"Get everyone out here. I have important matters to go over with you," Han Ning said, his face cold.
"Yes."
The Insect-man nodded, then turned and called out.
Soon, several figures of varying heights emerged from all directions. They lined up neatly before Han Ning and Fei Lie, their faces filled with reverence.
Han Ning watched them in silence, slightly raising his palm.
THWIP! THWIP! THWIP!
Over a dozen tentacles shot out, creating sharp sonic booms. They indiscriminately slaughtered all the Insect-men on guard in an instant.
At the same time, Yin Yi shot and killed all the insects that had gathered nearby.
"Let’s go."
After killing the meddlesome guards, Han Ning walked into the stone house without giving them a second glance.
The treasury wasn’t built on the surface. Instead, it was a stone hall located ten meters underground, its style somewhat similar to the Queen’s Ruins he’d encountered before.
To his surprise, the Red Centipede Tribe’s treasury was even cleaner than Fei Ming’s living quarters.
The Insect-men’s technology wasn’t highly developed, so there were naturally no sophisticated traps in the treasury—only a few insects lurking in the shadows to guard the treasures.
Hanging from the ceiling were round, ore-like stones that served as lamps. They emitted a cold, mineral glow that wasn’t harsh on the eyes.
Inside stood row after row of wooden shelves. The treasures on them were organized into small, individual cubbies separated by wooden planks. Beside each cubby was a small plaque inscribed with information about the item inside in the Insect-man’s language.
’They’ve actually got a decent warehouse management system going. Not bad.’
Han Ning nodded to himself in approval as he looked at the neatly categorized treasures, then stepped inside.
Browsing a treasury was a lot like shopping at a supermarket.
It stirred up that primal human urge to shop, the desire to toss everything one saw into a shopping cart.
The treasures in the Red Centipede Tribe’s vault included nearly every category known to the Yinsaike Race.
Crude potions and recipes, Soul Beast organs, ores, plants, Insect-man relics, and Attribute Crystal Stones... the list went on.
’A restorative potion recipe to help Fire Type Soul Beasts of Extraordinary Level and above quickly recover their Spiritual Energy? Not bad, not bad.’
’Huh? A recipe for a common toxin removal potion?’
Han Ning walked past rows of shelves displaying potion recipes for various effects. Suddenly, his eyes fell upon a Beast Hide Scroll sitting on the top shelf to his right.
"Toxin Removal Potion Recipe: For treating injuries inflicted by common poisonous Soul Beasts at the War General Level."
Thinking of some of his companions’ ailments back at the academy, Han Ning decisively tucked the Beast Hide Scroll into his waist pouch.
The Insect-men’s level of craftsmanship was relatively low. What they considered treasures looked quite crude to Han Ning.
He wasn’t too familiar with materials like ores and plants, either; the only one he recognized was Soul Nourishing Grass.
Soon, he reached the area that interested him most: where the Soul Beast Crystal Stones of various Attributes were kept.
This area was specially sectioned off, with the Crystal Stones of different Attributes sorted and stored in separate sections of various sizes.
’Most are Fire, followed by Earth, then Wood, Water, Wind, Metal, and Dark...’
A single glance revealed a dense collection of at least a thousand Soul Beast Crystal Stones, all emitting fluctuations of at least the Extraordinary Level.
The dozen or so most precious ones emitted War General Level fluctuations.
’Excellent, excellent. All of them are treasures.’
Looking at the trove of faintly glowing Attribute Crystal Stones, Han Ning directly commanded Yin Yi to lash out with her vines and stuff them all into a waist pouch.
Besides these items, there were also more valuable trophies that the Red Centipede Tribe’s Insect Masters had seized from Soul Beasts or other Insect Masters.
As he entered another area storing Soul Beast body parts, the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm within him suddenly pulsed with desire.
On thick wooden shelves, various Soul Beast organs of all sizes were soaking in a special liquid.
There was a dark red, heart-shaped piece of flesh over a meter in diameter.
There were razor-sharp insect limbs that glinted coldly under the ambient light.
There were also strange, round orbs that exuded a rich fragrance.
A mottled Metal sword, fragmented Armor, ancient Jade, coarse cloth garments of an unknown age reeking of decay, blackened beast hides... The collection was vast and eclectic.
The object of the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm’s desire was the giant heart, over a meter in diameter. Its shape was somewhat similar to a Night Demon’s heart, yet slightly different.
As a reward for its service, Han Ning wasn’t stingy. He let the All-Encompassing Spiritual Silkworm burrow into the heart and feast to its content.
As he ventured deeper into this section, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a round orb in the corner of a shelf, which was emitting an invisible ripple of power.
A subtle, fluorescent light swirled around the orb’s surface.
"This is..."
Han Ning’s expression flickered, and he walked over.
When he picked up the grayish, apple-sized orb, a line of text suddenly appeared before him.
[Jade Hook Potion] Recipe: ...Lord Level Starlight Dragonfly Compound Eye x1 (√)
"Jade Hook Potion..."
Staring at the information on the panel, Han Ning’s face lit with realization.
This was one of the main ingredients for the Bloodline Awakening Potion required for Yin Yi’s evolution into a Jade Hook Spirit Wood.
’Starlight... this Starlight Dragonfly must be an insect that manipulates the Power of Stars.’
Han Ning didn’t know much about this particular Soul Beast, but... any Lord Level Soul Beast was bound to be extraordinary.
He tucked the compound eye into his waist pouch and continued to browse, collecting any treasure that caught his eye.
About ten minutes later, Yin Yi came to Han Ning’s side, carrying several waist pouches overflowing with treasures.
’There are a lot of treasures here... but I haven’t seen any materials that could help the Flame Fire Vermilion Centipede evolve to the Lord Level.’
Han Ning remembered Fei Lie mentioning that Fei Ming’s Flame Fire Vermilion Centipede was on the verge of breaking through to the Lord Level and that he was gathering evolution materials. Yet, despite searching for a while, Han Ning hadn’t found anything of the sort.
"Master, the treasures in the vault are only for the tribe’s Insect Masters. Fei Ming would have kept his personal treasures in a private, hidden location," Fei Lie immediately answered from the side.
"Oh? Could they be at his home?" Han Ning frowned. He had already checked the waist pouch Fei Ming dropped; aside from some daily necessities and about a dozen Extraordinary Level Crystal Stones, there was nothing of value inside.
"That, this old servant does not know."
Fei Lie shook his head, then unfastened his own waist pouch and offered it with both hands. "Master, these are all of this old servant’s worldly possessions. Please, accept them."
"Mm."
Han Ning gave a slight nod and took the waist pouch from Fei Lie’s hands.
He had already searched Fei Lie’s pouch when he was unconscious. Just like Fei Ming’s, it had only contained junk not worth a second look.
’They must have hidden their valuable treasures somewhere secret.’
The moment the pouch settled in his hand, he felt something was off. ’Why is Fei Lie’s pouch so light?’
"It’s a waist pouch made from a Void Frog’s Stomach Pouch—the evolved form of a Big Belly Frog," Fei Lie explained. "Compared to a normal pouch, its storage capacity is over ten times greater. It’s also infused with the Earth Element, which reduces the weight of the items inside."
’I see.’
Han Ning opened the waist pouch and probed inside with his Spiritual Power.
His Spiritual Power swept through the contents like a scanner, precisely cataloging everything inside.
An image of all sorts of treasures, each glowing with a different light, instantly formed in Han Ning’s mind.
In terms of value, Fei Lie’s personal trove, collected over many years, was in no way inferior to the Red Centipede Tribe’s main vault!
’Tsk... As expected of an Elder Insect Master who’s lived for nearly eighty years. He’s certainly collected a lot of treasures.’
Han Ning sighed. ’When it comes to getting rich, nothing beats robbing and plundering.’
"The pouch contains not only this old servant’s personal collection, but also the treasures left behind by all the past High Priests of the Red Centipede Tribe," Fei Lie added.
"Excellent. Now, you’re going to help me find where that fellow Fei Ming hid his treasures."