C33 – Riches and Dangers Come Together!
“Why run? Let’s take it down!” Fu Tian declared with a nonchalant air.
As they conversed, the previously scattered Bullet Ants converged into a massive swarm, leaving a path of devastation in their wake. Not even the giant trees or boulders that stood in their way were spared from destruction.
The ant swarm surged toward Qin Hongyu and his companions like a vengeful flood, intent on avenging their fallen brethren.
“Fine, you stay and fight them off. We’re getting out of here. We have faith in you!” Qin Hongyu hastily grabbed Bo Miaojiao, ready to make a run for it.
Fu Tian watched the oncoming ants and involuntarily gulped before picking up Rip and bolting, “We can’t beat them!”
“Hey, wait for me!” Fu Tian gasped as he chased after the duo.
But Rip’s heavy turtle shell slowed him down considerably.
Qin Hongyu glanced back at Fu Tian with a look of exasperation. “Bro, are you out of your mind? Put Rip back into the Grimoire of Demon Spirits first!”
“Oh, right!” Realizing his oversight, Fu Tian quickly stowed Rip away in his Grimoire and caught up with the others.
Thankfully, the ant swarm wasn’t too fast, and with the fire spirit’s continuous long-range attacks, their advance was hindered.
An hour later, the trio finally shook off the swarm.
“I swear I’ve never been so exhausted in my life!” Fu Tian collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat.
“It’s a good thing the ants weren’t faster, or we might not have made it,” Qin Hongyu said, equally spent, lying on the ground and catching his breath.
“I’m sorry. If I hadn’t attacked the Bullet Ant, we wouldn’t have triggered the swarm,” Bo Miaojiao said apologetically, her face etched with regret.
“Don’t worry about it. If Gibbs hadn’t kept the ants at bay, we might not have made it out,” Qin Hongyu reassured her with a smile, gently ruffling her hair.
Bo Miaojiao turned to the fire spirit and said firmly, “Gibbs, from now on, no firing without my command, got it?”
The little fire spirit seemed to acknowledge its error, its body trembling slightly as its voice took on a somber tone.
“They’re still infant spirits, much like children, and children are bound to make mistakes!” Fu Tian said, offering a comforting smile.
Qin Hongyu pulled out two Spiritual Cards and handed one to each of them, grinning as he announced, “Fantastic! These are the Spiritual Cards from those Bullet Ants we encountered.”
“It’s true what they say: fortune favors the bold. I didn’t expect us to complete the assessment so swiftly. This definitely takes a load off our shoulders!” Fu Tian exclaimed, clutching the card with palpable excitement.
“Fu, I keep hearing about how crucial these Spiritual Cards are, but how exactly do they work?” Qin Hongyu, holding the Screeching Hedgehog’s Spiritual Card, voiced his uncertainty.
“Spiritual Cards are nearly as vital as the battle spirit itself for a Battle Spirit Fighter. To advance through major levels, one must absorb a Spiritual Card. As Rank 1 Battle Spirit Fighters, we’re eligible to absorb one. Once we do, we gain access to the card’s specific abilities,” Fu Tian clarified.
“So we must absorb it to harness its power? I recall Grandpa Zhou advising us against absorbing lower-level Spiritual Cards,” Bo Miaojiao chimed in, her face etched with confusion.