Flame-Armored Demon Ant Swarm, Crystalfire Pearls

Less than three breaths later!

The faint rustling abruptly surged, dense as a rainstorm, like ten thousand steel needles scraping against stone walls. It flooded in from all directions, instantly trapping the group tightly at its center.

The temperature nearby began to rise sharply, and the air seemed on the verge of boiling.

A faint white glimmer flashed in Lu He's eyes. The White Ape Dao Diagram trembled with a hum, and his expression immediately became as still as an ancient well.

Everyone stared fixedly at the pitch-black fissure ahead.

The next moment, countless crimson figures erupted from the fissure, blotting out the sky and covering the cavern in a blinding scarlet glow.

They were ant-like creatures as large as hunting hounds, their bodies red as molten iron. Viscous fire slurry flowed across their shells, and wherever they landed, fine scorched marks spread across the stone.

The sulfurous stench in the air mixed with a scorching, bloody odor, making their breathing catch.

"Flame-Armored Demon Ants! Why are there so many?!"

Deng Huo cried out in alarm.

Before his words had faded, the black flying sword at his sleeve shot free with a clear clang, slashing straight at the head of the leading demon ant.

Hiss—

Seemingly sensing danger, it raised its head. Demonic energy surged around it, instantly wrapping its shell and forming a thin layer of firelight.

The next instant.

The sound of metal striking metal exploded beside everyone's ears.

The flying sword struck the firelight, sending ripples spreading across it as the two remained locked in stalemate.

Deng Huo's expression changed. Clearly, he had not expected this.

He reacted swiftly and immediately poured all his strength into channeling his mana.

In an instant, the sword light flared violently. Only then did it barely break through that thin layer of firelight and cleave the demon ant apart with a single stroke.

Not far away.

Chen Zhengchu patted the strange bag hanging at his waist, and several black shadows immediately darted out from its opening. They were five Frost Centipedes, crystalline all over and bearing six wings, exuding a faint chill.

The moment the centipedes appeared, they let out shrill cries as though flaunting their might. Then they transformed into five streaks of light, constantly weaving through the area within ninety feet of Chen Zhengchu.

Along the way, several Flame-Armored Demon Ants that had closed in abruptly shuddered. The firelight covering their bodies swiftly dimmed, and within only three to five breaths, they collapsed one after another, their life force rapidly fading.

"This feeling..."

Lu He narrowed his eyes and swiftly swept his gaze over the five Frost Centipedes.

"They are neither living creatures nor dead things... Have spiritual creatures been refined into something akin to artifact puppets? The Beast Pavilion's inheritance is rather interesting."

He withdrew his gaze.

Taking a deep breath, the Myriad-Dharma Marvelous-Insight Treasure Wheel in his dantian suddenly spun faster, continuously exhaling and drawing in Profound Nether Heavy-Origin mana.

With a thought.

Strands of dark mist arose, instantly engulfing three nearby Flame-Armored Demon Ants.

"Suppress!"

A dark gleam flashed through Lu He's eyes. He pressed one hand downward, and the once ethereal, shapeless mist suddenly seemed to gain the weight of ten thousand jun, surging straight down.

The ground trembled several times.

Hiss—

The three Flame-Armored Demon Ants let out a string of agonized shrieks. Beneath the pressure of the black mist, their abdomens and legs shattered inch by inch, until even their bodies were slowly crushed to pieces.

At this moment, the firelight on their bodies—which even Deng Huo's flying sword had struggled to break—was utterly useless.

A faint smile appeared on Lu He's face.

According to the White-Scale Bestiary of a Hundred Demons, the strength of the Flame-Armored Demon Ants' innate flame armor is greatly tied to their numbers. As long as they are separated, there is nothing to fear.

The Summon Mist as Soldiers Art driven by Profound Nether Heavy-Origin mana happens to be capable of doing that.

As he thought this, he controlled the mist to sweep over the corpses, and six crystalline, flame-like pearls appeared in his hand.

These were the compound eyes of the Flame-Armored Demon Ants, known as Crystalfire Pearls. These three pairs alone were worth half a unit of Dao merit.

Time passed bit by bit.

The previously pitch-black cavern was now suddenly illuminated by blazing flames.

The roar of spells mixed with the shrieks of insects, rising and falling without end, as though they would never cease.

The ground was strewn with Flame-Armored Demon Ant corpses in every direction. Their wounds varied: sword scars, insect holes, blackened burns from spells, and marks of bodies being cleaved apart or crushed alive.

The sight was horrifying.

At a certain moment.

"Something's wrong! This place was clearly swept through once already by those freaks in the top hundred of the Golden Ranking. Why are there still so many Flame-Armored Demon Ants?"

While controlling the Frost Centipedes, Chen Zhengchu cried out in disbelief.

His voice was full of confusion.

"Let's shake them off first."

Lu He glanced at the ever-increasing number of Flame-Armored Demon Ants around them and spoke in warning.

Even his usually calm face could not help but show a trace of unease.

With that said.

He waved one hand, and dark mist spread wildly, instantly concealing the group.

The others immediately understood. While desperately fending off the demon ants' attacks, they slowly retreated.

Zheng Jingren huddled in the rear, gripping his talismans tightly. Seeing this, he could not help but let out a breath of relief.

Just then, a slightly larger demon ant emerged from the swarm. The firelight around its body blazed brighter as it viciously lunged at Hu Changting in the corner.

It truly had the air of choosing the soft persimmon to squeeze.

By the time Hu Changting noticed it, it was already too late to dodge. The color instantly drained from his face.

"I'll risk it!"

He gritted his teeth and pulled a jade-white talisman from his robes, ruthlessly pouring mana into it through his fingertips.

The talisman immediately bloomed with faint spiritual light, turning into a layer of azure waterlight that covered his entire body.

Bang! The demon ant slammed hard into the waterlight, sending ripples across it before being blasted several yards backward.

"Whew... I survived."

Hu Changting let out a long breath like a man spared from disaster, and a wave of relief welled up within him.

But in the next instant, as though only now realizing what he had done—

"My Waterlight Talisman!" His voice trembled.

"Stop grieving over the talisman and move!" Deng Huo roared.

Under the cover of the mist.

Chen Zhengchu took the lead, sprinting backward with all his might.

Rippling light flickered beneath Lu He's feet, and he was no slower.

The Flame-Armored Demon Ant swarm behind them refused to yield, letting out piercing shrieks as it pursued them relentlessly. Wherever it passed, black scorch marks were burned into the stone.

No one knew how long they traveled.

The bright firelight behind them gradually vanished.

Whew—

Only then did the group relax slightly. Each found an open spot and sat down cross-legged to regulate their breathing.

Lu He took out an Azure Water Essence Pill and swallowed it. The surging medicinal power instantly turned into a warm current, swiftly replenishing his depleted mana.

As he cultivated, he quietly sent his consciousness into his storage bag.

One, two, three... eighty Crystalfire Pearls. They are worth a full eight units of Dao merit—enough to buy two bottles of Azure Water Essence Pills.

A gleam of delight flashed in Lu He's eyes.

Even if this mission did not yield much bloodsand, these Crystalfire Pearls alone meant he had not come away empty-handed.

At the same time.

The other four regulated their breathing while intentionally or unintentionally glancing at Lu He. Their faces showed varying expressions—respect, astonishment, and awe.

Clearly, Lu He's performance against the Flame-Armored Demon Ant swarm had startled them.

In the end.

"Brother Lu, that spell you used just now... was it the Summon Mist as Soldiers Art?"

Unable to suppress his curiosity any longer, Deng Huo finally asked.