The Giant Sand Centipede King raged with a fury born of irritation and frustration. Its prey had escaped into this annoying mound of those annoying things. The centipede screeched as it moved crushing dozens of the ants even as more scaled its body futilely trying to pierce its carapace. Weaklings all of them beneath its notice easily killed in hundreds.
The centipede began to gather the power it needed in its mouth. Even as the pests continue their incessant tapping on its shell. The centipede finished gathering the power in less than a minute. Unleashing the gathered power in a single blast at the nest.
The heat beam hits point-blank, the massive mound that dwarfs even the centipede in size. The destructive ray of energy carved through the mound. As the centipede moved the blast ran through the mound in an unstoppable line. Like a hot knife through butter, the attack cuts through nearly a dozen meters.
As the centipede's blast tethered out it examined the mound. Its attack had severely damaged the mound wherever it touched. Parts of the mounds' walls dripped like molten metal. Yet even still it felt irritation in realizing the mound was still strong.
The beast charged its blast once more consuming vast amounts of power. This Heat Beam was fired directly down the tunnel its prey took. Moving its attack to open the tunnel further the screeches of ants resound from around it. As its blast once more teetered out it examined the results with a bestial eye.
The centipede had unleashed two of its Heat Beams. An attack that could even threaten members of its own kind. Yet the damage was disappointing as its own reserves neared half after three Heat Beams so close. The centipede realized its foes had retreated deeper into this hive.
The thought was irritating beyond belief if it had consumed those four. Those strong humans its cultivation would have risen to at least the level of 100,000-year kin. No it would have grown even stronger than that. But those prey had escaped it, at least for now. He would remember them, and find them another time in the future.
For now, it turned its attention to the pests bothering it. The beast found itself hungry, and they would serve. The centipede grabbed a dozen of the snacks in its mouth. The next few hours turned into a rampage as the centipede ate its fill of ants.
In the ant fortress, Tang Yuan and his allies finished another battle. This group of ants was only nine strong in number, but each was cultivation of 2,000 years. This was the third such battle since entering the kingdom. Not counting the individual ants, or the small groups of 2 or 3 ants they had faced.
Tang Yuan brought his hammer down on one of the ants. The hammer strikes shatter the ant's body killing it. At the same time, Bibi Dong killed another ant with her second soul skill.
"That puts us at more than 50 since we entered. They don't seem to stop, though they don't have plans yet." Tang Yuan noted. He wondered about the number of ants, and the size of this mound. At a minimum, it should be counted in the hundreds more likely in thousands.
"We shall take a break here for now." Tang Nuan announces to the entire group. Before possible bewilderment or questions could be asked she continued. "We will not likely be able to rest often in the coming days."
"Those centipedes are known for nigh invincibility, and for even greater tenacity. It will likely rest near the entrance waiting for us. If it or the ants haven't destroyed the tunnels already. Unfortunately, that means we need another exit from this hive." Her words were calm even as she delivered rather terrifying news.
Seeing that the other adults agreed with her their was nothing else to say. Tang Yuan supposed his mother's words made sense. The others felt growing tension at the thought of the next few days.
With that, they prepared a camp in this most unlikely of places. Dugu Bo was given the role of laying poison to deter attack. They chose the ants as the source of food, those not poisoned at least. The Death Spider's poison was not something they could really risk even in low amounts.
Tang Yuan found the ants to be a particularly enjoyable meal. Though not merely because of their taste or texture. No upon consuming one a sense of want had subtly manifested. A part of him wanted to consume as much, and as many of them as he could.
As he began his normal meditation he found a most happy surprise. The energy in the air was abundant with what he identified as earthen metallic energy. This place was ideal for absorbing both earth and metal energies. Once more the ants' bodies were also filled with this processed energy.
Tang Yuan quickly began to refine the energy he absorbed from the air. He found it an especially easy thing here to draw forth quality energy. As he cycled this power he digested part of the ant's energy as well. This place was a high-quality place for his own cultivation. It was almost a disappointment when his body reached its saturation limit.
Unfortunately, he couldn't really perform his Spiritual Power meditation here. So after finishing his normal routine minus that Tang Yuan went to sleep. He would need to gain as much sleep as he possibly could. It was hard to say when they would find the next opportunity.
Only four hours later he found himself roused from his slumber. The others were also woken up by the adults. Which meant the adults felt that it was time for them to get moving.
Tang Yuan felt slightly drowsy as he exited the tent at first. Then he saw what was outside surrounding them, the ants had been busy. There were quite a few more ant corpses than there had been before. Likely those who attacked this perilous camp, but had meant the adults.
Though they were drowsy they followed the adults deeper into the nest. As they moved Dugu Bo took point at the head of the group. A subtle sense of dread drifted from him with a particular scent.
"The ants aren't trying to attack us." Bibi Dong noticed quickly. She looked at Dugu Bo as she made the connection.
Tang Yuan did not let himself relax. "They likely suffered enough losses while we were sleeping. That has taught them to be more cautious hopefully, don't let your guard down." They might be cautious right now, but it was only a matter of time. Those hours of sleep were needed, but they also gave the ants time to prepare.
Dugu Xin kept silent sticking close to his father with a slight nervousness. No telling when an ant might appear now. "I'm sure that those ants won't come near us. Even if they do, their father will beat them up." He said unsurely at first, but with conviction in his father.
Dugu Bo's lips curved subtly as he heard his sons praise. It filled his heart with pride to hear such praise and honest trust in him. Still, he couldn't afford to let his guard down at least not this early.
They carefully moved through the different tunnels keeping on the lookout. This would be a particularly time-consuming part of their journey to be certain. At least that would most likely be the case in this maze of tunnels.
"So where exactly are we going, and what is our plan?" Bibi Dong asked curiously. They seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the hive.
Tang Nuan answered steadily "Every ant mound has multiple entrances, and the larger the mound the more there are. Considering this mound has so many ants of the millennium level already it will be large. There will be a number of entrances though they might also be a distance from each other."
"This mound is probably the equivalent of a small city at least. Which means there should be at least five different openings. Four around a fifth in the very center though there may be more. We will work our way to one of these entrances as best we can." She explained to the children a part of the plan. Confused why they hadn't seen far more ants.
Bibi Dong felt her curiosity and worry assuaged by the answer. So she refocused on their objective as was laid out.
As the hours passed they moved through tunnel after tunnel. The ants had stayed away during that time. Yet the longer they did the more worrying it became for them. The tunnels had begun to decrease in number, as they also grew slightly larger.
Then they stepped from a particularly large ant tunnel to a larger room. A large tunnel opening was the core of the room leading vertically down. A force of ants had gathered in this room nearly thirty of them. All of them gazed upon their group ready for battle.
The majority were like the ants they had already seen, but a few were different. Those were more than three times the size of the smaller ones. Their heads were especially large in size with fearsome mandibles at their mouths like weapons. Their bodies were thicker for far greater defense.
"Soldier ants I'm presuming." Tang Yuan guessed upon seeing them. If they were standing up they would almost be the height of a human. They would be far more dangerous than the workers around them.
He turned to the adults for a glance to see their own reaction. Seeing no sign of them making a move he understood. "We will try the same strategy as before for now. However, be more cautious with this group. Dong'er, start the fight off as before" he commanded.
Bibi Dong unleashed her martial soul and two spirit rings. Her transformation was completed swiftly as her eyes turned cold. "Poison Cloud." She unleashed her first soul skill into the middle of the group.
The poison cloud spread quickly amongst the group of ants. Yet this group had been further spread out than before. Of twenty-seven ants only a little more than half were poisoned. Including two of the four soldier ants in the group. How deep that poisoning was, that was another question.
Tang Yuan moved forward quickly "while they are distracted aim for the left soldier together we will take it down now." He summoned his martial soul activating his rings in succession. His hammer was already moving to damage the soldier.
As Tang Yuan's hammer falls onto the soldier it tries to counter. The lightning shocks it at contact even as it tries to counter. As it flinches from the lightning Tang Yuan begins the Disordering Wind Hammer. Multiple blows land on the struggling creature.
Dugu Xin appeared then "Green Phospher Bite Strike." He unleashed his strongest single-target skill. The attack sinks into the ant with force that would crush a normal ant outright. The soldier while injured was far from the end.
"Second Soul Skill: Poison Lance" a voice resounded from the other side of the ant. As the beast suddenly felt a shooting pain. A spider leg like Lance piercing through its carapace like butter.
As the ant faced hammer strikes, and a bone-crushing poisonous bite. The final strike quickly brought death even to the strong soldier ant. The poison spreads through its body in moments.
With the first enemy killed the three soul masters turned to face the others. Tang Yuan continued his technique, aiming to kill as many as possible. Two ants are crushed out right by his hammer's blows. He stepped back as a poisoned soldier moved forward to strike.
They had killed a soldier and five others before the ants recovered. Two by his hammer, two by Bibi Dong, and one by Dugu Xin. That meant 21 ants remained alive, and battle-ready.
"Dong'er you and I will take the poisoned soldiers. Brother Xin, please use the chance to thin their numbers some. Keep the third soldier in mind however as we act." Tang Yuan decided that to be their best strategy. It would take the third soldier a bit of time to move itself thanks to their positioning.
Tang Yuan engaged the poisoned soldier ant in battle. Unlike the first one, he faced this one alone. He struggled with the creature as he tried to grab his hammer. Individual blows that would severely wound or kill others only wounded this beast.
As he stepped back from an exchange he swung his hammer at an advancing worker. Two blows in an instant land on the ant's head, twenty now. Moving fast he blocked an attack from the soldier ant.
Bibi Dong had an easier time against the third soldier. Her martial soul was incredibly physically powerful. Allowing her to engage the ant easily enough until an opportunity presented itself.
Dugu Xin had been staying behind the two of them. When he saw a chance he struck swiftly with his third soul skill. Managing to take out three ants off guard against him. Yet it also severely drained his soul power to less than half.
Tang Yuan noticed their efforts, seventeen remained alive now. He allowed his Soul Shroud to cover his body for extra ability. Moving fast he hit the ant fast with his combo's next strike stunning it with the force. This time he stepped to the side of the off-balance ant, ending his own accumulation.
Yet, taking the chance he drew one of his weapons from his belt. He drove the knife into the soldier's thinner neck. It pierced through cleanly that was the second soldier ant's death, 16 now.
Suddenly bringing his hammer up Tang Yuan barely defended a strike from the fourth soldier. "Not good I'm off balance" he thought grimly. The strike forced him back a step as the force slammed into him. Thankfully though his soul power shroud took most of the damage.
Bibi Dong had finished her opponent with her second skill. She saw Tang Yuan get in trouble and thought of helping him. Yet she moved to help the cornered Dugu Xin. Two uses of her second skill saw the deaths of two more ants in quick succession.
"Sister Dong, I'm sorry I can't use my ability my soul power is near exhausted." Dugu Xin apologized as he lost his combat power. He managed to kill three more before his energy had been exhausted.
Bibi Dong had a serious look "It's fine you step back, I will handle this myself." She said, confident both in herself, and in Tang Yuan. He wouldn't lose so easily to such an enemy, he was strong. She would handle these remaining ones.
Tang Yuan endured several exchanges with this powerful ant. He had come out the better from them all. Yet, this ant had powerful defenses, and killing the ant would be somewhat difficult. He stepped forward again unleashing a new set of blows each hitting the mark.
The soldier though pained struck back fiercely. Determined to kill this intruder as it had been ordered. Even as lightning entered its body with each blow.
Tang Yuan landed blow after blow on the ant with not a one taken in turn. He had constantly fought Bibi Dong who was far stronger, and far faster. This one posed no danger to him, he continued his blow. Avoiding the attacks, and giving his own at the same time.
Finally, the ant was brought to the brink of death by him. He didn't stop his blows from descending until the ant's death. Its spirit ring emerged from the body proving that fact.
He turned to see the state of his friends, and found relief. The other ants had been defeated by them during the time he fought. Though both were exhausted from the battle he could tell. The three entered into mediation for the recovery of soul power. They took about half an hour to recover as much soul power as possible.
When they got up they had recovered quite a bit. With a single look, the adults once more picked them up. Then they all began the descent down the hole. The wind moves swiftly with the speed of Soul Douluo moving through the tunnel swiftly.
They had been in the nest for a time now at least two days Tang Yuan guessed. It was harder to tell without the sun or the moon in the sky. In that time they had faced several more battles with the ants. At the very least food was not an issue for them.
Tang Yuan found that he actually enjoyed wandering through this place. The benefit to his progress was certainly a welcome thing. That the ants had grown older, and stronger was a less welcome matter. Though as they did the benefits also increased as well.
As they moved through the tunnels they came to a particular part of the maze. It opened into a large room, with multiple tunnels lining three sides of the area. The fourth part across from them had a single large opening instead. A place involving a lot of traffic for that single room it would seem.
They quickly moved into that large opening, Tang Yuan found himself curious. What exactly could be found through this passage that called for so many tunnels? As they stepped from the passage into the room beyond a gasp came from his mouth.
The entire place was a massive space much wider than the previous one. Still like a tunnel in shape, but for an entirely different purpose. It was like a massive warehouse one filled to the brim, or at least packed. Most of the contents glittered and shone with sparkles.
"Ore, crystals, gems so very much of it as well." Tang Yuan found himself stunned at it all. He could only imagine what the ants might need these things for.
"Ah yes, I suppose it is quite a sight to a blacksmith." The voice of his mother resounded. Tang Nuan looked at the piles of colored stone ore. "This desert is known as the greatest individual source of metal. These ants in particular are major hoarders of them as well."
She began to explain "These ants see these things as sources of cultivation. As decade beasts they only nibble on stone. At the century stage, they consume stone while mining. The thousand-year stage is when they begin to truly consume these resources."
"The ants of centuries are rocky, but also brittle. The thousand-year beast began the transition from stone to metal. The Ten Thousand-year ants have incredibly high defense far stronger than steel." She recalled what her husband and books had taught her.
She noticed the gaze of her son on the pile as he approached it. Like father like son, or maybe it was how all blacksmiths were. Always with a slight eye towards metal of all types. Though they had been moving for a while now, it was time for a rest.
Once more she gazed at the place with a critical eye. This place was like a treasury full of potential use. "We will camp here for now. You may explore, but stay close to us." Tang Nuan told the already distracted children.
Tang Yuan heard his mother's order "Okay." He said absentmindedly as he began to search the piles of ore. He wanted to find the best choices with his limited carrying capacity. There was a lot of high-quality iron in the pile "Meoterite Iron, there's an entire pile. Sun Gold, that's also really nice." He rambled as he picked up ore
Faster than he liked, he filled the space he decided to fill on his belt. He sighed as he moved over to the crystals and gems now. "Wind Crystals, Sun Stones, Moonstone, is that actually a Star Diamond?" He couldn't stop the joy in his tone from leaking even if he tried. In over an hour, he had finished his pillaging of the piles.
As he walked over to the eating group "Done with your shopping spree now Brother Yuan." Bibi Dong asked with a slight teasing tone. She had finished far faster, content after picking a few dozen gems. Still unsure what to do with such beautiful stones as these.
Tang Yuan had a smile as he began to eat. "I'm done with my choosing. Honestly, there's just so much it would take far too long to see everything" he admitted. It was a fantasy for a blacksmith like himself.
"Once more this should be only one of their storage spaces, and far from the best." Tang Nuan informed her son of that fact.
"This is only one of them." Chrysanthemum was the one to ask that. Amazed at the sheer size of the place. A fact that all of them shared to some extent at the thought of it. Especially what the other such places would be like.
Tang Yuan turned back to Bibi Dong aware his attention had lapsed in his response. And as expected she had begun pouting at him slightly. "How about you Dong'er what did you find?" He asked her to return the conversation.
Bibi Dong smiled sweetly at him her slight unhappiness fading like a mirage. Happy that he had remembered to continue their conversation. "I chose these gems." She said as she happily began to show him her collection of gemstones and crystals.
Tang Yuan examines some of the gemstones with a critical eye. They were all beautiful sparkling stones of impressive size. Emeralds, rubies, sapphires, diamonds, and whatever else caught her eye. It simply showed the amount of wealth in this place could rival a province if not a kingdom.
"What exactly do you intend to do with them. Keep them as they are to look at, or turn them into jewelry?" He asked as he examined a particular ruby-like gem a Blood Ruby. He was curious what exactly she intended for them.
"Jewelry?" Bibi Dong asked completely surprised at the question. She hadn't really considered the option of turning them into accessories. "How exactly would that work?" Her tone was laced with interest at the possibility.
"A blacksmith would work on it cutting and polishing it to a more ideal form. Then turn them into the form you request, or they decide." Tang Yuan replied looking at her as he explained.
It was a particular fact that a number of blacksmiths possessed skills as Goldsmiths. It was one of the most profitable ventures a blacksmith could choose. Nobles always sought such works jewelry or adorned armor. Once more quite a few gems and crystals had special properties.
Bibi Dong considered that for a moment the only smiths she really knew were her friend, and his father. She really could not ask such a thing from Tang Chen, not as a Limit Douluo. So she turned to Tang Yuan "Can you make something from them for me?" She requested tentatively unsure.
Tang Yuan considered that he had considered the option, but he was hesitant. "I can try, but my skill with gems needs Refinment and experience. I can't promise anything amazing, not yet." He refused to try to trick her with empty words. He had some experience with gems, but not nearly enough.
Bibi Dong nodded at his words understanding he was warning her, but. "That's fine use some of these then." She gestured at some of the gems she had. "I know and trust you to give me a good gift." She said smiling softly at him with knowing trust.
Tang Yuan felt his cheeks warm slightly after such an honest look. How could he possibly say no after that request? It would also help him improve his skills with gems as well. So a win-win for him he told himself slightly.
The adults paid slight attention to this little deal, though they chose not to say anything. Instead, they let the slight sweetness remain between them. As the time came they rested, before the time would come to continue.
Their group had once again begun to walk down the tunnel. More than a dozen minutes of walking revealed starting things. The large space just kept on going all of it filled with resources.
Tang Yuan found the rare piles of gold coins particularly unsettling, as they likely once belonged to soul masters.
Finally, they walk out of the very large treasury-type area. The area they found themselves in was a half circle in shape. Five tunnels
A group of ants stood prepared for them smaller than the last group. Though there were fewer than twenty, the soldiers of this group seemed different. All three soldiers were larger and definitely stronger than the four they once fought.
One was similar to the previous four true, but the other two weren't. The first carapace was particularly robust and tough-looking. Once more parts of its carapace had begun to turn a dull gold.
The second was much more bizarre by comparison. Parts of its carapace looked to be shiny and gem-like in form. A Gem Ant or perhaps Crystal Ant, whatever it was called it was particular.
Once more this strange action again that had been present in every group. Perhaps he could call them probing attacks, but only of himself and his friends. Never once testing the abilities of the much stronger adults with them.
If that was not enough "I'm guessing each of these ants is below 3,000 to 3,500years of cultivation." He asked knowingly.
Tang Nuan looked at her son with a question in her eyes. "That's right the oldest is probably a few centuries past a cultivation of 3,000 years." She said as she made an assessment. Looking at her son with consideration wondering what he had discovered.
Tang Yuan felt that was the final proof of his growing suspicion. "In other words, every Ant we have met ranged between 1,500 and 3,200 or so. Perfect for a third soul of a normal soul master in other words." He voiced his suspicion out loud to his companions.
All of them looked at Tang Yuan with surprise, doubts, and sheer disbelief. It was a startling possibility, that seemed to far fetched at first.
"This mound of ants has learned that if humans come with young. Well, they are more than likely seeking a soul ring, and once they have it they will leave. At least that's my guess in this case." He laid out what he suspected was the case with this place.
Though he said it was a mere guess, Tang Nuan could see a good amount of merit. "I see I did find it strange they weren't swarming us in mass. As well as why there were so few soldier ants so far." The more she thought about it the more it became a startling possibility.
"I had thought that most of their forces were busy with the Giant Sand Centipede King. But no that was merely wishful thinking especially considering the size of the previous room." She gazed at the ants with far more wariness, if that was the case they were far smarter than she believed.
Gui Mei voiced another possibility "It might also be to lure us into dropping our guard." His voice was scratchy and damped almost.
Both possibilities proposed that the ants were highly intelligent. The first should have been the best possibility. Implied that they lacked the power to deal with them, or it was to reduce the loss. The second implied a planned ambush after they let down their guard.
"I can consider one possible way to check that fact." Tang Yuan conceived a possibility of how to handle this.
"What do you have in mind?" Tang Nuan asked her son, aware they needed to do something.
Tang Yuan stepped forward slowly "considering the nature of an ant mound they serve the queen. The queen acts as the supreme ruler of the ants." He said as he worked up the courage to attempt this.
"I'm not sure if you are listening or not. The targets for this hunt are a Golden Scarab of 4,500 to 5,000 years of age. The second target is the Black Night Spider of similar might. Either point us towards these two, or if not an exit of your domain." Tang Yuan spoke out loud his voice filling the space.
"Tang Yuan what are you doing?" Bibi Dong blurted out in confusion about her friend's actions.
Several moments pass without any sign of anything. Tang Yuan was about to decide that either she wasn't listening, or wasn't able to do so. Then he felt it a touch upon his mind, it was light testing in its touch. Almost like a tap on his body to catch his attention.
"It would seem the queen is indeed a spiritual type soul beast, or at least she is gifted in that area." Tang Yuan said as he entered his mind. Finding himself on the steps of his Mental Palace as he looked around. A string of spiritual energy had been touching his mind from another powerful mind.
"I would assume you to be the queen of this mound?" Tang Yuan asked of the powerful mind.