Serpent Ancestor

This is a standard fifth-tier Divine Transformation cultivation technique, which cannot lead to ascension. However, it perfectly compensates for Xu Hei’s shortcomings in insect cultivation.

Next, Xu Hei turned his attention to the second rib.

Inside, it recorded three sets of Divine Abilities.

”The first set includes Insect Sword Technique, Insect Armor Technique, and Insect Escape Technique, which are the most basic insect-controlling Divine Abilities!”

”The second set, the Four Symbols and Five Spirits Formation, allows the insect swarm to form a formation, transforming into the Four Symbols and Five Spirits. It can attack or defend, making it a high-level insect-controlling technique, requiring various spirit insects of different attributes to achieve.”

”The third set, the Myriad Gu Devouring Spirit Art, allows the insect swarm to devour each other, rapidly birthing a berserk Insect King.”

Xu Hei scanned through this information and thought of the changes in the insect swarm outside, sometimes forming a sword shape, sometimes a beast shape. So, this was the reason.

If someone were to control it using these Divine Abilities, the power would undoubtedly be extraordinary!

”So, there are so many intricacies in insect-controlling techniques,” Xu Hei marveled inwardly.

Previously, he controlled insects by simply letting them swarm forward to devour, relying solely on the insects’ instincts to attack. Compared to true insect cultivation Divine Abilities, it was like being a primitive man.Once he mastered these insect-controlling Divine Abilities, the power of Xu Hei’s insects would increase significantly, becoming a major trump card.

Xu Hei didn’t dare to delay and took out the third rib, probing it with his Divine Sense.

However, this rib did not contain any high-level Divine Abilities but rather a book.

”The Myriad Insect Record, compiled by me, the Heavenly Silkworm Master, combines ancient records, documenting over ten thousand different types of spirit insects and methods for cultivating some mutated spirit insects, to be passed down to future generations.”

”Remember, nurturing insects takes a thousand days, using them takes a moment. The key to controlling insects lies in nurturing. Only by achieving a unity of mind and spirit with the spirit insects can their maximum power be unleashed.”

”There is no strongest spirit insect, only the strongest insect master!”

Xu Hei’s Divine Sense swept over the Myriad Insect Record, astonished by the vast content it contained.

Although it was just simple text information without mantras, its complexity surpassed the three sets of Divine Abilities.

Soon, Xu Hei found the introduction to the Spirit-Eating Ants.

”Spirit-Eating Ants, a general term for ants that enjoy consuming Spiritual Qi, consist of thirty-two genera, one hundred fifty-six species, and seven types of variants. They can be sustained with Spirit Stones and will actively attack anything that leaks Spiritual Qi. They are considered one of the most powerful spirit insects in terms of attack power, ranking in the top hundred of the Myriad Insect Record in terms of destructive capability.”

”But they are violent and difficult to control, with the risk of devouring their master. Most fear flames and are restrained by the flame law.”

After reading, Xu Hei fell into a daze.

Although he had not been devoured by his own insects, he had witnessed how difficult they were to control. Moreover, he had never considered that Spirit-Eating Ants feared fire.

However, there are variants that do not fear fire, such as the Golden Armored Spirit-Eating Ants and the Molten Fire Spirit-Eating Ants, which require special cultivation.

This Myriad Insect Record is incredibly important to him!

The white insects outside are also Spirit-Eating Ants, known as Thousand Illusion Spirit-Eating Ants, adept at transformation and disguise. They are not fast, often luring prey nearby before suddenly swarming for the kill.

Xu Hei also found information about Ji Ying.

”Corpse Beetle, fond of eating corpses, can gain part of a cultivator’s memory after devouring their brain, thus possessing high intelligence, cunning, and no different from a real person...”

”...The more intelligent the creature, the harder it is to advance. According to ancient records, this insect only reaches the late Elemental Infant stage, with no examples of breaking through to Divine Transformation.”

Seeing this, Xu Hei’s heart skipped a beat, feeling a sense of foreboding.

Unable to achieve Divine Transformation, wouldn’t the resources he invested in Ji Ying be wasted?

The more intelligent, the harder it is to advance—what kind of rule is this?

”To achieve Divine Transformation, the only way is for this insect to mutate, like a snake transforming into a flood dragon, a flood dragon into a dragon. But the mutation of spirit insects is unpredictable. I once obtained a Corpse Beetle, fed it at the peak of the Elemental Infant stage...

...Ultimately, the mutation failed.”

Xu Hei finished reading the entire description and fell into a long contemplation.

The Corpse Beetle, due to its unparalleled intelligence, ranks among the top in the Myriad Insect Record and is highly valued by the Heavenly Silkworm Master.

According to the Heavenly Silkworm Master’s prediction, once the Corpse Beetle achieves Divine Transformation, it might possess the ability to devour a person’s primordial spirit, which is extremely defiant. Those possessing such abilities are none other than the long-extinct wild variants.

Exhausting resources, ultimately failing, leaving only an egg to be released back into nature.

”Could it be the one I have?”

Seeing the final record, Xu Hei felt a chill in his heart.

Such a rare spirit insect, there are likely only a few on the Divine Continent Star, and it might very well be the one in his possession.

However, he never expected the Heavenly Silkworm Master to release a spirit insect. This was something he hadn’t anticipated.

The content of the Myriad Insect Record is too vast, with each spirit insect described in lengthy detail, making it difficult to read all at once. Xu Hei carefully stored it away.

”The Myriad Insect Record is a sacred text for insect cultivation, worthy of being passed down through the ages. Unfortunately, the inheritance of insect cultivation on the Divine Continent Star has long been severed, otherwise, it wouldn’t be gathering dust here,” Xu Hei sighed.

This is a legendary text comparable to the Herbal Scripture of Medicine King Valley and the Thousand Mechanisms Diagram of the Divine Puppet Sect, the life’s work of the Heavenly Silkworm Master, filling the gaps in the field of spirit insects.

As someone who nurtures insects, Xu Hei deeply understands its value, which is far more precious than a simple cultivation technique.

With this in mind, Xu Hei couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of respect. He stepped back a few paces and bowed deeply to the skeleton before him.

He wanted to express his admiration, but since the Heavenly Silkworm Master had already passed away, saying anything would be pointless. All Xu Hei could do was pass on the Myriad Insect Record.

Following this, Xu Hei sat cross-legged and began cultivating the Heavenly Silkworm Scripture while comprehending the three sets of insect-controlling Divine Abilities.

As for the Thousand Illusion Insects outside, he didn’t plan to waste them. Xu Hei intended to comprehend the Heavenly Silkworm Scripture and then collect them.

…………

During Xu Hei’s seclusion.

Outside, a series of major events were unfolding.

On Flame Star, the closest to the sun, an invasion was launched immediately after the Seven Stars Alignment.

Led by the Sect Master of the Blood Refining Sect, they first descended upon Heavenly Sand Star. In just a week, they broke through the Barbarian Tribe’s formation, and within a month, they defeated the main forces of the Barbarian Tribe, sacrificing a million cultivators and billions of lives.

The already desolate Heavenly Sand Star turned into a living hell, with its population more than halved.

Then, without stopping, they used Heavenly Sand Star as a springboard to descend upon Sea Star, engaging in a direct confrontation with the Sea Star Demon Clan and the remnants of the Barbarian Tribe.

Originally, they had the upper hand and could have easily crushed Sea Star, but unexpected reinforcements from the Divine Continent Star led to a stalemate.

Additionally, the two sects from Renwang Star also wanted to divide the resources of Heavenly Sand Star, forcing the Blood Refining Sect to retreat, temporarily halting the situation.

However, during the period when Divine Continent Star was supporting Sea Star, the Ancient Tomb Sect took the opportunity to descend, proposing trade cooperation.

Although they didn’t launch a surprise attack, their sudden arrival on home soil still displeased the Divine Puppet Sect.

As the weakest star, Heavenly Sand Star had already fallen, its territory divided, leaving everyone in a state of panic. This might also be why the Ancient Tomb Sect didn’t launch a large-scale attack.

Meanwhile, on Moon Star, Night Owl, after six months of exploration, finally discovered the location of Guanghan Palace.