Chapter 274: Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion
The cocoon shattered, and a giant scorpion, entirely crimson and covered in lava, crawled out, exuding a powerful, scorching aura.
Upon emerging, it already possessed a body tens of feet long. Its lava-colored, hardened carapace formed its entire outer shell, with molten magma constantly circulating within and around its body.
Those strands of orange-red patterns converged inward towards the heart, resembling a heart of molten lava.
Rumble
Each step of the Molten Lava Giant Scorpion felt like the earth was shaking, causing the entire mountain peak to tremble.
From an initial movement akin to an earth dragon turning over, it gradually grew a bit larger as it consumed the energy from the cocoon, and only then did the shaking slightly subside.
“Molten fire surges to the heavens, its body like a mountain…”
Su Yan’s face lit up with joy. This earth-shattering tremor wasn’t due to its weight but because it possessed an innate ability to communicate with the earth veins.
When standing on the ground, its strength would increase severalfold, with significant enhancements to its defense and molten fire abilities.
“Roar!”
The Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion let out a heaven-shattering roar, and Su Yan immediately knew it intended to absorb more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy and power.
Metamorphosis was merely a change in physical form; to adjust to its complete post-metamorphosis state required more energy.
“The entire mountain range is yours.”
Su Yan gave the order, and in the next moment, the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion unleashed its ability.
Orange-red demonic essence poured into the ground, and ugly cracks, like molten lava, continuously spread across the surface, causing the mountainside to collapse in an instant.
The Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion’s massive body merged with the ground, as if it had dived into an orange-red ocean.
The Blazing Gold Ore, along with the ordinary mountain rocks, was smelted and extracted bit by bit, but it didn’t exist for long before the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion swallowed it whole.
The Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion at this moment was like a biological furnace; no amount of Blazing Gold Ore could satisfy its hunger.
As Su Yan had said, the entire Blazing Gold Ore vein was the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion’s ration.
As it continued to devour, its body also grew steadily larger, enveloped by flames and molten lava. The entire giant scorpion’s body seemed to be composed of high-density molten rock.
Ten feet, twenty feet, a hundred feet…
One day and one night passed. When the entire Blazing Gold Ore vein had completely transformed into a sea of molten fire, the mountaintop was concave, forming a lake of molten lava. The scorching temperature had completely incinerated all vegetation within a hundred-mile radius. A colossal creature, three hundred feet tall, was inhaling and exhaling flames at thousands of degrees Celsius within this lava lake.
Spirit Melting Fire, scorching all things, this flame was more powerful than demonic fire or purple fire.
Even Su Yan felt a hint of threat at this moment; with his current physical body’s strength, he likely couldn’t fully withstand such terrifying flames.
“The Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion has probably begun to form the nascent form of a Giant Spirit.”
Nangong Hong Yue had personally witnessed the immense transformation of the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion over this day and night. Its powerful aura, which climbed steadily like a mountain, was so overwhelming that a mere glance made it difficult to muster any thought of matching it.
The term Giant Spirit referred to a general classification for Feral Beasts possessing absolutely powerful bloodlines and exceptionally massive bodies.
Regardless of what a Giant Spirit was called, as long as it could be called a Giant Spirit, it was undoubtedly a powerful creature, whether it existed as a solitary entity or as part of a clan.
In the Witch Country, there was once a terrifying Giant Spirit called the Sky-Lifting Jade Gate Rhinoceros, which stood five hundred feet tall, was entirely jade-like, impervious to most magical attacks, and could destroy cities with its charging impact. Its horn condensed light capable of piercing mountains.
Such a Giant Spirit, let alone in sect conflicts, would likely be a devastating weapon even in a national war.
Su Yan felt the feedback of Insect Yuan from the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion. Simultaneously, due to the “Bloodline Gift” trait, his own Insect Lord Bloodline had also strengthened considerably, making his physical body and Qi and Blood even more robust.
‘Only the trip to Poison Dragon Valley remains.’
With his current Qi and Blood strength, coupled with the Dragon Scale Body Strengthening Pills he had refined beforehand, he could, if he wished, continuously condense his Qi and Blood Golden Core and complete the Eighth Turn of the Golden Core.
However, for the Ninth Turn, he was still a sliver short of accumulation.
“Accompany me to destroy Golden Peng City…”
With a gentle flick of his finger, the Molten Mountain Giant Scorpion’s size rapidly decreased, shrinking to about ten feet in an instant before being stored away in the Insect Realm Space.
He leaped into the air, with Nangong Hong Yue closely following. Together, they flew towards the key strongholds and treasure lands of Golden Peng City.
The Golden Peng City’s several Dan Qiao realm experts had been missing for a full day and night, and large amounts of White Bones and traces of battle were discovered in the Green Mountain Range.
Wu Laoyan, within the city, was already extremely vigilant and immediately sent a request for aid to the three top Demonic Sects.
However, shortly after this request for aid was sent, Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue had already arrived at their doorstep.
Golden Peng City had numerous martial artists and also possessed formations for defending the city. It was not easy for ordinary Dan Qiao realm cultivators to break through the city.
Not to mention that Wu Laoyan’s strength was also at the Second Heaven Great Accomplishment, not much weaker than Yan Xi and the others.
With him in charge of the formations, coupled with over a thousand martial artists, the formation’s power was truly formidable.
However, this time, it was Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue who acted together.
Su Yan directly shattered the formation with the Myriad Insect Prison Suppressing Tower. As soon as the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust appeared, along with Nangong Hong Yue, they controlled a sky full of Fiend Bees, numbering one hundred thousand, which poured into Golden Peng City.
All the Demonic Path martial artists couldn’t escape this swarm of insects, which resembled red smoke. The malevolent energy infiltrated their bodies, corroding their True Essence and flesh and blood, their essence blood being directly devoured clean.
Even Wu Laoyan had a treasure gu protecting him; ordinary Fiend Bees could not harm him.
But he couldn’t withstand Nangong Hong Yue in her Fierce Insect Transformation.
Punch after punch, she used her delicate hands to break all of Wu Laoyan’s bones, her methods being utterly ruthless.
Although Wu Laoyan was ranked second, back when Wu Tianxing achieved his goals, Wu Laoyan had handled countless dirty and strenuous tasks.
Nangong Hong Yue harbored no affection for the Silkworm Cave, only intense hatred. During this slaughter, she was like a female demon, showing no mercy.
The Demonic Path disciples defending the city were slaughtered, leaving behind only several thousand piles of White Bones.
Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue plundered all the important treasures and Origin Stones in Golden Peng City. Then, before the Demonic Sects could arrive, they vanished into the sky.
In less than half an hour, seven streaks of light directly flew from the sky and landed outside Golden Peng City.
As far as the eye could see, malevolent energy billowed, and there were piles of white bones.
The person leading them had a face ashen, veins bulging slightly on his forehead, and a suppressed rage accumulated in his chest. His terrifying aura made the entire city feel as if it couldn’t breathe.
“Good! Good! Good!”
Cold light blazed in his eyes, his black hair flowed like a waterfall, and a python was coiled around his muscular, robust body, its tongue flicking and hissing.
“Ancestor Rotten Snake, please calm your anger. That thief probably left not long ago. We still have a chance to intercept her.”
The message from Wu Laoyan was that a Dan Qiao realm female martial artist was seeking revenge against the Silkworm Cave. However, shortly after this request for aid was sent, Golden Peng City had already been breached.
“Useless.”
Wei Wu, the Ancestor of Rotten Snake, had coldness in his eyes: “Transmit my orders. From the Hundred Caves Witch Sect’s Four Caves and Three Tribes, all checkpoints along the Golden Peng Mountain Range below the Second Heaven Dan Qiao realm are to be sealed. Martial artists above the Third Heaven are to search the mountain range for that thief. Elder Qing Mu of the Three Flames Divine Palace and Wu Ji Jun of the Sacred Weapon Path, I will inform them personally. If Nangong Hong Yue escapes this area, Hmph!”
His tone was filled with murderous intent. This jurisdiction was under his command, and now that Golden Peng City had been destroyed, even if Dan Qiao realm cultivators were mobilized again, the possibility of an offensive was lost.
The Hundred Peaks Barrier was right in front of him, yet he had lost the chance to earn merit.
How could he not be angry?
Wei Wu, the Ancestor of Rotten Snake, was already a Starry Sky martial artist and was participating in this battle solely to break through to the Dharma Aspect Realm.
Several of his subordinates, who were in the Dan Qiao realm, flew off in different directions, using secret techniques to notify members of other tribes.
The Hundred Caves Witch Sect’s methods were ruthless, far from the unity of sects. If one truly made a mistake, people would die.
In a short period, the entire area around the Golden Peng Mountain Range became tense and fearful.
Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue had only traveled about a hundred miles when they suddenly felt someone rushing towards them through their divine senses.
“Swish”
In mid-air, the clouds parted, and a strange emerald blade shot directly towards Su Yan.
Su Yan raised his hand and pointed, condensing the Hundred Tigers Breaking the Army Seal and smashing it against the emerald blade, sending it flying.
“Finally found you.”
The person who arrived was an old man in green robes with a crying face. His aura surged, and he released a blackish-green Gu worm from his hand, which buzzed and vibrated its tail incessantly.
“Bell Sensing Gu!”
Nangong Hong Yue’s expression changed slightly, and she immediately warned Su Yan, “He’s contacting someone.”
The Bell Sensing Gu was divided into mother and child Gu. The Gu could transmit messages over thousands of miles and sense each other’s locations, and was usually only used among close individuals.
It had no other abilities, but its communication capability alone was enough to indicate its purpose.
“After all, she’s the Saintess of the Silkworm Cave. You do remember some things, but…” The Green Saber Gu Elder’s gaze was cold. “Betraying your sect, killing so many disciples of the Hundred Caves Witch Sect, you probably can’t escape.”
The Green Saber Gu Elder looked at the two menacingly. Behind him appeared a giant, ugly, emerald-green Green Toad, exuding a faint chill.
The aura of a Third Heaven Dan Qiao realm martial artist was fully revealed, pressing down on the two like a mountain.
“Hmph.”
Nangong Hong Yue snorted coldly and countered his aura with her own. In an instant, the clouds and mist shifted, dispersed by these auras.
“Little girl, you have some skill. Let’s see my Green Toad Blade!”
The Green Toad Blade in the Green Saber Gu Elder’s hand transformed into countless variations, charging directly at Nangong Hong Yue.
Nangong Hong Yue shook her Insect Bell, shattering the myriad of green blades.
Her breath hitched, and she subtly retreated half a step, a frown on her brow.
The Green Saber Gu Elder wasn’t attacking with full force, but all his skills were being used to delay them.
He was not like Wu Tianxing, whose life-bound Gu worm was controlled by Su Yan, a Third Heaven martial artist.
The Green Saber Gu Elder, in almost full condition, was not someone she could handle at her current state.
The Green Saber Gu Elder chuckled, his face a mass of wrinkled folds, looking like a crumpled, dirty rag.
He said in a cold voice, “You’re not even Third Heaven. It seems you had other means to kill Wu Tianxing. Old man, let’s negotiate. Give me your treasures, and I’ll leave you whole corpses.”
“You’re quite boastful. Just with the two behind you?”
What?!
Nangong Hong Yue’s body trembled, and she immediately looked behind the Green Saber Gu Elder. Not far away, two figures in the Dan Qiao realm appeared.
One male and one female flew over, their long robes flapping in the wind, their True Essence surging like a gale. Their auras were in no way weaker than the Green Saber Gu Elder’s.
The man was Elder Bian Shaosi of the Wood Cave, and the woman was Yi Linghua of the Barbarian Flower Cave. Both were Third Heaven cultivators. They had long since allied with the Green Saber Gu Elder and were now blocking Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue.
Yi Linghua narrowed her eyes and said coldly, “Such sharp divine sense. You detected even the two of us. No wonder you could ambush Wu Tianxing and his group. However, your good luck has run out.”
Seeing their cultivation levels, both Yi Linghua and the Green Saber Gu Elder believed that Su Yan had used some means to ambush and kill Wu Tianxing and the others.
In the Dan Qiao realm, the First Heaven was the First Pass, and the difference in strength was significant. Besides potentially narrowing the gap with Golden Core Rotation, one would need Spirit Tools, Spirit Sealing Talismans, and other means to equalize their cultivation.
Bian Shaosi on the side sneered, “All checkpoints throughout the Golden Peng Mountain Range have been secured. You two cannot escape. Since you’re going to die anyway, why not hand over your items to us?”
The three pressed forward step by step. Although they appeared to be trying to persuade surrender, they were actually subtly blocking Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue’s possible escape routes and supporting each other to prevent them from erupting in a mutual destruction attempt.
Whatever could kill Wu Tianxing might also be helpful to them.
‘Trouble.’
Su Yan frowned. Third Heaven martial artists blocking their path, and these three were probably just a part of it.
He had to finish this quickly, otherwise, as more and more Dan Qiao realm martial artists arrived, it might be difficult for him to escape.
“Attack!”
Yi Linghua suddenly roared, but it was Bian Shaosi beside her who moved first.
Beneath his black robe, a Blood Vine suddenly split into tens of thousands of branches, like bloody ghost hands, coiling towards Su Yan.
His speed was extremely fast; he had launched his attack almost before Yi Linghua could speak.
This Blood Vine was particularly evil, its craving for blood was like a black hole, and upon approach, it seemed as if it would drain all of a person’s flesh and blood.
Nangong Hong Yue wanted to help, but the Green Toad Blade of the Green Saber Gu Elder shot towards her like a green lightning bolt.
Yi Linghua’s eyes flashed with a faint light, and her soul-capturing gaze fixed on Su Yan.
“Sea Suppressing!”
Facing this sudden attack, Su Yan raised his hand and threw a punch. His armguards, forged from golden light, instantly scattered the vine’s entanglement.
Several True Intents appeared successively behind him, with the Subduing Tiger Ming King True Intent in the center. Simultaneously appearing were the True Intents of the Blood Bone Centipede King, Green-scaled Poisonous Flood Dragon, Poison Star Ape, Star Moon Centipede, Dragon-Eating Worm, and others. Each of them was a hundred feet tall, appearing as solid as if they were real, their ferocious eyes glaring.
How is this possible?!
The moment the True Intents appeared, the three opposite them were instantly stunned.
Condensing True Intent was already difficult, let alone cultivating True Intent to this extent, transforming from ethereal to solid, reaching this manifested-as-a-mountain level, and yet being able to appear as solid as if they were real.
This is a troublesome fellow!
The thought suddenly entered their minds. They took out their protective Spirit Tools, ensuring their safety.
No matter what, safety comes first.
However, Su Yan on the opposite side sneered repeatedly. At this point, they still wanted to save their lives?
“Star Constellation Grand Formation, rise!”
