Chapter 362: Stirring up a hornet's nest

Yiyi didn't want Lu Ye to focus on the magnificent, wind-swept sea of flowers, but rather on something else standing within it: a colossal, bone-white structure that looked as if it were cast from white jade.

Even though Lu Ye was mentally prepared, he couldn't help but gasp when he saw it.

Amidst the boundless expanse of vibrant colors, this structure, seemingly cast from white jade, stood out dramatically.

It was a beehive, an absolutely massive beehive!

It resembled a colossal palace situated right in the center of the valley.

A beehive of this size was practically unheard of. Furthermore, hornets, each one or two feet long, were flying around in the valley's endless flower sea.

Lu Ye's eye twitched involuntarily as he observed the hornets' size and their variegated patterns.

The hornets they had encountered previously were only two or three inches long and quite common, but the ones in this flower sea could already be categorized as demon bees.

What was even more alarming was the sheer number of these demon bees—they were truly terrifyingly abundant.

The honey produced from ordinary beehives was already a coveted delicacy. What kind of honey would this beehive yield?

Lu Ye couldn't help but ponder the possibilities.

No wonder people often said that rare treasures could be found deep within ancient forests. Many cultivators, once they had a certain cultivation base, enjoyed exploring the wilderness, often stumbling upon valuable discoveries.

The beehive before him was undeniably a rare treasure. While acquiring the honey within would entail some risks, one could only gain through effort.

After a moment's thought, Lu Ye instructed, "Wait for me here. I'm going to take a look."

Yiyi immediately replied, "I'll come with you."

"Stay put."

In truth, Yiyi was better suited for such risky ventures than he was. As a spirit body, she could simply vanish underground if danger arose, a capability no other cultivator possessed.

However, this didn't mean Yiyi was immune to all danger.

The beehive itself looked unnatural, and combined with the countless giant demon bees in the valley, Lu Ye couldn't possibly let Yiyi take such a risk.

If he went alone, he had a reasonable chance of escaping, even if he encountered danger.

Yiyi puffed out her cheeks, looking displeased.

Ignoring her, Lu Ye leaped and descended into the valley. While still in mid-air, he activated the concealment spirit pattern, enveloping himself.

Instantly, his figure vanished, and his aura was completely suppressed.

Had he not acquired this concealment spirit pattern from the Talent Tree earlier, Lu Ye would not have dared to proceed this way. Those one- or two-foot-long demon bees looked formidable; while he might not have feared a few dozen or even a hundred of them, the flower sea contained far more than that.

From above, the flower sea appeared to undulate endlessly. Only upon descending into it did he realize that the plants were exceptionally tall. Lu Ye didn't have much knowledge of pharmacology, so he couldn't tell if these flowers and herbs were medicinal.

Maintaining the concealment spirit pattern, Lu Ye moved forward silently. Demon bees occasionally flew past him, their incessant buzzing filling his ears.

After a long journey, he finally reached the beehive. Standing before it and gazing up, Lu Ye felt utterly minuscule.

Numerous holes dotted the beehive's perimeter, with industrious demon bees constantly moving in and out.

Lu Ye searched for a moment, then found a relatively large opening and slipped inside. He hadn't gone far, though, when a demon bee crawled out, heading straight for him.

Lu Ye quickly drew back, pressing himself flat against the side. As the demon bee crawled past him, it seemed to sense something, turning its head to look in his direction. Finding nothing unusual, it continued on its way.

He continued onward, passing many demon bees along the way.

The concealment spirit pattern proved unexpectedly effective. These low-intelligence demon bees likely couldn't fathom someone being so audacious as to infiltrate their hive.

Moments later, Lu Ye passed through the tunnel and entered the beehive's interior.

The internal space was noticeably larger, and the hive was permeated with the unique sweet aroma of honey. Just inhaling the scent was enough to make one feel refreshed and invigorated.

Lu Ye became increasingly convinced that the honey produced in this hive was far superior to anything he had previously collected. If honey were categorized by quality, his previous harvests would be considered inferior, while this would undoubtedly be a premium grade.

The number of demon bees inside the hive was even greater. Lu Ye constantly had to dodge the numerous bees moving to and fro, as he continued to follow the sweet scent.

Soon, he found the honey storage area. Lumps of pure, flawless golden-yellow honey, clustered like citrine, filled the hive's interior. The mere aroma was enough to whet one's appetite.

Over a dozen demon bees, nearly human-sized, guarded the area, crawling back and forth. These creatures were significantly larger than the external demon bees and appeared formidable.

Furthermore, Lu Ye noticed a groove-like structure nearby. He spotted it because several human-sized demon bees were constantly guarding it, never straying even an inch.