Chapter 212: Ultimate Goblin, Emptying The [universe Within The Belly]
After carefully inspecting his own [Haunted House] once over, Yuan Zhu felt extremely satisfied in his heart, with a sense of accomplishment like playing a management game.
From the time he occupied this place, it had been about a month back and forth, and he had successfully gotten the [Haunted House] on the track of automated and sustainable development. No need to invest any more energy, and he could stably enjoy the output.
And this was not yet the ultimate form; it had huge potential to be tapped. Once he obtained a new territory (land) and successfully established a factory, these dormant ‘Shadow Eggplant Essences’ would fully awaken, bursting with endless ‘labor enthusiasm’, creating even greater labor value!
“I really look forward to the arrival of that day, wishing I could turn the hands of the clock to fast-forward time.”
Exiting the last bedroom storing ‘Eggplant Essences’, he watched the Eggplant Head Ghosts, under Snake Snake’s command, methodically transporting the one hundred and twenty goblins, categorized by gender, age, and degree of mutilation, to different ‘rooms’ for storage, dormancy, farming…
He felt a kind of anticipation like after the autumn harvest, reseeding, waiting for the next year’s new round of reaping.
Snake Snake: “It’s a pity that this [Haunted House] is not our private property, and it’s restricted by the environment, so we can’t go all out. Otherwise, I have some bold ideas right now that I want to try on these ‘Eggplant Essences’.”
Yuan Zhu understood her meaning; the [Haunted House] was essentially a cover, hiding the [Disease Garden] behind it. Yuan Zhu was only temporarily occupying it, secretly devouring and refining ‘Disease Pollution’, so naturally he couldn’t make a big fuss and attract the attention of the rightful owner.
In addition, whether it was his [Shadow Pollution] or the local [Disease Pollution], both were dangerous targets for the [Security Bureau] to eradicate. Even without the threat of the rightful owner, he still couldn’t act recklessly in the villa area, or he would attract clearance immediately.
“So I specially set the location of the [Farming Facility] in the eastern suburbs. That area is already far from the urban area, even more dangerous at night, with no safety guarantees at all, relying entirely on one’s own power, and looser regulatory intensity. Just a bit further, and it’s directly entering the [Misty Mountains] area, a complete no-man’s land.”
The ‘manor’ where Yuan Zhu first descended was also in the suburbs, in a gentle area near the mountain foothills.
Because it was far from the urban area, it was not protected by [Law] at all. No matter how the manor lord sacrificed, as long as it didn’t fail, it wouldn’t attract any outside attention. So the [Old. Wish Association] lasted nearly 2 years without any flaws.
If not for the [Immortal Scripture] causing a sacrifice failure, the [Wish Association] could have continued, producing a [Wolf King] and following the normal timeline plot.
Yuan Zhu’s site selection this time also considered this aspect:
First, the [Rain Courtyard] was built in the eastern district of Running City, so whether delivering or picking up goods, it was closer and more convenient.
Second, ‘Running’ as one of the many cities on the West Coast, going east leads to the deeper core area of the [Misty Mountains], full of unknowns and dangers. Resources and opportunities are also more abundant.
Yuan Zhu planned to open the [Shadow Domain] upon ‘Du Ling’s present world manifestation’ to take the [Mountain Lord] position, so naturally he had to choose deep mountains and old forests to fit the Tiger Demon nature.
The [Misty Mountains], this north-south super mountain range almost spanning the two ends of the New Continent, had not only heaven-defying length but also exaggerated width.
Once the [Tiger Demon] was exposed or failed in Running City, Yuan Zhu’s best choice was naturally to flee east into the depths of the [Misty Mountains], like a dragon returning to the sea or a tiger entering the deep mountains.
Yuan Zhu: “Once we have territory, you can go all out. Even if what you want to do is too dangerous and not allowed in the suburbs, we can still go into the mountains. I’m also very interested in the [Misty Mountains] where knowledge can be freely taught to civilians. I wonder what strange changes will happen if we build the [Shadow Demonic Domain] in the mountains? By the way, what is your bold idea?”
Snake Snake perked up: “I know you want to use the [Eggplant Essences] as plantation mud golems, and you specially loaded them with the [Shadow Eggplant. Plant Life Support System], no need to eat, fully relying on Shadow Eggplant Seedlings to deliver ‘Polluting Energy’ for stimulation and maintaining physical body mutation, gaining 24-hour nonstop work ability. But have you thought about one problem?”
Yuan Zhu asked curiously: “What problem?”
“Of course, it’s the goblins’ own tolerance and vitality. The [Shadow Eggplant Plants] only bring ‘pollution’, no proper nutrients or vitality. The goblins’ mutation is essentially demonization and flesh mutation from ‘Shadow Pollution’ erosion, exchanging their original pure flesh potential. It’s a rapid overdraft. How long can this seemingly ‘benign’ change last?”
Yuan Zhu pondered Snake Snake’s question, realizing that all systems, including [Holy Light], rapidly expand strength through ‘being polluted’, advancing by leaps and bounds to get stronger.
However, he, representing orthodox cultivators, was in a ‘benign pollution state’. Controlling pollution progress and direction within manageable limits. In daily life, they still eat and rest normally, maintaining good condition. ‘Polluting Energy’ is just an accelerator to get stronger; once there’s a risk of loss of control, they pause cultivation and readjust.
But the goblins in the [Haunted House] were different, as were the various preys captured before; he used a hasty approach, force-feeding them [Pollution Sources], forcing them to transform at lightspeed to the limit, then swallowing them in one gulp ([Universe Within The Belly]), instantly refining them ([Ghost Companion]).
Never caring about their lives.
Because what I want has always been [Ghost Companions]. Even Ghost Companions need timed and quantified absorption (feeding) of ‘Shadow Pollution’ to maintain their state without degeneration or weakness. To get stronger, either the Tiger Demon provides more refined ‘Extraordinary Pollution Crystals (organs)’, or slowly accumulate through time to complete transformation.
Now, wanting to use ‘live goblins’ as ‘unlimited work machines’, he must consider the goblins’ lifespan, wear and tear, durability… instead of blindly infusing ‘Shadow Pollution’, seeming to bring an outbreak in the short term, but actually depleting and squeezing dry, quickly scrapped.
After figuring this out, Yuan Zhu retorted: “No, it’s precisely to extend their shelf life that I introduced [Shadow Eggplant Parasitism], turning them into ‘Plant Persons (goblins)’, relying on Shadow Eggplants for nutrients.”
Snake Snake: “Yes, theory correct. But [Shadow Eggplant] is not a natural plant, but a shadow lifeform. This thing can only pollute goblins, transforming them toward ‘Ghost Companion physique’, but can’t provide any natural nutrients. Live goblin + Shadow Eggplant is essentially overdrafting life, accelerating death. If you want to enslave [Ghost Companions] as free labor, there are two major problems!”
“Problem 1, we’ve done multiple sets of experiments, not a single Polluted Goblin has successfully survived [Ghost Companion Refinement] to become a Ghost Companion. Their fate after refinement is only turning into [Brain Eggplants, memory strips, ray eyeballs…] and other Pollution Crystals. Problem 2, the [Tiger Demon]’s control and enslavement quota for Ghost Companions is not unlimited. You already hit the ‘Ghost Companion’ control limit by enslaving [Shadow Magic Worms] in the underground world. To open a factory requires countless employees; [Ghost Companions] alone can’t support it.”
Yuan Zhu: “Very good, then tell me your solution!”
Snake Snake conjured a feather fan, confidently saying in Yuan Zhu’s mind: “The method is simple: keep the [Eggplant Essences] hanging by their last breath. Then from the [Shadow Eggplant], while providing ‘Shadow Pollution’ for deep erosion and marinating, additionally supply a portion of natural world’s ‘nutrients/vitality’ to keep the goblins from dying, using the half-dead ‘plant living corpses’ to work for us! Just like the ‘Voodoo mud golem living corpses’ refined by southern manor lords during the US Civil War!”
“Reawaken the natural life side in the [Shadow Eggplant] that’s not ‘Shadow Pollution’?”
[Shadow Eggplant] as ‘shadow realm plants’ nurtured by the Tiger Demon, is not itself a Ghost Companion, can’t be 100% controlled. More like a companion Spirit Plant nurtured by the Tiger Demon, with max affinity, under its command.
But if other ‘Shadow System’ ability users or demonic creatures appear and forcibly take away a few [Shadow Eggplants], even refine them, then the opponent can similarly propagate and control them.
If further awakening the non-shadow life side of [Shadow Eggplant], then the Tiger Demon’s control over them would further decline. Even transforming from shadow life to natural world polluted plant…
Yuan Zhu: “How do you plan to do it? Without letting the [Shadow Eggplant] lose control?”
Snake Snake: “Naturally, it’s the [Starlight Reception Ritual] we harvested this time. Even though Running’s sky is blocked by clouds and fog, no sun or stars visible, we can still attract ‘starlight’ descent through this ritual. This [Starlight] is itself a kind of pollution, which ‘Plant Race’ can absorb as food rations for nutrition. It can also be used by rogue immortals implanted with [Alien Dao Seeds] as a substitute for ‘Spiritual Energy’ for cultivation.”
“So, we can also feed this [Starlight] to the [Shadow Eggplant] as extra ‘vitality’, letting it convert into life nutrients to nourish every goblin for physical body maintenance. Reasons are two: First, it fits the plant photosynthesis principle; plants naturally absorb ‘light’ as food to convert vitality. Second, the [Shadow Eggplant]’s predecessor is the [Buddha Tomato Clan], originating from the alien Qie Tou Tribe, innately able to absorb starlight. The [Buddha Tomato] has demonstrated it.”
“Therefore, I strongly suspect that as long as we use the [Starlight Reception Ritual] to forcibly irradiate our [Shadow Eggplant Seedlings], conducting countless mindless ‘starlight screenings’, eliminating failures that don’t absorb starlight, we can select new [Shadow Eggplant] variants capable of absorbing ‘starlight’. Ultimately, nurturing legendary [Working Eggplant Essences] with ‘Shadow Pollution as main, Starlight Pollution as auxiliary’! Longer life maintenance time, higher durability, more wear-resistant… even saving ‘live goblins” food rations!”
If goblins are alive and working 24 hours, they definitely need to eat. Feed costs become a long-term expense. If attracting [Starlight] descent, goblins don’t need to eat, just bask in starlight to work at full power, more energy-saving, environmentally friendly, green economy.
Yuan Zhu praised: “Your idea is pretty good. Once the new factory is set up, I’ll allocate you a batch of [Eggplant Essences] to experiment freely.”
Yuan Zhu, feeling increasingly short on energy, decisively approved Little Spicy Stick’s entrepreneurship idea.
Not just Snake Snake, he also planned to cultivate more talents to share his heavy work pressure. [Anti-Law] was already on his agenda, scheduled for tomorrow!
With [Anti-Law], he would have the means to recruit (sign) elite cadres. Otherwise, relying solely on brainless retards like [Ghost Companions] couldn’t solve problems.
…
“Let’s go to the attic!”
After inspecting the [Haunted House] and confirming the new batch of goblins were properly categorized and handled, Yuan Zhu went alone to the attic but didn’t rush into the [Disease Garden].
Now starting ‘2 Seal cultivation’, he was no longer the maniac who would charge into the [Disease Garden] and recklessly deploy Holy Light Force Fields, burning whatever he caught to crazily replenish ‘pollution embers’.
This time, Yuan Zhu faced the ‘Disease Garden’ with exceptional calm and restraint. Because his 2 Seals were now extremely pure, only absorbing ‘alien space embers’ produced by [Little Pumpkin].
Temporarily not accepting any ‘Disease System Pollution’ to tarnish the purity of the [Holy Seal]. So he had no intention of strolling the garden; he feared he couldn’t resist raising his hand to ‘purify (burn down)’ the Disease Pollution, getting polluted by the synchronously produced ‘Disease Embers’.
Snake Snake: “What do we do now? Like before, first refine [Little Pumpkin] to forge 2 Seals, then when life burns dry, activate [Tiger Demon] to recover blood, and repeat the grind?”
Yuan Zhu shook his head: “No rush, take stock of the gains this period. The Tiger Demon’s [Universe Within The Belly] should be cleared out.”
From the Underground World onward, the [Universe Within The Belly] had successively devoured many underground specialties (pollutions), divided into multiple [Ghost Companion Refining Missions], gradually wearing them down.
Now half a month had passed in a flash, these stubborn ‘Polluted Monsters’ were also refined to the end; it was time to harvest the fruits.
Yuan Zhu mentally summoned the [Boss Template], then low-roared, activating Tiger Demon Stance. At the same time, constantly compressing his body to ensure the [Tiger Demon]’s huge size didn’t break the low-ceilinged attic.
Immediately, the excited bone snake tail drilled into the floor shadows and disappeared. The next second, a massive snake head with blood-glowing double pupils slowly emerged and dangled from the ceiling shadows.
The upside-down Snake Demon opened its bloody maw toward the ground, emitting ‘vomit…’ sounds, continuously spitting out one item after another extremely dense with ‘Polluted Aura’.
Accompanied by a ‘boom’ heavy landing thud, first was a refined [Person Pillar] or [Worm Pillar 1].
This was the ‘Shadow Magic Worm’ that Yuan Zhu forcibly swallowed after returning to Running despite feeling full, secondarily refined in the belly into [Insect Pillar Town Stone], to be used for constructing the ‘Shadow Domain’.
Then, another heavy metallic crash on the ground; the Tiger Demon looked and saw a [Pitch-Black Armor 2] with complete overall structure but partially damaged details.
Next, the Shadow Snake Demon continuously spat out a huge mass of blackened flesh cancerized tissue interwoven with massive purple-red meridian structures. Emitting intense Shadow Pollution Aura and abnormally vigorous life activity.
Then a corpse with surface rotted beyond recognition, body entwined with inescapable ‘Shadow Pollution’, but inner aura decayed
