BOOK 2: CHAPTER 471: TRAPPING THE TURTLE IN A JAR—WHO'S THE TRUE MASTER OF INSECTS?

Vol 2 Chapter 471: Trapping the Turtle in a Jar—Who's the True Master of Insects?

The Great Sun True Fire struck the Gu God's face before scattering in all directions like falling meteors, landing amidst the insect swarms at the valley's bottom. The dark valley was illuminated by the flames as the fire spread relentlessly. The endless tide of gu insects became an inexhaustible fuel source.

Within mere breaths, the entire mountain was set ablaze, turning the gloomy sky crimson. Several Lu Clan disciples and the rogue cultivators fleeing with them panicked like startled rabbits. Fortunately, the terrifying golden flames showed no intention of pursuing them, stopping right behind their heels.

The group gasped for breath as they turned to look back. The valley now glowed brightly, covered in beautiful yet dangerous golden flowers. Waves of heat rose skyward, carrying a strange mix of roasted fragrance and foul stench.

"Is that Zheng Fa?" a Lu Clan disciple spoke up.

"It's him."

"Then the Ancestor..."

No one answered, but the Lu Clan members' expressions darkened. With the Jiushan Sect's aggressive assault, if Zheng Fa truly burned the Gu God to death, could Haori Mountain still be saved?

In stark contrast were the rogue cultivators. Their eyes reflected the golden flames brilliantly. After exchanging glances, they silently surrounded the Lu Clan members.

"You... dare rebel?" the middle-aged Lu Clan man exclaimed involuntarily.

"We... *cough*," an elder clutched his chest, "just want to live! And your Haori Mountain won't let us!"

The middle-aged man sneered, "With your level of cultivation—"

"Enough to delay you."

The man fell silent, his face gradually paling, when a low buzzing echoed from behind—mirroring his inner thoughts:

"Damn it..."

"Damn it..."

"Damn it..."

The millions of buzzes finally coalesced into a furious roar: "DAMN IT!"

The Gu God emerged from the flames, standing atop the mountain peak. Her face bore no injuries, but her eyes burned with rage fiercer than the Great Sun True Fire.

"You... shall die!" She glared down at Zheng Fa in the valley.

Zheng Fa and Senior Sister Zhang stood back-to-back, expressions grave. They had surrounded the Gu God earlier, yet she'd somehow slipped through their encirclement.

Surveying the fiery mountains, the Gu God's expression turned colder. She produced an earthen flute and blew into it lightly.

The insect swarm before Zheng Fa surged like tidal waves as several pure white silkworms, each dozens of feet long, raised their heads like serpents. Opening their mouths, they spewed chilling air across the valley.

The icy wind transformed the flaming mountains into a silver-white landscape. Only the charred insect carcasses littering the valley testified to the Great Sun True Fire's might.

Zheng Fa's heart sank. He rarely used the Great Sun True Fire in combat, but that didn't mean this technique was weak. Moreover, most gu insects feared fire—the supreme-grade Great Sun True Fire should have been especially effective against the Gu God. Yet she seemed completely unharmed.

Not only was she fine, but the surviving insects began devouring their fallen comrades. Soon, the countless insect corpses vanished, yet the swarm appeared even larger and more ferocious after this feast.

This sight plunged the rogue cultivators into despair, causing them to scatter again. The Lu Clan middle-aged man sneered coldly, mocking their overestimation: "Stop them!"

Outside the valley, the situation seemed reversed once more.

The Gu God spoke: "I ignored you, and you took it for weakness."

Her compound eyes focused on Zheng Fa, devoid of any warmth. "I was guarding against White Bone and Creation, yet never imagined a junior like you would dare attack me directly! Even Tianhe wouldn't dare insult me like this!"

Clearly, while the Great Sun True Fire's slap caused little physical damage, the humiliation burned deeply—her hate-filled gaze never left Zheng Fa.

"You shall die! Every piece of your flesh, every bone, your brain, your Yang Spirit—all will be devoured by my children! Not just you—every Jiushan Sect member will become food!"

Enraged, she raised the flute again, producing shrill cicada-like notes. The insect swarm mobilized systematically—different species attacking from all directions with military precision.

Foremost were iron-winged beetles whose metallic carapaces could withstand golden core attacks. Behind them came colorful toads oozing toxic pus, frost silkworms, immortal-stinging scorpions, golden-armored centipedes, and thousand-thread gu insects. The sky swarmed with dream-butterflies and floating gu insects—hundreds of species in total.

Amidst this, Zheng Fa seemed to consider retreat, grabbing Senior Sister Zhang's wrist as they transformed into a rainbow streak fleeing the valley.

The Gu God smirked as a gigantic butterfly emerged from her body—its wings like gossamer sprinkled with starlight. As it spread its wings, a starry sky materialized above the valley. Zheng Fa's rainbow light crashed into this barrier, forcing them back to the ground.

"Having finally found me," the Gu God's mocking voice echoed, "why leave now?"

Zheng Fa's wary gaze fell on the beautiful butterfly. "This is my precious child," the Gu God stroked its wings proudly. "The Void-Splitting Butterfly. None escape when she's present!"

Outside the valley, the rogue cultivators' last hopes died seeing this trapped-turtle scenario. Some fled, some resisted, others knelt staring blankly.

Within the swarm, Zheng Fa's trio dodged desperately behind a ring of golden flames. Though powerful, the Gu God's methods proved more insidious—Zheng Fa suddenly staggered, his face shadowed by dark qi. Even bystanders noticed—despite his evasion skills and flame advantage, gu poison had infiltrated his system unnoticed.

Senior Sister Zhang calmly waved her Tranquility Bamboo, cleansing Zheng Fa's toxin. "That bamboo is miraculous..." someone murmured.

"What's the use?" another replied despairingly. "Trapped here, death is certain."

The valley had become an insect nest—no matter how strong their techniques or artifacts, exhaustion would claim them eventually. Worse, the Gu God hadn't even fought personally—merely directing the swarm from her vantage point, enjoying her prey's torment.

Then the rebellious elder suddenly shouted: "She's afraid!"

"Afraid?"

Indeed, the Gu God's expression showed unmistakable wariness—yet Zheng Fa's situation grew increasingly dire. Senior Sister Zhang's energy waned from continuously cleansing toxins. The trio's space shrunk as the swarm closed in.

Finally, the Gu God waved—the insects surged suicidally through the flames. Though countless burned, more replaced them endlessly. Zheng Fa's face turned sickly green with renewed poisoning as Senior Sister Zhang struggled to defend herself.

The spectators watched helplessly as the insect tsunami swallowed the trio. A black mound formed—their tomb. Even the Gu God showed satisfaction while the Lu Clan members rejoiced at Zheng Fa's demise.

Then—the Gu God's scream shattered the silence: "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

The black mound split open—Zheng Fa's trio emerged unharmed, surrounded by formerly hostile insects now standing guard like loyal soldiers. Iron beetles formed shields, golden centipedes became blades, dream-butterflies hovered like crowns above them, and frost silkworms paved an icy path.

The valley's occupants—allies and enemies alike—shared one thought: Absurd! These three stole the Insect Ancestor's swarm right before her?

The Gu God's gaze snapped to Xie Qingxue—the unassuming third member. Of course—as the Qingping Sword's spirit, she was immune to gu toxins. While Zheng Fa's flames distracted everyone, she'd been spreading synthesized gu pheromones throughout the valley.

"You planned this from the start!" the Gu God realized. "Provoking me to cover her movements!"

Indeed. Zheng Fa never expected his flames to harm the Gu God—as a supreme true immortal and collective consciousness of the swarm, she was nearly unkillable. His true goal was creating chaos within her "body" using the pheromones.

"The Gu God's unity is her strength," Zheng Fa explained calmly amidst the now-loyal swarm, "and her greatest weakness. No fortress can defend against betrayal from within."

"You think you can steal my children?" the Gu God snarled.

"No," Zheng Fa smiled. "Just make them... confused."

Too late—the valley's insects turned on each other violently. Like a body with malfunctioning organs, the Gu God's expression fractured into countless conflicting personas as her swarm's harmony collapsed.

Suddenly, she cried out to Zheng Fa: "Master...!"

This single word struck the spectators like thunder—staring at Zheng Fa in horrified awe. Compared to him, even the Demon Ancestor seemed tame!