Thousand Jun Ant Emperor

Thousand Jun Ant Emperor

After absorbing Spirit Hall's Soul Hunting Squad, this massive soul-hunting expedition had reached an astonishing scale: no fewer than three Titled Douluo, four Soul Douluo, and over thirty Soul Saints!

Judging by the lineup alone, it would have been perfectly reasonable to say they were heading out to hunt a 100,000 Year Soul Beast.

Heavenly Water, Blazing Fire, Shenfeng Academy, and Spirit Hall had fairly ordinary relations.

But interpersonal relationships were simply this unreasonable: Shui Feng was Liu Erlong's best friend; Huo Lie and Shui Feng were rivals who had come to know each other through fighting; Feng Wuji was Huo Lie's good brother; and Yue Guan and Gui Mei had joined the group because of Blue Tyrant Academy, each for their own reasons.

No one had known each other before.

But, to borrow Ye Qingcang's words, it did not matter that they had not known one another before. Every friendship had to go through a stage of going from nothing to something. Once they knew each other, would future meetings not mean they were acquainted?

This theory quickly won everyone over.

Of course, the Spirit Hall members were not as difficult to approach as imagined, and they had also played an indispensable role in this process of getting to know one another.

It was just that...

"Erlong, forgive me for asking something I shouldn't..."

Shui Feng glanced back.

Yue Guan led the way, Gui Mei was in the middle, and Dugu Bo brought up the rear. The four Soul Douluo, including herself, followed behind Yue Guan. Further back was a mixed squad of Spirit Hall Soul Saints and Soul Saints from their side. At the very center was the student group led by Ye Qingcang, consisting of Xiao Wu, Shui Bing'er, Hu Liena, Xie Yue, Yan, Huo Wu, Feng Xiaotian, and Violet.

Based on strength, talent, and status, they had formed three tiers.

The first tier was the one led by Ye Qingcang.

The second tier was led by Tang San, Dai Mubai, and Huo Wushuang. Zhu Zhuqing, Ma Hongjun, and Shui Yue'er were all in this tier.

Only in the final tier was Yu Xiaogang, traveling alongside Support Type Soul Masters like Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Zhang Ping, and Xue Wu.

What Shui Feng wanted to ask was precisely related to Yu Xiaogang. "What is going on with your Blue Tyrant Academy? As a teacher—especially at his age—does he not even know what should and should not be said?"

"One must always be on guard." Huo Lie very rarely shared both Shui Feng's attitude and opinion. "Blazing Fire Academy deeply admires Blue Tyrant Academy's campaign against Evil Spirit Masters. I have no issue with Spirit Hall and Blue Tyrant Academy being on good terms. What I mean is, no matter how close the relationship is, some matters simply cannot be spoken of. You can never truly know what lies in another person's heart, just as you do not know whether any of us covet the Self-Created Soul Skill your son created. Forgive me for saying something I shouldn't as well, but you truly ought to straighten out Blue Tyrant Academy..."

Feng Wuji nodded.

Huo Lie had said more than half of what he wanted to say.

Other than nodding, all he could do was nod.

He could hardly blurt out, "Me too," could he?

Liu Erlong bit her lip in silence.

A faint trace of blood was visible on her red lips.

What could she say?

She had regretted it long ago!

Clinging to her fantasies about the Yu Xiaogang of years ago, she had finally waited for him to come looking for her. Before she could even express that joy, her own son had slapped her in the face with one ugly reality after another. Her already crumbling fantasy had then been dealt another devastating blow by the Jade Seal Machine her son had given her. To verify it, she had spoken with Flender. By agreeing to join the soul-hunting team, she had moved Flender and obtained the truth, confirming that her son truly had not lied to her. Yet although she had handed all authority to her son, Yu Xiaogang, who had chilled her heart, had openly stabbed her in the back again...

What could she say?

She had already regretted it, but was there any medicine for regret?

She could only sever all ties with Yu Xiaogang completely!

Especially after seeing Yu Xiaogang's vindictiveness and her son's repeated restraint and concessions—her son had trusted her so much, yet how had she repaid him?

This guilt coiled around her heart.

Liu Erlong unconsciously began gaslighting herself.

She was gaslighting herself.

She had completely fallen into Ye Qingcang's trap.

Yet the person who had pushed her into it was not Ye Qingcang, but Yu Xiaogang, the man she had loved for so many years.

This time, Ye Qingcang had made an absolute killing.

He had grasped human nature perfectly.

He knew that people would automatically beautify their memories.

No matter how many times one tried to persuade Liu Erlong, it would only provoke her resentment and achieve nothing. How could twelve years of parental grace compare to more than twenty years of unrequited love? Especially since unrequited love centered on the other person, while parental grace centered on oneself. Even if the situation were reversed, with over twenty years of parental grace competing against twelve years of unrequited love, the outcome would still be uncertain. To completely shatter a Love Brain—especially the Love Brain of an emotional creature like a woman—the pain only needed to cut deep enough, and they would naturally wake up.

Therefore, Liu Erlong only wanted some peace and quiet right now.

She did not even dare look at Ye Qingcang.

Because she was afraid of seeing disappointment in his eyes.

Her son had not disappointed his mother.

Instead, the mother had disappointed her son.

Everything was backward. She had nothing to say.

But in reality, Ye Qingcang did not have any disappointed look.

It was all merely Liu Erlong's imagination.

Even if Liu Erlong broke free of her fantasies, he would remain spotless.

What ill intentions could a son who cared for his mother possibly have?

Seeing Liu Erlong fall into a withdrawn state, Shui Feng could only sigh helplessly. Even an upright official could not settle family affairs, much less a mere best friend. If she had a perfect son like Ye Qingcang—even a fraction as perfect as him—who could suppress and persuade Huo Wu, whose interpersonal skills were maxed out and who seemed able to get along with anyone, she would definitely hold Ye Qingcang in her hands like a gemstone and polish him with care.

All she could say was that Liu Erlong had the fortune of a fool.

They would not even have time to find a gemstone to polish.

Liu Erlong's gemstone had already polished itself, yet she had not even valued it.

What use was regretting it now?

She could only hope Ye Qingcang was generous enough to forgive Liu Erlong, his foolish mother.

Fortunately, Liu Erlong knew how to regret.

If Liu Erlong still did not regret it, this mother-son relationship would not even have a chance of being repaired.

After traveling for an entire day, they had hunted seven Soul Beasts.

It was not only Shui Feng, Huo Lie, Feng Wuji, and the others whose eyes had been opened.

Even Yue Guan, Gui Mei, Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and the rest of the Spirit Hall group had their horizons forcibly broadened as they watched these thirty-plus geniuses in Blue Tyrant Academy uniforms—some in black-gold cloaks, others in white-gold cloaks—who showed no arrogance yet were flawless in their excellence.

Night fell.

The soul-hunting party did not press on with a night march. Instead, they found an open plain and lit campfires.

They restored their stamina and Soul Power, adjusting their mental state.

Within this vast forest, where human traces were scarce, everyone bore considerable mental pressure.

A string pulled too tight would snap.

The Star Dou Great Forest was enormous.

Its terrain was also highly complex.

There were swamps, plains, and basins, though forest remained the main feature.

Finding a small plain with an unobstructed view was not difficult.

"After today, I suddenly feel like my Self-Created Soul Skill isn't worth much anymore..." Xie Yue fiddled with a piece of wood as he stared at the campfire before him. Beside him sat his younger sister Hu Liena, whose elegant movements, languid aura, and voluptuous figure constantly radiated the charm of a fox woman. He complained bitterly, "There are simply too many Self-Created Soul Skills."

"Seven Soul Beasts, seven one-on-one fights."

"Over twenty kinds of Soul Skills, each with a completely different style."

"To borrow Brother Ye's terms: Permafrost, Overload, Electro-Charged and Paralysis, Illusion Arts, Diffusion, Armor Stacking, and Extreme Speed—seven tactical styles in total."

"A saber in the left hand and a sword in the right. The saber coated in ice, the sword coated in water."

"The Soul Beasts could only stand there and take it. They could not even move."

"He even incorporated Blade Intent and Sword Intent."

"Is he even human?"

"Dual cultivation of lightning and fire, pushing offense to the extreme."

"That final strike of heavenly lightning and earthly fire was, in terms of power, no weaker than the full-force blow of an ordinary assault-type Soul Emperor. Even ordinary assault-type Soul Emperors could not achieve that kind of damage where one plus one was greater than two."

"There is no need to mention Electro-Charged and Paralysis."

"The area covered by Diffusion is enormous."

"Especially that Vortex Water Blade."

"Its single-target killing power is no weaker than my Full Moon."

"Even Feng Xiaotian of Shenfeng Academy—his Gale Demon Wolf Thirty-Six Consecutive Slashes are quite interesting. They have much in common with my Full Moon."

"The world is too vast to describe in a few words."

"Today, this frog in a well finally realized that he was truly a frog in a well."

Xie Yue let out a deep sigh.

Yet the fire in his eyes had not gone out.

Instead, it burned even hotter. "I have to admit, I truly thought too highly of myself. Shutting myself away and building a cart behind closed doors would never lead to great achievement. The collision of ideas—especially when Brother Ye occasionally chimes in—is truly the finishing touch, clearing away the clouds and revealing the sun, broadening my thoughts all at once. But what is most unbelievable is that Blue Tyrant Academy, which possesses so many Self-Created Soul Skills, has remained completely unknown?"

Hu Liena's gaze was somewhat vacant.

She looked exactly like a salted fish that had lost its dreams.

It was the aftereffect of having her worldview shattered.

Only after hearing Xie Yue's confusion did her eyes shift.

She straightened up and stretched lazily.

Too lazy to pay attention to Yan's lecherous expression, she turned and glanced at Ye Qingcang, who was seated with Violet and Xiao Wu. Her gaze paused briefly on the pot of spiritual food between the three of them. A flash of envy passed through her eyes before she forced herself to turn back. Her slightly husky voice added a touch of wildness to her charm.

"There is nothing unbelievable about it."

"Would Ghost Grandpa go around telling people how strong he is?"

"Would Chrysanthemum Grandpa go around telling people how strong he is?"

"Do we need to explain to people like Shui Bing'er, Huo Wu, and Feng Xiaotian just how strong we are, then brag to them on our own when they did not even ask?"

"No!"

"The answer is no across the board!"

"Even if they asked us, we would only tell them the truth."

"As for whether they believed it, that had nothing to do with us."

"We disdain deceiving them."

"We disdain proving ourselves to anyone even more."

"I think Ye Qingcang and his Blue Tyrant Academy are the same!"

"Indeed..." Xie Yue laughed at himself. "I have not seen Brother Ye fight. But Violet alone, his maid, can use a flying dagger to redirect Chrysanthemum Elder's Fifth Soul Skill. Chrysanthemum Elder and Ghost Elder both suspect it is a space-type Self-Created Soul Skill. She also possesses the rare craft of preparing spiritual food. Even we cannot guarantee spiritual food at every meal. One meal a day is a privilege within Spirit Hall, and once we leave, it is gone. Violet is not only a genius, but also a spiritual food chef, yet she is only worthy of being Brother Ye's maid. He truly has no need to prove anything to me, to us, or to the world."

"Just as people do not care about the ants beneath their feet. If they crush one while walking, then the ant was simply unlucky. If they do not crush it, they will not turn around after passing by just to deliberately crush that fortunate ant."

Another female student from the Spirit Hall team spoke up at this moment.

Yan watched Hu Liena purse her lips.

Suddenly, he felt uneasy.

"Na Na, don't tell me you've fallen for that pretentious brat?" Controlling his expression, Yan tested Hu Liena's feelings in a joking tone. "If you ask me, only useless people hide themselves away. The fact that he isn't famous only means he has no real ability..."

"Enough, Yan!" Hu Liena's face turned cold. Just moments ago, she had looked like a coquettish fox; now, she was a white fox who kept everyone at arm's length, her eyes filled with displeasure. "How many times have I told you? Call me by my full name, Hu Liena. Do not call me Na Na!"

Hu Liena's evasive answer immediately angered Yan.

But before the girl he liked, Yan truly did not dare lose his temper, much less ruin his image. He could only swallow his anger and force an awkward smile, but the corner of his eye as he looked at Ye Qingcang was already filled with rage.

The incompetent used even more incompetent means to humiliate those less capable than themselves.

Those seeking death could never be stopped.

Thus, Ye Qingcang did not deliberately pay attention to Yan.

To him, Yan was that ant.

The difference was that if this ant provoked him, he would specifically come back to swat it dead. In more professional terms, that was called settling one's thoughts!

Watching Xiao Wu eat meat soup without any sense of restraint, exclaiming that it was delicious, not only unafraid of him but seemingly developing into the clingy type, Ye Qingcang took a sip of soup and shifted the smile onto his own face with one blunt truth. "Tasty, isn't it? I specifically caught this Soft Bone Rabbit. Try its bones. Seventy percent of its body is cartilage. As expected, there are only misread words, never wrongly chosen names."

"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Xiao Wu's hand holding the bowl trembled. She pouted, but after coming to terms with life and death, nothing in the world suddenly seemed frightening anymore. "But still, although I don't know how you did it, I have to thank you. Even if you're not a good person, when that Grandmaster framed you, you performed better than Little San..."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"I once coveted you too."

"You should thank yourself."

"Or else, thank Yu Xiaogang."

"If he had not gone to beg my mother, I would have captured and killed you long ago."

"And I would not have had to come to the Star Dou Great Forest to prepare my fourth Soul Ring."

Ye Qingcang's answer secretly alarmed Xiao Wu.

Yet after the alarm came a profound sense of relief.

Bitter medicine was good for the illness, and honest advice was hard on the ears.

Ye Qingcang's truth was unpleasant to hear.

But it was precisely the truth she needed.

Because someone who wanted to kill her would never tell her, I'm going to kill you. As Rongrong had said, a venomous snake's danger lay in its speed when striking and its ability to conceal itself. Venom that could kill in one second and venom that could kill in one minute were almost equally deadly in the wild.

Since that was the case, as a Soul Ring he had spared, it was only reasonable for her to show some concern for Ye Qingcang, right? "What type of Soul Beast do you want for your fourth Soul Ring? I can help you consider it."

Better a dead friend than a dead me.

Returning a peach with a plum, Xiao Wu decisively sided with Ye Qingcang for the sake of her own life.

"Thousand Jun Ant Emperor." Ye Qingcang took a sip of soup.

"Oh, so it's Thousand Jun Ant—" Xiao Wu immediately choked. "Wait, are you talking about those three Thousand Jun Ant Emperors I know?"

"That is right." Ye Qingcang's gaze was extraordinarily distant. Even now, Xiao Wu could not understand his words. "None of you understand the essence of Soul Power and Soul Rings. Three 90,000-year Thousand Jun Ant Emperors combined are enough for me to create a Soul Ring of over 150,000 years. Perhaps even 200,000 years. My fifth ring could be 400,000 years, my sixth 800,000, my seventh 1.6 million. Each one doubles, just like Stellar Martial Arts. This world is ultimately too small. I hope that before reaching level fifty, matters on the Heaven Dou side can be resolved, so I can go find the Ice Empress, meet another Little Rabbit in person while I'm at it, and see whether that thing with twin god positions will block my path. If it does, I'll conveniently sweep it out of my home..."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely help you!" Xiao Wu looked like an old general on an opera stage, with flags planted all over her back. "For sparing me, even if I don't help you, I definitely won't help your opponents... But can you kill those three Thousand Jun Ant Emperors?"

"We'll give it a try."

Ye Qingcang calmly ate his meat. "This is also a fine opportunity to test the strength of Stellar Martial Arts. I am even greatly looking forward to that moment."