CHAPTER 342: CHAPTER 215: THE TREE OF THE EARTHQUAKE WORM, THE ANT RACE, AND THE EARTH BOOK (PART 2)

[Name]: Earth Ant Royal Family

[Mood]: Shocked, Self-doubt, Hesitant, Uneasy.

[Status]: Blessed by a replica fragment of the "Earth Book", possessing the ability to understand all living creatures’ languages on earth and transform shape.

[Can be bound]: Descendants of Innate Spirit Root.

Ah?

This is truly surprising beyond words.

Do these Ant Race members really have such unique origins?

Earth Book?

Innate Spirit Root?!

Li Ye’s original playful attitude changed, and he exchanged glances with Third Brother Chen Mo.

With just one look, Chen Mo understood immediately.

He smiled and said, "It seems you all have some interest in my junior brother’s Spirit Pets. Why not stay here for a while?

My junior brother will host you, how about it?

My junior brother is the cultivator of those Bamboo Wood Ants, and he’s also very skilled at constructing houses — that tree where the Earthquake Worm resides was crafted solely by him.

You all have a fortunate fate, to have seen my junior brother is no easy feat. Even our several hundred Nascent Soul elders need luck to meet him."

The outland Ant Race members were utterly dumbfounded hearing this.

This indeed sounds quite implausible.

But after sneaking a few more glances at Li Ye, they suddenly felt this True Man truly was extraordinary, and just his presence made them want to approach.

"Very well!"

The tall man from the Ant Race nodded and somewhat awkwardly cupped his hand towards Li Ye: "Then, please trouble..."

"You can just call me Lingye."

Li Ye had already returned to his usual calm demeanor, extending an invitation: "Though you all have come from afar, the Four Seasons Sect has many wonderful methods, what I, the True Man, show is just a tiny fraction.

I shall give you the Mineral Essence Five Elements Flower as a gift.

I have plenty of these anyway."

The more aloof and casual he appeared, the more these Ant Race guests, like country folks entering the city, revered him, hastily nodding:

"Thank you, True Man Lingye!"

Finally, Li Ye exchanged a look of "Leave everything to me" with Third Brother, who then left contentedly.

It was a relief that the troublesome matter was settled.

He still had to attend to the auction planning, knowing that the invitations were already in great demand since this was the first newly established Marketplace by the Four Seasons Sect in a millennium, effectively a fresh new land.

With him stationed here, Li Ye devising plans, True Man Suoxing watching over it, and the Sect Leader’s direct orders, it was already of extremely high standards.

The intrigues and struggles among these forces were precisely what he excelled at, so only he could handle this affair.

He had played his role, now it depended on how Li Ye would manage and demonstrate strength.

...

"True Man Lingye."

The tall man from the Ant Race named Ant C spoke proactively: "In our territory, we have special Spirit Stones that can animate puppets and objects.

Such as this one.

Previously, your Bamboo Wood Ants absorbed this stone, allowing them to grow unnoticed in our territory."

He brought out a translucent green Crystal Stone.

Within the stone, threads or perhaps... insect eggs wriggled repeatedly, looking quite unsettling.

Ant C presented this intending to boast, confident it was unique to their world, unheard of here.

For Spirit Plant Masters, such objects were incredible lures.

However, Li Ye glanced at it briefly and nonchalantly said:

"Ah, so it’s this."

"The external Crystal Stone is likely the resin of the Cannabis Fruit Tree, the inside is a Spirit Seed called Profound Strange Fungus you cultivated, used to nourish puppets, which is more of a sacrificial and filling method."

"Nothing special."

Ant Race members: "..."

They exchanged bewildered looks.

Even the forward stations of the Four Seasons Sect and Mo Family had only obtained some samples, without knowing the internal names of these Spiritual Objects.

Yet this True Man Lingye knew instantly?

To say they were instantly covered in cold sweat would be an understatement, but it wasn’t far off.

Li Ye observed all their expressions keenly.

These folks dared to flaunt Spirit Plant and Spirit Beast products at him? With the panel in hand, any disclosure was just an "instruction manual" to expand his knowledge.

Ant C awkwardly said, "We didn’t bring many treasures with us, only this item as a tribute to True Man Lingye, please accept it!"

"Thanks." Li Ye casually received the resin and stored it in the Jianmu, where Jianmu’s Spiritual Power began analyzing its internal force composition.

Then he straightforwardly stated: "Since you’ve come here, you must have intentions to ally with our Four Seasons Sect.

Share your true intent.

After all, I have many Taoist Techniques to research, no time to beat around the bush — although I promised my Senior Brother to host you, you should know my status.

Even if we forcefully detain you, no one dares to comment."

Speaking thus, he casually molded a small clay house, injected Xiangshui Divine Techniques into it with a finger, causing glowing watery ripples.

A wondrous abode!

This scene made Ant C, who planned to speak, swallow his words and smile: "We indeed wish to cooperate with your esteemed sect."

Upon his words, the noticeably elder Ant Race members were slightly stunned, but none objected — arguing before a major sect and real power Golden Core True Man only invites ridicule.

And regardless of what the Prince suggested, they would support him.

"However..." Ant C remembered his mother’s instructions and added, "We wish to acquire a tract of land in your sect to freely develop."

Li Ye remained silent, merely gazing at him.

His clear pupils reflected them all, feeling as if enveloped in a suffocating, special space.

Until Ant C was thoroughly drenched in sweat, Li Ye slowly said: "Our Four Seasons Sect is vast, a piece of land indeed isn’t much.

But you must prove your worth.

How will you persuade me to personally request a land for you to rest — if I apply, it will surely afford you unimaginable benefits."

Ant C didn’t hesitate this time.

He took out a mottled, yellowed page from a close-fitting pouch, barely an inch in size, exuding indescribable spirituality and profound earth aura from the moment it emerged.

As if this small page bore the vast land, lush with vegetation and flourishing life, rivers and streams chattering, finally forming a pearl-like lake.

Li Ye stared at the page.

He planned to proceed carefully, but the other party unsuspectingly offered this treasure at once.

An Earth Book replica remnant.

Ant C decisively knelt, presenting the page with both hands:

"I wish to exchange this treasure for the protection of your sect!"

"My mother instructed me to bring this upon leaving; she bore six sons; each holds a page of this treasure."

He dared not look into Li Ye’s eyes.

Those clear eyes seemed to see through all his plans.

The surrounding Ant Race members all knelt, bowed heads, daring not even to release Divine Sense, awaiting the fairy-like True Man Lingye’s decision.

Time trickled by second by second.

Finally.

Li Ye spoke: "Okay."

The sound felt heavenly, relieving these Golden Core-level Ant Race members at once.

Sweat dripped continuously to the ground.

The pressure indeed was terrifying!

The mottled, yellowed page automatically flew into Li Ye’s hand.

From Ant C’s palm, it initially showed no sign, suddenly radiating endless rays.

Seemingly.

As if impatiently awaiting.