Chapter 642

The spirit insect Qin Sang was searching for was called the Gloom Bug. It resembles a common stink bug, thrives in dark, damp environments, and absorbs Yin energy day and night, which is how it got its name.

After leaving the Xiongshan region, Qin Sang disguised his identity, visited several market towns, and contacted various factions to gather information. He ultimately selected nine types of spirit insects as his targets. Five of these were rare insects listed on the 'Rare Insect Compendium'. Qin Sang knew the cultivation methods for some, but not for others. However, Qin Sang possessed Fiery Gold, so he wasn't overly concerned, at least before the third transformation. The abilities of these rare insects were remarkably unique and very appealing. There were also four types of common spirit insects among his choices. Though their potential wasn't high, their formidable divine abilities could provide significant assistance during the Core Formation stage. These were Qin Sang's secondary options, chosen as a contingency.

The rumors and records he had gathered might not be reliable. It was possible that the spirit insects had migrated, encountered natural predators, been captured, or even undergone metamorphosis and left their habitats. Qin Sang believed that finding even one of his chosen nine spirit insects would be a favorable outcome. His standards were high, and he was prepared to dedicate considerable time and effort to searching for these insects.

The Gloom Bug was one of the six rare insects he was considering. It was highly esteemed on the Rare Insect Compendium. During its first two transformations, the Gloom Bug's abilities were unremarkable, a common trait among most spirit insects. Significant changes only occurred in its third transformation, or even later. After its third transformation, the Gloom Bug could transmute the Yin energy within its body into a black sword. This sword was incredibly fast and as sharp as a true magical artifact spirit sword. Moreover, when the Gloom Bug wasn't using it, not a single trace of its aura could be detected. It lay dormant, but when it struck, it was as swift and powerful as thunder! A spirit insect controller who obtained a third-transformation Gloom Bug would gain an extremely sharp, hidden sword that didn't consume their own divine sense, making it incredibly difficult to defend against. Qin Sang was very fond of it. For this reason, the Gloom Bug was his primary target.

However, the Gloom Bug ranked even lower than the Ghost Head Bees on the Sorcerer Insect Compendium, placing it at the very bottom. No one dared to choose it as their natal Gu insect. This was due to the Gloom Bug's extremely difficult metamorphosis, long lifespan, and slow growth. Without the correct methods, a Core Formation cultivator might not live long enough to witness the Gloom Bug's third transformation. Among the various rare insect cultivation methods Qin Sang possessed, one was specifically for the Gloom Bug. The Spirit Control Sect had discovered a fragmented cultivation method for the Gloom Bug within ancient texts left by cultivators of old. This method required preparing and using several Yin-cold spirit elixirs in conjunction, which would accelerate the Gloom Bug's growth rate by several times.

A cultivator had once sighted a second-transformation Gloom Bug in this wasteland. However, before he could react, the Gloom Bug burrowed into a subterranean cave and vanished. Qin Sang only had this one piece of information: to catch the Gloom Bug, he first needed to locate the subterranean cave.

"I've searched most of the wasteland, but how is it that I still haven't found the subterranean cave?" Qin Sang wondered to himself. "Could there have been an earthquake here, altering the terrain?" Qin Sang mused internally, his gaze sweeping across the vast wasteland, and decided to change direction.

He hadn't taken two steps when Qin Sang let out a soft exclamation, suddenly stopping. Then, with a flash of sword light, he leaped a thousand zhang to his left, hovering in the air as he peered downwards.

"I've found it!"

Wild grass had overgrown, completely obscuring the cave entrance. Qin Sang was about to use his sword to break through, but after a moment's thought, he put away his Ebony Sword and silently slipped into the subterranean cave instead. The subterranean cave was exceptionally deep. Qin Sang descended for the time it takes an incense stick to burn before finally spotting an underground rift valley. The subterranean area was incredibly cold and damp, proving to be exactly the environment the Gloom Bug preferred.

However, after seeing the underground rift valley, Qin Sang began to feel a headache coming on. He hadn't expected the area to be so vast, with countless branches, even more complex than the Earth-Sinking Cave of Shaohua Mountain. Searching for a tiny Gloom Bug in such a place was akin to looking for a needle in a haystack. Unfortunately, his Flying Yaksha couldn't venture too far from him; otherwise, searching separately would have been far more efficient.

Gloom Bugs thrived in cold and damp conditions, a preference that intensified with their strength. Qin Sang decided to proceed directly to the deepest part of the subterranean cave. He summoned his Flying Yaksha and quickly descended. The deeper they went, the colder and more eerie it became. When he felt they were deep enough, Qin Sang retrieved several bottles and jars from his Thousand-Jin Ring, containing powders or liquids, and occasionally sprinkled them along the way. These were secret elixirs used to lure insects. Some Qin Sang had purchased from Witch cultivators, while others he had personally refined based on the Spirit Control Sect's formulas. He had prepared a substantial amount. This method was effective for certain spirit insects. Qin Sang wasn't certain if it would lure the Gloom Bug, but he decided to give it a try.

The Yin-cold sensation became increasingly dreadful, threatening to penetrate his very bones. Qin Sang was forced to activate his true essence for protection. After descending a bit further, he was surprised to hear the sound of flowing water from below. Qin Sang was secretly surprised. Upon descending to investigate, he realized that Yin energy had mixed into a subterranean river, transforming the water into a grey hue and preventing it from freezing.

Standing by the subterranean river, Qin Sang looked upwards. During his descent, he had scattered over a dozen bottles of insect-luring elixirs, yet not a single spirit insect had been lured. This was actually a good sign. Except for special circumstances, every spirit insect possessed its own territory and would not permit other spirit insects to invade. If other spirit insects had appeared, it would have indicated that the Gloom Bug was no longer present.

Qin Sang observed the subterranean environment, then began searching along the subterranean river, using his divine sense in conjunction with the insect-luring elixirs, meticulously checking every corner. The subterranean cave resembled a vast maze. Qin Sang searched for an entire day, yet came up empty-handed. Finally, Qin Sang gave up and returned to the point where he had descended.

Qin Sang approached a protruding rock by the subterranean river. After carefully examining the nearby terrain, with a thought, his Flying Yaksha leaped into the subterranean river and submerged itself at the bottom. Next, Qin Sang retrieved a jade bottle from his Thousand-Jin Ring. The jade bottle contained a thick, reddish pulp, extremely viscous and resembling a ruby, shimmering with an alluring luster. Within the pulp, golden light occasionally flickered, giving it an extraordinarily unique appearance. This was the fruit of the Crimson Gold Vine, known as Fiery Gold!

Spirit insects were difficult to find in the Minor Cold Domain. After Qin Sang obtained the Fiery Gold, it had no opportunity to be used and had been stored until now. Finally, it was time for it to prove its worth. The reason Qin Sang dared to venture deep into the Western Frontier alone to search for insects, based on mere rumors, was precisely because he relied on this item. Fiery Gold could assist spirit insects in metamorphosis and held an immense allure for them, proving more effective than any insect-luring elixir. This was an advantage no one else possessed.

Since the insect-luring elixirs had proven ineffective, Qin Sang had no choice but to use the Fiery Gold. Not much was needed; he only had to release the aura of the Fiery Gold. Simultaneously, Qin Sang opened the insect basket at his waist and retrieved several Ghost Head Bee larvae. The larvae of other spirit insects also served as excellent lures, particularly those with mutated bloodlines, as their allure was even stronger. Combining these two, Qin Sang was confident the Gloom Bug would not remain indifferent.

By now, Qin Sang had lost interest in cultivating Blood-Winged Ghost Head Bees. Having lost their potential for further metamorphosis, even a large number of Blood-Winged Ghost Head Bees could only pose a threat to Foundation Establishment cultivators. Qin Sang activated his true essence to grasp the Blood-Winged Ghost Head Bee larvae, erased their consciousness, then opened the jade bottle and carefully drew out a trace of Fiery Gold, which he smeared onto them. He first flung a few of them into the distance, keeping one that had been most thoroughly coated, and placed it on the stone platform.