Chapter 109 - First Confrontation

After Li Yuanqing threw the spirit stone into his domain, the Man-eating Vine and the flying ants in the domain started moving and rushed towards the spirit stone.

It was like a huge rock being thrown into the calm water in the originally quiet domain.

The entire domain became lively. The leaves of the Man-eating Vine shook as it climbed towards the spirit stone. The flying ants also moved when they saw it. Countless ants flew towards the spirit stone.

Before the Man-eating Vine could touch the spirit stone, the flying ant army had already swarmed over and laid on the spirit stone. Then, one after another, the egg-sized spirit stone became the size of a basketball. It avoided the man-eating vines and started rolling towards the nest of the flying ants.

The Man-eating Vine was unwilling to fall behind. It quickly attacked and wrapped around the basketball, wanting to take the spirit stone for itself. However, there were too many flying ants. In just a moment, the flying ant ball the size of a basketball had already become a huge ball more than a meter wide.

The flying ants lay on top of it layer by layer, protecting the spirit stone tightly, unwilling to give it up at all. The remaining flying ants also began to bite the Man-eating Vine. Be it the stem and leaves of the Man-eating Vine or its vines, they all started biting without hesitation. For a moment, the vines extended by the Man-eating Vine were covered in red flying ants.

Layer after layer, it made one’s hair stand on end.

The Man-eating Vine seemed to have suffered a small loss, but when it saw the spirit stone being rolled away by the flying ants, it panicked. Three or four more vines flew out with a whoosh. It had to keep this spirit stone.

This thing was too beneficial to it. It could not let these flying ants monopolize it.

Another wave of flying ants rushed up. This time, they bit through the vines that extended out from the Man-eating Vine. The entire foot of the mountain was filled with flying ants. These things were usually hidden underground. This time, it seemed like they were all mobilized.

They were all going all out against this Man-eating Vine.

Even though the Man-eating Vine was injured and had suffered such a huge loss for the first time, it was not discouraged. It continued to grow countless vines to devour the flying ants that were wrapped around it. It wrapped these flying ants with its leaves and devoured them one after another.

This was the first time such a huge conflict had occurred between the Man-eating Vine and the flying ants after they entered the domain. It was all for the sake of snatching the spirit stone. This scene fell into Li Yuanqing’s heart.

From this, it could be seen that spirit stones were extremely important to them.

It seemed like he had to use more water to exchange for spirit stones next time. He could see that the Man-eating Vine and the flying ants were fighting so hard for the spirit stone that when the flying ants carried the spirit stone back to their nest, the Man-eating Vine didn’t give up and even crawled into the nest of the flying ants.

It even wanted to snatch the spirit stone back.

However, more of the Man-eating Vine’s vines were broken, causing it to suffer a huge loss. However, it did not give up and simply let the broken vines sprout on the ground, wanting to surround the flying ants.

This was a complete confrontation. No one was weaker than the other.

The spirit stone was the fuse. The flying ants snatched the spirit stone and sent it underground to the Ant Queen. Li Yuanqing could feel that the Ant Queen was shaking her head after obtaining the spirit stone.

Soon, it began to devour the spirit stone.

It did not take long for it to completely swallow the spirit stone. Then, the Ant Queen did not move at all. The remaining ants patrolled underground in an orderly manner. There were even flying ants that went to the ground to clean up the vines.

“It seems that both flying ants and vines require a large number of spirit stones. Spirit stones are rare in the Northern Kingdom, but there should be more in the Catacombs. I’ll use spirit stones to exchange for more water next time.”

Seeing this, Li Yuanqing quickly had an idea. He began to post on the voice transmitter as well.

“Spirit stones for water. Two pots of water for one spirit stone!”

Li Yuanqing rarely appeared in the voice transmission device. His words immediately attracted the attention of many people, and they left comments below.

“I have spirit stones. I can exchange them. I have spirit stones!”

“Boss 00001, please tell me about the water source. Why can’t I find a water source anywhere, not even dew?”

“Boss, I have spirit stones. Let’s exchange them. They are of very good quality!”

…

It seemed like spirit stones were easier than water for the people in the Catacombs. Someone immediately started to privately message Li Yuanqing and exchange spirit stones with him. One of them, number 00008, caught his attention. Because he had exchanged ten spirit stones with Li Yuanqing in one go.

This was not a small number. When Li Yuanqing received the spirit stones, he realized that each of them was the size of an egg. Moreover, the quality was really as good as he had said. It was of a better quality than the spirit stone he had obtained last time.

Li Yuanqing secretly remembered 00008 and exchanged some spirit stones with others.

The other spirit stones were all one piece, and the quality was much worse than No. 00008. However, the two pots of water could be exchanged for one spirit stone. This was a good deal to Li Yuanqing.

Why should he not continue doing this?

There were fifteen spirit stones piled up on Li Yuanqing’s table. He threw them all into his domain. This time, the Man-eating Vines simply went crazy. Due to the large number of spirit stones, the flying ants began to fight for them, and the Man-eating Vines also started to fight for them. All of a sudden, the entire domain was in an uproar again.

This time, the Man-eating Vine snatched seven pieces and the flying ants snatched eight. They quietened down after obtaining the spirit stones. The Man-eating Vine buried the spirit stones at its roots and slowly absorbed the spiritual energy. Then, it could grow crazily and produce more buds.

The Ant Queen began to lay eggs after it swallowed those spirit stones. Piles of ant eggs were hidden in the depths of the land, and these would quickly hatch into more red flying ants, increasing the number of soldiers for the ant army.

This was the important reason why they snatched the spirit stones.

Li Yuanqing was a little relieved. There were many benefits to coming to the Catacombs. At the very least, he had never thought of these spirit stones before. Also, where did the people from the voice transmission device come from?

Therefore, he thought for a moment and asked about 00008.

Soon, there was a reply.

“When the catacombs appeared, our side was in a panic. We checked and only Spirit Transformation martial artists could enter the catacombs. Then, a group of Spirit Transformation martial artists were sent out to enter the catacombs. However, we didn’t expect the environment here to be so harsh. When the fog rose at night, our strength was suppressed. Then, it would be difficult for us to survive here.

“Fortunately, we have a voice transmission device in our hands. Some things can be exchanged for supplies with others. Otherwise, it would be even more difficult. This voice transmission device is a refined Dharma treasure. All the martial artists who enter the catacombs have bought it. However, the catacombs are very cruel. Those voice transmission devices don’t recognize their owners and will be snatched away. By the way, Big Boss, you’re really lucky to have discovered a water source!

“Water in the catacombs is as rare as spirit stones. No, it’s even rarer than spirit stones. There are spirit stone mines, but the environment in the catacombs is special. There are very few water sources. If you find a water source, I suggest you don’t move around casually…

“I’m so envious of you. You’re so lucky!”

…

This person with the number 00008 told Li Yuanqing many things like he was pouring beans, allowing Li Yuanqing to finally understand some things about the catacombs.

Suddenly, some dust began to fall from the cave. It was as if there was an earthquake. Dust kept falling from the top of the cave. Something was scratching the stone wall outside. It should have discovered his aura.

At this moment, Li Yuanqing could not be bothered to look at the voice transmission device. He stood up with a whoosh and stared at the entrance of the hole.

There was a stone door that he had used a huge rock to make. At this moment, the sound outside the stone door was earth-shattering. It was like thunder, rumbling. This made Li Yuanqing keep staring outside.

Then, he released the Demon Slayer Sword.

As long as the stone door was broken, he would immediately use the Demon Slayer Sword to rush up and seize the initiative to kill everything that rushed in. Whatever was out there, he had to charge, because there was no way out.

This feeling did not feel good to the cautious Li Yuanqing. Therefore, after the sound outside suddenly decreased, he realized that the sky had finally brightened and the fog had dissipated. The night that had greatly reduced his strength had passed.

Li Yuanqing immediately rushed out of the cave. At this moment, the voice transmission device was also cheering.

“Quick, everyone, go find a water source and a place to hide. A wooden house won’t do. It’s best to dig a hole or a cave, or kill those demons and occupy their houses. Otherwise, it will be too dangerous when night falls…”

“Let’s not chat anymore. The day is finally here!”

“Hurry up, the day is too short. We have to hurry!”

…

Everyone took action. They were in a hurry to make use of the day to gather supplies to resist the danger of the night. Moreover, many people had died overnight, and many of their portraits had dimmed. That was the mark of death. They were still living in threat, and they could not go out at night.

It was too dangerous!

Li Yuanqing also took advantage of this time to quickly leave the cave. However, when he moved the stone door, he discovered traces outside after he moved the huge stone. The shattered stones outside the stone door were everywhere.

There were deep trenches and all kinds of traces all around the cave. It was a mess.

Li Yuanqing could tell that it was extremely dangerous outside last night from those traces. Moreover, if he were to hide in this cave tonight, then this stone door needs to be replaced because much of it had been damaged. It probably wouldn’t last through the night.

It was not easy to dig such a cave. Li Yuanqing did not plan to leave for the time being. Daytime was very precious. Moreover, his strength did not decrease without the fog.

Therefore, after exploring the cave for dozens of kilometers, Li Yuanqing quickly became familiar with the terrain.

Indeed, there was no water source within a radius of dozens of kilometers. There was only yellow soil and a large number of stone mountains. Because of the drought, there were almost no plants on the mountains.

It looked very desolate and only had some low-lying areas. Occasionally, some plants would grow and some ferocious beasts would run over. There was nothing special about those ferocious beasts. Li Yuanqing released Hu Jiujiu.

Hu Jiujiu caught two rabbits without making him worry too much. However, after throwing the rabbits down, Li Yuanqing suddenly stood up and looked at another place. Because something had appeared over there.

A pig-like animal with tusks appeared. It was three to four meters tall and its dark fur was like thorns. It looked at Hu Jiujiu in a daze. Blood was still dripping from the pig’s mouth. It looked like a carnivore. Moreover, it did not retreat after seeing Li Yuanqing. It widened its eyes and rushed over. Its target was Hu Jiujiu.

Hu Jiujiu was very agile. She jumped onto Li Yuanqing’s shoulder and did not take this pig-like vicious beast seriously at all.

The appearance of this vicious beast was like delivering food to them.

Li Yuanqing flashed lightly and disappeared. A Demon Slayer Sword appeared out of thin air and stabbed at the vicious beast.

Li Yuanqing, who was at the Spirit Transformation Realm, could deal with such a vicious beast with a sword.

Moreover, he wanted to test the strength of the vicious beasts in the catacombs.

The Demon Slayer Sword was so fast that it was blinding. In an instant, it pierced the vicious beast. The vicious beast turned around and ran with a wail. This thing had actually sensed that this flying sword was much more powerful than it had imagined, so escaping was more important.

A four-meter-tall vicious beast had a lot of meat on its body. Li Yuanqing did not want to give up so much food and let it escape in this dangerous catacomb.

Therefore, he immediately chased after it. However, this vicious beast fled very quickly. Coupled with its thick skin, the Demon Slayer Sword could not take its life at all.

Li Yuanqing wanted to see if there were any other dangerous things in the catacombs other than this vicious beast. He did not kill it and only followed closely to see where the nest of this vicious beast was.

Who knew that he would follow it for more than a hundred miles? Furthermore, this vicious beast actually ran into a village with stone walls.

There were rows of houses inside the stone wall. Although they were a little simple, they were abnormally sturdy. Moreover, there was something that looked like a lantern hanging on the stone wall. It was hanging everywhere.

It looked a little strange.

Could it be that there were humans here, or were the demons living here?

Li Yuanqing stopped in his tracks and used the Shadowless Art to conceal himself. He planned to investigate here and calculate the time.

It would be dark in a few hours. He had better rush back to the cave he had dug when it was dark. Otherwise, there would be too many unpredictable things after dark.

Who knew what would happen to him?

Li Yuanqing, who had concealed his figure, quickly discovered that although there were simple and sturdy houses in this village, the people living here were not humans.

That was because after the vicious beast ran into the village, it directly rushed into a fence. There was a group of vicious beasts in the same shape as it. They seemed to have been reared.

Soon, Li Yuanqing saw humanoid monsters that were about two to three meters tall.