dark cloud. Seeing this scene, Li Meng grinned. He suddenly leaped down from the watchtower. His strong body landed steadily on Benben''s shoulder outside the wall from a height of over ten meters. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 97 - Ambush in the Woods Outside the wooden wall, twenty-four Ogres stood at the base. They lined up in a row. Each Ogre was clad in full armor, wielding a massive spiked club. "Roar!" The impact on his shoulder made Benben let out a roar. With massive strides, his enormous body began to run. The other Ogres followed closely, charging into the forest. The Ogres'' running appeared somewhat clumsy. But their speed was incredibly fast. In no time, they caught up with the main force that hadn''t fully entered the forest. Faced with the charging Ogres, the Goblins quickly made way. The dense crowd of Goblins opened paths for the Ogres to pass through. The twenty-four Ogres rushed into the forest like heavy tanks. It took over half an hour for the wasteland outside the eastern wall to quiet down. The once-crowded Goblin army had vanished. Only the deep forest remained noisy. The noise gradually faded away. --- Northern forest by the Goblin River. It was already afternoon, and the forest was silent. "Boss, I smell pigs. They''ve been here!" In the dim depths of the forest, a group of Goblins gathered together. One Goblin stood out as the tallest. Standing about 2.5 meters tall with a massive frame. In front of it, the surrounding Goblins looked like little rabbits. Gobu Di surveyed the depths of the forest around him. "Tell the little bosses to spread out with their underlings. If they find the Pigmen tribe, kill them!" Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Gobu Di grinned, a glint of greed in his eyes. Compared to wild boar, the meat of the Pigmen tribe was tastier. Fat and tender, extremely delicious. "Boss, why not take a peek at the Pigmen tribe''s settlement?" Gobu Di kicked the Goblin who suggested it flying. "Idiot, trying to get yourself killed?" The kicked Goblin quickly scrambled up from the ground. It smiled obsequiously and scurried to the boss''s side. "Boss, what does the boss''s boss want us to do?" Gobu Di glared at the little Goblin. It grinned menacingly, a glint of greed in its eyes. "The boss wants us to roam the nearby forest. If we encounter the Pigmen tribe, kill them!" The Goblin grinned. "Boss, that''s right. The boss''s boss wants us to kill the Pigmen tribe. Wouldn''t it be better to attack their settlement?" Gobu Di looked at the little Goblin like it was an idiot. It kicked the little Goblin flying again. "Idiot, trying to get yourself killed? I''m not as stupid as you!" The boss only wanted it to hunt the Pigmen tribe in the forest. It didn''t order an attack on the Pigmen tribe''s settlement. "Boss, boss, it''s the Pigmen tribe!" At that moment, a Goblin came running over. "A lot, a lot of Pigmen tribe, they''re over there!" The Goblin pointed to the depths of the forest in the northeast in front of Gobu Di. "How many is a lot?" Gobu Di glanced at the forest depths in the northeast. "Well..." The Goblin began counting on its fingers. Finally, its eyes lit up, and it extended both hands to the boss. "Boss, more than ten fingers!" "Ten fingers?" Gobu Di scratched its head, looking confused. "I know, it''s ten!" A Goblin jumped out, looking smug. "No, ten of ten is two tens, that''s twenty!" "No, no, it''s not twenty!" "It''s definitely twenty!" The Goblins around Gobu Di started arguing loudly. They argued until they were red in the face, glaring at each other. The argument among the underlings made Gobu Di very annoyed. "Shut up!" It roared, stopping the underlings from continuing their argument. The surrounding Goblins quickly shut their mouths. Facing the boss''s fierce gaze, the Goblins shrank their necks. Gobu Di pointed at the Goblin who reported the Pigmen tribe''s appearance. "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 there aren''t more of them than us!" Gobu Di glared at the finger-counting little Goblin. It pulled the war horn from its waist. Put it to its mouth and blew "it." The forest was immediately filled with the long, drawn-out sound of the horn. The sound swept through the depths of the forest. Goblins scattered everywhere heard the horn almost simultaneously. They all turned and ran towards the source of the horn. The boss was calling them! Meanwhile, in the depths of the forest not far to the northeast. Silhouettes moved in the dim forest. Over a hundred Pigmen tribe members were walking through the forest. The appearance of the horn sound made all the Pigmen tribe members stop. They looked up in the direction of the horn sound. "It''s the Goblins!" Listening to the horn sound echoing in the forest, Pig Intestine grinned. Recently, Goblins had been frequently appearing in the western forest. The hunting team had also frequently encountered attacks. Under the chief''s orders, it led the team to clear out those pesky Goblins in the forest. "Everyone, follow me, quickly!" Pig Intestine let out an excited roar. Holding a large machete, its plump body charged into the depths of the forest. The other Pigmen warriors quickly followed. Their chubby bodies jiggled as they ran. For a moment, the forest was filled with the "oink oink" sounds of pigs. That wasn''t pig sounds, but the panting of the Pigmen tribe as they ran. Half an hour later, in the depths of the dim forest. "Not good, not good!" "Boss, boss, the Pigmen tribe is charging over here!" A Goblin came running from the depths of the forest. "What are you afraid of? We''ll charge too!" Gobu Di slapped the panicked underling flying. By now, over three hundred Goblins had gathered around Gobu Di. "Little ones, follow me, wahaha!" Gobu Di laughed loudly and let out a roar. With a massive body and a spiked club in hand, it charged into the depths of the forest. "Wah wah!" The other Goblins, seeing the boss''s bravery, excitedly shouted "wah wah" and followed behind the boss. In no time, less than ten minutes later. The two sides met in a relatively flat part of the forest. "It''s the Goblins!" "It''s meat!" Both sides almost simultaneously noticed each other''s presence. "Kill them!" "Eat them!" Gobu Di grinned menacingly, letting out a loud shout. Not far away, Pig Intestine also let out a roar. The excited Goblins looked greedily at the big, plump Pigmen tribe members. "Whoosh!" The crossbowmen Goblins launched the first attack. They pulled the triggers, shooting out bolts. Bolts flew towards the Pigmen tribe in the forest. The sound of the bolts cutting through the air made the Pigmen tribe quickly shield their heads. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 98 - What are you afraid of? "Ah!" A series of screams echoed. Several Pigmen were struck by bolts. The bolts embedded themselves into their plump bodies. Though they penetrated deeply, they didn''t inflict fatal damage on the Pigmen. Their layers of fat effectively protected their fragile organs. The pain only made the Pigmen more furious. With bloodshot eyes, they charged at the Goblins. "Ha ha ha, die!" Gobu Di, with his massive frame, was like a heavy tank. The moment he saw the Pigmen, he launched into a charge. His running body was like a mountain of flesh bearing down on the Pigmen. Two Pigmen fearlessly rushed to meet him head-on. Gobu Di grinned menacingly and swung his spiked club down on one of the Pigmen. "Stand back, let me handle this!" At that moment, a powerful shout rang out. A stronger Pigman dashed past the two Pigmen. He charged forward, swinging his large machete to intercept the descending spiked club. "Clang!" A piercing metallic clash resounded through the forest. The spiked club and the large machete collided. Sparks flew as both combatants took two steps back. The impact from the spiked club made Gobu Di''s hand tremble. Pig Intestine fared no better. His right hand, holding the large machete, was shaking. "Again!" Gobu Di grinned fiercely. He charged forward once more, swinging his spiked club. Pig Intestine was not to be outdone, charging to meet him. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. The two continued to clash their weapons together. Once, twice, three times! The speed of their weapon swings increased. They constantly shifted their footing, changing their positions. Each sought a flaw in the other''s attack. Their weapons swung faster and faster. A gust of wind seemed to form around them. Anyone nearby could feel the force. As the leaders clashed fiercely, the Goblins and Pigmen were also locked in battle. The dim forest was filled with noise. The Goblins'' "wah wah" cries mingled with the Pigmen''s roars. The Pigmen warriors were indeed strong. Even with the Goblins'' powerful crossbows, they couldn''t gain an overwhelming advantage. Despite outnumbering the Pigmen several times over, they couldn''t quickly end the fight. In the dim forest, a bloody battle raged on. Each Pigman faced the onslaught of several Goblins. They had to be wary of the occasional whistling bolt. Many Pigmen were pierced by the Goblins'' long spears, their flesh torn, yet they did not fall. Their large machetes were stained with Goblin blood. Any Goblin struck by a Pigman''s machete was almost certainly killed instantly. But as more Goblins arrived from all directions to support the fight, the Pigmen gradually fell into a disadvantage. "Damned green-skinned trash, get out of my way!" On the chaotic battlefield, a Pigman roared in anger. It suddenly stepped forward, slashing a Goblin across the shoulder. "Ah!" A Goblin screamed. Most of its body was torn apart. It fell to the ground, dead. The death of their comrade did not frighten the surrounding Goblins. They charged forward, shouting. Their long spears thrust forcefully into the Pigman''s body. The spearheads embedded almost halfway in. The Pigman let out a scream, stumbled, and fell heavily to the ground, unable to rise again. Looking at its body, bloodied holes were scattered all over. "Clang!" At that moment, a piercing metallic clash rang out. The leaders locked in battle had reached a conclusion. A large machete flew through the air. It flew over ten meters before embedding with a "thud" into a tree. "Die!" Gobu Di shouted excitedly. He swung his spiked club down on Pig Intestine''s head. If it hit, Pig Intestine''s skull would surely be crushed. "Elder!" At that moment, a Pigman suddenly rushed over. It leaped, knocking Pig Intestine aside. It took the blow from the spiked club with its own body. "Thud!" The massive spiked club smashed heavily into the Pigman''s head. The Pigman''s head burst like a shattered watermelon. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere. The shattered head, along with the body, was slammed into the ground by the spiked club. "Damn Goblin!" The sight made Pig Intestine''s eyes widen in rage. "Elder, retreat, retreat!" Two Pigmen rushed forward, dragging Pig Intestine forcibly toward the depths of the forest. "Retreat, retreat!" Reluctantly, Pig Intestine gave the order to withdraw. He blew the whistle hanging around his neck. "Beep beep!" The sharp whistle suddenly echoed through the forest. Hearing the whistle, the Pigmen snapped out of their battle frenzy. They abandoned their opponents and, covered in blood, rushed toward the depths of the forest. "Wah wah!" The fleeing Pigmen elicited excited shouts from the Goblins. They eagerly pursued them. But before long, the Pigmen vanished without a trace. Although the Goblins could smell the lingering scent of the Pigmen, they knew the Pigmen''s tribe was not far away. Pursuing further would only draw more Pigmen to them. "Boss, boss, they''ve run off!" As the Pigmen retreated, the dim forest fell silent. Gobu Di gnawed contentedly on a pig''s head. A large piece of chewy skin was torn off. Seeing their boss eat with such relish, the Goblins'' throats moved. "Let them run, clean up the battlefield, eat and drink as you please!" The surrounding Goblins'' eyes lit up. They shouted excitedly and pounced on the corpses strewn about. The Goblins returning from the chase saw their comrades already feasting. They cursed and joined the eating frenzy. For a moment, the dim forest was filled with eerie wailing and chewing sounds. --- Pigmen Tribe. In the afternoon, inside the largest wooden house. "I can''t stand it, damn Goblins, I want to tear them apart and make soup!" A frenzied roar echoed inside the wooden house. Pig Daqiang, sitting at the head, glared at Pig Dazhi, panting heavily. "Those disgusting Goblins have reached our doorstep, Pig Dazhi, do you still want me to wait and do nothing?" Pig Daqiang glared angrily, his fists clenched. He had made up his mind. If Pig Dazhi dared to spout nonsense again, he would use his fists to show Pig Dazhi who the real chieftain was. Facing the chieftain''s angry gaze, Pig Dazhi grinned. "Then we won''t wait, let''s clear out the Goblins in the surrounding forest first!" Seeing Pig Dazhi agree so easily, Pig Daqiang was momentarily stunned. Pig Dazhi''s easy agreement left Pig Daqiang a bit unaccustomed. "Chieftain, we can fight, but we mustn''t venture too deep into the forest. Our forces are limited, and we can''t rashly advance westward!" Pig Daqiang rubbed his bald head. He looked at Pig Dazhi with some confusion. "Sage, what are you afraid of?" Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 99 - Gobu Di tribe Pig Dazhi stood up and walked out. "Of course, it''s about fearing those powerful beings who can fight a thousand alone. Chief, do what you want, just remember my words." Watching the wise one leave, the elders in the wooden hut exchanged glances. "What are we afraid of? Our demon tribe isn''t without strong warriors!" "Exactly, at worst, we''ll report to the commander!" "Chief, what should we do next?" Pig Daqiang grinned, stood up, and waved his large hand. "Gather all the warriors and follow me to wipe out those green-skinned pests in the forest!" Hearing this, the elders excitedly stood up. They had long been infuriated by the news about goblins over the past few days. Now, they could finally take revenge on the goblins. Soon, the tribe was bustling with activity. All the Pigmen warriors stopped their work. Nearly three thousand Pigmen warriors surged toward the southwestern forest. They were set to unleash a bloody revenge on the goblins in the forest. To kill all green-skinned creatures. --- Goblin River, in the northern forest. "Boss, boss, something''s wrong!" Today''s hunt was over, and Gobu Di was leading his followers back to the tribe. In the dim forest, countless green-skinned figures swayed. Amidst the chaotic "wah-wah" sounds, the group moved southward. A goblin suddenly ran out from the depths of the forest. It caught up with the tallest figure in the group. "What''s up?" Gobu Di was holding a pig leg, gnawing on the bone. He walked while looking at the panting follower beside him. This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. "It''s the Pigmen tribe, lots and lots of Pigmen, they''re all coming!" The report from the follower made Gobu Di grin. He tossed away the pig leg bone in his hand. The surrounding goblins immediately swarmed, scrambling for the pig bone. "Run, back to the tribe!" Gobu Di shouted, his loud voice echoing through the forest. His massive body began to run in the dim forest. The goblins in the surrounding forest also started running with "wah-wah" cries. Before long, as the goblins left, the forest quieted down. Shortly after the goblins departed, the silence of the forest was broken again. Countless Pigmen figures emerged from the depths of the dim forest. Their plump bodies spread across a large area of the forest. Each Pigman wore animal skin clothes and held a large machete. Standing nearly two meters tall, they looked very robust. "It''s the goblins'' scent, Chief, they''re in that direction!" A Pigmen elder sniffed the air with his round nose. Beside him, Pig Daqiang grinned. "Good, good, this time we can''t let them escape!" Pig Daqiang was full of excitement. The goblins had infuriated him. But thinking about soon tearing the goblins apart with his own hands. Pig Daqiang felt a surge of excitement. Behind Pig Daqiang, Pig Dazhi thoughtfully scanned the surrounding forest. "The tribe isn''t far from here, don''t rush to catch up with them!" These words made Pig Daqiang curiously turn his head to look at Pig Dazhi. "You said not to go deep into the forest, didn''t you?" Pig Dazhi smiled leisurely. "Chief, not going deep into the forest means not straying far from the tribe. If the goblin nest is close to the tribe, it naturally can''t be left alone. Don''t listen to what I say, watch what I do. What needs to be done might not always be done, as many factors can change what needs to be done!" Listening to the wise one''s incomprehensible words, Pig Daqiang glared. "Chief, let''s keep moving!" A nearby Pigmen elder quickly stepped forward to stop the chief from saying more. In the tribe, the most foolish thing was to argue with the wise one. Those who were not as clever in the eyes of the wise one just needed to listen quietly. Pig Daqiang gave Pig Dazhi a glare and ignored him. In the following time, the Pigmen tribe tracked the goblins. In the dim forest, both sides moved southwest, separated by several kilometers. --- Early the next morning, Gobu Di tribe. The Gobu Di tribe was located about ten kilometers north of the Goblin River''s northern bank, in the forest. Situated on a raised, flat terrain. Though only a fifth the size of the throne tribe. Its defenses were very well-established. Like the throne tribe, a three-hundred-meter-wide buffer zone was cleared around the tribe. Standing nearly seven meters tall, the wooden walls were lined with watchtowers. Each watchtower was equipped with a three-bow ballista. Early in the morning, the northern forest of the tribe was bustling. In a moment, a large group of goblins surged out of the forest like a tide. "Stay alert, get on the wooden walls!" In the wasteland outside the tribe, Gobu Di ran and roared. The tall wooden walls of the tribe made Gobu Di grin. He was determined to turn those following Pigmen into skewers. Nearly a thousand goblins swarmed in from the tribe''s northern bank. They scattered and climbed the wooden walls from various staircases. In no time, the previously empty wooden walls were crowded with goblins. Gobu Di also climbed the watchtower on the right side of the north gate. All the goblins on the wooden walls eagerly watched the forest beyond the wasteland. They awaited the arrival of the Pigmen tribe. War would allow them to eat meat until they were stuffed. They loved the feeling of being so full they couldn''t eat anymore. As they waited, the dawn gradually rose from the eastern sky. When the first ray of sunlight shone into the forest at the edge of the wasteland. The forest was filled with movement and noise. Countless Pigmen appeared in the forest at the edge of the wasteland. Seeing the wooden fortress outside, the Pigmen were only surprised. They hadn''t expected the goblins to build such a large wooden fortress in the forest. "Interesting, it seems we''ve encountered a very clever goblin tribe!" Looking at the buffer zone and wooden fortress outside the forest, Pig Dazhi was greatly surprised. Weren''t goblins supposed to like staying in dark, damp caves? Why would they build such a large wooden fortress in the forest? While surprised, Pig Dazhi was also very curious. Curious about how clever this Goblin Leader really was. "Hmph, just a wooden wall, watch me smash it!" Pig Daqiang grinned fiercely, ready to charge out with his large machete. "Chief, let''s observe first!" "No, warriors of the tribe, charge with me!" Pig Daqiang turned and glared at Pig Dazhi beside him. He raised his large machete and roared. Then, leading by example, he was the first to charge out of the forest. "Roar!" Seeing their chief so brave, the Pigmen in the forest roared. They followed closely, roaring as they charged out of the forest. In the light of dawn, countless Pigmen surged out of the forest like a tide. "Ha ha ha, here they come!" This scene made Gobu Di on the watchtower laugh excitedly. He turned and personally set up the three-bow ballista. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 100 - Goblin Tribe Siege Warfare "Shoot them dead for me!" A new addition appeared on the bowstring of the three-bow ballista. A quiver made of logs. The quiver had 72 holes, each capable of holding a half-meter-long bolt. Once fired, all 72 bolts would be unleashed. Although lacking precision, they spread widely. Perfect for dealing with dense groups of minor enemies. The giant bolts were powerful but only suitable for individual targets. The quiver was ideal for attacking clustered targets. "Fire, kill them!" Gobu Di grinned menacingly and pulled the trigger. With a loud "thud," the massive bowstring snapped back on the watchtower. Seventy-two bolts shot out from the quiver. They spread across the sky, arcing slightly as they charged toward the Pigmen tribe advancing on the wasteland. Almost simultaneously, the sound of bowstrings snapping echoed from other watchtowers. A dense shower of bolts rained down like droplets, covering a vast area of the Pigmen tribe. "Ah!" Screams echoed. Accompanied by the sound of bolts piercing flesh. A large swath of the Pigmen tribe fell under the arrow rain. Some of them ended up looking like porcupines. Their bodies were riddled with densely packed bolts. "What kind of weapon is this?" Pig Dazhi, observing from the forest, was startled. When the dark cloud of arrows descended, he sensed trouble. In just one encounter, dozens of his kin were killed. The terrifying weapon gave Pig Dazhi a bad feeling. "Wow, reload, quickly!" Seeing his shot bring down a large group of Pigmen, Gobu Di was ecstatic. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. He hurriedly urged his goblin underlings to replace the quiver. The goblin underlings quickly carried a quiver filled with bolts and placed it on the bowstring. "Damn goblins!" Pig Daqiang, charging on the wasteland, was also taken aback by the sudden attack. There were simply too many arrows in the sky. He was hit by a few bolts himself. Fortunately, his thick skin and flesh protected him from any real harm. It only hurt a bit, as the bolts were stuck in his fat layer. "I''ll kill you all!" Pig Daqiang suddenly halted mid-run. He raised his right foot and stomped heavily on the ground. "War Stomp!" He roared, as if chanting a spell to the heavens and earth. The ground beneath him suddenly cracked and rapidly spread toward the wooden fortress. "Damn, it''s magic!" Gobu Di, watching from the watchtower, saw this scene unfold. His previous shot was aimed at the largest Pigman. Seeing a massive crack spreading from its feet, Gobu Di''s expression changed dramatically. The crack was heading straight for his watchtower. Before the goblin underlings could finish replacing the quiver, Gobu Di leaped to the left. His tall body jumped off the watchtower. With a "thud," he landed against the wooden wall. On the wasteland, the crack spanned 200 meters in the blink of an eye and struck the watchtower. "Boom!" A thunderous crash echoed. That section of the wooden wall, along with the watchtower, collapsed with a roar. The rumbling continued for a while. The collapsed wall and structures filled the crack. This created a massive breach in the attacked section of the wooden wall. "Haha, warriors, charge, kill the goblins, leave none alive!" Pig Daqiang laughed heartily. He raised his large machete and charged again. The other Pigmen, seeing the wall breached by their chieftain, were invigorated. "Roar!" They roared and continued their charge, braving the arrow rain. In the blink of an eye, the Pigmen were within a hundred meters of the wooden wall. "What are you waiting for, shoot them dead?" Gobu Di picked up his spiked club from the ground. He roared at the goblin underlings on the wooden wall who were in a daze. The goblin crossbowmen quickly pulled the triggers. In an instant, the sound of bowstrings snapping echoed from the wooden wall. An even denser rain of arrows fell upon the Pigmen. The charging Pigmen shielded their heads with their hands and continued their advance through the arrow rain. But as the arrows pierced their bodies, they let out cries of pain. Yet the Pigmen displayed immense bravery. Even with their arms full of arrows and blood flowing, they did not halt their charge. The fall of their comrades did not instill fear in them. Instead, they fought with increasing ferocity, their eyes turning red. From the sky, the Pigmen on the wasteland looked like a dark cloud surging toward the breach in the wooden wall. And standing at the breach was a tall green-skinned figure. It was Gobu Di! He stood straight, holding a spiked club. Facing the approaching Pigmen outside the wooden wall, there was no trace of fear in his eyes. Behind him were goblins shouting excitedly. They held long spears, their eyes filled only with excitement. With their leader standing at the forefront, they were fearless. "Goblins, prepare to die!" Pig Daqiang was the first to charge into the breach. He grinned menacingly, wielding his large machete as he charged at Gobu Di. "Pigmen, I''ll eat you!" Gobu Di grinned back, fearlessly meeting the charge. At the breach in the wooden wall, the two massive figures collided. The large machete clashed with the spiked club, sparks flying. Blow after blow, a battle of sheer force. "Get out of the way!" A Pigman tried to join the fight between the two. Gobu Di stepped back and swung his massive spiked club at the Pigman''s head. The Pigman tried to slash the spiked club with his machete. But the large machete was deflected by the spiked club. The spiked club continued its trajectory and smashed into the Pigman''s head. The large pig head exploded, brain matter splattering everywhere. The chubby body collapsed to the ground. "Goblin, you''re courting death!" The death of his kin enraged Pig Daqiang. He lifted his right foot but then put it down again. If he used "War Stomp" now, they wouldn''t be able to get through. The massive crack caused by the War Stomp would form a natural barrier. Reaching the breach in the wooden wall, Pig Daqiang realized how thick the goblins had built it. If they tried to cut through it with weapons, who knew how long it would take. Pig Daqiang had no choice but to continue fighting the goblins. Both sides were powerhouses, unable to gain the upper hand in a short time. One side attacked, the other defended, using their weapons to block each other''s blows. One side attacked, the other defended. "Don''t worry about me, charge in!" In the midst of battle, Pig Daqiang roared. He wasn''t a fool; he knew his kin couldn''t stay outside. Those left outside would become targets for the goblins on the wooden wall. "Charge, kill them!" The chieftain''s shout snapped the Pigmen back to reality. They rushed past the two combatants and charged into the wooden fortress. "Wow wow!" The goblins inside the fortress were not to be outdone and charged forward. At the breach, the Pigmen and goblins clashed. But the moment they collided, the goblins fell into a disadvantage. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 101 - My hand is broken! The Pigmen tribe possesses a physique and strength far superior to that of the Goblins. Their weapons are large iron machetes. Though rusty, they are still considered sharp weapons. As soon as they made contact, a large number of Goblins were cut down. The Pigmen forced their way in with their towering figures. The Goblins couldn¡¯t hold them back, and their lines were instantly broken. The large machetes in the hands of the Pigmen could kill a Goblin with a single strike. However, the long spears in the Goblins'' hands couldn¡¯t inflict fatal damage on the Pigmen. Even if they struck the chest, they couldn''t penetrate the fat layer. Only the crossbowmen Goblins on the wooden walls could deal fatal damage to the Pigmen. But the space on the surrounding wooden walls could only accommodate a limited number of Goblins. The crossbowmen Goblins couldn¡¯t provide effective support. As more and more Pigmen rushed into the wooden fortress, Gobu Di was surrounded. "Clang!" A piercing metallic clash echoed through the air. The two figures at the breach separated once again. Both were panting heavily as they stared at each other. Their hands, gripping their weapons, were locked in combat. Gobu Di¡¯s grip was cracked. Blood dripped steadily to the ground. "This is my fight with it, you go deal with the Goblins inside the wooden fortress!" A Pigman tried to sneak up on Gobu Di from behind. Just as it took a step, Pig Daqiang stopped it. This was a duel between leaders, an honorable battle not to be desecrated by others. The surrounding Pigmen didn¡¯t linger. They turned and charged into the wooden fortress. By this time, the Goblins guarding the breach inside the fortress had already been defeated. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Though still fighting, the tide had turned against them. 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 Pigmen filled the gap. Once they got close to the wooden walls, the three-bow ballista on the watchtower lost its shooting angle. It couldn¡¯t attack the Pigmen gathered at the breach. "Kill them all, leave none alive!" A Pigman elder roared excitedly after cutting down a Goblin. "Whoosh!" Its roar caught the attention of the crossbowmen Goblins on the wooden walls. The sound of arrows cutting through the air followed swiftly. "Thud!" Several bolts struck its body. One bolt even pierced through its skull. The Pigman elder¡¯s eyes rolled back, and it fell to the ground. "Climb up and kill the Goblins on the wooden walls!" The death of the elder enraged the Pigmen. They roared and charged at the wooden walls. At this moment, the battle at the breach also reached its conclusion. Due to exhaustion, Gobu Di reached his limit first. "Ah!" A scream of agony echoed. The weakness in his body prevented Gobu Di from raising his mace again in time. Pig Daqiang closed in, severing Gobu Di¡¯s right hand with a single slash. The severed hand, still gripping the mace, fell heavily to the ground. "Die, Goblin!" Pig Daqiang let out a victorious roar. With a sinister smile, he swung his large machete toward Gobu Di¡¯s neck. Even in the end, Gobu Di didn¡¯t show weakness. It opened its mouth and roared at Pig Daqiang. "How dare you!" At that moment, a thunderous roar suddenly echoed across the battlefield. The sound was so loud it drowned out all other noises. From the northwest forest, a shadow suddenly darted out. Moving as fast as lightning across the wasteland. It was Li Meng! With a furious shout, Li Meng used all his strength to hurl the Big Iron Rod in his hand. "Boom!" A visible shockwave exploded. The Big Iron Rod shot out with a piercing whistle. Its speed kicked up a cloud of dust in its wake. In an instant, it covered hundreds of meters, crashing into the dense crowd of Pigmen outside the breach. "Boom!" Wherever the Big Iron Rod passed, Pigmen were sent flying. A line of Pigmen was pierced straight through. At the breach, Pig Daqiang felt a sudden chill on his back. A sudden impact struck from behind. And then there was nothing, darkness enveloped him. In reality, there was a loud "crack." Pig Daqiang, who was about to strike Gobu Di, suddenly exploded. Like a smashed watermelon. His entire upper body shattered, blood and flesh flying. "Boom!" A large hole suddenly appeared in the wooden wall on the left side of the breach. The Big Iron Rod, unstoppable, charged into the wooden fortress. Inside the fortress, only the sound of a thunderous crash was heard. It pierced through over a dozen wooden houses before embedding itself in the eastern wooden wall with a "thud." "It¡¯s over, it¡¯s over!" This scene left Pig Dazhi in the forest utterly shocked. The presence he had always feared finally appeared. He never expected a Goblin capable of fighting a thousand to emerge. "Retreat, retreat, quickly!" Pig Dazhi hurriedly turned and grabbed the horn from the waist of a nearby tribesman. He put it to his mouth and blew with all his might. "Whoo!" The urgent sound of the horn echoed through the forest. It reached the ears of the Pigmen attacking the wooden fortress. "The chieftain is dead, the chieftain is dead!" The sudden attack and the chieftain¡¯s sudden death caught the attacking Pigmen off guard. They were at a loss. The horn sound from the forest brought them back to their senses. The chieftain¡¯s death greatly diminished the Pigmen¡¯s morale. The horn sound caused them to panic and retreat in disarray. The Pigmen inside and outside the wooden fortress hurriedly withdrew. At this moment, the sound of hooves rumbled from the western forest. The sound grew louder, and the ground seemed to tremble. In the next instant, a dense wave of Goblin Boar Cavalry charged out of the forest like a tide. "Goblin Boar Cavalry, charge!" Seeing the fleeing Pigmen on the wasteland, Gobu Qiang let out an excited roar. Nearly a thousand Goblin Boar Cavalry charged out of the forest. Like a dark cloud, they bore down on the Pigmen army fleeing the wooden fortress. "Goblin cavalry?" A voice exclaimed in the forest. Pig Dazhi looked in disbelief at the Goblin Boar Cavalry charging not far away. The Goblins had actually formed a cavalry? Were these still the dumb Goblins that only knew how to eat and reproduce? "What a joke!" Pig Dazhi cursed under his breath and turned to run deeper into the forest without looking back. As the Goblin Boar Cavalry charged out of the forest, Li Meng had already reached the breach. Facing the fleeing Pigmen, Li Meng couldn¡¯t be bothered to chase them. With a slight grin, he shook his sore hand. He seemed to have used too much force earlier, and his body couldn¡¯t handle such a rough exertion. At the moment he threw the Big Iron Rod. Li Meng could feel the bones in his arm breaking. Fortunately, he had the skill of bodily regeneration. The broken bones quickly healed. "Boss, my... my hand is broken!" Seeing the boss approaching, Gobu Di plopped down on the ground. He looked at his severed hand, his face mournful. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 102 - The Defeat of the Pigmen Tribe Li Meng glanced at the ground and bent down to pick up a large machete from the Pigmen tribe. Then he extended his left hand. With a swift motion, the machete in his right hand slashed down on his left arm. "Shh!" His left hand was severed at the wrist, blood splattering everywhere. The intense pain made Li Meng frown slightly. Without a change in expression, Li Meng tossed aside the machete and picked up his severed hand from the ground. Then he threw it to Gobu Di. "Eat it!" At that moment, a miraculous scene unfolded. New flesh and bone began to grow at the wound on Li Meng''s severed hand at a speed visible to the naked eye. "Ah!" In the distance, the screams of the Pigmen tribe echoed from the wasteland. The thunderous sound of hooves approached the fleeing Pigmen tribe. The charging Goblin Boar Cavalry first unleashed a volley of arrows. With the added speed, the bolts had greater range and power. Hundreds of bolts rained down like a dark cloud over the Pigmen tribe. Hundreds of Pigmen were instantly pinned to the ground. After the volley, the Goblin Boar Cavalry closed in on the fleeing Pigmen tribe. The Big Goblin at the forefront of the charge raised its lance. Just before the Pigmen tribe could escape into the forest. The Goblin Boar Cavalry, with thunderous momentum, crashed into the Pigmen tribe. The fleeing Pigmen were thrown into chaos. The sound of collisions echoed across the battlefield. Many Pigmen were sent flying by the boars'' tusks. Some were impaled by the lances. As the Goblin Boar Cavalry charged through, they left behind a field of wailing Pigmen. The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. The once dense Pigmen tribe scattered into the forest. Meanwhile, at the breach in the wooden wall. In less than five minutes, Li Meng''s left hand had regrown. This scene left Gobu Di stunned. "Hurry up and eat it!" Gobu Di snapped back to reality. He quickly tossed the severed hand into his mouth, swallowing it whole. "My hand... my hand!" Shortly after swallowing, Gobu Di''s severed hand began to react. New flesh and bone started to grow at the wound. Gobu Di, ignoring the pain, jumped around joyfully. "Boss, you''re amazing!" Gobu Di knelt on the ground with a "thud." He crawled forward, kissing Li Meng''s feet. Li Meng grinned and patted Gobu Di''s shoulder. "You''re a brave one, facing death without fear. Not bad, not bad at all!" Faced with the boss''s praise, Gobu Di looked up with a flattering smile. His large front teeth were exposed, making him look quite comical. Li Meng had discovered by chance that Ogre meat had regenerative properties. On 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. In hindsight, he realized it was definitely related to Benben''s meat. The Ogre''s regenerative ability came from the "Regeneration" skill. So its meat must have similar effects. Today was the first test. The result was just as Li Meng had expected. Li Meng bent down and picked up another large machete from the ground. Then he walked over to the lower half of a Pigmen corpse. With a single slash, he cut off the Pigmen''s left leg. After tearing off the animal skin, Li Meng took a big bite of the fatty meat. The unique, rich flavor made Li Meng''s eyes light up. "This Pigmen meat is indeed good!" Not just good, it''s incredibly good. Ten times better than wild boar meat. [Devour skill activated, acquired skill "War Stomp"] The system''s notification made Li Meng grin. Seeing the breach in the wooden wall, Li Meng knew that the Pigmen who fought with Gobu Di must have had a magical skill. He hadn''t expected it to be an offensive magic skill. "Boss, boss!" At that moment, Gobu Qiang rode over on a boar. He dismounted in front of the breach. Then ran over to the boss. "Boss, should we pursue them? I''m not familiar with the terrain over there, and if we encounter rough terrain, we''ll be in trouble." Hearing this, Li Meng looked pleased. "Very good, Gobu Qiang, it seems you haven''t forgotten my teachings!" Gobu Qiang gave a flattering smile. "I''ll never forget what the boss says." The saying "don''t enter the forest" applies well to the Goblin Boar Cavalry. Boars are only suitable for charging on relatively flat terrain. If they encounter rough terrain, they can''t perform well. If they can''t gain speed, the cavalry loses its advantage. Looking back at the wooden fortress filled with corpses, Li Meng was silent. There were Pigmen corpses, but even more Goblin corpses. If he had arrived a little later, Gobu Di''s Goblins would have been wiped out. "Boss, what should we do now?" After thinking for a moment, Li Meng shook his head. "Let''s not pursue them for now. Traveling all night is exhausting, let the brothers have a good meal!" The boss''s words made Gobu Qiang''s eyes light up. He quickly turned and ran towards the boar. "Boss, I got it!" Gobu Qiang mounted the boar. Riding it, he ran towards the battlefield outside the forest. Soon, the Goblin Boar Cavalry stationed outside the forest began to stir. The Goblins eagerly dismounted and started feasting on the Pigmen corpses. Some Pigmen were still alive, screaming in agony. "They really are like hyenas!" Seeing the Goblin brothers'' interest in the half-dead "meat," Li Meng chuckled and shook his head. Perhaps because he was once human. The idea of eating live prey still made him uncomfortable. But he didn''t intend to stop the Goblin brothers from doing so. After all, it''s the nature of Goblins. Though he was the boss, it was hard to change the nature of Goblins. An hour later, the western forest was once again bustling. A large number of armored Goblins emerged from the forest. Their numbers were so great that they soon covered a vast wasteland. Seeing the Goblin Boar Cavalry enjoying their feast. They angrily charged forward, shouting, to snatch the food. For over half an hour, the battlefield outside the tribe was in chaos with loud shouts. After a long time, the battlefield inside and outside the tribe was finally cleaned up. Apart from the traces of blood, not even bones were left, as the Goblins devoured everything. The Goblins, satisfied from their feast, lay down to sleep. Goblins are like that, becoming lazy after eating their fill. They only have the energy to move when they''re hungry. "Get up, you lazy bugs!" With the bosses'' scolding, the Goblins reluctantly got up. Like a swarm of snails, the Goblins slowly disappeared into the forest. As the Goblin army continued to advance into the depths of the northeastern forest. The western forest once again became lively. One by one, massive creatures emerged. Benben had arrived at the tribe with the Ogres. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 103 - Simulated Life: Ghost Beastman "It seems Benben and the others are useless now!" Watching the ogre approaching, Li Meng grinned. Bringing the ogre was just a precaution. Li Meng hadn''t expected the Pigmen tribe to collapse so quickly. "Let''s go check out the Pigmen tribe!" He waved his slightly numb hand. Li Meng headed towards the forest in the northeast. Gobu Di glanced back at his few remaining underlings. He scratched his head, then happily followed behind his boss. The surviving goblins in the wooden fortress watched as their leader and the boss''s boss left. Many goblins in the wooden fortress were injured. The wailing cries of "wa wa" were endless. If the injured goblins could recover within a day, they would survive. If not, they would become food for their companions. In the afternoon, before the sunset. "Wa wa!" The forest west of the Pigmen tribe was in an uproar. A dense wave of green-skinned figures charged out of the forest, shouting "wa wa." Thousands of goblins turned into a dark wave and rushed into the Pigmen tribe. But what greeted the goblins was an empty tribe. "Go inside and check, there''s a scent of Pigmen!" At the urging of the little underlings, the goblins rudely barged into the wooden houses. There was a series of crackling sounds from inside the houses. Soon, the goblins came out empty-handed. "Boss, it''s bad, the Pigmen have run away!" A goblin ran out of the tribe. It happily ran towards Li Meng. Outside the forest to the west of the tribe. Li Meng was gazing at the Pigmen tribe not far away. The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. From a distance, Li Meng could smell the stench of the Pigmen tribe''s latrines. This made the somewhat germophobic Li Meng keep his distance from the Pigmen tribe. "If they''ve run, they''ve run. Let''s retreat!" Li Meng waved away the stench wafting in front of him with some disgust. His tall figure turned and entered the dim forest. Gobu Di sniffed with his nose. It was clearly a pleasant smell, but the boss didn''t seem to like it. A bit puzzled, Gobu Di turned and caught up with the boss. "System, start simulated life!" Walking through the forest, Li Meng used this month''s simulated life attempt. Whether the future had changed, Li Meng didn''t know. But this month''s simulated life attempt hadn''t been used yet. Whether the future had changed or not, one simulation would reveal it. [Simulated life begins] [You and Gobu Di walk through the dim forest] [You drove away the Pigmen tribe, achieving final victory] [You led the goblin army back to the tribe] [You found Bai Ling and asked the Yue Clan to monitor the movements along the western river] [Your tribe thrived] [One day, you received news from the Yue Clan that a fleet was sailing upstream along the Goblin River] [The pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis launched a massive attack] [You led your forces to ambush the human fleet in the western forest of the northern swamp] [A ghost beastman appeared outside the tribe, and your tribe was destroyed] [Enraged by the news, you returned to the tribe alone] [The ghost beastman awaited you in the tribe, and in your fury, you killed it] [You hurried back to the goblin army, only to find the human fleet had left the ambush river section] [The Yue Clan was discovered by the human fleet, and the pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis launched a massive invasion] [Please make the following choice] [1. Lead the goblin army back to the tribe] [2. Lead the goblin army to the Yue Clan to jointly defend against the invasion of the pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis] [3. Continue to ambush on the north 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 furrowed his brows slightly. In the last predicted future line, the ghost beastman only came to challenge him. But this time, the ghost beastman directly destroyed his tribe. "Could it be because the Pigmen tribe was driven away early?" This possibility was high, but whether it was true was unknown. Li Meng didn''t dwell too much on this issue. He focused his attention on the four options. Option one couldn''t be chosen, it was too passive. Returning to the tribe meant abandoning the Yue Clan. He wanted to use the tribe''s defenses to resist the human pioneering legion''s attack. But the tall wooden walls of the tribe were probably useless against the human army. Because the human army had strong individuals capable of killing Benben and Yue''e. The tribe''s defenses couldn''t withstand magic. Option four, although proactive, was too foolish. Options two and three were the best choices. But the former came at too high a cost. And the latter was filled with various uncertainties. "Option two!" Rather than fighting alone, it was better to unite all mobilizable forces. The swamp outside the Yue Clan had only the southern shallows suitable for human landing. Choosing the battlefield at the Yue Clan at least held the advantage of terrain. [You led the goblin army back to the Yue Clan] [The Yue Clan''s defense battle officially began] [Your strength was unmatched, and the Ilysis pioneering legion retreated] [One day, you received news from the tribe that a demon army led by the Pigmen tribe was attacking] [Gobu Di tribe was destroyed by the demon army] [The throne tribe was destroyed by the demon army] [Iron Cave was destroyed by the demon army] [The pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis launched another attack] [Upon hearing of the demon army''s attack, the pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis hastily retreated to avoid battle] [One day, a ghost beastman appeared outside the Yue Clan to challenge you] [Please make the following choice] [1. Accept its challenge] [2. Submit to it] "This should be the worst future line!" Walking through the forest, Li Meng sighed in his heart. Humans came, and demons came too. He seemed to have become the cream in the middle of a sandwich cookie. On one side were humans, on the other side were demons. And they were all coming for him. "Forget it, let''s try being a bit more cowardly!" "System, option two!" [You chose to submit to the ghost beastman] [You knelt in humiliation before the ghost beastman] [For killing its kin, the ghost beastman punished you] [You were hung at the east gate of the Yue Clan, enduring a thousand lashes daily] [Your descendants submitted to the ghost beastman out of fear] [One day, Benben and Yue''e attacked the ghost beastman] [Hearing the sounds of battle, you broke free from your restraints, but it was too late] [The ghost beastman kicked Benben''s head to your feet] [The ghost beastman sat on Yue''e''s corpse, tauntingly watching you] [In your rage, you used the Berserk skill and devoured it alive amidst its wails] [Due to the deaths of Benben and Yue''e, you grew increasingly resentful of this world] [You led the goblin army to attack the observing pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis] [You achieved victory, the pioneering legion of the Principality of Ilysis was completely annihilated, shocking human nations] [The demon army fled in panic due to the death of their leader] Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 104 - Evolve into Goblin Warriors [You led the heavily damaged Goblin army back to the tribe to rebuild it.] [Your tribe thrived.] [One day, you received a message from the Yue Clan.] [The Black Mountain tribe summoned the Barbarian God "Aqua."] [The three-year limit has arrived.] [Simulated life ends, score: 100 points.] [Please choose from the following reward options.] [Consume ten points to increase level by 1.] [Consume one point to increase an attribute by 1.] [Consume twenty points to increase charm by 1.] [Consume ten points to increase "Wind Blade" skill level by 1.] [Consume ten points to increase "Heart Speech" skill level by 1.] [Consume ten points to increase "Body Enhancement" skill level by 1.] "Choose to increase the level!" This time was a bit unlucky, all three skill upgrade rewards were somewhat useless. I can only increase the level first to boost the panel attributes. "Body Enhancement" is also a skill that enhances attributes. But the attribute boost is so minimal, even as an advanced skill, it''s probably still useless. [Consume 100 points, level +10.] The familiar pain struck again. This time, it was a deep, bone-penetrating pain. Li Meng''s body crackled as he walked through the forest. His body expanded visibly. His height increased rapidly. 2.2 meters, 2.3 meters, 2.4 meters, 2.5 meters, 2.6 meters... "Bo... Boss?" Gobu Di, following behind Li Meng, was startled by the boss''s transformation. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. It saw with its own eyes how the boss''s body grew taller and stronger. In the blink of an eye, the boss, who was smaller than it, became taller than it. Looking down at his two sturdy hands, Li Meng grinned. Li Meng felt his body was filled with explosive power. He was like the Hulk from the movies now. His whole body was packed with muscles. "Gobu Di, do I look good?" Li Meng extended his arms and flexed. The bulging muscles had a kind of robust beauty. Gobu Di nodded vigorously. "Boss, have you evolved into a Goblin Warrior?" Gobu Di touched its bald head. It couldn''t understand how the boss evolved so quickly. Not long ago, the boss was just a little guy. The kind it could stomp to death with one foot. As trash born from a groundhog''s belly, it shouldn''t be this strong. Li Meng grinned, satisfied with his body''s changes. "Yes, I''ve evolved into a Goblin Warrior!" With a thought, Li Meng opened the character panel. [Name: Gobu Meng] [Race: Goblin] [Level: 35] [Strength: 2717] [Defense: 2664] [Agility: 1497] [Magic: 2399] [Charm: 0] [Luck: 11] [Devour: Chance to acquire skills by devouring magical beasts'' flesh] [Steel Skin: LV5 (Strength +1500, Defense +1500, Agility +500)] [Wind Blade: LV1] [Body Regeneration: LV5] [Heart Speech: LV1] [Ice Element King: LV1] [Berserk: LV1] [Body Enhancement: LV1 (Strength +50, Agility +50)] [Elemental Affinity: LV1 (Magic +1000)] [War Stomp: LV1] The attribute boost from leveling up was decent. On average, each level increased each attribute by about 80 points. Looking at the boss''s back, Gobu Di was filled with fervor. Maybe the boss will soon become the legendary "Goblin King." If the boss becomes the "King," All goblins in the Goblin Forest will come to worship. "Damn, why does it feel like I''m in a dead end?" Not happy for long, Li Meng''s face fell again. Thinking about the terrible future line gave Li Meng a headache. Without the simulated life to test, he wouldn''t know how many times he would have died by now. This simulated life predicted the worst future line. In this future line, there are two unavoidable enemies. One is the pioneering legion of the human Principality of Ilysis. The other is the ghost beastmen of the demon tribe. "The only turning point might be the first appearance of the ghost beastmen!" In the forest, Li Meng walked while thinking. The ghost beastmen must not die, absolutely must not die by his hand. He can repel him, but he must not kill him. After letting him go, simulate life again to see if the future line has changed. That night, the full moon hung in the sky. In the forest northeast of the Gobu Di tribe, there was a sudden commotion. Shadows surged in the forest, footsteps rumbled. A large number of goblins emerged from the dark forest into the moonlight. The goblin army returning from the Pigmen tribe rushed back to the Gobu Di tribe overnight. "The boss is back, the boss''s boss is back!" The goblins on the wooden walls of the tribe erupted in cheers at the sight. The ogre resting on the wasteland outside the walls also raised its head. Li Meng, emerging from the forest, saw the ogre''s figure outside the wooden walls. Seeing Benben''s huge steel body under the moonlight, a fierce light flashed in Li Meng''s eyes. No matter what, he would never allow a future where Benben dies to appear. That night, the night deepened. Because the Gobu Di tribe was too small to accommodate all the goblins, The goblin army slept on the wasteland outside the wooden walls. Early the next morning, the Gobu Di tribe was bustling. The goblins on the wasteland swarmed into the western forest like a dark cloud. Standing on the watchtower, Gobu Di watched the boss leave. Soon, it would return to the throne tribe. In the next six months, it would stay in the throne tribe to reproduce. With provisions, the goblin army''s marching speed greatly increased. The distance of less than seventy kilometers took only a day and a half to return to the tribe. With the return of the goblin army, The throne tribe returned to its usual routine. Goblins formed hunting parties to hunt outside. They spread into the depths of the forest like locusts. Li Meng, who returned to the throne tribe, didn''t idle. The next day, he left the tribe for the Yue Clan. --- Northern swamp. Yue Clan, afternoon. Under the scorching sun, an ice path extended from the east. Looking down from the sky, the ice path spread rapidly over the water. Wherever it went, the surrounding swamp creatures dove into the water. Looking at the water''s surface, a strong, tall figure was sprinting. The figure''s owner was Li Meng. Running, Li Meng slightly raised his head to look ahead. "Here!" Li Meng grinned, slowing down. Finally, he went from running to walking leisurely on the water. In the swamp ahead, a wooden fortress was within reach. "Yue''e, are you there?" Walking, Li Meng shouted loudly. His shouting caught the attention of the Lizardmen on the wooden fortress''s walls. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 105 - Yue Clan and Yuee "That''s a huge Goblin!" "Is that a Goblin Warrior sent by the Throne Tribe?" "It should be. Quickly, inform the chief!" The Lizardmen on the wooden wall dared not be careless. One of the Lizardmen hurriedly ran down the wooden wall. At this moment, Li Meng received a response from Yue''e from the waters outside. "Boss, I''m here!" Suddenly, water splashed in the deep waters not far away. A massive creature leapt out of the water. Then it crashed back into the water heavily. A shadow flashed beneath the murky surface. At the boundary with the shallow waters, Yue''e leapt out of the water again. Her enormous body crashed into the shallow waters. For a moment, water splashed everywhere. Yue''e waded through the water and ran towards Li Meng. "Boss, you haven''t been here for so long!" Yue''e circled around Li Meng twice. Her huge tail wagged happily. Her large eyes looked eagerly at the bag slung over Li Meng''s 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, if I''ve gotten stronger, you need to get stronger quickly too!" Li Meng took the bag off his shoulder. Seeing this, Yue''e quickly and skillfully opened her menacing mouth. Li Meng poured the Magic Crystals from the bag into Yue''e''s mouth. "It''s best if you can learn a few more skills. Just one skill is too weak." Yue''e swallowed the mouthful of Magic Crystals in one gulp. "Boss, if I have too many skills, I''ll have to think about which one to use. It''s troublesome!" Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Li Meng shook his head helplessly. Perhaps for Magical Beasts, having too many skills wasn''t necessarily a good thing. Specializing in one skill might be the norm for Magical Beasts. Li Meng looked Yue''e up and down. [Swamp Crocodile King (Elite)] [Level: 43] [Strength: 841] [Defense: 917] [Agility: 611] [Magic: 592] [Water Bullet: LV8] With the feeding of a large number of Magic Crystals, Yue''e had also leveled up by 12 levels. Her panel attributes had also increased somewhat. The level of her Water Bullet skill had also increased by one. "Alright, go play by yourself!" Being able to become the Swamp Crocodile King, Yue''e''s potential was naturally not low. With a few more years of feeding, she might be able to advance to the next rank of "Elite." Patting Yue''e''s large tusks, Li Meng turned and walked towards the wooden fortress. Watching the boss''s departing figure, Yue''e leisurely basked in the sun. "It''s coming, it''s coming!" The east gate of the wooden fortress had long been opened, waiting for the Goblin Warrior outside to arrive. When they saw the strong body of the Goblin Warrior. The Lizardmen behind the gate quickly lowered their heads. Li Meng glanced at the Lizardmen behind the gate. He found Bai Ling among them. Facing the gaze of the Goblin Warrior, Bai Ling''s body trembled. Just as she was about to lower her head, she suddenly realized something. She looked at the Goblin Warrior in front of her with a face full of shock. "Mas... Master?" Li Meng grinned and hoisted Bai Ling onto his shoulder. Carrying Bai Ling, Li Meng strode towards the largest wooden house. "What, haven''t seen me for a few months and already don''t recognize your master?" A blush flashed across Bai Ling''s cheeks as she was carried by Li Meng. So many of her clan members were watching. Faced with the Goblin Warrior''s rough behavior, the surrounding Lizardmen dared not speak out. They could only lower their heads to hide the hatred in their eyes. "Bai Ling dares not, Bai Ling just didn''t expect the master to evolve again so quickly!" At this moment, Bai Ling was extremely shocked. The first time she saw this Goblin in front of her, he was still very weak. He was just a Big Goblin. Unexpectedly, 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 Tribe, I... I can''t!" Bai Ling retreated repeatedly as she was placed on the bed by Li Meng. She looked pleadingly. Li Meng grinned and sat down boldly beside the bed. "Apart from the Throne Tribe, I''m not interested in reproducing outside!" Li Meng was busy and had no time to bully Bai Ling. Hearing this, Bai Ling breathed a sigh of relief. "Then why has the master come this time?" Li Meng took out a wooden board from the pouch at his waist. He also took out a piece of charcoal. "Bai Ling, where does the Goblin River lead to the west?" Although she didn''t know why the Goblin in front of her was asking this. Bai Ling didn''t think much of it and gestured with her hand. "First west, then north to the human territory!" "When the river turns north, there''s a branch that leads south directly to the Black Mountain Swamp." Li Meng began drawing on the wooden board with the charcoal. "How far is it from here?" "With the endurance of Lizardmen, it would take about 9 days." Lizardmen had decent endurance. Traveling by water, they could swim over 50 kilometers a day. This meant it was about 500 kilometers from here to the confluence. Not too far, but not too close either. "Bai Ling, I need you to send a team of Lizardmen to watch the confluence. If any human ships head south, inform me immediately!" Human ships heading south? A trace of curiosity flashed in Bai Ling''s eyes. "Has the master received any news?" Not hiding anything, Li Meng nodded. "The neighboring human forces are making moves!" What kind of moves, Li Meng didn''t elaborate. Li Meng believed that with Bai Ling''s intelligence, she could guess the answer. Bai Ling frowned slightly, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes. "Master, I will immediately send a Lizardman squad to watch the confluence!" The northern swamp was located on the northern border of the Goblin Forest. Bai Ling had some understanding of the humans on the other side of the border. Humans had always coveted the fertile land of the Goblin Forest. For hundreds of years, they had been gradually encroaching on the Goblin Forest. The so-called adventurers were a profession created by humans to eliminate Magical Beasts. Once the Magical Beasts were gone, humans would cut down the forest completely. Standing up, Li Meng turned and strode out. "I came this time for this matter. I''m leaving!" Waving his hand, Li Meng strode out of the wooden house. At the door, basking in the sunlight, Li Meng grinned. The decision to spare Bai Ling''s life back then was the right one. Otherwise, the Lizardmen of the northern swamp wouldn''t have accepted his rule so obediently. "Better go back and reproduce!" Li Meng strode away from the wooden house, heading out of the tribe. Wherever he passed, the Lizardmen avoided him as if they had seen a plague. Li Meng didn''t care about the Lizardmen''s little actions. He never expected the Lizardmen to willingly submit to him. As long as they maintained the status quo, that was enough. "Boss, are you leaving?" As soon as Li Meng left the Yue Clan, Yue''e caught up. "You can''t go where I''m going. Stay in the swamp obediently." Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ?? Chapter 106 - The boss just likes strange things Yue''e shook her massive head. "Boss, I want to give you something!" Li Meng patted Yue''e''s large tusk and grinned. "Then go ahead, I''ll take anything you give me!" "Wait, I''ll go get it!" Yue''e''s enormous body turned and ran towards the deep water area. In Li Meng''s eyes, she dove into the water. After a while, there was a loud splash. Yue''e''s massive body leaped out of the water. She landed heavily in the shallow water. Yue''e ran over, splashing water. "Boss, it''s this!" Yue''e opened her menacing mouth and used her tongue to push out a silver metal disk. "This is... a sacrificial disk?" Looking at the item in Yue''e''s mouth, Li Meng frowned slightly. How did this thing end up in the northern swamp? And it ended up in Yue''e''s possession. Li Meng took the sacrificial disk from Yue''e''s foul-smelling mouth. "Yue''e, where did you find it?" Li Meng examined the disk and asked Yue''e. "At the bottom of the water over there. At night, my kin like to gather around it, and it makes me uncomfortable." The disk emitted an ominous aura. The stronger the creature, the more they could sense it. "Could it be that guy deliberately left it here?" Looking down at the disk in his hand, Li Meng muttered to himself. The northern swamp was home to many swamp crocodiles and swamp crabs. Though they weren''t very intelligent. If they gathered around the disk, it might actually activate it. This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "Looks like I need to get stronger quickly!" If he had enough strength, he could capture Black Robe and interrogate him. Then he would know what Black Robe''s purpose was and what forces were behind him. "I really like this gift. If you find anything similar in the future, give it to me." The northern swamp was vast, and there might be more than one sacrificial disk. "Boss, this thing is strange. Are you sure you like it?" Yue''e''s enormous eyes were fixed on the disk in the boss''s hand. Li Meng grinned and put the disk away. "I like strange things. Alright, you continue sunbathing, I''m off!" Li Meng ran off, leaving a long-lasting trail on the water''s surface. Watching the boss''s departing figure, Yue''e''s massive body lay in the water. She closed her eyes, basking in the sun. Her originally dark gray scales gradually turned a light red under the sun''s heat. The next morning, Li Meng returned to the tribe. With the Pigmen tribe incident over, the tribe returned to its usual routine. Time belonged to the Goblins. Almost every day, new Goblin babies were born in the throne tribe. Their arrival strengthened the tribe. Similarly, Goblins died every day for various reasons. Hunting parties expanded their hunting grounds deeper into the forest day after day. Injuries and deaths were inevitable during hunting. Another new day, in the morning. Throne tribe, throne cave. "Boss, something''s wrong, something''s wrong!" A Goblin''s shout suddenly came from outside the door. Accompanied by hurried footsteps. "Bang!" The sturdy door was violently pushed open. Gobu Zhang''s tall body came running in. As soon as he stepped through the door, Gobu Zhang''s body came to an abrupt halt. "Boss, you''re busy, I''ll... I''ll wait outside!" Seeing the boss sitting on the bed with a female Lizardman in his arms, Gobu Zhang smiled ingratiatingly and took a step back. He quickly turned and ran out of the wooden house. He thoughtfully closed the door on his way out. After a while, the noise inside the wooden house subsided. Soon after, there was a creak. The door of the throne cave opened from the inside. Li Meng''s tall and strong figure emerged. "Gobu Zhang, what''s got you so flustered?" Outside the wooden house, Gobu Zhang was waiting. Seeing the boss come out, he quickly approached. "Boss, my two hunting parties haven''t been heard from in almost two months!" Gobu Zhang wore a mournful expression. Li Meng sat down on the steps at the door. "Which direction did you send them?" Gobu Zhang looked around and pointed north. Seeing Gobu Zhang point north, Li Meng glared at him. "They must have entered human territory and been dealt with by humans." To the north lay a range of mountains, and beyond them was human territory. After more than two months, they were surely gone. "Damn humans!" Gobu Zhang cursed in anger. "Boss, I want revenge!" Gobu Zhang was so angry he was panting heavily. He knelt on the ground, his anger turning to flattery. Li Meng waved his hand impatiently. "Dead is dead. If they''re dead, just have more. Revenge can wait for later." Li Meng was contemplating how to change the future. He didn''t have time to stir up more trouble. The tribe lost many Goblins daily for various reasons. The disappearance of two hunting parties was nothing to him. "Alright, spend the next few months in the tribe replenishing offspring." Gobu Zhang''s eyes lit up, despite his initial disappointment. He quickly got up and ran joyfully into the depths of the forest. Watching his subordinate''s retreating figure, Li Meng shook his head helplessly. Goblins were like that. They had no resistance to eating and reproducing. Gobu Zhang didn''t care about the loss of two hunting parties. He just wanted an excuse to stay in the tribe. To help his Goblin subordinates evolve quickly. Even Goblin Soldiers weren''t allowed to stay in the tribe. In a year, they spent at least half the time hunting with the hunting parties. Li Meng glanced slightly to the west, towards the depths of the forest. Next, he had to wait for the event to happen. Three months had passed since the Pigmen tribe incident. The Principality of Ilysis''s pioneering legion would likely attack within a year. The time wouldn''t be less than six months. "It seems preparing for war is the only option!" Li Meng stood up and returned to the wooden house, expressionless. In the coming year, he had only one task. To reproduce as much as possible. The Goblin subordinates had to find their own solutions for food. If they couldn''t find food nearby, they had to look further. He had to increase the tribe''s forces at any cost. Soon, the silence in the wooden house was broken again. And it lasted for a long, long time. Almost every few days, the female Lizardman in the throne cave would be replaced. Time passed little by little, day by day. ----- Seven months later, in the Goblin Forest. It was noon, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky. Between the mountains, the Goblin River wound its way forward. At the confluence of the main river and a tributary. A large fleet was sailing upstream along the main river. Tall sails formed a patch of white clouds on the river. Hello everyone! If you want to see the latest updates on the novel faster, feel free to visit our website, Pawread. Your clicks mean a lot to me, so please don''t hesitate to visit and support! ??