Chapter 313: Bee Demon Queen
Having made a decision in his heart, Ning Qi turned back and began discussing with the congregation of Xuanzhen Domain.
He said: “I have already detected the location of the next node, ten thousand li from here. Rather than heading to the next one, it is better to take this place first.”
Upon hearing this, Sword Ancestor said: “Just as you wish.”
Niu Ding Tian and the old ancestors of various sects also expressed their agreement one after another.
However, they glanced at Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect and the bee demon swarm ahead, slightly hesitant.
Niu Ding Tian said: “Alliance Leader, when should we make our move?”
Both Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect and the bee demon swarm were stronger than the White Crane Immortal Sect they had encountered before.
Currently, both sides had few casualties and were fighting fiercely. If they intervened now, it would not be a good timing.
Ning Qi smiled faintly and said: “I am the Alliance Leader, but I cannot act unilaterally. Do you have any good strategies? Speak quickly.”
As soon as these words came out, the cultivators of various sects immediately had their eyes light up.
They knew that the Alliance Leader was delegating authority, giving them a chance to participate in the battle decisions.
The congregation looked at each other, then began telepathic communication with the cultivators under their command.
The Xuanzhen Domain Army had numerous cultivators, with countless Nascent Soul Realm and Void Dao Realm cultivators, and even Integration Realm cultivators had increased under Ning Qi’s help in recent years.
Therefore, to speak in the army, the speaker must have sufficient weight.
Each sect had only one person who could speak, either the sect leader or the old ancestor.
But not everyone was skilled in strategy, so these people contacted the most strategic cultivators in their sects, discussed the details carefully, and then offered plans to the Alliance Leader.
Not long after, someone began to speak.
Heavenly Star Upper Sect Sect Leader Xia Xing said:
“Alliance Leader, in my opinion, the upcoming battle can still follow the previous several battles—strike unexpectedly and annihilate them completely.
However, I would like to add one point: we can form specialized teams targeted at the bee demon swarm and Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect to counter them specifically. Let them first check and balance the two sides, while the others follow one by one.”
Seeing Xia Xing speak, many with similar ideas immediately extinguished their impulse to speak.
Xia Xing had shown his face many times in the Xuanzhen Domain Army and was favored by the Alliance Leader, so they did not want to refute his strategy.
Ning Qi nodded and said: “Elaborate a bit.”
Xia Xing cupped his hands and smiled slightly:
“The cultivators of Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect, as their name suggests, must be skilled in fire element spells. We can prepare a team of cultivators skilled in water element or ice element spells to counter their fire specifically.”
“As for these bee demons and other fierce beasts, both water and fire can restrain their bodies, so a large army of water and ice element cultivators can also be used against the swarm.”
Everyone present agreed with these words.
Niu Ding Tian suddenly said: “I have one additional remark.”
Everyone turned to look at him.
Niu Ding Tian continued: “My Ox Demon Upper Sect is the only demon race sect in Xuanzhen Domain, and there are similar existences to bee demons within the sect. So, I propose this: if we can unexpectedly capture the bee king inside that hive, we can definitely control all the bee demon fierce beasts.”
The congregation nodded.
Luo Tian Upper Sect Sect Leader Luo Feiyu, under the push of his son Luo Feiwo, who was Zhuang Chen, stepped forward and said:
“But that bee king is obviously extremely powerful, with the strength of a Peak Venerable, and it is inside a hive defended with a great formation. Who can take it down?”
The congregation helplessly looked at Ning Qi and said one after another: “Our strength is limited, so we can only ask the Alliance Leader to act again.”
Ning Qi said: “Leave it to me.”
He suddenly took out an object in front of the congregation, which was the black flood dragon captured from the first node.
The black flood dragon had not been killed by Ning Qi and had long been tamed by him.
At this moment, it lay in Ning Qi’s palm like a small insect, extremely obedient.
“Little Jiao pays respects to Master!” the black flood dragon said.
The congregation was stunned for a moment.
They truly had not paid attention to this black flood dragon back then and did not expect that the Alliance Leader had already tamed it into a helper.
Ning Qi said: “There are many Sea of Realms fierce beasts in the War Domain. Capturing them would be another boost for us. The bee demons are powerful, and I also intend to subdue them.”
“Little Jiao also requests to join the battle!”
The black flood dragon raised its body in Ning Qi’s hand and volunteered.
Seeing this, the congregation was naturally delighted.
The Alliance Leader’s methods were truly ahead of their time; he had long intended to incorporate Sea of Realms fierce beasts as allies.
As long as they continued like this, not only would their Xuanzhen Domain Army suffer fewer and fewer losses, but their numbers would also increase. It was truly wonderful.
“Very well, you will join the fire cultivator queue later.”
Ning Qi said to the black flood dragon.
He shook his hand lightly, releasing the black flood dragon. Its body enlarged to human size, and it cupped its claws to the congregation.
This black flood dragon had surrendered its primordial spirit power, so Ning Qi could kill it with a single thought, thus not fearing any disloyalty.
When it fought against White Crane Immortal Sect earlier, the black flame it released was stronger than ordinary fire cultivators, so it should be able to play a role in this great battle.
Ning Qi looked at the congregation and said: “Do you have any more additions?”
A person stepped out from Qing Xia Upper Sect. Though not the sect leader nor an old ancestor, everyone knew this person.
This person was none other than True Person Bai Shan, whom Qing Xia Upper Sect Sect Leader had forced to marry his daughter. This amusing story had been heard by everyone in Xuanzhen Domain. Seeing him step out, many looked at him with teasing eyes.
Thinking of him brought to mind the sect leader’s daughter, fat as a mountain.
They quickly searched near True Person Bai Shan and, sure enough, found a woman whose figure was like a door panel beside him, gazing at True Person Bai Shan with affectionate eyes.
The congregation could not help but smile.
Seeing Bai Shan step out, even Ning Qi could not help but smile.
True Person Bai Shan said: “I have a word to offer to the Alliance Leader.”
“Please speak!”
True Person Bai Shan had a resentful look in his eyes and said: “If using water attack, it can be combined with thunder power. With both unleashed together, it will surely catch them off guard!”
“This plan is feasible.” Ning Qi laughed.
True Person Bai Shan had now stepped into Early Integration Realm and was a formation way master in Qing Xia Upper Sect.
He continued: “Alliance Leader, we formation masters can also set up corresponding formations to prevent their escape. May I lead the formation?”
As soon as these words came out, everyone was surprised.
But thinking of the affectionate female cultivator beside him, they suddenly understood— this Bai Shan formation master wanted to escape from Qing Xia Upper Sect.
The Xuanzhen Domain Army had dedicated formation masters, but each sect still kept a few to maintain their own sect cultivators’ formations. Bai Shan had always been entangled by Qing Xia Upper Sect Sect Leader and his daughter, unable to join the dedicated formation master team.
His speaking now clearly meant he wanted to break away from them.
In the Xuanzhen Domain Army, many male cultivators thought Bai Shan was too pretentious. To be favored by a sect leader and his only daughter was such an opportunity, yet he did not cherish it.
But Bai Shan’s talent was indeed extraordinary. After Ning Qi unified Xuanzhen Domain, formation masters were in high demand throughout Xuanzhen Domain.
From enhancing protective mountain great formations for various sects, to building teleportation arrays, to the array formations coordinated by sect cultivators— all required formation master talents.
Bai Shan stared at Ning Qi at this moment and secretly transmitted: “Young Ning, if you don’t help me, I’m done!”
Ning Qi laughed: “You can join the formation master army. As for the leadership position, you must first integrate with them and show them your skills to see if you qualify to lead the formation masters.”
The resentment in Bai Shan’s eyes immediately disappeared, and his small pale face showed joy.
“Thank you, Alliance Leader!”
He flew out of Qing Xia Upper Sect’s formation position, arriving at the dedicated formation master team in the Xuanzhen Domain Army, feeling as if he had arrived in paradise.
As for the leadership position, True Person Bai Shan was full of confidence.
With Ning Qi’s care, his formation way cultivation had long reached perfection. Taking the leadership position would just require a few more battles to convince the crowd.
One person’s resentment disappeared, meaning it transferred to another.
Qing Xia Upper Sect Sect Leader and his daughter now had resentment in their eyes, but they were helpless— they could not quarrel with the Alliance Leader.
The fat daughter looked at her father, pouting, on the verge of tears.
Her father, gazed at by his daughter like this, finally sighed, as if his past persistence was loosening.
He had missed his late wife, and his daughter resembled her, with a blessed appearance, so he did not want her to change her figure.
Now, to keep the golden son-in-law, he feared he would have to change this principle.
Ahead, Ning Qi continued: “Do you have any more additions? If not, we will set the attack timing.”
True Person Bai Shan flew back and said: “The bee demon swarm is restrained by fire, while Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect is skilled in controlling fire. We can wait until they launch a large-area fire attack before making our move.”
Ning Qi considered for a moment and, seeing no further additions from the congregation, said: “Very well!”
Ning Qi had actually thought of countermeasures long ago, but to make the people below grow faster, he had to let them participate in war decisions.
The Xuanzhen Domain Army was the foundation for his future conquest of Mountain Sea Realm and Haoran Realm. If he handled everything personally, how could they keep up with his pace? Thus, Ning Qi deliberately delegated authority.
Next, Ning Qi had the congregation prepare according to the discussed resolution, ready to strike at any time.
The army looked ahead. At this moment, Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators began encircling the bee demon swarm.
One saw cultivators wearing fiery red robes, gradually spreading out at the outer edge according to their cultivation strength.
They were also forming array to counter the bee demons’ array.
Ning Qi led the army to set up formation outside them, acting as the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
As for Ning Qi himself, he quietly appeared above the central hive.
Sword Ancestor also detached from the army, the two preparing to cooperate again.
Sword Ancestor would break the hive, and Ning Qi would capture the Queen Bee Demon!
The Xuanzhen Domain Army held their breath in concentration, waiting only for a good opportunity.
Time passed quietly. The battle between Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators and the bee demon swarm below grew increasingly fierce, with heavy casualties on both sides.
The great formation set by Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect seemed to have finally accumulated its power. One heard someone shout:
“Sacrifice the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire Fentian Array!”
Echoing shouts responded: “Yes!”
Immediately, vermilion red flames rose from all Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators, and the air instantly became scorching hot.
Even the Xuanzhen Domain Army felt it, as if facing a massive heaven and earth furnace.
This was not all. From all Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators’ bodies, fiery feathers emerged.
The fiery feathers did not transform into Vermilion Bird divine forms on their bodies but fluttered around them, falling to their feet to form a fire circle.
Each person’s foot fire circle gradually split into four chain-shaped law rings, connecting everyone one by one. Once all foot fire circles were connected.
The Xuanzhen Domain Army felt the furnace before them completely turn into a fiery red sun, as if emerging from the ground.
The surging fierce fire completely covered the area where Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators were, compressing toward the center.
The bee demon swarm at the center flapped their demon wings desperately, appearing extremely anxious.
Suddenly, a spiritual sense transmission spread from the hive to all bee demons.
The bee demons’ formation immediately changed. They formed teams of six, creating fan blade-like miniature formations.
All the small bee demon formation groups combined into a great formation.
Nascent Soul Realm bee demons had two wings, Void Dao Realm four, Integration Realm six.
But at this moment, regardless of cultivation, power surged from their bodies, and several more pairs of wings instantly grew on their backs, flapping at extreme speed with a buzzing sound.
The fierce fire approached, the scorching heat closing in.
The swarm madly fanned their wings, unexpectedly condensing a terrifying divine wind great formation in the blink of an eye, fanning it outward.
Fierce fire against divine wind!
Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect clearly did not expect the bee demons’ wisdom to be so terrifying. Although they used Vermilion Bird Divine Fire to restrain the opponent, the opponent released divine wind to counter the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire.
In an instant, the divine fire pressing toward the swarm was fanned back.
From afar, it looked like a basin of charcoal fire with wind in the middle, the wind fueling the fire, continuously releasing fire circles outward.
Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect could control fire, but not all cultivators were unharmed in fire.
Their collectively urged divine fire was fiercely pushed back. Those weaker cultivators could not withstand it?
Immediately, the outer Nascent Soul Realm cultivators of Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect could not endure and spat blood, severely injured.
The Void Dao Realm cultivators at their center also had flushed faces, under immense pressure.
The Integration Realm cultivators ahead, strongest in fire control, fared slightly better.
The bee demon swarm was not unharmed either. Even if the scorching flames could not approach, the weaker ones in the swarm could not withstand the intense heat. Many fell from the void, landing on the ground with a splat, self-igniting.
Mid-level cultivation bee demons had severe internal moisture evaporation, some with dried skin from the scorching. Their thin wings were most easily ignited; many caught fire while fanning, immediately affecting a swath.
Both sides’ desperate fight had reached the point of no retreat or release.
At this moment, Ning Qi waved his hand and issued the order, slightly modifying the previous plan.
After all, their previous plan had not considered that the bee demons could control wind.
Immediately, from within the Xuanzhen Domain Army, a team of fire cultivators emerged first, including the black flood dragon.
They released streaks of black-red heavenly fire, like meteorites, smashing toward the central swarm.
The bee demons saw the heavenly fire descending and thought it was from Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect.
With heavenly fire landing in the center, they could only use divine wind to counter the peripheral fire but could not counter the fire appearing in their midst.
Immediately, buzzing wails rose everywhere, and countless bee demons died on the spot.
The more they fanned their wings now, the more fiercely the internal fire burned, impossible to fan out.
In the end, many Integration and Void Dao Realm bee demons completely retreated to the hive.
They huddled together, vowing to desperately protect the Queen Bee Demon inside the hive.
The Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect outside, seeing this, was also stunned.
They still did not know where this fire came from. Could another detachment have arrived?
Just as the congregation was dazed, everyone felt the ground shake violently. Countless earth spears thrust sharply from the ground continuously.
The circular fire array under their feet was immediately destroyed.
“Not good, enemy army! Quickly take to the air!”
Someone shouted, and Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect congregation flew into the air one after another.
Just as they left the ground, the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire Fentian Array under their feet was completely broken.
All the Vermilion Bird Divine Fire lost its power support and immediately disappeared.
At this moment, ice cones, ice balls, ice spears, ice arrows, ice bricks wrapped in gale blizzard smashed toward Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect congregation.
At the same time, frost covered the ground, and the temperature here plummeted, as if entering midwinter.
The shift from extreme heat to extreme cold was extremely uncomfortable for both Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect cultivators and the central bee demon swarm.
Many with low cultivation or injuries died on the spot.
“Who is it? Get out here!”
The Peak Venerables in Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect reignited flames on their bodies to resist the cold and shattered the incoming ice attacks.
But what followed was towering giant waves mixed with ice and wind, smashing toward the entire territory.
In an instant, many more from Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect congregation and the bee demon swarm were wiped out.
In the water, there were various changes: forming spherical water prisons, transforming into wave hands to trap, strangle, or grab, killing the surviving people and demons.
Those who barely broke through the giant waves, just emerging from them.
Streaks of colorful thunder and lightning, or Rule Divine Chains, like divine dragons roaming the sea, sparked and surged in the water.
Lightning strikes hit these cultivators one after another.
The congregation immediately felt their bodies numb, even their nascent souls tingling, then grabbed by wave hands formed in the water and trapped again.
Under such repeated chain attacks, the two forces were mostly annihilated.
When the giant waves receded, revealing the scene within.
The ground was a muddy mess, turbid and murky.
Only a few cultivators and bee demons remained alive within.
Other cultivators in the Xuanzhen Domain Army once again unleashed combined array attacks, striking the survivors.
After this wave of attacks, only a few Peak Venerables remained.
But the Integration Realm cultivators in the Xuanzhen Domain Army also struck together. Even Peak Venerables perished successively under the continuous attacks.
In the end, only the central hive remained intact.
The congregation held back and did not attack it.
At this moment, the hive was wrapped in layers of bee demon corpses. In the occasional gaps, scorch and water damage had left it riddled with holes.
The life aura within was still vast as the sea, with little reduction.
Ning Qi signaled to Sword Ancestor.
Sword Ancestor immediately swung his sword, sword light shattering the void, instantly striking the hive.
The hive faintly glowed but only resisted for a moment before being cleaved into two by the sword light.
A black shadow flashed out from within, countless illusory divine needles shooting toward the nearest Ning Qi and Sword Ancestor.
Sword Ancestor slashed them away with one sword.
Ning Qi released a Five Elements Divine Chain, transforming into a giant hand. “Suppress!”
All illusory divine needles shooting at him stalled, as if time paused, completely frozen in the void.
Only then did the congregation see those illusory divine needles clearly.
There were over a hundred needle shadows, varying in thickness and length, illusory and real.
The thin ones were almost imperceptible even to spiritual sense, the thick ones like spears.
Without exception, all illusory divine needles glistened with venom.
The congregation’s spiritual sense viewed them, feeling nascent soul pain.
Even visually, their eyes felt pricked, greatly alarming them.
This Queen Bee Demon was so terrifying!
They looked at the Queen Bee Demon hovering in the void. The first thing to enter their eyes was six pairs of transparent wings, exquisitely matchless.
Shifting gaze to her body, the congregation’s pupils shrank involuntarily.
This Queen Bee Demon actually had a woman’s body!
Her figure was extremely graceful, with a bee waist and jade hips, her entire body almost jade-carved.
Only at key parts were yellow-black colored scale armor coverings.
Her legs were slender, with six arms, all fairer than frost and snow, without a single flaw.
Looking at her face, colorful wavy long hair, each strand crystalline, covering many parts of her body.
Her large eyes rippled, nose petite, lips vermilion red.
Only two antennae on her forehead, hidden between hair strands, swaying like silly hair.
Seeing this stunning portrait of the Queen Bee Demon, many male cultivators on site, even female cultivators, were enchanted by her.
Sword Ancestor remained unmoved.
Ning Qi’s Five Elements Divine Chain giant hand continued to reach out to suppress her.
The Queen Bee Demon fanned her six pairs of wings, constantly teleporting in the void to dodge Ning Qi’s giant hand.
Her movement technique was extremely mystical, harmonizing with Heavenly Dao, always evading Ning Qi’s captures.
Even more astonishingly, each teleport generated a real clone.
In the void, six figures of the Queen Bee Demon gradually appeared, dazzling the congregation’s eyes again.
The six Queen Bee Demons joined hands, wind blades slicing the void, all slashing toward Ning Qi.
She had seen that the core of the army before her was Ning Qi.
She also saw that the army had no intention of attacking her.
Thus, as long as she defeated Ning Qi, she still had a chance to escape.
Countless wind blades assaulted from all angles, some manifesting, some hidden in the void, some straight on, some tricky and hard to defend.
Like a tornado, completely surrounding Ning Qi.
Ning Qi circulated the long-unused Jade Warm Smoke Art, his body emanating seven-colored halos, like rainbows or soap bubbles, protecting him within.
All wind blades striking the halo made continuous puffing sounds.
But they only made the halo tremble slightly, never breaking through!
“Ah!”
The Queen Bee Demon seemed to sigh.
She exhaled like orchid, a fragrance spreading, everyone sniffing it like drinking flower nectar.
The six bee shadows merged into one, leaving only one demon in the void.
“Can this slave surrender?”
Seeing the Queen Bee Demon proactively surrender, everyone involuntarily looked at Ning Qi.
Ning Qi hovered in the void, enveloped in seven-colored rainbow light, like an immortal descending to the mortal world.
He did not answer the Queen Bee Demon but suddenly turned to look in one direction.
In his perception, a army had arrived nearby, heading this way.
The black flood dragon ran to Ning Qi’s side like a dog and proactively said to the Queen Bee Demon:
“Surrender the node bead and offer your primordial spirit, and Master may spare your life!”
The Queen Bee Demon’s beautiful large eyes narrowed slightly. She could perceive the aura on the black flood dragon, of the same origin as hers, both from the Sea of Realms!
She immediately understood that the black flood dragon had also been subdued by the youthful immortal-like man before her.
Although the black flood dragon was a flood dragon class, below dragons, the Queen Bee Demon was stronger in cultivation.
She was half a step from Dao Integration, with astonishing spells, and really did not want to surrender her primordial spirit.
Ning Qi turned back and said to the congregation: “Fuyao Domain Army is coming. Prepare yourselves.”
The congregation was startled upon hearing this and immediately formed arrays to await.
Sword Ancestor frowned slightly. The arrivals were not enemies but the neighboring Fuyao Domain Army. What was their intent?
The Queen Bee Demon naturally heard Ning Qi’s words too, her beautiful eyes blinking continuously, hesitating whether to stall until the army in his mouth arrived, then maneuver between them.
She had seized this place’s node bead and could fully manipulate the two armies.
After all, though she could not defeat Ning Qi, it seemed no one else on site could take her down in a short time.
