Dozens of cultivator teams, led by ninth-tier cultivators or even Loose Immortals, advanced in several major formations and magical arrays.
Heeding the bitter lessons of their predecessors in the Li Fire Desert, all cultivators knew that individually, they could not defeat a Li Fire Locust of the same tier; in fact, they would fare worse as the battle progressed.
Human cultivators could only rely on their collective strength, amplified by formations, to contend with the Li Fire Locusts.
Shi Yuan was a Core Formation realm disciple of the Shadow Moon Sect, which was a seventh-rank sect under the management of the Sunrise Sect.
The expedition to the Yu Rou Plains by the immortal cultivation sects was led by ninth and eighth-rank sects, with other sects joining forces.
Allowing small sects to act independently would be akin to sending them to their deaths.
Shi Yuan was fortunate enough to be assigned to the Sunrise Sect's contingent, positioned in the central area of the "Sunrise Golden Light Great Formation," thus avoiding the role of cannon fodder on the outer fringes.
"Senior Liu Fan, we've been traveling for three days without encountering any so-called Li Fire Locusts. Could it be that there's no insect tide?"
As a fourth-tier junior cultivator from a seventh-rank sect, consistently positioned in the rear, Shi Yuan had never actually seen a Li Fire Locust.
"Not encountering them is the best outcome. Once you do, it signifies a major battle, or even death!"
As Liu Fan spoke, his eyes scanned his surroundings. Although they were traveling on a path previously trodden, there was no guarantee that Li Fire Locusts wouldn't emerge.
He was a Nascent Soul cultivator. While he hadn't seen a Li Fire Locust either, he had read accounts in his sect's travelogues and biographies, and he knew the terrifying nature of these creatures.
"Crack!"
Suddenly, a crisp cracking sound caught Liu Fan's attention. It was not the sound of dry branches breaking, nor the crunch of snow underfoot.
Liu Fan reacted decisively, shouting, "Alert!"
As he shouted, Liu Fan drew out a sixth-tier defensive talisman, activated it, and slapped it onto himself!
Crackling sounds echoed, growing in intensity from all directions, creating an almost deafening aura.
"Everyone, fly up and prepare for battle!"
At this moment, the ninth-tier Mahayana realm commander also bellowed.
"Hiss~"
"Holy shit!"
"My god!"
As the cultivators ascended into the air, their faces turned ashen.
The once vast expanse of white snow was instantly covered in red. Countless fiery red Li Fire Locusts rapidly emerged from beneath the snow.
"Don't freeze, everyone! Attack in squads, concentrate fire. Do not use fire-based spells; prioritize water, ice, and metal elements!"
The ninth-tier commander's orders were timely. As soon as the Li Fire Locusts appeared, he issued his commands. Various spells shot out like cannonballs, unleashing fury upon the Li Fire Locusts on the ground.
There were no booming explosions, only more cracking sounds!
Ice shattered the locusts' carapaces, golden swords pierced them, massive stones crushed them, and vines constricted them, all accompanied by crisp cracking noises.
Amidst these cracking sounds, however, were also strange, mournful cries.
"Baa~ma~hong~"
Upon hearing these cries, the ninth-tier commander's expression shifted subtly. He immediately unleashed a special sonic wave attack, suppressing the strange wailing.
"Everyone, channel your true energy to your ears and beware of sonic attacks!"
His warning was prompt, but he had mistaken something. The attack of the black Li Fire Locusts was a spiritual attack, not a sonic one.
Shi Yuan felt a wave of dizziness wash over him. He closed his eyes, on the verge of falling.
Just then, Liu Fan, also feeling groggy, jolted awake and shouted, "Wake up!"
"Wake up! Wake up!"
High-level cultivators loudly roused their dazed subordinates.
Screeech~ Screeech~
Sharp insectoid chirps emanated from underground, as if something terrifying was stirring.
Shi Yuan vigorously shook his head, clearing his mind. He turned to Liu Fan and bowed, "Thank you, Senior Liu Fan."
"You idiot! Get ready for battle, quick!"
Liu Fan was almost infuriated by Shi Yuan's gesture!
They were in the midst of a battle, and he was performing a bow?
"Yes!"
Shi Yuan snapped back to attention. With his right hand, he grabbed a handful of talismans, activated them, and slapped them onto himself. With his left hand, he activated another set of talismans and hurled them at the ground beneath him!
Simultaneously, a shield-type magical artifact appeared beneath his feet, and his flying sword hovered before his chest, dancing protectively.
Boom~
Shi Yuan, who had just prepared himself, was sent flying by a Li Fire Locust that burst forth from the ground.
"You beast!"
Liu Fan, who had been on high alert, instantly unleashed a flying sword strike.
However~~
With a clang, Liu Fan's flying sword was repelled.
"Sixth-tier! No~"
Liu Fan only had time to exclaim before his head was severed in two by the sharp foreclaws of a locust.
"Senior Liu~"
Shi Yuan's gasp of horror was cut short as his head was also instantly crushed.
A sixth-tier Li Fire Locust had effortlessly annihilated a fifth-tier and a fourth-tier cultivator.
And this was not an isolated incident!
Simultaneously, countless locusts surged from the ground.
The slaughter had officially begun!
The Li Fire Locusts possessed an innate talent for burrowing, and this ambush had caught the human cultivators completely off guard!
Three days of peace had lulled many cultivators into a false sense of security, particularly those in the center of the battle formations, who had grown complacent.
Consequently, as the battle commenced, the cultivators on the outer fringes reacted instantly, while those in the center suffered heavy losses, causing the battle formation to collapse almost immediately.
"Shrink the formation, full defense!"
The ninth-tier commander's face was pale as he urgently commanded the cultivators to consolidate their defenses.
However, it was too late. The Li Fire Locusts emerging from the ground were all sixth-tier and above. Not only did they outnumber the human cultivators, but their cultivation levels were also vastly superior!
...
"Increase the ice power!"
The patriarchs atop Purple Kun Mountain reacted the moment the Li Fire Locusts burst from the ground. They immediately mobilized the "Gentle Rain Great Formation," and countless hailstones rained down. They no longer cared about the over one hundred thousand disciples further down the mountain!
It was more critical to prevent the Li Fire Locusts from crossing Purple Kun Mountain.
If disciples died, they could be trained again.
If the Li Fire Locusts were to breach the Yu Rou Plains, the entire immortal cultivation world of the Yu Rou Plains would be annihilated.
The lessons learned from the Li Fire Desert's immortal cultivation world were still fresh.
Within just an hour, apart from the seventh-tier Integration realm cultivators and above who managed to break through the encirclement with their formidable power, the remaining sixteen million-plus disciples and seniors were devoured by the insects!
Under the bombardment of hailstones, the Li Fire Locusts did not pursue the fleeing cultivators, nor did they seize the opportunity to attack Purple Kun Mountain. Instead, they all burrowed back underground.
The great figures of the immortal cultivation sects in the Yu Rou Plains breathed a sigh of relief, believing they had found a way to counter the Li Fire Locusts. They frantically laid down formations west of Purple Kun Mountain, transforming ambient spiritual energy into ice spiritual energy and freezing vast tracts of forest.
Concurrently, while the sixth-tier and below Li Fire Locusts fell into hibernation, the seventh-tier and above locusts were secretly gathering. A tunnel piercing through Purple Kun Mountain was being rapidly excavated.
Seventh-tier Li Fire Locusts possessed nascent intelligence, and ninth-tier locusts had intelligence equivalent to ordinary mortals.
After over ten thousand years of development, the intelligence of some ninth-tier Li Fire Locusts was no longer inferior to that of human cultivators!