Chapter 230: The Demon King and His Gardeners

Just as the players of the Invincible Group were busy expanding their business, the Demon King's minions were not idle either.

The Great Cemetery was currently a scene of intense activity.

Stimulated by heavy rewards, all the players in the Great Cemetery were boiling, throwing themselves into the activity of transplanting rare magic plants to the underground planting area.

They were either carrying heavy magic plant seedlings or waving tools to level the land dug out by cave spiders, planting those magic plants they had painstakingly obtained into the new underground planting area, opening up territory for the Demon King's back garden.

Affected by this, Brother Kou's fertilizer factory orders were almost lined up for more than a month, and the rails and water pipes of Beifeng City were sold out!

Including metal materials used to make magic conductors, as well as magic crystal lamps and farming tools, etc., were also in short supply!

However, just when all the players were working enthusiastically, one planting area fell into a strange silence.

"... mmp! It withered again!"

A skeleton wrapped in rags looked solemnly at the plant lying in front of it. The once vibrant phantom magic vine had completely turned into a withered vine and old tree, as dry as dehydrated beef jerky.

His name is 【Desert Shore】, a life-profession player who obtained closed beta qualifications and joined the game in the late A07 version.

After training in one version, he thought he was familiar enough with the game mechanics, but now it seems that his knowledge reserve is still shallow.

Cultivating magic plants is a profound science, which is much harder than ordinary farming.

"How many times is this?" 【Milk Needs Sugar】 glared at the remains of the vine, bone fingers clenching hard, "We followed the tutorial on the forum, soil quality, magic concentration, humidity, even the posture is not a bit different, why can't it be planted alive?!"

"It's outrageous! Even ordinary magic plants shouldn't be so delicate, right?"

Complaining and echoing, 【Bone Card】 hugged his broken magic staff, two nether fires in his eye sockets jumping violently, and continued to say with an uneasy tone, "By the way, how much money have we spent on this thing? If nothing is produced in the end, it will be uncomfortable..."

Phantom magic vine is a specialty of the southern part of the Whirlpool Sea, and buying its seedlings from the hands of hell dwarves is not cheap.

The air fell into silence, and a frustrated atmosphere gradually permeated around several players.

They put a lot of effort into cultivating these phantom magic vines, but they were like unreasonable, dying for them at every turn, without any discussion.

This game has no progress bar, no system reminder, making them not even know what went wrong.

"... Why don't we change our thinking?" 【Night Bell】 said suddenly after a long silence.

"You have an idea?" 【Milk Needs Sugar】 immediately turned to look at him.

【Night Bell】 nodded slowly, his tone with a hint of deep thought: "We have been trying with traditional magic plant planting methods, but it doesn't work at all, and using natural magic to ripen is even more outrageous, this thing directly died of old age for us to see."

Speaking of this, he paused for a moment, and his tone changed.

"So, since magic plants are also a form of 'life'... why don't we change the angle and try necromancy on its corpse? Anyway, this thing has already been tossed to death by us, and it's not a loss if it fails."

The surrounding air was quiet for a while, and suddenly it became restless.

【Bone Card】 looked at him with burning eyes, and said excitedly: "Wait a minute, you mean—we use necromancy to summon the 'soul' of this plant?"

"Magic plants are also life," 【Night Bell】 nodded, saying gloomily, "Theoretically, they should also have souls... uh, I guessed."

Several skeletons looked at each other silently for a few seconds, their eyes gradually brightening, suddenly feeling that this idea seemed to make some sense.

"Anyway, treat a dead horse as a living horse doctor, try again!"

Under a chaotic arrangement, they quickly built a rough necromancy array—arranged in a circle by skeletons using broken finger bones, with the remains of a phantom magic vine that had just withered in the center.

"The spell is?"

"Just necromancy summoning!"

"Do you remember the spell?"

"I'll come!"

Pushing away these stunned guys, 【Bone Card】 raised his staff, and the nether fire burned in the air.

"Soul sleeping in the abyss, please listen to my command—"

He waved the staff in his hand and shouted.

"Resurrect! My plant!"

The spell echoed in the dark cave, the air became humid and cold, and the nearby withered vines seemed to be swayed by this breath.

But the spell lasted for a full five minutes, and the phantom magic vine in the center of the array still had no movement.

【Milk Needs Sugar】 frowned: "... No reaction?"

"Do you want to increase the power?" 【Desert Shore】 suggested tentatively.

"I don't believe in evil!"

【Bone Card】 gritted his teeth, cast the spell again, and at the same time reached into his arms with his right hand, hardened his heart, and pulled out a precious steel-level necromancy magic scroll!

This was earned from a drunken hell dwarf in the tavern of Beifeng City. That hell dwarf insisted on dragging him to drink and compete who could drink more, and the result was that he peed on the floor in shame, and that guy simply fainted.

Although the value of this scroll is not cheap, the 5 million reward is more attractive.

For Dragon Brother's undead warhorse—

He went all out!

With the increase of magic power input power, the energy of the whole array fluctuated violently, and the withered phantom magic vine trembled slightly, seemingly having an effect.

【Desert Shore】 held his breath and said excitedly.

"Seems... it worked?"

Next second—

"Hiss—!!!"

The magic vine suddenly rose, twisting wildly in the cave, and the small whiskers swung wildly like whips!

Gray mist gushed out from its trunk, and then, the withered vine turned into a wriggling tentacle, frantically whipping and tossing on the ground!

Dust stirred in the cave!

In just a few breaths, the red tentacles entangled together like earthworms expanded dozens of times in volume, filling half of the cave!

【Night Bell】 was suddenly startled and exclaimed: "Wait, wait a minute, is this thing growing too fast?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark red vine whipped over, hitting his chest squarely.

Caught off guard, the shattered skeleton was thrown out like a ball, directly hitting the cave wall and shattering into a pile of bone dregs.

Milk Needs Sugar: "Damn! Sneak attack!?"

"Prepare for battle!" 【Desert Shore】 made a decisive decision, roared, pulled out his battle axe, and was about to rush up.

Seeing this guy about to chop his "own son," 【Bone Card】 screamed to stop, pounced on him, grabbed his ankle, and the two skeleton frames fell to the ground together.

"Wait a minute! Don't a it! I sacrificed a magic scroll to summon it!"

【Desert Shore】 said angrily: "Damn! What time is it—"

Facts have proved that it is too late to do it.

Mere Black Iron level skeleton soldiers are not the opponent of this monster at all.

The vine monster expanded rapidly like a waking giant beast, several whiskers like octopus tentacles swung wildly in the cave, each swing accompanied by a violent impact, throwing several skeletons directly, hitting them on the rock wall, and falling apart.

The violent tentacles swept across the narrow passage, shattering load-bearing beams, stirring up dust and gravel all over the floor, leaving nothing where they passed, leaving only a mess.

In a moment, the whole cave was wailing, and it had become a forbidden area where tentacles ran rampant...

At the same time, Helen, who was strolling nearby, heard the movement and rushed over, looking at the chaotic scene in a daze.

"This... how did this come about?"

Realizing the seriousness of the problem, she didn't dare to hesitate and immediately called for reinforcements.

Coincidentally, her father, Tyrael, happened to be purchasing goods needed by the Gray Wind Tribe in nearby Beifeng City.

Hearing that something went wrong in the Demon King's back garden, he didn't say a word and rushed over anxiously.

Walking to Helen's side, Tyrael, holding a withered wood staff, frowned and observed the runaway "magic vine."

After a moment, he whispered in a deep voice: "... No, this is not a phantom magic vine."

Helen blinked blankly.

"Then what is it?"

Tyrael reached out and picked a leaf from the vine, blowing a breath at it gently.

As a breeze rolled over, the leaf attached with flesh-red spots twisted rapidly, extending flesh-red silk threads outward, seemingly wanting to wrap his hand in.

A wisp of flame jumped from Tyrael's fingertips, instantly burning the leaf to ashes.

Looking at the remains scattered with the wind, his expression became complicated.

"... It should be some kind of symbiotic fungus, I have smelled a similar smell on the dead phantom magic vine, just not so strong."

Since the Demon King brought the knowledge of the Demon Capital and self-made microscopes, the Dark Night Elves of the Gray Wind Tribe have kept pace with the times and understood the concept of microorganisms, just not very clear about how to interfere with the life process of those little guys through magic.

Now it seems that that kind of corrupt life seems to be outside the jurisdiction of natural magic, but in the category of necromancy.

As for why, he doesn't know either.

Clearly some mushrooms can be accelerated by natural magic, but some cannot.

Helen was stunned: "You mean, what we see... is resurrected fungus?"

Tyrael nodded: "The phantom magic vine has long died, these skeletons resurrected the symbiotic fungus parasitic on the vine. They are like walking corpses, not only resurrected, but also assimilated other living fungi into undead bodies, and then it became what it is now."

After pausing for a moment, he said with a wry smile.

"This is just my speculation, as for how they did it specifically... I don't know either."

Sometimes he admires these minions of the Demon King.

These guys' magic is not brilliant, their knowledge is shallow, but they can always come up with some operations that even he is stunned by.

Just like now.

Even Gray Wind couldn't see through what this group of flesh-red things was, only suggesting that he deal with it as soon as possible. Unexpectedly, even his father didn't understand, and Helen was completely stunned.

She had seen many magic plants, monsters... but it was the first time she saw a dead individual evolve into a brand new monster because of the effect of necromancy.

However, can this be considered a brand new monster?

She was also confused.

Since knowing these "players," she felt that she was witnessing unprecedented new things every day.

Perhaps the Demon King could give her a clear answer.

Except for her father, that gentleman was the wisest of everyone she knew.

On the other side, 【Bone Card】 had been resurrected and was rushing over from the direction of the cave entrance.

Looking at the tentacle monster running wild in the cave from afar, the nether green soul fire in his skull trembled, and he clenched his fists excitedly.

He heard the communication of those NPCs and looked at his companions standing beside him excitedly.

"... Wait, that is to say, we created a brand new monster?"

5 million!

Is this about to be in hand?!

【Milk Needs Sugar】 was silent for a while, and said with difficulty.

No one is allowed to look at the content!

"Things are probably not that simple..."

Indeed.

The resurrected monster was still expanding, with a trend of continuing to spread to other caves, and showed hatred for all living things and a desire for food.

Fortunately, there are enough caves here, so it won't affect the planting area in the distance, otherwise, I'm afraid their contribution will be deducted.

"... Does this thing have cultivation value?"

Helen looked at Tyrael, her eyes slightly expectant.

Using this thing to torture invaders is a good idea, it must be able to scare those adventurers!

Just now she had seen its power, Black Iron level skeleton soldiers were crushed into pieces like ants in front of it!

Tyrael fell into silence, weighed for a long time between risk and return, and finally shook his head, slowly raising the withered wood staff in his hand.

"I don't know..."

"But now, we'd better figure out how to solve it."

The Audience Hall of the Great Cemetery, dark flames flickered, reflecting on the towering rock throne.

Luo Yan sat in it, quietly watching the crystal ball, his sharp sight passing through the milky white mist, overlooking the situation in the underground planting area.

I saw that in the underground cave, Tyrael raised his withered wood staff high, rich green magic power condensed at the tip of the staff, slashed down like thunder, and accurately hit the tentacle monster lying across the tunnel.

"Hiss—!"

Accompanied by a harsh scream, the tentacle monster twitched violently, and the vine-like limbs tried to struggle.

Tyrael's expression was cold, not giving it a chance to breathe, the long staff in his hand was like a torch burning with green light, stepping forward steadily, while chanting spells in his mouth.

The huge shadow blade was like a flying wheel, piercing the monster's body continuously in a few breaths.

The dark green corrupt juice splashed on the rock wall and evaporated rapidly, just like water droplets splashed on a hot pot!

In just a few breaths, this aberrant creature had completely disintegrated, turning into scattered ashes.

The battle ended quickly, and everything was as Luo Yan expected, without suspense.

Facing a Gold-level magician, this tentacle monster that had just been born for a short time was still too tender.

Tapping his fingertips on the armrest of the throne, a thoughtful smile appeared on the corner of Luo Yan's mouth.

"Didn't expect necromancy could be used like this... interesting."

Letting necromancy fungus swallow living symbiotic fungus, thereby invading the body of dead monsters or magic plants, forming a zombie creature similar to a stitched monster...

This accidentally born result provided him with a fresh idea.

If used on the battlefield, it might have miraculous effects.

Luo Yan was not very worried about the accident in the planting area.

Since returning from the patrol that day, he had let You You spread his domain to that area.

As Luo Yan waved his hand, the picture in the crystal ball changed quickly, and a completely different scenery entered his eyes.

I saw that in an unusually spacious cave, skeleton players were busy transplanting various precious magic plants, cave spiders shuttled around, stabilizing the structure of the cave with spider silk, and cooperating with the mole people of Tieya City to fix the wooden frame under the rock body.

A faint magic fluctuation permeated the air, and everything was advancing in an orderly manner.

Several skeleton players gathered around a transparent thorn and discussed enthusiastically.

"This plant can store magic power, maybe it can form a symbiotic system with other magic plants?"

A player flipped through a magic classic he didn't know where he found, thinking in a low voice: "Theoretically feasible, but it requires a stable magic cycle, otherwise it will lead to magic plant out of control..."

Luo Yan's index finger moved slightly, and the picture flickered again. This time, what entered his eyes was a group of little devils, rushing in the cave noisily. They acted quickly, with a unified goal, chasing after a white radish running wildly.

That is not an ordinary radish, but a magic mandrake grass that contains powerful magic power and is used to refine curse-breaking potions.

Generally speaking, it wouldn't be so manic, but I think those players made some outrageous operations and forced it into a hurry.

The mandrake grass swung its short legs hard, trying to escape the pursuit, its round leaves trembled, making a series of rapid screams. The short legs' protest and the devils' laughter echoed in the cave, and the scene was funny and chaotic.

"Catch it quickly! Don't let it run to the poisonous mushroom area!" One of the little devils shouted, trying to pounce on the mandrake grass, but was nimbly avoided and fell solidly.

Another devil was quick-eyed, waved a fishing net, and caught it before the mandrake grass was about to rush into the dark cave.

"Haha! Mine!!" The little devils surrounded excitedly and caught the terrified little guy.

"Don't let it scream too loudly, be careful of its magic sound impact!" The old player on the side warned quickly, hurriedly wrapping the roots of the mandrake grass with a sack drawn with underworld text to avoid it making a strong magic resonance.

The chaos finally subsided, and the magic mandrake grass was still twisting weakly in the cloth bag, finally calming down like a leak.

Looking at the lively scene in the crystal ball, Luo Yan's mouth rose slightly, and his eyes showed satisfaction.

A huge magic forest is silently taking shape in the cave, and those life-profession players who are busy with activities are the best gardeners.

I believe it won't be long before this place will become the most valuable magic plant cultivation place in the entire underground world, maybe even Princess Aidonia, the old lover of Prince Caesar Colin, will cast envious eyes at him.

Luo Yan has a deep impression of her garden.

That is probably the place with the richest species in the entire hell.

Withdrawing his thoughts from his hometown, Luo Yan's eyes fell under the throne and spoke in a majestic voice.

"Arakdo."

"The small one is here!"

Hearing the Demon King's voice, Arakdo, who was crawling under the steps, immediately cheered up, swinging eight legs, and paced to the bottom of the throne's steps.

"Demon King, what are your orders?"

The majestic voice drifted slowly from the throne, and the candlelight on the wall flickered.

"I need you to supervise and assist the work of these 'players.' If the cave needs to be expanded, you take the brothers of the Shadow Weaving clan to assist them in digging. In addition, I need you to ensure the safety of the planting area and call for reinforcements in time if you find any situation."

"Remember, the planting area of Beifeng City is an indispensable part of my plan, and I don't want to see any mistakes."

Hearing the Demon King's instructions, Arakdo immediately straightened his huge body and said in a muffled voice.

"Demon King, you can rest assured! I will definitely take good care of these players. With me here, they will definitely not have any trouble! If anyone wants to make trouble, I will eat them!"

Luo Yan coughed slightly.

"That's not necessary... if you find an intruder, catch that person and wait for me to come back and deal with it."

"Obey!"

The cave spider retreated quietly, leading several younger brothers into the shadows outside the Audience Hall.

Beside the steps, Sarah stepped forward slowly, her eyes with a hint of reluctance.

"Demon King, are you leaving again?"

Her keen intuition told her that the Demon King, who had not been home for long, was going on a long journey again.

And if there were no accidents, she would have to stay and watch the house this time.

Looking at Sarah with drooping cat ears, Luo Yan nodded slightly.

"Yes, I'm going back to the Demon Capital."

Recently, the corruption plan of the Campbell Principality has entered a critical stage, the integration of the labyrinth has also been on the right track, including the stabilization of the Chaos Gate... these achievements all need to be reported to the Demon King Management Department of the Demon Capital in exchange for support from the Demon Capital, even if it is spiritual support.

In addition, the territory of the Delagon family he took over has also developed rapidly in these months. With the help of the Partridge family, the magic crystal cannon factory located near Black Wind Castle has officially started production, and the prosperity of Black Wind Castle has attracted a large number of goblin craftsmen and other technician races to settle down.

He couldn't be a complete hands-off shopkeeper and throw everything to Miss Mia. As the local lord, he still had to go to the local area to take a look, at least to declare his existence to the people there.

Looking at Sarah with a disappointed expression on her face, Luo Yan's heart moved slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he spoke slowly.

"Sarah, after I leave, you are responsible for assisting Arakdo in maintaining order and supervising his work. The exploration speed of the players far exceeds our expectations, and Arakdo's carelessness makes me very uneasy. I will be more at ease if you watch him."

Hearing the heavy responsibility entrusted by the Demon King, Sarah's mood was indeed high, and she nodded firmly.

"Rest assured, Demon King, I will arrange it properly!"

Luo Yan nodded.

"I will come back as soon as possible, and I will leave it to you when I am away."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 231 =====