Chapter 477 - 447: Starting the Driftwood Test
At this moment, Da Fei, who had returned to the swamp, was in the middle of a wide and deep lake.
The most urgent task now was to find a small island to land on, or he would drown when his stamina ran out. The swamp was dotted with small islands, so this wouldn’t be an issue. Da Fei immediately swam toward the nearest shrub-covered island.
The area around the island was also filled with water monsters, but for the god-level Da Fei, with his Stealth Master’s aura-shielding Divine Skill, this was not a real problem.
The challenge now was how to reach Habbit Village? Of course, this wasn’t exactly a challenge either; he could swim from one small island to another and eventually relay his way there. However, that method was too primitive, too unsafe, and not befitting a lord’s status. As a lord, he should naturally have them come to him.
Da Fei summoned the Blood Eagle again. Seeing the eagle was like seeing a person; they knew what they should do, right? Ah, if only he had thought of sending a letter with the Blood Eagle in the first place. Anyway, Da Fei trusted that the Old Village Chief, being a hero, was intelligent enough.
Indeed, the Habbit people did not disappoint Da Fei. Before the Blood Eagle even reached the village, it encountered a dozen fishing rafts along the way. The Habbit on the rafts were astonished and craned their necks upon seeing the familiar Blood Eagle return.
Hahaha! Even the ordinary fishermen recognized it, good! However, given their small numbers, they probably couldn’t fend off the water monsters on the way to meet Da Fei. So, the Blood Eagle circled over their heads three times before continuing its flight toward the village.
Watching the departing Blood Eagle, the fishing villagers pulled out fireworks, and rockets soared into the sky one after another.
Haha, this is the treatment for a lord, how refreshing!
When the Blood Eagle arrived at Habbit Village, the villagers, whom Da Fei hadn’t seen for more than ten days, were already eagerly anticipating.
The children exclaimed, "The lord is here, it’s the lord’s eagle!"
The Village Chief quickly understood and enthusiastically said, "The lord must have opened the channel connecting us to the outside world. Let’s hurry to meet him!"
Hahaha! Exactly! A whistle to show approval! The Blood Eagle let out a loud, clear cry that echoed across the lake.
Thus, under the low-altitude gliding lead of the Blood Eagle, the Village Chief led a dozen rafts, using flutes to drive away the water monsters, and arrived at Da Fei’s hidden island.
Finally, they came; it seemed a watchtower should be built here in the future. Da Fei revealed himself and waved at the Village Chief’s group from a distance.
Upon seeing Da Fei appear, the villagers cheered loudly. The Village Chief, more excited than anyone, shouted, "Lord, you’ve had a hard time. We apologize for not being able to welcome you when you arrived. Pardon us!"
With such courtesy, I’ve almost become a god in their minds, haven’t I? It’s only a matter of time before they’re fully integrated! Let’s give them a heads-up first.
Da Fei laughed and said as he boarded a raft, "I didn’t expect I’d return so soon myself. This time, I came to accomplish something big; I need to transport wood out. In the downstream space, I found a Vine Demon Village that has already allied with me. Once my city is finished, they will join my city. For now, they are responsible for receiving the wood downstream."
Now others are joining, how about you?
The Village Chief was taken aback, "How does the lord plan to transport the wood? Is it to float it downstream?"
Oh, come on! Why is it that every NPC hero knows about floating, but I didn’t?!
Da Fei nodded gravely, "Exactly, so I would need to trouble everyone to help transport the wood to the Vortex Space Gate. The compensation can be negotiated easily."
The Village Chief smiled, "Talking about compensation is too formal. Since the lord has already found a channel for transporting the wood, you must also be planning to open the channel. We should fully assist the lord in transport! It’s just—" Saying this, the Village Chief frowned, "But if the wood floats down like that, what if it disturbs the Eight-Headed Snake?"
Da Fei’s brow twitched! Isn’t this the same question I asked Tachiusu? She couldn’t answer it, and neither can this Old Village Chief!
If Tachiusu couldn’t answer, it was likely because I asked an irrelevant question that the system wouldn’t handle. However, the fact that the Old Village Chief, also an NPC, raised this question must mean it’s a problem!
Da Fei was shocked, "If it disturbs the Eight-Headed Snake, will it come out of the space passage to attack?"
The Village Chief said blankly, "I don’t know."
Whoa! An NPC’s "I don’t know" basically means it’s possible, right? Could the Eight-Headed Snake really break out of this instance? If it truly does, what’s that called? Accelerated game progression! Preemptive chaos! No way, I just had a flash of inspiration for solving such a big matter; is this going to collapse?
Just when Da Fei was dumbfounded, the Village Chief, however, looked determined and said, "But rest assured, lord, we the Habbit people, have been struggling for a thousand years. It’s only by meeting you, lord, that we’ve seen a glimmer of hope for the future. We must fully assist the lord. This might be very risky, but it’s also an opportunity. We are willing to take the gamble with you, lord!"
Are you betting the lives of the entire tribe with me? Gamble or not? Of course, gamble! Let’s first take a small gamble to test the waters!
Da Fei said, "How about this, let’s first try floating a small amount of wood to see how it reacts. I believe slight disturbances shouldn’t anger it, after all, it ought to prioritize sleep."
The Village Chief’s brow jumped, and he exclaimed suddenly, "The lord is right. This Eight-Headed Snake is at a critical stage of evolving into its ultimate nine-headed form, so it should tolerate minor disturbances. Let’s go back and haul the wood immediately!"
Great! Let’s do it! Hosting a meal! Wait a minute, aren’t you forgetting to feed me?
When the raft team returned to the village, the long-absent Tai Da advisor had been waiting at the dock.
Da Fei laughed and said, "Mr. Tai Da, you’ve worked hard during this time!"
Tai Da performed a respectful bow and said seriously, "Lord, the hard work is necessary. During this period, we have been busy purchasing wood. The space over in the Black Forest seems to have a faint disturbance; maybe the Demon Race is tracking and exploring. We must hasten the lumbering progress. Currently, we’ve harvested 1000 units of wood, and we have to hide from the mercury vapor at night, making the schedule extremely tight."
Da Fei suddenly panicked, has the rightful owner finally come knocking? Da Fei quickly asked, "Well, when will the Demon Race arrive?"
Tai Da shook his head, "Not sure, we can only hope that you, lord, can hold back the Demon Race’s forces on other battlefields so that they have no resources to spare here."
The Village Chief nodded solemnly, "However, we Habbit people will not sit and wait idly! We have fortified the passages leading to the Black Forest, and in such narrow passages, the Demon Race will pay a price for their invasion!"
Ah, come on! Your wooden fortifications can be annihilated completely with a single Meteor Shower by them! No wonder the old man is willing to gamble with me. However, transporting wood and saving you folks don’t directly correlate yet! Anyway, we’ll proceed according to the advisor’s plan, conducting major operations on other battlefields to impede the Demon Race’s main force. If things turn dire, seize the moment, gather all valuables here, and have them migrate with me. However, all of this predicates on successfully killing the Eight-Headed Snake and opening the channel; circumstances are tense.
But there’s a problem, once here is lost, what about the downstream Vine Demon Village? Should they also evacuate? Wouldn’t that mean my lost territory is direly doomed? Moreover, more critically, would that mercury-rich mine that hasn’t been developed yet have to be handed over?
Come on! No retreat! Defend to the last! Otherwise, all the developments in the swamp and Vine Demon Jungle are meaningless! Once the channel is opened, my army will pour in to provide reinforcements! Yes, I’m such a badass; the terrain of the swamp is extremely problematic for the Demon Race, there’s no reason I shouldn’t hold it, not to mention the main battlefield of Radiant City resonates with support.
Da Fei immediately rallied, "Great, everyone, prepare to guard against the Demon Race to protect our homeland. As for now, let’s focus on the primary task. These woods cannot be left for the Demon Race."
The Village Chief nodded repeatedly, "Alright, we’ll move the wood right away."
...
Now, under the monster-chasing escort of the Village Chief, a dozen rafts fully loaded with various woods arrived at the entrance of the Vortex Space Gate. Of course, it was mainly Mercury Wood.
Da Fei took a deep breath, "First, let’s send one piece of wood downstream, and then I’ll follow to see the Eight-Headed Snake’s reaction!"
"Yes, my lord!"
Splash! A piece of wood was thrown into the vortex and disappeared from sight, Da Fei stealthily jumped into the vortex in pursuit.
At this point, Da Fei saw the giant body of the Eight-Headed Snake shimmering with electric light; today, it was an electric head on duty. It must be said, this Eight-Headed Snake was indeed an all-attribute prodigy; really getting into a fight with it would mean dealing with all sorts of electric, fire, ice, and poison elements raining down—who could withstand that? How would future battles be fought?
The wood drifted closer; it was likely entering the Eight-Headed Snake’s alert range. The head that swayed side-to-side suddenly focused its gaze on the piece of wood!
Discovered! Da Fei closely observed the Eight-Headed Snake’s next move!
Yet the Eight-Headed Snake’s gaze merely lingered on the wood for less than a second before shifting elsewhere. No reaction!?
Da Fei was excited internally! No, wait! Is the wood going to crash into it? Let’s see what reaction it has upon impact! Da Fei continued to carefully observe.
Getting closer! About to hit! Da Fei lifted his telescope and watched intently. Of course, for a demigod, summoning the Blood Eagle was absolutely out of the question.
—Thud! A soft sound; the wood hit the Eight-Headed Snake’s giant mass and bounced slightly. And just then, one of the heads next to the electric head noticeably twitched slightly, then... nothing. The wood, in the flow of water, bypassed the mass and drifted downstream.
Oh yay! Success! At least one piece of wood succeeded!
Delighted, Da Fei immediately signaled through the Vortex Gate to the Village Chief, "One was successful, this time throw two pieces!"
"Yes, my lord!"
—Two splashes sounded, two more pieces of wood set off, equally unnoticed by the on-duty electric head, followed by two more soft thuds! Stimulating a minor twitch from the neighboring head!
No problem! Da Fei eagerly encouraged, "This time do four pieces!"
When four pieces of wood, one after another, collided with the Eight-Headed Snake, the head next to the perpetual twitching head finally rose!
Two heads waking up simultaneously! What the heck?! Didn’t wake up, did they? And in that instant, Da Fei’s screen flared red!
—System Prompt: Reconnaissance Skill warning! You’ve entered the Eight-Headed Snake’s alert range, remain, and you’ll enter combat!
Oh snap! Sure enough, the alert range extends when two heads are active! Frightened, Da Fei hastily retreated through the Vortex Gate!
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