Let them offer their loyalty!-Chapter 1581 - 660: Only Qiu Tu Can Save Humanity (Monthly Ticket Please)

Have to admit, Guan Xiao is progressing at an incredible speed. Just a few days ago, when I last saw her, she had only just advanced to the Third Order, and now, in a matter of days, by controlling a swarm of 100,000 First Rank Puppet Insects, along with several Second, Third, and Fourth Order 'Priests' and 'Empresses', her power has rapidly expanded to the Fourth Order.

And this just goes to show how critical it is to have a suitable Cataclysm Path. It can practically make you soar straight from where you stand.

And it's important to realize—this isn't Guan Xiao's limit yet.

After all, the 100,000 Puppet Insects are only a small part of the Puppet Insect Swarm. And just a small part that wandered over here.

Who knows how many Puppet Insect Tribes there are still lurking in the Southeast Region and Northeast Region.

And with Guan Xiao's Cataclysm Path, the more insect swarms she controls, the stronger she becomes—the prospects are way too promising.

Qiu Tu suspected that it wouldn't be long before Guan Xiao's strength suddenly vaulted her into the ranks of his most trusted inner circle.

Assuming she… doesn't get cut down prematurely.

Thinking this, Qiu Tu pondered for a moment, then warned, "But… though your progress is impressive, you mustn't reveal your strength so lightly."

"At least until you've mastered concealing your aura, so no one can see your realm—avoid meeting people as much as possible."

At this point, Qiu Tu paused, then continued, "After all, your strength right now is still very weak, but you happen to specifically restrain Puppet Insects. If someone sets their sights on you, you might be in real danger."

Upon hearing Qiu Tu's words, Guan Xiao was first taken aback, then a smile crept onto her sharp and striking face. She leaned closer to Qiu Tu and asked with a teasing tone, "Chief, are you worried about me?"

The thing Qiu Tu hated most was talking in circles, people being coy and never getting to the point. So when Guan Xiao asked, he didn't make any effort to hide his answer.

He gave Guan Xiao's head a light pat, then said, "Of course. If I don't worry about you, who should I worry about?"

"Besides, the reason I didn't let you stand in the spotlight before was to protect you, wasn't it?"

Qiu Tu was referring to how he had 'recruited' the Puppet Insect Army not long ago. The reason he snatched Guan Xiao's chance to show off in public then—aside from wanting to set up Shu Xia—was also largely to protect Guan Xiao.

After all, Qiu Tu had already advanced to the Eighth Rank and possessed basic self-defense capabilities. Plus, with Zhao Ji guarding him—

Unless one of those top three would-be Heavenly Gods made a move, the other Trialists wouldn't be much threat to him.

It's a different story for Guan Xiao. If she's exposed, any ordinary Fifth Rank Catastrophe Creature can just snatch her away. If an Eighth Rank Deity makes a move—it's a much bigger problem.

Honestly, with Qiu Tu's current strength, he has no problem defending himself, but chasing down an Eighth Rank Deity is still a stretch. As for Zhao Ji… Sure, she'd save Qiu Tu, but that doesn't mean she'd save Guan Xiao.

So hiding Guan Xiao away is clearly the better choice.

And now, hearing Qiu Tu's words, Guan Xiao couldn't help but show a wickedly charming smile.

Perhaps because she knew she'd be meeting Qiu Tu today, she'd put on an exquisitely detailed makeup, and even wore the Political Department's black uniform.

This made her already striking beauty even more dazzling.

Hearing Qiu Tu's words, Guan Xiao revealed a stunning smile, then said, "Since Chief is so good to me, I also have something to offer you."

At this, Qiu Tu threw her a puzzled glance.

Then Guan Xiao clapped her hands. After two seconds, a strange creature entered, its upper body completely identical to a human girl, but its lower half trailing a huge abdomen.

Qiu Tu's gaze lingered on the girl for a moment, then, as if he'd guessed something, he turned to Guan Xiao. "Puppet Worm Empress?"

Guan Xiao nodded with a smile.

She said, "Chief, this is what I've gained during this time."

"A juvenile Insect Queen that can lay unlimited eggs and birth Puppet Insects."

"I've been fighting her for control over the Puppet Insect Tribe these past few days."

"Luckily… though she's strong, she never quite managed to command the full army of 100,000 Puppet Insects, so she couldn't crush me outright."

"And I took the opportunity, relying on the army's feedback, to rapidly increase my strength."

"Eventually I surpassed her and finally managed to reverse and take control of her myself."

Saying this, Guan Xiao hugged that insect-girl to her chest, gently stroking her hair, and said, "Then I discovered the Puppet Insect race seems somewhat unusual."

"Since they reproduce asexually, 'females' matter far more than males."

"So theoretically, these Empresses could give birth to 100,000 males, and it still wouldn't compare to just one female."

"The moment they produce a single female, it means their family can rapidly expand all over again."

"This also means mothers and daughters among Puppet Insects are bound very closely."

"And… most likely they all share the same Mother Empress."

Qiu Tu heard this and more or less understood Guan Xiao's intention.

He pointed at the insect-girl in Guan Xiao's arms and said, "So… you mean to use her to trace back the origin, step by step, until you find the real Mother Empress of the Insect Race that invaded the Edge Region?"

Guan Xiao nodded slightly.

She then analyzed, "I remember you told me, Chief, that this 'Heavenly God Trial' is quite unique this time."

Now it's been a month since the Heavenly God Trial started. The four Edge Regions—all sides have basically mapped out the situation by now.