Lordly Struggle

What he had thought was a fierce Slime hunter turned out to be an Underground Mitten Crab delivered right to his doorstep.

Better still, this feast happened to resolve the Slime instinctual restlessness that had plagued him for so long.

The Acid in his stomach churned with delight. Even after slurping every last trace of sweet meat juice from the shell, Chen Yu's round eyes still stared longingly at the empty husk inside his body.

[Devour and Digest Lv.2 triggered—Digger Beetle traits recorded, talent gestating (1/10)]

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Prestige Title: Slime Warrior (A Slime Just Starting Out)

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He had previously wondered how Prestige Titles were obtained. Judging by the requirements for earning "Slime Warrior," one seemingly had to complete some challenge, defeat a powerful foe, or pass a trial.

Could other Demonic Beasts also obtain Prestige Titles through trials?

He felt there was a good chance they could.

After all, this attribute panel displayed information strictly according to his physical data. Since Slimes were native Demonic Beasts of Zeyarila, perhaps other Demonic Beasts and demihumans could also, knowingly or unknowingly, fulfill the requirements for gaining Prestige Titles.

By that logic, hadn't he unintentionally uncovered another sliver of Zeyarila's mysterious rules?

After completely digesting the beetle, Chen Yu spat out its shell.

The pitch-black shell rolled out of the grass nest, a faint sheen flowing across its glossy surface. Its outline was savage and imposing, brimming with an air of majesty. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it.

This beetle was truly treasure from head to toe. Not only did its delicious flesh taste like crab roe and matsutake mushrooms, but it even came with such a naturally majestic shell.

Recalling that distinctive fresh fragrance, the Acid in Chen Yu's stomach could not help bubbling with several "glugs."

He hopped out of the grass nest and carefully squeezed into the shell. Slime gel filled the gaps within until his body fit snugly against the carapace.

Thus, the first Heavy Armor Slime was born.

It might even have been the first Heavy Armor Slime in Zeyarila's history.

From Little Ones' perspective, it looked as though a bright green Slime had put on a thick, savage helmet. The black color even lent the adorable Slime an extra touch of solemnity.

The little fellows bounced excitedly, releasing pheromones that seemed to be shouting, "Amazing! Badass!"

It was exactly like the atmosphere squad of an adventuring party cheering for their hero when he obtained a sacred sword.

Chen Yu was also immensely satisfied with his new equipment. Though his eyes gave him a flawless three-hundred-and-sixty-degree view, he still habitually bounced in circles to inspect the gear on his body.

After running around for a while, he discovered that wearing the Beetle Helmet slowed his movement somewhat, though it was still acceptable.

At least with the Heavy Armor protecting him, not only Moss Monster Acid, but even Stinger Bee stingers would find it difficult to harm him.

What did it matter if he ran a little slower? At worst, he could just eat all his enemies. Then there would be no need to worry about being slow.

Chen Yu left the Slime Nest and swam upward with the Beetle Helmet on his head. The Slimes drifting around him had their Fear Instinct awakened at once when they saw him, freezing stiff with fright and not daring to move.

He had no interest in bullying those Slimes. After surfacing, he raised his head toward the sky, only to see that the bright morning heavens had already become thick with dark clouds as a light rain fell.

After the Beetle Knight invasion, he realized that the Swamp Forest had indeed become more dangerous than before following the torrential rain.

Based on his month of experience in the Swamp Forest, Chen Yu guessed that this place was perhaps in a season similar to spring.

That meant the Swamp Forest would only grow livelier as time passed, until the cold and silent days of winter arrived and another cycle began...

The Beetle Knight invasion had not been an accident. In high summer, even more predators might invade this land.

If he did not want to sit still and await death, he had to deal with the Stinger Bees as soon as possible, seize the territory beneath the Twisted Oak, and become the Slime Lord.

Once he had a territory, building defensive fortifications would become a matter of course, and many of the plans in his heart could gradually be realized.

Do not forget—he was still a Slime who cultivated immortality.

Wasn't territory practically the equivalent of a cultivation abode? With a cultivation abode, an immortal cultivator had plenty more tricks to pull.

He guaranteed those barbaric Demonic Beasts had never seen them before.

The next day.

While practicing the Lesser Arrow Technique outside the thatched hut, Chen Yu split his attention and climbed ashore wearing the Beetle Helmet, preparing to test its defensive power.

Whether because the Beetle Helmet was intimidating or because the "Slime Warrior" Prestige Title had taken effect, his actions caused the Moss Monsters in the breeding ground beneath the tree to stir restlessly from far away.

When the Moss Monsters saw him, they either trembled on the spot or fled in panic, completely abandoning their former fierce desire to attack Slimes.

Chen Yu boldly ventured deep into the ground beneath the tree, sending out one flying sword with every step and skewering every Moss Monster within sight.

This brazen invasion of the breeding ground soon drew the attention of the Stinger Bees in the tree. Four black Stinger Bees beat their wings and descended with an irritating buzz.

As the saying went, when enemies met, their eyes burned especially red. After recognizing the Slime beneath the Beetle Helmet, the Stinger Bees fired their stingers without hesitation.

The stingers struck the helmet with dull clanging sounds, leaving only white marks behind. They could not even break through its defenses.

It really is good stuff.

Chen Yu rejoiced inwardly. His mind grew more active, and his courage swelled considerably. Right in front of the Stinger Bees, he picked up the Moss Monster corpses scattered around him.

After recovering nearly all the Stinger Swords, he drove them forward again, attempting to attack the Stinger Bees flying overhead.

Unfortunately, after tangling with him for so long, these Stinger Bees had already witnessed the strange Slime's flying-sword methods. They were deeply wary of him and generally flew three to four meters above the ground, far beyond the reach of his flying swords.

His Lesser Arrow Technique had not yet been mastered. He could only stare longingly at the Stinger Bees in the sky, helpless despite his itching impatience.

Still, the Stinger Bees could not stop him from stealing Moss Monsters from the breeding ground. They could only watch helplessly as he swallowed more than a dozen Moss Monster corpses, collected the stingers, and then swaggered away.

The instant he jumped into the Swamp, Chen Yu sensed something. He seemed to hear even more chaotic sounds coming from the tree.

Looking up, he saw a Bee Guard suddenly fly down through the gaps in the leaves. It was twice the size of an ordinary Stinger Bee, with a wax-yellow tail and a thick venomous needle half-hidden and half-exposed, its cold gleam terrifying.

There was no telling whether that needle could pierce his Beetle Helmet, but he had no intention of taking the risk and enduring it head-on.

The thought had barely arisen when his gelatinous body silently sank underwater and slipped back to his old nest.

Once the Lesser Arrow Technique was mastered, it would be time for him to emerge again and sweep through the Stinger Bees.

With that thought in mind, Chen Yu kept a low profile over the next three days, focusing entirely on practicing the Lesser Arrow Technique and the Sound Transmission Technique gifted by Rat Whisker Cultivator.

The Sound Transmission Technique was not particularly useful in Xuxuantian, but it might produce unexpected effects in Zeyarila. Since he had the time, he might as well practice it alongside the other technique.

While he lay low, the Swamp Forest only grew more lively.

Although the Digger Beetles that had previously invaded the Slimes were not herd-dwelling Demonic Beasts, they often traveled in great swarms during migration.

Before long, the rich Moss Monster breeding ground beneath the Twisted Oak caught the beetle swarm's attention. Discovering that many Slimes inhabited the surrounding Swamp as well, they took a liking to the place and decided to build nests beneath the Twisted Oak.

This decision had clearly not received the consent of the Oak Overlord, the Stinger Bees. To Chen Yu's surprise, the two great bullies actually began fighting over territory.

The Digger Beetles likewise could not reach the flying Stinger Bees, but they knew how to climb. They swarmed resolutely toward the Stinger Bee Hive, causing no small amount of trouble for the Stinger Bees in the tree.

As the third party watching from the sidelines, Chen Yu naturally welcomed this with open arms.

Fight, fight!

Better if both sides ended up badly wounded.

He was not picky about food. Beetle Paste or Stinger Bee Dessert, either was fine.

Yet accidents were always on their way. Compared to the lordly struggle between the Stinger Bees and Digger Beetles, the increasingly frequent traces of demihumans appearing in the forest soon drew away his attention.

He always felt that something unexpected was about to happen.