Chapter 129: Hu Immortal Blessed Land (4)
Yan Yong crawled out of Dang Hun Palace.
Through twisted tunnels. Through dark passages. Finally, he reached the mountain surface.
The pink crystal mountain gleamed in the weird light. He took a deep breath. His fear lessened the further he got from Fang Yuan.
Then his tribemates found him.
"Our great and honorable leader! Our HERO! You're here!"
Some rockmen cheered. Some knelt down to kiss his feet.
"Please let me kiss your foot! To express my adoration!"
"Big hero! Big hero! Your courage is greater than heaven! Your guts is thicker than earth!"
Tiny rockmen formed groups and chanted his name like he was a rockstar.
Yan Yong smiled.
No one knew how bitter he felt inside.
Every cheer was like a knife. Every praise was like a whip. His tribesmen were smiling at him. They had no idea. Three months from now, most of them would be dead. Digging a river. Working until their souls gave out.
But what could he do?
From the outside, the victory at Dang Hun Mountain was glorious. Worth celebrating.
Only Yan Yong knew the truth. It was all a game. Manipulated by that demon in the palace.
The sacrifices. The "victories." All pathetic. All powerless.
His fear of Fang Yuan grew with every "success."
"That immortal is a DEMON," Yan Yong thought. "His heart is harder and colder than us rockmen. His strength is greater than the weight of mountains."
"I am so weak. What can I do?"
"Resistance means death."
"I admit my cowardice. I am really afraid of dying."
"I haven't slept enough. I'm only a hundred and eighty years old."
His conscience was eating him alive.
He knew he was sending his tribesmen to their deaths. Every praise from them was torture.
But he kept going.
He walked toward higher ground. The rockmen parted like a sea of rocks.
"My tribesmen! These three days, our tribe has grown many times! Our conquest has brought glorious results!"
The rockmen cheered.
"But such victory is insufficient! Are you willing to continue following me? Toward a BRIGHTER future?"
The rockmen cheered LOUDER. Hundred and twenty percent support. Absolute loyalty.
Yan Yong nodded. He expected this.
All the smart rockmen were dead. Sacrificed "gloriously" in battle. The survivors were either newborns with simple minds, or hardcore Yan Yong fanboys.
No one left to question him.
"These three days, I have been considering," Yan Yong continued. "How do we deal with the escaped immortal?"
The crowd went quiet.
"Immortals have immortal essence. They control fox armies. They have terrifying strength. He must have retreated to the north lake or the east fire pit. We cannot allow him to recover."
"Tribe leader is RIGHT!"
"Tribe leader is too SMART!"
"We cannot let that evil demon recover!"
"But what do we do?" someone asked. "The lake and fire pit are dangerous areas. Even us rockmen cannot last long there. And they are so WIDE. Where did the immortal escape to?"
Yan Yong raised his hand. Silence.
"That is why I thought of the ONLY solution. We will use soil to fill the fire pit and the lake!"
Gasps.
"That way, the immortal will have NO PLACE to recover his immortal essence!"
An old rockman immediately argued. "Great tribe leader! The lake is so wide it causes people to stare in amazement! The fire pit has a FATAL temperature! How can we fill it? That is IMPOSSIBLE!"
Yan Yong stared at this old rockman deeply.
He remembered his face.
This rockman dared to question him. His idolization was not deep enough.
Courting death. He would get the heaviest job. The toughest labor. He would work until he died.
Twitch Chat:
Chatter1: "Bro just got put on THE LIST"
Chatter2: "That old rockman is COOKED"
Chatter3: "Yan Yong said 'I'll remember that' 💀"
Another old rockman spoke up. "We cannot do this forcefully. I have a solution."
Yan Yong's killing intent rose.
"Maybe we can dig a river. Direct the lake water to the fire pit. Use water to neutralize fire. That would be easier."
Yan Yong's killing intent rose HIGHER.
This old rockman was INTELLIGENT. A bigger threat than the first one.
COURTING DEATH.
This old rockman would get a "defense mission." Sent to fight the fox army. Eliminated quietly.
Problem solved.
"That is EXACTLY my idea!" Yan Yong shouted, pretending to be excited. "We have to dig a river! Direct the water to end the fire! The immortal will have no place to recover!"
"The white stone old tribe leader taught me this before dying. He said the water at the north and the fire at the east were all done by that evil male immortal. That is the SOURCE of his power. Just like how we rockmen eat soil!"
The rockmen nodded sagely.
"White stone old tribe leader predicted this!"
"As expected of our PHILOSOPHER!"
"He was nine hundred and ninety-eight years old! Of course he knew everything!"
White stone old tribe leader was dead. Completely dead. Fang Yuan had shattered his soul on Dang Hun Mountain. Turned into a gutstone somewhere.
If he could hear this from the afterlife, he would probably jump out of his coffin in anger.
But he couldn't. Because the dead don't speak.
After much discussion, the rockmen agreed.
Yan Yong would lead. He would oversee the digging. Connect water to fire.
Fang Yuan watched from the shadows. Hidden. Smiling.
He ordered little Hu Immortal.
The land spirit released a trace of Dang Hun Mountain's power.
The rockmen's souls trembled. They got dizzy. Young rockmen fainted on the spot.
"Oh no! Let's hurry and leave! Dang Hun Mountain is attacking!" Yan Yong shouted.
They fled the mountain. They didn't return home. They marched toward the north and east areas.
Fang Yuan watched them leave through smoke clouds. Expressionless.
Little Hu Immortal spoke up. Her tail swaying nervously.
"Master... have you heard the story of the rockmen?"
Fang Yuan laughed lightly. "You want me to use soft tactics?"
"Master is so smart." Her large eyes sparkled.
"Heh. You are not familiar enough with this world."
"Fear and hatred? They are FAR more powerful than gratitude."
Back when Fang Yuan discovered the rockmen, he was overjoyed.
They lived underground. They ate soil. They were EXCELLENT at digging. A large group of rockmen could build an underground city.
They could excavate resources. They were perfect slaves. Many Gu Immortals wanted to buy them.
Hu Immortal had brought them here for that exact reason.
Most Gu Immortals used soft tactics. Rockmen were stubborn. They were warriors. They weren't afraid to die.
So kindness? Benefits? That was the normal way.
Hu Immortal used that method.
Fang Yuan? He chose violence.
Because soft tactics were too SLOW.
He wanted to squeeze them DRY. Get the MAXIMUM benefit.
This world's competition was CRUEL. Not just man against man. But disasters. Calamities. Floods. Fires.
Hu Immortal died because she wasn't strong enough.
A demonic path member has to make the best of their time. Take EVERY benefit. Arm themselves with EVERY resource.
Leniency and conscience? Cruelty and hatred? They are the SAME.
After all this rockmen drama, there were only seven months left until the sixth earthly calamity.
The north lake. The east fire pit. Scars from previous calamities. Weak spots in the blessed land.
A team is only as strong as its weakest player. A chain only as strong as its most fragile link.
"So what if I am hated? Detested? Scolded by countless people?"
"If hatred and curses worked... why would I still need strength?"
The most important thing was digging that river. Fixing the blessed land. Who cared how many rockmen died?
Dang Hun Mountain was here. Capture a few souls. Breed UNLIMITED rockmen.
The sigma grindset never stops.
And neither will Fang Yuan.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Explosions everywhere. Dust and smoke filling the air.
This was the river digging project. The rockmen were COOKING.
Well. Digging.
Same energy.
Twitch Chat:
ConstructionArc: "Bro really turned rockmen into a WORKFORCE"
Chatter2: "The explosions are giving 'we have no idea what we're doing' energy"
Chatter3: "Fang Yuan watching from his palace like 👑"
An elderly rockman knelt before Yan Yong. Crying. Snot everywhere.
"Lord tribe leader! We cannot continue like this! Yesterday, THREE tribesmen died from exhaustion! They died a PITIFUL death! They didn't even leave behind offspring!"
Yan Yong slammed his chest.
Howled.
"WHY WOULD I NOT KNOW? WHY WOULD I NOT KNOW?"
"Heroes have sacrificed for our tribe again! For the bright future of our tribe! For a BEAUTIFUL tomorrow! They contributed their LIVES!"
"But precisely so, we cannot slow down!"
He pointed dramatically at the distance.
"Since the start of excavation, we have faced many attacks from the fox army! The fox groups are getting LARGER! That accursed male immortal is regaining his immortal essence!"
"We have to continue! Work HARDER! Dig the river! Cut off his power source!"
The old rockman was stunned. "But tribe leader-"
"You are a GOOD rockman! You think for our tribe! I understand that!"
Yan Yong pointed at a field of gravestones. Rows and rows of them. Hundreds. Thousands.
"These heroes will not die in vain! Look there! I have already made heroic gravestones for them! Their children and descendants will remember them! They will feel GRATITUDE for their sacrifices!"
The old rockman looked at the gravestones. Sighed.
Whenever a rockman died, Yan Yong immediately ordered gravestones built.
Low morale? Gone. Every day, countless rockmen died of exhaustion. Yet they were still in HIGH SPIRITS.
Truly, nothing motivates like a fancy rock with your name on it.
Twitch Chat:
YanYongPropaganda: "Bro invented corporate motivation"
Chatter2: "Gravestones before they even die 💀"
Chatter3: "The HR department is CRAZY"
The old rockman was one of the few smart ones left. He was worried.
"They are dead. What is the use of these gravestones?"
He urged Yan Yong. "Us rockmen need to reproduce! Rockmen who die of exhaustion don't even leave souls behind! No descendants! Nothing!"
Yan Yong said nothing.
A young rockman beside him started grumbling. "You old man! Are you afraid of dying?"
The old rockman puffed up. "Young man! How can you say that? I am a ROCKMAN! Rockmen are NOT afraid of dying!"
"Since you're not afraid, why are you talking so much?"
"That's right! We're making contributions to the tribe!"
"What's the matter? Small sacrifice for the bigger good!"
A group of young rockmen started arguing. All Yan Yong supporters. All loyal. All brainwashed.
Yan Yong patted the old rockman's shoulder. "Old senior, if you feel tired, take a rest first. My time is limited. I have to inspect other areas."
He walked away.
The young rockmen followed. They talked among themselves. Mocking the old rockman. Calling him a coward.
The old rockman felt DEPRESSED. Smoke coming out of his ears. Literally.
He wanted to shout at them. But he saw the gravestones. All the carved slogans.
"We have to do this at all cost!"
"As long as we are united, within three days, we will complete the river!"
"The bigger our courage, the more we can achieve!"
"To build a beautiful future for our rockmen tribe!"
"LONG LIVE TRIBE LEADER YAN YONG!"
"For the bright future of the rockmen! We contribute our lives! We contribute our youth!"
The crazed atmosphere had consumed the rockmen. Even those dying from exhaustion had SMILES on their faces before they passed.
The old rockman wanted to speak. His mouth opened. Closed. Opened. Closed.
Nothing came out.
He kneeled on the spot. Dazed. For a long while.
Then he lifted his fist. SLAMMED the ground.
BAM.
He stood up slowly. Moved his aged body toward the construction ground.
He was going to die too. He knew it. But at least he'd die with the others.
Yan Yong rushed to the next site.
The river channel was forming. Large numbers of adult rockmen were digging. Beside them, physically weaker young rockmen formed patrolling groups.
Some inspected the digging. Some carved slogans. Some made gravestones.
These young rockmen were called rock guards. Formed by Yan Yong personally.
"Reporting to tribe leader!" Six young rockmen ran up. "We have dug another 25 kilometers in this segment!"
"Reporting! We have unfortunately sacrificed a hundred and twenty tribesmen! They are all HEROES of our tribe!"
"Reporting! We actually found THREE tribesmen sleeping on the job! Disgrace to our tribe! We must CRITICIZE them!"
Yan Yong nodded. "Very good! Very good! You have all done well!"
"Remember! Erect gravestones for our deceased heroes! And tie up those disgraceful rockmen! Criticize them publicly! Let them learn courage from humiliation!"
"UNDERSTOOD!"
"You are all the future of our tribe! Seeing you all is like seeing the BRIGHT future of our tribe! Continue working hard!"
The young rockmen TREMBLED with excitement.
"Everything for the rockmen tribe!"
"Our esteemed and beloved leader! You are our symbol of PRIDE!"
"We unite by your side! Walking toward a BRIGHT and MEANINGFUL future!"
They growled. Fanatic gazes. Absolute devotion.
Yan Yong avoided eye contact. Their enthusiasm made him FEARFUL.
He looked at the distance.
Segments of river being excavated. Rockmen lowering their thick backs. The river channel tens of meters wide.
A MAJESTIC project.
Every time Yan Yong saw this scene, his heart palpitated. The rockmen tribe's strength was OVERWHELMING. They could change the world!
Then he thought of Fang Yuan.
The terrifying demon.
His heart froze. His enthusiasm turned into a frozen river.
The fox groups outside. The slogans on the stone boards. The rock guards he created. All part of the demon's plot.
Yan Yong created this scenario. Personally. And his fear of Fang Yuan grew with every passing day.
That male immortal wasn't just strong. His SCHEMING mind was what caused true despair. An unpredictable abyss.
Yan Yong felt himself sinking into purgatory. He was meek like an ant. Behind him, Fang Yuan's giant figure stared down at him.
He was a corpse. A puppet. The strings in Fang Yuan's hands.
Every day, he saw his tribesmen die. His heart was stabbed by daggers.
Seeing their enthusiasm. Their willingness to die for the river. He felt PITIFUL grief.
"If possible," he thought, "I would rather not know the truth. Maybe living in this lie is true bliss?"
He retracted his gaze. Waved his hand. Led the young rockmen toward the next segment.
Meanwhile, Fang Yuan was grinding.
"This is the last estrus Gu. Go."
He flicked a green bean-looking Gu into the air. Primeval essence already injected.
The Gu exploded. Pink powder rained down on the fox group below.
The foxes breathed it in.
Immediately, they started MOVING.
Numerous male foxes sprawled on the female foxes' backs. Moving vigorously. Injecting their life essence.
Fox gestation varied. Golden foxes took two months. Three to four pups per litter. Desolate beasts like three-tail foxes? A hundred years wasn't enough.
But Hu Immortal blessed land's foxes were ordinary. Short gestation periods.
Ever since the rockmen started digging, Fang Yuan had been using estrus Gu EVERY day. Creating new foxes. Strengthening his army.
Hu Immortal didn't have an Immortal Gu. She died during the fifth earthly calamity. Her enslavement path Gu worms were not spared.
But in Dang Hun Mountain, she left behind some Gu worms.
Burial soul toad. Estrus Gu. Fox enslavement Gu.
Fang Yuan had already used most of them. To quickly increase his strength.
The fox group had grown SEVERAL times larger.
The blessed land couldn't sustain this many foxes. They were omnivores. In less than two years, many would starve to death.
Fang Yuan didn't care.
His whole mind was on the sixth earthly calamity.
A few months passed quickly.
The river was completed. Connected north and east.
The overflowing lake flowed along the river channel. Ripples splashing.
Swish swish swish.
The great flood flowed into the fire pit. Water and fire clashed. Steam rose into the air.
The river water calmed down. Half the black flames were doused. Only three burning areas remained at the edges.
Fire and water wiped each other out. The north area's flood was alleviated. Ground surfaced once more.
Large amounts of water filled tens of pits. Forming many lakes.
The north area was still full of mud. The east area was burnt land without living plants.
But the fusion of fire and water had created something like a scab on a bleeding wound.
With time, the east and north areas would regain their vitality.
Under Fang Yuan's instructions, Yan Yong brought the injured and tired hundred or so rockmen back to their home at the south area.
Ten thousand rockmen went in. A hundred came out.
Efficiency.