Chen Zhou returned to his territory in high spirits.
Nie Chaoxi and several small black snakes had already arrived. They were obediently coiled around the outskirts of the territory, watching the bustling scene inside with wide eyes, not daring to take a single step across the boundary. They were as submissive as house dogs.
Chen Zhou didn’t pay them much mind. He directly summoned the Netherflames to bring the massive amount of materials and corpses carried by the snake demons into the Ghost Domain.
"Dismantle them immediately!" he commanded, while he himself instantaneously returned to the Bone Altar.
Counting the materials that were rapidly piling up like a mountain, an excited light flashed in Chen Zhou's eyes.
After accumulating for so long, combined with this bountiful harvest, the materials required for the sacrifice were finally sufficient!
"I'm going to upgrade ruthlessly!"
Without hesitation, Chen Zhou clicked 【Sacrifice】!
Majestic energy instantly enveloped the Bone Altar. The lustrous white light intensified, and the texture of the altar itself seemed to become more solid, radiating an increasingly profound aura. His personal panel updated accordingly:
【Current Rank: Eerie Grade】
【Forging Bones Progress: 2nd-stage flesh 0/1000】
【Painting Skin Progress: 2nd-stage blood 0/1000】
【Refining Body Progress: 2nd-stage soul 0/1000】
The Ghost Domain's range of influence expanded to several thousand meters. The enslaved ghost population limit increased to 100, the Ghost General population limit increased to 10, the bone material usable for Bone Summoning increased to 2nd-stage, and the enslaved ghost legion began to take its initial shape.
Eerie Grade was the third rank of evil spirit. Ordinary-grade materials were now useless to Chen Zhou; he required higher-tier flesh and souls.
A 1st-stage material could be dismantled into 10 units of common materials. A 2nd-stage material could be dismantled into 100 units of 1st-stage. Chen Zhou also looked at the 3rd-stage materials from Nie Hailong; they could similarly be dismantled into 100 units of 2nd-stage.
This meant the next upgrade would require sacrificing a full 1,000,000 units of common materials—nearly equivalent to the total population of a small city.
'The Path of the Evil God is indeed built upon mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Truly terrifying,' Chen Zhou marveled inwardly.
2nd-stage materials were not common goods. They could only be stably produced by cultivators or demons who had reached the second-stage in strength.
However, Chen Zhou wasn't overly worried. In his building list, he saw processing structures like the 【Blood-Flesh Furnace】 and the 【Soul Kiln】, which could compress and purify large quantities of low-grade materials into high-grade ones.
So the problem now was population!
Building and operating these factories required a large amount of labor.
"It’s decided," Chen Zhou turned his gaze toward the distance. "If the great Evil God is to save the human race of the entire Qudao County, it shall start with White Jade City."
【You have completed a sacrifice. Your Evil God body has been strengthened, and the Sacrifice function has been enhanced.】
An additional small panel appeared beneath the Sacrifice panel.
【Offerings (Passive)】
【Complete high-level materials can be sacrificed and will automatically be converted into corresponding sacrifice progress. Depending on the quality of the high-level material, extra rewards may be obtained.】
【Cooldown: 30 days】
Currently, the highest-grade complete material Chen Zhou possessed was Nie Hailong's physical body after its soul had been dismantled. With a 'might as well try' attitude, he threw the entire massive snake corpse onto the altar.
【Sacrificed a common hundred-year black snake demon. Unlocked special building—Blood-Prison Pool!】
【Forging Bones Progress: 2nd-stage flesh 99/1000】
【Painting Skin Progress: 2nd-stage blood 98/1000】
"Oh? A second special building." Chen Zhou immediately checked it.
【Blood-Prison Pool】
【Rank: Mysterious Grade】
【Special Building】
【Eternal Blood Surge: The blood pool will continuously churn, absorbing blood qi from the void. It automatically generates one random-quality unit of 3rd-stage or 4th-stage blood daily.】
"Not bad. I wasn't expecting that trash Nie Hailong to produce some peerless treasure anyway."
Chen Zhou was quite satisfied. The Blood-Prison Pool was equivalent to a stable production building for high-grade blood. If it produced 4th-stage blood, it would be a massive profit.
He brought the Blood-Prison Pool out of the Ghost Domain and manifested it in the very center of the territory. He then tossed in the massive piece of 【Blood-Essence Jade】 he had scavenged from Lakeglow Ridge, intending to use the pool’s abundant blood qi to nourish the jade marrow.
The Blood-Essence Jade transformed into a miniature white jade island within the blood pool. The blood in the pool seemed to be drawn by some kind of pull, rapidly gathering toward one side and becoming increasingly thick and crimson.
On the other side, crystal-clear water brimming with spiritual energy gurgled forth.
The bloody water and the clear water remained distinct within the pool, slowly circulating. It actually formed a harmonious yet eerie scene, like a Taiji Yin-Yang fish.
After confirming there were no abnormalities, Chen Zhou conveniently built the long-awaited 【Test Immortal Stone】 nearby.
He had wanted to test the villagers' spirit roots for a while, especially to see the panels of several special talents.
Right at that moment, Hong Ling and Shitou also successfully returned.
The already lively territory became even more crowded. Facing the miracle of a blood pool and a giant stone appearing overnight, the villagers were all struck with awe. They prostrated themselves toward the altar, praising the god's mighty power.
Li Dazhu pulled the dazed Jian Huaishuang to bow with him. "If you have any difficulties, tell the god. The Great One will protect you too."
Chen Zhou had Hong Ling organize the villagers to step forward one by one to test their spirit roots.
The villagers were both curious and reverent. Under Hong Ling's direction, they lined up and cautiously touched the cold Test Immortal Stone.
Chen Zhou stood to the side, watching with interest as the feedback from the Test Immortal Stone appeared on his personal panel.
The vast majority of the villagers had 【mixed spirit roots】. Cultivation would be difficult for them, but they could adapt to many types of work.
To his surprise, nearly half of the villagers had already broken through to the first-stage, achieving Qi Induction and becoming cultivators.
It seemed the aura of the General-Summoning Platform had taken effect, continuously nourishing the villagers working in the lumberyard and the mine. After all, who was to say that those who believed in an evil spirit didn't count as evil entities themselves?
When it was Li Dazhu’s turn, he rubbed his rough, large hands together, nervously pressing them against the Test Immortal Stone. The stone’s surface glowed faintly, and then several twisted patterns emerged.
【Li Dazhu】
【Aptitude: Mortal-grade wood spirit root (white): Increases cultivation speed and work efficiency by 10%】
【Woodcutter (green): Long-time resident of the mountain forests, companion to the axe. Logging efficiency increased by 20%】
【Wu Gang Incarnate (red): In harmony with the immortal fate of the Moon Palace woodcutter. When engaged in logging work, there is a 0.1% chance of sudden enlightenment, drawing upon the subtle heavenly mechanics to obtain a random item.】
'He really is cheating.'
A red production-type trait. Although the probability was low, the ability to create something from nothing had already surprised Chen Zhou twice. It was truly heaven-defying.
Chen Zhou bestowed several pills upon Li Dazhu, making up for what he had lacked before. Poor aptitude didn't matter; talent like this was hard to come by.
Next were Zhao Laoshan and the other villagers. The results were mostly the same—basic mixed spirit roots of mortal-grade aptitude without special traits. They were still best suited for basic labor.
When it was Shitou's turn, the youth took a deep breath and pressed his palm down. The Test Immortal Stone suddenly lit up with a sharp purple light, and a clear blade-shaped mark flashed across it.
【Shitou】
【Aptitude: Earth-grade gold spirit root (purple): Increases cultivation speed and work efficiency by 80%】
【Hundred-Refined Body (orange): A physique born for battle. Technique comprehension -50%, Martial skill comprehension +50%, cultivation speed further increased by 50%】
【Tiangang Blade Technique (orange): Inherited memory awakened by the Kui Gang Destiny. Born carrying the Heaven-grade martial skill Tiangang Blade Technique. The blade strikes like the astral wind, fierce and peerless.】
【Kui Gang Destiny (red): The Kui Gang Destiny, loyal and brave beyond compare. This destiny greatly strengthens the physical foundation, making the body far exceed those of the same rank, and can transform all blood qi into blade edges, increasing martial skill damage by 300%.】
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