Chapter Thirty-Two: The Hive

Headquarters of the Blood-Swallowing Alliance, Canglan Empire.

"Yu Fei is dead, and only you returned alive!" A man clad in a blood-red robe, his face obscured by a sinister silver mask, sat upon a golden throne, his words icy and chilling.

Wolf Fang knelt on both knees, head bowed, a sheen of cold sweat on his brow, his hands trembling slightly as he silently urged himself to stay calm.

Hearing the Alliance Leader’s probing, tinged with suspicion, Wolf Fang’s heart quivered. He quickly realized that no one knew all the others had died and that he alone had been allowed to return. Steeling himself, he raised his head and met the Alliance Leader’s gaze with courage.

"Reporting to the Alliance Leader, everything I say is true. I dare not deceive you in the slightest. If there is even a hint of falsehood, I am willing to accept punishment by the Alliance’s rules." Tears glimmered in Wolf Fang’s eyes.

The Alliance Leader’s deep gaze lingered on Wolf Fang for a moment before he spoke. "I know your loyalty. I do not doubt your sincerity. Go now, serve the Alliance well, and I shall not forget the merit of each person."

At once, tears streamed down Wolf Fang’s face as he repeatedly pledged his loyalty, bowing as he retreated from the stone chamber where the Alliance Leader resided.

"Dark Night, what do you make of this matter? And what news of the Dragon Warrior?" After Wolf Fang left, the Alliance Leader turned to a corner of the room and asked.

The space shimmered, and a figure cloaked entirely in black, also masked, emerged within the chamber. His mask was a deep crimson.

Upon his arrival, a chilling, murderous intent suffused the chamber; his voice was cold and devoid of emotion. "Kill. Anyone who undermines the Alliance Leader’s cause, whoever they may be, Dark Night will cut them down one by one!"

The Leader’s expression was hidden beneath his mask, but his eyes revealed satisfaction. His tone softened. "Dark Night, there is something this time that only you can accomplish. In the Alliance, there is no one else I can entrust with this task but you. Thus, it must be you!"

"Alliance Leader, give your orders. Dark Night will fulfill them for you."

"Good..." The Leader nodded in approval, his tone now solemn. "I want you to head to the Far North of the continent, to the Endless Sea. Seize a Jade Qiong Command, then enter the Ancient Realm. Find for me a rare celestial elixir called 'Azure Sea Divine Spring,' which I have great use for."

"Rest assured, Alliance Leader. Dark Night will bring the Azure Sea Divine Spring to you." With a sweep of his black cloak, he faded from the stone chamber and vanished.

"Ye Wentian, you old scoundrel, I never imagined I would be defeated by your hand!" Two fierce rays shot from the Alliance Leader’s eyes as he snarled venomously, "Once I have the Azure Sea Divine Spring, your end will come!"

Three days later.

Leng Tian and Luan Jade Butterfly stood atop the back of a colossal dragon, gazing down at the mountains shrouded in clouds and mist. Ahead, a dense white fog blanketed the entire horizon, halting their advance.

"Jade Butterfly, do you know what place this is?" Leng Tian looked toward the swirling mist ahead, his instincts warning him of imminent danger.

Luan Jade Butterfly brushed a strand of hair from her brow, her voice gentle, though uncertain. "If I’m not mistaken, this should be the famed Insect Nest."

"Insect Nest?"

"Yes. I’m not sure why it’s called that, but since it’s named the Insect Nest, there must be many insects here." Her brows flickered as caution appeared on her face.

Leng Tian’s brow furrowed as he stared at the endless, churning clouds that covered half the sky, weighing the best way to proceed. As he and Jade Butterfly deliberated, several disheveled figures burst from the fog. Leng Tian and Jade Butterfly were startled; four young men and women, all cultivators of the Profound Realm, their bodies shimmering with various lights, faces stricken with fear.

Upon seeing Leng Tian and Jade Butterfly atop the golden dragon, the four paused, then the lone girl among them cried out joyfully, "Sister Butterfly, you’re here! That’s wonderful!"

She flew over and landed on the dragon’s back, sweetly linking arms with Jade Butterfly, calling her sister with affectionate ease.

"Giggle... Little girl, you’re here too? Isn’t your master afraid her precious disciple will be stolen away?" Jade Butterfly planted a doting kiss on the girl’s brow, prompting a peal of laughter like silver bells.

The girl was no ordinary figure. Her master was a close friend of Jade Butterfly’s teacher, a renowned and powerful cultivator known across the continent as the Saint of Vast Heaven.

The girl was the Saint’s only true disciple, raised from childhood like a daughter. She was cherished as a treasure, and many influential families had brought their outstanding disciples to propose marriage, but all were refused by the Saint.

This time, for reasons unknown, the Saint of Vast Heaven unexpectedly allowed her disciple to journey to the Ancient Realm with several other disciples from close friends for training.

"Guoguo, where is your master, the Saint of Vast Heaven? Didn’t she accompany you?" Jade Butterfly often visited the Saint with her own master, so she and Guoguo, as the girl was called, were close as sisters.

"She didn’t come. She said Guoguo is grown up now and needs to learn how to survive, can’t always grow under her wing, or else I’ll become a silly little dummy!"

"Pfft..."

Jade Butterfly laughed, her delicate figure trembling with mirth. Leng Tian, meanwhile, felt his blood stir, reacting as any man would to such a sight, wishing he could claim her then and there.

"You little rascal, you made up that last part, didn’t you? Using your master as an excuse! The Saint was surely worn down by your pestering and finally let you go. I bet she’s nearby, secretly watching and protecting you."

Jade Butterfly flicked Guoguo’s brow and turned to introduce Leng Tian. "Guoguo is my senior’s disciple and my dear sister. Brother Leng, do look after her!"

"You jest, Jade Butterfly. With my meager cultivation, I’m lucky not to drag you all down." Leng Tian spoke sincerely; all present were Profound cultivators, while he was but a fledgling of the Sky Rank.

"Sister Butterfly, who is he? Is he your future husband?" Guoguo cocked her head adorably, her words startling.

"Uh..."

Leng Tian wiped his brow, genuinely caught off guard by the girl’s boldness.

"Feeling mischievous, are you, daring to tease your sister!" Jade Butterfly’s cheeks flushed as she tickled Guoguo, making her laugh and beg for mercy.

The three youths who had come out of the mist with Guoguo flew over as well. Seeing the two women’s playful antics, they smiled kindly at Leng Tian in greeting.

Leng Tian nodded to them, then, seeing the women weren’t about to stop, coughed to remind them of their purpose.

With his prompt, the two finally ceased their antics. Guoguo clung to Jade Butterfly’s arm, sticking out her pink tongue and making a playful face at Leng Tian.

"How are things inside? Can you tell us what happened?" Leng Tian clasped his hands in respect, humbly asking the three young men.

"Are there many disgusting bugs in there?" Jade Butterfly glanced at the churning fog, her face tense with fear.

"Hehe..." One of the young men laughed, cupping his hands to Leng Tian and Jade Butterfly. "You may not know, but we did enter the Insect Nest and were indeed attacked. But to our shame, we don’t know what assaulted us!"

"What do you mean?" Jade Butterfly asked curiously.

"Sister, let me tell you—it’s terrifying inside! Everything’s white; you can’t see a thing. Luckily, we all have protective qi, or else we’d have been riddled like honeycombs!"

Guoguo finished in one breath, her adorable face still showing lingering fear.

"Yes, Guoguo is right. It’s impossible to see clearly, even spiritual senses are muddled. We couldn’t tell what was attacking us," the first youth said, shaking his head in frustration.

"Let’s not dwell on it! Sister Butterfly, let me introduce you. This is Brother Pei Jiang, and these are Brother Lin Dong and Brother Xiao Qiang!" Guoguo introduced the three youths to Leng Tian and Jade Butterfly.

Leng Tian gave his name, and Pei Jiang and the others joined them atop the dragon’s back. The six sat cross-legged, discussing how best to traverse the perilous Insect Nest.

After much deliberation, they found no practical solution. Leng Tian, gazing at the mist-shrouded mountains below, suggested, "Why not try the ground? It might be safer than the air."

His words prompted everyone to look down. The black peaks were faintly visible, and the mist below seemed much thinner than that which obscured the sky.

"It might work. Let’s go down and take a look!" Guoguo peered downward.

With unanimous agreement, Leng Tian instructed Max to descend. Upon reaching the ground, the group gazed in awe at the mysterious Insect Nest, its vastness and grandeur revealed.

It was like a white wall separating half the heavens, dividing two worlds. Leng Tian and his companions stood not far from this wall.

Watching the swirling, surging fog, Leng Tian felt as though a primordial beast slumbered behind it, ready to awaken and devour any creature that disturbed its rest.

"Brother Leng’s suggestion is excellent. The mist below is much thinner, greatly improving our defense against unknown dangers!"

Lin Dong surveyed the clear mountain terrain ahead, and through the sparse mist, he could see a valley full of strange rocks and wild grass.

"Time is short, let’s not delay further," Xiao Qiang reminded them. The opening of the Ancient Realm was fast approaching.

Martial Arts Apex 32—Chapter Thirty-Two: Insect Nest, update complete.