38: A sudden plague breaks out, and the natural disaster of the dead reveals a crisis (Part 1)

The glorious victory of the final exam was still fresh in his mind, and the rule resonance triggered by the Fusion of the [ashen furnace] into the core area of the God Realm had not yet completely subsided; Lin Zhou's God Realm was in a golden period of rapid development.

The phantom of the furnace solidified in a newly planned "industrial zone" in the southeast corner of the God Realm, connecting with the ley lines and emitting a low roar. Every day, 50 units of [Refined Dark Iron] shimmering with a dull luster and 5 [Molten Crystal Shards] containing scorching energy were condensed at the core of the furnace, carefully taken out by the Tiangong Dwarves and Lightforged Gnomes and sent to the busy Tiangong Workshop.

Under the effect of [Forging Fire Blessing], the efficiency of forging activities throughout the God Realm doubled. The clanging of hammers was incessant; the speed at which the dwarf craftsmen forged standard equipment nearly doubled, and occasionally, "Excellent" quality equipment shimmering with a blue halo was born. The longbows commonly used by the Literary Heart Elves had a small amount of dark iron added to the bow bodies, making them more tenacious; the arrowheads underwent a second tempering by the furnace fire, giving them stronger penetration. The standard scale armor of the Law Fishmen patrol was also covered with a thin layer of dark iron plating, significantly increasing its defensive power.

The area of the God Realm stabilized at 20 square kilometers, and the total population of the three vassal races broke through the five thousand mark. The number of Literary Heart Elves reached 2,200, with an average Rank increasing to LV18; Tiangong Dwarves were at 1,200, average Rank LV16; Law Fishmen were at 1,600, average Rank LV15. The daily Power Of Faith generated stabilized at around 1.2 million points, converted into 120 points of Divine Power, allowing Lin Zhou's Divine Power reserves to slowly approach the 4,000-point mark.

Everything seemed to be flourishing until that disaster arrived without warning.

On this day, Lin Zhou was high above the God Realm, looking down at his kingdom from a deity's perspective, planning the Fusion location of the next resource card, [Small Spiritual Jade Mine], in an attempt to further increase the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the God Realm. Suddenly, a strong sense of unease pierced his consciousness like an icicle.

The source was Elwin!

He instantly focused his consciousness on Elwin, who was performing a garrison mission in the Blackrock Mountain Range (which had been named "Blackstone Territory" by Lin Zhou as the God Realm's enclave in this astral realm).

The scene before him shook his mind.

The Blackrock Mountain Range, which had been gradually recovering its vitality due to the change of ownership of Furnace Fortress, was now shrouded in an ominous death-gray mist. The light from the eternal twilight sun in the sky seemed unable to penetrate this layer of eerie mist, appearing dim and lusterless.

Elwin was standing on the reinforced walls of Furnace Fortress. Her white Vast Righteous Qi, which usually swirled around her like warm jade, now appeared somewhat disordered as she struggled to resist the cold erosion omnipresent in the air. Her beautiful face carried a hint of fatigue and an unprecedented gravity.

"My Lord!" Feeling Lin Zhou's attention, Elwin immediately sent a stream of information through the prayer connection, her tone urgent. "The situation is critical! Three days ago, an unknown plague suddenly appeared throughout the Blackrock Mountain Range! The source of infection is unknown, and the transmission path is extremely fast, suspected to be spreading through the air and water!"

Lin Zhou's Divine Thought swept across the area below.

Inside Furnace Fortress, in the temporarily established isolation zone, lay many creatures groaning in pain. There were Gray Dwarves civilians who were originally relatively weak and had only recently surrendered, some warriors of the Blackrock Clan, and even... dozens of Literary Heart Elves, the darlings of nature, whom he had sent here to assist in defense!

These infected individuals had ashen faces, with black veins faintly bulging and wriggling under their skin. Their eyes were cloudy, radiating a hunger for the flesh and blood of the living. Their bodies were cold, yet their strength was growing eerily, requiring several healthy soldiers just to barely suppress them. Even more terrifyingly, Lin Zhou could clearly "see" that they were entwined with a thick aura of necromancy; their Souls were being eroded and transformed!

[Target Status]: Undead Plague Infection (Moderate)

[Symptoms]: Continuous loss of vitality, loss of sanity, bodily stiffening and necrotization, full of aggression toward the living.

[Estimated Transformation Time]: 12-48 hours (depending on individual Physique and willpower)

"How are our people doing?" Lin Zhou asked in a deep voice, his consciousness locking onto the dozens of infected elves. These were his carefully cultivated initial vassals; every single one had cost a vast amount of resources.

"It is not optimistic," Elwin's voice carried a hint of pain. "Seven of our Elf Ranger were the first to be infected while scouting in the wild. After returning to camp, despite full efforts to treat and isolate them, three... completely transformed into undead last night and were... were purified by Lord Glick leading the team personally. There are currently four severe cases, and... and fifteen Elf Priests and Scribes who were infected while providing care!"

Elf Priests and Scribes! These were the spellcasting units and elite talents among the Literary Heart Elves! Lin Zhou's heart sank. Even elves, who possessed Vast Righteous Qi and could restrain evil to a certain extent, were so easily infected; the horror of this plague was evident.

"What about Clan Chief Brook?"

"The Blackrock Clan has suffered even greater losses; nearly two hundred of their clansmen are infected, and some settlements near the mines were almost completely wiped out... The Underground Gnomes of the Deep Moss Tribe have a special Physique because they live underground year-round, so there are only sporadic infections for now, but the situation is also deteriorating."

Just then, an urgent alarm sounded from the watchtower on the city wall.

"Enemy attack! Undead creatures! A large number of undead creatures are approaching!"

Elwin and Lin Zhou's consciousness simultaneously turned toward the outside of the city.

In the death-gray mist, shadowy figures stumbled forward. Among them were Infected Walkers who had just completed their transformation, their limbs twisted and wearing tattered Gray Dwarves armor; there were Stitched Abominations cobbled together from various biological remains, emitting a foul stench; and even more were skeletons and ghouls transformed from creatures that originally lived in the Blackrock Mountain Range, such as underground lizards and giant bats!

[Unit Type]: Infected Walker

[Rank]: LV 10-15

[Attributes]: Strength 25, Agility 5, Physique 30, Intelligence 1, Spirit 1 (Chaos)

[Traits]: [Undead Creature] (Immune to mind control, toxins, and disease; takes double damage from Holy and Life attributes), [Plague Spreader] (Attacks have a low probability of infecting the target with the undead plague)

[Skills]: [Bite], [Decaying Claw Strike]

[Unit Type]: Stitched Abomination

[Rank]: LV 18

[Attributes]: Strength 40, Agility 8, Physique 45, Intelligence 3, Spirit 3 (Chaos)

[Traits]: [Undead Creature], [Putrid Aura] (Slightly reduces the morale and attack power of surrounding living units)

[Skills]: [Heavy Punch], [Throw Remains]

These undead numbered in the hundreds and thousands, and the count was still increasing! Like a gray tide, they surged aimlessly yet resolutely toward Furnace Fortress, where the living gathered.

"Prepare for battle!" Elwin shouted, suppressing her physical discomfort as her Vast Righteous Qi erupted again, shrouding a section of the city wall to provide protection and mental support for the defenders.

On the city wall, the fifty remaining Elf Ranger (average LV20) suppressed their disgust for the plague and undead, drawing their reinforced dark iron longbows. A faint white light shimmered on the arrows, which was the trace of Vast Righteous Qi they had infused.

"Fire!"

A rain of arrows fell, accurately hitting the front Ranks of the undead. Arrows containing the power of Order had a significant effect on the undead; walkers were easily pierced, and skeletons fell apart. However, more undead continued to advance, stepping over the remains of their own kind. They had no fear and no pain, only the instinct to destroy all living beings.

The dwarf musketeers and Gnome ballistae also opened fire. Roars sounded, blowing several Stitched Abominations into pieces of flying flesh. The enforcement teams composed of Law Fishmen gripped their dark-iron-covered halberds and stood ready behind the battlements. Their innate "Lawful" trait and strict discipline kept their formation stable even when facing the sea of undead.

The battle was intense and cruel. The number of undead seemed endless, and more troublingly, once a defender was injured—even if only by a small scratch from a walker's claw—the wound would quickly turn black and fester, carrying the risk of infection! The morale of the defenders was inevitably affected.

"My Lord, this plague and undead scourge have come strangely and swiftly. We have tried all known herbalism and natural divine spells, but the effects are minimal; they can only delay it, not cure it." Elwin reported to Lin Zhou while commanding, her tone filled with a sense of powerlessness. "If we cannot find the source and a way to lift the plague, Blackstone Territory... probably won't hold for long. Even more terrifyingly, I worry..."

She didn't finish her sentence, but Lin Zhou understood. He worried that this plague would somehow penetrate the faith channel between him and the main God Realm, threatening the safety of the God Realm itself! This was by no means alarmist; the plague rules of high-level necromantic deities were sufficient to conduct reverse erosion along the lines of faith!

Must immediately solve this problem!

Lin Zhou's consciousness returned to the core of the God Realm and immediately communicated with the [Temple of Civilization]. In the brilliant hall, the light spots representing each school of thought were still shimmering, but in the face of this erosion involving the essence of life, the existing Confucian righteous qi, Legalist Edicts, and Mohist Mechanisms all seemed to be scratching the surface.

His gaze quickly swept across the list of unlockable ideologies.

[School of Medicine]: Research the way of life, dispel diseases and strengthen the body, refine pills and produce medicine, or even fight poison with poison. Unlocking requires 500 civilization points.

—Exactly the power most urgently needed right now!

Without any hesitation, Lin Zhou immediately paid 500 civilization points.

"Unlock [School of Medicine]!"

Buzz!

In the Temple of Civilization, a new light spot lit up, appearing as a vibrant emerald green, its light gentle yet firm. Basic information about the School of Medicine flowed into Lin Zhou's consciousness:

[School of Medicine ideology unlocked, current comprehension: 5%]

[Core Effects Activated]:

Dispel Disease and Strengthen Body (Elementary): Slightly reduces the probability of non-combat casualties among vassals in the God Realm, increasing average lifespan and population growth rate.

Pharmacological Identification (Elementary): Can automatically identify the basic medicinal (or toxic) value of most common plants and animals in the God Realm and conquered territories.

[Constructible Miracle Building]: [Imperial Hospital] (Construction requires 200 units of wood, 100 units of stone, 50 units of herbal resources, and consumes 300 points of Divine Power)

[Building Effects]:

Significantly increases resistance to and research speed of diseases and plagues.

Can develop basic potions (healing salves, antidotes, etc.).

Has training slots for the special unit "Medical Apprentices."

[Summonable/Cultivatable Hero Unit]: Divine Doctor (Requires meeting specific conditions or using a Heroic Spirit Summoning opportunity)

"Construct the [Imperial Hospital] immediately!" Lin Zhou ordered.

In the core area of the God Realm, near a clearing by the tree of life, Divine Power surged and resources gathered. A simple, solemn, large courtyard-style building emitting a faint medicinal fragrance rose from the ground. On the plaque, the three characters "Imperial Hospital" were written in divine script.

Almost at the moment the Imperial Hospital was completed, Lin Zhou felt its effects. A faint sense of panic that had originally arisen in the God Realm due to receiving negative information from Blackstone Territory was dispelled by a tranquil atmosphere. All vassals, including those far away in Blackstone Territory, felt their bodies lighten slightly, and their resistance to the plague improved marginally.

But this was not enough! Distant water cannot put out a nearby fire! The elves and allies in Blackstone Territory were struggling on the brink of death!

Lin Zhou's consciousness once again entered the Temple of Civilization, locking onto the new exchangeable items related to the School of Medicine.

[Basic Herbalism Encyclopedia] (Consumes 100 points): Contains illustrations, medicinal properties, and harvesting and processing methods for thousands of common herbs.

[Plague Prevention and Control Basics] (Consumes 150 points): Provides isolation, disinfection, and basic treatment protocols for various common plagues.

[Spiritual Qi Acupuncture (Entry)] (Consumes 200 points): Infuses special needles with spiritual power to stimulate Acupoints, achieving effects such as healing and potential stimulation.

[Fighting Poison with Poison Theory] (Consumes 250 points): A high-risk, high-reward secret technique of the School of Medicine that uses toxins to restrain specific diseases or enemies.

Lin Zhou unhesitatingly exchanged for [Plague Prevention and Control Basics] and [Spiritual Qi Acupuncture (Entry)]. A vast amount of knowledge flooded his consciousness and was directly infused via divine oracle into the ten "Medical Apprenticess" just born in the Imperial Hospital and... into the mind of Elwin, who was struggling on the front lines of Blackstone Territory!

Elwin's body jolted, and a flash of realization crossed her eyes. Although she did not specialize in the medical path, as a hero unit, her comprehension was extremely high. The acupuncture point diagrams and plague prevention key points that appeared in her mind immediately gave her new ideas.

"Quick! Collect lime powder and spread it all around the isolation zone! All those who have come into contact with the infected, cover your nose and mouth with cloth boiled in water! Bring strong liquor to clean the wounds of the injured!" Elwin immediately issued a series of Orders consistent with the knowledge from the Plague Prevention and Control Basics.

At the same time, she walked to an elf ranger who was moderately infected and convulsing violently. Recalling the key points of Spiritual Qi Acupuncture, she held her fingers like a sword, and a wisp of pure Vast Righteous Qi (substituting for medical spiritual power) condensed at her fingertips, quickly tapping several major Acupoints on the ranger!

"Ugh—" The elf ranger's body shook violently, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood, but the cloudiness in his eyes seemed to clear for a moment, and the violent convulsions temporarily stopped.

It worked! Although it couldn't cure the root, it could delay the deterioration and buy time!

"My Lord! This method is effective! But we need more professional medical means and targeted antidotes!" Elwin looked up at the sky, hope rekindling in her eyes.

Lin Zhou took a deep breath; he knew the real challenge was only just beginning. The training of apprentices in the Imperial Hospital would take time, and Blackstone Territory could not wait that long.

His gaze turned toward the high-risk, high-reward option in the exchange list—[Fighting Poison with Poison Theory].

And the information that required him to make a decision:

[Warning: High-intensity undead plague rule erosion detected. To analyze its core components, a sample of the plague source must be collected (such as highly condensed [Undead Moss] or other core mediums). This action is extremely dangerous, and the executing unit has an extremely high risk of infection.]

Collect a sample of the plague source? Lin Zhou's consciousness swept over the map of Blackstone Territory. Based on the direction and concentration of the plague's spread, he quickly locked onto an area—a place deep in the Blackrock Mountain Range originally known as the "Valley of the Dead." The Death Qi there was most concentrated, making it the likely source of the plague outbreak!

Whom to send? This was a mission with a slim chance of survival.