The Xijiang University team also moved away with the crowd, while Honda and Ran Hongxia waited quietly on the main road in the west of the city. Even survivors hurrying past couldn't help but look back repeatedly, marveling at their beauty.
Both were heroic beauties, but unlike Honda's serious and solemn demeanor, Ran Hongxia exuded a youthful aura. However, Honda, due to her solid foundation, the bloodline of the Nüluo Vine Queen, and the results of her recent cultivation, had an ethereal aura about her, as if she could ascend to the immortal realm at any moment. In this situation, their waiting here was so conspicuous, but due to the impending insect plague, no one dared to linger too long. Of course, no self-important gentlemen came to bother them, and Honda's powerful aura was also a factor.
"By the way, Sister Honda. What is your inheritance?" Ran Hongxia asked curiously. For a while, Honda had been elusive, always in seclusion. Later, due to the need to collect materials, the two rarely got together. At this moment, Ran Hongxia observed Honda curiously; her intuition could sense Honda's power, but she didn't know how much stronger Honda was than herself!
"I have three inheritances." Honda glanced at Ran Hongxia, not hiding her power. She began to tell her, also showing Ran Hongxia what she had obtained.
"That's really nice! You and Li Jiayu both have exclusive weapons." Ran Hongxia looked at the Drunken Immortal Sword and Purple Gold Gourd in Honda's hand, as well as the Tri-pointed Double-edged Halberd and Dragonfly Cutter, which were still an unfinished solution. She expressed great envy for these 'pay-to-win' big shots!
As an Awakener of the Sword Saint profession, Ran Hongxia had no good sword. Although the swords made by the metal Awakeners of Xijiang University were not bad, they were, after all, made of ordinary iron and would chip after a few battles! The quality difference between them and the weapons of Honda and Li Jiayu was not just a little bit.
When Ran Hongxia said this, Honda gave her a strange look. You will also have your own exclusive weapon in the future, Honda thought, but didn't say it out loud. That 'Forgiveness Green Divine Blade' that made Li Jiayu ecstatic, Honda couldn't help but get goosebumps. How could such a heart-wrenching thing exist in the world?! In the later stages, the aura of this blade almost caused Li Jiayu to lose his virginity to Li Wuxin. It was too terrifying; she absolutely had to stop this guy from courting death.
"Crack—Crack!" While the two were chatting, the sky seemed to shatter!
Spatial rift! A huge spatial rift opened directly above the city! A colorful 'insect swarm' was spewed out by the rift!
The survivors still lingering in the city immediately panicked. How was this possible! The spatial rift had opened ahead of schedule! Then followed a desperate flight of crying and wailing! But many of them were dragging their families, how could they escape the insects?
"Wasn't there still an hour? Why did it open early again!" Ran Hongxia said in surprise.
"Where is Li Jiayu? Why is he so slow!" Ran Hongxia paced back and forth anxiously, but Honda didn't answer her. Silently activating her Heavenly Eye, Honda began to search for Li Jiayu.
"Damn it, my eyes!" Accidentally seeing two gay men having sex in the building, Honda's Heavenly Eye almost went blind! At this time of the apocalypse, they were still doing such things. Honda expressed her admiration, then went to vomit.
"What's wrong, Sister Honda!" Ran Hongxia looked at Honda, who was clutching her forehead and vomiting over the city wall railing. She asked with concern!
"It's nothing! Just wait for me a moment." Honda fully operated the Ice Heart Art, permanently eliminating the scene she had just witnessed! In less than ten breaths, Honda's pale face, due to excessive shock, returned to normal. Then, she continued to search for Li Jiayu with her Heavenly Eye. This time, Honda learned her lesson; she didn't look at the floors, only the streets. In less than 30 seconds, Honda finally found Li Jiayu galloping on horseback. It seemed a group of people were following him, but the insects behind them didn't seem to have caught up.
"Li Jiayu has escaped the encirclement and is currently rushing here!" Honda comforted Ran Hongxia.
Looking at the rapidly approaching insects, Honda observed them and then shook her head. There was nothing here that could be used as a 'wine guide' for the Drunken God Sword Art.
Honda whistled, and the Purple Gold Gourd instantly flew up. It grew larger in the air. In "Legend of Sword and Fairy," the Drunken Sword Immortal often used this move to travel. Coupled with Honda's cultivation of the Taiji Xuanqing Dao, she could already fly with objects, so Honda directly refined the Drunken Immortal Sword and the Purple Gold Gourd into her Natal Magical Artifacts. She unlocked two layers of seals on them, which was enough for the current world. After a while, when the Tri-pointed Double-edged Halberd and Dragonfly Cutter fusion was complete, Honda would re-refine the two magical artifacts and remove all the seals on them. This way, she could participate in the South China Sea battle.
"This way!" Honda sat on the head of the gourd to operate it!
Li Jiayu saw the huge gourd and brought everyone over! But now was not the time to talk. Honda had the group of people carry the children onto the back half of the gourd. This way, there were no more worries!
Speaking of which, Honda's method of travel was much more impressive than Li Jiayu riding a horse, as could be seen from the envious Yang Xuyan next to them. Ran Hongxia stood by the gourd, making sure the children didn't fall off. After all, gourds are round!
They now needed to overtake the rear-guard troops ahead to catch up with the main force!
The sky was getting darker and darker, with rolling, dark red clouds surging rapidly overhead like a tidal wave, spreading across thousands of miles of sky. The biting cold wind grew increasingly chilly, making people shiver.
Ahead was a unit that had voluntarily stayed behind to cover their retreat.
There were a thousand people, none of them Inheritors or Awakened; they only had some firearms and ammunition, sharp military bayonets, and brave hearts.
The mission of this army was to briefly resist the insects, buying more time for the fleeing citizens.
Regiment Commander Li actually disagreed with this army staying behind to cover the retreat, but there are always some people in the military who prioritize protecting the people above all else.
Their decision to stay behind would be very dangerous, yet they still chose to do so without hesitation.
Because of this, the rear-guard army even had a complete falling out with Regiment Commander Li, who couldn't be bothered with them, even if High Commander Gao and Regiment Commander Li were sworn brothers, it made no difference.
These were good soldiers.
Unfortunately, they would die very soon.
When those soldiers saw Li Jiayu and Honda on the gourd, they were all moved.
The scene was too fantastical, and High Commander Gao even personally stepped out of the ranks, wanting to say a few words to Li Jiayu and Honda.
However, the overwhelming pressure from the swarming insects behind him was too great, and Li Jiayu ignored him.
But Honda stepped forward to bid farewell to these admirable soldiers.
Unlike those who only cared for themselves, these people were willing to stay behind and sacrifice their lives to buy a glimmer of hope for the main force!
They truly were adorable and kind people.
"Thank you!" Ran Hongxia was also touched and, along with Honda, thanked these passionate individuals.
Honda handed a blank bamboo slip to High Commander Gao.
If anyone could understand a 'wordless heavenly book,' they would be able to see what was on it.
She instructed High Commander Gao to have each soldier drip their blood onto the bamboo slip to charge it, and then crushing the slip would cause a huge explosion.
High Commander Gao, without any hesitation, began to order the bloodletting.
While Honda and her companions were still chasing the main force of Xijiang University, a huge explosion occurred behind them.
Upon hearing it, Honda, sitting on the gourd, revealed a slight smile.
That bamboo slip was not simple at all!
Honda glanced into her spatial dimension, where over a thousand glowing 'light beans' appeared.
Indeed, the bamboo slip Honda gave to High Commander Gao was a contract for a 'grass-roots army.'
These passionate soldiers absolutely could not die so easily!
Now they were slumbering in Honda's spatial dimension, waiting for Honda to fully comprehend Erlang Shen's inheritance.
Using the'Scatter Beans into Soldiers' technique, she could summon them to continue fighting the insects, and their strength would be linked to Honda's.
The stronger Honda became, the stronger they would be, though they would only possess one percent of Honda's combat power.
They could only be used to clear out minor enemies!
However, they could fuse with the souls of powerful individuals, and then one of them could fully inherit the energy of a strong person.
What a great ability!
Half an hour later, Honda and the others finally caught up with the main force, and the more than five thousand teachers and students of Xijiang University had deliberately slowed their pace, staying at the rear of the fleeing group.
Clearly, they were waiting for Honda and Li Jiayu to rejoin the team.
By this point, everyone clearly understood that the apocalypse had truly arrived, and nothing could be undone.
The swarm of insects had already ascended to the top of Earth's food chain; humans would be slaughtered and devoured at will, like pigs, dogs, cattle, and sheep.
Even the air was filled with a dangerous aura, making people's hair stand on end; every time a cold wind blew, people would feel a chill slowly creep up their spines, as if sticky water snakes were crawling on their backs, pressed against their skin.
Not only ordinary people, but even the teachers and students of Xijiang University were the same; when they turned their heads and looked at Xijiang City, surrounded by black mist and insect tides, without exception, their hearts almost stopped.
It felt as if a huge boulder was pressing heavily on their throats and chests; let alone surprise, they couldn't even catch their breath.
At this moment, the students of Xijiang University became increasingly dependent on Li Jiayu; they felt that only by staying by Li Jiayu's side would they feel a little at ease.
Li Jiayu was their tranquilizer and their protective charm.
This was the idol effect, plus Li Jiayu now looked like a goddess.
Who knows how many people thought of him at night, 'relieving themselves' in bed!
Because Honda didn't often try to gain the students' favor, others only knew that there was someone as strong and beautiful as Li Jiayu named Honda.
But they rarely saw Honda's appearance!
Only a small number of people knew!
"Thank goodness, you're finally back."
Seeing Honda, Li Jiayu, and Ran Hongxia return to the team, Xiao Wanqing, who had been worried for a long time, went up to them and joyfully took Honda's hand.
Because they had already caught up with the crowd, Honda put away that impressive gourd!
But Principal Xiao, have you perhaps started treating Honda as your daughter? You're not even concerned about your niece anymore.
"This is no place to linger, let's hurry up and leave!"
Li Jiayu called out, and the students of Xijiang University didn't dally; they all quickened their pace, following the main force ahead and rushing forward.
At 5:30, scattered insects appeared at the front of the civilian convoy; their numbers were not large, only thirty or forty amoebas, seven or eight Flying Dragon Lice, and a few mid-tier second-level insects.
The citizens at the front of the convoy were in a panic, erupting in cries and screams.
Fortunately, the number of Inheritors in the convoy was considerable; over a hundred Yang Soul Inheritors and a dozen Yin Soul Inheritors stepped forward.
After suffering more than thirty casualties, they finally killed the insects.
However, over a hundred citizens at the front had also died; the rain could not wash away the bloodstains on the ground, and panic spread uncontrollably.
The citizens were already extremely sensitive and fragile, and now encountering insects that appeared out of nowhere mid-journey almost made their legs give out.
With great difficulty, and after more than an hour, the citizens finally arrived at the hot spring resort gathering point in a sorry state.
Xijiang University had also occupied an empty space early on, setting up many tents, and Li Jiayu and the Dark Octopus were conversing inside a tent.
"Hey, Octopus, do you know what this fruit is?"
Li Jiayu took out the "cucumber" Devil Fruit from his backpack, held it in front of the Dark Octopus, and gestured with it, asking somewhat troubled.
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