You have received a private message.

Have they come knocking at her door? Bayu was startled by the sudden notification.

Opening it, she sighed in relief.

It was merely a request for food.

Ziao's orphan esteemed one.

Do you have any surplus food? I require 500 portions and I am willing to exchange them entirely for stones at your original price.

Huang Fortress.

Currently, I have none.

I will have some by evening.

Xiao's orphan.

May I add you as a friend for convenience and trading? I have attempted to add you several times before, but all my requests were declined.

Bayou awkwardly scratched her head.

Overwhelmed by the sheer number of friend requests she received daily without a second thought.

She had rejected them all with a single click.

A substantial order had arrived.

He Bayou accepted Xiao's orphan as friend request and the other party successfully became her first friend on the list.

Xiao's orphan.

Thank you esteemed one.

She who ngbo judging by your appearance you seem to be well resourced.

There is an abundance of food available on the marketplace.

Why not procure it from there? Bayou inquired expressing her curiosity.

After all, there was no fear of him fleeing given the vast population of billions of lords at play.

making it clear that he was not indispensable.

The modest amount of food she herself sold could easily be consumed, leaving no worries about sales.

Chapter 20.

Strengthening oneself.

Xiao's orphan.

I find myself in dire need of sustenance.

The offerings available in the marketplace are woefully insufficient, and I am perpetually unable to procure them.

Bayou understood that while there were indeed some lowpriced provisions in the marketplace, their quantity was far too meager, insufficient to satisfy the voracious appetites of this assembly of lords.

Clearly, this lord's demands could not be met, and it appeared that he was not particularly lacking in materials.

Affectionately dubbed as the big spender, or perhaps more fittingly, Bayou's benefactor, a long-term supplier might prove advantageous, Bayou responded to Xiao's orphan with an expression and chose to disregard him thereafter.

As a prominent figure, one must learn the art of aloofness.

With the evening still some time away, another opportunity to amass provisions was on the horizon.

Yet the sky over this fantastical realm remained perpetually overcast, devoid of sunlight.

Were it not for the system confirming the passage of time, one might be utterly bewildered as to whether it was morning or night.

Bayou gazed at the immense black water altar at the castle's heart and suddenly had a revelation.

Indeed, the black water altar could augment the undead.

Might it not also empower myself? No.

No, that is not an option.

Living beings that fall within would directly transform into putrid rotting bones, an outcome I wish to avoid.

While I am not undead, I do possess a bloodline of the undead.

Perhaps there exists a possibility.

Should I dare try? Primarily, Bayou felt that her attributes were rather dismal, comparable to those of a skeletal warrior.

At this rate, she would only reach the status of a commander, nothing more.

Merely possessing a strong troop type would not suffice.

Being a weakling herself would render her a liability within the ranks of the undead army.

If the enemy were to charge at her, she would be easily vanquished.

Although having a formidable troop type instilled a sense of security, it pald in comparison to the comfort of personal strength.

Bayou approached the Blackwater altar.

Stepping within the protective barrier and proceeded to test her entry repeatedly.

Reassured by her ability to move freely with a sigh of relief, she prepared for the crucial moment.

Cautiously, she crouched beside the black water, intending to extend her hand and gently touch the liquid.

Bayou was not foolish enough to plunge and recklessly.

What if she transformed into a skeleton? There would be no opportunity for regret then.

She extended a single finger toward the black water, turning her head aside and closing her eyes in trepidation.

Gritting her teeth, she swiftly made contact.

It hurts, she exclaimed, only to discover that there was no pain at all, just a cool sensation at her fingertip.

Wait, nothing happened.

Bayou turned her gaze to her finger, which had now submerged into the altar.

Astonishingly, her fingertip had not touched the black water at all.

Instead, a small vacuum had formed around her finger, and it was actually resting against the altar's base, entirely, avoiding the liquid.

What is happening just moments ago? She distinctly felt a tingling sensation as if energy were surging into her being.

Indeed, Bayou sensed a slight enhancement within herself.

Yet, she had not even made contact with the black water.

When skeletal reinforcement occurs, the bones turn black.

When zombies are augmented, they exude dark mist.

What could this signify? Bayou hastily withdrew her finger, glancing left and right to ensure it hadn't darkened or emitted any ominous black smoke.

Reassured, she tentatively placed the digit back at her mouth for a taste.

Confirmation dawned upon her.

This was unmistakably a human hand with relief washing over her.

She rose to her feet and stepped into the altar.

True to expectation, the inky waters parted around her.

Though the tingling numbness creeping up her leg nearly sent her stumbling.

Shedding her shoes, she ventured barefoot into the obsidian pool, her entire body trembling as if electrified, suppressing the overwhelming sensations.

She pressed forward.

The moment she entered, the sickle bracelet on her right wrist detached, transforming into a massive sythe that plunged into the dark waters.

The surrounding liquid surged toward the weapon in a frenzy dance.

Even weapons can be enhanced.

Delight flickered across her face, though she had no time to dwell on the fallen weapon.

Advancing further, she reached the heart of the altar and collapsed onto the ground, utterly drained.

The black waters enveloped her, leaving only the sacred space beneath her untouched.

An invisible energy coalesed around her, seeping into her being.

Closing her eyes, Bayou surrendered to the euphoria of her strengthening attributes.

Gradually, her breathing steadied and she drifted into slumber.

Time slipped away unnoticed until she stirred, rubbing bler eyes as she rose.

A newfound vigor surged through her limbs.

She felt invincible, as though she could shatter a car with a single punch.

Wait, where did all the black water go? Her gaze swept the altar, now nearly devoid of its dark essence.

The scythe lay motionless a short distance away.

She approached, lifting it for inspection.

H no visible changes.

Shrugging, she dismissed the thought for now.

The weapon morphed back into a bracelet around her wrist.

Noticing the altar's floor still oozed faint traces of black liquid, albeit slowly, she realized the pool was gradually replenishing itself.

At least that's some consolation.

Relief washed over her.

Losing a royal tear special structure would have been catastrophic.

Outside, night had fully descended.

The castle entrance was littered with monster carcasses.