Chapter 78: Insect Master
Chapter 78: Insect Master
Zhang Tiannan took the lead, and golden light radiated from his fists. It was a method of gathering strength, concentrating his energy to achieve maximum power. He struck out with a punch, hitting the fastest eight-winged bee.
However, contrary to Qin Feng’s expectations, the scene of crushing defeat did not unfold. Instead, there was a clang of metal, sounding particularly harsh.
The eight-winged bee lost one of its wings but quickly flapped its remaining seven wings, creating a whirlwind.
Zhang Tiannan clapped his palms together, and a powerful palm wind not only dispersed the whirlwind but also knocked the eight-winged bee to the ground. Qin Feng couldn’t help but gulp nervously.
A fleshball covered in sharp spikes rolled onto the scene. Yang He used his soul-binding technique to immobilize it, but its sharp spikes shot out like a rain of pear blossoms.
Fortunately, Si Zheng used his shadow puppetry technique. Several shadows turned into walls, rising from the ground, blocking the attack.
A purple giant scorpion swung its tail, and the stinger corroded the wall constructed from shadows, piercing through.
Cang Feilan, who had been motionless, swiftly moved forward. She blocked the scorpion’s tail with her dagger and then lifted it, forcing the tail back.
Si Zheng narrowed his eyes and didn’t waste any time. His shadow transformed into a giant hand, slamming down. Countless insects were crushed, but when it touched the purple giant scorpion, the shadow was corroded once again.
Qin Feng’s expression became serious. It was a Bone Transforming Scorpion, and the poison needles on its tail could corrode Yin Qi.
As is well known, the techniques of the Hundred Ghosts relied on gathering Yin Qi. Shadow puppetry operated on the same principle. If the Yin Qi was corroded, the Hundred Ghosts’ offensive techniques would naturally collapse.
However, to Qin Feng’s astonishment, the corroded part of the shadow hand quickly healed. It fiercely gripped the purple giant scorpion, producing a grating sound. When he came to his senses, the ground was covered with disgusting fluids and the shattered body of the scorpion.
“Perhaps you’ve realized there’s no restraint in the face of absolute strength,” Si Zheng casually explained, seeing Qin Feng’s surprised expression.
As soon as he finished speaking, the insects that could penetrate the Eight-Faced Forbidden Formation no longer probed. They rushed in without hesitation, and the battle officially began.
“Little Cang, protect this kid,” Si Zheng ordered and started a killing spree. Yang He and the others naturally didn’t fall behind.
Limbs flew, juices splattered, and the insects’ cries of despair were heard one after another.
Considering the fact that there was a Fifth-Rank and two Sixth-Rank peak experts, plus the support of the formation, no matter how many insects there were, they couldn’t threaten their group.
Cang Feilan protected Qin Feng, knocking down any stragglers.
To increase his sense of presence, Qin Feng looked at a dying insect near his feet and used his White Inch technique, crouching down to finish it off.
Although his action was meaningless, it gave him a sense of satisfaction in snatching kills.
Well, I’m not entirely useless, Qin Feng thought to himself.
The situation was excellent. Clearing the insect swarm and opening a path was only a matter of time. However, at this moment, Si Zheng seemed to sense something. He shouted, “Back off!”
The others didn’t understand, but they still followed his command.
In the blink of an eye, a thick black shadow on the ground turned into three one-yard thick walls, blocking their way.
However, in just an instant, these three walls were shattered. Si Zheng grunted, and a trace of blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Yang He was shocked. Si Zheng had just used the Three-Tier Flowing Shadow Wall, a formidable defensive technique. What kind of existence could shatter it in an instant?!
The shadow flowed like water, slowly dissipating into the darkness. Everyone hurriedly looked ahead.
They saw a massive centipede, previously surrounded by the insects, its exoskeleton shattering inch by inch. Its size was continuously shrinking.
Just a few breaths later, the enormous centipede transformed right before their eyes into a humanoid figure.
Tall and thin, dressed in a black and white robe, wearing a ghost mask, and a number nine tattooed on the chest.
This person was naturally Bai Chong.
After Bai Chong appeared, the surrounding insect tide retreated one after another.
Yang He and the others, upon seeing this, furrowed their brows. The faint but palpable pressure from the figure made their scalps tingle, and they didn’t dare to resist.
However, their curiosity got the better of them. How could a centipede, originally in its natural form, transform into a human shape?
Si Zheng, being knowledgeable, said with a serious expression, “The Insect Master’s Fusion Insect Clone Technique.”
“Insect Master?!” Yang He exclaimed, his eyes widening. Zhang Tiannan’s pupils dilated, and his muscles tensed.
Upon hearing these two words, Qin Feng’s shock intensified.
The so-called Insect Master was also a Dao Lineage, but compared to the cultivation methods of the Hundred Ghosts, Divine Warriors, and Literature Saints, the path of this Dao Lineage’s advancement was considered utterly insane.
Firstly, to enter this Dao Leneage, one needed to implant their own life insect into their abdomen at a young age.
As the individual grew older, the life insect inside them would also grow. It would devour the host’s internal organs until the host was nothing but skin and bones.
During this process, the Insect Master would merge their own soul into the life insect, taking over the host’s body.
Therefore, when a person entered the Insect Master’s Dao Lineage, they were destined to become a monstrous being, neither fully human nor insect. People didn’t differentiate the strength of Insect Masters by rank but by the Calamity Cycle of demons and ghosts.
“The Fusion Insect Clone Technique involves imbuing a soul into an insect, creating a clone. However, due to the incomplete soul, the clone’s strength is significantly reduced. But…” Yang He recalled the information in his mind, his face filled with horror.
Clearly, the opponent’s strength was severely diminished, yet they still managed to instantly break through Si Zheng’s Triple Shadow Wall. If this was just their clone, how terrifying would their true form be?
Without further ado, Bai Chong said, “Hand over the real Dragon Protection Monument.”
“Don’t even think about it!” Yang He said firmly.
Si Zheng took off the precious gourd hanging from his body and smashed it on the ground, his grave. “This person is not easy to deal with, but we still have a chance. He’s an Insect Master, and Divine soul is their Dao Leneage’s method. If we simultaneously use soul-restraining techniques, we might be able to delay him.”
“Good!” Yang He immediately agreed and conjured a Soul-Controlling Banner in his hand.
“Soul-Restrain!” The two of them said simultaneously. The precious gourd and the Soul-Controlling Banner emitted a blue light, converging toward Bai Chong.
He was enveloped in the blue light, his soul constantly being pulled, but he couldn’t escape.
At the same time, Si Zheng sent a message to Qin Feng and the others, “Run!”
With Si Zheng’s strength, he could naturally tell that this clone was at least in the Sixth Transformation. He was no match, so the only thing they could do was control him and buy time for the three of them to escape.
The Dragon Protection Monument absolutely must not fall into the enemy’s hands.
Qin Feng hesitated, but was picked up by Cang Feilan. Then, with a light movement, the two of them instantly landed on horseback.
Looking at Zhang Tiannan, his struggle lasted only a moment. He pushed off the ground with his toes, leaped onto a swift horse, pulled the reins, and the steed let out a neigh.
Just as the three were about to set off, a dreadful pressure enveloped them. The horses’ four hooves weakened, and they knelt to the ground, causing the three of them to stumble off their horses.
“You said something just now that I completely agree with,” Bai Chong said indifferently, and the blue light around him disintegrated.
“In the face of an absolute disparity in strength, there is no restraint.” As soon as he finished speaking, the towering trees around them fell one after another. Moonlight poured down, but was soon overshadowed by a massive dark shadow.
Everyone looked up, their expressions filled with horror. With just one glance, a colossal centipede covered the sky, blocking the moon!