The Demon Fire Crystal Ants largely retained their awareness. Yet, as if recognizing that Zong Shou's actions were intended to strengthen their lineage's descendants, they offered no resistance whatsoever.

As Zong Shou steered the Heaven-Devouring Primal Transformation Art, it suddenly became several times easier. He could allocate his focus to thoroughly purify all the soul power and vital essence, feeding it drop by drop into the insect eggs, fearful that excessive speed might damage the internal structure.

And as time passed, the luster of the golden insect eggs grew ever brighter. What was once scattered, uneven specks of golden light had now diffused completely, permeating every corner of the eggshell.

The entire process took a full six hours. By the time the surrounding Beast Crystals could no longer bear the strain and shattered completely, releasing all the confined vital essence and blood Qi into this space, only the empty husks of the Demon Fire Crystal Ants remained within the ten-mile radius.

In Zong Shou’s hand, the insect egg had already turned black.

“My Lord, what you just did—”

Zong Yuan’s face was filled with shock and uncertainty. He had dared not disturb Zong Shou earlier for fear of distracting him, but now he could no longer suppress his curiosity and awe.

“Just a cultivation method. It can devour all things under heaven and convert them into primal energy.”

Zong Shou explained casually before looking again at the egg in his hand. He was no longer as secretive about the Heaven-Devouring Primal Transformation Art as he had been before.

Since it wasn't a true demonic cultivation technique, everything was manageable.

Probing his spiritual sense in again, Zong Shou distinguished the egg’s tier with clarity—it had indeed been elevated.

The essence and soul power of the one hundred and twenty thousand Crystal Ants, along with their Queen, were entirely condensed within, shrunk into a mass that felt almost limitlessly vast.

This made the Ant Queen’s egg seem to possess boundless potential.

“Sixth Tier and a half—”

Having roughly judged the prospective rank of the Ant Queen upon hatching, Zong Shou recalled the Ant True Man and the Branching Lingxiang he had retrieved from the small Qiankun Bag.

This item was also an extremely rare spiritual treasure, capable of making any savage beast or soul beast form a symbiotic bond, becoming a naturally born guardian mount akin to his Thunder Winged Flood Dragon. Zong Shou’s consciousness then began a series of truly leaping thoughts.

“Zong Yuan, do you remember that Li Xieling of the Hundred Thousand Blood Slayers?”

“Li Xieling? I remember him! Though I never fought him, I saw him once. Had he not died by your hand, his future achievements would likely have surpassed Long Ruo’s by several times. His Way of Killing sword techniques—killing his wife, mother, and son—he had brought that to its utmost extreme—”

“Then do you know that this man kept a guardian mount with him? And at that time, it was already as high as the Third Tier?”

Zong Yuan’s expression shifted to suspicion. A purely martial cultivator keeping a guardian spirit beast—how was that possible?

Zong Shou smiled. He happened to know the secret method Li Xieling used to subdue guardian spirit beasts; he had taken it from the man’s remains but had never paid it much heed, as his subordinates didn't require such things.

However, he had a different idea now. It would be a waste not to use this Branching Lingxiang.

His tone changed again, carrying a hint of temptation: “Zong Yuan, would you like a naturally born guardian?”

Zong Yuan’s eyebrow twitched, his gaze immediately returning to Zong Shou’s hand. Then, he decisively shook his head: “If it’s that Demon Fire Ant Queen egg, then no thank you!”

Recalling the disgusting state of the Ant True Man just moments ago, Zong Yuan would rather die than accept it. Though, if Zong Shou insisted, he wouldn't refuse. But in his heart, he certainly wouldn't be as loyal as before.

“Relax! It’s not that one.”

Zong Shou let out a small laugh and put away the Ant Queen egg. One should not impose upon others what one does not wish for oneself.

“It’s an Eighth Tier soul beast, and it perfectly matches your physical attributes. Paired with your spear techniques, it can enhance your power several times over. And it’s not a simple symbiotic bond either—”

He mused that if this person’s soul merged with it, even he himself might have to retreat three steps. In this Cloud Realm, the young talents who could surely defeat this fellow were fewer than five fingers. On the battlefield, he could virtually sweep aside everything.

But thinking of those two items, Zong Shou felt an immense sting of regret.

Turning his head, he saw Zong Yuan was only half-convinced, clearly harboring suspicion, which annoyed Zong Shou.

“Forget it, it’s too early to discuss this now. To subdue an Eighth Tier guardian, one needs at least Seventh Tier cultivation. We’ll talk about this when you finally step into the Celestial Rank. However, for these next few days, it’s best to cultivate your soul power; this method requires at least the Spirit Emergence Realm—”

Zong Yuan responded with a noncommittal ‘Oh.’ He thought this was troublesome.

The Celestial Rank was achievable. Ever since cultivating the Inner Gaze Profound Lightning Body Tempering Art and daily consuming Spirit Salamander Blood, he felt his foundation, previously fluctuating due to rapid advancement, was gradually solidifying. His physical body was continually strengthening, allowing him to absorb and contain more and more lightning power.

His spear intent cultivation had advanced greatly inside that Dragon Gate, and he had also gained the favor of Old Man Dragon Shadow, receiving many benefits.

He vaguely felt that he could reach the Celestial Rank within two years at most.

But cultivating spiritual arts was difficult. All his true energy, especially after switching to the Raging Thunder Spear, was intensely solid and Yang in nature, inherently conflicting with soul power.

The Spirit Emergence Realm seemed impossibly distant without another path.

However, ever since his great vengeance was exacted and his vow fulfilled, his heart no longer wished to disobey Zong Shou’s orders. Even if the command seemed unreasonable or absurd, he would carry it out.

Zong Shou, meanwhile, had not noticed Zong Yuan’s shifting expression. Frowning, he thought carefully and decided that destroying the evidence was the best course.

The death of the Ant True Man would surely shake the Cloud Realm. It would undoubtedly be even more shocking than the fact that Long Ruo’s body had been cleaved apart by him.

And this insect queen egg was even more covetous.

Dozens of Dao talismans were cast, and the entire area spanning over ten li erupted into a sky full of flames that refused to cease. In just half an incense stick’s time, most of the Crystal Ant carapaces, along with the Ant True Man’s body, were completely incinerated.

However, a small portion remained, and even after a full hour, it showed no sign of melting.

Zong Shou simply swept his mana over them and gathered them up. The moment they were in his grasp, he knew these carapace fragments were the most vital parts of the Demon Fire Crystal Ants. Their material hardness likely meant even Seventh Tier spiritual weapons couldn't scratch them.

Without hesitation, Zong Shou stored them all in his small Qiankun Bag. Then, with a fixed gaze, he looked back somewhat confusedly toward the cluster of low hills to the south.

Of the two rats from before, it seemed only one remained. The weaker one appeared to have left, while the one remaining seemed to have completely lost all signs of life.

He hadn't intended to bother, but the situation felt somewhat bizarre.

Leaping into the air, Zong Shou rode his sword, soaring swiftly. In just a hundred breaths, he arrived above that location.

He saw a small, exquisitely formed spiritual formation here, capable of blocking qi presence and concealing sound.

But now, without anyone maintaining it, it had flaws.

Zong Shou had only sensed someone peeking from this direction after the ant swarm’s venom took effect and the Ant True Man was slain.

Landing, Zong Shou saw a young figure with golden-purple skin lying on the ground.

Life force was entirely extinguished, and he was utterly silent. His skin and limbs showed signs of putrefaction.

It was the potent poison of the Hundred Mile Pure Fragrance corroding his body.

Looking closer at his features, Zong Shou found him vaguely familiar. After thinking for a long time, he recalled this was likely the person who had been standing next to Xiong Yu a few days prior.

The gesture of touching his neck and the look of disdain in his eyes were deeply unsettling memories.

Zong Shou frowned, waved his large sleeve, and a clear breeze swept up from the ground, seizing the person’s belongings. Inside was also a small Qiankun Bag, surprisingly a top-grade one with a two-hundred-zhang radius. After examining it, Zong Shou’s expression became erratic, shifting between dark and bright.

“—Likely someone from the Fierce Spirit Li Family! Should have a significant identity—”

Zong Yuan arrived just then, and upon hearing this, he too immediately knitted his brows, staring blankly at the corpse.

He thought, More than just a significant identity? This person’s martial cultivation had clearly reached the Celestial Rank. His spiritual arts were also extraordinary, at the peak of Returning to Vitality. In any family or sect, he would be a core disciple with boundless prospects. Yet now, only a cold corpse remained.

Zong Shou stared in stunned silence for a long moment before sighing faintly again. This was too legendary—he had accidentally poisoned a Seventh Tier expert to death. “Zong Yuan, tell me, how can a person be this foolish in this world? The Hundred Mile Pure Fragrance is indeed a strange poison, but it shouldn’t offer absolutely no time to react. How could one casually swallow the antidote pill? Furthermore, if he had run out seeking my help while poisoned, would I have ignored him?”

Zong Yuan was equally speechless. He walked over and carefully examined the corpse, learning the true reason for the man's demise.

Being deeply poisoned was one factor. In his panic, taking too much of the antidote had caused the Hundred Mile Pure Fragrance to mutate, intensifying its toxicity—that was another factor. In short, this man had died in a bizarre and somewhat tragic manner.

Zong Shou, however, was already thinking of the other rat that had escaped. If nothing unexpected happened, it was surely that woman. “If Xiong Yu returns, do you think she will report this to the Li Family? Exaggerating the details?”

Zong Yuan pondered for a moment, then shook his head: “Not necessarily. She is not entirely blameless in this man’s death. If news of this person’s demise spreads from Dragon Gathering Mountain, the first target the Fierce Spirit Li Family will likely pursue is Blazing Flame Mountain.”

Zong Shou’s face showed no sign of relief. He knew he had stirred up considerable trouble this time. Although he knew he would eventually clash with the Fierce Spirit Li Family, for some reason, the moment he thought of the Li Family being one of those who forced Zong Weiran into the depths of the Cloud Sea, a surge of murderous intent arose in his chest, making him wish to exterminate their entire clan swiftly!

—After ‘Zong Shou’ disappeared, the lingering father-son affection shouldn't be strong enough to provoke this degree of hostility.

However, if he was to deal with the Li Family, his current strength was far from enough. Some matters needed to be expedited.

For instance, the mounts for the Blood Cloud Armored Cavalry—the Dragon Horned Winged Horses.