Chapter 67: Abilities Of The Jade Beetle
【Jade Beetle】
【Insect that eats metal stone, over time it produces shedding, its form like jade, hard as iron, can strengthen bones, bolster physique】
【Can be refined】
Su Yan grasped the smallest one among them, the ‘shedding’. Compared to the other two shed skins, its color was even darker and not transparent, just like the shedding was mixed with impurities.
If buying this one alone, perhaps that old man at Skin Refining Great Accomplishment would lower the price a bit more, after all, its quality was indeed poor.
But Su Yan was different. The Fierce Insect Cauldron trembled slightly. Within this so-called ‘shedding’, there was clearly a live exotic insect.
It was precisely this perception that made him notice this thing in the Temple Market.
“The Jade Beetle is not ferocious. Holding it like this produces no reaction.”
Su Yan did not know much about the Jade Beetle. This was an exotic insect in the Desolate Mountains. He previously could not come into contact with it.
Refine!
There was nothing to hesitate about.
Over many days, when he hunted wild beasts or slew feral beasts, he would quietly let the Fierce Insect Cauldron devour a portion of beast blood.
Although the amount was relatively small, accumulated over time, it had long gathered enough hundred pounds of blood essence. Refining the Jade Beetle now was more than sufficient.
Not long after, as the power of the Fierce Insect Cauldron was injected, the insect molt immediately cracked open, revealing inside a Jade Beetle with a jade-like carapace on its body and rounded claws.
The Jade Beetle was enveloped by the power of the Fierce Insect Cauldron, turning into a beam of white light that merged into the Fierce Insect Cauldron.
【Jade Beetle 1/100 (Nascent Stage）】
The Jade Beetle was successfully refined. When Su Yan summoned it again, it was about half a palm in size.
It was entirely white all over, with a faint fluorescence, looking more like a jade ornament.
“Its ability…”
As his perception delved deeper, Su Yan suddenly showed joy. With a thought,
white light faintly gathered on the Jade Beetle’s body, unexpectedly forming a barely perceptible layer of white armor membrane.
Su Yan swung his dagger over. It rang with a clang, as if striking an iron ingot.
“What fine jade armor. Its attack methods are not prominent, but it has such defense.”
Joy shone even brighter in Su Yan’s eyes. He reached out to grab the Jade Beetle.
Under his control, the Jade Beetle climbed onto his body, its claws gripping tightly, adhering to his palm.
And at this time, the layer of jade armor that should have covered the Jade Beetle actually spread out, gradually enveloping Su Yan’s skin.
The jade armor’s color gradually faded, but it was indeed still there.
Su Yan slashed with his dagger, and a faint clanging sound still came, as if he had donned a layer of invisible armor.
In just over a dozen breaths, the Jade Beetle immediately wilted somewhat, and this jade armor also rapidly dissipated.
Su Yan took out a Poison Dragon Pill and placed it in front of the Jade Beetle, wanting the little guy to replenish energy.
However, the Jade Beetle retreated a few steps, instead conveying a sense of rejection. It turned and crawled toward the shedding.
“I got it wrong.”
Seeing this scene, Su Yan suddenly reacted.
The White Bone Poison Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect ate the Poison Dragon Pill because they carried potent poison and were poisonous creatures among feral beasts.
But not every feral beast exotic insect likes to eat poisonous creatures.
The Jade Beetle’s white jade-like mouthparts were like sharp gears, clacking as they sounded. The shedding, comparable to metal stone, was crisp like a cookie at this moment.
It ate three shed skins in a row, fully for a quarter of an hour. Finally, the Jade Beetle regained much of its luster.
【Jade Beetle 54/100 (Nascent Stage）】
Seeing its progress, Su Yan fed it some common Blood-Strengthening Pills. He had also bought this at Hundred Herbs Hall, but with his progress, it was time to switch pills.
Just right, he fed it to the Jade Beetle. Seeing it open its mouth to chew and swallow it down.
The growth increased a bit more, but it was far from the effect brought by the insect molt.
Su Yan gradually understood in his heart: “Even refined insect tamers have their own habits. Devouring the right resources allows faster growth… Hiss, but calculated this way, the more I raise, the more resources I’ll need.”
Involuntarily, he frowned slightly, a sudden thought arising in his mind.
‘Kill and arson Li Feiyu, revered by ten thousand Han Tianzun, willing to shed face, able to use dirty tricks—for resources, wouldn’t it be…’
The thought just arose but was dismissed by him. Right now, they had not yet reached the depths of the Desolate Mountains. Even with a vest, it was not good to tinker with it.
Hoard grain widely, claim kingship slowly. To get rich, raise more insects.
With his current strength, stacking Tiger Demon Soft Armor, Jade Armor Skill, plus minor accomplishment in Poison Dragon Golden Body Technique, and the stone fetus formed in Golden Ape Jade Body Skill, it was also a minor accomplishment foundation.
With such stacked armor, even Blood Moving Realm would find it hard to forcibly kill him.
With the White Bone Poison Centipede assisting from the side, he could even fight a Blood Moving Realm.
Su Yan’s eyes flickered slightly. He shook his head: “Better to be prudent. Enter the Desolate Mountains, first let the Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect undergo metamorphosis once more, and let the Jade Beetle progress some too. Only then can it be a bit steadier.”
With a plan in mind, Su Yan stored the Jade Beetle away, along with the Primordial Snake Poison Stem.
By now, the time was about right. Soon the team would set off. No time to delay. Once at Golden Ape Village, everyone received their tasks and entered the Desolate Mountains, it would be like fish leaping in the vast sea.
However, when storing the items, the Blood-Strengthening Powder made him pause slightly.
He bought this thing just as a cover, but what he said at the time was indeed true.
His herbology allowed him to clearly sense that the stuff in this Blood-Strengthening Powder was somewhat similar to the beast blood essence he condensed, not like ordinary blood.
“Forget it. I’ll look into it when there’s a chance.”
He tossed the Blood-Strengthening Powder into the Insect Realm Space, temporarily ignoring it. Although the Blood-Strengthening Powder had slightly better effects,
it was still limited. He had no mind to research it for now.
He left the room and came to the courtyard of the branch hall. Everyone had already gathered.
Except for the guards with no changes, those inner disciples more or less carried a new weapon.
Dian Jing’s hardwood bow had been changed to a fine steel longbow, with a mountain splitting steel saber at his waist.
The other disciples did not all excel in archery, but they could still use a dagger or spear.
Li Jinshan looked serious and strode over, his gaze sweeping: “All of you perk up. Depart.”
Su Yan keenly noticed that Li Jinshan was completely different from the relaxed demeanor an hour ago. This was not just putting on a senior brother act with a stern face—it was really encountering trouble.
“Senior Brother Gao, what’s the situation?”
Seeing nothing obvious, Su Yan rode his scaled horse and quietly came to Gao Zheng’s side, lowering his voice so only the two could hear.
Gao Zheng carefully glanced at Li Jinshan and said in a low voice: “It’s blown up big. Little Mountain Association’s instructor Gu Hong lost an arm last night, poisoned and his foundation ruined. Even if cured, he won’t break through to Spirit Nurturing Realm for three to five years. Little Mountain Association’s chief steward Gu Changfeng has only this one son. How can he let it rest now?”
Su Yan’s brows raised slightly. So it was this matter.
“Are they going to make a move?”
Gao Zheng shook his head: “Impossible to act openly, but they’ve already posted a dark flower. Fear that someone will target Golden Ape Martial Arts School disciples, especially in the Desolate Mountains.”
Little Mountain Association along with Seven Blades Martial Arts School failed to scheme against Golden Ape Martial Arts School and instead suffered a big loss.
In the martial world, someone has already posted a dark flower bounty on Golden Ape Martial Arts School disciples’ heads. Among martial world guests and knife catchers, plenty are tempted.
The Desolate Mountains are already a combat arena. Killing and seizing treasure is commonplace. Now a head trades for more silver—who wouldn’t be tempted?
This time, as soon as they leave Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s Desolate Mountains sphere of influence, they’ll inevitably be targeted.
Su Yan’s eyes flickered, but he suddenly felt it was not that simple.
Even for avenging his son, just find a way to ambush and kill last night’s group—why go to such lengths?
With Gu Changfeng at the verge of breaking through to True Intent Realm, how couldn’t he do these things?
‘Hmph, more actions, more schemes. Probably the drunkard’s intention is not in the wine. But it’s none of my business. If the sky falls, there’s a tall one to hold it up.’
