Demonic Cultivator(287-292)

Chapter 287: The Disciple Becomes the Master

After Shi Juntian's departure, Wei Ji and Liu Ruoshui returned to their respective bases at Gold Thunder Mountain and Flying Thunder Valley. Chu Xuan, alongside Wan Hun, headed back to the Yin Soul Mountain Range.

Chu Xuan chose not to take a Hidden Bee on Shi Juntian, mindful of not antagonizing the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, especially since he had already complicated relations with the Reincarnation Divine Church. Adding another powerful enemy to his list would make his path forward significantly more difficult.

Upon returning to Heisha Peak, Chu Xuan immediately secluded himself in his cultivation chamber. He connected his mind with the Mirror, casting a thread of his consciousness into the cave world to check on the young man he had not monitored for some time. Now that he had a moment to spare, he was curious about his progress.

Calculating the time, Chu Xuan figured that with the time dilation between Mystic Azure and the cave world, a considerable amount of time must have passed there. When he last left, Xiao Huo was just fifteen and had just opened his Insect Orifice. With forty-two years having passed in the cave world, Xiao Huo would now be in his late fifties. Normally, he should have already advanced to at least a Silver Insect Master.

Curious about Xiao Huo's progress and whether he had access to better cultivation methods, Chu Xuan decided to observe him directly.

...

In the Fire Ant Tribe's spacious and comfortably appointed learning hall, the youths sat neatly on their seats covered with soft furs, designed to facilitate their learning in the most comfortable manner. Embedded pearls in the ceiling emitted a soft glow, illuminating the red-bricked room.

Among the group of teenagers was a notably younger child, around seven or eight years old, whose presence was particularly striking due to his age. At the front of the room, a robust middle-aged man with flecks of gray in his hair was lecturing on the specifics of cultivating fire ants.

"...Fire ants thrive in warm, humid environments, so we must also be mindful of our diets, ensuring our Insect Orifices maintain similar conditions," the instructor explained, outlining how such care could accelerate the ants' growth.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but chuckle as he recognized the instructor. It was Xiao Huo, now grown and teaching the next generation. Over forty years had transformed the once young listener into a knowledgeable teacher, passing on his learning and experiences.

A moment later, he suddenly inquired, "Who can tell me, what is the Fire Ant's favorite food?"

The youths looked at each other, uncertain.

A young man, bearing a resemblance to Xiao Huo, eagerly raised his hand and exclaimed, "I know, it's mealworms!"

"Black mealworms, yellow mealworms, gray mealworms... in short, they adore all kinds of mealworms. They also favor the Gray Ground Worm, though not as passionately as they do mealworms."

Xiao Huo nodded with a smile, "Indeed, it seems Xiao Yan has absorbed everything I've taught. You should all strive to learn from Xiao Yan, have you heard?"

"We have!" the youths responded loudly.

However, Chu Xuan noticed that some youths were rather reluctant as they spoke. Especially a few among them, whose gazes towards Xiao Yan were filled with envy.

Outside the window, the elderly patriarch, Lie Xiu, sighed lightly upon witnessing this scene. His face bore both joy and concern.

Xiao Huo's grandson, Xiao Yan, now seven, possessed a talent even more profound than Xiao Huo's. At three, he had independently awakened an Insect Orifice. By fifteen, he would surely open even more Insect Orifices.

Xiao Huo often called on Xiao Yan to answer questions, yet seldom did he ask Lie Yong's grandson, Lie Ting. The reason was the deepening rift between Xiao Huo and Lie Yong.

Since Xiao Huo's son, in the prime of his life, had died under mysterious circumstances, the discord had grown irreconcilable. Both Xiao Huo and Lie Yong were now Silver Insect Masters, pillars of the Fire Ant Tribe.

Lie Xiu had exhausted every effort to reconcile the two Silver Insect Masters. He strived to prevent their conflict from escalating further.

Yet, he always felt that Xiao Yan might also face ostracism from other youths in the tribe. Just like Xiao Huo had, over forty years ago. Ultimately, it led to an uncontrollable disaster.

This was not a good omen.

At that moment, a figure approached Lie Xiu.

"Patriarch, the Fifth Elder has left the tribe again, heading east."

Lie Xiu's gaze darkened.

The Fifth Elder, Lie Hei, had been leaving the tribe frequently. Reports had reached him that Lie Hei was secretly meeting with an Insect Master from the Rock Ant Tribe.

The Rock Ant Tribe and the Fire Ant Tribe were located in adjacent caves. The Rock Ant Tribe coveted the fertile cave occupied by the Fire Ant Tribe, often harassing them and stealing resources.

Over the years, the two tribes had accrued many disputes and grievances. Even Silver Insect Masters had perished. Efforts by the Thunder Ant Tribe to mediate had been futile.

If Lie Hei was indeed in contact with an Insect Master from the Rock Ant Tribe, it would suggest a betrayal. This was something Lie Xiu could not tolerate.

In his heart, the Fire Ant Tribe was paramount. Lie Xiu wanted proof, yet it eluded him. Because Lie Hei's son was Lie Yong, a Silver Insect Master of the Fire Ant Tribe.

Without evidence, even as Patriarch, Lie Xiu could not easily move against Lie Hei. This time, Lie Xiu planned to take some of his confidants and personally investigate.

If Lie Hei was wronged, he would clear his name. If Lie Hei truly conspired with the enemy, he would capture him and bring him before the tribe for trial!

The lesson concluded.

Xiao Huo took a sip of water, and his grandson rushed to his side.

"Grandfather, I answered all your questions. Am I not very smart?" Xiao Yan asked, his large eyes twinkling.

Xiao Huo laughed heartily, "Clever! My grandson is certainly clever! Come, let's go home for dinner."

He took his grandson's hand and strode out of the classroom.

Xiao Huo always carried a fragment of the Mirror, allowing Chu Xuan to see the current state of the Fire Ant Tribe through him.

"It's been over forty years, and it seems there's been little change."

Chu Xuan shook his head. The tribal structure in this cave world was overly rigid. Among the surrounding smaller tribes, the Fire Ant Tribe was considered the elite.

It was unlikely to be easily overthrown by other tribes. No change was more normal than this.

"However... the tribe does seem to have its fair share of people missing arms and legs."

Chu Xuan pondered.

Looking around, he saw many disabilities. They all appeared to be the result of yao insect bites.

Thump.

A ball rolled from a distance, gently hitting Xiao Yan's foot. Two timid children stood in place, daring only to watch from afar, not approaching.

Chu Xuan glanced at them and noticed they too bore injuries. Likely victims of yao insect attacks. A flash of anger crossed Xiao Yan's eyes, swiftly masked.

However, Chu Xuan saw it all very clearly.

Chapter 288: A Small Territory, Many Troubles

At that moment, a figure hastened to Xiao Huo's side, whispering into his ear. Xiao Huo furrowed his brow, and after a long moment, he gently patted Xiao Yan's head. "Yan'er, Grandfather has urgent business to attend to, you'll need to go home alone."

"Alright, Grandfather, please be careful," Xiao Yan replied obediently.

Xiao Huo, accompanied by an Insect Master, quickly departed from the Fire Ant Tribe.

Chu Xuan looked back. He saw Xiao Huo's grandson, Xiao Yan, now astride a smaller child, pummeling him relentlessly.

Chu Xuan couldn't help but shake his head.

The child beside them, obviously intimidated by Xiao Huo's stature, dared not retaliate against Xiao Yan. The boy could only suffer Xiao Yan's bullying. Clearly, Xiao Huo's discipline over his grandson was lacking.

However, Chu Xuan's concern was not with the bullied child. His attention was drawn to the looming crisis within the Fire Ant Tribe. He had overheard Xiao Huo's conversation with his subordinates clearly.

Patriarch Lie Xiu was tracking Fifth Elder Lie Hei, seeking proof of his collusion with the Rock Ant Tribe. However, Lie Hei had discovered them.

In a desperate move, Lie Hei had joined forces with an Insect Master from the Rock Ant Tribe, attempting to assassinate Lie Xiu in the wilderness.

Now, Lie Xiu and his men were ensnared in a deadly encirclement. As one of the few Silver Insect Masters within the tribe, Xiao Huo naturally had to rush to the rescue. Without a second thought, he immediately led his loyal followers to the scene.

"The territory isn't large, but the troubles certainly are. Though I can't participate, I can still enjoy the spectacle."

Chu Xuan suddenly felt as if he were merely an observer, watching a plot unfold in a game.

Moments later.

Xiao Huo, with a dozen devoted followers, arrived at the scene. Many Insect Masters and yao insects lay dead. The rocks and soil were stained with fresh blood.

Lie Xiu, protected by two loyal followers, took refuge in a cave, barely holding off the attacks.

"Lie Hei! You heartless traitor, colluding with the enemy to attack your own patriarch!" Xiao Huo roared as he led his followers into the fray.

Lie Hei, now frenzied with rage, bellowed, "Xiao Huo, you've come at the right time, I've longed to kill you!"

"Brother, this one's yours! I'll continue dealing with that old man!" said a Rock Ant Tribe Insect Master with a sinister grin.

"Rest assured, this one's mine," he replied with a slap of his hand.

Two giant ants, each over two meters long, appeared before him. Their fierce, sharp mandibles gleamed menacingly. Their bodies were covered in thick, stony carapaces—hence the name Rock Ants.

Xiao Huo's gaze turned icy, "It's you, Shi Wu. You've tried to assassinate me time and again. Today, we settle all scores, old and new!"

As the scion of the Fire Ant Tribe, he had naturally been a prime target of the Rock Ant Tribe.

Shi Wu, a Silver Insect Master, had repeatedly attempted his life. Once, his heart had nearly been pierced by Shi Wu.

Fortunately, he always carried the shard of the mirror. The shard, incredibly hard, had blocked the lethal stab and saved his life.

Xiao Huo growled. A Fire Ant and a Black-Backed Ant appeared one after the other, charging at the Rock Ants.

Xiao Huo and Shi Wu, their eyes cold, drew daggers and entwined in combat.

Chu Xuan extended his senses, finding that the battles among the other Insect Masters were similarly fierce.

"Their Insect Orifices are quite intriguing, seemingly infused with the power of space, allowing them to shrink yao insects and store them within," Chu Xuan remarked, amazed.

This must be a unique physiological feature of the cave dwellers. The two factions were evenly matched, and the battle remained indecisive.

Suddenly, another team hurried to the scene. Leading them was a man with graying temples but a more robust physique than Xiao Huo! It was Lie Yong and his trusted followers.

Lie Hei was overjoyed, "Act quickly, eliminate Lie Xiu and Xiao Huo! With them gone, the Fire Ant Tribe will be ours! The Rock Ant Tribe will never harm us!"

Shi Wu also cackled sinisterly, "Yes, your father has shared much intelligence with us, sparing many of our warriors from disaster."

"Your father has indeed performed monumental services for the Rock Ant Tribe! I solemnly promise that from now on, the Rock Ant Tribe will live in harmony with the Fire Ant Tribe."

Xiao Huo and Lie Xiu's hearts sank.

Lie Yong, a Silver Insect Master. Once he joined the fray, he would undoubtedly tip the scales and decide the outcome.

Upon hearing these words, Lie Yong's face showed immense struggle.

Lie Xiu urgently cried out, "Lie Yong! The discord between you and Xiao Huo is not irreconcilable, do not fall for the Rock Ant Tribe's divisive schemes!"

Xiao Huo also roared, "The Rock Ant Tribe has nefarious intentions, Lie Yong, do not listen to your father's slanders, he's gone mad!"

Lie Yong sighed deeply, "Father, I was born a man of the Fire Ant Tribe and will die as its spirit. How could I forget so many of our forebears who died at the hands of Rock Ant Tribe Insect Masters? Enough said. Father, step aside! Patriarch, I will rescue you!"

He led two Fire Ants, one large and one small, and charged, suddenly breaking through Lie Hei and storming into the cave.

Xiao Huo immediately sensed something was amiss.

The next moment, shrieks echoed from within the cave.

When Lie Yong reemerged from the cave, he was holding the aged head of Lie Xiu!

He looked at Xiao Huo and said lightly, "'do not listen to my father's slanders,' How could you utter such words? Act now, kill Xiao Huo together!"

He growled.

"Ha ha ha ha! Well done!" Shi Wu laughed maniacally, his blade work becoming even fiercer.

Xiao Huo was quickly encircled.

His Bronze Insect Masters screamed in agony as they fell.

Even Xiao Huo's Fire Ant and Black-Backed Ant were battered and on the brink of collapse.

Bloodied all over, Xiao Huo tried to break through but could not clear a path.

"Spare my life! I'll do anything!" Xiao Huo gritted his teeth and shouted.

Lie Yong coldly replied, "Not needed! Three years ago, your followers stole a ration meant for my wife, leading to the death of her Fire Ant. Two years ago, your grandson broke my grandson's leg, a grudge I have always remembered. Xiao Huo, you think just because you have the patriarch's backing, you're the next leader? Today, I want you to watch as your grandson dies!"

Xiao Huo was stunned. Then he saw an Insect Master holding a child in one hand, approaching Lie Yong. The child was bruised and battered—it was his grandson, Xiao Yan!

"Grandfather! Save me!" Xiao Yan screamed in terror.

Lie Yong sneered, "When my men caught him, this little beast was still riding on another child, relentlessly smashing his head. Xiao Huo, you've indeed raised a fine child."

Chapter 289: A Fortuitous Change of Host

Xiao Huo roared in desperation, "Impossible! Stop talking nonsense! Put Yan'er down, he's just a child!"

Lie Yong laughed uproariously, "A child? 'The fault of the son is the teaching of the father!' I will kill him, and then I will kill you!"

With that, his knife swept across swiftly.

In an instant, fresh blood spurted from Xiao Yan's neck as he collapsed to the ground.

Xiao Huo frantically tried to piece together his grandson's head and body. But the two Fire Ants had already charged, one from each side.

With a crunching sound, Xiao Huo was killed on the spot. Lie Hei and Shi Wu stepped forward, laughing heartily.

"Well done! Now, the Fire Ant Tribe will be ours!"

Lie Yong managed a strained smile, turned around, and said with a complex expression, "Father, you never told me about your dealings with the Rock Ant Tribe."

Lie Hei sighed deeply, "Such matters couldn't be shared with you—I feared you might leak them. Now, with Lie Xiu dead, we can easily pin everything on Xiao Huo. Just say that he, unable to become patriarch for so long, harbored thoughts of assassinating Lie Xiu. You, Lie Yong, discovered this and heroically struck down Xiao Huo, alas, too late to save the patriarch."

Shi Wu smirked slightly, "A clever plan indeed!"

Lie Yong nodded, then suddenly said, "I think adding another corpse might make the story even more believable."

No sooner had he spoken than his two Fire Ants unexpectedly lunged at the unguarded Shi Wu!

Shi Wu, shocked and furious, desperately tried to summon his own Rock Ants.

But it was too late.

The sharp forelegs of the Fire Ants had already pierced his chest. The searing flames engulfed his body.

Shi Wu screamed in agony. Soon, there was no more sound from him.

The two Rock Ants, linked to his psyche, also screamed and fell motionless.

Lie Hei's eyes widened in shock, "Son! What... what have you done?!"

Lie Yong calmly replied, "Killed him, can't you see?"

Lie Hei, stomping in anger, exclaimed, "Of course, I know you killed Shi Wu, but why?!"

Lie Yong scoffed, "You didn't actually believe Shi Wu's nonsense, did you? The ambitions of the Rock Ant Tribe are clear to all the neighboring tribes. Now, with two Silver Insect Masters from our tribe dead, our strength is greatly diminished. It's likely that the Rock Ant Tribe might seize this opportunity to attack. Killing Shi Wu now weakens them a bit."

Lie Hei was startled, then enlightened.

"Son, you are the smarter one." He gave a thumbs up. "Let's clean up the battlefield and leave."

Lie Yong spoke evenly, "After we return, we'll say that Xiao Huo conspired with Shi Wu to assassinate Lie Xiu."

Lie Hei was effusive in his praise, "Very good! We'll do as you suggest."

While searching through Xiao Huo's clothes, Lie Yong suddenly felt something hard at his chest. He struggled to pull it out from between the layers of clothing. It was a shard of a mirror.

"Huh, what's this?"

Lie Yong couldn't help but be surprised.

What could be so important that Xiao Huo carried it on his person? Instinct told him this was no ordinary item. He immediately pocketed it.

"Indeed, I was not mistaken about Lie Yong," Chu Xuan mused appreciatively. "Brave and clever, with a temperament far superior to Xiao Huo's. Finally, a more formidable host."

Chu Xuan reflected deeply. He had been unable to intervene in the recent battle, merely observing from the sidelines. A change in host, however, might prove beneficial. Lie Yong might well achieve even greater heights.

...

Nighttime.

Lie Yong returned with the bodies of Lie Xiu, Xiao Huo, and Shi Wu. He told the people a convoluted and incredible tale. Whether they believed him or not didn't matter. The important part was that in his story, he occupied the moral high ground, positioning himself to judge others.

Moreover, the presence of Shi Wu's body, a Silver Insect Master from the Rock Ant Tribe, made the Fire Ant Tribe's animosity towards the Rock Ant Tribe drive them to instinctively support and believe Lie Yong.

Combined with Lie Yong's behavior over the decades, which had been more laudable than Xiao Huo's, all these factors quickly quelled the unrest within the Fire Ant Tribe.

The elders decided that they would elect Lie Yong as the new chieftain of the Fire Ant Tribe the following day.

...

In a room built of red bricks.

Lie Yong washed and, clad only in a soft, white leather kilt, returned to his bed. Beside him, only his two Fire Ants, deep in slumber, kept him company—closer to him than even his wife and children.

Lie Yong personally prepared two large bowls of food and placed them before the Fire Ants. "Big Fire, Little Fire, you two played a significant role today, enjoy a hearty meal."

The two Fire Ants animatedly moved their antennae and then began to feast.

Lie Yong smiled faintly. The larger of the two Fire Ants had been with him since he was fifteen. This Fire Ant was fiercer and stronger than its siblings, and its flames were hotter and more intense. Lie Yong often marveled at his luck in selecting the best ant egg back then.

"Ah, the mirror shard from Xiao Huo..." Lie Yong seemed to remember something. He walked over to the table and picked up a shard of mirror with two fingers.

He reclined on the bed, examining the shard closely, but could see nothing unusual about it. "Is it just my imagination? Is this merely an ordinary piece of mirror..."

He was about to set the Mirror shard down when suddenly, Chu Xuan's consciousness condensed into words, which appeared on the surface of the mirror.

"Orifice Opening Scripture!"

Lie Yong noticed the lines of text. He was initially stunned, then his expression turned to one of ecstatic delight. This scripture promised the opening of an additional Insect Orifice upon cultivation! No wonder Xiao Huo had been able to open two Insect Orifices. It had been with the aid of this Orifice Opening Scripture!

"I already possess two Insect Orifices. If I can open another, that will make three Insect Orifices," Lie Yong mused. "I am only forty-eight years old; given some time, I might even break through to the level of a Golden Insect Master!"

Overjoyed, Lie Yong immediately began to silently recite the "Orifice Opening Scripture" and embarked earnestly on his cultivation.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly. This Lie Yong, indeed, displayed a sharper intuition than Xiao Huo. He had only needed to reveal the "Orifice Opening Scripture" once, and Lie Yong had nearly memorized it entirely.

"Changing hosts was indeed a good choice," Chu Xuan thought with a slight smile. "Time for this old man to play his part again."

The "Orifice Opening Scripture" was derived from the Foundation Establishment stage technique known as the "Blood Worms Tome."

Chu Xuan still had other gu insect techniques at hand, such as a Golden Core stage technique called the "Fire Gu Refinement Method."

To him, these were no longer of much use. However, he could modify them and continue to provide them to Lie Yong to help him strive for higher levels of cultivation.

"However, Lie Yong has good intuition; perhaps he could modify the technique on his own. I might as well teach him the original text directly. It's not about being lazy; it's about letting him exercise his skills."

Chu Xuan once again condensed his consciousness into text, displaying the first half of the "Fire Gu Refinement Method." Still, he chose to omit words like gu insects and Spiritual Qi, substituting them with terms like yao insects and energy.

As for the second half...

Well, that could be exchanged for cultivation methods!

Chapter 290: The Purpose of the Mirror and the Rock Ant Cultivation Method

Lie Yong stared at the reconstituted text, his eyes widening in disbelief. The "Fire Gu Refinement Method" was perfectly suited to enhancing those fire-attributed yao insects. If he practiced this technique, the power of his two Fire Ants could climb to the next level! But why was there only the first half?

"Where's the rest?" Lie Yong clutched the mirror shard, shaking it vigorously as if trying to shake the remaining text out of it.

Chu Xuan chuckled softly, materializing a line of text. Lie Yong read the line and arched an eyebrow, "The Rock Ant Cultivation Method."

"Could it be that this mirror will only reveal the rest of the text if I obtain the Rock Ant Cultivation Method?" Lie Yong frowned deeply, pondering, "What does this mirror need the Rock Ant Cultivation Method for?"

He thought long and hard but couldn't figure it out. "To get the Rock Ant Cultivation Method, I'd need to acquire the Rock Ant copper statue, which is vital to the Rock Ant Tribe."

Lie Yong felt a twinge of regret. "Had I known, I would have captured Shi Wu alive and forced him to divulge the entire Rock Ant Cultivation Method."

He paused, the look of regret on his face swiftly replaced by confidence. "However, it doesn't matter. Once I become a Golden Insect Master, crushing the Rock Ant Tribe is merely a matter of time."

With this thought, Lie Yong placed the Mirror shard into a soft leather pouch and secured it close to his body.

The next day.

The Fire Ant Tribe held the chieftain succession ceremony. Thanks to his own prestige, Lie Yong was unsurprisingly inaugurated as the chieftain, becoming the thirty-fifth leader of the Fire Ant Tribe.

Chu Xuan observed that people in the cave world generally did not live very long. If one did not become an Insect Master, most would die by sixty. Those who achieved the rank of Bronze Insect Master could live to their eighties or nineties, thanks to the power regurgitated by their yao insects. Silver Insect Masters lived longer, typically around one hundred twenty years.

As for Golden Insect Masters and beyond, they could only add another twenty years or so to their lives. Unlike cultivators, each major advancement did not dramatically extend their lifespan by hundreds or thousands of years.

The succession kept Lie Yong busy until the afternoon. Finally finding a moment to himself, he approached an unremarkable house within the tribe.

However, this ordinary-looking house was guarded by two aged Bronze Insect Masters. Despite their age, their eyes were clear and vigilant. Should anyone attempt to breach the house, they would immediately summon Fire Ants from their Insect Orifices to slay any intruders.

"Greetings, Chieftain," the two elders bowed deeply.

Lie Yong nodded slightly. "I need to select an ant egg."

"Please follow me, Chieftain," the elder on the left responded respectfully.

Moments later, Lie Yong arrived at the tribe's subterranean level. Preserving Fire Ant eggs in a state where they do not hatch yet retain their vitality requires an exacting environment. Only the sulfur pools beneath the Fire Ant Tribe's territory provide suitable conditions.

Not only do these pools maintain the eggs' viability, but they also subtly enhance them. The ant eggs that Lie Yong, Xiao Huo, and others had chosen were all nurtured in these sulfur pools for over thirty years, resulting in particularly strong ants once hatched.

"Chieftain, these five ant eggs have all been nurtured for over thirty years," the elder said with reverence.

"Are there none older?" Lie Yong frowned.

The elder appeared troubled.

Lie Yong pressed harder, "Speak!"

The elder then confessed in a low voice, "The fifty-year-old egg was taken by the Fifth Elder a year ago. The two forty-year-old eggs were taken by him half a year ago."

Lie Yong's frown deepened. How many benefits had his father really sold out to the Rock Ant Tribe?

After a pause, Lie Yong said, "This matter must not be spoken of to others."

The elder nodded, "Understood."

Lie Yong's gaze swept over the five ant eggs. Chu Xuan also extended his consciousness, scanning the eggs.

"Ah, this egg's interior is a purplish-red, even more intense than the golden red of the last one," Chu Xuan marveled.

Lie Yong picked up each of the five eggs, examining them. When he touched the third egg, he suddenly felt the mirror shard in his chest vibrate.

"Huh..." Lie Yong looked surprised.

He tried the other eggs as well, but confirmed that only this third egg caused the mirror shard to vibrate.

"It's you, then." Lie Yong decided to take this egg.

Given that the mirror shard had provided scriptures like the "Orifice Opening Scripture" and the "Fire Gu Refinement Method," it certainly held some mystical properties. Since this egg caused the shard to vibrate, it promised something extraordinary.

"The Chieftain is honored!" The two aged Bronze Insect Masters bowed slightly, watching as Lie Yong departed.

...

A month later, in a secluded cave outside the Fire Ant Tribe, Lie Yong watched his three Fire Ants with exhilaration. "Third Fire, let's see what you can do," he addressed the smallest of them, his newly named third Fire Ant affectionately called Third Fire.

This purple-red Fire Ant immediately leapt forward, spewing flames from its mouth. The large chunk of iron ore in front of it began to melt in the blink of an eye, quickly turning into a pool of molten iron.

Third Fire's fiery breath paused momentarily and then resumed, this time emitting sulfuric smoke. Lie Yong accidentally inhaled some and felt a burning sensation in his lungs, hastily retreating.

"Big Fire, Third Fire you two fight each other," Lie Yong commanded next.

Big Fire, the golden-red Fire Ant significantly larger than Third Fire, immediately attacked. Despite its size advantage, it did not overpower Third Fire. After a few exchanges, due to a momentary lapse in concentration, Big Fire had a leg bitten off by Third Fire and fell to the ground wailing in pain.

Lie Yong's face lit up with sheer delight. Too strong! The Fire Ant Tribe had never seen such a Fire Ant. Hatched less than a month ago and still only a superior bronze yao insect, Third Fire's strength already rivaled Big Fire's, a middle-tier silver yao insect.

The temperature of the flames it spewed was also much higher than that of other Fire Ants, sufficient even for smelting iron, and it could even emit sulfuric smoke!

"Big Fire is middle-tier silver, Little Fire is lower-tier silver, and Third Fire is superior bronze, not bad at all," Lie Yong appraised with satisfaction. "As soon as any of these three yao insects reach the gold level, I will become a Golden Insect Master."

The prospect excited him. Becoming a Golden Insect Master would extend his life by another twenty years. At that point, overpowering the Rock Ant Tribe would be a trivial task, and he would also be able to obtain the second half of the "Fire Gu Refinement Method" from the mirror shard.

Just then, a woman's voice reached him from outside. "Chieftain, the Fifth Elder has taken another ant egg from the sulfur pool and left."

Lie Yong frowned, summoned his three Fire Ants back into his Insect Orifice with a gesture, and then stepped out of the cave.

Chapter 291: The Tribe's Hero

Outside the cave stood a strikingly attractive woman. Her visage was enchanting, adorned in a blue leather jacket and skirt that impeccably outlined her slender, willowy figure.

The woman, named Lie Jing, was the granddaughter of the former tribal chief Lie Xiu, her mother being Lie Xiu's eldest daughter, Lie Jia. After he succeeded as chief, in order to stabilize the tribe, he took Lie Jing as his wife.

Lie Jing was both intelligent and beautiful, worshiping him deeply and devoted without question. However, truth be told, Lie Yong did not favor such women. He was a traditional man, preferring the blessings of many children.

Therefore, he favored women suited for childbirth, indifferent to their appearances; after all, in the dark, all looked the same.

Lie Hei's recent behavior had been quite suspicious, and so he had entrusted Lie Jing with the task of surveilling Lie Hei.

"Where are Chen He and the others?" Lie Yong inquired further.

"They are all ready, awaiting only the chief's command," Lie Jing responded respectfully.

"Good, tell them to depart immediately and rendezvous with me," Lie Yong commanded sternly.

"Yes."

...

Moments later.

In a hidden cave on the eastern side of the Fire Ant Tribe. The ground here was carpeted with soft insect skins.

Lie Hei excitedly held a child in each arm, both around four or five years old. Beside him stood a woman, still charming in her own right.

"Wonderful! Truly wonderful! These children have inherited my talents, taming the Grey Earth Worms at such a young age. Their futures are boundlessly promising! These Fire Ant eggs I brought you, take good care of them, they are for the children to use in the future!"

The woman, covering her mouth, laughed softly, "Rest assured! I think it's all thanks to your vigorous vitality that the children are so gifted."

Lie Hei, proudly thumping his robust chest, chuckled, "Heh, heh, heh, I am naturally so! Each morning, as strong as a pillar!"

The woman giggled in disbelief, "I don't believe you."

With a swift move, he mounted her, "Then let me show you what I'm capable of!"

She burst into playful laughter, attempting to push him away. Yet, it seemed more like a coy invitation.

Inside the small cave, two bodies ignited like dry tinder, suddenly bursting into flames.

"It sounds like footsteps…"

After a while, drenched in fragrant sweat, the woman suddenly heard something.

Lie Hei, still vigorously at work, dismissed it, "This place is very secluded, it's impossible for anyone to be here!"

The more she listened, the more uneasy she felt, quickly rising to peer outside. To her shock, several robust figures were approaching! She let out a sharp scream, hastily wrapping herself in the insect skin.

"Dad, you really gave me a hard time finding you!"

Lie Yong's voice, sharp with clenched teeth, suddenly filled the air. Hearing this familiar voice, Lie Hei's courage shrank suddenly. He turned around abruptly to see his son, the tribal chief.

"Yong… Yong'er, what are you doing here?"

Lie Hei managed an awkward smile.

Lie Yong coldly stated, "Had I not come, you would have squandered the tribe, old man! This woman, named Shi Xin, is the daughter of the fourth elder of the Rock Ant Tribe!"

Lie Yong's gaze swept past Lie Hei and Shi Xin, landing on the two children curled up in the corner of the cave. His frame even seemed to tremble at this moment.

The centuries-old feud between the Fire Ant Tribe and the Rock Ant Tribe lay before him. His own father had united with a woman from the Rock Ant Tribe. And had children!

No wonder he wanted to take the ant eggs from the sulfur pool. It was all to nurture these bastards!

At this moment, Lie Yong was beside himself with rage. He had only heard of prodigal sons, never imagining his own father would turn out to be a prodigal father!

Lie Hei's face turned ashen. He fell to his knees with a thud, grasping Lie Yong's thighs, "Yong'er, listen to me! Let me explain! It was just a moment of folly..."

Lie Yong took a deep breath, kicking Lie Hei away in disgust.

With a grand gesture, he commanded, "Seize Lie Hei! And Shi Xin of the Rock Ant Tribe, along with these two bastards, arrest them all!"

"Yes!"

His three trusted Insect Masters surged forward.

Shi Xin summoned her yao insect, attempting to resist. But in the blink of an eye, her yao insect was slain.

Lie Hei was terrified, "My son... my son, what are you doing? You're not going to kill me, are you?!"

Lie Yong inhaled deeply.

After a long moment, he spoke coldly, "You went out searching for yao insects and accidentally found two abandoned orphans. You wanted to bring the orphans back to the tribe, but you were attacked by Shi Xin and other Insect Masters of the Rock Ant Tribe. You fought bravely, killed Shi Xin, but were mortally wounded in the process, and we arrived to find you already dead. You are the hero of the tribe, but only in death can you become one. Father, it's time to go."

Lie Hei, wide-eyed and speechless, "My son, my son, you..."

Thwack.

A sharp dagger slashed through Lie Hei's neck. Warm blood spurted out, splashing Lie Yong.

Chen He stepped forward, respectfully saying, "Chief, these two children..."

Lie Yong watched them for a long while, finally suppressing his killing intent, "Take them back... from now on, they shall be my adopted sons."

"Yes," Chen He nodded respectfully.

Chu Xuan witnessed everything. He nodded in approval. Such resolute, righteous severance of kinship was rare indeed. This Lie Yong was indeed made of the stuff of greatness!

...

The news of Lie Hei's death spread throughout the tribe, and the people of the Fire Ant Tribe were stirred to fury.

Everyone was ready to strike, roaring with anger, eager to invade the Rock Ant Tribe and avenge their chieftain's father. Everyone looked to Lie Yong, awaiting the words from him.

Amidst the expectant gazes of his furious tribespeople, Lie Yong spoke thunderously, "To war! The Fire Ant Tribe and the Rock Ant Tribe, to war!"

Roar after roar! The roaring echoed unceasingly across the vault of the cave.

"War! War! War!"

Lie Yong looked at the people whose rage he had incited and nodded in satisfaction.

The former chieftain, Lie Xiu, had endured the Rock Ant Tribe's suppression for over forty years, swallowing his pride and quietly strengthening his tribe.

Internally, he had improved the treatment of the young with the Insect Orifice, meticulously protecting them from assassinations by the Rock Ant Tribe.

He had spent the tribe's accumulated reserves to expand the sulfur pool and enhance the ant eggs. Externally, he gathered all intelligence on the Rock Ant Tribe.

He did his utmost to sow discord between the Rock Ant Tribe and the other smaller tribes.

This strategy exhausted the Rock Ant Tribe, preventing them from focusing all their efforts against the Fire Ant Tribe.

Although it was his hand that had slain Lie Xiu, his respect for Lie Xiu remained undiminished in his heart.

Now, he would carry forward Lie Xiu's legacy and flatten the Rock Ant Tribe!

...

The war between the Fire Ant Tribe and the Rock Ant Tribe concluded much quicker than Chu Xuan had anticipated.

The Rock Ant Tribe, though abundant in Silver Insect Masters, was beset on all sides by enemies.

The surrounding smaller tribes had long disdained the Rock Ant Tribe's tyrannical behavior.

However, no one had taken the initiative to call them out.

Now that the Fire Ant Tribe had stood up, they quickly found widespread support.

Three out of the four surrounding smaller tribes backed the Fire Ant Tribe. The remaining one had been a vassal of the Rock Ant Tribe.

Seeing the Rock Ant Tribe in retreat, they switched sides and provided Lie Yong with a secret passage into the heart of the Rock Ant Tribe.

Thus, within just a month, the Fire Ant Tribe steamrolled over the Rock Ant Tribe.

The aggressive are doomed to destruction, while those who forget war are in peril.

Clearly, the Rock Ant Tribe belonged to the former category.

Of course, to Chu Xuan, these inter-tribal conflicts seemed no different from village brawls. What really interested him was the method of cultivation.

Chapter 292: Two Life Ghosts

At night, Lie Yong clutched a crystal stone, placing it atop a shard of mirror. This crystal, obtained from shattering a statue of the Rock Ant, contained the cultivation method of the Rock Ant.

"No reaction?" Lie Yong looked puzzled.

After a while, the latter half of the "Fire Gu Refinement Method" appeared on the surface of the mirror.

Lie Yong couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Success! With this secret technique, he could advance to the Gold level sooner and extend his life by over twenty years.

Chu Xuan clicked his tongue in slight disappointment.

This Rock Ant cultivation method, compared to the Fire Ant's, was somewhat intricate, but not by much.

Indeed, the yao insect cultivation methods of these small tribes were inferior.

Chu Xuan once again focused his spiritual sense, and a line of text appeared on the surface of the Mirror shard.

Upon seeing this text, Lie Yong's eyes widened.

"Great Swallow Ant Method, Blade Ant Method... Devouring Thunder Ant Method?! The mirror's appetite is too large!" he exclaimed.

The first four methods were exactly the yao insect cultivation methods of the nearby small tribes.

Although these methods were inferior, Chu Xuan was still curious to see if they could provide him an insight.

As for the next target, naturally, it was to acquire the Devouring Thunder Ant Method.

"Is this... a method to extend life?" Lie Yong gasped as another line of text appeared.

"The mirror can grant me a method to extend my life, but it requires various yao insect cultivation methods."

Suddenly, Lie Yong threw the mirror shard away. At this moment, he felt as though it was a demanding demon mirror.

Initially, it required the Rock Ant cultivation method, and he had flattened the Rock Ant Tribe to obtain it.

Now it needed more, even the Devouring Thunder Ant Method—was he supposed to flatten a medium-sized tribe next?!

But the mirror could grant him a method to extend his life! What about later? Would it want the sacred ant method from the Holy Ant Tribe?

Lie Yong paced anxiously back and forth in the room. His large feet stomped on the floor, making a heavy sound.

This startled his three ants awake, waving their antennae, unsure of what was troubling their master.

Chu Xuan chuckled lightly. Lie Yong had sensed something was amiss. He wasn't in a hurry, just waiting for Lie Yong to make a decision.

Lie Yong paced for a long time. Finally, he returned to the mirror, murmuring to himself, "This demon mirror is too sinister... But I must grow stronger! I must live longer! I must become the strongest! What harm is there in a demon mirror, when it's but an inanimate object? As long as I control it, how can it influence my thoughts?"

Lie Yong took a deep breath and returned the mirror shard to his pouch, keeping it close.

Chu Xuan nodded in approval.

Not bad, not bad. It seems there's no need to change hosts for a while. Keep it up, young man. Looking forward to the day you defeat the Devouring Thunder Ant Tribe and present the Devouring Thunder Ant Method.

...

Blue Star.

Atop a small island in the Eastern Sea, there lay an unnamed islet which Chu Xuan had christened Black Tree Island.

Here grew the Taotie Tree.

However, due to Chu Xuan's constant control over its development, the Taotie Tree remained a mere sapling, never growing larger.

Chu Xuan once again traded a jar of blood honey for a decade of life span, a satisfied sigh escaping his lips.

"Truly feeble, it wilted after just one use."

Casually flinging aside the limp air root, he shook his head in disappointment.

This Taotie Tree could not frequently increase his life span. Such opportunities came but rarely.

However, gaining ten years of life span in a single instance was still quite favorable.

Chu Xuan settled down right there to meditate and practice the "Five Ghosts Life-Seizing Method."

This magic technique, driven by life span, had seldom been practiced by him due to a lack of leisure.

Now, while waiting for Lie Yong, was the perfect opportunity to cultivate this method.

This technique could produce five life ghosts. The uses of life ghosts were manifold. The simplest application was to integrate them into spells, enhancing the spells' power.

Additionally, they could reside within magic treasures, acting as temporary spirit entities.

It is well-known that magic treasures cannot naturally develop spirit entities. Only spiritual tools used by Deity Transformation or Astral Projection cultivators stand a slim chance of developing such spirits.

As for spirit treasures higher than spiritual tools, they only require careful nurturing to most likely develop spirits.

Although life ghosts cannot unleash all the powers of a magic treasure like true spirit entities, their advantage lies in allowing the master to operate the magic treasure without expending too much spiritual sense.

This allows more spiritual sense to be used for controlling other magic treasures.

Chu Xuan's soul, refined by the Soul-Cleaning Golden Rain, had long surpassed that of his peers in the same realm.

The origin of his spiritual sense stemmed from his soul. Thus, his spiritual sense was equally formidable.

However, the entities Two Arms, Four Arms, and Hu habitually occupied a significant portion of Chu Xuan's mental focus. Yet even under such conditions, he was still capable of simultaneously manipulating five magical treasures.

This was in addition to the Evil Soul Chain, which did not count, as it was controlled by Huikong. Should the Life Ghost also be enlisted, the number of magical treasures he could command at once would further increase.

In battles of sorcery, while others engaged in duels of spells, he waged wars with treasures! Crafting the first Life Ghost was not challenging. It merely required capturing a living soul and using a decade of lifespan as the medium to create one.

However, crafting a second Life Ghost required twenty years of lifespan. Naturally, the abilities of the second ghost surpassed those of the first.

According to the "Five Ghosts Life Seizing Method," each subsequent ghost was significantly stronger than its predecessor, though at a greater cost of lifespan.

Soon, a shriveled little ghost, black and loathsome, appeared beside Chu Xuan.

This figure, distasteful to behold, was the Life Ghost. Such spirits did not exist naturally. Instead, they were forged through secret demonic rites, born to serve the demon cultivators.

"Go, control the Icy Sun Crossbow,"

Chu Xuan commanded as he cast the Icy Sun Crossbow to the ghost.

The Life Ghost swiveled its eyes and immediately merged with it. Soon after, Chu Xuan felt relieved from expending much spiritual sense on the crossbow.

With just a thought, the Life Ghost would launch attacks at the target. Deciding to make good use of his resources, Chu Xuan expended twenty years of lifespan to craft a second Life Ghost.

Thus, both Icy Sun Crossbows were ghost-operated, freeing him to control other magical treasures.

"For now, let's craft two Life Ghosts. From the third one onward, a Ghost King's essence is required for crafting… Would the fourth then necessitate a Great Ghost King, a tier above? This technique must indeed be the precursor to some far more formidable arts."

Chu Xuan pondered, stowing away the "Five Ghosts Life Seizing Method" thoughtfully.

"Enemies slain by a Life Ghost have their lifespans seized by it, subsequently nourishing me. That's indeed advantageous. Truly, this is making full use of every resource."

With this thought, Chu Xuan smiled slightly. As a demonic cultivator, how could one not manage resources frugally?