Chapter 90: Miasma Valley Hunt Begins
Grindstone Stockade originally had a thousand mountain villagers and two hundred mountain bandits, all pulled together by Jiao Yang Sou as his foundation.
Compared to the strongholds of some forces, his scale was not small at all.
Su Yan occupied this village, so Jiao Yang Sou and his brother had no choice but to bring out all the savings of most of their lives, and ordered the remaining mountain bandits and villagers in the stronghold to slaughter livestock.
Large amounts of feral beast flesh and blood and ordinary livestock were placed in the plaza.
Su Yan stood at the front of the stronghold plaza, with Ding Meng, Cai Peng, Jiao Yang Sou, Yang Kun, and a total of five Spirit Nurturing Realm Martial Artists standing beside him.
The Blood Locust had already been summoned, its calf-sized ferocious appearance sending chills into people’s hearts.
Around the Blood Locust hovered nearly two thousand Blood Bees, spreading like crimson clouds and mist, buzzing ominously as if they could take lives.
Ding Meng and the others looked at the insect mist with lingering fear in their eyes.
Though these insects were not strong individually, once they formed a swarm, even they would struggle to escape unscathed.
Su Yan gave the order, and the Blood Bee insect mist covered the flesh and blood, continuously devouring it.
After two battles, three thousand Blood Bees had lost a third; in a desperate fight, relying solely on the number of Blood Bees would not be enough.
Now, these losses needed to be replenished, while also feeding back to the Blood Locust.
Blood-filled Blood Bees flew back one by one, then were swallowed by the Blood Locust, their essence blood all returning to the origin, becoming the Blood Locust’s power.
At this moment, the Blood Locust was extending its tail hook, producing egg after egg resembling blood-colored eyeballs, eerily crimson and densely arranged.
This egg-laying appearance was terrifying; it was more like preparing for battle than laying eggs.
‘Blood Bees are powerful, but the consumption is still significant.’
Su Yan tossed a bottle of Blood-Strengthening Pills to the Blood Locust, which swallowed them in big gulps.
【Blood Locust 1/400 (Mature Stage）】
Dozens of corpses and livestock were completely devoured, along with days of accumulated resources, finally stepping into the Mature Stage.
‘Five thousand Blood Bees should be enough.’
Su Yan collected all the produced insect eggs, his gaze sweeping over Jiao Yang Sou, Yang Kun, and the others.
Jiao Yang Sou’s body shook, and he immediately stepped forward. “Lord, if blood food is insufficient, I can order my subordinates to continue hunting in the mountains, though it will take some time.”
His life was in Su Yan’s hands, so no amount of humility was too much.
Having lived so long, how could Jiao Yang Sou not know ways to survive?
“Prioritize collecting ranked minerals and scouting news from the Desolate Mountains. I’ll come back in ten days.”
Su Yan gave a simple instruction, then rode the Blood Locust and flew out of Sacred Insect Village.
Seeing him leave, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Ding Meng, Cai Peng, Yang Kun, and the other five Spirit Nurturing Realm Martial Artists exchanged glances and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, Jiao Yang Sou spoke first. “Fellow friends, we are all in the same boat now. The previous fighting was truly unavoidable—shall we let it all pass?”
Yang Kun resented Ding Meng and the others for acting as guides, leading a fierce person like Su Yan here and ruining the foundation they had built over half their lives.
It was impossible not to hate them.
But now, they were all grasshoppers on the same rope; no matter the grudge, survival came first.
“Elder Yang, we offended you greatly before.”
Ding Meng took the opportunity to descend the steps and apologized.
“Everyone, how do we deal with the insect eggs in our bodies?”
Wang Cang’s gaze was somber; the insect eggs in his body were like a sword hanging over his head, how could he be in a good mood.
Ding Meng and the others’ expressions changed, fearing Su Yan had not yet left.
But seeing no reaction around them, they glanced at the group.
“How to solve it? We’ll activate the insect eggs with a single stimulation, be cut open and have our guts burst out. Without refining our five organs to iron, we probably can’t withstand the insects drilling into our hearts.”
Everyone’s hearts sank, not daring to delve too deeply into the topic.
Yang Lun was unwilling. “He’s at most Spirit Nurturing Realm, or maybe not even that.”
Cai Peng doused them with cold water. “He might not be, but what about Sacred Insect Dao?”
Everyone’s hearts chilled, their unwillingness mostly washed away.
The man might not be an expert, but with such methods, who knew what Sacred Insect Dao behind him was like?
“I’ve heard that second-order Pure Glass Pills can cleanse the body.”
Wang Cang’s face was pale as he added resentfully.
Cai Peng pressed his shoulder and said gravely, “Second Brother.”
He stopped Wang Cang, but hearing about using high-rank pills to cleanse the body or poison the insect eggs still made Ding Meng and Jiao Yang Sou brothers’ eyes flicker.
“Everyone, regardless of the future, that lord’s demands must come first. Ranked minerals and news from the Desolate Mountains must be taken seriously, or those withered bones will be our fate.”
He said darkly, “That blood-colored insect beast loves flesh and blood—we’ve seen it. But why collect these minerals?”
Everyone was startled, each harboring guesses, and no longer spoke, nodding and departing.
However, that night, several Muscle and Bone Realm Martial Artists implanted with insect eggs were found dead on the spot, their flesh and blood pitch black, clearly poisoned.
But they did not die from poisonous creatures; they were still cut open and gutted.
——
Outside Grindstone Mountain’s boundary, Su Yan recalled the Blood Locust, changed his clothes and mask, and reverted to his original appearance.
After orienting himself, he headed straight for Golden Ape Mountain.
His steps were extremely fast, moving through the forest like an ape, each step leaping over two zhang and leaving only a shadow.
‘Ding Meng and Cai Peng are both Spirit Nurturing Realm Minor Accomplishment martial arts experts. Their true essence and qi overpower me, but their defense is far inferior. If I fully activate this Insect Armor body, even a Spirit Nurturing Realm Great Accomplishment expert probably couldn’t strong-kill me.’
With Blood Moving Great Accomplishment realm, he had consecutively fought Spirit Nurturing Realm people in life-and-death combat, without holding back.
Su Yan now had a general sense of his own strength.
In terms of hard strength, the gap in true essence between Blood Moving and Spirit Nurturing Realm was impossible to bridge.
But his qi and blood far surpassed ordinary Blood Moving Realm Martial Artists, plus his hardening skills and Insect Bone Armor Body ability; even if he couldn’t match in direct clashes, he wouldn’t easily lose.
As for being strong-killed by a Spirit Nurturing Realm expert, that was naturally unlikely.
Moreover, Su Yan’s strength wasn’t just physical attributes for hard clashes; on the contrary, his insect taming, martial skills, and various other means were his true killing moves.
Spirit Nurturing Realm experts were powerful, but not invincible.
With insect taming swarm attacks, just the Blood Locust’s insect mist alone could suppress many Spirit Nurturing Realm experts without hardening skills.
Adding Red Armored Mad Scorpion, White Bone Poison Centipede, and Jade Beetle’s abilities, even a Spirit Nurturing Realm Great Accomplishment expert would struggle to contend.
Moreover, Fierce Ape Three Forms and Monkey Fist were both at Transformation Realm, and Blood Qi Arrow was top-tier; with so many means, he already had the strength to challenge any Spirit Nurturing Realm expert.
‘Even if Ding Meng and the others are unconvinced, the insect eggs will keep them in line. They shouldn’t slack on collecting things. If they disobey, just turn them into Blood Locust rations. Replacing them with new people would still yield resources.’
As Su Yan hurried along, he had already formed ideas about this ‘Sacred Insect Dao’.
His own forces were of two types: inner and outer. Insect taming was his foundation, while Sacred Insect Dao was an outer force for gathering resources, to be used as cannon fodder when necessary.
Though he now controlled many people, it was only because it was a newly established group with limited time.
If opportunities arose later, he would apply cultivation manual control, poison control, and certain insect beast talent controls.
As long as he controlled core figures like Ding Meng who had relatively strong strength, they could recruit cannon fodder, so manpower wouldn’t be an issue.
But for now, using Ding Meng and their strength to push the Jade Beetle to Metamorphosis was the priority.
With the Jade Beetle’s special defensive augmentation as an insect tamer’s companion, Metamorphosis would bring even more abilities. With great chaos coming, every bit of defense meant more security.
When he returned to Golden Ape Mountain, most inner disciples had already come back to await orders; Su Yan was among the last batch.
No sooner had he returned than Gao Zheng caught him.
“Junior Brother, you’re finally back. We’re heading to Miasma Valley tomorrow, and you weren’t anxious at all.”
Gao Zheng had been waiting for Su Yan like he was waiting for the stars and moon, nearly dying of anxiety.
“I’m back now, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you’re back, but you made Master and Senior Brothers wait a whole day.”
Gao Zheng glared at Su Yan, though envy flickered in his eyes.
He knew Su Yan had become a True Disciple, and now so many people were willing to wait for him—that showed how much importance was placed on him.
“I’ll take you to see Master.”
Gao Zheng led Su Yan to find Bai Changlin. After all, this was a major hunting event, so Bai Changlin had naturally come to Golden Ape Village to oversee and lead the team to Miasma Valley.
Inside the wooden hut, Bai Changlin’s eyes flickered. Su Yan hadn’t fully restrained his qi and blood, so at a glance, he got a general sense.
“Qi and blood full, eyes like blades—Yan’er, you’ve been fighting feral beasts these past days?”
“Something like that. I did some combat and gained a little, which made me late.”
Su Yan cupped his hands. In the hall, the four True Disciples and two Elders showed varied expressions.
How long had it been since breaking through to Blood Moving Realm? And he already had gains.
This Junior Brother seemed to have no bottlenecks.
Bai Changlin sat in the center, his gaze sweeping over everyone.
“The Miasma Valley and Ancient Forest Mountain hunting has been decided: Miasma Valley first, then Ancient Forest Mountain. Each side may send thirty disciples for seven days. Muscle and Bone Realm and above, True Intent Realm and below, all eligible. Victory determined by harvest; life and death irrelevant.”
He emphasized the last four words, his expression grave.
“With Little Mountain Association and Hundred Herbs Hall at each other’s throats, entering Miasma Valley will likely stir up big trouble. Only elites should go.”
Li Chuan pondered beside him. “Hundred Herbs Hall has guarded Miasma Valley for five years. Even if Little Mountain Association wants trouble, they probably won’t risk it—after all, no one knows Miasma Valley’s changes better than Hundred Herbs Hall.”
Yi Feng’s gaze sharpened. “Not necessarily. Accumulating harvest has never been about finding things, but seizing them. Life and death irrelevant, no favoritism, only results matter.”
Li Chuan’s expression darkened. “Little Mountain Association isn’t afraid of incurring public wrath?”
“Liang Ying is already a True Intent Realm Second Heaven Ruyi Realm Martial Artist. His Wolf-Eating Eagle True Intent operates as desired, mind and intent united like a Giant Spirit—how could he not be arrogant?”
True Intent Martial Artists have four realms, with Beast Spirit True Intent at the core: Heart Ape, Ruyi, Condensing Momentum, Divine Union. Each heaven is a pass.
Upon entering Heart Ape Realm, the True Intent is already unstoppable by a thousand troops, sweeping unmatched.
Each subsequent step strengthens the Beast Spirit True Intent further, every move carrying unimaginable destructive power.
The gap is enormous.
They were merely Heart Ape Realm Martial Artists, using True Intent Power crudely without fully unleashing feral beast potential, but Ruyi was different.
“Liang Ying, Lin Tianlang, Xiao Feng, and Xu Sanhu are all True Intent Realm Martial Artists, recently gaining momentum. Only the Lin Family, long-established in Yun Cang Town, can check them somewhat; other forces they disregard.”
Yi Feng said darkly, “With Liang Ying’s ambition, he doesn’t fear provoking other forces.”
“We must also guard against Seven Blades Martial Arts School.”
Li Chuan’s gaze was icy. “Seven Blades Martial Arts School has always been at odds with us and will surely seize the opportunity to strike.”
Though Golden Ape Martial Arts School and Hundred Herbs Hall had some competition, they were generally on good terms.
In the current situation, Golden Ape Martial Arts School would surely be targeted by Little Mountain Association too.
“Team up for exploration, or scatter disciples as before? We need a plan. And who leads?”
“Jin Shan and Yun’er lead, with inner disciples scattering to explore, each carrying signal flares. Call for help immediately if there’s danger.”
Bai Changlin said darkly, “Teaming up is safe but cedes advantage, unless willing to ambush and kill. This trip prioritizes experience; we can regroup if situations change.”
After settling the team matters, they selected over ten Blood Moving Realm Martial Artists; the Muscle and Bone Realm disciples all had special skills and experience in mountain hunting and treasure seeking.
With Bai Changlin’s approval, Su Yan was naturally on the Miasma Valley entry list.
What he hadn’t expected was that Lu Ling didn’t volunteer—this was a prime chance to ambush fellow disciples.
What a pity.
After resting a day, the next day under Bai Changlin’s lead, the group of disciples finally headed toward Miasma Valley.
Miasma Valley lay deep in the Desolate Mountains, said to have formed when a ground dragon turned over, tearing the earth.
Flanked by steep layered mountains blocking each other impenetrably.
Below was a massive rift over a hundred meters deep, like a scar across the land.
Their combination formed a peculiar great Rift Valley.
As the group approached Miasma Valley, faint mists appeared in the dense forest.
The mist was temporarily non-toxic but carried a heavy dampness. Though it didn’t impair vision, the rotting leaf smell made hearts feel stifled.
Advancing along the mountain path through the dense forest, soon they spotted a small pass built of hardwood and many wooden huts.
“That’s the camp.”
Li Jinshan explained to everyone: guarding the valley mouth required more than standing watch; a foothold like this camp was necessary.
“Liang Ying, how dare you bully us too far!”
Before Golden Ape Martial Arts School’s group got close, a roar suddenly rang out.
Looking closely, two groups were already confronting each other outside the camp.
In the camp stood a sturdy old man, broad-backed and straight-shouldered with white hair and beard, glaring furiously at the man before him.
The tall man in gold-patterned black clothes had eagle-like eyes and a cold smirk, not retreating a step.
“Tang Yuxuan, old age hasn’t tempered your temper—careful you die here.”
“Even in death, I’ll drag you down!”
Tang Yuxuan’s aura yielded nothing, and suddenly a massive Green Sheep rose behind him, muscles knotted, eyes crimson, sharp horns like swords.
“Mere parlor tricks.”
Behind Liang Ying, a pitch-black Giant Eagle materialized, its beak like a blade lined with countless fine teeth inside.
As the Wolf-Eating Eagle appeared, its terrifying aura suppressed the scene.
Green Sheep True Intent charged, azure light gathering on its horn; each step left deep hoof prints in the ground.
The Wolf-Eating Eagle met it head-on, claws like blade qi clashing with a clang.
Powerful force exploded outward, flipping up a layer of the ground.
Su Yan watched the two giant beast-like True Intents clash, the surroundings a mess of cracked earth, his heart profoundly shocked.
‘So strong. True Intent Realm Martial Artists and Spirit Nurturing Realm are worlds apart. Even with Insect Bone Armor Body activated, I probably couldn’t block this strike.’
The two fought, relentlessly devastating the surroundings; True Intent combat had immense destructive power.
Beyond True Intents, Tang Yuxuan even clashed directly with Liang Ying.
Fists and feet flew, leaving only afterimages.
Suddenly a muffled boom; Bai Changlin’s expression changed. “Hundred Herbs Hall’s Second Shopkeeper is losing ground.”
No sooner said than Tang Yuxuan staggered, unable to dodge Liang Ying’s attack.
Bai Changlin strode forward, releasing a White Ape True Intent over a zhang tall, true essence charged, striking out.
Though dozens of meters apart, that massive fist was not to be underestimated.
The attack separated Liang Ying and Tang Yuxuan at once.
“Gang Leader Liang, Second Shopkeeper, please stop.”
