The depressing atmosphere within the secret realm turned for the better upon experiencing the treats it had to offer.

Along the way, they hunted demonic beasts and obtained their inner cores. Doing so had also satisfied their appetites at the same time.

“This forest is really big. It’s been more than ten days since we started exploring it…”

Lin Die complained. They had experienced a lot of battles in the past ten days. Although they had gained plenty of loot from said battles, their stamina would not last should the situation persist.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a mountain peak in front of them exploded, and a golden insect egg shot up from within the rubble.

The insect egg cracked open, and a golden insect that was as large as a grown adult’s arm crawled out from it.

As soon as it appeared, the energy of both Heaven and Earth immediately surged towards it.

“A Golden-scaled Bug!”

Lin Mo was surprised. This was a high-quality insect. Its properties were so potent that it could be processed into medicine or it could be consumed directly.

However, it was also a particularly powerful insect. It was said that their strength was already on par with someone on the first tier of Dragon Transformation even if they had only just broke out of their cocoons.

However, while their strength and properties were great and all, that was not Lin Mo’s focus.

Golden-scaled Bugs liked to live in groups, and for each colony, there exists a rare creature known as the Golden Bug King.

To those who specialized in cultivating their physical bodies, these Golden Bug Kings were an extremely rare treasure.

“Lin Mo, the Golden Bug King is at least a top-grade tier 8 treasure. We mustn’t let this chance slip by!” Bai Luo exclaimed.

Lin Mo nodded. Although they had gathered plenty of treasures throughout their expedition, the Golden Bug King’s value dwarfed all of them, to the extent that he could even present it as a grand prize for the upcoming auction…

“Buzz…”

Another bug egg shot out from the rubble of the mountain, followed by another, and then another…

Soon, half of the sky was covered by the scintillating golden bodies of the Golden-scaled Bugs.

The golden gas they spat out contained an extremely powerful force. Even Lin Mo and Bai Luo dared not take it head-on.

Everyone retreated as they were continuously attacked by the Golden-scaled Bugs.

“They must’ve have sensed Lil’ Die’s aura. Yan Rong, protect Lil’ Die,” Lin Mo said with a frown.

Plain White Snow appeared, and Lin Mo unleashed a powerful wave of sword Qi, annihilating a huge swathe of Golden-scaled Bugs that were charging towards them.

Bai Luo leaped into action as well. With a thrust of her silver spear, she broke through the Golden-scaled Bugs’ blockade.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, while Lin Mo and Bai Luo were fighting against the Golden Scaled Bugs, another Golden Scaled Bug drilled out from the bottom of the collapsed mountain peak.

This bug was only the size of a palm, but surrounding its body was several layers of special patterns.

Those patterns converged to form the glorious figure of a Golden Dragon.

This was done via the masterful usage of its aura. By condensing its aura, the bug was able to project an illusory image of a Golden Dragon to intimidate its enemies.

“So, this is a Golden Bug King…” Lin Mo was pleasantly surprised. He had not expected the Golden Bug King to reveal itself this willingly.

After all, Golden Bug Kings would never leave their nests usually.

This was the reason that made them so elusive. Even for most major forces, the existence of the Golden Bug Kings were only known via word-of-mouth, and not because they had actually seen them.

Had it not been for Lil’ Die, the Golden Bug King would likely still be tucked snugly within its nest.

“Once we capture it, all we need to do is gather a crowd and auction it off! With that, we can finally put an end to this expedition.”

Lin Mo’s lips curled into a grin. The Golden Bug King was at least a tier 8 treasure, and if he were lucky, it might even be a tier 9!

However, from the looks of it, the Golden Bug King had seen Lin Mo and his gang as no more than prey to be hunted down.

The Golden Bug King ordered its subordinates to emanate their golden auras, and together they charged forward at Lin Mo’s squad!

The Golden Bug King was at the forefront of the assault, and it seemed that Lin Die was their target.

The golden patterns on its surface projected an illusion of a swimming Golden Dragon. Its metallic sheen gave off a spirited and menacing aura.

Lin Mo’s Sword Qi did not seem to have much of an effect on it.

Yan Rong grabbed Lin Die and retreated, avoiding the first wave of the bug army’s rush attack. Despite this, they were still surrounded by the Golden Scaled Bugs on all fronts.

Widening their mandibles, the bugs fired out streams of golden Sword Qi, which converged together to form a sword ray that swept across the battlefield.

“Chi!”

Lin Mo unleashed Ten Thousand Stars Arrival, and spread his majestic Sword Qi throughout the battlefield.

Bai Luo pitched in as well, and together, their combined strength had culminated in an attack that managed to take out more than half of the golden bug army.

At long last, the Golden Bug King was also caught in Lin Mo’s hand.

“Hehe, you’ve finally caught it, huh? You’re planning to sell it, right? Why don’t you sell it to me, then?”

Bai Luo giggled as she spoke. The Golden Bug King was extremely beneficial to the cultivation of one’s physical body, and thus, it was not something she could let slip by.

Moreover, as this was loot that she had worked with Lin Mo to catch, standard procedure dictates that they should split the proceeds equally. If Lin Mo was planning to sell it, she did not mind bidding for it.

“I wouldn’t mind. Once we get out of this forest and find a spot with a dense crowd, I’ll hold an auction, and you can bid for it,” Lin Mo said with a smile.

Hearing this, Bai Luo immediately rolled her eyes.

“How much spiritual stones do you lack? Aren’t we friends? I can’t believe you’re trying to profit off of me!”

Although the Golden Bug King was only a tier 8 treasure, its rarity would undoubtedly make its price skyrocket.

Should they auction if off in the imperial city, the Golden Bug King could be used as the grand prize, and it would be auctioned off for a high price of over thirty million.

“Naturally, as friends, I’ll definitely give you a discount. Be it now or in the future, should there be an item in my auction that you desire, I’ll provide you with a 20% discount!”

Lin Mo laughed out loud. Even if he were to only receive half of the spiritual stone proceeds after being discounted by 20%, he would still earn around 12 million.

“Brother, keep your eyes peeled.”

At this moment, Lin Die’s exclamation could be heard from afar.

Bai Luo and Lin Mo immediately went on high alert as they scanned their surroundings.

A mere instant later, a flaming arrow hurtled towards Lin Mo. It was aimed straight for his forehead.

“Hmph.”

Lin Mo snorted coldly. He raised Plain White Snow and chopped the arrow in half.

“Leave the Golden Bug King behind and we’ll let you go safely.” A man flew over from afar with a flaming longbow in hand. He was tall and very handsome.

His expression was calm as he looked down at Lin Mo.

Lin Mo looked at this person and was slightly surprised. This person’s strength was actually at Tier 16 of the Dragon Transformation Realm. His aura was extremely menacing.

After observing for some time, Lin Mo finally recalled that Duanmu Jia had once told him about the circumstances of the various factions within the Yanhuang Divine Empire.

It seemed that the first elder of the Yuan Yang Holy Land had children. They were twins, and both of them were astounding prodigies.

The younger brother was called Yuan Hong, and he was a genius when it came to the art of the bow. His combat prowess was not to be underestimated.

He had comprehended the Dao at a young age, and it was said that his cultivation method had already stepped into the spirit-grade. It was unknown whether it was true or not.

“Hmph, a genius of the Yuan Yang Holy Land eh. However, you don’t seem strong enough to have the right to look down on others. Even your brother wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant, right?” Lin Mo jested. Although Yuan Hong was very strong, it was not to the extent that it would make Lin Mo fear him.

In addition, seeing as he had greeted them with an ambush, Lin Mo did not have a particularly favorable impression of him.

“You’re courting death,” Yuan Hong snapped angrily. He hated it whenever others would bring up his inferiority to his elder brother.

As such, Lin Mo’s words had instantly agitated Yuan Hong.

“Psst!”

An arrow cloaked in furious flames shot out, and contained within it was an immense amount of power.

“Bang!”

Just as Lin Mo was about to use Spring and Autumn Exchange to block the blow, a silver spear thrust forward to deflect the arrow.

Bai Luo’s pretty face was ice cold as she looked at Yuan Hong.

“This item is co-owned by me as well. You dare snatch it from me? Do you have a death wish!?”

Bai Luo’s face was as cold as ice, and her body was emitting endless spear intent. Waves of regal pressure rolled off of her.