"Wait, these little ants don't need this treasure."
"Hmm?"
Before Jin Changchang could question, Yang Hong took out a small flying boat, using it like a ladle to scoop up the Ascension Primordial Liquid and splash it onto the black armored ants outside.
Squeak~ Squeak~
Amidst the terrified shrieks of the black armored ants, the entire black ant "pillar" instantly collapsed. Countless black armored ants slid down like collapsing sand, many of them smashing towards Yang Hong and his companions.
However, Yang Hong, who was prepared, had already activated his magic shield. The falling black armored ants were directly repelled by him into the Ascension Pool beneath their feet.
Hiss~ Hiss~ Hiss~
Like plastic thrown into concentrated sulfuric acid, the black armored ants were directly corroded into pools of spiritual water, which then merged into the Ascension Pool.
Black armored ants were different from celestial beings; they weren't just sealed but were directly decomposed!
If it weren't for the fact that the Ascension Primordial Liquid would quickly volatilize and disappear once it left the Ascension Pool by three zhang, he would have long ago used it to escape this black ant plain instead of being trapped here, unable to leave.
"So that's how it is~ This Ascension Primordial Liquid has such an effect? Brother Yang, why don't we take some Ascension Primordial Liquid with us when we leave?"
"As you wish, as long as you can carry it."
"Great~"
The excited Jin Changchang soon realized he had been tricked. The magical artifacts of the cultivation world could not store the Ascension Primordial Liquid; they would be corroded instead. Even with the immortal artifact Yang Hong had given him, he couldn't take the Ascension Primordial Liquid more than three zhang away from the Ascension Pool. Even if it was stored in the immortal artifact, it would rapidly volatilize and disappear. This process would not exceed thirty breaths.
"I see. Brother Yang, shall we leave now? Are those black armored ants far enough away?"
"Let's go. Now is the perfect time. We'll follow the black armored ants as they leave. For now, let's not use the [Dragon Yuan Pill]."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Jin Changchang naturally wouldn't object to Yang Hong's suggestion. He also understood that Yang Hong, having been trapped in this immortal realm for over a thousand years, must have thoroughly explored the surrounding area.
Yang Hong offered no explanation. He piloted the flying boat, keeping a distant watch on the black ant swarm, flying eastward while maintaining a distance of three hundred li, which was the limit of Yang Hong's divine sense at present.
The high-level black armored ants were very fast, capable of covering a hundred li in a single breath. However, to maintain the formation's integrity, the entire black ant swarm moved at a speed of only one li per breath towards the east.
Despite the slow pace, by noon on the third day, they had reached the thousand-zhang-high black armored ant wall.
"Brother Jin, it's time."
About a hundred li from the black armored ant wall, Yang Hong reminded Jin Changchang before swallowing his Dragon Yuan Pill. Jin Changchang quickly followed suit. However, he took two pills, and though his movements were discreet, Yang Hong still noticed.
Yang Hong didn't expose him. He reminded him to 'hold on tight,' then unleashed his full magical power. The flying boat instantly ascended, then accelerated,ε²θΏ black armored ant wall at a speed of a hundred li per breath.
"Junior, from whence do you come?"
Just a hundred li beyond the black armored ant wall, merely two breaths after Yang Hong's flying boat had exited, a terrifying aura descended. Tremendous immortal energy instantly seized both Yang Hong and Jin Changchang, and the flying boat beneath their feet was instantly crushed into pieces! A colossal, eight-tentacled palm rapidly materialized, displaying an eerie grey-black hue.
"Senior, please forgive us. We are from the West Ling Sea Domain, subordinates of King Gaoyu. We were preparing to deliver a message to Immortal Venerable Xuanyin in Profound Yin Immortal City."
As Yang Hong explained verbally, he lamented his own misfortune inwardly. Lan Shuang had mentioned earlier that the black ant queen's lair was to the west. When the black ant queen had consumed Lan Shuang, she had also retreated westward, which was why they had chosen to break through eastward. He hadn't expected to still encounter the black ant queen.
"King Gaoyu? How would Senior Gaoyu send two mere fledglings like you to pay respects to Immortal Venerable Xuanyin?"
As the cold voice questioned, a colossal, over ten-li-high mound of flesh appeared before Yang Hong and Jin Changchang. This was a Golden Immortal-level black ant queen, and her strength seemed to have increased significantly since their last encounter.
"The Dragon King said that our Dragon Yuan Yang has not yet been broken, making us suitable messengers for him."
Yang Hong quickly concocted a story, invoking two Great Luo Profound Immortals to deter the Golden Immortal-level black ant queen from casually devouring them.
"Dragon Yuan Yang not broken, you say? The ancestor understands. Little mud fish, head east. Eighty billion li will get you there."
"Thank you for your guidance, senior."
Yang Hong quickly expressed his gratitude, then piloted the flying boat towards the southeast. He knew that the instruction to "head east" was merely a test, a trap set by the black ant queen. Teleportation arrays existed in the cultivation world; how could the immortal realm lack them? Tens of millions of li to the southeast lay an immortal city named [Jingxuan City], which housed a teleportation array. If he had dared to fly east, he would have certainly aroused suspicion from the ancient monster that was the black ant queen, and might have been swallowed whole without a second thought.
"Brother Yang~"
"Silence!"
Having flown only ten thousand li, just as Jin Changchang was about to inquire about something, Yang Hong abruptly silenced him. Yang Hong didn't know the range of the black ant queen's divine sense, but he was aware of the black ant tribe's sphere of influence. Chattering here could still lead to them being discovered or overheard by the black ant queen.
They flew another nearly a million li southeast before the black wilderness finally disappeared, replaced by lush, verdant forests. Yang Hong didn't land until they had entered the forest for a thousand li.
"Brother Jin, this black ant tribe is incredibly strange and formidable. If we're not careful, we won't even have the chance to become dung; we'll be completely devoured, leaving not even a shred behind."
"It was my reckless haste, little brother. Thank you for your reminder, Brother Yang."
"Enough of this. Now, you control the flying boat. Maintain your course to the southeast while I recover my magical power."
"Alright~"
Jin Changchang dared not refuse. He swapped positions with Yang Hong, injected magical power into the flying boat, and controlled it to move forward. However, the speed at which he propelled the flying boat was significantly slower than when Yang Hong did. Along the way, Jin Changchang consumed a Dragon Yuan Pill every three days to ensure his true dragon aura remained undiminished, thus avoiding harassment from immortal beasts and insects. Even when they encountered human cultivators, Yang Hong continued to use their previous fabricated story to deceive them. All the cultivators they met were intimidated by the prestige of King Gaoyu and Immortal Venerable Xuanyin, and none dared to provoke them.
The two took turns piloting the flying boat, flying non-stop. It took them ten days to reach [Jingxuan Immortal City].
"Brother Yang, is this Jingxuan Immortal City? Why are there so many cultivators who aren't celestial beings?"
Walking on the street, Jin Changchang asked a very foolish question. Yang Hong rolled his eyes at him and replied, "Because celestial beings can also reproduce."
"Heh heh~ Heh heh~ I forgot. But why are nine out of ten people here women? Is it a matriarchal society in the immortal realm?"
"Because this is the Xuanyin Immortal Domain, where Yin energy is extremely heavy."
"Oh~ Oh~ Then why..."
As Yang Hong patiently explained, he also inquired with the celestial beings in the city, searching for the location of the teleportation array. The location of the teleportation array in Jingxuan Immortal City was not a secret; it could be known with a simple question. However, the price for using the teleportation array was quite astonishing.