Once the ant queen learns from her subordinates that there are enemies nearby, she will promptly devise a strategy to deal with the invasion.
Waiting for the queen to react, mobilize the ant army to unleash a fierce offensive or directly retreat, that would be somewhat tricky.
The purpose this time is to eliminate this ant colony, ensure the surrounding peace, and absolutely prevent the ants from spreading further.
To conceal the group’s presence and avoid alarming the ants prematurely, Zhang Deming performed a Cloud Mist Technique.
This technique is known as the ’Mist Concealment Technique.’
It doesn’t have a strong effect, just releases a dense mist, similar to clouds, to hide the group’s presence.
This cloud effect won’t impact Zhang Deming’s group’s vision, allowing them to move freely within the mist.
However, the vision of the Marching Ants will be affected by this cloud mist.
This means, once the Mist Concealment Technique is unleashed, the Marching Ants cannot detect Zhang Deming’s group from a distance, only noticing them at close range.
In contrast, Zhang Deming’s group’s vision remains unaffected, allowing them to clearly see the status and location of the Marching Ants.
This way, it becomes much easier to take action.
As a Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation Cultivator, performing the Mist Concealment Technique is not challenging, and the consumption of magical power is minimal.
This technique can easily be dispelled by cultivators using common techniques like Fog Transformation Technique.
But the Marching Ants aren’t cultivators and wouldn’t know how to perform such techniques.
At most, they might use innate divine techniques to bite their opponents.
As the Mist Concealment Technique is performed, large clouds of mist spread and emerge within the ant nest, churning like a sea of clouds.
"Everyone, get closer, don’t stray too far."
"Avoid alarming the enemy prematurely."
Zhang Deming instructed.
Zhang Nianchuan and others nodded in agreement.
Under the cover of the Mist Concealment Technique, the group slowly entered the nest and soon encountered the wandering Marching Ants outside.
These Marching Ants act as scouts, investigating the nest’s surroundings to ensure its safety.
Seeing more than ten Marching Ants appear, Zhang Deming quickly became vigilant.
The Marching Ants before them are only thumb-sized and pose no real threat; even wild cats can take them down.
In response, Zhang Deming swiftly drew his sword.
A fiery red flying sword hacked out, slicing through several Marching Ants with a few clangs, splitting them all in half.
A cultivator with a sword could easily slay not just Marching Ants, but even flies with precision, cutting their wings without deviation.
"Everyone, stay alert!"
After clearing these scout-role Marching Ants, Zhang Deming reminded the group as they officially stepped into the ant nest.
The nest, constructed by the Marching Ants, is so solidly built that the soil inside can withstand the impact of flowing water without collapsing.
To completely annihilate this group of Marching Ants, simply destroying the nest is certainly not enough.
Clearing over ten Marching Ants hardly affects the colony.
Zhang Deming has a very effective plan for quickly and efficiently dealing with these Marching Ants.
"All flying creatures and beasts fear flames, especially pests like Marching Ants, which are most afraid of fire. We might try a fire attack strategy."
"Using fire attack would also be easier and more effective."
Zhang Deming suggested, and took out a magical artifact to show everyone.
"This is a Tier Two High-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd. Once activated, it can unleash scorching red flames capable of easily melting wrought iron."
After introducing it, Zhang Deming sighed slightly.
"But this artifact is of too high a tier, requiring a Late-stage Qi Cultivator to control it." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by novel·fire·net
"The cultivators of the Zhang Family have shallow cultivation and no suitable candidates to activate this artifact, so we must rely on everyone else."
"Moreover, the ant queen leading the colony has reached at least the Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation level, far beyond what the Zhang Family can handle."
"These are the two most challenging issues currently."
"Therefore, I ask for your help and support."
After speaking, Zhang Deming turned his gaze to Zhang Nianchuan and the Cyan Mountain Sect disciples, looking expectant.
It is clear that with his Sixth-Layer Qi Cultivation realm, still in mid-stage, he cannot fully control the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd, and needs to rely on Zhang Nianchuan and other Late-stage Qi Cultivators for assistance.
In the Zhang Family, the only Fire Attribute Tier Two Spiritual Artifact currently available is the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd.
The spirit field has been damaged by the ant colony, reducing income significantly, and cultivation resources within the clan are scarce. The Zhang Family no longer has extra spirit stones to purchase new artifacts.
Understanding Zhang Deming’s suggestion, Song Minghui thought for just a moment before nodding, "I am at the Eighth-Layer Qi Cultivation. I can wield this artifact, so leave this task to me."
"If the ant queen is only at the Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivation level, I can handle it."
Zhang Nianchuan also expressed willingness.
Once he spoke, he looked at Lin Han, Chu Qin, and Xuu Yi, and said slowly, "These three senior brothers are also Late-stage Qi Cultivators, entirely capable of confronting that ant queen alone. If we join forces, winning won’t be difficult."
"All at Late-stage Qi Cultivation, then this matter is easy to handle. The Cyan Mountain Sect indeed has outstanding individuals."
Zhang Deming laughed heartily, "On behalf of the entire Zhang family, I thank you, friends, for your assistance today!"
"No need for formalities. Let’s clear out these Marching Ants quickly, without delay, to avoid unexpected changes."
Song Minghui wanted few words further. The Zhang Family Patriarch’s speech made her somewhat displeased; she’d rather get straight to the point and take action swiftly.
Zhang Deming, skilled at observing and understanding, refrained from more words and passed the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd to Song Minghui, briefly explaining how to use the artifact.
Once she acquired the artifact, Song Minghui quickly familiarized herself with the method to use the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd.
Since the ant nest was built within Guangde County’s array spirit vein, abundant heaven and earth spiritual qi in the surroundings could fully supply the activation of the tier two artifact.
The group decided to continue on for a while, navigating the complex terrain of the ant nest.
The ant nest was built underground, with a very complex structure, extending in all directions, requiring time to understand the nest’s layout.
Finding the ant queen’s location was not simple.
So, they couldn’t blindly release the Spirit Gathering and Fire Transformation Gourd; at least they needed to approach the colony first.
Under the cover of the Mist Concealment Technique, the group found themselves gradually entering the depths of the ant nest.
"Ten feet ahead, there are signs of a large group of Marching Ants moving. We can try to unleash a fire attack!"
Cultivators possess excellent eye power, able to clearly see a fly a hundred feet away. Upon seeing the traces of the Marching Ants, Zhang Deming reminded softly.