The farther Lin Chen and the others ran, the more students they encountered.
But no matter how many students there were, it couldn’t compare to the sheer number of these insects.
"Brother Lin, did you steal something from someone?" a student asked.
"It’s ..." Lin Chen spoke while letting Xiaobai run, "We happened to pass by the Insect King’s territory and saw the Insect King having difficulty giving birth. Being kind-hearted, we couldn’t just stand by and watch, but unexpectedly..."
The main thing was that the Little Insect King definitely got noticed by them; otherwise, Lin Chen would have kept it a secret, fearing that these students would sneak away.
"I find it hard to believe—a struggling Insect King, your so-called kind hearts, and an unconscious Little Insect King. Are you sure it’s not abduction?" the student was very skeptical.
"...." Lin Chen was speechless.
He was telling the truth this time, yet they didn’t believe him. Original content can be found at NoveIꜰire.net
Being kind-hearted was indeed a bit off, but the rest was completely genuine.
"You wouldn’t just let people die without helping, would you? After all, we are from the same academy..."
Lin Chen resorted to moral coercion, not caring anymore.
As expected, a couple of students who were about to sneak away felt too embarrassed to go.
After gathering about a dozen students, they finally decided to fight again, but seeing the overwhelming swarm of insects behind, they all got cold feet and gave up the idea.
The title of the first Catastrophe was indeed terrifying beyond imagination.
"Brother Lin, I remembered I have elderly and children at home, I must take my leave first..." a student took off directly.
"...." Lin Chen was speechless.
After fleeing for a few more kilometers, Lin Chen started thinking about a strategy; this couldn’t go on.
Although their speed was faster than the Earth Beetles, the severe exhaustion would be their downfall if they got caught.
Suddenly, Lin Chen spotted the Little Insect King on Big White Bear’s shoulder and had a bright idea. He said to Bai Ling, "Quickly, wake up the Little Insect King."
"Just shake it," Lin Chen said.
Bai Ling grabbed the Little Insect King and shook it vigorously.
After quite a while, the Little Insect King finally woke up...
Lin Chen immediately said, "Can you understand human language?"
"We’re currently being chased; you should be able to disperse those low-level insects behind us..."
The Little Insect King, still groggy, opened its eyes and seemed to be recalling what happened. Upon hearing Lin Chen’s words, it turned its head and saw the situation, then stood upright on the bear’s shoulder and let out a cry to the sky.
Chanting three times, the little insects behind indeed stopped.
Bai Ling cheered from behind, "They stopped, they really stopped."
Big White Bear also prepared to stop and watch the show, but Lin Chen said, "Don’t stop; they might be controlled again soon."
After fleeing several kilometers, Lin Chen adjusted their direction and finally found a resting place. Lin Chen covered the Insect King with grass, leaving only its head out.
The Insect King was already dead, so this Secret Realm had no owner now; thus, they could only rely on insects to search for Lin Chen and the others.
For several days in a row, Lin Chen and the others indeed saw a few insects coming out for clues. Lin Chen ordered Xiaobai and the others to kill them directly, giving them no chance.
"Could they track us by scent or something?" Bai Ling worried.
"Don’t worry, Earth Beetles don’t have that capability," Lin Chen said.
Bai Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief, recalling the chase earlier, and said, "That was thrilling."
"..." Lin Chen was speechless, just about to give a lecture, when Bai Ling continued, "I think I understand the significance of becoming stronger now."
While speaking, Bai Ling extended her hand and said, "Look, I’m Level 10; I can bond with a Red Feather Chicken now."
Lin Chen took a look and indeed it was true. Bai Ling had likely never experienced something before, so she broke through while running.
"Wait until we return to form the bond, then ask the teacher," Lin Chen reminded her, fearing she might bond impulsively on the spot.
Bai Ling nodded and, being truly exhausted, leaned on a rock to rest.
Lin Chen turned his head and found the Little Fox squinting at him.
"What?" Lin Chen asked.
The Little Fox pouted...
With a squint from Xiaobai, Lin Chen knew it had made a breakthrough.
Why couldn’t he understand its squinting?
Indeed, a third party can never compare to the main partner...
"Coo~~" the Little Fox whimpered in grievance, and upon hearing it, Lin Chen was overjoyed and grabbed the Little Fox to check, discovering it indeed had made a breakthrough.
And it was a double breakthrough, with its level also enhanced.
[Skill 1: Super Fireball (Perfection)]
[Skill 2: Flaming Storm (Mastery)]
[Skill 3: World-Purifying True Flame (Entry-Level)]
It seems the recent fire-breathing was indeed highly effective.
"Rest for a bit and show me later," Lin Chen couldn’t wait to see the results.
This time the gain was indeed substantial; although they were on the run the entire time, such a thrilling escape did manage to ignite the Spirit Beasts’ bestial nature...
First, Xiaobai had mastered the Tier Three Barbaric Bloodline, combined with the Eternal Damnation Demon Horn, surely the Path to Immortality will progress after returning.
The combination of a Tier Three Barbaric Bloodline Xiaobai and the Eternal Damnation Demon Horn was indeed formidable in battle.
As for the breakthrough Little Hong made this time, it brought her one step closer to Level 20.
Lin Chen planned to perform the third bloodline purification on her after she leveled up again.
"How should we handle it?" Bai Ling looked at the Little Insect King.
Lin Chen looked at its golden shell, his eyes filled with temptation...
How great it would be if he could bond with the Little Insect King.
Thinking about the power of the Catastrophe Legion’s might...
But, that was impossible; he could only fantasize about it.
"Let’s hand it over to the academy when we return," Lin Chen said.
"Will it ever come back?" Bai Ling worried.
With the Insect King dead, internal conflict here would be unending until a new Insect King was born.