WHOOSH~

Crimson streams of fire sprayed wantonly downward from the bodies of the Soldier Ants.

Wherever the fire touched, be it giant purple mushrooms or large green ones, all were engulfed, transforming into colossal, blazing mushroom torches. They crackled and popped, sending plumes of thick black smoke into the air.

"MEE-GOO!!"

At the same time, in the Mushroom Forest countless kilometers from the Soldier Ants’ position, the mushroom creatures that had previously attacked Han Ning and his group snapped their heads up, their gaze fixed on a specific direction.

Despite being surrounded by flames, Han Ning felt no heat whatsoever.

’These Soldier Ants are at least Awakened Level, and the few leading them are even stronger than Yin Yi...’

Han Ning watched the destruction wrought by the Soldier Ants below, inwardly stunned.

"Han Ning, do you think I could form a contract with one of these ants? They can fly and spit fire—they seem so powerful!"

Lin Tianhe shouted to Han Ning from a dozen meters away.

Luo Chen, on the other hand, looked clearly tempted, but he glanced down at the Little Guardian in his arms and said nothing.

"I think it’s a long shot. Ants only obey their Ant Queen. Unless you can find a juvenile Ant Queen, the chances are slim to none."

Recalling the ants’ absolute obedience to the Ant Queen back in the cave, Han Ning realized Lin Tianhe’s idea was hopeless.

"Ah... I see!"

As they spoke, a rumbling sound, like that of a great army on the march, faintly echoed from ahead.

"Here they come!"

Han Ning’s expression sharpened.

’With a commotion this big, the mushroom creatures were bound to notice.’

Twenty seconds later, the two forces rapidly closed the distance.

A brilliant green light flared, resolving into three beams of green energy that blasted out from the forest.

"SHRIEK!"

The Soldier Ants at the vanguard shrieked in unison as their bodies erupted in raging crimson flames. This scorching torrent of fire enveloped them, forming massive fireballs over five meters in diameter that hurtled ferociously toward the beams.

BANG!

The light shattered.

The fireballs shattered the beams into a shower of light motes. Like meteors, their momentum unabated, they tore through the air and crashed directly toward the source of the beams.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Five massive fireballs smashed into the forest, bursting into blinding flares of flame.

A surging heatwave of fire swept out in all directions.

Some of the weaker mushroom creatures had no chance to resist; their bodies were instantly set ablaze, and they collapsed with wretched cries.

The rest of the Soldier Ants followed suit, blasting a continuous, surging torrent of fire into the woods, ending one mushroom creature’s life after another.

The Soldier Ants were powerful, but the mushroom creatures below were numerous. With a single glance, Han Ning estimated there were at least several hundred of them.

Having weathered the first surprise attack, the mushroom creatures began to react, gradually retreating. They huddled together as the thick moss on their caps emitted a hazy glow. These myriad lights converged, weaving together to form an Energy Curtain Wall shimmering with rich green light, blocking the scorching flames.

Hiding behind the curtain wall, they relentlessly fired highly penetrating green beams and dense clouds of spores.

Their massive caps swelled and deflated like heaving chests, each pulsation spewing out vast quantities of green and purple spores.

The countless spores formed a thick fog that shrouded the Mushroom Forest. Upon contact with the flames wreathed around the Soldier Ants, the spores instantly combusted, turning into wisps of black smoke that rose into the sky.

Aside from the few leading Soldier Ants, the rest were clearly not as powerful as the three ten-meter-tall mushroom creatures on the ground.

Neither side could gain an advantage, and for a moment, the battle in the forest reached a stalemate.

"This can’t go on. The spores are clearly filled with a potent toxin, and this Mushroom Forest is their home turf," Teacher Lü analyzed, carefully surveying the battle. "Did you see? Every time the spores make contact with the fire, they continuously drain its power."

"Teacher Lü, what are you thinking?" After the previous incident, Luo Chen no longer dared to charge head-on at the enemy and instead asked cautiously.

Lü Xiuning didn’t answer him, turning instead to Han Ning. "Han Ning, what’s your plan?"

"The three of us have weaker Silver Lotus Woods, so we’ll help the Soldier Ants with the Purification of the surrounding spores. Your Yin Yi is the strongest. I suggest you go help the Ant Soldier Leader break through the Energy Curtain Wall."

"These mushroom creatures are bizarre. They can pool their Energy together," Han Ning said, frowning as he stared at the glowing green barrier. "Even though their individual power is low, their sheer numbers make them a single, formidable entity that’s difficult to breach. I don’t have any other plans; I was thinking the same thing you were."

"It’s the only way, then," Lü Xiuning said with a nod.

"Yin Yi, we’re joining the fight. Let’s help the Soldier Ants."

"Ling!!"

Yin Yi let out an extra-loud cry in response. It had been itching to deal with those mushroom creatures for a while.

At Han Ning’s command, it flew to the front of the battlefield, blending in with the ant swarm.

"Ready?"

"Ling!"

"Good." Han Ning took a deep breath as two clusters of burning green flame ignited in his pupils.

Dense Wood Elemental Particles flowed through his Spiritual Power link, converging on Yin Yi.

Meanwhile, Yin Yi, hidden within the ant swarm, simultaneously condensed rapidly spinning Emerald Flower Thorns.

Empowered by the Spiritual Surge, each of the Flower Thorns instantly grew to a meter in length. Their sharp tips grated against the air, producing a piercing sonic boom that made the very air around them vibrate.

More than twenty Flower Thorns shrieked in unison. In an instant, the entire Mushroom Forest was consumed by the deafening noise.

The sounds of every other living creature present were drowned out, leaving only the terrifying echo of the sonic booms.

"Fire!" Han Ning roared as a green light flared in his eyes.

"Ling!"

FWOOSH FWOOSH FWOOSH!

The dense volley of Flower Thorns, like tactical missiles leaving trails of afterimages, slammed viciously into the thick Energy Curtain Wall and detonated.

RUMBLE!

A powerful shockwave erupted, sweeping out in all directions.

The entire Energy Curtain Wall immediately began to flicker violently.

A large swath of the mushroom creatures connected to the barrier collapsed instantly.

The three ten-meter-tall mushroom creatures at the forefront faltered, and the Energy Curtain Wall before them dimmed to near nothingness.

Seeing their chance, the other attacking Soldier Ants transformed back into raging fireballs and charged forward fearlessly, smashing violently into the weakened barrier.

With a faint CRACK—

The Energy Curtain Wall shattered into a million pieces.

Nearly two-thirds of the mushroom creatures toppled backward, letting out agonized wails.

"Charge! Get in there and kill them!"

With the barrier shattered and the way forward clear, Han Ning shouted from behind his Silver Lotus Wood. He set Egg Pancake on the ground, gripped the Silver Scale Shotgun he had managed to hold onto, and cautiously joined the others, blending into the rear of the main force.

"Charge! I’ve been sick of these damn mushroom-heads for long enough!" Luo Chen’s expression was grim as he ordered his Silver Lotus Wood to surge forward.