Chapter 865: The Terrifying Insect Ancestor

The Ten Thousand Mountains.

Surrounded by endless peaks, Ling Tian Sect could only be considered a minor sect within the Ancient Holy Realm.

The sect leader of Ling Tian Sect was a member of the Ling Clan, who had ascended from the lower realms. By chance, he was saved by other powerful cultivators and escaped the hands of the Ancient Clans. Later, after achieving great cultivation success, he established the Ling Tian Sect in order to provide a safe haven for the Ling Clan.

The Ling Clan, long captured and bred by the Giant Shark Clan, was countless in number. Thus, the ultimate mission of the Ling Tian Sect was to rescue those Ling Clanspeople.

Therefore, after each disciple achieved sufficient cultivation, they would go there to rescue their fellow Ling Clanspeople. However, this was not a mandatory task, nor was there any pressure or expectation. For the sect, saving even one was a success.

Over the past few centuries, several thousand Ling Clanspeople had been rescued from there. Yet, the number of Ling Clanspeople who had perished there was innumerable.

The Giant Shark Clan, one of the ten ancient fierce beast clans, possessed formidable strength far beyond what the Ling Tian Sect could rival.

Yet today, Ling Tian Sect faced its greatest crisis in history.

It was a bright and sunny day, and within the Ten Thousand Mountains, the disciples of Ling Tian Sect were cultivating and resting as usual. Suddenly, a mountain trembled violently and erupted with a deafening roar.

A massive fissure abruptly opened, from which countless monstrous creatures emerged.

These creatures were not humanoid but insect-like beasts, with multiple legs, multiple heads, and armored bodies covered in thick, unyielding carapaces.

These armors were incredibly hard, impervious to ordinary martial arts techniques or spiritual skills.

In particular, the leader of these insectoid creatures was especially powerful, commanding hordes of insectoid beings. Even the sect leader of Ling Tian Sect was no match for it.

Outside Ling Tian Sect, swarms of insectoid creatures shrieked and clamored densely.

The disciples of Ling Tian Sect were utterly helpless against these insectoid beings. These creatures possessed bizarre and eerie abilities; some emitted toxic mists that caused immediate rotting upon contact. Even if one possessed immense spiritual energy and could form a protective barrier, it was still impossible to resist.

The sect leader, Ling Tianzi, went alone to confront the leader of the insectoid creatures, but ended up having one of his arms bitten off.

Ling Tianzi’s cultivation had reached the eighth stage of the Divine Heaven Realm, a level at which one could regenerate severed limbs. However, a mysterious toxin spread from the wound, continuously eroding his body and preventing regeneration.

Moreover, this toxin was steadily corroding his spiritual energy. If left unchecked, even the Heaven and Earth Divine Pill would be rendered ineffective.

“Zizi…”

Countless insectoid creatures, each as large as a mountain, surrounded Ling Tian Sect.

At this moment, a glowing barrier covered Ling Tian Sect, fluctuating violently as if it might shatter at any moment.

This was the protective formation of Ling Tian Sect, yet even it could not hold much longer.

“I have already warned the disciples who are outside on cultivation journeys not to return. Where exactly did these demons come from? How could they be so powerful?” Ling Tianzi’s expression was grave, and deep within his heart, he had already lost all hope.

Looking up, he saw those terrifying creatures, each as large as a mountain—an existence of pure horror.

“Never would I have thought that a race from the Great Thousand Realms would dare to establish a base on our insectoid territory. It’s practically asking for death,” came the voices of the insectoid creatures, who seemed to be quite familiar with the races of the Great Thousand Realms.

“Master, what should we do now?” asked the elders of Ling Tian Sect, their expressions grim.

The terrifying insectoid creatures had caught them completely off guard, and before they could react, many disciples had already been killed or wounded.

Now, they were cornered in the main hall, while the surrounding areas had already fallen.

Ling Tianzi did not speak, but the depth of his expression revealed everything.

Today, Ling Tian Sect would likely be destroyed. However, as long as its legacy endured, the spirit of Ling Tian Sect would never vanish.

Ling Tianzi waved his hand, signaling the disciples to step aside. Then, standing beneath the barrier, he faced the monstrous beings and asked, “What race are you? Why have you come to attack Ling Tian Sect?”

“Zizi…”

The insectoid creatures did not speak, but their antennae waved, emitting chilling sounds. At that moment, the insectoid creatures blocking Ling Tian Sect parted, and the one that had torn off Ling Tianzi’s arm appeared.

This insectoid creature was not the largest, but it stood tall between heaven and earth, with eight antennae swaying in the air. Its face bore eight glowing green eyes, radiating a cruel light.

“Zizi… It’s been tens of thousands of years since I last tasted a Ling Clansperson,” the insectoid ancestor spoke in human tongue, its voice cold and bone-chilling.

“Oh, how I’ve longed for the taste of your kind. A long, long time ago, there was a Ling Clansperson who foolishly tried to kill this ancestor of the insectoids, but in the end, he was devoured by me.”

“Oh, I still remember that Ling Clansperson’s name. It was something like Emperor Ling Wang.”

“Zizi… That one was far more powerful than you.”

Upon hearing these words, Ling Tianzi’s face darkened with shock, as if he could hardly believe what he was hearing.

At this moment, the insectoid ancestor continued, “Oh, right, your bloodline is very similar to that of Emperor Ling Tian. Could it be that Emperor Ling Wang was your ancestor?”

“Ah, yes, that must be it.”

“Pity, you don’t even have half the strength of your ancestor anymore.”

Suddenly, the insectoid ancestor’s body transformed. Its hideous form instantly faded away, replaced by a dignified middle-aged man.

“Ancestor…”

Seeing the middle-aged man, Ling Tianzi muttered in astonishment, but his expression quickly changed—he realized it wasn’t their old ancestor.

“Zizi… I have devoured countless lives, and all their memories are mine.”

The middle-aged man let out a sinister laugh, then transformed once again into his original hideous form.

The insectoid race was one of the most terrifying races in the Ten Thousand Realms. The Ancient Holy Realm had sealed the insectoids, preventing their ascension.

Due to their bloodthirsty nature, the insectoids’ own territory could no longer satisfy them, so they waged wars across the Ten Thousand Realms, destroying countless races.

Now, with the barrier opened, the insectoid race had descended upon the Ancient Holy Realm, overwhelming the Great Thousand Races with their sheer might.

This was the agreement between the insectoid race and the Ancient Clans.

The Ten Thousand Realms had opened multiple times, and each time, the insectoid race had descended.

For the Great Thousand Races, they not only had to resist the will of the Ancient Clans but also face the terrifying insectoid race.

Emperor Ling Wang had been an unparalleled expert during the previous opening of the Ten Thousand Realms, yet even he had ultimately perished at the hands of the insectoid ancestor.

“Surrender, you Ling Clanspeople. Do you really believe that this barrier can protect you? That’s nothing but a fool’s dream.”

With a sharp antenna, the insectoid ancestor gently touched the barrier.

Crack!

In an instant, the barrier shattered, and Ling Tian Sect was completely exposed.

“How is this possible?”

Ling Tianzi stared at the scene before him, his heart filled with terror, unable to believe what had just happened.