Volume One: The Soul-Guiding Gourd and the Spirit-Igniting Lamp Chapter 83: The Strange Insect

Splash~

One false step brings a lifetime of regret!

Gu Mo and Li Hetang, following Xiao Yulou’s sudden misstep, all three tumbled one after another into a green, viscous river.

An overwhelming rush of indescribable sensations surged through Gu Mo’s nerves and cells, flooding his mind.

Above their heads, a fierce wind rose, and the steel jaws of the black worker ant snapped in the air several times. Its enormous, gem-like black eyes fixed unblinkingly on the three as they were swept rapidly downstream.

From the high bank above, chunks of sand and stone tumbled down. Even the smallest piece was the size of a paving brick.

Gu Mo’s nerves tightened, his body shuddered. As he sank further, the green ghostly flames began to rage and burn anew.

Xiao Yulou, who had been the first to fall into the river, activated a golden tortoise-shell shield.

The shower of sand and stones fell, but did not harm these two cunning fellows. But poor Li Hetang could only stare helplessly at the falling rocks, clenching his teeth and covering his head with both hands.

Thud, thud, thud, thud—

The sand and stones splashed into the green water beside Gu Mo and his companions, sending up sprays. Yet the three were enveloped entirely by the green liquid.

When the dust settled, the terrifying black worker ant soon vanished from Gu Mo’s sight.

As Gu Mo finally breathed a sigh of relief, he saw Li Hetang’s battered, bruised face. Li Hetang glared back, as if ready to devour him.

Gu Mo, still drifting, couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

“Hehehe!”

Li Hetang, suffering both physically and mentally, immediately pointed at Gu Mo and cursed.

“Gu Mo, Xiao Yulou, damn you! Why didn’t you give any warning when you ran just now?”

Gu Mo shrugged leisurely as he floated along. “Hetang, are you stupid? That thing’s bigger than any plane or tank—aren’t you afraid of death? Besides…”

He cast a mocking look at Xiao Yulou, sarcasm in his eyes.

“Isn’t our Taoist Xiao supposed to be otherworldly? How come your vaunted Fire of Zhu Rong didn’t even singe a single ant hair?”

Xiao Yulou, still glowing gold, could only laugh awkwardly and then withdrew his golden aura. (In such a perilous, unknown environment, it was best to keep a low profile—who knew what other dangers awaited?)

“How was I supposed to know it’d be so big! Besides, I’m capable of slaying dragons. In the entire circle of the extraordinary, there can’t be more than ten who can claim that!”

Suddenly, Li Hetang, nearly at his breaking point, protested.

This specially-trained “king of soldiers” slapped at the green water, splashing the mysterious liquid toward Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou, growling fiercely.

“I must have the worst luck in eight generations to end up with you two!”

Then he pointed at their noses, mocking them one by one.

“You, slippery as an eel, clever, and even spewing ghostly flames—do you think you’re a firefly? Does your fart glow green?”

After Gu Mo, he turned to the blissful Xiao Yulou.

“You, all sanctimonious, relying on your magical artifacts, never considering your companions! You’re like some cheap white bulb!”

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou, hearing this ridicule, both shrugged helplessly in unison and forced a bitter smile.

“Bite me, why don’t you!”

That retort sent Li Hetang into a rage.

“If my gun weren’t soaked in this stuff, I’d shoot you both!”

Between laughter and curses, the three had no choice but to let themselves be carried along.

...

No one knew how long they floated—the rush of water grew louder and faster.

Seeing the current grow wild beside them, the hearts of Gu Mo, Xiao Yulou, and Li Hetang almost stopped.

In the next moment, the three exchanged glances and began swimming desperately toward the bank.

Exhausted, they collapsed on the riverbank, gasping for breath.

Gu Mo wiped the green liquid from his face, his mind filled with questions.

“Why are there such giant ants here? This ‘Well of Gods and Demons’ feels stranger than anything!”

Xiao Yulou, wringing out his clothes, spoke with confusion.

“I’m just as lost, but…”

Breathing heavily, Li Hetang glared at Xiao Yulou, face flushed.

“But what? Didn’t you calculate it? Why didn’t you warn us about the danger!”

At that, Gu Mo, sitting on the ground, frowned, feeling a sudden realization.

“Hetang’s right—didn’t you do your calculations, you weirdo? All that blood was wasted! You keep saying fate is mysterious, but it’s useless!”

Xiao Yulou, uncharacteristically, glared at them. Mocking him personally was fine, but mocking his Taoist arts was out of the question.

“Hmph! What I calculated is far more profound. That ant-like creature hardly warranted risking my powers!”

Gu Mo twisted his features at that, shooting Xiao Yulou a sharp glance.

“What? That thing was ‘ant-like’? We’d barely fill its teeth! And ants live in colonies!”

Xiao Yulou blushed, breathing heavily.

“My Taoist energy must be saved for proper occasions!”

Gu Mo and Li Hetang, worn out, didn’t bother arguing further. If some giant monster appeared, their deaths would be untold.

Awkwardly, Xiao Yulou pulled several bottles of energy drink from his robe.

After drinking, the three faced the perilous path ahead, resigned once more to journey upstream along the green river.

The surrounding darkness seemed full of danger.

With every step, the ground grew softer. Gu Mo noticed a tightness in his skin.

Instinctively, he scratched at his arm.

Scratch, scratch—

He heard similar scratching, and looked at his companions.

Li Hetang, frowning, was scratching his neck in the darkness.

“Hetang, is your neck itchy?”

Li Hetang turned to Gu Mo and nodded.

Xiao Yulou, sharing the feeling, twisted a yellow talisman in his hand.

With a roar, the talisman burst into flame.

In its light, the three saw each other’s skin covered in a layer of pale, brittle crust, resembling a biological cocoon.

They stared at each other in shock.

“What is this thing?” Li Hetang exclaimed, tearing off a piece and inspecting it.

To Gu Mo’s astonishment, Li Hetang popped the piece into his mouth.

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou recoiled in disgust.

Who knew if it was poisonous? If he needed rescuing, precious time would be wasted!

Li Hetang smacked his lips and said something that stunned Gu Mo.

“This tastes like jelly—slippery and smooth!”

At that, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou, fools that they were, tried a bit themselves.

Cool and slippery, it melted across their tongues.

“Aloe gel? Maybe a nearby factory leaked?”

Xiao Yulou suddenly thought of something.

“Boundless Heaven!”

His catchphrase drew their attention.

The sly Taoist stroked his chin and began to explain.

“I have a bold guess I’d like to test!”

Gu Mo and Li Hetang nodded silently. With suspicion in their hearts, they hurried upstream.

After some time, they finally saw the end of the green river.

But there was no spring—just a towering emerald column reaching into the clouds. It would take an entire company joined hand-in-hand to encircle it.

They looked up—the column had no visible top, but sprouted several spiky branches. Its surface bore regular plant-like patterns.

The more Xiao Yulou looked, the more uneasy he felt. Yet he seemed to have pierced the secret of the “Well of Gods and Demons.”

At length, the calm Taoist flicked his robe and rapped on the column.

Thump, thump, thump!

The metallic echoes rang out, and Gu Mo and Li Hetang watched warily.

Suddenly, the heavy sounds seemed to rouse some deadly creature.

Crack, crack—

The ground beneath Gu Mo trembled violently, fissures opening before his eyes. The earth bulged up beneath him.

It was as if a world-shattering earthquake was coming.

Gu Mo, clutching his measuring rod, felt numb. Xiao Yulou stood lost in thought before the green column.

Li Hetang grabbed Gu Mo’s shoulder and ran toward the column’s base.

Gu Mo, coming to his senses, saw Li Hetang already pulling two special daggers from his tactical pack.

With two swift thrusts, Li Hetang plunged the daggers into the column and began to climb.

“Run! What are you waiting for?”

Gu Mo broke into a cold sweat. Xiao Yulou, fool that he was, still stood staring at the strange column.

Out of options, Gu Mo shoved Xiao Yulou’s shoulder and, releasing ghostly energy, began climbing.

From the earth beneath came a soul-shaking rumble.

With a roar, a monstrous worm the size of a bullet train burst from the ground.

It glowed pale gray-green, its body covered in dense silver hairs like upright antennae. Beneath the fur were countless thick legs.

Swish!

The worm’s silver hairs, touching a boulder, sliced it in two.

Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou gasped.

“Move, quick!”

In desperation, the otherworldly Xiao Yulou shouted the old underworld slang.

Instantly, Gu Mo and Xiao Yulou clambered up the column like Li Hetang.

Below, the monstrous worm shook its massive head and began to climb as well.

Thump, thump, thump!

As its heavy legs touched the column, Gu Mo and his companions shuddered.

Looking down, Gu Mo was petrified.

A pair of blood-red eyes, as huge as suns, stared from the worm’s mouth, which was ringed with blade-like jaws. The terrifying creature looked like a mining machine deep underground.

Swish, swish!

Each time the worm moved, the column shuddered endlessly.

Faced with this horror, Gu Mo, Li Hetang, and Xiao Yulou could only grit their teeth and climb toward the top...