The mother insect, having laid her eggs, lunged at the male insects that had just mated, consuming them directly. The males, as if they had exhausted all their energy, could not struggle or escape, and were consumed in a matter of moments, their cries of despair fading as they disappeared. After consuming the males, the abdomens of the females began to swell once more, and soon another batch of new eggs were buried in the ground.
After two batches of eggs were laid, there were no more male insects on the ground. The remaining females began to devour each other, laying a third batch of eggs after consumption. This cycle continued until only one female remained. Seeing no more food, this final female also burrowed into the ground.
In less than an hour, Qian Ye witnessed the complete cycle of birth, life, and death among the insects.
Moved by this, Qian Ye approached where the last female had disappeared and dug up a large chunk of soil with his hand.
The ground was extremely hard, causing Qian Ye’s fingers to ache as if he were digging through steel. Yet, the female insect burrowed through it like tofu, which was truly terrifying upon reflection.
Testing the hardness of the ground, Qian Ye decided to use his sword, Dongyue, as a shovel. He dug for three meters before finding the female.
The final female had developed a layer of exoskeleton, curling up motionless. If not for the faint fluctuations of origin power, Qian Ye would have thought she was dead.
Picking up the female, Qian Ye wondered what use she might be. After some thought, he took another piece of soil, wrapped the insect, and stored it in Anduya’s space.
Digging such a large pit made Qian Ye break out in a sweat. Since his cultivation, it was the first time he had broken into a sweat multiple times in a single day. This made him realize the harshness and difficulty of this world anew.
Despite digging so deep, Qian Ye did not find any of the eggs, indicating they were deeper. However, the vast number of eggs did not interest him, so he gave up.
Qian Ye leaped out of the pit, a wave of blood flame burning away the dirt. He put on a set of spare armor from Anduya’s space, feeling somewhat more comfortable.
So far, aside from the distant lake, Qian Ye had found no other source of water. But he did not want to approach the lake, a warning from his instincts.
A shadow passed over Qian Ye’s brow; the water in Anduya’s space was running low. Though Li Kuanglan, still unconscious, did not need food, she needed water, which was indispensable for them.
Qian Ye exited the cave, climbed to the peak, and looked around.
In the distance lay undulating hills, their slopes covered in lush grass with a few scattered trees. Although the sky was bright, there were no signs of birds, animals, or other people.
After observing for a while, Qian Ye decided to head for the hilly area. With grass and trees, there must be underground water. With Dongyue in hand, Qian Ye, with his ancient bloodline, could dig it out.
Though the forest might also have water, it felt dangerously intense, only slightly less than the lake. Even more so than the rocky beach. With Li Kuanglan severely injured, Qian Ye did not want to complicate things.
He returned to the cave, picked up Li Kuanglan, and headed for the hills.
Entering the hilly area, Qian Ye felt a significant reduction in the invisible pressure. He let out a long breath, feeling he had made the right decision.
This area was full of hills and valleys, and Qian Ye easily found a natural cave. The cave was a den for wild beasts, but he did not know where they had gone. After cleaning with blood flame, Qian Ye gently placed Li Kuanglan down, preparing to rest and then explore the surroundings.
After experiencing a full day and night, Qian Ye knew the night was more dangerous. As darkness fell, all life became sluggish, like hibernation. Even Qian Ye’s combat power would decrease significantly. If he encountered a fierce beast that hunted at night, it would be perilous. Therefore, he needed to scout the surroundings and eliminate potential risks during the day to survive the night.
Carefully placing Li Kuanglan, looking at her face, her snow-white neck, and the exposed shoulder, Qian Ye felt a strong instinctive urge to tear off the inner armor and claim the white flesh beneath.
Thankfully, experience helped. As the impulse arose, Qian Ye used Dawn’s Awakening to suppress it.
Regaining clarity, Qian Ye was about to rise when a hand appeared, grabbing his collar and pulling him back. Before him was Li Kuanglan’s face, half-smiling, half-serious, asking, “What have you done?”
Startled, Qian Ye replied joyfully, “You’re awake! That’s great!”
He was genuinely happy; Li Kuanglan, now conscious, could use her origin power to heal. Dawn’s Awakening was not for healing.
Li Kuanglan bit her lip, angrily saying, “Great my foot! I’m awake, and now it’s your end!”
Before she finished, her slender fingers grasped Qian Ye’s throat, and her fist hit his abdomen.
A cry of pain echoed in the cave, not from Qian Ye, but from Li Kuanglan.
Her left hand stung like needles, and her punch, too forceful, caused her whole body to ache. Striking Qian Ye felt like hitting stone, leaving him unharmed but her hand swollen.
Feeling weak, Li Kuanglan fell again, but her grip on Qian Ye’s neck did not loosen, pulling him down with her.
If Qian Ye used force, he could easily remove her fingers. But seeing her determination to strangle him, he gave in, bending down to avoid her exertion. Her bones had just been reset, and her punch likely dislodged several, causing her intense pain.
Li Kuanglan, in agony, could barely move, but her grip on Qian Ye was strong. She gritted her teeth and asked, “What have you done to me?”
“Treated your injuries,” Qian Ye said calmly.
“Treating my big head!” Li Kuanglan raged, ready to punch Qian Ye again.
Gently pressing her down, Qian Ye said, “If you move, more bones will break. We’ll have to treat them again.”
Unable to resist due to her weakened state, Li Kuanglan lay pinned, gnashing her teeth.
Checking her condition, she frowned, “I’m this badly injured? You set these bones?”
Qian Ye irritably replied, “Who else? This place is dangerous. Don’t move. If the bones break again, it’ll be troublesome.”
Qian Ye dared not mention that if she saw him reset the bones, she might kill him.
“How did you set—” Li Kuanglan suddenly stopped, her gaze fixed on something.
Following her gaze, Qian Ye saw his hand on her chest. The inner armor had gaps, and his hand rested on one, almost gripping her left breast. No one would believe it was accidental.
Qian Ye inwardly cursed, realizing he had been controlled by instinct. Li Kuanglan, just waking, didn’t know this, making explanation difficult. Removing his hand would look deliberate, and if she moved, her bones would break again.
While Qian Ye hesitated, Li Kuanglan twisted, pressing her breast into his hand. She sighed, as if thirsty, as if suffocating.
Both were stunned.
“Um, I, well, actually…” She spoke incoherently, then angrily ordered, “Let go!”
Qian Ye withdrew, but she slightly arched, as if offering herself again. Realizing this, she forcefully lowered herself, grimacing in pain.
Qian Ye shook his head, giving her a sedative to relieve pain and calm her.
Feeling the effects, she relaxed slightly, but her gaze remained complex, her eyes brimming with tears. Her lip-biting revealed her intense hatred. She might bite him if he offered his hand.
Fortunately, she did not. Instead, she reached out, demanding, “How many more do you have? Give them to me.”
“That was the last one,” Qian Ye said truthfully.
Li Kuanglan, embarrassed and angry, spat, “Liar! Just give me all the sedatives!”
Amused and exasperated, Qian Ye said, “There are none. Who carries a lot of those?”
Sedatives were mainly for pain relief. As a strong practitioner, minor pain was nothing. Even bone friction pain was a mere frown for Li Kuanglan. In comparison, stimulants, healing potions, and reviving medicines were more essential. Even poisons were more useful.
However, in this moment, sedatives had a special role, though neither mentioned it.
Knowing Qian Ye had none, Li Kuanglan felt mixed emotions. Activating her internal energy, she asked, “Do you have any food?”
Qian Ye retrieved food from Anduya’s space, helping her sit up, “This is all we have. Eat what’s here.”
Li Kuanglan nodded, blushing as she noticed her partially exposed chest. “Help… straighten my clothes.”
During her movements, her left breast had slipped out of the gap in the armor, trembling, strikingly alluring.
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