Myriad Insect Secret Record (Thanks to [White-Haired Lord Nianchen] for the generous support!)
The Insect Matriarch's head was conical, with a pair of curved bony horns thrusting forward from its tip, the horns covered in spiraling patterns.
Beneath the bony horns were two cloudy compound eyes, their membranes veiled by gray-black cataracts.
Its mouthparts consisted of three rings of serrated mouth flaps. Whenever they opened and closed, they revealed a bottomless throat, whose inner walls writhed with tiny backward-facing barbs.
Eight pairs of short, thick walking legs grew from either side of its torso. The ends of the legs bore shovel-shaped claw plates, their uneven surfaces riddled with tiny holes.
Running down the center of its back was a raised ridge made up of dozens of overlapping, roof-tile-like scales. Dark-red mucus continuously seeped from the gaps between them; when it dripped onto the ground, it formed pale-red smoke that spread an acrid, fishy stench.
Its tail was long and slender as a whip, ending in a diamond-shaped tail spike. A closer look revealed that it was hollow within—not only could it be used in battle, it could also suck things up.
The Insect Matriarch's appearance left everyone momentarily stunned.
Zhu Fuxian was even more astonished. "It's actually a rare Dragon-Transforming Mother Worm."
Xu Changqing came to a realization. "Just as spirit plants can mutate, many insects, animals, and even demons can undergo transformations for certain special reasons."
Some such transformations came from their own bloodlines.
Others came from devouring some heavenly treasure.
They could change from Common-Grade to Spirit-Grade, Treasure-Grade, Immortal-Grade, or Divine-Grade.
``` Common-Grade
The most basic variety, found throughout mountains, forests, and Spirit Fields. Their bloodlines possess no extraordinary traits and follow instinct completely.
Spirit-Grade
Their bloodlines undergo slight mutations. They possess a rudimentary ability to sense spiritual qi and can actively absorb it.
Treasure-Grade
Their bloodlines mutate, granting them exclusive