Chapter 10: Insects and Beasts

Emperor Youji immediately gave the order for that tribesman's separated body to return.

Only a moment passed.

"Your Majesty, the tribesman Fuyou, while guiding great enemies like 'Kuafu,' was already trampled to death by Kuafu." Soon a subordinate came to report.

"What!" Emperor Youji's expression turned grim upon hearing this.

In such a catastrophic time as this, the death of a few celestial deities was nothing, but the only tribesman's separated body that knew the details of the recent battle with Ji Ning was also destroyed. Now... the one hundred and ninety-nine tribesmen who had died had essentially died in vain.

"Kuafu!" Emperor Youji's face twisted with anger.

"Where have their four teams reached?" Emperor Youji asked.

The golden-robed elder beside him waved his hand, and a phantom image appeared in midair—a map of the vast Youji World, with four points of light. The golden-robed elder pointed to the farthest light and said, "This is the team led by Kuafu. The ancient god Kuafu of the Three Realms possesses boundless strength. It is said that in ancient times, when the ten Golden Crows plagued the world, Kuafu chased them madly, scaring the ten Golden Crows into fleeing in panic, not daring to fight. From our engagements with Kuafu's team... Kuafu's strength is extremely formidable, now approaching the level of a Patriarch."

"Mm." Emperor Youji nodded.

Houyi and Kuafu were once equally famous in ancient times.

Houyi, now with unfathomable strength, was undoubtedly at the leader level.

Kuafu was slightly weaker, also a great power near the leader level, and extremely fierce and skilled in battle.

"This is the team led by the Human Sovereign 'Fuxi,' the most troublesome one. Our formations and arrangements... Fuxi can easily see through them. Even if trapped in danger, he can break free." The golden-robed elder said, "So for now, we focus our efforts on the other three teams."

"Here." The golden-robed elder pointed to another light and said, "This is the team led by the Buddhist leader Tathagata, whose threat level is no less than that of Fuxi's team."

"This last group is the True God Dao Ancestor team led by Yuding Daoist of the Daoist sect. That Yuding Daoist has remarkable divine powers and is also at the fifth level of sword force—extremely formidable." The golden-robed elder pointed at the last light point and said.

The Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign frowned upon hearing this.

This time, the Three Realms had sent out teams: the two leaders 'Rulai' and 'Fuxi', two near-leader-level figures 'Kuafu' and 'Yuding Daoist', several top-tier Dao Ancestors, and some ordinary Dao Ancestors with special abilities.

Yuding Daoist was relatively low-key, but he was one of the strongest disciples under Sanqing Daoist. He had a very famous disciple—the number one war god of the ancient Heavenly Court, 'Erlang Shen Yang Jian'.

"Where is Ji Ning?" asked the Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign.

"The Northern Abyss Sword Immortal is here." The golden-robed elder pointed to a corner, where a light point also appeared. "He is closest to Kuafu's team."

"Oh?" The Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign nodded.

"Your Imperial Majesty." Another gray-robed subordinate rushed in from outside, urgently saying, "The team led by our clansman Floating Stone tried to lure Ji Ning into the 'Dream Shadow Forest'. But Ji Ning's perception is too sharp. Anyone who approaches slightly will be discovered by him and then easily killed. If too close, they die; if too far, they cannot guide him."

The Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign frowned: "Even using the environment, we still can't guide him? Is his perception that powerful?"

How could he know that Ji Ning, being at the half-step Ancestral God level, had an exceptionally keen divine soul?

"Tell them to stay away from Ji Ning for now." The Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign ordered. "Go."

"Yes." The subordinate withdrew.

"Your Imperial Majesty." The golden-robed elder beside the Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign said, "This Ji Ning is not to be trifled with. He could easily annihilate even the Eight-Armed War Demon Array we sent. His strength is at least at the top-tier Dao Ancestor level, and it can be inferred that he has already reached the fifth level of sword force."

"No." The Solitary Silence Imperial Sovereign shook his head. "There are many possibilities for destroying the Eight-Armed War Demon Array. For instance, Ji Ning might have broken through to become a True God, or he might not be alone—he might have brought other great powers from the Nuwa camp of the Three Realms. It could be another great power who destroyed the Eight-Armed War Demon Array. Without seeing the battle scene... we cannot make rash guesses."

"But even the Eight-Armed War Demon Array couldn't send back any information..." The golden-robed elder was pained. "Rulai, Suirenshi, Kuafu, and Yuding Daoist's four teams are being dealt with by the Great Demon Lord Cixiu commanding various forces. But this Ji Ning requires us to handle alone, and we have already lost many clansmen."

"This time, I'll personally test Ji Ning's skills." A trace of icy gray gleamed in the eyes of Emperor Youji.

"Emperor, you must not!" the golden-robed elder said urgently.

"Though I test him personally, it's merely my divine will descending upon my children." Emperor Youji said calmly, "Rest assured, I won't easily take risks."

The golden-robed elder breathed a sigh of relief.

Emperor Youji waved his hand.

Instantly, nine monsters like small mountains appeared in the hall—some resembling stone giants, some eight-legged beetles, some twin-headed snakes—each with powerful auras no less than Dao Ancestors.

"I've cultivated for years to produce these insect beasts comparable to True Gods. I never thought a sword immortal who's trained for less than a thousand years would force me to use them." Emperor Youji looked at these insect beasts, which chirped and acted affectionately, treating him like a parent. Methods for cultivating insect beasts were not uncommon in the endless chaos.

Strictly speaking,

the techniques from the "Insect Beast Nine Solutions" that Shaoyan Chou had obtained were even more advanced than what Emperor Youji knew. But Shaoyan Chou was too weak and could only use a fraction of it.

"When my nine children fight Ji Ning, my mind will be on them. Everything they experience will be as if I experienced it myself, so naturally I can see Ji Ning's skills." Emperor Youji said.

"You're sending all nine insect beasts?" the golden-robed elder said with some reluctance, "Sending two or three would be enough."

"Better to be cautious. We failed once before; we cannot fail again." With a thought, Emperor Youji caused the nine insect beasts to chirp, then whoosh whoosh whoosh, they flew out of the hall one after another, soon rushing into the void toward Ji Ning's location.

...

The twisted spacetime couldn't harm Ji Ning at all. His soul sense could detect which things threatened him and which didn't.

Whoosh.

Before him suddenly brightened, revealing a beautiful marshland with a small island in the center, surrounded by wild grass.

"I didn't expect such a beautiful place in this twisted spacetime." Ji Ning's heartforce easily covered the tens of thousands of miles around, sweeping like ripples over every inch. After checking that it wasn't a trap, he flew directly to the island, sat down, took out a flask of wine, and leisurely drank.

Though he seemed relaxed, Ji Ning was actually thinking about what to do next.

"Ever since I entered the Youji World, strange creatures have been attacking and provoking me. They're very familiar with this harsh environment and seem certain of my location." Ji Ning frowned. This feeling of being known while not knowing the enemy was extremely unpleasant.

But there was no choice. The reason the Three Realms hadn't truly attacked the Ancient Ruins for so long was precisely because the environment there was too harsh and difficult to assault.

"The Youji World is only so big. If I visit more places and sense some energy fluctuations, I'm sure I'll find the other four teams of True Gods and Dao Ancestors." Ji Ning suddenly frowned and looked into the distance.

"Hm?"

"Here too?"

"And there?"

Ji Ning looked in all directions from the island in the marsh. He felt auras rapidly approaching from different directions. He stood up, and the Northmoon sword appeared in his hand.

"Roar~~~" With a low growl, a green-armored insect beast with double wings emerged from the twisted void tens of thousands of miles away, its golden eyes fixed on Ji Ning.

"Hiss~~~" A black snake with two heads also emerged from another void.

One after another, insect beasts appeared, each with auras as powerful as True Gods and Dao Ancestors.

Ji Ning murmured softly, "Insect beasts?"

Whether from the seven techniques on the World Prison stele or the techniques passed down by World God Northrest, Ji Ning had obtained methods for cultivating insect beasts. In the endless chaos, many mighty cultivators raised insect beasts. Since mighty cultivators generally had very long lifespans, when their strength was hard to improve, they would spare some attention to cultivate powerful insect beasts. These beasts were absolutely loyal and would never betray. In critical moments, they could be used to block blades and arrows, to scout dangers, and for countless other purposes.