"Big Brother, Second Brother, leave the rest to you. This one is mine."
Lie Xin waved her hand decisively.
Lie Tang and Lie Song laughed heartily, charging toward the other insect masters of the Mad Spider Tribe, intent on cutting them down. Once again, the battlefield was reduced to a standoff between Lie Xin and Zhu Qi.
Zhu Qi swallowed nervously. He knew all too well that he was no match for Lie Xin. "Let’s speak calmly. There is still a chance for cooperation between us..."
Lie Xin scoffed, "Who would want to cooperate with you?"
Her mind stirred, and the Flame Armored Ant and Explosive Ant advanced, one after the other, launching a ferocious assault. The Shadow Spider, attempting a sneak attack, was swiftly identified by the Flame Armored Ant, which bit through its body in a single snap, splitting it in two. The Purple Poison Spider, spewing venom, was struck by a fireball from the Explosive Ant, instantly bursting into seventeen or eighteen pieces.
As for the Earth Strong Spider, its defense was formidable, allowing it to hold on for some time. However, under the relentless onslaught of the Flame Armored Ant and Explosive Ant, it could only accumulate more and more wounds. Soon, it let out a blood-curdling screech before collapsing to the ground.
Lie Xin took a quick step forward, gripping Zhu Qi's throat with one hand and tossing him to the insect masters below, binding him tightly.
"Zhu Qi has been captured alive! The other insect masters of the Mad Spider Tribe will be spared if they surrender!"
Lie Xin shouted. Her voice echoed throughout the tribe’s main hall.
Seeing that even someone as skilled as Zhu Qi had fallen into such a state, the morale of the other insect masters plummeted, and one by one, they surrendered. Before long, the chaos was over.
The Grand Elder, the Third Elder, Zhu Qi, and others were all tightly bound and taken to the tribe's dungeon. The Fifth Elder stared at Lie Xin in shock, as though he was seeing his great-granddaughter in a new light.
Clan Leader Sheng Wei, barely managing to rise to his feet, sighed, "Lie Xin! Thank you for your help! The Fire Ant Tribe is a great benefactor to our Holy Ant Tribe!"
His great-grandson Sheng Ying, still young, had been so frightened during the chaos that he curled up in a corner, trembling. Now, he let out a loud wail.
Lie Xin swiftly moved to him, lifting Sheng Ying in her arms and walking toward Sheng Wei. Upon seeing Lie Xin’s gesture, Sheng Wei's smile faltered, and his heart tightened.
"Sheng Ying, don’t cry. The bad guys have all been defeated. Your great-grandfather is fine." Lie Xin reached out and wiped away the tears from the corner of Sheng Ying’s eyes, her other hand resting on his delicate neck.
At first glance, this action seemed harmless, even affectionate. However, to Sheng Wei, the sight of a Golden Insect Master like Lie Xin made it all too easy for her to snap Sheng Ying’s neck. The expression on his face immediately darkened. The flames burning in his eyes began to fade, as if life itself was slowly draining away.
Lie Xin's expression remained calm, her voice polite but carrying an undeniable weight. "Tribe Leader, aren't we to decide the succession now? After all, this is an important matter for the future of the tribe."
She gently wiped away the tears from Sheng Ying's eyes, her smile kind, but there was no mistaking the firmness in her posture. The pressure on the boy's neck was subtle yet unyielding.
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Sheng Wei fell silent, his lips sealed in deep contemplation.
The Second Elder, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder, along with Lie Tang, Lie Song, and other insect masters of the Fire Ant Tribe, all cast their gazes upon him. They waited patiently for the voice of the elderly patriarch, whose very presence seemed to echo the frailty of decaying wood.
Sheng Wei's voice came forth in a hoarse whisper, "I... Sheng Wei, the 89th patriarch of the Holy Ant Tribe. In my time as patriarch, my accomplishments have been few, and my mistakes have been many. My life's end is near, and I feel deeply that the tribe cannot survive a day without a leader. Therefore, I have decided to pass the position to... Lie Xin..."
Lie Xin, however, shook her head gently. "Patriarch, how can this be? I do not bear the surname 'Sheng,' so how could I inherit the leadership of the Holy Ant Tribe? The position of patriarch should rightfully pass to Sheng Ying."
Sheng Wei froze for a moment. A glimmer of confusion filled his murky old eyes.
Wasn't it just moments ago that you threatened to seize the power for yourself?
Lie Xin smiled softly. "Sheng Ying is still young. If the patriarch does not mind, I am willing to assist him in growing to maturity. At that time, I will hand over the power and allow Sheng Ying to rule the Holy Ant Tribe on his own. Do not worry, Patriarch. I have always been an outsider. How could I ever covet the leadership of the Holy Ant Tribe?"
Her tone was filled with an air of sincerity. Though a part of Sheng Wei felt something was amiss, he could not bring himself to doubt her—after all, she had no reason to deceive a dying man.
Gratitude flickered in his eyes as he nodded. "There was a mistake before... The position of patriarch shall pass to Sheng Ying. Lie Xin has performed a great service in protecting the Holy Ant Tribe... Before Sheng Ying turns sixteen, all matters of the tribe shall be decided by Lie Xin, together with the Elders."
Sheng Wei struggled to utter these words, and once he finished speaking, the light in his eyes faded rapidly.
The 89th patriarch of the Holy Ant Tribe, Sheng Wei, his lifespan exhausted, passed away on the spot. Thus, Lie Xin smoothly took control of the Holy Ant Tribe.
Moreover, because she had foiled the plot of the Mad Spider Tribe, saving the patriarch, the young patriarch, and several elders, her contributions were immense.
In addition, with the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Elders aging rapidly and their powers waning, Lie Xin, in the prime of her life and an esteemed Golden-rank insect master, swiftly ascended to a position of power, practically becoming the most influential figure under the patriarch.
Some believed Lie Xin could easily seize the patriarch's position and overthrow the Holy Ant Tribe's leadership.
Others believed that Lie Xin was truly loyal to the tribe, aware that she did not bear the surname "Sheng" and thus was unfit to be patriarch.
Still, some speculated that Lie Xin was actually from the Mad Spider Tribe, and that her actions that day were merely part of a grand scheme played out in collaboration with them. There were countless rumors circulating.
Yet, none could have guessed that the vast Holy Ant Tribe was already under Lie Xin's control.
As for the still-immature Sheng Ying, she would simply use the Illusionary Ant to subtly alter his perception. He was never part of her true calculations.
After the chaos settled, Lie Xin, within just five years, smoothly broke through to the Platinum-rank Insect Master level. With this achievement, her influence in the Holy Ant Tribe grew even more formidable.
"Such a remarkable person, truly remarkable."
Chu Xuan had watched nearly the entire process of Lie Xin's rise to power within the Holy Ant Tribe.
Every step she took had been executed with flawless precision, always staying ahead of everyone else.
It was precisely because Lie Xin had spent the previous decades secretly accumulating strength that she now possessed overwhelming power.
It was because she had woven an immense intelligence network that she was able to learn of the Elder's, the Third Elder's, and the Mad Spider Tribe's plans in advance.
It was because of her possession of the Illusionary Ant that she didn't need to claim the patriarchal title for herself, but instead could indirectly control the Holy Ant Tribe by manipulating Sheng Ying.
Had it not been for those prior accumulations, Lie Xin could never have taken control of the Holy Ant Tribe so effortlessly.
Indeed, as the saying goes: Opportunity is always reserved for those who are prepared.
After becoming a Platinum-rank Insect Master, Lie Xin no longer needed to shatter the bronze statue to extract the crystal stone. Her mind alone contained the full set of Holy Ant cultivation techniques. Furthermore, she had ordered the collection of various insect cultivation methods.
As a result, Chu Xuan had easily acquired a large number of insect cultivation manuals—ants, spiders, mantises, scorpions, poison bees...
The continuous supply of these manuals from Lie Xin brought immense joy to Chu Xuan, causing him to smile uncontrollably.
With these cultivation methods in hand, he was certain he would find common ground, allowing him to further enhance the Blood Queen and the Blood Steel Wire. He believed that day was not far off.