Slime Immortal.

Chapter 167 A New Landscape
Chen Yu squatted on the wall, gazing at the fields in the distance that were not yet completely covered by the swamp, and further away, the pitch-black stone ground that stood out like a silent giant.

The goblin army's stronghold, Rift Pass, is located in this narrow, rocky canyon.

It's only a dozen kilometers from here to the goblin fortress; their fortress was practically built right next to the goblins' lair.

For these green-skinned creatures, this was undoubtedly a blatant provocation, and they certainly wouldn't tolerate it. They wouldn't give up the attack just because of one defeat.

From Chen Yu's perspective, the swamp has always belonged to the slimes' territory. They clearly built their fortress right next to their own doorstep and are causing trouble right at their doorstep.

We must strike hard against such a hostile neighbor.

At the foot of the wall, after a brief moment of cheering, the slimes resumed their construction.

The buzzing of the metal slime drill resumed, felling the trees, and then the slime engineering team hardened the ground and built walls.

Their goal is to erect the fortress walls facing the Crack Stone Pass before tomorrow morning.

Just as the construction team was working hard, the goblins, just like Chen Yu had done, returned to launch a sneak attack.

Goblins would occasionally sneak up and shoot a few arrows from the reeds in the distance, or clumsily throw a few stones. Some of the bolder goblins even tried to sneak up at night and set a fire.

However, they were all spotted and driven away in time by the vigilant Metal Slime patrol and the Stinger Bee sentries.

This minor disturbance continued throughout the night, only gradually subsiding as the sky began to lighten, casting a pale golden outline over the bustling scene at the fortress construction site.

After a night of hard work, a rough stone wall nearly four meters high was erected, as if demonstrating to the goblins the slimes' amazing engineering capabilities.

In the reed fields, a goblin scout hiding in a mud puddle is dozing off while hugging his lizard mount, his drool almost dripping onto the murky water.

"Hey! Idiot, wake up!" His companion patted his head anxiously.

The scout woke up with a start, groggily complaining, "What... it's not even dawn yet..."

"It's lit up! Look over there!" His accomplice's voice trembled slightly as if he had discovered something incredible.

The scout rubbed his eyes and looked in the direction his comrade was pointing.

The morning sun shone brightly on the construction site in the distance, illuminating the tall stone walls clearly.

His sleepiness was instantly replaced by terror, and his mouth gaped open.

"Stone, stone wall? Built overnight?!" He was incoherent, as if he had seen a ghost.

"How did they manage to make these slimes?!"

"Quickly, send the message back."

Panic dispelled all his drowsiness, and he frantically climbed onto his lizard mount, rushed out of the reeds, and ran like a madman toward the Crack Pass.

……

Below the pass, the campfire in the goblin camp was still burning, and the rough voices of the bear goblins could be heard from time to time from the largest tent as they argued, which lasted almost all night.

In the corner of the tent, Hammerbone squatted down and watched them discuss. Although he was still injured and looked disheveled, he was treated very differently from when he returned from his crushing defeat last time.

At least no one of his kind dared to laugh at him anymore; they would even occasionally cast a look of awe at him.

Thinking about it this way, Hammerbone even felt that those damn slimes weren't so bad after all.

On the other side, Grumger's face was so gloomy it could drip water. His arrogance had been shattered by the terrifying artillery fire yesterday, and now all he could think about was dealing with those slimes.

He suddenly spoke in a hoarse voice, cutting off the argument of the other bear goblins:
"It seems the Black Fang Mercenary Group's news wasn't false... Their elite troops sent to the swamp have probably been defeated by these slimes."

Grumger glanced around and continued, "The Legion Commander is still undergoing trials. We can't deal with these slimes. Continuing to discuss this is just a waste of time."

"Strengthen security. I will immediately return to the Golden Valley and seek help from Lord Kassarik..."

The name "Kasarik" seemed to possess a magical power, silencing all the tall bear goblins.

The mere mention of this great demon's name is enough to inspire awe and fear.

After a moment of silence, one of the goblin guards suggested, "Keep in touch with the Blackfang Mercenary Group. No matter how high the bounty is, we have to pay it. We can't let these slimes have it easy."

He turned to the corner. "Hammerbone, I'm leaving this to you."

Hammerbone stood up, his face regaining its usual arrogance and confidence, and patted his chest: "Don't worry, you can trust Hammerbone to do things."

……

As the sun fully rose above the horizon, it cast its warm rays upon the newly built city walls.

The Metal Slime Hunting Team returned, bringing back local monster specialties. They climbed the city walls and piled up magical organs into a small mountain.

Having just finished his cultivation after a sleepless night, Chen Yu was still full of energy. With a "thud," he jumped down from the wall to the pile of magical organs and began to enjoy his breakfast.

After resting and digesting for a while, the panel popped up.

[Gel mimicry Lv.1 → Lv.2]

【Nine-Layer Palace Technique Lv.4→ Lv.5】

[Devour and Digest Lv.7 triggered - Swamp Giant Mosquito characteristics fully recorded, gained talent: Rapid Reproduction Lv.1]

Huh?
Chen Yu's small eyes lit up.

This talent is excellent; it's perfect for the queen bee.

With the Treant territory providing ample food, the only remaining factor limiting the speed of troop production is the Queen Bee's breeding rate.

The territory is in a phase of rapid expansion, and there is a shortage of Stinger Bee soldiers who can guard the major fortresses.

The emergence of "rapid reproduction" has solved this problem.

The situation here has stabilized for the time being. After a series of setbacks, the goblins should not be able to organize a large-scale attack in the short term, but sporadic harassment will certainly continue.

He decided to stay a few more days, at least until the fortress was initially completed and the defense system was more complete.

Recalling yesterday's defensive battle, he realized that relying on magic leaves to protect the city walls was a waste of magic leaves.

This can only be considered a compromise in defense. If he really wanted to protect the fortresses, perhaps he should have prepared a large protective magic array for each one...

The more Chen Yu thought about it, the further his thoughts drifted. He suddenly thought of the vampire at his doorstep, and then of Arthur and Count Bran who had left to embark on their journey to find the crown.

With Calvin's help, they should have already entered the White Horse Kingdom, right?
It's just that they are too far from the territory, and his contact with the little slime has been intermittent, and now he has completely lost contact with it.

I just hope everything goes well for them.

As for Arno...

Chen Yu calculated the time; the gargoyle riot should have passed, and they should have set off again by now. They should be arriving at the Stoneborn Castle around this time.

……

The ruins of Gore.

After the riots, Arno and the Stoneborn set off again, continuing their journey deeper into Gol, heading towards the Stone Castle.

After passing through the outer perimeter, more building ruins and boulders scattered randomly across the plains and forests came into view.

The place was far more vibrant than he had imagined. Moss and trees emitting a faint blue glow were everywhere, some even growing directly on the boulders, forming a series of dark blue forest islands.

Walking ahead, Nelly unscrewed the delicate little water bottle, took a delightful sip of her drink, and said to Arno without turning her head:
“Junior, you must be wondering why there are so many stones here, right?”

To be honest, Arno was a little curious, but not to the point where he absolutely had to know.

But before he could speak, Nellie spoke up.

"It is said that long, long ago, before Gore was shrouded in darkness, this place was part of the 'Giant's Court'."

"Especially Gor City, which is said to be a magnificent capital built by the stone giants using mountains and stars."

She kicked a boulder covered in glowing moss in front of her.

"Later, Gore was destroyed for some unknown reason. Those huge creatures, after they fell, their bodies turned into these stones and remained here forever."

"So what we're standing on might just be the torso or toes of some giant."

Arno was stunned. He subconsciously looked at the "ground" he was standing on and asked cautiously, "So... what does this have to do with us Stoneborn?"

Nelly shrugged. "Although the old stones of the Stone Age refuse to admit it, many clues suggest that our earliest ancestors were likely servants or believers of these stone giants."

"The stone giant lords selected people from among the humans who had petrification resistance to keep by their side. Over time, in some unknown generation, a bloodline that was completely immune to petrification suddenly appeared, and the Stoneborn were born."

amount.

Arno thought the Stoneborn were the owners of this place, but the answer was unexpected.

He never expected the truth about the birth of the Stone Bloodline to sound so realistic. He had originally thought it would be some kind of epic story with a mysterious aura, related to gods and religious beliefs.

Lyon added from the side, "There's no doubt that Aunt is right. You can't unite the Stoneborn by faith and persuasion alone."

"Compared to praying to those ethereal gods, we worship our ancestors who gave us real strength and led us to survive." "'Heart of Stone' Hiram is the oldest ancestor our family can trace back to. It is said that his heart really turned into a gem that never stops beating and was once the symbol of the entire Stoneborn family."

"But now..."

"The first Stoneborn Grand Duke, Ancestor Castor, led his family to glory and almost overthrew the vampires' rule. He had long since replaced Ancestor Hiram as the most worshipped figure among the Stoneborn."

Nelly's voice came back from the front.

"When you get to Stone Castle, watch your mouth. If you say anything bad about our ancestors, the old men there might really throw you back into the ruins to feed the gargoyles."

Arno's heart skipped a beat.

Seeing his expression, Nellie waved her hand and said, "I was just trying to scare you. Look at how timid you are."

“The number of Stone Descendants in the family is more precious than gemstones. Your return is good news for those old guys. And…”

She paused, her tone becoming slightly more serious, "They may very well know your grandfather, or even earlier ancestors."

Upon hearing this, Arno was startled, and a mix of confusion, nervousness, and a strange sense of anticipation welled up inside him.

After his father was turned into a statue, he thought he was the last member of the family.

But now someone suddenly tells him that he has a large family and many "relatives" with the same bloodline are waiting for him ahead...

This sudden mix of belonging and unfamiliarity made his heart race and he felt inexplicably nervous.

He subconsciously reached out and touched his chest.

Inside the soft leather lining, the sleeping little slime offered a comforting touch.

Fortunately, the boss is still around.

It seemed that only by feeling this could his pounding heart calm down a little.

The boss hasn't made a move for two days, and I don't know how things are going on the territory side.

After learning from Nelly about Blackfang's immense power in the Underdark, his worries grew even heavier.

I wonder how the boss will deal with this mercenary group that's comparable to the kingdom's regular army...

After walking a short distance and passing through a forest of strange fungi that emitted a soft glow, the group heard the sound of flowing water.

Nelly, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped and said in a relaxed tone, "We're here."

Upon hearing this, Arno felt a surge of curiosity. He quickened his pace, passed through the last few giant fungi that were as translucent and luminous as crystal orchids, and looked ahead.

A stream with fluorescent, starlight-like water meandered through the valley and flowed into a wide-open valley.

Surrounded by streams, an ancient stone fortress stands quietly deep in the forest, with wisps of smoke rising from the surrounding chimneys and houses encircling it.

Is this where the Stone People live?

It was completely different from what he had imagined.

It's like a secluded place in a fairy tale, where forest elves would live.

Arno was staring blankly when he suddenly felt something move in his chest.

He looked down and saw that the little slime had already poked half its head out of the leather armor, looking at the distant stone castle with its round little eyes.

Huh?
This place is nice.

He had assumed that Shi Yi lived in one of those gloomy, ancient castles made entirely of stone.

Looking at it this way, apart from Arno, the other Stoneborn actually have quite a good sense of aesthetics.

Arno snapped out of his daze, a look of delight on his face, and asked in a low voice, "Boss, is the territory alright...?"

Chen Yu asked疑惑地问道, "What could be wrong?"

"Those are the mercenaries. Didn't they go to the swamp?"

Arno was a little confused. Had the boss gotten out of his sleep?

"Oh, you mean those guys?"

Chen Yu remained unusually calm. "Some died, some ran away, and those who didn't escape are now helping me repair the city walls."

what?
The formation was defeated? So quickly?
Arno's face turned blank.

He had considered many possibilities, even making the worst-case scenario plan, but he never expected this outcome.

That was a fifty-person unit equipped with heavily armored warriors, a large number of scrolls, and elite professionals.

Didn't you say you were really good?

Is the information false?
Seeing his silly look, Chen Yu nudged him, as if to say what was so surprising.

"So, did you guys take care of those guys?" Nelly asked curiously, glancing at Chen Yu.

Arno subconsciously lowered his head and looked at the small boss on his chest, asking whether he should say it or not, whether this would be considered leaking territory secrets.

Chen Yu wriggled in his arms, trying to find a more comfortable position. "I guess this matter has already spread throughout the Underdark. Even those green-skinned dwarves know about it. It's no big deal to say it out loud."

Arno received an affirmative answer before telling her the news of the defeat of the Black Fang Mercenary Group's regiment.

Upon hearing this, Nelly's face showed surprise and great interest.

She personally gave Arno the bounty information about the forces in the Eastern Swamp, so its authenticity is beyond doubt.

Moreover, she was well aware of what such a fifty-person unit, led by elite professionals and equipped with scrolls, meant.

In the Underdark, perhaps only vampires and Stoneborn can handle it; there are no others.

Judging from Arno's words, it seems that the opponent was completely crushed.

Nelly realized that she might have underestimated these soft, squishy slimes.

She looked thoughtful, but in the end she just raised an eyebrow, temporarily suppressing her question, turned around and waved: "Let's go, we're almost there."

As they continued onward, after rounding several moss-covered boulders, the view suddenly opened up before them.

In front of the ancient stone fortress, a small village with lights twinkling in the distance appeared.

Further ahead lay vast farmlands planted with fluorescent crops.

These crops come in various shapes and sizes. Some resemble drooping lantern grass, emitting a warm yellow halo. Others are like shimmering star moss, forming a faint starry sky in the field. There are also tall fluorescent fungi that illuminate the main roads like streetlights.

Chen Yu looked around curiously, and soon followed Yano into the village.

Stone houses are scattered along both sides of the road in a well-organized manner. Near the stone fortress, there is also a bustling market square where, even in the morning, you can see many people moving between the stalls.

Upon closer inspection, you can also smell the aromas of roasted mushrooms, spices, and some kind of sweet berries from the stalls selling various foods.

In the market, Arno saw many different kinds of demi-humans. A caveman merchant with huge night-vision eyes was arranging his ore stall, and several short and stocky gray dwarf blacksmiths were hammering and banging in their shops.

There were even a few demi-human girls with transparent wings on their backs, carrying baskets as they flew lightly over the market.

"Are these all Stoneborn? There are so many..." Arno was somewhat surprised.

Ella explained from the side, "Of course, not everyone is a Stoneborn."

“Even the smallest territory needs its inhabitants to manage it. Stone Castle itself is indeed almost self-sufficient, but many daily necessities, specialty foods, and goods for exchange with the outside world all depend on this ‘fluorescent town’.”

"Many demi-humans have lived here for generations, under the protection of the stone fortress, and have served us."

As she was speaking, a patrol of demi-human knights spotted them and trotted over on their lizard mounts.

The lead caveman knight, upon reaching Nelly, immediately reined in his horse, placed his right hand on his chest, and bowed respectfully.
"Lady Nelly, welcome back."

Nelly waved her hand casually: "Kahn, nothing major happened in the castle while I was away, right?"

The demi-human knight captain named Kahn shook his head, his voice steady: "Everything is calm except... a few mischievous little stone racers sneaked off to play deep in the fluorescent forest and almost got lost, but they have been brought back by the patrol team."

Nili snorted upon hearing this: "I'll deal with those brats later. Alright, you go back first and inform the Stoneborn of the manor that I'm back."

"Remember to mention that on this trip, Lyon and his group picked up a foreign Stoneborn while they were out."

"An outsider, a stone descendant?!"

Captain Kahn was clearly taken aback, his eyes immediately falling on Arno. He noticed that Arno's demeanor and clothing were indeed different from the other Stoneborn, more like someone from outside the Underdark.

He quickly suppressed his surprise and nodded solemnly: "Understood, I will go and report immediately!"

After saying that, he turned his mount around, gave it a light tap, and the lizard immediately took off and galloped toward the stone fortress gate on the hillside, obviously to deliver the message.

(End of this chapter)