Chapter 208: Troop Devouring Ghost Moth
The benefits of the Small Secret Realm were right before their eyes, and none of them wanted to give up, especially since the people from the Ye Family who entered had not yet come out—how could they easily abandon it?
Ye Chengqiu and Na Goru strode forward, about to charge into the crevice.
“Get lost!”
A hoarse voice came, followed by a powerful mental attack sweeping over.
Ye Chengqiu and Na Goru’s expressions changed slightly as they immediately blocked the attack.
The attacks collided, shattering the surrounding formation.
The two retreated a step, their faces grim, filled with utmost vigilance.
Wu Nan and Yu Luo’s expressions flickered as they immediately acted to stabilize the formation.
However, in the next moment, a vast mental fluctuation gathered into the form of an extremely ferocious Rock Demon Ant Queen, semi-transparent, and the powerful mental fluctuation instantly exploded.
Boom
With a muffled sound, all the formations set up by Wu Nan were destroyed, and some tribesmen who were too close were even injured again by the mental impact.
“Coward hiding your head but showing your tail!”
Wu Nan’s face turned ashen as he cursed, having schemed for so long and spent numerous resources, only to fail in stealing the chicken and lose the rice instead.
Beside him, Ye Chengqiu’s face was even more stern, his killing intent uncontainable.
His Ye Family had one current Family Head inside, as well as an Elder.
Tianshui Sect’s Sect Master Lan Tian Shui’s gaze darkened; one of his personal disciples was still inside, but he did not fly into a rage, his gaze falling on Ye Chengqiu.
He did not want to be the one sticking his neck out.
The strength of the Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist in the secret realm was unknown, but just from the projection of that Third-order Calamity Beast alone, it was clear they were not easy to deal with.
“Trespassers of this secret realm, once this old man completes his work and emerges, I will exterminate your entire clan.”
An icy voice came, hoarse yet carrying an undisguisable majesty.
The secret realm’s crevice slowly shrank, and Ye Chengqiu slashed with his sword, trying to stop the secret realm crevice from recovering.
“I don’t care about your secret realm affairs—release my Ye Family disciple, and this matter’s grudge with Your Excellency will be written off.”
“Hahaha”
Laughter rang out: “That junior who used the Monster Binding Rope? Why don’t you ask what Sect Master Lan’s disciple did, instead of coming after me.”
As the voice fell, the last crevice completely vanished, turning into the appearance of mountain rocks and cliff walls.
The crowd exchanged glances, and Ye Chengqiu and Lan Tian Shui’s eyes flashed with suspicion as they subconsciously looked at each other.
“Ye Chengqiu, do you really believe what that guy said?”
“No”
Ye Chengqiu shook his head resolutely: “The guy inside is just a Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist. If we all join forces to reopen the secret realm, we can definitely kill him. My Ye Family promises not to seize the secret order; if we can rescue the Ye Family disciples, there will be additional rewards!”
Ye Chengqiu was decisive, but Lan Tian Shui, Wu Nan, and the others did not believe a single word.
He gripped his sword, his aura restrained like a blade sheathed, poised and ready, keeping the greatest distance from Lan Tian Shui.
This stance clearly showed he was guarding against Lan Tian Shui.
“Hmph, the secret order has already been seized by that person. If we want to break open this Small Secret Realm, the resources spent will likely be several times more than before. The Fire Crow Tribe’s foundation is too thin; we cannot afford to join. Farewell.”
Wu Nan immediately made his decision—not to mention the five Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists present each had their own motives, making full cooperation impossible.
Just the numerous injured disciples in his own tribe alone had extinguished his intent to continue.
The urgent matter was to heal these tribesmen, preserve their lives and foundation; he had no strength left to meddle in other affairs.
“Let’s go”
With the Fire Crow Tribe leaving, the Black Bear Tribe also took their tribesmen and strode away from Goat Horn Mountain.
Na Goru, having suffered this great loss, could grit his teeth and endure, but if another chance came, he would definitely take that person’s head.
Yu Luo sighed: “You two, the person in the secret realm is cunning as a fox, and with our differing motives, nothing can be accomplished. This old woman bids farewell.”
With the crowd dispersed, only Ye Chengqiu and Lan Tian Shui remained.
The two mutually suspected each other, exchanged no further words, snorted, and parted ways, with only Ye Chengqiu wearing a worried expression.
“Greed blinds wisdom… Greed blinds wisdom, ah, Ye Family…”
He showed bitterness on his face, revealed worry, and ultimately flew away.
Losing a Family Head, and with so many materials gone, Ye Liufeng’s Natal Spiritual Artifact would likely face more setbacks.
——
Inside the Small Secret Realm, the Rock Demon Ant Queen’s aura weakened like a flickering candle, dropping further.
Su Yan frowned slightly, extracting several strands of Insect Yuan and infusing them into its body, finally stabilizing the injury.
‘Even with the Insect Consciousness Seed added, dealing with same-rank martial artists with a heavily injured body is indeed too difficult, but fortunately, there is the Fierce Insect Cauldron…’
Closing the Small Secret Realm would inevitably draw obstruction from the Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists outside.
Thus, controlling the Rock Demon Ant Queen to block them was the only choice. Fortunately, with the secret order in hand, the Small Secret Realm was under his control, so the opponents did not dare enter easily, allowing the feint blockade just now to succeed.
Su Yan retrieved the Rock Demon Ant Queen into the Fierce Insect Cauldron, where it quickly fell into deep sleep as the Fierce Insect Cauldron’s power slowly gathered to heal its injuries.
This was Su Yan’s reliance—as long as the Fierce Insect Cauldron was there and the fierce insect had not died, there was always a chance to save it.
It was just that the time needed to heal the injuries would vary.
“One month…”
The Rock Demon Ant Queen’s injuries were severe, requiring a full month to heal.
“Good, just enough time to let the Gold-Eating Demon Insect complete its breakthrough.”
Su Yan settled the Rock Demon Ant Queen, and the Six-Winged Blood Centipede carried him to the Three Mountains area.
The Rock Demon Ant swarm was still searching everywhere for heavenly materials and earthly treasures, engaging in battles with feral beasts as they explored, their numbers steadily decreasing.
Nangong Hong Yue was responsible for monitoring their movements while delivering all found heavenly materials and earthly treasures to Su Yan.
The entire Small Secret Realm had become Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue’s back garden, with massive amounts of medicinal herbs, ore, and spiritual wood gathered.
Su Yan used the earth vein molten fire and the Flame Armored Scorpion’s demonic fire to refine all these medicinal herbs into pills.
The heavenly materials and earthly treasures were varied and did not directly match pill prescriptions one-to-one.
However, there were two Second-order Pill Masters here, and top-notch ones at that.
Su Yan knew few pill prescriptions, but Nangong Hong Yue was different; having operated a Pill Workshop for ten years, she had collected many.
The two discussed together, substituting and adjusting the medicinal herbs for these prescriptions, and actually figured some things out.
Over the entire month, pills were continuously refined.
First-order Blood Yuan Pill, Blood Bone Pill, Peiyuan Pill, Xuan Shen Pill…
Second-order Blood Essence Condensing Pill, Dragon Tiger Golden Pill, Return Intent Yuan Pill, Insect Bone Tendon Refining Pill…
In one month’s time, no less than a thousand pills were refined, consuming a full round of the secret realm’s heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
【Third-order Insect Master: 5723/10000】
【Traits: Insect Bone Armor Body, Insect Consciousness Seed】
【Insect Realm: 1000 cubic meters】
【True Intent Realm Condensing Momentum Stage: 1/400（Great Accomplishment）】
【Five Elements Alchemy Technique: Transformation Realm】
【Gu Pill Manual: 1/400（Great Accomplishment）】
……
【Six-Winged Blood Centipede: 1/400( Mature Stage）】
【Flame Armored Scorpion: 1/400( Mature Stage）】
【Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust: 1/200（Growth Stage)】
【Shadow Horn Spider: 1/400（Mature Stage）】
【Rock Demon Ant Queen: 1/100( Nascent Stage）】
【Gold-Eating Demon Insect: Metamorphosis Stage】
“The more fierce insects I raise, the more resources they need. Even the corner resources of one Small Secret Realm only pushed forward one growth stage…”
Su Yan did not know whether to cry or laugh; he had long discovered that the resources needed for his fierce insects to metamorphose exceeded those for some senior brothers’ contracted beasts to advance.
There were pros and cons: the more resources required, the stronger his fierce insects’ bloodlines, making them unmatched by other contracted beasts of the same rank.
All along, fighting above his rank had relied on these fierce insects.
Moreover, the Insect Yuan extracted daily from the fierce insects’ bodies was the truly precious thing.
With six fierce insects, the Insect Yuan born in their bodies was no less valuable than Second-order Pills; infusing it daily strengthened Su Yan’s foundation, bringing his aptitude ever closer to non-human levels.
The Insect Bone Armor Body and Insect Consciousness Seed traits continuously enhanced; even without circulating energy, Su Yan’s physical body and spirit could already suppress many same-rank martial artists.
This month he had been constantly refining pills without deliberate cultivation, yet his cultivation still grew steadily, having reached Great Accomplishment of Condensing Momentum Stage.
Su Yan stood up, stretched his muscles and bones, and a faint Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound emanated from his body.
“Five Elements Alchemy Technique has reached Transformation Realm, and Gu Pill Manual Great Accomplishment. This month’s pill refining was not wasted—perhaps I can try refining Third-order Pills.”
With a thought, Su Yan strode out of the cave.
Seeing Su Yan emerge, Nangong Hong Yue’s eyes lit up slightly, her heart unconsciously joyful.
“Have you finished your seclusion?”
Su Yan had secluded himself to refine pills, initially having Nangong Hong Yue assist with planning and adjusting new pill prescriptions, but after his Five Elements Alchemy Technique reached Transformation Realm, his speed surpassed hers.
If the two refined pills together at the same earth fire, their spiritual energy absorption and refining rhythm would interfere with each other.
Thus, Su Yan secluded himself while Nangong Hong Yue stood guard.
“The python beast and snake beast you asked me to find have been located—two Second-order ones, cornered by the Rock Demon Ant swarm in a deep pool seven li east and a valley floor on the south side.”
Nangong Hong Yue’s aura had slightly converged; though fleeting, it was clear her cultivation had advanced over the month.
“Head to the mountain valley first.”
The mountain valley Su Yan referred to was the one where the Gold-Eating Demon Insect was.
In the valley, that small Black Steel Ore Vein had been absorbed by more than half by the Gold-Eating Demon Insect over the month, its ore vein power fused into its body, now at the critical moment of metamorphosis.
Nangong Hong Yue’s eyes flickered slightly, quite surprised: “It’s about to metamorphose?”
“Mm”
Su Yan smiled, summoning the Six-Winged Blood Centipede to carry them both into the valley.
This valley was guarded by the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust and Blood Bee swarm, with not a shadow of half a feral beast in sight.
As soon as Su Yan landed, a red cocoon in the valley emitted dazzling red light.
The cocoon pulsed like a heart, exuding a sharp aura.
Seeing the cocoon, the five gu worms in Nangong Hong Yue’s body—Black Gold Silkworm, Red Scorpion, and others—trembled slightly.
Unrelated to strength, this was suppression from the bloodline.
Only when the bloodline gap was vast would feral beasts exhibit such a state.
Even though her cultivated gu worms were not weak, such suppression was hard to avoid.
Su Yan knew the cocoon was ready to complete its metamorphosis.
The two waited quietly; after a full night, the cocoon finally cracked, the red light rapidly retracting and soon all gathering back into the cocoon.
Crack
A palm-sized, pitch-black-as-ink-jade insect beast with flowing golden patterns crawled out, its icy aura suppressing the surrounding grass and trees, as if severing their vitality.
【Gold-Eating Demon Insect devours molting material Black Steel Ore Vein, Purple Crystal Sand, Amber Crystal, Third-order Spirit Artifact, metamorphosing into Troop Devouring Ghost Moth】
【Troop Devouring Ghost Moth: 1/100（Nascent Stage）】
A powerful aura enveloped the entire valley; Nangong Hong Yue’s face changed abruptly, her eyes widening slightly: “Th-this is a Third-order Calamity Beast!”
The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth flew straight toward Su Yan; her face changed as she raised her hand to block it.
A contracted beast’s cultivation surpassing its host was a great taboo, though she had completely forgotten that Su Yan had once used means to subdue the Rock Demon Ant Queen.
Even if it was an injured Third-order Feral Beast.
“Hiss hiss”
The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth swept its aura, halting Nangong Hong Yue’s action; it then circled before Su Yan, utterly obedient.
Su Yan smiled, glancing at her: “Don’t worry, my contracted beasts are different from others’.”
Nangong Hong Yue’s face flushed slightly, feeling a bit awkward for a moment.
Su Yan carefully observed the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth before him, the Insect Consciousness Seed integrating into its body and descending upon it.
Rebounding Force and Geng Metal Power intertwined, fusing with its post-metamorphosis power into a ghostly domain.
Within one chi before him, it was like a golden body—formless and momentum-less, yet able to counter weapons, devour metal…
“Troop Devouring Power, commanding all weapons…”
Su Yan’s eyes lit up as Geng Metal Qi and ghostly qi gathered around the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth, faintly manifesting dozens of weapon phantoms.
Short Knife, Long Sword, Short Axe, Curved Saber…
Su Yan recognized those weapons—they were all the food he had once fed the Gold-Eating Demon Insect, now one of its power sources.
The weapons’ sharpness was compelling; though not solid, they were no inferior to ordinary weapons, and superior in their endless supply.
“Let’s test its quality.”
Su Yan observed for a while, then took Nangong Hong Yue on the Six-Winged Blood Centipede and headed straight for the python beast’s location mentioned earlier.
The pool water before them spanned a hundred zhang wide, bottomless, emitting a faint blue glow.
Su Yan felt the dangerous aura as soon as he approached.
Nangong Hong Yue said: “Hiding inside is a Ghost Water Toad Python, which lives in water and can turn it to ice, with unmatched cold poison; its strength is at least Second-order Late-stage.”
In fact, the Rock Demon Ant swarm could hardly fully trap a feral beast of this level; it was Nangong Hong Yue’s intervention that intimidated it, forcing the Ghost Water Toad Python not to emerge easily.
“Force it out.”
As Su Yan spoke, the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth flew out.
It hovered over the pool water, making the eerie atmosphere around the pool even more pronounced.
A massive shadow slashed across the deep pool, now vigilantly emanating its aura.
The Troop Devouring Ghost Moth emitted a sharp hiss, ghostly qi emerging as Geng Metal Power interwove, manifesting several weapon phantoms around its body.
Swoosh swoosh swoosh
It drove the attack, the weapons instantly falling like rain, striking the pool surface into surging waves, like a shattered mirror.
“Roar”
A beast roar came, and the Ghost Water Toad Python’s form emerged, charging straight at the Troop Devouring Ghost Moth.
