But it seemed to work.

Arthur actually believed it.

Count Bran was overjoyed, leaning close to Chen Yu and whispering in a low voice, "Say a bit more, Your Excellency."

Chen Yu thought for a moment, then spoke solemnly:

"Go forth, fearless knight!"

"In the name of nature, purify that defiled land, drive those filthy descendants of hell back to where they belong. This is... the trial nature has given you!"

The soulfire beneath Arthur's helmet instantly erupted with unprecedented blazing intensity! He abruptly stood up, his rusted armor emitting a teeth-grating metallic grinding sound, his right hand pounding heavily on his left breastplate with a dull thud:

"In the name and honor of knighthood! I shall faithfully carry out this mission! Purify the filth, expel the filthy descendants!"

"Good, well said!"

Count Bran flew down to Arthur's shoulder, puffing out his chest and raising his head.

"Merely demon descendants, with this Count's wisdom alone is enough to ensure you pass the trial smoothly."

"Retainer, advance, go eliminate those damned demons attempting to defile nature."

"Yes!"

Arthur felt that since he had been alive, he had never been as impassioned as he was today, as if eliminating demons was originally his duty.

He had found the meaning of his existence.

Indeed, nature was guiding him!

Arthur didn't hesitate, immediately turning around, mounting his horse, and leaving, preparing to head to the dungeon Chen Yu mentioned.

Count Bran gave a "well done" look from behind.

Seeming to say, Your Excellency made that up quite well too.

"Really gone?"

Chen Yu stood on the wall, watching the two dark figures gradually being swallowed by the thick mist.

He suddenly realized that this knight might have genuinely come seeking a trial.

But the demon descendants in that dungeon weren't made up.

With that knight's strength, even if he couldn't win, he could still escape.

When they see those densely packed filthy descendants, they should probably know to retreat.

Chen Yu put this matter aside, jumped down to the ground, and went to practice his mud pellet crafting.

After the noisy crow left, the construction site returned to its bustling state, the little slimes busy again, gradually building up the territory bit by bit.

...

Two days later, the temperature gradually grew hot and dry, even in the swamp one could feel the direct changes brought by the shifting weather—

The number of magical creatures in the swamp forest was increasing.

Besides common slimes, poison frogs, venomous snakes, water lizards... their numbers were all growing, the swamp was becoming more dangerous.

But for the ruler of this swamp, it had another layer of meaning—more subjects, the possibility of elite units appearing was increasing.

【Mud Pellet Sword Crafting Lv.1】

In the open space inside the castle.

A mud pellet floated before the slime, drawing in wisps of spiritual energy to refine itself.

As Chen Yu willed it, the mud pellet shot out, revealing a sharp sword shape, charging into the swamp, exploding and splashing water everywhere.

With another thought, the mud pellet that had sunk into the swamp trembled and flew out, returning into the gel.

Chen Yu was so happy he bubbled.

One sword pellet was successfully made.

Although the power was average, with Lv.1 Mud Pellet Sword Crafting plus Lv.3 Object Manipulation, he could already control four sword pellets at once.

Chen Yu continued kneading mud pellets, making three more sword pellets.

And he discovered that by applying 【Turn Mud to Stone】 to the sword pellets, he could fix the mud pellets into harder little stone swords.

While retaining some controllability, the power could also increase quite a bit.

Indeed, when it came to playing with mud, it had to be civil engineering cultivators.

Chen Yu stored the four stone swords, then hopped up to the tree house and swallowed ten Rocksteady Talismans.

Instantly feeling full of security.

Even if he encountered a surging tide of filthy descendant magical creatures, he was confident he could handle it.

He originally planned to ride Little Ka to patrol the swamp territory, digging out talented magical creature beasts within the territory to expand his magical creature army.

But just then, a poison-stinger wasp flew back from the western forest paths.

The poison-stinger wasp came in through the tree house window, perched on his head to convey information.

"...territory...humans...goblins..."

Question marks popped up in Chen Yu's head.

Adventurers appeared in the west?

Such niche news.

How did they get through the swamp to there?

Sounded like they even had conflicts with the goblins living by the lake.

He abandoned his plan to patrol the territory, deciding to go west to see what was happening.

But because the poison-stinger wasp's poison resistance wasn't high enough to traverse the deep swamp, the western forest paths detoured around the swamp center.

This poison-stinger wasp returning to report had taken at least half a day, so he didn't expect to see humans and goblins when he got there.

But this matter... could it be related to the knight and crow that went to the dungeon two days ago.

Chen Yu thought idly.

"Little Ka, we've got work!"

"Kaka!!"

Chen Yu mounted Little Ka and rushed out of the castle, speeding past the fortress construction site.

The two diligently working civil engineering slimes didn't even look up, still burying themselves in hard work. When they ran out of spiritual energy, they picked up a gray gravel crystal and sucked on it with "squish squish" sounds.

After filling up with spiritual energy, they buried themselves in work again.

As long as the gray gravel crystals in the clay pot weren't finished, they wouldn't rest.

...

"Little Ka, how come you're still so skinny even after eating so much?"

"Kaka?"

The little crocodile ran through the swamp, its small head showing the same confusion.

Chen Yu noticed that no matter how many moss monsters it ate these days, it didn't grow bigger. It seemed malnourished, but instead ran faster than before, speeding past the ruined village in a flash.

Just as he was curiously staring at Little Ka, a piece of information suddenly appeared in his shaking field of vision.

—

Reputation Title: Loyal Stalker

Acquisition Conditions: Under the swamp lord's watchful will, a crocodile (or crocodile-like magical creature) must regard the long sprint through mud and darkness as a solemn mission, love dashing through the swamp from the depths of its soul, and complete a recognized swamp pilgrimage symbolizing its loyalty and speed.

Title Effects:

1. Fame Imprint: The name "Loyal Stalker" spreads through the swamp, remembered by magical creatures belonging to the stalking and hunting path, bringing friendliness and awe.

2. Swamp Stealth: When in swamp environments, its running/swimming (surface or shallow water) speed +200%, stamina +200%.

Note: This is swiftness crowned by muddy sacrament, a departure from the ambusher's nature, using limbs to cut trails through stagnant water, loyalty offered to the swamp lord!

—

Holy loyalty!

Little Ka, you've become an elite crocodile!

No wonder he felt something was off today.

Turns out it was running too fast, too smoothly.

Chen Yu guessed that he could see Little Ka's title possibly because achieving this reputation title was related to him.

Or it might be related to the "Elite Breeding Ground" effect of the Slime Lord.

"Little Ka, well done!"

"Kaka?"

Although the little crocodile didn't understand why its king was praising it, the exhilaration of running made it feel free and happy.

Soon it carried Chen Yu past the water banyan forest, reaching the edge of the territory.

The little slime and crocodile hid behind a tree, secretly observing.

To Chen Yu's surprise, although the lake beach was shrouded in the swamp's common thick mist, he could see dark figures moving within it.

Occasionally, words in the common tongue would come through the mist.

This place was much livelier than before.

Quite a few people here.