Chapter 88: Sacred Insect Dao, Pang Tianfeng
The advancement to second-order Insect Master not only adds a characteristic that reforges his bone structure, but also allows him to condense powerful Insect Armor.
In addition, the upper limit of strength for the controlled Insect Tamers also reaches second-order strength.
However, Su Yan’s strength has not yet reached second-order, so even if he controls second-order Insect Tamers, he cannot do so as freely as with first-order ones; the degree of mental control is limited.
The insects rely on the Fierce Insect Cauldron for refinement, but he is the one truly controlling them, so his mental power is naturally also required.
“This is not a problem. Second-order Insect Beasts are impossible for me alone to acquire in a short time, it’s just that the amount of essence blood needed to devour is greater.”
The stronger the refined Insect Beast, the more essence blood is needed, which is beyond doubt.
Su Yan removed his full-body Insect Armor, revealing his original appearance.
“Three vests: Pang Tianfeng, Feng Ruohan, and for the Insect one, just call him Insect Daoist. Insect Daoist and I are two faces of one body, with the closest relationship, so the cleanest break is needed, which makes it the safest. Perhaps, the landing point can be placed on the Blood Locust.”
Su Yan’s eyes brightened slightly as he began planning his next steps.
After refining the Blood Locust, he also discovered its function; its individual power is not weak, equivalent to Blood Moving Realm strength.
But compared to its individual role, the Blood Locust’s true skill lies in producing Blood Larva, or rather, hatching and controlling Blood Bees.
There are only two kinds of Blood Bees: one is the unranked Blood Bees that Su Yan encountered, which swarm in attacks, gathering like clouds, specializing in hunting blood food to nourish the Blood Locust.
These Blood Bees are not very strong, with only half a month’s lifespan; after natural death, they also become food for the Blood Locust.
The other kind is Blade Blood Bee, equivalent to guard insects, slightly stronger than Blood Bees, with no lifespan limit, but requiring more energy to hatch.
“Not very strong, but if accumulated insect eggs are all released when needed, it’s still a viable method.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered; the Insect Realm Space had expanded to one hundred cubic meters, equivalent to the size of a room, enough to store a large number of insect eggs.
Moreover, it’s not just swarm tactics. Who says the mother-child insect’s methods have too little controllability.
——
Tiger God Temple City Black Market; at this time, Su Yan had transformed into a masked black-robed figure and sought out Lu Ba.
“Brother Feng, do you have any news?”
Su Yan said no more and placed a package in front of him.
“30 bottles of Jade Skin Powder, 20 bottles of Bone Forging Pill, 20 bottles of Body Tempering Pill.”
Lu Ba’s eyes lit up: “Brother, impressive skills.”
He reached out to inspect the goods, just smelled the fragrance, and suddenly his eyes brightened slightly, thinking to himself: ‘The quality is actually not low; this Feng Ruohan’s medicine refining skill is surprisingly high.’
He naturally did not know that Su Yan’s Basic Alchemy had already reached Great Accomplishment.
In Yun Cang Town, aside from veteran Pill Masters like Xu Zhongdao, his skill was one of the top.
Naturally, the refined products were not poor.
“Let’s talk price.”
“Jade Skin Powder twenty taels of silver per bottle, Bone Forging Pill four taels per pill, forty taels per bottle; Body Tempering Pill is the most expensive, eight taels per pill, totaling eighty taels per bottle. Brother Feng, Eight Directions Trading Company will take all this batch, totaling three thousand taels of silver.”
This price was still different from market prices, but acquisition prices differ from market retail.
Giving Su Yan this price, Eight Directions Trading Company might not earn much.
It could only be said that Eight Directions Trading Company was truly desperate, wanting to seize market share while Hundred Herbs Hall was temporarily unable to act.
Then, slowly cultivate their own pharmacists and Pill Masters to solidify the entire market; that would be the time to make money.
Su Yan nodded, then said: “Fine, convert two thousand taels of it into medicinal herbs.”
“Good, Brother Feng, please wait a moment.”
Lu Ba acted very quickly; Eight Directions Trading Company had set up this outpost in the Black Market precisely for acquiring goods.
Now that Su Yan needed medicinal herbs, they could naturally gather them quickly.
Preparations complete, transaction finished.
Su Yan suddenly asked: “Brother Lu, sell me some information.”
“What information?”
Although Lu Ba was surprised, he did not question it and directly asked for details.
Eight Directions Trading Company was in this line of work to begin with; he just hadn’t expected this Feng Ruohan to be particularly fond of inquiring about things.
“News on the forest bandits in the various desolate mountain routes.”
Lu Ba’s pupils shrank, eyes flickering: “Brother, this news is no small matter, and there are many sources; you need to be more specific.”
The desolate mountains had the most martial artists, various martial world travelers, fighters from all families, all scrambling for resources here.
Some were still martial world travelers, coming and going freely.
Others could not become honored guests of major powers, nor have the freedom of martial world travelers, so they took to the mountains, occupied a stronghold as king, and became bandits.
Don’t think the areas around these desolate mountains seem orderly; the number of thieves hiding in various parts of the desolate mountains is absolutely unimaginable.
“Below True Intent Realm.”
Su Yan drew a line; Lu Ba nearly rolled his eyes.
What difference was there between saying this condition and not saying it?
His heart sank, thinking: “No matter what he’s plotting, there are plenty of mountain bandits; picking some unrelated ones for him is no problem.”
“Black Forest Ravine, Horned Boar Forest, Grindstone Mountain—these three places all have bands of veteran bandits who rob people coming and going into the mountains; even city forces sometimes can’t avoid being robbed.”
Su Yan frowned slightly; he had naturally heard of these three places, all with winding mountain paths, deep grass and dense forests; even Grindstone Mountain, with the least trees, was full of jagged rocks, easy to defend and hard to attack.
Lu Ba continued: “The strongmen in Black Forest Ravine are led by Iron Arm Bear Ding Meng, origin unknown; he gathered a band of brothers, hiding in the forest depths, usually coming and going to rob. Official Xu Guan has caught them several times but never found him.”
“The big bandit in Horned Boar Forest has only seven people, but their strength is not weak: big brother Ghost Head Saber Cai Peng, second brother known as Bone Scraping Sword Wang Cang, both Spirit Nurturing Realm martial artists; five subordinate brothers, all Blood Moving Realm strength, also strongmen, but they do more shady dealings in secret.”
He paused slightly: “Names are known, but few have seen them; perhaps they have other identities.”
“Finally, Grindstone Mountain, that’s a village with over a thousand people raised there; led by Jiao Yang Sou Yang Kun, an old-brand Spirit Nurturing Realm, cunning and good at scheming, relying on Grindstone Mountain to occupy it as king, only targeting ordinary folk and martial world travelers, imprisoning a village of mountain villagers as servants, living freely. True Intent Realm looks down on him, Spirit Nurturing Realm can’t take him; he’s a troublesome figure.”
Having named three forces at once, Lu Ba glanced at Su Yan’s state; the mask was still the same, and the eyes beneath were very calm, showing no intentions.
“How much for the news?”
“Three hundred taels of silver.”
Three hundred taels was not expensive, because what Lu Ba provided was not just introductions to the three, but also a booklet for each, including what they had done and possible locations.
Constantly traveling in the mountains, if Eight Directions Trading Company didn’t know these big bandits’ locations, their goods would have been robbed many times already.
Transaction complete, Su Yan took the medicinal herbs and left, then stored the items into the Insect Realm Space.
He also found a Ghost Head Saber forged from black gold in the Black Market, first-order high-grade quality, blade stained with blood, likely stolen goods.
After leaving the Black Market, Su Yan headed toward Black Ditch Forest.
“Three bandit groups, that’s enough; on one hand practice saber techniques, on the other see if my idea works.”
After Blood Moving Great Accomplishment, plus gaining the Insect Bone Armor Body characteristic, his muscles and bones were even stronger, so his speed was naturally faster.
When Su Yan arrived at Black Ditch Forest, only two or three hours had passed.
Looking from afar, between these great mountains clustered a dark mass of forest, gnarled old trees shielding each other, leaves grown for who knows how many years, already pitch black.
At a glance, no mountains or roads visible, eerily dark like a death ground.
Such a place was truly an evil forest.
Ordinary people seeing this scene would naturally go around; at worst, find a relatively safe spot to pass.
Su Yan did not avoid it and strode into the forest.
In the dense forest, in a concealed rocky depression valley, several wooden huts stood; twenty or thirty big men were temporarily resting here.
“Big Brother, a strange guy came.”
Su Yan had just entered the forest when he was already spotted.
Iron Arm Bear Ding Meng frowned, his coal-burned-like big face stern, and said: “One person?”
“One person, face covered, drilled into the forest, no marks left, no messages sent; doesn’t seem like he’s here to do business with us.”
The subordinate was a tall, thin-faced man with short stubble, carrying an Azure Water Saber, with alert expression.
His business had two kinds: one was no-capital business, robbing merchants and loners, waiting specifically on various mountain paths.
The other was taking dark flower jobs: simply put, taking money to do dirty work.
Su Yan’s arrival was strange, face covered entering the forest; in the past, such sneaky people might be here for business.
But now, it made Ding Meng feel something was off.
“Have the others hide better; you keep a close eye on him. Might be an official hook. Right now Yun Cang Town is in chaos; can’t act casually.”
“Found you.”
Before Ding Meng finished speaking, Su Yan’s voice suddenly came.
The group jumped up, looking toward the valley entrance: a tight black strong suit, head wearing a pitch-black iron mask, a man standing there.
Though his face couldn’t be seen, one could feel the smile beneath the mask.
“Friend, did you take the wrong road?”
Ding Meng’s arms were already tensed, gaze locked on Su Yan; the remaining brothers looked vigilant, faces fierce.
Su Yan did not reply; he had come to test his methods on big bandits.
He lightly beckoned, suddenly buzzing sounded; five hundred Blood Bees accumulated in the Insect Realm Space hatched and rushed out straight at Ding Meng’s twenty or thirty subordinates.
Seeing the red cloud-like insects coming, everyone was startled and hurriedly swung their blades and swords to strike.
Ding Meng’s pair of iron arms were like dark stone pillars at this time; with swings, fierce winds rose, and one grab crushed many Blood Bees.
His skill was strong, but not all his subordinates had such ability.
In defending, there were always gaps; many had skin pierced by Blood Bees, drawing blood.
Su Yan strode forward, now holding a Ghost Head Saber.
He glanced over the battlefield, showing regret: “Five hundred is indeed too few; to have enough power, need to accumulate three to five thousand, but that requires much blood food.”
Accumulating that many insect eggs requires consuming quite a bit of Blood Locust energy.
“Die for me.”
Blood Moving Realm deputy Yang Yue swung the Azure Water Saber straight at Su Yan; this slash’s saber light was extremely fast, splitting blocking Blood Bees, rushing at Su Yan’s face.
No matter what these strange insects’ method was, the root was all Su Yan.
As long as he was killed, it would all be resolved.
Su Yan raised his eyes, Ghost Head Saber sweeping horizontally, saber light flashing; Peak Falling Slash was already unleashed.
Yang Yue’s eyes widened; as the saber light slashed across, his head had already flown off.
So fast!
Su Yan’s saber was naturally fast; though he had only obtained Pang Tianfeng’s Falling Peak Saber Technique for two or three days.
But he had never stopped cultivating it, plus his body’s progress; now his saber technique had reached Minor Accomplishment.
Yang Yue was also Blood Moving Realm, but could not compare to monster-like Su Yan.
Su Yan stepped into the bandit group, swinging saber to chop; in three to five exchanges, bandits entangled by Blood Bees or actively attacking him could not withstand one saber kill.
Damn it!
Ding Meng killed over a hundred Blood Bees, suddenly realizing Su Yan was more detestable than these annoying things.
He pounced like a bear, pair of big hands containing power to shatter gold and crack stone, with a black bear shadow behind him.
“No proper technique!”
Su Yan just glanced up; this black bear phantom was too illusory, unable to condense, seeming to lack a complete Visualization Diagram for cultivation.
Su Yan met him, Insect Armor appearing on arms beneath the black robe, qi and blood swirling around, then a heavy punch struck out.
Fist to fist, power exploding outward.
Clearly Spirit Nurturing Realm Ding Meng was actually blocked by Su Yan; even his iron arms felt undeniable shock.
War intent rose in Su Yan’s eyes; suddenly he waved his hand, releasing the Blood Locust straight at the subordinates.
One after another, they were pounced on and knocked down.
Ding Meng grew anxious, pouncing fiercely; Su Yan charged up, fighting him.
Clearly the guy before him was only Blood Moving Realm, but his attacks landing on Su Yan felt like hitting an iron plate.
Bastard, what inner armor is he wearing?
The two fought fiercely; Su Yan grew more ruthless, Insect Armor’s defense far exceeding expectations, plus his own Hardening physical body, like a heavenly descended divine general, a grounded Vajra, hardily withstanding attacks.
Ding Meng grew more shocked, retreat intent rising in his heart.
Suddenly Su Yan pulled back distance, then Red Armored Mad Scorpion and White Bone Poison Centipede suddenly appeared and pounced, knocking down unguarded Ding Meng and locking him.
Ding Meng tried to resist; Su Yan stepped forward, stepping on him, then pressed the Ghost Head Saber to his neck.
“Stop, or die.”
Su Yan’s voice reached everyone’s ears; they looked shocked at their boss Ding Meng being knocked down.
This was a Spirit Nurturing Realm expert; aside from True Intent Realm, how could he be defeated so quickly.
Soon, they lost fighting will, dropping weapons and kneeling.
The buzzing Blood Bees in the sky now numbered less than a hundred.
Weak.
Su Yan just glanced and judged thus.
These martial artists were only Blood Moving or Muscle and Bone Realm, lacking methods; if they had true essence leaving body or group attack techniques, ordinary Blood Bees couldn’t withstand such attacks.
“I admit defeat; friend, say what you want directly, why go to such trouble to capture me?”
Ding Meng took a deep breath, frantically thinking who he had offended, what this person wanted, how to survive.
“Seventeen people.”
Su Yan counted the numbers, suddenly asking: “Any not afraid of death?”
The abrupt question stunned everyone.
“Pah, kill me if you want; what insult is this questioning?”
Someone jumped out, taking the topic, feigning fearless of death; but Su Yan’s perception was keen, already seeing the anomaly in his eyes.
Trouble!
Ding Meng also sensed wrong, face darkening, but did not speak to stop.
Between life and death, no one would take risks.
“Not afraid of death is perfect; eat this.”
Su Yan tossed a black mud-like pill; the man hadn’t reacted before it was in his mouth.
Su Yan had used a trick; as the man opened his mouth, he swallowed it.
“What… what did you make me eat?”
The man panicked, no longer composed.
“Three Corpses Brain God Pill.”
Masked Su Yan chuckled lightly, but his tone was chillingly indifferent: “Not anything special, just poison containing insect eggs; eat it and you’re dead, see like this.”
The man widened eyes, opening mouth to beg mercy, but as he opened, felt terrifying churning in abdomen, something hatching, burrowing in his belly, piercing stomach, intestines, flesh…
Large number of Blood Bees hatched, immediately devouring his blood from inside, especially one Blade Blood Bee heading straight for the heart.
Everyone watched his belly bulging constantly, pained screams echoing; they shuddered, backs soaked in cold sweat.
Fully ten minutes, the man’s face pale from blood drain, belly finally burst open; over twenty blood-red insects crawled out, plump and round, comically horrific.
Buzz buzz
Blood Bees flew to Blood Locust, which gulped them down, letting them deliver the absorbed blood.
Everyone’s scalps numbed; Su Yan smiled: “One per person; don’t worry, I won’t let you die, the insects won’t hatch on their own.”
Instantly, everyone’s faces turned ashen.
Ding Meng was slightly better, eyes showing fear: “Lord’s methods are astonishing; we are just mud-legged robbers, how worthy of such pills.”
“Just short of people to help me do things; any objections to this reason?”
Su Yan looked at the gutted corpse on ground, its flesh still being devoured by outer Blood Bees, stored in their bodies.
Among those present, Ding Meng knew escape impossible, finally lowered head: “I’m willing to eat.”
One pill per person containing massive insect eggs; their expressions became meek and pale.
They were only Body Tempering Realm martial artists; no matter the methods, they couldn’t remove the pill or separate the insect eggs.
Meaning from now on, their lives were completely in Su Yan’s control.
Ding Meng adapted fastest, knowing resistance futile, deep breath to calm: “Lord, not knowing how you’ll control us this way, what do you need us for?”
“Robbing, receiving goods, distributing goods, scouting intelligence…”
Su Yan’s eyes calm: “All your old trades; of course, if done well, perhaps teach you to command Insect Beasts.”
Ding Meng’s eyes moved slightly, clearly tempted; could it be Beast King Sect people?
But instantly dismissed; how could Beast King Sect people look up to him?
“Not knowing how to address Lord henceforth, and we are…”
“Sacred Insect Dao, Pang Tianfeng.”
