Chapter 99 - 97: Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu Upgrade, Dragon Palace Water Battle

Chapter 99: Chapter 97: Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu Upgrade, Dragon Palace Water Battle

"Why did this Flood Dragon suddenly make a move now?" Qin Yu frowned.

Judging by its flight path, its target was clearly the Mountain Demon Forest once again!

"Besides a large Profound Iron Ore mine, there’s nothing of value there, right?" he wondered.

Naturally, he was unaware of the grudge between the Flood Dragon and the Mountain Demons. However, there was no point dwelling on it now. With a single command through the Insect Swarm’s Mind Network, the Swarm rapidly assembled.

Because of the Red Feather Demon King, this place had long since been transformed into a war base by the Insect Swarm. In less than two days, the jungle that had once been ravaged by flames was fully restored to its original state. On the surface, it looked no different from an ordinary jungle, save for the vegetation being a bit more lush.

But Qin Yu knew what kind of lethal traps lay hidden beneath this jungle!

A full ten Needle-spine Crawlers roamed beneath the ground, ready to deliver a fatal strike at any moment. Meanwhile, at the center where the Insect Nest was located, large batches of insect eggs were incubating. From time to time, eggs would hatch, giving birth to ferocious Insect Race units.

"The Insect Race’s version of the ’Three-legged Fire Crow,’ incubated from the Red Feather Demon King’s Inner Core and flesh, hasn’t hatched yet," Qin Yu analyzed.

"However, the units optimized using the ’Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu’ as a prototype have made some progress.

"Perhaps they can be of use."

Qin Yu walked out of the Cultivation Room and looked at a special egg that had just begun incubating near the Snake Valley Insect Nest. This egg was fiery red all over, as if scorching flames were burning upon it. Even from a dozen meters away, Qin Yu could feel the waves of heat rolling over him.

A massive amount of Red Flame Crystal Ore was piled around it. After being melted down by the Insect Nest’s ’Decomposition Chamber,’ it was injected into the egg through a special method to enhance its physical structure and strength. Due to time constraints, the Insect Swarm had not yet comprehended the function of the bizarre Secret Patterns inside the Red Feather Demon King’s body. The speed at which they analyzed its hidden ’Golden Crow’ bloodline was also exceedingly slow, and they were even further from understanding the so-called ’Flame True Intent.’

Therefore, this incubation was very unique. It directly used the Red Feather Demon King’s original remains as a core, repairing its body and granting it new life. The incubation process began as soon as a rough analysis was completed, all to ensure the Insect Swarm would possess Qi Sea Realm combat power as soon as possible.

However, less than two days was only enough time for the Insect Swarm to finish the analysis; the new unit had not yet been born. But as the saying goes, when one door closes, another opens.

Given the Insect Swarm’s development speed and the massive amount of resources he had poured into it, the upgrade of the Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu had finally achieved initial success.

The Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu was a parasite that attached to the host’s heart, devouring their vital essence and blood to grow. For a human, a Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu that was a foot long was the perfect size. If it were any larger, the human body wouldn’t be able to bear the strain, nor could it provide enough nourishment.

But it was a different story for the Insect Swarm, whether it was the Black Thorn Eagles or the Thorn Snakes. Their bodies were vastly larger than a human’s, making a mere foot-long Mother Gu far too small. It couldn’t nurture a sufficient number of Child Gu, and its overall power was lacking.

After continuous modulation by the Insect Nest, which combined superior genes, a new generation of Black Thorn Eagles and Thorn Snakes finally emerged. What resided in their bodies was no longer the Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu, but a ’Microscopic Insect Nest’!

This nest was specially cultivated by combining the Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu with the Insect Nest’s capabilities. Within this Microscopic Insect Nest, only one type of miniature unit could be nurtured: the Child Gu. Or rather, the enhanced Child Gu.

It was no longer a triangular, diamond-shaped Flying Snake, but a complete living weapon. Compared to a Child Gu, Qin Yu preferred to call them Blade Insects.

Their size was significantly larger than the original Child Gu, inflating from a mere three to five centimeters to the size of an adult’s arm. Before being activated, they would curl up into an olive-shaped sac structure—similar to a crystal—inside the bodies of the Black Thorn Eagles and Thorn Snakes. Thus, under normal circumstances, the Microscopic Insect Nest could store a large number of Blade Insects. This eliminated the flaws of the Heart-devouring Mother and Child Gu, which suffered from a low incubation count and long gestation periods.

Once an attack was launched, the sac structure would instantly expand and rupture. The green liquid energy stored inside would explode like a liquid bomb, providing an incredibly powerful thrust. Simultaneously, the crystalline structure would shatter into dozens of high-speed, spinning, razor-sharp fragments. Amidst their high-speed rotation, they would emit an ear-piercing screech, attacking like a living missile.

Since they no longer had the transparent wings of the original Child Gu, having replaced them with exoskeleton-like blades, their flight propulsion was entirely provided by their internal liquid energy. As a result, a single blast of fire would no longer burn away their wings and strip them of their ability to fly.

Furthermore, their method of attack had evolved from mere impact to high-speed rotational slicing. While their destructive power had drastically increased, the Blade Insects also possessed an extremely lethal ability: parasitism!

When their highly-spinning blades hit a target, the fragments would embed themselves into the enemy’s body. Root-like tentacles would then spread outward, forming a web of green, corrosive mucus. Much like a Facehugger from an ’Alien’ movie, it would inject parasites directly into the target’s body! Once parasitization was successful, it was incredibly difficult to eradicate. They could absorb flesh and blood to grow, or instantaneously self-destruct to inflict massive damage.

"The first batch of upgraded Blade Insects uses the Four-winged Black Thorn Eagles as carriers," Qin Yu muttered. "I originally planned to keep them as a trump card to deal with the two Demon Kings from Three Immortals Mountain. I didn’t expect I’d have to use them against this Flood Dragon first!"

Through the Mind Network, he could see the Flood Dragon moving faster and faster through the mist. Its hundred-meter-long body was partially hidden in the clouds. Though its speed couldn’t match the Red Feather Demon King’s, it wasn’t far off.

The Four-winged Black Thorn Eagles and the Thunder Rocs of the Insect Swarm were all lying in ambush around the Insect Nest. Covered and concealed by a thick Fungal Mat, they quietly waited for their prey to deliver itself to their doorstep.

"I had originally planned to fight the Flood Dragon in the water. I even prepared a large number of aquatic combat units," Qin Yu mused coldly.

"But since it has already left the water, we’ll launch a direct assault!

"We will take down this Flood Dragon’s lair. That way, if it manages to escape back home, we can trap it like a rat in a barrel!"

A ruthless glint flashed in Qin Yu’s eyes. The Insect Swarm lurking in the large rivers surrounding the Flood Dragon’s lake immediately sprang into action. Under the leadership of hundreds of Profound Flood Dragons and Profound Armor Cyan Aos, a massive army of over thirty thousand aquatic Insect Race units of varying sizes—including Sharp-toothed Catfish, Ferocious Giant Crocodiles, and dozens of other types—mobilized.

While the terrestrial Insect Swarm was developing, the aquatic Insect Swarm had never stopped hunting. By continuously devouring underwater Demon Fiends and analyzing their superior genes, the variety of the Swarm’s aquatic units had become increasingly diverse. However, under Qin Yu’s deliberate control, the core main forces were still amphibious units like the Profound Flood Dragons, Profound Armor Cyan Aos, and Ferocious Giant Crocodiles, along with a portion of purely aquatic units like the Sharp-toothed Catfish.

After all, in the Wilderness Mountain Range, amphibious units were much more cost-effective.

The massive fluctuations in the water currents immediately caught the attention of the patrolling Demon Fiends left behind in the Underwater Dragon Palace. Hordes of Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals let out low warning calls, instantly throwing the entire Dragon Palace into a frenzy.

Due to its severe injuries, the Flood Dragon had long since summoned every available subordinate to guard its surroundings while it healed. This was exactly why Qin Yu hadn’t launched an attack earlier. ℴ

According to the Insect Swarm’s reconnaissance, the number of Demon Fiends gathered around this crude Underwater Dragon Palace was well over five thousand, and among them, the number of Qi and Blood Realm Great Demons exceeded a thousand! Though the overall number was lower compared to the Mountain Demon Tribe, the quality of these forces was exponentially higher. Hence, Qin Yu hadn’t dared to attack recklessly. After all, defeating such a massive cluster of Demon Fiends led by a Flood Dragon would be no easy feat. In fact, there was even a possibility of defeat.

But now that the Flood Dragon had left, the greatest threat was gone, making it far easier to steamroll their defenses.

The aquatic Insect Swarm surged roaring out of the rivers connected to the lake and charged straight for the Underwater Dragon Palace. Swimming at the very front, the Profound Flood Dragons paid no heed to the warning cries of the patrolling Demon Fiends and launched their assault immediately.

The next moment, it was as if a boiling volcano had been tossed into the tranquil lake!

"ROAR—!"

A black tide instantly swallowed the faint glimmer at the bottom of the lake. The ones leading the charge weren’t the powerful Profound Flood Dragons, but the immensely numerous Sharp-toothed Catfish. These units, acting like a pack of underwater wolves, surged forward with terrifying momentum.

At the outermost perimeter of the crude Dragon Palace, the patrolling Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals didn’t even have time to sound a full alarm before they were instantly consumed by this black tide of death. The Sharp-toothed Catfish clamped down with their massive maws lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth. Under their terrifying bite force, armor and flesh were ripped to shreds. A murky mist of blood immediately began to spread through the lake water.

"Enemy attack! Form an array! Form the array, quick!"

A massive black fish darted out from the cluster of palaces, roaring at the top of its lungs. In an instant, large numbers of aquatic Demon Fiends swarmed in from all directions. There were colossal giant turtles, iron-armored crab generals wielding heavy pincers, and many others. But when they saw the massive Insect Swarm pouring in from around the lake, panic flashed in their eyes.

However, these powerful Demon Fiends were clearly battle-hardened veterans who had clawed their way out of the bloodiest slaughter. After their initial moment of panic, they rapidly organized a defensive line.

"Which faction do you belong to? How dare you attack us!?" the giant turtle roared.

The diameter of this giant turtle’s shell was a full seventy to eighty feet across. When it moved, it was like a small mountain, sending massive ripples spreading through the water. However, its only response was the charge of an equally massive Profound Armor Cyan Ao.

BOOM—

The collision of the two behemoths produced a violent tremor that sent shockwaves rippling across the lakebed.

"It must be that filthy bitch! She secretly had powerful cultivators kill Lord Dragon King’s offspring. Even though the Young Master fled to this Wilderness Mountain Range, she still refuses to let him go!"

The Black Fish Demon Fiend spat a jet of water from its mouth. The high-speed, spinning water current instantly shredded a dozen Sharp-toothed Catfish at the front. But the very next moment, even more Sharp-toothed Catfish swarmed forward, and a Profound Flood Dragon locked its cruel gaze onto the black fish.

The entire battlefield was instantly thrown into the most brutal meat grinder imaginable.

The Insect Swarm poured in from all sides like a tidal wave, completely disregarding death. The turbulent waters at the bottom of the lake were soon dyed a deep, bloody red.

"The Dragon King’s offspring? This Flood Dragon is the offspring of a ’Dragon King’?"

Qin Yu, whose mind was attached to the body of a Profound Flood Dragon engaged in fierce combat with the Black Fish Demon Fiend, was taken aback. However, he had absolutely no intention of stopping. Instead, he commanded the Insect Swarm to launch an even more frenzied assault.

There was no turning back once the bow was drawn. Since he had already struck, why would he give a damn about some Dragon King?

The Profound Flood Dragon roared, opening its massive maw and chomping down.

"Kill! Wipe out this entire area! Leave no one alive!"