The mantis was only about thirty centimeters long. On the Insect Continent, where insects were generally enormous, a creature this size was considered tiny.

For safety, Han Ning and Lü Xiuning still didn’t get too close. Han Ning said to Yin Yi, "Heal its wounds first."

As he spoke, both of them simultaneously took out their portable Yinsaike Race Soul Beast Atlases and began flipping through them, trying to identify the species of the mantis before them.

"Ling~"

At his command, Yin Yi gently extended several vines. Like tentacles, they pressed against the mantis’s filthy body. A green light flickered, and its damaged insectoid form began to slowly heal.

Under Yin Yi’s treatment, the mantis regained some of its vitality. It seemed to know Yin Yi was helping it, so it stopped struggling and lay quietly on the grass, obediently accepting the healing.

’There’s too much grime on its body. I can’t tell what species it is...’

Han Ning flipped through a few pages on mantis-type insects in the atlas. Looking at the filth-covered mantis, he took a water flask and a clean piece of gauze from his waist pouch, handed them to Egg Pancake, and said, "Pancake, go give it a wash."

"JIJI!"

When Egg Pancake was little, Han Ning had often bathed it, so the clever creature knew exactly what to do.

It eagerly took the flask and gauze from Han Ning. Gripping the flask, it carefully poured the water over the mantis’s body, rinsing away some of the stomach fluids.

Then, it used its sharp claws to tear the cloth in half and grabbed a relatively unharmed part of the mantis’s body to keep it from struggling and escaping.

With its other hand, it carefully rinsed off the remaining food scraps and stomach fluids.

Finally, it wet the cloth with clean water and began wiping away the stubborn stains that were stuck to the mantis’s body, one by one.

At first, when Egg Pancake grabbed it, the mantis used what little strength it had to try and break free.

But as Egg Pancake washed it again and again, it seemed to understand what was happening. It lay still on the grass, unmoving, and allowed itself to be cleaned.

Before, its body had been covered in a mess of yellow, white, and black filth.

Now, as Egg Pancake slowly washed and wiped away the stains and stomach fluids, the mantis’s true appearance was gradually revealed to him.

Unlike the silver mantises he had seen before, its body was an alternating pattern of silver-white and light purple. Its head was roughly triangular, and a pair of upward-slanting wings grew from its back.

Its two signature "greatswords"—its forelimbs—were pockmarked with small holes.

Its middle and hind legs... were gone. Fortunately, nourished by Yin Yi’s Frenzied Growth, the wounds at the stumps had already healed. A small section of new limb was slowly growing out.

"This is..."

Han Ning looked at the mantis’s appearance and flipped through his atlas. At almost the exact same moment, he and Lü Xiuning shouted its species name:

"A Shadow Mantis?!"

He compared the mantis before him with the relevant description in the atlas.

’The edges of its forelimbs are covered with fine, metallic particles, and the wings on its back resemble two sharp, long swords...’

’That’s it. It really is a Shadow Mantis. To think it’s such a rare Insect Type Soul Beast...’

The Shadow Mantis was an E Talent insect that lived in grasslands and forests. They were graceful and agile, possessing the ability to manipulate the Metal Element.

Its Tier Two evolved form—the Blade Mantis—was known by a resounding name among the Insect Master Tribes: "the Harvester."

The Harvester. As its name implied, any enemy who dared to attack it would fall like wheat reaped by a scythe.

Although not exceptionally rare, it was certainly less common than other insects. Moreover, this mantis was a Longevity Species. In its first form alone, it had a lifespan of at least fifty-five years, meeting the standards for cultivation by an Insect Master.

’I’ll take it back first. Even if I can’t form a contract, it would be good to raise it at the academy as an enforcer.’

According to the notes of a Taman Insect Master, a Beast Master (or Insect Master) with Tier One Spiritual Power could form contracts with three Soul Beasts.

Considering his own contract slots were full, Han Ning prepared to try a different method. He would use an Insect Master’s cultivation techniques to see if he could raise this Longevity Species mantis and turn it into a second "Mountain Guardian Beast."

’Right, the Shadow Mantis is a carnivore. I wonder if feeding it Cyan Sky Wolf flesh will help its limbs grow faster.’

Han Ning thought for a moment, but quickly shook his head.

’The flesh of an Extraordinary Level Soul Beast has too much Energy for it. Ink Wolf flesh, on the other hand, might be worth a try.’

"Egg Pancake, get a piece of Ink Wolf flesh," he said, pointing to the fallen Ink Wolf nearby.

JI!

Egg Pancake had been watching the Shadow Mantis with rapt attention. Hearing Han Ning’s call, it was instantly motivated. It dragged over the Ink Wolf corpse and swiped with its claw.

A bloody chunk of meat, still attached to the fur, was sliced off and presented to him.

"Cut it finer. About this thin."

Han Ning gestured with the width of his pinky nail.

JIJI!!

Egg Pancake extended its sharp claws and, with a surprising delicacy, sliced several small strips of meat as thin as a fingernail.

"Not bad. You have the potential to be a chef."

Jii~

Egg Pancake chirped happily and gently placed the Shadow Mantis in front of the thin strips of bloody meat.

"This is all I can do for you, little one. The rest is up to you."

Seeing that the Shadow Mantis was no longer on guard, Han Ning carefully stroked its head with the pad of his thumb.

RUSTLE~

The Shadow Mantis’s mouthparts rubbed together, making a faint sound like rustling leaves, as if in response to Han Ning’s words.

Then, it brought its head close to the Ink Wolf flesh, opened its mouthparts, bit down on a piece, and tore it away.

A tiny sliver of flesh was pulled into its mouth, and it began to chew gently.

’It’s actually eating. Looks like feeding it flesh will work...’

"Eat up. The more you eat, the faster your wounds will heal."

Han Ning said to the mantis, then turned to Lü Xiuning. "Teacher Lü, it’s time we get busy too."

"Right. Let’s hurry," Lü Xiuning nodded.

Leaving the Shadow Mantis to eat, Han Ning and Lü Xiuning led their respective Soul Beasts toward the small lake.

The process of harvesting the Soul Nourishing Grass went relatively smoothly. The plant emitted a hallucinogenic substance, but with the air-purifying Wood Demons by their side, these hallucinogens were no problem at all.

No Treasure Guardian Soul Beast suddenly burst from the lake, either. It seemed the Cyan Sky Wolf had already become the temporary occupant of this area.

About ten minutes later, a waist pouch filled with over a hundred stalks of Soul Nourishing Grass was neatly secured to Egg Pancake’s back with vines.

In addition, there were several cleaned corpses of Cyan Sky Wolves and Ink Wolves.

’Ink Wolves can evolve into Cyan Sky Wolves. They seem like a pretty good Soul Beast. A pity... we didn’t leave any alive. Finding their nest would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Better to just forget it.’

Han Ning looked at the butchered pieces of the Cyan Sky Wolf with some regret.

"Our academy doesn’t lack E Talent Soul Beasts right now. What we’re missing are the legacies for cultivating them. Unfortunately, the legacies of the Yinsaike are mostly methods for raising insects," Lü Xiuning sighed.

Although insects were suppressed by the Ancestor Family, having specific cultivation methods meant it wasn’t impossible to form contracts with them.

But suitable Longevity Species insects were hard to find, and some even had bloodline requirements for the Insect Master. With time being so tight, it was better to just find other types of Soul Beasts to form contracts with.

All of this was food for Egg Pancake and the Shadow Mantis.

Han Ning’s own food had to be wrapped in a small cloth bag used for Soul Beast food and set aside.

"Alright, we’ve delayed here long enough. It’s time to go!"

Thankfully, Egg Pancake’s Mimicry concealed the scent of blood. Otherwise, wave after wave of Soul Beasts would have been drawn by the smell during this time.

The Shadow Mantis rested on Egg Pancake’s head, its eyes closed, perfectly still and silent.

Once everything was packed up, Han Ning took out a map to confirm their direction. He pointed toward the academy and said in a low voice:

"Good. Let’s move out."

JIJI!

Full and satisfied, Egg Pancake was bursting with Power. It let out an energetic cry and headed in the direction its master had indicated.

「...」

Just as Han Ning’s group was leaving Gray Stone Valley and heading back the way they came.

About ten minutes later, several blurry figures flashed past from another direction.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH~

By the quiet lakeside.

Three large ladybugs circled down from the sky, and three ugly figures leaped from their backs.

"We’ve got a situation," came a strange, insect-like male voice from the shore.

Immediately after, several more shadows landed.

The light fell upon several faces with pale, bluish skin.

「A moment later.」

A scattered pile of Cyan Sky Wolf and Ink Wolf bones and flesh lay haphazardly between the figures.

"Lord Sesia’s Soul Nourishing Grass was stolen by Insect Masters from another clan," one of the taller blue-skinned Insect-men deduced after personally sifting through the bloody remains.

He knelt, pressing his head tightly against the turf, his nostrils flaring repeatedly. Then, he looked in the direction Han Ning’s group had gone and continued, "This way."

Hearing this, another blue-skinned Insect-man turned his head to the figures behind him and said coldly, "That is the territory of the Sosma Insect Masters. Release the swarm. We must intercept these thieves before they enter their territory."

"HISS!" 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

At the command, the Insect-men behind them all took out objects shaped like a Xun and began to play them in unison.

"WOO~"

A strange melody echoed by the lakeside.

In an instant, an endless swarm of cyan insects flew in from the horizon, circling around the group.

The tall, blue-skinned Insect-man said nothing more. He simply waved his hand and, with a grim face, uttered a single word: "Pursue!"

WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH~

A whistling roar filled the sky as the entire swarm moved out, heading in the direction Han Ning’s group had fled.

「...」

In the white, mist-shrouded sky.

Two blood-colored bees broke through the white mist.

Han Ning blinked, then suddenly shot out his hand. A blood-streaked spike shot from his fingertip, piercing a small cyan insect that had flown near him mid-air.

He brought the insect before his eyes and observed it for a moment, his brow furrowed. He took out his walkie-talkie. "Teacher Lü, have you noticed a sudden increase in these small cyan insects in the air?"

The moment the words left his mouth, his Spiritual Power stirred. He could feel what seemed to be a massive swarm of insects approaching.