Indeed, Jing Shu positioned her pets according to designated ranks, defining their significance by these numbers. Based on comprehensive strength and practical utility, the Sulfur Ant Queen, having reached the end of her lifespan, was ranked number 3 by Jing Shu.
This meant Jing Shu would feed Spiritual Spring designated for rank 3 to the Sulfur Ant Queen daily. Content orıginally comes from 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭•𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦•𝘯𝘦𝘵
As is widely known, Jing Shu valued her pets not for their appearance or Combat Power, but for their productivity and the value they could bring her.
A tiger, for instance, would barely make it to rank 9 in Jing Shu’s system. Tiger meat wasn’t tasty, tigers couldn’t lay eggs, and aside from their penises, which could be soaked in alcohol for supposed medicinal benefits, they offered little else of substance. More importantly, they were a substantial waste of precious food in the apocalypse.
In contrast, Jing Shu’s rank 4 Five-step Snakes held significantly greater value. They laid eggs and bore live young. Their flesh was delicious and could be used in alcohol for medicinal purposes, while their gallbladders and skin also had great uses. Even their venom could be refined for assassinations. Furthermore, they could serve as scouts, becoming Jing Shu’s eyes, and provide reliable combat power in critical situations.
But why did this dying Sulfur Ant Queen rank higher than the Five-step Snakes?
Jing Shu herself was conflicted. Was it worth nurturing this Ant Queen, already at the end of her life? What if she dies halfway through? Wouldn’t that be a waste of my Spiritual Spring?
However, after a series of studies, Jing Shu finally made her decision.
Firstly, considering the value of the species propagated by the Sulfur Ant Queen, the sulfuric acid they produced daily would be immensely valuable in the apocalypse. Sulfuric acid was indispensable for the atomic energy and New Energy industries, fertilizer production, and soil improvement, especially in an era where everything was scarce.
Secondly, Sulfuric Acid Ants were a type of black ant. Even after their sulfuric acid was extracted, the ants themselves held substantial medicinal value. They possessed anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and detoxification properties, reduced swelling, and were beneficial for bolstering kidney function and vitality. In the apocalypse, they were truly rare medicinal resources!
Furthermore, their nutritional value was among the highest of millions of animal species. They were rich in protein and various essential amino acids vital for the human body. They would also become a luxury food item in the apocalypse.
Finally, their Combat Power was off the charts. They were especially proficient against the Undead created by Zombie viruses. In Jing Shu’s plans, they could even challenge the terrifying, newly evolved creatures anticipated to emerge five to six years into the apocalypse. Excluding firearms, the Sulfuric Acid Ants could be considered at the top of the food chain.
Crucially, they didn’t waste food. They didn’t require special feed and could thrive on carrion. However, Jing Shu planned to feed them red earthworms instead.
This particular Sulfur Ant Queen laid dozens of eggs daily. If nourished with the rank 3 Spiritual Spring and high-protein supplements, her egg production could increase tens of times, or even more.
Another major reason Jing Shu ultimately decided to invest in the Sulfur Ant Queen was that, although near death, the queen had become spiritually aware. Jing Shu didn’t know if she was like the Snake Spirit’s Little Python, but this Ant Queen could indeed communicate with her. Moreover, Jing Shu wanted to test what effect the Spiritual Spring would have on a creature so close to death.
Of course, the Ant Queen didn’t speak Huaxia, especially since they were in the United States. Their communication was a miraculous form of telepathy; Jing Shu could sense and interpret the Ant Queen’s mood through her body language. For instance, when Jing Shu moved the initially agitated Ant Queen into the Magic Cube Space, the queen visibly stiffened for a moment, then gave a long stretch. Jing Shu seemed to perceive her conveyed meaning:
Oh, look at this wonderful place! It’s so comfortable it makes me feel ecstatic, like I could die in bliss! Heavens, this place is just too comfortable! I’m willing to die right here! Besides, I don’t have much longer to live anyway.
When Jing Shu gave her a sip of the Spiritual Spring, the Ant Queen shuddered and twisted as if electrocuted, seemingly shouting: Oh, don’t stop! Just like that! I love this feeling, don’t stop! For a while after, the Ant Queen still twitched occasionally, expressing her emotions: Oh, that felt so good! I want more!
That was roughly the gist of it. When Jing Shu used her consciousness within the Magic Cube Space to propose that the Ant Queen become her pet, obey her commands, and enjoy such treatment daily, the Ant Queen submitted without hesitation or any show of integrity. She quickly adapted to her new role as a pet ant.
Jing Shu also tried to ask the Ant Queen about the surrounding environment and potential dangers, but unfortunately, the queen’s mind was like mush. Her daily routine consisted only of continuously laying eggs and having worker ants find food for her; she offered no useful information. The only remotely useful thing was that the Ant Queen had survived in this area for forty years. She had moved her nest several times and had even survived deadly conflicts with other Sulfuric Acid Ant colonies where it was a fight to the death.
So, this landmass had indeed appeared here suddenly not long ago. Even the native creatures of this great mountain range were unaware that they had been moved to another place.
It seemed the only way out of these mountains was the hard way.
The Magic Cube in Jing Shu’s hand spun faster and faster. Just as she was about to complete it, loud shrieks from Monkey echoed from outside the tent. Jing Shu dropped the Magic Cube and dashed out.
At this, everyone else was also awakened.
The dry wood fire cast its dying glow, illuminating the area beyond the protective circle of Sulfuric Acid Ants. At some point, the surrounding ground had become covered with dense black insects. They were half-buried in the soil, their abdomens held erect and flexible, each tipped with two large pincers. Jing Shu was all too familiar with these insects.
The Snake Spirit, an expert in entomology, recognized them instantly. "Earwigs! How can there be so many of them here? They must have smelled blood and tracked it."
These creatures were definitely one of Jing Shu’s nightmares.
"Are Earwigs that dangerous?" Tan Ke scratched his head. They’re just a bunch of insects. I can just stomp them to death.
The Snake Spirit explained, "Earwigs like to crawl into the ears of humans and animals late at night. They lay eggs in your brain and feed on it. This continues until the person either dies or goes insane. With these things around, you can forget about sleeping peacefully."
Jing Shu recalled her previous life. Many people had gone to sleep only to have these creatures, which buried their bodies in the soil, crawl into their ears. Victims would often awaken screaming in agony, banging their heads against walls, tormented by unbearable pain until they died. Because no one took the threat seriously at first, the bodies of those who died during migrations were often left by the roadside. On one occasion, countless tiny Earwigs emerged from these corpses and attacked an entire migrating group.
Yet, this nightmare from her past was now being furiously slaughtered by the Sulfuric Acid Ants. Although an Earwig was slightly larger than an ant, the Sulfuric Acid Ants’ acid directly corroded away nearly half an Earwig with each attack, accompanied by constant SIZZLING and POPPING sounds.
After a short while, the ground was littered with the corpses of Earwigs and Sulfuric Acid Ants, but the Earwigs hadn’t even breached the ants’ outer defensive circle. Jing Shu yawned and said, "Let’s get some more sleep before we hit the road. We need to hurry. The Earwigs won’t get in."