Li Pu was moving forward, and so was the army of aphids.

The battle nearby hasn't ended yet; many aphids are fighting on the rock walls against the Cloud Wolves.

However, plenty of aphids didn't join the combat but split up at the intersection, entering the corridors to the left and right.

[Nibble nibble!]

Bub, who was hanging on Li Pu's back, poked its head out now, pointing its small front paw to the left.

Through the telepathy among summoned beasts, it sensed that the scarecrow was in that direction.

It wanted to gnaw its head.

"I know."

Li Pu was aware of Bub's direction signaling.

As the hub of telepathy, he could sense it too.

"We're going this way."

So he chose the right path at the fork.

These ordinary aphids were commanded by golden aphids; since they've split up, it indicated that there were golden aphids on both sides.

The left side was being tracked by the scarecrow, so naturally, Li Pu chose the right side, where no one was watching.

The golden aphid from earlier hadn't dropped anything, but it was hard to say about the remaining ones.

Moreover, choosing the right side was a better choice for him.

Because he had once observed the direction of the wolf corridor's outer perimeter closely, the major fork was at this point.

The entrance and exit that connected the entire corridor were on the left side.

This meant that if he took the right path, he would eventually reach a dead end.

By the time he reached the end and returned, it would save some time from the sweep.

After entering the right corridor, the formation of the aphid army began to thin out gradually.

Because they were not endless, multi-point battles, corridor splits, and casualties led to the current situation.

Of course, the number of Cloud Wolves was also dwindling.

In this relatively less dense scenario, it was convenient for Li Pu to sweep the scene.

The parts of Cloud Wolves could be collected later, but the short-shelf-life material from aphid mouthparts couldn't.

Thus, along the way, Li Pu didn't just rush forward.

Instead, he progressed while searching for mouth part species he hadn't acquired yet.

Whenever he discovered aphid species he hadn't encountered before, he took action to fetch a card from them.

With Bub's [Sprint] aid, this process went smoothly and swiftly.

In just twenty minutes, he collected up to seven different types and adequate amounts of aphid mouthpart-related materials.

Compare this to slowly plucking aphids under the great rock wall before; it was much faster.

"You're quite fortunate, indeed."

Watching Bub, who had jumped to LV24, Li Pu smiled brightly.

If this pace continued, perhaps before the aphid-wolf battle concluded, it might reach the full level of LV30.

As for the Crystal Coins needed for the sacrifice, he wasn't concerned now because his pockets were filled with money.

The Cloud Wolves littered everywhere were all silvery, waiting for him to collect later.

As he ventured deeper, the fewer aphid corpses appeared, and the less fighting occurred; Li Pu gradually sped up.

After advancing for another ten minutes, the end of this corridor finally presented itself before his eyes.

"Eh?"

However, he quickly noticed something amiss.

At present, there was no sign of Cloud Wolves or green aphids around.

[Roar...!] x4

Only four golden aphids, with tiger heads lowered, were roaring at the stone wall at the end.

Due to the distance, Li Pu could see the direction they were hostile towards—a rock cave.

At the cave entrance was a stone resembling a long bed.

"1, 2, 3, 4..."

Li Pu counted the number of aphids, and his expression turned a bit grave.

Because he had counted once before setting out, it meant aside from the golden aphid tracked by the scarecrow going left, the remaining golden aphids were all here.

Judging by the environment and their tense demeanor, this wasn't an ordinary place.

So Li Pu immediately thought of the bizarre wolf howl from before.

Wolf King.

This was what he discovered today, the presence within the wolf corridor.

[Ugh~~~~]

As expected, at this moment, the peculiar wolf howl echoed from the cave.

Li Pu with Bub approached closer, then hid behind a large protruding rock.

The wolf howl lasted long and grew louder.

Indicating that the Wolf King was coming out of the cave.

[Nibble nibble nibble!]

Seconds later, Bub exclaimed in surprise.

Because it saw an ultra-large Cloud Wolf with fur emitting a rainbow color, emerging from the cave.

Maybe it should be more aptly called a Rainbow Wolf.

"What is this thing..."

Li Pu's expression shifted at this moment.

[Roar Roar!] x4

The appearance of the Rainbow Wolf caused the four golden aphids to instantly become agitated.

They raised their heads in roar, then leaped to attack the Rainbow Wolf with their wings flapping and legs springing.

However, a bizarre occurrence took place; the Rainbow Wolf merely glanced at them...

Thud!

The four golden aphids barely ascended 1 meter from the ground before their bodies softened and fell to the ground, insect bellies face up.

Judging by their legs still flailing, there was no immediate threat to their lives.

But this was temporary; as the Rainbow Wolf gently leaped, it descended.

Ta-da!

Despite its huge size, the impact sounded surprisingly small when it landed.

With a contemptuous gaze, the Rainbow Wolf approached a golden aphid.

It lifted its wolf head skyward, then swiftly lowered it to bite!

Shplat!

The relatively soft insect belly was directly bitten through.

The golden aphid struggled briefly, then perished.

Shplat! x3

Replicating the process three more times, the four golden aphids originally fierce enough to confront the corridor were gone.

Understanding well the golden aphids, the Rainbow Wolf lifted its gaze toward a large rock.

(We've been discovered!)

Li Pu didn't anticipate the enemy's sharpness; thinking more was already too late.

Droooom droooom droooom...

Just then, the ground suddenly vibrated with continuous shakes.

Rustle rustle rustle!

Before he figured out what was happening, thick jade-like green plant roots broke out from underground.

"Hmm?"

Staring at the green roots, Li Pu's pupils contracted.

He was familiar with this material.

Wasn't it from the Climbing Wall Vine predecessor!

But could a plant monster's roots extend nearly 10 kilometers away...?

Li Pu questioned it.

It surpassed his understanding.

Once these roots emerged, they instantly started frantically twisting.

Seemingly expressing their anger through this manner.

[Roar...]

Then, a faint tiger roar was heard in the distant sky.

Sounding like rumbling, or an explosion.

And that direction aligned with the giant rock wall's direction.

"No way..."

Connecting it with the sound, Li Pu, though suspecting, had to confirm.

Indeed, it was the Climbing Wall Vine predecessor!

Turns out, the battle on this side had always been under its surveillance!

...

...

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