117: Troll Bee

Several days passed. After repeated exploration of the passage at the bottom of the pool, it was confirmed that nothing else remained.

However, just as Gao De was preparing to set off again, Green Edge, who was responsible for patrolling the peripheral mountain forests, returned with an unexpected but highly valuable discovery.

“Master!” Green Edge swam back quickly, his voice carrying a hint of irrepressible excitement. “While patrolling the northwest, I accidentally encountered and tracked several Giant Demon Bees, and discovered a massive beehive!”

He reported in detail: “I was searching the forest for any potential Spiritual Plants when I suddenly saw several Giant Demon Bees fly past. They were massive, nearly half a foot long, with black-gold stripes across their bodies and wings that emitted a low hum. Their aura was ferocious, and their stingers glinted with a cold light, far surpassing ordinary bees. Recalling that Master mentioned paying attention to special ethnic groups, I hid my aura and quietly followed them.”

“These Giant Demon Bees fly extremely fast and are very alert, so I didn't dare follow too closely. They flew northwest for about seventy or eighty li before finally entering a vast ring-shaped mountain range. I ventured near the edge of the mountains and looked down...”

A look of wonder appeared in Green Edge's snake pupils: “Inside that ring-shaped mountain range, it isn't rugged peaks, but rather a vast plain!”

“On the plain, Spiritual Qi is dense, and countless rare flowers and exotic herbs, difficult to find in the outside world, grow there. It's colorful and incredibly lush, just like an otherworldly paradise!”

“And the nest of those giant bees is built on a precipice on the inner side of the ring-shaped mountain range. That beehive is enormous, like a gray fortress, with countless identical giant bees constantly flying in and out, busy without end!”

“They collect the essence of the exotic flowers and herbs on the plain, and even some weak insects and beasts. The 'blood honey' and royal jelly they brew are treasures for tempering the Physical Body and nourishing the Bloodline!”

Gao De's eyes brightened intensely upon hearing this.

This was truly a case of 'searching far and wide only to find it by chance'!

He had been worried about how to find those potential special ethnic groups, never expecting that Green Edge would accidentally track the Giant Demon Bees and discover such a treasure trove!

“Do you know if there are other powerful Yao Beasts entrenched near that plain and beehive?” Gao De asked calmly.

“In response to Master, I sensed carefully. That ring-shaped mountain range seems self-contained. The aura within the plain is relatively peaceful, dominated mainly by those exotic flowers and the Giant Demon Bees; I didn't detect any other particularly powerful Demonic Qi.”

“Perhaps because the Giant Demon Bee Swarm itself is not weak, and that plain is surrounded by mountains and relatively hidden, it hasn't been occupied by other powerful existences,” Green Edge analyzed.

Gao De nodded slightly.

Although the individual strength of the Giant Demon Bees might not be great, their numbers were vast and they were fearless of death. They were indeed a force not to be underestimated, enough to deter many coveters. The fact that the plain remained so well-preserved was likely related to this.

“Well done, Green Edge!” Gao De praised. “This discovery of yours is of great value. I shall credit you for this merit.”

He pondered for a moment and then ordered: “Green Edge, continue monitoring the entrance to that ring-shaped mountain range and the movements of the Giant Demon Bees. You must figure out the patterns and routes of their honey collection trips, as well as the defensive situation around the beehive. Iron Pincer, reorganize our forces and be ready to move at any time.”

“Master, are we going to take it by force?” Iron Pincer asked, shaking his massive pincers.

Gao De shook his head, rejecting Iron Pincer's suggestion of a direct assault.

He analyzed with a calm gaze: “Although individual Giant Demon Bees are only around the first rank, when thousands of them gather, combined with those poison stingers capable of piercing armor and even eroding Demonic Qi protective barriers, if they focus their fire on you, let alone you, Iron Pincer, even I would find it difficult to escape unscathed. Charging in blindly is the worst possible strategy; it's no different from seeking death.”

Then, his tone shifted, and a calm light flashed in his eyes: “However, there is always a way. In that Hundred Beasts Sect Elder's Storage Pouch, there happens to be an Incomplete Manual of the Hundred Beasts Spirit-Subduing Art, which records many methods for driving, communicating with, and even controlling Yao Beasts.”

“If we can find a way to sneak into the depths of the hive and find and control the core of the swarm—the Bee Queen—then with this method, I will have great confidence in taking control of the entire Giant Demon Bee Swarm without shedding a drop of blood!”

Once this plan was proposed, both Green Edge and Iron Pincer's eyes lit up. Controlling the Bee Queen was indeed much more brilliant than a bloody battle against tens of thousands of fearless poisonous bees.

“Master is wise!” Green Edge immediately flattered, then raised a key question. “Only... that beehive is heavily guarded. How do we sneak in without alerting the swarm, and how do we find and control the Bee Queen among the thousands of worker bees?”

Having rejected the idea of a direct attack, Gao De naturally had a more sophisticated plan in mind.

He carefully studied the Incomplete Manual of the Hundred Beasts Spirit-Subduing Art and, combining it with his own advantages, formulated a detailed plan.

He summoned Green Edge and Iron Pincer and instructed: “A direct assault is not viable. I plan to sneak into the beehive to find an opportunity to control the Bee Queen. However, I need the two of you to coordinate outside, and we also need to prepare a type of medicine in advance.”

He took out a blank Jade Slip and recorded a peculiar recipe from the Hundred Beasts Spirit-Subduing Art called “spirit-confusing mystery incense,” handing it to the Two Demons.

“Follow this recipe and gather the necessary Spiritual Plants as quickly as possible. This incense is not a poison, but the smoke produced after burning can greatly interfere with the perception of the Giant Demon Bees, causing them to lose their sense of direction and become restless. It is especially effective against the core guards who stay in the nest for long periods and are mentally strained. When the time comes, the two of you will wait at the main entrance of the hive and take the opportunity to light this incense, creating chaos to attract and distract the majority of the guards.”

Green Edge and Iron Pincer took the Jade Slip and carefully noted the requirements. “Rest assured, Master. Although the Spiritual Plants required for this recipe are somewhat obscure, they are not precious. They can be gathered in the forests near Yunmeng Marsh. It's just that the quantity needed is quite large, so it will take some time. We will get to it immediately!”

Gao De nodded and continued: “Once you two have created chaos and lured away the guards' attention, I will quietly sneak inside.”

This was a choice he had made after careful consideration. His massive Flood Dragon body was certainly powerful, but in a mission requiring stealth and infiltration, it was instead a burden.

Having risen from insignificance, he had relied on his concealment talent countless times to survive crises, and he was already well-versed in this path. Shrinking his size would not only allow him to easily pass through the complex passages of the beehive but also allow him to push his concealment to the limit, avoiding the worker bees that patrolled based on vibrations, scent, and sight.

“The situation inside the nest is unknown; finding the Bee Queen will require adapting to circumstances. You two must grasp the timing perfectly. The harassment must be just right—enough to cause sufficient chaos, but not so much that you expose our intentions too early and cause the swarm to go on full alert,” Gao De warned solemnly.

“Understood! We will not fail Master's trust!” Green Edge and Iron Pincer responded in unison. They knew the key to this plan lay in internal and external coordination, and the timing was of paramount importance.

With the plan set, the Two Demons immediately went their separate ways, leading their subordinates deep into the mountains to search for the various Spiritual Plants needed to prepare the “spirit-confusing mystery incense.”

Meanwhile, Gao De continued his secluded cultivation. On one hand, he further studied the essentials of controlling insects from the Hundred Beasts Spirit-Subduing Art, especially the method of spiritual branding for core individuals like the Bee Queen. On the other hand, he also began to practice and familiarize himself with power control and concealment while in his shrunken state.

The entire temporary base began to revolve around this bold plan.

Whether they could take down the Giant Demon Bee Swarm without a fight, obtain the precious blood honey and royal jelly, and even control a bee swarm with significant potential depended on whether this scheme could be successfully implemented.

Gao De was like a patient hunter, quietly waiting for everything to be ready before delivering the fatal blow to his target.