When Lu Yao returned to his rental home, it was already afternoon.
He had the cactus clean up the room first, then brewed himself a cup of hot tea.
Once the house was spotless, he sipped his tea while booting up his computer.
Having been away for half a day, he wondered if there had been any changes in the pixel world.
…
After logging into the Simulator, Lu Yao's first concern was Yao City.
The state of the world hinged on this place.
Sarina reported to Lu Yao the condition of the mini-world over the past few years.
Things were generally looking up.
Except for a minor episode.
A creature called the blackwater mink had emerged in the pixel world. They had a voracious appetite, reproduced rapidly, and were quite aggressive.
These creatures initially caused quite a bit of trouble for some pixel folk and Transcendent beings, resulting in some casualties. However, under the leadership of Yao City, Salt City, and Sanilo, the western continent quickly completed the encirclement and suppression of the blackwater minks.
Through real combat and testing, Yao City discovered that blackwater minks were afraid of fire, could be restrained by anesthetic juice, and had simple minds. The Divine Oracle even wrote a summary of the blackwater mink habits, making this information public.
Salt City unearthed the commercial value of the blackwater minks: their tongues and claws were top-quality materials, and although there wasn't much meat in their shells, it was extremely delicious.
Sanilo became the most important faction in this battle.
Numerous Extraordinary Beings teamed up to hunt blackwater minks across the world, partly to obtain special materials and partly to sell them for a good price.
This was because the Dwarf Fortress's Furnace Clan had assessed that the minks' tongues, claws, and teeth were all practical, high-grade materials. They continued to purchase them, and with enough such materials, they could craft fine equipment.
Ever since the World City Treasury became renowned, the enthusiasm of Extraordinary Beings for treasures also grew day by day.
After all, no one knew what tomorrow would bring, whether they might suffer severe injuries from natural predators. Possessing fine-grade treasures could potentially turn the tide.
The leading groups already had fine treasures.
Take the merfolk and Cannibal Crabs, for example.
The former, being between Extraordinary life and humans due to their pilgrimages and coastal living, had close dealings with Yao City.
Now the merfolk had obtained many professional positions, such as chefs, doctors, fishermen, and farmers. They thus continued to receive magic potions like anesthetic juice for healing and hunting.
The Cannibal Crabs, on the other hand, had formed a mercenary group. As long as the price was right, they were willing to offer services like bodyguarding, transportation, and even hunting. With their high intelligence and strong teamwork, they were favored by merchants, captains, and city guards.
Not long ago, the Cannibal Crabs established a long-term partnership with the dwarves, always carrying Furnace Mead with them. Relying on this special brew, they could negotiate with other Extraordinary Beings. Plus, with the Cannibal Crabs' strong radiation in the ocean, they occasionally found special items on the seabed, making it easier to obtain fine treasures after refining.
Owning these Extraordinary treasures brought a sense of security and confidence.
Those without felt anxious.
It wasn't about using them; it was about having them.
Times had changed.
In the past, there weren't many Extraordinary Beings in this world, and each could dominate a territory without much conflict.
But with the Divine Oracle's decrees and the turn of the era, the appearance of the split earthworms… the number of Extraordinary Beings kept increasing, and the old way of living was no longer viable.
Every individual had to flow with the times, and the Extraordinary side was no exception.
The hunt for blackwater minks was just one external manifestation of Extraordinary Beings in the larger environment.
It was an opportunity for the Extraordinary community to rapidly accumulate treasures and advantages.
***
After hearing Sarina's description, Lu Yao was not surprised.
Although Sanilo was a neutral city, it was firmly rooted on the side of the Extraordinary. As long as the city continued to progress and grow, Extraordinary Beings would inevitably be affected by its influence.
The blackwater mink as an economic species was an unexpected development.
Lu Yao clicked on the temple in Yao City, where there was a blackwater mink captured by Sarina.
This four-legged little black bug was said to be very fierce, but in pixel form, it looked rather silly.
【Blackwater Mink LV8】
Health: 133/133
Mana: 25/25
Damage: 10
Defense: 5
Speed: 6
【Rapid Reproduction】
Able to quickly breed offspring.
【Iron Stomach】
Can ingest most substances as food.
【Piercing Tongue LV2】
Uses a specially structured tongue to rapidly pierce prey and kill it.
【Kin】
A race transformed by the Whistleblower.
Lu Yao frowned.
It wasn't natural evolution; it was a creature introduced by the Whistleblower.
He pondered the opponent's strategy.
The blackwater mink's three main characteristics were: reproduction, consumption, and aggression. This invasive species theoretically had no direct natural predators and could dominate the top of the food chain in various local areas with their numerical advantage.
If allowed to develop from all sides, it would be a disaster comparable to the apocalypse, capable of destroying all species in a shattered world.
It seemed the Whistleblower had run out of patience waiting for the key and simply introduced the blackwater minks to create havoc.
If Lu Yao had just entered this world when the blackwater minks first appeared, he would indeed have been helpless against this foreign Extraordinary species.
But times had changed.
The number of Extraordinary Beings here was constantly increasing, and with the secular civilization and Extraordinary community gradually intersecting, the appearance of the blackwater minks had instead become a coveted prize, eagerly hunted by all.
Thus, the disaster of alien invasion turned into a cozy daily routine of adding dishes to the dinner table.
Lu Yao was pleased with this development.
This was the power of civilization's progress. There was no need for him, a deity, to watch over constantly; members within the civilization system would quickly respond, making choices and changes that benefited themselves.
Isabella also flew over, sharing what she had witnessed.
"The southern new continent was initially damaged by the blackwater minks, but soon, adventurers and teams of Extraordinary Beings from all over arrived, almost completely eradicating the blackwater minks."
"After this, the elves of the southern continent also decisively decided to build a village around Elf Lake, belonging to the elves. They set aside past grievances and asked the tree nymph Jodi to be their leader and protector, and Jodi ultimately agreed."
Lu Yao thought this was good news.
Under external pressure, even the laid-back elves were getting anxious.
Isabella continued, "Everything is normal on the eastern continent; the blackwater minks there intruded on the territory of the Blazing Birds and Fire Chickens and were almost completely wiped out."
"In the valley, Pinkman and the White Rose Attendants eradicated all the blackwater minks, turning them into flower fertilizer, which is said to be very helpful for growing roses."
"In the northern new continent, the Yetis and Pasha collected many blackwater mink eggs, hatching them into Darkspawn Blackwater Minks, becoming subordinates of the Dragon Nest. Jimmy ordered them to eat only garbage and feces to keep the Dragon Nest clean and hygienic."
Lu Yao almost spat out his drink.
That was a bit much.
Classic Jimmy.
"My lord, the Dragon Nest has the most mature development of blackwater minks."
Isabella emphasized, "After Pasha transformed them with the Dark Sun, they were given a new mission. As long as one holds Pasha's dragon saliva, they can control the Darkspawn Blackwater Minks."
"The dwarves were the first to use them."
"A living blackwater mink is a very efficient and magical tool, far more valuable than when broken down into materials."
Lu Yao interrupted her.
He had a question.
Dragon saliva was just that, dragon spit. Could Pasha really keep spitting it out like that?
"My lord, actually, dragon saliva is Pasha's feces…"
Understood.
Just like ambergris.
In any case, the blackwater mink invasion had been settled by all parties and had been developed for various uses.
Lu Yao shifted his view to the Dwarf Fortress.
At that moment, the dwarf Clever Craftsman Hammer Endless and two assistants were making a piece of equipment.
A dialogue box appeared above Hammer Endless's head: "The joints in this right hand aren't flexible enough; we need to add some bones and mink cords to increase the range of motion and flexibility."
"Moreover, the right hand's endurance isn't enough; it can be stronger, and there's still plenty of leeway in the outer shell's load-bearing capacity."
He grabbed a Darkspawn Blackwater Mink from the wooden table and aimed it at a metal object on the iron felt.
The mink rapidly shot its tongue out, piercing holes in the metal left foot.
Then, the dwarf used the mink's continuously biting sharp teeth to trim some of the metal shell of the leg, repairing it.
Lu Yao understood.
They were using the blackwater mink as a biological drill and high-strength cutter.
Moments later, a brand-new right arm prosthesis was completed.
【Robust Arm (Right)】【Hammer Endless & Phileas Crafted】: Defense +1.
Health: 394/394
The buyer turned out to be Salt Long, whom Lu Yao hadn't seen in a while.
Lu Yao opened his panel and found that Salt Long had reached LV19 and acquired new abilities.
【Fire Cloak】: Surrounds oneself with flames, causing continuous fire damage to enemies.
His history also had a new entry.
At the age of 101, to protect three humans, he fought against a horde of blackwater minks and lost his right arm.
Lu Yao felt a warm sense of pride.
The once rebellious and stubborn young man had now become a pillar and role model for many.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas