Chapter 41: The Tribute Has Arrived
Goblin limits are closely tied to their paternal bloodline.
The lower limits of goblins, however, are closely related to the maternal body.
The goblins born from ground mouse mothers have the lowest limits.
If the mother is a dragon, the goblin born would not only have extraordinary attributes from birth but might even evolve into a goblin king upon reaching adulthood.
Additionally, it would possess draconic traits, granting it powerful skills.
Of course, dragon-blooded goblins likely don't exist in this world.
After all, goblins occupy the bottom tier of the world's biological chain.
While they can cooperate in teams to hunt powerful magical beasts, many beasts in the forest also prey on goblins.
Dragons, on the other hand, stand at the pinnacle of the pyramid of life.
The two would never intersect. Even if they did, goblins would only ever be insignificant ants.
Faced with Li Meng's reassurance, Bai Ling turned her face away expressionlessly.
Li Meng grinned and stood up, heading outside without a care.
Li Meng had no interest in Bai Ling's thoughts.
In the coming year, Bai Ling's task was to bear his offspring.
"Boss, boss!"
Outside, the door was suddenly flung open, startling Gobuqiang, who had been waiting inside.
Gobuqiang hurriedly got up with a flattering smile and went to greet him.
Standing at the doorway, Li Meng stretched lazily.
He then looked up at the clear, cloudless blue sky.
"What now?"
A goblin outside glanced greedily toward the interior of the room.
"Boss, give me a female!"
Li Meng's face turned cold as he looked at Gobuqiang expressionlessly.
"Gobuqiang, you're the first goblin to openly ask me for breeding rights."
Facing the boss's piercing gaze, Gobuqiang's face turned pale.
Terrified, he dropped to his knees, kowtowing furiously.
"Boss, I was wrong, I was wrong! I won't dare again!"
Looking at the groveling Gobuqiang, Li Meng waved his hand impatiently.
"Don't do it again. Now scram!"
Gobuqiang immediately turned and scampered off, tripping over himself in his hurry.
"Hmph, serves you right!"
Nearby goblins watched the scene with schadenfreude.
"That old guy strutting in front of the boss all the time—he should've stepped down ages ago!"
"Gobu De, why don't you challenge Gobuqiang?"
"Get lost! I left his hunting party long ago. If I were to challenge someone, it'd be the young boss."
Hearing the mocking comments of his kin, Gobuqiang glared at them furiously.
Clenching his fists, a hint of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.
"Just wait. Once I evolve into a goblin warrior, I'll deal with you all!"
At that moment, a goblin came rushing over from the front.
Gobuqiang grabbed him.
"What's going on?"
"There's a group of lizardmen approaching from the northwest of the tribe."
A group of lizardmen approaching?
Gobuqiang's eyes lit up as he turned and dashed toward the boss.
"I'll handle this!"
"Boss, boss!"
Gobuqiang, who had just run off, came scampering back.
Sliding to a kneeling stop, he landed firmly before Li Meng.
"Boss, the tribute has arrived!"
Upon hearing this, Li Meng's eyes lit up.
He was about to go take a look but reconsidered and dismissed the thought.
"Let them in. Bring a few key individuals to see me."
Gobuqiang nodded vigorously.
Being entrusted with this task by the boss was excellent.
It meant the boss still trusted him.
His position in the boss's mind wasn't something those foolish goblins could challenge.
Gobuqiang quickly got up, puffed up with pride, and ran off into the distance.
Meanwhile, to the northwest of the tribe in the marshlands, a group of lizardmen was wading through shallow waters toward the tribe.
Their figures formed a dense cluster, numbering at least four to five hundred.
The faces of the lizardmen, even those leading the group, were filled with fear.
The sight of the fortress ahead caused their hearts to tighten further.
Reaching this place meant there was no turning back.
"Gray Scales Chief, I hope your decision with the White Scales Tribe is the right one."
Amid the group, the Gray Scales Chief supported his wife as they waded through the waters.
Hearing this, he glanced toward the distant White Scales Tribe.
"I've already sent someone to the Black Mountain Marshlands to request aid from the Black Mountain Tribe. You should know how precious the High Priest's bloodline is. The Black Mountain Tribe won't refuse us. Once reinforcements arrive, it will be our day of revenge!"
The Black Scales Chief turned to look at his slightly nervous wife beside him.
He sighed but said nothing more.
Too much comfort would only make her more fragile.
They had no choice, and neither did their tribespeople.
They could either struggle to survive or become food for the goblins.
Half an hour later, the lizardmen, acting as tribute, arrived at the northern wooden walls of the tribe from the northwest.
They entered through the northern gate.
Goblins stared greedily at the lizardmen entering through the gate.
Some lizardmen glared angrily back, while others trembled in fear.
The elders of the Gray Scales and Black Scales Tribes looked tense.
Having entered the tribe unarmed, they knew that if the goblins turned hostile, they would all die.
Fortunately, the goblins merely stared at them with hungry eyes.
"Gray Scales Chief, the weapons those goblins are holding seem to be human bows and arrows!"
Since entering the White Scales Tribe, the Black Scales Chief had been observing the goblins in the tribe.
The weapons they carried had caught his attention.
The Gray Scales Chief had also noticed that the goblins' weapons appeared to be made of iron.
"They look similar, but bows and arrows aren't like this!"
"Where did these goblins get iron weapons?"
On this point, the Gray Scales Chief was deeply puzzled.
"We'll find out soon enough!"
Raising his head slightly, the Black Scales Chief looked at a goblin blocking their path.
"Follow me!"
The goblin in their way was Gobuqiang.
He gestured for the group of lizardmen to follow him.
Although they didn't speak the same language, his body language made his meaning clear.
Goblin gestures were easy to interpret.
With that, Gobuqiang turned and led the lizardmen into the depths of the tribe.
Before long, Gobuqiang brought the group to the largest straw hut in the tribe.
Li Meng still sat at the entrance, while Benben lay nearby, sound asleep.
Bai Ling stood at the doorway, quietly watching the approaching lizardmen.
"It's the High Priest Bai Ling!"
The sight of Bai Ling caused a small commotion among the lizardmen.
All of them looked at Bai Ling with complicated expressions.
They hadn't expected the High Priest to become a prisoner of the goblins.
The lizardmen stopped about twenty meters from the hut.
Gobuqiang scampered over to Li Meng.
"Boss, all the tribute has been brought!"
Li Meng scanned the lizardmen.
There were hundreds of them.
Pointing to the two leading lizardmen, he noted that their levels were the highest, at 47.
This meant their status in the lizardmen tribe wasn't ordinary.
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