352: Chapter 347 Insects

She fished a needle as thin as a hair from her sleeve, carefully pierced the swollen bump, and extracted a barely visible thread of dark red mucus.

"Hiss."

Chu Weiwei brought the thread of mucus to her nose and sniffed it; her expression shifted slightly.

"This thing is interesting." She licked her lips. "This is the saliva of some creature, mixed with a substance that can temporarily soften Law defenses. It didn't rely on brute force to bite through Second Senior Sister's skin; instead, it used this saliva to dissolve the defense in that small area before biting down."

"Dissolved?" Upon hearing this, Su Hongling's hair stood on end. "Are you saying that thing can melt my flesh?"

"Don't be nervous." Chu Weiwei patted her arm. "It's only the surface layer. This dosage couldn't even hurt a hair on your body. What I'm worried about is..."

She stopped mid-sentence, her gaze sweeping over the lush, glowing grassland surrounding them.

"To evolve saliva specifically capable of breaking through Law defenses, it means that the prey these little things usually bite must have ridiculously strong defenses. In other words, I'm afraid this Star Sea hides quite a few tough nuts we haven't encountered yet."

As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere around the campfire became subtly heavy.

Su Lin's heart also sank.

He had originally planned to live a peaceful life here for a few days and plan slowly. Now it seemed that while this Heaven Beyond Heaven appeared as calm as stagnant water on the surface, who knew how many undercurrents were buried beneath it.

If even mosquitoes have evolved into this state, what must the truly big guys look like?

"Ahem."

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Ye You, who had been curled up in the corner gnawing on meat, suddenly let out a short, light cough.

Everyone's gaze turned towards her in unison.

They saw that Ye You was holding a strange, palm-sized, translucent creature in her hand.

The thing had six long, thin legs and a pair of wings as thin as cicada wings on its back, with faint golden patterns flowing across them. Most conspicuous was the long, sharp proboscis on its head, which was currently waving about in vain, emitting a faint buzzing sound.

"It's this one." Ye You held up the bug expressionlessly, her dark green vertical pupils blinking. "I was catching bugs in the grass earlier and just happened to catch it."

Everyone was stunned.

They had been on guard for so long, and it turned out the culprit had already been caught by this glutton.

"Fourth, why didn't you say anything when you caught it!" Su Hongling was both angry and anxious.

"You didn't ask." Ye You said righteously. "Besides, it doesn't seem very tasty."

As she spoke, she actually opened her mouth, intending to stuff it in.

"Stop!" Chu Weiwei was quick-eyed and fast-handed, snatching it away. "Don't eat it randomly. This thing can secrete venom that softens Law; who knows what will happen if you eat it."

Ye You curled her lip and reluctantly let go, muttering, "Stingy."

Su Lin took the translucent bug and examined it closely in front of his eyes.

The little creature's movements were sealed by Chu Weiwei's spiritual power, but there was no trace of fear in its compound eyes; instead, it exuded a beast-like ferocity.

He probed it with a wisp of his Divine Sense.

The next instant, Su Lin's brows furrowed sharply.

Inside this bug's body, there was actually a trace of extremely pure Space Law.

It was able to travel freely in the Void Realm Star Sea not because of those wings, but because of this innate instinct to tear through space.

"This little thing is extraordinary." Su Lin withdrew his Divine Sense, his tone carrying a hint of gravity. "It is born with the ability to control Space Law. This kind of talent—not to mention the Lower Realm, even in the Taihuang Immortal Domain, is a skill that only those top-tier experts can comprehend."

"But it's just a bug." Gu Qiuyue leaned over to take a look, her golden eyes filled with confusion. "What can a bug that knows Space Law do?"

"One doesn't amount to much." Su Lin gently placed the bug on his palm. "But have you thought about what a place capable of breeding such creatures would be like?"

He looked up towards the vast, colorful nebula.

"In our understanding, things like mosquitoes always travel in swarms. If one can bite through Hong Ling's defense, what if thousands come..."

Su Lin did not finish his sentence, but the meaning was already very clear.

The area around the campfire fell silent.

Even Su Hongling, who was always fearless, turned a little pale.

She could smash a giant beast with one punch, but if she faced a swarm of insects that covered the sky and specialized in dissolving her defenses, the mere thought of that scene made her scalp tingle.

"Does Revered Master mean that there is a nest of these bugs nearby?" Cold Moon asked.

"It's highly likely." Su Lin nodded. "Moreover, the fact that this little thing could make it to our island means the nest can't be too far from here."

"Then shall we..." Chu Weiwei's eyes lit up again, shining with the light of discovering new research material. "Should we go and wipe out its nest? With such good Materials, if I can get a whole nest back, Weiwei can refine countless types of strange poisons to break defenses."

"You wish." Luo Ximei shook her folding fan, pouring cold water on her. "What if there's an ancestor of this bug squatting in that nest, as big as this island—what would you do then?"

Chu Weiwei was choked by her words and shut her mouth sulkily.

Su Lin, however, was lost in thought.

The appearance of this bug was not necessarily a bad thing for him.

He was worried about not being able to find his bearings or any clues in this vast Star Sea. Now, this little bug that knew Space Law was the best clue itself.

Following the path it came from might lead them to some corner of this Heaven Beyond Heaven, or even to a place where living creatures gathered.

Where there are living creatures, there is intelligence.

"Keep this bug for now." Su Lin's mind stirred, and he sealed the bug again with a gentle Law, putting it into his Storage Pouch. "Don't kill it, and don't eat it."

He specifically glanced at Ye You.

Ye You shrank her neck and silently withdrew her hand, which had been halfway stretched out.

"In a few days, after we've settled things on the island, we'll follow the scent remaining on its body to scout out its nest." Su Lin stood up and brushed off his robes. "But before that, everyone must stay vigilant. Starting today, I will set up a defensive Formation around the perimeter of the island; no one is to run around alone."

"Got it, Old Man." Su Hongling scratched the itchy bumps on her arm and said viciously, "When I find the nest of those little things, I'll wipe them all out in one go. Biting me? Do they really think my fists are for show?"

"I'm afraid your fists won't even be able to touch their shadows." Luo Ximei started stirring up trouble again.

"Say that again!"

Seeing that the two of them were about to fight again, Su Lin waved his hand without looking back.

"Alright, disperse. We have to continue tidying up the house tomorrow. Those who need to Cultivate, go Cultivate; those who need to sleep, go to sleep."

He strode towards the newly completed meditation room, which was paved with Dust-Repelling Jade bricks.

Behind him, the campfire gradually extinguished.

The disciples also returned to their respective rooms.

Su Lin sat cross-legged in the meditation room, his mind sinking into his Qi Sea.

The seedling of the world tree, nourished by the rich Immortal Qi, had sprouted another tender green leaf.

He did not immediately Cultivate, but took out the sealed little bug and placed it in front of him again.

In the dim light, he observed the little creature carefully.

The Space Law carried on this tiny bug was actually a bit purer than what he had been contemplating for so long.

This Heaven Beyond Heaven was truly filled with Opportunity everywhere, and also filled with danger everywhere.

"It seems that living a peaceful life here is unlikely."

Su Lin sighed helplessly and put the bug away again.

He closed his eyes, and the world tree emitted a soft light, as he began to silently contemplate this trace of strange Space Law.

Outside the window, the colorful nebula flowed slowly.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, Su Lin was woken up by a fierce argument.

He pushed open the door of the meditation room and saw that the courtyard was in chaos.

Su Hongling stood in the center with an irritable expression; the red bumps on her arm hadn't disappeared but had instead increased by several more, spreading from her arm all the way to her neck.

"Come out, all of you! Which blind little thing bit me again!" She waved her fists, punching wildly at the air, but couldn't even touch a shadow of the bugs.

Chu Weiwei was squatting to the side, holding her little notebook and recording something quickly, her expression both excited and grave.

"Revered Master, you're awake." Seeing Su Lin, she immediately came up to him. "The situation is not right. Bugs came again last night, and this time it wasn't just one. I found at least a dozen traces of their activity on the grassland at the perimeter."

Su Lin's expression darkened.

He looked up at the surroundings of the island.

He had clearly set up a defensive Formation last night; logically speaking, those little bugs shouldn't have been able to break through easily.

Unless...

"They can ignore the Formation." Su Lin said slowly. "These little things are born with control over Space Law; ordinary defensive Formations are like decorations to them. They can directly tear through space and crawl in through the gaps in the Formation."

This discovery made everyone's hearts sink.

A bug that cannot be defended against, specializes in breaking defenses, and can ignore Formations to travel freely.

If this became a swarm, it would simply be a nightmare.

"It seems we cannot wait any longer." Su Lin's expression hardened. "These bugs are gathering in increasing numbers, which means their nest is moving towards us. Instead of sitting and waiting for death, it's better to take the initiative and strike."

He turned around and looked at his disciples.

"Pack up; we're leaving today to go meet the nest of this swarm."

When Su Hongling heard there was going to be a fight, she immediately perked up, ignoring the itch on her arm.

"Should have done this a long time ago! Old Man, watch how I clean up that bunch of little things!"

Su Lin looked at her rubbing her palms and shaking her fists, and shook his head helplessly.

He knew very well that to deal with a swarm of insects that controlled Space Law, relying solely on Su Hongling's fists would likely not even allow her to touch their edges.

This trip, I'm afraid, won't be that simple.

Everyone finished packing up; it didn't take much time.

Packing a few Magic Treasures was all it took. However, Gu Qiuyue, before leaving, specifically ran back to the newly built house and carefully pried up a few of the Dust-Repelling Jade bricks from the floor to put into her Storage Pouch.

"What if the house gets eaten by bugs when we come back?" Her golden eyes were full of heartache. "This stuff is expensive; I need to keep some."

Su Lin looked at her miserly appearance and couldn't be bothered to pay attention.

This girl's train of thought was always calculating those worldly possessions. He didn't know what she was after; in a place like Heaven Beyond Heaven, those treasures from the Lower Realm had long since become stones on the side of the road.

"Yan Rusi, you stay behind to look after the place." Su Lin turned his head to look at the Saintess of the Hehuan Sect who had been curled up in the corner.

Yan Rusi was stunned for a moment, then nodded quickly. With her level of Cultivation, following them to scout the bug nest would purely be adding trouble; staying behind to guard the base was the most secure arrangement.

"Yes, Senior. Rusi will definitely guard this place well."

"Don't push yourself." Su Lin added, "If a large swarm of bugs really rushes over and you can't handle it, crush the communication jade talisman I left you, and I will rush back immediately. Don't think about trying to hold on by yourself."

These words warmed Yan Rusi's heart.

She had been on edge following this group for so long, originally only feeling that she was a burden that could be discarded at any time.

But this Senior could always, inadvertently, make her feel a sense of security in being cared for.

"Thank you, Senior." Yan Rusi bowed deeply.

With arrangements made, Su Lin took out the sealed little bug.

The bug struggled a few times in his palm, its compound eyes staring fixedly at a certain direction ahead, its proboscis vibrating wildly.

"Look, it's showing us the way." Su Lin smiled slightly.

This little thing was born with control over Space Law and had an instinctive sense of the location of its nest. As long as they walked in the direction its body was facing, they couldn't go wrong.

"Let's go."

Su Lin took the lead and stepped into the air.

Seven figures followed closely behind, flying towards the depths of that brilliant nebula.

Void travel in the Heaven Beyond Heaven was completely different from that in the Taihuang Immortal Domain.

Here, there were no heavy, oppressive Law barriers, and the Immortal Qi was so rich it could almost materialize. When flying through the air, that light and comfortable feeling made one want to roar out loud.

"This place is really nice." Su Hongling said while flying, breathing in the surrounding Immortal Qi in large mouthfuls. "Old Man, let's just settle down here in the future. Once we beat those bugs away, won't this area be ours?"

"You wish." Luo Ximei flew beside her, waving her folding fan. "Since even the mosquitoes in this Heaven Beyond Heaven are so strange, who knows what incredible big shots are hiding behind the scenes. If we think about settling down now, I'm afraid we won't even know how we died."

"Who cares." Su Hongling said indifferently. "If the sky falls, the Old Man will hold it up."

Su Lin heard this, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

These girls really treated him, their Revered Master, as an all-powerful backer. They didn't even think that he himself was still fumbling in the dark.

However, having said that.

Being trusted so unconditionally by others wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

After flying for about an hour, the scene ahead gradually began to change.

The originally brilliant, flowing colorful nebula began to thin out.

A gray ruins belt appeared, floating with countless huge wrecks.