Crisis Resolved?

The Cannon Ant's desperate counterattack produced flames of far greater intensity and temperature than usual. Even so, it couldn't escape being smashed on the head by the giant Great Hammer. Its massive head slammed into the hill, and flames poured down the mountaintop, resembling a volcanic eruption from afar. Instantly, the surrounding area turned into a sea of fire. Even the highly fire-resistant Violetgold War Ant could not escape being reduced to ashes!

What about Luo Jun, who was engulfed by the highest concentration of flames?

"Bang!"

A muffled thud came from the flames, and the Cannon Ant's enormous body twitched!

"Bang!!"

With another sound, the Cannon Ant's head seemed to crack and leak fluid, and the fire pillar it spewed out split, but the concentration of Fire Elemental decreased visibly.

"Bang!!!"

Finally, with the loudest sound, the powerful impact transformed the raging flames into a halo of light, spreading and extinguishing them, leaving only a few remaining flames stubbornly shining in the darkness.

"Uh... uh..."

Accompanied by painful groans, a charred figure emerged from the flames. With each step, the charred body cracked open, releasing billowing steam and the aroma of burnt flesh.

Excruciating pain coursed through his body, and his vision Blur. Even with Luo Jun's physique, he couldn't withstand the scorching heat. If he hadn't used all his strength to protect his vital organs, Luo Jun estimated that he wouldn't have survived until he smashed the Cannon Ant; he would have been charred and roasted alive...

For this kind of injury, the Water Healing Construct mechanism is no longer very effective. Even with the Great Luo Return to Spring, it would probably take several tens of seconds of casting time to heal it...

However, Luo Jun had a better option.

He shakily raised his hand and took out a Bronze Mirror from the Hundred Treasure Box.

"Heaven Returning!"

A golden light enveloped Luo Jun's body, the charred remains faded, his flesh was reshaped, and even his burned clothes were restored to their original state!

The Heaven Returning Mirror gives you one chance each day to restore your state to 100 seconds ago!

If used promptly, this has an even stronger restorative ability than the Great Luo Return to Spring!

This is also the reason why Luo Jun dared to brave the flames and fight the Cannon Ant head-on!

With the Cannon Ant dealt with, only one problem remains.

Luo Jun turned his head and saw a yellow, transparent sphere not far away, inside which the Bloodscarab was still thrashing about.

Picking up the hammer, Luo Jun dashed forward and disappeared into the Earth Barrier. Several loud crashes followed, and then large amounts of bodily fluid splattered onto the inner wall of the barrier...

The Earth Construct is not only a cage but also a shackle. Locked in mid-air by this thing, the Bloodscarab's movement is restricted, leaving it at the mercy of others.

"Coo coo coo..."

Having just dismantled the Earth Construct, an unbearable hunger struck him. Luo Jun rubbed his stomach; he had just successfully broken through to the next level when he was attacked, and hadn't had a proper meal since.

Luo Jun subconsciously looked at the stag beetle corpse at his feet. Beneath the shattered shell, besides the oozing bodily fluids, there were also traces of tender white muscle...

It looks like seafood... Luo Jun swallowed hard, then shook his head to banish the thought. They say hunger makes you eat anything, and today he truly understands that.

Even if you're starving, you shouldn't eat raw insects...

"Hmm? What's that smell?"

As soon as I turned my gaze away from the stag beetle's corpse, a delicious aroma wafted into my nose.

Looking around, the area within a radius of several hundred meters was scorched earth. Most of the Violetgold War Ant had been burned to charcoal, but perhaps because the fire was gradually weakening, a few still-steaming corpses could be seen in the distance...

Luo Jun swallowed hard and ran over, swung the hammer to smash open the shell, and a steaming aroma wafted out, smelling just like freshly cooked crab!

It can't be eaten raw... but it should be fine cooked, right...?

Ignoring everything else, Luo Jun reached out and broke off a large ant, cracked open its shell, and dug out the ant meat. This stuff was translucent white and tender, with distinct strands, quite similar to crab legs, but even more delicious. It was all thanks to the flames of the Cannon Ant; otherwise, given the Firemane Ant's heat resistance, ordinary firewood wouldn't have been enough to cook it... This was truly a rare delicacy.

As for toxins, Luo Jun wasn't worried. Regardless of how many toxins wouldn't be broken down at such a high temperature, given his current constitution, ordinary toxins wouldn't be able to harm him.

Fortunately, the Cannon Ant was in the rear, and after killing all its bodyguards, no other ants came to bother it, allowing Luo Jun to have time to enjoy his meal.

The ants probably never imagined that such a luxurious roosting of a single Bloodscarab and over twenty Violetgold War Ant could be wiped out in one fell swoop...

Patting his protruding belly, Luo Jun let out a burp and turned to look in another direction.

I wonder how the other groups are doing. Judging from the time, the barrier should hold for about fifteen more minutes. I'll go check on them.

Luo Jun picked up the hammer and disappeared into the night with a few leaps.

East of Lingyun City.

Bang!

With a deafening gunshot, the Cannon Ant's massive body crashed to the ground, and a thin flame suddenly shot out from the thickest part of its carapace, piercing straight into the sky.

On the makeshift anthill in front of the Cannon Ant, a figure appeared. Tall and slender, wearing Half-Face Mask, he picked up Gunlance that was almost as long as his height, gently blew on the muzzle, and exuded an air of superiority.

Although the Savage Wilderness already possessed iron smelting technology, no resources similar to gunpowder had been discovered, so firearms could not be produced here. The fact that it could be brought in indicates that it must be a treasure.

"A big, dumb oaf with nothing but a pretty face!" Xuanyuan Wuji glanced disdainfully at the huge corpse that was still breathing fire, then turned to look at Lu Kui, who was fighting the Bloodscarab in mid-air not far away.

"Still not done?" Xuanyuan Wuji's tone was contemptuous yet tinged with a hint of concern as he raised the Gunlance in his hand. "Need any help?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Kui's aura suddenly surged, and he smashed off half of the Bloodscarab's wing with a Wolf Tooth Club. The Insectoid Monster lost its balance and crashed to the ground, dragging Lu Kui with it.

Looking at Lu Kui again, he seized the opportunity to suppress the monster. His Wolf Tooth Club shimmered with energy as he smashed it repeatedly at the monster's head, finally shattering its shell and sending the giant insect to its doom.

Although Lu Kui lost to Luo Jun in Ling Kai's challenge, he was still at the Heart Refining Realm. As long as he could use his internal energy, the destructive power of his staff was no less than that of Luo Jun's hammer.

This is the difference in level of understanding.

"Roar!" Just as the battle was over on one side, a roar came from the jungle on the other side. Then, a Violetgold War Ant flew out, rolled a few times on the ground, twitched a few times, and stopped moving. Its carapace was shattered and its limbs were twisted, clearly indicating that it had been ravaged by a tremendous force.

Sure enough, a huge figure rushed out after the Violetgold War Ant.

It was a giant beast covered in white fur, a size larger than the Violetgold War Ant, with a body shape similar to King Kong. However, its hands had thick, long, and sharp claws, which were covered with the body fluids and internal organs of ants, demonstrating its destructive power.

"Dad, let me go!"

A girl's scream came from behind the monster. Upon closer inspection, it turned out that two small arms had grown on the back of its neck, tightly hugging a little girl with bronze skin and hiding her in thick white fur.

As the white-haired monster emerged from the jungle, his figure shrank, eventually transforming into a man over 1.9 meters tall. The girl who had been hiding on the back of his neck now sat on his shoulders, looking resentful.

"Dad, why won't you let me fight? It's so boring watching you fight all by yourself!"

"Be good, Xiao Qi. Once you reach the Heart Refining Realm, I won't bother with you anymore."

"Tch!" The girl pouted. "Just you wait, I'll definitely succeed this year!"

"Looks like everything went smoothly." Xuanyuan Wuji, carrying his Gunlance, jumped down from the anthill, his face full of arrogance. "Under This Heaven's Chosen leadership, the mission was successfully completed!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the corpses of the ants and said dismissively, "Not difficult at all!"

"Everything going smoothly is the best outcome," Father Qin said with a smile. "Let's go back and report."

Lu Kui looked at the insect corpses lying on the ground and swallowed hard. "I wonder what they taste like..."

"Ugh, you're still planning to eat this stuff?" Xuanyuan Wuji said with disgust. "It makes me want to vomit. Let's go, Ling Yi will definitely prepare a feast!"

"Hehehehe..."

Just as the group was preparing to return to the city to report, a sinister laugh came from the darkness.

"I didn't expect that even after deploying all its main forces, Lingyun City would still have such Combat Power. I underestimated Lingyun City..."

(End of this chapter)