Chapter 245: Assigning Missions, Patrolling The Territory
After adapting for a moment, Meng Xiyue finally recovered from the mental shock of the information flood.
She straightened her body and panted slightly. At the same time, using the newly obtained [Administrator Permission], she connected the exclusive [Server] to the [Shadow Domain] and linked it to the [Shadow Dream Hole].
In an instant, the basic intelligence flowing from the [Domain] was received by the [Server]. And she gradually understood everything here.
“Eh? What a wonderful structure, such an exquisite layout! The [Shadow Demon God] behind you is really something else!”
The [Shadow Domain] that Yuan Zhu opened to her surpassed her previous expectations in terms of grade, specifications, and structure. Therefore, amid the surprise and excitement, she also felt a bit of tension.
Candle saw her shocked expression and asked curiously: “How much can you ‘see’? To what extent do you understand? And to what extent can you interfere?”
Meng Xiyue thought for a moment and answered honestly: “My understanding of this [Domain] is limited by the computing power of the [Server]. As long as the [Server] can withstand it, I can read the information flowing from the ‘domain’ more deeply and meticulously. As for interference, I found that this ‘domain’ is in a state of extreme balance, where pulling one hair moves the whole body. Therefore, I can only mobilize a small amount of power in the most superficial way without disrupting the balance.”
“For me, the ideal situation is not to touch the domain’s cycle, simply extract power, borrow the rules of the [Domain] to assist myself in various experiments.”
Yuan Zhu saw her obedient and sensible appearance, not daring to cause trouble to the [Shadow Domain]. He secretly thought that her skills weren’t that impressive.
“Then can you perceive the deepest ‘Dream Prototype’ of the [Domain]?” he asked again.
Meng Xiyue operated the [Skull Server] with mental power and soon touched the hazy mass of ‘Cockroach Village’, then nodded: “I see, this is the embryo of the [Dreamland], right? Connected to thousands of ‘dreams’, all within the domain range, jointly nurturing this mass of ‘dream’.”
Yuan Zhu said: “My request to you is simple. Use your ‘server technology’, combined with the shadow energy nurtured by the [Domain] itself, to create [Skull Servers] that can match the [Dream World].”
“Use enough ‘Skull Servers’ to replace mortals’ dreams, import them into the [Dreamland] in a matrix mode in parallel. With the [Dream Prototype] as the medium carrier, and the [Skull Servers] as the ‘power source + server’, create a ‘virtual world’ where parameters can be modified, the true [Dreamland].”
“If possible, I also hope you study the local ‘Demonic Giant Insects’. These things are products of Qi Refiners entering the demonic path and losing control to alienate. See if you can turn ‘them’ into [Servers] too? If achievable, then study the local specialty [Town Stone] to see if it can serve as a ‘server’?”
Meng Xiyue couldn’t listen anymore: “Your demands are getting more and more numerous and demanding! Making [Skull Servers] adapted to the [Dream Prototype] is already beyond my level. And you want me to make a matrix to replace human dreams? Though the idea is bold and I want to try it, I can’t guarantee absolute success. As for even more excessive demands, I advise you to shut up!”
Yuan Zhu didn’t nitpick and nodded in acceptance: “Alright then. First, make a batch of [Skull Servers] that can adapt and connect to the [Dreamland].”
“Heh! Before agreeing, I need to confirm one thing first!”
Yuan Zhu: “Go ahead.”
Meng Xiyue looked around furtively, then asked in a low voice: “Are you sure that if I mess around with this [Permission], probe the still-nurturing ‘Dreamland’, it won’t attract the attention of the [Demon God] behind you, who will reach out from afar and crush me to death?”
Yuan Zhu: “Absolutely not! But why would you think that?”
Meng Xiyue had an expression of having seen through everything and said confidently: “You’ve already signed the [Anti-Law], right? The demon god behind you acquiesces to you using its [Authority] to open a ‘Domain World’ in the Bubble World. The purpose is to recuperate for resurrection, or directly descend, right!”
“Based on my observation, one of the cores of this [Domain World] is the innermost [Dreamland Prototype]. The other side defaults to the captain intervening, developing the domain to the limit, and ceding control. The purpose is to ripen the ‘domain’ as quickly as possible, accelerate the formation of the [Dreamland], to smuggle and descend through the [Nightmare Layer].”
“You’re not honest, kid! First signing the [Anti-Law] to become the agent here, then introducing the ‘captain’ to contend, which both accelerates the maturity of the [Domain]; and suppresses the [Demon God] behind you. Now, you want me to develop [Dream Servers] to modify [Dreamland] parameters. This is a precaution, to delay the other’s descent and resurrection, right?”
Meng Xiyue’s speculation was reasonable, and Yuan Zhu went with the flow and admitted: “I do have such plans, but rest assured, I and the [Shadow Demon God] behind me are as close as brothers. You can think of it as a replica of ‘Captain’ and [Mao Mao King], no risks at all. I hope you help me accelerate the maturity of the [Dreamland], the purpose is to open a ‘Nightmare Smuggling Passage’ linking the Present World and the Bubble World, which will greatly help our business!”
Meng Xi: “Hmph, I’ll believe you for now. However, my work here takes the captain’s assigned mission as the main priority. Only in spare time can I help you with side jobs.”
“What is the mission from the captain? Can you reveal it?”
Meng Xi: “That I can. The captain’s assigned work is in two parts: First is manual labor, requiring large-scale screening and testing of different Insect Cultivator heads for affinity with [Moonlight Energy]. And construct ‘Skull Servers’ adapted to [Moonlight Energy] using ‘Insect Cultivator heads’.”
“After completing the massive screening of the first step, selecting the ‘insects’ most affine to [Moonlight]. I need to go to the surface, continue using these ‘Skull Servers’, combine them with the surface ‘Immortal Realm Tree Remnant’, to create a [device] capable of ultra-long-distance signal transmission.”
Under Meng Xiyue’s introduction, Yuan Zhu found it increasingly strange the more he listened.
The captain’s purpose seemed to be to use [Moonlight Skull Server + Immortal Realm Tree Root Remnant] to create a communication device similar to a ‘signal base station’.
Turn every withered wood remnant that can trigger ‘Moon Worship Ceremony’ into interconnected signal towers?
Besides that, he also wanted to screen out the Insect Cultivator race most compatible with [Moonlight]. Just like screening ‘Coleoptera, Hemiptera’ himself, to cultivate Masked Knights compatible with [Holy Cough].
Yuan Zhu said mysteriously: “Have you noticed, the captain is revealing more and more. [Mao Mao King] is very likely related to the [Moon]!”
Meng Xi: “I knew it long ago! Remember when everyone was puzzled about the pattern of [Happy Home] randomly pulling people, and it was left unresolved? Zhou Chu, that stubborn girl, never gave up privately, secretly investigated all our files, then I made a discovery.”
“Oh? Tell me.” Yuan Zhu was also very curious about how he was pulled into the [Happy Home]. He thought 90% was due to that [Night Watch Command Token], but why he was dragged into [Happy Home] instead of other squads in the [Space of Gods], he had no idea.
Meng Xi: “Your zodiac is [Mandate Spider]. Not just you, Lu Rang and Mai Lili are not only in Running City like you, but born the same year, all zodiac [Spider]. While I, Zhou Chu, and that butcher big brother, different ages, but all born in April, [Spirit Month]. [Mandate Spider] represents [Moon Phase, Moon], and corresponds to the fourth month each year, the Spirituality Month.”
Yuan Zhu continued: “So the members pulled into [Happy Home] are either zodiac [Spider], or birth month corresponding to [Spider]? But [Mao Mao King]’s true form is ‘Caterpillar (Silkworm)’, right? Among the Twelve Mandates, there’s a [Giant Moth] that fits [Mao Mao King] better.”
Yuan Zhu felt there might be some melodramatic story here? Like [Mao Mao King] being the abandoned ‘caterpillar descendant’ of [Giant Moth], for revenge, had to turn to [Mandate Spider], take the moon route, and seek ascension to the Moon?
Eh, the logic seems to hold?
Meng Xi: “How would I know these? But I can confirm [Happy Home] has close ties to the [Moon], selecting people all with birth charts related to ‘Moon’ and possessing certain traits. Otherwise, by your ‘birth month’ and my ‘zodiac’, we would be pulled into different ‘squads’.”
Yuan Zhu thought about it and agreed with Meng Xiyue’s statement. His zodiac [Spider] month [Sleep Month (March)]. March corresponds to [Mandate Mushroom] representing [Nightmare Layer]. So, I have affinity with [Nightmare, Shiitake] too.
Meng Xi is one year older than him, zodiac [Fish], corresponding to [Sea]. Looks like she’s a hidden salted fish, or a fake in the [Knowledge School]?
Eh, suddenly not expecting her to produce any high-end ‘research results’ anymore. No wonder in those future people’s mouths, only he and A Miao, Meng Xi is just a passerby. She’s a water fish!
As if sensing Yuan Zhu’s distrust, Meng Xiyue frowned: “Hey, what’s with that expression?”
Yuan Zhu looked around and changed the subject: “Nothing, I just suddenly thought of a piece of intel. No. 3 once told me that the [Communication Mouse] each of us got after joining is a product of [Mandate Rat King], nothing special. But after customization by a company called [Moon String Communication Company], it gained long-range encrypted communication capability. I’m wondering if [Mao Mao King] is related to this [Moon String]? The experiment the captain has you do on the surface sounds related to ‘communications industry’.”
Meng Xiyue was successfully led astray by him: “I’ve heard of that company, it’s famous, masters technology using ‘Moon Sea’ for encrypted calls. Hmm?”
She suddenly froze. The second task from the captain seemed also to use [Moon Worship Ceremony] for encrypted communications. And not simple ‘communications’, but connecting ‘Skull Servers’ to form a ‘communication network’ covering the surface of [Eclosion World]… no, it’s an artificial [Local Magic Net]!
Seeing Meng Xiyue suddenly fall into enlightenment, Yuan Zhu didn’t interrupt her, instead thoughtfully exited the room, leaving her to think alone.
…
Leaving this [Gratitude Hall] specially built for the [Shadow Demon God], Yuan Zhu looked back. He found it was a solemn-style, pitch-black building with features of the Underground Insect City.
Though only one story, it backed against that root tendril descending from the sky, piercing through the entire [Shadow Domain], thus appearing exceptionally imposing. The hall borrowed the oppressive sense of the giant object, gaining a touch of divinity.
During his absence, the residents in the [Domain], under the captain’s arranged sacrifices’ lead, came here every Full Moon Period to worship.
The ‘Moonlight Energy’ attracted by the original surface world’s ‘Immortal Tree Remnant’ would weaken step by step, finally transmitted to this hall for ordinary residents to absorb.
Over several months, this ‘hall’ slowly condensed a small amount of [Deity] concept, not taken by the captain, but preserved and left to Yuan Zhu.
Snake Snake: “Is this protection fee? The captain only takes ‘Moonlight Essence’, while the ‘deity consensus’ jointly condensed by the civilians is left to the Shadow Demon God who opened the [Shadow Domain]?”
Yuan Zhu nodded in agreement: “The captain is a principled man.”
He temporarily couldn’t utilize this thin [Deity Consensus], so he turned and left, following the [Domain]’s guidance without going far, arriving outside a cluster of buildings collecting orphans (a row of small flat houses).
Passing through the door, he immediately saw Younger Brother leading many orphans in exercising their bodies and practicing basic martial arts, as well as the Little Girl sternly supervising.
…
According to [Domain] feedback, his absence exceeded 7 months.
[Animal Husbandry Village] auto-operated for two months in an ownerless state. Then ‘Captain’ descended, defying fate like a protagonist, bringing qualitative leaps.
Starting from breaking through [Cicada City] to gain friendship, then forcibly expanding and modifying the [Shadow Dream Hole], next charging into unknown underground areas, plundering a city-building essential [Reverse Life Tree] from the [Technician Alliance].
Another round of private modifications, he planted the [Reverse Growth Mulberry Tree] into the [Domain] to further improve efficiency, while bringing food satisfying everyone, and an ecosystem for raising Spirit Insects.
Next was going to the surface, a two-month disappearance. Upon his return, another round of earth-shaking changes.
A ‘withered dead Immortal Realm Tree branch’ occupying the surface, its main root piercing the entire ‘underground root network’, merging and connecting with the Animal Husbandry Village.
Under these waves of impacts, the first batch of residents joining [Animal Husbandry] were truly blessed, with various benefits coming one after another. Especially represented by this ‘brother and sister’ pair, all kinds of cultivation resources and technique knowledge continuously delivered to their hands.
The captain, to quickly understand the Underground World’s supernatural system, also needed ‘people (White Mice)’ to test with their bodies… the brother and sister thus obtained the basic parts of [Alchemy] and [Armor Forging].
Meeting again now, Younger Brother was still the same, thick eyebrows and big eyes, not talkative, righteous, eyes full of light, seeing hope in life, punching meticulously and earnestly.
On the contrary, the ‘Little Girl’ had changed so much that he almost couldn’t recognize her.
Her height remained just over one meter twenty, a little bean ding with no increase, but her once skinny-as-bones figure finally had meat. The original ‘bulging-eyed skinny fire monkey’-like alien now became a fair and clean baby-faced lucky doll.
Those particularly scary ‘bulging eyes’ now, cushioned by the chubby flesh, were big, round, and cute, with appearance skyrocketing, like a different person.
