C17 Entering the Nest of Ants

Jiang Fann was well-stocked with spirit herbs. He had previously sold ten Poison Avoidance Pills to the Heaven Gate Sect. The key ingredient now was the leg of a Black Armored Ant, but for Jiang Fann, that posed no challenge.

Five Black Armored Ants patrolled the soil mound. Lacking the intelligence of their Ant Queen, they were driven purely by instinct.

These ants weren't particularly strong, and a dose of Soul Pacifying Powder would easily subdue them for a short time.

Concealed within the forest, Jiang Fann watched the ants draw near before striking swiftly. He tossed the powder, which burst into a cloud above the ants, sending them into a frenzy. Moments later, they staggered and fell to the ground, incapacitated.

Jiang Fann moved quickly, a sharp dagger materializing in his hand. With a swift cut, he severed a leg from one of the ants, then promptly retreated. He hadn't gone more than twenty meters before the ants began to stir. Seemingly oblivious to the recent attack, they resumed their patrol.

Retreating deeper into the woods, away from the nest, Jiang Fann set about his alchemy.

He lit the pill furnace and began the refinement process, timing each step meticulously. The flames within the furnace turned a vibrant green as he fed the ingredients into the fire.

The pill he was crafting would cloak the consumer in the scent of Smelting Ant Grass. Instinct-driven, the Black Armored Ants would naturally avoid this scent.

This formula was the fruit of years of Jiang Fann's research, a secret to his undefeated ventures into the ant nests and the source of his confidence.

His only concern was the Ant Queen residing deep within the nest. With intelligence rivaling that of humans and formidable strength, she was not to be underestimated.

Yet, driven by the pursuit of Universal Soil, Jiang Fann was prepared to risk it all.

Two hours later, he was already refining his second batch of pills. Crafting the Ant Avoidance Pill was simple for someone of his expertise. Precise control of the flame and meticulous measurement of ingredients were all that was required—trivial tasks for the Medicine King.

By the time Jiang Fann completed the fifth batch of pills, dusk had settled in. Inside the medicinal bottle, there were twenty-three Ant Avoidance Pills—more than enough for his needs, with a few to spare.

He approached the situation with caution, keeping a safe distance from the ant nest. As a squad of black-armored soldier ants emerged, Jiang Fann swallowed an Ant Avoidance Pill and confidently strode toward them.

Harnessing the Arts of Pill Dao, he amplified the pill's potency.

As the black-armored ants neared him, they instinctively veered around Jiang Fann, as if he were no more significant than a blade of grass, paying him no heed.

Comforted by their indifference, Jiang Fann wasted no further time and sprinted toward the ant nest. Upon scaling the mound of earth, he observed more black-armored ants diligently transporting soil. Without hesitation, he leaped into the spacious cave, sliding down the gentle slope that stretched six or seven meters.

These ants had dedicated their entire existence to carving out their subterranean domain. The cavern was nearly two meters wide and just as tall, allowing several ants to march abreast. Virtually invincible, these creatures were born warriors.

Jiang Fann proceeded deeper into the cave, the ants automatically detouring around him. Illuminating his path with the Fire Arts, he occasionally spotted the remains of demonic beasts. Strangely, distant roars echoed through the tunnels.

"Do these creatures understand domestication?" he wondered.

Before he could puzzle it out, a formidable procession of black-armored ants approached from the depths, their synchronized movement creating an awe-inspiring spectacle reminiscent of a shape-shifting behemoth.

Unperturbed, Jiang Fann pressed on, indifferent to the black-armored ants that scurried by his sides.

Shortly after, a fork in the path emerged, with occasional side routes appearing alongside it. Yet, Jiang Fann had no intention of turning. He knew that the Black Armor Ants' Queen would be in the deepest part of the cave, receiving tributes year-round and seldom leaving her post to guard the Universal Soil.

Jiang Fann pressed on downward. As he passed a cave, a sudden roar of a beast echoed from within.

Having been curious about the roars he'd heard earlier, his curiosity was now piqued even more. He was eager to discover what was trapped inside.

So, he entered the cave to investigate.

The roars were sporadic and sounded weak.

About fifty meters into the cave, several giant Armor Ants, each over a meter long, appeared before Jiang Fann. They stood guard, clearly protecting something.

Jiang Fann passed between them, noticing a row of rudimentary fences. Something was caged behind them, but the dim light obscured his view.

Seemingly noticing Jiang Fann's light, a beastly roar was followed by a human voice from within the enclosure.

"Fire? Do you stinking ants now prefer your meals cooked? I'm not scared of you!"

Jiang Fann paused, taken aback.

"Could it be a person? But then, what's with the beastly roar?"

He moved closer, and this time, the creature in the enclosure clearly saw Jiang Fann.

"Is that a human? Has the secret realm opened once again?"

Now, Jiang Fann could see the figure behind the fence more clearly. It was neither a demonic beast nor a human, but a demon.

The creature was over three meters tall, with a human-like body and face, yet covered in thick mane, resembling a lion, though its true form was unknown.

Jiang Fann scrutinized him from head to toe.

"A demon race? To think the Black Armor Ants are keeping a demon captive. That's unexpected!"

The other being was also examining Jiang Fann, equally surprised. "You just waltzed in here? Are all these Black Armor Ants dead?"

Jiang Fann didn't respond to his question but instead inquired, "Are you a native of the Loongze Lake Secret Realm?"

"Don't even bring up those jerks to me—I hail from Myriad Beasts Mountain!"

Jiang Fann stared at him, taken aback. Myriad Beasts Mountain was a formidable power among the external demonic tribes, its might rivaling that of the Leehuo Dynasty.

"How did you manage to enter with the poison in Loongze Lake still lingering?"

"Eight hundred years ago!"

Jiang Fann was astounded. Someone had actually survived all this time without leaving.

The demon before him was at the Later Period of the Innate Stage. A human with such longevity would be unheard of. Demons, however, had lifespans beyond measure. There were tales of a demon race that could live over ten thousand years without any cultivation—a testament to their racial superiority.

"Why didn't you just hide after the secret realm was sealed? How did you end up in such a state?" Jiang Fann inquired.

The demon's expression twisted into one of rage.

"Do you think I wanted to be bled dry for eight hundred years? I received an inheritance back then and failed to exit the secret realm in time. By the time I completed it, the natives had awakened. I was hunted for decades, eventually captured, and thrown into this Black Armored Ant nest."

"Receiving that inheritance propelled me to the Spirit Refining Stage in one fell swoop. But the years have drained my vital essence, causing my cultivation to plummet. At this rate, I won't last another century."

Jiang Fann could scarcely fathom the demon's endurance. Such a creature, if set free, would either never recover or would rise meteorically.

His large, furry hand clutched the fence, a surge of emotion evident.

"I refuse to die a pathetic death in this ant den!"

As he spoke, tears streaked down his rugged face—an uncommon sight. The demon race was known for their resilience, and the lions among them were no exception.

The Black Armored Ant Soldiers stationed there sensed his touch on the fence and scurried over, driving him back. Their mandibles clicked menacingly, emitting a grating sound as a threat.

Jiang Fann inquired, "What's your name?"

"I am Shi Chengtian!"

Jiang Fann paused, expressing his astonishment, "You're from the Demon Race's royal lineage?"

He hung his head and let out a sigh, his voice tinged with bitterness.

"A down-and-out royal, that's all. If you can lead me out of here, I'll bow down to serve you, follow you for eternity, and become your devoted servant."

Jiang Fann's eyebrows arched slightly. Escaping from here wouldn't be too hard; a single Ant Avoiding Pill would do the trick. Besides, there weren't many of the Shi surname left among the Demon Race outside, and befriending one could only be advantageous to him.

"Forget about servitude," Jiang Fann replied. "I have to delve deeper into the ant nest to search for something. Once I'm back, I'll guide you out."

Shi Chengtian's voice quivered with excitement, "Can you truly lead me out?"

Jiang Fann nodded.

"May I ask for your esteemed name, young sir?"

"Jiang Fann."

"Take caution. The Ant Queen is formidable; you're no match for her."

Acknowledging with another nod, Jiang Fann turned and departed, his presence fading into silence. As he passed, the black-armored ants instinctively gave way.

Shi Chengtian watched, his excitement palpable. Though clueless about Jiang Fann's methods, after centuries of waiting, hope was finally within reach.

Jiang Fann exited the cavern and pressed onward, descending further. The deeper he went, the more numerous the black-armored ants became, though they were significantly smaller than the soldier ants. They bustled about, ceaselessly busy.

Within half an hour, Jiang Fann utilized a fragmentary scroll to detect nearby treasures and swiftly pinpointed the location of the Universal Soil.

He suppressed his presence and edged closer. A vast cave soon loomed before him, nearly ten meters in height and over twenty meters wide. A delightful fragrance wafted from within, thrilling Jiang Fann. It was the scent of the Universal Soil.

Before he could approach, a woman's voice echoed from within, sultry yet laced with impatience.

"What a bothersome scent. Could it be Melting Ant Grass?"

Jiang Fann was aware of the creature's keen sense of smell, so he kept his distance.

Soon, worker ants began transporting ant eggs out, and Jiang Fann discreetly followed, a smirk playing on his lips.

He mused to himself, "I'm in luck. No need to exhaust myself searching."

Jiang Fann had a strategy in mind: a feint to the east was the most effective here. The queen ant, ruling over countless black-armored ants, held these eggs in the highest regard.

Upon reaching the hatching cave brimming with eggs, Jiang Fann wasted no time. He pulled out a flask of oil from his Hundred Treasures Bag and doused the entire cave. With nearly a thousand eggs present, their potential to wreak havoc upon hatching was immense.

"Time for the young master to play the hero for once!"

With that, Jiang Fann ignited the oil and dashed out of the cave, swiftly taking cover in another.

From a safe distance, he watched the massive cave, ready to act the moment the queen ant vacated.

Boom! The ground quaked, and the mountains trembled, catching Jiang Fann by surprise.

"Damn! How large can this Ant Queen be?"

The Black Armored Ants stirred, swarming towards the fiery cave.

"Who dares to set fire in my domain? My children, hunt down that scoundrel. I want him torn to shreds."

A swarm of soldier ants surged into the cave. Shortly after, the queen ant was hoisted out, heading straight for the source of the fire set by Jiang Fann.

The queen's abdomen was nearly three meters wide. Her upper body resembled that of a human woman, not nearly as large as expected. What then caused the earlier violent shaking? Could it have been an earthquake?