Chapter 133: The Lake and Its Ecosystem

Li Meng hid behind a large tree, spying on the lake outside.

The lake still shone brightly.

The scorching sunlight reflected dazzling radiance on the water's surface.

Various sizes of water slimes were frolicking in the water.

They hopped around, appearing peaceful and leisurely.

“Yue E, is it those things?”

Behind Li Meng, Yue E poked out her massive head.

“Boss, so many slimes! Yes, it’s them!”

Li Meng grinned and pointed towards the lake.

“Yue E, charge!”

“Yes, Boss!”

Yue E stomped her massive steps toward the lake.

For a moment, rumbling noises echoed through the forest.

The huge commotion startled the water slimes in the lake, scattering them like frightened birds and beasts.

From deep within the forest, a massive shadow emerged.

Yue E's gigantic body rumbled out of the forest and plunged into the lake.

“Splash!”

A loud crash resounded as water sprayed everywhere.

Yue E's enormous figure half-submerged in the water, thrashing about.

“Boss! Boss! This is the taste!”

After a while of stirring, Yue E settled down comfortably in the water.

Li Meng stepped out of the dim forest.

His tall figure bathed in the sunlight.

“Yue E, do you like it here?”

On the shore, Li Meng shouted towards Yue E in the water.

Yue E turned her enormous body around.

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“Boss, the water here feels really nice. I want to hibernate here.”

“Alright, then stay here.”

Li Meng sat down on the shore, gazing up at the blazing sun in the sky.

The sun was blinding, making his eyes sting.

But the sensation was exhilarating.

After a long while, Li Meng couldn’t bear it and lowered his head.

He stayed on the shore for some time before standing up.

“Yue E, I’m leaving. When you wake up, return to the Northern Marshlands on your own.”

“Got it, Boss!”

Li Meng glanced around the surrounding forest, then turned and walked back into the dim forest.

Having left the tribe for almost a month, he needed to return and check on things.

In the gloomy forest, Li Meng walked leisurely.

“Should I use the magic crystal to simulate life?”

Being decapitated and forming an alliance with Selof, the commander of the Holy Kingdom's Knights Templar, were two events enough to alter the future’s course.

“Forget it. I’ll wait another half month. The magic crystal is for Yue E!”

With this decision in his heart, Li Meng grinned.

His figure flickered as he sprinted through the dark forest.

Moments later, in the forest north of the Goblin River.

A slight commotion arose in the forest.

In the next moment, a green-skinned figure darted out of the dim woods and leapt at the riverbank.

Spanning a distance of tens of meters, it landed with a “bang” on the water’s surface.

On the river, Li Meng looked down at the ice layer beneath his feet, pondering.

After a while, he grinned, kicking off and sprinting across the ice-covered river.

In mere breaths, he had crossed hundreds of meters and dashed into the forest on the northern bank.

Hours later, at the east gate of the Throne Tribe.

“The Boss is back! The Boss is back!”

The commotion in the forest caught the attention of the goblins on the wooden walls.

When they saw it was the Boss emerging from the woods, cheers erupted on the wall.

The tightly shut western gate creaked open.

After more than half a month, Li Meng returned to the Throne Tribe.

Compared to when he left, the tribe hadn’t changed much.

The Throne Tribe wouldn’t expand further.

Branch tribes would increase as the goblin population and hunting zones expanded.

Each branch tribe managed a hunting area.

“Where’s Bai Ling? Where is she?”

Returning to the Throne Cave Dwelling, Li Meng saw a group of female lizardmen.

The sun was gradually setting.

At this time, the female lizardmen had all returned to the tribe.

Li Meng’s inquiry caused fear to flash across the faces of the lizardwomen in the wooden house.

Gray Lili stepped forward, mustering her courage.

She knelt on the ground, lowering her head.

“Master, the chief returned to the Yue Clan tribe not long ago!”

Li Meng grabbed Gray's arm, pulling her up.

Then, carrying her, he strode toward the bed.

The goblins’ nightlife was simple.

Aside from making little goblins, there wasn’t much else to do.

The battle with the Irisis Principality’s expeditionary force had caused significant losses.

For the next year, all high-ranking goblins were required to stay in the Throne Tribe.

That night, the Throne Cave Dwelling was lively and noisy.

Outside the door, Benben was startled awake by the commotion inside the wooden house.

It got up, glanced back, then lay down and snored away.

At dawn the next morning, Li Meng left the tribe again.

He exited through the eastern gate, disappearing into the forest to the east.

In the following days, Li Meng focused on one task: investigating the habits and reproduction cycles of the forest’s creatures.

Another new day arrived.

In the northern forest near the Goblin River.

The dark forest was eerily silent.

It seemed quiet, but countless sounds hid within.

Deep in the forest, among lush shrubs, a group of figures stood.

These were forest deer, each with a shoulder height of 1.5 meters and a sturdy build.

They were scattered throughout the forest, nibbling on shrubbery.

Occasionally, they raised their heads to look around vigilantly.

Not far from the deer herd, a pair of eyes watched them.

Behind a large tree, Li Meng observed the forest deer.

“So cute!”

The soft-furred forest deer charmed Li Meng.

But they looked a bit dumb.

Like oversized roe deer.

“The meat must be delicious!”

Li Meng grinned, greed flickering in his eyes.

Although tempted to taste deer meat, he restrained himself.

He wasn’t here to hunt but to address the food problem.

Mass farming of ground mice and wild boars wasn’t realistic.

This world had diseases and viruses.

While magic might cure them, the Throne Tribe lacked such resources.

Cluster farming could lead to mass deaths.

Thus, protecting the forest’s ecosystem was crucial.

Different prey species had different breeding seasons.

Prohibiting hunting during breeding periods would ensure the population of each species.

This would prevent species from being overhunted and eventually wiped out.

Goblin hunting was somewhat excessive.

After leaving the Throne Tribe, Li Meng headed east.

What he saw along the way was alarming.

The forest within a 20-kilometer radius of the Throne Tribe had become a dead zone.

Although some common ground mice and forest rabbits were still spotted, their numbers were scarce.

If this uncontrolled hunting continued, one day, the goblin forest’s creatures would be entirely consumed.

To ensure the goblins had an endless food supply, protecting the forest’s ecosystem was essential.

> A Special Thank You!:

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> I want to extend my deepest gratitude to [Trevor Standifer], for supporting me on Patreon!