One month later.

Wu Yuan slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, ceasing his circulation of Qi. He turned his attention inward, sensing the surging power coursing through his meridians. A satisfied smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Thirty-six strands of Demon Power.”

“This past month of cultivation hasn’t been in vain.”

“With an ample supply of Spirit Stones and the constant amplification of my innate [Spirit Gathering] talent, I’ve managed to refine three additional strands of Demon Power in just one month. At this velocity, I will reach the limit of the early Qi Condensation stage—ninety-nine strands—in at most two and a half years.”

Wu Yuan ran the calculations in his mind, his heart swelling with anticipation.

“It really is true. For Demon Beasts, as long as one’s bloodline grade is high and resources are plentiful, cultivation is a smooth highway. Compared to human cultivators, who have to fight against the heavens for every scrap of progress, we have it far easier.”

Wu Yuan was basking in his own potential when a glowing line of text drifted into his peripheral vision.

[Green Intelligence: Following the descent of the Emperor’s Flow Essence, the insect population of Little Green Mountain has undergone a transformation. A massive generation of Spirit Insects is being born.]

Wu Yuan stared at the notification, his eyes narrowing in thought.

“It’s only a ‘Green’ grade intelligence, but the implications are massive.”

“After the Great Demon’s rampage cleared out the larger threats, insects have become the dominant population on Little Green Mountain. Now, catalyzed by the Emperor’s Flow Essence, these swarms are Awakening spiritual intelligence.”

“These Spirit Insects… they could be the perfect tools for expanding my influence.”

Wu Yuan looked out over the mountain. “Little Green Mountain is currently a masterless treasure trove. The old hierarchy is gone. This is a power vacuum waiting to be filled. If I can seize this opportunity and nurture a loyal force of insects, I could truly become the Lord of this mountain!”

Excitement flickered in his eyes. He realized this was a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity.

“I need to capture them now, while they are still weak. If I wait until they grow stronger, they’ll be troublesome to subdue.”

Wu Yuan made his decision instantly.

The plan was simple: use spells to restrain the fledgling Spirit Insects, filter out those with high Potential, and then use the [Spirit Awakening] technique or slave seals to bring them under control.

He didn’t need them to be combat powerhouses. He just needed a vast surveillance network to monitor the mountain and gather resources.

Wu Yuan retrieved a jade slip—the [Spirit Controlling Seal]. It emitted a faint, pulsing glow. This was a beast-taming legacy Bibo had brought from the East Sea Dragon Palace. It was compatible with insect manipulation.

“It’s a relatively low-level technique, but it’s more than enough for these newborn hatchlings. Once I’m stronger, I can hunt for superior beast-taming arts.”

Gripping the jade slip, Wu Yuan reviewed the mnemonics one last time.

High in the branches of an ancient tree, a massive beehive pulsed with activity.

Thousands of bees buzzed in and out. Mixed among the ordinary workers were significantly larger specimens—Spirit Bees. These elites were half the size of a human fist, their translucent wings etched with glowing white spirit patterns.

In the past, Wu Yuan would have found this target a headache. He would have had to rely on his rat swarm to brute-force the hive, likely killing many valuable specimens in the process just to get to the Queen Bee.

But now, armed with the orthodox spellcasting techniques Bibo had shared, he had options.

He stood at the base of the tree and wove a set of hand seals.

“[Water Sphere Art]!”

Buzz—!

Sensing the surge of Qi, the hive erupted.

A swarm of Spirit Bees, mixed with ordinary drones, poured out like a dark, angry cloud. The air vibrated with their sharp, aggressive buzzing as they dove toward Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan didn’t flinch. He pushed his Demon Power outward.

A massive sphere of swirling water materialized instantly, enveloping the entire hive and the surrounding airspace.

The charging “black cloud” slammed into the wall of water. The Spirit Bees, still in their infancy, lacked the strength to pierce the dense liquid barrier. They were trapped, tumbling helplessly in the currents.

Wu Yuan’s eyes narrowed in concentration. He rotated his wrist, and the water sphere spun in response.

Using centrifugal force and precise hydro-manipulation, he began to separate the swarm. He conjured smaller bubbles within the main sphere, isolating the Spirit Bees into manageable clusters. They crashed into the liquid walls, buzzing furiously but unable to escape his control.

Finally, the pressure was too much for the heart of the colony.

The Queen Bee, unable to bear the crushing force on her home, crawled out of the hive.

She was massive, easily the size of a fist. But as she looked out at the prison of swirling water, she seemed completely at a loss. Her body trembled, and her compound eyes were filled with terror.

Wu Yuan’s gaze locked onto her. He manipulated the water flow, turning the liquid into binding chains that snaked around her body, immobilizing her instantly. The Queen Bee struggled, twisting her abdomen, but it was futile.

“The spells in the [Elementary Explanation of Spells] are simple, but the breakdown of the spirit runes is profound,” Wu Yuan mused, maintaining the spell. “It helps one understand the underlying logic of spells, which is invaluable for formations and artifact crafting.”

“Because I studied the theory, I’m not limited to the rigid spell models. I can adapt them.”

He felt a surge of admiration for the author of the text. “I wonder who this ‘Ling Yuanzi’ is? To deconstruct the essence of spells so thoroughly… he must be a mighty figure. If I ever have the chance, I must ask for his guidance.”

Wu Yuan drifted up to the trapped Queen Bee.

She hung limp in the water chains, her spirit broken. Her pitch-black eyes conveyed a deep, existential confusion.

I just Awakened… I’ve been a Queen for only a few days… I haven’t even eaten a few mouthfuls of spirit honey yet… why has this happened? Who did I offend?

Seeing the Queen Bee so thoroughly demoralized, Wu Yuan acted quickly.

He cast the [Spirit Controlling Seal].

The Queen Bee offered zero resistance. The golden rune sank into her forehead effortlessly, flickering with a faint light before stabilizing.

Wu Yuan immediately felt a vague connection form. He could sense her emotions: confusion, despair, and a profound sense of powerlessness.

“I can’t let her stay this depressed, or she’ll be useless,” Wu Yuan thought. “She’s the future matriarch of my aerial division. I need to motivate her.”

The stick had been applied; now it was time for the carrot.

Wu Yuan activated his [Spirit Gathering] talent. A concentrated wisp of pure Lunar Essence condensed at his fingertip, glowing with a soft, milky light. He brought it close to the Queen Bee’s mandibles.

The Queen Bee’s head snapped up.

She stared fixedly at the Lunar Essence, the despair in her eyes instantly replaced by instinctual greed. She tried to flap her wings, forgetting she was bound, and wriggled frantically in place.

Realizing she couldn’t move, she stretched her neck out as far as it would go, her long proboscis waving wildly in the air, trying to snatch the treat.

But no matter how hard she strained, the Lunar Essence remained just out of reach.

Finally, she looked up at Wu Yuan, her mental voice projecting a pitiful plea.

“Master… eat…”

The voice was faint, filled with hunger and total submission.

Satisfied, Wu Yuan smiled and dissolved the water chains.