vstars Chapter 8 Specialized Soldier Ants, Mutant Crickets
Chapter 8 Specialized Soldier Ants, Mutant Crickets
Liu He rode his ant mount out of the ant nest and headed into the distance.
For more than three months, he has helped the ant colony deal with "enemy insects" quite a bit.
Toads, spiders, antlions, etc.
These creatures that caused heavy losses to the ant colony were all easily crushed by Liu He.
As the ant colony grew stronger under the nourishment of the spirit rice, Liu He intervened less and less.
Especially ten days ago, specialized soldier ants were born in the ant nest!
Many ant species have colonies with only small worker ants and large worker ants, but no specially differentiated soldier ants.
Specialized soldier ants only emerge when the ant colony has extremely abundant food and nutrition.
Specialized soldier ants are several times or even more than ten times larger than ordinary worker ants. They have huge heads and terrifying serrated mandibles, and their exoskeletons are thick and hard, making them the heavy tanks of the ant colony.
Specialized soldier ants have emerged from Liu He's ant colony, making it even less necessary for him to intervene.
Specialized soldier ants are extremely fierce in combat, making up for the weakness of individual ants in the colony.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"What kind of enemy can't even be dealt with by specialized soldier ants?"
Liu He was puzzled.
There was a specialized soldier ant right next to him at that moment.
His ant mount was about the size of an ordinary car to him.
Those specialized soldier ants are like a large heavy truck.
They surrounded and protected Liu He as he advanced.
Along the way, they encountered ants that had fled back in panic, constantly sending out "danger" signals.
"Still far away?"
Liu He stopped; this was the limit of his abilities.
His movement was limited to the vicinity of the ant nest.
As the ant colony grows and the nest expands, this boundary also becomes larger.
Currently, this boundary is approximately two meters away in reality.
The area with a radius of two meters centered on the ant nest is Liu He's miniature world. Leaving this area will automatically transport Liu He back to reality.
"I already know the general location. The ants retreat to their nests and stay away from the enemy."
"return."
A thought sent him back to reality.
It was nighttime, and he was not in a convenient position to move around.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
The following day.
Liu He carefully searched the vicinity of the ant nest.
"Where is that insect that threatens the anthill?"
His ant colony has a large hunting range, with a radius of more than ten zhang (approximately 33 meters) centered on the ant nest.
The enemy that caused the ants to send out danger signals should be within this range.
After a while, he finally found several dead ants next to a patch of grass.
There was a deep cave not far away.
The entrance to the hole was about four fingers wide, pitch black and bottomless, resembling a rat's nest or a snake's den.
"snake?"
The thought of snakes sent shivers down Liu He's spine.
He wasn't afraid of ordinary snakes, but venomous snakes posed a great threat to him.
He was still just a mortal and couldn't withstand the snake venom.
"Send the ant soldiers in to scout, and hopefully lure it out."
He came to the ant nest, squatted down, and placed his palm flat with the back of his hand on the ground.
"Bring two specialized soldier ants, and then fifty large worker ants."
His language was transformed into pheromones and transmitted to the ant nest.
Two specialized soldier ants and dozens of worker ants obediently crawled onto his palm.
He carried the ants in his palm to the burrow.
"Go in and attack!"
His orders were simple and clear.
The ants couldn't understand complicated commands, so they all rushed into the hole.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"Qu qu~~"
"Qu qu~~"
A clear and melodious sound of flapping wings came from inside the cave.
"cricket?"
Liu He could distinguish the sound of the cricket, but this sound was exceptionally clear and loud.
Soon, a large cricket with a coppery-brown body emerged from its burrow.
Its size far exceeds that of ordinary crickets, with a body length of more than a hand's width. Two long, thin antennae on its head extend far out, and a pair of terrifying mandibles open and close constantly.
Dozens of ants crawled and bit it, including two specialized soldier ants.
The giant cricket kicked its legs powerfully, leaping more than ten feet into the air, shaking off the ants on its body.
It then used its sharp, hook-like legs to grab a specialized soldier ant that was biting it, and easily crushed it with its mandibles.
It chewed a few times and swallowed the specialized soldier ant.
Crickets are omnivorous, eating both insects and plants.
"Such a big cricket? It could probably kill a mouse."
Liu He had seen large crickets before, but never one this big.
However, no matter how big a cricket is, it is still just a cricket.
While it was cleaning the ants off its body, Liu He picked up a stick and sneaked up behind it.
"brush!"
The wooden stick fell from the sky, as fast as lightning.
"Bang!"
At the crucial moment, the giant cricket reacted and tried to dodge, but it was just a little too late.
The stick struck its hindquarters, causing it to spin in the air before crashing to the ground.
The large cricket struggled to its feet on the ground, preparing to escape. Its vitality was tenacious; it still had strength left after being hit by a stick.
"Bang!"
Another blow.
The injured cricket's reaction speed decreased, and it was unable to dodge.
Liu He's blow killed it instantly, its internal fluids splattering onto the nearby grass.
"Use the ants you fed my colony to commemorate my fallen ant soldiers."
Liu He picked up the large cricket and placed it next to the ant mound.
The ants swarmed around it and devoured it completely.
The "enemy insects" threatening the ant colony were once again easily dealt with by Liu He.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"Could this cricket be a mutation?"
Liu He suddenly remembered what Li Liangtian had said some time ago.
If there are particularly large insects, there may be spiritual plants nearby.
"Go and look for it."
If there's a spiritual plant, Liu He will hit the jackpot.
He arrived near the cricket's burrow and began digging.
When the burrow was dug open, traces of large crickets' activity, insect carcasses, and other food residue were found inside.
Continue to dig deeper.
"What is this?"
He discovered that the cricket's burrow was connected to the rootstock of a certain plant.
"Could it be some kind of miraculous medicine?"
Liu He knew very little about medicinal herbs; even if spiritual plants were right in front of him, he couldn't tell them apart.
Upon closer inspection, several roots near the cricket's burrow had been gnawed away.
"Did the cricket eat a magical elixir and thus mutate?"
"Let's go find Senior Brother Wu."
Liu He thought to himself.
He had no intention of embezzling the spiritual plants.
It's not worth taking such a big risk for an unknown spiritual plant.
Even if it's a spiritual plant, he doesn't recognize it and doesn't know how to refine pills, so what's the use of keeping it?
Would he dare to sell it for spirit stones?
The risk of being discovered is undoubtedly high for a trial laborer who tries to sell spiritual plants.
Before looking for Wu Shao, he went to the neighboring forest area to find Li Liangtian and asked him to take care of the spiritual plants.
Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.
"Where is Senior Brother Wu?"
In the past, Wu Shao handled various affairs of his forest area from a small wooden house in the forest area.
Liu He couldn't find him, and even after searching the forest area under his command, he still couldn't find him.
The repairmen didn't see him either.
Left with no other choice, Liu He had to go to his residence.
Wu Shao was an outer disciple who lived on Wangyue Peak, which was further into Qianyuan Mountain than Qixia Peak, and was quite far away.
Liu He traveled for a long time before finally arriving at Wangyue Peak.
The environment of Wangyue Peak is very good, and it is divided into two parts. The area below the mountainside is where the outer disciples live, while the area above is where the inner disciples live.