...
The task of extracting genes was handed over to Mo Feng. Ye Chen left the metal room alone, looked at the busy people outside, pondered for a moment, and dialed Xu Tianguo’s communicator. “How is the construction of the base city coming along? How much longer until it’s finished?”
Upon receiving Ye Chen’s inquiry, Xu Tianguo hastily put aside what he was doing and carefully considered his words. “The city walls and houses are mostly built now. What remains are perfecting the water intake system, the sewage conversion system installation, and the power station and signal tower.”
Ye Chen nodded. “For the water intake system, we can dig tunnels to connect to those four main water systems. Connecting just one will be enough for the base city’s water supply system to operate normally. Deploy heavy troops to guard the tunnel entrances so the fish monsters in the river don't destroy the water intake pumps.”
Xu Tianguo nodded, knowing this was a massive undertaking that required meticulous planning down to every detail; no mistakes could be tolerated.
The greatest difficulty in establishing a base city was defending the fortifications. Otherwise, no matter how perfectly the interior was built, once the defenses were breached and the monster horde swarmed in, everything would be reduced to ruins.
However, with Ye Chen holding the fort, Xu Tianguo had immense confidence in securing this critical pass.
Ye Chen closed the communicator and walked casually through the base city, pointing out necessary modifications based on the base cities he had seen in his previous life.
“Ya Guai, brother is going to work now.”
Not far away, a dark-skinned man in coarse cloth pulled a slightly charred piece of roasted meat from his bosom and offered it to a seven or eight-year-old girl. The little girl took the roast, tears welling in her eyes, looking reluctantly at the man in coarse cloth. “Brother, don’t go, okay? Little Ya won’t be naughty, Little Ya will be very good. Don’t go, okay?”
A trace of bitterness flashed in the dark-skinned man’s eyes as he patted the child’s head, his gaze full of doting affection. “Brother will be back soon. Don’t run around, wait for brother at home.”
Home?
The ‘home’ the dark-skinned man spoke of was merely a thatched shack constructed from a few logs and mud. This dilapidated little dwelling was the place he guarded with his life.
The child hugged the roasted meat, her dark eyes brimming with unshed tears, watching the dark-skinned man with reluctance.
After comforting his little sister for a while, and seeing she was obedient, the dark-skinned man turned and left, joining several construction workers waiting nearby. They hoisted their tools and headed toward the outer city walls.
He was just an ordinary construction worker.
Ye Chen watched this scene, silent for a moment. He walked over to a small, erected stall nearby, purchased two large pieces of roast, walked over, and handed them to the little girl.
“Big brother.” The child took the roast, momentarily stunned.
Ye Chen patted her little head without saying much and turned to leave, heading toward the city walls. He felt something new settled upon his shoulders—Responsibility!
If this base city were to fall, he could still escape. But these ordinary people within the city would have no means of retreat!
Therefore!
No matter what monsters they faced, this base city must be defended!
This was no longer just a base city; it was the home of the construction workers, the major departments, and tens of thousands of combat members!
A place that concentrated everyone's hope!
He walked toward the city walls and watched as the magnificent, towering structure was forged section by section. Countless construction workers moved like ants, hauling stones and filling every inch of space.
He glanced around, paused briefly, and dialed Xu Tianguo’s communicator again. “Install some laser cannons and heavy artillery on the city walls. As long as the power and range are sufficient.”
Xu Tianguo was momentarily taken aback, then immediately understood, nodding solemnly.
Ye Chen moved in a flash, leaping onto a completed section of the wall. This wall was like the Great Wall, only wider, about 15 meters across—the width of two major roads—and nearly a hundred meters high, equivalent to a 20-story building.
On the finished sections of the wall, stationed soldiers scanned the surroundings with binoculars. If they spotted any sudden monster attacks, they would sound the alarm, and the garrisoned soldiers within the base city would immediately rush over.
Ye Chen looked down from his vantage point, gazing thoughtfully ahead, and instructed Xu Tianguo, “Clear the area five hundred meters outside the city wall. Eliminate all monsters from the nearby hills and dig three layers of trap trenches.”
“Trap trenches?” Xu Tianguo was initially perplexed, then comprehension dawned, and he nodded. “I’ll have people go right away to handle it.”
Ye Chen paused slightly before issuing further orders. “Bury poison spikes in the three outer layers of trap trenches. Outside the city wall, dig a moat and divert the nearby Luoxi River into it. Better yet, let the fish monsters in the river flow in too.”
“Let the fish monsters in?” Xu Tianguo was startled. “What if those fish monsters attack us?”
Ye Chen said calmly, “Don’t worry. Once the siege begins, those fish monsters will cease to be a concern. Tell Mo Feng to prepare several batches of poison—the more concentrated, the better—and pour it into the moat when the monsters attack.”
Bai Long, Mo Feng, and the others had left the Huaxia Base City and all become Great Elders of the Guangming Base City, holding authority equal to Xu Tianguo’s.
Xu Tianguo blinked slightly, then gave a wry smile and nodded, having already guessed Ye Chen’s plan.
Ye Chen looked around, then left the city wall, walked to the foot of the Earth Spirit Spring Peak, and stopped in the towering main hall. Seeing no one nearby, he opened the Rune Space and released the Black Slugworms and other monsters.
“Roar!”
“Long live the boss!”
The host of Black Slugworms controlling monsters emerged from the Rune Space, howling excitedly. Being confined to that grayish-white space every day had driven them stir-crazy, but they dared not complain to Ye Chen.
Ye Chen surveyed them. There were now a total of 65 Black Slugworms, all having reached Level 50. Each could control a Level 500 monster. Little Black controlled a Level 300 Blood-Toothed Tiger, and the corpses of two other Blood-Toothed Tigers were controlled by two other Black Slugworms. The Overlord Lion, a Level 500 monster, was controlled by another, relatively loyal, Black Slugworm.
In total, there were three Level 300 Blood-Toothed Tigers and one Level 500 Overlord Lion.
The remaining monsters were around Level 100.
Ye Chen paused, then instructed Xu Tianguo to manufacture 65 metal scarves. Each scarf was to be extremely wide and long, emblazoned with a single, large, flowing character: “Black,” rendered in a bold, sweeping calligraphy that exuded dominance.
Xu Tianguo was momentarily confused about the purpose of these items but still ordered the tailoring section of the production department to stitch 65 of them quickly. An hour later, Xu Tianguo personally delivered them.
The moment he stepped into the main hall courtyard, he sensed something was wrong; a faint smell of blood permeated the air. Then, from a distance, he saw a towering figure, over ten meters tall, sprawling in the courtyard like a small mountain. He was terrified and nearly turned to flee, intending to call for reinforcements to attack.
Just then, Ye Chen’s indifferent voice drifted from the courtyard: “Come in.”
Xu Tianguo froze, then looked again and saw a figure seated atop the head of the lion-like monster. The figure was enveloped in a dense, golden lion aura, making it hard to discern unless one looked closely—this figure was Ye Chen.
“This, this is…” Xu Tianguo was dumbfounded, finding it hard to believe. “You subdued this monster?” His voice trembled slightly.
Ye Chen replied placidly, “Relax, it won’t attack you. Come over.”
Xu Tianguo glanced at the courtyard full of monsters, a shiver running down his spine. Even with his strength, he would only be able to flee under an attack from so many monsters, unless he activated his superhuman mode.
Ye Chen reached out his hand, and a burst of energy pulled Xu Tianguo up onto the head of the Overlord Lion. Xu Tianguo’s face turned pale as he watched the Overlord Lion beneath him show no resistance, feeling as if he were in a dream.
Ye Chen asked, “The scarves?”
Xu Tianguo snapped back to reality and quickly took down the package from his back, spreading out the golden scarves within—they were triangular, like red neckerchiefs, with a large black character painted in the center.
Ye Chen nodded slightly. “Tie these scarves onto these monsters. From now on, they are the base city’s Black Beast Army; this is their insignia!”
“Black Beast Army?” Xu Tianguo paused, looking at the many monsters sprawling in the courtyard. His eyes showed initial shock, which quickly turned to fervor. If such a large contingent of monsters could become the base city’s guardians, their combat strength would increase dramatically!
Ye Chen commanded, “Post an announcement about the Black Beast Army so people aren’t confused and cause friendly fire.”
Xu Tianguo nodded.
Each monster controlled by a Black Slugworm had a scarf tied around its head, neck, or foreleg, turning them into the most solid rear guard of the base city.
This news quickly spread below, causing a sensation. Many people learned that the base city possessed a monster army named the Black Beast Army!
The origins of the Black Beast Army were spread with mythical grandeur. Some claimed the base city had a powerful beast tamer; others said they were divine beasts sent from heaven to protect mortals.
...
Not far from Shennongjia, a flood dragon coiled in the mountain forest. Its metallic scales looked as if they were poured from molten iron, its claws were razor-sharp, and its metallic eyes held no emotion, chillingly cold. It stared toward the direction of the Guangming Base City, flicked its tongue across its mouth, and slowly began to move toward the nearby mountain.
“Roar!”
A low growl echoed from within the mountain, and soon after, a tiger-like beast covered in white spots emerged. It had a single horn on its forehead, and two scythe-like bones extended from its ribs.
“Don’t be hasty,” the flood dragon said in beast language. “I’m not here to fight you.”
“What are you here for?” the tiger monster rumbled, its eyes full of vigilance.
The flood dragon replied coldly, “There is a human city across there. If we attack and break in, we can get a large supply of food!” To monsters, a human settlement like a base city was simply a food depot.
The tiger monster snorted. “Breaking through that city won’t be easy. Humans are too cunning; they must have prepared many special explosive weapons.”
The flood dragon’s eyes flashed with cold light, but it quickly calmed down. “By myself, I can’t handle that many people. Let’s join forces temporarily. After we break the city, the food will be split three-to-seven, mine being the larger share!” It understood the principle of many against one.
The tiger monster glanced at it sideways. “Nonsense! Five-five split!”
The flood dragon’s eyes flashed with cold intent again, but then it calmed down. “Fine.” It thought to itself: When we break through, you’ll be the first one I eat!