Si Tukong gazed intently at the dome of the cultivation room, his fists clenched with sudden force. The joy of reaching the ninth level of the Nascent Soul vanished in that instant.
The capture of Lu Ren likely meant that all righteous cultivators from the Mystic Azure Star had been rounded up. It would become increasingly difficult to obtain information directly from Mystic Azure Star in the future.
The only hope lay in indirect intelligence from celestial bodies like the Celestial Sound Star. Such information, however, would not be as reliable.
"Chu Xuan... Chu Xuan... Opposing my Reincarnation Divine Sect was the greatest mistake of your life!"
Si Tukong snorted coldly and resumed his cultivation.
...
Chu Xuan was quite pleased with Shang Xingchen's swift and decisive actions. With such a capable and diligent Nascent Soul elder, he could afford to be a hands-off manager.
Of course, he was far from fully trusting Shang Xingchen. To trust someone like Shang Xingchen completely would be as foolish as seeking death by slamming his head into a boulder.
Until he had the power to utterly crush his enemies, he would always maintain a level of suspicion towards both Shang Xingchen and his brother, Shang Tianjue.
When news of the betrayal by the disciples of Heavenly Infinite Sect Sect spread, it was met with widespread satisfaction. As for the fate of the traitors... they were first publicly executed, their heads displayed as a warning.
This was a message to others—kill the chicken to scare the monkey. Their corpses were then put to good use. The living souls and bodies of Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators were highly coveted treasures.
No one would overlook such spoils. As for the division of the spoils, that was not Chu Xuan's concern. Once the traitors were dealt with, he returned to Blue Star, focusing his attention on the Cavern World.
...
"It's snowing," Lie Yong remarked, looking up at the heavy, goose-feather-like snowflakes falling from the rocky dome above.
Instinctively, he tightened the red cloak wrapped around him. This cloak was crafted from the fur of the Flame Worm. Though light and thin, it was exceptionally warm, making it a rare and costly item.
Traditionally, only the clan leader and elders were privileged to wear such garments. Yet now, despite wearing this fine cloak, he still felt a chill. It was a stark sign that his age had truly caught up with him.
After all, his three insects were all Fire Ants. Once his Fire Ants had reached the highest golden tier, not only had they granted him great strength, but their heat had also kept him warm. Unless the temperature dropped drastically, he would never have felt cold.
Lie Yong suddenly spoke, "Chen He, who do you think is most suitable to be my successor?"
Only one person stood beside him—Chen He. When the Fire Ant Tribe rose to power, it had swallowed the Swallow Ant, Blade Ant, and eventually the Devouring-Thunder Ant tribes.
During that time, many of his trusted subordinates had perished. Some had died of old age. Now, only Chen He remained to accompany him.
The other old confidants were all but too frail to move. As a long-time follower, Chen He, and by extension the Chen family, represented a powerful force within the Fire Ant Tribe.
Upon hearing Lie Yong's question, Chen He lowered his gaze, his voice steady.
"Every one of the chief's children is exceptionally talented and strong, all fit to become the next leader."
Lie Yong let out a hearty laugh, "Chen He, don't humor me. We've shed our titles now. You are no longer the head of the Chen family, nor the grand elder of the Fire Ant Tribe. I am no longer the chief of the Fire Ant Tribe. Tell me, who is truly worthy of leading as the next chief?"
Chen He thought for a long while before replying.
"Your third son, strong and valiant, unmatched in courage. Your seventh son, sharp-witted, possessing the makings of a general. Your eighth son, with outstanding talent, wise and decisive, has married the granddaughter of the Fifth Elder of the Holy Ant Tribe, and they have a daughter. Your twelfth son, with unparalleled talent, is already a Golden-tier Low-level Insect Master. I believe these four are all suitable to take the position of chief."
Lie Yong studied Chen He closely, his expression unreadable, a smile playing on his lips.
Chen He kept his gaze lowered, silent. The heavy snowflakes continued to fall. They blanketed the shoulders of both men in a thick layer of white.
After a long pause, Lie Yong spoke again, his tone calm.
"Why didn't you recommend the thirteenth son?"
"He is your son-in-law." Chen He shook his head, "He is brave, but not as capable as your third son. He is clever, but not as sharp as your seventh son. He has some talent, but not to the level of your twelfth son. As for his background... clearly, it pales in comparison to the Holy Ant Tribe. Why would I recommend him?"
Lie Yong fell silent as well. After some time, he finally spoke again, "Let's go back. It's too cold out here."
Chen He nodded in agreement. As they walked back to the tribe, Lie Yong suddenly asked, "Chen He, how is your back injury?"
Chen He smiled, "It's fine. The healer said to avoid greasy food and alcohol. With proper care, it should heal in seven or eight years."
Lie Yong nodded with a smile, "Take good care of yourself."
After Lie Yong returned home, he immediately sent word to his eighth son, Lie Zhao, instructing him to return secretly to the Fire Ant Tribe and avoid alerting anyone.
"Father, why have you called for me?" Lie Zhao asked, his expression puzzled.
At present, he was the son-in-law of the Holy Ant Tribe, and it would take him over ten days to return to the Fire Ant Tribe from there.
Lie Yong gazed at him kindly. "My child, how old are you this year?"
Lie Zhao replied earnestly, "Fifty-five."
Lie Yong chuckled. "You are still younger than I was when I first rose to prominence."
Lie Zhao nodded seriously. He was, of course, well aware of his father's remarkable achievements in the past. It was precisely for this reason that he held his father in the deepest admiration.
Decades ago, the Fire Ant Tribe had been nothing more than a small tribe on the outskirts of the Myriad Insects Kingdom.
Now, it had become a leading force among the mid-sized tribes, commanding respect such that none of the surrounding tribes dared to provoke them.
This was a truly glorious accomplishment, one worthy of ancestral reverence. In death, his father would be honored in the ancestral temple!
Yet there was one matter that Lie Zhao was dissatisfied with—the marriage arranged by his father. The granddaughter of the Fifth Elder of the Holy Ant Tribe was truly large and strong, a daunting figure indeed.
In the early days of their marriage, she was vigorous and youthful, savoring the pleasures of their union, and night after night, he was almost drained of energy. He had to feign sickness every few days, citing headaches or minor ailments, to avoid being utterly exhausted.
Now, the situation had only worsened. Lie Zhao had even been forced to find several male concubines to satisfy his wife's needs, at least to keep the peace in their household.
Lie Yong looked at his son with seriousness. "Zhao'er, my life is nearing its end. I plan to pass the leadership of the Fire Ant Tribe to you."
Lie Zhao froze. "Father... why me? Third Brother, Seventh Brother, Twelfth Brother, and Thirteenth Brother are all capable. Why choose me?"
He had once harbored thoughts of competing for the position of clan leader, but since his marriage into the Holy Ant Tribe, he had let go of those ambitions.
After all, a man who had married out was like water spilled. He had long abandoned any such notions. To his surprise, his father wanted to pass the position of leader to him?
Lie Yong smiled. "Your daughter is remarkable. She is a child of both the Fire Ant Tribe and the Holy Ant Tribe. If, in the future, she is able to inherit the Holy Ant Tribe, no one would object."
Lie Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief.
Father... I can't even begin to imagine such a thing! You're far too ambitious!
Lie Yong took a soft leather pouch from his chest and handed it to Lie Zhao. "My child, this is my greatest secret. You've always wanted to know why, despite having only two Insect Orifices back then, I suddenly gained three? It was because of this."
Lie Yong smiled faintly. Cautiously, he had only shared the "Orifice Opening Scripture" with his most trusted aides, not even passing it on to his own son. After all, one could never be too sure of the intentions of others.
Now, it was time to pass on the legacy.