Chapter 173: Chapter 156: Blood-Patterned Armor Shield, Bloody Hunt

"I’ve just taught her some simple, everyday phrases. It wasn’t formal study."

Lena brought over two chairs, placed them in front of them, and said,

"You’re both busy men. You wouldn’t have come to see me unless you needed something."

"Heh, I knew we couldn’t hide anything from you, Lady Lenna." Han Ning chuckled, speaking up before Dean Wu had a chance. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"I want to take a trip to the Earth Flame Forbidden Land to collect Crystal Stones from some powerful Soul Beasts. Lady Lenna, I was hoping to ask if the traditions of the Yinsaike Race contain any more detailed descriptions of the Earth Flame Forbidden Land."

Upon hearing this, Lena asked, "What kind of Soul Beast are you looking for?"

"Ideally, a Dark Type Soul Beast that isn’t overwhelmingly powerful, whose pack leader is around the Extraordinary Level. I also need some information on the Nether Fire Crocodile," Han Ning replied.

Instead of immediately looking through the Beast Hide Scrolls behind her, Lena turned to Nia and said something in the Insect Language.

Nia thought for a moment, then picked up a pen and paper from the table. She found a blank sheet of A4 paper and began to write line after line of twisted characters.

As Nia wrote, Lena took out another sheet of paper and began a simultaneous translation.

Nia didn’t stop writing until she had filled about half the page.

"Nia says she doesn’t know much about the Earth Flame Forbidden Land, but she’s written down the safe routes she’s aware of, along with several types of Dark Type Soul Beasts and their locations."

"As for the Nether Fire Crocodile, she only knows that this type of Soul Beast generally lives deep underground near volcanic craters, about ten kilometers below the surface. The area is filled with lava flowing from the volcano, making it a favorite habitat for many subterranean Fire Type Soul Beasts."

"The only time the Yinsaike Race ever recorded a sighting of a Nether Fire Crocodile was underground, beneath a dormant volcano named ’Ariel,’ located to the west of the Jade Forest."

Lena finished writing the last translated line, then opened a drawer. She took out a small stack of A4 paper and handed everything to Han Ning.

"I’ve compiled some vocabulary lists, simple grammar rules, and pronunciation charts for the Insect Language and the Xia Country Language. You can look them over when you have time to rest."

Han Ning took the papers, glanced through them, and nodded at the two women. "Thank you both."

"Have a safe trip." "Sss~"

...

After leaving Lena and Nia, Han Ning didn’t linger. He left his still-recovering Shadow Mantis in Lü Xiuning’s temporary care, said his farewells to Lü Xiuning, his two roommates, and Da Yan at the door, then packed his bag and headed straight for the academy’s north gate.

He was making this journey alone.

BZZZZZZ~

A total of five bizarrely-shaped, blood-colored insects danced in the sky above him.

Now that it had reached Awakening IV, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm could use its simulation imprints to create either five insects with power slightly below Awakening IV, or two insects with power slightly exceeding its own Level.

Among the flying insects were four Electric Fire Cannon Insects and one Blood Bee, all with power roughly equivalent to Awakening III.

The All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm had previously extracted a Soul Technique called Thunder Flash from one of the Electric Fire Cannon Insects.

Thunder Flash allowed the Electric Fire Cannon Insect to use the Electric Sac in its tail to release a ball of electricity with both paralyzing and explosive properties.

Testing had shown that this Soul Technique had an incredibly fast projectile speed—even slightly faster than Yin Yi’s Ice Crystal Bomb.

After comparing the simple map from the Yinsaike Race’s explorations of the Earth Flame Forbidden Land with Nia’s description, Han Ning decided to enter the subterranean world via a route they had pioneered.

He had two potential routes to get underground.

One was the Yinsaike Race’s route, which was relatively safe.

The other was the route used by the Fiery Fire Ant Family—Xiaohong’s family. They were likely more familiar with the Earth Flame Forbidden Land than even the Yinsaike Race.

However, considering the language barrier with Xiaohong would make getting directions difficult, he decided to stick with the first route.

The Yinsaike entrance wasn’t in the Mushroom Forest. Instead, it was located in a place called the Trembling Forest, approximately 760 kilometers northwest of the academy’s north gate.

The Trembling Forest was actually the translated name for the Ariel volcano, meaning "the mountain that makes one tremble." Insect Masters referred to the entire region, spanning hundreds of kilometers around the dormant volcano, as the Trembling Forest.

After riding the Blood Bee toward his destination for more than two hours, Han Ning arrived near a stone forest filled with densely packed, towering pillars.

The crisscrossing stone pillars formed a natural barrier, blocking the winds that swept in from the distance.

This was the Gray Stone Forest, located on the western side of the Trembling Forest. He had come here because it was home to a type of Soul Beast called the Dark Blood Demon.

It was an ugly, bloodthirsty, and savage Dark Attribute Soul Beast.

Before entering the Earth Flame Forbidden Land to search for the Nether Fire Crocodile, Han Ning planned to first help the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm evolve. Along the way, he would also kill some savage and murderous Soul Beasts to provide Yin Yi with the Energy she needed to level up.

Once Yin Yi broke through to the War General Level, he would then proceed deeper underground.

That would be the safest approach.

Each of the stone pillars here stood about five meters tall, looking as though they had been shaped by constant exposure to crosswinds.

Bathed in white mist, they stood silently upon the grassland like sentinels hiding in the fog.

Upon arriving, Han Ning switched to riding Egg Pancake. The five Puppet Insects concealed themselves among the surrounding stone pillars, responsible for scouting the area.

Yin Yi sat on Egg Pancake’s head. Even with the five puppets scouting, her eyes, which glowed with a fiery light, continued to scan her surroundings.

Han Ning signaled for Egg Pancake to keep moving forward as he glanced at the watch on his wrist.