Yano wanted to ask more, but the next second he realized, "Didn't you just set off not long ago? How did you get back so quickly?"
Chen Yu was also very curious. However, Bat Slime Number Two told him that it did indeed meet Nilly on the outskirts of Gore.
How did this person suddenly pop up in such a faraway place, and then pop back just as quickly?
Suspicious, it was far too suspicious.
Seeing this, Nilly just shrugged nonchalantly and said lightly, "It's nothing much, just met a friend I haven't seen in a long time on the road, and they gave me a lift."
However, she didn't seem to like talking about this topic much, and her attention quickly returned to the bulging bag in Yano's hand, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Little Envoy, is this the thing you said can assist training? It doesn't look particularly special."
"That's right, they're just some ordinary glass balls, nothing special at all," Chen Yu said.
"Tsk~ Trying to fool a ghost!" Nilly pouted, completely not buying it.
"If you don't tell me, then I'm not leaving today. Anyway, Auntie has nothing to do, I'll just stay here and watch what you guys are up to."
"Boss, should we change locations?" Yano was getting a headache from this rogue behavior.
Chen Yu remained quite calm. "It's fine, she won't understand anyway. You just practice as usual, just hold the crystal orb in your mouth."
"Huh? So you don't directly eat it?" Yano picked up a crystal orb emitting a gentle halo, curiously looked at it against the light, and asked instinctively.
Directly eat it?
This guy Yano is truly reckless.
"Directly eating it is also possible, if you want to be constipated tomorrow morning..."
When he was refining these spirit pills, to stabilize the spiritual essence and facilitate storage, he used Gray Gravel Crystal as the carrier.
This thing is essentially rock, you really shouldn't eat it.
Hearing this, Yano sheepishly shrunk his neck. "Then... then I'll just hold it in my mouth."
He secretly glanced at the girl on the sofa who appeared to be resting with her eyes closed but was actually listening intently with her ears perked up, and decided to go to the yard instead.
He pushed open the door, sat cross-legged in the center of the yard, took a deep breath, and carefully placed a shimmering crystal orb into his mouth.
At first, Yano didn't feel anything unusual, just that he had a slippery pearl in his mouth.
But gradually, a gentle warm current began to seep out from the crystal orb, spreading through his saliva, then like countless tiny warm snakes, burrowing into his limbs and entire body.
This warm current grew stronger and stronger. He felt all the blood in his body seemed to be ignited, starting to flow faster. An abnormal flush appeared on the surface of his skin, and even fine beads of sweat seeped from his forehead.
"So... so hot..."
Yano's face turned red with strain, feeling as if there was boundless strength rampaging uncontrollably inside his body.
Instinctively, he *shing* drew the broadsword stuck beside him, not caring about any proper stances or techniques, and just started swinging it wildly based on instinct, trying to vent this surging and powerful mysterious energy within.
The sword wind howled, swirling up dust and grass blades from the ground, looking quite impressive.
Chen Yu hopped onto the wooden cabin's steps, observing Yano's condition.
"Uh... the medicinal potency seems a bit too strong."
However, this also seemed to prove the special nature of the warrior physique from the side. Their absorption efficiency of medicinal potency was extremely high, and their reaction was much stronger than when he took it. The effect seemed to exceed expectations.
At this moment, Nilly, who had somehow appeared silently beside Chen Yu at an unknown time, sat down on the steps, imitating his posture.
Her gaze, mixed with surprise and curiosity, was fixed on Yano in the yard, who was swinging his sword as if pumped full of adrenaline.
"This glass ball... seems to actually be a bit interesting."
Judging by Yano's reaction, it absolutely couldn't be an ordinary thing.
Could it be some kind of alchemical item with peculiar effects?
There are alchemists in this Slime Kingdom? That's some good intelligence.
She couldn't help but turn her gaze to the slime squatting quietly beside her.
These mysterious slimes from the swamp might be much more interesting than she had imagined.
...
Meanwhile, deep within the Obsidian Mining Area.
The vigorous flames reflected off Chen Yu's gel body, making it glow crimson like a ruby about to melt.
He tossed the second batch of medicinal herbs into the refining process, skillfully controlling the flames, extracting spiritual essence, and fusing it to condense pills.
With the previous experience, the efficiency was much higher this time.
After all the spirit pills were refined, he secreted several talent orbs containing specific talents, had Bat Slime Number Two swallow them along with the newly refined spirit pills, and sent them to Yano again.
Judging from Yano's performance, the effects of pills and martial arts on the warrior physique were indeed significant.
An idea surfaced in his mind.
If he could cultivate more Slime Alchemists, mass-produce pills, and pair them with suitable martial arts... wouldn't he be able to create a knight corps belonging to the Slime Kingdom?
Hmm...
This idea actually seems quite reliable.
But to practice martial arts, if not human, at least it should be a humanoid creature.
You can't expect soft, squishy slimes to practice this stuff. But the kingdom is full of all sorts of strange magical creatures. Where would he find suitable humanoid citizens?
Chen Yu thought carefully and realized there actually might be some.
Lizardfolk!
Those lizardfolk living in the eastern swamp.
Ever since the elf Sekashi left, he really hadn't paid attention to those neighbors for a while.
Lizardfolk have humanoid bodies, robust physiques, and have lived in swamp environments for generations, making them natural swamp warriors.
If he could recruit them into the kingdom and cultivate them with pills and martial arts... raising an elite lizardfolk knight corps wouldn't be a problem.
"Oh right!"
Chen Yu's little eyes instantly lit up.
Once successful, with this powerful swamp army, the Slime Kingdom's control over the swamp region would greatly increase. He could even consider taking the initiative to completely drive away that annoying group of goblins entrenched at Riftrock Pass.
Since he was already impersonating a divine envoy, he planned to personally return to the Eastern Swamp. Using the initially established "faith" and the temptation of food, he would try to recruit the lizardfolk tribe into the Slime Kingdom.
There probably wasn't anything more appealing to these lizardfolk living in the swamp than ample food.
He strained hard, his gel trembling slightly like jelly, and with a *poof*, a pair of gel wings grew from his back.
He flapped a few times, then wobbled as he flew towards the outside of the mining area, passing through the winding, deep mine tunnels, returning to the surface.
The midday sunlight barely pierced through the hazy water vapor above the swamp, forming beams of light that fell down.
Amidst the thin mist, busy *squelch squelch* sounds came from the fortress construction site in the distance. The slimes were still diligently building their new home.
Chen Yu flew into mid-air, looking down.
The massive outline of the fortress was already clearly visible. The city walls extended into the forests on both sides, seemingly endless.
Inside were dome-shaped wooden cabins with distinct slime characteristics and initially built defensive facilities. The Spirit Gathering Array charging station at the center was basically completed. Next to it, piled up like a small hill, were Gray Gravel Crystals slowly absorbing spiritual energy.
And by the city wall, something strange was happening.
The Metal Slimes were carefully using drills to dismantle a section of the already-built wall.
Several slime scholars wearing mini glasses were gesturing with their gel hands at the scene, directing slime engineers to embed something shiny inside the wall.
"What are they doing?" Chen Yu grew curious and landed on top of the city wall.
A slime scholar immediately noticed him, happily bouncing over, affectionately rubbing against Chen Yu with its soft body, making *squelch squelch* sounds and calling him brother.
Chen Yu patted the little one's bouncy head with a gel hand and asked, "What are you all doing here?"
That slime scholar immediately excitedly bounced up and down. Other scholars also gathered around, gesturing with their gel hands.
"Setting up a magic formation! A super—big magic formation!"
"It seems... seems to be called something like eight gates..."
"No no, it's eight locks!"
"It's door locks! Locks with eight doors!"
Chen Yu found this amusing.
"It's the Eight-Gate Golden Lock Formation, right?"
"Mhm mhm!"
The slime scholars bobbed their bodies up and down. "Yes, yes, that door lock formation."
Chen Yu immediately felt a wave of gratification.
He didn't expect these little scholars to progress so quickly, already able to apply the Eight-Gate Golden Lock Formation to actual construction. It seemed the Slime Academy wasn't run in vain.
It's just that the formation name was still a bit of a tongue-twister for them.
An idea stirred within him. "Let's give it a new name. Since it can protect the kingdom's fortress, how about we call it 'Kingdom's Shield' from now on?"
"Kingdom's Shield?"
"Kingdom's Shield!!"
The slime scholars were stunned for a moment, then burst into cheers, excitedly bouncing around on the ground, celebrating the birth of this new name.
"Kingdom's Shield! Protect the kingdom!"
In Xu Xuan Heaven, this formation was enough to become the protective grand formation of some small sects. Now, used to protect the Slime Kingdom's first fortress, calling it "Kingdom's Shield" was indeed well-deserved.
Chen Yu happily thought to himself, once the grand formation was fully activated, he really couldn't think of any way those goblins who only knew swarm tactics could breach it.
After the cheers, a slime scholar approached Chen Yu, coming close to remind him, "The territory guards said, there's a vampire in the territory, waited a long time."
"Vampire?" Chen Yu was stunned, only then remembering that a few days ago, Little Flower did mention that a vampire was discovered at the territory's edge, lurking around suspiciously.
"Oh right, seems like there was such a thing..."
But he even forgot that guy's name.
He patted the little scholar's head. "Alright, you all keep working hard, build our 'Kingdom's Shield' well."
"I'll go back and see what that vampire wants."
"Mhm mhm!" The slime scholars bobbed their gel up and down, nodding happily, watching as Chen Yu flapped his wings and flew towards the direction of the Eastern Swamp.
...
Eastern Swamp Fortress.
A Metal Slime, like a knight, was riding on its beetle mount, conducting its daily patrol along the fortress's outer perimeter.
Its round, metallic body reflected a cold, hard luster under the sunlight. Its small eyes showed meticulous seriousness, occasionally emitting slight buzzing sounds, as if recording the patrol log.
When passing by the Swamp Oak Tree next to the fortress gate, the Metal Slime, as usual, completely ignored the "decoration" leaning against the tree.
If a few days ago, this vampire from the Dark Realm was just somewhat haggard, then now, his figure could be described as having shrunk by a whole size.
His originally well-fitting noble attire now hung loosely on his body. His pale skin clung tightly to his bones, his eye sockets sunken, looking exactly like a desiccated corpse that had just crawled out of an ancient tomb.
His weak breathing was almost imperceptible, only the occasional turning of his eyeballs proving he was still alive.
Utter humiliation... simply unprecedented, unparalleled humiliation in vampire history...
Casimir was almost out of energy to even complain.
He, a noble vampire, was almost sucked dry of blood by the swamp's mosquitoes.
When he felt dizzy and lightheaded a few days ago and realized he was anemic, it was already too late. His vision went black and he fainted right under this tree.
When he regained consciousness, he had turned into the ghostly appearance that even he wanted to cry upon seeing.
Damn mosquitoes!
Lowly bloodsuckers!
He cursed weakly.
How dare they... how dare they do such a thing to a noble vampire clan member.
He licked his dry, cracked lips and weakly called out towards the top of the city wall, "Please... may I ask, has your lord returned..."
The Metal Slime raised that wooden sign with the unchanged handwriting.
"Damn it, they're toying with me. They have no intention of negotiating at all."
Casimir wanted to force himself to get up, but soon realized he couldn't. Forget standing up, even lifting a finger was exhausting.
If this got back to the Dark Realm and those old fossils found out... they'd probably laugh so hard their coffin lids couldn't hold them down...
But fortunately, this wasn't fatal for a vampire. It was just that the body was a bit dried out.
Sucking some blood could restore him to his former supple, tender skin.
He forced a smile and asked intermittently, "Then... could you send a little blood for this envoy from the Dark Realm, just a little..."
Blood... blood?
Behind the battlements, Little Ka carefully poked its head out, blinking its big eyes curiously to look at that "vampire desiccated corpse" under the tree. Then, as if frightened, it quickly pulled its head back, flapped its wings, and flew towards the tree hall at the center of the fortress.
Inside the tree hall, Little Flower was squatting on Anvil's shoulder. They were gesturing at the little earth elemental playing with building blocks in front of them, seemingly discussing something.
"I think the energy core of the battery array should be placed in the upper right position, like a heart," Anvil stroked his big beard.
Little Flower Slime bounced up and down once, conveying a different opinion. "No no, it should be in the position slightly above the chest, so the energy flow is smoother."
After Little Ka flew in, it climbed up to Anvil and patted his heavy boot with its claws, then seriously looked up and reported, "Princess Little Flower, that pointy-toothed one outside, he seems a little bit dead."
"Should we save him?"
Little Flower was stunned for a moment, as if falling into thought.
Oh right, there seems to be a vampire outside... almost forgot.
It was hesitating whether to help out of slime humanitarianism or continue waiting for brother to return.
Right at that moment, Chen Yu's message came through the gel network.
He was back.