Chapter 29

Clang!

The sword blade quivered and rang.

Under the chilling sword qi, a black-ringed hornet couldn't even pose any obstruction before being cleanly cut in half, split into two.

Yunhe, his fingers formed like a sword, stood in the grass thicket.

"With my cultivation base increased, the power of the 'Gold Control Technique' combined with the Gold Slaughter Sword is also considerably greater."

The 'Gold Control Technique' is originally a middle-tier first-rank technique recorded in the Gold Water Element Classic; although he could use it at the third layer of Qi Refining, to truly display its full power he still needed to reach mid-Qi Refining.

Suddenly, Yunhe changed the hand seal in his hand and flicked his fingers out.

Whoosh—

Water vapor condensed out of thin air, taking the shape of an arrow.

Pop!!

Amidst the suddenly splashing water droplets, another black-ringed hornet fell to the ground at the sound.

"The power of the 'Water Arrow Technique' has also increased, but compared to the change in the 'Gold Control Technique,' it seems somewhat lacking."

As a low-tier first-rank technique, and one that is recorded in many water-attribute cultivation methods, the basics of basics, the limit of the 'Water Arrow Technique' ends here.

It's about time I thought of a way to try learning some new techniques.

Upon entering mid-Qi Refining cultivation base, the range and variety of techniques I can learn have increased considerably.

I just don't know if I can learn the Demon Beast Body's 'Little Thunder Cloud Technique' over.

The Demon Beast Body can employ a demon-modified version of the 'Water Arrow Technique'; theoretically, the Cultivator Body should also be able to learn the Demon Beast Body's 'Little Thunder Cloud Technique'.

Buzz buzz buzz—

Just as Yunhe was pondering, he sensed the black-ringed hornets, whose companions had met misfortune, swarming out of the hive.

The dense sound, the mighty momentum, were enough to scare off most Qi Refining early-stage cultivators.

But evidently, Yunhe, whose cultivation base has now reached the fourth layer of Qi Refining, is not within that range.

Having used a few black-ringed hornets to practice his hands, Yunhe, who had a rough grasp of how his strength changed after his cultivation base breakthrough, swept his palm across his waist.

The spirit insect bag opened.

Instantly, a swarm larger than the opposing black-ringed hornets surged out of the spirit insect bag.

Gazing at the black-ringed hornet the size of a fist opposite them, the Red Pattern Spirit Bees showed their craving for food.

This swarm had in fact already been mostly cleared out by Yunhe leading the Red Pattern Spirit Bees; the swarm now flying out is the entirety of the hive.

It looked fierce, but in Yunhe's eyes it was more like a show of ferocity masking weakness.

Actually, the number of black-ringed hornets originally in this hive was many times greater than that of the first hive he had wiped out.

But no matter how large the hive or how many black-ringed hornets, it could not withstand 'Old Six' leading a group of Red Pattern Spirit Bees each day to sneak attack, sweep, and maliciously hunt.

Under constant consumption, the black-ringed hornet queen's intellect was insufficient to devise a solution; she could only watch as the swarm continually dwindled.

Originally, according to Yunhe's plan, at least another two days were still needed to clear out this hive.

Because of this hive's scale, the queen's strength was bound not to be weak.

Indeed, the facts proved that the queen that later rushed out had strength comparable to a cultivator at the third layer of Qi Refining.

Moreover, with a group of worker bees assisting, even an ordinary mid-Qi Refining cultivator could only temporarily avoid the sharp edge.

But faced with Yunhe, who has now reached mid-Qi Refining and likewise possesses a group of Red Pattern Spirit Bees not weak in strength, he could only resentfully endure this consumption.

Pfft!!

With the queen's downfall.

Without the queen's command, the black-ringed hornets were like headless flies; in battle they had no order, and ultimately were completely wiped out by the combined effort of the Red Pattern Spirit Bees.

And after disposing of all the black-ringed hornets, the hive also gave Yunhe a certain surprise.

He threw several lifeless bee pupae into a wine jar, sealed it tightly, and placed it in the corner of his storage bag.

"This hive is indeed much larger."

It has a full five layers of comb, each layer larger than the hive he first wiped out.

The royal jelly taken from it is nearly half a jar, exuding fragrance in all directions.

Go.

Yunhe cradled the Red Pattern Spirit Bee Queen in his palm, yet directed another nine-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee to lunge at the black-ringed hornet queen's corpse.

Even though the nine-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee initially conveyed hesitation and apprehension, once it began gnawing the queen's corpse, only a strong desire remained.

Nine-pattern.

Through Yunhe's continual attempts and exploration, he has confirmed that a Red Pattern Spirit Bee reaching nine patterns, if it advances further, will formally enter the demon beast tier, becoming a genuine first-stage early demon beast.

And cultivating a male peak that, aside from the queen, reaches the strength level of an early first-stage demon beast is one of his goals during this period.

The purpose is to enable it to match the queen so as to successfully complete mating.

It's not that the queen cannot mate with a male peak that hasn't reached the demon beast tier; rather, following the 'select the superior' principle, Yunhe would rather see what offspring would be produced when a male peak reaching early first-stage mates with the queen.

As long as the royal jelly is not used indiscriminately, it will not affect the queen's status within the swarm.

Now the class division of the Red Pattern Spirit Bee swarm is already quite evident.

Apart from Yunhe, the bee controller who towers over all Red Pattern Spirit Bees including the queen, the queen is the absolute leader of the swarm.

Soon after.

After the nine-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee ate a small half of the black-ringed hornet queen's corpse, it had to stop feeding, shook its head and swayed a few times on the ground, then fell into sleep.

Yunhe could clearly feel that, at this moment, the surging demonic power within the nine-pattern Red Pattern Spirit Bee's body was continually bringing changes to its physique.

"'After it wakes up again, it should be able to successfully break through into a demon beast.'"

Originally, Yunhe, adhering to the principle of not wasting, wanted the queen to dispose of the remaining 'food,' but he received unwilling and disdainful feedback.

He instantly found himself both laughing and crying.

Also, how could the queen eat the leftovers of her subordinates? It was my oversight not to consider thoroughly.

After a brief pondering.

Nor did he force it.

Then let it eat royal jelly.

The corpse of the black-ring hornet queen can be divided among other red-pattern spirit bees, but only the royal jelly is certainly the queen's food.

Having received such an order, the red-pattern spirit bee queen flew out from his palm.

It slowly landed before a small dish of royal jelly and began to savor it carefully.

As for the remaining black-ring hornet queen's corpse, Yunhe selected several seven-pattern and five-pattern red-pattern spirit bees to share it.

Each of them will gain considerable benefit.

As for the remaining ordinary black-ring hornets, Yunhe plans to take them back and let some spirit bees feed on them, prompting them to transform into red-pattern spirit bees.

Now his cultivation base has broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, the Blood Insect Control Technique has also attained minor success, and the upper limit of red-pattern spirit bees he can control has greatly increased.

Although preparations have been made for the queen to lay eggs, egg-laying, hatching, and maturation take time, so he will first supplement some red-pattern spirit bee numbers, then gradually replace them.

When the number of red-pattern spirit bees is increased to the current limit he can control, that will be a hundred!

Even without counting him as a mid-stage cultivator, a hundred red-pattern spirit bees alone, plus a queen with first-stage initial strength and Heroic Peak, are enough to make most mid-stage cultivators suffer greatly.

If the queen's strength could increase a bit more, the swarm's overall strength would also increase somewhat; combined with the minor success of the Insect Battle Formation, even mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators would be forced to drink hatred.

If we add Yunhe. "Qi Refining Sixth Layer, I hope you are a qualified mid-stage cultivator."

Under the moonlight, Yunhe's eyes flashed with a cold light.

He considered himself not a broad-minded person.

Forgiving people is what the Buddha does; what he intends to do is send people to meet the Buddha.

After recalling all the red-pattern spirit bees, he shook his wide robe to conceal his figure, briefly identified the direction, and then headed toward the shanty district.

Huh?

On the way back.

Yunhe, sensing something, stopped his steps and flashed to hide behind a large tree.

Soon, two figures appeared in his sight.

Seeing the two, Yunhe narrowed his eyes.

Extermination Team! This is still the first time he has encountered members of the Extermination Team at night.

"What are they going to do?"

After they departed from in front of him, after a slight hesitation, Yunhe rose and followed them.

Really, we have to run an errand in the middle of the night.

Keep it down!

What's there to fear? Wei Qingfei isn't here.

You! Oh well, hurry up and finish the task and go back; although it's in the safe zone of the market, it's ultimately not absolutely safe.

I've saved it.

The two unconsciously sped up their steps.

Before long, they arrived at a wasteland overgrown with weeds.

One person skillfully took out a stick of incense and lit it; instantly a peculiar aroma spread.

Yunhe, hidden in the darkness, silently watched this scene.

He remembered that nearby there should be a black-ring hornet's nest, which was the location mentioned by one spirit bee farmer when they gathered and complained of hardship.

So they intend to clear out the black-ring hornets? Just relying on two early-stage Qi Refining cultivators? "The hard work is all done by us, while Wei Qingfei sits counting money. I heard he's preparing to buy a top-grade magical artifact."

The wandering cultivator who had complained earlier, while waiting, couldn't help but speak up again.

Didn't they give you any money? Although it's a bit tiring, the earnings are indeed higher than just beekeeping.

The other wandering cultivator, by contrast, appeared much more reasonable.

But his monthly stipend for this month hasn't been paid yet!

That's because this month, many spirit bee farmers have delayed paying the "public fees".

Heh, it's not just because Yunhe is living comfortably, with more people scheming.

The complaining wandering cultivator snorted, with a hint of disdain: "Even if they collect less, it doesn't mean nobody pays; those few take their full share, leaving us only to bitterly wait."

The other wandering cultivator's eyes flickered slightly.

Don't you understand?

Understand what?

Before the other wandering cultivator could answer, both of their expressions simultaneously turned solemn.

Only see, several black-ring hornets were staggering along, following the special fragrance.

However, the two were not panicked.

Just see, the previously complaining wandering cultivator took from his waist belt a special golden net.

Faintly, magical power flowed upon it.

"A magical artifact?" Yunhe's eyes narrowed slightly; his gaze swept over the burning incense on the ground and that net, and he suddenly understood.

No wonder those two early-stage Qi Refining cultivators dared to actively seek trouble with the black-ring hornets.

It turns out they had something to rely on.

These two items are likely specifically designed for dealing with black-ring hornets.

"Quickly extinguish the bee-attracting incense! The golden insect net can at most trap ten black-ring hornets."

Okay!

Having a special Magical Artifact, fewer than ten black-ring hornets cannot cause them too much trouble.

Ah—

After completing the task, the two of them exhaled in unison.

At that moment, another loose cultivator said slowly: "Do you know who Wei Qingfei is preparing to buy a high-grade Magical Artifact from?"

Who?

Another loose cultivator cautiously scanned the surroundings.

A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, Lei Er!

The complaining loose cultivator's eyes widened, and he exclaimed.

The second brother of the Lei brothers?! He actually hooked up with this line. But the Lei brothers aren't they wanted rogue cultivators?

Silence!

Is this something we can control? If you want to earn the Extermination Team's Spirit Stones, just obediently do your own job.

After a pause, he then spoke again about this mission itself.

Tonight's hornet hunting isn't just us two; wait until tomorrow, we will definitely give that Daoist Yun a 'surprise'! By then, hey.

Hehe.

The two exchanged a smile.

(End of chapter)