Upgrade, Fifth Layer

"It can be upgraded."

Luo Ao looked at the additional Primordial Power on the panel. Thanks to the generous support of the Mark Knights, he had not only gathered enough Primordial Power to upgrade the Dungeon this time, but even had quite a bit left over.

He also had enough equipment to fill the treasure chests on the Fourth and Fifth Layers.

With a thought, the full plate armor and knight swords left behind by the dead knights were transferred before Luo Ao. He spent a wisp of Primordial Power to repair them all and altered their appearances beyond recognition.

That way, they would all become equipment obtained from Dungeon treasure chests, useful as bait to draw in more adventurers.

Now, it was time to upgrade!

[Level: lv5 (0/600)]

As the last bit of experience needed for the upgrade was filled, the entire Dungeon began to shake violently once more. In Luo Ao's senses, an entirely new Dungeon layer was continuously being carved out and expanded within the void.

As the new layer was born, Luo Ao felt his power steadily growing stronger, and a new force filled with the aura of life and nature emerged.

The instant the Fifth Layer connected with the Fourth Layer, Luo Ao moved his true body and the treasures in the vault to the deepest part of the Fifth Layer. Only after settling everything did he sweep his mental power across the new layer.

A clear lake rippled in the breeze, while schools of fish swam freely through its waters. Seen from above, it gleamed like a magnificent sapphire, while an endless forest stretched alongside the lake.

Towering mountain ranges rose and fell across the land, lush green plants could be seen everywhere, and countless crystals at the ceiling several hundred meters above gave off a soft glow.

The scenes entering his mind formed a vibrant, paradise-like landscape.

"No!" Seeing the peaceful appearance of the Fifth Layer, Luo Ao rebuked it in anguish. "Does this even look like a Dungeon?"

"Learn from the Fourth Layer. You made this layer so wholesome—are you planning to let adventurers come here for a vacation?"

Compared to the Fourth Layer's utterly hellish terrain and environment, Luo Ao was dissatisfied with the Fifth Layer no matter how he looked at it. But at this point, he could only accept it. Then, on second thought, he suddenly felt that the Fifth Layer's environment was not entirely unacceptable.

In the future, adventurers who had endured countless hardships and barely made it through the Fourth Layer would arrive at the Fifth Layer and suddenly see such a vibrant, peaceful place brimming with natural energy. Their exhausted bodies and minds would surely relax.

And once adventurers relaxed, monsters would have their chance to strike.

"Monsters alone aren't enough. How can such a beautiful, peaceful place lack treasures and the classic act of killing for loot?"

Luo Ao immediately began searching the Fifth Layer for suitable materials to create monsters. As expected of a layer filled with the aura of nature and life, he quickly found something good.

There was actually a small Mithril mountain range within the Fifth Layer. It was an expensive magical metal with top-tier mana conductivity and malleability, an indispensable material for crafting top-tier magic wands and magical equipment.

Besides Mithril, Luo Ao found many small trees in the forest brimming with vitality. They were laden with crimson fruits, each about the size of an egg. Deep underground, there was also a layer of soil filled with mana and life force.

Apart from those three main materials, Luo Ao also found scattered magical springs and Demon Iron Ore. The Fifth Layer's resources were so abundant that even Luo Ao was astonished.

Three portions of slime gel + two portions of mana-infused spring water + one life-filled red fruit

Monster Creation!

As the talent activated and Primordial Power flowed in, the three different materials continuously twisted and fused. In the end, a transparent slime the size of a house appeared where it stood.

[Name: Water Element Slime]

[Level: lv3]

[Skills: Elemental Body lv3, Optical Simulation lv2, Water Blade lv2, High-Pressure Water Cannon lv2, Asexual Reproduction lv2]

[Description: A slime composed entirely of water. It possesses a powerful body nearly completely immune to physical attacks. It inhabits pure water sources and can use Purification on water. It enjoys mimicking water sources to prey on victims, dragging them into its body with its enormous form and drowning them. It has mastered some basic Water Magic.]

The newly born Water Element Slime wriggled toward Luo Ao. Though it possessed no intelligence, its simple beast-like instincts drove it to draw close to its creator.

"Try mimicking something."

With a thought, Luo Ao tossed the Water Element Slime into the lake. He then watched as it merged into the water, completely becoming a part of the lake. Whether examined with the naked eye or searched with mental power, it was difficult to detect anything unusual.

"Not bad. From now on, guard the lakeside closest to the Fifth Layer's entrance and give newly arrived adventurers a warm welcome."

After spending 20 points of Primordial Power to create another batch of Elemental Slimes, Luo Ao teleported them to different areas of the lake. As soon as the newborn Elemental Slimes landed, they began absorbing the water element in the lake and split into numerous offspring.

"Still not enough. Again."

Next, Luo Ao began creating new monsters using the Giant Tree Guardian from the Fourth Layer as a foundation.

An ancient tree with powerful life force + one portion of Mithril + one portion of magical soil.

[Name: Treant Elder]

[Level: lv4]

[Skills: Nature Guard lv3, Plant Manipulation lv3, Friend of Animals lv2, Earth Resonance lv1]

[Description: A natural guardian evolved from an ordinary tree. It can wield the power of nature and plants, is innately close to nature, and hates all beings that destroy it. It is an absolute defender of the natural order.]

Looking at the Treant Elder's panel, Luo Ao saw that at the same level, both its strength and skill levels were completely inferior to the Giant Tree Guardian's. However, he had expected this long ago. After all, a Treant Elder was merely an ordinary monster.

The Giant Tree Guardian, on the other hand, was a miniboss that only appeared once every five Dungeon layers. The two were not comparable at all.

However, there could only be one Giant Tree Guardian, while there could be many Treant Elders. Combined with the Fifth Layer's terrain and environment, Treant Elders were among the most suitable monsters for this place. Surely no adventurer wanted to fight a horde of treants in a forest.

After spending several dozen more points of Primordial Power, Luo Ao selected the oldest batch of trees in the forest and transformed them all into Treant Elders.

[Primordial Power: 15]

"Only 15 points of Primordial Power remain. It looks like I'll have to wait another day before I can complete the Fifth Layer's monster ecosystem."

Closing the panel, Luo Ao planned to wait until he had more Primordial Power, then completely finish the monsters throughout the Fifth Layer in one go. After that, he could focus on waiting for the next upgrade.