Chapter 330 - Entering the Ant’s Nest

The swarm of ants grew thicker by the second. Meng Qi’s strength faltered as he struggled to maintain the Golden Bell and Iron Shirt.

Leng Ning took his place and used Blizzard. Large clusters of ants froze solid, forming a clear path for their escape.

“We need to move now. You two, keep up,” she ordered.

Meng Qi was too exhausted to run at full speed. Han Wu hoisted him onto his back and followed Leng Ning as they darted past the encircling ants and scaled a rock face four meters tall.

The ants scrambled after them, slipping and tumbling off the sheer surface, only to climb again relentlessly.

Meng Qi groaned in frustration, “Did we kill their offspring? Why are they chasing us so fiercely?”

Han Wu’s eyes lit up with a sudden idea. “Leng Ning, freeze the rock face. They’ll slip on the ice.”

“I’ll test it.” Leng Ning approved of the plan. She used Blizzard and limited its range to the rock face beneath them. A layer of ice spread across the surface, turning it slick and treacherous.

The ants attempted to climb, but each one slid and tumbled back down. At last, the trio could catch their breath.

Meng Qi stared at the writhing sea of ants and felt his heart thumping rapidly. “The Dragon Seal is terrifying. No wonder no one wants to live here.”

Han Wu peered down at the relentless swarm, searching for a reason behind their pursuit. Even Leng Ning felt a chill at their persistence.

𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

“Do we have something on us that they’re after?” Leng Ning asked suddenly.

Meng Qi grabbed his bag and emptied it onto the ground. Inside, he found only clothes, some rations, two large bottles of water, and a bit of roasted snake meat. Nothing else.

Leng Ning and Han Wu searched their own bags and found much the same, aside from a few treasures and herbs they had collected earlier.

Leng Ning waved the items in front of the ants, but none of them provoked any reaction. The ants ignored the objects and instead tried to reach the three humans by stacking their bodies into a writhing tower.

Han Wu tested the same theory with his items, and again, the ants remained indifferent. It became clear they weren’t drawn to the treasures or herbs at all. A chill ran down his spine. “Do you think they’re after us... or more specifically, our flesh?”

Meng Qi and Leng Ning froze at Han Wu’s suggestion. Meng Qi’s stomach knotted with worry.

“Han Wu, don’t scare me like that,” he said, glaring at the advancing ants. “I’m a tank, but my flesh is disgusting. You can go back now.”

The ants ignored him completely.

Leng Ning mulled over Han Wu’s theory and tried to recall everything she had learned about this species. Suddenly, a memory clicked. “I think Han Wu is right. They’re targeting the three of us. There must be a queen ant in their nest. If she wants to lay eggs, she’ll need high-quality food. Our bodies can feed her and nourish her eggs at the same time.”

“I don’t want to get eaten by the ants!” Meng Qi groaned, his face twisted with disgust. Just imagining thousands of tiny bites crawling over his skin made his body tingle.

Han Wu refused to endure that nightmare either. “Let me just burn them all.”

“Wait!” Leng Ning stopped him with a sharp gesture. “They want us. This is both a danger and an opportunity. These ants’ larvae can actually improve our potential. The ant queen must be close to laying more eggs. If we infiltrate the nest and steal some, it’s risky, but the payoff is worth it.”

Meng Qi detested the swarm below them, yet Leng Ning’s words made him pause. “Are the larvae really that valuable?”

“Absolutely. I remember eating one when I was younger. It was processed into a pill that improved my Power potential. The raw material came straight from the larvae,” she said confidently.

Meng Qi’s eyes sparkled. He peered down at the ants with a strange, eager delight, as if the crawling insects were walking credits. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go to the nest and earn our money. My parents have been nagging me about how I’ve been spending too much lately. Time to show them I can make my own.”

Han Wu nodded as well. His family had far less than Meng Qi’s, and the thought of earning a little extra was appealing.

The three agreed on the plan, but the question remained: how could they do so without dying? The Dragon Seal sprawled endlessly, and finding the queen’s nest was no guarantee.

Leng Ning pulled three sleeping bags from her bag. She kept one for herself and handed the others to the boys.

Meng Qi raised an eyebrow. “Why are you still thinking about sleeping now?”

Leng Ning rolled her eyes. “These sleeping bags are designed to protect us. My family hired an expert at great expense to craft them. They’re impervious to damage and can keep us warm. We just need to stay hidden inside and pretend we’re dead. The ants will carry us back to their nest.”

Han Wu was skeptical. “Are you sure the ants won’t see through our act?”

Leng Ning huffed. “Believe me or not, it’s your choice. I’ll get inside, and the ants will take me straight to their nest.”

Han Wu and Meng Qi exchanged a glance, then nodded, trusting her confidence in the sleeping bags. The three slid into their sleeping bags and waited patiently for the ants to climb.

It took a few tense minutes, but the ants finally scaled the rock face and discovered the three bundled figures. They tried to bite through the sleeping bags and tug at the zippers, but the fabric held firm. As such, they hoisted the sleeping bags and carried them back to their nest. Their queen would deal with them.

Han Wu felt himself lifted and moved. He lost track of time as the ants transported him, finally settling him in an unfamiliar space. He waited until the distant scuttling faded, then carefully emerged from his sleeping bag. The chamber around him was a short cave, only two meters high. The queen and the ants were nowhere in sight.

“Where are we? Was our plan exposed? Are they really that smart?” Han Wu muttered, uncertain. He unzipped the sleeping bag beside him and revealed Leng Ning’s face. She had already activated Frozen Gaze and was scanning their surroundings by detecting every heat signature nearby.