[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re":3,"chapter-the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-chapter-144":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Vegetable-Growing Skeleton's Foreign Land Reclamation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2351625,4600,"Chapter 144: The Child Has Hatched","the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-chapter-144",144,"\u003Cp>The beam of light struck a carriage and melted it outright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This beam was more of a warning; after firing it, a squad of holy knights rushed forward, grabbing heads and feet, wrapping the exhausted holy spirit in a shroud, and swiftly carrying it to the rear of the formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A large number of silver knights slowly halted and began forming ranks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the rear of the formation, the Divine Knight Tric of the Silver Knights was already roaring in fury: “Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! Why did you let the holy spirit run ahead? You know he’s single-minded—what if a fight breaks out?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of his subordinates muttered plaintively, “We couldn’t catch up—he just runs off without a care, and no matter how we call him, he won’t stop.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re aggrieved? You’re aggrieved? Then why did you let him run? Why did you let him run?!” Tric flew into a rage, swinging his whip and lashing his subordinate across the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The subordinate cowered, not daring to block, only tensing his body to endure the blows.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After venting his anger, Tric calmed slightly, leapt from his warhorse, and his eyes flashed white light as he scanned the enemy carriage line far ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“These ancient bastards of Darkface City are reacting faster than ever—we haven’t even arrived, and they’ve already prepared their defenses. This is troublesome,” Tric muttered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, the speed of Darkface City’s response exceeded his expectations—he had no idea this was because a cardinal had tipped off the enemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Tric’s hesitation, a young knight recently transferred from headquarters volunteered: “My lord, we can attack the point the holy spirit broke through and breach their defense there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tric slapped his thigh in admiration: “Brilliant idea! No wonder you’re from the Church—you’ve got courage, drive, and boldness! The main assault is yours. Take your men, break through their defense, and we’ll cover you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?!” The young knight froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected the main assault to fall on him. Stunned and too afraid to disobey orders, he slapped his own face repeatedly as he went to prepare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tric looked around—everyone left was his old comrade—and stopped pretending, grumbling: “The Church’s new recruits are getting dumber by the day, always chasing glory, wanting to crush Darkface City—have they forgotten? Once you’re here, you’re Silver Knights in life, Silver Wraiths in death. If we crush Darkface City, what do we eat afterward?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Exactly! All of them are idiots!” His men chorused in agreement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“By the way, how’s the Fallen Angel situation? The Church has hinted they might send us to crush the Fallen Legion.” Tric asked casually.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The quartermaster knew best—intelligence was a supply, managed by logistics, and all reports eventually reached him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one dares to challenge the Fallen Legion now. Too few men? You’re just throwing yourself into a cesspool and never returning. They’re expanding from K Lun Town, growing stronger every day. Many clergy have been corrupted and joined their ranks—likely, the men we sent yesterday are already our enemies today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tric winced as if his teeth hurt—the Fallen Angel Shamarah’s power was growing. She hunted down clergy, stole their holy light, and corrupted them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These corrupted couldn’t return to the Church—first thing they’d face is purification.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the leadership of an old priest named Fale, the corrupted had gathered, calling themselves the Watchers, claiming to preserve inner purity—even corrupted, they hadn’t forgotten their original intent—and begged the Church to understand their plight and send someone to cleanse the fallen influence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But within the Church, they were called the Fallen Legion. The Church did plan to send forces to cleanse them—but not as they imagined. The simplest method? Burn them alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the Western Diocese, still reeling from Nicolas’s death, couldn’t find a successor to unify its forces, so no effective action had been taken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even the Pope had grown impatient enough to consider bypassing the diocese and directly mobilizing the Silver Knights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the order hadn’t been issued yet—but the Silver Knights had long maintained ties with powerful figures in the Church and had gotten wind of the rumors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Fallen Legion and the Fallen Angel were now a dung pit—no one wanted to touch them, mainly because “corruption” was too disgusting. Stealing your power was bad enough, but then they’d flood you with fallen energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instantly, your side changed—former allies became enemies, former enemies became allies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if your former allies knew you were forced, what good did it do? Would they not purify you? If they purified you, how? If they couldn’t purify you, would they burn you? Even if they didn’t burn you, would they imprison you for life?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The answers to these questions were almost certainly yes—so who dared return?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If you didn’t return, you had to huddle together for warmth. The more you grouped, the more food, water, and waste disposal you needed. K Lun Town couldn’t sustain so many—so you spread outward, and conflict broke out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But the Fallen Legion still wasn’t a real threat. The real headache was Shamarah—this Fallen Angel was growing stronger by the day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through constant theft of holy light, she’d once been chased by a hermit named Ang. A few days ago, she broke into a monastery and encountered two hermits meditating with holy attendants. She fought both alone—and stole their holy power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, her power was increasing rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With such strength and unpredictable movements, if this continued, even a cardinal might not be able to suppress her—and that would be a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as Shamarah lived, no matter how many times they crushed the Fallen Legion, it would never die. So before Shamarah died, Tric absolutely refused to touch this mess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Looks like we’ll have to suffer heavy losses,” Tric said, feigning heartache.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His men instantly understood, nodding knowingly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Silver Knights suffered “heavy losses,” they’d have no strength left to crush the Fallen Legion—or provoke Shamarah. After all, the Fallen Angel wasn’t one of their own iron-headed fools.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They could even use it as an excuse to demand compensation and rewards from the Church. Why not?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young knight finally prepared—his hundred-plus loyalists clustered around him, while the rest of the Silver Knights spread out behind, forming a rear guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The so-called “rear guard” sometimes meant enforcing discipline—every knight began striking their breastplates, chanting a hymn: “Hallelu—Messiah—Posia—Sismah—Anmaka—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The young knight slapped his own face twice: “Stupid, why did you speak up?” Then he pulled down his visor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy light flared on their bodies. All drew their lance from their saddlebags, spurred their mounts, and advanced slowly, then gradually accelerated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once within range, a sharp twang rang out—a thick crossbow bolt pierced the knight formation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Holy light exploded—the unlucky knight’s shield shattered, the bolt punched through his body, lifting him into the air and slamming him into the horse behind him. He spat blood and collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His comrades veered around his body, pressing forward. Priests rushed in from behind to drag him away for healing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Crossbows fired sporadically, felling knight after knight—but their rate was too slow to break the enemy’s morale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closer now, the Silver Knights’ archers began firing—swish, swish, swish—volleys of arrows slammed into the carriage wall, focusing on the spots spitting out crossbow bolts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too bad—no one knew if they hit. Even if they did, the enemy were undead—no screams, no feedback.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shooting slits on the carriages—Darkface City’s archers began returning fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same bows, but Darkface City’s arrows were clearly inferior—weak, limp, striking knight armor only left faint white marks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, Darkface City’s supplies were scarce. Beyond their brute-force siege crossbows, their other weapons were useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Braving the arrowstorm and crossbow bolts, the Silver Knights accelerated and hurled their lances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Each knight threw one lance—dense volleys slammed into the carriage wall, embedding deep into the carriages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though silent, most undead inside were struck. The holy light on the lances continued burning their bodies. Ang even sensed several souls extinguished—likely unlucky liches hit in the chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negrilis flew higher, explaining to everyone—mainly for Ang’s benefit:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Silver Knights sent a small vanguard forward, the rest holding back. They’re moving, enduring crossbow fire, slowly accelerating. They’re getting closer, closer—lances thrown, hits registered, Darkface City suffering heavy casualties…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Here, Negrilis suddenly changed tone: “I could keep narrating till dawn, but something’s wrong—the rear knights aren’t following up. They’re sending the first wave to die. What’s going on?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Negrilis observed, the first wave reached the breach, hooked onto nearby carriages, tried to pull them open—but failed. Forced to charge forward, they were pinned by concentrated crossbow fire, leaving a trail of corpses, then hacked down by thick-skinned liches.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Three thousand liches—each with thick hide, at least Renpi  level. Their flesh was their best armor—just poor against holy light.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, the silver knights who breached the wall were all slaughtered—including the young knight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after the young knight’s death did the main force of the Silver Knights truly move—not just pretending anymore.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Slowly accelerating, over a thousand silver knights pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negrilis suddenly said: “Abandon the carriage wall. Pull everyone back. Now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Abandon the wall? Without the wall, we can’t stop their charge!” Luo Ge cried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you stop them now? Pull back—retreat here. Ang, Brucek, earth collapse—prepare.” Negrilis said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brucek began casting magic into the sand before him, muttering as he worked: “Let’s be clear—I won’t transform. I can’t interfere in continental conflicts, or I’ll never set foot on land again. If we’re surrounded, I can only carry you and Ang away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ge glanced at Brucek in surprise—this arrogant bastard, what was his status? Using the word “interfere”? If surrounded, could he even escape?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Negrilis snapped: “Enough! You can’t do this, you can’t do that—what good are you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ang began casting—bāo, bāo, bāo—bāo, bāo, bāo—soon, the entire sandy ground hummed with elemental reactions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Quick—order your men to retreat,” Negrilis said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Reluctantly, Luo Ge gave the order. Though confused, the disciplined undead of Darkface City obeyed instantly, abandoning the wall and retreating behind Ang and the others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the open desert, without the wall, facing cavalry meant being crushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ge asked anxiously: “Knowledge God, everyone’s back—what now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do nothing. Wait.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tric was equally surprised by Luo Ge’s retreat. He rode to the wall, found no traps, and realized Darkface City had genuinely withdrawn—but not far. They watched from behind a dune; the lead black knight even gestured to him with a polite “please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tric muttered: “These undead actually got smart?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After muttering, he shouted loudly: “The treacherous enemy ambushed and killed the young Knight Kiri. They’ve set other traps—we must not act rashly. Retrieve Kiri’s body and retreat.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Silver Knights gathered Kiri and his men’s corpses, and withdrew cleanly—leaving behind only lances, arrows, and bloodstains, silently testifying to the battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo Ge stared blankly: “Why? Why did you make me give that ‘please’ gesture? Why did they retreat? Was it a code?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...How have you even survived this long?” Negrilis groaned, covering his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brucek understood: “You’ve been kept alive—kept as a buffer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But what did that ‘please’ gesture mean?” Luo Ge, now accepting he was a “buffer enemy,” still didn’t understand why a gesture made them retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They need the corpses. The soul residue on the wounds proves they were killed by undead. That’s how they explain it to their superiors. If you hadn’t retreated, they’d have had to break your wall to recover the bodies themselves,” Negrilis said.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Ang suddenly looked up, summoning a row of explosive fireballs that arced into the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireballs illuminated a figure plummeting from above—a large, broad-shouldered human woman in a coarse hemp dress. She didn’t blink as the fireballs struck her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fireballs exploded—flames slid off her body, refusing to cling, as if they couldn’t touch her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But enduring one, two, three—by the twelfth, she could no longer bear it. She began maneuvering in midair. The flames couldn’t touch her, but the explosions’ shockwaves were unbearable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet Ang’s gaze remained locked on her. No matter how she twisted and turned, the fireballs chased her relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New fireballs kept forming; old ones kept pursuing. The longer they flew, the more fireballs filled the air—should they all strike her at once, the combined force might overwhelm her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brucek stepped in front of Ang, sighing: “My lord, please spare her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ang tilted his head, retracted his hand—the skyful of fireballs froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The woman stormed forward. Little zombies, little angels, even Luo Ge all rushed to shield Ang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But she ignored them all, flying straight to Brucek, grabbing his ear and screaming: “You dare steal my dragon egg?! Do you want to die?! Do you want to die?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Brucek calmly replied: “The child has hatched.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh? Hatched… hatched?!” The woman’s rage vanished instantly, replaced by trembling disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>",2124,"2026-06-21T03:18:43.177Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","ba76eb4f4c98795d1b7dff22506f5b2de16a087906c256710517b8d2c58edf89","the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-chapter-145","the-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-chapter-143",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-vegetable-growing-skeleton-s-foreign-land-re-cover.jpg"]