Before he could examine them closely, the Myriad Venom Mysterious Casket in his chest broke out into an impatient, powerful suction. The three insect eggs instantly transformed into streams of crimson light and dove into his mouth.
[Crimson Flame Ant]
Grade: Tier 2 Low-grade
Attributes: Fire, Poison, Gregarious
Bloodline: Flame Demon Ant Bloodline
Innate Divine Abilities: Blazing Breath, Venom Corrosion, Ant Swarm Tactics
Evolution Path: Crimson Flame Ant - Fire Poison Ant - Flame Demon Ant
Cultivation Suggestion: Must be bred and cultivated in a volcanic crater; feeds on poisonous medicinal herbs.
Quantity: Three (Egg state)
Note: Naturally violent with a strong collective consciousness. Once hatched, they must be supplied with abundant food immediately, otherwise, they will devour one another.
Chen Gensheng stood up and looked around. Although the spiritual qi here was thin, it was remote and quiet, perfect for his clandestine activities. Since he had leased this land, he might as well build a small grotto-dwelling here.
With a thought, the Wood-Skeleton Wasps within his body swarmed out, densely covering the entire wasteland.
Having been transformed by the Juicy-Plump Tree, these Wood-Skeleton Wasps had not only increased in strength but also gained many new skills. They displayed a clear division of labor: one group was responsible for clearing weeds and rubble, another began digging underground, while a third stood guard in the surroundings. Digging, hauling stones—they were busy as could be.
In no time at all, a simple underground cavern took shape. It couldn't compare to the grottoes of the great sects, but it was enough for sheltering from the elements, raising insects, and cultivating.
Just then, footsteps approached from nearby. A middle-aged rogue cultivator in coarse hemp clothes passed by with a hoe. Seeing Chen Gensheng busy here, he stopped curiously.
"Brother, you certainly have courage to lease such a sinister place! Several people who leased this plot before either vanished mysteriously or died abruptly; not a single one met a good end. Rumors in the market say something filthy is sealed beneath the earth; others say strange insects from the mountains haunt this place. In short, for over a decade, people have avoided even mentioning this spot, let alone leasing it."
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Chen Gensheng smiled. "Is that so? Then I’ll have to be careful."
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the cultivator shook his head. "Youth are like newborn calves, unafraid of tigers. Fine, take care of yourself." With that, he shouldered his hoe and left.
Chen Gensheng looked at the entrance newly excavated by the Wood-Skeleton Wasps, still smelling of fresh soil. Rather than a cave, it was more like a pit—a dark earthen hole. Gone was the buzzing clamor of the former corpse-wasps; the current swarm moved with only a slight breeze from their vibrating wings.
They no longer relied solely on mandibles and limbs to dig but displayed a brand-new ability. One by one, the Wood-Skeleton Wasps hovered before the interior earthen walls, opened their mandibles, and spat out streams of thick, emerald-green slurry.
As soon as the slurry touched the earth of the walls, it solidified rapidly, transforming into a layer of smooth, hard material that looked no different from high-quality azure wood, even bearing natural grain patterns on the surface. Within moments, the entire interior was encased in this azure wood layer, with not a trace of dirt visible.
At the entrance, hundreds of Wood-Skeleton Wasps swirled; the slurry they spat out stretched in the air, molding a heavy wooden door on the spot. Chen Gensheng stepped forward and gave it a push with one hand. The door remained motionless, unexpectedly sturdy.
"This wood-element divine art is quite interesting."
Inside, the cave was further managed by the swarm, extending several fathoms deeper. As the green slurry spread, shelves emerged from the walls, and crude tables and stools took shape in the corners. The entire cave was filled with the fragrance of plants. Though simple, the prototype of a grotto-dwelling was now evident.
Chen Gensheng looked around with satisfaction and casually recalled the swarm into his mouth, seating himself on a brand-new wooden stool. Sinking his divine sense into his body, the three crimson ant eggs lay quietly in an insect chamber.
There wasn't even a decent volcano near Bianxian Market; where was he to find a crater? This matter had to be put aside for now.
He had thought that by flying so far in one go, he could find a peaceful territory. To his surprise, after circling around, he had still landed in the five great sects' domain—specifically, the Jade Tripod Sect’s. He had traveled a long distance, not hesitating to consume the spiritual energy of the Ethereal Dao-Body, all for a corner where no one would know or disturb him. He just wanted to cultivate peacefully, draw some cheap talismans, refine a few low-grade pills, and exchange them for spirit stones to feed himself and the insects within him.
The Ascension Assembly was like an invisible net; he had just broken free from one thread only to crash into the center of the web in the next instant. The conversations of the cultivators in the market still echoed in his ears. A grand event to show off disciples could actually stir up such a commotion among the low-level rogue cultivators of the entire Qingzhou region. It was truly a waste of labor and wealth.
As he was thinking, a sharp, piercing pain exploded from deep within his soul without warning. The pain was sudden and violent, not targeting his physical body but striking at his very foundation. Chen Gensheng let out a muffled groan, his body trembling slightly. He suppressed the pain and immediately circulated the Initial Scripture.
A cooling aura rose from his dantian, flowing through his meridians and slowly soothing the soul that felt as if it were about to split open. After a long time, the agony gradually receded, leaving behind a lingering sense of trepidation.
Chen Gensheng’s breathing was heavy. Leaning against the rough azure-wood wall, a hint of bewilderment appeared on his ugly face for the first time. From a cockroach in a gutter to this current Heavenly Spirit Root Dao-body, the journey had not been easy. Yet the higher he climbed, the more he felt out of his own control—it wasn't even as happy as being a cockroach.
Just as his mind was in turmoil:
Knock, knock, knock.
Three dull and rhythmic knocks suddenly sounded from the heavy wooden door at the entrance.
Chen Gensheng tensed up instantly. This desolate place was rarely visited by anyone. He had just finished digging the grotto and hadn't even sat still for a moment; how could someone have found their way here? Immediately, his six hands pressed against the coffin on his back as his gaze locked onto the entrance.