The Demonic Realm-Characteristic Economic Development Community
At the moment when the Monarch's Life Flame was silently extinguished, the towering throne of the Bone Monarch, built from ten thousand skulls, also came crashing down with a thunderous roar. The rising bone dust, like pale snow, covered the territory it once ruled.
Though wingless, the news swept through the territories of all nearby Demon Lords via the whispers of the undead and ripples of magical energy—at a speed far exceeding any before. This time, it was no mere rumor, but one mixed with the unmistakable tremor of broken soul links, and the firsthand scenes of collapse brought back by the scattered undead.
The Lord of the Rotting Marsh lurked in the deepest part of the poisonous mire. Countless pimple-like eyes opened at once, and the thick, sticky venom bubbled and gurgled with the surge of its emotions.
"Dead? Just... gone like that?" Its consciousness intertwined and echoed in the toxic swamp. "Not defeated in battle, but vanished! Without even a struggle?" For the first time, a poison called "dread" seeped into its corrosive mind. The methods of that green-robed demon were beyond its comprehension. It began to frantically reinforce its lair, laying layer upon layer of the most vicious curses over every inch of the surrounding space, as if this could fend off that unknown form of annihilation.
In the heart of a roaring volcano, the Lava Giant beat its scorching chest. Its roar shook the churning magma: "That good-for-nothing Bone Monarch! Even his own home was taken over!" Yet beneath the roar lay an undeniable restlessness. It feared no direct fight—even against a stronger opponent, it was confident it could hold its ground. But this way of dying... was too frustrating, too bizarre. It ordered all passages leading to the lava river system blocked, forbidding any outsiders from approaching—even a single fire bat.
Panic festered in silence. No Demon Lord dared casually mention words like "conquest" or "crush" anymore. They all不约而同 chose to huddle in their domains, strengthen their defenses, and stay alert to every slight movement from the Abandoned Land—as if the region was home not to a demon, but an incomprehensible, terrifying disaster that devoured Demon Lords.
However, Lin Mo's plan for the "Demonic Realm-Characteristic Economic Development Community" did not stall because of their withdrawal. On the contrary, he accelerated his pace.
The forces sent from the Abandoned Land were no longer small scouting teams, but propaganda squads flying the banner of the "Demonic Realm Common Prosperity Working Group."
A few lesser demons—relatively articulate by demon standards—carried simple pamphlets made from glowing mushrooms and shadow cloth. They began their work in the border villages of the Bone Monarch's former territory (now unclaimed land).
"Fellow demons, look here! Are you still troubled by the uncertainty of life, fearing being seized as cannon fodder by higher-ranked Demon Lords at any moment? Are you still worried about resource scarcity and energy shortages?"
A skinny lesser demon stood on a tilted bone stele, holding a bone megaphone (the latest product from the Technology R&D Center, with a harsh sound), shouting at the top of its lungs.
Below stood dozens of confused low-level skeletons with flickering soul flames, and a few trembling imps.
"Join our 'Demonic Realm-Characteristic Economic Development Community'!" Another lesser demon quickly took over, waving a pamphlet. "We offer stable job opportunities! Advanced farming techniques! Guaranteed basic survival needs! And skill training to enhance your self-worth!"
It pointed to the crooked drawings on the pamphlet: a field of black moss that seemed (roughly) to be growing well, a group of demons carefully polishing bone flutes, and a simple but sturdy stone hut with a sign reading "Live and Work in Peace" (in Demonic Realm script).
"See that? That's what the Abandoned Land is like now! Everyone has food to eat, work to do, and hope for the future!"
The skeletons and imps looked at each other, their soul flames and eyes filled with doubt. Could such a place even exist in the Demonic Realm?
But soon, the real "demonstration effect" began to show.
A group of skeleton craftsmen who had surrendered to the Abandoned Land early and received preliminary "vocational skill training" were sent back. They brought improved, more efficient bone tool-making equipment and methods, and began setting up "technical assistance points" in the border villages.
"Look, polishing bone blades this way saves effort and makes them sharper!"
"Join us, and you can learn all these skills! You'll even get energy ores!"
Gone was their former lifeless appearance, as if they might fall apart at any moment. Though they were still just skeletons, their bones seemed sturdier, their soul flames brighter, and there was even a hint of... "vitality" in their words—something they themselves didn't notice.
At the same time, the "Common Prosperity Working Group" brought tangible supplies—large quantities of black moss paste and glowing mushrooms. They distributed them to the poorest villages at extremely low prices, or even for free.
"First solve the problem of food and clothing, then we can talk about development!" The demons of the working group shouted the slogan at the top of their lungs.
Survival is the most fundamental truth for the lower classes of the Demonic Realm.
When they saw that their surrendered kin really lived more "demon-like" lives, when they smelled the strange-tasting black paste that actually replenished energy, and when they held the shiny low-grade energy ores that could be used for cultivation or barter, their doubts began to melt like ice.
More and more low-level skeletons, corpse demons, and imps began to move to the Abandoned Land with their families. Even some low-ranking undead officers who had served under the Bone Monarch, after going through the initial chaos and infighting, chose to lead their remaining troops and submit "naturalization applications" to the "Common Prosperity Working Group."
Lin Mo accepted all comers, but there was a strict process: registration, screening, skill assessment, ideological education (mainly studying the Interim Regulations on Security Management of the Demonic Realm's Abandoned Land and the Community Development Outline (Draft)), followed by job assignments based on their strengths—farming, craftsmanship, infrastructure construction, or joining the reorganized "Community Guard" (primarily responsible for public security and engineering projects).
The vast sea of bones belonging to the Bone Monarch was incorporated into the "Community" territory piece by piece, at a visible speed, through this silent "infiltration" and "integration"—without experiencing a brutal war. Those massive undead-gathering arrays were successfully transformed by the demons of the Technology R&D Center into more efficient, more stable "composite energy supply towers," providing development momentum for this new territory.
The Lord of the Rotting Marsh and the Lava Giant were horrified to discover that the defense line they thought was solid was collapsing from within. The lower clans under them began to feel restless, secretly inquiring about the "Community." Harsh suppression only换来 superficial obedience, and deeper resentment and alienation.
The Lava Giant furiously tore apart a fire imp that had secretly spread pamphlets, splattering magma-like blood everywhere. It roared at the erupting volcano: "Dammit! If you have the guts, fight a real battle with blades and spears! Using such underhanded tricks to poach people—what kind of Demonic Realm hero is that!"
The Lord of the Rotting Marsh was even more gloomy. The threat it felt was not just the loss of the lower classes, but more so the incomprehensible concepts of "order" and "development"—spreading like a plague—that were eroding the traditional foundation of the Demonic Realm's "survival of the fittest" bit by bit.
They不约而同 turned their gaze to the deeper part of the Demonic Realm—a region called the "Thousand-Eyed Abyss," which even they feared. It was said that an extremely ancient and powerful being slumbered there...
And just then, a secret envoy group composed of messengers from the Lord of the Rotting Marsh and the Lava Giant, carrying rich "tributes" and a request for alliance, sneaked cautiously to the edge of the Thousand-Eyed Abyss.
They had to seek a stronger power to confront this "green-robed demon" who played by no rules and even sought to overthrow the Demonic Realm's order.
Meanwhile, in the headquarters of the now "Demonic Realm-Characteristic Economic Development Community" in the Abandoned Land, Lin Mo was listening to a report on the new territory's population census, resource distribution, and industrial planning.
He nodded, and on the animal-skin map, he completely colored the Bone Monarch's original territory in the dark color representing his own side.
Then, his finger gently tapped on the miasma-shrouded Rotting Marsh, and the lava river system burning with fierce flames.
"Next, we will focus on tackling the Lord of the Rotting Marsh's territory. Its poison-cultivation industry has certain complementarity and integration potential with our characteristic agriculture and biotechnology development."
His tone was still as calm as if he was discussing the next season's planting plan.
"Notify the 'Strategic Planning Department'—they can start formulating the specific plan for the 'peaceful reunification' of the Rotting Marsh."