Chapter 340 - 16: Blockade (3)

Chapter 340: Chapter 16: Blockade (3)

As a result, once it was inscribed as a Compound Array, the Growth Technique’s base area of effect reached a 250-meter radius, and the "Range Amplification" array provided a 100% boost.

This meant that the Growth Technique, which could originally only cover 282,743 square meters, could now cover 785,398 square meters—a 2.8-fold increase. The effect was astonishing. At the same time, the consumption of Basic-Level Spiritual Crystal Stones hadn’t increased by much, only by about 1%, making it extremely cost-effective.

Snapping out of his research, Lin Yu looked at the forest beside him, preparing to head back to the road. Then a thought occurred to him. ’These Eye Demons can parasitize not only humans but animals as well. We’re only stopping people right now, not animals, so our efforts aren’t that effective.’

’The best solution is to ensure not even a single mosquito can escape Black Salt City.’

Reinvigorated, he set to work along the edge of the wilderness, inscribing the "Growth Technique" and "Range Amplification" Compound Array. He also tossed in some special defensive cacti from his own territory and gave them an order: shoot any creature that tries to pass through the forest, aim for the legs, and crush any hope they have of escaping.

Since the cacti could fire into the air, even passing birds would be shot down.

...

「Hass Manor.」

「Opal Hass’s Office.」

"Young Master, an urgent message has arrived from Black Salt City!"

"What’s happened?"

"The Eye of the Celestial God’s actions—constantly grabbing people and forcing them to accept the symbionts—have provoked the resentment of Black Salt City’s residents. Large groups of them are now preparing to flee the city for safety."

"Hmm... well done. Tell the family’s representative to ignore those who are fleeing. Just let them go. What about Le Zi?"

"Le Zi left Black Salt City along with other residents, but they were stopped on the road. All routes out of the city have reportedly been sealed."

"What? Who did it?"

"The Cuiwei Corps. The Emergency Affairs Division."

"Damn it, wasn’t their request to lock down the city already denied?"

"The Cuiwei Corps invoked its independent enforcement authority, bypassing Black Salt City’s departments. They’re acting on their own and have even conscripted several Extraordinary Squads for support."

Marcus rubbed his temples. ’To help the Eye Demon clan establish a foothold on this planet, to even conquer this Human Race planet... I’ve really worn myself out.’

’As long as I can occupy this planet, I’ll have a chance to become an Eye Demon Overlord. After all, every Eye Demon on this planet is my offspring. Once they’ve parasitized a host and matured, a portion of their power will flow back to me.’

’But the Cuiwei Corps’ actions have disrupted my plans. They’ve not only hindered the members of the Eye of the Celestial God within Black Salt City, but they’ve also stopped my people who were still in hiding.’

"...Damn it. Tell the people who left Black Salt City to stay put and wait for an opportunity. The Eye of the Celestial God members will proceed as planned. And how is the ’release’ plan going?"

"We’ve already released nearly ten thousand larvae. We estimate another twenty thousand can be released tomorrow."

Marcus was relatively pleased to hear this.

"Excellent. Have those larvae parasitize animals and then leave Black Salt City immediately."

"Also, tell the family members to find an excuse to leave Cuiwei Star for other planets. And get the Teleportation Array ready. I’m pulling out tomorrow."

"Yes, sir!"

...

Within Black Salt City, the members of the Eye of the Celestial God, having received their orders, mobilized once more. Like an old-school biker gang, they split into squads and tore through the city on motorcycles. Anyone they targeted would be surrounded and forcibly implanted with a "symbiont," which replaced one of their limbs—all under the guise of a "divine gift."

Those who were "gifted" a symbiont would curse and rage at first, but after a while, they would join the gang’s ranks.

The ordinary people of Black Salt City were terrified by this spectacle, especially the contradictory shift in the victims’ attitudes. They either locked themselves indoors or fled the city in groups.

Among these people, a group of "normal" individuals began to secretly circulate a so-called "divine medicine." They claimed that anyone who took it would gain power comparable to a member of the Eye of the Celestial God, allowing them to walk freely through Black Salt City.

Many people were duped into buying the "divine medicine." After taking it, they discovered they could indeed walk freely through the city; members of the Eye of the Celestial God they passed on the street showed no interest in them whatsoever. As a result, they began to enthusiastically promote it to their friends and family.

In the sewers beneath Black Salt City, members of the Eye of the Celestial God and some of the "divine medicine" peddlers could be seen holding boxes, pouring their contents into the drains.

...

「Dawn broke, and a new day arrived.」

The Black Salt City residents waiting at the roadblock were stunned to find that the wilderness beyond the highway had completely transformed overnight.

Where barren grassland once stood, a forest of countless thick, tall trees had sprung up—and it was a very dangerous-looking forest at that.

Birds looking for food in the morning flew over the treetops, only to be silently shot down. On the patch of wasteland in front of the forest, the ground was littered with a dense carpet of corpses, including not just birds but small animals as well.

The new forest was like a death zone. Any animal that tried to get close died.

"They couldn’t have done this, right?"

"It must have been them. Other than Extraordinary powers, what else could make a forest sprout from the wasteland so quickly?"

"That forest seems to be attacking any animal that gets near it. Look at all the dead animals on the ground."

...

They stared in astonishment at the forest and the corpses lining its edge, speculating about the woods and the powers of the two Extraordinary Beings guarding the roadblock. They were a mixture of fearful, envious, and awestruck that the two could create such a vast, seemingly endless forest in a single night.