The corpse count in Night San Geng's possession is abundant, particularly with the presence of five hundred goblin corpses lying on the ground. Moreover, he recently acquired a fair amount of gold coins from Yang Tian. While Night San Geng harbors a deep sense of disdain for a dignified temple knight carrying only a few hundred gold coins, he acknowledges the impracticality of carrying an excessive amount of gold coins. Besides, the fact that he, an undead, managed to extract benefits from a temple knight already defies expectations. Therefore, he refrains from demanding too much.
Currently, Night San Geng contemplates the sole remaining condition to bring his envisioned structure to life: timber. Initially deemed an easily achievable condition due to his lair being adjacent to a vast forest, it now stands diminished to ash. During daylight, he cautiously withdrew his lumbering skeletons to the farm, resulting in meager wood gains due to their inefficiency. Regrettably, some were even smashed by Weng Ling. Consequently, Night San Geng finds himself holding a meager seven raw logs, insufficient for constructing any building beyond the Decay Pool.
However...
Night San Geng glances toward the depths of the Loran Forest, where another source of timber lies – the Misty Forest.
"Misty Forest!"
Strolling back and forth, Night San Geng appears somewhat uneasy. Rumors suggest entering the Misty Forest leads to getting lost without a way out, hinting at something peculiar within.
Yet, peculiarity encompasses both danger and opportunity.
Realizing that the construction of his buildings is crucial for maintaining his disguise, Night San Geng contemplates the need for defenses against unforeseen circumstances. The camouflage effect of the undead mark merely conceals him from being recognized as an undead, offering no certainty in a world teeming with unpredictable events.
To maximize his strengths, building structures emerges as his current beacon of hope. With economic and military buildings available, a well-developed strategy could potentially lead to the establishment of his undead kingdom. A formidable force would deter others from making rash moves against him, even in this realm of the undead.
Moreover, with the goblins eradicated in Loran Forest, a reliable source of soul energy becomes a pressing concern. The significance of structures like the Body Preservation Cabin, capable of conserving soul energy, rises to a paramount level.
However, for buildings to rise, wood is essential. To obtain wood, the Misty Forest seems inevitable.
Determined, Night San Geng hammers Old Ge's waist, acknowledging the incapacity of his current accomplices. Despite the vast disparity between the soldiers and the crippled swordsman, he brings them along, hoping they may serve as cannon fodder when needed.
As for the skeletal foot soldiers...
Observing the motionless 26 low-level skeletons by the stench-filled farm, Night San Geng sighs deeply. Fortunately, their inability to speak saves him from potential awkwardness.
With a minimal arsenal at his disposal, Night San Geng shrugs helplessly, checks his equipment, and sets forth into the once majestic forest.
Crackling through the remnants of burnt ashes, Night San Geng experiences an odd sense of walking through snow. Occasional flickering flames linger on, emitting a faint aroma of charred wood.
The towering trees, now reduced to ashes, eliminate concerns about recognizing the path. Following the conspicuous tracks left by Yang Tian's group, Night San Geng proceeds leisurely. The straightforward trajectory suggests urgency or confidence, possibly heading directly into the Misty Forest.
However, a sudden realization prompts Night San Geng to pause and pale.
"Ah... how could I forget this!"
After scanning the surroundings to ensure no prying eyes, he retrieves a small, blue stone the size of a fingernail from his pocket.
This artifact, known as the Enlightenment Godstone, found its way into goblin hands for unknown reasons. Now in Night San Geng's possession, it requires charging.
In the entirety of Loran Forest, numerous goblins and other creatures perished in the fire. Although their bones turned to ashes, the residual soul energy remained.
Night San Geng perceives a wave of soul energy approaching him, almost startling him to death. However, the range of the undead mark's soul absorption isn't as overwhelming. Approximately fifty soul energies converge at once, while more distant ones gradually follow. It's enough for Night San Geng to channel the surplus into the Enlightenment Godstone.
Observing the rhythmic fluctuations of soul energy within the Godstone, Night San Geng slows his pace, strategically directing himself towards regions with abundant soul energy.
Fifty or so soul energy coincidentally matches the number of goblins in a small goblin camp. As he delves deeper, the influx increases, reaching hundreds simultaneously. This reflects his proximity to multiple large camps.
Reflecting on the vast number of goblins incinerated by the fire, Night San Geng can't help but shudder.
Fortunately, he wasn't present in the forest at the time. He vividly recalls Yang Tian's nonchalant attitude when setting the fire, without bothering to inquire about potential residents within...
As he amusingly absorbs soul energy like a magnet for a significant portion of the night, a pleasing sound finally rings out:
"The fusion of the Enlightenment Godstone is complete..."