Chapter 181: Chapter 160: Encounter, and Then Kill
Han Ning estimated that the ground they stood on was at least several hundred meters from the ceiling.
The creature emitting the shimmering white light was an insect with a massive carapace, looking as if it had been cast from white jade.
A faint fluorescence emanated from its jade-like carapace.
It was a type of insect he couldn’t name at all, about five meters long and shaped much like a giant isopod.
Under Egg Pancake’s Mimicry, the white jade isopod didn’t notice them at all.
Han Ning’s eyes widened subconsciously, unwilling to miss a single creature that came into view.
As they walked, his Spiritual Power suddenly stirred, and he signaled for Egg Pancake to halt.
Suddenly, he heard the faint, strange sound of conversation coming from behind a rock wall up ahead.
"Lingling!"
Yin Yi had also noticed the anomaly behind the rock wall. It tugged on Han Ning’s sleeve and repeatedly pointed ahead with its vines.
"Shh..."
Han Ning gestured for it to be quiet and had Egg Pancake creep forward a few meters. Sticking close to the side of the rock wall, he peeked his head around the edge to look ahead.
Even with the protection of the Frost Crystal Shield, he could still feel a surging wave of heat wash over him.
A fiery red light illuminated his face.
Over a hundred meters ahead, there was a Magma Lake about ten meters in diameter, filled with viscous, dark-red magma.
Three figures stood beside the scorching Magma Lake.
All three had pale red skin. It was two men and one woman, and they each had two moth-like antennae growing from their foreheads. Their bodies, however, were not pupa-like but humanoid.
Each had a pair of pale red, patterned wings on their back.
As their wings gently fluttered, shimmering red scale dust drifted down.
The three were all dressed in dark-red, close-fitting attire. They were looking into the Magma Lake, where three moths were bathing in the scalding magma, their bodies wreathed in fiery red flames. The trio was discussing something in low voices.
In addition, three insects of varying forms were positioned around the trio in a triangular formation.
At the front was a majestic, fiery-red mantis covered in crimson patterns.
Behind it, to the left and right, were an ugly-faced, earth-yellow moth and a red earthworm as thick as a grown man’s arm.
However, just as ill luck would have it, the tallest male Insect-man on the far left turned his head at that very moment.
His gaze collided with Han Ning’s.
Thanks to the Mimicry, the man didn’t see Han Ning, but he frowned as if he had noticed something.
’Fierce Fire Mantis, Heavy Rock Moth, Fire-Swallowing Insect... and the Burning Fire Moths in the lake!’
Han Ning recalled the Yinsaike Family’s Soul Beast Atlas, and his expression instantly tensed.
’Insect Masters? This is trouble.’
He swallowed hard, then took a long, deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.
It was no wonder he was nervous. All three of those insects were Longevity Species, and their Talent was D or higher!
The three moths in the lake even had D+ Talent.
The three Insect-men looked similar to humans, a far cry from ordinary Insect Servants.
"Hsst!"
The tall man across from them stared at the empty air and said something to his companions. They, too, adopted tense expressions. The Fierce Fire Mantis beside him began to step forward, slowly approaching their position while letting out a series of low, warning growls.
Hearing their companion’s voice, the other two people and their two Soul Beasts also turned their heads.
By then, however, Han Ning had already pulled his head back behind the rock wall and had Egg Pancake race away into a passage behind them.
’I can’t run. If I let them go back and tell others they saw me, it’ll be a disaster.’
’We’re nearly ten kilometers underground. With just me and a few Soul Beasts, there’s no way I can outrun an Insect Master who commands a swarm of insects.’
’And... they don’t seem to be actual Insect Masters... The fluctuations of their Spiritual Power and the Spiritual Energy from their Soul Beasts feel wrong!’
As they fled, Han Ning’s thoughts raced. He quickly called out to Egg Pancake.
"Stop!"
He leaped off Egg Pancake’s back and quickly surveyed his surroundings.
He then found a low pile of rocks and immediately hid among them.
Within seconds, a bold plan formed in his mind.
’Judging by the size and Growth of these insects, they probably haven’t advanced to the War General Level. I doubt they’re even Extraordinary IV... That big guy didn’t see through Egg Pancake’s Mimicry at a glance, which means his Spiritual Power is Tier One at most. It can’t be Tier Two.’
’Even though Egg Pancake is empowered by the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm, it’s still only at the Extraordinary level. A Tier One Beast Master relying on their Spiritual Power could still see through its Mimicry at close range.’
’This is probably a squad made up of the descendants of Insect Masters.’
Han Ning made his conjecture, thinking of the bulging pouches at their waists and their youthful faces.
’Maybe I can use the Mimicry to launch a surprise attack.’
Hearing the dense patter of footsteps approaching from the direction of the Magma Lake, a crazed and resolute look appeared in Han Ning’s eyes.
’Damn it, I’ll risk it all! I absolutely cannot let them get back!’
’One versus three... no, four versus nine. For this to have any chance of working, Yin Yi and Egg Pancake have to instantly kill the enemy Beast Masters.’
At this thought, Han Ning quickly scanned the area, pulled the long-unused Silver Scale Shotgun from his waist pouch, and gripped it in his hand.
Then he closed his eyes, relying completely on his Spiritual Perception to track the three aliens.
TAP TAP TAP...
The sound of hurried footsteps drew closer.
’Fifty meters...’
’Thirty meters... The Fierce Fire Mantis is in the lead, followed by the Heavy Rock Moth.’
