Volume One: The Hell-Level Lord World Chapter 61: The Emerald Kingdom

[Territory Name: None
Main City: Silverpine Vale (Level 3, Elven Dominion), Emerald Forest (Level 1, Emerald Kingdom)
Sub-Cities: None
Resources: 5,617 gold coins; Stone: 31; Wood: 42; Metal: 17; Food: 44; Mercury: 1; Crystal: 0; Gem: 3; Sulfur: 0
Wilderness Camps: Wolf Mountain (Level 1), Wolf Mountain (Level 1), Fire Raven Farm (Level 1)
Wilderness Resource Points: None
Roads: 1
Outposts: 1
Safe Zone: 0.031%]

Closing the territory interface, Chen Gu understood the situation before him.

The newly established Emerald Ant Nest did not fall under the elven system. Yet, perhaps this was for the best. This way, Chen Gu would have two distinct urban systems. Even if his visible city was discovered by the undead, he would still have alternative plans.

Of course, the Emerald Forest was still rather weak. There was only a single Emerald Queen capable of producing emerald ants at present. If he simply waited for development, who knew how long it would take. Therefore, Chen Gu spoke decisively, “It’s time to supply you with more resources. I imagine a large quantity of flesh is what you need most, isn’t it?”

To his question, the Emerald Queen nodded in earnest. Though emerald ants appeared attractive, in truth they were fierce creatures, on par with man-eating ants. Given enough flesh, their nest would expand rapidly in the shortest possible time.

“I saw a group of walking corpses about ten miles away. There weren’t many, but their flesh should be useful. I’ll deal with them, and then I’ll leave the flesh for you to handle.

First, separate a queen nest and a brain bug for me. I’ll take them away, and the rest is up to you. My requirement is that every ten kilometers, there is a sub-nest, and that the entire underground be occupied.”

“Yes, my lord. However, my lord…” The Emerald Queen hesitated.

“What is it? Is it difficult?” Chen Gu fixed her with a cold gaze.

“No, my lord. It’s just, we currently reside about seven meters underground—this is the ideal depth for our emerald ants. Occupying this layer is quite simple. But, my lord, to take over the entire underground is beyond us. About a thousand meters below the surface, there is another world beneath the earth.”

“What did you say?” Chen Gu sprang to his feet.

“About a thousand meters underground, there is another world, vast as the surface, with many great cities,” she explained. “Our abilities are limited; we cannot dig so deep. So, to occupy the whole subterranean world is simply impossible for us.”

Listening to her, Chen Gu’s eyes shone with excitement. “You mean there’s another world below us? Where is the entrance? How many cities are there? Have the undead taken it?”

Faced with his barrage of questions, the Emerald Queen was at a loss for words. She shook her head and replied only after he’d finished, “I don’t know where the entrance is. I can only sense the underground world’s presence. This feeling comes from memories left by the Elf Queen. When she escaped, she planned to seek out that world. It should not yet have fallen to the undead. As for the entrance—I truly don’t know.”

Chen Gu was not surprised by this answer. The Elven Dominion had ruled this world for so many years and never found the underground world; he did not expect Emerald to know either. Still, he pressed, “Are you sure it’s only about a thousand meters down? Can’t I just dig straight down?”

“But, my lord, without a map of the underground world, how can you be certain you’re directly above it?” she replied.

Chen Gu paused, then gave an awkward smile. Of course—without knowing if he was right above that world, he could dig and dig and still never find it.

“Never mind, this is good news nonetheless. At least the underground world isn’t yet in the hands of the undead. That gives me an idea. As for you, Emerald, forget about the thousand-meter layer. Focus on the six-meter layer. If I give you enough flesh, can you fully occupy it?”

“I can,” she answered without hesitation.

Hearing her assent, Chen Gu smiled. “Very well. Send your worker ants with me to collect the flesh. I’ll help you gather what you need to start, but after that, you’re on your own. My time is limited.”

“Rest assured, my lord. The emerald ants have not ventured out before, but that does not mean we lack the ability to expand.”

While conversing with Emerald, Chen Gu returned to the surface. He noticed that the emerald ants who had been defeated but not slain by his subordinates earlier had fled to the surface, now scurrying in chaos across the unknown valley, resembling an army of man-eating ants on the march.

Emerging with Emerald from underground, Chen Gu surveyed the scene. “Emerald, what about these ants?”

“They’re just temporary labor. Once new emerald ants are bred, these will be obsolete,” she replied with a disdainful snort.

“Perfect. Have them help transport the corpses. You direct them—we’re off to hunt down that group of walking corpses.”

Chen Gu cared little about which ants Emerald commanded. So long as the work was done.

He already envisioned the Emerald Ants’ role in the creation of the Emerald Kingdom: a communication network stretching beneath the entire lord’s domain, ensuring the smooth command of his subordinate heroes. If he could establish a subterranean transport network, the emerald ants could ferry vital resources, eliminating the risk of supply convoys being discovered by enemies.

As for battle, Chen Gu regarded the emerald ants no differently than man-eating ants. He had no intention of making them his main fighting force; their combat prowess was mediocre, and their numbers still small. Using them against the undead would be reckless.

For now, his focus remained on the elven city, which might still offer a fighting chance against the undead legions. If the Emerald Kingdom could fulfill his two requirements, that would be enough.

With these thoughts, Chen Gu leapt onto the vine-drawn carriage and soon arrived ten miles beyond the valley, where a group of undead elves stood guard over something.