Chapter 17: The Swarm of Iron-Devouring Ants

Following Ye Ming’s directions, Bai Yuening moved northwest. The further she went, the more she sensed a subtle shift in the sword energy around her. It no longer carried the destructive edge it once did, but grew weighty and profound. The pressure was still immense, yet instead of needling her from every direction, it pressed down like a great force on all sides.

“There’s something interesting about the sword energy here,” Ye Ming remarked. “It’s as if the mountains have been ground to dust and blended into the wind, making it heavy and dense. But the energy feels pure—good for stabilizing my sword body.”

The earlier sword-fiend crystal and sword-mark grass had sharpened his edge and enhanced his spiritual sensitivity, but this solid, steady energy was what he lacked most.

Ahead, a relatively flat clearing appeared. The ground here was no longer hard rock, but a dark brown soil streaked with metallic fragments, as though soaked in metal shavings. Sporadically, strange, squat plants grew, their thick leaves gleaming with a metallic sheen.

At the center of the clearing, a patch of earth radiated a dense ochre glow—the source of that profound energy fluctuation.

“That’s it!” Ye Ming confirmed. “The energy is richest there—something good must be buried underneath!”

Bai Yuening quickened her pace, all the while keeping a wary eye on her surroundings. The area was unnaturally quiet; even the ever-present wails of sword energy seemed muted.

The moment she stepped onto the dark brown soil, the ground beneath her, seemingly solid, abruptly surged without warning. In an instant, countless fist-sized ants with carapaces gleaming like black iron burst from below, flooding the land like a fountain. In moments, they blanketed the area.

These ants were entirely black, with blood-red compound eyes and massive, grinding mandibles that scraped together with a tooth-rattling sound. Drops of strongly corrosive fluid dripped from their jaws, hissing as they hit the soil. Swift and coordinated, the ants formed a seamless encirclement, trapping Bai Yuening at its heart.

“Iron-devouring ants!” Bai Yuening’s expression changed—she recognized these troublesome demon insects at once. They fed on metal and minerals, their shells nearly unbreakable, their jaws capable of biting through spirit iron. Worse still, they lived in enormous colonies and hunted relentlessly, refusing to give up until either side was destroyed. Once targeted, escape was nearly impossible.

“So many!” Ye Ming was startled. “Those jaws look vicious—I have no wish to be chewed up by them.”

The swarm surged like a black tide, corrosive fluid raining down in putrid sheets. Bai Yuening retreated swiftly, her sword flashing as she parried the toxic spray and the lunging soldier ants. Her blade struck their shells with a metallic clang, leaving only shallow marks—far from lethal.

Several worker ants began spitting sticky threads, intent on binding her feet.

This couldn’t go on. The swarm was overwhelming—if she simply tried to hold out, she’d be worn down and killed.

As Bai Yuening considered her escape, shouts and sounds of battle erupted from the other side of the clearing. Li Mao and his two companions had entered from the opposite direction, only to be swarmed just as furiously by the iron-devouring ants. Unprepared for such a horde lurking underground, they fought in chaos, sword light and talismans flaring as they struggled to hold their ground.

Across the seething sea of ants, Bai Yuening and Li Mao’s group exchanged a glance—each saw shock, anger, and desperation mirrored in the other’s faces.

“What a narrow world!” Ye Ming muttered helplessly.

Li Mao had also spotted Bai Yuening; his gaze flashed with cold hostility, but with his own life at stake, he had no time to settle old scores. The ants cared nothing for personal grudges—their attacks were as endless and overwhelming as a storm.

Bai Yuening was faring better, her footwork agile, and her sword techniques—refined by Ye Ming’s guidance—allowing her to narrowly avoid being encircled. Li Mao’s group was struggling, especially the wounded Wang, who soon bore more injuries.

“Senior Brother Li, this isn’t working—there are too many ants!” Zhao shouted anxiously, detonating a fire talisman to clear a patch of ground, but it was quickly flooded again by the swarm.

Li Mao’s face was grim; he knew the truth. His gaze swept his weary companions, then flicked to Bai Yuening—who moved through the ant tide with spare energy to boot—a look of internal struggle crossing his eyes.

In the end, the will to survive outweighed any personal grievances. With a mighty sweep, he drove back several soldier ants and shouted toward Bai Yuening, “Junior Sister Bai, the ants are endless—no one can break out alone. Let’s join forces and escape first!”

Bai Yuening shattered a sneaking worker ant with a single thrust, not pausing for an instant.

Join forces? With those who had just tried to kill her?

“Work with them? We might leave the ant nest only to fall into a wolf’s den,” Ye Ming said with deep mistrust.

Yet the danger was undeniable. The horde exceeded all expectations and kept pouring forth. A solo escape was almost impossible.

Bai Yuening glanced at Li Mao’s group—they were truly hard-pressed, with no sign of deception. For now, at least until they broke free of the swarm, their interests aligned.

“All right,” she replied coolly, her voice devoid of emotion. “Come to me. We’ll focus our strength on one point.”

Li Mao was caught off guard by her quick agreement, but there was no time for hesitation. “Good! Zhao, protect Wang—follow me!”

The three fought desperately, forcing their way toward Bai Yuening. The ants, sensing their intent, attacked with redoubled fury, surging in black waves.

“I’ll take the left!” Li Mao shouted, his sword flashing as he barely held back the oncoming tide. Bai Yuening took the right—her swordwork less showy but more precise, neutralizing each threat with minimal effort.

Now and then, she called out, “Three feet ahead—stab!”

Li Mao instinctively thrust his sword where she indicated, spearing a soldier ant just emerging from the ground—cold sweat broke out on his brow.

He couldn’t help but shoot Bai Yuening a look.

The four of them formed a crude defensive circle, retreating as they fought. The pressure eased, if only slightly.

“Thirty paces ahead, the ground is darker—that’s a weak spot in the nest. Attack it together—it might cause chaos!” Ye Ming quickly analyzed the terrain, offering his best advice.

Bai Yuening acted without hesitation, turning his strategy into action: “Thirty paces straight ahead—attack the ground together!”

Li Mao hesitated, unsure, but remembering her earlier precise directions, gritted his teeth. “Follow her—attack!”

Three sword lights and Bai Yuening’s blade struck the darker patch of earth in unison. The ground caved in, revealing a vast nest below. Countless eggs and larvae were reduced to ash under the energy blast.

The destruction of the nest sent the swarm into instant chaos—their attack faltered.

“Now! Go!” Bai Yuening shouted, taking the lead and darting through the gap.

Li Mao’s group wasted no time, racing after her. Seizing the precious moment of confusion, the four forced their way out of the encirclement, fleeing without looking back.

Only after they’d left the dreadful brown soil far behind did they dare to stop and catch their breath. All were disheveled, spattered with venom and dirt, a sorry sight. Wang, nearly spent, collapsed on the ground.

A brief silence fell. Though they had just fought for their lives together, the tension and enmity between them remained unbroken.

Li Mao gave Bai Yuening a complicated look, as if wishing to speak, but in the end only grunted coldly and tossed her a small jade vial. “Antidote.”

Bai Yuening caught it, glanced at the contents, but did not consume it at once. She simply tucked it away and said, “Thank you.”