Chapter 1516: Battle Against the Pests (5)

From a distance, a colossal golden spiderweb stretched across a five-hundred-mile radius. Golden Netherworld Spiders crawled on the web, densely clustered together, snarling with bared fangs. Periodically, drops of venom fell to the ground, emitting plumes of green smoke and corroding large holes in the earth.

“So many mutated Netherworld Spiders!” Wang Yingjie gasped in surprise, taking a sharp breath.

The number of mutated Netherworld Spiders here was more than five times that of the previous group, far exceeding them in quantity.

From the golden-skirted maiden’s fingertips, thin golden spider silk emerged. The silk gathered, forming various weapons like knives, spears, and staffs. Brown bloodstains smudged the corners of her mouth, suggesting she had eaten something.

Ye Yan's face was slightly pale. He held a three-colored banner, its surface adorned with blue, red, and gold flames that radiated astonishing heat. His left arm trembled, and upon closer inspection, fresh blood could be seen on his left wrist. He hadn't known about the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider. Initially, commanding thousands of cultivators to attack the spiders went smoothly. However, when the human cultivators ventured deeper into the Myriad Puppet Mountain Range, they were suddenly ambushed by mutated Netherworld Spiders, suffering heavy losses. A junior whom Ye Yan highly regarded was in mortal danger, and he intervened to save them. Unexpectedly, the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider seized the opportunity to attack Ye Yan, causing him to suffer a hidden injury.

The appearance of the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider disrupted Ye Yan and Liu Ye's plans. However, they finally understood why the number of mutated Netherworld Spiders was increasing; the problem lay with the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider itself. The Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider had completely mutated. As long as she lived, mutated Netherworld Spiders would continuously emerge. Simply put, the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider was a mobile insect nest.

“Qingshan, this is the location of the spatial node. Go and seal it. Fellow Daoist Ye and I will deal with the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider. She absolutely cannot be allowed to escape, or the entire East Glimmer Realm will suffer.” Liu Ye took out a foot-long azure jade box and an azure jade slip, handing them to Wang Qingshan.

Wang Qingshan was only at the early Nascent Soul stage, but he possessed the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire. This made him the most suitable person for the task, as other cultivators lacked the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire and might not be a match for the mutated Netherworld Spiders.

Wang Qingshan paused slightly, then took the azure jade box and slip with both hands, feeling a heavy responsibility settle upon his shoulders.

“Grandmaster Liu, my cultivation is too weak. I fear I may not be able to accomplish this task well.” Wang Qingshan showed a look of difficulty. It wasn't that he was unwilling to go, but the matter was too significant; if he failed, the consequences would be dire.

Liu Ye waved his hand, instructing, “Don't worry, I will have others assist you. All you need to do is seal the spatial node. Do you have the confidence?”

“Exterminating demons and guarding the righteous path is the responsibility of cultivators of our generation. Your disciple will not shrink from death.” Wang Qingshan said with a serious expression. Since Liu Ye had put it that way, he naturally wouldn't refuse further.

“Good, good, good! Our ancestors were able to seal the Netherworld Spiders back then; this time, we will eradicate them completely.” Liu Ye laughed heartily, full of confidence.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, have your disciples attract the attention of the Netherworld Spiders. I will join you in dealing with that beast.” Liu Ye transmitted his voice to Ye Yan, then conjured four glimmering flying swords and launched them at the golden-skirted maiden.

“Cultivators of the Northern Frontier, heed my command! Increase your attacks; we must destroy this insect!” Ye Yan shouted, his voice echoing across a hundred-mile radius.

“Yes, Senior Ye.” The cultivators replied in unison, intensifying their attacks.

“Fairy Song, Fellow Daoist Wu, Master Jingkong, I need your assistance.” Wang Qingshan transmitted his voice to the four of them, explaining the situation from beginning to end. Liu Ye and Ye Yan were to confront the Fifth-Tier Netherworld Spider. Wang Qingshan's task was to infiltrate the secret realm and seal the spatial node, which was the true underlying threat for Ye Yan and Liu Ye.

“Fellow Daoist Wang, rest assured, we will cooperate with you. Please confirm everything multiple times before acting. There is only one realm-sealing talisman; we cannot afford to waste a second one.” Wu Chang's expression was solemn. He also understood that Wang Qingshan possessed the Azure Lotus Karmic Fire, which could suppress the mutated Netherworld Spiders, and thus only Wang Qingshan could venture deep into the secret realm.

“Rest assured! I will proceed cautiously.” Wang Qingshan took a deep breath and agreed.

The golden-skirted maiden seemed to realize something, emitting a sharp shriek. Hundreds of thousands of Netherworld Spiders immediately disengaged from the battle and swarmed towards Wang Qingshan and his companions.

Rumble! Hundreds of head-sized golden fireballs rained down from the sky, slamming into the spider swarm. The Netherworld Spiders struck by the fireballs instantly vanished into thin air, evaporating without a trace.

Song Xiruo held the Taiyang Bottle in one hand, her expression solemn, and said deeply, “We will hold them off, Fellow Daoist Wang. The safety of the Northern Frontier rests with you.” Netherworld Spiders were naturally impervious to water and fire, and the mutated ones were even harder to deal with. Only flames of extreme Yang and rigidity could harm them.

The Netherworld Spiders dispersed, attacking Wang Qingshan and his group from different directions.

Wu Chang's red iron staff blazed with intense flames, expanding to over a thousand zhang in length, and he swung it down towards the Netherworld Spiders below.

Boom! Those struck by Wu Chang's red iron staff instantly turned into a rain of blood; even their souls could not escape. A towering peak, hit by the staff, exploded, sending dust flying and countless shattered rocks scattering in all directions. The debris pelted the Netherworld Spiders with dull thuds.

Some Netherworld Spiders broke through the blockade and lunged forward.

Monk Jingkong flipped his hand and produced a shimmering golden wooden fish. He cast a spell, chanting scriptures, and a chorus of Sanskrit tones erupted. Waves of golden sound swept out, sending Netherworld Spiders flying backward in their wake. Lower-tier spiders simply fell to the ground, motionless.

“Jiyun, Xudong, Yingjie, I'm going to a very dangerous place. Do you dare to follow me? There will be mortal danger.” Wang Qingshan looked at Wang Yingjie and the other two, asking in a deep voice.

Wang Yingjie laughed heartily, then solemnly declared, “If Patriarch dares to go, this grandson dares to go. As Patriarch said, exterminating demons and guarding the righteous path is inherently the responsibility of cultivators of our generation. Your grandson is willing.”

“We are also willing to go. Wherever Patriarch goes, we will follow.” Wang Jiyun and Chen Xudong said in unison, their expressions grave.

“Haha, well said! Exterminating demons and guarding the righteous path is indeed the responsibility of cultivators of our generation.” Wang Qingshan laughed heartily, a stream of azure sword light appearing beneath him, carrying them away as an azure rainbow streaking through the sky.

The golden-skirted maiden sensed something was amiss and tried to intercept them. Suddenly, a tremendous thunderclap echoed from high above, and a colossal dark cloud appeared without warning directly over her head. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled ceaselessly. Streaks of four-colored sword light floated in the void, forming a four-colored sword barrier that enveloped an area of a hundred miles.

“Worry about yourself first! How dare you get distracted.” Liu Ye's tone was indifferent. He formed a sword seal, and the dark cloud emitted a deafening roar as hundreds of thick silver lightning bolts shot out, hurtling towards the golden-skirted maiden.

Ye Yan lightly shook the three-colored banner in his hand, and flames of blue, red, and gold swept forth. After a shimmer, they coalesced into a hundred-zhang-large three-colored fire sparrow that lunged at the golden-skirted maiden.

Facing the attacks of two Soul Transformation cultivators, the golden-skirted maiden dared not be careless. She opened her mouth and spewed out dense golden spider silk, weaving it into a massive golden sphere that enveloped her. The golden sphere spun rapidly, creating a powerful airflow. Countless golden spider silks swirled around, slicing through the air with constant whooshing sounds.