In the days that followed, Zhang Chen’s life became easier. Apart from exploring the Spiritual World, he spent his days searching for information about that worm in the academy’s Library.
A month passed in the blink of an eye. Zhang Chen sat in the Library Pavilion, expressionless, putting down the book. He hadn’t found any records about that type of worm this entire month.
"Although the Library Pavilion holds a hundred thousand volumes, records about such ancient secrets are extremely rare," Zhang Chen murmured to himself.
Just as he was preparing to go downstairs, Steward Chen Qi entered the Library Pavilion and respectfully greeted Zhang Chen, "Greetings, Young Master Zhang."
"So it’s Steward Chen. Is there something you need from me?" Zhang Chen asked, looking at Chen Qi.
"The Elder requests your presence," Chen Qi replied.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen put down the book in his hand, organized it, returned it to its original place, and said, "I’ll go right away."
Zhang Chen made his way to Zhou Qiucheng’s study and found Zhou Qiucheng practicing calligraphy. As the door was open, Zhang Chen entered and greeted Zhou Qiucheng, "Disciple greets Teacher."
"Your timing is perfect. The information you wanted to investigate last time—I asked an old friend to look for clues, and there’s finally some progress," Zhou Qiucheng said, putting down the brush and handing Zhang Chen a pre-prepared letter.
"The worm you mentioned is called the Corpse Beetle. It usually emerges from some exceedingly rare Ancient Great Tombs, where the tomb owner’s cultivation was earth-shattering and beyond imagination in life, and only after death could their corpse energy give rise to the Corpse Beetle."
"Corpse Beetle?" Zhang Chen took the letter and began reading.
Zhou Qiucheng nodded, "In the past, the Great Zhou Royal Family excavated a significant tomb whose owner was a peerless power of an unknown realm. The Corpse Beetle appeared within it. The Great Zhou Royal Family had to forcefully degrade the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Demon-Extinguishing Shuttle to suppress the anomalies in that tomb. Afterward, through research, they found that the Corpse Beetle only emerges from the bodies of peerless powers, often accompanied by Great Creation and great crises."
Hearing this, Zhang Chen’s expression grew more serious, showing a hint of solemnity in his eyes.
"You’ve had good fortune, could it be you excavated an Ancient Divine Demon Tomb?" Zhou Qiucheng speculated as he examined Zhang Chen. "If you discover any Ancient tombs, you must keep it well-concealed, ensuring not a single piece of information leaks out; otherwise, you will invite great trouble. If someone takes notice, you might meet a demise with your soul scattering."
Zhang Chen subtly shifted his gaze and then discreetly covered his tracks, saying, "It’s a friend of mine who’s asking."
Zhou Qiucheng looked solemnly at Zhang Chen, "This matter should end with me. Make sure not to let this information leak further to avoid causing more trouble."
Zhou Qiucheng’s earnestness made Zhang Chen understand that he wished for the information to stay contained since Zhou Qiucheng took the burden for him. Zhang Chen should not expose himself further.
Zhang Chen gratefully acknowledged Zhou Qiucheng’s effort, clasping his hands in a respectful gesture, "Thank you, Teacher."
Shaking his head, Zhou Qiucheng responded, "You’re my student, and you’ve done a great service for my family. ’Thank you’ isn’t necessary."
Zhang Chen, not standing on ceremony, continued reading the letter. Though he kept silent, he understood that Zhou Qiucheng must have shielded him from a ’big trouble,’ which might not have been trouble for Zhang Chen, but fewer disturbances were still preferable. Zhang Chen appreciated the support.
Zhou Qiucheng was pleased with Zhang Chen’s relaxed demeanor, suggesting solidarity among them.
"The so-called Corpse Beetle can be likened to ’maggots’," Zhou Qiucheng explained.
"Maggots?" Zhang Chen raised his head in surprise, looking at Zhou Qiucheng. He couldn’t understand, for the insect was nothing like maggots in appearance.
"When an ordinary flesh decomposes, maggots are born to decompose the body. But for those Great Divine Power Users, their bodies remain Vajra Unbreakable, refined by earth, water, wind, and fire, enduring countless tribulations without decay—truly immune to natural disasters and burials. The Corpse Beetle is a life-form born under the operation of the Great Thousand World’s laws, specifically to decompose the bodies of Great Divine Power Users. However, once a Corpse Beetle is born, it can not only decompose the bodies of Great Divine Technicians but can also devour ordinary life forms. It’s exceedingly peculiar and should not be casually encountered. If you have the chance to escape, do so swiftly, without confronting it directly," Zhou Qiucheng advised.
"Water and fire don’t harm it; Divine Techniques can’t destroy it. If you encounter it, you’re best to stay away and avoid any contact," Zhou Qiucheng incessantly advised Zhang Chen.
Zhang Chen nodded when he heard this: "Disciple understands."
Zhang Chen spoke with Zhou Qiucheng for a while, then turned and left with the letter, leaving Zhou Qiucheng standing in the study, watching Zhang Chen’s back with a gentle sigh, his voice full of emotion: "I hope you truly heed my words."
Zhang Chen returned to his estate, holding the letter from the Corpse Beetle, which was more like a book, nearly ten pages thick.
"Corpse Beetle? I wonder if the Water Bear I obtained can counter it in some way?" Zhang Chen pondered.
The level of the Corpse Beetle isn’t high, but it has the advantage of vast numbers, occupying the entire Spiritual World. With such a massive number of Corpse Beetles, even a Twelfth Tier expert would be devoured completely, worn out by the Corpse Beetles. However, I’m different, right? I have the Water Bear, which can devour all things in Heaven and Earth, everything containing Mysterious Power.
"Interesting!" Zhang Chen’s heart grew more convinced that this plan was feasible. The most crucial point is that the Water Bear is also immortal, impervious to water and fire. I wonder how it compares to the Corpse Beetle.
"Besides, now that the Water Bear has been recorded by my Ice Hell, I have a degree of control over it, so I’m not afraid of the Water Bear causing harm." Thinking of this, Primordial Spirit appeared in the Eighth Heaven in Zhang Chen’s mind.
Entering the Spiritual World from the Material Realm is random; Zhang Chen didn’t dare to enter the Seventh Heaven directly. What if he fell into the lair of the Corpse Beetles? Wouldn’t he meet a tragic end?
Although he has the Sun True Flame, he would still be exhausted by the Corpse Beetles.
After reaching the Eighth Heaven, Zhang Chen headed to the Heaven-Supporting Pillar, then from there to the Seventh Heaven’s Heaven-Supporting Pillar. Looking around, he still saw a densely packed world of Corpse Beetles. The previously awakened Corpse Beetles had fallen back into slumber, turning into lifeless rocks.
Standing atop a mountain, Zhang Chen’s eyes swept across the world, seeing a landscape of rolling hills entirely constructed by Corpse Beetles. With so many Corpse Beetles, even beyond a Twelfth Tier being, they couldn’t be exterminated.
Zhang Chen once again equipped the Heaven-Reaching Jianmu, his Authority of Wood Element stepping into the Law Level. He stretched out his hand to pluck a Corpse Beetle, examining it closely and using the Law of Life to sense its structure, probing the mysteries of its life.
"The Corpse Beetle is a life born entirely from death, lacking the three souls and seven spirits, without true wisdom. It only possesses an instinct for devouring and decomposition, created by the Heavenly Dao to deal with Divine Demon level beings." Zhang Chen casually crushed the Corpse Beetle, turning it into powder, which dissipated as dust in front of the Heaven-Supporting Pillar.
As a Corpse Beetle died, all Corpse Beetles within a hundred miles of the Heaven-Supporting Pillar seemed to receive some signal, all suddenly reviving, frantically flying in the air, colliding in groups as if searching for the scent of an enemy.
Seeing this, Zhang Chen didn’t delay. In the next moment, his surrounding domain opened, and the gates deep within the Ice Hell slowly shattered, forming a passage linking the outside world and Ice Hell.
Within the Ice Hell, the frozen Water Bears seemed to sense the external atmosphere, and at this moment, their entire tribe started to awaken gradually. The next moment, an overwhelming swarm of Water Bears flew out from the ice, rushing towards the outside world.
Zhang Chen watched as the Water Bears emerged from the Ice Hell, flying towards the Corpse Beetles without hesitation, and in an instant, the two swarms collided, launching into a fierce battle.
Standing atop the mountain, Zhang Chen closed the Ice Hell, his eyes on the sky-darkening swarm of insects, the clash of the two swarms presenting an incredibly spectacular scene.
"The Corpse Beetle holds a numerical advantage, but the Water Bear is not simple either. The individual strength of a Water Bear surpasses that of a Corpse Beetle, and the Water Bears can devour while rapidly reproducing. It won’t be long before, with constant killing and devouring, the number of Water Bears will surpass the Corpse Beetles." Observing the battle between the two sides, Zhang Chen pondered.
However, the Water Bears were indeed fierce, not fearing the residual Divine Power on the Heaven-Supporting Pillar, and after detecting Zhang Chen’s presence, some of the Water Bears aggressively charged at him, seemingly intent on consuming Zhang Chen.
"Such fierce insects." Watching the approaching Water Bears, the Celestial Measuring Ruler slipped from Zhang Chen’s sleeve, evolving into a spatial barrier, isolating the Water Bears. Regardless of how fierce the outside Water Bears were, Zhang Chen stood within the barrier as if cut off, separated by the ends of the Earth.
Seeing they couldn’t attack Zhang Chen, the Water Bears continued to charge towards the Corpse Beetles, and at this moment, the two tribes engaged in a brutal fight.
Zhang Chen observed for an hour, realizing the two sides couldn’t determine a victor without a year or two. With that thought, his form flickered as his Primordial Spirit returned to his body.
"I’m now quite curious about what kind of strong being’s body gave rise to such a creature as the Corpse Beetle. Naturally, I also need to keep a close watch on the Spiritual World. I can’t let the Water Bears devour the Corpse Beetles and then, in passing, swallow the Ancient Divine Demon corpse. Otherwise, all my efforts would be in vain." Zhang Chen mused silently.