Chapter 244: Chapter 197: From Little Loli to Maiden (2)
The young woman fell into the spring water with a SPLASH.
GLUG, GLUG... Bubbles rose to the surface.
"Eeya~"
A soft, drenched, fair body burst from the water and crashed into Han Ning’s chest.
"Ahem, be a little gentler, little one."
Fei Lin’s girlish pounce sent Han Ning stumbling. Fortunately, he was leaning against the edge of the spring.
Fei Lin lifted her head. Her drenched hair clung to her skin as she looked at him with wide, pure, and innocent eyes.
Fei Lin’s current form was simply too human—that of a grown young woman. It made Han Ning take an involuntary step back, subconsciously putting a polite distance between them.
"Eee?"
Seeing Han Ning retreat, Fei Lin was confused. She stood rooted to the spot, staring at him with an innocent and hurt expression.
’She’s grown up, but her voice is still as cute and innocent as a little girl’s.’
Han Ning stepped forward again and, just as he always had, gently patted her head with a smile.
"You’ve grown up."
"Ling~"
Yin Yi, who had been watching from the side, also drew near. She looked Fei Lin up and down with pupils that flickered with fiery light. Then, as if trying to verify something, she tilted her head and reached out to touch Fei Lin’s chest.
"Eee?" Fei Lin didn’t know what Yin Yi was doing, merely allowing it to place its vine on her chest and knead gently.
"Ahem, Yin Yi, don’t do weird things like that!" Han Ning couldn’t help but cough.
"Bogu~"
While Yin Yi and Fei Lin were engaged in their strange interaction, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm soaking in the spring cautiously poked out its chubby head and let out a soft chirp.
Only upon hearing the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s cry did Han Ning notice the Little Fatty Silkworm was still soaking in the spring.
"Yes, go ahead and absorb with all your might. The rest of the spring water is yours," he said, nodding. He had understood the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s intention.
"Bogu!"
The All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm immediately transmitted a wave of joy.
Immediately after, the surface of the small Dark Spring began to tremble violently.
With the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm at the center, all the spring water formed a vortex and was completely absorbed by it.
No one knew how its tiny body managed to absorb more than ten cubic meters of spring water.
In just one minute, the Nether Spring, which had just been full, had completely vanished.
In its place was dry, cracked earth.
On its status panel, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s Level shot up from Extraordinary II to Extraordinary III, and was even approaching Extraordinary IV.
Its Dark Type Elemental Affinity also increased significantly.
After absorbing the entire Dark Spring, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s body, originally the size of Han Ning’s index finger, suddenly swelled to nearly three meters.
Its purplish-red flesh piled up in layers, and it even developed a full triple chin. It looked exactly like a gigantic, fat silkworm.
"Gu gu~"
It waddled in front of Han Ning, grunted softly, and opened its mouth. With a SPLAT, it spat out a fist-sized, polygonal gray Crystal Stone.
SPLAT, SPLAT, SPLAT~
It spat out Crystal Stones one after another onto the ground.
As the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm spat out more and more, its body began to shrink rapidly.
By the time it had spat out a full ten Crystal Stones, it had shrunk back to the size of a small, finger-thick silkworm.
Then, with a SWOOSH, it burrowed back into Han Ning’s body.
"This is..."
Han Ning picked up one of the Crystal Stones the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm had spat out and rubbed it carefully in his hand.
A faint chill coiled around his fingertips, and the aura of "death" in the air seemed to grow stronger.
The aura of "death" was a very abstract sensation. At that moment, he smelled the stench of rot, like a decaying corpse. His emotions were affected by the strange aura, and his mood sank, making him feel apathetic toward everything in the world.
It was a bit like the lethargic, low-spirited feeling after masturbation.
’Undead Crystal Stones? I didn’t expect the Little Fatty Silkworm to have this ability.’
Han Ning dispelled the negative emotions filling his mind, quickly snapping out of it. He praised the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm inside his body,
"Well done!"
"Gu~" The All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm sent back a wave of happiness.
The Energy fluctuations from the ten Crystal Stones were quite strong, at least Extraordinary Level. This was a pleasant surprise.
He planned to get some blood-food to properly reward the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm after he got back.
"Fei Lin..."
With matters here settled, Han Ning instinctively started to pull Fei Lin into his arms, only to realize she was a grown woman now. He quickly retracted his half-extended hand and changed tack,
"...Uh... you should just walk on your own. Stay by my side."
"Eee?"
Upon hearing this, Fei Lin’s lips pouted again.
She was very confused. ’Why can’t I sit in Master’s arms?’
The young woman stood gracefully beside Han Ning on her bare, fair feet, watching him with wide, innocent eyes that looked as if they were about to spill over with tears.
The slightly menacing bone spikes that had torn through the back of her T-shirt showed that she was no ordinary human.
"Ahem, it’s hard to explain. In any case, let’s head back for now."
...
Finding the Shadow Reaper’s blood and the Dark Spring had gone relatively smoothly, taking only about a day.
When Han Ning returned to the Biyou Lake Shore, the sky had already grown completely dark.
He wasn’t in a hurry to rest. Instead, he used the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm to call Aketu, who was over a thousand kilometers away.
Thanks to the Subordinate Insect created by the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm, contacting Aketu was as convenient as making a phone call.
A moment later, a questioning emotion was transmitted from Aketu.
’Have you gathered the Heart of the One-Eyed Corpse Demon and the other materials? I’m coming to get them now,’ Han Ning sent via a wave of Spiritual Power.
’Reporting to Master, everything has been gathered. The Cyan Moth Tribe awaits your arrival...’ A peculiar wave emanated from the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm.
’Understood. I’m on my way. Stay put,’ Han Ning replied.
The Green Moth Tribe that Aketu was in charge of was not actually adjacent to the Red Centipede Tribe.
The Green Moth Tribe administered three smaller tribes, and six Insect Servants from one of those tribes had already been either captured or killed by the people from the academy.
After arranging a meeting point, Han Ning summoned Egg Pancake and ordered it to activate its Mimicry. His own muscles rippled, and he quickly transformed, taking on the appearance of a Cyan Moth Insect-man who bore a passing resemblance to Aketu.
The Green Moth Tribe’s territory was located in the Blood-colored Grassland. Thanks to Egg Pancake’s increasingly skilled flying, they arrived above the designated meeting point in less than three hours.
On a desolate patch of grassland covered in giant, blood-red blades, a powerful gust of wind suddenly swirled.
Aketu, who had been standing quietly amidst the grass, raised his head.
He saw the air ripple faintly as an Insect-man who looked remarkably like him slowly emerged from nothing.
"Master." Aketu prostrated himself, performing a grand salute to Han Ning as if he were worshipping one of the Divine Beings.
"Rise. Where are the materials?"
Han Ning subtly scanned his surroundings before letting his gaze rest on the prostrating Aketu.
In just a day or two, he noticed two new additions by Aketu’s side: a moth the color of Cyan Jade and a slipper-sized red centipede that emitted a faint, scorching aura.
These two insects were Aketu’s newly contracted Soul Beasts. As an Insect Servant, he had informed Han Ning the moment he signed contracts with them.
Therefore, Han Ning’s expression remained unchanged.
"They are all inside."
Not daring to delay, Aketu quickly removed a pouch from his waist and presented it with both hands.
Han Ning took the pouch and rummaged through it. After confirming that the remaining ingredients for the Abyss Potion were all there, he nodded in satisfaction.
He slung the pouch over his shoulder and asked casually, "Any news from the Red Centipede Tribe?"
"Reporting to Master, there’s nothing for now. I just wish to remind you that Fei Ming is a suspicious person by nature; he may not completely trust my words. But please rest assured, Master. I will monitor the Red Centipede Insect Masters’ every move, 24/7."
"Good. Inform me immediately if you notice the slightest disturbance. You may go back now."
Han Ning waved his hand, dismissing Aketu.
"Yes, Master."
Watching Aketu disappear into the distance, Han Ning took advantage of the pre-dawn darkness to find an area far from the Blood-colored Grassland where the Dark Energy was active, and stopped there.
