Chapter 55: Dizhong Village Expansion

Chapter 55: Dizhong Village Expansion

[Challenger Notification: The global mission "Purify Gloomspire Caverns" has been completed. Rewards are distributed according to campaign contributions:]

Contribution Leaderboard:

1st: Game Bricklayer (Body Forge Rank+3)

2nd: Shen Yi (Body Forge Rank+2)

3rd: Iron Hammer (Body Forge Rank+1)

...

A game notification chimed, and all players participating in the campaign received reward confirmations.

At the same moment, the Corrosion Core shattered by collective player efforts dissolved into glistening black motes. Qi Sheng’s Imperial Omen power surged back, enveloping the Domain Node crystal.

The gemstone—once marred by black specks—transformed into translucent, vivid crimson.

Suddenly, the caverns trembled violently. An invisible force engulfed the land.

Viewed from above, a colossal black vortex formed at Gloomspire Caverns’ center, rapidly expanding until it swallowed the entire region. The landscape twisted and reformed, settling into smooth, fertile black soil.

As Gloomspire Caverns disappeared, Dizhong Village trembled. Its interior expanded visibly, spreading outward.

On Dizhong Village’s southern edge, near the Obsidian Mists’ periphery, a massive beast head resembling a roaring predator emerged—the new entrance to Gloomspire Caverns.

Challenger notifications echoed in every player’s mind:

[Challenger Notification: Dizhong Village has expanded. A new special area, "Gloomspire Caverns", is now accessible. Players may enter directly via the southern village entrance to harvest Spirit Ore-class resources.]

As the notification appeared, Qi Sheng’s mind flooded with data from the Guide.

Gloomspire Caverns:

Territory Type: Resource

Territory Trait: Spiritual Multiplication (Continuously generates Spirit Ore deposits)

Domain Status: Conquered

Though not a Rule Domain—and thus lacking traits like "Flesh Reconstruction"—Spiritual Multiplication was invaluable to Qi Sheng. It would significantly aid player legion development.

This meant Spirit Ore within Gloomspire Caverns would regenerate infinitely, replenishing even if completely mined. Like leeks, cut once and they’d grow anew.

From a player perspective, direct access through Dizhong Village eliminated tedious travel, sharply improving resource efficiency.

Indirectly, this boosted Qi Sheng’s Sacrificial Power income. The more players earned, the more taxes he collected.

Whether upgrading Stellar Veins, purchasing Life Souls, forging bodies, or shopping in the Mall—every Sacrificial Power expenditure incurred his tax. Even player-to-player trades weren’t exempt.

For example, custom weapons crafted by Endtimes Tech Guild required materials bought through the Player Market. Even at cost price, Qi Sheng still pocketed 30% of the base cost.

Reading forum discussions, Qi Sheng had already begun planning an Auction House—a more convenient trading system with a reasonable transaction tax. Resource and item exchanges between players would generate steady passive income.

...

Dizhong Mountain Range, northern sector.

A jet-black tower rose from a vast chasm, its shadowy spire writhing with phantom tendrils. Below, thick Obsidian Mists enveloped the structure. Countless Malevolent Spirits within merged into the fog, then solidified into jagged, monstrous forms, their figures flickering between substance and mist.

Atop the tower, a crimson Evil Eye gazed toward the Crimson Plains, its pupil twitching.

“What’s wrong?” Di Nian Malevolent Spirits, now healed, asked the eye.

“Earlier, during your battle with the Reversal Tide warrior, I detected a node corrupted by lunar corruption in that region. I planned to send you there to claim it once the Death Legion grew stronger. But now that Domain Node has vanished mysteriously.”

“Why?” Di Nian demanded.

“I cannot determine the cause. It may relate to Monster World’s ongoing expansion. As other Planar Worlds integrate, structural shifts might have displaced the Domain Node. This phenomenon occurs frequently in this world.”

Di Nian nodded impassively, then asked, “I’ve wondered—why does our race absorb other Planar Worlds into Monster World?”

The Evil Eye turned toward Di Nian Malevolent Spirits’ commander: “Our Master’s decisions are purposeful. My theory: this world’s strength surpasses all others our race has conquered. Our Master intends to reshape it into our future bastion—even abandoning our original world to make this our core territory.”

“Our Master’s decisions are purposeful. My theory: this world’s strength surpasses all others our race has conquered. Our Master intends to reshape it into our future bastion—even abandoning our original world to make this our core territory.”

Di Nian’s expression tightened. “This world? Our core?!”

“As I’ve explained, don’t underestimate this realm. It dwarfs the petty worlds you’ve assisted in devouring. While you were a dominant force in smaller conquests, here you’re merely a common soldier. To dominate this world, countless commanders have fallen—kings among us couldn’t survive. Why should you be different?”

“According to data from other nodes, this world’s former supreme deity, Imperial Omen, might have rivaled our Master in power.”

The Evil Eye’s words silenced Di Nian. After a long pause, he coldly declared, “I won’t die here. I’ll stand at this world’s pinnacle.”

“Ambition is good. My previous commander said the same. I encouraged him—until he died pathetically in battle.”

“Tell me about him,” Di Nian’s curiosity stirred.

“He was Hei Chong. Before coming here, he fought in Tianyuan World. When we consumed it completely, he moved to Monster World. I was newly created then, assigned to assist his conquest.”

“In our second year, he was deployed to a king-led invasion. Monster World’s native Frostblade cleaved him down in one strike—useless and undignified. I perished alongside him, my consciousness barely salvaged by my Mother.”

“Only recently did I Rebirth here, rebuilding this war tower. Then you arrived.”

“How strong was his killer?” Di Nian pressed.

“Unclear. Hei Chong and I were mere grunts in that campaign—dead within moments. Records show we lost five kings in that invasion. Whether Frostblade survived is unknown.”

Inhaling sharply, Di Nian felt renewed shock.

"You’ll likely die here eventually", the Crimson Evil Eye added. "But I hope you ascend to king first. This world teems with Domain Nodes. Each conquest will channel greater power into you. Your growth will eclipse all worlds before—strive higher."

“I understand.” Di Nian’s voice was resolute as he stepped toward the tower’s edge, staring into the roiling Obsidian Mists birthing Malevolent Spirits.

His war was near.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end