Chapter 17: Buster Town

After a long chat with Li Yuqing, Zeng Shen felt rejuvenated and decided to survey his divine realm. His consciousness formed above the Yanhuang Domain, allowing him to observe the realm.

At the forest's edge, Little Black and five kittens were playing with catnip balls, while two black-spotted white cats watched over them like guardians. The cat bowls nearby were empty.

"Strange, where's the large black cat and the rest of the cat group?" Zeng Shen wondered, scanning the trees and shrubs for them.

A quick focus of his consciousness revealed they were by Stream Bay, led by the large black cat.

The black cat, with keen eyes, was perched on a stone, watching a dark shape in the stream, reminiscent of fishing.

Indeed, the cat group was hunting by the stream.

Zeng Shen checked the divine realm panel.

[Aquatic Life: Plankton Clusters (200 clusters)]

"Wow, from 20 clusters last night to 200 today. The plankton proliferated fast."

"Time to introduce the freshwater shrimp and carp fry."

Taking out two white cards, he focused, and the cards dissolved into starlight, dispersing into the Yanhuang Domain.

[The host has placed 1 Freshwater Shrimp Card in the water area, gaining 1000 shrimp fry, divine experience +1.]

[The host has placed 1 Freshwater Carp Card in the water area, gaining 100 carp fry, divine experience +1.]

"Generous amounts—these should multiply in three to four months."

"By then, the cats will have fish and shrimp to catch."

Zeng Shen turned his gaze to the forest-plains border.

Yesterday's rice fields were sprouting vibrant green shoots, prompting him to use the Eye of Insight.

[Rice Field: Seedling stage, expected harvest in three months.]

"Great, a three-month harvest cycle."

"I wonder what eating divine rice will feel like and how it might affect the body."

Zeng Shen pondered, then shifted his focus to Emerald Valley.

After a night of mining, the vehicle had amassed numerous emeralds.

Using the Eye of Insight, he focused on a palm-sized, ingot-shaped emerald.

[Emerald: Green-quality material, contains thin divine energy.]

"Just as I thought, material quality mirrors card color."

"But only one green-quality emerald among hundreds?"

While surveying his realm, Little White's barking interrupted him.

"Ding dong."

The doorbell rang as well.

Zeng Shen returned to his body, approached the door, and peered through the peephole to see a young man in a delivery uniform.

Behind him, two more deliverymen unloaded boxes from the elevator.

"Hello, is this Zeng Shen's residence?" the deliveryman asked warmly.

"Yes, I'm Zeng Shen," he replied, glancing at the towering boxes behind him. "Are these the cat beds I ordered?"

"Yes, please sign here."

Zeng Shen obliged, then directed them to place the boxes in the living room.

Ten minutes later, with the boxes inside, Zeng Shen reopened the divine realm gate to the forest edge.

"Woof woof."

Little White barked happily, seeing Little Black playing with the kittens, and ran through the gate.

Little Black meowed joyfully upon seeing Zeng Shen and Little White.

After storing the boxes in his inventory, Zeng Shen entered the divine realm, petting Little Black as it meowed affectionately.

The five kittens also approached for attention, which Zeng Shen distributed equally. Their fur was rougher than Little Black's, prompting him to plan a bath for them when more familiar.

After some interaction, Zeng Shen filled the cat bowls and watched the kittens and two black-spotted white cats eat.

He then took the cat beds from his inventory, setting them up along the forest edge.

In just over an hour, twenty pet cat houses were assembled.

The tree stump-style houses varied in shape, each about 1.5 meters tall and half a meter wide, with two spacious holes lined with soft cushions for sleeping.

With the cat houses ready, Zeng Shen addressed the cats, whether they understood or not:

"From now on, this forest edge is your new home, Buster Town."

"Meow."

Little Black meowed as if understanding, carrying a catnip ball into the largest tree stump.

Soon, the other kittens followed, eager to play.

Outside, Little White hesitated, glancing at the black-spotted white cats eating nearby.

"It's okay, go ahead," Zeng Shen encouraged, giving Little White a nudge.

Little White darted inside, joining the playful fray.

Satisfied, Zeng Shen checked the time—already past 2 PM.

"The divine realm is settled."

"Time to earn more survival points and strengthen my foundation."

Leaving Little White in the realm, Zeng Shen exited the Yanhuang Domain, returned to his apartment, and headed out to begin his daily point-earning activities.

[The host, bold and skilled, spent a night in an apartment occupied by a powerful Curse Deity and its followers, gaining 10 survival points.]

[The host calmly crossed a beast-infested sidewalk without alerting any deities, gaining 10 survival points.]

[The host, daring as ever, ventured into the perilous commercial street...]