Chapter 1669: Turning the Tables! Advance!

Xu Jingming had hesitated before, fearing the Zerg's ambush force might exceed their capacity to respond.

But now, with Haley as an inside agent, the enemy's composition was nearly transparent.

As long as no Eternal Stage Eight being appears, he had the confidence to annihilate them all!

Thinking of this, Xu Jingming sent another message to Luo Nan:

'Brother Luo, good news!

That elder said he has three other companions at Eternal Stage Five.

All trusted old friends—could they join us as well?

More hands make lighter work; we'll have a better chance of wiping out the nest.'

Deep within the Zerg nest.

Luo Nan relayed Xu Jingming's message faithfully to the seductive Empress.

The Empress, reclining lazily on the biological Wang Zuo, heard this.

Her beautiful face curled into an even more sinister smile as she licked her red lips:

'Three more Eternal Stage Five?

Perfect—it seems we've caught a big fish this time.

Tell them all are welcome! The more, the better. I'll go myself—we can handle it.'

Immediately, she sent messages to the other Empresses to report the situation:

'Sisters, prepare the feast. This time, let not a single one escape.'

Soon, Haley relayed the internal intelligence back:

'Master, confirmed.

This time, eight Zerg will participate in the encirclement, including me.

Besides me, there are two Eternal Stage Six, three Eternal Stage Five, and two Eternal Stage Four.

The lineup is fixed; no higher-stage Zerg have intervened.

If anything changes, I'll contact you immediately.'

Xu Jingming listened, his eyes flaring with Lei Guang, his voice sharp with lethal intent and anticipation:

'Eight Eternal-stage Zerg—excellent!

If we can kill them all,

we might just gather the hundred Eternal-stage Zerg needed for the first task in one stroke.'

'Then let's slaughter them all!'

Lin Qianxue smiled sweetly, her body wreathed in intertwined frost and Lei Guang.

'Two Eternal Stage One—your job is to challenge the Eternal Stage Six Zerg lineup.'

Vera clicked her tongue in amazement.

Zerg are invincible at their own stage—except for monsters like Xu Jingming.

At just Eternal Stage One, he dares to take on a whole group alone.

After confirming that Xu Jingming and the others would all go, Luo Nan quickly sent the assembly message.

The assembly point was on the edge of a region called Ashen Rift in the Fourth Star Zone.

The terrain was treacherous, flanked by sheer rock walls tens of thousands of meters high.

The rift's depths were perpetually shrouded in gray-white energy mist, effectively disrupting divine sense scans—a natural hiding place.

Four hours later, when Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue arrived, Luo Nan and the other three were already waiting.

'Hah! Brother Su, you've finally arrived!'

Luo Nan, clad in crimson battle armor, strode forward with his usual warm and boisterous demeanor.

Behind him, Kora and Ailin remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly in greeting.

'Brother Luo, we've kept you waiting.'

Xu Jingming smiled faintly, 'We took a little extra time preparing some survival items.'

His divine sense swept over Luo Nan and the other three.

One Eternal Stage Five, two Eternal Stage Four.

Their levels were genuine.

'No problem, no problem—caution is good.'

Luo Nan waved his hand, his gaze sweeping behind them, a flicker of suspicion in his eyes:

'By the way, Brother Su, where's that Eternal Stage Six elder you mentioned, and his three companions?'

Kora and Ailin turned to look as well, clearly concerned.

'When we contacted that elder, he said they were tracking a lone Eternal Stage Four Zerg.

They've locked onto the target and didn't want to miss the chance.

He told us to go ahead—he'll join us right after dealing with that Zerg.'

Xu Jingming sighed, feigning helplessness:

'But Brother Luo, don't worry—the elder said they'll arrive at the latest in six hours.'

'Six hours?'

Kora frowned, her voice clearly displeased:

'The Zerg nest is dangerous; every moment delayed increases the risk.

Brother Su, your elder is being far too careless.'

Ailin said nothing, but her eyes betrayed clear displeasure.

"Don't rush, Kola brothers."

Luo Nan laughed heartily and clapped Kola on the shoulder:

"That elder dared to make such a promise—he must have confidence."

"Besides, with the five of us here, let's first scout the outer perimeter of the nest."

"Only after the elder arrives should we strike together—wouldn't that be safer?"

He turned to Xu Jingming with an earnest smile: "Brother Su Chen, what do you think?"

"Brother Luo speaks wisely."

Xu Jingming nodded. "We'll scout the perimeter first. Waiting for the elder's arrival is safer."

He was lying—he'd act the moment they arrived.

"Better be."

The young man Kola snorted and fell silent.

Ai Lin also withdrew her gaze, secretly labeling Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue as unreliable.

"Alright, since everyone's here, let's move out."

Seeing this, Luo Nan waved his hand:

"The nest lies about three hundred thousand kilometers deep in the rift."

"There may be scattered insectoid patrols along the way. Stay close to me, suppress your qi."

The five became five streaks of light, silently vanishing into the mist shrouding the Ash Rift.

Luo Nan led the way, seemingly extremely familiar with the terrain.

He wove through intricate fissures in the rock walls, avoiding several zones of chaotic energy fluctuations.

Xu Jingming and Lin Qianxue followed in the middle of the formation, exchanging a glance.

Hai Li's intelligence, transmitted through the Soul-Eroding Mark, revealed:

The insectoids' ambush was set in a relatively open basin near the nest's perimeter.

What appeared to be the only path to the nest was in fact guarded by eight Immortal-Class insectoids.

"Master, the insectoids are in position."

"Eight Queens, two Immortal Stage Six, hidden deep within the eastern rock strata."

"Three Immortal Stage Five on the west, two Immortal Stage Four on the south."

"As instructed, I've been assigned to a rear position."

"Tasked with controlling part of the insect horde for auxiliary attacks."

Hai Li's voice echoed in Xu Jingming's mind.

"Have they suspected you?" Xu Jingming asked through the Soul-Eroding Mark.

"No—they could never imagine a being like you who can enslave insectoids."

Hai Li's reply brimmed with reverence for Xu Jingming.

"Good. Stay in position. Notify me immediately if anything changes."

"Yes, Master."

The team traveled through the rift for five hours.

Along the way, they indeed encountered several small patrols of insectoid warriors.

But Luo Nan sensed them all in advance and led the group skillfully around them.

Kola and Ai Lin seemed deeply impressed by Luo Nan's experience.

Their vigilance eased slightly.

Finally, the mist ahead thinned, revealing a vast basin several thousand kilometers in diameter.

The basin's ground was dark red, pockmarked with honeycomb-like holes.

The air carried a faint sweet-sour stench—the unmistakable odor of an insectoid nest.

"This is it."

Luo Nan halted and pointed to a raised mound in the basin's center:

"According to reconnaissance, those three insectoids are hiding beneath it."

"But insectoids are cunning—the nest entrance may not be the only one. We must proceed with caution."

He looked at the group:

"I'll go down first. Kola, Ai Lin—you guard the left and right flanks."

"Brother Su, you two stay behind and watch our rear."