In mere moments, every Blood-Armor Beetle had its eyes punctured and abdomen impaled by the Gold Marrow Bees’ venomous stingers. The bees held nothing back—toxic venom flooded into the beetles’ bodies with ruthless efficiency.
Gold Marrow Bee venom was potent. In sufficient quantities, it could kill a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator within moments, let alone these smaller demonic insects. Once injected, the toxins ravaged the beetles’ systems.
The beetles thrashed in agony, but six bees per squad had already locked down their limbs and wings. One sacrificial bee per group clung desperately to the beetle’s deadly forelimbs, trading its life to buy time.
Within seconds, every Blood-Armor Beetle lay dead.
Their strength had always been their near-impenetrable armor and razor-sharp forelimbs—even mid-stage cultivators struggled to pierce their defenses. Yet beneath that armor, their resistance to toxins was mediocre. Flooded with venom, they stood no chance.
The entire battle lasted only a few breaths.
Engagement. Distraction. Restraint. Lethal injection.
Every step unfolded with terrifying precision, showcasing the bees’ flawless discipline and mastery of formation tactics.
Against the beetles’ lethal forelimbs, even a Gold Marrow Bee’s defenses could only hold for seconds. Any delay would have multiplied casualties. If the formation broke, the swarm would be picked apart—no longer able to immobilize their foes.
Thankfully, their training paid off. Targeting weaknesses, they executed their mission flawlessly.
But victory came at a cost.
Each beetle’s death required one bee’s sacrifice.
Those that had lunged forward to draw the beetles’ attacks now lay broken—carapaces split, bodies mangled. Some had been bisected, yet still clung on with their last shreds of life, buying time for their sisters.
Fifty-six beetles dead. Fifty-six bees lost.
For a battle against demonic insects, this casualty ratio was exceptional. Without the formation, losses would have been far worse.
“The combat formation worked well. Against Blood-Armor Beetles, this outcome is impressive.”
“If only we had a defensive bee variant—losses could’ve been minimized, maybe even avoided…”
The battle cemented Qi Ping’s belief in formations. Against targeted weaknesses, coordinated attacks amplified the swarm’s lethality tenfold.
“With refinements, this could work even against high-tier threats—maybe even second-rank swarms.”
“I wonder if the cultivation world has formations tailored for insect swarms?”
He suspected they existed. If human cultivators could deploy battle arrays, why not bees? His current knowledge was limited, but the idea took root.
Someday, he’d find a swarm-compatible formation—whether defensive, disruptive, or offensive. His unique ability to communicate with every bee gave him an edge most beast-taming cultivators lacked.
“A diverse swarm would help too. Armored bees for defense. Hyper-toxic strains for lethality. Or specialized attackers and disruptors… Tailoring the swarm to counter different foes—demonic insects, cultivators, beasts…”
The potential dawned on him. A perfected swarm could rival forces far beyond their individual strength.
Who wouldn’t fear a sky-blackening tide of bees?
Pair that with formations, and their power would soar.
The realization elevated the swarm’s importance in his plans.
Versatile in combat and honey production—no better early-stage companion came to mind.
With “Spirit Beast Cultivation: Insect Volume” in hand, breeding third-rank Gold Marrow Bees might be uncertain, but second-rank was guaranteed.
Once achieved, combined with his [Wildshape: Gold Marrow Bee], who in Qingstone County could touch him?
The Mistcloud Mountains would be his domain.
“But first, survival.”
“Sixty bees lost today. Combined with earlier battles, the swarm’s down to just over 1,400.”
“Ten days remain until the first 200 Razorwing Bees emerge.”
Even at double the blood ginseng consumption, this was the fastest possible.
Doubt crept in. Could 1,400 bees hold for ten days?
If the pattern held, each wave would grow stronger. A high-tier demonic insect or a massive mid-tier swarm could wipe them out.
“If defense becomes impossible, we retreat with the herbs. Return with Razorwings and reclaim the territory.”
“The bee legion’s formation tactics are solid. With refinement, we might endure.”
Decision made, Qi Ping harvested the beetle corpses—sellable for spirit stones—then rushed back to cultivate more blood ginseng. Every resource counted now.
He couldn’t afford to leave. If overwhelming forces appeared, he’d need to grab everything and flee instantly.
After the battle, Qi Ping returned to his frenzied herb cultivation, laboring day and night for resources and Druid experience.
Three days later.
The third wave struck.
“Blood-Armor Beetles again?”
This time, 132 strong.
Still, not enough to force retreat.
The bees repeated their tactics—swifter, deadlier.
But 132 more bees fell.
The swarm dwindled below 1,300.
Qi Ping’s mood darkened.
Day Six.
Four days until Razorwing maturation. The fourth wave arrived.
“Another three-day interval?”
Too consistent for coincidence.
But survival took priority.
*”216 mid-tier Thornspider Demons. Numbers are daunting, but their weakness is obvious. Evade the first silk volley, then crush them in the opening.”*
Deploying five-bee squads, the swarm lost only three bees while annihilating every spider.
Trapped bees were later freed.
The fourth wave cost almost nothing—instead netting 200+ spider corpses.
A small windfall.
Day Nine.
One day before Razorwing emergence. The fifth wave came.
“Three. Days. Again.”
Then Qi Ping sensed them.
High-tier demonic insects.
Bonewhite Stingers.
His heart sank.
