In Lin Jun’s view, the situation with the Yellow-covered Book is like an AI trying to become human.

Lin Jun cannot replicate an existence with a soul, but the core of the Yellow-covered Book, which has a pseudo-soul, can replicate its will, making this metaphor much more fitting.

As for whether the replicated Huang Pi Puki counts as the Yellow-covered Book itself, such a philosophical question is a bit too complex.

Fortunately, Lin Jun doesn’t need to think about such matters, only consider whether it is useful or not.

The more useful one is the true Yellow-covered Book.

On the other side, nearly being backlashed by its duplicate seemed to leave the Yellow-covered Book feeling uneasy.

After this experiment, it successfully transferred the negative emotions by telling Norris several horror stories.

However, although the experiment process was full of "danger," being stuffed into the boss’s fragmented soul undoubtedly was an unprecedented progress!

It never thought the boss could just give it a soul immediately; if it were that easy, it wouldn’t have struggled for so many years.

Anyway, it saw hope.

But, there’s not much time left; if it continues to experiment step by step, who knows when it will fulfill its long-cherished wish.

If it could obtain past accumulations, even those of failures, that would undoubtedly greatly accelerate the progress, at least eliminating a lot of trial and error time.

In the scope known to the Yellow-covered Book, only one existence possesses the accumulation it needs—the revered Lord Demon King!

[But how to do it?]

[After all, that’s the Demon King...]

Even Lin Jun didn’t know that the Yellow-covered Book had already started scheming how to catch its former master and pry open its mind to pave the way for its soul experiment.

...

In the southern part of the Northern Territory, under the pressure of the Puki, two troops belonging to different Dukes rarely joined forces.

It’s really annoying; those Puki aren’t strong, but the harassment never ends.

If they fought alone, they can’t even rest properly.

Facing difficulties, both sides have requested some support from behind, just need to increase some combat power, presumably, to break the current balance and continue to advance.

But in reality, this is just an illusion.

In the Fungus Castle command room, Louisa’s consciousness is controlling the overall situation of the frontline war through the Fungal Network.

Which Puki squads to send to die, which to create chaos, which to cover, which to secretly recover the resurrected Puki, everything is proceeding orderly under her command.

The once seemingly invincible Empire Army now seems like toys in her hands.

This sense of control makes her unable to stop.

The only regret is that she can’t crush them cleanly and hear the desperate wails of the opposing commander, always with a bit of remorse.

Just as Little Pig was engrossed in the Fungal Network, a Puki walked in through the dedicated Puki door and came to Little Pig’s side.

Little Pig’s fingers reached into the Puki’s belly, groping around, and soon pulled out a small bottle.

Inside the bottle, even diluted, you can still feel a trace of viscous liquid, precisely the water of life specially supplied to core members by the boss.

Little Pig drank the liquid in the bottle, and vitality instantly flowed throughout her body, bringing a shudder.

She is now extremely grateful that she surrendered to the boss at the rise of the Mushroom Garden, although the process wasn’t enjoyable, at least in the end she got this core member status.

Look at the later Blood Race, except for a few who quickly saw the opportunity and almost didn’t resist to the ground begging for mercy, most of the Blood Race now have become another rod stuck outside the gate, they could even form a Blood Race choir.

As for those few discerning newcomers, although they avoided becoming decorations, the debt of Contribution Points they owe, unless they are willing to take on those dangerous tasks, otherwise working steadily, it would take five or six years before they can pay it off.

Not to mention commanding the entire army of the Fungus Castle like she does!

With the absorption of the water of life, a force suddenly surged from within Little Pig!

"Is this... an upgrade?"

Although ordinary people cannot see the panel as straightforwardly as Lin Jun does, they still have an obvious feeling about the attribute enhancement brought by an upgrade.

"Boss!" Little Pig immediately notified the boss of this joyous news.

Following the call within the Fungal Network, Lin Jun’s attention shifted from the Abyssal Magic Laboratory that’s being arranged.

Immediately noticed the change in Little Pig.

[Level: LV60]

Officially reached Palace Level!

Acquired a tracking skill called [Blood Hunt LV1].

Of course, this is not the point; the point is, Little Pig can proceed to the next stage of the Blood Seizure Ritual.

Regarding this, Lin Jun was a bit hesitant: "Is it really necessary? It’s very likely to be fatal."

Little Pig’s strength has further enhanced, with the pair of Demon Crystal armor, her combat power is worth looking forward to.

But compared to the overall strengthening brought to Fungus Castle by Little Pig’s command capabilities, it seems rather risky.

Little Pig, however, was quite persistent, like a gambler who had already gone all-in: "Boss, if I have an accident, let Xing Huo and Hunting handle the commanding matters, they can manage."

Honestly, when it comes to city management it’s fine, but for commanding battles, Lin Jun doesn’t think Xing Huo and Hunting can replace Little Pig.

However, since she insists on taking the gamble, Lin Jun has no choice but to assist her.

Converted all Little Pig’s accumulated Contribution Points into S-Class Demon Crystals, Lin Jun considerately calculated the insufficient part as a loan, treating it as an investment hoping this veteran could survive.

The host of the ritual is naturally the Yellow-covered Book.

But, it holds the opposing opinion.

[Boss, advise that female giant, don’t continue, it’s deadly!]

[Last time’s blood seized and this target’s bloodline aren’t the same, with already low success rates, it will be even lower under these conditions!]

[Wait a bit longer, within a year or so, we have a great chance to catch a duke under Visarius, no need to force a blood seize now and increase risks]

Little Pig’s scarlet eyes stared at the Yellow-covered Book’s pages: "If I fail, it’s my bad luck, no need for the Yellow-covered Book to be buried with me."

[Boss, bring the target for blood seize over and we can start]

...

Outside the gate, the Blood Race strings’ howls were persistent.

Unlike those new, still energetic howls, Casinar Duke’s voice sounded weak.

He hasn’t learned to enjoy the pain brought by sunlight, but as his [Sunlight Resistance] increased, with long habitual exposure, he has somewhat numbed to this pain, the shrieks are just simple physiological reactions.

Even the citizens of Fungus Castle prefer to watch those newly arrived Blood Races; he’s already somewhat outdated.

At this moment, two Cow and Horse Puki lifted the pillar binding him.

Under the setting sun, Casinar slightly opened his eyes, seeing only himself being taken away, he seemed to realize something.

"Finally... is it over?"

All at once, he suddenly understood why those "live meals" that he accidentally sucked to death in the past showed such relieved expressions at the last moment—Death is liberation.