Chapter 2248: Volume 11 True Immortal Descends to the World Chapter 2229 Earth Emperor's Nail

"Since I have already gifted this tray to you, naturally there is no reason to take it back!" Bao Hua heard this and smiled faintly.

"With this item protecting me, plus the Xuan Tian treasure of mutual restraint borrowed from Bao Hua's Dao, even if the insect mother is fierce, I should be able to handle it. That old man will risk his life to make this journey." The ancient-looking elder's eyes flickered several times as he agreed.

As for the black-robed woman, after thinking for a moment, she also nodded.

"Han brother, what is your opinion!" Bao Hua rejoiced greatly, but still did not forget to pay attention to the most important Han Li, turning her head slightly to ask.

"Several Daoists have already gone; how could I possibly retreat in the face of battle?" Han Li put away the object in his hand, his face showing no trace of unusual expression as he spoke.

With his current divine abilities, plus the protection of the Xuan Tian Slaying Spirit Sword, such a supreme treasure, even if facing a True Immortal-level existence, he would have the strength to defend himself and would not be overly afraid of a single insect mother whose vitality has been greatly damaged.

"Good, then I will have the Seal Spirit Horse send us over. There, the two Daoists of the Black Night Realm should also be nearby. In that case, after joining with them, our chances will increase by one point." Bao Hua said with a light laugh.

Following this, the woman no longer hesitated, single-handedly casting a spell into the gray mist.

In an instant, the mist surged and split to the left and right, directly revealing a passage.

Bao Hua's figure moved, and without hesitation, she floated into it.

The others also hurriedly followed in.

Shortly after, everyone emerged from the passage, their eyes brightening as they saw a vast empty expanse ahead, with a grayish-white teleportation formation appearing on the ground before them.

A humming sound came from the surrounding void, as if someone were speaking certain words.

However, Han Li and the others were completely bewildered, unable to understand a word. Only Bao Hua slightly nodded her head toward the sky, her expression turning solemn as she took several steps into the formation.

Seeing this, the others had varied expressions, but after a brief hesitation, they also followed suit.

At the moment the last black-robed woman stepped both feet into the formation, with a "puff" sound, the entire formation suddenly activated on its own.

After a burst of radiant light swirled around, several people instantly blurred and vanished into thin air.

At the same time, in the mysterious stone forest's blood-red altar, the originally still and motionless black basin suddenly trembled, and a low male voice murmured:

"These people are indeed planning to deal with that insect mother. Hey hey, truly unaware of death! With their meager strength, aren't they just seeking their own demise? However, that boy cannot die now; it seems I must find a way to save his life first. Cough, this time I cannot avoid using that thing..."

The male voice transmitted a long, reluctant sigh, as if the most precious thing were about to be forcibly abandoned.

A crisp metallic collision echoed in the void!

A faint light flashed from the altar, and eight slender silver chains appeared.

Each chain had one end wrapped around the basin's edge, while the other end extended separately to the tops of eight bronze pillars, directly sinking into those ancient lamps.

A harsh, obscure incantation echoed from within the basin, connecting to the single ancient lamp still flickering with light. The fine chain trembled slightly.

The ancient lamp suddenly burst forth with countless grain-sized golden runes, which flew rapidly along the silver fine chain toward the altar, sinking one after another into the black basin and vanishing without trace.

The dark black mist swirling on the surface of the black basin gradually thickened, and from within began to emit an extremely terrifying, powerful aura, surging wildly at an inconceivable speed.

……

"This is the nesting place of that insect mother!" Han Li glanced around, his face showing an expression of extreme astonishment.

Not only him, but Bao Hua and the other Mahayana existences surveyed their surroundings, their faces equally filled with surprise.

They several people were indeed in the middle of a vast ocean, looking around, nothing but endless blue sea stretching to the horizon, with occasional damp sea breezes blowing.

"This is not an illusion! What's going on—does the underground palace actually have such a place?" The ancient elder frowned and asked Bao Hua.

"Of course not. The underground palace is only this large; how could it possibly be expanded into such a vast body of water?" Bao Hua shook her head, denying it.

"Then what place is this? Could we have been directly transmitted away from the Seal's Land?" The red-faced giant glanced left and right for a moment, then hesitated before asking.

"It shouldn't be. Otherwise, our divine sense would not still be under the seal's suppression, unable to probe too far." The black-robed woman said firmly.

Clearly, she had already tried using her divine sense.

"Everyone, look upward!" Han Li suddenly said calmly.

"Upward? I already looked earlier—there was nothing unusual!" The ancient elder heard this, startled, and looked up at the gray, misty sky.

The black-robed woman and the red-faced giant likewise looked up, also showing a hint of confusion.

Bao Hua glanced at the gray sky, then let out a soft "eh," her expression turning to sudden realization.

At this moment, Han Li raised his arm, a finger pointing toward the high void—*zila*—a blade of azure sword light several hundred zhang long flashed into view, then slashed downward into the heavens.

The entire sky's gray light surged wildly, simultaneously accompanied by a piercing, sharp cry.

The azure sword light blazed brilliantly, its momentum vast and mighty, as if it sought to cleave the entire sky in two.

But after the azure light flashed and vanished, the sky did not truly split. Instead, after a muffled thunder-like roar, a nearly sky-covering black sigil formation appeared in the high heavens, vague and distinct.

This formation was black as ink, composed entirely of countless black runes of varying sizes. Yet at a glance, at its center lay a mountain-sized white insect, lying prone there.

The creature's body was pure white like jade, without a single blemish. Its skull was deeply buried within its body, making its true face invisible, but its bulky, corpulent form, viewed from afar, resembled a giant silkworm.

Even more strangely, the insect seemed to be in deep slumber; as its body rose and fell, golden runes flickered in and out, slowly and uncertainly flowing.

"Insect Mother!" the black-robed woman cried out in shock, losing her voice.

The red-faced giant and the ancient elder, seeing this astonishing sight, naturally turned pale, their aura condensing as they assumed the posture of facing a great enemy.

However, Bao Hua remained perfectly calm and said:

"There is no need for you to be overly tense. This insect has not yet awakened; as long as we do not act rashly, we will not rouse it. It seems this place should be a space fissure it opened on its own. The two Daoists of the Black Night Realm likely cannot join us here."

"A self-opened space fissure—given the insect mother's divine powers, it is certainly capable of this. This also explains why this place remains under the influence of that seal's power." The ancient elder exhaled deeply, his expression slightly relaxing as he replied.

"But with the two Black Night Realm Daoists absent, our strength is indeed somewhat thin. Should we first find the exit, draw those two into this space, and then proceed? After all, they should be monitoring us from outside this space." The black-robed woman glanced left and right again, then suggested.

"No. The insect mother is already on the verge of awakening; your comings and goings would likely wake it immediately. The two Black Night Realm Daoists probably refrain from entering for this very reason. After all, they are unlike us—they lack the seal's power to be directly sent into this space." Bao Hua firmly rejected the idea.

Hearing this, the others also found it reasonable, and immediately no one brought it up again.

But at this moment, Han Li, who had been silently observing the great light formation in the high heavens, slowly said:

"Useless words need not be said; better to act while the insect mother remains asleep,

and strike swiftly. If we can severely wound it with a single blow, that would naturally be best."

"Han Dao, your words are too dismissive of us. If we few join hands in a single strike, even if a True Immortal were unprepared, we would still strike them down dead on the spot." The black-robed woman glanced at Han Li, somewhat displeased.

"Hmph, if this insect mother were truly so easy to slay, the two True Immortals who sealed it back then would not have merely suppressed it with difficulty. Han Li always prepares for the worst before undertaking anything!" Han Li replied coldly.

The black-robed woman listened, her face turning solemn, about to say more, but was interrupted by a wave of the hand from Baohua.

"There's no need for the two of you to argue over anything. For this trip, we only need to do our best. Whether we truly succeed in the end depends entirely on heavenly will. But being cautious will never be wrong. Therefore, for the first strike, we must not only act together, but I will also fully activate the Xuantian treasure I have borrowed. If any of you have hidden techniques, bring them all out. Who knows—perhaps the Mother of the Insect Swarm will only grant us this one chance to strike with our full strength."

"Baohua Dao speaks wisely; I have no other objections," said the ancient-looking elder, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

The black-robed woman and the red-faced burly man naturally had no objections.

Han Li, however, fell into silent contemplation for a moment before solemnly nodding his head.

Seeing this, Baohua revealed a hint of a smile, drew in a light breath, then made a hand seal with one hand. A flash of pink light appeared behind her, and a vast illusory pink flower tree manifested.

At the same time, this woman silently moved her sandalwood lips slightly, and with her other hand, she slowly lifted her palm upward. As her five fingers spread apart, a sudden flash of yellow light appeared in her palm, revealing a segment of a huge, rust-covered yellow nail.

This nail was only about half a chi in length, but its surface was pitted and uneven, the inscribed spiritual patterns blurred and indistinct, as if it had been buried underground for countless years, appearing extremely worn and ancient.

Yet Baohua held this object with a solemn expression. After pausing her incantation, she directly and solemnly addressed the others:

"This Earth Emperor Nail contains the law of dry earth from an entire realm. Once driven into a body, it completely seals any earth-attribute divine ability, rendering it unusable. If I recall correctly, the Mother of the Insect Swarm's innate divine ability appears to be earth-attribute. Therefore, as long as my strike lands, even one-tenth of her divine abilities will be completely nullified." To be continued...