"An expert from the upper realm… someone who shattered the void to descend…"
Yun Yun's eyes widened in disbelief at Ling Xin's words. To her, even the realm of Dou God was a distant, unreachable dream—let alone a peerless powerhouse from a higher plane.
"I've said all that needs to be said. My time is almost up," Ling Xin said, setting down the last sip of tea. Her expression grew solemn as she rose to her feet. "Let's begin the inheritance ritual."
Yun Yun also stood, her face serious. "What do I need to do?"
"Hehe, you've already passed my trial. There's nothing more required," Ling Xin said softly, smiling faintly. "I am the inheritance itself. Having earned my recognition, you now possess the right to receive all that I leave behind. All you need to do is accept it."
She gently extended a single finger and pressed it to Yun Yun's forehead. "Calm your mind," she said solemnly, and as she spoke, light flared from her fingertip.
In the great hall, colorful mist churned like waves. Yun Yun, who had been in deep meditation for nearly two months, slowly opened her eyes. The confusion that once clouded them faded, replaced by clarity and brilliance. On her forehead, the lotus-shaped mark emitted a mysterious and overwhelming energy—an aura that only a Dou God could release.
But gradually, as the lotus faded, so too did the aura, vanishing into silence.
"Has it really been nearly two months…?" Yun Yun looked around in quiet wonder. Then, as spatial energy rippled around her, she vanished completely.
Such mastery of space was a skill only those above the Dou Venerate realm could wield.
---
At the heart of the Tagore Desert stood a massive, ruined city—the former home of the Snake-People Tribe. The once-grand city had been reduced to rubble, with only the imperial palace in the center still standing, protected by a transparent energy barrier.
Outside the palace, the air was thick with the stench of blood. The once-endless swarm of Soul-Eater Ants had been whittled down to only a few thousand—and they too were trapped within a separate energy barrier, unable to escape. The ground was stained red with blood, riddled with craters—some left by fierce combat, others melted away by the corrosive saliva and blood of the Soul-Eater Ants.
After half a month of relentless slaughter and deprivation, the ants—having consumed the corpses of their fallen—had begun turning on each other in desperation.
Through this merciless survival-of-the-fittest process, the weaker ants were devoured, and the remaining few thousand underwent rapid evolution. A few even reached new heights of strength—including one that had evolved into a sixth-rank leader.
"These Soul-Eater Ants… what a terrifying species," Moonlight murmured in awe as she stared out at the barrier. "The more they devour, the faster they evolve. No wonder their sole instinct is to consume. This kind of monstrous talent—it's no wonder they're feared across the continent."
In just half a month, too many miracles had occurred. The girls had grown rapidly stronger thanks to Goku's guidance. But the ants, through slaughter alone, had evolved at a comparable—if not faster—rate. Their ability to endlessly devour and grow stronger made them truly horrifying.
"That's why they're called the nightmare of the continent," Cai Lin said, her tone tinged with wonder. After days of extermination, her hatred toward them had largely faded. Now, she viewed the remaining ants as nothing more than pitiful stepping stones for training.
"Nightmare or not… I almost feel sorry for them now," Yue Mei added, watching the ants squeal in agony as they were overwhelmed by the girls' relentless attacks.
"Because Master Goku is here," Moonlight said softly, eyes shining as she looked toward the man in the sky. "To him, even these terrifying Soul-Eater Ants are nothing more than training dummies."
"Screee—!"
The remaining ants screeched, surrounding the girls and launching streams of corrosive saliva like arrows. But the girls, agile and well-coordinated, darted among the swarms, protected by both flight techniques and Goku's barrier. Their battle aura formed shield after shield, blocking the acid attacks with ease.
They countered with a flurry of techniques. Though the ants had evolved, Goku's restrictions prevented them from unleashing their full power. They were still no match.
"Screee—!"
A sharp cry rang out. The swarm suddenly parted, opening a path. From the center emerged a jet-black Soul-Eater Ant with a metallic sheen. It stepped forward and let out a shriek so high-pitched it pierced the eardrums.
It raised its head to the sky, locking eyes with Saeko and the others. Its blood-red eyes gleamed with cunning. This was no ordinary creature—it had evolved into a sixth-rank being. Its intelligence was now on par with a human's.
"Hm? That's the sixth-rank ant… Is it challenging us to a duel?" Saeko narrowed her eyes, her fighting spirit flaring.
"Yes," the ant said, to everyone's surprise—in human speech. Its voice was cold, yet dignified. "I know you have a supreme expert among you—someone we cannot possibly defeat. But what meaning is there in a battle where we're endlessly suppressed? Let us challenge you to a formal duel—best two out of three. If we win, you release us. If we lose, you may do as you wish."
The request was made out of desperation. They were cornered, their numbers shrinking by the day. This was their last gamble—hoping the proud humans would accept, if only to test themselves.
"How interesting. I accept," Saeko said with a cold smile, her battle intent igniting.
"Saeko, you've fought enough. Let me take this one!" Ya Fei quickly stepped forward, eyes blazing as she looked down at the sixth-rank ant. After so much training, she was eager to prove herself.
Saeko hesitated, then nodded and stepped back. The others had let her take many of the tougher opponents before—now it was Ya Fei's turn.
"Goku, since this is a duel, then let it be a fair one. Remove my shield. I want to beat it with my own strength!" Ya Fei called out, her voice firm and determined.
"Very well." Goku gave a faint smile and waved his hand. The glowing shield around her body vanished.
He turned his eyes toward the sixth-rank Soul-Eater Ant. This one had evolved just two days ago and had been held back by Goku's restrictions. Now it was making its move.
"Screee—!" the ant screeched. From within the swarm, a larger-than-normal fourth-rank Soul-Eater Ant crawled out. It raised its head and screamed a challenge at Ya Fei.
"So, you're my opponent?" Ya Fei spun her longsword in a flash of silver light. Her battle aura wings flared as she dove down from the sky. Her sword stabbed toward the ant like a falling star.
"Skreee—!"
The ant's eyes turned blood-red as it leapt up like a cannonball, charging straight at her attack.
"Hmph! Suicidal!" Ya Fei snorted. Her spear surged with battle aura, forming countless sword shadows as she thrust downward.
But the ant didn't dodge. Her strikes landed hard, each blow sparking off its metallic shell with a clang! The weapon that once cut through Soul-Eater Ants with ease left only thin cracks on this one.
"What? Its defense is that high?" The girls above widened their eyes. This fourth-rank ant was clearly unusual.
"A mutant…" Goku murmured, a trace of surprise in his eyes.
The ant suddenly spat a glob of corrosive fluid at Ya Fei's spear. Her face darkened as she watched the valuable weapon begin to melt under the acid.
"Skreee—!"
The ant's mouth split open, revealing rows of jagged white teeth, glowing with dark light. It lunged.
"Tch!" Ya Fei's eyes narrowed. She hadn't expected such vicious acid—this was far beyond the early-stage Soul-Eater Ants. Fourth-rank ones could already battle solo. And this was a mutant.
But Ya Fei wasn't a rookie anymore. Her body flickered—an illusion technique! Her form split, and the ant's claws pierced straight through a phantom.
The real Ya Fei had already appeared behind it.
In a flash, a new spear appeared in her hand. She channeled her energy and struck the ant's back with full force.
Clang!
The blow slammed the ant deep into the ground. Cracks spread across its shell, and blood seeped out.
This was Mountain-Cleaving Strike, a high-tier Earth-grade technique Goku had chosen specifically for her. Its power rivaled even Heaven-tier techniques.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ya Fei struck again—battle aura erupting into a glowing spear over a hundred meters long.
"Boom!"
The land trembled. The impact carved a massive trench across the battlefield. The Soul-Eater Ant let out one final, shrill cry before being blasted into pieces—shattered into a cloud of blood and mist.
"Haah… haah…"
Ya Fei gasped for breath. Using two high-tier techniques in succession had nearly drained her. Were it not for her rare Earth-grade cultivation method, she would've collapsed.
"Skreeee—!"
The Soul-Eater swarm shrieked again, eyes glowing red with rage.
Within the crowd, the sixth-rank ant narrowed its eyes, cold light flashing. Then, without warning, it howled—and the entire swarm surged into motion.
Thousands of fourth-rank Soul-Eater Ants leapt into the air at once, forming a black tide as they shot toward the exhausted Ya Fei. With her shield gone, her expression changed instantly. This turn of events was far too sudden.
The sky darkened as the swarm blanketed the battlefield, cutting off any chance of rescue.
And in the chaos, the sixth-rank ant flashed behind Ya Fei like a shadow.
Its claw pressed to her throat.
A cruel grin stretched across its monstrous face.
"Well then… I believe I now have a bargaining chip."
____
T/N:
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