Chapter 40: The Soul-Controlling Crystal

The two swords possessed by Jin Zun were treasures of the upper-tier Tianhun Immortal level. Their most powerful attacks, “Golden Light Everywhere,” matched the strength of a Six-Star Tianpo Immortal. Similarly, Qu Yi’s Haotian Sword was also a treasure of the upper-tier Tianhun Immortal level, and its strongest attack, “Six Stars Reaching the Sky,” equaled the power of a Six-Star Tianpo Immortal.

The two continued flying forward inside the insect race’s nest, able to find their way by sensing the presence of the insect queen. The insects blocking their path were annihilated wave after wave under the combined attacks of Jin Zun and Qu Yi, left without a trace.

Bloodthirsty, cold, merciless.

Deep within the cave, the insects gathered there, sensing that their comrades ahead had been wiped out like by a flood, grew utterly terrified. Gradually losing control from the insect queen, they scattered into various caves, no longer blocking Qu Yi and Jin Zun’s path.

At this point, Qu Yi and Jin Zun reached the deepest part of the cave—a vast space over ten thousand meters high, inhabited only by the insect queen.

The insect queen had a size akin to a human brain, with two huge black eyes that bulged and sunken as her body expanded and contracted, creating a terrifying sight.

Qu Yi, unafraid despite the queen’s massive size, stepped forward and called out, “Insect Queen, I am Qu Yi. I seek the primal energy vein of your Tianshou Star. Since you already possess it, I have no choice but to challenge you, as per the rules of the Fiend Realm—only the strongest may keep the primal energy vein.”

“Shh, shh.”

The insect queen moved slightly, emitting a very pleasant sound that instantly brought a sense of joy. Qu Yi and Jin Zun smiled and floated upward in ecstasy.

“That’s not right—it’s the insect queen’s voice-control technique! She’s truly a born soul powerhouse, trying to control us right away!” Qu Yi shouted angrily from mid-air.

Qu Yi and Jin Zun quickly regained their senses and landed back on the ground.

“You two are merely at the level of Two-Star Tianpo Fiends. Relying on your powerful treasures, you dare challenge our insect race—how bold! But since you’ve entered our nest, there’s only one outcome: death,” the insect queen said as her body writhed, emitting another sound.

As soon as he spoke, the insect race that had hidden in various caves gathered again and surged into this vast cave, surrounding Qu Yi and Jin Zun completely. Qu Yi sensed that there were no less than a thousand powerful Sky Soul Demons among them, with significant numbers at each of the five star levels. Moreover, even the Earth Demon-level insects possessed the cultivation of Earth Soul Demons; those of Sky Soul Demon level were not even qualified to enter this cave. The number of Earth Demon-level insects was even greater, reaching 100 million, while only 1 million were inside the cave—the rest were scattered in various stone caves, seemingly aiming to attack Qu Yi and Jin Zun wave after wave. “Haha, Queen of Insects, what a clever plan. But just because you have so many insects, do you think you can deal with us two? Very well, if I don’t show you my strength, you won’t feel fear at all,” Qu Yi laughed loudly. Suddenly, Mu Zun, Shui Zun, Tu Zun, along with Lei Ling, Lei Kong, Shui Kong, and Cang Yang, along with Liu Feng, Liu Bo, and the 99 highest commanders of the demon beasts, all emerged from the Dimension Ball. A total of 108 powerful Sky Soul Demons appeared—101 of them at the five-star level, with Liu Feng alone at the six-star level. Their combined destructive aura immediately overwhelmed the aura of the 100 million insects. Whoosh… A sound of gasps filled the entire insect swarm, lasting for a long time. The Queen of Insects also shrank suddenly, reducing her size to 50 meters—half of her original size—showing that she too was terrified by these suddenly appearing powerful demon beasts. Seeing this, Qu Yi didn’t bother with words and ordered directly, “Everyone, attack! Attack! Kill as many as you can.” At that moment, Jin Zun, Mu Zun, Shui Zun, and Tu Zun charged at the Sky Soul Demon-level insects. Each of them wielded a pair of supreme Heaven Soul Immortal-level magical weapons and unleashed their strongest spells, launching rapid attacks. The dense swarm of insects, still stunned by the formation created by Qu Yi, didn’t even have time to react before being slaughtered by the four lords, resulting in tens of thousands of deaths. Seeing this, Lei Ling, Lei Kong, Shui Kong, and Cang Yang immediately reverted to their beast forms—electric eels, water-crushing lobsters, and sea rats—each using their abilities to unleash waves of spells, wiping out the remaining insects in the cave. In just one round, all 100 demon beasts in the cave were wiped out by Qu Yi’s forces.

Liu Feng and Liu Bo, the Flowing Shadow Leopards, also returned to their true forms and led those ninety-nine supreme commanders of the demonic beasts to rush out swiftly, heading toward the ten stone passages connecting to the cave, where they immediately launched the most brutal massacre.

These demonic beasts of the Five-Star Heavenly Soul level found it effortless to deal with the insectoids of the Heavenly Soul and Earth Soul levels; wherever they passed, there were piles of insectoid corpses, torn to pieces with blood and flesh everywhere.

Qu Yi focused solely on the Insectoid Empress. At this moment, realizing that the demonic beasts had gone after the various insectoids she had created, her body swelled violently, returning to its hundred-meter size. Her two black eyes, though devoid of light, emitted an overwhelming chill.

“Hmph, I see through you—you’re the leader of these demonic beasts. A mere Two-Star Heavenly Soul demon like you dare to provoke me? You really underestimate yourself. I’ll control you first and make you my slave for life, suffering torment at the hands of our insectoid race forever,” the Insectoid Empress shouted angrily at Qu Yi.

Qu Yi shrugged, picked up the Vast Heaven Sword, and cast the most powerful spell, “Six Stars Connecting the Sky.” Six flame balls flew out, straight toward the Insectoid Empress.

“Daring to use such a spell against me? Let me show you the true might of an Empress,” the Insectoid Empress said coldly.

Suddenly, a yellow mist erupted from beneath her body, moving at incredible speed and enveloping the six growing flame balls, extinguishing them all.

“What is this yellow mist? How can it extinguish the power of the Fire World?” Qu Yi was shocked.

The Insectoid Empress, of course, wouldn’t reveal the answer. Her body expanded and contracted, and suddenly two beams of white light shot from her eyes, hitting Qu Yi’s head. Then, the white light entered Qu Yi’s soul space, aiming to seal his Soul Flower.

The Insectoid Empress’s most powerful ability was her innate soul magic, which was also why she could control countless insectoids in their nest.

At that moment, as the two beams of white light entered Qu Yi’s soul space, he had no ability to resist. How could a Soul Flower of the Two-Star Heavenly Soul Immortal level compete with one of the Six-Star Heavenly Soul Demon level?

Qu Yi stood motionless on the ground, his expression blank, like a living statue.

The power of the Insectoid Empress’s soul light was too fierce; as soon as it entered Qu Yi’s soul space, it stopped his Soul Flower from functioning.

But the Insect Queen was not yet pleased. To her shock, in Qu Yi’s soul space, aside from the Soul Flower, there was also a rotating green sphere. At that moment, the sphere emitted two golden beams that blocked the two white beams outright.
The Artifact God stepped in.
The two golden beams not only blocked the white beams but also, guided by the golden light, immediately entered the Insect Queen’s soul space and instantly sealed her Soul Flower.
In the blink of an eye, the entire body of the Insect Queen stopped moving, lying there like a pile of flesh.
Qu Yi regained his clarity and smiled at the Insect Queen.
“Qu Yi, go and kill the Insect Queen, obtain the Soul Control Crystal from her body, and give it to Qing Wu Gui. Once Qing Wu Gui reaches the level of a Six-Star Heavenly Soul Demon, he won’t have to worry about his soul realm anymore,” the voice of the Artifact God rang out in Qu Yi’s soul space.
Inside the Insect Queen’s body was a special crystal, which was the source of power for her innate soul magic. It also contained her understanding of the primal energies of the five elements. As a beast born with the ability to comprehend these primal energies, this was why the Insect Queen could create insects with elemental attributes.
Hearing this, Qu Yi’s face lit up with joy. He had been worried about Qing Wu Gui, as it would take a long time for him to master those primal energies. By the time Qu Yi ascended to the divine realm, Qing Wu Gui might not even have reached the level of a One-Star Heavenly Soul Demon.
Now, with the Soul Control Crystal, Qing Wu Gui could at least reach the level of a Six-Star Heavenly Soul Demon and no longer worry about his soul realm.
As for Wu Yuan, Qu Yi didn’t need to worry about his soul realm either. He only needed to provide the beast with enough primal energy so that Wu Yuan could keep advancing in strength.
“There’s such a valuable thing here—I must seize it,” Qu Yi replied with a laugh.
Immediately, he took off, wielding his Haotian Sword and casting the “Six Stars Connecting the Sky” spell once again. A torrent of flaming fire burned away the Insect Queen’s body.
The flames rushed forward, leaving behind only a black hexagonal crystal—the Soul Control Crystal mentioned by the Artifact God.
Qu Yi quickly put it away.
The Golden Lord, Wooden Lord, Water Lord, and Earth Lord gathered around Qu Yi, smiling happily as well.
“Great. You four stay here. I’m going to the Demon Realm now to deliver this Soul Control Crystal to Wu Qing,” Qu Yi said cheerfully.
The four lords nodded.
Qu Yi immediately took out the Boundless Star Map and vanished.

Jin Zun, Mu Zun, Shui Zun, and Tu Zun, upon seeing Qu Yi leave, each took out their magical treasures and laughed simultaneously. “Now that this lord has gone, there are still many insects here that haven’t been eliminated. Let’s go practice the spells we’ve mastered recently.” In an instant, the four lords flew away to continue slaughtering the insect tribes alongside those supreme leaders of monsters.