An army of insects

It was exceptionally quiet down there.

There was no movement.

"Then let's go take a look."

Medicine Spirit also peered down to observe, and only spoke after confirming that it was safe below.

His cautious nature and willingness to go down there proves that it is safe below for the time being.

As he spoke, Ning Qi had already leaped down.

In the blink of an eye, they were already below.

"Call!"

After landing, I felt a gentle breeze.

"It's completely different from what I expected."

"This environment doesn't look like the Inner Realm of a Sword King at all."

Ning Qi looked around and said with emotion.

The scenery here is beautiful and full of Spiritual Qi.

In the stream not far away, you can see some fish swimming happily.

On the distant grassland, some Spirit Beast were running and leaping about.

"The sky is so blue."

Medicine Spirit tilted his head back, looked at the void, and exclaimed in admiration.

"This is really strange; it's completely different from the previous passages and areas."

Shi Xiaokun also came out, looking puzzled.

"Never mind, let's get familiar with the environment first."

Let's see if we can find the Sword Spirit here.

Ning Qi ignored everything else and continued walking forward.

"Didn't we say before that quite a few people had already come here?"

"Why can't I see any of them?"

The Medicine Spirit stood on his shoulder, looking around curiously.

I was hoping to run into a few more people.

However, after a while, they realized there was no one there at all.

"This place is quite large; it's okay if you can't see it for a while."

"Let's go, the environment here isn't always like this."

Ning Qi looked around and said, "Perhaps, if we walk a little further, we'll encounter a different environment."

"Well, then we'll have to be careful."

Medicine Spirit agreed and then continued.

Ning Qi then continued on his way.

He continued walking until he reached the end of the forest.

There aren't many trees left here; there are mostly shrubs.

Further ahead lies grassland.

Looking out, it stretched all the way to the horizon.

"It's nothing."

The Medicine Spirit stood on his shoulder, looking ahead, and said...

"Keep going."

Ning Qi also looked ahead and said in a deep voice, "We will definitely find it."

"Let's try traveling at full speed."

The Medicine Spirit perked up.

At Ning Qi's current speed, traveling at full speed is achievable.

"The situation here is still unclear."

"Going full speed ahead could cause unnecessary trouble."

Ning Qi shook his head and continued, "However, it's still possible for him to increase his speed appropriately."

"I'll let my aura out a bit and see if I can encounter any people or Sword Spirit."

"Master, you can release the Giant Bees now."

"And the Ants larvae we caught!"

Medicine Spirit suddenly thought of something, "If they are discovered, what's the loss of just a few insects?"

"This way we can find the Sword Spirit here much faster."

"Yes, you've reminded me."

Hearing this, Ning Qi immediately became interested. "Shi Xiaokun."

After he said those words, Shi Xiaokun appeared in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Owner."

Shi Xiaokun said respectfully.

Have the Ants hatched yet?

Ning Qi asked first.

"Yes, some have already hatched. I secretly stole quite a few from the nest before."

Shi Xiaokun agreed.

"Oh, how come I didn't know?"

Ning Qi became interested immediately upon hearing this.

"You didn't ask me anything at the time, and I was very careful when I stole it."

"They're all insect eggs from some corner."

Shi Xiaokun smiled and said, "Moreover, they hatch and grow very quickly within our Time-Difference Formation."

"I've let them breed for several generations; there are tens of thousands now."

"My God, you're amazing!"

Upon hearing this, Medicine Spirit couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

"That's nothing. The Giant Bees are the same; there are hundreds of thousands of them."

Shi Xiaokun said proudly, "I've already tamed them, so they're always ready to be used whenever needed."

"Alright, release some Giant Bees and have them Patrol the area around here."

"Once we find the Sword Spirit, have the Ants that accompany me bring it to me."

Ning Qi suddenly had an idea and said, "Let's get some Ants and build a nest here."

"Ah, setting up a nest?"

Upon hearing this, Medicine Spirit couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

They clearly didn't know why he was building a nest; wasn't he just exposing himself?

"Yes, set up a Time-Difference Formation here so that the Ants here can hunt down the Sword Spirit."

"Wouldn't that allow me to generate a lot of Sword Qi?"

Ning Qi smiled and said, "Ants have some methods for finding the Sword Spirit, which are easier for them than for us."

"That's right, let's do it here then."

Shi Xiaokun understood, and then said, "This way, we'll save ourselves some trouble."

"Once you accumulate enough Sword Qi, you can refine it, Master."

"Alright, let's begin!"

"There's hardly anyone around here anyway."

Ning Qi nodded, then continued, "It's not safe. What if someone discovers this place?"

"I'll be detected if I stay here. You've set up a dozen nests!"

"That's no problem, as long as we set up enough Time-Difference Formation."

Shi Xiaokun readily agreed, "That's not a problem at all, we have plenty of resources!"

"Let's begin!"

Ning Qi agreed and then asked, "How do I set up the Time-Difference Formation?"

"The two of them should be faster!"

"Good!"

After Shi Xiaokun agreed, he began to teach Ning Qi how to set up the Formation.

Ning Qi and his Sea of Consciousness are interconnected, so he learns faster.

After he learned it, he and Shi Xiaokun split up into two groups.

They began setting up Formation in different areas of this region.

After the Formation was set up, they activated Formation simultaneously.

Then put the Ants on it and started commanding them to build their nest there.

Thanks to the Time-Difference Formation formation, the construction here can be completed very quickly.

Soon an ant nest was built, and the Ants inside began to reproduce.

"We'll just wait here for a few days."

"In two days, the number of Ants here will multiply several times."

After Shi Xiaokun finished tidying everything up, he came over to Ning Qi and said, "This time, we've set up ten nests, and we've already occupied this area of the mountains."

"I also set up a few Beehive here. The Bees are in charge of a thorough search, and the Ants are responsible for following along."

"With their cooperation, we should be able to find the Sword Spirit soon."

"Okay, then let's wait and see!"

After Ning Qi agreed, he continued, "Alright, let's go back to the Inner Realm to rest."

"Let it develop as it is."

"Right!"

After Shi Xiaokun agreed, he opened their Inner Realm passage.

They soon arrived at the Inner Realm.

After Ning Qi returned, he started taking walks here.

We found some cities and began to savor their delicacies after entering.

He even heard legends about himself here.

The people here respect him greatly, and this is all thanks to Shi Xiaokun.

Ning Qi was very satisfied with this.

I waited here for two days, and it passed quickly.

"Master, can we go out and take a look now!"

That day, Shi Xiaokun came over and invited him.

"Okay, let's go out and check the situation."

After Ning Qi agreed, he prepared to leave.

Shi Xiaokun opened the passage, and Ning Qi went out with him.

After they came out, they saw that the mountains were full of Ants and Giant Bees.

The incessant buzzing sound sent chills down his spine.

"So many!"

Looking at the scene before him, Medicine Spirit couldn't help but exclaim in amazement.

"This is only part of it, from just one nest."

"Go see more in other places."

Shi Xiaokun said with a smile, "Master, you can arrange for them to go out and carry out their mission now!"

"Yes, the target is the Sword Spirit. If someone spots it, just ignore them as long as they don't cause trouble."

"But if anyone attacks our Ants and Giant Bees bees, then we will swarm them!"

Ning Qi nodded, then focused his attention ahead. "I want to set up the If Water Three Thousand Formation around this nest!"

"Alright, I'll go give them the orders."

After agreeing, Shi Xiaokun left.

Ning Qi then began setting up Formation here.

Setting up more than a dozen nests was quite a challenge for him.

It took three or four days to finally complete the layout.

"Master, the first batch of Ants and Giant Bees that went out should be back soon."

Medicine Spirit looked into the distance and could vaguely sense that Ants and Giant Bees were returning.

"Yes, they should be back soon."

Ning Qi nodded, then turned and asked, "Shi Xiaokun, have you noticed anyone attacking our insects?"

"Master, we've made a discovery; they've killed a group of people in this direction."

"They've brought the body back."

Shi Xiaokun agreed and continued.

"Oh, I brought it here to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi immediately spoke up.

"Right here."

With a wave of his hand, Shi Xiaokun took out the bodies of these people.

Ning Qi only glanced at the body after it appeared.

Only after confirming that he didn't know anyone did he feel relieved.

"Many hands make light work; it would take us forever to find it alone."

Medicine Spirit looked at the corpse and then asked, "Does the Sword Spirit exist?"

"Yes, I have. I've gathered all the Sword Qi."

Shi Xiaokun agreed and waved his hand.

Sword Qi appeared directly.

However, he put it in his Storage Bag.

It was impossible to break through the Formation's Restriction.

"Good!"

"I'll refine them; you continue to direct the Ants and Giant Bees."

Ning Qi raised his hand and put away his Storage Bag.

Then he made further arrangements.

"Yes!"

After agreeing, Shi Xiaokun left.

Ning Qi then found a hilltop and sat down cross-legged.

He summoned all the Sword Qi from his Storage Bag.

He began to guide it into his Dantian and slowly refine it.

This wasn't the first time he had refined Sword Qi; it wasn't a difficult task for him.

The Medicine Spirit remained within his body, helping Ning Qi restore his Life Essence.

It provides a continuous source of Life Essence.

And so, master and servant cooperated.

One was responsible for hunting, one for refining, and the other for protecting.

Their Ants and Giant Bees mercilessly slaughtered all the Sword Spirit around them.

In this way, no one else will gain anything here.

Gradually, some people began to be dissatisfied with him.

However, they didn't know that the mastermind behind all of this was actually one person.

"Master, something's not right."

While Ning Qi was refining the Sword Qi, Shi Xiaokun returned.

"Call!"

Ning Qi took a deep breath and finally came to his senses.

At that moment, a glint of light flashed in his eyes.

The light shone brightly, and within it, a Sword-Ray was flashing.

In just a moment, the Sword-Ray surged.

It directly tore apart the void in front of him.

A faint crack appeared in the void.

"So strong!"

Shi Xiaokun sensed the powerful Sword Qi emanating from Ning Qi and couldn't help but speak.

At this moment, Ning Qi sat here, just like a sword.

A series of sharp Sword Qi surged around him.

The rocks and trees around him had long been destroyed by his refinement.

Ning Qi was sitting cross-legged, suspended in the void.

The Sword Qi beneath him vibrated, preventing it from reaching the ground.

"Call!"

Ning Qi took a deep breath and slowly asked, "What's wrong?"

"We killed all the Sword Spirit here, which angered the surrounding people!"

"They're already plotting to join forces and wipe out our hideout here."

Shi Xiaokun snapped out of his daze when he heard the question.

His eyes were filled with a solemn expression.

How many people are there?

Ning Qi didn't show much panic when he heard what he said.

Instead, he asked in a calm tone.

"There are over a thousand people!"

Shi Xiaokun responded again.

"A thousand people? We have ant colonies and bee swarms."

"Aren't they just coming here to die?"

Before Ning Qi could say anything, Medicine Spirit started complaining instead of writing anything.

"Not necessarily. There are quite a few powerful individuals among them."

"Moreover, they have special methods to deal with our insects."

Shi Xiaokun shook his head, his face grave, and said, "We should stop now, as far as I know."

"They're already on their way here, and they could arrive at any moment!"

"Well, in that case, let's take all our Ants and Giant Bees."

"Let's go somewhere else and let them come here only to find nothing!"

Ning Qi nodded and said with a smile, "Let's not confront them head-on, let them do it."

"Yes, let's just focus on hunting down the Sword Spirit!"

Medicine Spirit agreed wholeheartedly, saying, "Our goal is the Sword Spirit, not to fight among ourselves."

"Okay, shall we go now?"

Shi Xiaokun nodded and asked.

"Okay, let's retreat. Take all our insect eggs with us."

"Don't leave them any clues!"

Ning Qi nodded, then continued, "Leave some behind to prevent them from exploring."

"So that they won't notice anything amiss."

"Clear!"

After agreeing, Shi Xiaokun left.

It's obvious they're making arrangements.

"Master, did you say Miss Ji and the others have arrived?"

Medicine Spirit suddenly thought of something and asked in a deep voice.

They've been here for a while now.

During this time, Ji Wanru had not contacted them.

"I don't know."

Ning Qi shook his head and said.

He was so focused on refining the Sword Qi that he didn't even think about this.

"Shall we ask them?"

"Medicine Spirit suggested."