Ye Yu drank wine in bed, his eyes red, unable to sleep from sadness.

The crystal being snatched and Gao Yiheng's betrayal were undoubtedly a huge blow to him.

Wan Jiangui, however, was feasting outside the base.

"This mantis shrimp is so fragrant, so delicious. I could eat so much more."

Chen Luo smiled. "If it's good, eat more. I made it myself."

Tears welled up in Wan Jiangui's eyes. "Immortal, you're so good to me."

Wan Jiangui ate and laughed. "Haha, that idiot Ye Yu actually thought Gao Yiheng was the mole. That reasoning almost killed me."

"Immortal, you don't know, when Ye Yu said, 'Jiangui, you don't understand the wickedness of people's hearts,' I almost died laughing."

"Sigh, even with strong abilities, he's still being played around by me."

Chen Luo smiled faintly. You two-faced traitor, you betray your boss and still feel pleased with yourself.

Born with a rebellious bone, your face is so ugly.

Your talent is only mid-tier. Once Ye Yu is dealt with, you'll have no more value.

After Wan Jiangui finished eating, Chen Luo sent him back and then took the silent Gao Yiheng back to the base.

Gao Yiheng ultimately didn't choose to kill himself.

Chen Luo warned him, "Your talent is not bad, but you're not even on the list in my base. I brought you back because I want you to contribute to humanity. Consider it carefully."

"Start as an ordinary member first. If you have the ability, you'll eventually make a name for yourself."

Gao Yiheng wasn't good with words either, taciturn, and simply nodded.

Chen Luo patted him on the shoulder and had Chen Guang make arrangements.

Having obtained the Wang-level (King-level) crystal, Chen Luo absorbed it with all his strength.

On the third day of absorption, the day he promised Da Zhuang arrived.

He had to give Da Zhuang an antidote once a month.

...

"Hiding crystals, hiding crystals. This is a crime! Do you even see me as your boss?"

Da Zhuang hung a level seven zombie on a hook, slapping it left and right.

Da Zhuang now had over three hundred followers, almost all with excellent talent, and nine of them had reached level seven.

Da Zhuang himself easily reached level eight when Chen Luo gave him an eighth-level crystal last time.

At this time, all the zombies were arranged by Da Zhuang in an open space to watch Da Zhuang's execution.

A level seven zombie obtained a level nine crystal but didn't hand it over to Da Zhuang and secretly used it himself.

Xiao Mantou (Little Steamed Bun) discovered it and immediately told Da Zhuang.

Da Zhuang was furious. I am your boss, and you don't give me the crystal you obtained? I must kill the chicken to scare the monkey.

The zombie hiding the crystal wailed, "I found it myself, why should I give it to you?"

"Pa!" Da Zhuang slapped it hard.

Da Zhuang pointed at it. "You followed me, your boss. I gave you food, drink, and protected you. You're an ingrate. Today, I'll sacrifice you to the heavens."

The zombie was driven to desperation and spat a high-temperature flame from its mouth, spraying towards Da Zhuang.

Da Zhuang chuckled and didn't even dodge, taking it head-on. Besides making Da Zhuang's head a little black, it had no effect.

"Dare to attack your boss, I'll tear you apart."

First the ears, nose, and eyeballs, then the arms and thighs. Da Zhuang really tore it apart.

The surrounding zombies trembled.

The level nine crystal hidden by the zombie was taken by Da Zhuang, and the zombie's own level seven crystal was dug out.

Da Zhuang pondered in his heart. I'll use the level nine crystal myself, and give the level seven crystal to my boss to show my filial piety.

"Xiao Mantou did a great job. Everyone should learn from Xiao Mantou."

Xiao Mantou looked at Da Zhuang flatteringly.

Da Zhuang shook his head. You're clearly not worthy of me, Da Zhuang.

At night, Da Zhuang finished absorbing the crystal and sighed, "I understand my boss a little. I can't tolerate my subordinates hiding crystals. I guess my boss is the same."

"My boss didn't kill me. He's already been very kind to me."

"But I still have to hide what I can. I want to use this level nine crystal too."

"Everyone hates Lao Liu (the sixth child, a trickster), but everyone wants to be Lao Liu."

The next day, Da Zhuang gave the level nine crystal to Xiao Mantou and told Xiao Mantou to keep it safe. The crystal is with the person, and you can't tell anyone.

Is Da Zhuang so confident in Xiao Mantou?

Of course not.

Da Zhuang arranged for two other zombies to watch Xiao Mantou closely. If Xiao Mantou made any unusual moves, they would tear it apart.

To be on the safe side, Da Zhuang arranged for four more zombies to watch Xiao Mantou and the two zombies.

Layers of surveillance.

What's this called? This is called restraint.

Although it's not foolproof, nothing in the world is 100% certain.

Da Zhuang was very satisfied. Boss, search me. I definitely don't have any crystals on me.

But, Da Zhuang, you wouldn't have guessed that Xiao Mantou himself was used by your boss to monitor you.

After Chen Luo learned about it, he had to admire Da Zhuang. Brilliant, really brilliant.

Chen Luo met with Da Zhuang.

Chen Luo stuffed the mud pill into Da Zhuang's mouth, and Da Zhuang grinned, taking out the level seven fire-type crystal.

"Boss, this is my tribute to you."

Chen Luo accepted it without hesitation but took out a level nine flesh-type crystal in return.

This crystal was obtained by Xia Haoran, who gave it to Su Dazhu. Su Dazhu also reached level eight, with half of the energy remaining.

In the past, Chen Luo was afraid that Da Zhuang's power would be out of control, but now he wasn't worried at all.

What, could Da Zhuang reach Wang-level (King-level) in a short time?

Da Zhuang's strength, in Chen Luo's opinion, was a bit lacking. He had to kneel when he encountered tough opponents, like the zombie queen.

Da Zhuang was dumbfounded. Is this my boss? Trading a level seven crystal for a level nine crystal?

Chen Luo smiled. "Da Zhuang, accept it. Your boss will be relieved if you become stronger, won't he?"

Da Zhuang cried, knelt down, and hugged Chen Luo's leg. "Wuwu, Boss, you're so good to me."

Chen Luo watched with a smile, unable to tell if Da Zhuang was acting or not.

Da Zhuang left crying, turning his head every three steps. When he was far away, he quickly took out the level nine crystal Chen Luo gave him, his face beaming.

Chen Luo looked at Da Zhuang's back, vaguely getting some clues on how to really control Da Zhuang.

Chen Luo remembered a mutated plant called Erosion Heart Grass. After eating it, the heart would ache violently, causing unbearable pain every once in a while, but it wouldn't be fatal.

And another kind of grass could suppress this pain.

It could be used as poison and antidote for Da Zhuang to take.

Chen Luo wondered if there was a possibility that Da Zhuang would listen to him without any means of control.

Three more days passed, and Chen Luo completely absorbed the Wang-level (King-level) crystal.

Chen Luo took a long breath, opened his eyes, and had a smile on his face. He was very close to Wang-level (King-level). Another Wang-level (King-level) crystal would do it.

Chen Luo planned to go to the Sea God's place to pick two fish and have Mifan (Rice) do some divination, but instead, he asked, holding Mifan (Rice).

"Mifan (Rice), what will happen if I use space-time abilities now?"

Mifan (Rice) sensed it and said, "Well, the crystal will shatter, but there's no life-threatening danger."

At level nine, Chen Luo dared to use it and die suddenly. At the early stage of level ten, he would become a vegetable.

Now, the cost has been greatly reduced. Only the crystal will shatter.

I'm afraid it will only be without a price when I reach Wang-level (King-level).