Volume One: The Lord’s World of Hell Difficulty Chapter 16: The Vine Carriage

This time, devouring the walking corpses and flesh brought the Corpse-Eating Vines many benefits. All ten Corpse-Eating Vines leveled up, and one had even reached level 3. This delighted Chen Gu immensely. He immediately wanted to fuse another Corpse-Eating Vine, aiming to strengthen the level 3 vine to +4.

Just then, Chen Gu paused in his actions. He glanced at the broken carriage on the ground, then at the Corpse-Eating Vines. An idea sparked in his mind.

[Corpse-Eating Vine +3 (Level 3)] + [Damaged Carriage] = [??? (Success Rate 60%)]

“So it can be synthesized?”

Chen Gu waved his hand energetically. Hadn’t he been pondering how to deal with this carriage all along? Now, the solution presented itself. The 60% success rate, however, seemed a bit low. Should he add two more Corpse-Eating Vines?

He tried including other Corpse-Eating Vines, but as soon as he did, the success rate plummeted below 30%. This startled Chen Gu, making him wary of further reckless experimentation.

He then considered whether the problem lay with the carriage itself. He took his axe, chopped down two nearby trees, and repaired the carriage with some planks. Yet the outcome remained unchanged—the success rate stuck at 60%.

After careful thought, Chen Gu eventually came up with another method. Rather than immediately using the highest-level Corpse-Eating Vine for synthesis, he tested the success rate with one that hadn’t reached level 3. As expected, with a level 2 vine, the probability dropped to just 30%.

This realization dawned on Chen Gu. Without hesitation, he began enhancing the level 3 Corpse-Eating Vine, boosting it straight to +6—the maximum enhancement possible for the vine. Any further changes would require a different approach.

The enhanced vine, as Chen Gu expected, paired perfectly with the damaged carriage. The success rate soared to 90%. With odds like these, barring truly abysmal luck, any normal person could expect a successful fusion.

Chen Gu didn’t hesitate; he chose to synthesize immediately. At his command, the freshly upgraded +6 Corpse-Eating Vine burrowed into the earth. With its new level, its tendrils had increased from twelve to thirty-six, and each was noticeably thicker, now displaying a hint of intelligence.

Each tendril was as thick as a boa constrictor. Thirty-six of them appeared at once, encircling the broken carriage. With a powerful strike, the tendrils reduced the carriage to powder. For a moment, Chen Gu was dumbfounded. What was happening?

But in the next instant, he saw the tendrils gather up the carriage’s wheels and begin transforming into a carriage themselves. Only then did Chen Gu relax, watching the vines’ metamorphosis.

The transformation, though seemingly slow, was actually over in a flash. A brand-new carriage stood before Chen Gu. This carriage was larger than the previous damaged one, entirely green, yet it didn’t look as if it were simply woven from vines. Instead, it resembled a massive block of green wood, expertly carved into shape.

The carriage had both inner and outer layers. Inside, there were three rows of seats—the second and third facing each other, with a small table in between—comfortably seating six people. The exterior was split into a front section, a roof, and a rear section. The front had a driver’s bench for three. The roof lacked seating but had space for luggage. The rear featured two standing spots with handholds for stability.

The carriage’s wheels were the old ones, now wrapped in a layer of vine. Chen Gu also noticed many new details—leaf-made curtains on the windows, and flower bud-shaped lanterns at each corner.

[Pet synthesis complete. Acquired blue-quality Vine Carriage.]

[Pet Attributes]
Name: Vine Carriage
Quality: Blue
Type: Living Plant
Traits: Mount, Storage
Level: 3

Attributes: Attack 8, Defense 8, Health 500
Movement Speed: 80 km/h
Initial Skills:
- Pathfinding Level 2 (can move through forests and swamps without speed loss)
- Underground Movement Level 1 (carriage can travel underground)
- Vine Dance Level 2 (can release twelve vines to attack all enemies near the carriage)
- Devour Level 2 (can repair itself by devouring creatures, and retain their abilities)
- Pollen Spray Level 1 (buds can spray poisonous or hallucinogenic pollen)
- Storage Space Level 1 (30 slots)
- Concealment Level 1 (can hide itself among trees, difficult to spot)
Devoured Skills Retained: None
Description: A super-strong carriage formed from the fusion of a Corpse-Eating Vine and a carriage. Not only does it require no horses, but it can also carry many items. Special note: the rear seats can be flattened and the table lowered to form a bed.

Even with his usually steady mindset, Chen Gu couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise at this description. He quickly opened the carriage door and jumped inside.

Sitting in the front row, he found the interior adequate—just enough space to sit without feeling cramped, with only a fist’s height between his head and the ceiling. Pulling back the curtains, he could see outside, but only through the side windows. The view ahead was blocked by the driver’s partition; only the communication window to the driver provided a forward view.

After some thought, Chen Gu moved to the driver’s seat. The view was much better here, but why should he sit outside when the interior was more comfortable? After exploring both inside and out, he instructed the carriage to move.

He discovered that the carriage moved on its own—no driver, no animals—like a ghostly carriage, propelling itself forward. It automatically dodged trees in the forest, so there was no fear of crashing or overturning.

Satisfied with its speed and safety, Chen Gu settled into the carriage to experience being transported. He found he could direct its movement from the front row through the communication window, but inside the carriage, outside visibility was very limited. This was something he’d need to address.

With that thought, Chen Gu glanced at the Bloodshadow Wolves gathered at his feet, and a new idea formed in his mind.