It was already afternoon when he returned to the rental house.
Lu Yao first let Cactus Ball clean the house and made a cup of hot tea himself.
After the house became clean, he turned on his computer while drinking the tea.
After being away for half a day, he wondered if there had been any changes in the Pixel World.
……
After logging into the emulator, Lu Yao first focused on Yao City.
Whether the world was in chaos or not, this place said it all.
Sarina reported to Lu Yao about the situation of the small world in the past few years.
Basically, everything was looking up.
Except for one small episode.
The Pixel World had given birth to a monster called the Black Water Strider, which had a strong appetite for food, an extremely high reproduction rate, and was quite aggressive.
This monster caused a lot of trouble to some pixel villains and transcendent creatures in the early days and caused some human damage, but under the leadership of Yao City, Salt City and Saniro, the Western Continent quickly completed the siege and control of the Black Water Striders.
Yao Cheng discovered through actual combat and testing that the Black Water Strider was afraid of fire, was restrained by Anaesthetic Juice, and was simple-minded. The Medicine Spoon Prophet also compiled a volume of “Summary of Black Water Strider Habits” to make this information public.
Saltro tapped into the commercial value of black water striders: their tongues and sharp claws were first-rate, high-quality material, and the meat in their carapace, though scarce, was very tasty.
Saniro turned out to be the most important main combatant this time.
A large number of transcendent creatures grouped together in teams and hunted black water striders all over the world, partly to obtain special materials and partly to be able to sell them for a good price.
This was because the Dwarf Fortress’s Furnace Clan had assessed that the Black Water Strider’s tongue, claws, and teeth were all practical, fine-grade materials. They continued to acquire them, and as long as there were enough of such materials, they could craft fine equipment.
Ever since the World City Vault had become renowned in all directions, the transcendent creatures’ passion for treasures had increased with each passing day.
After all, no one knew what tomorrow would bring, whether they would be seriously injured due to an encounter with a natural enemy. If one could have fine-grade treasures for defence, one might be able to change the situation.
The groups that were ahead of the others already possessed fine-grade treasures.
For example, there were fishmen and man-eating crabs.
The former’s identity was between transcendent beings and humans, and because of their pilgrimage and their proximity to the sea, they travelled closely with Yao City.
Nowadays, fishmen gained many occupational positions, such as cooks, healers, fishermen and farmers. They were also able to consistently get the magic potion [Anaesthetic Juice] for healing and hunting as a result.
Cannibal crabs, on the other hand, had formed mercenary groups and were willing to provide services such as bodyguards, transport and even hunting as long as the price was right. Plus, they have high intelligence and strong collaboration ability, very favoured by merchants, captains and city guards and so on.
Not long ago, the cannibal crabs reached a long-term partnership with the dwarves, and they always travel with [Blast Furnace Honey Wine], relying on this special wine to communicate and negotiate with other transcendent beings. In addition, cannibal crabs have a strong radiation to the ocean, and they can find some special props under the sea from time to time, and it will be easier to obtain fine treasures by refining and processing.
Holding these transcendental treasures would be a great sense of security and confidence.
Those who don’t have them feel anxious.
The key is not whether to use it or not, it’s whether to have it or not.
Times were different.
In the past, there weren’t many transcendent beings in this world, and each one of them was able to entrench themselves on one side, controlling a huge territory, and there was usually no conflict.
But with the gods sending down oracles, the change of epochs, and the emergence of split earthworms …… The number of transcendent beings is increasing, and it is no longer feasible to still live in accordance with the old way.
Every individual must follow the flow of the times, and the transcendent side was no exception.
The hunt targeting the black water striders was just an outward manifestation of transcendent life in the general environment.
It was an opportunity for the Transcendent group to rapidly accumulate treasures and advantages.
……
Lu Yao wasn’t surprised after hearing Sarina’s description.
Although Saniro was a neutral city, it was solidly rooted in the Transcendent side. As long as the city continued to progress and grow, Transcendent beings would inevitably be affected by its radiation.
On the contrary, an economic species like the Black Water Strider belonged to the accidental unfolding.
Lu Yao clicked on the Yao City Shrine, which contained a Black Water Strider captured by Sarina.
This small four-legged black bug was said to be very fierce. But under the pixelated screen, it had a silly appearance.
……
[Black Water Strider LV8]
Life Value: 133/133
Mana: 25/25
Damage: 10
Defence: 5
Speed: 6
[Rapid Reproduction]
Can reproduce offspring quickly.
[Iron Stomach]
The vast majority of substances can be ingested as food.
[Piercing Tongue LV2]
Uses a specially structured tongue to quickly pierce prey and kill it.
[Familiars]
[Whistle Blower] A modified race.
……
Lu Yao frowned.
It turned out that it wasn’t a natural evolution, it was a monster that [Whistle Blower] had dropped over.
He pondered slightly and brought in the other party’s thoughts.
The three main characteristics of the Black Water Strider were that it was fertile, edible, and aggressive. This exotic invasive species theoretically had no direct natural enemies, and they relied on their numerical advantage to occupy the top of the pyramid in various localised areas.
And once they were given the chance to develop from all sides, it would be a disaster comparable to Armageddon, enough to destroy all the species of a shattered world.
It seemed that [Whistle Blower] no longer had the patience to continue waiting for the key, so he simply dropped Black Water Striders in to highlight the one that couldn’t get it and destroy it.
Switching to the time when Lu Yao had just entered, the moment the Black Water Strider appeared, he would indeed be helpless against this alien Transcendent Species offensive.
Today was not what it used to be.
The number of Transcendent beings here kept increasing, coupled with the fact that mundane civilisations and Transcendent groups were gradually forming intersections with each other, the appearance of the Black Water Strider instead became the meat and potatoes in everyone’s eyes, and they competed to capture it.
Thus, the catastrophic drama of alien invasion turned into a cosy daily routine of adding dishes to the dining table.
Lu Yao was happy about this.
This is the power of civilisation development. Without the need for a god like himself to keep an eye on them, the members of the civilisation system would react quickly and make choices and changes that would benefit themselves.
Isabel also flew over and spoke about the situation she saw.
“The Southern New Continent was initially damaged somewhat by the Black Water Striders, but soon enough, teams of adventurers and Transcendents from all over arrived and fished and hunted down almost all of them.”
“After this, the elves of the southern continent also decided once and for all to build a village belonging to the elves around Elf Lake. They cast aside their former suspicions and asked Tree Demon Joti to be their leader and shelter, and Joti eventually agreed.”
Lu Yao said in his heart that this was good news.
Under external pressure, the Buddhist elves were in a hurry.
Isabelle continued, “Everything is normal in the eastern continent, the Blackwater Striders broke into the territory of the Mad Inferno Birds and Fiery Chickens over there, and basically wiped out their entire army.”
“In the valley, Pinkman took the White Rose Servants and cleared out all the Black Water Striders and made them into flower fertiliser, which is said to be very helpful for growing roses.”
“In the northern New World, Snowman and Pasha collected many Black Water Strider eggs and hatched them into Eclipsed Black Water Striders, which became subordinates of the Dragon’s Nest. Jimmy ordered them to exclusively eat rubbish and faeces to keep the Dragon Nest clean and hygienic.”
Lu Yao almost spat out a mouthful of water.
This was a bit much.
Not bad for you, Jimmy.
“My lord, the Dragon’s Nest has the most mature development of Black Water Striders.”
Isabelle explained emphatically, “The Black Water Strider has been given a new mission after Pasha transformed it with the Ember Sun. As long as one holds Pasha’s Dragon Saliva, one can control the Eclipsed Descent Black Water Strider.”
“The dwarves have been the first to use it.”
“A living Black Water Strider is just a very efficient and magical tool, much more valuable than being broken down into materials.”
Lu Yao interrupted her.
He had doubts.
This thing, dragon saliva, was the saliva of a dragon. Could Pasha stand it when it was spat out in one gulp like this?
“My lord, in fact, dragon saliva is Pasha’s faeces ……”
Got it.
It’s really the same thing as dragon saliva.
Anyway, the Black Water Strider invasion had been put right by all parties and had been developed for various uses.
Lu Yao turned his viewpoint to the Dwarf Fortress.
At this moment, Dwarf Artisan Hammer Endless and his two assistants were crafting an equipment.
A dialogue box appeared above Hammer Endless’ head, “The joints of this right hand aren’t flexible enough, it needs to add some bones and strider ropes to increase the angle of movement and flexibility.”
“And the right hand is not strong enough, it can be a bit stronger, the shell load bearing is still generous.”
He grabbed one of the [Ecliptic Black Water Striders] on the wooden table and aimed it at the prop on the iron felt.
The Black Water Strider quickly spits out its tongue, piercing holes in the metal left foot of this one.
Then, the Dwarf used the Black Water Strider’s constantly biting fangs to cut off some of the leg’s metal shell and refinish it.
Lu Yao read it.
This was using the Black Water Strider as a biological drill and high strength cutter.
A few moments later, a brand new right hand prosthetic limb came out.
……
[Robust Arm (Right)] [Made by Hammer Endless & Fellows]: +1 Defence.
Life value: 394/394
……
The buyer was actually Salt Long who he hadn’t seen in a long time.
Lu Yao clicked on his panel and found that Salt Long’s level had come to LV19, along with a new ability.
……
[Clothes of Fire]: allows flames to surround itself, creating a constant flame burn on the enemy.
……
One more item in his history as well.
At the age of 101, he lost his right arm while fighting against a swarm of Black Water Striders to protect three humans.
Lu Yao felt a surge of relief in his heart.
The once rebellious and paranoid young man was now a dependable and role model for many.
