Chapter 992: Surprise Twist

They quickly arrived, having traveled several dozen miles.

There weren't many traces of a major battle. The two Divine Sea Realm cultivators had clashed in the air just moments before, so it was natural that no marks would be left behind.

They searched around but couldn't find Xiang Dongliu.

Judging by the sounds of the earlier fight and the brief, tragic cry that followed, it was highly probable that Xiang Dongliu had met with misfortune. With his whereabouts and condition unknown, there was only one possibility.

Lu Ye stood at the edge of the Misty Cliff, gazing down. Without much hesitation, he said, "I'll go down and look."

The environment of the Misty Cliff was peculiar. The dense fog not only obstructed spiritual sense detection but also contained a large amount of magnetoelectric mineral dust. The deeper one descended, the more intensely a cultivator's spiritual power was suppressed.

Deep within the Misty Cliff, a cultivator's power was difficult to exert, and even ascending was a challenge.

However, it wasn't impossible to ascend; one could always climb their way back up.

"I'll go with you," Xiao Xinghe offered.

Lu Ye nodded. Just as he was about to move, he suddenly paused, frowning in concentration and listening intently.

"What's that sound?" Lin Yinxiu also noticed something amiss. Among those present, her cultivation was the highest, but she hadn't developed spiritual sense, so her perception wasn't as strong as Lu Ye's. This meant she detected the anomaly a step later than him.

Soon, the others also perceived the movement.

An eerie buzzing sound and rustling noises emanated from beneath the Misty Cliff, growing steadily louder.

"Something's coming up!" Lu Ye exclaimed in a low voice. From the sounds, whatever was ascending, there appeared to be very few of them.

"Advance!" Lu Ye shouted, leading everyone forward. They stopped only after moving a hundred zhang away, then turned back to observe.

The commotion at the Misty Cliff grew, and the dense fog shrouding the abyss began to churn violently. Then, something the size of a human figure burst forth from the swirling mist, flapping its wings.

Under the bright moonlight, a strangely shaped figure vaguely appeared before their eyes.

"Insectoids!" a Cloud River Realm cultivator exclaimed in surprise.

What had emerged from the Misty Cliff's fog was an insectoid shaped like a praying mantis.

No cultivator from the Four Provinces was unfamiliar with such creatures; after all, insectoid swarms frequently erupted on the Jade Scale Battlefield, and most cultivators had witnessed their destructive rampages.

However, the insectoid before them was much larger and far more formidable than those Jiao Sili had encountered on the Jade Scale Battlefield. A brutal aura permeated its entire body.

This insectoid was, at the very least, comparable to a Divine Sea Realm cultivator in power!

Everyone's scalp tingled with dread.

While a single insectoid of that level wouldn't normally cause such discomposure, everyone knew that insectoids never acted alone.

They typically moved in swarms, forming vast insectoid armies. And wherever there were insectoids, there was bound to be a nest.

Recalling the sounds they had heard earlier, everyone felt a chill run down their spine.

The dense fog continued to churn, and insectoids surged out from the Misty Cliff one after another. In the blink of an eye, the entire field of vision was filled with their overwhelming numbers.

These insectoids varied in form: some were like mantises, flying with flapping wings; others crawled on four limbs like hyenas, clad in what appeared to be extremely thick bone armor with sharp barbs on their shoulders, glinting with a chilling light under the moonlight. There were also centipede-like insectoids, their hundred legs moving rapidly, flying with astonishing speed.

The first mantis-shaped insectoid to emerge from the mist had already spotted Lu Ye and his group. It flapped its wings and flew towards them.

A large number of various insectoids followed closely. A Cloud River Realm cultivator's flying sword struck out, splitting the lead insectoid in half. As sword light ravaged the area, more insectoids fell mid-flight.

Feng Yuechan continuously cast spells, coordinating with Jiao Sili to slay enemies.

Even Yiyi, who had been hiding within Amber's body, flashed out and unleashed her spiritual arts.

However, even with the considerable abilities of the two cultivators and one spirit, they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of insectoids surging towards them.

Within moments, numerous insectoids charged to close quarters.

Ju Jia positioned himself to block behind the group. Lu Ye, Xiao Xinghe, and the Divine Sea Realm cultivators stood to his left and right. Blade light and sword shadows flashed, and insectoids continuously fell.

Lu Ye's expression was grim.

"When I was on the Jade Scale Battlefield, I experienced an insectoid swarm. However, the insectoids I encountered in that swarm were much easier to deal with than the ones currently before me. After all, these creatures are not from a suppressed battlefield, so their true strength is not diminished."

But now, each of these insectoids was comparable to Lin Yinxiu in power. If their numbers weren't vast, dealing with them wouldn't be troublesome, but with such overwhelming numbers, it was a disaster.

Lu Ye couldn't understand why there were so many insectoids beneath the Misty Cliff.

Why hadn't these insectoids been discovered before? Insectoids had low intelligence; they couldn't have stayed hidden beneath the Misty Cliff all this time without revealing themselves.

Lu Ye then recalled their mission: Nightingale had reported a suspected fierce beast sighting in the area. After their arrival, they had indeed slain a harmful spiritual energy python, believing it to be the beast Nightingale had discovered.

But what if that wasn't the case? What if Nightingale had initially detected not the commotion caused by a spiritual energy python, but the signs of insectoids stirring within the Misty Cliff?

There was no time for further thought. After the small group of three cultivators and one spirit fiercely battled the attacking insectoids for a short while, Lu Ye shouted, "Go!"

If they lingered any longer, they would likely be encircled by the insectoids. Although many insectoids had fallen to their group in that brief moment, the overwhelming insectoid army still filled their vision.

Moreover, Lu Ye clearly sensed that among the insectoids surging from the Misty Cliff, there were not only those comparable to Lin Yinxiu but also some comparable to True Lake Realm cultivators...

While he hadn't detected any insectoids comparable to Li Baxian, it didn't mean they weren't present!

At his command, everyone immediately soared into the sky, carving a bloody path through the surrounding insectoids and slowly retreating in one direction. Numerous insectoids pursued them relentlessly, but were picked off by Jiao Sili's flying swords.

"Divine Sea Realm cultivators, send a message to the Law Enforcement Division! Inform the Division Lord that an insectoid swarm has erupted here. Also, report that Xiang Dongliu, the steward of the Law Enforcement Division, has fallen victim to an unidentified male cultivator and his condition is unknown!"

"Understood!" the Divine Sea Realm cultivators acknowledged, quickly complying.

"Senior Sister Feng, send a message to the Danxin Sect and ask them to dispatch people to clear out the insectoids!"

Within a thousand-mile radius, the Danxin Sect was the strongest force. With the sudden eruption of this insectoid swarm, ordinary sects and families simply couldn't cope. Even a third-rank family like Lingxi would be like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot before such a swarm, utterly unable to withstand it. Even if Squad Ding Si hadn't annihilated Lingxi today, Lingxi would still have struggled to survive.

Only the Danxin Sect could be relied upon. If they could dispatch people in time, there might be a chance to halt the spread of the insectoid swarm.

Feng Yuechan quickly sent out the message.

As he spoke, Lu Ye descended towards a certain area below.

This was where Lingxi's rear compounds were located. Previously, when Chen Lie had led Lu Ye and his group to the Lingxi Sect, they had passed through this area. According to Chen Lie, this was where the non-cultivators of Lingxi resided, numbering quite a few, around two to three thousand people.

Almost all of Lingxi's cultivators had already perished.

Only these uncultivated mortals remained. With the sudden outbreak of the insectoid swarm, if no one paid them any heed, they would have no chance of survival.

Although Lu Ye had just fought a major battle with Lingxi, almost wiping out the sect, Lingxi had provoked them first. And even now, he didn't know why Lingxi had acted as it did.

Yet, Lu Ye couldn't bring himself to abandon these mortals.

Flying to the rear compounds, Lu Ye shouted, "An insectoid swarm has erupted! If you want to live, quickly find somewhere to hide! The deeper, the better! Hurry, hurry, hurry!"

In Lingxi's rear compounds, many uncultivated mortals were already restless that night because of the sudden outbreak of battle from the main sect. Unaware of what had happened, many had been roused from their sleep and were currently gathered, discussing who should go to the main sect to check on the situation.

Before they could reach a conclusion, Lu Ye's voice rang out from above.

Although these mortals hadn't cultivated, they were still part of the Lingxi family and knew some things about the cultivation world, so they had naturally heard of insectoid swarms.

Lu Ye's urgent tone immediately sent the gathered Lingxi clan members into a panic. Fortunately, a few highly respected elders took charge. At their command, everyone quickly dispersed, seeking places to hide.

Lu Ye turned his head and looked back. Under the moonlight, a dark cloud rose from the Misty Cliff, spreading towards them. Within this dark cloud, countless massive insectoid figures were densely packed, their numbers immeasurable.

He didn't linger. After warning the people of Lingxi, he immediately turned and flew away, simultaneously pulling out some blasting fire spirit stones from his storage bag and unleashing them as he flew.

Roaring sounds emanated, accompanied by violent spiritual power fluctuations.

A large number of insectoids were attracted and gave chase.

Insectoids had low intelligence but were extremely sensitive to spiritual power fluctuations. Lu Ye had noticed this back on the Jade Scale Battlefield. He dared not let the insectoids linger near Lingxi's rear compounds, so he could only use this method to attract their attention and lure them away.

As for how effective this strategy would be, and how many of Lingxi's mortals would ultimately survive, that was beyond his control.

He could only do his best and leave the rest to fate.

"Captain, the Division Lord has instructed us to ensure our own safety first," a Divine Sea Realm cultivator suddenly said.

Lu Ye knew, of course, that they needed to protect themselves. But given the current situation, he had to attract the insectoids' attention first.

"What's the Danxin Sect's response?" Lu Ye asked again.

Feng Yuechan quickly replied, "The Danxin Sect has already dispatched people."

"Good!" Lu Ye exclaimed in a low voice, continuing to unleash blasting fire spirit stones. Each explosion sent waves of dense spiritual energy fluctuations, and the tide-like insectoids behind them pursued relentlessly.

From within the massive swarm, Lu Ye sensed many powerful auras, unsure if these insectoids were comparable to Divine Sea Realm cultivators.

"Spread out!" Lu Ye commanded. As he spoke, he grabbed Amber from his shoulder, tossed it to Ju Jia, and turned to streak away in another direction. A pair of fiery red wings unfurled behind him, and his speed sharply increased.

"Lu Ye!" Yiyi exclaimed.

"Go!" Xiao Xinghe roared, being the first to veer off in another direction.

The rumbling sounds gradually faded into the distance. A moment later, they turned back to look, seeing that the number of insectoids pursuing them was not large. However, the insectoids in Lu Ye's direction stretched as far as the eye could see, causing their hearts to sink.