NOVEL NEXT Chapter 19: Chapter 19: Slime Nest
Night once again descended upon the Star Dou Forest. The silence was only occasionally broken by the faint crackle of campfires lit by adventurers. As the soul beasts that had hidden during the day emerged under the cover of darkness, Fang Chang's hunting time began anew.
Amid a patch of low shrubs, a Spotted Cat with 80 years of soul power cautiously poked its head out, scanning its surroundings to ensure the coast was clear. Feeling secure, it darted out and gracefully leaped onto a pear tree laden with fruit. Stretching its furry paw, it plucked a pear and began munching. The sweet juice soothed its hunger-ravaged stomach, and it let out a purr of satisfaction.
However, in the shadows, eight crimson eyes locked firmly onto the unsuspecting feline.
Under the cover of darkness, Fang Chang advanced silently, his eight legs moving stealthily, merging with the night. He was now only half a meter away from the pear tree.
As the Spotted Cat reached out for another pear, Fang Chang seized the moment. A gaping blood-red maw appeared suddenly, swallowing the Spotted Cat whole before it could react.
This marked Fang Chang's fifth prey of the night. All his targets were weak, with soul powers ranging from a few dozen to a hundred years.
Not bad. He licked his mouth, savoring the refined soul power now surging within him. After a satisfied burp, Fang Chang resumed his nocturnal hunt.
As he continued to roam and feed, Fang Chang eventually stumbled upon a cave.
The cave was situated midway up a cliff, about four or five meters above where Fang Chang stood. From within, a faint medicinal aroma wafted out, carried by the breeze, and tickled Fang Chang's senses.
This smell... it's Slime! Fang Chang realized with excitement.
He took a step back, activated his "Leap" skill, and shot into the cave like a streak of black lightning.
The winding passage was lined with stalactites hanging ominously from the ceiling. As Fang Chang ventured deeper, the medicinal scent grew stronger, heightening his anticipation.
This isn't just one Slime, he thought, thrilled.
Slimes were widely regarded as the most useless soul beasts in the Douluo Continent. Their soul rings were notoriously undesirable among soul masters, as the abilities they provided were mostly recovery-based skills.
While recovery skills could be valuable for support-type soul masters, Slime-derived skills were laughably weak.
Take Fang Chang's own "Regeneration Lv.1" skill, for example. It restored a mere 3 HP per hour. In combat, such a skill was practically useless!
The Douluo Continent even had a saying: If you hate someone, make them absorb a Slime soul ring.
For most soul beasts, Slimes weren't appetizing either. They had no meat, no leaves, and were little more than gelatinous blobs. Herbivores found no appeal in them, and carnivores only nibbled out of curiosity.
This relative unpalatability allowed Slimes to proliferate and survive better than most other weak soul beasts.
By the time Fang Chang reached the deepest part of the cave, the source of the medicinal aroma became apparent: a group of Slimes, over a dozen in total.
The strongest among them had a soul power of 50 years, while the weakest hadn't even reached one year.
The Slimes seemed oblivious to Fang Chang's presence. It was as if they expected him to simply pass by and leave them alone.
Fang Chang found their lack of vigilance baffling. Slimes in the wild typically exhibited at least some level of awareness.
Still, he wasn't about to let free food go to waste.
Like a guest in his own backyard, Fang Chang casually approached the nearest Slime. Without resistance, he skewered it with one of his sharp legs and swallowed it whole.
Jelly-like texture… again. Fang Chang smacked his mouth, savoring the unusual sensation.
The other Slimes froze for a moment, as if shocked, but quickly resumed their lazy rolling as though nothing had happened.
Fang Chang chuckled at their naivety. He resumed feasting, devouring them one by one.
As their numbers dwindled, the remaining Slimes began to huddle together, forming a loose defensive group.
But when Fang Chang drew near, the unity of their small alliance instantly collapsed. Each Slime started shoving its companions forward, trying to sacrifice others to save themselves.
Fang Chang's appetite was undeterred. He ate them one at a time, until only one Slime remained.
Finally realizing the gravity of its situation, the last Slime trembled in panic and despair.
It roared and wailed, condemning Fang Chang's cruelty and cursing its companions for their cowardice.
Then, like the others, it too was devoured.
With the feast over, Fang Chang stretched his legs, feeling refreshed. His eyes fell on a peculiar spring at the center of the cave.
The medicinal aroma was emanating from this spring, which was unusually viscous. Inside, faint outlines of new Slimes were already beginning to take shape.
So that's where they come from, Fang Chang realized.
Despite his curiosity, he decided not to destroy the spring. Instead, he memorized the location of the cave.
In his previous life, Fang Chang had traveled to southwestern provinces where wild mushrooms thrived. The locals there had an unwritten rule: Harvest the mushrooms, but leave the roots intact. That way, you can come back next season for more.
Following the same logic, Fang Chang thought, No need to destroy the source. I can always come back for another meal.