Chapter 772: The Simplest Cicada Extermination in History

## Chapter 765: The Simplest Cicada Extermination in History

After some preparations, Dong Rui opened the lid of the crystal box, exposing the mother cicada to the air.

Initially, it was quiet all around. The group waited in the forest for fifteen minutes, then another fifteen. Even He Lingchuan asked if it would work, but Dong Rui was confident: "Patience, be patient!" Just as he finished speaking, three or four monstrous cicadas leaped into the clearing from all directions, heading straight for the mother cicada.

Qiu Hu swung the copper rod in his hand, but Dong Rui reminded him, "Leave them alone. The more bait, the better." The cicadas, drawn by the scent, enjoyed gathering just like humans. The more of their kind there were, the more excited they became. The male cicadas, seeing such a plump and fertile female for the first time, were instantly captivated, oblivious to anything unusual around them. The scent they emitted during mating grew stronger, and soon more cicadas were drawn in.

The Rongshan Sect had set up a "ground trap array" in this clearing, similar in principle to a crab trap: insects could enter but not leave. Over the past two months, they had explored many methods for catching insects, and the ground trap array was one of them. Previously, food was placed in the array, but now it was the mother cicada.

Within an hour, hundreds of cicadas arrived. Two hours later, that number became seven hundred! The sight of so many three-foot-long insects, a dense, dark mass leaping about, made the faces of the Rongshan people change. Elder Dao couldn't help but exclaim, "Our sect has stood for over two hundred years, weathering all kinds of storms, yet today we almost fell to these tiny cicadas!" They spent their days exterminating insects, but their adversaries kept coming relentlessly. Human effort was simply not enough. At this rate, either the Rongshan Sect or the insects had to perish. If they couldn't find a reliable solution, which do you think would die? These opponents weren't even demons! For the past two months, the Rongshan Sect had been incredibly frustrated.

He Lingchuan pointed forward and chuckled, "Don't we have a solution now?" They remained inside the pre-arranged formation, where they were invisible to these monstrous insects, with no scent trails to betray their presence.

Four hours later, there were a thousand. Seeing that no new insects had appeared for a long time and the ground trap array was full, Dong Rui finally said with satisfaction, "That's enough." So, everyone acted together, deploying supernatural powers, formations, poisons, and various magical artifacts and tools to deal with the cicadas. These cicadas were so preoccupied with mating that they showed no interest in fighting for their lives, essentially surrendering to their fate. Occasionally, a few would fly up to attack, but they were quickly eliminated. Thanks to thorough preparations, the extermination only lasted half an hour. The Rongshan Sect had never exterminated cicadas so easily, safely, and painlessly. Everyone was greatly surprised and looked at Dong Rui and He Lingchuan with immense gratitude.

Actually, fire attacks were the quickest, but cicadas feared the smell of smoke and char and would actively avoid burnt land, not approaching for at least two months. Dong Rui carefully put away the mother cicada: "Shall we move to another spot and continue?" Hope had dawned, and everyone beamed with smiles: "Let's continue."

This successful experiment was quickly reported to Sect Master Xue. After hearing Elder Dao's report, he decided to extensively promote Dong Rui's successful method. Of course, Dong Rui now met people only under an alias, calling himself Wei Yishan.

Over the next three days, Dong Rui consecutively cultivated several more mother cicadas, which the Rongshan disciples took to various locations to hunt monstrous cicadas. The advantage of monstrous cicadas was their rapid growth, while their disadvantage was their desire for mating and reproduction, which far exceeded that of ordinary cicadas.

After seven or eight days of such efforts, the adult cicada population sharply decreased, and even newly hatched ones were eliminated. The number of monstrous cicadas in the Rongshan territory plummeted, with good news reported continuously from the eastern and southern regions. After another seven or eight days, many areas had zero cicadas. The overall situation was settled; it was only a matter of time before the Rongshan Sect completely defeated the invading monstrous cicadas.

At the same time, they set fire to the scorched forest in the northeast. After all, the trees there had long been sucked dry by the invading monstrous cicadas, so burning them was no loss. The charred land could also deter monstrous cicadas for several months. Only by cutting off the cicadas' southward path could the Rongshan Sect enjoy a few months of peace.

Elder Dao also asked Dong Rui, "What should we do in three months?" In three months, spring would arrive, and the mountains and forests scorched by the fire would grow new vegetation. By then, the cicadas would once again head south.

Dong Rui's answer was simple: "Jugu is the source. As long as the cicada plague isn't eradicated there, Rongshan will never have peace." Jugu was their immovable neighbor. No matter how well Rongshan managed its own territory, it would always be dragged down by its problematic neighbor.

Elder Dao sighed deeply, then asked, "So, could we ask Mr. Wei to make a trip to Jugu?" Eliminate insects for Jugu? Dong Rui shook his head, "No."

"Actually, Jugu has heard that our Rongshan Sect has an effective way to deal with the pests and has specifically requested our help," Elder Dao said, smiling more warmly. "The monstrous cicadas in Jugu have devoured countless people and caused severe damage. Now, the entire country is suffering immensely, with no means of self-preservation." Wherever the monstrous cicadas passed, no grass grew, no humans or livestock survived, and agriculture and forestry vanished. If the situation escalated further, no country could withstand it. The Heavenly Palace had already sent envoys to Wange Marsh, and Dong Rui absolutely refused to go there. He had barely escaped Beijia and was determined not to get involved with anything or anyone from there again.

He Lingchuan tentatively asked, "Hasn't Jugu sought external assistance?" "Of course they have. Jugu has offered a substantial reward and invited extraordinary individuals from all over," Elder Dao said with a light cough. "The scout I sent to Jugu also brought back news that even the Heavenly Palace was alarmed and sent a Duyu Envoy."

He Lingchuan was slightly surprised: "The Heavenly Palace sent a Duyu Envoy? Which one?" He knew, of course, that the Heavenly Palace envoy's true purpose in Wange Marsh was not to investigate a cicada plague but to search for clues related to the Great Cauldron of the Square Pot – that was his intention in asking Li Qingge to send the Dragon Punishment Pillar to Wange Marsh. But he hadn't expected the Heavenly Palace to dispatch a Duyu Envoy. That was a high rank, indicating significant importance.

"His surname is He, He Jing, one of the Four Duyu Envoys," Elder Dao said. "But this Duyu Envoy He led his people around Wange Marsh several times and seemed to find nothing before eventually leaving." "Oh!" He Lingchuan nodded solemnly. It was he who had deliberately set up the confusing situation; if Duyu Envoy He had found clues about the Great Cauldron of the Square Pot in Wange Marsh, that would have been truly suspicious. As for Jugu's cicada plague, Duyu Envoy He probably didn't care about it, as Beijia wasn't the one suffering the misfortune anyway.

Elder Dao looked at He Lingchuan and lightly coughed, "Mr. Wei also said that Jugu is the source. If the problem isn't dealt with there, the insect plague in the Rongshan territory cannot be **eradicated**." He emphasized the word "eradicated." He Lingchuan knew this was directed at him. If the Rongshan insect plague couldn't be eradicated, Qiu Hu would have to remain in Rongshan to uphold his oath. Elder Dao had keen insight and had long seen that this group deferred to He Lingchuan; as long as He Lingchuan agreed, "Mr. Wei" would not refuse.

He Lingchuan thought for a moment and then said earnestly, "It's not that I'm kicking them while they're down, but there's something I'd like to ask your sect for help with." Elder Dao, far from being concerned, was delighted: "Please, speak!"

(End of Chapter)