Chapter 1152: Not Number One Shadowless Worm
The Fire Eating Bug, ranked seventh among rare spirit bugs, devours metals and flames, thriving in fiery environments. Its voracious appetite and lack of natural countermeasures make it incredibly dangerous. Yet, Ming Wujian possessed a vast number of these creatures. How did he sustain them? Even low-grade Fire Eating Bugs require immense resources—flames and substantial quantities of ore for reproduction—making their upkeep cost-prohibitive, even for a powerful sect. Higher-level bugs are even more demanding. Ming Wujian's were low-level, consuming many resources but remaining weak.
The sight of so many Fire Eating Bugs shocked the sect leaders and elders present. They recognized the creatures and understood their potential for devastating power upon maturation. "They're actually Fire Eating Bugs?" Even Lu Wuhu expressed astonishment. Yan Guan and the other nine-star sect elders were equally shocked, their thoughts turning to the Infinity Sect. The potential of the Infinity Sect harnessing the power of such creatures was staggering; no other sect could hope to withstand them if unleashed. A full-scale release could annihilate a sect instantly. However, achieving even a minuscule fraction (1/100,000) of mature bugs was incredibly difficult. The very name "Fire Eating Bug" inspired terror.
Over ten thousand years ago, the Luo Yue continent was ravaged by the Fire Eating Bug demon, a cultivator who commanded countless mature Fire Eating Bugs. Invincible, he destroyed a nine-star sect simply because he desired its location. The sect's refusal enraged him, leading to its complete annihilation. The demon terrorized the land for a thousand years before being slain by Chu Jiuyu, his Fire Eating Bugs vanishing with him.
Now, ten thousand years later, these bugs had reappeared, belonging to the Infinity Sect. Yang Feicheng’s face was grim. Unaware of his sect member's possession of the bugs, he would have prevented Ming Wujian from fighting had he known. The Fire Eating Bugs would have become the Infinity Sect's most closely guarded secret. Instead, Ming Wujian's reckless use of the creatures in battle ensured that other sects would never allow the Infinity Sect to retain them.
Their upkeep remained difficult, yet with sufficient resources and methods, another Fire Eating Bug demon could easily arise. The absence of another Chu Jiuyu, however, would leave the cultivation realm vulnerable to such a threat.
Yang Feicheng noticed Ming Wujian's struggle in controlling the bugs. His inexperience implied recent acquisition or inadequate training.
Ye Mo understood why the bugs were unaffected by his heaven flame. Fortunately, his red-level flame could burn some; a weaker, yellow-level flame would have only nourished them.
Ye Mo felt his octagonal cauldron slowing. Simultaneously wielding the heaven flame and the cauldron was becoming increasingly strenuous. He considered using the Eleven Lightning Swords, as his killing of Tian Aofeng was already public knowledge.
Yet, witnessing Ming Wujian’s pallor and labored spellcasting, Ye Mo suspected the latter didn't truly control the bugs. It was too difficult for such a cunning individual. Doubtful, he launched an extreme-grade spirit artifact flying sword at Ming Wujian.
Even this attack sent shockwaves through Ye Mo's sea of consciousness. Ming Wujian, surprised by Ye Mo's persistent ability to deploy a flying sword, spat essence blood, releasing more Fire Eating Bugs from his black gourd.
The rapidly devoured flying sword confirmed the bugs' immense power. Ye Mo abandoned the Eleven Lightning Swords strategy. Ming Wujian’s precarious control over the creatures suggested an ambush by Shadowless would suffice.
Summoning Shadowless, Ye Mo expected a stealthy attack, but Shadowless's excited shriek shattered his plan. Instead of ambushing, Shadowless darted into Ming Wujian's gourd in a golden beam of light.
Confused, Ye Mo soon noticed the shift in the battle; the Fire Eating Bugs attacking the cauldron retreated and fell into disarray, some fleeing. The containment barrier prevented escape, yet the bugs, buzzing frantically, largely converged on the black gourd.
Ming Wujian, witnessing the chaos, trembled, murmuring, "Not a spirit bug, not an immortal… Not number one Shadowless Worm… There really is a Shadowless Worm…"
Ye Mo, no longer straining, consumed a Spirit Recovery Pill and prepared to release Zi Xu. Shadowless’s actions, while unexpected, proved beneficial.
However, he soon abandoned the plan; Ming Wujian's condition was less concerning than the black gourd’s impending explosion. A hot wave erupted. Shielding himself with the octagonal cauldron, Ye Mo immediately contacted Shadowless, his valuable ally.
He sensed Shadowless soon after, emerging from the explosion, unsteady and disoriented, its golden body dulled to grey. Quickly, Ye Mo stored Shadowless in a spirit beast ring, unwilling to reveal the Golden Page World.
The explosion had shaken even the containment barriers. The survival of Shadowless remained a mystery. Numerous Fire Eating Bugs perished; those remaining attacked Ye Mo and Ming Wujian with ferocious intent. While the octagonal cauldron protected Ye Mo, Ming Wujian was quickly devoured.
The remaining Fire Eating Bugs, failing to locate the black gourd, fell lifeless to the ground, turning black. Ye Mo incinerated the corpses and blackened remains with his heaven flame.
The acrid smell subsided, revealing an orange flame—the Li Ming Fire, ninth among cultivation realm flames. It was a heaven flame from Ming Wujian’s gourd, but Ye Mo knew it was unattainable for him.
Yang Feicheng’s face brightened at the sight, but before he could claim it, Ye Mo offered it to Lu Wuhu, "Brother Lu, this Li Ming Fire is yours."
"Haha, gladly," Lu Wuhu responded, seizing the flame with a cultivation essence giant hand.
Ye Mo relaxed. Retrieving the flame himself would have taken at least seven minutes, allowing Yang Feicheng to claim it. Lu Wuhu’s acquisition effectively prevented any such claim.
Yang Feicheng's face fell. He saluted, "Lu qian bei, this Li Ming Fire belongs to my Infinity Sect member, Ming Wujian. Please return it."