Path to Heaven
chapter-187

Chapter 187: Black Drillworm

“That mountain valley has a radius of roughly 50-60 li, and the Golden-Spotted Ginseng is located at the easternmost end of a stone forest. Under normal circumstances, the Blood Dragon wouldn’t leave the stone forest. Travelling through these two mountain peaks should be safe. Once you can sight the stone forest, you must devise a method to employ your Cyan Emperor Gourd to approach the edge of the stone forest. Then, place the Bloodlotus Stem and Nightfall Fruit. If there is really a Blood Dragon inside, it should be sufficient to lure it out. A Blood Dragon can sense cultivators nearly a kilometre away. Therefore, after placing the Bloodlotus Stem and Nightfall Fruit, for the sake of safety even though you possess the Cyan Emperor Gourd, you should also distance yourself a kilometre away.”

After listening to the Old Man’s advice, Wei Suo expressionlessly signaled to the others. Then, he rode the White Jade Crane and quietly ascended.

“Strange, there ought to be a few earthen mounds and a forest here, why is it just a plain of sandy land! Wei Suo, be cautious, there’s something strange going on.”

Moments later, having just passed through the two mountain peaks, Wei Suo paused by the side of the loess filled mountain top with a bewildered expression. Even without the Old Man saying, Wei Suo could tell something was amiss with this mountain range before his eyes.

Wei Suo was presently at the western side of the mountain valley. Though it was night, he couldn’t even see the silhouette of a stone forest. The mountain range ahead was completely different from the mountain range 20,000 years ago that the Old Man described. The present day mountain range was a barren land of greyish sand. Moreover, the greyish fine sand extended over 300 metres along the surrounding mountain sides.

There was still 120 plus metres between Wei suo and the greyish desert. Nevertheless, he could faintly feel the blistering heat emanating out from it.

Evidently, though this greyish desert wasn’t considered burning hot, its temperature was at least comparable to the hot spring that Wei Suo constructed.

Beholding this barren grey desert under the darkness of night caused the expression on the cultivators’ faces to change drastically. Still, they didn’t dare to make a sound, for fear of possibly alerting a mid-tier level 6 Blood Dragon. Thus, they merely glanced at Wei Suo and observed his movements.

Wei Suo furrowed his brows tightly.

His eyes swept around before he projected a ‘stay put’ gesture to Han Weiwei and the two simple-minded dimwits, Zhu Xiaochun and Zhen Chongming.

Next, he carefully crept towards the grey desert. 30 plus metres before reaching the grey desert, he halted and produced the carcass of an upper-tier level 3 Blackwind Owl. Then, he hurled it across into the grey desert.

The dead Blackwind Owl landed as half of its body sank into the sand. After waiting for half an incense worth of time, nothing happened; not a single reaction or movement could be observed.

After a slight hesitation, Wei Suo’s figure blurred as he attempted to enter the grey desert.

Of course, he hovered above the grey desert. He didn’t dare to directly contact this barren land of queer greyish sand that he hadn’t seen before, nor did the Old Man as well. Afterwards, he retrieved an ordinary silver knife and cautiously dug up some of the grey sand.

Apart from its heat and grey luster, there wasn’t any huge disparity between these grey sand and common sand. The feeling or odour they released weren’t unique either.

Wei Suo closely surveyed. Nothing happened to his ordinary silver knife, indicating that the grey sand seemingly wasn’t corrosive.

Following that, Wei Suo produced a yellow Nightfall Fruit and a Bloodlotus Stem, and placed it onto the grey sand. Nothing happened when the two objects were placed on the ground. It didn’t seem like they would be roasted by the heat within an hour as well.

Only now, did Wei Suo heave a sigh of relief and stored back both objects. Then, he gestured to Han Weiwei and the rest.

When Han Weiwei and the rest surged over, he boarded the White Jade Crane as the ground proceeded with utmost caution deeper into the grey desert.

As they ventured deeper, the blistering heat turned denser. The desert regions varied in height, as tiny barrows could be seen around. Still, everything was covered in grey sand, which was seemingly the case for the entire mountain valley.

“Why is there a stone pillar here?”

All of a sudden, Wei Suo abruptly halted, because the Old Man’s voice suddenly rang in his ears.

According to the Old Man, Wei Suo shouldn’t have reached the valley center yet. There should still be minimally 15 plus km before reaching the stone forest in the east. In spite of that, stone pillars had started appearing in their vision.

These stone pillars were as high as 15-18 metres. They were shaded completely in grey and released an impression of archaic weirdness.

Just as Wei Suo was carefully preparing to approach a stone pillar for a closer look, queer sounds started emitting out from within the stone pillar. In the space of several breaths, buzzing sounds resonated out from within every single stone pillar in the vicinity, including the ones Wei Suo couldn’t see.

A tiny and thin black line jolted out from the stone pillar closest to Wei Suo.

Following that thin black line, legions of countless other black lines came shooting out in a dense mass from the stone pillars.

The speed of those black lines were simply unbelievable, and they were all headed for Wei Suo and company.

“Not good! Wei Suo, quick, release your set of artifact shields! Add on a few more divine light screen barriers!” Almost at the same time, the flustered and shock exclamations of the green gowned Old Man rung out.

Wei Suo’s expression sank as he immediately summoned the 20 sided ruby artifact shield set.

At the instance the three layers of ruby artifact shields hovered around the four cultivators……Pa! Pa! Pa! Consecutive slammings resounded. The first black line had slammed against the outer layer of artifact shields.

“What exactly are those?”

Han Weiwei gasped in astoundment.

Those incredibly thin black lines similarly possessed thin wings. They appeared like dragonflies but had incomparably sharp heads, like a weird drill like bug. Furthermore, these weird bugs were exceptionally agile. When the first bug collided against a ruby artifact shield, the following bugs actually chose to nimbly detour round that artifact shield; seemingly identifying other points of infiltration.

“Those are Sky-toppling Black Drillworms! Their defence and speed are comparable to level 4 speed type demonic beasts. However, they don’t possess inner dan-pellets, and aren’t classified as demonic beasts. These Black Drillworms are dual element bugs of metal and fire. It doesn’t fear fire, and the liquid it secretes can even corrode essence metal artifacts. Essence metal magic treasures or artifact shields cannot obstruct its path. Unless a Golden Dan Stage cultivator unleashes True flames, fire element skill techniques wouldn’t be able to harm these queer bugs. Even your Xiantian True flames from the Samadhi Divine Flame technique would be futile!”

The urgent voice of the Old Man resounded in Wei Suo’s ears.

Upon hearing that, Wei Suo’s countenance sank unpleasantly, as he immediately controlled the White Jade Crane to flee.

However, the sheer quantity of Sky-toppling Black Drillworms were too frightening. In a flash, they covered both sky and earth, as they enveloped Wei Suo and company like a hurricane. A tremendous pressure cause great difficulty in mobility.

Wei Suo’s expression became unsightly as he cursed out, and hastily produced the Half-Spirit class white Cold Jade Plate that could release cold air, before passing it to Zhu Xiaochun behind.

To his surprise, Wei Suo noticed that Zhu Xiaochun’s face was extremely rosy, as though he wasn’t one bit fearful at all. Furthermore, he seemed to be admiring the scenery.

Thus, Wei Suo couldn’t help but ask, “Why, you have a plan to deal with those bugs? Why aren’t you afraid?”

“Ah, not at all, but why should I fear? Big Brother definitely has a way out, right?”

Zhu Xiaochun’s answer almost made Wei Suo faint as his eyes rolled back. He no longer wished to have any conversation with that guy.

“Zhen Chongming, help me control these sets of artifact shields. If possible, activate your Ice Dragon True Technique as well. Those are Sky-toppling Black Drillworms. Essence metal type artifacts or fire element skills can’t do shit with it.”

After handing the main ruby artifact shield to Zhen Chongming, Wei Suo fished out 10 plus skill talismans and passed it to Han Weiwei. “Han Weiwei, cast these skill talismans at those Black Drillworms. If possible, unleash your Ice Dragon True Technique as well.”

After instructing, Wei Suo quickly retrieved Granny Jin’s Rushing Thunder Mallet and his own Cyan Search Silver Magic Staff in his hand.

It was hard to describe if the development of events was fortunate or not.

These Black Drillwoms were incapable of corroding through colloid artifact shields that were neither jade nor metal. If it was a random essence metal artifact shield, it would’ve long been wrecked.

Fortunately, he had forged these set of artifact shields earlier, and could scarcely manage to block off the majority of Black Drillworm pressure. Otherwise, with such frightening quantities like a cloud of darkness, those few divine light screen barriers would’ve definitely shattered within a flash.

Though that was so, these Black Drillworms still possessed momentous might that was close to the might of a needle type Half-Spirit class artifact weapon. Wei Suo’s shields and few divine light screen barriers seemingly couldn’t withstand for long, he needed to start massacring these Black Drillworms with artifacts and skill techniques.

If this battle attracts the attention of a Blood Dragon, trying to escape would be near impossible. Hence, if Wei Suo didn’t act now, they would all perish here. Without any alternatives, Wei Suo could only stake it all to overcome this predicament.

At present, Zhu Xiaochun activated the White Cold Jade Plate without hesitation. He still appeared oblivious and even revealed a hint of excitement. His brain was truly full of nonsense.

Wei Suo speechlessly shook his head, as he held no reserves in unleashing the might of his Cyan Search Silver Magic Staff.

This exceedingly crudely forged Cyan Search Silver Magic Staff as compared to before, now had an additional green circular crystal embedded within.