Chapter 401 - 209: Level 4 Soul, Ticket to Hell

Chapter 401: Chapter 209: Level 4 Soul, Ticket to Hell

Traveling all the way from the Golden Forest—the forest that housed the Spirit Realm—had taken nearly five days, even with Pei Ze moving at top speed.

Along the way, he had also dealt with a few scattered alien insects.

Although there weren’t many, their presence was enough to prove the situation in the Ancient Forest Plane was grim.

Alien insects had even begun to appear in the Red Agate Mountain Range, at the very end of the continent. This made it clear that the fall of the Ancient Forest Plane was a foregone conclusion.

In two years at most, the entire Ancient Forest Plane would likely become another new hatchery for the alien insects.

’The cancer of the Multiverse... The alien insects have certainly earned their name.’

After a brief sigh, Pei Ze gathered himself and prepared to search for the whereabouts of the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit Race.

The Red Agate Mountain Range was vast and boundless. Searching it mountain by mountain for the Ancient Tree Deer Spirit Race would take an eternity, so Pei Ze decided to resort to his old method.

He would find a local and ask for information.

’If I’d known I’d run into this, I should have brought Wuyu along.’

’Tens of thousands of Fog Crows spreading out to search would be far more efficient than me doing it alone.’

After flying a loop above the mountain range, Pei Ze finally spotted a target.

It was a group of humanoid creatures that looked somewhat like Beastmen.

Their heads were thick and long, with a pair of rhinoceros-like ears. Two small crystal fangs jutted upward from their lower lips, and their chins were covered in a thick layer of sharp, protruding crystal growths that formed a kind of beard.

Heavy armor covered in dense crystal spikes encased most of their bodies. Their exposed limbs were corded with muscle, radiating a sense of extreme, explosive power.

’Earth Crystal People, hmm?’ A glint flashed in Pei Ze’s eyes.

A long time ago, the Earth Crystal People had been native creatures of the Earth Elemental Plane. However, they were forced to migrate to other planes after being invaded and oppressed by the Earth Elemental Giant Spirits.

They were accustomed to living in mountain ranges and fed primarily on ores and crystals.

When starved, however, they would also eat cooked meat and grains, just like humans.

Since entering the Ancient Forest Plane, Pei Ze had only encountered Spirit Creatures and plant-based life. Seeing these demi-humans for the first time gave him an odd sense of familiarity.

He stopped in mid-air and slowly descended from the sky.

There were over twenty Earth Crystal People in the group. Each held an iron shield in one hand and a short hammer in the other, with a bow and quiver slung over their back. They scanned their surroundings warily, apparently searching for prey.

Abruptly, the lead Earth Crystal Person stopped in his tracks and barked in a low, deep voice, "Something’s up! On your guard!"

The expressions of the Earth Crystal People behind him grew taut. They raised their iron shields defensively and followed their captain’s gaze.

What they saw made them all pause in surprise.

A human?

They had lived in the Ancient Forest Plane for a long time, and they had rarely ever seen a human.

After all, the Red Agate Mountain Range was on the edge of the continent and notoriously barren. It was rare for outside Magical Creatures to set foot here, let alone visitors from other planes.

The Earth Crystal Person captain stared at Pei Ze, his expression full of vigilance, looking ready to attack at the slightest provocation.

Having been able to retreat fully intact from the invasion of the Earth Elemental Giant Spirits, the strength of the Earth Crystal People was naturally nothing to scoff at.

An adult Earth Crystal Person possessed combat strength equivalent to a Tier Three Legendary Knight who had awakened the Power of Earth Element.

A very small number of elites could even reach the level of a Tier Four or Tier Five Legend.

A small squad of elite Earth Crystal People was even strong enough to face a Level 1 Crystalized Wizard head-on.

Pei Ze paid no mind to the Earth Crystal People’s wariness and hostility. He smiled faintly and was about to speak and express his goodwill when a buzzing sound interrupted him.

BZZZZ!

A swarm of ferocious Insect Beasts suddenly burst out of the mountain forest to their left.

These Insect Beasts were crimson red all over. Their thick, chitinous carapaces were covered in flame-like patterns, and the high-speed flutter of their wings stirred up waves of scorching heat.

"Flame Beetles!"

Upon seeing the Insect Beasts clearly, the Earth Crystal People’s faces fell, and they scrambled into a fighting stance.

The Flame Beetle was a primary combat unit in the Alien Insect Army, second only to the Golden Light Insect. Its carapace was not only nigh-indestructible, but it could also spew scorching flames capable of melting metal.

A fully mature Flame Beetle possessed combat strength approaching Tier Two!

And here, facing them, were a good fourteen or fifteen Flame Beetles—more than enough to annihilate their small squad.

For a moment, a sliver of despair couldn’t help but creep into the hearts of the Earth Crystal People.

’Damn it, how did alien insects get into the mountains!’

The Earth Crystal Person captain secretly gritted his teeth, about to order a desperate, last-ditch fight, when the scene that unfolded next made his eyes go wide.

The human not far away simply extended a finger. A spark of electricity danced at its tip before erupting into a dense web of lightning that shot toward the Flame Beetles.

The dozen or so Flame Beetles had no time to react before the lightning web struck. A rapid series of crackles, like beans popping in a hot pan, rang out. Instantly, all the Flame Beetles were turned to charcoal. They fell to the ground, smoldering with green smoke, twitched once, and then lay still.

!!!

The group of Earth Crystal People stared blankly at the scene, unable to process what they had just witnessed for a long moment.

Only when Pei Ze’s gaze fell upon them again did the captain of the Earth Crystal People jolt back to his senses. Without a second thought, he put away his weapon, forced a smile onto his rugged features, and spoke with the utmost respect, "Honored powerhouse from the Otherworld, how may I be of service to you?"

His earlier wariness and hostility had vanished without a trace.

The other Earth Crystal People exchanged glances, then tacitly put away their weapons as well.

’Anyone who can kill over a dozen Flame Beetles in an instant has to be a Tier Three powerhouse at the very least.’

’If an expert of that caliber wanted to harm them, it would be effortless. Being on guard would be useless and might even provoke his displeasure.’