C16 Black Armored Ant

Han Qianxue returned, now dressed in a fresh set of clothes.

She seemed in high spirits, scanning the surroundings before calling out, "No need to stand around like that. Let's get moving before the folks from Lingloong Pavilion show up. Di Shang once found his fortune here; he must have known many of its secrets. And Di Qiu is his great-grandson, after all."

Jiang Fann and the rest hastened to keep up. Jiang Fann inquired, "Your Myriad Treasures Tavern collects intelligence from all over, so you must know something about the Loongze Lake Secret Realm, right?"

Han Qianxue nodded, with no intention of concealing what she knew.

But as she was about to speak, she glanced at Qin Feng and fell silent.

Understanding her hesitation, Qin Feng stepped back and bowed respectfully to them. "I'm grateful to Elder Brother Jiang for the medicine. I'll take my leave now. Should you ever need assistance, I'll be there to lend a hand."

Jiang Fann acknowledged with a nod and bid him farewell. Han Qianxue had never intended to include a third party, and she certainly wasn't about to share her knowledge with Qin Feng.

In the secret realm, everyone is a rival.

Once Qin Feng had departed, Han Qianxue began to speak.

"There are three perilous locations within the Loongze Lake Secret Realm that the Myriad Treasures Tavern is aware of: the Dragon Bathing Pool, Black Dragon Cave, and Dragon Transformation Abyss. These are places strangers should avoid, particularly the Black Dragon Cave. It's rumored to be deadly, with few who enter ever returning. Yet, it's also where the final inheritance is most likely to be found."

Jiang Fann listened without interruption, allowing Han Qianxue to continue.

"The secret realm is vast, and these three hazardous sites are spread far apart. If we hurry, we can just manage to investigate each one. That means we won't have time for the other areas. So, we can either follow my lead and check these places out, or we can leave it to chance. What's your preference?"

Jiang Fann replied with a smile, "Why ask me? Doesn't the Myriad Treasures Tavern always have a plan in place? I'll stick with you."

Han Qianxue's smile conveyed her satisfaction. "Alright then. We'll go with my plan. How does splitting the profits fifty-fifty sound?"

Jiang Fann gave a nod of agreement.

"Sounds good. Plus, the Myriad Treasures Tavern has the convenience of selling things quickly. I'll just take what I need."

Han Qianxue was equally agreeable. "It's a deal! Let's not waste any more time. We can cover a lot of ground in the next two days."

As they ventured into the forest, Jiang Fann was invigorated by the surrounding scent of herbs. The secret realm lived up to its reputation, boasting a diverse array of herbs of superior quality.

Having gathered a peculiar Nine-Core Grass, Jiang Fann turned to the beauty beside him. "Now that we're here, perhaps you'd like to share any specific requirements for our cooperation? With my current abilities, I doubt I've caught the eye of someone as discerning as you."

Han Qianxue, while collecting a herb, passed it to Jiang Fann with a steady voice.

"I need a combat-capable herbalist to travel with me. After the incident with the toxic water, my confidence in you has only grown."

Curiosity piqued, Jiang Fann asked plainly, "Just tell me straight."

"The three perilous areas I mentioned before, the Dragon Transformation Abyss and the Black Dragon Cave, are shrouded in poisonous fog. Ordinary Detoxification Pills aren't very effective. Alchemists typically have their own methods for dealing with various toxins, but you, you're something else."

Jiang Fann had an epiphany; Han Qianxue was indeed after his medicinal pills.

Without a potent Detoxification Pill, braving the dangers with just one's physical resilience was risky—if anything went wrong, the consequences could be dire.

Jiang Fann's curiosity led him to inquire, "If you hadn't met me, what kind of Detoxification Pill had the Myriad Treasures Tavern prepared for you? Let me have a look."

Han Qianxue produced a vial of pills with a swift gesture, offering it to Jiang Fann with a smile, but without further comment.

Upon opening the vial and taking a whiff, Jiang Fann remarked, "The Myriad Treasures Tavern really doesn't hold back. These are first-grade Profound Rank Blood Cleansing Pills, crafted by Myriad Herbs Valley. Nine pills in total—definitely not a bargain."

Han Qianxue exclaimed in amazement, "Impressive indeed. To be so young and yet possess such discernment. Sometimes, I can't help but question whether you truly are Young Master Jiang Fann. I've never met you before, but the Young Master described in the reports certainly didn't have your talents!"

Jiang Fann responded with an air of mystery, "I am indeed Jiang Fann, but I have many secrets you wouldn't expect. Rest assured, since I've come along, I'll find a way to handle things. So, where to first?"

Without hesitation, she answered, "We should head straight for the Dragon Bathing Pool. Legend has it that it's a place where the elders bathe, and treasures frequently emerge there. Let's try our luck."

Jiang Fann grumbled under his breath, "It's just a bathhouse. What's with all the fuss?"

Han Qianxue simply fell silent.

Half a day later, they had ventured deep into the forest.

Jiang Fann led the way and spotted a pile of bones in the distance.

"Don't let your guard down," Han Qianxue cautioned. "This secret realm is home to a tribe of natives with formidable strength. They're trapped here, very cohesive, and usually in deep slumber. But if one awakens, they'll band together to confront intruders—and among them are some truly powerful beings."

"How long until we reach the Dragon Bathing Pool?" Jiang Fann inquired.

"At the very least, half a month," she replied. "We have to make our way through this forest. It may seem peaceful, but dangers lurk within. And let's not forget about the behemoth at the bottom of the lake, remember?"

Jiang Fann sighed, "The path of a cultivator is never easy. Who knows how many adventurers' bones lie buried within this secret realm."

Something seemed to dawn on Han Qianxue as she gazed forward, "Such is the path we've chosen. Those who aspire to ascend to the heavens in a single bound must be prepared to pay the price."

That evening, they decided to rest on the spot.

Before they could even start a fire, the sound of a chase in the distance caught their attention. The two exchanged a glance, held their breath, and set off to investigate the commotion.

Moving stealthily under the cover of the trees, with barely a sound, they advanced about twenty meters before laying eyes on a scene—a group of gigantic ants in hot pursuit of an enormous beast.

These ants were nearly half a meter long, their black bodies shimmering in the moonlight as if clad in armor. There were only about a dozen of them, and the sight caused the two onlookers to pale. They held their breath, terrified of being noticed.

The creature fleeing was a lion, roughly five meters from nose to tail, sprinting for its life without a backward glance.

Jiang Fann whispered, "Those are Black Armored Ants. With more than ten present, there's definitely an anthill nearby."

"Do you realize how formidable these Black Armored Ants are?"

Jiang Fann nodded, "Black Armored Ants are fearless and incredibly strong. A single ant may not be much of a threat, but an entire army of them can send even a cultivator at the Spirit Refining Stage running for safety. The Ant Queen reigns over the colony, virtually without predators. If we were to encounter them directly and chose not to flee, we'd be nothing more than a snack for them." He finished with an unexpected grin.

Watching Jiang Fann's excitement grow, Han Qianxue furrowed her brow, "You're not getting any wild ideas, are you?"

Jiang Fann replied earnestly, "Do you know what accompanies the birth of these Black Armored Ants?"

"You're aware?"

With a smile, Jiang Fann said, "Of course! The Ant Queen requires the Universal Soil for sustenance. They emerge from this soil and eventually return to it."

At the mention of Universal Soil, Han Qianxue was taken aback. "Are you referring to the treasured soil that can nurture all things? The legendary Universal Soil that can cultivate immortal roots?"

"Exactly. The Ant Queen could never be birthed from mere common earth. That's the secret to the Black Armored Ants' might." Jiang Fann's eyes sparkled with the thrill of the thought. The Universal Soil was beyond value, virtually unattainable in the outside world, and even the most influential forces could scarcely procure any.

Seeing his reaction, Han Qianxue paused, then quickly pressed, "You're not seriously considering going after them, are you?"

Jiang Fann was slightly exhilarated, "You don't have the nerve?"

Han Qianxue expressed her concern, "Isn't this tantamount to a death wish? You're actually bold enough to provoke Black Armored Ants?"

"One must enter the tiger's den to capture its cubs. How about you sketch me a map? You head to the Bathing Dragon Pool first, and I'll follow once I've handled things."

Realizing Jiang Fann was resolute, Han Qianxue was at a loss for how to dissuade him.

"With your current level of strength, just a handful of Black Armored Ants could tear you to pieces."

Watching the Black Armored Ants disappear into the distance, Jiang Fann quickly reassured her, "I have a sense of measure and won't act recklessly. Just draw me the map!"

Han Qianxue couldn't help but retort with exasperation, "You're impossible to deal with."

She then procured a piece of beast skin and sketched a rudimentary map for Jiang Fann.

"Take care. I'm counting on you to join me in the Black Dragon Cave."

Accepting the map with a smile, Jiang Fann turned and followed the trail, soon vanishing into the night.

For the first time, Han Qianxue questioned her decision to collaborate with Jiang Fann. His thoughts were unfathomable to her, and he harbored too many secrets, seemingly endless to unearth.

With a sigh, she turned and walked away.

Jiang Fann trailed the dozen Black Armored Ants. The colossal lion managed to elude them with its swift pace.

These were clearly Soldier Ants on the hunt, moving in packs toward a new target with rapid strides.

Jiang Fann had encountered Black Armored Ants before. In his past life, his medicinal garden boasted a large flowerbed filled with Universal Soil. Since then, it had become his habit to collect Universal Soil whenever he came across these ants.

Yet, his current state was far less formidable than it once was.

After tailing them for over ten minutes, Jiang Fann noted the ants dispersing into the surrounding grass, forming a ring-like ambush, lying in wait for their next victim to stumble into the trap.

Before long, prey emerged—a colossal mouse, nearly a meter in length. In the blink of an eye, a dozen black armored ants overpowered it, severing its throat before hoisting it up and swiftly departing. Jiang Fann trailed behind them, careful not to make a sound.

He followed the black armored ants for a good half hour until a massive mound of earth came into view, resembling a small mountain built from countless clumps the size of fists. Black armored ants occasionally entered this structure, but Jiang Fann discreetly backed away.

"Finding this place is the hard part; the rest should be straightforward. Near this ant nest, there must be Melting Ant Grass, the ant's natural counter. Time to look around," he thought.

Jiang Fann wouldn't have targeted them without some assurance. Melting Ant Grass was known to counter the Black Armored Ant Clan. Coupled with a special concoction he had developed, ordinary Black Armored Ants wouldn't dare come close.

These creatures typically hid underground during daylight, so as soon as dawn broke, he began his search. The underground network appeared vast and complex from the entrance, and he wasn't sure how long he'd need to stay below. Therefore, it was crucial to have an ample supply of Ant Medicine on hand.

The Melting Ant Grass stood out with its red hue amidst the greenery, especially during the day. By noon, he had gathered ten stalks of the herb. Jiang Fann also harvested the remaining herbs required for his formula.

Furthermore, the main ingredient he needed was a spiritual herb and the leg of a Black Armored Ant.