Chapter 442

Yunhe always maintained sufficient vigilance.

Facing a monster that had lived for thousands of years, even if its condition was abnormal, he dared not be the slightest bit careless.

As for the question posed by the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor, Yunhe's answer was very simple.

"Intuition."

The known conditions he possessed were extremely limited, yet relying on these limited conditions, plus his reasonable speculation and empathy, he arrived at an answer he himself could not be certain of.

Nevertheless, it didn't matter; his answer received affirmation from the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's reaction.

"Intuition?"

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor startled, gave a soft chuckle, but then said nothing more.

After all, he too was a cultivator and knew just how keen a cultivator's intuition could be.

Immediately afterward, his voice hoarse, he said: "Your guess, the result isn't much of a problem."

"I, the Old Ancestor, was indeed careless back then, acting too hastily; after refining the Heavenly Corpse Gu into my life-gu Gu, its original mother gu still retained some influence, and through the Heavenly Corpse Gu it indirectly affected me."

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor continued: "I originally indeed considered seizing the Heavenly Corpse Gu, hoping to be reborn through the gu."

However, he never gave up cultivating the Gold-Wing Eight-Winged Bees; their strength grew slowly, but it was not without growth.

Because he had formed another speculation.

However, the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor did not answer immediately, but spoke with a hint of reminiscence:

"Back then, the refinement of the 'Heavenly Corpse Gu' was not undertaken solely by me; it also involved my great-grandson, who, like me, was a mid Nascent Soul cultivator and Supreme Elder of the Insect Sect—Daoist Xuanfeng."

"However, the process of possession was not initiated by me."

This somewhat exceeded Yunhe's understanding.

The original mother gu of the Heavenly Corpse Gu, and its current offspring gu, are separated by one layer; adding that the Corpse Soul Gu consumes the offspring gu adds another layer—how could that mother gu still influence the Corpse Soul Gu?!

It is obvious that the original mother gu of the Heavenly Corpse Gu is an upper-realm entity; even with planar barriers, its strength is certainly not something the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor can match, making the Heavenly Corpse Gu a hidden danger to him.

But this would inevitably inflict heavy damage on the bee swarm.

Nevertheless, they ultimately underestimated the Heavenly Corpse Gu and its abilities.

Daoist Xuanfeng?

Is that where the problem lies in the process?

But the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's mention of 'Daoist Xuanfeng' also reminded him of his own spirit bees.

It is said that he possesses a special group of spirit bees, extremely numerous; when all released, even a late Nascent Soul cultivator would not lack the strength to fight.

This led Yunhe to think of the 'Thousand Extension Bees' that have a certain restraining effect on the Heavenly Corpse Gu.

For gu insects, whether the host or the mother gu holds the initiative depends on the relative strength of the two.

And Daoist Xuanfeng was the strongest person in the Insect Sect at that time for controlling spirit insects.

If he were to fully release his bee swarm, he could barely muster strength to entangle with an early Nascent Soul cultivator for a moment or two.

And the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor continued his narration: "The Heavenly Corpse Gu did indeed affect me, but my great-grandson Daoist Xuanfeng and I were not entirely without precautions."

He raised his head somewhat in astonishment.

Given Yunhe's current strength, there is indeed no need to use the Gold-Wing Eight-Winged Bees against an opponent.

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor gave another eerie smile, but did not delve further into this topic, causing Yunhe's heart to sink.

Result?

The Insect Sect, whose inherited technique is the 'Thousand Gu Myriad Insects Art,' actually had more cultivators who controlled insects than those who specialized in gu at that time.

How did the Heavenly Corpse Gu bring about the downfall of the Insect Sect?

This is the greatest drawback of hastily refining the offspring gu into a new mother gu.

In his storage bag today, he still keeps the dead eggs of the 'Thousand Extension Bees,' originally intended to aid his spirit bees' metamorphosis, but in recent years the transformation of his Gold-Wing Eight-Winged Bees has been slow, as if he has reached a special bottleneck in his eyes, leading him to gradually shift his cultivation efforts toward the higher-potential Corpse Soul Gu.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's heart stirred, and he asked urgently: "Could it be the Heavenly Corpse Gu?"

Yunhe's heart jolted violently.

That guy.

Does it refer to the original mother gu of the Heavenly Corpse Gu?

Being able to influence the lower realm from the upper realm, its strength is beyond doubt.

Among these is sealing the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor in this place, and having the formation's prohibition block the Heavenly Corpse Gu from freely entering and exiting this location.

Yunhe simply searched his memory for all the information he had gathered over the years about the former Insect Sect, and quickly came to a realization.

And the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor suddenly, as if stimulated, widened his eyes, his eyes filling with blood, his visage ferocious as he growled:

If consuming the Heavenly Corpse Gu also brings an influence, then that becomes possible.

They devised a series of preventive measures.

And.

"That guy is strong! Terrifying!"

But the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor then suddenly laughed like a madman: "Heh heh—your courage isn't small either, daring to let your gu insects devour the offspring of the Heavenly Corpse Gu."

It is obvious that Daoist Xuanfeng's ability to oppose a late Nascent Soul great cultivator with his spirit bees must stem from some peculiarity of his bee swarm.

Yunhe remained silent.

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor clearly suffered a deeper influence from the Heavenly Corpse Gu than he and Daoist Xuanfeng had imagined; thus the entire Insect Sect paid the price of annihilation.

After hearing the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's account, Yunhe knew he certainly still concealed many things, such as his present condition, but Yunhe also knew he could not possibly reveal everything; having such an answer is already quite a good result, at least resolving many of his doubts.

"I still have one doubt."

"The Old Ancestor knows what you want to ask, but after answering so many of your questions, shouldn't you also show some sincerity?"

Yunhe hesitated not, forming a seal with one hand.

"I swear by my inner demon that, upon obtaining the continuation of the 'Thousand Gu Myriad Insects Art' and confirming there are no unknown dangers in the breeding chamber, I will go down to lift the seal of the formation's prohibition."

In his words, there likewise exists much room for "operation".

The Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor naturally knows, but just as Yunhe did not expose him, he likewise will not expose Yunhe.

This is an unspoken understanding among Yuan Ying Cultivators.

As a Yuan Ying Cultivator, how could one possibly truly leave oneself enough lethal restraints and shackles?

If one truly does this, it is no different from declaring war on the other.

But such a heart-demon oath already suffices to show sincerity.

Therefore, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor, after a brief pondering, again spoke slowly:

"Just as you thought, there is only one Heavenly Corpse Insect, but in a desperate situation it underwent 'division'."

"Division?"

"This is one of its abilities; even I, the Old Ancestor, originally did not know it. In any case, the final result is that it left behind most of its body and a small portion of its consciousness here, and relying on its frail body and the majority of its consciousness, it escaped this stone chamber." This is the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's final answer.

Yunhe fell into contemplation.

A small portion of consciousness and most of the body?

He looked at the insect cauldron in the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's hand without changing expression, lowering his gaze.

It seems the Heavenly Corpse Insect decisively "cut off its wrist like a brave warrior", leaving most of its body to the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor who had seized it.

But to speak frankly.

Not having obtained the Heavenly Corpse Insect's memory inheritance, he merely gained a body that cannot be freely controlled, and possibly even contains many restrictions left by the Heavenly Corpse Insect, so the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's usable ability is extremely limited.

After all, there is a difference between humans and insects.

Even if one succeeds in seizing a body with secret arts, one cannot become a true Heavenly Corpse Insect.

Otherwise, when any Yuan Ying Cultivator's lifespan is about to end, wouldn't they just go find a powerful insect, or even seek a long-lived demon beast to possess?

Yunhe even suspects that the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's choice to seize the Heavenly Corpse Insect might, in some sense, be due to the insect's bewitching influence, and doing so would let the Heavenly Corpse Insect free itself from the shackles of its "natal insect" and gain freedom.

However, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's current state is probably also why so many Heavenly Corpse Insects and insects within the Heavenly Insect Sect are dazed and confused.

"If so, then for the Heavenly Corpse Insect to advance further, reclaiming its original body is necessary; and for the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor to truly become an insect with limitless potential, finding the Heavenly Corpse Insect is inevitable."

This seems like the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor answering Yunhe, but in fact it is also the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor conveying his willingness to cooperate in another way.

Since Yunhe wants to deal with the Heavenly Corpse Insect, and he also wants to deal with it, why not join forces?

Although, in Yunhe's view, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor is likewise completely untrustworthy.

"Alright, that's all you wanted to know. Now it's also time for you to do what you should do."

The Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor threw out a metal tablet, on which were recorded the sixth and seventh levels of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret.

Yunhe received the metal tablet and let out a long sigh of relief in his heart.

Finally.

He had obtained what he needed.

As for whether there is any danger in the pit beneath the restriction, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor clearly stated that as one who has cultivated to the fourth level of the Myriad Insects and Myriad Worms Secret and possesses a Fourth Level Insect, Yunhe, if in the Heavenly Insect Sect's heyday, would be sufficient to become a sect elder second only to him and the Mysterious Bee Daoist, and also has sufficient qualification to enter there, and there will certainly be no danger.

This statement was made under the guarantee of the heart-demon oath, so it is naturally considered relatively trustworthy.

However, Yunhe still very carefully and cautiously used his own methods to conduct an investigation, and only after confirming there truly was no problem did he really enter.

And watching Yunhe disappear before his eyes, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's face involuntarily showed a smile.

Yunhe, having entered the pit, found that indeed, as the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor said, there was no danger at all.

Even after obtaining from the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor a portion of the formation implements for controlling the Heavenly Insect Sect's formation restrictions, he found no difficulty at all in figuring out how to undo the formation's restrictions.

Although the Heavenly Insect Sect's formations are extremely profound, comparable to fifth-level formations, but as a Fourth Level Formation Master, with the formation implements in hand, he is also sufficient to preside over this formation.

However, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor clearly had reservations; the formation implements he gave Yunhe can only drive and control a portion of the formations, and are insufficient to preside over all the restrictions within the Heavenly Insect Sect.

But evidently the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor did not expect that Yunhe is also a formation master, and moreover a formation master with considerable formation Dao attainment.

If one were to make a comparison, the Heavenly Insect Sect's formation also has a considerable gap compared to the Twelve Heavenly Stars Grand Formation.

Thus Yunhe likewise kept his guard up.

His agreement with the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor extends only to the moment the formation restrictions are lifted; if at that time the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor turns hostile and drives the entire Heavenly Insect Sect's formation against him, he would still feel quite troubled.

Therefore, Yunhe, who could originally break the formation instantly, deliberately delayed some time so as to leave some countermeasures within this formation, lest he be completely passive.

Moreover, if the Heavenly Insect Sect's grand formation were intact, given Yunhe's formation Dao attainment it might still be hard to find a flaw, but since the formation here is already damaged, finding one or two shortcomings for him is not difficult.

After a long while.

Boom—!!

Accompanied by a dull sound, the entire stone chamber began to shake.

Feeling the suppression of the formation and restrictions dissipating, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's face inside the stone chamber involuntarily showed a look of ecstasy.

Having been trapped for so long, after such a lengthy time, he is finally about to break free!

In the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's eyes, besides intense excitement and joy, there is also a gleam that he can hardly restrain, almost beast-like ferocity.

However, the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor pinched a seal with both hands, suppressing that ferocity, and his expression gradually returned to calm.

But soon the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's face could not restrain rising anger.

Because he discovered that the restriction here actually halted at the very moment it was about to be completely undone!

"Junior!!" the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor roared.

And Yunhe leisurely flew out from the pit, pressed down with his hand, and seemingly soothingly said: "Senior, please stay calm; this formation will at most take half a month to be completely undone."

He had promised to help undo the formation, but he had not precisely stated when he would undo it.

At the same time he explained: "After all, I, the junior, also need to leave myself some leeway."

Yunhe estimated that not long after he leaves, the Heavenly Corpse Insect will arrive.

Perhaps even at this very moment the Heavenly Corpse Insect is already near the ruins of the Heavenly Insect Sect, slightly hindering the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor's escape, giving him a chance to witness the showdown between this "old master and servant" pair of the Heavenly Corpse Insect and the Heavenly Insect Old Ancestor.

Cooperate with the Heavenly Corpse Insect?

Cooperate with the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor?

In Yunhe's view, none are acceptable.

Better to first see how they fight, then decide.

You!!

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's eyes were about to burst.

He, who has become a refined old man, naturally knew that the changes in this place's restrictions would surely not escape the perception of the Earth Corpse Gu.

By then, still not having escaped the predicament, and his condition not yet at its best, he doubted whether he could be a match for the Earth Corpse Gu.

Yunhe, however, smiled and performed a salute, then turned and walked toward the outside of the stone gate.

Behind him came the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's voice, shouting angrily.

But just as Yunhe was about to step out of the stone gate.

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor's angry shouting ceased abruptly.

The next moment.

Yunhe's heart jolted in shock, the hair on his body stood on end, and before he could even turn, a tremendous surge of magical power welled up within him.

But the attack originating from the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor was not of a substantial nature!

Heh heh! Finally I've waited for you to let down your guard!

(End of chapter)