Chapter 160: To Forge Iron, One Must Be Strong

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: To Forge Iron, One Must Be Strong

Gu Weilan wore a black and gray training uniform, standing beside Shi Lingfeng, who was dressed in the same colors. She had tied her long black hair into a bun. Although her graceful eyebrows, almond eyes, delicate nose, and softly smiling lips made her look like a sweet, fragrant, and defenseless little female, the cold calmness in her eyes ensured no one would easily underestimate her.

Lu Weilou, Ji Yanqing, and the other Beastmen of the Seventh Army wore training uniforms with a black base and gray-blue accents. It had to be said that standard military uniforms seemed to significantly enhance the aura and appearance of any Beastman who wore them. On Gu Weilan, the uniform added a touch of heroic grit to her aloof yet sweet appearance. When Ji Yanqing wore his, the thick-browed and large-eyed Beastman exuded an overwhelming sense of righteousness.

Gu Weilan curled her lips slightly but said nothing, quietly listening as Ji Yanqing delivered the pre-battle mobilization speech. As he spoke, Ji Yanqing occasionally glanced at Gu Weilan. Seeing that she didn’t show any disdain or urge to contradict him—which would have publicly embarrassed him—he secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Once they set off, Gu Weilan still didn’t show any intention of going against him, so Ji Yanqing escorted her as they advanced toward the front lines.

After they cautiously arrived at a battlefield relatively close to the rear of the front lines, all the Beastmen became even more vigilant.

"Help me keep an eye out," Gu Weilan communicated to Pomegranate Seed. "If any of the Insect Clan approach, warn me. I’m going to check if there are any of the parasitic insect clan on the battlefield."

"Do you need me to scan the area and see if there are any of the parasitic insect clan around here?" Pomegranate Seed asked, pursing its lips.

Gu Weilan nodded. "Scan it! While you’re at it, tell me why there’s a green forest over there that the Insect Clan hardly ever enters."

"Actually, your previous guess was pretty close," Pomegranate Seed replied. "Fly agarics secrete a type of spore.

"Those spores destroy the neurons of the parasitic insect clan. As a result, the large Insect Clan members carrying parasites simply cannot get close to that area."

Gu Weilan gave a slight nod in understanding. They walked a long distance until they reached the forest that the Insect Clan rarely visited. Wearing gloves, Gu Weilan harvested a few fly agarics and prepared to leave.

"There are sixteen Insect Clan members hiding one thousand two hundred meters away from here," Pomegranate Seed suddenly warned her. "Their Beast Ranks range from the Eighth Rank to the Twelfth Rank."

Gu Weilan’s interest was instantly piqued. Suppressing the thrill of impending slaughter rising in her heart, she asked, "Are they ambushing some Beastmen?"

"They are living creatures too," Pomegranate Seed replied, shaking its head. "Even the Insect Clan has members who are afraid of battle. Can you understand that?"

"Are they hiding there just because they are afraid of fighting?" Gu Weilan asked.

"Yes. The parasitic insect clan on their bodies have already been killed by the fly agarics," Pomegranate Seed nodded. "Therefore, they are hiding there to avoid the war."

Gu Weilan thought for a moment, then looked at Ji Yanqing. "I want to collect some more fly agarics from deeper in the woods for comparison."

Their group consisted of forty Beastmen in total. The lowest among them was at the Seventh Rank, and more than half of them were above the Tenth Rank! This included Lu Xuyin. After drinking the Bloodline Purification Potion and expelling the impure bloodlines and some of the accumulated toxins from his body, he had already been promoted to the Tenth Rank of the Wood Element! They could definitely handle sixteen Insect Clan members appropriately!

Moreover, she wanted to test her Devouring Vitality Talent Skill on these bugs!

"Don’t worry, Host," Pomegranate Seed assured her. "Your Devouring Vitality Talent Skill will absorb the vitality energy from the Insect Clan and convert it into pure energy to replenish your Beast Rank!"

The corners of Gu Weilan’s lips couldn’t help but rise. As a great female, she should seize every opportunity to strengthen herself! All the Beastmen were treating her like a fragile porcelain doll, and a few males were even whispering among themselves.

"Once she witnesses the horrors of the battlefield, she’ll behave," one of them murmured.

Hah! It wasn’t as if they had never seen women matching men in valor. They were just accustomed to looking down on females!

Gu Weilan smiled. She had survived the Apocalypse on Blue Star. Back then, everyone had told her, "Now that you’ve seen how terrifying the outside world is, you’d be better off staying in the base to bear children." But she had said no! She had discovered her own terrifying strength! Today, she would let these Beastmen witness her true power as well.

When Gu Weilan and the others were about two hundred meters away from the hidden Insect Clan, Ji Yanqing and the rest suddenly went on high alert. Their brows furrowed deeply. "Why are there traces of Insect Clan activity here?"

The bugs were also extremely restless. They were at a disadvantage in both numbers and Beast Ranks. They decided to quickly circle around to the rear of Ji Yanqing’s group and launch a surprise attack, leaving only four weaker bugs at the front as bait. If they could just kill these Beastmen, it would be enough for a hearty meal, allowing them to promote their ranks and survive until the end of the great war. Then, they could quietly pretend to have gotten separated from their main forces but still return as if they had slain plenty of enemies!

Having made their decision, the bugs moved swiftly.

Gu Weilan frowned and pointed directly to her left. "There’s the scent of the Insect Clan over there! And it seems like there are only six or seven of them!"

Ji Yanqing was stunned and looked at Gu Weilan in surprise.

A male warrior frowned. "You’re only at the Ninth Rank. Don’t speak nonsense!"

However, Ji Yanqing raised a hand to stop the warrior from saying anything further. He made a swift and decisive call. "We will advance together towards the three o’clock direction. Maintain formation!"

After the group of forty-odd Beastmen rapidly moved forward for over three hundred meters, they indeed found fresh tracks left by the fleeing bugs. They immediately accelerated, following the trail of the six Insect Clan members!

Within five minutes, the six bugs noticed the Beastmen tailing them! Now they panicked! There had only been sixteen of them in total. They had left four behind to wait and split the rest into two teams to flank the Beastmen... This was a disaster! They were doomed!

Gu Weilan decisively unleashed Blast Poison Pod, the Talent Skill she had awakened at the Seventh Rank of the Wood Element. However, she only controlled her vines to lock onto a single bug before activating her Devouring Vitality Talent Skill!

It was hers! All of it was hers!

With lightning speed, she devoured one-third of this Tenth Rank bug’s vitality energy. The spider-like bug aged visibly! The black bristles on its body turned entirely white.

Ji Yanqing and the others involuntarily paused for a moment, their laser guns aimed at the Insect Clan faltering slightly. Then, Ji Yanqing’s low shout rang out, "Focus fire!"

Gu Weilan paid no mind to Ji Yanqing and the rest. She directly controlled her vines to ensnare another giant mantis. As Gu Weilan devoured its vitality, the mantis let out a shrill, agonizing shriek!

Gu Weilan raised an eyebrow. "The Insect Clan can scream?"

"Host, could you reel in that excited, wicked smile of yours? I’m afraid you’re going to scare all your Beast Husbands into impotence!" Pomegranate Seed shivered slightly.

"Also, why is that surprising? Bugs are living creatures too! Of course they scream! It’s just that when they are small, humans simply can’t hear their low-frequency cries!"

Gu Weilan continued to devour them one by one. This was far more exhilarating than cautiously absorbing the vitality of the trees back at the academy! With the academy’s trees, she had to carefully control her intake so that the surrounding Beastmen wouldn’t notice, and she couldn’t completely drain the trees to death! But now? She could devour as much as she wanted, however she wanted! Furthermore, she only absorbed pure vitality! She didn’t even bother with any muddy or impure vitality!

From start to finish, the battle took less than ten minutes. This was mostly because Ji Yanqing and his team focused their fire and then took the time to verify that the dead bugs were truly dead.

Before Gu Weilan even had time to check the changes in her Beast Rank, she heard faint noises—RUSTLE, RUSTLE—coming from behind and to her right.