80: Chapter 80 Hot Spring Expansion! The Emperor's Luxurious Bath

"He wants to be promoted to a Provisional Commoner?"

Hearing Chen Xiao's report, a playful smile appeared on Qin Yu's face.

A Slave who was about to rot into a puddle of pus was still dreaming of a social promotion.

One had to say, it was pathetic, yet laughable.

"He brought back the Horned Sheep cubs and fulfilled his value."

Qin Yu spoke indifferently.

"According to my rules, after his death, he can be posthumously titled a 'Provisional Commoner'."

"Find a place to bury him. No need to throw him to the beasts like other Slaves."

This was the final mercy bestowed upon him by Qin Yu.

"Yes, Patriarch."

Chen Xiao responded respectfully.

She looked at Qin Yu's handsome yet cold, almost non-human profile, her heart filled with awe.

Only a man like this, who viewed human life as grass and treated everything as chips and tools, could become the sole King in this cruel prehistoric world.

"By the way, where are the two Horned Sheep cubs?" Qin Yu asked.

"They have been sent to the beast pen as you ordered," Chen Xiao reported. "The beast pen's Soothing Runes are very effective. Although the two little guys are still a bit frightened, they are no longer as frenzied as before."

"Very good."

Qin Yu nodded with satisfaction.

"Pick a few meticulous Commoner girls from the Tribe to be specifically responsible for feeding them."

"Tell them that these are important future food sources for the Tribe. If they are raised well, I will reward them handsomely."

"Yes!"

After dealing with this matter, Qin Yu ignored Chen Xiao and walked straight toward the back mountain.

Chen Xiao watched Qin Yu's departing back, a flash of doubt in her eyes.

Where was the Patriarch going?

She didn't ask further; as a subordinate, she only needed to execute orders.

...

Soon, Qin Yu arrived at the back mountain of the Tribe, where the natural hot spring was located.

It was a small pool, surrounded by a ring of oddly shaped black rocks.

A faint white mist lingered over the pool all year round.

Warm spring water was gurgling out from the crevices in the rocks.

Qin Yu reached out and dipped his hand into the water.

A perfect sense of warmth came from his fingertips, instantly dispelling the slight chill of the mountains.

"Not a bad place."

A satisfied smile curled at the corner of Qin Yu's mouth.

What he wanted was not just such a primitive and crude little pool.

He wanted a luxurious bathhouse worthy of his status as an Emperor!

That afternoon, Qin Yu's order spread throughout the entire Tribe.

The King wanted to build a private bathhouse on the back mountain!

With the order issued, the entire Tribe began to operate efficiently once again.

Lin Waner was responsible for coordinating supplies and manpower.

And those Slaves who had not been sent out for exploration became the primary labor force.

Driven by the cold whips of the Valkyries, they began the massive project day and night.

They expanded the original hot spring pool by a full ten times!

Using massive slabs of blue stone carved from the mountain, they built sturdy and beautiful pool walls.

The bottom of the bath was paved with smooth pebbles, making it incredibly comfortable to step on.

Around the pool, wide platforms and corridors were built using precious hardwood.

The platform was covered with thick, soft Saber-toothed Tiger fur for resting.

On the pillars of the corridor, lanterns woven from bioluminescent plants were hung, emitting a dreamy, soft light at night.

Qin Yu even ordered the Slaves to build a small waterfall on one side of the bath.

Warm spring water flowed down from a rockery several meters high, washing over one's body and instantly rinsing away all fatigue.

In just three days.

An outdoor Imperial Bathhouse, full of primitive ruggedness yet revealing extreme luxury in every detail, was declared complete!

That night.

Qin Yu brought his four "Nobles" here.

Su Qingyao, Lin Waner, Chen Xiao, and Liu Wei.

When the four girls saw the miracle-like bathhouse before them, they were all speechless with shock.

Steam swirled in the massive pool, the water surface reflecting the stars in the sky and the light of the surrounding campfires.

The air was filled with a faint scent of sulfur and the fresh fragrance of wood.

In the distance were the camps where the Slaves worked hard and the occasional roars of beasts from deep within the rainforest.

But here, it was like an isolated paradise, filled with ease and luxury.

"Everyone, come down."

Qin Yu had already stripped off his clothes and was leaning against the edge of the pool, which was polished from a single piece of white jade-like stone, beckoning the four still-hesitant girls.

His bronze skin radiated an alluring luster under the reflection of the steam and firelight.

Those muscular lines, perfect as a sculpture, were filled with a sense of explosive power.

The four girls' faces flushed. They glanced at each other before shyly shedding their robes and stepping their long legs into the warm spring water.

"Oh my... here... it's simply too comfortable..."

The gentle logistics manager, Lin Waner, let out a satisfied sigh as soon as she entered the water.

The fatigue of many days seemed to vanish at this moment.

"Hmph, only a guy like you would think of making something so luxurious in a place like this."

The Chief Arcanist, Liu Wei, couldn't help but grumble while enjoying the soothing water.

But her slightly squinted eyes and relaxed brow betrayed her inner enjoyment.

The war commander, Chen Xiao, did not speak.

She simply swam quietly behind Qin Yu and reached out her hands, which were calloused from years of holding weapons, to begin massaging his broad shoulders.

This was her honor and her duty.

Meanwhile, the Holy Priestess Su Qingyao swam to Qin Yu's side and pressed her smooth, tender, jade-like body tightly against him.

She tilted up her stunningly beautiful face, looking at Qin Yu with obsession.

"Patriarch... thank you."

Her voice was filled with infinite admiration and worship.

Qin Yu did not speak.

He simply reached out and pulled Su Qingyao's soft, delicate body into his arms.

Then he closed his eyes, enjoying this moment of tranquility and imperial luxury.

He liked this feeling.

On one side, Slaves were struggling on the edge of death, creating value for him with their blood and sweat.

On the other side, he and his women were enjoying the highest level of luxury and comfort.

This extreme contrast gave him a morbid sense of pleasure from controlling everything.

Amidst this atmosphere of luxury and intimacy, a thin figure broke the silence.

It was the MIT PhD, Li Mo.

He was brought by two Valkyries and knelt respectfully on the platform outside the bathhouse, the humiliating Slave rune still branded on his forehead.

"Master."

Li Mo's voice was calm and restrained.

"Regarding the thing you wanted, I... have made some progress."

Qin Yu slowly opened his eyes.

He glanced at Li Mo kneeling on the ground, and then at the unremarkable metal plate he held in his hands.

"Speak."

Qin Yu's tone was still languid.

Li Mo took a deep breath and held the metal plate high.

"Master, after three days and nights of continuous experimentation and analysis, I discovered that by smelting the 'Black Iron Ore' we dug from the mine with an associated mineral called 'Fire Rock Crystal' in a seven-to-three ratio, and then quenching it with Horned Sheep fat..."

In his eyes, there flickered a fanatical light belonging to a scientist!

"A brand new alloy can be obtained!"

"I have named it... 'hundred refined steel'!"

"Its hardness is more than three times that of ordinary black iron! Its toughness also far exceeds it! If used to forge weapons and armor, our warriors' combat power will receive a qualitative leap!"

"Oh?"

A flash of genuine interest finally appeared in Qin Yu's eyes.

He stood up from the water, his robust body glistening with countless water droplets under the firelight.

Ignoring the obsessed gazes of the four girls behind him, he walked straight to Li Mo.

He took the so-called "hundred refined steel" from Li Mo's hands.

It felt heavy in his hand, with a cold metallic texture.

Qin Yu brought the metal plate to his eyes and flicked it with his finger.

Ding!

A crisp and pleasant sound of clashing metal rang out.

Qin Yu nodded slightly.

Then, under everyone's shocked gazes, he placed the metal plate between two fingers.

He began to slowly apply force!

"Patriarch, don't!"

Li Mo cried out.

He had absolute confidence in his invention, the "hundred refined steel"!

He believed that it was absolutely impossible for human strength to bend it!

However, in the next second.

The confidence on his face completely froze!

Crack... crackle...

That incredibly hard "hundred refined steel" metal plate actually let out groans of being overstrained under Qin Yu's terrifyingly inhuman strength!

It... it was actually being bent bit by bit with his bare hands!

Finally, it turned into a 'U' shape!

The entire place was dead silent.

Everyone looked at Qin Yu as if they were looking at a monster.

"Not bad."

Qin Yu casually threw the deformed metal plate on the ground and gave a faint evaluation.

"The hardness... is barely sufficient."

Li Mo stared blankly at the metal plate on the ground, then at Qin Yu's unscathed hand, completely stunned.

He felt his worldview being completely shattered at this moment.

Was this... was this still strength a human could possess?!

"You did well."

Qin Yu's gaze fell back on Li Mo.

"From today on, you are no longer a Slave."

"I appoint you as the Chief Craftsman of the Dragon God Tribe, rank: 'Commoner'!"

"The Tribe will build a real Forge Workshop for you, and all resources will be supplied to you with priority!"

"I have only one requirement."

In Qin Yu's eyes, the fire of "ambition" flickered.

"Within one month, I want my 'Divine Punishment Squad' to be fully equipped with armor and weapons forged from this 'hundred refined steel'!"

"Can you do it?!"

Enormous surprise and glory instantly overwhelmed Li Mo like a tsunami!

He had risen from a lowly Slave to a "Commoner" of the Tribe in one step! He even had his own Forge Workshop!

"I can! Master! I guarantee I can do it!"

Li Mo trembled with excitement and kowtowed heavily!

Just then.

"Report—!!!"

A shrill and urgent shout came from outside the bathhouse!

A Valkyrie responsible for the watchtower guard, covered in blood, came crawling and rolling in!

Her face was written with terror and... a trace of uncontrollable wild joy!

She fell to her knees with a thud, not even having time to salute Qin Yu before roaring with all her might:

"Patriarch!!!"

"The Slave Exploration Team... the Eighth Squad is back!"

"They... they brought back the thing you wanted most!"

"But... they also brought back... huge trouble!!!"