Chapter 105

translation

Wei Ming saw Huailin and Chen Qi still trying, and couldn't help but laugh again, full of mockery.

Even if we can't leave for now, you still have no chance against four opponents alone. Hualin took a deep breath, looked at the smug Wei Ming, and frowned.

Is that so? Wei Ming raised an eyebrow.

Crack—

As his words fell, the Twin-fork Rhinoceros Golden Turtle beside Xiao Qiyuan's eyes turned red, and it lunged at him.

Bang!!

Fortunately, Xiao Qiyuan's reaction speed was still quick enough, and he narrowly dodged the attack.

He widened his eyes, but he wasn't looking at the Twin-fork Rhinoceros Golden Turtle or Wei Ming; instead, he gazed at the huge stone pillar in the distance.

Prison Beast Pillar?!

At the same time.

Buzz—

A fine flapping sound came from all directions, converging here.

In that buzzing sound, what appeared in Yunhe and the others' sight were, to their surprise, wasps bearing black rings.

Black-ringed Hornet?

Seeing this sudden swarm of black-ringed hornets, Yunhe's eyes also showed a hint of surprise.

Numbering in the thousands, even tens of thousands of black-ringed hornets, plus Wei Ming, his grey-white moth, and that twin-fork rhinoceros golden turtle, the strength gap between the two sides was essentially erased.

Upon hearing "Prison Beast Pillar," Wei Ming also showed surprise, then suddenly realized and said:

Not bad, it's indeed the "Prison Beast Pillar." I didn't expect you to know it. One could say, no wonder you're the grandson of the Spirit Beast Sect's Supreme Elder.

But the exchange between Wei Ming and Xiao Qiyuan sounded to Yunhe and the others like they were speaking in riddles.

We can barely conclude that it's because of that "Prison Spirit Pillar" that Xiao Qiyuan's spirit beast twin-fork rhinoceros golden turtle went out of control, and also prevented Yunhe from using his Earth Escape Technique.

The Insect Heaven Sect's "Prison Beast Pillar"—your Wei family really still have a hidden trick. Xiao Qiyuan stared into Wei Ming's eyes, a faint light flashing.

Insect Heaven Sect?

Hearing that name, Yunhe furrowed his brows.

Insect Heaven Sect?

Hualin beside him also exclaimed in surprise.

Noticing the glances from Yunhe and Chen Qi, he gave an embarrassed laugh and explained:

There are some records about that sect in our archives; I, as an elder brother, also happened to see them by chance.

After a pause, he spoke quickly:

It is said that the Insect Heaven Sect was a great sect ten thousand years ago; within it there were not only Golden Core cultivators, but also Nascent Soul elders! The sect takes its name from "Heaven Insect," but not everyone follows the path of insect control; many more follow the path of beast control.

Moreover, according to some speculation, the sect's original location was none other than Heaven Ridge Mountain!

But for some unknown reasons, the sect was destroyed overnight, countless cultivators perished, and many spirit beasts fled. Many suspect that Heaven Ridge Mountain became overrun with demonic beasts precisely because of the Insect Heaven Sect's downfall.

So this so-called Prison Beast Pillar is very likely the special formation the Insect Heaven Sect used back then to imprison demonic beasts.

With that huge pillar as its core, the radiation range is so vast?

And it also has the ability to forcibly seize others' spirit beasts?

However, to be frank, what caught Yunhe's attention most was actually the tens of thousands of black-ringed hornets swarming around.

Why, of all things, black-ringed hornets?

Moreover, this person can actually control so many black-ringed hornets at once—is it because of the Prison Beast Pillar, or because his own insect-controlling method is unique?

A hidden trick? Your Spirit Beast Sect back then was merely an insignificant branch of the Insect Heaven Sect, while my Wei family is the legitimate lineage of the Insect Heaven Sect!

Wei Ming's face turned ferocious as he waved his hand.

Buzz—

What does it feel like when tens of thousands of fist-sized black-ringed hornets flap their wings and buzz?

Even though Yunhe and the others are Foundation Establishment cultivators, they couldn't help but change expression.

They all brought out their Spiritual Artifacts.

Although each black-ringed hornet's individual combat ability is indeed lackluster, a sweep of the Spiritual Artifact knocks down and crushes large swaths of them.

But as soon as a gap is opened, it is quickly filled by even more black-ringed hornets.

Xiao Qiyuan, you can go die!

His grey-white moth and twin-fork rhinoceros golden turtle both surged toward Xiao Qiyuan.

But to his surprise, Xiao Qiyuan not only showed no tension or fear, but instead revealed a relaxed smile and softly said:

No, Wei Ming, your usefulness ends here.

Saying that, he slapped his spirit beast pouch.

Sizzle—!!

A mighty insect cry rang out, accompanied by a surging wave of flames, and vast numbers of black-ringed hornets were instantly burned to ashes.

A third-rank demonic beast?! Wei Ming's face changed drastically.

Only to see, beside Xiao Qiyuan appeared a huge golden-red centipede, its body coiled around him in layers for protection; the segments of its carapace rubbed together, making a 'crack-crack' sound, and its dense fiery red legs were extremely conspicuous.

That old thing actually lent him his spirit beast to you?

Wei Ming cursed angrily.

Without hesitation, he turned and fled swiftly toward the Prison Beast Pillar.

It's actually a third-rank demonic beast!

Seeing this, Hualin also felt quite surprised.

But he quickly came to his senses.

Xiao Qiyuan obviously fell for Wei Ming's trap on purpose; they were just dragged into it, and now that the Prison Beast Pillar has appeared, Xiao Qiyuan will.

"Let's go quickly!" he shouted in a low voice.

Without needing his reminder, Yunhe had already summoned the Wind and Fire Boat.

But instead of fleeing outward, he flew toward the Prison Beast Pillar.

It was unclear what area the Prison Beast Pillar covered, and they didn't know whether, besides blocking the Earth Escape Technique, it would also block escape.

But since it was a place used by the Heavenly Insect Sect to imprison demonic beasts, it certainly wouldn't allow them to escape, so they likely couldn't get out.

Wei Ming had originally intended to lure them toward a direction closer to the Prison Beast Pillar, the closer they got, the greater the possible effect on the demonic beasts.

He was very wary of Xiao Qiyuan, but only because Yunhe's sudden appearance disrupted his plans.

Then.

If they don't want to face a third-stage demonic beast, what they need to do is

"Grab Wei Ming's token as quickly as possible and undo the Prison Beast Pillar's binding!"

Seeing the direction Yunhe flew, Hua Lin and the other also realized.

They immediately each summoned their own flying vessels, used their Spiritual Artifacts to destroy the swarm of black-ring wasps, and then gave chase.

"Tsk." Xiao Qiyuan snorted.

On the other side.

"Sizzle!!"

The Gold Fire Centipede bit into the ash-white moth's body, and its massive form tightly bound it, easily slaying this mid-stage second-stage demonic beast.

He looked at the twin-pronged rhinoceros golden turtle likewise affected by the Prison Beast Pillar, and furrowed his brows.

He lightly tapped his storage pouch, from which he summoned a peculiar ring, bound the struggling twin-pronged rhinoceros golden turtle, and dragged it back into his spirit beast pouch.

After all, it was his bound spirit beast; if it were injured or killed, it would affect him.

Then he lightly tapped his foot, landing on the Gold Fire Centipede's back, and pursued toward the Prison Beast Pillar.

For a moment, the situation of two sides fleeing and one side pursuing unfolded in this deep mountain forest.

However.

After all, the Gold Fire Centipede was a third-stage demonic beast, its speed astonishing, and the distance between it and the two ahead quickly closed.

"Damn it! Why isn't it working?!"

Wei Ming, running in the front, continuously poured spell seals into the token in his hand, and the towering stone pillar repeatedly rippled with halo-like glows.

But no matter how he tried, the Prison Beast Pillar simply had no effect on the Gold Fire Centipede.

"It's a Prison Beast Pillar from who knows how many years ago; do you think its effect could still last until now?"

Formations decay over time; after so many years, the Heavenly Insect Sect's Prison Beast Pillar still being able to affect late-stage second‑step demonic beasts is already quite impressive.

"Moreover, after such a long time, do you think our Spirit Beast Sect wouldn't have devised a countermeasure?"

Beneath him, at the third segment joint of the Gold Fire Centipede, a dark ring flickered with a faint glow.

Nowadays, the Spirit Beast Sect is no longer the insignificant branch of the Heavenly Insect Sect it once was!

Xiao Qiyuan lightly stomped his foot, and crimson‑gold flames rose beneath the Gold Fire Centipede's feet, increasing its speed once more.

At the same time, its mouth opened wide, spewing out a blaze of roaring flames.

Seeing this, Yunhe and the two others' faces drastically changed.

They simultaneously summoned their Spiritual Artifacts.

Yunhe also quickly formed a seal; the water flow on his Xuanwu Bracelet surged suddenly, and the swelling water rings that met the crimson‑gold flames billowed into vast clouds of mist.

"My Spiritual Artifact!"

Hua Lin and Chen Qi looked pained, but facing an attack from a third‑stage demonic beast comparable to a Golden Core cultivator, they could only grit their teeth and endure it even if it hurt.

In the end, the only thing that could be retrieved was Yunhe's Xuanwu Bracelet, scorched red-hot.

The other two Spiritual Artifacts had been completely burned away.

"Huh?"

Xiao Qiyuan glanced at Yunhe and the two others with some surprise, not expecting the Gold Fire Centipede's attack to have been blocked.

But he didn't care much about it.

Because his main target was still Wei Ming.

Or rather, the token in Wei Ming's hand.

He leapt over the three of them.

"Hand over the token, and I might spare your life!"

Wei Ming gritted his teeth, watching the ever‑closer crimson‑gold flames, a flash of ruthlessness crossing his eyes.

His internal mana surged violently.

Seeing this, Xiao Qiyuan's pupils contracted, and he hurriedly said:

"No!"

"Then nobody will have it easy!"

Wei Ming remained unmoved, resolute, and violently spat a mouthful of essence blood onto the token.

The next second.

Under Xiao Qiyuan's ferocious gaze, the token in his hand actually shattered into pieces in an instant.

At the same time, the majestic stone pillar not far away exploded apart!

Actually, when Xiao Qiyuan flew past them, Yunhe and the two others had already been running in the opposite direction, but just as the stone pillar shattered.

The three of them felt the whole world suddenly become extremely quiet.

Yunhe's reaction speed was quick; he immediately took out several talismans and slapped them on himself.

But this tranquility lasted only an extremely brief instant before being filled with a sound like a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar.

Following it came an extremely terrifying shock.

That terrifying shock was like a train slamming hard into their backs, yet it didn't cause them pain; the next instant came an even more irresistible suction.

At that moment.

They only felt the heavens overturned and the earth turned, as if the whole world had been flipped upside down.

The huge commotion passed.

Only a mess remained here, yet no figures.

Several hours later.

"Cough cough—cough cough—wah—"

Yunhe coughed violently twice, spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and only then finally woke up.

Having regained consciousness, he didn't even care about the pain in his body, sat up abruptly, spread out his divine sense, and at the same time lifted his gaze.

The sight before him left him stunned.

Staggering to his feet, he looked at the surrounding broken walls and ruins; it was clearly no longer within the vast forests of Tianling Mountain.

In his mind appeared the scene of Wei Ming detonating the Prison Beast Pillar earlier; after the huge shock came an even more terrifying suction.

After a moment's dazed stare, he again abruptly lifted his head to gaze into the distance.

That was a ruined, majestic great hall.

"Is this... being dragged into a secret realm? The ruins of the Heavenly Insect Sect?"

(End of chapter)