114: The Awakening of Insects!

Suzhou and Hangzhou.

Zhuge Hu and Li Qing were huddled together.

"Captain Ye is busy with his Cultivation; he surely wouldn't have time to attend a boring little meeting like ours," Zhuge Hu remarked.

"What do you want to ask?"

"I heard the Imperial Capital is researching a new type of Insecticidal Potion? What about us?"

Li Qing didn't respond, but instead pulled out a tube of green potion and handed it to Zhuge Hu.

"Is this... the new Insecticidal Potion?"

"The formula is ready, but it hasn't reached mass production yet," Li Qing said.

"It's derived from the toxins of a Blood Jiao; it should be lethal to insects."

"As for the specific effects, we'll have to wait until after the Awakening of Insects to see if it turns into an insect carnival or not."

"Time-wise, we should make it in time."

"Also..."

Li Qing suddenly looked up at Zhuge Hu.

"I heard you're building water towers. Could it be—"

"If things become untenable, I'll poison the water source," Zhuge Hu said without concealment.

"The Rain Water solar term left everyone in a panic; indeed, the Sea Demons were truly fierce."

"Following that influence, the Awakening of Insects is also terrifying—at least many people are scared. I'm just being prepared for any eventuality."

"No matter what kind of insect it is, no matter how much it mutates, it still needs to drink water!"

"With the country being such a vast area, you can't possibly—"

"Who said I'm going to manage such a vast area? I only need to clear out Suzhou and Hangzhou in the early stages," Zhuge Hu said.

"Otherwise, the Suzhou and Hangzhou walls would just be for show."

"When you wanted to build the Suzhou and Hangzhou walls back then, did you already think of this?"

"More or less. Animals and plants are mutating, fish are mutating, so what about insects? They'll have their place too. Building a Suzhou and Hangzhou means breaking away from the old urban system; the sewers and other underground networks in the old system are simply too lethal!"

Li Qing nodded.

"You've thought a lot; you really have some skill."

"Heh, it's alright," Zhuge Hu laughed.

"However, I need some pointers from you now. How is the technical research regarding the Professional progression going in various cities?"

"It's impossible that on a global scale, the only technology related to Professionals is the Strengthening Potion."

"Is this his idea?"

"In a way!"

"That's indeed a great improvement! I'll help you get in touch; it really is time for some integration."

"Oh, so there really is more. Then can you reveal what we currently have?"

"Spirit Medicine preservation, Blood Qi Conductive Metal Forging, Blind Box Confirmation, jade tablet duration maintenance, Spirit Medicine Cultivation... and so on."

"And our Suzhou and Hangzhou is in an absolute lead when it comes to Strengthening Potions and Spirit Medicine Extraction."

"Based on the technical grading of each party, there's quite a lot that can be exchanged, but how the final negotiations go will depend on your ability."

"Good!"

Zhuge Hu was full of confidence.

Ever since the Professional world descended, every Suzhou and Hangzhou had made some achievements to some degree.

Everyone had something in their hands.

Low-level products of these things would appear on the market, just like Suzhou and Hangzhou's number 1 and number 2 potions.

Whereas those high-end goods were often circulated internally.

Li Qing acted quickly.

With Li Qing acting as a bridge, Zhuge Hu communicated with Suzhou and Hangzhou after Suzhou and Hangzhou.

They exchanged for all kinds of technologies.

Under Li Qing's classification, these technologies were then handed over to subordinate researchers for further study or direct production and use.

Zhuge Hu's actions were like a signal.

Across the entire country, all cities began technical exchanges, iterations, and other operations.

Coupled with the massive amount of Materials left behind after the Sea Demons made landfall.

Suddenly, research regarding Professionals flourished in every Suzhou and Hangzhou.

However...

There wasn't much time left for the researchers.

The Awakening of Insects.

It was coming soon!

It was the final day of the Rain Water solar term.

The sky gradually began to brighten.

This rain, which had lasted for fifteen consecutive days, seemed to be coming to an end.

But a new rain was about to arrive.

Gradually.

The air began to turn dry.

In some places, the rain had already stopped.

By the time of that day's sunset, the rain had stopped across almost the entire country.

The afterglow of the setting sun finally spilled across the earth.

This was not the end.

But a new solar term was about to begin.

Night fell.

On a night when the weather hadn't truly heated up yet.

The sounds of insects chirped.

In fact, as time passed, the chirping of insects grew even louder.

Ye Su stood on the roof of his house.

He had been in constant communication with Zhuge Hu through his earpiece.

"I guarantee that all of Suzhou and Hangzhou will be lit up throughout the night!"

"There are even drones providing lighting in the sky."

"Vehicles and drones for spraying Insecticidal Potions are all ready. There are even several firefighting planes at the airport filled with potion."

"The Suzhou and Hangzhou authorities and the Su Hang Grand Camp are on full alert. A bounty mission has been issued to the Professionals. Tonight, over ten thousand Professionals are on night watch!"

"All residents have been notified—don't sleep on the first floor, or just don't sleep at all!"

"Captain Ye, the current preparations are very thorough. We are ready to enter the Awakening of Insects!"

Zhuge Hu said.

Ye Su had never explicitly said that the Awakening of Insects would be a disaster.

But everyone seemed to understand the significance of the Awakening of Insects from its literal meaning.

It could be said.

This was the most well-prepared everyone had been since the global profession change!

The chirping of insects continued!

And as the clock ticked away.

The chirping of insects grew even more powerful, like a cheer, like a roar, like a summons for their own kingdom.

At this moment, Suzhou and Hangzhou was a Suzhou and Hangzhou that never slept.

Countless lights had long since been lit.

If one didn't look up, it would be impossible to believe it was night.

"Captain Ye, the time is almost here!"

Zhuge Hu's voice sounded in the earpiece.

Ye Su glanced at his watch.

It was 23:59.

In one more minute, the new solar term would arrive.

Tick-tock, tick-tock...

Almost.

Almost!

Time's up!

Suddenly, the whole world seemed to fall silent in an instant.

Rumble...

Then, a flash!

A massive bolt of thunder streaked across the night sky.

The immense sound vibrated everyone's eardrums.

The Awakening of Insects has arrived!

There was no rain.

As for the thunder.

Ye Su reached out his hand.

He made a swiping motion toward the heights.

When he pulled it back.

A letter was held between his fingers.

He looked up.

Lightning snaked through the clouds.

Lowering his head, Ye Su opened the letter.

[Awakening of Insects!]

[It's finally our turn!]

[Ye Su, great danger is accompanied by great opportunity.]

[The highest intensity war and the largest number of treasure chests since the global profession change began will take place during these 15 days!]

Seeing this, Ye Su suddenly looked up.

In the sky, points of starlight twinkled.

They were falling.

No... these weren't stars.

But treasure chests, one after another!

The greatest opportunity since the global profession change had arrived!

At the same time.

A pitch-black layer covered the ground.

That was...

Centipedess!

An unquantifiable number of them.

The Centipedess were converging into a tide!

Lightning, treasure chests, Centipedess, bugs...

A truly frantic era had arrived!