Devour Digestion Lv.6 triggered — Complete record of earthworm traits obtained, acquired talent: Accelerated Burrowing Lv.3
To keep things well concealed, Chen Yu planned to build the Obsidian Outpost underground.
In the Dusk Forest, a dozen or so beetles that had just gained the "Accelerated Burrowing" talent were buzzing with energy, transforming into highly efficient subterranean drills and digging like mad.
Soil and rubble were rapidly torn out by their powerful legs and piled into small hills. A secret mine tunnel leading to the Obsidian Mining Area's underground was taking shape at a visible pace.
At the same time, the Chubby One brothers returned, dusty and tired.
They had intended to probe deeper into the mining area to check out Riftrock Pass, but halfway there they ran into a goblin reconnaissance magic formation set at the second fortification gate.
Unable to press on, the two little guys had no choice but to turn back and help build the outpost. Now they were vigorously shaking branches and putting all their effort into "turning mud into stone."
With soft popping sounds, clumps of mud were compressed into hard bricks. A compact but sturdy underground fortress was being constructed before anyone's eyes.
"Your Majesty! Your loyal Count Bran returns with full spoils!"
Huh?
He remembered this place being flat just a moment ago.
How did a little fortress just sprout up here?
At this rate, it probably wouldn't take many days to build a mine tunnel.
Then the Obsidian Outpost could start operating and stream Gray Gravel Crystals back to the Kingdom nonstop.
Stealing the goblins' mine behind their backs.
Ooh, sounds exciting.
He had no doubt about the beetles' efficiency. Maybe Arthur would be able to come back through the passage in a few days after all.
Count Bran sneered and scoffed, "Hmph, if he returns, I won't even pay him any mind!"
"Shift over, return to the territory." Chen Yu tapped Count Bran with a tiny gel hand, then nimbly hopped back onto Little Ka's back.
The Dusk Forest marked the limit of this expedition. Beyond it lay the goblin army's main camp.
It was time to go home.
"At your command, Your Majesty!"
Count Bran hurriedly dropped the earthworm and, wobbling, flew to Peachy's back.
Accompanied by the buzzing of the Poison-stinger Wasp swarm, the silhouette of the magical creature army soon vanished into the forest shadows, leaving only the Fat Brother and the construction crew panting and working.
...
Sunlight poured over the abandoned village deep in the swamp. A pig head poked out first from the dark, damp dungeon tunnel, snuffling and grunting.
Peachy's tone carried urgency.
To make time, it had gone three hours without eating!
It wanted to go home and eat!
Little Ka followed closely behind, stepping onto the familiar, solid forest path. He clicked cheerfully, his taut nerves finally relaxing completely.
Chen Yu squinted and basked comfortably in the sunlight, bubbling softly. The slime's nature left him utterly defenseless against this warm light.
"Ooh! My sparkling little treasures, I missed you so much!" Count Bran took the lead, flapping across the forest path with the eagerness of someone returning home.
After some time, the silhouette of the Onyx Fortress finally came into view, still standing firm like a rock.
Everything within the territory remained safe and sound. The Poison-stingers buzzed as they busily moved moss feed, and the Moss Monsters lounged lazily in the breeding pens, sunbathing.
Everything was as usual.
Inside the Tree Hall, the little slimes were listening to Slime Mother tell a fairy tale.
"Plop!"
Chen Yu had just hopped into the Tree Hall, drawing the little ones' attention.
"Big brother's back!"
"Plip plip..."
The little ones immediately abandoned the story and swarmed over with joy, pressing their gel bodies into a squishy pile.
Chen Yu tried to look stern and squeeze out a bit of "parental authority."
"While I was gone, did you all study properly?"
"Study... no..."
Guilty, the little ones scattered at once. Some zipped behind Slime Mother, only daring to poke half a tiny head out to peek.
Only Little Flower wriggled over happily and snuggled close with affection.
"Big brother, I learned so much."
"Little Flower is the most diligent."
Chen Yu, feeling pleased, reached his gel hand out to pat her, when suddenly a translucent panel popped up with a soft "boop":
——
Reputation Title: Slime Scholar
Acquisition Conditions: Within the Slime Lord’s territory, a slime must systematically learn and master a language not native to its species' normal communication, cultivate and continually practice an interest aimed at exploring the deeper mysteries of the world, successfully overcoming comprehension difficulties caused by intelligence limitations, and achieve knowledge acquisition or exchange of ideas.
Title Effects:
Note: This is a tribute to the desire for knowledge, a flash of wisdom that surpasses the slime's brain limits, igniting the flame of understanding within the slime community.
"Plip, plip, plipplip!"
—— First Generation Slime Scholar Little Flower · Starry Sky leaves a message
——
Chen Yu blinked repeatedly, almost thinking he had read it wrong.
Slime... Scholar?
Their family produced a scholar?!
"Little Flower! You... you became a scholar!"
Chen Yu's voice brimmed with incredulous delight, his gel hand gently patting Little Flower's head.
"Scholar?"
Little Flower didn't fully grasp the weight of the word, but feeling her brother's sincere joy, she bubbled happily and enjoyed the fond touch.
Chen Yu stared closely at the panel, especially the "learning efficiency +10%."
A bold thought flashed through his mind:
Would that effect also apply to cultivation arts?
Hiss...
In Xu Xuan Heaven, gaining even a touch of comprehension is as difficult as climbing to the sky. A ten percent boost to learning efficiency was practically life-changing.
Although slimes have no dantian and cannot practice cultivation techniques, what about arts that do not strictly demand high cultivation—like talisman drawing or formation-making?
Achieving the "Slime Scholar" conditions was not overly strict. The key lay in how to give slimes enough intelligence to understand and learn.
One could say the Qian Yuan Spirit Nurturing Art deserved most of the credit.
Feeding spirit fodder cultivated by Qian Yuan Spirit Nurturing Art, combined with the Kingdom's "compulsory education"...
If Little Flower could do it, could the other little ones do it too?
Chen Yu's eyes shone brighter and brighter.
Maybe he could cultivate a batch of talisman-drawing Slime Scholars.
So many Slime Scholars would surely be enough to open a Talisman Factory.