Chapter 93: The Event That Triggered Another Event
Chapter 93: The Event That Triggered Another Event
The surging attributes on the panel left Li Meng stunned.
The Strengthened Stone Skin skill had not only advanced to Strengthened Stone Body but also gained a powerful new ability: "Heart of Stone."
This ability to be immune to all negative effects made Li Meng drool with envy.
With this skill, only direct combat could defeat him.
"No wonder you were able to bring back so many Ogres, Benben. You've gotten stronger!"
Clearly, Benben had returned to the mountains to battle over the past few months, growing stronger through fights with his own kind.
The pitted and scarred armor on him was the best evidence.
Ordinary attacks couldn't cause such damage; only the fists of Ogres could leave such marks.
"Boss, my armor's broken and can't be worn anymore!"
Benben lowered his head, poking at his chest armor with his right hand.
With a poke, the chest armor immediately fell to the ground.
Li Meng grinned, feeling elated.
"No problem. I'll make you a new one. Let's go inside!"
Benben stood up and turned to roar a few times at his companions behind him.
The Ogres rose one by one, following their leader and the goblins into the Iron Cavern.
Before long, silence returned outside the cavern.
Under the moonlight, the forest resumed its previous tranquility.
In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task:
Crafting custom armor for Benben and his followers.
Thus began the daily life of a blacksmith upon Benben's return.
From that day onward, the metallic clanging sounds in the cavern grew even louder.
It was a new day, in the afternoon.
At the underground riverside of the Iron Cavern, Li Meng stood in front of a massive iron anvil, holding a large pair of tongs to place the red-hot armor pieces in position.
Benben wielded a giant iron hammer, striking repeatedly.
The Ogres curiously watched from the side.
Ogres liked warm environments, so they could tolerate high temperatures.
"Benben has become so strong, yet he can still be killed by humans. Humans should never be underestimated!"
Looking at Benben's massive frame, a trace of worry flickered in Li Meng's eyes.
The Irisis Principality was launching a massive invasion of the Goblin Forest to expand its territory.
The future of human invasions into the Goblin Forest seemed inevitable.
For humans, it was merely the development of untamed lands.
Exterminating the Savage Tribes was just a byproduct.
Conflict with humans was an unavoidable path in the future.
"Boss! Boss!"
At this moment, a goblin warrior named Gobuchai came running over excitedly.
However, upon seeing the densely packed, massive figures of Ogres by the riverside, Gobuchai stopped abruptly.
With a look of uncertainty, he glanced at the Ogres by the riverside.
Had the Iron Cavern been invaded by Ogres?
Where did so many Ogres come from?
"What's the matter?"
Seeing Gobuchai hesitating to approach, Li Meng inquired.
The boss's question snapped Gobuchai out of it.
With a fanatical expression, Gobuchai looked at the figure working by the anvil.
The boss was incredible. He had recruited so many Ogres as subordinates!
Overcoming his fear, Gobuchai cautiously approached the riverside.
"Boss, I encountered Pigmen in the eastern forest. They attacked us, but we drove them away!"
Gobuchai's report caused a flicker of emotion in Li Meng's expression by the anvil.
The pivotal point predicted in Simulated Life had finally arrived.
This conflict would lead to a large-scale attack by the Pigmen.
The Pigmen were likely already preparing for their westward expansion.
"Boss, it's not my fault! They attacked us first!"
Gobuchai shrank his neck and cautiously watched the boss's reaction.
"How far from Gobudi's Tribe did the battle take place?"
Gobudi's Tribe was about twenty kilometers west of the Pigmen's territory.
Not far, but not very close either.
Gobuchai began counting on his fingers.
"About five Iron Cavern distances from the tribe."
Since the Iron Cavern was roughly two kilometers from the Throne Tribe, five such distances would be just over ten kilometers.
"I see. You may go!"
Realizing he wouldn't be punished, Gobuchai grinned.
He turned and ran out of the cavern excitedly.
Listening to the retreating footsteps, Li Meng showed a contemplative expression.
It seemed the Pigmen were expanding westward.
"Gobu Ge!"
Li Meng suddenly called out.
By the water, Gobu Ge, who was cooling down, shuddered.
He immediately stood up and looked at the boss.
"Boss, I'm here!"
"Starting today, begin mass-producing goblin armor."
Because goblin physiques constantly evolved, full-body armor wasn't feasible.
However, simple armor to protect vital parts could be crafted.
With the Iron Cavern's current iron production, large-scale production of goblin armor was now viable.
It was time to equip his goblin subordinates.
With armor, even ordinary goblins' survival rates would improve significantly.
In the era of cold weapons, having armor made a world of difference.
Gobu Ge's eyes lit up, and he ran off energetically.
"Boss, got it!"
Having been stuck forging arrowheads and spear tips, Gobu Ge was tired of it.
At last, he could forge something new.
Li Meng looked up at Benben and grinned.
"Benben, pick up the pace. Next month, we'll trouble the Pigmen!"
Benben let out a joyful roar and hammered even harder.
---
Goblin Northern Forest.
Deep within the endless green expanse, a tributary of the Goblin River meandered north.
About twenty kilometers away, along the riverbanks, a settlement had sprung up at some point.
Wooden structures lined both banks in a continuous stretch.
A vast area of forest around it had been cleared, leaving not even tree stumps.
In the afternoon sun, the Goblin Forest gleamed brightly.
Inside the largest wooden house in the settlement:
"What a bunch of useless fools! You can't even handle a bunch of goblins!"
A roar of fury echoed in the wooden house.
Over a dozen Pigmen, clad in animal hides, sat cross-legged in the hall.
At the head of the room sat a Pigman leader, towering at nearly 2.5 meters, resembling a giant.
His stout and rotund build was larger than the other Pigmen present.
Faced with the leader's gaze, all the elders lowered their heads.
"Chief, goblins have been appearing frequently in the western forest. There must be a goblin nest there."
"No kidding! We've barely been here for a short time, and reports of goblin sightings keep coming in every few days."
"The goblins we encountered this time were unusual. They seemed to avoid us intentionally."
"Exactly! Several times, goblins turned and fled as soon as they spotted our hunting teams."
"We're Pigmen! Isn't it normal for goblins to run away from us?"
"No, goblins are generally too foolish to assess their strength accurately."
"True. When goblins gather, they'd even dare to bite a dragon a few times."
The elders in the hall engaged in lively discussion, gradually forgetting about the chief's earlier anger.