For a time, the entire stone forest was a scene of bustling activity, filled with the sounds of little demons digging holes, hauling earth, and chanting rhythmic work songs.
Chen Zhou watched this scene and nodded with satisfaction.
This feeling of breaking new ground made him somewhat nostalgic; it was just like this back in Dead Man’s Forest.
At that time, everything started from zero, but everyone was full of energy because they knew that under his protection, life would only get better.
It was the same now.
By participating in the construction of their own home with their own hands, these little guys would feel a greater sense of belonging in the future.
As Chen Zhou thought, he suddenly realized something.
The low-level beings living at the bottom of this world, whether human or demon, were mostly quite simple and gullible.
All they sought was enough to eat, clothes to keep them warm, and a way to survive.
A single full meal was enough to make them feel deeply grateful.
He had just glanced at the system panel and found that after only a few distributions of pills, many of the little demons had already converted into his General Believers.
If he provided room and board in the future, Chen Zhou didn't even dare to imagine how many little demons would be willing to work themselves to the bone for him.
He withdrew his thoughts and looked toward Scorpion Demon.
Scorpion Demon was standing not far away, watching the hole-digging little demons with an expression of pure envy.
Chen Zhou walked over and asked, "Among the demon tribes in the Earth Dissolving Cave, are there any others like you who are relatively skilled in combat?"
Scorpion Demon thought quickly and then nodded frantically. "Yes, yes! Please wait a moment, Lord, this little one will go find them!"
He rushed into the crowd, picking and choosing, finally bringing out a dozen or so.
A few bat demons were among them, quite large in size with wing spans reaching ten feet, sporting sharp fangs and muzzles.
A few centipede demons were also there, their bodies pitch black and half a zhang long, with a dense thicket of legs that would make anyone's skin crawl.
There were also a few gecko demons, dusty gray and clinging to the rocks; one wouldn't even notice them without looking closely.
"Lord, these are all of them."
Scorpion Demon looked a bit embarrassed.
"Most of them are third-stage, and a few are second-stage..."
"In a place like the Earth Dissolving Cave, it's already a miracle just to stay alive. There really aren't any particularly powerful characters."
Chen Zhou nodded and pulled out another handful of pills, handing them to him.
"From now on, you will take the lead and be responsible for maintaining order and security. Is that a problem?"
Scorpion Demon's hands shook as he took the pills.
Another handful! Could the Lord be the God of Wealth incarnate? How could he be so wealthy!
Although this handful of pills couldn't compare to fifth-stage ones, they were still top-quality third and fourth-stage pills!
He nodded vigorously. "No problem at all! Rest assured, Lord, this little one will definitely handle this well!"
Chen Zhou said, "The construction of the new cave has just begun, and there are too many little demons. Friction is bound to happen."
"Or if someone accidentally triggers the human-shaped markings on the ground, someone needs to handle it. Take them and take charge of these matters."
"Their grades are currently low, so they can't absorb high-stage pills—don't bite off more than they can chew. Once they finish digesting these I've given you, you can ask me for more."
Scorpion Demon beat his chest in guarantee. "Don't worry, Lord! Whoever dares to cause trouble, this little one will be the first to deal with them!"
Chen Zhou smiled, turned, and walked away.
Scorpion Demon stood where he was, looking at the pills in his hand and then at the little demons behind him, his breathing becoming heavy.
The Lord had actually entrusted such an important task to him!
Maintaining order!
Security matters!
This was a vital department!
He, Black Scorpion, had lived for five hundred years. In the Earth Dissolving Cave, he had snatched things, been beaten, and been chased around, but he had never been trusted like this.
Scorpion Demon took a deep breath, puffed out his chest, and looked at the little demons.
"You all heard that, right? From now on, you'll follow me and be responsible for the cave's security!"
The little demons looked at each other, not knowing what to say.
Scorpion Demon glared. "What are you standing there for? Come and get your pills! Eat up so you can get to work!"
Only then did the little demons crowd around, taking the pills from his hand and stuffing them into their mouths.
Watching the little demons cry out in surprise after eating the pills, Scorpion Demon looked at the demons digging holes, then at the demons hauling earth, and finally at Chen Zhou's retreating figure in the distance. He suddenly felt a strange sensation.
It seemed like...
Following this Lord, the days to come would truly be different.
As he thought about it, he couldn't help but start to fantasize.
In the future, when this cave was finished, he would be wearing armor, looking majestic as he led a squad of little demons on patrol.
If anyone dared to cause trouble, he would lead his men over and wave his hand grandly: "Seize them!"
Those troublemaking demons would be scared out of their wits, kneeling and begging for mercy.
He would snort and say, "Drag them away and give them twenty strokes!"
Then he would sit on a rock with his legs crossed, with a little demon serving him tea and a beautiful little demon massaging his shoulders and back.
Later on, as the cave expanded and more little demons arrived, his subordinates would grow in number.
He would become the general of the cave, beneath only one but above ten thousand demons.
Majestic and unparalleled.
Thinking of this, Scorpion Demon couldn't help but laugh out loud.
A little demon nearby asked cautiously, "Lord Scorpion, what are you laughing at?"
Scorpion Demon snapped back to reality and glared at him. "What's there to laugh about? Get back to work!"
The little demon shrunk his neck and quickly ran off.
Scorpion Demon coughed, put his hands behind his back, and began to patrol his territory with a swaggering stride.
Chen Zhou walked back to the edge of the stone forest and found a flat rock to sit on.
Chan Yi was poking his head out of a hole, directing the little demons in their digging.
"Over there, over there! A bit deeper!"
"Right, right! Dig toward the left, the soil is softer there!"
"Careful now, don't let the ceiling collapse!"
Chen Zhou looked at him and asked, "Chan Yi, do you know what the Eternal Scars is?"
Hearing the Lord's question, Chan Yi quickly crawled out of the hole, patted the dirt off his body, and shook his head. "I don't know. This little one has lived for eight hundred years but has never heard that name."
Chen Zhou nodded, not feeling too disappointed.
If even Wan Xiu and Jing Hui didn't know the place, he didn't expect an eight-hundred-year-old demon to know.
He was just asking in passing; if he knew, it would be a pleasant surprise, and if not, it was no matter.
Chen Zhou asked again, "Then, your Mingchan Clan is skilled in divination. Can you calculate the location of this place?"
Chan Yi looked a bit conflicted and rubbed his front limbs together. "Lord, this... the innate divine ability of our race needs one to reach adulthood to be used to its full potential."
"Even though this little one is eight hundred years old, I have been suppressing my emergence, so I am still technically a baby. The range and precision of my divination are limited."
Chen Zhou had seen it long ago.
The essence blood within Chan Yi's body was severely depleted, seemingly polluted by something. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be in the form of a nymph after eight hundred years.
He had been suppressing his cultivation, not daring to undergo emergence.
Chan Yi continued, "Before emergence, we of the Mingchan Clan are all nymphs and can only live underground."
"Only after emergence do we grow wings and become true cicadas, capable of flying and singing, and our divine abilities will greatly increase."
"But the ancestral teachings say we must not easily undergo emergence. My grandfather told me before he died to hide well and not be found."
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Your grandfather thought the person to hide from was Jing Hui?"
Chan Yi nodded, but Chen Zhou shook his head. "The person your grandfather wanted to hide from was not Jing Hui."
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