Slime True Immortal

Nilly's suspicious voice came through, "Hey, you're not thinking up some plan to screw over your allies, are you?"

Chen Yu was as calm as an ice ball.

"Of course not. Dealing with these goblins is simple. We just need to set up defenses at the edge of the Fluorescent Forest."

"That's it?" Nilly sounded somewhat disappointed.

"I thought you'd come up with a better suggestion."

"You've seen the terrain around the Fluorescent Forest, right? Aside from annoying rocks everywhere, there's practically no natural, defensible terrain that can effectively hinder those green-skinned creatures' tide-like assaults."

Chen Yu instinctively wanted to bounce, but found his body stiff and immobile, so he just said directly:

"If there isn't any, then we'll build some. Before the goblin army invades, we'll select a suitable location at the forest's edge and build a sturdy bridgehead, specifically for resisting and wearing down the goblin attacks."

Nilly, far away, couldn't help but poke his doppelganger, transmitting the sensation back. "Easy for you to say. We Stone Descendants have inherited the Shadow Path and assassin arts through generations, not bricklaying and engineering."

"I, your auntie, am good at digging traps and hiding scouts, but this kind of work—building walls, laying bricks, constructing large-scale fortifications—is beyond me. Since you said that, you must have a plan. Spit it out." Chen Yu suppressed his bouncing instinct. "Stone Descendants aren't good at it, but we Slimes are."

"In fact, if our allies are generous enough, the Slime Kingdom is willing to provide military aid to Stone Fortress, dispatching our architects to help you build a solid defensive line at the edge of the Fluorescent Forest."

"Oh, so that's your goal." Nilly's shadow swayed, looking as if she had seen right through him.

But she didn't outright refuse. Instead, she used a sly tone: "However... if you truly have the capability and are willing to help block those annoying green skins, I might try to persuade those old fossils in the family who are more stubborn than stone. Make an exception to allow the Slime Kingdom's army to enter Gore and assist with the defense."

"How about it? Tempting, isn't it? This is a rare show of trust from us Stone Descendants towards outsiders." Her tone was full of allure.

Chen Yu's heart remained utterly placid.

Although he didn't know why she agreed so readily this time, it was clear this guy was probably trying to freeload off him again.

He signaled Little Ka beside him to use its claw to pat the shadow Nilly had projected, expressing his displeasure.

"This time, payment is mandatory."

Chen Yu emphasized, "Our army has to pass through an unstable planar rift to enter Gore, which itself carries huge risks. It's easy for accidents to happen during the teleportation, or for our tracks to be exposed prematurely."

"I won't do it without compensation."

Nilly's shadow made a shrugging motion, her tone sounding innocent: "Alright, alright, payment it is then."

"So, dear Slime Lord, what do you need? Let me state upfront, our Stone Fortress is dirt poor. No gold coins, and magic materials are probably a stretch too."

Chen Yu was prepared and spoke directly: "Shadow creature corpses. I need a large number of shadow creature corpses. Can you get them?"

Nilly's shadow paused, her voice tinged with confusion: "Shadow creature corpses? What do you need those for? To distill phantom potions or grind Shadow Dust?"

"As far as I know, apart from some obscure necromancy spells and special alchemy, that stuff isn't very useful, and it's troublesome to handle."

"That's a Slime Kingdom secret, can't tell you." Chen Yu stated righteously.

Of course it was a secret. He couldn't very well tell her the Slime Kingdom's king was a glutton, could he?

Nilly thought for a moment, seeming to carefully weigh the pros and cons, and finally said: "Fine, we'll try to collect as much as we can."

"But, you need to move fast. No one knows when those goblins might suddenly attack."

"Pleasure doing business."

After Chen Yu and Nilly hammered out the details of their cooperation, the shadow creature directly "whooshed" away, leaving only Yano in place.

He hurriedly reported the results of yesterday's meeting with the Stone Descendant ancestors.

"Actually, how to command the Gargoyle Legion isn't clearly recorded even in the ancestors' inheritances."

"Ancestor Castor was at a critical juncture where the family faced life and death, and he ventured deep into the gargoyle nests within the depths of Gore."

"No one knows what happened. When he returned, he had already ascended to the supernatural and led the subjugated Gargoyle Legion to turn the tide of the war."

Yano summarized: "So, to uncover this secret, later Stone Descendants must personally enter the depths of Gore, retrace the path the Grand Duke once walked, to possibly find the answer."

Chen Yu was taken aback upon hearing this.

These Stone Descendants themselves didn't know the trial content to become a Grand Duke?

No wonder they had strictly followed the Shadow Assassin career path for so long. They were probably afraid of missing some necessary condition, leading to trial failure.

And indeed, since Grand Duke Castor, the Stone Descendants had never successfully cultivated a second Stone Scion Grand Duke.

"What's your thought?" Chen Yu asked.

Yano took a deep breath. "I want to give it a try."

"So far, not a single Shadow Assassin has successfully replicated the Grand Duke's trial. I'm thinking, perhaps the assassin profession isn't a necessary part of the ritual."

"As a Stone Descendant knight, perhaps I also have a chance to touch this power."

Chen Yu patted Yano's shadow: "That doesn't sound like something the usual you would say. Don't forget, your family is waiting for you to return safely in the White Horse Kingdom."

"When I conquer the Dark Realm someday and blow up the gargoyles' lair to find the method to become a Grand Duke for you, why take this risk now?"

Yano was somewhat moved. His boss cared for him as always. However, he still insisted: "If a fledgling forever hides under its parents' wings, it can never become an eagle soaring the skies."

"I can't spend my whole life avoiding and retreating. To become a true knight, to tread the heroic path sung in epic ballads like that of 'Northwind Sword Saint' Atlas, I must advance, face challenges head-on. No one else can help me."

"With my current strength, I believe I am already qualified to reach for that former dream. If I shrink back now out of fear of risk, I might... regret it for the rest of my life."

His voice grew low, carrying resolve: "Actually, I've been struggling with this decision for a long time. If I ultimately don't return, please... take care of Lola and the children for me."

Alright, Chen Yu admitted he had underestimated Yano.

He never expected this usually somewhat simple, family-oriented middle-aged uncle to harbor such great determination and courage deep down.

How much of his own life was taken away back then when he was forced to withdraw from the Knight Training Camp because of the Petrification Disease?

Moreover, trials are called trials precisely because they are a challenge of constantly climbing upward and facing difficulties head-on.

Perhaps Yano would be fine living peacefully as a househusband, but being an epic knight hailed as a hero sounds good too.

"Since you've decided, then go. Remember to take my doppelganger. It might help you at critical moments, at least letting me know your situation."

To be honest, with Yano's current strength as an Elite Professional, even if he encountered those gargoyles that once forced him to flee, he could handle them easily.

His Stone Scion Bloodline grants immunity to petrification effects, coupled with a knight's power and a shadow assassin's agility—he's practically born to hunt gargoyles.

Perhaps Yano's expedition deep into Gore isn't as dangerous as he thinks.

But it's still better to be more prepared.

"Wait until the Kingdom's legion arrives in Gore. It's not too late to set out after taking the things I've prepared."

"The things you've prepared?" Yano was somewhat baffled.

...

Leaving the loyal Peachy to continue guarding the planar fissure and monitoring the goblins' movements.

The orange-red sunset cast a soft glow over their returning figures. Chen Yu, riding Little Ka, returned to the Swamp Fortress just as dusk arrived.