Chapter 377: Chapter 362: Entering the Nest

The group quickly discussed, then took out various items. Cyan Flame handed Zhou Leng two Demonized Bottles, each the size of a fist, capable of storing a large amount of liquid.

“The first step is to ensure that the experts attacking the giant ant nest are not nearby, and that the giant ant army will take a long time to return, otherwise, it’s no different from seeking death.”

“The second step is to carefully investigate the internal environment of the giant ant nest. We can’t act blindly.”

“The third step, we can’t charge in directly, we must have a two-pronged strategy. Our minimum goal is to kill giant ants to earn war merits. If there’s an opportunity, rush into the giant ant nest, see if we can gain some benefits, like ant eggs, the Ant Queen’s Radiant Juice, and possibly other spoils, such as Tree-man hearts or other giant insect juices…”

After the six discussed, they went for reconnaissance.

Within dozens of kilometers nearby, there were no signs of battle, indicating that the giant ant army and the unknown enemy had moved far away.

Cyan Flame used a demon spirit insect to infiltrate the giant ant nest, drawing a three-dimensional map of the nest and capturing video and images, which were sent to Zhou Leng’s Demonized Watch.

The map clearly marked the Ant Queen’s chamber, ant egg incubation cave, giant ant warehouse cave, and aphid honey warehouse, among many other places.

With preparations complete, the group began their ambush.

Mainly, Cyan Flame used Demon Spirit Technique to set up fire traps.

With everything in place, a Tree-man was tasked with watching for the possible return of the giant ant army or other enemies, while Cyan Flame lay in wait by the traps.

Zhou Leng, Vigorous Root, and the other four charged straight at the giant ant nest.

Upon seeing the giant ants, the three Tree-men of Vigorous Root shook their entire bodies, swaying branches and leaves, performing a battle dance in front of the giant ants.

This was the Tree-man Race’s way of provocation.

The giant ant swarm quickly gathered, some staying to guard the nest, while others charged fiercely towards them.

Under Innate strength, there were thousands of giant ants, with eight Innate drone ants, two Blood Shocking Innate giant ants, and six True Liquid Innate giant ants.

The four slowly retreated, the giant ants charging aggressively.

Quickly, the giant ants entered the pre-set trap.

Zhou Leng gave the order.

Boom…

Flames erupted from all directions, and the giant ant swarm was instantly engulfed in a sea of fire.

At the same time, Cyan Flame used a wide-range fire spell, waves of fire rain falling from the sky, covering the Innate giant ants.

The giant ants struggled to escape, with the wings of the Innate drone ants burning.

Rumble…

The ground collapsed, and except for a few lucky ones, a large number of giant ants fell into the pit and were burned by the flames.

The injured Innate giant ants had their wings destroyed but still retained strength, jumping out of the fire pit.

Two Innate giant ants escaped to report, while the other six charged towards Zhou Leng and the Tree-men.

Six Innate giant ants, like six charred big horses, charged straight ahead.

Their lateral jaws clicked and interlocked, making a sharp sound.

“Don’t get bitten by the giant ant’s teeth, or you’ll either die or be crippled! Apart from their teeth and acid spray, the giant ants have no other attack methods, so this number is nothing to fear!” Vigorous Root, experienced, commanded loudly.

Zhou Leng bypassed the two Blood Shocking Innate giant ants, charged to the side, and raised his palm to attack.

The Innate giant ant opened its mouth, and light green acid sprayed out, splashing around.

Zhou Leng retracted his palm, dodged, and with a light leap, jumped onto the giant ant’s back.

The Innate giant ant rolled on the spot, while Zhou Leng bent down, his arms wrapped around the giant ant’s neck.

His arms like pythons, Qi Blood surging, coiling the dragon python, pulling upward.

Crack…

The Innate giant ant’s head was torn off alive, and Zhou Leng flipped sideways away.

The giant ant’s head fell to the ground, with jaws still clacking, and the headless body rampaged around before it finally stopped.

The other three Tree-men rushed up, each embracing an Innate giant ant, while Cyan Flame summoned a fire lion to deal with one.

Zhou Leng sprinted towards the last True Liquid Innate giant ant, dodged the acid, and then faced the giant ant’s incoming big teeth with a series of fierce killing moves Thousand Seas, hitting blow after blow on the ant’s teeth.

Though the giant ant was strong, Zhou Leng was even more formidable. With seven consecutive palms, the giant ant’s big teeth skewed, its head cracked, and brain matter spilled out.

Zhou Leng kicked the giant ant’s head into pieces and looked at the others.

The two Blood Shocking Innate giant ants were extremely fierce, while the two Tree-men were in a sorry state, their trunks covered in injuries and branches breaking off.

Fortunately, Cyan Flame was providing support from afar with Demon Spirit Technique, or the two Tree-men would have been devoured alive.

“Leave one for me.”

Zhou Leng charged ahead, while Vigorous Root gave up on one Blood Shocking Innate giant ant and rushed towards another.

This Blood Shocking Innate giant ant was even larger than the previous True Liquid Innate giant ant, with a black ant shell that gleamed with a faint blood-red.

Facing the Blood Shocking Innate giant ant, Zhou Leng deliberately tested his own strength, charging straight ahead, alternately using the killing move Thousand Seas and Celestial Tide Palm, each palm striking fiercely.

This giant ant was far more ferocious than the previous one, actually withstanding Zhou Leng’s Palm Techniques, continuously advancing and snapping its giant jaws.

Beneath them, dust flew up.

In that second, Zhou Leng hammered the Blood Shocking Innate giant ant into retreating repeatedly.

The next instant, the giant ant’s brute force surged, its six legs stomping the ground, pushing against Zhou Leng’s impact, forcing him to retreat step by step.

In appearance, it seemed like one person against one horse, but to others, it looked like two massive rhinoceroses colliding.

After dozens of palms, Zhou Leng had grasped the giant ant’s strength.

In the end, giant ants were communal giant insects; the strength of individuals fell far short of Fierce Beasts, let alone the giant horned insects previously encountered.

The giant horned insect’s overall strength was a realm higher than martial artists, but the comprehensive strength of giant ants was on par with human martial artists.

The giant ant’s attack method was simplistic, and its movements were not very agile. In group attacks, this wasn’t a weakness at all.

But in one-on-one combat, especially against human martial artists renowned for combat techniques, this weakness was extremely fatal.

The only place where the giant ant surpasses humans is its hard shell, especially its huge jaws, which can chew through iron like mud.

But, Zhou Leng is tougher.

Palm after palm, Zhou Leng’s hands fell on the giant ant’s massive jaws like a storm.

Bang!

With the last palm strike, the giant ant’s jaws snapped, its head split open, its body shook and fell to the ground.

Zhou Leng glanced at the giant ant, which was one realm higher than him, and rushed towards the next Blood Shocking Innate giant ant.

The two Vigorous Roots Tree-men couldn’t kill it, and were bitten until they were covered in scars, at a disadvantage.

Zhou Leng stopped playing around, jumped on the giant ant’s back, and wrapped his arms around its neck, performing a dragon constriction death, twisting off its head.

The wounds on Vigorous Root’s body seeped tree sap. It glanced at Zhou Leng and sighed, “This level of giant insect is surely no match for human martial artists. Our Tree-men either lack agility or skill, we just can’t compete.”

After finishing off the last Innate, the team looked at the ant corpses scattered everywhere, smiling.

All are war merits.

If we fought head-on, who knows the cost?

“Let’s go, keep luring them.”

Everyone rested briefly, the Tree-men directly absorbed the sap, Zhou Leng and Cyan Flame ate some giant ant juice jelly, feeling vigorous and lively.

“It’s almost like drinking Water of Life while fighting.”

Zhou Leng, as a martial artist, worried most about his stamina or True Qi running out, but with giant insect juice, it’s not a problem at all.

They lured another wave of giant ants, but this time only two Innates came, while thousands of the others were Qi Blood Realm.

After the second round of killing, they provoked again, but the giant ants wouldn’t come out, all shrinking back into their nest.

The Tree-men were thrilled; it was the first time seeing the giant ant race in such a sorry state.

“Well then, proceed to the next step.”

The four forced their way to the entrance of the ant nest, the ants rushed out, the four fought and retreated, not giving the ants any chance.

There aren’t many Innate giant ants, and they dare not all leave the nest to fight; for the moment, they can’t handle the group.

Zhou Leng wielded a thick-backed broadsword without using much True Qi.

Those fist-sized giant ants without exception, one slash each, even blunting the blade.

Suddenly, thick toxic smoke rose within the ant nest, billowing and spreading, quickly covering the lair.

Zhou Leng turned back; behind him, Cyan Flame gestured an attack.

Zhou Leng donned the demonized mask and goggles, swallowed an antidote pill, and charged alone into the giant ant nest.

The ants inside the giant ant nest were in chaos.

The passages needed to accommodate Innate giant ants were more spacious than the Steel Dwarves’ tunnels.

Looking at the map, Zhou Leng quickly rushed to the nearest hatching chamber.

A field of white ant eggs arranged, each as big as a thumb.

After a flurry of punches and kicks, killing the guarding giant ants, Zhou Leng gathered heaps and heaps of ant eggs into his bag, sending them into the Magic Spirit Bag.

Though ant eggs can’t compare to Radiant Juice, they’re far more nutritious than regular giant insect juice.

Zhou Leng tasted a few, sour and mildly toxic, but nutritious, brimming with Power of Life.

He devoured several handfuls, unable to digest quickly, his whole body warmed, skin flushed red.

Collecting all the ant eggs, he headed for the aphid honey chamber, gazing at the storeroom full of golden aphid honey, Zhou Leng opened the demonized bottle, collecting quickly.

The aphids raised by the giant ants grew by feeding on Tree-men and drinking Water of Life; though their honey-making process wasn’t elegant, it contained rich life force.

Aphid honey is a true medicinal fruit, not a toxic liquid.

He quickly collected all the aphid honey and headed for the ant queen’s lair.

Slicing through obstacles along the way, he quickly reached the entrance to the ant queen’s cave.

Inside the entrance lay a spacious hall.

It was filled with numerous Innate giant ants, a few unharmed, most wounded.

Behind these giant ants lay a massive white creature, nearly fifty meters long, as high as three or four floors, resembling a gigantic white maggot.

The white maggot was covered in small black wings, with a head resembling a giant ant.

Four powerful Muscle Innate giant ants, covered in injuries, plunged into the white maggot to absorb Radiant Juice.

Zhou Leng glanced, and thought, not good; ants are stupid but not foolhardy. Facing desperation, they’ll naturally use Radiant Juice to nourish wounded Innate giant ants for a last-ditch effort.

He took out the demon spirit balls given by Cyan Flame, pressed one, and threw one.

In a moment, the entire ant queen’s cave was filled with a colorful thick toxic fog.

This fog affected not only vision but also the senses of all creatures.

Zhou Leng charged straight in.

As Zhou Leng rushed into the ant queen’s cave, an uninvited guest appeared outside the giant ant nest.

Towering over three meters tall, with light blue skin, red hair, cracked cheeks, and pupils like splintered webs.

Blood of Tyranny.

As soon as the aura of Blood of Tyranny spread, all the giant ants trembled with fear, groveling on the ground.

Their connection with the ant queen was cut off by the toxic fog, robbing them of any courage to fight.

Vigorous Root and Cyan Flame, along with others, froze; leaves producing dew, or cold sweat dripping from their backs.

Blood of Tyranny’s notorious name, known across the Ten Realms.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep