Chapter 206: Just Some Low-Level Creatures!

"Yes, yes!" Xiao Qing swung her legs excitedly, the tree leaves rustling with her movements. "But I think it could be even more spectacular. Benefactor, there must be even more impressive scenes coming up, right?" Her eyes sparkled with anticipation.

Lin Xuan smiled lightly, his gaze revealing a hint of profound meaning: "A good show is always progressive. Now, let us see how the others perform."

Meanwhile, in a small alley on the west side of Biyou Village, a more tragic battle was unfolding. Lao Meng stood in the center of the alley; under the moonlight, his action of pushing up his glasses appeared exceptionally composed. Yet, beneath this composure lay a heart-palpitating power.

Countless insects formed one eerie offensive after another under his control. Spears made of bees thrust forward, ants surged like a black tide, and butterflies coalesced into hallucinatory light and shadow to interfere with vision; every type of insect exerted its maximum combat effectiveness under his command.

"Do you think these low-level creatures can threaten me?" Qiu Rang sneered repeatedly, the jade thumb ring and gilded ruyi in his hands flipping constantly, carving brilliant arcs under the moonlight. The Qi emitted by the two Dharma Artifacts formed a perfect protective shield, appearing as solid as a fortress.

However, Lao Meng's offensive was far more terrifying than it appeared on the surface. Those seemingly chaotic insect attacks hid mysteries; every strike was like a meticulously designed chess game, advancing step by step, leaving one unable to defend against it.

"Is this the strength of what you call a Root Vessel?" Lao Meng said softly, his voice still maintaining that characteristic humility. "Actually, you should understand that the strength of one's power is never decided by mere words."

This sentence completely enraged Qiu Rang. The pride of being a Root Vessel did not allow him to be lectured by someone he viewed as a "lower-class person." Gritting his teeth, he urged his Dharma Artifacts, his Qi momentum surging: "I will let you know what true power is!"

Yet at this moment, he suddenly discovered a terrifying fact—his own Qi was draining away at an eerie speed. Those seemingly chaotic insect swarms had woven themselves into an invisible net, and every single insect was absorbing his Qi with a weak but continuous force.

"Impossible! I don't believe this is a method belonging to a Beast Master!" Qiu Rang roared, the jade thumb ring and gilded ruyi in his hands emitting a dazzling light. His voice carried a trace of unwillingness; the pride of a Root Vessel did not allow him to admit defeat just like that.

Moonlight spilled onto the battlefield. Qiu Rang's figure was as fast as lightning, and the two Dharma Artifacts were like swimming dragons in his hands, every attack containing a lethal threat. His combat techniques were nearly perfect, every movement meticulously calculated, with a fatal opportunity hidden within the seemingly chaotic offensive.

"Why risk your life?" Lao Meng sighed softly, his voice still carrying that characteristic humility. His insect swarm formed one eerie defensive line after another under the moonlight, yet they always maintained a certain distance, as if deliberately avoiding causing fatal harm.

On a rooftop, Lin Xuan observed the battle quietly, the moonlight plating his figure with a faint silver glow. Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing sat on either side of him, likewise watching the battle below with focus.

"Why do I feel like this Lao Meng is hiding his strength?" Xiao Qing said, tilting her head, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "His insect swarm could clearly attack more fiercely, so why do they always stop at the limit?"

Xiao Bai analyzed earnestly: "The strangest thing is that I cannot feel any killing intent from Lao Meng. Even though it is a life-or-death struggle, he has maintained that gentle attitude throughout."

"This man, Lao Meng," Lin Xuan said softly, his gaze carrying a hint of profound meaning, "is indeed hiding his true strength."

"Has Benefactor seen his true strength?" Xiao Qing asked excitedly, clearly full of curiosity about this mysterious Beast Master.

Lin Xuan shook his head: "No. But to have survived this long in the cracks between various factions, it is clearly not as simple as it appears on the surface."

On the battlefield, Qiu Rang's attacks became increasingly fierce. He had already sensed that something was wrong—those seemingly chaotic insect swarms had unknowingly formed a massive encirclement, and every single insect was absorbing his Qi with a weak but continuous force.

"Are you playing with me?" Qiu Rang roared, the light of his two Dharma Artifacts suddenly surging. "Since you refuse to be serious, then let me force you to reveal your true colors!"

Yet at this moment, Lao Meng's expression suddenly changed. The gaze beneath those plain glasses became exceptionally sharp, as if a predator had finally bared its fangs.

"Since you insist on this," Lao Meng said softly, pushing up his glasses, "then let me show you another one of my methods."

As soon as he finished speaking, the seemingly scattered insect swarm suddenly coalesced, transforming into a massive net. Tens of thousands of insects exerted force simultaneously; they were no longer just consuming, but erupting with astonishing absorption power in an instant.

"This is...!" Qiu Rang's pupils constricted violently as he felt the Qi within his body draining at a terrifying speed. He desperately urged his Dharma Artifacts to try and break free, only to find that every bit of his power was being dismantled by these tiny creatures.

"Why?" Qiu Rang roared unwillingly. "Why is it like this? I am the Root Vessel most valued by the Sect Leader!"

"Because," Lao Meng's voice remained gentle, "you care too much about these superficial statuses and positions, yet you have ignored the essence of power. Every life has its unique value; the key lies in how one understands and utilizes it."

Finally, Qiu Rang collapsed heavily to the ground, his two Dharma Artifacts dim and lusterless. He looked at Lao Meng's back, his heart shaken for the first time. Perhaps the perceptions he had insisted upon all along were themselves a prejudice.

On the rooftop, Xiao Qing said with some regret: "Still didn't get to see Lao Meng's true strength."

"It was already very spectacular," Xiao Bai said. "This kind of near-perfect control itself explains many things."

Lin Xuan nodded thoughtfully: "Sometimes, true power does not lie in destructive force, but in how one utilizes that power. Lao Meng has achieved the most perfect control."

Lao Meng stood under the moonlight and suddenly stopped. The insect swarm circled around him, forming an invisible warning net. He pushed up his glasses, the lenses reflecting the cold moonlight: "Since you have all arrived, why not show yourselves?"

Although it seemed like a casual invitation, Lao Meng was secretly vigilant. He could sense that the three auras were extraordinary, especially the young man among them; his mere presence caused his insect swarm to feel an instinctive fear.