Chapter 53

The next day, early morning.

After Lu Zhangsheng finished breakfast, he prepared to explore the Cangyun Mountain Range again.

His gains during this period had slowed down significantly, presumably because something had happened to the ant colony.

Coupled with the urgent need for Source Energy Points, he had to take action again.

Now both sides in the county city were secretly competing, and no one knew when a great war would break out, so he had to improve his strength as soon as possible.

Then he separated a wisp of consciousness and entered the pangolin's body.

The surroundings were still that cave, but it was much larger than it had been two months ago.

The ground was full of ant eggs, dense and numerous, and a strange smell permeated the air.

Many Blazing Fire Ants were guarding outside the cave, while the queen ant lay quietly in the center of the cave.

Lu Zhangsheng looked at the exotic eggs on the ground that showed no signs of hatching and was somewhat puzzled.

These Blazing Fire Ants were a mutated variety, and the hatching time was about two months.

After he used Source Energy Points to make the queen ant lay eggs, those eggs had not hatched.

"Could it be that they need some specific location?"

"Or is the temperature here not suitable?"

Lu Zhangsheng knew that these Blazing Fire Ants were fire-attribute creatures, and the temperature here was not high, much lower than in the original mountain body.

After all, this place was just something he had found casually.

Thinking of this, Lu Zhangsheng prepared to take action immediately.

After these days of exploration, he had already figured out most of the nearby areas.

About thirty miles to the east of this place was a volcano, where the temperature was quite high; presumably, the environment there should be suitable for the exotic ant eggs to hatch.

He prepared to take the ant colony with him; if there were exotic beasts at the volcano, he would also have a helper.

Then Lu Zhangsheng ordered the queen ant to lead the colony to collect the ant eggs, and then they marched toward the outside of the cave in a grand manner.

Along the way, they formed a long ant tide, orderly and well-organized.

In less than half an hour, Lu Zhangsheng led the ant colony to the edge of the volcano.

He first found a cave to settle the queen ant and the ant eggs, and then ordered the queen ant to investigate the situation at the volcano.

"Chi chi chi..."

Before long, a Blazing Fire Ant crawled into the cave, its legs broken, and its aura greatly diminished.

Soon, Lu Zhangsheng received a message from the queen ant in his mind.

"There are other exotic beasts at the volcano?"

This discovery made Lu Zhangsheng frown; one mountain cannot tolerate two tigers, and he intended to use this volcano as a base for cultivating the ant colony in the future, so naturally, he could not tolerate the existence of other exotic beasts.

He had to completely wipe them out.

However, Lu Zhangsheng did not act recklessly but kept letting the ant colony go to scout.

After several days of exploration, he found that there were no traces of third-tier or higher exotic beasts in the outer area for the time being.

Most of them were second-tier and first-tier exotic beasts, with a second-tier exotic beast called the Fire-Armored Scorpion being the most numerous.

As a second-tier exotic beast, this scorpion was also fire-attribute and lived in groups, which was almost a natural enemy to the ant tribe.

Most importantly, there was a kind of fire-attribute ore at the volcano, which contained energy and could promote the growth of the Fire-Armored Scorpions.

This discovery made Lu Zhangsheng very happy.

He happened to be lacking Source Energy Points.

As long as he wiped out all the exotic beast colonies within the volcano range, those energy ores would be his for the taking.

After figuring out the details, Lu Zhangsheng led the ant tribe toward the volcano.

Soon, he arrived at the eastern part of the volcano, under a giant rock.

Suddenly, a fire-red crystal in front of him caught his attention.

He quickly stepped forward and extended his sharp claws to dig it out.

【Inferior Fire Crystal Stone】 (Too many impurities, cannot be absorbed).

Note: Ore containing fire-attribute energy, can stimulate the potential of fire-attribute creatures.

Sensing the panel prompt, Lu Zhangsheng's expression stirred slightly.

This kind of ore was simply tailor-made for the ant tribe.

If they occupied this place for a long time, the Blazing Fire Ants would definitely rise rapidly.

It would also be of great benefit to his future exploration of the mountain forest.

He had to take this place.

However, it was not easy to occupy this large volcano.

Since there were such crystals inside, presumably those Fire-Armored Scorpions were definitely not weak after long-term consumption.

A third-tier scorpion king was highly likely to exist.

Lu Zhangsheng decided to occupy a small area first, and then slowly advance.

Then, he led the queen ant and marched toward the volcano in a grand manner.

The further they went, the hotter the air became.

Everywhere around were mountain rocks, bare and empty.

Half an hour later, Lu Zhangsheng found a rock crevice and settled the ant tribe.

This place was just on the outskirts of the volcano, suitable for a temporary foothold. Afterwards, Lu Zhangsheng began to explore, moving along the rock wall in front.

After the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

Suddenly, a flash of red light appeared before his eyes.

"Something's up?"

He immediately dashed out and arrived at the location of the anomaly.

He saw a large cluster of fire-red crystals embedded in the rock wall, with bursts of red light flickering in the void.

"It's Fire Crystal Stone, and it's relatively pure."

Having made a discovery, Lu Zhangsheng's expression was full of joy.

He immediately waved his sharp claws and dug out a piece.

"Unknown energy sensed, absorb?"

In his mind, a crisp prompt sounded.

"Absorb."

"Source Energy Points +1."

Seeing the changes on the panel, Lu Zhangsheng immediately began to take action.

He waved his sharp claws and quickly dug frantically at the rock wall.

"Source Energy Points +1."

"Source Energy Points +1."

……

……

Under his powerful sharp claws, the rock wall in front was like a block of tofu, collapsing one after another.

Each piece of Fire Crystal Stone was absorbed by him.

Before long, this place was dug clean.

Source Energy Points: 36.

Looking at the numbers on the panel, Lu Zhangsheng immediately felt joy in his heart.

At this volcano, there were probably quite a few such crystals.

This also strengthened his determination to occupy this place.

For the next few hours.

Lu Zhangsheng had been exploring nearby, and his gains were not small.

The Source Energy Points in his hand increased by another 20.

Reaching as many as 56 points.

Under a rock wall, just as Lu Zhangsheng finished digging a piece of Fire Crystal Stone and was about to leave, a sudden change occurred.

Dozens of Fire-Armored Scorpions came charging toward Lu Zhangsheng in a grand manner.

Each one was the size of half a millstone, their tail needles flashing with black light, full of evil energy.

"So many second-tier exotic beasts?"

Lu Zhangsheng's expression stirred slightly; there were probably more than one third-tier scorpion king in the other party's colony.

These Fire-Armored Scorpion colonies were much stronger than the Blazing Fire Ants he had subdued.

However, with his current third-tier strength, it was unlikely to dominate the scorpion king.

Then Lu Zhangsheng charged directly, waving his sharp claws and slamming them fiercely toward the scorpion colony in front.

"Bang, bang, bang..."

One Fire-Armored Scorpion after another died under his sharp claws, without the slightest power to resist.

The gap in strength between the second-tier and the third-tier was an insurmountable chasm.

Before long, this group of Fire-Armored Scorpions was completely wiped out by him.

The ground was covered with dark green juice, a complete mess.

For the next few days.

Lu Zhangsheng explored the volcano, collected Fire Crystal Stones, and killed the incoming Fire-Armored Scorpions, and the days were very fulfilling.

Four days later.

Under a rock wall.

Lu Zhangsheng lay on a giant rock.

Open the panel.

Source Energy Points: 102.

This was his gain over the past few days, and the resources in his hand had broken through a hundred again, which made him quite happy.

However, the outermost periphery of the entire volcano had been swept clean by him.

During this period, he also encountered many second-tier Fire-Armored Scorpions, all of which were killed by him.

If he went further inside, he would highly likely encounter a third-tier scorpion king.

However, there were probably more Fire Crystal Stones inside.

(End of chapter)