On the fifth layer of the Maze, under a gray dome lies an endless Wilderness, where the murky air emits a faint, decaying scent.

That is the smell of the spores.

They occupy a vast expanse of land on the Wilderness, like a dense fog that refuses to dissipate.

And on that fog-covered land, thick roots undulate slowly like writhing pythons.

Beside these roots, peculiar "fruits" grow robustly like mushrooms on tree roots.

These are not ordinary mushrooms.

They have pale skin, hollow eyes, standing silently, resembling humans, yet like soulless shells displayed in a wax museum.

"Welcome to view my masterpiece, esteemed Lord Demon King. According to your requirements, through grafted branches, I have created these soulless bodies on my roots."

Standing next to Luo Yan, "Helen" speaks in a hoarse and slow voice, telling words that do not belong to her.

Her gentle-featured face carries a serene smile, with dark green light flickering in her pupils, her stiff actions and voice just like her father's when inhabited by Gray Wind.

Appreciating the masterpiece belonging to Gray Wind in front of him, Luo Yan shows a look of admiration.

"You've done well, this is exactly what I need."

These Artificial Humans are created entirely based on Kao characteristics.

They possess strong adaptability, able to thrive in extreme environments, much like resilient fungi.

Moreover, the most crucial aspect is that they, unlike Kao, lack self-awareness, yet possess a nervous system not inferior to Kao, capable of being perfect "vessels" to accommodate the Players' soul mirror images.

This not only solves the Players' consumption of "vessels," but also avoids ethical controversy.

There is no more ideal tool than this!

"I'm pleased to satisfy you," Helen with eyes flickering green light smiles and nods, casting her gaze on the soulless bodies of Artificial Humans ahead, continuing to speak at a slow pace, "Also thanks to your help, in this incredible work, not only did I witness life forms I had never seen before, but I also gained a deeper understanding of myself."

Standing beside her sister Helen, Sherry curiously steps forward, reaching out to poke one of the Artificial Human's faces.

The strange sensation is like a rain-soaked Matsutake mushroom, moist with a hint of slipperiness, having a meaty bounce as her index finger moves.

The Artificial Human, having its face kneaded, shows no reaction, nor does it make any sound.

"So strange... Are these guys really human? There isn't any reaction at all." Retracting her hand, Sherry walks around the Artificial Human several times, clicking her tongue in wonder.

Just as she was curiously commenting, Alakdo couldn't resist taking a bite, chomping half of one Artificial Human's body, then tilting its head to swallow it.

The remaining half of the Artificial Human, like a split cucumber, reveals the gel-like fungal meat inside.

Soon after, it begins to wither and is then absorbed by the adjacent undulating roots.

"It tastes not bad," Alakdo mumbles as it chews, letting out a burp shortly thereafter.

Standing aside, "Helen" watches it peacefully, speaking in a slow and gentle tone.

"I do not recommend you see my children as food, the energy I expended in synthesizing them far exceeds what you absorbed from them, if you are hungry, I can offer you other fruit... they would be much easier to digest."

Luo Yan glances at Alakdo, who immediately shuts its mouthparts, not daring to be greedy anymore.

Gray Wind's statement is indeed correct.

The nutrition needed to produce one Artificial Human demands several to even ten acres of forest working for months to provide "nutritional surplus," no exaggeration to say this creature just consumed a Ginsengfruit in one bite.

Cheapness is only relative.

As food, these Artificial Humans are neither cheap nor easy to digest, but compared to the resources spent raising a baby to adulthood, they are far more economical.

Watching Sherry blink in curiosity, Luo Yan answers her earlier question.

"They are certainly not humans, not even animals, and they lack souls."

Sherry tilts her head, puzzled.

"Then what use are they? They don't talk, don't move, not capable of any work."

"How could they be useless?" Luo Yan allows a hint of smile at the corner of his mouth, speaking warmly, "If anything, they're just right for me."

"Helen" smiles quietly at the esteemed Lord Demon King, waiting for his next move.

As if responding to Gray Wind and Sherry's anticipation, Luo Yan steps forward, reaching out his right hand.

Meanwhile, he silently recites in his heart.

"Youyou, are those test Players ready?"

A formless entity floats shadowily by his side, then enters his ear with a spirited reply.

"They are ready, Lord Demon King!"

"Then let them enter the game."

"Understood!"

Following Youyou's words, dozens of soul mirror images are released from Luo Yan's fingertips, flooding into those soulless shells.

These soul mirror images had been prepared in advance.

As early as a few days ago, "Catastrophe OL" opened a channel for new race testing reservations on its official website, and predictably, received tens of thousands of enthusiastic registrations.

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