Chapter 1492: Danger of the Ferocious Insects

Wang Changsheng nodded, smiling as he suggested, "Junior Martial Sister Tian, if you get the chance in the future, interact with them more. Their character is quite good; you might be able to win them over later."

"They'll probably be suspicious; it's too coincidental. But never mind that for now, we can discuss it later. First, let's help Haitang consecrate the Celestial Ghost Banner!"

Immortal Fairy Ziyue's tone was calm. Subduing Cheng Zhenyu and his wife wouldn't be easy, and it wasn't yet time to rebuild the Zhenhai Sect. The Wang family's current strength was insufficient, and Immortal Fairy Ziyue's strength was also not great enough. The moment for rebuilding the Zhenhai Sect had not arrived.

Wang Changsheng nodded. The four of them transformed into four streaks of light and flew towards the depths of the Myriad Ghosts Sea. The Zhenhai Ape submerged, exploring the seabed while secretly assisting them.

On the outskirts of the Myriad Puppet Mountains, there was an open space.

Over a hundred cultivators were besieging a group of giant black spiders. Leading them was a burly man in red, holding a crimson folding fan. With a gentle flick, rolling flames surged forth.

Five gigantic humanoid puppet beasts brandished their swords, hacking at the black spiders, producing dull "clang-clang" thuds.

Roaring sounds were incessant, energy waves surged, and flames shot into the sky.

Most of these cultivators used fire-attribute spells or magic tools to attack the black spiders. With continuous roars, surging flames, and soaring firelight, the black spiders were clearly no match and fell one after another.

Boom!

Accompanied by a deafening roar, the last black spider was engulfed by surging flames, letting out a painful shriek. Over a dozen glistening magic treasures swarmed it, hacking it to pieces.

"We finally dealt with these beasts. I don't see what the big deal was? We took care of them so easily."

A man in his early forties, dressed in a green robe, said with a relaxed smile.

"That's because we haven't encountered mutated ferocious insects. They aren't so easy to deal with; Elder Sun was even injured by one."

The burly man in red said coldly, his expression grim.

The man in green gave an awkward smile and said, "I've heard about this too. I suppose the sect's high-ranking members are already discussing solutions. As long as we guard the periphery and prevent these creatures from escaping the Myriad Puppet Mountains, we'll be fine. It's a pity for the cultivators and mortals living near the Myriad Puppet Mountains. I heard that earlier, when these ferocious insects rushed out, they left no living thing in their wake."

"It's good you know. Quickly clean up the battlefield. These beasts are sensitive to the smell of blood; we don't want to attract other ferocious insects."

The burly man in red ordered in a deep voice.

Northern Territory, Nine Serenities Sect.

Inside the Nine Serenities Hall, Shangguan Wei sat on the main seat, her expression cold. Lei Yiming and several other elders stood to the side, all of them looking displeased.

The Puppet Emperor's Tomb was guarded by four Nascent Soul cultivators and two fourth-tier puppet beasts, yet three evil cultivators of the Nascent Soul stage had managed to break in.

All the rare spiritual herbs cultivated in the Puppet Emperor's Tomb were plundered. Consequently, the ferocious insects sealed within the tomb also burst out. These insects were not afraid of ordinary Five-Element spells; high-tier ones could even withstand attacks from magic treasures. However, objects of extreme Yang and rigidity, or spiritual attacks, could restrain them.

The Three Flames Palace, Nine Serenities Sect, and Sacred Talisman Palace successively dispatched reinforcements. When they arrived at the Puppet Emperor's Tomb, they were confronted by millions of ferocious insects, twenty of which were fourth-tier, and there was even one top-grade mutated fourth-tier insect.

The reinforcements from the three sects clashed with the millions of ferocious insects, and a great battle immediately erupted. The cultivators from the three sects eliminated a batch of insects, but their numbers were simply too vast. The top-grade mutated fourth-tier insect, hidden within the swarm, suddenly launched an attack, killing two Nascent Soul cultivators. Only one Nascent Soul cultivator managed to escape; all other cultivators were slain.

In this battle, the Nine Serenities Sect suffered heavy losses, losing two Nascent Soul cultivators and five Core Formation cultivators.

The ferocious insects used the secret realm where the Puppet Emperor's Tomb was located as their nest, operating within a thousand-li radius. They slaughtered over a hundred thousand mortals and tens of thousands of cultivators, leaving no living thing in their path. The three major sects jointly repelled the insects, forcing them to remain in the Myriad Puppet Mountains. The problem was their rapid reproduction rate; if left unchecked, their numbers would swell, and the entire Northern Territory would suffer.

The ferocious insects were only vulnerable to objects of extreme Yang and rigidity, or spiritual attacks. Such treasures were rare and few remained to this day. The Taiyang Bottle, one of the Three Flames Palace's three foundational treasures, could indeed restrain the insects, but their numbers were too immense. Conservatively, it would require at least ten Nascent Soul cultivators leading, a hundred Core Formation cultivators assisting, and a collection of treasures of extreme Yang and rigidity along with spiritual attack magic tools, to potentially eliminate this swarm of ferocious insects.

The three major sects, while sending people to collect treasures, also contacted other forces. The ten major sects of the Northern Territory united, offering a reward of three hundred million spirit stones for the capture of the culprits. Those who harbored them or knew information but failed to report it would be treated as accomplices and executed without mercy.

"Given the attack on the Puppet Emperor's Tomb, the enemies must have at least late-Nascent Soul stage strength, right? Otherwise, they couldn't have breached it. Are there any clues?"

Shangguan Wei said with a cold face. She didn't know much about the Puppet Emperor's Tomb, only that it sealed a group of ferocious insects. If not handled properly, the entire Northern Territory would face trouble, and the Nine Serenities Sect, as the largest sect in the Northern Territory, would also be affected.

"According to Fellow Daoist Lu from the Sacred Talisman Palace, one person used the Silver Moon Soul-Severing Blade. Only the Moon Palace Master of the Sun Moon Palace in the Southern Sea can cultivate this technique. This matter is connected to the Sun Moon Palace."

Lei Yiming said in a deep voice. Hundreds of years ago, the Moon Palace Master of the Sun Moon Palace had attacked and killed the Deputy Sect Master of the Nine Serenities Sect. Since then, relations between the two sects had rapidly deteriorated. If a Nine Serenities Sect cultivator was discovered by the Sun Moon Palace in the Southern Sea, they would be executed without mercy. Conversely, if a Sun Moon Palace cultivator was discovered by the Nine Serenities Sect in the Northern Territory, they would likewise be executed without mercy.

Shangguan Wei's expression turned cold. "Is this true?" she asked.

The Moon Palace Master of the Sun Moon Palace traveled all the way to the Northern Territory and breached the Puppet Emperor's Tomb. Could the Sun Moon Palace be deliberately retaliating against the Nine Serenities Sect? That makes no sense! If the Sun Moon Palace genuinely intended to do this, they would conceal their identities and not use a unique spiritual art.

"Sect Master, our sect's Deputy Sect Master was killed by Situ Mei, the Deputy Moon Palace Master of the Sun Moon Palace. Perhaps the Sun Moon Palace learned about the Puppet Emperor's Tomb and attacked it for its rare spiritual herbs."

Lei Yiming put forward a bold hypothesis, which was reasonable. The three major sects dispatched heavy forces to guard the Puppet Emperor's Tomb not solely to suppress the ferocious insects, but also because the secret realm where the insects resided had a special environment suitable for the growth of rare spiritual herbs. The raw materials for the Nascent Soul-forming spiritual objects of the three major sects came from the Puppet Emperor's Tomb, and some rare spiritual herbs helped Nascent Soul cultivators advance to the late stage.

Strictly speaking, if the Puppet Emperor's Tomb was destroyed, the three major sects would have fewer Nascent Soul-forming spiritual objects to refine, which directly impacted their sect's legacy.

"Our relationship with the Sun Moon Palace is poor. Let other sects negotiate with them. If this matter truly is the doing of the Sun Moon Palace, our sect will invite the other nine major sects to gather forces and march to the Southern Sea, leveling the Sun Moon Palace."

Shangguan Wei's eyes glinted with a cold light. She wouldn't provoke the Sun Moon Palace, but if they dared to provoke her, Shangguan Wei was never one to swallow her anger. All the minor forces that participated in besieging the Nine Serenities Sect in the past were annihilated, their leaders tortured day and night by having their souls extracted and refined.

If someone struck Shangguan Wei once, she would return the blow ten times over, even if it meant mutual destruction.

It was precisely because of her vengeful nature that the Nine Serenities Sect, after internal strife, was able to firmly hold its position as the foremost sect in the Northern Territory.

"Yes, Sect Master."

Lei Yiming agreed, his face filled with murderous intent.