Chapter 324: Four-winged Sky Scorpion

Three days later, a large blue crane descended outside a dense black forest. This black forest was filled with strange, gnarled black trees whose thick foliage blocked most of the sunlight. The forest was damp and dim, permeated by a foul, rotting smell, and a vast expanse of black mist hung overhead.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, we must pass through this forest to reach the Four-Winged Flying Scorpion's nest," Zhao Wuji explained. "However, this forest is home to a type of demonic insect called the Blackflame Ant. Individually, these ants aren't strong, but they often appear in thousands, making them extremely troublesome. They are highly sensitive to scent and hunt using it; that black mist is actually the Blackflame Ants. If we fly over, we'll be subjected to their frenzied attacks. These are Black Jade Paste; they can temporarily mask our scent, allowing us to avoid the Blackflame Ants."

Zhao Wuji said, pointing to the black mist above the forest, and handed Wang Changsheng a black jade box containing some black paste.

In front of Wang Changsheng, he applied the Black Jade Paste to his face.

Xiao Tianzheng and Chen Yuhan also applied the paste to their bodies. Seeing this, Wang Changsheng and Wang Changfeng followed suit.

The Black Jade Paste had no scent, and once applied, it made everyone's skin appear entirely black.

After applying the paste, the five slowly walked towards the black forest, moving at a deliberate pace.

Along the way, they walked slowly without speaking, their faces etched with vigilance.

There were small puddles on the ground, but the forest was eerily silent; there was no sound of insects or birds.

The forest was vast. An hour later, they still hadn't emerged from it, and the surrounding trees were enormous.

The five continued to move slowly, enveloped in protective spiritual shields.

As they passed a large swampy area, several black shadows suddenly burst from the ground, shooting directly towards Wang Changsheng and the other four.

Zhao Wuji, walking in front, reacted the fastest. With a flick of his right hand, several red flying daggers shot out from his wide sleeve, striking at the black shadows.

With several muffled thuds, the red flying daggers collided with the black shadows and were sent flying backward.

The black shadows were, in fact, thick, incredibly long black tongues.

"Rumble!"

Three massive black toads emerged from the ground. They were entirely black, with green eyes and grayish-white underbellies.

"Croak!"

The black toads let out strange cries. With a leap of their powerful legs, they sprang over two zhang (about 6.6 meters) high and lunged at Wang Changsheng and the other four.

"Tier 2 low-grade demonic beasts dare to block our path? You seek death!"

A cold light flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes. With a flick of his left hand, a three-foot-long red blade appeared in a flash of red light. He swept it horizontally through the air.

A sharp whoosh echoed as a red blade aura, over ten zhang long, flashed out and struck the three charging black toads.

Wang Changfeng was about to summon his magical artifact to attack the three toad beasts, but Xiao Tianzheng stopped him.

"The Blackflame Ants are very sensitive to scent. We cannot use magical artifacts to directly contact the demonic beasts, or we will attract the Blackflame Ants."

With three dull thuds, the red blade aura struck the three black toads. They were sent flying backward, each with a long bloody gash on its belly.

Wang Changsheng took out the Ice Dragon Flag and gently waved it. A vast expanse of white cold air surged out, striking two of the black toads in a flash.

The bodies of the two black toads were immediately covered in white ice, hindering their movement.

"The smell of blood will quickly attract the Blackflame Ants. Let's go!" Zhao Wuji urged, quickening his pace.

Wang Changsheng and the other four quickly followed. They hadn't gone far when a large patch of black mist descended from above. It was revealed to be countless black ants, individually small but overwhelming in number.

The black toad that wasn't frozen quickly burrowed into the swamp. The other two black toads reacted a beat too slowly and were swarmed by the dense black ants, letting out tragic cries.

In less than ten breaths, the Blackflame Ants flew back into the sky. On the swamp's surface, two enormous white skeletons remained, slowly sinking until they disappeared into the swamp.

Wang Changfeng was secretly astonished; the Blackflame Ants were incredibly sensitive to scent!

For the rest of their journey, the five encountered more demonic beast attacks. However, none of them used magical artifacts to directly contact the beasts; instead, they cast spells or summoned talismans. As long as they left a wound on a beast, the Blackflame Ants would soon arrive.

A day later, they finally exited the dense forest.

A massive canyon appeared before them. Outside the canyon, the vegetation was lush, and steep rock walls flanked both sides.

The canyon snaked windingly, like a colossal python resting on the ground.

The sides of the canyon were covered in weeds taller than a person. Zhao Wuji conjured several fireballs, burning away all the weeds on both sides.

After about a quarter of an hour, they stopped. On the rock wall, seven feet above the ground, was a dark, murky cave entrance, about one zhang (3.3 meters) in size.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, are you certain the Four-Winged Flying Scorpion's nest is inside?"

Zhao Wuji nodded solemnly and said, "I saw it with my own eyes. I stumbled upon that Four-Winged Flying Scorpion by chance. I also entered the cave to investigate and confirmed there's a Tier 2 high-grade one, proficient in fire spells."

"Very well, let's go in!"

Wang Changsheng performed a hand seal, and a large white cloud materialized beneath their feet. It lifted all five of them, slowly rising to the level of the cave entrance.

Wang Changfeng sent out a puppet beast to walk ahead. The five of them followed behind.

The cave was not large, and some brown bloodstains were visible on the ground. After walking over a hundred steps and turning left, then another hundred steps, a natural stone cavern about an *mu* in size appeared before them.

As the ape puppet walking ahead just entered the stone cavern, two enormous crimson fireballs smashed towards it.

"Boom!"

Rolling waves of heat engulfed the ape puppet, radiating intense heat.

"Be careful and vigilant. That beast is a Tier 2 high-grade demonic insect, extremely difficult to deal with. Don't hold back later." Zhao Wuji cautioned them, then took out a long red blade and suddenly slashed at the sea of flames.

A red light flashed, and a red blade aura several zhang long swept out, cleaving the sea of flames in two.

Two gigantic, water-vat-sized fireballs came crashing towards them, radiating intense heat.

Xiao Tianzheng had already taken out a blue plantain fan. With a gentle wave, a large cyan hurricane flashed forth. The two gigantic fireballs immediately flew backward, flickering wildly before extinguishing. A red giant scorpion, about one zhang (3.3 meters) in size, appeared before Wang Changsheng and the other four.

The red giant scorpion had two pairs of thin red wings on its back. Its body was covered in purple spots, and its two tail stings were held high. Nearby on the ground, some debris was scattered, appearing to be the remains of a large demonic beast.

Xiao Tianzheng vigorously waved the blue plantain fan in his hand. With loud whooshing sounds, over a dozen gigantic wind blades shot out, striking the Four-Winged Flying Scorpion with lightning speed.

Chen Yuhan, meanwhile, summoned a large white net and cast it over the Four-Winged Flying Scorpion.