CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: BLOOD-STRIPED LOCUSTS

"Demonic Insect?"

"How could demonic insects appear here so quickly?"

Qi Ping frowned as he gazed at the demonic insect corpses and the golden marrow bee bodies lying on the ground.

He hadn’t expected demonic insects to show up in this place so soon.

Was it a coincidence?

If not a coincidence, then what was it?

A foreboding feeling crept into Qi Ping’s heart.

However, before sorting out this issue, Qi Ping had some tasks for the golden marrow bees, so he immediately ordered:

"Quickly take a group of the golden marrow bee legion to check on Old Man Zhou’s situation below the mountain..."

"Have the Bee King accelerate the cultivation of the high-speed ring-cutting bees, even if it costs more spiritual medicine and honey..."

"Also, go to the nearby mountain peaks and see if there are any traces of those fierce insects..."

Three orders in succession were issued.

"Buzz buzz... (Yes, boss!)"

"Buzz buzz... (The two-legged creature down the mountain who likes to sleep is safe, we’ve been watching, and have already increased the bee guards...)"

"Buzz buzz... (As for the other two tasks, we’ll arrange them immediately...)"

Only after the three orders were given and learning that Old Man Zhou was fine did Qi Ping breathe a little easier.

Yesterday, he had already consciously had the Bee King speed up the cultivation of the high-speed ring-cutting bees, but the urgency of the situation still exceeded his expectations.

Qi Ping never expected the demonic insects to appear so quickly!

Looking at the demonic insect corpses in front of him, Qi Ping quickly gathered the relevant information:

"Blood-patterned locust... Tier One intermediate demonic insect... Its strength and ferocity surpass the golden marrow bees by a lot...."

[Blood-patterned Locust: Tier One intermediate demonic insect, completely armored, fast, with an astonishing bite force...]

It’s important to know that the ordinary golden marrow bees now had their combat power doubled using blood ginseng, courtesy of Qi Ping.

But even with such combat power, they still suffered a nearly one-to-one casualty rate against the blood-patterned locusts, despite their greater numbers!

Fortunately, there were only about thirty blood-patterned locusts; if there were more and they formed a battle formation, the outcome would be unimaginable.

The combat power of thirty versus three hundred blood-patterned locusts would be completely different, and the casualty rate might change from one-to-one to one-to-three, or even higher.

Born for battle and slaughter, demonic insects like the blood-patterned locust can hardly be matched by bees living off nectar, like the golden marrow bees.

Unless a variant like the high-speed ring-cutting bee, with super-enhanced organs, appears, only then would it possess combat power comparable to or even surpassing demonic insects of the same level.

Moreover, these blood-patterned locusts didn’t inspire a shred of affinity in Qi Ping, a Beast King Druid, indicating that the skill [Beast Friend] might be ineffective against them.

[Beast Friend: You can reduce an animal’s hostility towards you, encouraging it to develop a liking for you.]

Yet what Qi Ping couldn’t ignore was the ominous sensation that arose earlier—a cultivator’s intuition is never unfounded.

"Why are blood-patterned locusts showing up here? Coincidence... or is something attracting them?"

No wonder Qi Ping thought so, as according to the golden marrow bees, the direction the blood-patterned locusts advanced from was exactly where the blood ginseng grows!

Adding to the abnormal situation underground beneath the blood ginseng, and the ominous feeling in his heart earlier, Qi Ping couldn’t help but overthink.

Until the high-speed ring-cutting bee legion is fully cultivated, there’s absolutely no room for error at the blood ginseng growing area!

"It seems we’ll need to enter a state of full alert; both the black small bees and the golden marrow bees must enter super-alert mode, to be vigilant against demonic insects that may appear at any moment..."

"I’ll also need to spend most of my time guarding the blood ginseng location, to fully cultivate the blood ginseng—that way, the yield can be increased by at least three times. At the same time, if an irresistible foe appears, I’ll have time to collect all the spiritual medicine and make a full retreat..."

Concerning exploring underground secrets, after this incident, Qi Ping definitely wouldn’t make any rash moves before the high-speed ring-cutting bees are cultivated.

Because if what’s underground isn’t a treasure but a sealed nest, and he accidentally breaks the seal, the consequences would be unimaginable...

Therefore, the priority now is to quickly cultivate a large batch of blood ginseng and the high-speed ring-cutting bee legion. With these two trump cards, even if forced to leave later, Qi Ping can protect himself and seek new development opportunities.

...

Besides these, Qi Ping, in his free time recovering his spiritual power, planned to do two more things.

One was to persuade Old Man Zhou to take some resources and return to the mortal world, and then come back to enjoy a peaceful life once things stabilize here.

Otherwise, staying here, life and death would be uncertain.

Qi Ping felt that even his ability to protect himself wasn’t assured, much less being able to protect Old Man Zhou.

However, in the mortal world, due to the lack of spiritual qi, it holds no attraction for demonic insects. Cultivators are typically safe as long as they don’t violate the Cultivator’s Mortal World Rules, regarding the righteous sect alliances.

With Old Man Zhou leaving, Qi Ping could single-mindedly focus on resource management and "blast soldier" strategy.

Qi Ping intended to bring back Old Man Zhou, help him continue breaking through, and extend his lifespan once he firmly established himself here.

The other task was to inform Sister Nan about the blood-patterned locusts, and inquire if her crisis premonition talent had any reactions, to determine the scale of the upcoming demonic insect attacks.

Because if the scale is massive, Sister Nan will most likely be unable to remain uninvolved.

He also wished to remind her to prepare well, whether she decides to stay or leave is beyond Qi Ping’s decision.

...

At the foot courtyard of the seventh mountain peak.

Old Man Zhou was lying on the purple bamboo lounge chair, listening to Qi Ping recounting the situation about the demonic insects.

"Demonic insects? Is it that severe?" Old Man Zhou was somewhat surprised after hearing it.

"Yes, so the upcoming times in Qingshi County will be very dangerous, and even the golden marrow bees might not be able to protect us..."

"Brothers Shan and Pang have gone to find the Hongyun Merchant Association to take them out of Qingshi County back to the mortal world, so I’d like you to take some spirit stones and golden marrow honey and go with them to the mortal world for now. We’ll bring you back when this tribulation cultivator and demonic insect issue is over..."

Qi Ping carefully spoke words he had contemplated many times, concerned that Old Man Zhou might think of his disciple who joined a large sect and never returned.

But Qi Ping’s worries were, evidently, unnecessary.

Old Man Zhou, upon hearing it, identified the concerns in Qi Ping’s heart and soothingly laughed, saying:

"Don’t worry; you don’t need to be concerned about me. I know your nature very well, young lad..."

"It’s been many years since I visited the mortal world; going back for a look sounds nice..."

Then, breezily, Old Man Zhou leaped off the lounge chair and went inside to pack his things.

Yet, halfway through, he uncharacteristically showed a trace of worry and turned back:

"You brat, make sure you survive; don’t let this old man have no one to buy me wine when I can’t move anymore..."

"How could that happen? Until I’ve married a few beautiful wives, I won’t die!" Qi Ping laughed in reply.

"You brat!"

Old Man Zhou shook his head and continued packing his things.

He had always kept an open perspective on such matters and didn’t want to make things difficult for Qi Ping, knowing it was indeed the best choice.

Qi Ping, watching Old Man Zhou’s departing figure, sighed. With the smile fading from his face, it was replaced by determination.

This calamity, although risky, if well-prepared, could be an opportunity. Even the demonic insect corpses alone were worth quite a few spirit stones...